Bella meant that she couldn't say that she didn't feel something other than friendship between her and Jasper. That is a double negative, so it means that SHE DOES FEEL SOMETHING OTHER THAN FRIENDSHIP FOR HIM.

Okayyyy is that cleared up? Sorry, that was rather confusing.

Authoress note: Here's your new chapter!! None of the original characters are mine, they belong to Stephenie Meyer. Oh and I'm sorry this took longer than I said. But as I mentioned warm weather makes me want to write, and all of that warm weather has vanished quite quickly. READ AND REVIEW. The more reviews, the quicker I update!! (I will still update even without a billion reviews, but reviews give me incentive to write faster for all you awesome reviewers!!)

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. I'm so disappointed with my reviews. I've been getting like ten a chapter lately!! That's crazy! This has over 100 alerts I should be getting more or did people just stop caring and stop reading this?! LET ME KNOW.

It was one of those moments in a mushy, predictable romance movie – the scene when the two lovers (or in this case, high school students barely acquainted) are leaned in with their heads tilted. The girl (me) draws in a little breath that makes her lower lip quiver, and the guy locks eyes with her every moment until their lips actually touch. How cliché? I know, terrible. But I was so caught up in what his lips would feel like, or how he might run his fingers through my hair – which is why I hardly hesitated to lean in, slowly, until I could feel his cool breath on my face. I closed my eyes and his lips brushed mine shyly and I could feel his posture shift as he prepared to kiss me fully.

Rinnggggg.

And then his cell phone rang.

He stayed leaned in for a moment, unsure if he should just ignore the call and kiss me anyway. Half of me thought it would be awkward if he kissed me now. The other half was begging that he threw his phone out of the window. After that long second, I felt him inch away, and I opened my eyes and found him sinking back into his seat. He rubbed his eyes wearily and pulled his phone from his pocket. He sighed, almost resigned, and flicked open his phone.

"Yes, Edward?" I could hardly hear the bitterness in his voice.

I had no control over the scowl that formed on my face. It was awful enough that my perfect movie-theatre kiss was ruined, but out of the billions of people in the world, it was, naturally, Edward.

"No, we're not at the store yet."

I rolled my neck so I was now facing the window. I could feel the inevitable awkwardness creeping over me. I knew I was blushing, and was glad that Jasper was preoccupied with Edward.

"You already informed us you need bread and garlic powder." He paused. "Yea, I'm positive. I'm going to go now. Is there anything else?" Another pause. "Okay, goodbye." His phone snapped shut. I heard him put the keys back into the ignition and start the engine. We had been pulled over on the side of the road (I hadn't realized he had done this until I noticed he wasn't driving).

I kept staring out of my window. Mortified. He didn't say anything, so I was startled when I felt his finger brush along my cheek.

"Do you believe it might be possible that your face will stay stained with that lovely pink? I'm sure you're more often blushing than not."

I turned my head back toward him to see him smiling a small smile. I found myself staring, instead of responding. At this his smile broadened.

"I guess I'll have to find out on my own." He ran his finger once more down to my jaw line, and let his hand fall, catching mine. "May I?" His smile was small again. I nodded wordlessly, and let him entwine our fingers together. He looked me softly in the eyes and then turned back to the road. I looked up and saw that we had arrived at the miniscule (and otherwise nondescript) supermarket. He managed to get a rather good parking space, in the constantly over-crowded parking lot. He loosened his grip on my hand, and I released his to undo my seatbelt. Instantaneously, he arrived at my door, opening it for me and offering me his hand. I took it, but I couldn't help looking over my shoulder. What if someone saw us and told Jenn? What if they told anyone? I decided to move my thoughts from worries that were probably needless. Instead I focused on not falling on not my face. I'm going to avoid as much humiliation as possible around Jasper.

He swayed our hands a little. I haven't figured out how we managed to hold hands. He is so much taller than me. I looked upward to guess how much taller he really was, and I caught him looking down at me fondly. He looked away, and I did too, so he wouldn't catch the endearing smile on my lips. The knots in my stomach hadn't left since I first got them in the car, and they didn't appear to be leaving any time soon. But somehow they felt less restraining, almost like butterflies rather than ropes. I felt lighter, bouncier, bubblier. And I was hoping desperately that I didn't have some goofy smile on my face.

I couldn't help but think about how sweet he was. How on earth is he related to Edward? And being around him is so calming. I breathe easier. I feel more secure. And I know I'm rushing into things with someone I don't even know, but I feel like he understands me. Like I don't need to tell him anything, or explain, because he feels what I'm feeling. I've never had that before, other than with my mother, and maybe… Jenn.

I sighed as I felt the guilt coming back to me. Jenn would never do anything like this to me. I have to tell her soon. Better sooner than later, when things get too out of hand.

Jasper was looking at me, I could feel it. Probably concerned about why I was sighing. I didn't look back up at him – I was afraid that he would know my guilt as soon as he got a good look at me. So I just kept walking along as if nothing was wrong. I absently held the basket as Jasper threw things in.

I felt my hand drop as he let go. I didn't realize how much I had been leaning on him but I felt my body slouch without him carrying part of my weight. I looked towards him to see why he had let go of my hand.

Wait, where did he go?

I looked up and down the isle, but he wasn't there. I was a little dumb founded. Why would he just leave me? And where did he go?

I continued down the isle, perplexed, half expecting him to jump out from behind a box of cereal as some cruel joke.

I sauntered down the isle slowly and hesitantly, getting a little mad at the fact that he just abandoned me in a grocery store. I stopped walking and just stood with my arms crossed, tapping my foot. He kisses me (well almost), and then leaves me stranded? If he already left with the car I have no way to get home! Maybe I shouldn't have trusted him. Maybe he had Jenn and I both fooled. Maybe...

"Bella?"

I whipped my head in the direction of the voice, glaring – because if it was Jasper he was going to regret just walking off.

"Geez, what'd I do?" Mike asked, putting his hands up as if in surrender. I sighed, letting the tension in my face relax.

"Nothing. Sorry." I ran a frustrated hand through my hair.

"What's up?" he asked, mildly concerned. He put his hands in his pockets.

"It's nothing. I just can't find-" I stopped myself before I said his name. Could I trust Mike not to say anything about me being at the store with Jasper? I mean, it's not really a big deal, but did I want Mike to know? What would Mike think? "-the Fruit Roll Ups." I finished, reaching up to grab a box. "Got 'em."

"You hate Fruit Roll Ups." Mike raised an eyebrow.

"Uhm…" I stumbled over my words. Lying is not one of my talents. "They're for Jenn."

"Oh. What's all that stuff for?" He looked pointedly at the basket on my arm.

"Just dinner."

"That's a lot of food. What are you making?"

"Chicken parmesan and stuffed ravioli. And salad and garlic bread."

"Why so much?" He looked skeptical. "Do you have guests or something?"

"Uhm well, not exactly. You see-"

I felt a hand on the small of my back and I jumped a little.

"It's just me Bella. Got the bread."

I looked back and Jasper had the bread in his hand.

"You abandoned me to get bread?" I said each word slowly, doing my best to convey my anger. I was in a bit of disbelief that he would actually do that. What kind of gentleman just walks away from someone to get bread?! Does he have multi-personality disorder or something? Kind and thoughtful or careless and rude?

"I didn't abandon you. I told you where I was going."

"What? No you didn't. You were standing next to me holding my hand and the next second you were gone!"

"Bella, honey," he raised a finger and stroked my cheek. "I promise you, I told you that I was going to get the bread, and that I would be back in a minute."

I looked up into his liquid eyes, and I couldn't find anything untrustworthy. I exhaled, almost sighing. "Okay." I blushed a little, embarrassed that I had jumped to conclusions so quickly.

We stood for a moment, his finger on my cheek, my eyes melting into his, until Mike made a coughing noise.

Embarrassed, again, I slowly turned away from Jasper

.

"Oh, uhm, this is Jasper Hale, and Jasper this is-"

Jasper reached out his hand "Mike, right?"

Mike put his hand out too, and shook his. "Yeah. Hey." I could tell he wasn't happy about this. His mouth and eyebrows were in straight lines and his jaw was hard, even as he spoke. It wasn't flattering at all how obviously jealous he was. It made the situation even more awkward and made me feel even more guilty about everything. Jasper and I have yet to know each other a full day and the world has already plotted against us!

My luck – it never seems to fail.

Perhaps associating with Jasper was a bad idea. Right now, that appeared to be a very likely possibility.

"So…" I said awkwardly.

"Why are you at the store with Bella?" Mike asked. It would have been a perfectly normal inquisition if he hadn't said it so coldly. And even though he spoke so uncouthly Jasper still answered in a pleasant manner, as usual.

"We were just picking up some ingredients for dinner this evening. We'd be glad for you to join, if that's alright with Bella." I saw Jasper eye me, knowing already that I was against the idea. But he was trying to speak with his eyes – trying to tell me that it would be impolite not to allow Mike to come. I suppressed a sigh and an eye roll.

"Yeah, of course. You want to come?" I refrained from wincing as I tried to figure out how everyone would fit in my small, cramped, house.

"Sure. Want some help cooking?" I could tell his reason for offering help wasn't at all genuine. He probably figured that if he helped cook, he could keep an eye on Jasper.

"Uhm, I think we got cooking covered. Edward's waiting for us back at my house so-"

Rinnnggggggg.

"Speak of the devil." I heard Jasper say under his breath, half smiling. He opened his phone. "Hello Edward."

Did Edward always call this frequently?

"Yes, we have everything. We just ran into Mike Newton. He's going to be eating with us." He paused, listening to Edward. "Perhaps we should have dinner at our house?" Jasper raised an eyebrow to me, asking for my consent. I nodded, grateful. We never would have fit everyone in my house. And if we had somehow managed the impossible, we would have been compressed like tuna in a can. "Will you call and ask Esme and Carlisle please?" Another pause. "I'm sure they'll be fine with it. Especially Esme. You know how she is." At this he smiled, like it was some small inside joke. "Well Bella and I will head straight to our house from the store, and settle the plans with Mike. Make sure you bring the chicken and whatever materials we brought over. " He paused again. "I'll get more. There's no way we have enough for nine. Well ten – if you compensate for Emmett's appetite." Jasper chuckled. "Okay, should we plan to have dinner at seven?" A short silence. "Mhmm. Well I'm going to finish shopping. We will be back at the house by quarter of six. Goodbye."

He closed his phone. "So what's going on?" Mike asked. I noticed he had pushed up his sleeves to show his toned forearm. I'll admit that Mike isn't half bad, but Jasper is wearing a short sleeved shirt, showing off his far more muscled arms.

"We're going to have dinner at my house. Bella and I will head there directly from here, but you could arrive around seven?"

It was evident that Mike would much rather stick around, but I guess he had a limit (though, they must be very generous limits) to how obvious he could be. "Yeah. Sure. I could bring dessert?"

"That would be great." I said, faking a smile. This was getting more awkward by the second. I just want to finish the shopping, cook the food, and disappear before the unthinkably uncomfortable dinner.

"Alright, see you then Bells." Uhm, Bells? I hardly even let Charlie get away with calling me that.

Mike walked toward me and opened his arms for a hug.

I had stopped all hugging between Mike and I when we had broken up. It was so incredibly weird to hug him now, knowing that he still likes me. However, I sucked it up and gave him a hug. But when he began running his hand up and down my back I pulled away, giving him a stern look. His expression was sheepish, and I'm sure mine was disgusted, because I couldn't even begin to fathom the idea that he was trying to make Jasper jealous. I looked over toward Jasper, and by the looks of it, Mike was doing a good job.

"Well uh, I think we have to get going. It's got to be close to 5:30 already." Leave, leave, leave, I pleaded mentally.

"Yeah." Mike scratched the back of his head. "I have to get home for a little. My world history teacher gave us homework." He rolled his eyes at his teacher's unreasonableness. I almost never receive homework on the first day. "I should get that done before I go. Oh, and where's your house?"

"Well I don't think the address will do you much good. It's very secluded…" I didn't bother to listen to the rest – I would just confuse myself. If I had been Mike, I probably would have wound up in another state, no matter how accurate and detailed the directions.

Next thing I knew, Mike was waving goodbye, and Jasper had reached for my hand and I felt the uneasy situation fade into a memory.

We returned to our original peacefulness, and I found myself leaning on him again. He continued to throw things into the basket that I held, and I managed not to trip.

When we reached the poultry section he grabbed four pieces of chicken, because we needed ten, and we had six at my house. I counted the people in my head and nudged Jasper.

"We need one more. For Charlie."

"Oh, right." He chuckled. I think he felt stupid for forgetting my father. It was impossible not to turn to mush when Jasper blushed. His cheeks got a little pink, and I could picture Jasper ten years younger. I smiled at the mental picture, he had been adorable, I could tell.

"How much would Charlie want?"

"Hmm?" I hadn't quite heard him, I suppose I had been gawking at him again.

"Charlie. How much do you think he'll want?"

"Uhm, I'm not sure. We should just grab a six pack just to be safe." He nodded absently and placed a pack in the basket after observing it carefully. I'd been sufficiently surprised with his knowledge of cooking. He'd known all the spices and the best kinds of tomato paste. He seemed to be fairly familiar with the kitchen, which I couldn't say for any other guy I knew. I'm actually pretty curious what Mike is planning to do for desert. He, like any typical guy, considers take-out pizza as cooking.

"That looks kind of heavy. Would you like me to carry it?" He pointed at the basket.

"No, I'm fine." I lied. What had exactly put in this thing? Weights? But I didn't want to add him to the list of people who thought that I couldn't take care of myself, just because of my size.

But I felt the basket slide of my arm and my body get at least fifteen pounds lighter.

I looked up at him, a slight pout on my face, and he smiled. "You're a terrible liar." At this I pouted more, and he began laughing.

"It is not funny." I tried to stay serious, but I already knew that lying isn't one of my strong suits, and I found myself laughing a little too.

We finished our shopping in the same easy-going manner and headed back out to the car. We must look like quite the odd pair. He's tall and beautiful and I'm short and average.

I looked up to admire him from the corner of my eye. I couldn't prevent the jealousy I felt. Not just of Jasper – but of his whole family. They were all unbelievably beautiful. I wonder what Carlisle and Esme look like. Gorgeous, no doubt.

And though I felt comfortable, and even more complete with Jasper around, I was still so insecure – especially around him.

I turned my gaze back to my own two feet before he could catch me staring, and before I could fall over my over feet. We were at the car now. I walked to the passenger side, and even though he was carrying all of the bags, he still opened the door for me. While he put the groceries in the trunk I looked around his car a little more. There was nothing out of the ordinary in the glove box – the car's registration and manual, and some napkins.

I heard the trunk close, and quickly closed the glove compartment. There wasn't much else to observe – he kept the car completely spotless and had a strawberry air freshener. Nothing else stuck out, really. Other than a random paper clip on the sun visor.

Jasper got into the car and started it up. He looked me in the eyes again, leaned in, and laid a light kiss on my forehead.

Authors note: Next chapter will have the dinner… and drama! Yay for alliterations! Haha.

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