Almost Human | Jasper Hale

Chapter 19

"What are you doing here?" The boy asked as he raised a single eyebrow at the girl. "Frankly it's none of your business and I could ask you the same question." The two stood in silence. Meg crossed her arms and tilted her head towards Jasper, signaling that she

"I was out...hunting with Emmett and Edward."

"I don't see any weapons." Meg pushed, using the flashlight beam to scan his body as she spoke. "The other two have them, I was just following what I thought to be a deer but just so happened to be..." He motioned towards her with his hand to imply he thought she was an animal.

"Well it's quite the coincidence we're both here in this small area of the vast forest huh? You sure you're not stalking me? I thought you hated me." Meg took a small step towards the boy. She was glad it was him, even though she hated to admit. For all she knows it could've been much worse, like a murderer or a wolf. If Forks even has wolves.

"I never said I hated you, but you didn't answer me." Jasper took a step back when Meg stepped closer. He was now very much the anxious one. There was a small bit in the back of his mind that reminded him of his plan that he discussed in the dining room not long ago. That part of him caused his mouth to begin filling with venom as he tried his best to contain it.

"I'm camping with Ella and Felix." She tilted her head back towards the direction of their campground. Jasper now had a look of shock or maybe even worry across his normally blank face. "I don't think it's a good idea to be camping here-" Meg shot him a confused look, which urged him to continue. "Haven't you heard of the animal attacks?" She shook her head. "They don't know what it is, but some vicious wild animal has been taking the lives of grown men the past few days."

A slight shudder of fear came over her again. How could she not know about this? A man eating monster somewhere on the loose and she's here walking alone in the woods.

A crack of thunder echoed across the dark sky, causing Meg to jump and adding a new fear sensation. Jasper was now much closer to her by the time she looked back at him. He placed an arm on her shoulder and her nerves calmed, there wasn't even an instinct in her to bat the hand away. He stood for a moment, fighting his thoughts and his instincts all at once. It would be easy here. There would be an easy explanation- an animal attack.

"I'll walk you back." The boy nodded. He looked at her with a gentle gaze. There was no way Jasper could help himself stay away from her. What he didn't know was if he could refrain from doing what's best for his family. What he did know was that he finally saw Edwards perspective of things.

"Fine, but only because I would rather not be mauled by some animal." Rain picked up faster than ever and within seconds it was pouring. Thunder continued cracking every so often accompanied by flashes of light.

With another crack, Meg sort of jumped into the boy in front of her as a way to shield herself from the weather. Once she realized what she did she backed up like nothing happened.

Jasper chuckled lightly, "What is it? Scared of a little storm?" His laughter came from the fact that the girl next to him was indeed afraid of a storm when there was something right next to her she should've been entirely more afraid of. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over the girls shoulders in an effort to keep her out of the cold rain as much as he could.

Meg scoffed at his teasing and began walking towards the camp ahead of him, yet clutched onto his jacket nonetheless because she was freezing after all. "Don't be a jerk ok? Im still pissed at you."

Jasper shook his head lightly, water flying off of his soaking wet golden curls as he caught up next to her. The two were led by the small light of the dimming flashlight back to where Eleanor and Felix were. His inner conflict was forced to cease when he got to the site. Or maybe it didn't. Three victims might be a lot at once but yet again, there was an explanation. No. Alice was right. Alice is right.

The door to Felix's car was opened with Ella and Felix cuddled up next to each other on the seat, both facing towards the forest. They shared a blanket and worried stares as they watched the woods intently waiting for Meg to come out.

Meg was close enough to see the dying campfire and reflective lights of Felix's car. She stopped in her tracks causing Jasper to do the same. "I can go the rest of the way...thank you." Meg mumbled as she slipped his jacket off of her shoulders and held it out for him to take back.

"My pleasure ma'am." Jasper reached out and took his jacket back. He nodded to her and stood, watching her run through the rain to the car, reuniting with her friends. With her safe with them, he disappeared back into the woods and ran off to continue his hunt, the jacket still in his hands and her sent lingering on it like a sweet and painful memory of what he almost did. Who he almost became again.

"We were worried sick! Why didn't you answer the phone!" Ella broke from Felix's arm and pulled Meg into a motherly hug.

"Im sorry, I didn't know you called, I had my ringer turned off I guess."

"Well we're glad you weren't killed or something. Come on we have to go." Felix shuddered under the blanket and shut the driver side door. Eleanor linked arms with Meg and they walked to the other side of the car, getting in their respective seats and buckling up for the short drive back home.

A/n this was a little short but it was originally part of the last chapter I cut in half for length :) Love Always -M