September 4, 2014
I walked into Forks High School for the first day of my sophomore year. I forced a smile as my "friends" greeted me. I was the talk of the town this summer. My parents had split, the divorce was messy and I was to blame. I had walked in on my mom sleeping with the neighbor and I couldn't just let her hurt my dad that way. So I did what any good daughter would do. I took s picture as evidence and then went to the hospital to tell my dad. My mom had been pissed but my dad was my best friend and I wasn't going to lie to him.
"Hayley, wait up."I heard someone say. I turned to see my ex walking towards me and I frowned. "Hey Mike. Whats up?" I asked as I opened my locker. "You haven't returned any of my calls." He said. "that's kind of the point of me breaking up with you Mike." I said. He frowned. "Why are you such a bitch?" he asked. His words stung but I ignored him. "You know what happened this summer Mike. Hell you were there for most of it. What do you expect?" I said. "I expect my girlfriend to talk to me. Not to blow me off and then attempt to break up with me over the phone." He said.
I sighed and tried to keep from rolling my eyes as I grabbed my advanced chemistry book from my locker. "Fine. Mike we are done. Its over between us so stop calling me." I said with as much force as I could manage. My irritation won out as I slammed my locker and turner to walk away. I went all of five steps before he shoved me hard, causing me to bump into someone who sent me flying backwards onto my ass. "Mike you asshole!" I shouted after him. "My apologies Darlin', I didn't mean to knock you over." A voice said.
I looked up into the eyes of Jasper Hale and the snarky comment I was about to make stopped dead on my lips. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" he asked after I had stared for quite some time. "I'm fine. No blood no foul." I said. He had picked up my book and was holding out his hand to help me up. I took it and stood before brushing off my pants. "You have Advanced Chemistry? With Angier?" he asked and I nodded. "I'm headed that way now. Mind if I walk you?" he asked. "Why?" I asked and then blushed. "Why what?" he asked. "Why would you want to walk with me?" I asked. "Why wouldn't i?" he asked back.
It was there. In that moment I felt as if I was something special and my world wasn't falling apart. As if Jasper Hale had shown up because he knew how much I was hurting and he understood.
He held onto my Chem book and started walking. I had to jog a little to catch up but I fell into step beside him. "I'm Jasper Hale." He said. "I know. I-I mean the whole school knows. I-god im such an idiot. I mean I'm Hayley. Hayley Scott." I said. "I know." He smiled. I blushed as embarrassment swan through me and I looked down. "By the way, no you aren't." he said. "I'm not what?" I asked. "An idiot. You cant be if youre in this class." He said. He handed me back my book before disappearing through the door way into the classroom. I smiled softly before letting it drop and making my way into class.
After the usual first day of school speech, Mr. Angier decided that this year we would have assigned seats and lab partners. I groaned and prayed he didn't seat me with Jessica Stanley or Lauren Mallory. I sat quietly until he told me to stand and wait in the back of the room. I grabbed my things and did as he asked. I was surprised when he split Jasper away from his twin sister Rosalie and told me to take a seat next to him. "Hale, I expect you to help her through this." He said as if that was an explanation. "Im not stupid." I muttered under my breath as I took my seat.
"Don't worry. Ill help as much as I can." Jasper whispered to me. I glared at him and for a second he looked like I was going to kill him. "I'm not stupid. I got into this class by working hard and I'm sure I can keep up." I said. There was a slight edge to my voice and he frowned before looking at me and smiling. "I never said you were. I was just hoping to have a good excuse to talk to you." He said. "Why?" I asked and he laughed. "You asked that a lot." He said. "Seriously though, why would you want to talk to me?" I asked. "Why wouldn't I?" he asked. "I know you heard. The whole town knows. How I was selfish enough to ruin my parents marriage. How messy it got." I said.
"Is that who you really are?" he asked. "What?" I breathed. I was confused and he seemed to enjoy that. He laughed a little before looking me in the eye. "Is that who you are? The girl that destroyed her parents marriage? A selfish girl?" he asked. "No." I said. "Why did you do it then?" he asked. I frowned and looked down at the table as I chewed my bottom lip. "I did it because I love my dad. He's is my best friend. I tell him everything. If had hadn't said anything then I would have been lying to him and he would have known." I said. He nodded as the first weeks packet of homework hit our desk. He seemed to really be thinking over my answer so I explained further. "I did it because he doesn't deserve to be hurt that way. Especially by a woman who claimed to love him. If you really love someone then you will do anything to protect them and you will never be the reason for their pain." I said softly.
He looked up at me with surprise written all over his face. "I understand." Was all he said but for some reason I felt like he was saying more. I nodded and the rest of the class period passed in silence.