A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! Sorry about the wait, and some of you who reviewed were confused what was happening. It'll be cleared up more later on, I promise. But for those of you who didn't get it, Edward was hesitant to change Bella because he didn't know if he could stop so he practiced on a bear.

The rest will be explained later on, and now the long awaited chapter!

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Jasper....

Two Steps Back

Chapter Seven

"Bella?" I barely even recognized my own voice I thought, as I waited for her reply

JPOV

"Mm?" Came my slightly distracted reply. She was too busy examining my face. Wonder what it was giving away?

"I have to talk to you about something," I said nervously while averting my eyes to the floor that was much more interesting than it usually is. However, it was hard enough as it is, I don't need to look at her face fill with hatred towards me and make it all worse.

And it would fill with hatred, why shouldn't it?

"What is it, Jazzy?" She sat down next to me, scrutinizing my face. She actually sounded a bit worried for me. Her emotions proved me correct, they were confused and worried all at once.

I was suddenly at a loss of words-although I'm unsure whether it was due to her confusing emotions or the fact that this fragile human was worried about me of all people. I shook my head, "well...umm, it has to do with-with-" What happened to my thought out speech?

"Alice and Edward?" She asked with a small smile playing on her beautiful, full lips.

Stop it, Jasper, I scolded myself. I just nodded, did she know already?

Of course she did, I give away my own emotions too much sometimes. I can't bottle every single emotion in Forks inside of me forever. So she knew, right? Maybe I won't have to explain.

She spoke before I could say anything. "I know, I miss them too."

I shook my head again. "No, Bella. That isn't what I'm trying to tell you."

"Then what are you trying to say?" She bit her bottom lip, as she always does when she's nervous. I didn't need to know what she's feeling to know that much. Along with that there was nothing but confusion there, possibly a little frustration as well. I better savor the feeling now though because undoubtedly it'll soon turn into a lot of frustration.

Why am I even bothering? She just basically told me she doesn't feel the same way as I do.

What are you supposed to do when you're rejected without the person actually knowing that they've rejected you?

I don't intend to find out, that's for sure.

"What I'm trying to say is that-do you remember when Edward left?" I asked, trying to think of a way to put this as I was overwhelmed with abandonment and hurt. That may not have been the best thing to ask.

"Of course I do," she snapped, standing up and glaring at me. "I'm human, not mental."

"Bella-I didn't mean it like that at all." My words came out in a rush so I could keep her from leaving. "I was only going to say-"

"I don't care what you have to say! You got back months ago, and just now decided to bring it up? When I was starting to get over it?" She exclaimed as she turned to leave.

This conversation was not at all going how I'd intended. "No, Bella-"

She just shook her head and continued walking away from me faster than I've ever seen her move.

I was hit with a fresh wave of emotions, only this time the abandonment and hurt was not solely Bella's.


What just happened? I asked myself as I shrank back into the poor, weak furniture as I undoubtedly tore it. I was going to tell her how much I loved her and that it was me who helped her through everything. Me. Not that mongrel.

Of course, I wouldn't actually say it like that, she wouldn't take to the wording very well.

I was not going to remind her of her worst memory just for the sake of her getting hurt. That thought had never even crossed my mind, and now it's what actually played out.

And I certainly hadn't meant for her to cry. I'd never seen her cry apart from when Edward decided to do the "noble" thing and leave. Bella just didn't cry, she was too brave for her own good. Of course, not much else can be expected from a girl who hangs out with a bunch of vampires on a regular basis, I thought with a sad smile.

What I had expected was for her to hate me- she'd have every right and reason to. But, not because of this.

I never want her to be hurt, least of all because of me. I love her much too much for that, I hate seeing her like this. To make everything even worse I also get to feel it through her own feelings and hear her crying. I hate this, her emotions are making mine even worse. I guess I deserve that though, and never had I been more angry at myself for overhearing something that should be impossible to hear.

I took a deep, unnecessary breath. She needed to hear me say this. I wasn't about to give up without a fight. I had trained newborns and fought in wars, yet I was starting to chicken out when it came to telling the woman I loved how I felt.

I knew one thing for sure, though. I'd rather fight in a thousand more wars than go see her like this and have all that hatred directed towards me, literally.

A war would be the much less painful option there.

A/N: I'm sorry that was so short, I was going to add the confrontation from Bella's POV but I don't really have the time and felt like I needed to put something up since I haven't for quite a while.

Please review!! I want some feedback, no matter how bad it is. It helps me know what to improve upon, so flames are welcome.

If you want an update, then REVIEW!! I'm serious.

I'll make the next chapter extra long to make up for this, I promise.

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