Veil of Desire - Jasper Hale

1.4

As Catalina and Bella settled into their seats in the bustling cafeteria, Jessica plopped down beside them, her eyes narrowing at the entrance. "Oh, Bella, just wait. You're about to witness Forks High's biggest spectacle," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Catalina exchanged a knowing glance with Bella, already anticipating Jessica's reaction. She nudged Bella lightly, a playful warning that they were about to enter Cullen territory.

Just then, the doors swung open, and the cafeteria fell into a hush as the Cullen family made their entrance. They walked in with a quiet confidence that demanded attention, moving in a fluid, almost ethereal manner. Bella's eyes widened in awe, taking in the scene, while Jessica leaned in closer, her voice a mix of envy and irritation.

"See them? Those are the Cullens," Jessica began, her tone laced with disdain. "First, there's Rosalie," she said, gesturing toward the stunning blonde with perfect features and a demeanor that radiated beauty and aloofness. "She's like, seriously stunning but also completely full of herself. And then there's Emmett, her boyfriend. He's a giant teddy bear but totally over-the-top, acting like he's some kind of superhero."

Bella turned her gaze to Emmett, who was laughing. "He seems nice," she said, genuinely intrigued. "Yeah, if you're into that," Jessica replied, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"Then there's Alice," she said, nodding toward the petite girl with cropped black hair and an infectious energy. "People say she's friendly, but honestly, she's just... weird. Always skipping around and acting like she knows what everyone's thinking. It's kind of unsettling."
"Seriously?" Catalina interjected, feeling a twinge of protectiveness for her friend. "Alice is actually really sweet. She's just different, that's all. She has a unique style and an amazing sense of fashion. And honestly, she's a great friend."

Jessica waved her hand dismissively. "Great friend or not, they all act like they're above everyone here. Look at them, sitting at their own table like they're royalty or something. They don't mix with anyone else."
Catalina frowned, her eyes shifting back to the Cullens. "Maybe they just prefer their own company. It doesn't mean they think they're better than everyone else. Besides, not everyone wants to be part of the high school drama."

"Oh, please," Jessica scoffed, crossing her arms. "They could at least try to fit in. I mean, come on. It's rude to act like that."

Just then, another Cullen entered—a tall, sandy-haired boy with a friendly smile who walked beside Alice. Catalina brightened at the sight of him. "And that's Jasper," she said, nodding toward the boy. "They're like best friends. And the boy right besides him is Noah Hale. Him, Jasper and Rosalie are the only actual siblings. And he's Alice's boyfriend or something."

Catalina couldn't help but roll her eyes at Jessica's persistent negativity. "You know, it's easy to judge people without knowing their story. They have their own challenges. Just because they're beautiful and different doesn't mean they're snobby or rude."

Edward walked in last, trailing behind the rest of the family with a confident yet distant expression, his gaze scanning the room briefly before dropping back down as if uninterested. His bronze hair caught the light, and he seemed almost oblivious to the attention—or simply uninterested. "That's Edward, but he's not into anyone here. It's like no one here's good enough for him." You could hear a hint of jealousy behind her words which made Catalina chuckle slightly.

"Honestly, Bella, don't you think he's just a little too broody?" Jessica whispered, her tone tinged with frustration as she glanced back at the Cullens. "He doesn't even look at anyone here. It's like he thinks he's above it all."

Bella frowned, glancing at Edward and feeling a strange mixture of intrigue and frustration. "Maybe he just prefers to keep to himself," she said softly, sensing the tension in Jessica's voice.

Catalina watched Jessica's expression sour as the girls continued to chat about the Cullens. It was clear that Jessica felt overshadowed by their presence, and Catalina felt a surge of sympathy for her friend. But she also knew the Cullens deserved a fair chance. "Look, Jessica," Catalina said firmly, "I get that they seem strange, but you don't know their story. They might be different, but that doesn't mean they don't have their own challenges. They're good people underneath it all."

Jessica crossed her arms, unwilling to back down. "Good people? It's hard to see that when they act like they're better than everyone." The argument hung in the air for a moment before Bella broke the tension. "Can we just... stop judging them? We don't even know them."

As the discussion shifted back to lighter topics, Catalina couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper lay beneath the surface of the Cullen family. She watched as Alice glanced in their direction, her eyes sparkling with energy. In that brief moment, Alice and Catalina exchanged a knowing smile that spoke volumes—she felt understood, like Alice could sense her defense of her family. It was as if Alice saw her loyalty and appreciated it.

Meanwhile, at the Cullen table, Jasper observed Catalina and her friends, his expression thoughtful. He noticed how Catalina stood up for his family, her eyes shining with determination. It intrigued him; he had sensed her connection to Alice long before they even knew each other. He felt the bond between them, stronger than the threads of fate that usually tied them to others. It was a rare comfort in the often chaotic world they inhabited. Noah, sitting beside Alice, caught Jasper's eye and nodded in understanding. "Looks like she's got your back," Noah said, his voice low but filled with warmth. "Catalina's a good friend."

Alice smiled brightly, leaning closer to Noah. "She really is. I think she's starting to see through the facade people have about us. She doesn't judge us based on rumors." Jasper nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. He felt that Catalina might be the missing piece in their lives, someone who could bridge the gap between their world and the chaos of high school.

Alice's playful energy mixed with Jasper's quiet intensity, creating an unspoken understanding that Catalina was even more significant than any of them had initially believed. Perhaps she was the connection they needed—a reminder that even in the strangest of circumstances, true friendship could shine through, illuminating the darker corners of their world.

————

Another chapter for you guys. I'm still very motivated