A/N: Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyers. Anya Simms is all mine.
Chapter 26: Cafeteria Duet
Thurs March 3/05
APOV
Another day, another one in Forks. Rain, yet again. But I was starting to find my groove in this Dreamworld. The lion and the lamb had their dramatic moment. Seriously? Heroin? What the fuck was Meyer thinking, putting a drug reference in a YA novel aimed at tweens? No doubt the moment some pimply 13-year-old boy says, "You're my personal brand of heroin" to an equally pimply 13-year-old girl, she'd faint on the spot. "Oh, Edward! Yes!"
Ugh. I really hated this aspect of my life in Forks. Having to watch it all unfold like some poorly written soap opera. And all Edward said was it went well and she's not afraid. Duh! She's a 17-year-old hormonal teenager living out her fantasy. You could have told her anything, and she would have been okay with it because the boy was finally talking to her.
Those thoughts clouded my walk to the high school, and instead of jumping in the puddles, I found myself stomping through them with more force than necessary. I arrived just in time for the iconic arm draped around the shoulder as Edward swanned in with, well, The Duck. Bella, of course, was basking in it, glowing with that dazed look of someone who had just gotten everything they ever wanted.
I couldn't help but scan the crowd for Jessica Stanley—ah, there she is. Didn't need to be an empath to feel the jealousy radiating off of her in waves. The poor girl was practically seething, watching her crush walk in with Bella.
Empath. My empath.
I was thoroughly enjoying my time with Jasper, and I was happy I'd managed to project the desire I felt for him last night. He got the message loud and clear. But as I wandered over to the parking lot to see him, there he was, wrapped around Alice. Of course. The mated pair. Which I knew Meyer got wrong because there is no way Alice would be okay with me making out with her man if they were a true bonded pair. Rosalie and Emmett, mind you—that was a true pairing. I liked the big guy, but he reminded me more of my own brothers Grégoire and Michel, than a love interest. And I could see that Meyer got that pair right. They were suited for one another, a perfect balance of fire and ice.
But Jasper and Alice? That was different. I knew it was complicated, their bond shaped by both having unusual arrivals in this existence that to find each other, they offered stability. A chance to have a brighter, better future. Friendship, they were the best of friends. Hell, probably even lovers over the years. But I also knew it wasn't the soul-deep connection Meyer wanted readers to believe. No, that connection was something else, something I felt in every fiber of my being whenever Jasper and I were together.
I stopped short, watching them for a moment. Alice was talking animatedly, her pixie-like features bright with whatever vision had just struck her, and Jasper was listening intently, his posture relaxed but attentive. He glanced up, and our eyes met across the parking lot. There was that spark, that unspoken understanding between us. I felt my body sigh at that spark but our 'thing' whatever it is, is messy and complicated.
I took a deep breath, letting the jealousy that threatened to rise dissipate. I knew where we stood, Jasper and me. There was no need for the petty insecurities that high school seemed to breed. I had to remind myself that this was all part of the package—Meyer's world, with its imperfect relationships and forced narratives.
Still, it didn't mean I had to like it.
Making my way over to them, Alice caught sight of me and waved, her smile bright and welcoming. I returned the smile, even as a part of me bristled at the image they presented. Perfect couple, perfectly in tune with each other. The poster children for what Meyer thought a mated pair should be.
"Morning, Anya!" Alice chirped, her usual enthusiasm bubbling over. "You missed all the excitement—Edward and Bella finally had their big reveal!"
"Oh, I heard," I replied, my tone light. "The whole 'personal brand of heroin' bit was especially riveting."
Jasper's lips twitched in amusement, but he didn't say anything, just kept his gaze on me, as if trying to gauge how I was really feeling. I'm jealous, a tinge of sadness too.
Alice laughed, clearly missing any underlying tension. "I know, right? It's all so dramatic. But at least things are finally moving forward."
"Yeah," I said, my eyes flicking to Jasper's. "Moving forward." Are we?
The bell rang, signaling the start of another day in this strange, rain-soaked world. As we all turned to head inside, Jasper fell into step beside me, Alice darted ahead, caught up in her own thoughts, leaving us with a moment of quiet. His fingers grazed mine, a fleeting but deliberate touch. I glanced at him, meeting his gaze. There was something in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of everything left unsaid. God his touch.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, his voice just for me.
As much as I wanted to show him how I really felt, reality hit me square in the face—I was the librarian, and he was technically a student. It was, well, not kosher. Merde, I thought, it was more than that. Technically, it was illegal, with him masquerading as a 17-year-old when I knew full well, he was far older.
Jasper's expression shifted slightly as he sensed the flicker of my emotions, the confusion and frustration that I was trying to keep under wraps. I needed to communicate this to him, but without saying it outright. I started to hum Roxanne under my breath, the old song about forbidden love and crossing lines, hoping he'd catch the reference to the teacher-student taboo without me having to spell it out.
His eyes lit up with understanding, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. "Message received," he murmured, his tone light but with that familiar edge of teasing.
I gave him a quick smile, relieved that he got it without pushing further. "Good," I whispered back, the weight of our unspoken agreement settling between us. We were walking a fine line here, and as much as I hated it, we both knew where the boundaries lay.
Jasper's hand brushed against mine once more before he pulled away, the touch brief but enough to reassure me that we were on the same page. For now, we'd play the roles we were given and navigate this strange world the best we could.
When lunchtime rolled around, I found myself back in line by the microwave, my MP3 player softly playing music, earbuds draped around my neck. Waiting for my food to heat up, I noticed Mike Newton sidling up beside me. Poor Mike—still smarting from Bella's cold shoulder after she threw him over for Edward. Not that he ever really had a chance, but teenagers are nothing if not stubborn.
Just as I was about to offer Mike a sympathetic smile, the unmistakable opening notes of Can't Take My Eyes Off You started playing. Mike perked up immediately, recognizing the tune even through the faint sound coming from my ear buds. His eyes lit up with that familiar mischievous glint, clearly ready for some impromptu fun.
What the hell. I thought, feeling a surge of spontaneity. Let's give these kids something to talk about.
I stopped and shot Mike a grin. "You up for it?"
His grin widened, a flicker of his old, carefree self, shining through. "You know it."
Without missing a beat, Mike launched into the song, his voice loud enough to draw attention from nearby tables. "You're just too good to be true," he sang, his eyes locked on Bella, who was sitting a few tables away, Edward at her side. "Can't take my eyes off of you..."
I couldn't help but laugh as I joined in, my voice cool and playful as I sang toward Jasper, who was sitting with Alice and his siblings Rosalie and Emmett. "You'd be like heaven to touch, I wanna hold you so much..."
We moved through the cafeteria, Mike making a beeline toward Bella, while I kept my eyes on Jasper, who looked both amused and curious as I made my way over to him. The students around us started to take notice, heads turning as Mike and I continued our impromptu performance. A few of them even pulled out their phones to record the spectacle.
Mike, ever the showman, grabbed a chair and stood on it like it was his personal stage, singing directly to Bella. "At long last, love has arrived, and I thank God I'm alive," he crooned, holding out his hand to her dramatically.
I mirrored his gesture, reaching out to Jasper with a teasing smile. "You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you!"
By now, the entire cafeteria was watching, a mix of laughter, clapping, and general disbelief spreading through the crowd. Bella was blushing furiously, while Jasper's eyes crinkled with amusement as he played along, giving me a small nod of appreciation.
When we hit the chorus, Mike and I belted it out together, our voices filling the room. "I love you, baby, and if it's quite alright, I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night..."
The cafeteria erupted in cheers and applause; the energy infectious as we carried on with the song. When the song wound down, Mike and I took an exaggerated bow, the applause growing louder. We exchanged a high-five, both of us grinning like kids who'd just gotten away with something.
"Thanks for the duet," Mike said, still catching his breath, throwing a wink at Bella.
"Anytime," I replied, still smiling as I glanced over at Jasper.
Heading out the doors to my domain of the library I felt a little lighter. Sure, Forks was full of drama, vampires, even wolves. But in that moment, I really didn't care. I had just told the entire school and the Honey-Coloured Five-Pack how I felt about Jasper: I was madly in love with him.
JPOV
What the fuck just happened. Did Anya – did she seriously just say what I think she said to me? I mean I know she's Team Jasper but this – here – like that? After humming Roxanne to me when we came into the school, and I brushed her hand.
I was sitting with Alice, half-listening as she excitedly rattled off her latest vision, Rosalie expressing her disgust that Eddie Boy wasn't sitting with us but was with that human – Bella – to her mate Emmett, when I felt a shift in the room. It was subtle at first—a ripple of amusement, a spike of anticipation—but it quickly grew, pulling my attention toward the source.
I looked up just in time to see Anya and Mike Newton making their way through the cafeteria, singing Can't Take My Eyes Off You like they were headlining a show. This wasn't the first time the two of them had put on a performance in the middle of lunch, but this time, something was different. Mike was predictably focused on Bella, pouring on the charm, while Anya's eyes were locked on me, her voice playful and cool. No matter how many times I saw it, Anya's singing and dancing always had a way of captivating me, but today it felt like her voice was reaching right into my chest and my dead heart might just crack under the pressure.
My mind flashed back to that night about a month ago, when it was just the two of us in her living room, dancing to that French song —"Je t'aime à mourir." The way she looked at me, her body swaying gently against mine, I'd wondered if that was her way of telling me she loved me. We've been spending so much time together, dancing around the edges of something we hadn't put into words yet; Anya and I had never discussed the L word, but it had felt so close that night. And then nothing since then. Until today. Well I mean last night she insinuated she wanted to have sex with me, but sex and love are not mutually inclusive.
Now, as she sang, moving closer to where I sat, I could feel her emotions clearly—like I always did. That emotional cocktail I craved of joy and contentment was now swirling with mischief, desire, and love. A love so bright and earnest, it was impossible to ignore.
Mike, ever the showman, climbed onto a chair, singing directly to Bella with an exaggerated flair that had her blushing furiously. Anya, meanwhile, mirrored his movements, her hand reaching out to me with a teasing smile that made my chest tighten in the best way, making me wonder if it were possible for my dead heart to crack.
"You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you!" she sang, her voice full of that playful confidence I'd come to admire.
I gave her a small nod, appreciating the lightheartedness of the moment even if the love was a bit confusing. The entire cafeteria was watching, caught up in the unexpected performance, and for once, there wasn't a hint of tension in the air—just laughter and applause.
But when the chorus hit, Mike and Anya belted it out together, their voices in perfect harmony, Anya's love spiked, and my heart did crack. "I love you, baby, and if it's quite alright, I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night..."
She held eye contact with me as she sang, and there was no mistaking it. She meant every word. Love, warm and genuine, flowed from her like a river. It was directed at me—me, the struggling vegetarian vampire who could snap her neck before she finished singing the line.
With the song winding down and Anya and Mike taking their exaggerated bows, I couldn't help but feel shocked, the singers exchanged thanks and before she left the cafeteria, she locked eyes with me once more and the love pouring out of her was unreal.
Holy shit. my girlfriend, my human girlfriend Anya had declared her love for me. In public. In front of the whole school. And my siblings. I was stunned. Dumbstruck. There was no hiding from the reality of what had just happened.
The irritation coming from Eddie Boy, who sat with Bella a few tables over, was seriously impeding my ability to focus on the lingering swirl of Anya's emotions. He was annoyed, not at me, but at Mike Newton crooning to Bella, and at Anya for encouraging it. I could practically hear his silent message: Get a handle on your girlfriend, Jasper. Easy for him to say. But in that moment, I really couldn't care.
My girlfriend loved me.
