❄︎ HOPELESSLY DEVOTED ❄︎ Jasper Hale

❄︎ OO. PROLOGUE

Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight Saga, nor do I claim any characters but Eleanor and any other possible original characters created by me. The Twilight Saga and all its copyrights belong to Stephanie Meyer.

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Despite it being the middle of February, Eleanor Swan found herself greeted by the pleasant warmth that Arizona had to offer as she left her home for a final time that morning. Closing her eyes as she stepped into the sunlight, Eleanor savoured every last bit of the Phoenix heat, knowing that just a few hours from then, she would be left wishing for it for quite some time.

Despite having been born in one of America's rainiest towns, Eleanor had grown up to love the heat rather than the cold and rain. Although Eleanor, much like her sister, failed to tan just the tiniest bit.

She had hope that this might help her not stand out as much in Forks, although, if she were the least bit honest with herself, she knew she would stand out like a black sheep regardless. Forks Washington was the rainiest town Eleanor knew, with a population of just over 3200 people. Eleanor and her twin Bella had both been born there but left the town alongside their mother when they were only three months old. Since then, the twins had only visited their father (who had stayed in Forks) during the holidays before they eventually met him once a year in California to spend time with him. Whilst Bella absolutely hated Forks, Eleanor's opinion of the small town wasn't as extreme. Though not fond of its climate, Eleanor didn't hate Forks. In fact, if Forks wasn't so rainy and cold, Eleanor could see herself liking Forks.

From what she remembered, she enjoyed its lush green landscape and the tranquilness the town offered. She couldn't imagine that the town had changed much, if at all, since it didn't change once all those summers ago.

Eleanor felt a presence stepping next to her, and so she opened one of her eyes to see her sister take in the warmth one last time as well, a small cactus in her hands. Seeing her twin's raised eyebrow at the curious item, Bella only shrugged. "It's just something small to remind me of here." Eleanor sighed. "I wish we could take the warmth instead." "Me too." "Well, it's just a little over a year, isn't it." Bella nodded. "Transferring schools in the middle of the school year..." Eleanor bit her lip before smiling at Bella reassuringly. "We'll get through it." The twins entwined their hands, staying quiet and enjoying the sun some more before their mother Renée called out to them.

Hands still locked together, the Swan twins made their way back to their house, watching as their stepfather Phil put their luggage into his car. "You don't really have to do this, you know," Renée reminded them gently. "No, it's fine. I'm sure it'll be great," Bella told her unconvincingly. Renée knew how much their daughters disliked the quiet town. She herself had hated it too. "And besides, it'll be a great opportunity to spend some time with dad for us." Their mother sighed. Although her twins were so different in some aspects, they truly were identical in others. Their stubbornness was one of them. "Alright. But you can come home whenever you want. I'll come right back when you need me." The twins nodded, both taking their mother into their arms for a hug. A honk pulled them all apart, Phil reminding them that they had a plane to catch.

With their hands held tightly together, the twins gave each other reassuring smiles before leaving their Phoenix home forever, embracing the heat a final time during their car ride with the windows rolled down.