One Night Standards

Jasper Hale, God's Gift

"You really didn't have to take all of those info pamphlets, Ang," I comment, checking my phone for any missed calls from Jax. 

"I absolutely did. I don't trust the internet with teaching me the ways of how to be here for you," She explains, trying to balance her half open bag on her front long enough to stuff the papers in. "Do you know what you want the results to be?" 

"I..." Do I? "I have always wanted to be a mother. I just, I just never thought I'd be faced with it as a junior in high school. And definitely not with Edward's child," I answer, freezing immediately in the hall we were walking down at the site in front of me. Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper. All staring at me with eyes so wide and jaws so slack that I know they heard what I said. 

"You're pregnant with Edward's what?" Rosalie questions in shock, Alice mumbling something to the effect of "how didn't I see this?" 

"I- um, I -"

"She doesn't know for sure," Angela sweeps in with the save. "The blood test comes back tonight."

"But you did sleep with Edward?" Rose questions once more. 

"Rosalie," Jasper scolds, looking incredibly uncomfortable, possibly even more so than usual. I wouldn't want to talk about my brother's sex life either. 

"You had sex with my brother?!" Rosalie almost yells, Alice slapping her arm. 

"Rosalie!"

"No, no, it's okay," I mumble, giving the twins and Alice an awkward smile. "I don't entirely believe it either." 

"If you don't mind me asking, when did this happen?" Alice asks, her voice gentle. 

"Almost a month and a half ago," I answer. "I was foolish and now I'm here, getting blood drawn and having every pregnancy symptom under the sun."

"You weren't foolish," Jasper corrects, stepping forward and placing a hand on my arm, gently rubbing up and down, my nerves immediately disappearing. He always is magic like that. "What happened may seem foolish, but you are not foolish."

Jasper Hale, God's gift to the planet. Out of Edward's siblings, Jasper is the one I'm closest with. He is the kind of friend that is always there for you in his quiet way, and always calming in his presence. He's the type of friend you could sit with silently, each doing your own thing, and have it still be the most calming experience. 

"Thank you Jasper," I thank, giving him a soft smile as my phone buzzes in my pocket. "Excuse me for a minute," I request, stepping away from the Hale twins, Cullen girl and Angela. "Hello, Remmington speaking. 

"Hello Miss Rhodes, this is Kayla with the Forks County Hospital lab, calling with your blood test results," The voice on the other end greets.

"Already?" I whisper out, all of the air leaving my lungs. "Twenty minutes is fast, isn't it?"

"It's a rather quick test and today was a rather slow day here in the lab, so we were able to get to it as soon as it arrived," She explains. "So, are you prepared to hear your results?" 

"I don't think I'll ever be prepared, so just tell me, please," I request, glancing up at the four people who are watching my every move. 

"Well Miss Rhodes, congratulations, you're almost 6 weeks pregnant!"

"Oh wow," I mumble out, closing my eyes tightly as every anxious thought hits me at once. "Uh, thank you, have a nice day."

"You as well," She returns, hanging up when she realizes the conversation is over, and allowing me to return to the four. 

"So?" Ang asks hesitantly. 

"I'm pregnant," I confirm, the words so quiet I can tell she is strained to hear. "I'm really pregnant."

"Oh Emmie," Alice coos, sweeping me into a tight embrace. "What can we do for you?"

I laugh a humorless laugh, shaking my head as we pull away. 

"If I'm being honest, I don't even know what I can do for me," I respond. "I mean, what can I do? From here on out, everything changes. School, work, my relationships, everything."

"How can we be there for you?" Rose asks, her tone no longer the slicing sound of shock it was earlier but instead the gentle tone of caring.

"Just, keep Edward away from me. I think I just need some space from him for the moment," I answer.

"Of course Darlin'," Jasper assures, a dangerous look glazing over Rosalie's eyes.

"He won't be able to bother you when he's dead," Rose comments, and I'm sure it's supposed to sound comforting, but the thought of Edward dead makes my heart hurt. 

"No one will be killing anyone," I instruct, "I just asked for space, never for you to go murdering anybody."

"Rem-"

"No. No one is getting hurt because Edward and I messed up," I clarify, voice as serious as it can be when on the verge of tears. "I just want to go home and sleep the day away."

"Go, rest," Jasper nearly instructs. "We'll see you tomorrow."

"Will you be okay?" Rosalie asks, giving me a tight squeeze before I leave. 

With one final smile, I shrug, hugging both her brother and sister as well. 

"I have to be."