The cold early morning air bit at my face. Me and Jasper were hiking at the edge of the forest. The sun had just risen and was casting a golden glow over the entire town. It was a rare sunny day, which was a strange setting with such a weighty battle on the horizon.
I had Jasper's hand trapped tight in mine as I leaned against his figure. Our bodies seemed to move with each other. He would move, I would move. How could I have ever doubted this? We were perfect. Even with the upcoming battle, don't get me wrong I was terrified that it would end badly, but I was strangely content as we walked together.
We met Rosalie in the middle of the forest. She was cold and judgmental, as per her usual behavior towards me. I hardly cared. Nothing could put me in a bad mood it seemed.
"Rosalie," Jasper greeted her with a nod.
"Jasper," She responded hardly.
Jasper ignored her harsh tone, "Thank you for agreeing to this. You have no idea how much easier this will be for me knowing you'll be with Bella."
She huffed and rolled her eyes, "I'm doing this for Alice, not for you or Bella."
Jasper just smiled politely, "I appreciate it, regardless."
"Whatever," she huffed, "enough talking. They're waiting for you in the meadow. We need to go."
Jasper nodded. He pulled me against his hard chest. "Bella," he whispered softly sending shivers down my spine, "If I don't return, I need you to know I lo-"
"Don't say that. Everything is going to go fine. You have the element of surprise. You won't lose." I said passionately. I couldn't bring myself to imagine a world without Jasper.
Jasper sighed, resting his chin on my head, "I hope you are right, my love."
"Of course I am."
Jasper smiled slightly, "I love you for eternity."
"I love you for forever." I chuckled softly.
We parted slowly. It felt like a magnet was pulling me back toward him, but I knew we had to part.
"I'll see you in a few hours." He promised me.
I nodded and he gave me a loving smile. Warm emotions shrouded my body, and I couldn't help but smile foolishly. He'd be back. I knew he would.
"You two are disgusting." Rosalie grumbled. She began walking away, not waiting for me to catch up.
I stumbled and tripped over the undergrowth, while Rosalie effortlessly glided over the forest floor. I struggled to keep her pace and I was quickly falling behind.
"Rosalie, do you think maybe you could slow down, just a little... please?" I panted.
"No."
I awkwardly bit my lip and tried to move faster. My fast pace just made everything worse. I tripped over a tree root, and hit the ground face first.
I could hear Rosalie trying to suppress a fit of giggles. I looked up at her and tried to rub the dirt from my face, and somehow retain some dignity. She offered me her hand and I slowly took it. She pulled me up, and without a second of delay took off again.
I could hear her mumbled insults, but I only caught the very end of what she had said, "...clumsy human."
Frustration welled inside me, "Why do you hate me?" I asked without thinking.
I decided to go with it, "I've never done anything to you, and for some reason you've despised me since the moment we've met."
She paused but didn't say a word.
I continued, "Whatever I did or didn't do to you I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for whatever caused you to be so angry with me."
She inhaled slowly, "I... I don't hate you. I've never hated you."
"What?" The idea seemed incomprehensible. Ever sense we met there had been nothing but hate and arguements between us.
"Bella... I envy you. You have everything I could ever want."
"I don't understand."
She scoffed, "Of course you don't. No one ever seems to."
The woods went quiet except for the light chattering if morning birds. I stood there waiting to hear more, and Rosalie was looking like she was debating whether she should tell me more or not.
She seemed to make up her mind about something and continued, "I envy your mortality Bella. It's something I'd die for just to have another chance at. I'd give everything to grow old with my husband, watch our children grow. I can never have that, and you are just throwing it away like it's garbage!"
"I've never wanted that. Jasper is enough for me." I said weakly.
She laughed sadly, "You say that now, but you're still young. You could change you mind, and by then it's too late. You have no idea what it is like to have your dreams crushed right in front of you. Your innocence shattered in the matter of one night!"
"Rosalie, I don't know what to say. I'm really sorry you feel this way, but I know what I want."
"I guess I can respect that. You're a woman who's taking a hold of her own destiny. You're brave enough to make a choice. It's admirable really. I wish I had been given the same opportunity." She turned and began walking without another word.
She walked slower this time. She wasn't rude or cold like a few minutes before, but instead treated me like I didn't exist at all. She wouldn't answer when I spoke, and she wouldn't look at me. I honestly preferred the prior.
We made it to a camp in the hills what must have been an hour later. A young boy, he was at most fifteen, was waiting for us there. I smiled slightly, relieved to see someone other than Rosalie. Why did Jasper insist I trust someone like her? I would never know.
Rosalie climbed into the tent that was already set up. She closed the zipper behind her as a way of telling us to "keep out" I guess.
"What's wrong with her?" The boy asked.
I shrugged my shoulders because I honestly didn't know. He glanced over at the tent, but seemed to give up whatever else he had been planning to ask.
"Oh I'm Seth, by the way." He offered me his hand.
I smiled politely and shook his hand, "Bella."
It seemed like I would be spending a lot more time with Seth than I originally expected.