I stayed rooted to my spot, leaning against the doorway, watching my friends laughing and joking with Jasper. I watched him as his eyes glistened in genuine humour and enjoyment, even though there was still a little tightness in his shoulder muscles which showed he was still a little uncomfortable, other than that though he seemed happy, it was definitely something I'd like to see more of. Just then Emmett said something I didn't catch but everyone was laughing and Jasper threw his head back whilst he did, I hadn't until now noticed the goofy grin that was plastered on my own face as I looked on, happy that he was happy. I had hoped that my friends would help him come out of his shell a little more, just like they did for me, and it turned out that I was luckier than I thought, because I was feeling pure delight in his. Just then, as if sensing me, he looked over and the slight tension eased, I took that as my cue to walk over and took the seat beside him, like before, he took my hand in his and that little tingle of electricity managed to comfort me.
It helped me forget all the bad things; Jay and Justine, Edward, Phil, the worry of going back to school, all of it just seemed no longer important. I was able to concentrate on only the good, and that helped me to make my mind up, I would no longer dwell on the past that was going to be affecting my future, I would just live for the now, because tomorrow may never come and even if it did, I would have people there who cared. The people who were in this house with me.
Emmett, Peter and Jasper had gone to the shop with my mom to get more booze for tonight, leaving us girls to discuss what our plan was for tonight.
"Okay, so Phil and the terrible twosome are going to be here, what normally happens when they stay?" Char was actually really amazing at planning things out, personally I think that had more to do with the time her and Peter had spent in the Army Cadet's, even if they did spend most of the time there making googly eyes at each other instead of concentrating on their training.
"Well, they rarely do stay and when they do it's when I've said that I'm staying with you guys. Mom tells me that the kids slept in the spare room –Jaspers room –but I know that Tanya stayed in mine, little things would have been moved around, you know? So I decided to get locks on the doors, mom never had a key for mine but did have one for Jaspers so I swiped it earlier on, I'll give it to him in a bit, that way we don't have to worry about the pair of them snooping." The girls looked at me impressed and I tried not to let them see that it bothered me how they thought I wouldn't be smart enough to do something like that.
"Well my mom and dad are in London this weekend; my room is, like always, filled with booze so if anything kicks off we can go there." Rose's parents were rarely home, they would spend a lot of time away on business and then go off for alone time too, so she pretty much spent most the time living on her own, or with Emmett and his family.
"Then it's settled. I'll tell Jasper to get a bag with some spare clothes ready, just in case and I'll do the same. Now I need a favour." I turned to them both with my puppy dog eyes at the ready, and both rolled theirs in return.
"What do you want?" Char never had been the type to beat around the bush.
"Could you possibly go into town and grab me a phone for me to get for Jasper as a 'welcome to the family' present?" A lot of whining ensued but in they end they agreed and left to catch the bus. So whilst I waited for everyone to get back I quickly did a spot of cleaning.
"Now I know something's up. You only clean when you're angry." A deep, booming voice caused me to drop the mop I had and then slip on the wet floor straight onto my ass, two days in a row, now that was sure to leave a mark. Looking up I could see Emmett laughing his ass off with three plastic carrier bags in his hands. Peter was the same and though I could see the amusement in Jaspers eyes he didn't laugh. Instead he placed his bags down and came over, offering me a hand up. Once I was back on my feet, we were standing chest to chest, looking into each others eyes and I desperately wanted him to lean down a little and close the gap between our lips. Alas, my mother had other ideas.
"Bella? Can you help me get my boots off?" I closed my eyes against the annoyance and felt Jasper chuckle before backing away, the guys were stood, silent, staring at the spot we had been standing together with confusion written in every feature of their faces.
I hadn't left my room for an hour now, not only was I still a little embarrassed about the whole thing between Jasper and I but I had also wrapped up his new phone, it was nothing special mind you, a simple Samsung but it would do the job, and it was all I could afford. Then for the best part of the hour I had been getting ready, I always made sure I looked my best whenever people were coming around, especially if one of the someone's were Tanya. She really needed to sort out her fashion sense, and since she copied almost everything I did, I hoped that my sense of style may rub off on her. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love my sweatpants, sneakers and plain t-shirts, but not when I was going out, they were to slouch around in, nothing more. She would go out for a meal in them, go to the movies in them, and go on a date in them. It was ridiculous, and so I made sure to look especially nice when she was coming around. Finally I added a final touch of lip gloss and was ready. I wore simple dark blue jeans with a black off the shoulder top saying "Live fast! Die young!" It was true as could be with my life, I planned to live everyday as if it were my last because tomorrow I could be hit by an ugly, big, stupid, yellow, double decker bus. I sure am one for the classics.
Eventually I found myself back downstairs, and downed a whiskey shot as the gang looked at me.
"Girl talk needed." Rose and Charlotte both stood up ready to drag me away; the doorbell rang, thank goodness for that, saved by the bell, literally. The girls just rolled there eyes as I ran to get it, it was my uncle Bobz and his girlfriend, my friend, Siobhan. A very girlish squeal exited my lips as I threw myself at them, both laughed but hugged me back.
"Where are the kids?" My little step cousins Kasey and Lucas were amazing, behaved brilliantly and loved me like I really was related. I guess to them we were, after all they did call Bobz 'daddy' cant get much more related than that.
"Your granddad is picking them up from their nans, they stayed there last night so he offered to grab them and drop them here when he came." Siobhan attached herself to my hip as we walked through into the kitchen. When I got back in there Jasper had disappeared and I tried not to look bothered by it but unfortunately Rose was watching me very closely thankfully she only said one word.
"Bathroom." I nodded and smiled.
"I'm sure Jasper will be along in a minute." Bobz just smiled and headed over to the beers unlike Siobhan who grabbed two as she dragged me out into the back garden, the girls following.
"So what's Jasper like?" Before I could answer, Rose did.
"Do you remember how we used to say that Bella would probably fall for a cowboy…? She trailed off as Char started giggling and Siobhan realised what they were tryna say.
"No F-in way!" I groaned and downed half the bottle of beer.
"It's not like that!" Rose was laughing so hard she snorted before saying something that made me turn bright red.
"Oh really? You two looked pretty cosy outside this morning. Yanno faces quite close together and all. So much so that you never even heard my obnoxiously loud boyfriend come in?" Ground swallow me whole, please!
"Whatever." Oh yeah frickin 5 star comeback dumbass. I just stood and walked back inside as the others continued to laugh. Jasper was back now and looking uncomfortable even though the guys were trying there best so I headed over and stood beside him. He seemed to get calmer right in front of me and my mom, who was watching from across the room, seemed to notice too.
"Having a good time cowboy?" I whispered in Jasper's ear and heard him snicker before he turned to me.
"Your friends are great haven't really had chance to speak to your family much though." I smiled, excused us from Peter and Emmett's conversation and walked Jasper over to Bobz who was rummaging in the box for some beer.
"Yo, Bobzarelli, Get your fat face outta my booze box." He playfully glared at me before pulling out a bottle of Budweiser and shouting;
"Ah ha. Found ya! And you shut it twerp, I bought you enough booze in the past to alow me to steal yours." He winked at the end before turning to Jasper. "How ya doin' mate? I know our lot are a lil mad but you'll learn to love us. Especially our baby Bell here, she's just so adorable." He grabbed me in a headlock before giving me a noogie for which he received a punch in the gut causing him to loose his grip. Jasper just laughed at our playful banter and scuffle.
"She's been great, quite a country girl at heart en't she?" I stuck my tongue out. I have my own style and he en't seen me when I'm in a real country mood yet. Bobz laughed wholeheartedly.
"Trust me, son, you en't seen nothing yet. You guys have fun I'm gonna go light up the barbeque. Renee is damn useless at getting things done." Jazz and I both chuckled as Bobz sauntered off out back as the girls came in. Siobhan made her way over to us.
"I'm Siobhan, Bobz' girlfriend." Jasper shook her hand –I noticed that he didn't kiss it like he had mine and hid a grin –before introducing himself.
"Jasper Whitlock, ma'am." Siobhan giggled and winked at me. We spent a few minutes engaging in chit chat before Siobhan went out to Bobz and Jasper turned to me.
"So far, so good darlin' we might get outta this alive yet." He winked and we both cracked up laughing before joining the gang. Over time more people showed up and I carried on with introductions, I mingled a little but mainly stayed close to Jasper throughout the night.
