~Indention Of The Heart~
ThatPanicGirlE

Chapter 7

A/N: I first need to sincerely apologize to my readers. I've had one crisis after another in posting this chapter. First my laptop cord went kaput and then my laptop died all together. I finally bit the bullet and just wrote it out at work today. All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I just hope Bella likes strawberry ice cream.


JasperPOV

The worst part about letting Bella go this afternoon in her classroom had to be the mere thought of her facing that asshole Edward Cullen. I knew that it was the one thing she feared more than anything else and I was scared to death that he had said something or done something to upset her. He was a sneaky little bastard and I knew that the meeting was going to be some sort or way to keep her under his wraps.

I paced back and forth for hours waiting on a single phone call from her to let me know that she was okay and that we would be fine. As the hours dragged on my heart began to sink and I started fearing the worst. I glanced at the clock on my mantle and realized that it was already after eight at night. I grabbed the keys off my coffee table and headed straight for my jeep. I tried calling at least fifteen times on the way to her house and never got a single answer. I pulled into the drive of the swan residence and noticed that her light in her bedroom was on but that Charlie was nowhere to be found.

I stood at the front door knocking for what seemed like an eternity and when she never came to the door I went into instant panic mode. I saw this huge tree that stood in front of the house leading up to the window and decided that if I had to go to jail for breaking and entering to see if she was okay, then it would be worth it. I slowly climbed the massive trunk of the tree until I got to the branch that led to her window. She was standing at this bulletin board on her wall just staring at something. I could tell she had been crying as her tear streaked face turned to the window. She gasped at the sight of me and flew the window open.

"Jasper Whitlock, what the hell are you doing in my tree like some fucking peeping tom? Get in here before my dad sees you."

She reached for my hand and led me into her bedroom. I felt like a high school kid visiting his crush and I smiled as she took me in her arms. She hugged me so tight that I could barely breathe.

"I was worried sick about you Bella," I said into her hair.

"I'm fine, it was just a rough meeting. I think Edward is trying to win me back or something."

I took a step back admiring the beauty that stood before me. Edward would try to win her back. He would do it merely out of spite for not having her anymore. He wouldn't do it for the right reasons, like I would. I would do it because I loved her, and had for my entire adult life.

I stood staring at her beautiful brown eyes and they were so distraught. It pained me to see her in so much agony and I wanted nothing more than to take it all away for her. I loved her, I had to show her how much or I would never ever get my chance again. I took her hand and sat down on the bed. She took a seat next to me and put her head on my chest.

"So what did he try to do?" I asked.

She laid out every detail about the scholarship and then ring. I asked her why she didn't take it and sell the ring. She could use the money for something good, like a new truck or at least a place of her own.

"Jasper, I don't think you understand. I don't want any sort of help from him. Taking the ring and selling it would be just like him handing me over the money himself. I don't want any part of him anymore. I want to move on with my life."

She began shedding more tears and I was tired of seeing her waste so much emotion and tears over him.

I lifted her chin and kissed her tears away. She should never feel like this anymore. It wasn't right. I wasn't going to allow it.

Her lips met mine in a small chaste kiss that signaled that she was glad I was there for her again. I pulled away before I could let myself get carried away. I wanted this to blossom the right way and I didn't want to pressure her into something more than she could handle right now.

I held her against me until the both of us couldn't sit like that anymore. She yawned.

"Jasper, I think I need to go to bed. It has been a really long day."

I kissed her again on the cheek and she stood up from the bed. I followed behind her and she eased herself under he covers. I got down on my knees beside her and brushed the hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.

"Do you want me to stay until you go to sleep?" I asked her.

"You can if you'd like," she said as she smiled back and then let out another yawn. I grabbed her hand and held it until she drifted off to sleep. I slowly let her hand go and she rolled over sleeping peacefully. I slowly opened her window and slid out, climbing down the tree as carefully as I could. I headed home with the sight of my girl peacefully sleeping in my head.

I needed to help her get through this problem one way or another.

______________

The next morning I awoke to the sun pouring in through my open blinds. I sat up on the couch and brushed my curls away from my face. I fell asleep on my couch again last night not wanting to sleep alone. My bed always feels so alone when the woman I love is not there to share it with me.

I had to start on more renovations at Emmett and Rosalie's house today. I wasn't looking forward to dealing with her snide comments or remarks but at least it would take away from my thoughts of what I could do to Edward Cullen the next time he hurt my Bella.

I got dressed into my work jeans and boots and headed down to Emmett's. He was taking the day off from work to help me with some of the tough parts of putting up drywall. Rosalie spent her day on the couch reading magazines and watching TV. Emmett was being as careful as possible with her during her pregnancy and I loved watching him take care of her. Granted, Rosalie and I didn't get along, but you could tell that she loved her husband, and was very protective over the people she cared about. I could admire her for that.

After about four hours of tacking up drywall, we needed a break and I went downstairs to the living room. Rosalie had old boxes out and was pouring over photographs. She was smiling and laughing to herself and I couldn't help but be curious as to what she was looking at. She looked up from the couch and saw me staring at her.

"It's rude to stare," she said to me as she flipped through more books.

"I didn't mean to stare on purpose you know. I was just curious as to what was so funny."

She patted the couch next to her and she let me peek into to the album she held in her lap. There were old pictures of us from high school. We looked so young and so ambitious then.

"I remember the day you came to Forks," Rosalie said. "You and Emmett were inseperable and it felt great for him to have such a great friend."

I was in shock. Rosalie actually had something nice to say to me.

"Well, thanks, I think?" I said as I cocked my eyebrow up.

"I mean that Jasper. You have done a lot for us. I feel bad that I gave you such a hard time the past couple of weeks. You have to accept my apology. I don't do it very much."

Her eyes began to well with tears. Great, she was having a pregnancy emotional break down.

"Hey, hey no crying. What's wrong?" I asked.

"Jasper, have you ever had a secret, one that wasn't yours to tell and no matter how much you wanted to say something, you were sworn completely under the oath of friendship?"

I looked at her confused. "Sure I have, it's hard to do but sometimes its best to keep the secret, especially for friends."

She smiled at me. "You really like Bella, don't you?"

"Of course I do. Rose, I've been in love with her since the day I first saw her in high school. I couldn't believe she was with Cullen and after the way he treated her I knew I could do better. I never said anything though."

"Oh so now you're sharing a secret with me?" she said cocking her eyebrow that time.

"I guess in a way I am. She doesn't know though. She's never mentioned to me that she knew. I guess my attempts in high school were in vain. It doesn't matter now though, she's warming up to me. I just wish I could get Edward off her back. It's not fair how he treats her."

She smiled, "Edward does love her you know. He had his own weird way of showing it. He came to me the night after she told him she wanted the divorce in tears. I'd never seen him cry, ever and that night he did. He told me that he didn't want to let her go but that if she wanted him away from her, he could let her go if it made her happy."

That shocked me. Edward actually felt emotion and then I instantly became worried that maybe underneath it all he did care for her and would fight for Bella. My heart sank into my feet at the revelation that I had more intense competition than I realized.

"Jasper, Bella likes you. I can see it in the way she opens up to you and it is actually a relief that you treat her so well. Edward only knew how to shower her with materialistic things to show his affection. You give her something more than that. I'm not saying I give you my blessing because it's not mine to give, but more of agreeing that you need to be with her. She needs support right now, not gifts."

I hugged Rosalie. I couldn't believe she was being so nice to me.

I pulled away and said, "Why are you being so nice?"

"Don't worry, it won't last long. My hormones are way out of wack. I'll go back to screaming at you soon enough."

"Good, you being nice makes me very uncomfortable."

Rosalie laughed and went back to her pictures.

The day pressed on and before I knew it, it was five in the afternoon. I bid Emmett a good afternoon. We were far from done but the majority of the baby's room was complete. I wanted to have that one at least a hundred percent before the little one arrived.

I drove down the winding road into Forks and saw Bella walking into the local grocery store. She was dressed down in what appeared to be Pjs. Only Bella could make flannel plaid pajamas so appealing.

I pulled my Jeep into the parking lot and hesitated on getting out. What if she went into freak out mode that I was beginning to stalk her? I'd already climbed through her window to check on her and now I'm following her into the grocery store.

I walked through the doors of the small grocery store and gazed over the aisles looking for signs of Bella. I couldn't find her towards the front of the store and made my way to the frozen food section. There she stood in grey and blue flannel PJ bottoms and a white T-shirt. The silly girl wore a bra that exposed exactly how cold it was in here. She chewed on her bottom lip staring over the selections of ice cream before her.

She reached in and hesitated and pulled back again. She was being so indecisive. I slowly walked up to her and she didn't even notice as I stood behind her.

"I've always been partial to strawberry," I whispered behind her.

She gasped and then turned around.

"Jasper, what the hell are you doing? Are you following me?"

I quickly felt awful. I knew she would think I was following her.

"Actually, I saw you walk in as I drove by. I was going to call you later but figured I would stop it to say hi instead. I hope you don't mind."

She blushed, "It's just, look at me, I'm in my PJs."

I smiled at her, "And you look lovely."

"Well I call these my "see everybody you want to run into" grocery store clothes. It never fails that I run into everyone when I'm in my PJs. Not that I mind."

She was getting playful with me and I loved seeing her become so comfortable around me.

"Are you cold?" I asked.

She blushed as she looked down. "Ah, fuck. Remind me to not wear this in here again."

I took off my flannel over shirt and handed it to her. It swallowed her but I could see it made her more comfortable.

I walked with her down each aisle as we talked about food and her cooking abilities. She promised to make me a meal really soon and I couldn't wait. We stood at the shelf of water and she tried so hard to reach for a bottle of Evian from the top shelf. Her short arms and frame couldn't reach it and I took it with great ease.

"I need to keep you with me when I'm in here. I would have struggled till I finally climbed the shelves to get to this."

I smiled, "Bella, I want you to keep me with you even when you aren't in here."

Her face fell a little. I must have crossed a line.

"Did I say something wrong," I asked.

"It's just that, Jasper, I feel like I'm relying on you entirely too much to clean up my messes and take care of me. I feel like I've done absolutely nothing in return for you."

"Bella, you do enough for me. You have kept me so happy the past couple of weeks. I don't think you even realize how much I appreciate everything you do. You've helped me get past my hurt and pain so far and it keeps getting better with each passing day. All I need is for you to understand that I don't mind being here for you. I enjoy making you feel better. It makes me happy to see you happy."

"I promised to cook you dinner. How about you come over around seven tonight. I'll make my special pork loin and we'll talk more over dinner. Charlie is off with Billy and Harry tonight and I have the house to myself," Bell said.

"I would love to. Do I need to bring anything?"

"Yes, just your smile. It helps me feel better."

With that last comment she turned and walked away, still adorned in my flannel shirt. I could get it back from her later.

I drove home in the best mood of my life. I had to hurry up and dress fast. I lived almost forty-five minutes from her house and as soon I got in my door I hastily took a shower, dressed in a nice white button down shirt, dark pants and dress boots. I tucked my freshly washed and dried curls behind my ears and after I was shaved and ready to go, I made my way back to Forks.

The drive was nerve wracking. I couldn't believe I felt this way and I wanted to shower her with as much affection as possible in the little bit of time I got to spend with her. I pulled into the drive of the Swan residence and I saw all the lights in the kitchen on.

I stepped out of the truck quickly realizing that I was a douche bag for not bringing flowers to my girl. I hope she forgave me for that.

I stood at the door waiting on Bella to answer and when she did, she took my breath away.

She was wearing the sexiest pair of black high-heeled shoes I had ever seen. They were adorned in silver bead like things on the top and it made her legs look long and slender. She wore a short black skirt and a beautiful green and blue top. He hair was pulled down in curls around her shoulders and she was wearing a "Kiss the cook" apron.

"Glad you could make it," she said as she led me into the house.


A/N: You'll have to excuse me for making this a cliff hanger but there is about to be a TON of emotional stuff coming out next chapter. Bella is going to open up hugely to Jasper and he will too. I have to say huge thanks to the people who encouraged me to write even though I felt like my lifeline had been destroyed. Huge thanks to JennyP for whom is the best friend a girl could ever have. She was even considering surrogate writing for me. Huge thank you to Kennedymommy for the awesome fan she is. Cereleuanblue for being a kick ass beta and to someone new in my life that has taught me that it is ok to move on, Michael S. You are the awesome for everything you do for me.

Chapter 8 to follow soon. Hopefully by the weekend if I can piece my poor laptop back together. Thanks for your patience.