Safe & Sound[Jasper Hale●Twilight]

Six

Avery was a bit surprised when she stepped out of the school building and saw Alice waiting next to her car. She hadn't really expected the tiny girl to go through with their fake plans.

She had just made it to Alice when screeching tires and screams met her ears. Her gaze turned quickly to see a van heading right for Bella. She tried to run forward, but felt small arms circle around her waist to keep her from getting in the middle of it.

No sound reached her ears as she saw the van slide sideways then come to a sudden stop. It had hit. Avery's whole world came crashing down at the thought of her cousin being dead. "Bella!" Her voice finally tumbled out of her throat and with it, her hearing came back.

Everyone was panicking and rushing over, but she couldn't move. Not because she didn't want to, Alice was still holding her. She stopped her struggling when she saw Edward climbing up into the bed of Bella's truck and jumping out. If he was okay, Bella had to be too, right?

She finally managed to get Alice to let go of her and ran to the crowd. She shoved people aside, getting to the center just in time to see Bella standing up. "Isabella Swan!" She shouted, catching her cousin's attention. Avery ran forward and gathered the shaken teen in her arms, finally just crying. "I was so scared..."

Bella's brows scrunched up at the reaction, but she held her nonetheless. Avery stayed by her side even in the ambulance ride. She sat next to Bella's hospital bed, holding her hand.

She was beginning to get irritated at Tyler's constant apologizing. Her body relaxed when Charlie walked in. Her mind was beginning to feel as though it was shutting down as she was no longer processing the words. She caught a few things here and there before she excused herself, heading to the cafeteria to get some coffee.

Maybe it would help her mind become a bit more alert. She paused in the middle of the hall just as Edward rounded the corner. Jasper and Rosalie not far behind him.

"Edward..." He looked confused. "Sorry, I'm Avery, Bella's cousin. I wanted to thank you. I heard that you saved Bella, it really means a lot to me."

He seemed shocked. He had expected questions, accusations...not a thanks. "It's what any respectable human would do."

Avery nodded, her gaze flickering to Jasper before she looked back to Edward. "You weren't hurt were you?" Her gaze scanned over him, but he seemed fine.

Edward tensed under her gaze, his own hardening slightly. "No, just lucky I guess. I don't mean to be rude, but we have to see our father." He walked passed her, the other two following him though Jasper seemed to hesitate.

She turned to look at them. "Could you tell Alice I'll have to take a rain check on our plans." She didn't ask one of them specifically, nor did she really receive an answer. She knew they heard her though because Jasper's walking had slowed for a second.

Something wasn't quite right about them. She had figured that out the first day of school, but for now she wouldn't question the young man who had saved her cousin's life.

"I can't hear her thoughts either, but it's different." Edward whispered to his siblings as they waited for their father. "It's like this low hum, or more so like static. I can't hear anything over the static."

"Well great, we've established she's a freak like her cousin. That doesn't mean that we drag them into our world." Rosalie hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.

Jasper looked as though he was in agony as he nodded in agreement with Rosalie. "Rose is right, we shouldn't put those girls in danger like that. It's not fair."

Even though he said this, and wholeheartedly believed it, his body screamed at him to go find Avery again. He wanted to see her, hear her talk and take in her wonderful scent. Her scent tantalized him more than if a bleeding human were set in front of him.

"So, what? I should have just let that van crush her?" Edward snapped right back at Rose for something that Jasper hadn't heard.

"All I'm saying is this isn't just about you anymore. All of us are going to end up involved." Rose continued to rant at Edward. Even when Carlisle had joined them, trying to mediate the situation.

Carlisle paused his talking and looked in the direction behind Jasper. "Let's continue this in my office." Rose and he walked off, but Jasper snuck a glance behind himself.

It was only Bella though. It was a bit of a disappointment. "I'm headed home." Jasper informed his brother as he retreated from the hospital quickly. He headed straight for the walkway that would lead closest to the woods. He was emotionally and mentally exhausted.