Thanks so much for the amazing responses you all are my muse
Chapter 2:
BPOV:
"Emmett for the last time I said no!" I turned to the arguing couple and had to do a double take. It was real. There heading towards the door was two members of the family who I would have given my life for if they'd asked. They paused and looked in my direction.
To my surprise they both smiled brightly and began making their way towards me. I yearned to be in their…wait if they were here …did that mean… No he promised me he would never come back.
I was holding him to his word, after all I don't think I would be able to handle seeing him again.
"Bella!" Jacob yelled as he pulled me into a giant bear hug. I glanced back at Emmett and Rose only to find them gone. I frowned.
"Oh sorry. How are you how's New York?" He asked taking my bags.
"It's fine." I replied to distracted to make conversation. Jacob had to be at least six four now. He cut his hair into a short cropped style that made him look more mature. Jake had the body of a pro football player.
"You've grown since the last time I saw you." I said quietly as we walked up to the rabbit.
"Yea I know. I guess you can say I hit a growth spurt." He said smiling brightly.
"You need to unhit it because your hardly looking like my Jake."
"I kinda like the new me…I look older." he said rubbing his peach fuzz. I had to laugh.
"Not that old." I said once we were inside. We talked for the whole ride towards Forks. Jake caught me up on what I had been missing and the coming plans for the holiday.
Once inside the house I was overwhelmed by the thick smoke and smell of burnt food. I heard a grunt and a loud bang.
"Damnit." Charlie muttered.
"Hey dad." I greeted. I quickly hugged him then took over the task of our Christmas eve dinner.
"I got it from here. Go watch the game. I'll call you when dinners ready." I said shooing them out of my domain. I quickly got to work in saving dinner…or what was left of it.
About thirty minutes into my arrival the phone rang. Charlie quickly answered and said a name I hadn't heard in so long.
"Alice? Oh hey how you doing…Are you all in town…Well that's nice…Yea I'm sure she'll love that….oh me? I already have plans but I'm sure she'll come….great I'll let her know…take care." He hung up and walked to me.
"That was Alice she invited you over for dinner."
"I don't think I'll go." I said scrunching up my face.
"Not all the Cullen's are there Bella." In other words he wasn't there.
"I don't know dad I don't want to leave y-"
"I have Jake and Billy…you go be with them. You know you miss them." I sighed.
"Fine…only for you." He smiled.
"The food is just about ready just leave it in the oven until you're ready to eat." I said heading upstairs to take a quick shower and change. When I got to my room I saw a cold frame sitting in my rocking chair. My heart quickly began to pound but regulated once I saw her face lit by her bright smile.
"Alice Cullen." I said running into her arms. We stayed in each other's arms for what seemed like an eternity. My eyes began to water and I quickly wiped them away as I smiled at her.
"I missed you so much. I thought I would never see you again." I admitted.
"I missed you too Bella. I hope you can forgive us for not saying goodbye…a certain someone forbid us."
"I figured." I muttered. She pulled me to the bed and pushed a bag towards me. A sly grin apparent on her face.
"It's for tonight." She said as I pulled out a black satin dress with a pair of mary janes with a kitty heel.
"You saw me coming?"
"I've been waiting quite patiently." She said in utter excitement.
"Hurry now go take your shower." I grabbed my bag of toiletries and walked towards the door but stopped.
"He's not back right?" I asked just to make sure.
________________
"Bella stop biting your lip pretty soon you'll have no lip to gnaw at." She scolded.
"Now come on everyone is inside." We walked up the porch and into the house I once dreamed of living in. The house was filled with an aroma of pine and apple pie.
Before I fully stepped in I was in one of Emmett's infamous hugs.
"Baby Bells…I've missed you." He said rocking from side to side.
"Can't breathe." I said. He quickly let go and set me on my feet only to be swooped into another pair of steel arms.
"Hey Bella it's great to see you." Rose said with a genuine smile.
Was this some kind of reverse psychology or something?
I simply smiled back and she let go. Next was Esme who looked like she could cry.
"Oh Bella I am so sorry." She said gently pulling me into a hug. This was hard. I was hard seeing her like this. I looked at Esme as if she was my second mom and to see her so emotional made me want to cry.
"It's not your fault Esme. I understand. I've missed you." I whispered and broke the hug.
"All of you." I said looking at the family. I truly did missed them. I thought my birthday would be the last day I would ever see them and yet here they were.
JPOV:
She was beautiful. The little naive girl that we once knew was no longer. Bella had blossomed into a beautiful woman.
I took noticed to all of her changes. Her once thick long hair was cut shorter reaching a little below her shoulders. It was cut into layers making it look fuller and more luscious.
She was now even curvier to. I glanced at her hips and immediately had to look away. Bella surly was a different person. She although was nervous, there was a sense of confidence in her. I found myself wondering if she even noticed the change in her.
She looked up at me and smiled. I swore my heart swelled just from her simple breathtaking smile. I now understood how Edward fell for her.
"Hey Jasper."
"Hey yourself." I said giving her a crooked smile. She surly was a new person. Old Bella would have hung her head in embarrassment. Her eyes lingered over my frame. I could feel her attraction.
I glanced over to Alice who danced over besides Bella and gave me a sly smirk. The little pixie knew something. Surly this wasn't the time to question her. Our company was far more important.
Carlisle came over and she greeted her with a warm hug. She truly did miss us and was relieved to. We all moved over to the living room where we all sat surrounding her. It was time to catch up.
"So Bella where have you been?" Rose asked after apologizing for not greeting her at the airport.
"I've been in New York attending NYU."
"NYU is a great school Bella congrats." Carlisle praised. He felt proud.
"What's your major?" Rose asked genuinely.
"Pre med." She replied smiling at Carlisle who was now more excited than a three year old seeing a big jar of candy. I felt for her.
"That is wonderful Bella." He shrieked. I've never seen him so excited.
"What made you choose that field?" He asked nearly bouncing out his seat. She chuckled.
"With all the injuries I've had. It's only natural to get into medicine." She said smiling.
"Perhaps later we could discuss your opinions and maybe answer any questions you may have." Carlisle said. I know it took everything in him to not grab her and drag her to his study at that moment. I had to laugh to myself. Bella sure knew how to get us excited.
"Bella we have dinner prepared for you." Esme said remembering the reason Bella was here. Bella smiled.
"I'm not all that hungry Esme, but I would like a slice of that apple pie I smell." Esme leapt up and rushed to the kitchen.
"So what have you all been up to since you've left?" she asked briefly gazing at each of us. When she got to me I felt a wave of lust project from her, heightening mine that I already felt for her. My mind wondered and explored aimlessly in the ways I could release that sexual frustration I have kept bottled up for so long.
"Well Emmett and I have been going to Dartmouth for the past year and Jasper Carlisle and Esme have been staying in Alaska." Rose replied. Esme came back with a slice of pie. Bella placed the plate on her lap and marveled over the desert.
Oh how I wish I could be her des-
Jasper get a hold of yourself. I scolded. I watched as she cut a piece with her fork and brought it to her luscious lips.
This was pure torture. It was as if she was purposely teasing me although I knew she had no idea what was happening. Suddenly I began to think about her scent.
It had no effect on me. How could that be possible? Surly I could smell her, in fact her scent was heavenly but I no longer felt the burning sensation in the back of my throat or the pooling of venom in my mouth that sometimes made it hard to speak. Had she tamed the beast within me? Had she truly cured me of the blood lust forever more?
It was silent as she finished her pie and I had to focus on something besides her. I felt the urgency project from Alice and I quickly glanced at her. She gave me that sly grin once more then turned to Bella. What had she known?
"Bella since we weren't really expecting you we didn't have time to go shopping and get you something, but-" She went behind the couch and pulled out an oversized shopping bag.
"I've seen how ever since you've moved to New York your sense of style has evolved and Jasper and I got you a few things." Why had she mentioned me? Her big brown eyes glanced at me and I felt her embarrassment and shame for her earlier feelings. Her head hung slightly as she thanked her best friend and I. Alice glanced and me and mouthed 'I'll explain later'.
No I wanted her to explain to me now! What the hell was going on?
The rest of the family carried on a conversation with her as I sat there fuming. I was now anxious for her to leave so Alice and I could talk. She stayed until eleven o'clock and Rose and Emmett volunteered to take her home. Carlisle and Esme had gone upstairs leaving me alone with my ex.
"Jasper-" She started and sighed. There was so much to be said. I knew that.
"I'm sorry for any pain I may have caused you. You know it wasn't intentional. You know I lo-" I held up my hand up and stopped her.
"Don't" I said. I felt her overwhelming guilt and regret. Regret for what though, I wondered. She sighed.
"For the past few months I have been having visions of Bella as well as you." She stated looking down at the floor.
"What kind of visions." I asked slightly confused.
"Visions of you in New York." she said. Her sly grin returning. I went to say something but she stopped me.
"Don't bother Jasper that's all I'm telling you. The rest you'll simply have to allow it to play out." I was silent.
"She doesn't hate you Jazzy. She has never even blamed you for what has happened. You see her now she's changed…for the better. You need to get over this guilt you have or it would end up hurting you in the future."
Ok now I was completely confused. What on earth was she talking about?
"And about the whole shopping thing I said that so she would feel that you do care for her." She smiled.
"But she thinks that we're still together." I blurted.
"My, for someone who didn't quiet care for Bella you sure do now." There went that sly grin again. I could see that friendly bond wasn't going to be so hard.
"Whatever" Was all I could say trying to mask my smile.
"Why don't we go for a hunt?" She said heading towards the door. Of course I followed my sister out the back door playing her words over again.