Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter 21 - Hiking Expedition

Friday, January 30

The forest was damp and cold, the smell of pine and wet earth heavy in the air. Tiffany pulled her jacket tighter around her as she followed Bella deeper into the woods, the crunch of their boots muffled beneath layers of moss and fallen leaves. The rain from earlier had left everything slick, making every step cautious.

Bella led the way, her pace steady, eyes sharp and searching. Tiffany could tell this wasn't just a stroll—it was a mission, and Bella was relentless. They had been walking for nearly an hour, winding through tangled underbrush and twisting trails that looked more like animal paths than anything else.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Tiffany asked, wiping a stray strand of damp hair from her face.

Bella's head flicked toward her, eyes narrowing slightly. "It has to be. This is where we always came."

Tiffany wanted to believe her. She wanted to trust Bella's memories, but something about the determination in her sister's eyes unsettled her.

After a few more minutes, the trees thinned, and a soft, diffused light spilled into a clearing. The meadow was small but wild—tall grasses swaying gently in the breeze, patches of wildflowers nodding in the moist air. It was beautiful, untouched, and it seemed to hold a quiet power.

Bella stepped into the center and looked around, taking in the scene like it was a sanctuary. Tiffany lingered at the edge, eyes scanning the perimeter. She didn't feel peace. She felt a chill that wasn't from the weather.

Bella's voice broke the silence, soft and almost reverent. "This is where Edward and I used to come. He showed me this place when I was little."

Tiffany nodded but kept her gaze on Bella's face, searching for something beneath the surface. She had seen Bella's face light up like this before—when Edward was around, when Jacob was near. But now, something was different.

The way Bella's eyes flicked away when Jacob's name came up. The way she seemed distant when they talked about him. And yet, the way she kept accepting his attention, riding the bike he fixed with such hesitant hope.

Tiffany's gut twisted. Was Bella really just caught between memories of Edward and the new reality with Jacob? Or was she stringing Jacob along, keeping him close but never fully there?

She wanted to ask. To demand answers. But she didn't. Not yet.

Instead, she kept quiet, letting the silence stretch between them like a fragile thread.

Inside, she was conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to protect Bella—from pain, from heartbreak, from whatever this tangled mess was becoming. On the other, she felt the sting of betrayal, the suspicion that Bella was hiding more than just a secret place in the woods.

They stayed in the meadow a few more minutes before heading back. Tiffany's thoughts churned as they walked. This wasn't just about a place or a memory—it was about truth. And she wasn't sure Bella was ready to face it.

Later, after the movie, Tiffany planned to talk. To confront Bella—not with accusations, but with questions. Because something had to change before things got worse.

Tiffany sat on her bed, the soft glow of her lamp casting shadows across the room. Her fingers hovered over her phone before she finally dialed Jasper's number. After a couple of rings, his familiar, calm voice answered.

"Hey, Tiff," Jasper said gently. "What's going on?"

Tiffany swallowed hard. "Jasper... it's Bella. I'm worried about her."

There was a pause before he asked, "Worried how?"

She looked down, tracing patterns on her blanket. "We went to that meadow—the one she used to go to with Edward. But something's off. She's caught between Edward and Jacob. And honestly? I think she's stringing Jacob along."

Jasper's voice softened. "That sounds complicated. Bella's dealing with a lot."

Tiffany nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yeah. And I'm the closest thing she has besides Edward. It's like she trusts me in a way she doesn't with anyone else right now."

"I get that," Jasper said quietly. "You're her anchor. Just keep being there for her, Tiff. Even if it's messy."

"I want to protect her," Tiffany said, voice cracking a little. "But sometimes I don't know if she knows what she wants herself."

There was a long pause before Jasper finally said, "You're doing the best you can. She's lucky to have you."

Tiffany smiled faintly, feeling a small comfort in his words. "Thanks, Jazz. It means a lot to hear that."

They talked a little longer, sharing quiet moments across the miles, until finally Tiffany hung up. She lay back on her bed, her heart still heavy but her resolve a little stronger.