Chapter 4

"What is she doing tonight?"

"It's bath time." Yes, Jasper had assumed as much; he can smell the scented washes, hear the fizzing of the 'bath bombs' beneath the water's surface, all through the vented window. Steam coils out from the slight gap, invisible to human eyes but all too clear to their superior sight. The steady thrum of contentment and peace that all but froths from Isabella Swan's form washes over his senses and Jasper just takes a single moment to soak, to really enjoy the sensation. He imagines its rather like a hot bath for a human; a glorious sensation that relaxes his muscles and slows his brain to a quiet hum. Watching Edward as he tortured himself over his singer is no longer the terrible task Jasper had believed it to be previously. While he can feel the other male's irritating, his frustration with himself… well, it's easy to ignore him in favour of the sensations Bella offers instead. Forks High is always full of turbulent emotions, rising and falling and yelling his mind six ways to Sunday. The amount of effort it takes to remain focused on the present, on the class and the rest of the coven… well it undoubtedly shows on his face, as Bella had so kindly pointed out in her short discussion with Edward.

Though he does find her assessment of them incredibly amusing. Aliens or superheroes. She's so far off the mark it's funny, only Rose doesn't see it that way. Edward is far too focused with wrestling bloodlust into submission, Alice had seen her coming apparently, and Emmett finds everything the girl does hilarious. Jasper, well, other than finding her sheer emotional presence delightful, Jasper's not quite sure what to make of Bella. She's a strange human, mature for her age, certainly. She recognises how immature her peers are in comparison and she adjusts her interactions but never her intentions. She's supportive and kind and so incredibly far from the typical teenager that she's the biggest oddity he's encountered in a decade. Maybe two.

"What are we doing here, Edward?"

"The more I remain around her scent, the higher a tolerance I can develop. Then life can go back to how it was." Jasper makes a noise in the back of his throat, not quite agreeing but not yet disagreeing either. Sure, such a thing can work upon animals and humans, becoming desensitised to the scent of blood, but to them? It doesn't seem to have happened for Jasper, not since he advanced from the stage of newborn vampire anyway. But Carlisle works in a hospital, works around blood every day without even the slightest dip in his iron clad control. That's the kind of level Jasper strives to be at; he had a rough start with this… second lease of life (if it could be labelled as such), the only way he can keep going is up. He refuses to spiral again. Maybe in a few centuries he'll have that kind of iron clad control too. And maybe being around Bella is giving him a strange infestation of hope.

"Can it really go back when such assumptions live in her head?" questions Jasper. The unsaid 'she may be off the mark with aliens but she's right on the money about the not human part' resides as the sword of Damocles above their heads. Undoubtedly Edward feels iron kissing at the crown of his skull just as surely as Jasper does.

Nothing but silence exists between them within that moment, two vampires nestled within a large pine, occupying one thick branch each. How much is Edward capable of lifting from his head? Can the other vampire read Bella's emotions from Jasper's mind? Can he understand the overwash of delightfulness that she brings to the environment? How referencing a change it is; if Jasper were the earth, Bella is a blazing comet swinging into his orbit. There's no contact, but she does steal all the attention from the mundane stars and their protractive presence.

"It has to. Humans shy away from what they can't understand," Edward murmurs and, on that, Jasper has to agree. If something discomforts a human, they do try their best to ignore it. That Bella is different from the rest emotionally, could she not be different in other aspects also?

.

.

The sun is undoubtedly shining and Forks'd probably be able to appreciate it were the big beauty not shying away behind cloud cover. As usual.

It's March at last and Bella can almost feel the promise of flourishing flowers and the little lambs that an impending onset of spring brings. She's looking forwards to eventually jogging without a hoodie. Oh, and the potential of sitting outside instead of in the school cafeteria.

"So, spring dance. Who are you going to ask?"

"Not Mike or Erik, if that's what you're worried about," Bella fires back, a rapid return followed by a touch of innuendo-hinting eyebrow wiggling. Jess mock scowls as Angela (a late addition to their lunch table but a more than welcomed one) flushes hard and fast. The males that usually occupy the empty seats are off doing… something. Probably working on a plan of attack on how best to attract a girl's attention so they might improve their chances of getting asked to the dance. "Oh, but wouldn't it be hilarious if the girls all asked each other."

"Too big city there, Bella, too big city. Boy and girl are the only acceptable couple here."

"Well rats," Bella grumbles with little heat. If she wants to ask a girl, she's not exactly going to let small town syndrome stop her. This is, after all, her life and Bella's going to live it how she wants to. "But no, I've actually got someone else in mind." She flicks her eyes over to the Cullen table once, twice, and then thrice. Finally, Jess follows her line of sight and gasps audibly.

"Bella, no!"

"Excuse me, Jess."

"Wha- Bella?! You're not actually going to?!"

Rising from the table, Bella uncorks that fanciful vial of valour she's been bottling up all day, making her way to the table by the window with a strong, steady pace.

Simultaneously, five heads snap up to stare at her and Bella can feel her fortification waver slightly, but it ultimately holds strong. It's like set of battering rams against a castle drawbridge but she shall not fall yet. Not at the first hurdle.

Instead, she catches a pair of startled, liquid gold eyes and drums up her best smile, the one she'd spent childhood days practicing in the mirror, desperate for a year-mate to call friend, one who wouldn't believe her 'strange'.

"Will you come to the spring dance with me, please?" That Jasper Hale double-checks she's definitely looking at him and not another of the Cullen clan is ridiculous; she made eye contact and everything. It's rather endearing too.

His twin sister snorts and yeah, Bella's well aware she's punching above her weight here (like, two weight class' of difference kind of aspirations) but she holds firm. You don't get if you don't try and the Cullen clan seem so… isolated from the rest of them. And yeah, they might be bringing it on themselves but who knows the full story? They're all adopted according to Jess, maybe there's issues with social interaction because of that, no matter Hot Doc's best intentions. Bella can only offer a hand and see what happens (and hope it doesn't get bitten).

Edward's struggling to look at her and Bella hasn't the slightest idea why when she scans the group before her eyes return to Jasper Hale. She's doing her best to ignore how noise in the cafeteria seems to have halved in the last five seconds, never mind how more and more voices seem to be muting themselves as time drags by.

"You're asking me to the dance?" Jasper finally says and his voice is just as velvet and sex-laced as the rest of them. Well hell, she's not surprised in the slightest; is this what Clark Kent would have sounded like had he been real? A collection of alien superheroes and here Bella is attempting to affix one to her side as arm candy for a night.

"That's exactly what I'm doing," Bella concedes with a nod of her head, hooking a thumb into the front pocket of her trusty blue jeans, the ones that cling nicely to her calves but have a little more room in the thigh. If they just so happen to hug her ass, well it's not like she picked those jeans- oh who is she kidding? Bella's got enough vanity in her for that to be the sole reason she bought these jeans and can be honest enough with herself to admit to that. "Is this you accepting or declining? Come on, Hale, I'm a big girl, I can take a little rejection with only a few tears if that's the reason for you pause." Grinning, Bella runs a hand through her hair, pushing it back and away from her face. Without that curtain threatening to fall, she's treated to the high definition display of Jasper Hale's slowly blooming smile.

"I think this is me accepting, Ma'am." Oh. Oh wow, Southern charm. That's, that's dangerous.

"Sweet," Bella blurts out, so startled she pulls her hand free from where it'd been toying with her pocket to instead rub sheepishly at the back of her neck, "can't say I was expecting that but it'd be a lie to say I'm not pleased as punch. And it's Bella, not Ma'am, Cowboy."

"Jasper!" The hiss that comes from a suddenly very angry looking blonde has Bella rocking back on her heels. Regardless of what can only be impending danger, Jasper Hale does not look away from her, nor does his little smile wilt. It's just the thing Bella needs to see, that little confidence boost that'll get her through, well, probably the rest of the year actually.

"We can meet at school, Dad's a cop." The unspoken 'so you'll probably want to avoid the intimidation show that'd come with picking me up' goes unspoken.

"I'm aware. I'll see you around, Bella."

"Later, Cowboy." Bella twists on heel, heading back over to her table, not even fazed when the big burly Cullen lets out a truly ecstatic laugh. Instead, feeling like her hands should be shaking from adrenaline or endorphins or something, Bella drops back into her usual seat and plucks up her unwrapped sandwich. Jess is gawking at her.

"What the hell?!"

"I'm going to the spring dance with Hale. Good luck with Mike-"

"No, you're not allowed to do that. You've got to tell me how you did that!"

.

The afternoon passes swiftly; people whisper but no one really dares to approach her to actually ask. Well, barring Mike who checks with her if she is truly going with Jasper Hale to the spring dance. He gets a bit of a face on him when Bella confirms it, to which she can only pat him on the shoulder and happily inform him there's someone who intends to ask him soon.

Which leads her to the present, inspecting the student bulletin board. There's a call for help on decorations for her spring dance and while Bella's no Van Gogh, she's not too shabby at painting. Finger running under the room number, she twists on the balls of her feet, near skipping down the corridor, hem of her open coat pecking constantly at the back of her legs. There's not many students left after school, the vast majority having disappear off home. But she does find a handful of overworked pupils residing within the classroom. Bella sucks in a deep, sharp breath and crosses the threshold, hefting her bag back up over shoulder.

"Fresh recruit Swan, reporting for decoration duty." A startled laugh echoes her declaration and the ginger haired girl that must be leading the efforts here sizers her up.

"You any good at painting?"

"I'm no Picasso, but I'm half decent in the ways of high school art."

Soon enough, Bella has found herself armed with a brush and presented with an empty banner that needs a bouquet of daffodils slapped across its extensive length. There's something repetitive about the motion and she's quick to lose herself in the painting, putting the events of the day from her mind for now.

.

There's a truck on her drive, a truck that isn't Ol' Red.

Slamming the cab door shut, Bella pats her trusty rust-red automobile, flicking the tail of hair back over her shoulders as she makes for the door. Sure enough, it opens before she can even knock and Jacob is there with his ridiculous grin and wild hair.

"Jake!"

"Argh! She's diseased!" Bella snorts, throwing herself into the boy's arms and wrapping her own tight around his neck. If she happens to bury him face first into her armpit, well, that's a purposeful power move.

"Gross!" Jacob quickly peels himself free and Bella grins, tugging gently on a lock of his near feral hair.

"Did you say my little girl's diseased, Black." Charlie's call has Bella perking up, hip checking Jacob aside so she can make her way down the hallway to better greet her dad. She finds him in the kitchen, sitting up to table with heated leftovers cracked open to share with Billy. Bella plants a kiss atop her dad's head, snatching up a wrap full of… whatever they'd had last night. It tastes Mexican, but not the usual flavour; some new recipe that's name escapes her right now. Jacob ambles into the kitchen a few moments after the slam of the front door rattled the frame, hands digging deep into his pockets and a teasing tilt to his lips.

"Yellow spots, Charlie. I'm afraid she's contracted a case of the adorkables. Common signs include paint-based freckles and adorably flustered cheeks."

"Oh hardy-ha-ha," Bella grunts, flicking Jacob in the shoulder as she passes him in her quest to find a mirror. The stairs groan beneath her quickstep up them but soon enough Bella is in the bathroom, half a burrito wrap jammed in her mouth and a galaxy of yellow spots littering her face. Okay, she'd maybe gotten a bit enthusiastic about the painting thing but at least it's done. Bella's contributed and done her part, she's all set to go with the spring dance. Speaking of which-

"Hey, Dad! School dance is on the Saturday after next. I need to get a dress for it!" Heaving her sweater up and over her head, Bella snatched up her running gear, changing as swiftly as she can manage. She's halfway through shimmying the leggings up her thighs when Jacob comes bounding up the stairs. He pauses and gawks, mouth popping open and Bella wriggles the last of her lower half into Lycra.

"Get a good look, Jake?" Now it's his turn to blush, swinging around to face away from her and Bella snorts. It's hardly like he saw anything; if they went swimming together he'd see about the same thing given just how much flesh a bikini covers, which is to say not very much at all.

It is with little fanfare that Bella leads her companion back down the stairs, throwing a sweatband at the younger teen's head in a clear invitation.

"What's this about a dance, Bells?"

"Girl's choice, spring dance. I asked and my target said yes, so I'm going. But I do need to get my hands on a half decent dress to go with my heels."

"Are heels really a good idea?" There's a moment where both Bella and her father acknowledge the track record Bella boasts with balance and agility, sharing a shifty look with each other.

"I'm sure I'll manage," Bella finally mutters, peeling hair back against her skull until she can seal it in position with a bobble, "and if not, Jasper's tall and has strong shoulders. I'm sure he'll be able to hold me up."

"Strong shoulders," Charlie repeats dumbly, staring with furrowed brows and Bella grins back, pocketing her taser and loosening her shoulders, hopping from one foot to the other.

"Well, I could expand on that with you instead of Mom-"

"Leave it for Rene. Keep the kid safe on your run," Charlie mutters, ducking his head down to continue inhaling his leftovers alongside Billy. There must be a game due to start soon; it's the only reason Bella can give as to why Jacob and Billy have come over.

"Don't worry, Chief. I will."

"I was talking to Bells, Jake." Laughing at the sudden fountain of splutters Jacob now sprouts, Bella snatched up his arm and drags him to the door, eager to just get on with it all.

.

The cool night's air has her lungs aching and her pulse is a steady hammering in her ears. Bella sucks in a deep breath, laying one hand flat against a tree trunk as the other clutches firmly to her flashlight.

"Are you asking to get murdered, Bella? Running in the dark?"

"Please, I'm pretty sure this place has Guardian angels," of the superhero or extra-terrestrial kind, "so I'm not too worried. If I'm lucky, they might be watching over me right now." Jacob showcase exactly how he feels about that idea with disbelieving snort and firm roll of his eyes. Bella follows the motion, releasing her grip on the tree to instead pinch at the other teen's nose, squashing the two nostrils shut. Jacob fights the motion, fingers attacking her ribs until she squirms away.

"I hope this Jasper dude knows what he's getting into, Bella, because you're absolutely crackers." Maybe she is. Maybe she doesn't think in the same way others do at her age, maybe she's got a brighter, lighter outlook on life. But she remembers that haze of depression in the first few years, can recall the childhood photos and just how gaunt she'd looked, how dead-eyed she'd appeared. Sometimes there are moments when she wonders if, had she'd recovered from the shock a little quicker, acclimatised a little faster, maybe her parents could have made it. But no, that's a bad thought, Rene is happy with Phil, Larry the Lamb style happy, and while Charlie's not quite at that stage… it's not the constant fights she remembers. It's not the muffled sound of each parent crying in separate rooms as she lays in bed and wonders why she's failing as the family glue, drying out and useless. It's not like she ever managed to really stick them together as a family unit in the first place, looking back on it. But she's better now, recovered and at the top of her game. It's not difficult to remain there anymore, she's been practicing all the smiles, the laughs, the positivity, for so long it's engrained now. So what if she's crackers; at least she's nice about it.

"If I'm too much for him to handle, then it's only for one night, he can run for the hills afterwards," concludes Bella with a low shrug of her shoulders, arms thrown up and over her head as she stretches out the muscles there. Her core feels tight with how hard she's pushed herself and she's not ignorant to the sweat that laces Jacob's brow. He needs to work out a bit more.

"Yeah, I guess. You know, being out at night like this kinda reminds me of some old tales my dad used to tell me."

"Oh?" Head tilted to a side because tales of any kind are interesting and something she'd very much like to hear about, Bella hops from foot to foot one last time before she sets off. It's not a round route tonight, they're just retracing their steps now to make it back home at a slower pace. "Do tell."

"I don't know if you'll have ever heard about this one, it's kinda a tribe tale but you and Charlie are practically family anyway. It's about the Cold Ones."

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Before I disappear for a (hopefully well deserved) holiday, have another chapter. Dependent on the flight, I might get some more typed up via i-pod, but who knows.

Thanks for all the super reviews so far (and while I'm not set on a pairing, I am leaning towards one right now, as you can see). I'll see how the fic evolves from here. But yes, some long overdue Jasper POV and Bella being, well, Bella I guess.

Hope you enjoyed it, please drop a review if you did?

Tsume
xxx