Chapter 4

EPOV

It took a moment to realize the noises buzzing quietly behind me were voices. A male's voice and the voice of an angel.

"You love her! Why don't you just tell her? Anyone could see that you two are hopelessly in love!" the angel's voice cried.

"I'm not denying that, but I won't. I can't leave you to your own care. I will not do that," the guy's voice growled.

"I can take care of myself! You have a life you need to live, not waste yours on mine."

"You can take care of yourself? Do you remember what happened last time?" his voice was incredulous.

"What almost happened last time."

"Exactly, do you think I would take that risk again? I learned from my mistakes, I won't make it again." The guy's tone was firm, no hint of compromise.

"Nothing will happen! If you don't seize the chance, you may lose her!" the angel sounded exasperated, her voice on the edge of hysteria.

"I will not leave you. You are too important. Do you think I could live if it happened again because I wasn't there to save you?" his voice turned gentle, pleading, full of emotion.

"But Jazz, I won't let you see your soul mate slip away."

I shifted my body; this was the most confusing dream I've ever had- including the one in six grade about the neon pink Barney and the giant lollipop on sushi. The voices stopped abruptly, and the silence became overwhelming. That's weird. I've never had a dream just stop like that. I blinked, and I saw a distant light from the kitchen. Picking myself off the sofa, I stretched.

At the kitchen was Bella and Jasper, apparently cut off from a heated argument.

"Bella? Jasper?" I squinted through my eyes, "What are you guys doing up at," I checked the numbers on the oven, "three in the morning?!"

"Nothing," Bella smiled sweetly, and I couldn't help but be a little mollified. "We just couldn't sleep, I was getting something to drink." Her voice was smooth; a little too smooth. Jasper nodded silently.

"Oh, okay. I'm just going to go back to bed." I said, knowing that I would be listening as hard as I could. I mean, if they were going to break up or something, I wouldn't want to stop them, would I?

"You want to use my bed? The sofa wasn't very comfortable." Bella offered. Slightly, Jasper's eyes narrowed. What was that about?

"It's okay, I'll just sleep on the couch." I walked over to the nearest one to the kitchen, and pretended to drift into deep slumber. A few minutes later, the voices started again.

"Bella… You know how I felt about last time… What if Jacob wasn't home early from vacation? Do you realize what could've happened? Do you know what danger you were in?" Jasper's frantic voice was strained quiet. It was hard for me to hear certain words. Danger?

"Jazz, you know it won't happen again. What are the chances? Please, I feel like it's my fault you pushed every single social event away for me. Just because I wasn't invited to some doesn't mean you can't go. I've lived alone before you, nothing happened." Bella's voice was trying to be reassuring, but also slightly pleading.

"What about a compromise, you have to come with us on every date."

"Jazz, that's ridiculous. What will Alice think?" Alice? What about my sister? I tried to gather the previous pieces of the conversation. Jasper… love… Something about soul mates. And now my sister? Ugh. I can't think when it's so late. I fought to keep my eyes open, but it was a failed effort. I drifted again into uneasy slumber.

I was woken again by a shriek of the pixie we called Alice. Blinking furiously, I tried to focus on beyond the blur of shadows and lights.

"Are you awake now?" an angel's voice rang. It was the same musical tone from last night- Bella's. I grumbled and heard her soft chuckles.

"Breakfast is ready," I blinked again and took in Bella's face. My memory didn't do her justice. We ate heavenly delicious pancakes and had her homemade smoothies. Then we went home; Jasper stayed to help her clean up. I didn't miss the look he gave her.

Time without her was boring beyond belief. The minutes crawled by at snail speed as I listened to the blasting music in my room, thinking about the goddess that is Bella.

Bella dressed in a flowy dress, her pouty pink lips shimmering and curved into an angelic smile. Her big brown eyes sparkled as she stared at me with affection. She wrapped her arms around me and every part of her body pressed into me. I crashed my lips to her, our tongues dancing together, tasting her heavenly taste. She kissed me back with love and adoration…

"Edward!" I jumped at Alice's voice and fell off my couch. I mumbled a few curses before looking at the evil pixie.

"What?" I said, annoyed at the extreme; I was getting to the good part- well, the best part. Alice smirked.

"Esme made brownies for our new neighbors. Don't you want to look at the real thing instead of dreaming?" My heart fluttered at the concept of seeing Bella again- alone. Jasper shouldn't be there anymore. Alice looked at my goofy smile and snickered. I danced- umm, walked- downstairs and took the packages.

After delivering the others, I made my way to Bella's. I noticed the door was not locked. I pushed open the door and the scene in front of me made my jaws drop.

Oh my god.

My heart shattered into a million pieces. On the couch was Bella in her tank top and short shorts, lying with her hair spread out behind her in a halo. A dark skinned guy hovered over her, his lips crashing onto hers. She made no move to push him away.

It was hard to tell if she was kissing him back or not. I wanted to run, but my feet were frozen in place, forcing me to watch the event that was slowly shredding my heart. I clenched my jaws when he made to move his hand under her shirt. She smacked his hand; that almost made me smile, almost. After what seems like forever, he pulled away. She stayed in her position until the guy made to pick something off the ground; I prayed it wasn't a piece of clothing. All I could see was a small silver metal box.

Close up, I saw that the guy was more a boy- at most thirteen or fourteen years old. What if Bella liked younger guys? Is that why she hadn't dated anyone in Forks High? Bella sat up now, wiping her mouth with an amused but slightly disgusted look on her face. I felt hope sprouting; maybe he wasn't a good kisser and she was going to dump him. The boy pouted.

"Come on," he whined, "it wasn't that bad."

"Not saying it was, but just, gross." Bella said, chuckling at his expression. He stuck out his tongue at her.

"Got to go, mom's making good things for dinner. You coming?" he asked, looking hopeful.

"Sure, tell Charlie I'm going to be there in about twenty."

"Oh, I almost forgot, here." He handed her a thick stack of hundreds. My eyes almost popped out. My family was well off, but… She looked at it and sighed.

"It's too much…" He just shook his head.

"You know how it is. See you!" He waved. I quickly ran out the door and went to the Hales. A moment later he walked out, wiping his mouth too. Huh? I rang the door bell; he looked at me and waved, his face pulled into a friendly smile. I waved back as convincingly as possible. Jasper answered the door just as he disappeared from view. Jasper looked surprised.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Um… I just saw… Bella making out with a guy," I choked out. His face hardened immediately.

"Who?" he growled. Um, he is starting to scare me.

"I don't know. Dark skinned, tall, looks pretty young." I mumbled. Jasper looked confused.

"No… that can't be…" he mumbled to himself. Then louder, "I'm just going to ask her." He marched off to Bella's; I trailed behind, not sure if I want to know or not.

"Bella, what's this I heard about a make out session between you and a boy?" Jasper said, trying to keep his voice calm. It didn't fool Bella.

"Are you spying on me? What part of I can take care of myself do you not understand?" she snarled.

"Woah, Edward here told me. I seriously was not spying on you." Jasper put his hand up. Her face softened considerably.

"Oh, I thought you snuck security camera in my house or something. You know I don't change in the restroom. I didn't want you to get a free show." She chuckled. Jasper's expression turned to a smirk.

"I wouldn't mind that…" he trailed off. I couldn't stop the growl that came out my mouth. Bella rolled her eyes before turning to me.

"Ignore him; he's just being stupid." She smiled. I felt myself melt at the spot.

"So who's this guy I heard about?" Jasper asked. Bella laughed. Ok, now I'm even more confused. A giggle would be rational, but laughing? Jasper glared.

"Geez, calm yourself. Seth made a bet with his friends and he offered me two favors. How could I refuse? Plus, he's just a kid." Jasper looked amused and disgusted at the same time, then he burst out laughing.

"You… kissed… your… brother?" He choked out. What the hell? Brother?

"Brother…?"

"Oh, yeah. Seth is my step brother. My father married his mother." Bella explained.

"But he slid his hand into your shirt." I remembered, my voice flat. Jasper winced. Hmm… What does that mean?

"He slid his hand into your shirt?" Jasper repeated, matching my tone.

"He probably just wanted to make it more realistic, you know he was filming it," Bella shrugged, "Plus, he is a teenager." Yeah, the fact that he is a teenager allows your step brother who is at least two years younger to grope at you. Damn kid, he was so lucky. I sighed longingly. Jasper looked at me, his eyes slightly suspicious. I flushed.

"So the money was from your dad?" I clarified. Wow, she gets a lot of allowance.

"Yeah, I told him I didn't need that much. He was paying for the rent and everything too." She sighed. She didn't seem happy about getting all that cash.

"Do I get a kiss too?" Jasper said, wiggling his eyebrows in a very Emmett-like fashion. I growled, again.

"Why do you want a kiss when you're…" she was cut off by Jasper.

"Bella!" he put a hand on her mouth. I was mystified. Maybe it had to do with yesterday's argument, but all I could think about is how soft her lips must be. She glared at him. She was about to start again when Jasper crashed his lips to hers. What the f*%#?

"Ow!" Jasper jumped back, his hand over his lips, which were bleeding lightly. She stuck her tongue at him.

"That's what you get for inappropriate comments and actually doing it."

"That gives you a reason to bite me?"

"When you kiss me like that, it gives me a reason to rip your arm out if I have to, or throw away your beloved Civil War antiques, maybe?" She pretended to consider it; I saw Jasper's face pale.

"I'm sorry, ok? But you know better than to blurt it out."

"But I wanna tell. Maybe Edward will knock some sense into you." Bella whined; I was momentarily distracted by how she could make something like that so attractive.

"Uh, can you stop talking like I wasn't here?" I mumbled, but apparently they heard me because they stopped at once. Bella glanced at the clock.

"Oh! I have to get dressed now. Shoo!" Bella sang.

"You still owe me a free show." Jasper smirked. It seems like he forgot about her threat. Bella's eyes narrowed.

"One more word and your room will be empty by tomorrow."

"Ok, ok. I'm going." He said hastily and dragged me out.

"Well, mystery solved. Bye!" he walked a little too fast to his house; maybe to check that his beloved collection was still safe and sound. I sighed and walked back to my house.

"What's with you Edward? You look so depressed and like you just witnessed a murder." Alice sang, her voice high and chirpy as usual.

Yeah, watching the girl you like kiss two guys within an hour does that to you.

AN: Jasper's a little um haughty/perverted here because well he'd kissed Bella before but mostly because he was messing with Edward. Seth is Bella's step brother. Next chapter will be back at school. =)

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