Ashes [Jasper Hale] [2]

03 ; incomplete

"Paul shifted twice today," Jared informed as he fell onto my bed. 

"It's just two p.m.," I said, rolling my eyes. Jared shrugged.

"You still owe me five dollars, if anything changes, I'll give them back."

"What are you even doing here?"

"Sam is on a date with Emily," Jared made a face. "Dude, I know they've been together for only two weeks and it's still the honeymoon stage, but why do I need to see them sucking each other's faces twenty four seven?" he wondered.

"You're just jealous because you want an imprint already," I told him. "I think it's adorable."

"Puppies are adorable," Jared scoffed. "Kittens are adorable. The two of them making out is not adorable."

"Whatever Jared," I rolled my eyes at him, smiling. "Hold on," my smiled dropped off my face. "What about Paul?"

"What about him?"

"Sam's not with him," Jared nodded, "and you're not with him. And I'm not with him," Jared nodded, "what if he shifts?"

"He's sleeping."

I gave Jared a freaked out look. Paul, after seeing what happened with Sam's angry outburst, began being paranoid about his own anger problem. He seemed much more relaxed when me or Jared were with him, and Sam has been spending a lot of time following Paul when the two of us weren't with him, but leaving him alone?

That hasn't happened since the day of the incident.

"Come on Jared," I spoke up, though still in my pajamas, just like it should be in a Saturday. "We're going back to the rez."

"Alright," Jared sighed, rubbing the arm which had his tattoo. "Come on then." I left the room, and he followed. Bella passed us, her eyes unfocused, before continuing to her room.

"Your sister is a zombie."

"Yup." I said, slightly concerned, surprised she hadn't noticed that I left my room with a shirtless guy. "Hey, why are you half naked, by the way?"

"It's too hot for me," he shrugged, as though that gave him a reason to walk like that in Forks. Maybe in La Push it could've been acceptable, but in Forks it would make us both seem weird.

"Hi Ashley--" Dad stopped in his tracks as he looked at Jared. "Young lady!" he bellowed, "just because the Hale boy has left you can't go around sleeping with guys! Especially not in my house--!"

"Mr. Swan!" Jared stopped him, "chillax, I'm not into your daughter! I just came to visit, we're friends."

"Jared," I sighed. "You're shirtless."

"That's because it's really hot in this house!"

"It's the coldest day in October yet."

"Dude," Jared told me and Charlie, "come on, touch my body. I'm burning here, it feels like hell for me."

I didn't need to, of course. I held Paul's hand often enough these days to know he's burning hot. Charlie however touched him, hesitatingly. 

"Have you got a fever?" he asked, suddenly concerned.

"That must be it," I said. "Come on Jared, I'll drive you home. Dad, I'll stay at the rez, so I'll call you to let you know if I'm staying over to sleep there or coming home. See ya," I kissed his cheek, pulling at Jared's arm. "See what you've done?" I grumbled as we left the house.

He shrugged, "whatever dude. Everything's cool now."

"You're too chill," I laughed as we entered the truck.