North Star

11. Strengths

"NO! I call for a rematch!" Jasper roars.

There is no explanation how I just went through two Cullen females and all the Cullen males and won against all of them; but I did. Carlisle was easy. Edward was a little harder to deal with since he was trying to use his mind reading ability on me but it only made me annoyed that he was cheating and I won. Jasper was tougher than the rest of them but his pride and his attempt to cheat using his empath ability is what got him where he is. My own anger and adrenaline and his forced depression and annoyance pushed me over the edge and I crashed his hands to another lost match for him.

The Cullens and the pack are pretty astonished at the strength in me, but they don't say anything. This is the newborn strength, but I should say that it feels pretty damn good winning at arm wrestles.

"Sorry, Jasper. You're going to have to have a rematch some other time. This was won fair and square," Jacob laughs.

"You shut your mouth, dog. I can't believe I lost to a newborn! This isn't over," Jasper growls to me under his breath. He looked really pissed. His anger emanates all around and everyone seems pretty uncomfortable. Alice pulls him back and pats him all over his back and whispers sweet nothings to him, but he's too caught up in his anger.

"Don't take it to heart, Jazz. She's just a newborn. Her strength won't last for long, you know that," Edward tells him, getting him to relax a bit more.

I want to smile but I want to keep my limbs so I kept my face as still as possible. Carlisle and Edward were the most appreciative, they weren't sore losers. I'm a little surprised about Jasper because he usually keeps to himself, even if his emotions get to him. I was expecting silent anger and everyone would feel it, but he seems really pissed.

"Alright, is that everyone? I have an ATM to get to," Seth says aloud, in excitement, waving the cash he had in his hands. Jake and Leah look defeated in losing most of the rounds. It made me feel good that someone had faith in me arm wrestling the ones that have more experience in this life.

"Not just yet. There's Emmett left, remember?" Alice declares.

There is? I look at her. I was really hoping he would just wait for another time and I would reject each time he asks and just keep my wins of the day for the rest of eternity.

Emmett walks forward, face smug. All the muscles on his body flexing and bulging, his frozen veins straining against his frozen skin.

Well there goes my high. I think I reached the sun, but now I'm sinking way down to the bottom of the ocean.

I groan inwardly. I try to hide my hopelessness and discouragement for this next match but my annoyance felt too obvious for anyone to miss.

"Okay, let's get to it then," Alice pipes excitedly.

Emmett places his arm on the rock, looking excited and determined. I'm sure I looked like my face had a spasm, unwilling to lose the fake smile and show how much I didn't want to wrestle against him.

I place my hand next to his and grab a hold of his. Oh, boy. He feels really strong. Tingles of apprehension ran through my body. There go my wins of the day. They couldn't let me have one day, could they?

"Don't hurt yourself." I hear Jake say but I'm not sure who he was directing it to, most likely to me.

Thanks. I thought bitterly.

"GO!"

The fear in me is to the brim and I feel it exploding off of me and I shut my eyes tight. But nothing happens. No pain and no shriek from the rock.