-Jasper's Point of View-

. . .

I picked up on the extreme pressure my family members where giving off as they were trying to push me toward Emmaline.

And surprisingly I found that she felt a tad uncomfortable at the sound of my name.

Not that I have a huge ego or anything but it was slightly hurtful.

It's just, after watching Bella and Edward come together so quickly, as well as the fact that I'm design to "attract" my "kill" it's a little strange that someone was now shying away from me.

'She's smart, that's why.'- I thought to myself.

I know she isn't scared of me, I would have felt that.

But she is one of those girls who keeps her guard up, or maybe she just doesn't like me in the way everyone hopes she does.

'Do I even like her?' -I silently wondered.

I chanced a look at her, she was busy filling up her page with elegantly scribbled words.

I heard the smallest giggle and looked up to find both Emmett and Rosalie giddily staring at me. I shook my head then focused back on my own journal.

But all I could think of was the girl sitting next to me, which prompted the same question, 'do I even like her?'

Sure she's pretty, but there are tons of pretty girls in this world. She also seems spirited given her choice of after school activities, and I know she was polite and every bit a southern belle just from spending a few hours with her.

But the fact is I don't know her well enough to access if I like this person in a romantic sense.

Things I do know:

She's smart.

She seems like a leader.

She's kind.

She's welcoming.

She's very well mannered.

But is that enough to say you like someone? What Alice and I had, despite what she thinks, was real, we just clicked. We might not have had much in common but the love we had for each other was more than enough to keep us going for so long.

I looked down at my blank page and knew I had to get at least half the page finished before the end of class as well as read it to everyone so I wrote about what was on my mind.

It wasn't a poem, nor a story, just random thoughts and feelings.

When the class was coming to a close the teacher called a couple of people up and they read their work out.

"Emmaline Harper."

Emmaline stood from her seat and fixed her skirt before she picked up her her journal and took her place in the front of the class.

"Hey y'all, I wrote a quick poem, I won't go into much detail as I'm sure the poem will fill you in on everything else." She informed everyone.

...

'Your eyes, they look so far away, oh so very distant.

Tell me boy, what's haunting you, there's a glint, and in an instant.

You turn to me, smile and see, that I am smiling back.

But you retreat, you always do, like a train getting back on track.

Tell me boy, what's haunting you, behind mysterious eyes.

Is it truth that's startled you, or is it only lies?

You seem confused and broken, let me help to heal your soul.

Allow me to give you my heart, if it's the cost to pay the toll.

Your eyes they seem so far away, are you searching for a clue?

Let me take your hand inside of mine, as I help you search for you.'

...

I clapped along with the rest of the class, had she really come up with that in the spot?

I wondered about the lost boy in her poem, had she really met such a tortured soul?

"Very nice Emmaline dear, very nice, now settle down, our next reader will be Mr Jasper Hale."

Of course I internally groaned as I got to the front if the class.

"Well mine is nowhere near as good as Emmaline's" I admitted with a nervous chuckle as I looked over at her, she offered me an encouraging smile and I continued. "To be honest mine's just a bunch of randomness that's been swarmin' around in my mind as of late."

...

'Broken. Like the shattered glass of the ruined picture frame. Pain, misleading, lies. Why did you lie? Why did we stop? It was never set in stone, only a slight fear at what the future could hold. But you acted on it on your own. We were partners, it should have been discussed. Alone, darkness, empty. My bed is so cold. You are not there now, you've left me with my demons. My past replays itself, and once again I want to run.'

...

The class clapped and I embarrassingly trudged back to my seat.

"Good job bro." Emmett leaned over and clapped my shoulder.

"It really was good." Emmaline insisted softly.

"Yours was better."

"We are our own worst critics." She replied without meeting my eye before returning to her journal and writing another entry.

A few more student read their entries, Rosalie was one included, she had written a small start to a story about a girl in love with being in love (or the idea of being in love).

"Everyone who did not read today will begin class tomorrow with reading their entries." The teacher announced, "your homework is to begin reading a classic literature piece, one of your choosing. But I want you to find the correlation to that of the story and your own life, and you will be turning it into a three page essay (front and back) due next monday, class dismissed."

We gathered our things and we told each other bye.

I walked with Emmett to French class and I knew Rosalie and Emmaline would be making their way to AP Statistics.

The class seemed never ending, and when the bell sounded I bid goodbye to Emmett and made my way to European History, not my first choice but a senior "requirement," like i'd ever really need it.

I know more than the class could ever offer. Like the fact that Italy is horribly overrun by blood thirsty vampires lurking in the shadows.

I smelt her before I saw her, and I couldn't help but look up at the entry way just as she walked in, our eyes met and she shyly blushed which made me smirk.

"Alright class, don't get too comfortable, because you will be having assigned seats." The teacher announced, those of us sitting got up and the teacher went down the roster as he pointed to the seats.

"Hale, Jasper." He said, I raised my hand. "Second to the last desk in the second row."

I bent down to grab my bag and he moved on to the very next student.

"Harper, Emmaline."

She raised her hand with a smile.

"Oh," he sounded, "uh, well Jasper do you mind switching with Miss Harper?"

I knew he was concerned about her seeing the board behind me, I nodded and the two of us walked to our new desks.

"Sorry about that." She whispered, only I heard it clear as day.

"It's not a problem, really." I tried to assure her, "plus it isn't your fault you're so short."

Her mouth popped into a little "O" as she tried to hide a smile. Most girls may have taken offense but this little human simply played along. "Well maybe you're just too tall." She countered teasingly.

"6ft 3 isn't too tall."

She rolled her eyes playfully, "brag much?"

I chuckled, "it isn't bragging if it's the truth."

"Alright class settle down, there's a list of this weeks class syllabus on the board. If you miss a day there should be no reason that I do not receive your assignments just like everyone else, this is a no nonsense class." The teacher threw out, he continued with his class rules and handed out the books before finally starting the class.

He lectured and I sat there and wondered how it is that I am suddenly so comfortable around a human? never in my entire existence as a vampire have I ever been allowed to be this close to a human not to mention form so sort of friendly connection with one.

Emmaline sat in front of my quite still as she paid close attention, but every now and again she would mess with the ends of her hair, this little action drew in my attention each time.