Mike Newton hadn't come to sit in the seat next to me yet. He was talking to Eric, but I could feel him staring at me. It had been like this since the time I went to the movies with him and brought Jacob. It made me feel uncomfortable, but he never seemed to care. He would look at me like he was expecting more from me. Like just because Edward had left, I was free to be his.
I lowered my hair, my veil from the offending world, and closed my eyes. I could feel myself breathing heavier, and my hands started sweating. I really didn't like this, the feeling of being pressured by someone. Especially now. Things had changed again, and I was still dealing with that, but he didn't know.
"You seem distressed," an eerily familiar southern voice startled me.
But then I started calming immediately, being hit with a wave of relaxation. I sighed in relief, "Thank you," I said quietly. He had slid into the seat beside me. The seat that Mike would have slid into.
He smiled softly and bowed his head in a 'you're welcome' gesture. Then he cocked his eyebrow at me, "Anything else I can help you with?"
I felt another wave of anxiety hit me, which was immediately squelched again. "It's okay, he can't see what we are doing," Jasper said. I must have looked at him skeptically, because then he says, "You learn tricks after a few years in this family," he uncharacteristically winked at me, as if he was telling me a secret.
My eyes drifted to Mike, who was no longer talking to Eric. He was sitting in a chair behind him, and was glaring hard at me. I felt it rise again, but was calmed just as quickly. "Anyone every told you you're a handy guy to have around?" I cracked at Jasper.
"I'm just glad you're still comfortable around me, after my little incident," he said. And he was right, he knew when I was comfortable or not, and I still was around him.
"It's part of your nature, Jasper. I get that. And if I want to become one of you, i'll probably be the same way."
"Thank you again, Bella. Did you want to tell me why you are so distressed?" His eyes caught Mike's this time.
If I didn't get some of it out now, Edward would pick up on it. He couldn't read my mind, but he did have the ability to read me like an open book. Maybe some of Jasper's calming waves would last me until I see Edward later.
"After you guys left, I didn't have many people here at school to hang out with..." I began telling Jasper my story.
