The Ramblings of Brighton Montgomery [A Jasper Hale Love Story]

Chapter Twelve

The night was spent peacefully with just Jasper and I laying there, reading. At about three in the morning, I gave up on my second book, sighed dramatically and laid it on my face. Jasper chuckled. I listened to him breathe in and out, counting his breaths as he did, 1, 2, 3...

At five or six AM, I can’t remember, Jasper spoke, slightly startling me.

“I know you’re not asleep.” he said. Obviously.

I flipped over, smiling, “It could be a gift I received.”

He smiled fondly, “No vampire gets that gift.”

I wished we did, sleep was nice, it was my favorite thing to do.

“I have to go to my house today.” I whispered.

I sat straight up, eyes panicking. My parents! What was I going to say!

Jasper sensed my alarm. “Alice called them, made up a lie about needing a shopping partner, said she was going to buy you stuff or something.”

I relaxed, thank God for Alice.

“What about the blood?” I asked.

A pained look came across his face. “Rosalie and Esme cleaned it up.”

A silence filled the room after I nodded.

“It was awful you know,” he whispered, “I could smell you a mile down the road. Carlisle must have too, because he called Esme and told her and Rosalie to meet at your house. They met us there, and we all followed your scent up to your room and…” he paused, struggling to get out the words, “we saw the blood. Then Alice got another vision and saw you on the ground and Edward heard you. We tracked your blood to the forest you were at and found you. I was going crazy at the sight and smell of your blood, but it didn’t matter. The sight of you pale, and struggling for life allowed my conscience to take over. Then you begged me to change you. I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t want to give you a life like mine, but I didn’t want you to die either. I guess I was selfish, but I couldn’t imagine a life without you.”

“No.” I said, tears forming at my eyes. Poor Jasper, what I must had put him through. “No, I didn’t want to die. You know how most people who come close to death, say they felt ready? I didn’t, I was terrified.”

I moved closer to him and hugged him. It no longer felt like I was hugging one of Michelangelo’s statues.

“Thank you Jasper.” I said.

He pulled me closer to him, and we laid there until it was a decent time to get up. At seven we got up and were instantly met by Alice.

“I thought I’d find you here.” she said, “Your phone has been ringing for an hour now.” She handed my phone to me.

I looked at the missed calls and saw twelve calls from home. I excused myself from Alice and Jasper and went back into Jasper’s room and pressed the send button.

My dad answered the phone with his gruff voice, “Brighton, where the hell have you been?”

“With Alice, in Seattle.” I said.

“Oh, did you get anything nice?” he asked, I knew he didn’t really care.

“Uh… a pair of yellow shoes, and a black top.” I quickly made up.

“That’s nice, I’m sure Janet will want to see them.”

“Right OK, I’ll come over later.” I quickly said, and hung up the phone.