Veil of Desire - Jasper Hale

2.4

The following morning, Catalina walked into Forks High School with an eagerness that only came from knowing she'd be seeing Jasper. She'd hardly slept after the events of Bella's birthday, her mind racing with worry over Jasper's slip, wondering if he was okay. She hadn't heard from him since she'd left the Cullens' house that night. She assumed he needed time to calm down, maybe time to reflect. Still, she was certain that seeing him today would reassure her that everything was fine.

As she approached their usual spot by the school parking lot, Catalina's excitement began to wane. The familiar silver Volvo wasn't there, nor was Jasper's or Rosalie's car. It was strange—none of the Cullens were anywhere to be seen. She scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of that familiar glint in Jasper's golden eyes.

But the lot was empty, save for other students milling around. Catalina's heart sank.

"They're probably just running late," she murmured to herself, trying to sound convincing. Jasper and the others never missed school without a reason, and he would've told her if something was wrong... wouldn't he?

As she walked to her first class, she couldn't shake the anxious feeling in her chest. The day dragged on painfully slowly, every empty chair where a Cullen should've been only amplifying the sense of dread building within her. She waited by her locker, by the cafeteria, outside every classroom she knew Jasper or Alice might pass through. But there was no sign of any of them.

By the end of the day, she was deflated, a knot of unease settling in her stomach. Still, she tried to reassure herself that there was an explanation for their absence. Maybe it was a family emergency, or maybe Carlisle needed them somewhere urgently.

The next day, Catalina arrived at school, clutching her phone tightly in her hand. She had tried calling Jasper a few times the night before, but it went straight to voicemail each time. Today, she was determined to find some answers. As she walked through the school doors, she quickly noticed the same, eerie absence.

Again, the Cullens' parking spaces were empty.

A weight settled over her heart as she made her way through the halls, glancing toward each classroom in silent hope. By lunch, Catalina had finally accepted what she was trying so hard not to believe—they weren't coming.

Half-heartedly, she sat down across from Bella in the cafeteria, her face pale and her expression blank. Bella looked just as distraught, staring down at her untouched lunch.

"Bella," Catalina whispered, reaching across the table to grasp her friend's hand. "Have... have you heard anything?"

Bella shook her head, her eyes glassy and distant. "No. Not a word," she murmured, her voice trembling. "Edward—he said i wasn't good enough for him ... they're just... gone. They all left."

Catalina's chest tightened as she absorbed Bella's words. How could they just disappear? How could Jasper leave without even a single goodbye, without a single word?

Later that day, as Catalina trudged home, a chill ran down her spine. Her steps felt heavy as she approached her house. She clung to the desperate hope that she'd find Jasper there, waiting for her on the porch, with that apologetic look he wore whenever he felt he'd done something wrong. But her front porch was empty, the silence of her home pressing in on her as she unlocked the door.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Catalina sat alone in her room, staring at her phone in her hand. Her messages to Jasper were unread, her calls unanswered. She could still feel the touch of his hand in hers, his reassuring words echoing in her mind: "I'll always be here, Catalina." She clung to those words, repeating them over and over in her head, hoping to keep the flicker of hope alive.