a Twilight's End

Jasper



27 Ryerson Drive. I was driving as fast as Edward usually does. I had to get to Sasha before...before she got hurt. If I wasn't already too late. I parked at the end of the street and ran the rest of the way to the house. A soft rain was falling and what little sunshine there was, was fading fast. I didn't mind the dark, it was my ally at the moment. I didn't want any neighbors see me entering the house if I...if I had to take care of Sasha's father. I didn't want to kill anyone, but I didn't think I'd be able to help myself if I entered and saw Sasha badly injured. It painfully struck me how attached to this girl I had become; I barely knew her.

A flash of movement in the backyard caught my eye. I approached cautiously, my mind screaming for me to move faster but my instincts telling me to be subtle. I came to a rusty fence; not wanting to make any noise, I hopped over it. There was a person sitting on a small bench in the yard, and they turned toward me. It was Sasha. As I came closer, I noticed a dim porch light illuminated her. I could see her more clearly now. She was hunched over, her face red and shiny with tears. I could see a fading handprint on her cheek, and something inside me seemed to burn with fire. She was clutching her ribs and her sweater was torn at the shoulder. I quickly crossed the distance between us. "What happened to you?"

Sasha stared at me incoherently. "Jasper. What are you doing here? How did you know where I live?"

I sat beside her on the bench. "I was taking a walk." Sasha suddenly buried her face in her hands. "Are you alright?" I reached out to touch her, but she flinched away. "I'm not going to hurt you." Her green eyes met mine. "This is so messed up," she whispered, "you shouldn't be seeing me like this." I reached out again, and this time she didn't avoid me. I brushed her hair out of her face. It was so soft. "This isn't your fault." She was shivering and wet from the drizzle. I shrugged out of my jacket and put it over her. "Sasha, listen to me." I took her chin and gently turned her face toward mine. "It's your father, isn't it? He did this to you." Her lower lip trembled. "How did you know?"

I didn't answer her. I closed the space between us and pressed my lips softly against hers. She leaned into me, her green eyes fluttering closed. She placed a cool hand on my neck. After a moment, we parted. "What was that?" she asked. "I wanted to feel you. And comfort you," I replied. I closed my own eyes. "I'm sorry if it was unwelcome." Sasha just shook her head and laughed. "It was the most welcome thing I've ever felt." She looked down at the ground. "You're cold," she said, "do you want your jacket back?" I put my arm around her and pulled her close, taking care not to exacerbate any injuries she might have. "Sasha, why don't you ever tell someone what he does? The police, or someone at school?"

"You don't think I've tried? We all have, so many times. My mother and Josh, they don't like it any more than I do. But if my mom acts loyal to him, she doesn't get it as bad...." she trailed off, looking mortified. "You must think I'm so pathetic." I kissed the top of her head. "I think you're the complete opposite of pathetic." She managed a weak smile. I clenched my other fist. "If he ever touches you again...I won't let him." Sasha stood, obviously agitated. "No! He can't know about you, Jasper." I stared up at her, confused. "But why?"

She stared at the house behind me. "Because...I need one good thing. One good thing he doesn't know anything about."