Hurricane ► Jasper Hale [1]

[22]

ALLISON STOOD BESIDE Jacob and Mike, leaning against the brick wall of the movie theater behind her. She stared at her feet, clicking the toes of her boots together as the tense silence between the three continued. The trio had taken to standing around the entrance way of the theater, soon after Bella had disappeared to buy the tickets.

The brunette sighed, reaching her hand back to fish through her jean pocket. She felt the cool casing of her phone, and she pulled it out quickly. Her finger clicked on the cellphone, only to be met with her empty lock-screen. Another sigh escaped her lips, and she ran her hand through her short hair in exasperation.

Paul had agreed to come with her, but he was nowhere to be seen. Naturally, the girl was angry, but she also felt a strange sense of worry. She found herself wondering if the older boy was okay, or if he had gotten hurt. Allison told herself that Paul had most likely gotten held up, or he had changed his mind and decided not to come. The brunette hoped for the former.

Her boot tapped on the ground, the only sound aside from vague chatter around the trio. Allison turned her body slightly, peeking through the glass door of the building to see Bella still standing in line for the tickets. A groan escaped her lips, causing both boys to look at her quizzically. Allison shook her head, avoiding their gazes as she pushed off the brick wall behind her.

"Where are you going?" Jacob's bewildered voice called as his brunette friend began walking away.

Allison turned her head slightly, looking at the boy over her shoulder. She shrugged, turning back around and continuing her walk. The girl crossed her arms over her chest, watching her feet as she slowly walked. She turned again, walking back toward the boys slowly. Allison swung her feet oddly as she walked, hoping to entertain herself.

The sound a sputtering truck engine interrupted her trancelike state. She brought her head up, searching for the source of the sound. A relived smile caused her lips to tilt upward as she saw the familiar black truck and the man stepping out of it. Allison shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, jogging through the street to reach the man.

"Took you long enough," she teased as she reached the Quileute. Her brown curls bounced around her shoulders as she jumped lightly on her toes. "I was beginning to worry."

Paul laughed under his breath, reaching an arm out to sling it around Allison's shoulder. "I knew you liked me," he teased in a singsong voice, squeezing her shoulder gently.

"Oh, please!" Allison laughed as the duo made their way toward the movie theater. Her arm wrapped itself around Paul's waist for stability as the man leaned toward her in hopes to knock her off balance. "Actually, I can barely stand you enough to tolerate you." She whispered jokingly.

Paul laughed once more, shaking his head as they reached Jacob and Mike. Bella was still nowhere in sight.

"No, but Allison butted in and got it stuck in Bella's head that this would be a good movie," Mike said sarcastically, seeming to be responding to whatever Jacob had said or asked before.

"Well, without Allison, you definitely wouldn't be here with Bella, so I think you should suck it up and stop being a wimp," Allison retorted hotly, announcing her return. Paul snickered from beside her, his arm still around Allison's shoulder.

"No—No, you misheard me. What I meant, was simply that you, um, you helped Bella's . . . decision." Mike stammered over his words, nervously grabbing the back of his neck. "You know, it's funny. I never—I never remember you being so. . . opinionated before Hale left."

Allison raised her eyebrows, clenching her jaw tightly as his words sent a pang to her heart. No matter how hard she tried, it seemed as though she would never be able to be reminded of Jasper without hurting. "Ha ha," she responded dryly, her face a devoid of emotion.