Chapter 4: Strange Stares
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"We all are living in a dream,
But life ain't what it seems,
Oh, everything's a mess."
Imagine Dragons – Dream
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As Alexis all but ran out of her History class, she managed to bump into Tyler; who had been waiting for her, hoping to ask her to sit with him and his friends for lunch. As luck would have it, it turned out that Bella had been invited to the same lunch table by a boy named Mike and a girl named Jessica who she'd met in Gym.
As they all stood together in the lunch line, Lexi could already tell that Jessica was somebody that she shouldn't put her full trust in, feeling the jealousy radiating off of her as Mike shamelessly flirted with Bella during their wait for food. She couldn't help but laugh when she found out that Bella had magically found the one guy who actually did like being hit in the back of the head with a ball; what a town they'd come to.
As they all sat down at the table, Jessica awkwardly called the two new girls the 'shiny new toys' of the school, a flash going off beside her, taking Bella off guard whilst Alexis tried to hide her amused snicker.
Angela started to explain what she'd already recited to Lexi that morning, that a candid was needed for the feature; until Eric rudely cut her off stating "Feature's dead, Angela. Don't bring it up again." before turning to comfort the awkward brunette. "I've got your back, baby."
Alexis scrunched her eyes in annoyance, watching the kind girl's smile falter as she watched the boy walk off to find the guys. She questioned how he had the nerve to be so cruel to the poor girl who was just doing her duty for the school paper.
"Guess we'll just do another editorial on teen drinking." Angela said, tone disheartened as she clicked through the settings and deleted the picture from her camera.
"Sorry." Bella bit her lip as she tried to think of a way to cheer the girl up, offering "You know there's always eating disorders?"
Lexi couldn't help but smirk as she noticed Jessica putting down her piece of food with Bella's suggestion, looking quite sheepish. It wasn't that she instantly disliked the girl, but there was just a strong feeling that she got; like an aura that spoke of insecurity and dishonesty.
"Or, Speedo padding on the swim team?"
Snickering, Lexi nodded her head in agreement when she came back to the conversation at hand. "I noticed that." Taking a bite out of her apple, her eyes shifted to the group of jocks sat a few tables away. "I wonder how many socks those guys go through a week."
"Actually, that's a good one." Angela laughed, her mood instantly brightened at the idea of new material for the paper.
When Lexi turned to talk to Bella, she noticed that her friend's attention was elsewhere, glancing over to see a group of students walking towards the cafeteria door from outside; Jasper and the small pixie girl walking amongst them.
"Who are they?" Bella interrupted the two girls chatting, eyes never leaving the new arrivals.
Angela glanced over her shoulder, turning back with a small smile as she answered. "The Cullens."
Meanwhile, Jessica's eyes lit up as the opportunity to gossip arose. "Doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. They all moved down here from Alaska like two years ago."
"They kind of keep to themselves."
"Yeah, because they're all together." Jessica piped up, leaning forward towards the two new girls. "Like, together, together."
"I'm pretty sure that only two of them are." Angela argued.
"Tell me that Jasper and Alice don't have something going on." She pushed, rolling her eyes at the comment. "Just because they're not as obvious about it doesn't mean it isn't happening."
Lexi didn't understand the dull pain that she felt in the pit of her stomach at the idea of Jasper Cullen being in a relationship with the small girl, who she now believed to be Alice. She had only just met the pair at the beginning of last period; if it could even count it as meeting them. However, she couldn't help but recall the fact Alice had referred to him as her brother, something she didn't think would be appropriate had they been dating.
"The blonde girl, Rosalie, and the big dark-haired guy, Emmett…" Jessica trailed off allowing her fellow students to look towards the pair walking by.
The 'blonde girl' as she put it was an ethereal beauty. She walked with the knowledge of how attractive she was, strutting past all the guys who no doubt wished she would even glance their way. Looking around, Lex could see almost every single one she passed drooling over her, their eyes showing envious thoughts circling their heads as they fantasised of a time where her bulky boyfriend wasn't in the picture.
And the big guy was exactly that, big. Huge. Emmett Cullen looked like the most intimidating figure that anyone could possibly concoct in their imagination. That was, until you got to his face; an immensely striking face with a cheeky grin that implied all sorts of mischief. His playful demeanour suggested an outgoing personality, confusing Lexi as she wondered why he hadn't branched out to make more friends. With the beaming smile on his face, she wondered why he would keep to himself. She wondered why either of the couple did, as her memories of the school and the students in Phoenix indicated that they would easily become the most popular students at Forks High School.
"They're like a thing" Jessica chimed back in "I'm not even sure that's legal."
"Jess, they're not actually related."
"Yeah, but they live together, it's weird." She squirmed, glancing subtly over her shoulder at the next pair. "And the little dark-haired girl, Alice, she's really weird."
Alice moved as though she was a ballerina, gliding through the cafeteria on the tips of her toes as she did a graceful spin; she was elegance personified and appeared to skip rather than walk. Once more, the bright smile on her face threw Lexi. If she had just passed the petite girl in the hallway one day, if nobody had deemed her worthy enough of gossip and special attention, Lexi would have pictured her as the girl who surrounded herself with close friends and dear ones - singing songs and talking about the beauties of life on the front steps of the building.
"And I am sure that she's with Jasper, the blonde one who looks like he's in pain."
Gaze focusing on Jasper, Lex felt her breath catch in her throat. Jessica was right, he did look like he was in pain and for some unknown reason Lexi discovered a deep desire to make whatever pain he was feeling disappear. She considered the idea that Jasper Cullen was someone unworthy of pain, of feeling anything other than serenity and happiness; though she couldn't for the life of her figure out where these thoughts and emotions had erupted from. He wasn't quite as tall as his older brother Emmett, nor as bulky, but he was unquestionably the most attractive being that she had ever laid eyes on. He was exquisite. Though she scolded herself for even thinking of him, she was sure that what lay underneath his shirt was defined muscle.
"Why are you so sure that they're a couple?" Alexis asked, turning back to her newfound friends, trying to calm the racing pace of her beating heart.
"They're always together, it's like he's latched onto her. There is no way that they aren't a thing." Jessica divulged, her voice quickening as she got more and more excited. "That and he's shown no interest in any of the girls here. Doctor Cullen's like this foster dad slash matchmaker."
"Maybe he'll adopt me." Angela teased, making false dreamy eyes in the air.
The look in Jessica's eyes didn't escape Lex's attention. They were filled to the brim with rejection and built up anger. It was highly possible that she had once made it clear to the Cullen boys of her interest and been swiftly shut down like Tyler had explained to her. Lexi knew to take her words with a pinch of salt, her opinions no doubt clouded by a personal grudge.
"Who's he?" She heard Bella ask, everyone's attention zoning in on the last Cullen walking into the building.
"That's Edward Cullen. He's totally gorgeous, obviously. But apparently, no one here is good enough for him. Like I care." Jessica supplied, her tone conveying that he had also rejected her at some point before their arrival; and that she, in fact, cared very much.
To be honest, Lexi just thought he looked broody, as though he was ready to lecture you on why you should be home on time to avoid the dangers in the world. He looked like the kind of guy to give you multiple speeches on why he knew better than you and how he knew what was best for you, but when it came to Jessica and the way she apparently behaves she couldn't quite blame him for rejecting her.
As the thought crossed her mind, Edward seemed to smirk in their direction, almost as though he could tell what she was thinking and found it mildly amusing.
"Anyway," Jessica starts, noticing that Bella was staring over her shoulder at him "Don't waste your time."
"I wasn't planning on it." Bella scoffed, taking a quick glance back at Edward.
"So transparent." Lexi whispered, causing Bella to give her a quick elbow to the side. "Ow."
As she took a short glimpse back at the table of Cullens, she noticed that the confused glare she had seen during History was still plastered on Jasper's face; and still blatantly directed at herself. Not understanding what she had done that was worth so much hatred and attention, Lexi felt ill at ease, debating the idea of changing classes and begging her parents to move far away from the dreary town and never look back. However, there was also the possibility that she was overreacting herself; maybe she was imagining all of this.
The tingling feeling of pins and needles crept up on her for a moment, before quickly vanishing.
What was it about this guy?
"Are you okay?"
Lexi, not wanting to peak Jessica's interest, shook her head slightly. "I'll talk to you about it after school…" She knew that once Jessica knew anything that there was a high chance that everybody in the building would soon find out too. Though she felt intrigued by the family, there was a feeling tucked away in the deepest part of her mind; and it was screaming.
Screaming for her to stay far away from the golden eyed boy that had haunted her dreams for years. Screaming that there was something dangerous surrounding his very being. Screaming that he was a monster.
Shaking her head at the strange thoughts popping up in her mind, she brushed the foolishness away. There was no such thing as monsters.
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"So, why'd you choose to do two science classes anyway?" Eric asked her as they made their way to Chemistry for fifth period.
Fortunately, she had found that she had at least one friend in each of her classes; minus History. Lexi was relieved that her and Bella had managed to make friends so easily. It made her truly believe that her promise of a better life was going to be realistic after all.
"My father is a doctor." Lex explained, handing her slip of paper to the teacher before she was directed over to Eric's desk, something she thanked the universe for immediately. "Seeing the look on his face when he comes home every night, when he's helped people and even saved their lives… It's just incredible, you know?"
"So, your goal is to be a doctor?" His hair dipped into his eyes as he shuffled his hand around his bag for the textbooks they would need for the lesson, trying to focus on her answer during his search.
"Yeah. I want that feeling, you know? Finding peace in the knowledge that I'm doing good in the world, helping people. I can't imagine a greater purpose."
Eric beamed as he nodded his head in agreement. "That's pretty special. Well, I hope it works out for you."
Lex thanked him, checking to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything before the class started. "What about you? You seem pretty smart, what's your goal in life?"
"Honestly? I'm not so sure. I'm just focused on getting the best grades possible, then I'll figure out what my next step is." He responded, eyes squinting in thought. "I'm thinking maybe a lawyer, that's usually a good job, right?"
"It'll come to you." She assured, twirling a small ring around her finger in thought. "Don't feel rushed to figure anything out... When you realise what you want to do, you'll just know. You don't want to guess and then end up in a job where you're miserable."
"I suppose you're right. I guess I still have quite a while to decide."
Before Lexi had the time to respond, her attention was stolen by a body freezing in place next to her seat.
Turning to see what was happening, her eyes locked with those of Jasper Cullen's once more. He was staring at her, the look of confusion still present, but this time accompanied with amazement and disbelief swimming in his penetrating gaze. The pained look that he'd worn walking through the cafeteria was long gone, his dark eyes seemingly staring into a deeper part of Lex than she ever contemplated existed within her.
She watched as he inched ever so slightly towards her place, seemingly taking a deep breath as he did so. Was he smelling her? She could only assume that her expression mirrored his own look of bewilderment as she tried to figure out what was going on. But as she glanced back into his eyes, the same feeling of tranquillity washed over her; paired with a feeling she couldn't quite understand. She felt protective, possessive even. Lexi had this sudden intense urge that she needed to surround herself with his presence.
"Jazz." She heard the gruff voice of his brother cut in from behind her.
And just like that, the spell was broken, the stare ending, and the feelings that had overcome her had been swiftly washed away into nothing as they both turned to look at Emmett Cullen.
"Come on." He said, gesturing for Jasper to keep moving and take a seat.
Jasper appeared reluctant at first, his movements almost seeming forced as he made his way to his seat; right behind her. The look of pain had reappeared, his lips dipped into a deep frown as he forced his eyes away from the redhead in front of him.
"What the hell was that?" Eric's voice was merely a whisper, head suddenly centimetres away from her own as he tried to keep the pair behind them from hearing.
"How the hell should I know?" She whispered back, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, hands shaking ever so slightly as she attempted to regain any sense of focus. "It's my first day, I have no idea how any of them act around people. That wasn't normal for him?"
"No. Half the time they don't even acknowledge that the other students at this school exist around them." He explained, subtly peeking back at the two Cullens. "He's looking at you really weird, Lex."
Sighing and shuffling further down into her seat, she pleaded. "Can we talk about anything else, please?"
Alexis felt lightheaded, as though every coherent thought had evaporated out of her mind and left it light as a feather. Surely there had to be a logical reason for the pale boy's reaction to her. Her mind toyed with the idea of asking him, of finding out what it was about her that made him respond so bizarrely.
Lexi convinced herself that she would find out... If she ever found the nerve to confront him.
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Breathing out a sigh of relief at the sight of Tyler once again waiting outside her classroom door for her, hoping to sit next to her in Biology, she gladly handed over her bag at his offer to carry her things.
However, as they got closer to the door of the classroom, the rest of the class were all gathered outside; huddled in the doorway like a herd of cattle waiting to be ushered into their correct places. Something told her that she wasn't going to like the reason why.
"What's going on?" Tyler asked a student in front of them.
The boy sighed, shaking his head in annoyance. "Apparently we've not been paying enough attention, Whitmore is putting us all into a seating plan."
"Any chance you think we'll still end up next to each other?" Lexi asked Tyler as the boy in front of them turned back to his own small huddle of friends. "Just when I thought I was safe. I should have known something like this would have happened. What are the chances of sitting next to the few people you happen to meet straight away?"
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure Whitmore won't be as predictable as putting us in alphabetical order."
But that was exactly what Mr. Whitmore did.
"Miss Hanson, welcome to the class." He greeted, giving her a bright smile, his sweaty hand clasping hers in a mildly firm handshake. "You'll be sitting at the back-corner desk next to Mr. Hale."
Discreetly rubbing her hand against the leg of her jeans, she peered over to see who her new desk mate was, her eyes widening as she saw that the open seat was next to none other than the golden eyed boy she had inwardly planned to avoid at all costs. His last name was Hale? Why would he not be a Cullen?
She noticed Tyler sat closer to the front of the room next to Alice Cullen, the one she knew he'd been rejected by. It seemed the pair would both feel awkward in their new seating arrangement.
Sitting down in her seat, she tried her best to ignore the boy next to her, but she could literally feel Jasper's intense gaze on her face. She almost wanted to ask him what was wrong. She wanted to know why he seemed to be acting so peculiar. So far, her first day was awfully strange and she couldn't help but wonder if Bella's was going any better; though so far it seemed to be off to a better start. Maybe she'd actually managed to stay with her new-found friends in her classes. She knew Bella had Jessica in Spanish but she had no idea if she had anyone in her other two... Maybe she was just as unlucky as Lexi was.
As the hour-long lesson passed by, it felt like days had flown by. Thankfully they hadn't needed to work together in any way, saving Lexi from a difficult interaction that would no doubt have ended in a long message to her father about how she needed to go to a school that was hours away from Forks; that she wouldn't mind getting a car if it meant she could travel for her education. But as her mind fell back onto the focus of Jasper Hale, she realised that he'd somehow managed to move closer until they were basically flushed against each other, the slightest gap between them. How had he even managed to do that without her realising?
Glancing at him, she saw that his focus was still on her, her face heating up at the very obvious attention she was gaining from the annoyingly handsome boy to her left. And for a second it looked like he was about to say something.
Then the bell rang.
She was up within less than a second, heading to the door. Tyler's voice was all she could hear, trying to call out to her, trying to catch up with her; but she didn't care.
Lexi needed to see Bella.
Weaving through the crowd of students that filled the hallway, Lexi was sure that Bella's classroom had to be close by. She needed to talk to her, needed to make sure she wasn't going insane and that everything that had just happened was bizarre. Bella had already taken such an interest in that Edward guy, surely she must have felt something similar to what Lexi did? Maybe she would understand what she was dealing with?
Standing on her tiptoes, scanning the sea of students for any sign of her best friend, she saw a girl with brunette hair awkwardly move through the hall; stumbling over a couple of things in her path. Bella.
"Bella!" Lexi called, trying her hardest to shove past everyone in her path without being rude; an almost impossible feat. "Bella!" She called once more, doing her best to ignore the small glares the rest of the students were shooting in her direction.
The girl in question looked relieved as she turned around to the sound of a familiar voice. "Hey, Lex, can we go to the office really quick before we head home?"
"Yeah, of course." She answered, trying to figure out any possible way to smoothly transition into a conversation about the Cullen family. Or the Cullen/Hale family?
"Do I smell weird?" Bella asked out of thin air, features twisted in concern as she moved closer.
Lexi's eyebrows scrunched in confusion at her friend's random question. "What? What are you talking about?"
She looked down at her feet as they walked, seemingly embarrassed to have even asked the question in the first place. "I don't know. I just thought I might smell bad today."
Lexi decided to humour her and took a quick sniff. "I can't smell anything bad, Bells. You just smell like your strawberry shampoo like usual. Why do you ask?"
They walked through the doors to the office as she went to answer, but she swiftly stopped short, the words she was about to say caught in her throat as her mouth hung open. Following her gaze, Lexi saw none other than Edward Cullen talking to the administrator.
"There must be something open sixth period. Physics? Biochem?" She heard him ask, voice strained in frustration.
"No, every class is full. I'm afraid you'll have to stay in Biology. I'm so sorry." The kind old woman replied. To be fair to the poor woman, she did seem genuinely apologetic to the guy.
Lexi heard a scoff beside her, quickly glancing at her best friend who was stood looking in disbelief at the guy she had been interested in just this morning.
As if he sensed her presence, Edward tensed, turning towards Bella and glared as their eyes locked across the small room. His eyes were filled with what Lexi could only describe as pure hatred, as though she was his arch nemesis thwarting his happiness by just being in the same building. What had happened over the past two periods that Lexi didn't know about that could cause such an intimidating stare-off?
"Fine." Edwards forced out through clenched teeth, struggling to get the words out "I'll just… Have to endure it." With that, he stormed out of the office slightly nudging into Lexi on his way out.
As his shoulder quickly collided with hers an image flashed through her mind.
It was the day of her grandmother's funeral. Her father cried, heartbroken at the loss of his mother as they said their final goodbyes. Lexi had only been 9 years old at the time, reaching over to touch her hand as a final farewell, the skin cold and almost wax-like.
As her mind returned to the present day, Bella stormed out of the office, Lex swiftly jogging to catch up with her, choosing to ignore the strange memory for the time being and focus on trying to piece together why her best friend was so angry.
"Bella, what's going on?" She asked as they made our way out into the parking lot. "Bella?"
"Can we just go home?"
As Bella jumped into her truck and slammed the door shut, Lexi cautiously got in beside her to place a comforting hand on her arm as she noted the tears that were threatening to fall from the brunette's eyes.
"Bells? Are you alright?"
"He's just a jerk." Bella sighed angrily, head hitting the steering wheel with a light thud.
"What happened?" Lexi asked with a sigh, deciding that her problems with Jasper could definitely wait for the time being.
"I don't even know." She admitted, handing her bag over to be put on the floor of the passenger's side. "When I walked into Biology he acted as though I smelt like a garbage can, like I've never seen someone cover their nose so fast. Then the second the bell rang he practically ran out of the room." She finished, starting up the engine.
Looking out of the window, Lexi watched as Edward got into a silver Volvo and slammed the door. What is with these Cullens? Was Bella and Lexi's appearance in Forks really such a big deal? Were they angry that they were no longer the new students at Forks High School? What was their problem? All questions that she couldn't figure out how to get the answers for.
"Well you remember what Jessica said, the Cullens keep to themselves. She made it incredibly clear that she got turned down by him." Lexi said, trying to say anything that she thought could possibly make Bella feel better about her day. "He's probably just pissed that he has to sit near anybody."
"You really think so?" She asked, resting her head on the redhead's shoulder.
"Well it would probably explain my day. That Jasper has been odd. He keeps staring at me as though I've done something horrible to him, I can't figure out why." Lexi replied, playing with the strap of her bag as she tried to wrap her head around their first day of school.
"Yeah? Well did he move so far away from you that he was actually on the edge of his seat?"
"Actually, the opposite." Lexi explained, looking around as though the answers to her worries would just fall into her lap. "It was like he inched closer every second, I didn't even notice until he was basically almost on my lap."
"I think we're going to have to get answers tomorrow."
As the truck pulled out of the parking space, Alexis glanced over to where the rest of the Cullen family were parked. Her forest green eyes locking with Jasper's bright golden ones yet again. With his strange glares and his apparent lack of respect for human boundaries, Jasper Hale was a mystery to her.
And she had always hated mysteries.
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As Lexi sat down to eat with her family that night, her mind couldn't seem to focus on anything other than the pale students at her new school. The entire day had been so unusual that it was hard to think about anything else. Turning to watch her father, she recalled how Jessica had mentioned that their dad was a Doctor. She wondered if there was any way that her father happened to know theirs and if she could find out any information before she had to return to school the next day.
"Dad?" She asked, mindlessly shifting a piece of potato around on her plate.
"Yes, dear?" He asked, swallowing his mouthful of food to focus on his daughter.
"Do you know a 'Doctor Cullen'?"
His eyes seemed to light up at the name. "Why, yes. Do you not remember me telling you about that doctor at work, Lex? He's incredible, one of the greatest doctors I've come across so far in all my years." As he ate another bite of his food, he looked at her with curiosity. "Why do you ask?"
"His children go to my school, they just seem kind of strange is all, they apparently don't interact with anyone." She explained, placing her fork down as she realised she wasn't going to be able to stomach any more food. "And if they do, they act… I don't know how to describe it…" Trailing off, she tried to think of a way to explain what she witnessed throughout the day. "They act like they have no social skills."
"Really? Well, I heard they haven't been here very long." He said, placing his knife and fork down on his, now empty, plate. "You weren't the most social person back in Phoenix, though, were you Lex?"
Looking down at her lap, she couldn't exactly argue with his point. People had tried to get to know her, but short of small talk she didn't really attempt anything in return. She had decided that Bella was all she needed in Phoenix, maybe the Cullens had decided the same thing about each other.
"Give them a chance, Lex. Maybe you could try talking to them?" He suggested, an encouraging hand on her shoulder. "You said you wanted to make new friends here, why not give them a friend too?"
"Maybe they just sense how much of a dork you are already." Adam snickered from opposite her, hissing in pain as she kicked his ankle under the table.
Their mother gave an amused sigh. "What have I told you both about messing about at the table?"
The two siblings mumbled their apologies to their parents, making sure to carry on their war under the table with slight nudges that wouldn't get them caught.
Lexi chose not to mention the peculiar stares that Jasper had been giving her for half the day. She didn't understand it herself and she didn't need her father bringing it up with Doctor Cullen and starting something unnecessary.
Her father was a kind man, constantly putting others before himself. He was her role model in a way; she tried to be as open minded as he was, to be kind to all others. Maybe it was just the reputation that the Cullens had that made her weary of them. Maybe, just maybe, she was being fooled and drawn in by other people's perception of them.
But her gut was twisting, telling her something different; her gut was telling her to run.
"Lexi, dear, are you alright?" Her mother asked, placing a hand over her daughter's.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She plastered on a fake smile to try and ease her worry "Dad's right, I'm probably making a snap judgement. I should give them a chance."
"That's my girl." He grinned, ruffling her hair as he stood up.
As both her parents moved over to the sink, she made sure to throw a pea at her brother's face, mouthing the words "fight me" as he looked back in astonishment.
-x-x-x-
"Edward's were almost black." Bella explained, as they spoke about Jasper and Alice's eyes.
She had come over after dinner to talk to Lexi about the Cullens. In an attempt to figure out what was happening, she had asked about any defining features that made him seem different to the other students at school. In the cafeteria Lexi had noticed that most of their eyes were golden and for siblings that were only related through adoption, they all appeared strikingly similar.
"You think it has something to do with your dreams?" the brunette asked, sitting down next to her on the bed.
"Well, I don't know. Jasper's are so close to theeyes that I've seen, if not the exact ones that I've seen. I'm so sure of it... But I just don't think that's possible…" Lexi responded, eyes staring at the ceiling. "How is it possible to dream about someone you've never met before?"
"Did you talk to your parents about it?"
"My dad doesn't need to know, Bells. He works with their father, it would probably just cause a whole mess that I don't need to deal with so soon into my new life here." Lexi replied, running a hand through her hair.
"What about your mom?"
She sighed "Bella, it was hard enough to open up to you about my dreams. My parents would probably think I need psychiatric help or something. Again, my dad is a doctor."
Bella got up and began pacing around the bedroom, trying to piece things together. "Why would they both act so strange towards us? We've only just gotten here."
"I don't know, Bella. But something is wrong, I can feel it. I just can't explain any of this. None of it makes any sense to me."
"I'll try and ask Charlie about them, see if he can shed any more light on the family." Flopping back onto the bed, she asked. "You want to come over for dinner tomorrow?"
"Well if anyone is going to know if they've caused trouble it'll be the chief of police. I suppose I could join you, my parents won't mind."
"I say that, before we talk to Charlie about anything, we confront them both tomorrow. Deal?" She asked her red-headed best friend.
"My plan is to just avoid them." She sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration once more. "I'm not ready to face the reality that I've dreamt about some guy I've never seen before."
She nodded her head in understanding, resting her head on Lexi's shoulder.
-x-x-x-
The golden eyes that had graced her dreams for years now belonged to a face.
The face of Jasper Hale.
He seemed to walk with grace, purpose, pride. As she glanced down, she noticed that they were holding hands, that they were walking together in an unknown place and she felt… Happy. He himself looked so at peace, as though all was finally right in the world.
A flourish of images seemed to pass through her mind at once.
Flashing images of him smirking, laughing, happy, swiftly changed to darker images. Until everything paused, time screeching to a halt as his eyes turned pitch black, teeth bared as he lunged towards her.
Gasping, she shot up in bed, grabbing at her throat and feeling for the wound that he had no doubt left behind in her nightmare.
Looking at the clock on her bedside table, it read two in the morning.
Lexi wiped the layer of sweat from her forehead, shuffling out of bed and walking over to her bathroom. She flicked the light on, hoping that some light would erase the dark images that circled in her head.
Looking up at the mirror, she froze as deep red blood streaked down her neck.
A scream caught in her throat as she swiftly rubbed at the open wound, her eyes shooting down as she felt nothing there, her neck seemingly in one piece. Checking herself in the mirror again, she saw that the gash was gone; there was no blood, no wound, no cut… Nothing.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she came to terms with the fact she may finally be going mad. Lexi was starting to see things; things that weren't there. She had no idea what was happening to her, but it couldn't be good and she had no idea who to go to… She had no idea how to get help without sounding crazy.
Splashing her face with cold water, she sniffled as she left the bathroom, getting back into bed. The day had already been so hard to get through; this was the last thing she needed. All she could think about was the fact she would have to go back to school tomorrow, the sheer thought brought a lump to her throat as a stone seemed to drop into her stomach.
What else would happen tomorrow?
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A/N: I was reading through the old reviews of the original version and realised that I should probably address something before moving forward. At some points it's going to seem like Jasper is manipulating her, before she finds out what he is and I can actually write his explanation. I also realised I did a really shitty job of it in the original version so just bare with me, ahaha. He isn't a manipulative bastard, I swear to God. It'll all make sense eventually.
Also to chellekathrynnn, I'm sorry you've just had to read through the cafeteria scene again but this was already written before I saw your review. So I'm so sorry you've had to read through it like you do in like every Twilight fic to ever exist; so sorry ahaha, I understand why it can be draining to read the same thing constantly.
Anyways, I'm trying to get these re-written chapters out as quickly as possible so that I can get onto new chapters for those who were reading this over a year ago. I feel so bad for leaving this for so long.