Here it is…a chapter earlier than normal. For those who review, you will know why I've worked my fuckin' ass off to get it out to you. For those who don't *sticks tongue out*, read the A/N at the end.

As always, hearts & hugs to my Beautiful Beta 'moore8879' who rights my numerous wrongs and never tells me to 'shut the fuck up' when I ramble…especially in the middle of the week. Show her your appreciation for working extra to get you this chapter legible by going and reading her own fuck-awesome-fics *winks*

Disclaimer: I don't own Jack shit…whoever he is!

Chapter 7

(Previously)

Bella? Are you ok darlin'?"

Bella POV

I don't know that voice.

I turned my head and looked into the warm, topaz eyes of Jasper Hale. His golden locks were in disarray with his fringe flopping down into his eyes. I was distracted by his lips. They looked so rosy, so firm, and so kissable. The bottom one slightly fuller than the top, and they were moving…

I realised he was talking and I was staring and I hadn't heard a word he'd said.

Actually, I felt like my brains had liquefied and had dribbled out my ears and it had nothing to do with the near death experience or the bump to the head.

I felt the warmth start on my cheeks and then spread down to my neck.

Fuck. I haven't blushed like this in about two years.

I thought I saw Jasper's eyes darken as they took in my color.

His face became feral and predatory. Like a lion just before he pounced on the lamb.

Instead of fear, I felt calm, safe, as I got lost in his gaze. I also felt my panties begin to dampen.

"Huh?" was my brilliant response.

Jasper's nostril flared and I knew he got a whiff of my arousal. I watched carefully as his eyes positively shone and his lips parted in appreciation.

He took a deep breath and that seemed to calm him enough to bring himself back into control.

Then he smiled.

I was dazzled.

"I asked if you were alright. You banged your head pretty hard there darlin'."

Now that he mentioned it, I realised that my head did actually hurt like a fuckin' bitch, but Ohhh...That drawl! That accent! That "darlin'…"

The van could have actually sat on my legs and I would have never noticed it.

"I'm, err fine" I stammered. Arg! Get your fuckin' act together Swan, you sound like a twat.

"At least I'm better than I would've been if it hadn't been for you". I tried to make my voice sound husky and sexy.

I must have succeeded well enough judging by the look I was rewarded with.

I was aware that we were still sitting on the parking lot floor. I then realised that perhaps we ought to get up…but it felt so right sitting in Jasper's lap and I was reluctant for it to end.

The rest of the school however, felt differently. I only now heard the crying and shouting as faces appeared, peering over and around the van and surrounding cars.

"Oh God! Bella. Jasper. Don't move. Help is coming" called out various voices.

Fuckin'bitchin'interferin'shittybuggerfreakin'arse-holes.

I tried to get up but Jasper just held me tighter.

"We may as well wait because their gonna send help whether we want it or not" he said laconically.

Fair enough. There are worse places to be and if Jasper insists…

Hmm! Maybe a chance for a little teasing?

"So, you got over here pretty quickly. You were way over there by your car with your family".

"No I wasn't. I was walking over here when Tyler's van started to skid…"

Oh. It must have been Tyler Crowley's van that almost made mince-meat of me. Jerk.

"…I saw it heading close to you so I moved closer and was lucky enough to be able to pull you clear" he finished a little nervously.

I could hear Tyler responding to the people helping him so he was obviously not to badly hurt. Now if they could just hold off "rescuing" us for a while, that would be just peachy…

I really was incredibly comfortable in Jasper's lap. He must be at least 6ft 2" because my 5ft 3" frame fit into his perfectly. Like I had been designed specifically with him in mind…and him me.

Flirting and teasing with him was merely a pleasant bonus.

"Yeah, but I thought it slid around and was about to crush my legs?" I asked him wide-eyed.

"No. Not at all! I err, you, had your face turned away. The van hit the corner of your truck and that's what stopped it. Plus you hit your head, erm pretty hard…it must have been confusing to you." he trailed off but kept eye contact.

"My head doesn't feel to bad considering, but I guess I must have it a little wrong because you would have to be like…super-fuckin'-man or something to have got to me so quickly from way over there and then to have stopped the van with your bare hands…well, I guess that's not humanly possible". Oh I sound sooooo fuckin' innocent I amaze myself.

He was saved from responding to that as the vehicles were moved and our 'rescuers' arrived…paramedics, students and Jasper's stunned family. Well, everyone but Alice looked stunned. She looked part annoyed and part like she wanted to cry and I doubt it was over the concern for the health of her family member.

Well sometimes the even best laid plans end up arse-about-face. With the look she had when it was all going to hell in a hand basket, I don't know what she thought was gonna happen but I'm betting that it didn't end with me sitting in Jasper's lap.

Deal and get over it puny-pire!

Tyler had already been carted off to the hospital by the time it was established that, Jasper and I were neither dying nor dead but, for some unknown reason, I needed to be ensconced in a neck brace and strapped to a stretcher. Obviously lil' ole girly me was incapable of helping myself as apposed to heap big strong man…grunt me a tune much!

Yeah, I know the van would have sustained more damage than Jasper if it had actually hit him, but they didn't know that and it just pisses me right the fuck off.

I saw Rosalie and Emmett on the edge of a group of gawkers. Rosalie looked pissed; standing stiff with her arms crossed and tapping her toe; hard…I think the fucker was gonna fly off! Emmett seemed to be trying to calm her down…albeit oddly… by patting her butt whilst looking knowingly at Jasper…these guys need a fuckin' dictionary to define "low-profile"

"Jasper?" The paramedic turned to him "You seem fine but do you want to come and let you father check you out as well? You can ride up front"

Edward and Alice were nearer to us with their heads close together, whispering and glancing over. Edward was looking at Alice in confusion, Alice returning the looks with exasperation and finally both of them looking at the paramedic with annoyance. I guess they all want to have a talk with Jasper then.

I really, really couldn't help myself.

I held the back of my hand to my forehead and let out a little whimper, hopefully looking all woeful and pathetic.

I'm good…but Marlene Dietrich I'm not.

Everyone turned to me.

Don't blush. Don't blush. Don't you fuckin' dare blush?

"Would it be alright if I rode in the back with Bella? I think it would make her feel a little more comfortable to have a familiar face if she's hurting".

I guess being a little helpless on occasion does have its benefits. If his family's reactions were bothering him; he didn't show it and he didn't seem particularly eager to talk to them.

Can't think why, I mentally sniggered.

"Sure. No problem Jasper. C'mon lets get you guys to your father." he said starting to load me in.

Jasper followed him and as he sat down his eyes met mine. The smirk he had and the shine in his eyes let me know he wasn't buying my little "helpless" act at all.

Stupid, fuckin' empathic vampires.

And then I blushed.

We didn't talk on the five minute journey to the hospital, partly because Mark the medic wouldn't stop fussing over me like I was "delicate" and partly because I, for once, had no idea what to say after being busted on my performance.

It didn't stop us from glancing at each other; or Jasper's mirth at my annoyed state over Mark's attentiveness that was my own fuckin' fault.

We arrived.

Jasper left to find his father under his own steam, while I got shoved into a curtained cubicle and was left alone.

Within minutes Charlie arrived in a flurry of panic, worry and some serious apprehension. He calmed considerably once he realised that 1. I was okay and 2. It wasn't my "behavior" that had been the cause of the accident.

I guess I kinda deserved the second, but at least he had his priorities straight.

Re-assured, he left me to go check on how Tyler was doing and, if he was okay…to "tell" him exactly what he thought about his only daughter nearly being "graffiti" herself all over the parking lot.

"Knock, knock." came a calm voice as the curtain was swept aside and another gorgeous blonde walked in wearing a lab coat.

Sheesh! Between Jasper, Rosalie and Dr. Cullen I am so glad I'm secure in myself…and that I'm a brunette.

"I hear you have had quite a morning". His smile was comforting and professional enough, but there was curiosity and a hint of…wistfulness? Too.

"I'm fine Doc, a bump to the head that's all. I've had worse".

I had been extremely intrigued about Carlisle Cullen, patriarch of the family, when I first heard about him. I couldn't reconcile the good vampire I knew of through his history, with the man who would unquestionably follow bad decisions from certain members of his family. I was still none the wiser, even after watching him closely whilst he gave me a mini-medical and pronounced me fit as a fiddle, barring the bump.

Charlie appeared again, this time with Jasper in tow. Jasper looked rather embarrassed and my suspicions to why were confirmed when Charlie started gushing about "Jasper saving me" and "must be so proud" to the Doc…just fuckin' shoot me now.

"I'm good to go dad!" I quickly interrupted, not really wanting to leave Jasper, but really wanting to put a gag in Charlie.

Charlie turned in time to catch me give Jasper an apologetic grin and this made him tense up. Indecision was written all over his face as several thoughts seem to pop in and out. Finally, he seem to come to a decision about something because resolve sat solidly there now.

"Bella, could you just give me a moment please? Go on out and wait by the car for me, I shan't be long" he then turned to Doc "Do you have a minute Carlisle? A quick word in private?"

I thanked the Doc and happily started to leave the fuckin' ER.

Yep. I've just been diss-fuckin'-missed like I as 10 years old, but strangely enough I didn't mind. In fact I am positively brimming with inner happiness.

I was hype-aware that Jasper had followed me, but he said nothing until we were out of ear-shot of our dads.

Well at least Charlie's.

"What's got you suddenly so happy there, Miss Swan?"

"Just glad to be alive you know, Mr Hale" I lied.

We walked through the throng of students that had congregated in the waiting room. Maybe it was the combination of Jasper-gorgeous, broody, mysterious-Hale and Bella-don't fuck with me-Swan; they parted before us saying nothing despite their obvious curiosity. Jasper placed his hand on my lower back to guide me though to the main entrance.

Did I need it? No. Did I mind? Hell no.

"So the prognosis was good then? No possible relapse of "overactin'itis" in your future?"

"Nobody likes a smart-arse! Though, I can't say that a relapse won't ever happen again; it depends on the situation sometimes" I laughed "Besides, I did you a favour."

"How do you figure that darlin'? I believe I was the one that saved your pretty little ass back there"

He's at it again with the "darlin'"

"True, but I believe giving you an excuse to avoid your family's clutches saved your handsome ass right back."

His answering smile sent a strange sensation south of my stomach. I needed to finish this right now before I do something incredibly stupid; like lock lips with him and rip off his shirt!

"Did I actually thank you for saving my life" I asked coyly.

"No" he answered with that same smile.

"Well. Remind me to do that someday"

I walked away leaving Jasper to return to his father while I went and waited for mine.

"You decent Bells, can I come in?" Charlie asked through the closed door.

"Sure."

I was in my sweats, snuggled in bed and felt just fine.

Charlie came in and handed me a cup of steaming coffee.

"Here you go, careful it's hot."

"Mmm... hmm..." was my eloquent reply as I inhaled the brew.

Delicious.

"So, we need to have a talk." here he stumbled a little "I want you to…No! You are going to; spend time with Dr Cullen, his wife Esme and their children."

He paused, waiting expectantly for a response from me.

When none came he continued.

"You definitely know Jasper and I believe you know the others too from school. I think it would do you good to make friends with them, hang out with them after school and not be on your own so much."

"So you want me to be supervised? C'mon dad, I'm nearly eighteen for fu…Christ's sake. I'm a big girl now and I don't need to be babysat".

There! That was firm enough.

"It's not about being babysat Bells. I think part of the…problem…you've had settling in is you haven't made any friends. The Cullen's are good kids and Carlisle and Esme are good people…"

I disguise my laugh with a cough.

It's The Brady fuckin' Bunch…with fangs! Metaphorically speaking.

"Carlisle has agreed you can go to their house for a few days in the week and on the weekends; I'll put off my fishing so we can spend more time together."

He said the last in a rush and I knew that though he had my best interests at heart, he would miss his fishing.

It really was the only hobby the man had.

Ouch! Bad, bad Bella.

"Aww... dad! Do I have too?" I'm down to pleading.

"Yes Isabella, you do" Ooops. Full name, not good. "Its either this or you're going back to Renee". That was a low blow and he knows it, so I guess he really means it.

"Fine" I huff. "Whatever…I have a headache dad, g'night."

He went to the door with a "Night Bells" before he shut it.

And the Oscar goes to…

A/N

My story hit over 200 reviews and I am abso-fuckin'-lutely stoked about it! I have the most fuckfantastic reviewers and I love to hear from everyone of you. And that's why I thanked you all by posting an extra chapter…now you all need to review it & tell me what you think of it. Lol *blows the sloppiest of kisses*

Oh, yeah! It fuckin' snowed…again!