It's been a week since the wedding.

Mom and I are on our way over to Charlie's house.

He, his brother-in-law, and Jasper went fishing this morning and are nowcooking their catches of the day for us.

She parks our car in the driveway, and I spot Jasper on the side of the house. He's talking on his phone, far enough away that I can't hear what he's saying, but he gives a small wave as we walk toward the house carrying the potato salad Mom made.

"He's a cutie, Bella."

I smile, shaking my head.

She's right; he's cute, but he has a girlfriend named Alice.

He and I have been talking over the phone since we met. Mom's been giving me a hard time about it all week, even though I've assured her that we're just friends. She thinks since we 'hit it off' that there's more, but I don't feel that way. We have a lot in common. He thinks it's cool I like action movies more than chick flicks and rock bands instead of pop music, and we both agree country should be illegal in all fifty states.

We've bonded in a short amount of time.

He's older than me by three years, but he looks younger because of that baby face. He graduated high school last month but promised to introduce me to all the 'cool' people before school starts. It's never easy being the new kid, so it'll be nice to know a few people ahead of time.

*LitF*

"So, Jasper, where have you been all summer?" To anyone else, this would seem like an innocent question, but I know her. She's digging for information while we're trapped at the dinner table, passing the food around.

He smiles. "I was in Seattle at my brother's house."

This tidbit of info I already knew.

Edward isn't actually his brother, but they formed a tight friendship before Edward's mom moved them to Seattle for a job. Apparently, she and Jasper's dad, Phil, used to date in high school but went their separate ways after they graduated. Then they reunited a few years ago, after they both moved back to Port Angeles. Now, according to Jasper, they hook up and fuck like bunnies whenever they can.

"I didn't know you had a brother." She frowns. "How old is he?"

Jasper shrugs his shoulders.

"He just turned seventeen last week." He replies while cutting his fish and smirking. I told him she would be nosey and asked him not to bare his soul. "He'll be here this weekend. He's going to stay with us for a while before school starts."

Jerk.

She looks at me with a huge smile on her face.

"Well, isn't that nice?"

*LitF*

After dinner, I'm helping Mom wash the dishes when Jasper walks into the kitchen, texting on his phone.

"Hey, Renee? Would it be okay if Bella goes out? I told her I'd introduce her to some people from school."

She winks at me.

"Absolutely. Just have her home by ten."

I kiss her cheek and then follow Jasper outside.

*LitF*

The further we drive, the smaller the houses get and more run-down the neighborhoods appear. Soon, Jasper parks his old, red truck along the curb of a blue house that's seen better days. Glancing around, I can see that most of the houses have the same trendy faded paint and small, chain-link fenced yards.

"Where are we?" I know it's not his house; he lives across the street from Charlie.

"Relax. It's just the other side of the tracks, not the hood."

I scoff, glaring at him for assuming my thoughts.

"I didn't say it was, asshole."

He holds his hands up in surrender.

"Okay, okay." He smiles. "You looked like you we're gonna shit a brick or something."

I laugh, playfully hitting his shoulder.

"I did not."

We both exit the truck, and he walks around the front to my side.

"Come on, Bella." He wraps his arm around my shoulder. "Let's go meet my people."

He releases his hold on me when we reach the gate, which he opens and waves me through to the other side. Before we reach the porch, the front door opens, and a short, petite brunette appears with an inquisitive look upon her face. She walks out, meeting us at the bottom of the steps.

"Hey, baby." He releases his hold on me and quickly kisses her. "This is Bella." He snakes his arm around her waist. "Bella, this is Alice."

She flashes a small grin.

"Nice to meet you, Bella."

I'm not so sure that's true by the way she's giving me the once-over. I've been here before; she's sizing me up as if I'm competition.

"You, too."

She looks up at Jasper, smiling.

"Did you take your meds today?"

He rolls his eyes.

"Don't start." He turns and walks inside the house.

I follow behind, wondering what she meant.

*LitF*

An hour later, I've met some people and learned about others.

Emmett's a huge dude, and he's funny as hell. He graduated with Jasper and will be attending Washington State on a football scholarship in the fall. His girlfriend, Rose, is a senior this year at the high school, but she isn't here today. According to Alice, she's with her parents, visiting her sick grandma.

There's a cute guy named Riley, who keeps staring and smiling at me. He has the bluest eyes; they sparkle from across the room. He'll be a junior this year, like Alice and me.

Alice has been civil, but I see the skepticism in her eyes. Somehow, very soon, I'm going to have to find a way to prove that Jasper's only a friend. She's done a good job of staking her claim, though, by sitting in his lap the entire time. More than once, I've thought about screaming aloud for her to give it up already, that I don't want her man. But I don't want to make a fool of myself. Maybe they're always cuddly when they're together.

Emmett sits down next to me on the sofa.

"You get high, Bella?"

I shake my head.

Riley smirks, pulling out a joint.

"You gonna nark us out to your new daddy if we do?"

I roll my eyes.

"Charlie's not my dad."

I hope they won't hold the fact that my mom's dating him against me.

"Do what you want."

Riley winks and flashes a toothy grin, making my heart skip a beat. Slowly, he walks over to the sofa and sits down on the other side of me.

*LitF*

At half past nine, Jasper's kissing Alice goodbye by his side of the truck, and Riley's standing in front of me on the passenger side.

"So, I guess I'll see you around."

I nod, smiling.

"Sure."

He leans his head toward mine and kisses the corner of my mouth.

That single, unexpected move sends tingles down my spine.


Thank you for reading.

Jenn