Chapter 4

Jasper POV

The house was huge. These people probably really had money. I felt a bit bad for not really talking to them in the car but I couldn't let myself grew too attached. I knew that I had to go back after the weekend and separating from Rose again would be hard enough. I could tell that they were nice people.

I didn't trust them completely yet but Esme I definitely liked. Carlisle seemed nice but still, he was the authority figure here and I didn't have any good experiences with those. I drew up my hood to keep the rain out and took a deep breath. Rosalie was in there. I felt sick. What if she wouldn't forgive me? What if she hated me? The rational part of my brain told me that that probably wasn't the case but I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I always wanted to see her again after they took me away from her. They never let me. They wouldn't tell me where she was, if she was okay or if she missed me. And now that she was so close I just wanted to run for the hills. Still I got out of the car and met the Cullens at the front door. Carlisle took my bag and I followed Esme into the house.

"Rosalie is probably in her room with Alice.", Esme said with a smile. I froze in my tracks and looked at Carlisle. He frowned and then his eyes widened. I could nearly see the 'oh shit' written across his forehead. Though I was pretty sure Carlisle would never use that kind of language, at least not in the presence of other people.

"Alice is our other daughter. She and her brother Emmett came to us about 2 years ago and Edward one year before that.", he explained. Great, more people. Now I really wanted to run. But my feet followed Esme further into the house. She called for Rosalie and the next thing I knew was her running down the stairs and jumped right at me. I didn't expect that and tensed up. I had to hold back a hiss when she touched one of the wounds from Jim's punishment. They didn't start to heal yet. It took a few seconds for me to relax and I hugged her bag. I felt her crying and hugged her even more tightly.

I knew she said something when she came running at me but I didn't even hear her. All that mattered was that she was now in my arms and I couldn't help but mumbling "I'm sorry" over and over again into her ear. I didn't care about anything else in that moment. She didn't hate me! In fact, she was clinging at me and her feet didn't touch the ground. All too soon she let go me and went to stand next to me. She was so beautiful. She looked like mom and the smile that she gave me made me feel like everything would be fine. No one said a word until an unfamiliar voice pulled me back into the present.

"Are you hungry? Rosie and I cooked.", a petite girl said excited. She looked a bit like a pixie with her large eyes and short black hair. She was absolutely gorgeous. I smiled at her.

"I'm starving. I've missed Rosie's cooking skills." Rosie was a great nickname and I could tell that my sister didn't like it one bit.

"Jasper these are Alice and her older brother Emmett. And over here we have Edward.", Carlisle introduced the three teenagers that had gathered in the living room. Alice and what had to be her brother judging by the looks both smiled at me. Emmett was gigantic. If not for his face you wouldn't think he was the brother of the small, pretty pixie. He still looked very much like a child though and for some reason he reminded me of Peter.

Edward wasn't smiling. He didn't like me that much was obvious. His green eyes pierced themselves into mine and I felt strangely naked under his gaze. He raised an eyebrow and I tensed up. I have seen this look so many times over the years and I learned to hate it. This judging look of a spoilt child. Rosalie was looking at me with worried eyes.

"What did you two cook? Please tell me you made spaghetti!" The big guy, Emmett, broke the tension that had built up in the room. Alice laughed and started to walk towards the kitchen with him following her. I still couldn't stop looking at Edward. Rosalie pulled on my sleeve and I looked into her eyes. She didn't want us to fight, not that I had that in mind. So I did what I thought was right and pretended that nothing was wrong. I followed her into the dining room.

"Did you make spaghetti?", I asked. Rosalie nodded and started to help Alice with the plates.

"Do you remember the pasta grandma used to make? Mom gave me the recipe and I thought that you probably didn't have it a quite a while." Rosalie gave me a sad smile. I did remember them. Grandma always made them when we came to visit when we were still children. I can't remember the last time I had them. Rose sat down at the table and motioned me to sit next to her. I didn't move though. I didn't want to be rude and as long as Carlisle didn't want me to sit down I wouldn't.

"Take a seat, Jasper.", Carlisle said with a frown. I sat down but made sure my hurting back didn't touch anything. Did I do something wrong? Was it rude to wait? I kept thinking about my behavior and the way Edward looked at me while I talked to Rosalie about our grandma's cooking. Alice came in with the dinner and everyone started to fill their plates. I didn't know what to do. Would it be rude to just fill mine or would it be rude if didn't? Rosalie took the decision from me buy taking my plate and filling it for me. I gave her a small smile and started eating.

"Edward why didn't you invite Bella over for dinner? I thought since it is a Friday night Charlie wouldn't say no.", Esme asked after we finished eating in silence. I had no idea who Bella was but judging by the look Edward threw at me before answering she probably was his girlfriend.

"I wanted to but then I thought that maybe it wasn't such a good idea. There are already too many people here without any visitors and besides, I didn't want to steal the stoplight." He said the last bit directly to Rosalie who was looking at him angrily. I tensed up. It was obvious what he meant by that. I was right. They didn't want me here.

"Edward!", Rosalie gasped. Carlisle gave him a stern looked and so did Esme.

"Edward no one is standing in the spotlight and you will apologize to your sister! If you can't behave you will have to go up to your room for the rest of the evening.", Esme said in strict voice. Edward held her gaze for a few seconds before he stood up and left the room without another word. Carlisle went to go after him but Esme stopped him.

"Just let him cool down a bit. We'll talk to him later."

"Jasper I am so sorry about my son! He normally is a very polite boy. I don't know why he said that.", Carlisle apologized but I didn't really hear him. I nodded anyway. I was looking at my hands without seeing them and tried not to panic. I could feel Rosalie being angry besides me and I wanted to apologize for ruining the evening. I really didn't want to bother them any longer. Before I could say anything though Esme spoke up.

"Why don't show Jasper were he's going to sleep tonight, Rosalie? Carlisle and I will do the dishes." She nodded and took my hand leading me out of the room and up the stairs. I followed her through a hallway until we reached the last room on the right. She opened the door to the bedroom and closed it again behind me.

"It's the guestroom and you'll share the bathroom with Emmett. I hope you like it. My room is the one opposite of yours so if you need something just knock, okay?", she explained but I wasn't really listening. Why did she show me the guestroom? I ruined the dinner. I thought they would all want me to leave.

"Jasper?", Rose asked. "Jasper what's wrong?" When I didn't answer she put both hands on my face and forced me to look at her.

"I'm sorry!", I said. It just came out. I looked at her with pleading eyes, hoping she would forgive me even though I knew she probably wouldn't.

"Jasper, sorry for what? You said that earlier as well. I just don't know what you mean." She was looking at me with big eyes and she was confused. And I was as well.

"I ruined the dinner…", I said quietly. I was looking at my hands again and Rosalie seemed angry. I did it again. I made her angry again.

"You didn't ruin anything! Edward was a total jerk. He's used to having things his way and when someone else gets their way he gets grumpy behaves like a 4-year-old. And Bella is here every weekend anyway, they'll survive a few days apart. Jasper you did nothing wrong!" I didn't answer. I really wanted to believe her but I couldn't quite yet.

"That's not all this is about, right? Jasper please talk to me!", Rosalie took my hands and squeezed them reassuringly. I looked into her eyes and the tears in them made my heart hurt.

"It's my fault they took you away. I fucked up and you hand to suffer from the consequences. I'm so sorry, Rose!", I finally said. She sighed. I looked back to my hands still in hers.

"I'm so happy that you got adopted and I hope you are happy here. I promise I won't mess with your life any longer. I…"

"Shut up!", she interrupted. "Just shut up! Don't you dare leaving me alone again. I just got you back! Do you seriously think I would have been looking for you if I blamed you for what happen?"

"Well, no…"

"Jasper, let me finish!", she interrupted again and I knew better than to argue when she used that tone. "You defended me! That man was molesting me and you defended me! I'm so grateful for what you did. I tried to explain to social services over and over that you did nothing wrong but they wouldn't listen. Jasper, you are my brother and I love you! Nothing will ever change that. And I can't be happy here if I don't have you in my life. You are the only person who understands me. Please Jasper! You are all I have left!" She was crying freely now and it broke my heart. I wrapped my arms around her and started rubbing circles on her back.

"Alright. I promise I will never leave you again if you don't want me to." We stood like that for a while, until she has calmed down. A knock on the door pulled us back into reality and Alice stuck her head into the room.

"Carlisle wants you to come down into the living room.", she said and then was gone again. I paled. Rose let go of me and sniffed. She must have seen my anxiety because she quickly explained.

"Carlisle likes us all to sit together when one of us has done something wrong. I think he thinks that we trust him more because of it." She shrugged as took my hand again and pulled me out of the room. I had to smile remembering how she always pulled me with her anywhere she went. I hardly had a word in where we would go but I never cared. We always had a lot of fun. Old habits die hard.

We were the last ones in the living room. Everyone was already seated and I tensed when I saw Edward throwing me a nasty look. I swallowed. Rose sat down on the sofa and pulled me down with her. I didn't let myself relax though. For one because I really was anxious but also because my back started hurting more and more. Edward didn't take his eyes off of me and I grew even more nervous.

"Thank you all for coming.", Carlisle said. "I wanted to clear things up after we left them unresolved after dinner. Edward please explain your behavior." Edward now looked at his father and sighed.

"I really don't know what I did wrong. All I did was state my opinion."

"It's not what you said, Edward. It's the way you said it.", Alice explained. He gave her an annoyed look.

"Come on. We all know that weren't telling the truth about why you didn't want Bella to come today. Admit it, Edward.!" Rosalie was angry at him so much was clear. I wasn't sure if she liked Edward very much. I didn't think so, to be honest.

"What do you care? You don't even like her!"

"Because it has obviously something to do with Jasper or me!" Oh no. I didn't want them to fight because of me. "Seriously Edward! Can't you deal with things not going your way for once in your life?"

"This has nothing to do with me not having my way! I won't put Bella deliberately in danger!", Edward yelled.

"Edward, I don't think…", Carlisle tried to intervene.

"Danger?" Why would she be in any danger?", Rosalie was yelling now as well. I had a feeling I knew why he would think that. And he was probably right. They must have called social services and they must have warned them. That's why I always ended up in families Maria's. Those were the only ones that could deal with a fuck up like me.

"You've said it yourself! When you first told us about Jasper you said he was dangerous and that's why you were separated.", Edward said. I froze. I couldn't breathe anymore. She thought I was dangerous.

"No…", Rose whispered.

"You think I'm dangerous?", I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. She shook her head.

"No Jasper! He twisted my words!"

"No I didn't!", Edward interrupted. "You said they separated you because of that. And social services have records about the things he's done after that. Carlisle told me." I stood up. I couldn't breathe. I had to get out. I couldn't think. I was so confused. She said she was grateful but she thought I'm dangerous.

"Jasper breathe!", Alice said suddenly. Rose stopped glaring at Edward and was now looking at me. I didn't hear Alice though. I was absolutely oblivious to them. I couldn't breathe. Alice got up from her seat and went over to me and laid her hand on my shoulder. I didn't notice her and flinched. I instinctively raised my arm to shield my face from the blow I was expecting to come. Edward must have misinterpreted that because he moved between Alice.

"Don't touch her!". He pushed me back against the wall behind me. My back collided with it and I couldn't hold back a cry of pain. My knees gave out and I slithered down to the ground.

"Edward!", Carlisle, Esme and Rosalie yelled at the same time. Rose crouched down next to me but when she tried to touch me I whimpered and curled into a protective ball. My back was in agony but the pain made me breathe normally again.

"Edward go to your room immediately! We will have a long talk later!", Carlisle ordered.

"What? He tried to attack Alice!", he yelled.
"No he didn't!", Alice now said. They were arguing now. I curled up even more.

"Carlisle something is wrong!", Rose said next to me. "His back his bleeding!"

"I didn't push him that hard!", Edward defended himself. Carlisle was now next to me on the ground and tried to get a look at my back. I whimpered when he touched me and flinched away from his hand.

"Jasper? Jasper tell me what's wrong?" I didn't answer. And even if I wanted to I doubt that I would have been able to.

"I didn't do anything to him!", Edward again defended.

"Edward, your room, now! Jasper, I need to take a look at your back." Again he tried to touch me and again I flinched. He looked at Rosalie with a desperate look in his eyes.

"Try to calm him down. Talk to him but be calm and gentle." Rose started to whisper into my ear and once I was calmer Carlisle pulled up my shirt to reveal the now bleeding slashes Jim's belt left on my back as well as the perfectly round burns from his cigarette. They gasped, all of them.

"Jasper who did that?" I didn't answer and Rose hugged me carefully watching not to touch my back. She started whispering into my ear again.

"Did Maria do that? Or was it her partner?" I tensed when Carlisle mentioned them which was answer enough.

"I'll have to take care of your back before it gets infected. Don't worry, I am a doctor. Rose can be with you all the time." I nodded and slowly got back on my feet. I was embarrassed now for causing such a scene. I could feel the looks of the other Cullens on me and the urge to just run for the hills was nearly crushing me.

Rosalie led me back up the stair but we this time we went into the other direction in the hallway. She led me into a big office and Carlisle motioned me to lay down on what looked like one of these tables you find at the doctor. He was talking to me but I didn't listen. Rosalie was holding my hand but and I squeezed it tightly. He worked on my back for what seemed like an eternity and he apologized every time I whimpered. I just wanted to disappear. Rose went from holding my hand to running her fingers through my hair. It calmed me down immensely. After he was finished patching me up I sat up and looked at my hands.

"Jasper how long has this been going on?" I didn't answer again and Carlisle hummed. "That long hmm? Well you are defiantly not going back there. You can stay here if you want or we'll find you somewhere else to stay." Rosalie took my hand again and I raised my hand to look at Carlisle.

"I'm tired. Would it be alright if I went to bed now, sir?" I couldn't have that conversation now.

"Yes of course. Rosalie?" She nodded and pulled me out of the office back into the guestroom.

"Jasper, I…", she started but I stopped her.

"Don't! Please, Rose! I can't do this now." She nodded and hugged me again.

"It's going to be okay. We will sort this out.", she whispered. Somehow I didn't quite believe her.