CHAPTER TWO.
I didn't have to wait very long. Unlike Edward, Jasper actually came. Not even ten minutes after the phone call, Jasper pulled up in his blue pickup truck – that was identical to mine – alongside me. I saw his door open, and an umbrella open. Jasper jumped out of the truck, holding the umbrella above his head. His eyes glanced up and focused on me, he looked me over, squinting through the rain. His face was scrutinizing as he looked me up and down, taking in my soaked appearance. He shook his head at me, a grimace on his face and turned, leaned into the truck and came back out with a pile of towels. He really does think of everything, I smiled to myself.
Jasper strolled over to me, and with one hand he covered me in towels, the other used to shelter the both of us from the rain with the umbrella.
He looked at me; a smile on his face that I could tell was forced. "Come on trouble, get in the truck" he told me, gesturing towards the monster pickup with his head.
I began to protest "Jasper, I'll get your interior –" but he interrupted me.
"Bella, you know me well enough by now that I don't put a car before anyone, you're soaked, you look freezing and your lips are not a nice shade of blue. Now get your stubborn little butt in the truck before I pick you up and throw ya' in." He threatened, his Southern accent leaking out.
I relented, knowing he was serious. "Okay, okay" I drawled back to him, and reluctantly hopped into the truck. Jasper ran around to the other side once he made sure I was in properly, and hopped into the truck himself. He shook his hair, releasing the small amount of water that had managed to dampen it in the rain.
An idea came to mind and I grinned mischievously at Jasper, he looked confused momentarily until he realised what I was about to do and his eyes widened. I shook my head too, releasing so much water it was all over the interior and on the inside of the windows.
Jasper shook his head at me in mock disappointment. "What am I going to do with you Bells?" He grinned.
"Well you –"I started
Jasper cut me off with a glare, "Shut up smartass, that question was rhetorical."
He fired the pickup up and turned the heaters on full blast. I sighed in appreciation and turned all the vents in my direction. I sat back in my seat, using one of the many towels Jasper had brought along to ring my hair out.
"Thanks Jasper, I really appreciate this, I don't know what I'd do without you." I said softly.
He chuckled lightly, but didn't respond.
Although we weren't really on speaking terms, I was really glad I had Jasper; I don't know what I would do without him. He and I have known each other our whole lives, but have only been best friends for 12. Jasper and I were both born in Houston, Texas. His Ma and Pa, Charlotte and Peter, and my Ma and Pa, Renée and Charlie, were two couples that were very young – almost too young, at the age of 17 – to be having kids. They were both part of the same 'young parents' program where they all met and became fast friends. They all supported each other with the drama that came along with young pregnancy, the disapproving parents, the relentless gossip, the hate, the unnecessary attention, everything.
Jasper and I were born 4 months apart, he being on May 15th, and I September 13th. My parents are his god-parents and his parents are mine. But the weird thing is, he hated me right up until we were 5 and 6 years old. Because our parents were such good friends, he was always brought around my house as children for "play dates" in which neither of us actually played together. He didn't like coming over my house as a child, but he hated the days I went over to their house even more. He thought I was a spoilt, obnoxious little girly girl, and therefore I was deemed uninteresting and not worth playing with. I never really understood why he was so cold towards me at such a young age and tried to be his friend all the same.
Needless to say, one afternoon when it was raining in Texas, during one of many "play dates," I started a mud fight with Jasper. Successfully resulting in the display that I was indeed NOT the spoilt, obnoxious little girly girl Jasper depicted me to be. We have been inseparable ever since.
I was broken out of my reverie by Jasper's smooth voice. "Penny for your thoughts?" He asked me, smiling.
I looked over to him, he was watching the road, but had a smirk on his face, almost as if he knew what I was thinking about.
I felt the warm blush creep up onto my neck before spreading to my cheeks, embarrassed of getting caught day-dreaming. "Just thinking about what life was like in Texas and how we became friends" I smiled.
"Oh really? I remember that time when we were in 7th grade in the tree house how –"He began
"Yes, yes I remember, but I'm not talking about how I fell out a tree and broke my arm, I just miss Texas." I stated, my Southern accent came out stronger as I was talking about home.
Jasper smiled knowingly. "So do I, especially the sunshine." He chuckled, pointing out to the rain with a grin, showing off his perfect, white smile.
My eyebrow furrowed. "Then why did you choose to move here to dreary Forks during 10th grade?" I asked him, curious.
"Because, you moved away just after 8th grade and the year I had to spend alone in 9th was the most boring, longest year of my life without my best mate by my side." Jasper shrugged as if it was the most obvious answer. "Plus," He continued. "Texas isn't the same without you, little miss." He drawled, "The idea of making new memories without you wasn't as appealing as the idea of making them WITH you" he finished, patting his warm hand against my cold one. I embraced the warmth gladly.
He flinched at the coldness. "Holy cow Bells," He cried, changing the subject. "How long were you standing in the rain waiting for Cullen for?" He cried, turning the heat in the truck full blast.
I looked down, "Iwasstandingoutforthreehours " I mumbled.
Jasper furrowed his brow and leaned closer trying to hear clearer, "What was that?" he asked.
"Three hours" I mumbled again, but he seemed to have heard me.
His head shot towards me, "THREE HOURS? IN THE FREAKING RAIN? ARE YOU SERIOUS? I'M GOING TO F –" he shouted, I cut him off.
"Language" I reprimanded him softly before he could swear.
Jasper ignored me, "I'm going to KILL him. Bella, why don't you just leave him? He's doing this to you all the time!" He ranted.
I groaned quietly. "Not this again" I mumbled.
Jasper glared fiercely at me. "No, Bella, he treats you like crap and when you catch him on it all he does is throw in a half-assed apology and you accept it without hesitation!" He said through his teeth.
I turned to him, angry now. "Excuse me? I accept apologies without hesitation? Last time I checked, Jasper, there had to be an apology GIVEN in order for it to be accepted." I said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, yeah." Jasper scoffed. "I forgot he doesn't apologise to you because he's an asshat."
"Watch your mouth!" I snapped. "He doesn't apologise because most of the time Jasper I don't tell him that there's a problem. I can't believe we were fighting about this, again."
"You could do so much better, Bella, that's the point that I'm trying to get at."
"I could do better, huh? Like who, Jasper? I'm lucky he even noticed me in school, let alone asked me to be his girlfriend, no other guy takes notice in me, but he did. We've been together for two years, I'm not just going to throw that away because my best friend thinks I should call it quits" I shouted.
Jasper snorted. "No one ever take notice of you? Bella, Bella, Bella you are you oblivious. Life is not about being noticed, I didn't think you were like that."
My eyes snapped up to his. "Oblivious? To what?" I demanded. "And to add to your little snipe at me, I'm not 'like that', you don't understand what it was like Jasper, starting at a new school in a new state without knowing anyone, at least when you moved here you had me. You didn't have to worry about making sure you were interesting enough to talk to. I got noticed by who I believed to be the cutest guy in school and that allowed me to feel like I fit in." I finished.
He turned to me briefly, His eyes soft. "I understand that you wanted to fit in, Bells. But when you really think about it, was it worth all the hassle you've had the past two years you've been together?" He questioned.
His question made me think. Was being noticed by Edward really worth all the frustration he's put me through? Maybe if I had just worried about finding friends first. I never realised that because Edward took interest in me so quickly, it prevented me from having many friends.
I decided to ignore Jasper's question.
"You never answered MY question." I accused Jasper. He looked at me questioningly, but I knew it was a façade. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
"What am I so oblivious to?" I asked him.
Jasper's eyes softened. "You'll figure it out on your own soon enough, you're a smart, perceptive girl. Here's your stop, see you later." Jasper pulled up to my house, but didn't get out the car to come in and say hey like he normally does; usually he would still come in to say hello, even if we were fighting.
"Not coming in to say howdy?" I asked him
Jasper looked away, avoiding my eyes. "Nah, I have some stuff to do for school." He said. I huffed. "Okay, I'll see you at school then." I said. All I got was a nod in return.
I got out of the car, and I'd barely managed to close the passenger door to the truck before he sped off, leaving me there speechless, and to be rained on again.
"Jerk" I muttered, and trudged inside, I ignored my parents' 'hello's,' 'you're late's' and 'why are you wet, what happened?' and walked to the stairs. My converse squelched and squeaked with every step. I went straight to my bathroom and turned the hot water on all the way. I looked at my appearance and wasn't surprised at what I saw; my mid-back length hair was soaked, the little amount of make-up that I wore was running down my cheeks and I was soaked. Ugh. I had a long, warm shower and shaved before drying off and walking to my room. I put on a tank top and sleeping shorts and hopped into bed, feeling exhausted and glad to be dry again.
What did Jasper mean by what he said? Why he won't tell me? He usually tells me everything. I thought to myself.
I punched my pillow.
I frowned "Ugh! This is so frustrating!" I grumbled to myself. I thought about Jasper and I's conversation, or argument, rather. Maybe he's right. I thought to myself. All the pent up frustration and anger I have for the last two years really isn't worth it, and I deserve to be treated better. I could feel my eyelids drooping, "I'm going to have a chat with Edward tomorrow, see if we can sort things out. Then I'll try Jasper" I thought to myself before giving into the darkness, I fell into a dreamless slumber.
END OF CHAPTER TWO
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