Ashes [Jasper Hale] [2]

01 ; against all odds

    "I've got her!" was the sound that shook Paul's arms away from my shoulders. The werewolf immediately straightened up at the sound of his alpha's voice. I looked up at Paul, surprised and hopeful. 

With a single sniff of the air, he nodded, before walking over to Sam, and I followed, not wanting to stay alone. 

I saw Mike and Tyler standing by, close to their parents, who- like pretty much every adult man in town- joined the effort. 

"--she just keeps saying 'He's gone.' " I heard Sam say as I came close enough. 

I stopped there. I felt as though I am watching the scene, not present there. Like it was a movie, and I was just watching. He was gone. 

I felt my eyebrows furrowing by themselves as tears flowed over my eyes once more. Was I relieved Bella was there, was that the reason for me crying? Or was I just sad that Jasper left? I shook my head. The fact I was overwhelmed with emotions wasn't an issue that night.

Bella was.

My sister was left in the woods by Edweirdo Cullen, and despite me not wanting to ever speak to her again, if that damn vampire will ever set foot in this town again, I'll send Paul to rip off his throat.

 Sam carefully handed Bella to Charlie, who staggered under her weight.

"Maybe I should hold on to her," Sam suggested.

"I've got her," Charlie said, a little breathless.

He walked slowly, struggling.  I opened my mouth once he neared me, but shut it again. He walked past me, and I stayed behind as he entered the house.

"Hey, Ash," Mike and Tyler walked over. "We're glad they found Bella, but our parents are leaving now."

"Oh, okay," I replied, looking up at my two friends. "Thank you, and thank your parents for me." Mike nodded with a smile, hugging me. Tyler smiled softly at me, hugging me and kissing my forehead. 

"Call me anytime, tell me if your sister is okay. I love you, Ashy."

I squeezed tighter, kind of touched by his words. Tyler has never told me that he loves me, and even though he knew so much about me and we were so close, I've never thought he actually cares so deeply for me.

"I love you too, Ty. Thank you."

"Anytime you need me."

►

"Hi Ashley," a feminine voice spoke softly, and I turned to look at the girl.

"Emily. Hi." I smiled weakly once I stopped staring at the ground, "how are you?" I asked, and couldn't help but notice how weak and feeble my voice sounded.

"I'm..." she sighed, sitting next to me. "Really confused."

"Do tell," I spoke, turning to look away from the fire and to Emily. The fire illuminated her face and dark hair perfectly, and I once more thought damn, she is beautiful.

"YO JARED, GIMME A HOTDOG!" Paul called loudly, and I couldn't help but smile at his goofiness. We were currently celebrating the Cullens' departure from Forks.  The pack- mostly Paul- wanted me to join so I won't lurk around Bella.

"You like Paul," Emily noted.

"Doesn't matter if I do or don't, spill the beans about Sam!" I said happily.

Emily sighed, "well, you know Leah, his ex, is my cousin, right?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "and I know he broke up with her once he saw you because he imprinted on you." Emily nodded, "and you don't want to be with him because of what he's done to Leah."

"But..." Emily spoke, watching Sam as Jared happily bumped his shoulder with his, making him shake his head with a small smile. "I have learnt to... like him? Maybe even more." She looked at the fire. "I mean, it's betraying my cousin's trust, but it's meant to be, see? And... Damn wolves and imprints."

"Damn vampires too."

"CHEERS TO THAT, ASH!" Jared cheered loudly, making Emily and me laugh.

Celebrating their departure was truly idiotic, in my opinion, but it made me feel better that I wasn't left alone with knowing about an alternative world that co-existed with mine, and that I had people who would help me get through this.

Unintentionally, I checked my phone, and saw a single message.

I'm sorry, farewell.

►

It was early in the morning, and I was sitting with a cup of hot cocoa on a random wood stump by the ocean. I was wearing a jacket that Jared has given me, that covered me up to my knees, my simple maroon legging not keeping me warm enough.

"Hey there," a voice said, and I turned to see Sam.

"Sam," I smiled. "Thanks again for finding Bella."

"It's our duty."

"Yeah, but still. Thank you."

"So why are you crying?" Sam asked, sitting on the sand next to the tree. I followed him with my eyes, merely wiping off the tears, more following.

"Jasper's left."

"Your boyfriend, right?"

"Yeah."

"The vampire."

"Yes."

"You're better off without him."

"I know."

"And you've got Paul," Sam said simply, looking over at me.

"For now."

Sam sighed. "The imprint?"

"Yeah." I stayed silent. "Hey, Sam, can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Don't you feel bad for the whole Leah thing?" Sam gave me a sad smile.

"I feel horrible," he said, and I looked at him while he looked at the ocean. "I love Leah, I do. But there's a difference between Love and Imprint. Imprint is total, you can't run away from it. It's a pull- the strongest there is. I can't look away from Emily. I know that what I've done is horrible, but I really can't stay with Leah."

"Dude, I think that's the longest you've ever spoken."

"You're possibly right."