Mourning Doves • J.H

Chapter 16

THE ENTIRE Cullen family had been absent from school in the past few days, almost a week. Bella and Dove knew something was wrong within the first two days, fair enough, one day away to hunt and stuff, but a near week, something wasn't right. One day, Dove left school late, reaching into her pocket to call Bella to come pick her up when she noticed a familiar blond vampire waiting for her.

"Jasper?" She questioned, "Where..?"

"Take a walk with me." He all but commanded, walking off into the woods, Dove's eyebrows furrowed but she followed him nonetheless. Neither of them spoke to each other, but Dove noticed that his hands were clenched. She looked up at his face, he stared straight ahead, not looking at her, he wouldn't look at her. Something was really wrong. He soon stopped and turned to face her, but was looking at the ground.

"My family and I are leaving." He said, causing Dove to jump back for a moment.

"Uhm, okay, I mean, I'm still a minor technically, but I can travel back and forth.." She tried to say but he cut her off, shaking his head.

"No, Dove. I mean, my family and I. Just us. I don't want you to come." He said, glaring at her. Dove bit her lip as her eyes started to water. She let out a shaky breath.

"You said you loved me." She stated, feeling her heartbreaking, it was even worse knowing that he could feel it, he was probably boasting about it on the inside.

"I lied." He said, his hands now in his pockets, still clenching as her emotions came over him in waves. He clenched his jaw to stop himself from apologising and taking everything back, it was for her, "I'm sorry I led you on, but I don't want you."

He wanted her to forget everything.

She laughed darkly, a single tear rolling down her face. He leaned forward and pressed a long kiss to her forehead, sighing as he pulled away and let his own lean against her for a moment before she pulled back harshly, he ran away before she could say anything. Their hearts were already breaking, if not broken by now, why add more?

She doesn't remember getting back home. She could've just walked aimlessly for all she knew, but she distinctly remembered slamming the door when she walked into the house, not finding Bella anywhere so she headed straight for room, shutting the door and finally breaking down.

She had been through break-ups before, but this seemed so much more different, she thought she had a forever with Jasper. She curled up in bed, and cried into her pillow. She wanted to forget Jasper Hale, but she knew she never would.

Dove kept to herself for a while, letting herself grieve over her first real love, much like Bella was doing, but she was much worse. Charlie was getting worried, but he didn't let it show much. He noticed that Dove was getting better and could only hope that Bella would soon. It was just over a week later that Bella was stood in Dove's doorway, smiling wearily.

"Um, do you want to see a movie with me? And Jessica?" Bella asked Dove. Dove nodded and pointed down at her sweatpants.

"Give me a minute to change." She said and Bella just waited in the doorway as Dove changed into jeans, Dove was tying up her hair as Bella spoke up again.

"How are you feeling? I kinda just left you to it, you know." Bella stuttered. Dove sighed and put on a smile.

"I mean it sucks, but I've been through this before, I know that I can get over him, and I will eventually, but right now, I'm still hurting." Dove shrugged on a jacket, "Now let's go see this movie."

"I can't believe you want to sit through a movie with all those zombies eating people and no hot guys anywhere. It's gross. Why are there so many zombie movies anyway?" Jessica rambled, "If it's trying to dramatize the whole leprosy, my cousin once had leprosy and it's not funny." She continued, Bella wasn't listening but Dove was in and out with listening. Sometimes Jessica did say something funny.

Dove glanced over to Bella and noticed she was staring over at some bikers in an alleyway.

"I think I know those guys." Bella said, nodding her head towards them, Dove furrowed her eyebrows.

"Yeah, they seem great." Jessica said wearily, "Can we go?" She said as the men began to cat-call them, making Dove remember the time in Port Angeles, just before prom. Her eyes teared up for a moment before she pulled herself together, she will get over him.

Bella then walked away, Dove looked over to Jessica, who was just watched, seemingly confused also as to why Bella was walking over there. Dove caught up with Bella, stopping her.

"What are you doing?"

"I just want to see something." Bella said, stumbling over herself, Dove looked behind her but didn't see anything that would attract Bella, "I need to do this." Bella said, her voice soft as she pleaded. Dove let her go and watched as Bella took off, speaking to the guy before hitching a ride on his motorcycle.

Jessica caught up to Dove, watching Bella, "What is she doing?"

"I have no idea." Dove said, watching Bella. Bella soon came back over, seemingly more happier than she was before, breathing heavily.

"God, that was such a rush." She said, sounding starstruck, as if she had met her favourite celebrity. Dove raised her eyebrows in shock.

"Are you an adrenaline junkie or something?" Dove questioned, shaking her head and not waiting for an answer before dragging Bella away from the motorbikes.

Later that night, Dove was laid in bed awake, she could hear Bella's slight snores in the next room, and Charlie's obnoxious ones further down the hall.

Of course, she was thinking of him. How couldn't she? Why wouldn't she just stop?

And then she realised

She truly loved him and he would literally be the one that got away.

Then she snorted at her dramatics, her life wasn't a Katy Perry album. She was determined to get over him, even if she had to start dating all over again.