Recap: A.J.'s POV

"Actually I should be leaving" I replied quickly "Besides, being in a house full of vampires probably isn't the best idea" I said jokingly, and turned to walk towards the door, but Edward was standing in front of me in two seconds, giving me one of those looks like 'you aren't going anywhere'. I sighed, I knew I wouldn't get out of here without explaining first, but when I turned back around I saw....

Well, what I saw didn't surprise me too much, I knew they would all be a bit shocked. But, what was weird was everyone had this look of guilt, like the kid who gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I sighed, knowing they wanted an explanation. "Ok" I said coming up with a plan "Can I call my dad? and tell him I'm hanging with Bella and a couple of friends, for a sleepover tonight" I figured it was better to lie than tell him the truth. I thought about his reaction if I said "Hey dad I'm just gonna spend the night in a house full of vampires ok?" I held in my laughter, and looked around to see if anyone had figured out what I was getting at when I said I would call my dad. There was a pause when it looked as though no one understood what I was talking about, but I waited patiently knowing someone would catch on eventually.

Esme smiled "Of course you can call him and tell him you're staying over for a sleepover, actually that's a very good idea" Esme started talking to fast for my ears to hear and went to grab the phone. When she came back she silently handed it to me with a sympathetic look, as if to say, I'm sorry. I just smiled weakly, and started dialing my dad's cell phone number.

Jasper's POV

I watched A.J. dial her dad's phone number. Shortly after it seemed someone else had picked up on the other line I walked into the kitchen, trying to concentrate. No, not to try and figure out how she could have known we were vampires, my family's main concern right now. Nope, all I could think about was A.J. and how beautiful, funny and witty she was. I sat down at the table and closed me eyes, rubbing my temples. What is wrong with me? I thought to myself I just got divorced a little over a month ago and I already have feelings for someone else, not to mention I just met her, I know nothing about her, and she's HUMAN!

"Hey are you ok?" I heard someone ask, tapping my arm.

I had been concentrating so hard, I didn't even know how long I had been sitting at the table, and I hadn't even realized someone was in the kitchen with me. I was jerked away from my thoughts, and when I opened my eyes, A.J. was sitting across from me looking worried.

"Yes" I replied trying not to show my surprise "I was just thinking"

"Oh" she said quietly "Well, Steve, Emmett, and Rosalie went hunting, Alice and Esme went to go pick up some 'human food' for me for tomorrow, and Carlisle, Edward, and Bella are at my house picking up my clothes and stuff" She said laughing. "It's like they think I'm gonna run away if they let me go home" She smiled.

I smiled back, thinking to myself That means I'm in the house all by myself, with the most beautiful girl in Washington sitting across the table from me, I am one lucky guy. "I guess that just leaves us then" I said smirking, trying very hard to flirt, although I knew I wasn't very good.

"I know" she replied smirking back "And its a good thing you didn't have to leave too, cause if you left, then I might have a chance to escape "She said laughing, clearly at ease with me.

I laughed, too. I sat there for a moment trying to think of something clever to say, Think Think Jasper I told myself, but I came up with nothing so instead, I stuck to small talk "So, what's up?" I said trying to sound casual although, I knew that I was so nervous that if I could, I would have been sweating.

"Nothing, just hanging out with my best friend's new foster brother who happens to be a vampire" She said smiling at me from across the table, "Can I ask you a question?" she said curiously, after a few seconds.

"Sure" I said, curious myself, as to what she was gonna ask me.

She reached across the table and touched my hand, and I swore, if my heart was still beating, it would have skipped right then. "What happened to you?" she asked caringly "How did you get those scars?" She said glancing down at my arms.

My smile quickly turned into a self-conscious tight line. I took a deep breath, pausing to prepare myself, expecting she would freak out, like everyone else who had heard my story.

She mistook my pause, thinking I was upset with her for asking "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me, if you don't want to" She said quickly.

"No, no" I said trying to reassure her that I wasn't upset "It just brings back some difficult memories" I replied smiling weakly as if it drained me of my energy, just to think of those memories.

"Well, I take it you've never heard of the vampire war in the south?" I muttered darkly "Well to make a long story short, the most powerful vampire army got to...'feed' in the most populated area, where no one would notice if a couple of people went missing. I was second in command, the one who would kill the newborn vampires after we didn't need them in our army anymore."

I took another deep breath before continuing "and they would bite me, leaving me with my scars" I paused for another second knowing that if I hadn't scared her yet, I would soon "I used fed on humans, but it got to the point where I was sick of my life, sick of the fighting, and disgusted with myself for feeding on humans, so I left, became a vegetarian, met Alice and ended up here" I said as I gestured around the room with a swift sweep of my hand.

"That's an amazing story" She said after a short pause.

"Excuse me?" I said shocked and confused "Amazing? I was...I am a monster" I muttered ashamed of myself. There is no way this girl is ever going to like me, especially after what I just told her.

"Jasper" she said in a hush tone, squeezing my hand "You are a wonderful person, not a monster, look at what you came from, and look at you now"

I smiled, me? A wonderful person? I must be daydreaming I thought.

"Don't look so shocked" she said smiling. "You don't give yourself enough credit"

I smiled, and was just about to say something when she cut me off.

"Jasper" she said, with a hint of confusion in her voice "What did you mean by you 'met Alice and ended up here'?" she asked timidly.

I sighed "Alice and I were married for...quite a while" I said. I saw her look at me even more confused than before, so I explained further "But, about a year ago, she filed for divorce although we just signed the papers last month." A.J. looked at me with sympathy in her eyes "It was o.k. though" I said "I understand now that she loves me, but only like a brother, nothing more"

"Jasper" A.J. said quietly "You have gone through so much" she said, with sympathy in her eyes "Do you need a hug?" she asked smiling, trying to lighten the mood. She got up and walked around the table and gave me a tight hug. I tensed at first, genuinely surprised, thinking she had been joking when she offered me a hug, but then I relaxed and hugged back.

"Am I interrupting something?" someone said. We both let go of each other, and turned to see Steven leaning against the door frame, with a devilish smile on his face.

She just laughed, "How long were you standing there?".

"Long enough" he laughed, but she made a fake pouting face "I'm sorry A.J. I just haven't been able to tease you in forever and it's been killing me." he apologized.

"The feeling is mutual" She said smiling and giving him a hug "Did I mention how much I missed you Steve?" she asked.

"Maybe I can't seem to remember. It wouldn't hurt to tell me again, and maybe add that I'm the best person ever" he said smiling.

She laughed, punching him in the arm. I laughed when she realized how concrete he was now. As they went on bickering, about whose fault it was that she got hurt, I got lost in my thoughts. I realized I didn't feel jealous of Steve anymore, and that it wasn't his fault Alice and I weren't together. I didn't have much time to think about it though, because within seconds the rest of the family was back from their errands.

"Ok" Carlisle said once everyone was home "We should probably all go into the dining room for a family meeting"

I walked in and sat down next to A.J. focusing all my power towards her, and sending waves of courage over her. I hoped she didn't need them, but I knew it was going to be a long night.

"Let's get started" Carlisle announced after everyone took a seat. He looked towards A.J. as if to say 'you may start now'. She looked over towards me, and I smiled, hoping tonight would go by quickly, and end soon.