Jasper's POV:
As Alice got ready for Bella's eighteenth birthday party, I was in my room practicing for all the situations that might happen. What if she tripped and sliced her hand. What would I do then?
Edward had told me how much he loved her, how he has never felt like this before in his long and lonely life. What would he do if she died? Knowing him, he would do whatever he could to kill himself.
I knew what he felt…to an extent. If Alice died I would do the same thing but, a human? Bella had something special that Edward loved and I couldn't bear to see him depressed for the remaining years of his life, which would seem too long for anyone.
As I was thinking about this, I heard Bella's noisy truck pull up to the house. I took the last breath of clean air I would inhale until Bella left. Holding my breath, I walked down the stairs.
Alice took my hand and looked at me with those gorgeous eyes of hers and reassured me that everything was going to be all right. Just then, Bella walked in with Edward and I held my breath. The vibe coming off of Bella was out of the ordinary. She was a nervous wreck and she was obviously embarrassed at what Alice and Esme had prepared. We all said happy birthday and Alice let go of my hand to stride gracefully toward Bella.
"It's time for presents!" Alice announced.
"Alice, I told you not to get anything," Bella said nervously.
"I didn't listen! Come on!" Alice said as Emmett sprinted out the door.
We all walked into the living room with the bowls of bright pink roses in crystal bowls and a large pink cake. Bella was horrified. I tried to calm her down.
"Open this one first!" Alice said.
As Bella opened the radio we all got for her, I decided it would be okay to take one single breath. It would be safe. I breathed deeply and I inhaled the fragrance of Bella's skin from across the room. I leaned in a half an inch and flinched when Edward shot an evil glare at me. He stared me down until I held my breath again. Relaxing, Edward went back to watching his Bella open her gift.
When she saw that the radio box was empty, she looked up at all of us, confused.
"Um…Thanks?" she said in a polite tone.
"It's a radio for your truck. Emmett is installing it right now so you won't return it." I explained quickly.
Emmett's thunderous chuckle made us all laugh.
"This one next, Bella," Alice handed her another silver wrapped box.
Bella started to open the box. As she did—being the maladroit she is—she gave herself a small two millimeter sized paper cut.
I smelled it then, not realizing I had been breathing for awhile now. Not hunting had its consequences. Thirst congested my mind with the overwhelming feeling that could not be stopped. Fighting was useless but I tried. Edward, think of Edward. She is all he has. He loves her. FIGHT!!
Bella let out a deep breath and looked at her finger. Her breath blew into my face from across the room. That was the last straw, thirst took over my brain.
"NO!" Edward bellowed. He smashed into Bella as she went flying into the presents. I launched myself at Edward, trying to get through to Bella. Her arms caught her fall and she sliced the inside of her arm. The blood was flowing relentlessly now. I shoved and pushed harder. Why did Edward have to be so much stronger than I was? Something ran into my ribs, and hard. Emmett was now holding me with his crushing grip and I knew that I couldn't get to Bella, but I struggled anyway as I snarled and writhed.
"Get Jasper outside." Carlisle said.
"Come on Jasper," Emmett said briskly. Rosalie came to help get me outside.
When we were finally outside and I got a chance to breath clean air, I realized what had just happened.
What had I done?