It's time, it's time! Halloween for Bella and Jasper! So, as usual, everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play with the characters. Beta-ing done by the wonderful EdwardsMate4Ever.

(Sweet Jasper)

Band Practice (Jasper's POV) – Chapter 1

Another wearying day. At least Emmett and I are outside during the day because we're in a forest, and it's overcast. Not surprising, as when it's not raining in this area, it's usually threatening to rain. Lots of good gloomy cover. Perfect for hiding unwanted sparkles.

The forest itself, the Olympic National Park, is full of campers and hunters. The issue: these humans are competing with us for the same game.

I allow myself a little smile. Not a chance, not a competition.

The mortal hunters are so noisy, smelly, and slow. About the only time they win is when they stay still for a long time and catch a break with the wind.

Me, I can hunt. I would say whenever and whatever, but I can't say whatever. Because no matter how good it smells, I can't allow myself to follow the tantalizing scent of human blood.

It hasn't always been this way, but that sort of hunting was a long time ago. Back when I was Major Whitlock, a pawn for Maria in the Southern Wars.

Back then, not only did I hunt humans, I taught newborn vampires to kill. I built and rebuilt armies for Maria. Those who survived long enough were cannon fodder in her empire-building schemes. Some I killed shortly after they were turned, others I destroyed close to the end of their first year as they lost the qualities that made them worthwhile for Maria.

Forget those days. Now, it's all about going after second best. Or, in the case of deer and elk, third best. Because the only animals with any kind of zing to their blood are the big cats and bears, which are more rare than their prey. I'm usually on a steady diet of herbivores. The best I can say about the taste of the grass-munchers is that the blood is hot.

So today, I'm running along through the woods with Emmett. At least he's always happy, unlike Edward. Edward's been moping for almost one hundred years now. How Carlisle puts up with it I don't know. It's OK for the others when Edward sequesters himself in the room, but I don't get any respite from his dramatic melancholy unless he leaves the house completely. I may have my bad days, but I don't inflict them on others. Or I try not to.

Emmett, on the other hand, is generally upbeat. Really upbeat. That's good. I love happy.

We're loping along, occasionally breaking into sprints and engaging in impromptu games such as "who can jump the ravine without crashing to the bottom" that come up whenever two young bloods are out, all the while veering closer to a town, when it hits me.

An enticing scent, like a beacon, pulling me in. I turn fast in its direction and feel Emmett grab me.

"C'mon, man," Emmett says, pivoting and pinning me. "They're not worth it."

I stop for a second and shake my head. [Author intrusion—I pass out at the keyboard, thinking about that blond head shaking.]

"This is different," I tell him. "This is…she's the one."

"Oh. Singer," Emmett remarks with a grimace. "That's bad. There's a town over there, and if she's in it, you'll be seen. If we have to go, we'll go at night."

I stare at him.

"C'mon. I'm not saying we won't find your singer, just that we won't do it in broad daylight, man. We're talking survival, Volturi…all that shit."

I look down at my hands and they're trembling.

"I think this is different, Emmett," I say. "I feel something more."

I head out, sprinting off before he can react.

I hear him cursing and crashing into brush as he tries to catch up. Eventually I let him, and we run side-by-side.

At the edge of town we come across a fishing cabin. I can hear snores and smell alcohol wafting through the windows. What's more important for my purposes is that there is a van out front. I stop in front of it, reach inside and find the keys on top of the sun visor.

"They're out cold," I tell Emmett as I toss the keys from one hand to the other.

"From the smell around this place, they've been drinking for days," he comments, wrinkling his nose. "Dang, I didn't think it was possible to turn a human scent into a stench, but they've managed."

"We're going to drive the van into town," I tell him as I climb into the driver's seat.

"Looks new, it'll be missed," he says as he gets in on the other side.

That's one of the things I like about Emmett. He's both direct and loyal. He may not agree with what I'm doing, but he's going along.

"Only for a few hours," I tell him.

He nods.

We pull into town and I search for the scent. Finding it doesn't turn out to be a problem. It's everywhere, which means she's a local. It's so strong it's distracting me from being able to do a search. I just want to relish it and experience how exquisite it is. It has different notes, from being a few hours old to being a few days old.

I shake my head and focus. I have to find her. In a town this size, they probably go to bed early, assuming she isn't home already. If I'm to have any chance of locating her tonight, I need to start tracking.

"You OK, man?" Emmett asks.

"Just trying to get my head into the game. Been a while since I tracked, you know?"

He nods and punches his palm with his fist. We're already in the middle of town, surrounded by heartbeats and human scents. Even though we fed earlier, this won't be easy.

It doesn't take long before I determine the scent is strongest by the high school.

"Damn, not a kid, OK?" whispers Emmett.

"Not going to kill her, at least, not to feed. I'm just curious."

Because I am. The pull is so strong. I can't stand it when there is a shift in the wind and I'm stuck inside the auto. I want to get out and get on the pavement. I would be able to find it there.

I look around and see the signs for a Band Night. Band, huh? I flip down the sun visor and check my reflection in the mirror. With sunglasses and a guitar, I could walk into the school. No problem.

Xx

So, Jasper's POV! Hope you're enjoying the story so far.

I really appreciate all of the support I've received for the story this year. My thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited or alerted the story.

Please leave a review and I will send a preview of the next chapter to all reviewers.