An Unexpected Lover
Summary:
After the accident on Bella's birthday, Edward leaves. Four months later, Jasper returns and falls in love with the girl he almost killed.
Chapter One
Four months.
I'd spent four fucking months without Edward, alone, in my room. I kept hoping that he was going to come back for me one day, but he never did. I was just wishing on a shooting fucking star that he'd return and fix me up like I was, but I knew that I'd never see him again. It was clearly obvious that life wasn't going to get better once he miraculously appeared, because he wasn't going to.
I left the house to go get something to eat for Charlie and myself from the diner, and when I got there, I ordered my salad and his steak plate. He was seriously putting way too much strain on that heart of his. I grabbed the bag and paid, pulling out a smoke and leaving in my loud ass truck. I was used to the stares because I had to come here three or four times a week. Neither one of us really cooked, and everyone knew I was of legal age.
I gave Charlie his food when I got home and sat down on the couch with my salad. He liked it when I watched the game with him, so I did my best. My eyes followed the football being passed back and forth, but I wasn't really concentrating on that.
"I'm gonna go to bed. 'Kay, Dad?"
"Sure, Bells. G'night."
I rolled my eyes at how enveloped he was in the game and jogged up to my room. I stopped suddenly in the doorway, feeling like something, someone, was watching me. I did a quick sweep around my room, but no one was there. God, I was probably just imagining it.
I got undressed slowly, wondering what Edward would say about the changes I've made to myself. My now blonde hair and developing curves made all the difference to me. I altered whatever I could to bring upon a new start. I took up smoking, something I've always hated, and I drank myself away every weekend because Charlie was always hunting or fishing. I wore more makeup, and I straightened my hair frequently. People at school hardly recognized me anymore, and that's the way I wanted it.
I hopped into the shower, letting the hot water caress my body. I pulled out a loofah and massaged my skin with a strawberry scented body wash. After I finished washing up, I threw my head back and let the water moisten my long locks. I gently rubbed the shampoo and conditioner into my scalp and hair, then rinsed it all out. I felt a tear roll down my cheek and closed my eyes.
This is how it was whenever I thought about him.
I leaned against the tile of the shower and squatted down, covering my face in my hands. I cried until the water turned cold, and I got out, drying off as fast as I could. I hurried into my room and pulled on some old sweats and a tank top, using the towel to dry my hair. I jumped under the covers of my bed, remembering how it felt when I had cold arms wrapped around me, and I did my best to fall asleep.
The dreams that ensued consisted of Edward, and I could feel the cool of his body against mine as if it were real. There was no mistaking the sensation, and I jolted awake. Nothing. There wasn't a fucking thing in sight. Shit. I thought he had finally changed his mind. Give it up, Bella! He's not your true love, obviously! I did my best to listen to my inner mumblings and urged myself to go to sleep again.
The next time I woke, it was caused by the screaming coming from within me. Another bad fucking dream. I hadn't had one in close to two weeks, and I figured they'd gone away. That was just great. I ran my hand through my now dry hair and sighed, sitting up on the bed. Five o' clock. In the morning. On a Saturday. I got up and headed downstairs for breakfast. There was a note on the counter.
Bella,
Harry and Billy wanted an early start today. There's supposed to be a ton of animals out this weekend since it's warming up. See you tomorrow.
Love you, Charlie.
"Thanks for saying bye, Dad," I murmured sarcastically to myself, pulling down a box of cereal from the fridge.
I poured myself a bowl of Fruit Loops and grabbed a Bud out of the fridge. The perfect breakfast. I sat down at the table and ate in silence, thinking about nothing of importance, just reciting the prologue of Romeo and Juliet in my head to keep his name from coming to mind. I often did just that.
"What kind of breakfast is that?" I hear from behind me, and my first instinct is to break the half empty bottle of beer and get up as fast as I can.
When I see who it is, though, I walk over to the trashcan and throw it away. Grabbing the mop is the first thing I do. I just stare at any place but the waiting vampire as I clean up the mess I made. I should've recognized the voice, but I was too engrossed in Shakespeare's writing.
"What are you doing here?" I finally ask.
"I had to come see if you were okay. I couldn't take it any longer." The golden colored eyes were taunting me as they watched my every move.
"I'm doing just fine, thanks."
"Bella, I don't know how to tell you how sorry I am for-"
"Just stop, okay? I don't need your fucking apologies."
The cold skin touched mine, and I flinched away, not out of fear, but out of complete shock. "Isabella…"
"You've seen that I'm okay, so you can go now."
"You're not like this. I've… I've been watching you. You're a mess, and I just want to help."
"What? Are you a fucking stalker now? You try to kill me, then you come back and watch my every fucking move?!" I watched as dry sobs began to flow from the vampire. "Get out of my fucking house!" I screamed, falling to the floor and breaking down. "Get out!" I yelled again, but it came out as a jumbled mess, just like me as the tears fell furiously down my flushed cheeks.
Once again, I was back to where I started, just like I was every day. Except this time… This time, Jasper Whitlock Hale was standing in front of me, and he wasn't the person I wanted it to be.
A/N: Like? Dislike? Review, please. (:
