Fatal Affection (yandere Alice Cullen and Yandere Jasper Hale x male oc)

[25]

-Bennett's POV-

"Bye-bye, see you tomorrow!" Alice called out with a playful wave as I stepped out of Jasper's car. Her voice lingered in my ears as I watched them drive away. I felt a strange pull, like I wanted to stay with them longer, to escape from everything else.

As I turned toward the front door of my house, I hesitated. The warmth from the afternoon sun did little to thaw the knot tightening in my chest. The thought of tomorrow, of spending time at the library with Alice and Jasper, was both exciting and terrifying. The three of us had this unspoken connection now, something different and intense, but it also felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, unsure whether I wanted to jump or run back to safety.

Entering my house, I saw my mum wiping the table in the dining room room.
"How was school?" she asked, lifting her head slightly as soon as she saw me.

"it was good", I said before continuing "Um, I'm going to the library tomorrow to finish my project with Alice and Jasper"

"Why don't you take Jessica tomorrow? Has she met your new friends?" she said as she walked through our small home to put the clothes in the washing machine.

Jessica. The name hit me like a splash of cold water, instantly dragging me out of my thoughts. I hadn't spoken to her all week. Guilt crept in, weaving itself around the excitement I'd been feeling moments ago. "No, she hasn't met them yet," I replied, stepping into the kitchen. The smell of dish soap and the faint clatter of plates greeted me as my mum washed up at the sink, her back turned to me.

"When was the last time you talked to her?" she asked, her question innocent, but it struck a chord.

I paused, trying to remember. Monday? Or was it Sunday? The days had blurred together. "I think it was Monday," I mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

Her hands paused in the soapy water, and I could feel the weight of her disapproval even though she didn't turn around. "Okay then," she said after a moment, her tone firmer now. "You're going to invite her to hang out with you tomorrow while you do your project. And you don't have a choice in the matter."

I winced. Of course, I didn't have a choice. This wasn't just my mum's way of being friendly. It was an expectation, an obligation. Jessica and I were supposed to be a 'couple', and 'couples' are supposed to do things together. It was as if I'd forgotten that role I was supposed to play. But after everything with Alice and Jasper, Jessica had slipped further and further from my mind.

"Alright, I'll ask her," I said quietly, feeling a pit form in my stomach, I dont want her to come.

My mum wasn't done, though. She turned her head slightly, just enough to catch my eye. "No, you'll call her and ask her. You can use the landline, so I know you've actually called."

I sighed internally but nodded. There was no getting out of it now. Walking over to the phone on the kitchen counter, I picked up the receiver and scrolled through the contacts until I found Jessica's home number. The old landline felt heavy in my hand as I dialled, each beep feeling like a countdown to something I didn't want to face.

It rang once. Then twice.

"Smith residence," came Jessica's grandfather's familiar, deep voice. His tone was always stern, sending a shiver down my spine, even through the phone.

"H-Hi, Mr. Smith. It's Bennett," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I was wondering if Jessica was there?"

A beat of silence followed before his voice thundered through the receiver. "It's about damn time you called, boy. My Jessica's been in pieces because you haven't talked to her!" His words felt like a slap, and I flinched, gripping the phone tighter. My throat dried up, and I could barely muster a response as I listened to him shout for Jessica to come downstairs.

I felt my pulse quicken. Mr. Smith had always intimidated me, but lately, his presence felt suffocating. "Now, you don't upset my granddaughter. Do you hear me?" he growled, his voice a low warning.

"Yes, sir," I muttered. The words felt hollow. I wouldn't say I liked talking to him—it was like every conversation reminded me of how I was supposed to fit into their world, a world I wasn't sure I belonged in. I dont like Jessica's family much.

There was a soft click, followed by Jessica's familiar voice. "Hello?"

"Hi, Jessica, it's Bennett," I said, glancing at my mum. She was wiping her hands dry, listening to every word of my half of the conversation with that knowing look only mothers seem to have. It made me feel even more trapped.

"Oh, hi, Bennett!" Jessica's voice brightened instantly, and I could almost hear the smile in her tone. The happiness in her voice made my chest ache. She sounded so genuinely pleased to hear from me, which only worsened the guilt.

"I... Did you want to go to the library with me tomorrow," I began awkwardly, the words tumbling out before I could overthink them. "I mean, I have a project due, and I'm meeting my friends there. Do you want to join us?"

There was a slight pause, and I could feel the nerves creeping in. Did she think I was being rude? Did she expect this to be just us alone? I didn't want to give her the wrong idea, but I also didn't want her to feel excluded. I was walking a tightrope, unsure which way I'd fall.

"What time?" she asked, her voice dulling slightly.

"Oh, uh, ten in the morning," I replied, relieved she didn't sound upset. "That's when we're meeting. If you're free around then..."

"I should be free," she said, and I could hear the slight excitement in her voice. "I'll meet you there?"

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," I said quickly, eager to end the conversation before the knot in my chest grew any tighter.

"See you tomorrow, Bennett. Bye!" Jessica's voice rang out one last time before the line went dead.

I placed the receiver back on the hook and turned to find my mum watching me, her expression thoughtful as she wiped the counter. The kitchen was warm, sunlight streaming in through the window, casting a golden hue over the room. Everything felt so typical, yet inside, I was anything but.

"Good. It's important you keep in touch with her," Mum said, her tone softer now, though there was an edge to it that I couldn't quite place. She walked over and leaned against the counter, drying her hands with a dish towel.

"I know," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. "I've just been busy."

Mum's eyes softened slightly, but she didn't let me off the hook. "Bennett, she's your fiancée. You can't just ignore her because you're distracted by your new friends." Her words were careful, but I could tell there was more beneath them.

"I'm not ignoring her," I said quickly, even though I knew deep down that wasn't entirely true. I had been avoiding Jessica, and whether it was intentional or not, I wasn't sure. "I'm just, I don't know. Things are different now."

Mum studied me for a long moment, her gaze searching my face like she was trying to understand something I wasn't saying. "Different, how?"

I hesitated, unsure how to put it into words. How could I explain that spending time with Alice and Jasper felt like stepping into another world, one where everything was unpredictable but exciting? How could I say that Jessica, sweet, kind Jessica, just didn't fit into that world?

"I don't know," I muttered again, glancing down at the floor. "It's just hard."

Mum sighed softly and stepped closer, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Look, I know you're under a lot of pressure right now, but you need to figure out what you want, Bennett. You can't keep drifting between things. Jessica deserves to know where she stands with you, and so do you. we have had this all sorted out for years now and were not changing it now"

I nodded, but her words only deepened the conflict inside me. What did I want? I wasn't even sure anymore.

Please vote, and I hope you have enjoyed xxx
30th October 2024