Old soul

BALANCING

Natalia slept better that night, too tired to dream again. When she woke up to the pearl grey morning, Billy and Jacob seemed calmer, happier now. She caught herself humming while she was undoing her braid, brushing out her hair. Later, as she made her way down the stairs, making sure to look through one of the kitchen draws as Billy and Jacob entered the room.

Jacob raised his eyebrows as he watched his cousin rummaging around the draw, "You're cheerful today...sleep well, Nat?" Natalia shrugged, pausing what she was doing as she grabbed the folded peice of paper and a pen from the draw, pushing it closed, "It's Friday, of course I'm cheerful."

She took her time getting her things together, already knowing that her bag was packed - all she had to do was put her shoes on as well as a jacket. Natalia made her way to the door, sure that Billy and Jacob would have already left.

Jasper was already waiting, in his shiny car, windows down, engine off. Natalia didn't hesitate this time, climbing into the passenger seat quickly, the sooner to see his face. He smiled at her, Natalia's breath stopping in her throat as she returned the small gesture. She couldn't imagine how an angel could be any more glorious. There was nothing about him Natalia would even think of changing.

"How did you sleep?" he asked, probably completely unaware how appealing his voice sounded with his southern drawl.

Natalia couldn't help but let herself smile wide enough for her eyes to crease "Fine. How was your night, Jas?"

"Pleasant." His lopsided grin was amused; as if he was reminiscing an inside joke.

"Can I ask what you did?" her curious thoughts getting the better of her.

"No," he chuckled. "Today is mine, remember..."

Jasper wanted to know about people today: more about her aunt - her hobbies, what they'd done in their free time together. And then the one cousin she'd known, her new school friends - embarrassing her when he'd ask about boys she'd dated. Natalia was relieved that she'd only ever really stayed at the talking stage of a relationship, so that particular part of the conversation didn't last long. He seemed as surprised as Jessica and Angela by her small amount of romantic history.

"So you've never met anyone you wanted?" he asked in a serious tone that made Natalia wonder what he was thinking about. And to be perfectly honest with himself, Jasper didn't exactly mind what her answer was - it was just a thought which pulled hard at him as he waited for her answer. A part of him was hoping, for what, he didn't know. But Jasper was sure he had never wanted anyone else as much as he had since Alice had told him what she saw.

Natalia sat beside him, silence filling the air as she decided how to answer Jasper's question without being too straight forward. The girl answered as honestly as she could without handing him the answer on a silver platter. "No, not in Phoenix." she noticed almost immediately how his eyes widened at the news, a grin distinguishing itself before it appeared.

They were in the cafeteria at this point. The day had sped by in the blur that was rapidly becoming routine. Natalia took advantage of his breif pause to eat a strawberry.

"About tomorrow-"

Natalia tilted her head, "Don't tell me you're cancelling on me, cowboy." Jasper was about to lay her worries to rest, promising he'd be there to do whatever she wanted to do, but his mind went blank at the sound of a new nickname. He had never heard anyone call him cowboy, not even any of his family had given him the nickname. Natalia watched him closely for a moment before reaching forward with both hands and taking hold of his, lacing their fingers together "Jas?"

The boy's eyes flickered up to hold her gaze, sending her a curt nod "I'm not cancelling, I wanted to know what you wanted to do..."

"Oh."