155Notes: Another really short one (sorry!). I'm trying to get over my laziness and back in the groove of writing, so may do shorter chapters for a while. Thanks to all who are reading, following or reviewing!
And don't worry, Jasper and Bella will meet properly soon!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Twilight franchise.
Words in Grey: Part V
"So, which one is this Bella Swan that has caused so much drama lately?" The drawling voice of Jasper murmurs as he slips into a seat at a table in the lunch room beside Emmett and Rosalie.
"Jasper, hey man! I didn't realize you were back already," Emmett smiles as he pats his brother on the shoulder. Despite the big man's easy grin, Jasper can feel a tension in the undercurrent between both of his siblings. His eyes rove from Emmett to Rosalie, taking in the small, yet significant distance between where the two are sitting. Knowing the couple for decades now, Jasper can practically feel the 'domestic disagreement' in the gap between their shoulders. Tiffs between the resident soulmate pair are rare, but they happen, and Jasper is not one to want to get in the middle of any of it. So he doesn't comment on the tension he feels, instead reaching his awareness out to the student body beyond them.
"I just got back, figured I'd get a feel for this girl now, since school's still in session and tomorrow's the start of the weekend. Carlisle updated you on the situation?"
"Yes, we're aware," Rosalie's voice is tight, tense. Jasper assumes she must be unhappy about the risk to her family that Edward's hunger for this girl's blood is causing. It is rare, for a vampire to encounter a human who's blood practically sings for the vampire to consume it, but it does happen. Emmett has felt and fallen for the draw, as has Jasper, though his case was long before he knew the Cullens. Rosalie no doubt remembers well the drama and pain that followed Emmett's craving, especially the guilt that Emmett himself felt. None of them could wish that on their brother, Edward.
"So?" Jasper asks, nodding his head out towards the students in the room. "Which one is Bella Swan?"
Rosalie and Emmett share a look. Jasper doesn't miss the warning glare that Rose shoots Emmett, nor the wince that the man gives off in return. Then the girl stands and sweeps her hair over her shoulders. "Come on, brother mine. Follow me."
…..
Bella lets out a long sigh as she drops her books to the grass and plops down beside them. As soon as she settles, her stomach lets out a long growl and Bella sighs again. Her lunch had been hastily tossed in away as she fled the lunchroom five minutes earlier, feigning a need to check out something in the library in order to escape the gossip filled clutches of Jessica and Mike. While the teen appreciated their attempts to befriend her and include her in their conversations, Bella could only stand so much relationship and soulmate speculation in one week before feeling ready to drill her eardrums out just to silence it. Luckily, the two and Angela all were firm supporters of not failing class, so never questioned Bella's claims of going to study.
But the excuse this time has left her hungry and grumpy and more than ready for Friday to be over.
"Hiding is much more effective when your stomach isn't screaming for attention, you know," the droll voice of Rosalie Hale breaks into Bella's train of thought and the brunette looks up and up to meet the blonde's eyes.
"Oh, hey Rosalie. Yeah, I know. Just… yeah," Bella tries to think of a polite way of saying 'better hungry than driven insane', but ends up stammering uselessly instead. A long silence follows as Bella continues to tilt her neck at an odd angle to see Rosalie. It quickly gets awkward for the teen, who tries to break the silence. "How are you? Oh and thanks for helping me find these sweaters, it's a lot nicer sitting out here with them. Not so freezing."
A much more masculine voice lets out a muffled snort after that comment. Bella starts, then cranes her head around the tree she's leaning against even further, finally seeing that Rosalie is standing next to a tall blond male.
"My brother, Jasper," Rosalie introduces with an offhand wave of her hand. Then she makes a disgruntled face and moves around the tree, closer to Bella. Reaching down, she pulls the girl up before Bella even has time to process the move. "Now, come on, there's a vending machine somewhere around the gym. Your stomach's growling is annoying. See you later, Jasper."
And Rosalie is off, leading Bella back inside.
"Oh, sure. Thanks," Bella says, before remembering her manners and the fact that - abruptly or not - she had in fact just been introduced to someone. Turning around to face the blond standing behind them, she lifts her free hand to wave. "Nice you meet you, Jasper. I'm Bella."
Bella and Rosalie are already at the building's entrance before Jasper replies, his introduction lost in the quiet breeze.
…
"I love pretzels," Bella gushes as she holds the bag over her mouth so the crumbs drop into her waiting mouth. "Thanks Rosalie, that hit the spot."
The girl in question just nods, and continues filing her nails as she leans against the wall next to Bella. "I'll introduce you properly later," Rosalie says. Without context it takes Bella a moment to realize the girl is talking about her brother, Jasper.
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
"I just realized, once I said it, that you might not be comfortable with it. Since his first name is, well, you know." Her voice is quiet as she makes the admission. Bella would almost say the girl is embarrassed, or at the very least uncomfortable.
"It's not an uncommon name. Jasper. I've met people with it before. I've gotten used to saying it," Bella tries to sound more confident than she is with the assurance. "Though, it is… I dunno… saying the name sometimes feels like cursing in a church or something. Like… ugh, I don't know how to really explain it…" the teen trails off, unsure if she even wants to try to explain the odd hollowness that has haunted her life thanks to the unmistakable grey brand on her arms.
"Alice calls him Jazz sometimes. Would that be better?"
Bella looks into the blonde's eyes in surprise. Once again she's caught by the unobtrusive kindness the cold girl has shown the situation. Smiling Bella nods, "Maybe, yeah."
"Alright. Jazz it is." Rosalie nods as well, clicking two of her fingernails together and removing her back from the wall. Moments later the bell signalling the end of the lunch out rings, and the blonde disappears down the hall without a backwards glance.
Bella just gives a small laugh and turns to make her way to her next class.
…..
