-𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘃-
A man's ragged, frightened breath filled the air as he ran. Terror filled his face, sweat dripping, breathing in short gasps, he ran, trying desperately not to make a sound.
He's crouched in a dark corner. But then he saw a shadow move blindingly fast past him.
He jerks around, then another shadow flew past, too fast to follow. He bolts. He ran up a flight of stairs, harsh lights from the exterior of the mill striating him.
He moved as fast as humanly possible.
Someone or something charged after him at an inhuman speed through the maze of pillars and walkways.
They dodged skull-crushing beams, leaped from one floor up to the next, up ladders, scaffolding, beams, up, and up, getting closer and closer to the security guard.
He desperately runs for his life, looking over his shoulder with terror.
The person was closing in on him, but then he bolts out a door and burst out onto a stair landing.
He loses his footing and trips, breaking through the rail and pitching over the side, into the air, and stops, hovering mid-air, a yard from the landing.
A hand grips his shirt then yanks him out of the air and with incredible strength.
His guttural scream was choked short as blood sprays on the landing.
-Chloe's Pov-
The waitress places a sirloin steak was set in front of Charlie, Dad, Anne, and Mom as Finn and I slid in. Anne giggled as she saw us.
Cora beams at Bella as she sets a plate of cod in front of her, and different food in front of us. Several loggers at the counter offer Bella and us welcoming smiles.
But, Bella shrinks in her seat at the attention. Her Dad was oblivious.
"Can't get over how grown up you are. And so gorgeous, and you guys are just gorgeous" Cora smiled at us.
Bella glances at Dad, who keeps his eyes on his steak. A bearded, hippy logger, appears behind Cora, leaning over her shoulder to look at Bella.
"Member me, honey? I was Santa one year," he asked, I was freaked out.
"Waylon, she hasn't had a Christmas here since she was four," Charlie told him. "Bet I made an impression, though," Waylon replied. "You always do," Charlie agreed.
"Let the girls eat their cod. And let the family eat, Waylon,"
Cora told him as she turns to us. "When you're done, I'll bring your favorite - berry cobbler. Remember? Your dad still has it. Every Thursday."
"That'd be great, thank you," I thanked her as Bella couldn't remember if her life depends on it.
Cora shoos Waylon away, left alone now, Charlie and Bella both reach for the salt and knock hands. Charlie goes for the ketchup instead.
We ate in silence as we heard a burst of laughter from a nearby happy family only serves to emphasize our discomfort.
I try to bridge the gap. "So how was work? Dad?" I asked, eating my food. "It was great Sweetie. I met the client," Dad told us, Anne giggled as Mom fed her. "So... you eat here every night?" Bella asked.
"Easier than washing dishes," Charlie replied.
"I can cook," she replied. He looks up as if confused by the concept. "I do the cooking at home, in Phoenix," Bella explained. "Mom's not great in the kitchen."
"I remember...," Dad added as they all laughed, recalling an especially bad dinner.
"How was school? Meet anyone? Any cute boys?" Mom asked, I chuckled. "A few people...," Bella replied. "Do you know the Cullen family?" "Are people talking about them again?"
Charlie looked at us. "No... well, a little," I replied.
"Just 'cause they're newcomers. We're lucky to have a surgeon like Dr. Cullen at our podunk hospital and Luckily his wife wanted to live in a small town. Lucky his kids aren't like a lot of the hell-raisers around here," Charlie told us.
".....Okay," Bella nodded her head. "I just don't like narrow-mindedness," Charlie continued as he returned to his food.
Silence.
-Dream-
I was holding Jasper's hand as we stood in the sunlight. When the sunlight hit our skin, we sparkled. I was looking up at him as Jasper places his fingers on my cheek, leaning in for a kiss.
-Dream ends-
I gasped as I sat up in bed. I swore Jasper in my room as I turned to switch the light on. When I looked back, I saw no one there.
I was confused, not only by my dream, by thinking Jasper was here in my room. I turned as I heard a knock on my door. "Come in" Finn came in, slightly shaken.
"I had a nightmare, can I sleep in here?" I chuckled as I patted my bed.
Finn came in, Rosie followed. Finn snuggled into me, Rosie snuggled into us. I kissed his head as we went to sleep.
-Next day-
Bella and I were at Bella's truck, an open book in Bella's hand. Our eyes were on the arriving kids and the parking lot as they pulled in. Bella was waiting for Edward as I was waiting for Jasper.
Mom said i should say something.
Jessica, Angela, Mike, and Eric kick around a soccer ball nearby. "Bella! Chloe!" Tyler called out to us. Bella lifts her book, I smiled sympathetically at them.
I saw the Cullens arrive, no Jasper, no Edward.
I walked into my History class and looked at my seat, no Jasper. At lunch, Bella and I sat with Jessica and Angela who watch a YouTube video on their phone.
Bella gave it a cursory look but was focused on the Cullen table, only four of them.
Edward's and Jasper's seats were empty. After that, I headed to work. I started working at Mike's parent's store.
Another day, I was walking to class when I saw Rosalie and Alice standing next to each other.
We looked at each other as Rosalie looked at me with chillingly cold eyes, Alice with curiosity, and love for my outfit. I hurried to my class as they watched me.
Another day has gone by as we walked to Bella's truck.
I glanced at Rosalie's car, a red M3 BMW, as it drives past, noting, again, four Cullens, no Jasper. I didn't think about it until one day.
-One week later-
It's neater, rearranged more attractively. Mom has given it her touch. She sweeps through, folding Finn's fleece jacket, and straightens up. She grabs my book bag and turned to call out to me.
"Chloe sweetheart, come on!" Mom called out to me. "You'll be late!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming," I replied as I pulled on my shoes. I grabbed my book bag from her, kissing her cheek. Dad threw me an orange, kissing my cheek.
"You'll have to go with Bella, you're car is getting new tires" Dad told me as I kissed his cheeks. "Okay love y'all" I said as I headed out.
When we walked over to Bella's, Bella groaned.
It's pouring down rain as the yard was full of puddles, some frozen. Bella shivered as she wraps her coat tight. "Great," she sighed as I laughed.
Charlie pulls in Bella's truck as she sighed.
"Dad, I can drive us to school," she told him. As we walked up, I felt like someone was watching us. I followed them as Bella slipped and fell on a patch of ice.
Bella falls on her ass as Charlie climbs out of the truck and helps her up.
"Bell-Bell you okay?" I helped her up. "You okay, Bells?" Charlie asked. "Ice doesn't help the uncoordinated," Bella responded. "Hence why I call you Clumsy Smurf,"
Finn added, getting in dad's car, Bella glared at him, chuckling.
"That's why I got you new tires," Charlie told her as she looks over at the truck and saw four new tires. "The other ones were nearly bald," Charlie added.
"You got me new tires. No one's ever done that before," Bella replied. Charlie looks at her, confused. "I mean......nothing," She explained. "Nice save, Bella," I snickered.
Charlie doesn't get it as he heads toward his Cruiser.
"I'll be late for dinner. I'm heading down to Mason County," Charlie told us. "A security guard at the Grisham Mill got killed by some kind of animal." "An animal?" Bella and I asked together.
"You're not in Phoenix anymore, honey," Charlie explained.
"They've been hunting it for a week with no luck. Thought I'd lend a hand." "Be careful," we asked. "Always am," Charlie reminded us. "And thank you. For the tires," Bella added.
He saw the emotion in her eyes he doesn't understand it, but he nods and heads inside.
Bella looked at the tires again, oddly moved. We got into the truck as Bella started the truck. When we arrived, I saw Jasper waiting at the place where I usually parked.
Bella parked and as I climbed out, Jasper was holding his hand out to me.
"May I?" He asked, as I looked at his hand. "S-sure," I stuttered as I took his hand. Bella smirked at me as Jasper closed the door. "May I escort you to class?" Jasper asked me.
"Aw, really?" I replied as Jasper nodded. "Of course you can" He walked next to me as we walked to Music.
His sister, Rosalie, was there as she looked up at us. She gave me a soft smile as we sat down. Later, after lunch, I walked into History. Jasper looked up at me and smiled.
I smiled back as I walked to my seat next to him and sat down.
"I didn't have a chance to properly introduce myself last week," Jasper introduced himself. "My name is Jasper Hale." "Chloe Forrest," I replied.
"That's a beautiful name, and it sounds familiar. Who are your parents?" Jasper asked. "Elle Woods and Emmett Forrest" I told him.
"The famous Lawyer, I'm a fan of you fathers work, my sister Alice, loves Elle woods. My sister also loves your style" I smile, chuckling. "My Mom really is amazing, and I get my style from her," I told him.
"I love your accent, where are you from?" Jasper smiled. "Texas, Born and raised" he told me.
I smiled as I looked forward. "I'm sorry about what happened last week," Jasper told me. "No sweat," I replied as class started.
When the teacher began speaking, I looked at Jasper from the corner of my eyes as he looked at me. I wondered why he was looking at me and if I was something special to him.