One-shots/Short Stories

Jasper Whitlock - Part I

Reincarnation Part I
He held his breath, ready to enter a cafeteria full of humans. He still wasn't used to blocking their smell and struggled greatly. Alice stood next to him, and gave him a small encouraging smile. "Don't worry," she said quietly, "you'll be okay -" her eyes turned blank, looking into the future. He then knew she was out of it when her eyes suddenly brightened with excitement, and she started to jump in her spot.
   "What. What is it, Alice?" Jasper asked her, releasing his breath. Edward chuckled from behind them.
   "No way. . ." he heard Edward say. Jasper opened his mouth to ask his question again, only for Alice to pull him into the cafeteria before he could prepare himself. Jasper immediately held his breath, and stared straight ahead, allowing Alice to lead him to the line. Dimly, he was aware of Alice grabbing some lunch for him, while he focussed on holding his breath.
   They finally sat at their table, and Jasper dared a small intake of breath. What he smelt shocked him; he suddenly smelt lavenders, and roses, and lilies - a flowery scent. It was a scent that for once didn't make him want to devour a person.
   Jasper whipped his head up, looking for the source of the scent. He was aware of his family sending him weird looks, apart from Alice and Edward, who were smiling at him. "Can you smell that?" Jasper murmured.
   "Smell what?" Rosalie frowned. "I smell just humans."
   "What are you smelling?" Emmett asked him.
   "I'm smelling something. . .floral." Jasper mumbled. His siblings then subtly took a deep breath.
   "Nuh, I smell nothing like that." Emmett shook his head.
   "Just the humans." Rosalie agreed. Jasper frowned in confusion, and looked around again. Finally, he found the source; it was the new girl, Christie Belle. At first glance, Jasper felt his world freeze; he immediately felt a pull towards her, a felt need of protection on her washing over him. He loved the way her raven black hair shined in the small sunlight that luckily didn't hit him or his family, her emerald green eyes glistening with innocence and happiness - something he hadn't seen in ages.
   "Christie. . ." Jasper whispered, shock in his voice and on his face. Edward gasped at what he saw in Jasper's mind.
   "What?" Alice asked Edward.
   "Reincarnation." Edward mumbled. "She's a reincarnation of Jasper's human wife."
   "What!" Everyone at the table exclaimed.

***

Jasper rode on his horse with a wide smile on his face, the feeling of freedom coursing through his veins with the wind hitting his face.
   He finally pulled his horse to a stop when they finally made it to their hiding place; a place in the middle of a forest that held a lake as big as his country house. He tied his horse near the lake for the horse to drink, and collapsed on the ground a couple feet away from the horse. "What a day, hey boy." Jasper said out loud, lying down in the grass. The horse paid no attention to him and just continued drinking his water. Jasper chuckled at his horse and closed his eyes in bliss; all his problems leaving him. With the civil war coming on, his family almost running broke, the fact that it's almost time for him to pick a girl to court. . .
   The sound of his horse neighing and jumping on its hind legs made him open his eyes and sit up straight and look in the direction of his horse. He followed the horse's gaze, and came across a woman around his age, staring at them in shock, her own horse at her side, reacting like his. Jasper was shocked. No one knew about that place except him. Who was she? How did she find this place? Before he could get those answers, he went to his horse's aid.
   "Whoa boy, whoa!" Jasper quickly grabbed the reins and brought him down to all his feet. "There's a good boy. It's okay, it's okay. . ." Jasper turned back to the mysterious woman who was calming her own horse down. While she was occupied, Jasper started making his way around the lake to her, his mind full of questions.
   "Ma'am?" Jasper called to her hesitantly. He watched as she jumped in shock, hiding behind her horse. From what he saw, it looked like the horse willingly stood in front of her, as if protecting her. Jasper couldn't help but smile at the sight of her horse being loyal. "My horse an' I didn't mean to startle you, ma'am."
   "It's okay, good sir." she said in her Texan accent. "I didn't know someone knew this place."
   "Same," Jasper agreed, "I thought it was just my hidin' place."
   "Same." she smiled shyly at him. Hesitantly, she took a step towards him, holding her hand out to him. "I'm Christie Belle. You are?"
   "Jasper Whitlock, ma'am." Jasper grabbed her hand gently and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles, while keeping eye contact. She blushed under his intense gaze, and pulled her hand away from him.
   "I guess I'll make my leave -"
   "Why the rush?" Jasper couldn't help but blurt out. He looked down embarrassed. "I-I mean, I was hopin' to get to know you." She smiled at his stutter.
   "You do?"
   "Of course." he said back. "Please," he held his hand out to her, "I promise no harm will come to you."
   She took his hand - and that was the start of their story.
***
Days, weeks, months passed ever since their encounter. Slowly, they started to develop feelings for each other, with one another not knowing about the other's feelings. It wasn't until what Jasper told her did they finally realise their feelings for each other.
   "I signed up to go to the war."
   "What!" Christie cried. "Why? You're not even the age for it!"
   "I have to do it." Jasper told her, taking her hands in his. "If I go and survive, I'll be given money to help support my family an' -"
   "But what if you don't survive in this war?" Christie choked out, a tear falling down her face. "What if I lose you to this war?" Jasper stared down at her sadly, wiping her stray tear away.
   "I'll be back, I promise." he whispered. She shook her head at his promise.
   "You don't know that." she whispered back. Jasper cupped her face in his hands, determination etched on his face.
   "I do know." Jasper told her. "I know we will see each other again. I know we will no matter what." He then decided to tell her about his feelings for her, in fear that there might not be another time he'll be able to tell her. "Christie, there's been somethin' I've been meanin' to tell you." He released her face and instead grabbed her hands again. "I love you." he said bluntly. "Ever since I saw you at the lake, I knew tha' you were different from the other women at the town. You're beautiful, fun, adventurous, brave to speak ou' your opinions. . .I love you. Not only am I doing this for my family or for my country. . .but for you. I signed up on this so I could protect you and your future."
   Christie started crying tears of joy and sadness. "Oh Jasper, my cowboy. . ." she crooned. "I love you too." Jasper shed a solitary tear himself, and brought her into a hug. He pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers.
   "May I kiss you?" he murmured. Christie gave him a watery smile and a small weak laugh.
   "Ever the gentleman." she laughed. Taking that as a yes, Jasper leaned down and gave her a passionate kiss.
***
It was the last day of their time together, the next day being Jasper leaving for the war. They sat together at the lake, away from the people making them able to cuddle and show affection for each other without their judgement. "Today is the last day." Christie sighed. "Last day together."
   "I'll be back." Jasper promised, planting kisses on her neck and shoulder, his hold around her waist tightening a bit. He suddenly came up with an idea. "I got an idea!" he beamed. Christie pulled out of his grasp and turned around to look at him.
   "What is it?" she asked him curiously.
   "Darlin', what if we get married today."
   "What?" she looked at him shocked. "Are you crazy?"
   "Maybe!" he grinned. "Let's elope! Who knows when we'd be able to with this war going on. Come on -" he brought her into his arms again. "-I've loved you ever since we met, you sharing the same feelings -I hope- I don't see why not." Christie thought about his suggestion with pursed lips. "Come on," he whispered, "I want to show you how much I love you."
   "Okay." she said, turning around to give him a small smile. "Let's elope."
***
The next day, Christie felt a kiss on her forehead. She opened her eyes slowly to see Jasper staring at her with adoration and sadness. "Hey," Jasper whispered, "how are you feeling?"
   "I'm fine - ow." Christie winced at her sore limbs. Last night was eventful. They had eloped, and had made love for the first time, sealing their vows. It was the best night of their life. She slowly got up with Jasper's help and looked around. They were in what seemed to be a bedroom. Jasper saw her confused look and smiled at her.
   "It was getting quite cold at the lake," he explained, "I brought us to my room through the window." Christie glanced down at her bare form.
   "I'm naked." she noted.
   "I just wrapped you in my jacket."
   "Where are we?" she asked him.
   "In a house I bought." he said. "I was saving up money for this house for us two." Jasper said. His smile then faded to a sad one. "Darlin', you do remember what today is, right?"
   He watched as her small bliss smile faded to a frown, tears starting to gather in her eyes. "Oh. . ." she whispered. "I-I'll go and get ready for our goodbye." Jasper watched as she slowly dressed up, for a moment regretting ever signing up to the army. But then he remembered why he did it in the first place; to help protect his family and Christie's future. Jasper was determined to prevent any danger coming their way.
***
"Be as safe as you can, okay?" Christie told him sternly. Jasper smirked at her bossiness.
   "Yes ma'am." he replied, tipping his cowboy hat that she had given him as a goodbye gift.
   "And don't lose this hat or else you're dead." she added, flicking the hat lightly.
   "Of course." he said. His name was called by one of the army men. "I gotta go now." he said sadly. He caressed her face lightly, wiping away her tear. "I love you." he told her. "An' I'll be back before you know it."
   "I love you too." Christie smiled. His name was called again. Jasper gave her a pained look, before giving her a small weak smile.
   "I'll see you soon. It isn't a goodbye, it's a see you soon." he told her.
   "Okay." she nodded. "I'll see you soon."
***
Pain. That was all he felt during the transformation. The pain was unbearable - more than when he had left Christie for the army. And that was saying something.
   Memories flew past him, memories of his family and childhood, but specifically his wife. His wife that he kept a secret to from his friends and family. All they knew was that he met a woman.
   He watched through the pain the memories he spent with her; the way her eyes lightened up whenever they were together, how her laugh was the sound of chime bells, how she was so kind and selfless to everyone around them, how she captured his heart at first glance. . .
   I'm sorry, he thought in his head to her.
***
"Maria?" she turned to him with a smile.
   "What is it, Jasper?" she asked him, caressing the side of his face. Jasper hesitated, debating whether he should ask the question again.
   "I was wonderin'. . ." he trailed off. "About Christie -"

SLAP!

Jasper's face whipped to the side. "You know not to mention her to me!" she hissed. "We're soul mates, remember?"
   "But -"
   "She's dead." Maria said coldly. "She died in an accident, okay? I didn't want to tell you, but there you have it." Jasper stared at her with hurt. "Just focus on us now, okay?" she crooned. "I love you, remember?"
   "She's - dead - what -" Jasper stuttered.
   "Yes Jasper, she's dead." Maria sighed. "Now help me with the newborns." Maria kissed him, Jasper not moving a limb, in shock at what she said. Repeatedly he had asked her if he could see Christie one last time, since he remembered her after the transformation. Multiple times Maria said no because Christie 'moved on', or 'has a new husband' or even 'has a family now'. Despite all those excuses, Jasper just wanted to see her one last time. But not anymore.

Christie Whitlock was dead.

***

". . .how?" Jasper whispered, pain evident in his voice. Suddenly her eyes locked with his, making his breath hitch in his throat. He watched as her eyes widened, hearing her heart rate increase because of his supernatural beauty. "I can't do this." Jasper mumbled. He stood up, and quickly made his way to the exit, ignoring his family's calls.