DEATH WISH - j.hale

DAZED AND CONFUSED - 16

"WAIT, STOP."

Bella's voice broke the silence, causing the green-eyed blonde in the back to look up from her spot out the window. She scrunched her eyes, trying to peek through the rain-soaked window.

"Bells, isn't that your dad's car?" She asked, glancing at the police car that sat parked outside the sheriff's office. "Yeah, he should be at home."

"That's Carlisle's car too," Jasper spoke up, confusion lacing his voice. Edward pulled into the lot, pulling over into an empty spot.

Sara reached for the door handle, pushing the silver door open and stepping out into the rain. As everyone followed suit, Carlisle came walking out of the building.

"Carlisle, is everything alright?" Bella asked, pulling her sweatshirt hood over her head.

Sara saw as he shook his head slowly, his brows furrowed. "There's been an attack," Carlisle said softly, shaking his head sadly. His golden eyes locked with Edwards, sharing a knowing look.

"It was the animal, wasn't it?" Sara asked, her voice hard as she remembered the morning papers headline.

"Yes, and it was actually a close friend of Charlie's." Carlisle's face switched solemnly before he turned his attention to Bella. "Bella, I think you should go in and comfort your father. He's lost someone very dear to him today."

She nodded immediately, looking apologetically to Sara. "Go, babe, we can always have another sleepover," she urged her friend, nodding in the direction of the building. Bella spoke a silent thank you and in an instant, she was gone.

"Well, I'm heading back home now. Jasper, please make sure Sara gets home safely, and Edward, you can ride back with me. We have some things to discuss." He said, sending a small smile to Sara before turning to his adoptive children.

Jasper nodded behind her. "Let's go, Sara."

He lead her back to the car, opening the passenger door for her to climb into the car.

It was silent as they drove, the sudden news of death giving the air a heavy feeling. She sat deep in thought, staring outside the rainy window in silence.

She could feel the presence of Jasper Hale beside her — she had known this man for only a week and yet she still felt herself being pulled towards him. Something about this man-made Sara feel safe.

"Is that my sweater?"

His voice was warm and soft, sending a wave of butterflies in the girl's stomach. At his words, she blushed a deep red. After all, she wasn't exactly planning on running into the man, let alone being caught wearing his jacket.

"Yeah— It looks great on me, doesn't it?" She asked cheekily, raising her eyebrows amusingly.

He rolled his eyes, glancing to his right and examining the girl. He couldn't stop himself from admiring her — the way the moonlight glowed against her tan skin, highlighting her beautiful locks of thick, blonde hair in such a beautiful way that it almost made Jasper's breath hitch in his throat.

He felt things he had never felt before when he was in the company of Sara Adams, emotions he — the empath — just couldn't describe.

And as Sara turned to catch him staring, he watched as she cocked an eyebrow, curiously looking at him with such bright eyes. Her lips were slightly pouted, her wild hair adorning her face.

For the first time, Jasper felt almost human. Almost.

Thoughts of things that may be filled his head as he quickly turned back to the road. Maybe they could be happy together, just like Alice had visioned. They could be in love.

Or, maybe he could kill her — rip her throat out and finally give in to the burning desire and drain her completely dry. She could spend her last moment alive fighting, trying to escape him in an attempt to live. Jasper knew it would be useless, she would never be able to fight him off. With just a bare hand he could snap her neck and kill her.

Thoughts of what may or may not be — that was all it took to make a decision.

Finally, they pulled into the empty driveway of Sara's home. Jasper stopped the car, keeping his face staring straight ahead as Sara shifted to open the door.

She could sense the sudden mood change, yet she was simply too tired to press into it.

When she had finally climbed out of the car, she lifted the jacket off her small frame, pulling it over her head. Reluctantly, she leaned into the car, neatly placing the sweater on the seat that once held her.

"Thank you, Jasper, for everything," she quietly said, her eyes glancing across his tense face.

He gave a single nod in response. Sara leaned back up, taking a step away from the car, and then he was gone.

Sara wasn't stupid. Quite the opposite, actually, and she could immediately sense the change in atmosphere. She found herself watching the car driving away from her, a sense of longing overcoming her completely when the silver Volvo finally disappeared into the dark night.

And just like that, she was alone again.

With a loud sigh, she walked herself up the porch steps, into the quiet house.

She hated being alone, yet she was constantly finding herself being by herself.

She kicked off her shoes, dropping her bag, and carrying herself up the stairs and into her room.

She looked around, a dull sense of sadness and loneliness settling upon herself. She longed for the company of someone, her mother, a friend, anyone.

She sat on the edge of her bed, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her Spotify before choosing a song. I Know It's Over by The Smiths played gently through her phone speaker, helping to ease the silence and lift her spirits slightly.

She laid herself on her bed, staring emptily up at the low ceiling.

It wasn't until the song was finished that she shot up in her spot, her eyes wide.

"Fuck!" She yelled out loud, cutting through the air angrily. She had forgotten her car in Port Angeles.

A string of loud curses left her lips as she pushed herself off the bed, snatching up her phone and calling Bella.

"Hello?"

Sara ran a hand through her curls, wanting to rip them out for how stupid she had been. "Oh my god, Bella, I fucking left my car in Port Angeles. I'm so stupid!"

"Holy shit, I completely forgot about it. Do you want me to come pick you up and drive up there?"

Sara felt angry. She felt so stupid that she had forgotten her car. She desperately wanted to cry. She paced towards the window, taking a peek outside into the dark streets.

"Yeah, I think we should—"

Sara's breath hitched in her throat as her eyes caught on an object. Her blood ran cold as she stared out, the grasp on her phone tightening.

Bella sensed the sudden change in her friend. "Sara? Are you okay?"

The blonde was confused. She was absolutely confused and terrified. "Hey, Bella, I'm gonna have to call you back."

Before Bella could answer, Sara hung up. She was lost for words as she continued to stare.

She didn't know whether to thank the heavens above or to lock all the doors and hide with a knife, for through the rain, parked perfectly inside the driveway, was her car.

"What the fuck."

( edited - 2/5/21 )