Chapter 14: I Don't Want You To Want Me

Spring Break came to a gloomy close and I was stuck back in a stuffy classroom once again. Finals were fast approaching and soon Emmett and Rosalie would be graduating.

To relieve stress, I found myself doing a charcoal sketch of Jacob from memory. I was having sucky luck with the sticks since a few of them were too short from past uses. One actually crumbled as it touched the paper! After going through 7 sticks, I finally found a strudy, long one to use. The strong cheekbones, his fiery eyes, the short, stick-up-ish hair. He seemed to eye me warily as he started to come together. As I began to shade his face, a dark shadow loomed over my page and I tried to hold in my groan.

"That's a nice drawing," Jasper's drawl broke the silence, "But why...someone like him?" Jasper's tone stressed heavy irritation on the words someone like him. Cass's words about the tensions between vampires and wolf-shapeshifters continued to ring vividly in my mind.

"Jacob's a good friend of mine," I replied as I continued to work. Jasper took a seat near me and put his hands in his pockets.

"Did you like the daisy I left you?" he began quietly. I looked up from sketching and blinked. He had to be kidding me right? He left me the daisy on Valentine's Day? Part of me was grateful that it was him and not Mike but the other half felt super annoyed.

"Oh yeah," I muttered, "Thanks. I was afraid it was from Mike." Jasper smiled a little and I faked one. I put down the piece of charcoal and walked over to wash my hands. Jasper cleared his throat and shifted in his seat to face my form at the sink.

"Are you busy on Saturday?" he slowly asked. I turned off the taps and dried my hands before turning to face him. Didn't he get that I wasn't returning the feelings? That I wasn't looking for a relationship at this moment? And what in the world was he doing defying Alice?

"No Jasper," I grimly told him. "Listen, you're a nice guy but I'm not interested okay? I've seen you try to talk to me more than Alice. Shouldn't you be caring about her?" Jasper stood up from his chair and his face was flushed a deep red.

"So-sorry," he stammered as he turned to leave, "I'm guessing you like someone else?"

I hesitated at his words. Jacob was sweet but I certainly couldn't screw up the book history by getting involved. According Cass who told me that Jacob was supposed to fall for Bella's future daughter, I certainly doubted that Jacob needed another girl to watch over due to imprinting on her.

"No Jasper," I patiently replied, "I'm thinking in terms of the books that Alice showed you. I can't get involved because outside of Forks, the history will be rewritten thanks to me. You need to stay loyal to Alice." Jasper glanced at me mournfully and he opened his mouth to speak then closed it.

"Just do this for my sake," I asked him kindly, "I want you to be with Alice. As a matter of fact, why not surprise her on Saturday or something?" Jasper's sad expression brightened up and he smiled at my suggestion.

"That's a great idea Lara!" he replied happily, "I'll do that. But will you be all right?" I nodded. I wasn't looking for love or for a boyfriend. I was happy to stay single for a while.

"Don't worry about me," I promised him, "I'm going to be just fine."

He wrapped his cold hand around mine and he quickly planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you Lara," he whispered, "Meeting you was a pleasure and I hope all turns out all right for you." I smiled politely then I saw something dart past the Art room door out of the corner of my eye. It was dark, tall, and muscular.