Almost Human | Jasper Hale

Chapter 20

A pleasant surprise to an otherwise miserable weekend came during the following school week. Monday was sunny, beautiful with everything gleaming and shrouded in a gold shimmery light. There aren't many days Meg can experience a true sunset or sunrise and she's grateful for every little chance.

The Cullens didn't show up for school that day. Once Meg questioned it, Eleanor reminded her that every time the weather was gorgeous, Carlisle pulled all of them out to do some other activities besides school. How lucky. Meg was slightly disappointed she didn't get to see Jasper, especially with their project to present tomorrow and they hadn't been able to rehearse at all. All she had was a hope everything would go as planned.

The only good news to come from that Monday, along with the sun, was the fact that both Meg and Cierra made the Forks Varsity Women's soccer team. They celebrated with a trip to the local cafe for some burgers of course accompanied by her twin brother, Cam, who also made his own soccer team.

Tuesday rolled around fast as well. It was a nice day once more. Rare for one to occur two times in a row. A few clouds dared to hang in the sky, still overpowered by the suns presence.

Meg held the copy of Jasper and hers completed essay as she walked into the History classroom. The moment her foot stepped in the door, her heart sank with the foreshadowing of anxiety to come from public speaking. She had hoped since Jasper knew so much, almost strangely more than the textbook did, that he would be happy to present, but then again Jasper rarely talked at all.

She found her chair and sank into the uncomfortable metal seat. Her paper landed softly on the wooden desk in front of her as her pencil tapped a swift, urgent rhythm. Megs green eyes were locked on the door of the room as students kept filing in, not one of them being her partner.

She continued watching and staring, annoyed with everyone who wasn't Jasper, yet also very increasingly angry at the boy himself. No way he could stand her up for this knowing how important it was. The bell sounded. Each chime giving a deeper feeling of impeding doom. The door was closed by the last person who entered, also not Jasper.

'It's alright, maybe he's late...' Meg thought as her eyes finally left the surface of the door and rolled towards the pencil in her hand. She hardly paid attention to any of the other groups speaking about revolution and other wars and what not until-

"Jasper Hale and Meghan Reid, you're up next with the American Civil War."

Megs hand rose taking the pencil with it. The teacher nodded in her direction prompting her to speak. "My partner isn't...here." The teacher scanned the room from behind their narrow glasses, deciding Meg was telling the truth after all.

"I see, well I guess you'll have to present on your own since we have no time on other days, I'll just give you a few points extra credit."

Meg swallowed. Her throat closing with a lump that nearly prevented her quickening breaths. She just stared at her teacher a few seconds before standing up quicker than she sat down. The squeak of her chair caused the wandering gazes from the other students to fall on her. She looked across the room before picking the essay up and walking slowly to the front.

She could feel herself tense up and her body sweaty yet cold with the nerves. Her eyes closed shut as she took a deep breath and when they reopened, she began the presentation.

Megs lunch tray slammed onto the table harder than usual, causing both Cierra and Eleanor to jump. With the previous news, Meg had invited Cierra to sit with the group to which she accepted. She collapsed onto her seat as the group was still silent.

"Well, you gonna tell us what's wrong?" Cierra spoke up with a teasing comfort and a higher voice than she usually had as she motioned to Megs tray. There, Megs fork was violently jamming again and again into her salad, picking up little to no lettuce as it went. The fork met the plastic of the tray as Meg stared off onto the table trying to think of what to say.

"My project was presented today." Silence followed as she paused. "Jasper didn't bother showing up so I had to do it on my own."

"Wow total douchebag move." Felix joked receiving an elbow to his ribs from Eleanor.

"I'm sure he has a valid reason? Maybe he's sick or something." The petite blonde perked up, her optimism assisting her to try and find the good in any situation.

"No he's probably out camping or at the pool or doing something super duper fun!" Her voice heightened and grew louder with each word until most of the cafeteria fell quiet. Meg didn't wait for another response from the table as she pushed her tray away. "I'm not hungry." She mumbled under her breath and with that, she left the lunchroom with her backpack swung over her shoulder and her fist clenched in anger.

Meg went straight home after school. She didn't bother getting in Felix's car because after the day she had, she just wanted to be alone. It took a while, but by the time Meg cooled down at home, she was fast asleep in her bed waiting for yet another day to disappoint her.

a/n Sorry I'm rushing I wanna get to the good shit. Love Always- M