Old Fashioned *Jasper Hale* (UNDER EDITING)

chapter thirteen

Talia's POV

I put on a white tank top and pulled on a pair of black pants to go with it. There was a thunder storm coming, so we were going to play baseball.

"Talia, are you almost ready? Edward and Bella are meeting us in the field," Alice said. "Yeah, I'm coming," I said. I put a black hat on my head and walked out after Alice. The rest of the family, minus Edward, were waiting downstairs. "Great, took you long enough. Can we go now?" Max asked. "Max, be nice to your sister," Carlisle said. "Let's go."

We walked out and grabbed all the bats and a ball. "I'm running!" Emmett said. He took off running through the forest with Rosalie following him. "Come on Tali," Jasper grabbed my hand and took off following Emmett and Rose. Alice, Max, Esme, and Carlisle loaded into the jeep and met us there.

We finished setting up the field and Alice was standing on the pitcher's mound throwing practice pitches at Max and Emmett. I was sitting on the ground, staring aimlessly at the trees and nature around me when Jasper came up in front of me. "Sugar, you doin' okay?" He asked. I stood up and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I'm just fine baby." I pecked his lips and he smiled.

The sound of Edward's car pulling up caused us to both turn our attention towards him and Bella. "Since when do vampires like baseball?" She asked. "Since when are humans so annoying?" I mumbled. "Since always," Rose smirked walking passed us. Edward gave me a sideways glance, but turned back around and smiled at Bella, putting a ball cap on her head.

"Bella, I'm glad you could make it. We need an umpire," Esme said. "She thinks we cheat," Emmett smirked. "I know you do," Esme remarked. She turned back to Bella, "Call 'em as you see 'em, Bella." I started walking towards the batting line with Jasper when Edward started yelling at me. "Hey, no no no. Talia's on our team!" He said. "Come on, Eddy. I wanna be on Jasper's team," I said. "No, Edward's right. Tal, you're on our team. You're our best player," Emmett said. I sighed and gave Jasper a sad look and walked to the outfield.

"Don't be so enthusiastic Talia!" Carlisle yelled after me. I took my place behind Alice and got ready. Thunder echoed in the sky, followed by a crack of lightening. "It's time," Alice grinned. Rose stepped up to the plate and put the bat over her shoulder.  Alice pitched the ball at lightening fast speed. Rosalie swung and hit the ball straight into the forest. Edward ran after it as Rose passed the bases.

"That's gotta be a homerun," Bella said in awe. Esme shook her head, "Edward is very fast." He broke through the tree line and threw the ball towards the field. I caught it in midair and sprinted towards home plate, beating Rose by a millisecond. We all looked to Bella who looked like she was trying to process what just happened. She finally looked at Rose and gave her a small, slightly scared, smile. "You're out." Rose huffed and stood up, going to wait for her next turn. "Come on babe. It's just a game," Emmett said.

Carlisle was next. He swung the bat and hit it. Both Edward and Emmett jumped at the same time to get the ball. They both missed and crashed into each other, making a sound like boulders crashing together. Carlisle rounded the bases, making a homerun. Edward and Emmett laughed it off and went back to their places.

Now it was Jasper's turn. He gave me a smirk and I winked at him. "Hey! Don't go throwing off our players!" Max yelled at me. "Fight me Max!" I yelled back. Alice pitched the ball and Jasper hit it, making it fly towards the woods. I chased after the ball, climbing up a tree and letting the ball slap against the palm of my hand.

I jumped out of the tree and landed on the ground. I put my hands up to tighten my ponytail, and I realized that my hat had fallen off. I looked around for it, but couldn't find it anywhere. I heard Alice yell that Jasper was out and I started running back to the field. I heard sticks snapping and leaves rustling behind me. My head snapped around and I intently watched around me. I heard voices and quickly took off towards the field.

"There are people coming," I thought, hoping Edward could hear me. I broke through the tree line and saw that they had all gathered around home plate, with Edward and Bella in the back. I took my place next to Jasper and he put an arm around my shoulders.

"Who is it?" I asked. "Nomads. They were passing through when they heard us playing. Then they changed their minds," Alice answered. We waited in silence. Then we saw them break through the tree line. Three of them, one black male with long black dreadlocks, one white male with a blond ponytail, and one white female with bright red curly hair. The one thing they all had in common was their piercing red eyes.

"Hello. My name is Laurent. This is Victoria, and James. I believe this belongs to you?" the black man in the middle said. He held up my hat that fell off while I was chasing the ball. "My name is Carlisle and this is my family," Carlisle said, trying not to give Edward and Bella too much attention. Carlisle took my hat from him and handed it over to me, the three strangers following his actions with their eyes. Talk about creepy.

"Do you have room for three more players?" Laurent asked. Carlisle stood in silence for a minute, everyone looking at him waiting for his answer. He gave a tight smile, "Sure, some of us were just leaving anyway. You can take their places. We'll bat first," Carlisle said. He tossed the ball towards Laurent, but Victoria intercepted it. "I'm the one with the wicked curveball," she smirked. "Oh, I think we can handle that," Jasper smirked tightening his grip on me.

"We shall see." Everyone started heading back towards the field. Edward turned and looked at me, nodding his head towards the jeep. I turned to follow him and Bella, when a gust of wind blew straight by us, ruffling Bella's hair and spreading her scent throughout the field. I stiffened, as did everyone else.

James turned around and inhaled deeply. "You brought a snack." Everyone quickly jumped in front Bella. James stood ready to attack, with Victoria right beside him.

"I think it best if you leave," Carlisle said. "Perhaps you're right. We will go now," Laurent said. He turned and started walking away, Victoria followed him but James stayed put. "James," he said slowly. James stood up and followed his mate and Laurent into the trees.

"Edward, get Bella out of here right now. We're right behind you," Carlisle said. Edward turned and basically carried Bella to the jeep. Esme started gathering the bats and our other things and we started running back to the house.