Old soul

INTERROGATIONS

It was very hard, in the morning, to argue with the part of Natalia that was sure last night was a nightmare. Logic wasn't on her side, or common sense. Natalia clung to the parts she couldn't have imagined - like his smell. She was sure she could never have dreamed that up on her own.

It was foggy and dark outside her bedroom window, absolutely perfect. He had no reason to not be in school today. Natalia dressed in her jeans, a jumper and Jasper's jacket from the night before. Further proof that her memory was infact very real.

When Natalia got downstairs, both Billy and Jacob were gone again - she was running a lot later than she realised. Natalia swallowed a granola bar in four bites, chased it down with some orange juice straight from the bottle, grabbed her bike helmet from the kitchen table and hurried out the door. Hopefully the rain would hold off until she could find Bella and put her helmet in the front of her truck.

It was unusually foggy: the air was almost smoky with it. The mist was ice cold where it clung to the exposed skin on her face and hands. Talia couldn't wait to get into the warmth of the school. It was such a thick fog that Natalia was a few feet from her driveway before she realised there was a car in it: a black volvo. Her heart thudded, stuttered, and then picked up again in double time.

Talia didn't see where he came from, but suddenly he was there, gently sliding her helmet off of her head for her. His signature smile, the side of his lip turned up. "Would you like to ride with me today?" he asked, amused by Talia's expression as he caught her by surprise yet again. There was uncertainty in his voice. He was really giving her a choice - she was free to refuse, and part of him hoped for that. It was vain hope.

"Yes, thank you." Natalia said, trying to keep her voice calm. As she climbed off of her bike and looked up at him, "One moment." she headed over to her kitchen window, cracked it open and slipped her helmet in until it was sat on the worktop near the sink. Talia slipped into the warm car, noticing another one of his jackets was slung over the headrest if the passenger seat. The door closed behind her, and, sooner than should be possible, he was sitting next to her, starting the car.

"You're wearing my jacket? I thought you'd wear another one of your hoodies." His voice was guarded. Natalia noticed that he wore no jacket himself, just a thin, light grey V-neck with long sleeves. Again, the fabric clung loosely to his slim frame. It was a colossal tribute to his face and that kept her eyes away from his body.

"I am wearing one of my hoodies, underneath, it's too cold for me not to use your jacket to my advantage," Natalia said, pulling the jacket further around herself as she crossed her arms over her chest. She liked his jacket better than any of hers.

"Really?" Jasper contradicted in a voice so low Talia wasn't sure if he meant for her to hear.

They drove through the fog-shrouded streets, always too fast, feeling content. Talia was, at least. Last night all the walls were down...almost all. She didn't know if they were still being as candid today. It left her pretty much tounge-tied and she disliked the feeling very much. Talia waited patiently for him to speak the first words.

Jasper turned to glance at her, "No questions today?"

"Do my questions bother you, Jas?"

"Not as much as some of your actions do," his facial expressions told her he was joking, but Natalia knew he meant most of it. The girl frowned as she looked over at him, "Do I react badly?"

"No, that's the problem. You take everything so cooly - it's unnatural. It makes me wonder how you're really feeling darlin'."

Natalia let her lips pull into half a smile "You can always tell what I'm feeling, and if you can't, I'll tell you." her head tilted to the side as she waited for his next words. Jasper's eyebrows furrowed, he kept his eyes on the road "You edit."