Author's Note: new cover! :D
also... alert the media!! i updated twice in the span of 4 days!! this chap will have time skips but i'm super excited for it
//
When Alice informed her that they would be starting off a fair distance from Jasper, Nova hadn't expected the gap to be quite so... monumental.
Nova wasn't pouting about it, though. The three of them (Bella insisted on tagging along) hadn't even hopped into a vehicle or anything. They just walked down the street a little bit, only slightly closer to where the Cullen's resided.
Nova was not pouting about it. She wasn't, dammit.
Admittedly, she did feel slightly stupid and awkward just standing by the street, a tiny distance from Charlie's house. She felt like something big was supposed to happen, but nothing did. They just... stood there, waiting. Anticipating.
"So... am I allowed to text Jasper while we do this, or...?" Nova queried, turning to Alice.
Alice smiled. "Of course! It might even help him with his self-control."
Nova sighed in relief, quickly fishing her phone out of her pocket. She switched the device on and opened up her last conversation with Jasper.
[Nova] something tells me this is gonna be torturously slow
It didn't take long for him to respond.
[Jasper] Yes, probably.
[Jasper] It's for the best.
Nova quickly typed back.
[Nova] dude all we did was walk down the street
[Nova] couldnt we just plug ur nose and call it a day?
[Jasper] I'd laugh at that if I wasn't so concerned about your safety.
A small smile pulled at her lips. She loved the idea of making Jasper laugh.
[Nova] laugh then, coward
[Nova] admit it. u laughed.
[Jasper] I have no idea what you're talking about, ma'am.
Nova's smiled broadened slightly. She paid no mind to how Bella glanced over at her.
[Jasper] I'm going to call you now.
[Nova] kk
[Incoming call from Jasper]
[Call accepted]
"Hey," Nova greeted, eager to hear his voice again. They hadn't called for months, since before Jasper had done his disappearing act.
"Hello, Nova," Jasper responded, sounding faintly like he was smiling. "You three can move forward, but stop when I tell you to."
Alice piped up, "Got it." With her enhanced hearing, she was easily able to hear his words.
Nova followed after Alice as she led the way farther away from Charlie's house. Bella trailed behind, bringing up the rear of the group. As they walked, Nova kept silent, knowing Jasper was probably focused on his senses.
After a moment, when the trio had nearly doubled the distance from Charlie's house, Jasper abruptly spoke up, "Stop."
Nova instantly halted. His voice was slightly deeper than before, with a very faint rasp added to it. He sounded as if he was concentrating, putting all his effort into restraining himself.
"Are you okay?" Nova couldn't help asking, feeling a pang of concern.
"Yeah," he answered, "Just... keep talking."
"M'kay," the white-haired girl hummed, trying to seem nonchalant in an attempt to keep Jasper levelheaded. She began rambling about random topics, hoping to help Jasper in any way she could. Alice and Bella were silent for the most part, unless they were laughing lightly about Nova's antics.
"-which is very stupid if you ask me. I mean, honestly! Who the fuck asks what the Spanish word for tortilla is?"
Jasper laughed. He had chuckled here and there over the duration of the call, but it had sounded stressed. Now, though, he seemed to be adjusting at least a little bit.
Alice spoke up, "Jasper, do you think that's enough for right now?"
Nova bit her lip, waiting for Jasper's response. He was quiet for a while, as if considering. Then, almost reluctantly, he answered, "Yeah, we should take a break."
"Okay," Alice murmured.
Nova could almost sense Jasper's self-loathing. She quickly spoke into the phone, "You did good today, Jazz."
"Thanks," he replied softly.
"Just you wait. I'm powering up my hug," she reminded.
Jasper chuckled. Nova couldn't wait to hear the noise in real life.
//
"Alright, day two," Nova muttered to herself while getting dressed the next day. "Here we go. Gonna get that Jazz-ass."
Alice laughed from outside the front door.
Nova paled. "Please tell me Alice didn't hear me say that."
Alice's only response was to laugh some more.
//
At the end of day two's session, they succeeded in tripling the distance from Charlie's house. Nova stayed on the phone with Jasper the whole time.
Day three arrived. Bella decided to hang back, since the scent of her blood was probably just making it more difficult for Jasper to control himself.
Day four came and went. They didn't make it very far at all.
//
[Jasper] What if it takes longer than you have for me to adjust to your scent without hurting you?
[Nova] boi stfu
[Nova] i'd wait an eternity for u jazz
[Jasper] That was. Almost poetic.
//
A week went by. They managed to close the distance more, and instead of walking, Nova was now able to move closer by driving. Of course, Alice was behind the wheel, not Nova, so that the white-haired girl could still text and call Jasper.
[Nova] hey wait jazz i got a question
[Jasper] Yes?
[Nova] are vampires attracted to period blood
[Jasper] I'm not answering that.
[Nova] no wait its for science
[Nova] jazz?
[Nova] i need to know
[Nova] JAZZ PLS
//
Nova's breath hitched.
Nearly at the end of week four, they reached the edge of the Cullen's property.
"We're almost there," Nova murmured into her phone.
Jasper sounded just as awed as her. "Almost."
//
[Nova] YO GUESS WHAT
[Nova] WE MADE IT TO ME BEING PAST THE EDGE OF THE CULLEN'S PROPERTY
[Bella] That's good
[Nova] IKR
[Nova] wait u dont look very excited
[Bella] I'm just a bit worried I guess
[Bella] Are you sure you wanna do this?
[Nova] ofc i do
[Nova] it's just like you and edweirdo
[Bella] So you think he's the one?
[Nova] do i think he's the one?
[Nova] gorl i KNOW he's the one
[Bella] Ok, then I'm happy for you
[Bella] Just be safe
[Nova] in what way? ;)
[This contact has blocked you.]
[Nova] RUDE
//
[Nova] sooo
[Nova] tomorrow is start of week 6
[Jasper] Yeah.
[Nova] how long do u think it'll be before we actually like...
[Nova] get a look of each other in real life?
[Nova] from a distance i mean
[Jasper] Possibly start of week 7. Or so I hope.
[Nova] mk
[Nova] looking forward to it :)
[Jasper] Me too.
//
They were midway through week six. Nova found herself leaning against Alice's car, standing on the Cullen's property. They were still a fair distance from the Cullen's house, but it was in Nova's view. She was currently texting Jasper, occasionally speaking to Alice.
[Nova] also, did i mention alice nearly gave me a heart attack when we first met?
[Nova] like if i nearly passed out from her beauty how the HELL will i handle YOUR beauty
Jasper took a moment to respond, but the screen displayed him typing several times.
[Jasper] I think I should be flattered but now I'm slightly concerned
[Nova] ur always concerned about safety lol
[Jasper] I wasn't quite referring to that, but you're right.
Nova frowned in bewilderment. What was Jasper referring to then? Her eyes wandered over their texts, rereading them. It took a moment to decipher what he meant, but when it clicked, she nearly laughed out loud.
[Nova] bro are u jealous
[Jasper] Only slightly.
[Jasper] Alice is much better with self-restraint around humans anyways.
Nova suddenly didn't feel like laughing anymore.
Jasper wasn't jealous of Alice for purely possessive reasons... He was jealous because he thought Alice would be a better, safer match for Nova, despite all the progress they had made.
And boy, did that get Nova typing up a storm.
[Nova] jazz no
[Nova] i literally cannot wait to be close to u physically
[Nova] i mean ofc i can wait because i AM waiting but
[Nova] theres no one else i want to be close with right now
[Nova] ur literally all i want
For a long moment, Jasper didn't respond, nor did he type. Nova frowned, waiting for him to reply, but nothing popped up. Did she scare him off or something?
Finally, Jasper responded.
[Jasper] You're all I want too.
Nova couldn't help grinning, a light blush dusting her face. She was about to start typing a reply, but was interrupted by another message from him.
[Jasper] On your right.
//