A/N: Chapter 2. Review please. Let me know what you think.
"Here we are, baby girl. Home sweet home," Jasper said as the cab pulled into the driveway. He took in Bella's expression as the massive house came into view. Her jaw had dropped momentarily before she quickly closed her mouth.
For the first time Jasper felt extremely nervous. He couldn't imagine that his family wouldn't absolutely adore Bella, but there was always a slight possibility. Not that they would ever be openly hostile toward her, but he still worried. He looked at Bella again as the cab rolled to a stop. She was trying very hard not to show it, but she was a bundle of nerves. He laughed softly to himself.
Bella looked over at him with a curious look on her face. He just shook his head. He couldn't quite figure out why this had taken so long. Bella always seemed so freaked out when he talked about how close his family was. He wondered why. She never talked about her own family unless he pushed. And even then he only got one word answers and very general information. He knew her parent's names were Phil and Renee. But that was pretty much it about them. He knew she was an only child and that she'd been born in Seattle on September 13th. But he didn't know much else about her family or her past. Sometimes it bothered him. He felt like she was keeping a secret from him. But he didn't want to ride her about it. He loved her the way she was. But he definitely got the distinct impression she was ashamed of something in her past.
"You ready?" he asked, brushing a few strands of her beautiful mahogany hair out of her face. He wondered what she was thinking.
Bella shrugged. "Ready as I'll ever be," she smiled up at him.
Bella took a deep breath before stepping out of the cab. What if his parents immediately hated her? Jasper took her hand into his. She was sure he could tell she was nervous. He'd always been pretty good at reading her emotions.
"Its gonna be alright," he whispered softly into her ear as they approached the door.
Bella stopped. She hadn't meant to, but her feet wouldn't take another step. Every muscle in her body was at war with her brain. They wanted to turn and run, but her brain was trying to persuade her to continue up the porch steps and into the house.
Jasper looked at her like she'd lost her damn mind. Maybe she had. She couldn't force herself to take another step forward. Jasper wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest.
"It's gonna be fine, Bells. There's nothing to be worried about. They're gonna love you. Now come on, pull yourself together, love." He stared down at her, his blue eyes pleading with her to get it together.
Bella squeezed her eyes shut and took another deep breath. "I'm sorry, Jasper," she said pulling out of his embrace and forcing her trembling legs to make the ascent up the porch steps. She glanced up at the huge house again in awe. If she had known Jasper's family had this kind of money she would have never gotten involved with him. He was already too good for, but she'd been able to convince herself that he wanted her and that maybe she was good enough. Now she knew she had no business being with him.
Jasper held the door open for her and she ducked inside. She hadn't realized how cold she'd been until she felt the heat descend upon her. She took a moment to look around. She gasped as she did. Everything was so beautiful. The house looked like something from a movie.
"Mom, Dad, We're here," Jasper called up the stairs, a huge marble staircase.
Moments later his mother, Esme appeared at the top of the staircase. Bella exhaled sharply. She hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath. The woman looked like a freaking angel. She had long dark hair the hung loose around her shoulders and fair, perfect luminescent skin. Not a blemish or a wrinkle anywhere in sight.
Bella realized she was staring but she couldn't take her eyes off Jasper's beautiful mother.
"Mom, this is Bella," Jasper spoke, breaking her trance. "Bella, this is my mother Esme."
"It's so nice to finally meet you, dear," Esme said wrapping Bella in a warm embrace.
"It's nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Cullen."
"Oh, please, sweetheart, call me Esme."
Bella blushed and nodded.
"Ah, so this is the lovely Bella we've heard so much about."
Bella and Jasper turned at the sound of Carlisle's voice.
"So much lovelier than we could have imagined."
"Bella, this is my father, Carlisle," Jasper gestured to his father.
Bella was blushing even deeper. She started at the man Jasper had obviously gotten his looks from. He had the same blonde hair only it was cut short and the same ice blue eyes.
"I've heard so much about you as well," Bella said. "And thank you," she added shaking the doctor's hand and pulling herself together.
"Is Edward home?" Jasper asked. Bella had forgotten about Jasper's younger brother.
"He got in a few hours ago," Carlisle informed them.
"He had a very nice young woman with him," Esme added. "Did he say anything to you about bringing guest?"
Jasper shook his head. "No. I don't remember him saying anything about it."
Bella was glad she was temporarily forgotten and that she wasn't the only stranger in the house. At least she had been expected.
"So, where is he?"
"I think he and Alice went into the living room," Carlisle said gesturing toward the back of the house.
"Come on, Bells. You have to meet my little brother." He grabbed her hand and led her to the back of the house to a huge room with plush carpet and an overstuffed white couch.
"Edward!" Jasper shouted dropping Bella's hand and putting his brother in a headlock.
"Let me go, Jasper!" Edward said trying to break Jasper's hold. He twisted and suddenly he had Jasper in a headlock. "Ha!" he shouted in victory before looking up at Bella standing in the archway.
Holy fucking shit! Edward's arms dropped from his brother's neck. He couldn't believe the vision standing in front of him. He rubbed his eyes to be sure she was real. Yep, she was definitely real. He realized his mouth was hanging open and he was gawking at her like an idiot. He closed his mouth with an audible snap. Who the hell was this goddess?
"Pull it together, Edward," Jasper said, lightly punching his brother's shoulder.
The girl, who Edward's brain slowly processed was Bella, turned bright pink.
Oh, damn was that hot. He struggled with his inner thoughts before swallowing hard and regaining his composure.
"Bella, this is Edward, my dopey brother. Edward this is my girlfriend, Bella." Jasper had put extra emphasis on the word my.
"Um…" Edward said running his fingers through his hair. "This is my um… friend, Alice. Alice, this is Jasper and Bella." He glance over at Alice whose eyes were completely lit up. She was staring at Jasper. But in a more graceful way than he had been staring at Bella.
But it hadn't escaped Bella's notice. She saw the tiny dark haired girl staring at her boyfriend and grabbed his arm possessively. She looked up at Jasper to find him returning the girls stare.
She slapped Jasper's arm
"Ow, whatcha do that for?" he asked.
Bella dropped his arm and stomped out of the room. She was sure of what she'd seen. He was staring at that girl. She knew it. She'd meant to head out the front door, but she didn't know her way around and she'd ended up in an office somewhere inside the massive house. She'd never guessed that Jasper would be so easily distracted by one beautiful stranger. And she was beautiful. Almost pixie like in her beauty.
Of course he'd be interested. It shouldn't surprise her. And she'd be a better fit with his gorgeous family. It hadn't gotten by her how insanely beautiful his brother was too. Wild bronze hair that looked like he just rolled out of bed, but still absolutely perfect, piercing green eyes, he looked just like his mother. She didn't belong here. She was pale in comparison to these people. Perhaps that's why Edward had stared at her. He couldn't believe how low his brother had settled.
It didn't hurt so much that Jasper had looked at the girl. It was the way he had looked at her. Like he was seeing for the first time.
Bella sank to the floor and began to cry. She was used to this feeling of being unworthy. But somehow she had convinced herself she'd been worthy of Jasper. The sudden realization that she'd been wrong cut deep through her.
She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face in them. She knew coming here was a mistake and she wished she could just disappear.
