a Twilight's End

Sasha



There are forms of torment that are very specific to people my age. One of those is moving to an entirely different city, in a different state, and attending a totally new and different school. I'm not one of those well-adjusted youths. I barely had my own set of friends back home in Eau Claire. Now, here I am in Forks, Washington. My mother and father moved me and my younger brother here from Wisconsin, and I'm not even sure why. I think my father is running from a gambling debt. He's that kind of person: gambles, drinks, and other even worse stuff. We don't live in the pretty-house part of Forks, but further inland. Three tiny bedrooms that seem uneven and weird, altered just so a real estate agent could say yeah, this house has three bedrooms. Mine is at the top of a set of creaky stairs; I have the sneaking suspicion it used to be a crawl space.

One shining beacon of light was Jasper. He did something that no other boy has ever done to me. He came up and talked to me, actually introducing himself and being polite and just...nice. And consequently, adorable. Was he interested in me, or just polite? I couldn't afford to hope for anything out of bounds to me. Plus, he gave of the air of wealth. It's just the way those kinds of kids hold themself, you can just tell. Especially my kind...we can always tell. He didn't seem the sort to rub it in people's face though. He seemed geniunely nice, which was more than I could say for the boys back at my old high school.

Of one thing I was certain: I wanted the night to end, for it to be morning. I couldn't help myself or my quicky soaring hopes; I really wanted to see Jasper again. There was something mysterious and altogether wonderful about him.





Alice



I saw it as clearly as the other visions. Jasper was about to change paths, as it were. It stung me, I had to admit. We were never official, certainly not like Emmett and Rosalie, or even Bella and Edward. We had our own subtle form of flirtation and while Esme encouraged it, it made me feel uncomfortable because I knew Jasper was very new to the idea of romance, especially to someone who was 'raised' alongside him as a sister. Of course, I loved Jasper. But I also loved everyone I care about. I crept to his room in the middle of the night. Old habit; I knew very well he could sense my approach. At least it gave him time to make himself decent if he needed. Poor Jasper, he is much more shy about his body than Edward and Emmett.

"Hello Jasper," I said softly. The moonlight streaked through his bedroom window, lighting his slender but strong body in profile. He was very good looking, I couldn't deny that. "Alice." He smiled and stepped toward the door. He moved effortlessly, like the rest of us, but he also had his own distinctive gait. "You met a new girl today." It was a statement, and Jasper recognized it as such. "You heard?" I sat down on his bed, sinking into the down cover. I ran my hands over the satin material. Esme had very good decorative taste. "I saw, actually. I may not have been in school today, but I'm still as sharp as ever." Jasper joined me on the bed. "Were you sick, Alice?"

I shook my head slowly. "No...just a headache." I tried to downplay it, but Jasper knew as well as I that any headache had to be quite strong to keep me from being up and about. Disturbingly, this condition was become more frequent as it was severe. It was quite discomfiting, and even Carlisle had no theories to offer on the situation; he was just as puzzled as I was about what it could be, and how to stop them. Now, Jasper gently laid his arm around my shoulder and the touch was a comforting one. I leaned against him and closed my eyes. "You've been pulling away from me. I've missed this."

"I'm sorry. And I'm sorry about the girl. Sasha. She just caught me off guard. You know I....you know I'm not like that." I sat up, my eyes open now. I studied his slightly guilty face. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel ashamed. I caressed the side of his cheek. "Jasper, don't be sorry. You're free to do what you like. As long as you aren't feeling urges, there is nothing wrong with talking to a girl you find attractive. I just hope you understand what is at risk." I tried to make this last sentence not sound chiding. I really did want him to be happy. He really is like our little brother, hence the guilt I feel when I see him like this. I have my own urges I have to control.

"Don't worry. I'm not ready to be close to anyone but my family right now." He leaned in toward me, his eyes bright but distracted. He was thinking deeply about something, or someone. I brushed my lips chastely against his cool cheek. "Everything will be alright, Jasper." I didn't know if this was true or not, but I also didn't mean it as a lie. Jasper's future was dark, like there was a cloud resting over us. I just hoped that cloud wouldn't turn out to be Sasha.