Bloody Mary // J. Hale

Surprise visitor

It was around noon when Jenna pulled her bike out, heading toward the outskirts of town where the Cullens lived. The air was crisp, carrying the earthy scent of damp moss and soil, remnants of the morning's rain still glistening on the leaves. Clouds hung low in the sky, casting everything in a soft, silvery light. She zipped up her jacket, a faint shiver running through her. Forks wasn't warm, even in early spring, but the chill was lighter now, less biting than the start of the month.

The Cullen house sat deep in the woods, nestled away from the winding roads and main paths. Jenna had grown up exploring these woods—one of the perks of having a mom who is a ranger—but she'd never stumbled upon their address before. When she'd gotten it from her teacher, she was shocked she hadn't known there was a house out here. Maybe it was built while she was away in Seattle, or maybe it was just too well-hidden.

As she pedaled further into the woods, Jenna let her mind empty, focusing on the rhythm of her bike and the cool air whipping through her hair. The forest's thick scent filled her lungs, and she felt that rare, fleeting peace, a quiet in her mind that only came when she was truly alone with nature. She breathed in the fresh scent of rain on cedar, the world reduced to the hum of her wheels on the forest trail.

Before long, Jenna reached the drive that wound its way toward the Cullen house. The building appeared slowly through the trees, and when it finally came into view, Jenna's breath hitched. She'd expected something large, maybe even strange, but this—this was something else. The house was like something from a magazine, massive yet somehow blended into the forest around it, with walls of glass that reflected the towering pines. The structure felt surreal, an illusion that both belonged to and stood apart from the woods.

She coasted up the drive and dismounted, leaning her bike against a tree. Brushing her fingers nervously through her hair, she pulled off her helmet and took a slow, steadying breath. She hadn't expected to feel this nervous, but her pulse thudded in her ears. She was determined, though. She had tried everything else, and with the project deadline looming, this was her last option.

Bracing herself, Jenna stepped forward and made her way to the door, each step echoing with the growing tension in her chest. She hadn't seen Jasper in weeks, but she was here now, knocking on his front door.

Jenna had no idea what to expect. Would Jasper be bedridden, pale and weak? Would he even be home? Was anyone home? Just as she pulled her hand away from the door, it swung open.

"Jenna! What a surprise!" Alice greeted her, eyes bright with a seemingly genuine smile. "What brings you here?"

Jenna hesitated, caught off guard by how quickly Alice had opened the door. It was as though she'd been waiting on the other side. Did she know Jenna was coming?

"Uh, I'm here to see Jasper. Is he home?" Jenna asked, trying to peer over Alice's shoulder, but Alice subtly shifted to block her view.

"Jasper's... not feeling well—" Alice began, clearly hoping to deter her. But Jenna was determined. She had a class to pass, a mission she was not willing to abandon.

"I know, but I'm not leaving," Jenna replied firmly, her voice carrying a note of finality.

Alice glanced over her shoulder, briefly biting her lip. "I'm sorry, Jenna, but now's really not a good time—"

"I'll be out of your hair before you know it," Jenna insisted, squeezing past Alice into the foyer. "Is he in the living room?"