Almost Human | Jasper Hale

Chapter 14

Meg was curious to see where the Cullens lived. She guessed that they owned some regal mansion far away from everyone else with personal chefs and sports cars, but then again they never acted rich and Meg didn't know how much a doctors salary could realistically get someone. Needless to say she was partially right.

The light got dimmer from the day as Jasper drove his car further into the woods and away from common streets. It was a more pleasant area despite it being shrouded in various plants and trees. However, that happened to make it seem more elegant. Soon, the tires rolled over a driveway of pebbles leading up to a quite large modern home. There were many large glass windows looking over every direction and wooden steps leading to the front door.

"Wow..." Meg thought aloud as she marveled in the beauty and grace of it all. "Well... thank you." Jasper smirked as he parked the car and got out. Meg placed a hand on the interior car handle, but Jasper beat her to it, appearing as if he had always stood there as he opened the door. "Why thank you, sir." Meg teased in a faint southern accent as she rose from her seat. "My pleasure ma'am." Jasper nodded, finding her teasing amusing and almost completely forgetting what occurred moments before. He reached into the car and picked up her backpack, slinging it around his own shoulder when she reached to take it from it.

Meg felt her cheeks get warm yet she shook the feeling and crossed her arms. His kindness and hospitality sure was a breath of fresh air compared to the other airhead teenage boys, but Meg could never show Jasper she was fond of it. Though Jasper certainly knew she was. "I can carry my backpack you know."

"Yes, I know, it's the least I can do for already finishing nearly all of the project." He shut the car door and walked ahead of her towards the staircase leading to the front door. "You what?!" Meg gasped, her jaw dropping slightly. "You know we're doing this so it can be done together right! Oh you jerk..." Meg lifted a fist to mockingly punch his arm, yet remembered what happened last time and lowered it. To satisfy herself, she stuck her tongue out at the back of his head.

Jasper opened the front door for her and motioned for Meg to walk inside. "Don't worry" he began as she followed his directions, "I'll let you revise it. I'm sure you'll make a lot of corrections. Let's just... be quick about it." He stepped in behind her and the door swung shut. "What's that supposed to mean?" Meg furrowed her brows at him. Her expression was a jokingly pissed one. Her green eyes narrowed and her mouth in a small frown. Before Jasper could clap back with his smirk, they were interrupted by a light voice from the other end of the room.

"Welcome! You must be Meg." A woman walked over to the two, her heels clicking swiftly against the flooring. Meg guessed that she was Jaspers adoptive mother, but she looked young. Older than Jasper yes, but still quite young to have a house full of teenagers. She pulled Meg into a hug that gave a fairly motherly feel, one Meg really hadn't felt from anyone. She returned it only with one of her arms, "Yes I am." The woman released Meg from the hug and rested her hands on her upper arms.

"I'm Esme. I'm sure the others will be back soon. Meanwhile, Jasper can show you around." Esme's smile was bright and genuinely joyful. It was clear who Alice got all of her optimism from, even though they weren't really related. "Thank you." was all that Meg thought of saying as Esme winked and returned to the opposite side of the room.

Jasper had been staring blankly away from his adoptive mother and Meg until Esme walked away again. "Right, well follow me then." His smiling face was straight again as if he erased all of his emotions down to a blank slate. Meg then grew away from her positive attitude to a more disappointed one. She grew more and more sick of his mood swings around her. They couldn't help but make her feel bad about herself like she was the problem, not that she ever thought different.