All of Them

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. I hardly got any sleep as I dreamed of Bella Cullen and it had me rattled. I felt connected to her, I did, and I thought she was feeling the same thing, but one thought wouldn't leave me alone and that was her actions in the parking lot yesterday. She didn't rush to save me, she just stood there and she almost looked pleased. I knew there was more to this story and I vowed to figure it out one way or another. Back to my dreams, they were all about Bella, but this time she wasn't just standing there, she was the one saving me. Many times, different scenarios, she didn't hesitate, she jumped into action and she saved me. She was fast, cunning and beautiful, but my dreams only made the reality more depressing because she didn't save me, Rose did. But why?

School was tense at first. Everyone was fussing over me and although I did enjoy it to a degree, I found I just wanted answers, but the mass of students constantly surrounding me kept me from my goal. I knew I would find a way though. Jessica and Lauren were the worst, they were literally hanging off me, fussing over me. I actually ran and hid in the nurse's office complaining that my chest was sore. It wasn't me best move as the nurse unwrapped the bandages from my chest and looked at all my wounds. I had turned my head from her, I didn't want to see what I could already feel from her, pity, disgust, sorrow. I did get my reprieve though. Tyler, thankfully, we still not back at school. I can only imagine how much he would apologize seeing how bad he was in the hospital. I didn't want to hear it. It wasn't his fault and I didn't die… But you could have… I shook my head to rid the thoughts. I couldn't be thinking about Bella right now.

Everyone was calling me a hero, they were saying that I was fast for getting out of the way so quickly, they were admiring me. I wasn't disagreeing, their hero worship was fun to experience. I liked that they looked up to me. I looked around the lunch table and everyone was staring at me with pride, happiness and amazement. It was a good feeling. I had always been an outsider. I was always small and scrawny and going to the same school with the same people most of my life, well, that's all they knew me as, even after I grew several feet and gained some muscle mass, they still couldn't look past who I was. So I was definitely enjoying this. I was currently recounting the story for the millionth time. I kept Rose's part out of it, I just told everyone that I reacted quickly and slid straight underneath my truck and they didn't question it, but now I was. The more I analyzed it the more I realized that everything must have happened in a couple of seconds, if that, so Rose would have made a split decision to save me, but why?

My story came to an end and I turned to look at the Cullen table. They were all looking at me except Bella. I wondered if they knew about Rose's part in all this. I stood up and made my way over to them. I was a man of action and I was taking action. They all watched me, it was a little intimidating, but I pushed it off and puffed out my chest. I wouldn't let them know that they affected me negatively. Bella still didn't look up, but I didn't care.

"I need to talk to you," I said and Bella finally looked up, glaring at me. "Not you," I told her sweetly and I swear she growled. "Rose, I need to talk to you."

Rose and I shared a look and I could feel that she was warning me. I decided to keep my mouth shut and say no more. Rose knew my intentions so it was now up to her. I walked out of the cafeteria, but I wasn't sure if she was following me. I kept on walking. I knew for a fact that Rose had super speed and most likely strength, so I wondered what else was super and if her family shared the same gifts. Either way if they had super hearing I didn't want them to be a part of this conversation. Once I hit the woods, I turned to see Rose following me. I smiled and kept on going. Once I was certain I was far enough away from the school I stopped and turned to face her. She looked at me closely and I could tell that she was guarded, yet curious.

"Do the others know that you saved me?" I asked and she was shocked. I did like surprising people.

"No," she said, folding her arms across her chest.

"Carlisle knows," I told her, "it was unavoidable. I don't know your family or what him knowing means, but you deserve to know that he knows."

"Thank you."

She was being very tightlipped. I needed to change that.

"Why did you save me?" I asked.

I knew she would answer me honestly. That was just Rose I had noticed, she was very straightforward and didn't waste any time. I smiled at that. I liked her. Rose couldn't understand my smile so I dropped it.

"I saved you for Isabella," she answered.

"But Bella didn't want to save me," I said and Rose nodded her head in acceptance.

"Isabella doesn't know what she wants," she said and I could feel some remorse and anger from her, "she hasn't known for a long time now."

"So why did you save me for Bella then?"

"Because I've been with her for a long time now, too long." She looked down at the ground. "Isabella was adopted before me and because of that I looked up to her as an older sister. She was misled early in life and because of that she is fucked up. She's constantly battling with herself, but ever since she's met you she's been more focused. She talks more. She even smiled the other day." I watched as Rose smiled at the memory. "I've heard Edward and Carlisle talk about how she was before, when she was…"

"Human," I supplied when she didn't. Rose looked like she was about to run. "Relax," I told her, "I will tell you the same thing I told Carlisle, I know you're not human, none of your family are. I'm still working out what you are, but I will keep it a secret."

"You don't want to know," Rose said seriously, I brushed her off.

"Please continue," I said.

"When she was human she wasn't like this… She was… happy." Well that was overly broad, but it spoke volumes. Bella was no longer happy and she hadn't been for a long time. "She's changed since meeting you, not a lot, but she has, I've seen it. I've always tried to look out for her so when I saw that you were about to die or at least get seriously injured I knew that I must do everything I could to save you because no matter what this is between you and her I need you to keep on doing what you're doing because she is changing and it's all because of you."

Well that was heavy, but I needed more information.

"Why is she damaged?" I asked and I watched as Rose's anger rose.

"I don't want to discuss that with you," she said tightly.

"Rose, I need to know," I pressed. I wanted her to trust me, I needed her to trust me.

She looked at me closely and I could tell that she was thinking about it. If only she trusted me this would be simple.

"Okay," she said, "but you can't repeat this to anyone and you cannot let Isabella know that you know and if she ever tells you herself then you need to react accordingly."

I nodded my head, but that wasn't enough for Rose.

"I promise and my word is my bond," I told her.

She nodded her head and I knew that I had her trust.

"Carlisle changed Edward because they were mated, but neither of them wanted to accept it… Maybe if they had I wouldn't be here right now." I looked at her confused, but she didn't even acknowledge it. I decided to just shut up and focus on everything she said, word for word, until I could figure it out later. "Maybe I would have gotten my own life, married someone, had kids… Maybe I would have met Emmett as a human… Though I guess Royce ultimately fucked all that up." She breathed out, her anger returning, but this was a different kind of anger. This was personal, revengeful. "I was lucky. I found my mate not long after I joined the Cullens, but not Bella. She's still waiting."

I looked at Rose as she took a pause to calm down. She cared for Bella deeply, I could see that.

"There was a time where Isabella thought she was Edward's mate. She's strong, she is, but no one can survive that much emotional pain and just come out the other side as they were. When Carlisle and Edward finally accepted each other, Isabella closed up, she protected herself first and she started to care less. She was already long gone by the time I met her, but even after we met she started slipping further and further away. Isabella's more understanding and compassionate than me, I'm a vengeful person by nature and I brought that across with me. It's one of my defining traits. But that's not Isabella and that's why her and Edward are thick as thieves now. She loved him, she really did and although they're not mated she still loves him. I don't know how I feel about that… but now here you are and she just responds to you and what you do like nothing I've ever seen. So keep on doing what you're doing."

"But I'm not doing anything," I said.

"Then keep on doing nothing. I don't care, but let me tell you right now if you crush her heart I will hunt you down and make you pay."

I let out a laugh at that one. I didn't care what she was, she didn't scare me. Rose glared at me and I wisely stopped.

"Why doesn't she allow anyone to call her Bella?" I asked next.

"Because that's what Edward called her when she was in love with him," Rose said.

"So I should stop?" I asked.

"No, don't. She loves that name, it's Isabella she hates. She uses it so no one can get close to her. When we call her Isabella it's easily brushed off, but when you call her Bella it reignites something inside her, it makes her remember who she once was before all this happened. You can't give up, she deserves her happiness."

"And if I'm not it?" I asked. "I'm not like you, I'm human, I can't be mated to her."

"It doesn't matter, it's working for now and that's all I care about. It's been way too long and I want my sister back, the sister she was always meant to be."

Rose turned from me.

"Thank you," I said and she turned back to face me. "Thank you for saving me so that I can save Bella."

Rose smiled at me and it was so beautiful, but it looked misplaced.

Rose ran from me faster than I could register and I began the long walk back to the school.

The moment I entered the cafeteria my eyes went straight for Edward, he was sitting next to Bella and he appeared to be laughing. I could sense Bella's amusement and love, but it seemed like more of a brotherly love and not a mate love… Mate love, whatever that meant.

I didn't have the full story, only Rose's, but I could understand why people fought their attraction to others, especially of the same sex. My best friend from back home, Peter, was gay, but his parents were dead set Christians and they wouldn't have any part of it. They made him try everything to get the gay out of him, but it didn't work, of course. It got to a point where even Peter felt wrong for feeling what he did, so he just played the part to please his parents and God. I had tried to tell him otherwise, he always knew that I accepted him no matter what, but it was never enough. When I left he was living a lie, he had a girlfriend named Charlotte and everything. He was a people pleaser. I tried one more time before I left, but Peter just clapped me on the shoulder and said, 'this is my life now, Jasper'. It was so heartbreaking to see him living a lie and I was so glad I was temporarily away from him and his deceit as it was starting to take a toll on me.

I was interested to know what finally made Carlisle and Edward realize and accept their relationship because it must have been monumental. I understood that neither Carlisle nor Edward would have wanted to be the first one to give in, so the other one would have constantly felt unwanted, unloved, and it just became a vicious circle. Edward looked up at me and he seemed curious. I could imagine Carlisle with him. Carlisle was fucking hot. I relived the memory from when I met him yesterday, all my thoughts about him and then when he was tending to my wounds. It was a fucking Florence Nightingale situation or some shit, what do they call it when you fall for your caretaker? Well I hadn't actually fallen for him, but I might have if he wasn't taken by Edward or if I didn't care about Bella as much as I do. I watched as Edward got more and more agitated as time went on until he jumped up and hurriedly left the cafeteria. What was that all about? It's not like he could hear my impure thoughts about Carlisle, that was impossible… Perhaps.

I looked away from the Cullens and sat down at my table.

"What was that all about?" Mike asked me. "Did Rosalie ask you to the girls' choice spring dance?"

"The what?" I asked him confused.

"There's an upcoming dance, but the it's girls' choice," Eric said.

"Oh, well then no."

"Umm," Lauren said, "would you go with me Jasper?"

"No," Jessica quickly said. "Go with me Jasper?"

I looked at Angela, she was the only female here who hadn't asked me. She looked back at me and I could tell she was embarrassed. She wanted to ask me to the dance and out of everyone here I would have accepted her invitation, but she never asked. Angela was a nice girl, I made a mental note to talk to her soon and help give her the confidence to ask Ben as I knew she liked him.

"Jasper," Mike hissed at me. "You're leaving them hanging. What are you doing?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and focused back on Lauren and Jessica, they both seemed so hopeful and I was afraid that if I turned them down now I would start a catfight.

"I have a feeling I'm in Seattle that day," I said.

"Do you even know what day it is?" Eric asked and I elbowed him in the ribs.

"Yes, of course," I lied.

"What about Isabella?" Mike asked. "She's watching you again. Do you think she'll ask you and if she does will you not be going to Seattle?"

I looked up at Bella and she was indeed looking at me. I looked at her closely. She seemed to be watching me intently, waiting for me to respond. I tried to figure out what she was feeling, but I wasn't getting anything off her and that was a first. I remembered everything Rose had told me about how Bella had been played with before and I knew I didn't want to do that.

"I told you," I said firmly, "I have plans in Seattle, so no. I doubt Bella would be into dancing anyway."

I got a flash of something off Bella, but I couldn't comprehend what it was. I turned back to my table and I was thankful to see that Lauren and Jessica had calmed down, they almost seemed satisfied. I guess I would have to go to Seattle now otherwise I'd have two unhappy girls on my hands and I knew I didn't want that.

Lunch ended and so did my next class. I walked into gym and I was forced straight onto the bleachers, doctor's orders. No physical activity until my chest healed or at least scabbed over. I wasn't too fussed until I found out that everyone was playing basketball today. Bella walked into the gym and she tried to come over to me, but the teacher stopped her and made her play. I didn't mind because I got to watch her. I could tell she was holding back and pretending to be bad, but it didn't matter because for the whole class my eyes never left her.

Class ended and I headed straight for the parking lot whilst everyone else had a shower. I walked over to the accident site and just stood there looking at the black skid marks, the broken shards of glass. The memory flashed by in my mind. I had been so lucky, my truck on the other hand, it was dead… Well it wasn't technically dead. Charlie was getting Billy Black's son to look at it or something, but it was well and truly dented, I guess having a run in with a van does that to you. Charlie drove me to school, but he was working so I told him I'd find my way home.

"What are you thinking about?" Bella asked me and I tore my eyes off the ground and looked at her.

"Many things," I answered honestly.

I was surprised she was talking to me civilly today. Maybe nearly watching me get crushed by a van had changed her some. I knew it had changed me a little.

"Are you really going to Seattle the day of the dance?" she asked me.

"No," I answered, "but I now suspect that I'll have to."

"Why lie?"

"It's Jessica and Lauren," I said, "they're not my type. I need to be challenged, I want someone I can talk with, argue with… I don't want someone who just rolls over… I don't know."

"Okay, and how are you getting to Seattle? Your truck is dead."

My truck is dead…

"Were you just talking to Edward?" I asked and she was confused. "He can read minds can't he?"

"How do you know that?" Bella asked. "Do you know what I am?"

"No, I don't," I said, "and I only know that Edward is a mind reader because I'm observant and he is terrible at hiding his reactions especially when it comes to his mate."

"His mate?" Bella questioned and I wondered what her game was here.

"Yeah, the doctor," I said. "They make a good pair, don't you think?"

I watched her closely as she shifted nervously.

"Yeah, I think so," she mumbled, "they're happy and in love and I guess that's all that matters."

"It is," I agreed, "for them that's all that matters."

"So Seattle?" she asked me.

"Bella," I sighed, "can't you just get to your point?"

"Well seeing as you have no car I could drive you, if you want… I could also… drive you home maybe." She was nervous.

I looked at her closely, but kept my face blank. Rose had told me that Bella had closed herself off, that she had distanced herself from others, but then here she was extending me an olive branch. I would take it, not only for her and Rose, but for me.

"Sure," I said, "that would be good."

"Okay." She smiled and it was so pure and innocent and so unlike her, but maybe it was just the old her shining back through. I wasn't sure just yet.

I followed her and she stopped in front of a bike, a Harley Davidson Iron 883 to be specific, in matt black. Fuck that was hot and sleek and I wanted it.

"Do you like it?" Bella asked me, still smiling.

"I fucking love it," I told her as I stepped up to it and ran my fingers gingerly over the leather seat. Fuck.

"I can tell," she said. "Here." She handed me a helmet and I watched as she straddled the bike and started it up.

"No helmet for you?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I don't need it."

I knew she probably didn't need one, but it made me uneasy to see her riding without one.

"Can I be the one in charge?" I asked and she smirked at me.

"No," she said. "Now put that helmet on, I can't have you messing up that beautiful mind of yours when we undoubtedly crash and you bounce across the road."

Well that was a lovely visual. I pulled the helmet on.

"Just how much of my thoughts has Edward heard?" I asked, securing the helmet.

"All of them," Bella answered.

"And exactly how many of them has he told you?" I asked as I got on the bike behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist.

"All of them," she answered.

Fuck, I was so screwed and so in over my head.