ℝ𝕖𝕕 ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖𝕤

🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 🅾🅵 🅴🅰🅲🅷🅾🆃🅷🅴🆁

After a lot of persuasion from Bella she convinced me to come to La Push with her so here I sit on the edge of a small cliff, overlooking the icy  ocean, the spray of the waves below rising high enough to dot my cheeks with cold droplets. The wind tugged at my hair, and the faint scent of salt and pine mingled in the air. For the first time in days, the chaos in my mind stilled. Even as the chill seeped through my jacket and numbed my fingers, I felt an odd sense of calm-a reprieve from the endless spiral of thoughts that Jasper Hale had ignited within me.

The memory of his touch was fresh in my mind: the delicate way his hands had wrapped around my waist, his lips tender against mine. It felt like a secret, fragile and temporary, yet substantial enough to keep me attached amidst turmoil. I closed my eyes; his southern drawl played on and on inside my head. The more I tried, the less I could banish him from my thoughts.

A voice from behind me broke into the peacefulness of that moment. "You really have no business being out here all alone."

Surprised, I spun to see a tall boy a few feet away, regarding me with a look unreadable in the dark of his eyes. Something in the hard physique, in the gait of the stride, sparked an obscure memory.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it was anybody's property," I returned my voice hesitant.

"It's not about that," he said. "It's not safe."

I cocked an eyebrow. Curiosity raised several notches. "Not safe? What, am I gonna get eaten by a bear?".

He smirked, the expression not quite reaching his eyes. "Something like that. I'm Paul Lahote. You're Bella's sister, right?"

Recognition finally dawned. "Eggy," I said, testing the old nickname we'd shared as kids during summers at La Push.

He blinked in surprise, and then a slow grin spread across his face. "Luella Swan? No way. You're shorter than I remember."

I laughed despite myself. "And you're taller. What happened? You used to be a little twig."

Paul chuckled, his posture relaxing. "Guess I grew up." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "What are you really doing out here?

I hesitated, weighing how much to say. "Just needed some air. Been a rough couple of days."

His expression gentled though he didn't push. "You always did like the quiet spots."

We stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Paul broke it. "You ever hear the old legends about our tribe?"

"Some," I admitted. "Billy Black used to tell us stories when we were kids.

The smile came back into Paul's face, but it had an edge to it now. "Did he ever tell you about the Cold Ones?"
The name ran a shiver down my spine. "Cold Ones?"
He nodded, his eyes unblinking. "They're not just stories, Luella. They're real."
I frowned, trying to make out what he was getting at. "You're telling me vampires are real?"
Paul didn't bat an eyelid. "That's exactly what I'm saying.

My breath caught. The pieces fell into place: the Cullens' unnatural beauty, their impossible grace, the way Jasper had moved that day to stop the van. And his touch—ice-cold, like the marble of a tombstone. My heart raced as comprehension hit me.

"And the wolves?" I whispered.

Paul's smirk got a boost from pride now. "You'll know soon enough."

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Bella. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" she asked. The worry was evident in her voice.

"Just taking a walk," I said. "I'll head back now."

Paul's face turned serious. "Be careful, Luella. And stay away from the Cullens."

I didn't answer him, just a small wave as I headed back down the trail. His warning lingered in my head, but I wasn't afraid—merely bewildered. If the Cullens were what Paul said, then why wasn't I terrified? Why did the mere thought of Jasper ache in my heart with longing?

Jasper's POV

The endless stretch of forest was before me, with the dank smell of earth and moss. I sat on a low branch, my thoughts racing like dogs after their tails: Luella's smile, the warmth she exuded, the way she looked at me was enough to drive me mad. I'd kissed her, breaking every rule I'd set for myself, and yet, I couldn't bring myself to regret it.

"She's not afraid of you." Alice's voice drew me out from my reverie. She was standing down below me, her golden eyes shining with that quiet certainty in them.

"She should be," I said very low. "She knows, Alice. She knows what we are."

Alice nodded, not a shade altering in her expression. "And yet, she's not scared. If anything, she's more drawn to you now."

The idea was intoxicating, dangerous. "I don't deserve her," I said, the words bitter in my mouth. "She's so. alive. And I-"

"You're more alive than you think," Alice said gently. "She sees that, Jasper. She sees you.

I didn't respond, the weight of her words settling heavy in my chest. If Luella wasn't scared, if she really accepted that part of me, then what did that mean for us?

Alice's voice was soft then. "She's going to ask you to come over tomorrow. When she does. say yes.

I met her gaze, searching for a question that wouldn't come. She simply smiled-the kind that insinuated she knew something more than she shared.

As she disappeared into the trees, I was left with the same question that had haunted me since that moment I first met Luella.

Why wasn't she afraid?

1/4/25  less cringy but the next chapter makes no sense soooooo..... yeah