Lifelines - Jasper Hale

Ten - The problem

Lunchtime could not come any faster for Joan. She had spent the majority of the day alone and could feel herself fill with nervous energy. She had not seen anyone from her family yet alone her mate since the day had begun. Therefore, she wished for some form of social interaction as despite the aura she gave off, a small amount of social interaction was something she needed. Maybe it was a precaution to stop her from retreating within herself or it was to convince herself that everything that had happened since 1945 was real. 

The family had met outside of Joan's locker prior to her own arrival. Ever since they had started school, she was always the last to arrive at her locker, taking the longest to get through the large crowd of people heading to lunch. This was due to her desire to avoid as many random strangers bumping into her or touching her in passing. It had been decided sometime during the 70s that they would always wait for each other at her locker during lunchtime. The school body probably thought it was so that they could do a dramatic entry as a family. Rather it was so that they could socialise with each other. When they were alone in class it meant that they were silent. Therefore, a little 'human' interaction was always necessary. 

Slowly they moved towards the canteen. It was a room full of cheap circular circles with plastic chairs. It was a loud place full of gossiping teenagers eagerly catching up after the morning classes. The family only went to the canteen to keep up appearances. Joan would much rather sit outside on one of the tables provided. However, with the amount of rain the dreary forks got, this was not something which could be done every day. So today they were once again going to purchase food and not consume it, but fake that they had. Really, it was a complicated process to trick the surrounding teenagers that they were normal. 

As they entered the room Joan was able to hear the school's self-proclaimed gossip queen Jessica talk to the new girl Bobo about the family. She stifled a laugh at some of the girls as they tried to argue whether their relationships were legal or not. 

"The little dark-haired girl is Alice, she's really weird. The slightly tall girl following behind her is Joan, she and Alice are biological siblings, Dr Cullen's goddaughters or something like that. She's like some kind of ball of nervous energy. Honestly, it's a little off-putting. And she's with Jasper, the blond one, who always look's as though he's in pain." 

Joan turned to Jasper "Do I look like a ball of nervous energy?" She questioned raising an eyebrow slightly. 

"Well... I mean you don't not look like a ball of nervous energy Jo-Jo" He responded. Joan let out a mock gasp as she hit Jasper on the arm. Jasper let out a small chuckle to her action. The two then proceeded to the table their family had sat at every day for the last two years. It was as though no other person would dare sit there or if everyone was scared they would eat them if they sat at their table. It was a possibility but highly improbable. 

The rest of the day passed by slowly. No matter what she did Joan was feeling the dragging sensation which came along with continuing with school. Sure she still felt the first day jitters and the nerves which she felt for everyone in the family. Yet by the time the school day finished she was ready to head home and relax. Spend some time with her mother and her cars. The perfect remedy to a stressful day.

The family gathered outside of the school near where their cars had been parked that morning. They were waiting for Edward who had taken his sweet time to leave the school this afternoon. Normally, he was one of the first ones out having to deal with the female population being the only single brother in the family. It meant that he was always waiting for everyone else so he could escape from the torments of single hormonal teenage girls. He was more than 10 minutes later than normal. This put Joan on edge for he was disrupting their pattern on the first day of term and she did not know how to respond. She slowly gravitated her way towards Jasper in the attempt to reconnect with the ground. 

She anxiously checked her watch to determine what the time was and how late Edward was. The time was slowly ticking towards the 15 minutes later than he should have been. Joan's level of panic was only increasing with the time that passed. Her brain was working through a list of worst-case scenarios whilst also attempting to readjust the rest of her evening to accommodate for the time delays this part of the day was going through. 

Nearly 20 minutes after Edward was supposed to meet the others did he dramatically exit the school. His hands were pushed roughly into the pockets of his slightly worn denim jeans. He rushed towards the others opening the doors of the car with the keys he had clutched in one hand. He did not speak rather clambering into the driver's seat and watching as his siblings then rushed to get into the right car before they left. He then sped off in the direction of the house.

No explanation was given by Edward for his strange behaviour until Carlisle had returned from work that evening. A family meeting was called as Edward attempted to rush out an explanation of his day and how it had gone so bad. 

"I nearly lost control today." He started pausing dramatically looking to see the reactions of his other family members. "I was paired with the new girl Bella in biology." He paused once again in which time Joan turned towards Jasper and mouthed 'Bobo?' in response realising that the girl she thought was named Bobo had in fact been the new girl they had talked about that morning, Bella. "I've never smelt something so attractive, I could have drained her right then."

"Well, son, I believe what your talking about is a blood singer. This may be an early form of the mate bond or just someone who has blood which calls to you more than it should. I cannot tell you which for it is too early." Carlise had gone onto reason. He was the best at explaining everything the others could not understand. 

"I'll be leaving for a few days just to clear my head. I think I'll go back to Alaska but I'm not sure I just need some time away from her to get my control back." Edward justified

"Well this is just going to start a whole new load of problems for us isn't it?" Voiced Rosalie