izzyyaps2much

[izzyyaps2much]

Chapter Five - Vampires

Light.

Bright. Blinding. Absolute.

It slammed into my eyes, searing through the fog, and for a second, there was nothing else—just white.

Is this what death feels like?

Wet, and Cold.

Damp from the rain as it slid down my face like tears I hadn't earned. I'd hoped dying would feel warmer somehow. I think I imagined peace—quiet, maybe. Not this bone-deep exhaustion, not the mud on my knees or the breath scraping in and out like it was borrowed.

I wondered if Dad would cry at my funeral. If Bella would be okay without me.

I knew Mom wouldn't fly in for it. She never liked cold weather.

My body could barely run anymore. Every inch of me ached. My legs were scratched, my ribs sore. But I could still feel it—him.

His breath on my neck. That presence. Too close, too fast, too hungry.

A blur. Like the wind had taken shape.

A girl knelt in front of me so quickly that the air shifted—cool and sudden—blowing the wet strands of hair off my face.

"Dawn?"

The voice cut through the fog in my brain.

I blinked, hard. The headlights of the car were behind her, bright and cruel.

Alice.

Alice Cullen.

She looked like she'd seen a ghost. Like I was one.

I stared at her. I must've looked a mess—soaked to the bone, dirt and blood smeared down my arms, shoes half-falling off, eyes wide and distant like I'd been pulled out of some nightmare and dumped into this one.

Meanwhile, she stared at me like I wasn't real. Like she'd seen this exact moment already, just not like this. Not with me still breathing.

Her face was pale and stunned, mouth parting just slightly like she couldn't figure out what to say. Like she wasn't supposed to find me alive.

"You—" her fingers brushed my cheek, light as a ghost. "You're alive."

That made me flinch. Not her touch—but her surprise.

I blinked again. "You sound surprised," I said, breathless.

"I am surprised," she whispered. Her hand dropped to her side, trembling. "I saw... something else."

Her eyes were gold and too shiny in the headlights, just like his. Not glowing. Just wrong. Haunted.

It wasn't just fear I saw. It was grief.

Like she'd already mourned me. Like she'd already buried the version of me that didn't make it out of the woods.

And that's when I knew. Alice Cullen knew. Whatever this was—whatever just happened—she already knew.

She knew far more than I did, and I deserved to know as well.

—

The Cullen house was bigger than I expected. Brighter. Airier. It was the kind of place that felt like it didn't belong in Forks, with its wide windows and warm wood and the faint hum of something old and expensive under the quiet.

I sat wrapped in a blanket on a cream-colored couch that probably cost more than my car. My fingers were still cold. My mind still racing.

Everyone looked at me like I was made of glass. Or maybe like I was something other.

Rosalie lingered near the fireplace, stiff and silent, her arms crossed. She kept glancing my way like she was hoping I'd disappear—but there was something else in her eyes, too. A flicker of something almost human. Almost worried.

Carlisle and Esme stood nearby. Calm. Kind. Too calm. Too kind. Like they were waiting for something. Watching for a sign. I didn't know of what. Maybe for me to scream. Or run. Or shatter.

Emmett wasn't here. Edward wasn't either.

But none of that mattered.

They knew. They all knew.

What Jasper was. What he almost did. What they were.

And I could feel it—that heaviness in the room. The weight of what wasn't being said. The way their eyes followed every tiny movement I made, like they were cataloguing it. Calculating. Careful. Too careful.

Like predators watching prey.

Like they weren't sure yet if I was a threat. Or just a witness.

Alice moved first. She reached for my shoulder—gentle, slow—but I flinched before she could touch me.

Her hand hovered over my shoulder for a second before she dropped it towards her lap.

"Dawn..." Her voice was soft, "I-"

She looked every bit concerned, unsure of what to say, and unsure of what fully happened to me. She looked as though she knew everything but at the same time she looked as confused as I was. 

"Did you know?" I asked. I didn't mean to sound so tired. So hollow. But it was all I had left.

Alice's lips parted. Nothing came out.

"Did you know what Jasper is?"

I didn't even know exactly what I was asking, but the question burned anyway.

Because what I saw in those woods wasn't human. What I felt hunting me—what I heard, the way the air cracked when he moved—it was something else. Something entirely different. Something I wasn't supposed to survive.

Alice looked like she wanted to lie. Or soften it. Or twist it into something easier to swallow.

But she didn't.

"I didn't want it to happen," she said, voice low. "I tried to stop it. But I couldn't find him... and by the time I figured out it was you in the vision—"

"Vision?" I cut in. Blinking. Like the word itself shifted the ground beneath me.

Her eyes met mine. Steady. "Yes."

It hit like whiplash. Too sharp. Too fast.

"What did you see?" I asked. My voice had gone quiet. Small.

She hesitated. Then: "You were dead."

The room went still. So did I.

"I saw Jasper covered in blood. Your blood. You were already gone by the time we got there."

And the way she said it—she wasn't just describing it. She felt it. Like she'd already lived through it and already mourned me.

"But didn't you let me go out there alone?" The words came out flatter than I expected.

"No." Alice leaned in, desperate now. "I would've never let you go if I knew it was you. The vision kept shifting. I couldn't follow you—I could only track Jasper's future. And even that started going fuzzy. It was like... like the future didn't want me to see you clearly. I didn't know it was you until—"

"Until what? Until I slapped him?" I said quietly.

"No but that... That changed everything. You did something that disrupted the certainty of his choice. That one action rewrote the outcome."

"So I lived because of that?" I asked, numb. "Because I made a random decision?"

"You changed your fate," she said. "Without even knowing."

I felt sick. Like I'd been walking on a tightrope this whole time, and only now looked down. And there was no net.

Rosalie scoffed under her breath. "She's trying to make it sound nicer than it was. The truth is, you should be dead."

Alice shot her a warning look. But didn't argue.

The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.

I looked at them all. Looked at their too-pale skin, the strange light in their eyes, the way they never seemed to breathe unless they remembered to.

"What is he?" I asked. "What are you?"

Carlisle took a slow step forward. Like someone trying not to startle a wild animal.

"You're right to ask," he said gently. "And you deserve the truth."

He looked at me the way a doctor does right before delivering the worst kind of news. Kind. Steady. Sad.

"We're vampires."

—

The door burst open, cold air pouring in like a dam just flooded.

"Look what I dragged outta the forest," Emmett announced, hauling Jasper's limp body over his shoulder like some battered prize fighter. A bloody, half-dead, sand-dusted vampire instead of a belt.

I blinked. "Uh. Is he alive?"

"Define alive," Emmett grunted, unceremoniously dumping Jasper onto the floor with a thud. "He's breathing. Kind of."

Jasper groaned like gravity offended him.

He looked wrecked. Dried blood smeared across his shirt and collarbone, shirt torn in a way that felt less stylish and more survival-mode. Dirt streaked down his cheekbones. His hair was a mess. If vampires could get hangovers, this was it.

"He was face-down in the dirt when I found him," Emmett said with way too much amusement. "Pretty sure he ate half the forest and then passed out. Real classy."

"Is this your version of rehab?" I asked, arms crossed. "Dump him on the floor and hope his soul wakes up before he does?"

"Yup. Pretty much," Emmett said, like I'd just validated his entire life strategy.

Jasper stirred, pushing up slowly on one elbow. His eyes landed on me—and then shifted away fast. Not ashamed. Not broken. Just... careful. Controlled.

And I hated that. Hated how controlled he looked. Like he could still keep it all inside after what he just did, what he just thought of doing to me. 

The room stilled. Rosalie raised an eyebrow and stepped back like she was waiting for sparks. Alice hovered near the wall, watching both of us like we were strangers.

Esme spoke gently, her voice soft. "Dawn, sweetheart—"

"I'm fine," I said, still looking at him.

That was a lie, but I didn't care if anyone believed it.

He didn't speak right away. Just sat there, bleeding from places that would heal by the hour. His presence felt louder than any words. Like the air bent around him differently. Or maybe I was just imagining it. I hoped I was imagining it.

Alice finally stepped forward. "He was gone for days. We didn't know where he went."

"And now he's back," I said blandly. "Lucky for us"

I felt Jasper flinch from across the room. A ripple in the atmosphere. He didn't show it, but I felt it. Like heat off metal.

"You shouldn't have seen me like that," he said. Voice low. Not broken—just frayed at the edges.

"Oh? What, you usually attack people with more charm?" I asked quietly.

Emmett made a noise that might've been a cough, might've been a stifled laugh. Rosalie elbowed him.

He looked up at that. Met my eyes for the first time. And he didn't look away.

The room felt like it tilted, just slightly.

"I wasn't myself."

"Who were you, then?" I asked. "Because I don't think I've met him."

His gaze didn't harden. It just... cooled. Like something inside him pulled tight.

I felt it then—not just his guilt. Not just shame.

Anger.

Not at me. Not exactly.

At whatever I was to him.

I could feel it pulsing under his skin. And I hated it. I hated that he got to be angry too. Something in my chest burned—tight, quiet, alive. I couldn't name it. I didn't want to.

"I don't know why it's you," he said suddenly, voice like smoke. "I didn't choose this."

And there it was again—that thing he wouldn't say. That I was a trigger. A mistake. A burden.

"Do you think I did?" I asked, jaw tight. "You think I wanted to end up part of whatever this is?"

He looked at me like he wanted to answer, but didn't know how.

"You're angry," he said.

I almost laughed. "You think?"

"No," he said. "I mean... it's like a current. It's in the air. I can feel it coming off you."

Something flickered in his eyes, uncertain. Vulnerable in a way he clearly hated.

"I didn't know it would feel like this," he added, quieter. "What you're feeling. It's so loud."

"Well, good," I said. "Maybe you'll remember it next time you get a craving."

His mouth tightened, but he didn't argue. He didn't deny it. I should've walked away. That would've been easier. But I didn't move.

Neither of us did.

"I didn't know why at first," he said. "I thought it was just... something pulling me. A feeling. But now I think it was you."

"What?"

He looked sick with himself. "Your scent—it's like a drug. I couldn't ignore it. I tried. I left. But it kept pulling me back."

"So I'm your nicotine patch?"

His eyes flicked up. "You're my nightmare."

"Yeah?" I laughed coldly. "Guess that makes two of us."

His jaw clenched again.

"I won't touch you," he said, voice a thread of something raw. "I'll never touch you again."

I didn't know if it was a threat or a promise. I didn't know if I wanted it to be either. For a moment, we just stared. 

Two strangers with matching bruises. Two people hating the way they existed around each other. Hating how wrong it felt.

And somewhere under all that—worse than the fear, worse than the anger—was the confusion.

Because whatever had cracked open between us... it hadn't closed.

Not yet.

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I know I made you guys wait for this one T^T I'm so busy w work but I'll try to finish more chapters <3333 

[izzyyaps2much]

Chapter Four - Bloodlust

Blood. So much blood.

Jasper’s hands were drenched in it. It dripped from his knuckles like oil.

He clutched at her thighs, hauling her down into the dirt as her body thrashed beneath him. Her legs kicked wildly, fists pounding against his chest, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. His grip locked around her wrists, unforgiving—too hard—leaving deep, purple bruises that bloomed beneath the skin.

His breath came heavy and harsh. Blood slicked his lips, his chin, staining the sharp edges of his mouth. His golden eyes—no, not golden anymore—burned red, molten and glowing, as if something sacred inside him had been broken, left to rot.

She screamed.

It tore through the trees, raw and desperate—but it only seemed to excite him. His tongue flicked over his fingers, tasting her, smearing blood across his chin. He leaned in again, teeth bared, feral.

It was raw. Human. A jagged, soul-rattling sound that cut straight through the forest, full of terror and betrayal. But it didn’t stop him. If anything—it thrilled him.

He smiled.

His tongue slid lazily over his fingers, tasting her like she was his final meal. Blood clung to his skin like honey, thick and glistening. He moaned, eyes fluttering shut for half a second in ecstasy. Then he lunged again, mouth open, teeth bared, desperate to sink back in.

He looked drunk. Drenched in crimson.

And through it all—her face remained hidden. Smothered in shadow and blinding light. A smear of static. As if the future refused to name her.

Jasper’s head lifted slowly from her neck, his mouth wet and open

And then—

The vision fractured.

Like shattered glass underfoot. Like old film burning in the reel.

Alice gasped.

She stumbled backward like she’d been punched, one hand flying to the couch, fingers clawing for something solid. Her knees buckled. Her lungs seized. Esme caught her just in time, arms folding gently around her like wings.

“What is it? Where is he?” Esme asked softly—but the words sliced through the silence like a blade.

Alice’s eyes stayed wide, haunted, locked on something still flickering in her mind. “He—” she choked out. “He’s going to attack someone. I couldn’t see her face. Just blood. Screaming. The woods. But he was feeding.” Her voice cracked, raw and hoarse. She turned to Carlisle. “His eyes,” she whispered. “Carlisle. They were red.”

Carlisle froze. His jaw tightened, the corners of his mouth twitching with concern. He looked at Esme—then back at Alice, carefully masking the dread creeping into his eyes.

They knew how hard it must’ve been for Jasper to control his thirst, but this—this has never happened before. Not when they’ve done all they can to make sure he stays away from whatever’s been haunting him.

They were still unsure as to what may have caused this. Unsure as to what or who he’s after, but one thing’s for sure: if Alice tried to see any other way and there was none, it means his mind’s been made up. His only choice was to kill.

Emmett’s voice broke the silence. “He’s not even here,” he said with a frown, arms crossed. “He’s in Alaska with Edward.”

Alice shook her head, still trembling. “No. He’s not. Not anymore.”

Carlisle pulled out his phone, trying to stay calm, but the stiffness in his hand betrayed him. “I’ll call Edward.”

He stepped onto the porch. The cold air hit him hard. The phone rang once. Then twice. By the third ring, Alice had followed him to the doorway, arms wrapped tight across her chest, her eyes still distant.

Finally, Edward picked up.

“Carlisle?” His voice was clipped. Guarded.

“We need to talk,” Carlisle said. “Where’s Jasper?”

A pause. A long one.

Edward exhaled slowly, like someone who had been bracing for this. “I was going to call. He’s gone.”

Carlisle’s voice sharpened. “How long?”

“Two days. He said he needed space. He didn’t say where he was going but… I think—” Edward hesitated. “I think he went back to Forks.”

Alice flinched behind him.

“Why would he come back?” Carlisle asked, his voice quiet but laced with steel.

Another silence. Then, very softly:

“I think it’s her.”

Carlisle’s brow furrowed. “Who?”

Edward didn’t answer at first. It was as if even saying her name would make it real.

Edward knew. It was Dawn he was after. As much as he tried to shake it off his mind, he could hear Jasper’s thoughts from miles on end until he disappeared. It was only filled with Dawn. Dawn’s name, Dawn’s smell, Dawn blood. He wanted to kill her. To put an end to it.

Edward knew he should’ve told Carlisle, but a part of him was afraid he was right. Right about Dawn being special to Jasper. Dawn being his singer—just as Bella was to him.

“Dawn Swan.”

There it was.

Alice inhaled sharply, her hand flying to her mouth.

In the doorway, Rosalie scoffed. “Dawn? Why would he be after Dawn?” Her voice rang with a slight concern that she tried to mask with vain.

But Alice wasn’t listening. Her vision still clung to her—blood, screaming, forest, Jasper. The girl in the vision wasn’t Bella—she thought it might’ve been, but no. She was shorter, stronger. Defiant even in fear.

It was Dawn.

Edward continued, “I noticed it the first day at school. In the cafeteria. His thoughts… they were a mess. Chaotic. Unraveled. I’ve never heard him like that. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Her smell. Her blood. Her name. Over and over. It’s been constant ever since. I thought if I got him away from her… if we went to Alaska… it would fade.”

“It didn’t,” Carlisle said grimly.

“No,” Edward confirmed. “If he’s back… it means he gave in.”

Alice turned to face them fully now, her voice low and certain.

“He’s going to attack her.”

Rosalie shook her head. “She’s in La Push. She’s protected. He can’t cross the treaty line.”

She knew Jasper wasn’t dumb enough to cross the treaty line. He may be filled with bloodlust, but he respected the law.

Alice’s eyes met hers—clear, cold, certain. “Then she left. Or she’s going to. He wasn’t at the beach. He was in the woods.”

Carlisle lowered the phone slowly, as if it had turned to lead in his hand.

And for the first time in decades—Alice saw it.

Fear in his eyes.

“We don’t have much time.”

—

The clouds moved like bruises over the trees. Slow, swollen, and heavy. The kind of gray that sinks into your skin and settles in your bones.

I tightened my grip on the paper bag in my hands, the one with Dad’s uniform and six-pack I picked up for him. Something about the air changed. The pressure dropped, and even though the wind had died, I knew a storm was about to come.

I should’ve stayed on the main road.

I should’ve listened to Dad.

But I wanted to beat the storm. I thought I could cut through the woods and shave off ten minutes. It wasn’t like I hadn’t done it before—i mean sure, Dad would probably kill me if he found out—but he never does. And plus, I wasn’t scared of a little rain.

The trees grew denser as I drove further in—towering, shrouded in moss and heavy shadow. The air transformed too—sharper, almost crystalline, but it was unusually tainted with a sour tang of decay, as if something ancient and rotten waited just beyond sight.

I didn’t know these woods well; I rarely went to La Push, though Dad had once driven me this way. Maybe I was being overconfident, assuming this familiar road would lead me home without incident. Or maybe I was just mistaken—and that was why everything around me now felt so ominous.

As I cruised around, I noticed a deer lying lifeless on its shoulder, its eyes hollow and void—a creature seemingly torn apart. My stomach twisted. What kind of sick fuck does that? I’d never seen hunters here, not with a reservation so close. Whoever did this had some answering to do.

Then, without warning, there was a sharp pop. My truck lurched violently to the side. I gripped the steering wheel so hard I thought my knuckles might break, cursing under my breath as I maneuvered off the narrow path.

“Damn it,” I muttered. I stepped out into the chill, boots crunching on the damp dirt, and a question echoed in my mind: Why now? Why today, of all times?

Just as I took another step forward, the wind carried a swirl of scents—pine and wet moss mixed with something else, something metallic and disturbingly familiar. It hit me like a jolt, like that rotten tang from the dead deer by the road.

I was barely two steps from the truck when I heard it—a faint crack, a whisper of movement from behind me. I froze and turned, voice trembling as I called out, “Hello?”

For a moment, nothing answered but leaves rustling. I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that I wasn’t alone, but a part of me whispered that whatever it was would vanish if I kept my cool. I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to exude control, even if my heart pounded in protest.

I turned around, one step forward.

And then—I was on the ground.

It happened so fast. A blur. Weight. Pain. Breath driven from my lungs. My skull cracked against the earth, the paper bag spilling open beside me as something—no, someone—pinned me to the dirt.

Hands gripped my wrists like iron cuffs, locking me in place. A knee pressed between my thighs, anchoring me, trapping me. I thrashed beneath him, heart thundering. His face came into view.

His eyes—blown wide, gold ringed in black—met mine like he didn’t know what I was. Like he didn’t care.

Jasper?

The name slammed into me with the same force he had. My mouth parted, but no sound came out.

That’s when I smelled it.

Blood.

Thick. Coppery. Fresh. Not human—but wrong all the same. It poured off him like steam, clinging to his clothes, his skin, his breath. He reeked of it. Like he'd bathed in it. Like it had come from something still warm.

His breath hit my cheek—quick and ragged, trembling with restraint.

I kicked. Fought. Screamed.

Nothing moved him.

He was stone. Not like a man, but like something older, colder, unyielding. Still. Too still.

I froze.

The fight in me drained all at once, leaving only the thud of my heart and the rising nausea of helplessness. My limbs went cold. My mouth dry. My thoughts tangled, stuck between confusion and terror.

He hovered over me—his body flush against mine, chest to chest, thigh to thigh, as if molded to fit my shape. I could feel the heat of him, the tension coiled in every muscle. He didn’t move, didn’t speak—just stared like he couldn’t decide whether to kiss me or rip me apart.

And somehow, that terrified me more than anything else.

His hand lifted—slow, deliberate. His fingers brushed my cheek, featherlight. Almost gentle.

And then he stopped at my throat.

Right over my vein.

My pulse stuttered beneath his touch.

Panic bloomed like a bruise in my chest. My stomach churned. I wanted to scream again, but my voice caught, held down by the weight of something I didn’t want to name.

Please no.

Please don’t.

But part of me wasn’t just afraid of dying. Part of me was afraid of the way his touch made my skin burn. The way his mouth hovered too close. The way my body betrayed me with its heat—despite the cold, despite the terror, despite him.

Not arousal. Not really.

But something sick and electric. Something I didn’t ask for. Didn’t want. And yet it lived in my skin anyway.

I hated that I could feel even a flicker of want beneath him. I hated him for it.

His breath shuddered across my lips. Our faces were inches apart. His pupils dilated, eyes blazing. He stared at me like I was a sin he couldn’t stop committing.

“Get off me,” I rasped, voice cracking in my throat.

He didn’t move.

His jaw clenched, hands shaking now, like something inside him was splitting apart. His entire body trembled—not with weakness, but restraint. Like he was fighting some impossible instinct.

So I slapped him.

I slapped him hard.

The sound cracked through the air like lightning.

He reeled—but the pain was mine. It surged through my fingers like fire, like I’d struck marble—or something divine. I gasped, clutching my hand to my chest.

No blood. No mark.

But I felt it in my bones, as if I’d touched something forbidden. Sacred. Cursed.

He looked at me then—not with desire. Not even with hunger.

With hatred.

Not for what I’d done. But for me.

“I didn’t ask for this,” he spat, voice low and furious. “I’ve been trying to stay away from you.”

He shook, fists clenched, voice rising with every word. “I left the state. I buried myself in blood—rabbits, deer, bears—anything I could find. I thought it would be enough. That if I just drank and drank and drowned myself in it, I wouldn’t come back.”

He was the one hunting.

I blinked. My thoughts were spinning.

What the hell was he saying?

“But I did.” His voice cracked, raw now, something unraveling. “Because of you.”

I flinched as he leaned closer. My heart felt like it would tear itself out of my chest.

“You don’t know what your scent does to me,” he snarled, voice thick with something between lust and loathing. “What it makes me. I’m not supposed to be like this. You ruin everything.”

My throat tightened. I was shaking, soaked in rain and confusion and something dangerously close to pity. He looked… broken. Not just dangerous. Wrong. Like he didn’t belong to the body he was trapped in.

It should’ve made me run.

Instead, I whispered, “Then kill me.”

He froze, a small twitch on his eyebrow.

Just like that. Everything inside him stilled.

“If that’s what you came here for,” I said, barely audible over the rain, “then do it.”

His face twisted—not with hunger now, but with anguish. Pure, bitter anguish.

For a moment, all I saw was a boy drowning in war. Not just with me. But inside himself.

And that—that—was the most terrifying part.

Because for one heartbeat, I didn’t hate him.

I was curious.

Was he insane? Possessed? Addicted? He looked like he didn’t know what he was anymore. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to know either.

His fists trembled at his sides. Then he growled, “Run.”

“What?”

He snapped his gaze to mine, wild and unhinged.

“I said, RUN!”

I didn’t wait to ask again.

I ran like my life depended on it.

Because it did.

I bolted through the forest, breath ragged, rain slicing through the trees in sheets. Branches clawed at my arms. Mud pulled at my feet. I didn’t stop, didn’t look back, didn’t dare wonder if he was following. The only thought in my head was escape.

Escape him.

Escape myself.

My lungs burned. My knees nearly gave way.

Then, suddenly, tires screamed in the distance.

I stumbled onto the road just in time to freeze—headlights barreling toward me, too fast, too close. I couldn’t move.

My hair clung to my face, soaked with rain and tears. My legs wouldn’t listen. My heart had already run off without me.

And for a split second, I thought—

Maybe this is it. 

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some of ya'll need to get your head out of the gutter ( ˶•̀ ᎑ - ˶ )

[izzyyaps2much]

Chapter Three - Ripples

Red Threads // A Jasper Hale Fanfiction // Wattpad

Coffee, bacon grease, and something sweet cooking in the back—that’s what Carver Café always smelled like. It clung to your clothes and crept into your hair, but I neve minded. I liked it actually. Plus the strawberry cheesecake here held a very sacred, non-negotiable spot in my heart.

Bella and I used to play tag around the booths when we were little. Back when things were simple and I still thought Mom and Dad were just...loud, not broken. The place felt the same as it did back then. Cozy, a little cramped, filled with the soft clatter of plates and low hum of locals talking about rain, roadkill, and the Mariners. It was one of the places I felt most comfortable in. 

Charlie glanced sideways at me. “Finger still acting up?”

Dad seemed stoic but he was worried about my finger. He’d usually just play it off though. 

I wiggled it in the air. “Nah. Just being dramatic. It’s fine now.”

He gave me that half-smile, equal parts amused and mildly concerned. “Still think you should’ve let the doc take a look.”

“I’m not gonna lose it, Dad.” I bumped my shoulder against his. “And if I do, you should be thankful I can’t pinch anymore.”

Bella let out a laugh. Not a sarcastic one or a polite one—a real one. Light and airy, like something finally thawed in her chest. I hadn’t seen that since she got here. It made my ribs loosen a little. Maybe she remembered how I used to be a pincher back in the days. Well—I still am… Sometimes. 

“Hey, Bells, how was school today?” I asked, nudging the attention her way. “I saw you talking to a few people at lunch. Looks like you’ve already got a couple friends already, huh?”

Charlie perked up. “Yeah? That’s great, Bella.” He seemed genuinely happy that she somehow found a place here in Forks. I think Dad wants her to stay forever, both of us do. We just weren’t really sure if she wanted to stay with us… 

She shrugged, poking at a napkin. “Yeah. It was just... kinda weird.”

Weird. That was a word I’d been using a lot lately too.

I didn’t push. Forks High was weird, in its own way. Small, gossipy, cliquey. And then there were the Cullens. Still couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something going on with them. Something they didn’t want anyone to see.

Before I could start a new topic, Cora showed up with our food. Two burgers, grilled cheese for Bella, and a mountain of fries none of us were claiming but all of us would most definitely eat.

“Thanks, Cora,” I said with a grin. “I was starving.”

“Anytime, sweetheart.” She turned to Bella, her face lighting up. “Now this must be your sister.”

I nodded. “Back from the desert.”

Bella smiled. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

Cora looked at her like she was remembering something soft. “Oh, honey, last time I saw you, you were this shy little thing clinging to your mom’s legs. Now look at you! Gorgeous and grown.”

Bella blushed, a real pink creeping onto her cheeks. “Thanks.”

“As soon as you’re done, I will bring you your favorite. Berry cobbler, remember?” She gave Bella a warm smile then turned towards me. “And—strawberry cheesecake for Dawn of course.” I nodded.

It wasn’t hard of her to remember Bella’s favorite dessert. Dad still ordered it every thursday. I guess.. Eating her favorite dessert every thursday was just like a raunchy tradition that Dad and I silently agreed to, to pretend as if she was still here when she wasn’t.

The bell above the door jingled, and Dad immediately noticed the two coming in. Billy and Jacob Black. Jacob pushes Billy’s wheelchair towards us, as they exchange remarks. 

“What brings you out tonight?” Dad asked. 

“We just sold the old red truck to Waylon,” Billy said. “Figured we’d grab dinner while we’re out.”

Charlie chuckled. “That thing still runs?”

“Barely,” Jacob grinned. “But Waylon was excited. Said it reminded him of his first love.”

“What? Rusty and stubborn?” I offered.

Everyone laughed… except Billy, who was watching me out of the corner of his eye. Like there was something about me that didn’t add up.

I smiled anyway, reached for another fry, and pretended not to feel it. But for some reason, the line on my finger acted up again. It wasn’t sharp this time though, more like a little jolt under my skin. A passing flicker.

Then I saw something.

Outside the diner window, past the neon glow and the rainy glass, I could’ve sworn Jasper Hale was standing there. Just… watching me.

I blinked, and he was gone.

Okay. Maybe I really do need to see a doctor. First the finger, now I'm hallucinating boys outside diners. Fantastic.

The rest of the evening was quieter. Bella, Jacob, and I talked about the old days and how we used to make mudpies down at the beach and how I once made Jacob cry by kicking down his tiny sandcastle. He still insists that something just got caught in his eye. I still insist he cried too easily.

It felt good having Bella around again. I wanted her to warm up to us as quickly as possible—to somehow be back to how we were but I knew I couldn’t rush her. She had her own pace. 

After she left, I pulled away from pretty much everyone. I didn’t mean to. I just stopped showing up. Bonfires, hangouts, even the occasional movie night—none of it stuck. The only two places I went anymore were school and this diner. Mostly for the cheesecake.

Honestly, I spent most of my time in Port Angeles. Wandering. Just walking around without really talking to anyone. I liked that no one knew me there. No expectations, no curious stares, just quiet.

I spent hours in libraries and dusty bookstores. Museums, too. Any place where no one cared who you were. I drowned myself in textbooks, articles, whatever I could get my hands on.

I liked math the most. Especially probability. 

Not because I was good at it. I wasn’t. Not at first anyways.

I liked it because I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t really fully grasp the concept. 

The idea that you could take chaos and give it a percentage? That there was a system behind chance? It was comforting. Like maybe the universe wasn’t just winging it. Like maybe even the unpredictable had rules—you just had to figure them out.

And I’ve always been good at figuring things out. Most things, anyway.

—

I walked into the room Bella and I shared, towel draped over my head, ruffling through my damp waves. My hair always clumped together unless I brushed it out, and tonight, for some reason, it was a mess. Bella had just gotten off the phone with Mom. Her expression was pinched, like her thoughts were louder than the room.

“Hey,” I said gently. “What’s wrong?” Judging by the book thrown at her side, she seemed to be frustrated with something. 

“Nothing…” she replied too quickly, shaking her head. But I could see the unease written all over her.

“If someone’s bullying you at school���”

“No! No, it’s not that.” She paused, clearly unsure how to explain. “It’s just… Edward Cullen.” The brown-haired, frankenstein looking dude? “I don’t know. Something about him was weird. The way he looked at me. The way he acted. It didn’t make sense.”

I blinked. So that’s what this was about.

A slow grin tugged at my lips. “Maybe he’s got a little crush on you.”

Bella made a face, caught somewhere between scandalized and confused. “What? No. It wasn’t like that.”

But I could tell that something about him had gotten under her skin. The way she said his name, the way she looked off like she was replaying it all again. She was intrigued. And I got it. The Cullens were strange, sure. but beautiful, too. 

“He didn’t seem all that bad,” I said with a shrug. “Kind of intense, but not creepy. Why don’t you just ask him yourself? There’s no hurt in asking questions.”

She didn’t argue, just gave me this look like she was trying to puzzle it all out.

After a moment, her voice turned quiet. “Do you ever feel like you don’t… fit in?”

I glanced at her, surprised. “Yeah,” I said. “All the time.”

She looked at me, eyebrows drawn together.

“I mean, I went to Cassidy for years, right? And I didn’t really let anyone in. Then when I came back here, it’s like… I realized I didn’t really know this town as much as I knew other towns. I barely talk to anyone as well. Just school, the diner, maybe a drive to Port Angeles when I felt a little too cooped up at home… Other than Dad, there wasn’t really a reason for me to stay here.”

Bella looked thoughtful, like maybe she’d just realized something about me. “But you always seemed like you had it all figured out.”

I let out a soft laugh and flopped onto the bed beside her. “That’s just because I’ve been faking it since I was like twelve.” 

That got a smile out of her, and for a second, the tension in her face melted away. I know Bella and I were nearly close to being strangers, but I could see that neither of us really wanted to be. I guess both of us secretly yearned to be back to how we were then. We were kind of raised separately—as if we were only children, forgetting the fact that we had each other. 

We sat there for a beat, the rain tapping softly on the window.

“You remember when we used to build forts in the living room?” Bella asked.

I smiled. “Yeah. We’d stay up all night telling scary stories, and you’d make me check under the couch for monsters.”

“You liked doing it! Then you’d scare me off and pretend as if there was one underneath.”

“That was because you always bribed me with marshmallows. Bribery comes with a cost y’know.”

She laughed, the kind that came from the belly, and I couldn’t help but laugh too.

“I missed this,” she said, voice softer now.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Me too.”

The room felt lighter, like something had clicked back into place.

I bumped my shoulder into hers. “You’ll be okay here, don’t worry.”

She didn’t answer right away, but when she looked at me, there was something steadier in her eyes. 

“Thanks,” she said quietly.

And for the first time since she moved back, it really felt like we were in the same place.

—

The morning was quieter than yesterday. Still drizzling, still grey like always—but calmer somehow. Bella and I pulled into the school parking lot, and I noticed how she immediately started scanning the crowd. Her eyes searched for someone. Or more specifically—I’m guessing, him.

She didn’t say anything, but I could tell. 

Engines purred in the distance. The Cullens arrived, Emmet driving a large silver jeep and Rosalie, along with Alice pulling up with a red Mercedes. They climbed out of their sleek cars like they owned the fog, a detached aura of some kind following them around. But something was undeniably off… Edward Cullen was noticeably missing. And not just him—Jasper, too.

Tension filled the air somehow. Even from here, I could feel it. The way they moved… It seemed more guarded than usual. Like whatever unspoken thing usually bound them together had been pulled too tight.

I looked over at Bella again. She was trying not to look disappointed, but I could see in her eyes that she looked forward to seeing Edward today. 

“Hey, Dawn!” Alice’s voice rang out as she broke from the group, waving as she made her way toward us. Her steps were light but urgent. Rosalie and Emmett hung back. Rosalie watched us like she was trying to solve a puzzle, while Emmett gave a lazy wave.

“I was wondering if you wanted to walk to class together,” Alice said, stopping in front of me with that familiar bright smile. “We’ve got first period, right?”

“Yeah,” I said, surprised she remembered.

She smiled again, but something in her eyes felt off—like she was watching me too closely. Every time Alice looked at me, it was like she was trying to peer through a window that wasn’t quite clear. Like she was testing. Prodding. Searching. Each touch felt intentional and yet so graceful. 

Before I could say anything else, something whizzed past my shoulder and almost hit Bella square in the back.

“What the hell?” I turned around, looking at the dumbass that yelled for my sister. 

Tyler, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world, had thrown a balled-up piece of paper at her. Friendly, probably. But still.

I picked it up and threw it back—harder than necessary—and it smacked against his chest.

“Watch it,” I said, calm but sharp.

Everything went quiet for a beat. Even the Cullens looked over.

Tyler blinked. “It was just a joke…”

Rosalie let out a small, amused breath—almost a laugh. Emmett chuckled under it. Could they hear me from over there? 

Then the bell rang, shattering the tension.

“Oh!” Alice clapped her hands together. “We should go before we’re late.”

She reached for my hand, and I let her take it. Her touch was light, but it lingered just long enough to make me wonder.

I glanced back at Bella one last time as we split off. She gave me a small smile, assuring me she was going to be fine. 

“You sure know how to throw,” Alice said beside me, walking a little too perfectly in sync. 

One thing I noticed about Alice is how short she was compared to the rest of her siblings. Not just that but she was also somehow shorter than me, which was the first I’ve seen… from anywhere. I stood at 5 ft, and she somehow was a few inches shorter than me.  

I glanced at her. “Guess I just don’t like people messing with my sister.”

“I noticed.” Her eyes sparkled. “Still. That was so impressive!”

“Where’s Jasper?” I asked, keeping my voice casual. “Didn’t see him around.”

Alice hesitated, just for a second. “He’s... uhm… out with Edward. They went hiking.”

“Hiking in this weather?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You’d be surprised how much we like the rain,” she chuckled, but her voice was quieter now. 

I watched her for a moment. Something in her expression flickered… like she was chasing a thread that kept slipping through her fingers. I was unsure as to what exactly happened, but it seemed like Alice had something in her mind. 

“You okay?” I asked, a little surprised at myself.

She looked up at me then. Really looked. And I swore, just for a heartbeat, there was something lost in her face. Some blank space she didn’t know how to fill.

“I usually know what’s coming,” she said, her voice softer now. “But with you... I don’t see anything.”

That caught me off guard. “What do you mean?” She wasn’t making any sense… 

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It’s like you fog up the future. Like standing in front of a mirror that won’t show your reflection.”

Fog up the future? What? 

We stopped just outside the classroom. I wasn’t sure what to say, but I felt something—some current between us I didn’t know how to name.

Alice gave me a small smile, a little less bright than usual.

“I’m not used to unpredictability… But I think I like it somehow.” 

And then she walked into the room like she hadn’t just dropped that strange little truth at my feet. I wasn’t even sure what she meant by that… I looked at her for a while, trying to figure it out in my head, but all I could do was chuckle and nod. Right, maybe she’s just a little strange… Unique. 

—+—

I could taste her in the back of my throat. 

Not blood exactly, but the ghost of it. The memory of a scent that hadn’t touched my tongue but had already ruined me. Warm—Her blood gushing in my mouth… I flinched at the memory that didn’t belong to me, biting the inside of my cheek, my nails cutting through my knee as my leg shook in agitation.

She was hundreds of miles away, and yet Dawn Swan haunted me like a phantom—her heartbeat pressed against my skull, her scent threaded to the inside of my lungs. I'd never felt thirst like this. Not in my newborn days. Not even during the wars. This was something else. Something personal. Divine. 

I hadn’t even touched her. Hadn’t spoken a word. And yet my drive to bite her—take her—was stronger than anything I’d ever known. 

And she smelled like salvation.

Or destruction. I couldn’t tell the difference anymore.

Behind me, the floorboards creaked.

“You’re going to lose control if you do this Jasper,” Edward said quietly.

I didn’t turn. I didn’t have to. I could hear the tension in every syllable. His disgust. His fear.

“She’s not safe with you.”

“No one’s safe with me.”

If only he knew what it felt like. 

Edward stepped closer. “Then don’t go.”

I finally turned to him, jaw tight, hands fisted at my sides.

“You don’t get it. You think you do because of Bella—but you don’t. I can’t hide from her. Not from her scent. Not from her heartbeat. It’s always there. Even now.”

And it doesn’t even make sense. Alice was supposed to be the only one who could fill my thoughts, and yet ever since that day in the chemistry lab, I’d stopped thinking of Alice. Then I knew Alice had stopped thinking of me too. Something about her no longer felt right. Both of us could feel it. 

His eyes narrowed. “You’re not thinking clearly. It’s a fixation—”

“No.” My voice dropped low. “It’s a bond.”

Edward’s thoughts spiked; I could feel them like static. Confusion. Anger. Fear. Not for himself but for me.

“She’s human,” he bit out. “Whatever you think this is, it will destroy you both.”

“Then let it.”

“Jasper!”

“I don’t care if it kills me,” I said, teeth gritted. “I need to see her again. I need to know… why.”

The truth was—I didn’t understand it myself. But I knew that something shifted in me the moment her eyes met mine across that chemistry table. Something fate-bound. Something irreversible.

"You're going to kill her."

"I can't.“ The word ripped from my throat like something broken—not defiant, but desperate.

I’ve tried. God, I’ve tried.

Every time I followed the hunger, every time I let it guide me to her… it stopped. I stopped.

That night at the diner, she was laughing, sunlight on her skin even under the artificial lights, sitting between her father and sister like she belonged in a world I’d never touched. I was already there. Already so close… 

And still… nothing.

My body locked up. My instincts fractured. Something in me refused to move forward. Not guilt. Not mercy.

It’s like I wasn’t built to hurt her. 

I wanted to feed. To silence the fire clawing through my throat. But something else—something even louder—held me back.

I’m tormented by her. The thoughts of me devouring her clashed with the thoughts that I shouldn’t. It was a constant battle—one I had no chance of winning. 

Dawn. Dawn. Dawn. The Swan Girl. I need her. I need to see her. Her voice, her laugh. I need it. Her smell. Blood. I need her… 

Edward looked at me—I felt his fear. More than ever, it radiated off him like static. I knew he could hear my thoughts. I wondered if they haunted him the way they haunted me.

—+—

By Thursday, I had started to settle into a rhythm—not quite a routine, but something I could work with. I wasn’t just the new girl anymore. I had people to sit with. People who, somehow, didn’t make me want to crawl out of my skin.

Surprisingly, those people were the Cullens. 

Alice had attached herself to me like ivy, graceful and relentless. Every time I turned around, she was there with that sparkle in her eye and a new question on her tongue. She made space beside me at lunch, clung to my arm between classes, and made sure I never studied alone—even when I didn’t ask her to.

And then there was Rosalie.

I wouldn’t say we were friends, exactly. But something had shifted. She didn’t look at me like I was a threat anymore. More like… an anomaly she was still trying to figure out. Sometimes I caught her watching me with an expression that looked like curiosity laced with caution. And sometimes, when I said something that made Alice laugh, Rosalie almost smiled too.

Almost.

Emmett, on the other hand, had immediately slotted himself into the role similar to an annoying older brother. Loud, playful, impossible to ignore, but weirdly comforting in a way I hadn’t expected. I liked them. I liked being around them.

Bella and I had just stepped out into the courtyard when I noticed it… this strange stillness in the air. Like the day was holding its breath.

“Edward and Jasper still aren’t here?” Bella asked, scanning the parking lot. Her voice was light, but there was something careful about it.

“Looks like it,” I said, eyes narrowing. I hadn’t seen them the whole week. 

The Cullens’ sleek cars were parked in their usual spots, but the family wasn’t one, but two short.

Alice, Rosalie, and Emmett were waiting near the steps. When Alice spotted us, her expression brightened.

“Dawn!” she waved, walking quickly toward us. “You have to help me with calculus. I swear, it’s like that textbook is personally out to ruin my life.”

I laughed. “Only if you do me a favor in return.”

Alice raised a brow, intrigued. “Name it.”

“Take Bella home for me? I need to swing by La Push. Dad left something there, and I promised I’d grab it before the weekend. I don’t want to drag Bells along.”

She tilted her head, puzzled—but just for a moment.

“Sure!” she said, a smile on her face. “Consider it a done deal! Rosalie and I can take her.”

Rosalie rolled her eyes from behind her sunglasses. 

That was when Alice’s steps faltered. Something in her posture changed, like the tension in her spine had turned to stone.

Her gaze snapped past me and quickly toward the edge of the forest. She went completely still, breathing heavily, afraid. 

“Alice?” I murmured, barely audible.

She blinked slowly, and for a moment I caught a glimpse of something shifting behind her eyes. Then the calm mask returned with practiced ease.

“Right—change of plans,” she said too brightly. She turned to Rosalie. “You’re taking Bella home today.”

Rosalie’s brows lifted. “Huh? I am?”

“Yes,” Alice continued, her tone final. “I just remembered that Emmett and I have to drop something off with Carlisle.”

Rosalie shot her a confused look, but something in Alice’s expression must have said more than words, because soon Rosalie’s face shifted; an alarm flickered behind her eyes, as if she knew something was wrong even if she couldn’t pinpoint it.

“Okay,” Rosalie replied slowly. “Sure. I’ll take her.”

Bella looked between them, puzzled. “Wait, what’s going on?”

“Nothing serious,” Emmett interjected smoothly, draping an arm across Rosalie’s shoulder. “Just some boring family stuff. You’ll be in good hands.”

Alice turned to me. “You said you had an errand in La Push?”

“Yeah,” I said, blinking. What happened? 

“Perfect,” she said—too quickly. “Then we’ll all split from here.”

There was something in her voice. Worry allied with urgency… Whatever happened, it must be something serious. 

As we walked, she brushed my sleeve. Gentle. Subtle enough to slow me down.

“Be careful, okay?” she said softly.

Something in her tone stirred under my skin. My eyebrows furrowed together as I studied her, but she only smiled and went ahead. “Text me if you get lost.”

Then she slipped back beside Emmett like nothing had happened.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go very, very wrong.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Lowkey excited for the next chapter even through I fried my brain writing this one T^T

[izzyyaps2much]

Chapter Two - Shadows and Spotlights

Red Threads // A Jasper Hale Fanfiction // Wattpad

The morning dew never failed to fog up my window.

I wiped it down like I always did, knowing it wouldn't clear completely. Even if it did, it's not like tomorrow morning would be different. This town never changes. But something about today was.

Dad was unusually chipper, of course, he was. To an outsider's eye, he seems to be the same but I noticed. Ever since Bella came, he's been wanting to give off a good impression. Waking up early in the morning, cooking us breakfast. It made me chuckle how the old man seemed so giddy to befriend his own daughter. He's been doing quite a lot recently.. A lot more cautious, too. I sigh looking at Bella give Dad a hug... well almost? I could still feel the tension between them. I guess Bella hasn't gotten used to Dad yet.

He tossed me the keys to my truck, a blue Ford F-150 he got me for my eighteenth birthday, and handed Bella a newly released sequel to the book she'd brought along with her last night. She immediately lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. Who knew my little sister turned into such a bookworm?

I laughed, turning to give Dad a hug. "Don't forget to eat lunch, old man. I'll cook you double if you forget again!"

Before I could head out, he lowered his voice, clearly not wanting Bella to hear. "You sure you're gonna be okay, kid?"

There it was. Dad wasn't one to say much when he was worried. He usually just hovered around, giving a few looks, and waited for me to express my concerns but this time... I guess he was quite nervous.

"I'm gonna be fine, Dad. Look, nothing's gonna happen. Me and Bella are safe. Forks High is safe."

Ever since the so-called animal attack at my old school, the one that killed our principal, he's been on high alert. That's how he got Mom to let him transfer us here actually. That's why she was unusually quiet about it. I guess even she knew when to back off.

Dad gave a tight nod, a small cough escaping his throat.

"Hey! We're gonna be late!" Bella called from the car.

"Coming!" I waved goodbye. "We'll be back in one piece don't worry!"

—

Bella stared out the window, earbuds in, already in her own world. I hoped she didn't feel too out of place though. I mean, she's been gone for years, but me and Dad always kept the door open. Still, it's weird how different we turned out.

She got Mom's lighter features, brown hair, pale skin... I was more like Dad. Darker hair, sharper eyes, and a sharper tongue as well. Personality-wise, we couldn't be more different. Bella was all quiet sighs and internal monologues. It was like looking at a cute little puppy.

Suddenly, a dog or maybe something bigger darted across the road. I slammed the brakes, heart in my throat.

Bella shot me a look. "What happened?"

I cursed under my breath, grabbing my right hand. My index finger flared up again, like a needle piercing straight through it. It had been aching since last night, but this was way worse.

"I think I hit something," I muttered, stepping out of the truck.

No body. Just an empty road. But weirdly, there was a dent on the side of the truck.

Great. First week in Forks High and I'm already seeing ghosts or possibly damaging wildlife. And in this town, especially where animals were practically protected royalty, I'd be crucified.

Bella climbed out behind me, eyes flicking to my hand. "You're bleeding?"

"No, just... cramps, maybe? I was painting a lot last week."

She reached for my hand, and I instinctively pulled back. Her touch made it sting worse. What the hell?

"You okay?" she asked again, clearly not buying it.

"Yeah. Just a passing dog or something. Nothing major."

She didn't look convinced but got back in the truck anyway.

The rest of the drive was painfully quiet. When we pulled up to Forks High, the place was buzzing. Students swarmed the front steps, groups clustered on wet pavement like it wasn't freezing out.

A voice called out as we passed, "Nice ride."

Bella smiled slightly. "Thanks."

I clocked how people looked at us. Like we were aliens. I guessed Forks didn't get a lot of transfers.

"You're Dawn and Isabella Swan," A guy popped out of nowhere. "The new girls!"

He was tall, kind of nerdy-cute, with wide eyes and a little too much confidence. "Eric. Eyes and ears of this place. You need a tour guide, lunch date, shoulder to cry on? I do it all." He offered a hand out, which I didn't take.

I laughed, raising a brow at his shy retreat. "Generous offer. My sister might take you up on it."

Bella side-eyed me. "I'm more of a suffer in–" "Guide her," I cut in. "She's shy, she needs someone to show her around."

Eric beamed. "Sure thing!"

I watched them walk off toward gym, Bella shooting me a glare. I mouthed You'll be fine and turned toward my own hell: AP Chemistry.

I had no clue why I was even in that class. I wasn't bad at chem, but I wasn't great either. Someone probably made a mistake. Hopefully.

As soon as I walked into the room, my finger pulsed again. Sharper this time. And I swear someone was staring at me. Like, really staring. But when I glanced around, only the teacher looked up.

"Ah! You must be Ms. Swan. I'm Mrs. Moore," she smiled. "Why don't you take a seat next to Jasper and Alice at the back. They'll help you catch up."

My gaze followed her gesture, and I froze.

Two students sat there like they belonged in an oil painting, not a public school lab. The girl had short black hair styled in messy spikes, like she walked through a wind tunnel and made it fashion. She was impossibly graceful, almost pixie-like. The guy next to her... there was something sharp about him. Pale skin, honey-blond curls, jaw clenched like he was in pain.

Then he looked at me.

His eyes were black. Not dark brown. Not hazel. Pitch black, like tar under moonlight. I couldn't move... I could barely breathe. There was something ancient in that look, like staring down a cliffside you didn't realize you were standing on the edge of.

My heart skipped. No, it tripped.

I forced my legs to work, walking slowly down the aisle and sliding into the seat beside them. The room was full of quiet scribbling and the low hum of a Bunsen burner, but I felt like all the sound had drained out by the time I was in front of them.

"Hey," I said, more casually than I felt. "I'm Dawn."

The girl smiled immediately. "I'm Alice." She had a bright voice. Bubbly. Friendly. Like wind chimes.

"Nice to meet you," I said, holding out my hand. She reached out instinctively, but the moment our hands almost touched, she hesitated. Her smile faltered, though not entirely, but just a tiny flicker. Her eyes went distant and a bit confused. As if I had disappeared right in front of her.

I waited for a "nice to meet you too," but it never came.

Instead, she blinked and let go quickly. Her smile came back, but it never quite reached her eyes like earlier. I tilted my head, a little thrown off. Nonetheless, I ignored it.

Alice turned back to her notes and began explaining where the class had left off, guiding me through the lab instructions. Still helpful, still sweet, but there was a stiffness behind it. Like she was trying to focus through a migraine.

I noticed her sneaking glances at me every so often, her expression tight. Curious. Intrigued. Though still she looked as if she tried her best to be cheerful.

And the guy beside her. Jasper.

He sat to her left, perfectly still, arms folded like he was keeping himself from doing something impulsive. There was something rigid about him. Alert. Like a soldier trying not to twitch. He hadn't said a word. Not to me, not to Alice. Just occasionally turned pages or moved a beaker as needed. But his eyes... those seemed to be the only parts of him that moved. Flicking toward me, then away, then back again like he couldn't help it.

I caught his gaze once and for some reason it didn't feel like looking at a stranger.

It felt like I'd walked into a room I wasn't supposed to be in, and he was trying to decide whether to speak or vanish.

And yet, weirdly, I wasn't scared. Just... confused.

He was beautiful. No getting around that, but in that strange, carved-from-marble way that felt unreal up close. There was a shadow to him. Like he carried tension in his veins instead of blood.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and tried to focus on Alice again.

"You smell... sweet," she said suddenly.

I blinked. "Sorry?"

"Sorry," she laughed quickly. "That sounded strange, didn't it?"

"Kind of," I said, laughing a little too. "Is that a compliment or a warning?" I joked around, expecting her to jest back.

But instead her smile flickered, and there was silence between us after that.

"I'll write while you pour?" I offered. "You probably shouldn't trust me near glass."

Alice laughed, a little too quickly. "You're fine. Here, just place that bottle into the tray when it's done mixing."

It was strange. I heard a lot about the Cullens. Ever since they moved from Alaska two years ago, they've been the favorite of small-town gossip. Though I wasn't one to really interact much with the people around, it was impossible to hear nothing about the Cullen family. I was at the diner once, waiting for Dad, and I heard something about them being adopted. That doesn't explain why they all look so beautiful, though. Were Mr. and Mrs. Cullen just extremely selective with their kids?

We were midway through the lab instructions when Alice handed me one of the labeled flasks, her fingers brushing mine by accident.

The contact was brief—but immediate.

Alice flinched like she'd touched a live wire. Her eyes snapped wide, then went utterly blank. Like someone cut the lights behind them. I barely had time to register it. My fingers jerked instinctively away, knocking the beaker on the edge of the table. It shattered on impact.

"Shit—sorry," I gasped, already reaching to clean it.

But then—

A sharp sting flared across my finger. A thin, shallow line, like a paper cut—but worse. It burned, like hot scissors through paper threads.

Alice blinked hard, snapping back to herself.

I barely caught the way her hand trembled as she reached for a cloth. "Dawn–" she said, too fast. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's nothing." I said, my hand covering my finger.

But I looked up—and Jasper wasn't okay.

He'd gone completely still. Rigid.

His eyes were on my hand. Unblinking.

There was something about the way he stood, like he was balancing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for a signal to jump.

Alice's head snapped toward him.

"Jasper," she said quietly.

He didn't move.

"Jasper," she repeated—firmer now. Her hand shot out, latching onto his wrist.

Something passed between them in that second—some silent conversation I wasn't privy to.

He shut his eyes, jaw flexing like it hurt to breathe. His lips twitched once.

Then he exhaled sharply and turned away.

"I need to go," he muttered, already walking out.

Alice watched him go, lips pressed into a thin line.

She turned back to me with a polite smile. "I'll clean this up. Go see the nurse, okay?"

I nodded, too weirded out to argue. My finger was still bleeding, but at least it was wrapped in a napkin now.

As I stepped out of the lab, I could still feel it—the strange static that buzzed through the air when our hands touched. The scissor-sharp slice. And the way Jasper looked at me, like I'd cracked something open he wasn't ready to face.

I didn't know what it meant.

But something had changed. I just didn't know what.

—

Alice caught up with Jasper just outside the science building.

She let out an exasperated sigh, not speaking for a moment. Just staring at him.

"I can't see her," she finally whispered. "I..." She looked disheveled, a slight terror in her eyes.

He didn't answer.

"I mean it," Alice continued. "Not just her future. Nothing. Like she doesn't even exist on the map..."

Jasper let out a slow breath through his nose. "Then maybe that's why."

"Why what?"

"Why it felt like something snapped." He furrowed his brows, clenching his jaw.

She blinked. "What do you mean?"

He didn't elaborate. He just kept walking, hands shoved deep in his pockets, expression unreadable.

—

By the time I got to the cafeteria, it was packed. I spotted Bella sitting at a table surrounded by a cluster of juniors, laughing politely at something someone said.

After what happened in AP Chem, I was sure something was wrong with my finger. But the nurse insisted it was fine; she said it was just a shallow cut, nothing serious. Still, she let me rest for a while in the office, which was why I was late.

I scanned the room for an empty table, hoping to quietly blend in. That hope shattered when I caught sight of a pale hand waving me over.

Alice.

She sat with the rest of the Cullens. Which was undeniably the most striking group in the room. Together, they looked more like a casting call than a group of high school students. The cafeteria buzzed around them, whispers flowing like current through water.

"Dawn! Over here!" Alice's voice rang out, clear and cheerful.

Heads turned. A few students glanced between her and me, whispering. Even Bella looked up, surprised. She offered me a small, closed-lip smile, the kind you give a stranger at a family party. I gave her one back, equally uncertain.

As I made my way across the room, I heard a girl near Bella mutter, "Wait—who is she? Why is she sitting with them?"

"That's my sister," Bella smiled, calmly looking over.

"You didn't tell us you had a sister," the girl replied, laughing awkwardly. I don't know why but the way she said that kind of bothered me.

I slid into the seat beside Alice, settling between her and another blonde girl who gave me a slow once-over, arms folded across her chest like I'd just stolen her seat.

"Hey," Alice said, leaning in slightly. "Is your finger okay?"

I glanced at the bandage wrapped around it. "Yeah. Still stings a little, but I'll live."

She nodded, hands neatly folded in her lap, but I noticed how she didn't reach for me again. Not even a reassuring touch on the arm. She looked steadier than before but not exactly at ease.

"I wanted to apologize," she added. "About earlier. I... had a migraine. And Jasper... he's just really sensitive to blood."

I glanced across the table. Jasper sat rigid, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on anywhere but me. He didn't look up, but I could feel the apology in his nod. It was subtle, almost reluctant.

"Happens," I said, shrugging.

But it didn't explain everything.

Alice smiled, a little too brightly, as if trying to smooth the tension. "Oh! And this is Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward," she said, gesturing to each of them.

Rosalie was the one glaring at me like I'd spilled coffee on her jacket and Emmett offered a charming grin.

"Wait—there's two Swans?" he asked, amused. "Are you a senior here?"

"Technically," I said. "I transferred back recently. My old school had... issues." That was putting it lightly.

Rosalie raised an eyebrow. "Weird. Haven't seen you in any of my classes."

"I was in the nurse's office most of the morning," I replied, not bothering to elaborate.

Emmett laughed. "Lucky. I should try that sometime."

Rosalie rolled her eyes and gave his shoulder a light smack.

Okay. So they're definitely a thing.

Alice chuckled, then added, "Edward and I are juniors. The rest are graduating this year."

"Oh, I didn't realize," I said. "You were so good in AP Chem, I thought you were a senior for sure."

Alice beamed at the compliment, but there was something behind her eyes. Like she was watching me too closely, studying the way I moved, the way I spoke. Like she still hadn't decided what I was.

Jasper still hadn't said a word. His shoulders were tense, posture straight-backed and unreadable. He didn't look at me once. But I could feel it—something between him and Alice. A kind of friction. A tension I didn't understand.

Edward, meanwhile, barely seemed present. His gaze drifted toward Bella's table, brow faintly furrowed.

The longer I sat with them, the more I realized how... off everything felt. Polite, sure. Welcoming, even. But just beneath the surface, there was a current of something else.

Everyone at this table knew something I didn't and they weren't sure if they wanted to tell me.

It didn't feel like a secret, exactly. More like a weight hanging in the air—unspoken, but thick enough to notice. The way Alice kept smiling too much. The way Jasper refused to look up. The way Rosalie looked like she wanted me gone before I'd even sat down.

Even Emmett, with all his charm and easy laughter, kept glancing at Alice and Jasper like he was waiting for something to snap.

Maybe it was just me. Maybe I was still stuck in my head about what happened earlier, the weird sharpness in my finger, the way Alice had flinched like she'd seen something that wasn't there.

I tried to shake it off.

The bell rang a few minutes later, and everyone began clearing their trays and standing. I felt Alice's hand brush my shoulder—gentle, but brief.

"You should sit with us again tomorrow," she said, voice light but a little strained. "If you want."

"Yeah," I said slowly. "Sure."

Jasper was already halfway out the door before I finished speaking.

The Cullens drifted out in a loose group, sleek and quiet and just a little too graceful. I stood there for a second longer, holding my tray, watching them disappear down the hall like shadows stretching under sunlight.

Something about them didn't add up. Not in a bad way. Just... not normal.

But then again, I hadn't felt normal since I walked into that chemistry lab. Since that moment my skin met Alice's. Since the bottle shattered, and the air felt like it had split around me.

I looked down at the thin bandage wrapped around my finger.

Still sore.

Still strange.

I told myself I'd ask questions tomorrow. For now, I just needed to get through the rest of the day without cutting myself open again.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter as much as I did ^3^!!! 

[izzyyaps2much]

Chapter One - The One Who Stayed

It's strange how distance can make two people strangers, even when we share the same blood.

I look out at the driveway, my rain-streaked window blurring the faces I see below. I found a lot of things peculiar in this place. For one, it was weird that it was always raining in Forks. It used to make traveling to my old school extremely difficult. Especially since it used to be an hour away from here. I also found it odd that Mom preferred that I not go to Forks High growing up and really fought hard to place me into a private school, even though it meant being farther away from Dad during the day. 

Another thing I found unusual was how she dropped Bella off so easily. I mean how selfish can you be? Dropping off your daughter so you can go chase a new life with your new man? But then again, she'd always been like that. Even back then...

Mom was rushing to the car while I held Bella in my arms. She was crying, bawling in tears. "Shhh.. don't worry Bells.. Just put your hands on your ears... like this.." I smiled, holding back tears, gently guiding her hands to muffle our parents' screaming.

"Renee, don't do this.. I- I'll do better I promise.." I could hear Dad plead while Mom threw our things in the back of the open trunk. I tried not to listen. I couldn't do much back then anyways.

When she went to take Bella's hand, I stood up and instinctively pulled her closer to me.

"I'll, um... I'll take her," I said, noticing the red mark on Bella's wrist from Mom's grip. I walked her to the car myself, trying to reassure her.

"Don't worry.. Everything's gonna be fine.." I said it with a straight face, trying to be strong for her. She was only a year younger than me, but I'd basically raised her myself thanks to Mom. I wanted to tell her the truth. But I wished the truth was much sweeter than it actually is... Who knew life would be this cruel?

I glanced back at Mom and Dad. Something she said must've really hit him. Mom told us to get inside while she turned the car on, and Bella followed without hesitation. I could see it in his eyes. The despair, the shock. He looked broken. He stayed quiet and stopped fighting. That's when I found myself standing still. I couldn't move my feet. Not even when Mom screamed for me to get in. I was meant to leave with Mom, but something in Dad's eyes made me choose to stay. I couldn't. I couldn't just leave Dad behind like that...

I looked at Bella one last time. Her hand was on the window, waiting for me to come in and yet I closed my fists and stared at Mom. "I'll stay, Mom..." I said, nodding. "Take care of Bella for me, will you?" I asked. No, not asked. I told her to.

Mom only stared for a second before taking a breath and nodding her head as if she knew deep down I was always closer to Dad. What she didn't expect was for me to stay behind, leaving Bella in her care. That day was when everything changed. We went from singing along to the radio during sunny days, to just me and Dad. 

It wasn't all that bad. Dad was always there. He didn't hover much though. He kind of just gave me my space but was always there when I needed him. And as for Bella... Well, I tried keeping in contact with her after that but it was hard... I sent her letters and images, but after a while, she just stopped responding. Maybe they moved. Maybe Mom just tossed the letters. Who knows?

"Honey! Why don't you come say hi to your mom?" I could hear Dad yell for me from downstairs.

And now they're back. Well, not Mom. But at least Bella's back. I placed my book down and stepped down the stairs, each step echoing like a heartbeat. I had to keep it together. It's been a while since I've seen Bella.. I wouldn't want to create problems this soon.. 

She just came back. We just got her back.

As I stepped down, I finally saw her. She looked so much older. I laughed a little to myself—well, obviously she did. It's been years. Still, she looked different. More closed off. Headphones in and a few awkward smiles. I gave her a smile back, but I knew it would take more than that to bring back the bond we once had.

Mom came in for a hug, and I politely shrugged her off, giving her a tight-lipped smile before turning to Bella. "Need help with your bags?"

Dad yelled from outside that he'd get them. "I got it!" and for a second, I smiled. He sounded so happy to have her back. There was a glisten of hope in his eyes, a giddy excitement behind the tone of his voice. 

I'm glad to see him like that.

It was awkward between me and Mom though. Maybe a part of her knew I resented her for leaving but a part of her tried to act as if I didn't.

"Hey, uh... Dawn?" Bella asked, halfway up the stairs. "Where am I supposed to sleep?"

Crap. I forgot the new bed hadn't arrived yet. The house was too small for an extra bedroom, and honestly, no one ever expected to need one. She'd have to stay in my room. Our room.

"I—I'll take you," I said, voice cracking a bit. Why did it feel this awkward? She's my sister.

We went upstairs, and I tried to smooth it over. "So... Dad ordered a new bed, but since it hasn't arrived yet, you can take mine. I don't mind. I'll—"

"No, uh—it's fine," she cut in, clearly uncomfortable. "I can... I don't have to sleep on your bed." She stuttered. 

She probably thought of sleeping on the couch or something. I chuckled. As if I'd ever let that happen. She looked confused, and that's when it hit me. She hadn't really changed. That sweet, shy girl I used to play tag with around the house was still there.

"Bella, don't worry about it," I smiled. "There's an extra mattress. I can take the floor. It's really fine."

"Yeah, but it's—" She raised her concern. She was probably worried for me. How cute.

"Don't worry," I cut her off. "It's just for a few days. Besides, didn't you always love being on the top bunk?" I smiled, remembering the old bunk bed we used to have.

She nodded, knowing whatever protests she may have, I wasn't going to take no for an answer.

The rest of the night went surprisingly well. It took a little time to open up again, but something about being in that room made the years melt away.

"No! No way!" she gasped, eyes wide, grinning.

"Yes way! Jacob so had a crush on you when we were little," I said, thinking about that one kid we used to make mud pies with.

"No! Billy Black's kid?? He did not."

"I'm telling you. He did!"

We burst out laughing after that. It was times like this that I missed with Bells... I just hope it continues on like this..

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I hope you guys enjoy this little Twilight fanfic ^^ And yes this is gonna be a story about Jasper Hale and Bella Swan's sister, Dawn Swan. This is sort of like an AU, where the plot sort of derails a bit. So I hope no one minds that. For more chapters, check out the link-it leads you to the wattpad book <33

I hope you guys enjoy!! MWUAH!!! 

[izzyyaps2much]

Red Threads // Twilight Fanfiction // Jasper Hale x Dawn Swan (on Wattpad) 

They say the red strings of fate were meant to tie souls together. That destiny was unseen, and unbreakable. But I've seen it twist. I've felt it fray. 

Forks was supposed to be quiet. Until Jasper Hale tried to kill me. Until I realized fate isn't something you follow. It's something you can tear apart. 

Now destinies are shifting. Bella's. Alice's. Jasper's. Mine. 

And the red threads? They're no longer tied the way they used to be.