Jukebox ✬ Jasper Hale

↢ 9 ↣

      "I haven't even introduced myself to him, and he's all like, 'I'm an edgy high school kid who hates people in general, but you especially,' and he sits on the tiniest edge of his seat away from me and holding his hand over his nose and mouth like I smell repugnant when I only smell like plain shampoo and deodorant," Bella rants ceaselessly about Edward Cullen, one of the resident supermodels in Forks, and complains about his standoffish and offensive behavior, stuffing chocolate and vanilla ice cream into her moving mouth at the same time. "Who acts like that in front of a stranger? That's like me going up to what's-her-name, the one who told us about the Cullens, and telling her that her singing sucks when I haven't even heard her sing yet! She could be an amazing singer, yet I've already judged her by only her name and personality! Edward's such a dumb jerk!"

     "A hot ass though, in more ways than one," I joke. She glares at my unappreciated attempt at lightening the mood, and I laugh and apologize. "I'm sorry Bella. That was insensitive."

     "It was good..." she admits tepidly. "But," she declares, voice growing stronger, "I'm not going to let this get to me from now on!" 

     "That's exactly what's gonna happen," I counter knowingly. 

     Bella sighs and slouches in her seat. "You're right." Her mouth twists to the side and she takes a second to rearrange her emotions. "Anyways, is there anything going on with you?" She studies me, trying to read my expressions. 

     "No," I glib smoothly. "Nothing but a pity date with Mike. If you can't have a Swan, there's also a Thompson." 

     "Don't say that," she reasons, "I'm sure there are plenty of guys who'd like you back." 

     I giggle, "No, silly. He asked me to go to La Push with him so we could 'get to know each other.' "

     "Oh." Bella blushes, embarrassed at her mistake. "Sorry, I didn't mean to assume-" 

     "It's fine, really. The only reason why I'm going is so I can get a ride there to see Seth." 

     "Seth?" she asks, puzzled. 

     "He lives on the reservation in La Push," I explain, "He kinda saved my life after I was waiting for someone to show up and it started pouring. I was wearing nothing but a dress, so naturally, I nearly froze to death. He found me after I fainted and carried me to his house." 

     "That's intense. When was that?" 

     "I think the third day I was in Forks," I reply. 

     She smiles thinly, no teeth, just lips, and says, "Oh." 

     "It was really awful and terrifying." I add plainly. 

     "Who were you waiting for?" Bella questions me, asking the question I was dreading. 

     "I was waiting for a guy I met... The second day I was here, he was supposed to show up at 6, but he never did. I was a little bitter but also slightly hopeful he would show up the third day, so I waited for him. It didn't turn out well, but I'm still alive." 

     "What was his name?" I grimace and Bella tries to take it back, "Sorry, I'm intruding too much, aren't I?" 

     "No, it's okay. You'd inevitably find this out at some point or another," I say. "His name's Jasper." 

     "Jasper...?" 

     "Jasper Hale." I answer and Bella takes in all this new information. 

     She bolts upright. "Woah, hold on. Jasper Hale? The blond guy in the Cullen family who looks like he's trying not to kill someone?" Her eyes widen as I nod affirmatively.