Chapter Four: Love
“Hey, Mia, are you okay?” I looked up, surprised. “Huh?” I said eloquently, “Oh, right, erm, yeah. Sorry.” Rosalie was staring at me with a crease in her brow. Not just her, either; everyone was peering at me in concern. So I assumed Edward had explained everything to the others. “Mia, I know this sounds ridiculously clichéd, but I really do understand what you’re going through. And I know how you must be feeling. So…if you want to talk or something, then you can come to me.” I smiled at her, trying desperately to inject some warmth. “Thanks Rose, but I’m okay. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m just going to go upstairs, though.” Carlisle called after me, “Mia? I don’t think I’ve told you yet, but we’re moving next week. To a small town called Forks, in Washington.”
I walked away from the others’ anxious stares and up the stairs. They started talking about me again, but I couldn’t listen. Instead I just kept going and headed straight into my room. I ran to the window, throwing it open and gasping in deep gulps of the cool morning air. “Knock, knock,” said a soft voice from behind me. I jumped in surprise and span around, surprised to see a nervous-looking Jasper hovering in the open doorway. “Sorry,” he said, “I figured you meant to close the door, but…well, the others said I ought to come and talk to you.” I chuckled quietly and fell into the armchair in my room. “Thanks, but I don’t need a babysitter.” Jasper put his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor. “I know that. That isn’t entirely why I’m here. I just…I…well; I wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh. Okay,” I said, a little confused, “What did you want to talk about?” Jasper shrugged and shuffled slightly closer. “…I spoke to Edward,” he said eventually, still being careful not to look at me. “Um,” I said unsurely. “Yeah. He seems pretty upset. He told me you remembered everything, and that you found out what happened with your landlord. He got really angry about that – not that he showed it, of course. You know…he’s falling in love with you.” I yelped and jumped to my feet. “What?!” Jasper shrugged. “He hasn’t told anyone. I can just feel it, you know? But it’s making him hurt.” I bit my lip. “You mean I’m making him hurt,” I corrected him, and he made a non-committal noise in response.
Jasper flopped into my recently vacated seat and rubbed his head. “All his negative feelings are giving me a headache,” he breathed. I folded my arms around my torso and sighed. “I am really sorry,” I said. Jasper took my hand and pulled me onto the arm of the chair before tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t worry; it isn’t your fault. And Edward doesn’t blame you, either. He knows more than anyone that you don’t choose who you fall in love with.” I swallowed and buried my head in my one free hand until Jasper tugged on my hand to pull me into his lap. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered into his chest, feeling the choking sensation that usually accompanied tears.
