"I just hoped Jasper could control himself completely, her blood had smelled so good to him."

(A/n Okay guys, it's the big conversation scene soon. I was pretty nervous about screwing this part up, but I think I got a good balance beween Bella's two main opposing feelings- lust and terror. R&R people :D)

BPOV

I walked into Trig feeling confused and mentally exhausted. It was obvious the Cullens were vampires- that much I knew for certain. But why had they chosen to be vegetarians? If I hadn't overheard Mark and Sarah's conversation I would've swore blind it wasn't even possible.

I collapsed into my seat next to Angela and smiled tiredly at her.

"Hey Bella. You look worn out."

I put my head on my arms and groaned.

"I feel worn out. Probably from going through twenty questions with Jessica at lunch."

She laughed.

"Yeah she can be like that sometimes don't worry about it. Soon enough something else will capture her attention."

I hoped so; she was beginning to get on my nerves with her endless prattling.

I wondered if the Cullens lived in town. What did they hunt- deer? Surely, someone would notice if the deer population was suddenly decimated. I shook my head. It was all too fantastical to consider, it felt like my brain was about to explode.

Unbidden, an image of Jasper rose up in my head. Beautiful but untouchable. I tried to shake it off, but I was only human after all. I wondered how many humans Jasper had drained before he'd turned to the veggie life and shuddered.

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

"Angela, Jessica never mentioned the Cullens parents."

"Oh yeah." She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Their dad Dr Cullen works at the hospital. I met him last year when I sprained my ankle."

Interested now I lifted my head up off the desk.

"What's he like?"

"Gorgeous of course, though much too old for me." She sighed and I laughed.

So their "dad" was a vampire too? But then how did he work at the hospital, with all that blood?

"And their mom, Mrs Cullen, apparently she can't have children." Angela looked like she truly felt sorry for her.

"So that's why they adopted the kids?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah I guess so. She's beautiful too, of course."

"Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less."

She laughed.

"That family has got a seriously good gene pool going on. No wonder they all turned out like models."

Before I could indulge my curiosity further class started. I stumbled my way through the questions I was asked, my mind on something else entirely.

Trig was never my favourite subject at the best of times, but today I couldn't help watching the clock. I needed to get back to my hotel room and sort my head out. Everything I'd learned today was spinning round and round inside it and it was giving me a headache.

I snatched up my books as soon as the bell rang and practically sprinted to the door.

I stopped in the doorway and gave Angela a cheery wave, not wanting to be rude.

Unfortunately, I was stopped before I was even half way down the corridor by Mike suddenly appearing from nowhere.

"Hi Bella." He smiled at me.

"Hi Mike." I tried to speed up but he simply matched his pace to mine.

"So erm we were wondering if you wanted to come to La Push beach this weekend? The weather is going to be nice."

I screeched to a halt, letting Mike carry on a few steps. He walked back towards me.

"We?"

"Yeah." He looked a little sheepish. "All the gang are going, some of us surf you know?"

"Oh." I considered the pros and cons of this trip. It'd be nice getting to know everybody better and see a little more of Forks, but I didn't really want to endure any more of Jessica's incessant questioning.

I shrugged.

"Yeah what the hell, why not?"

Mike smiled at me and looked a little too enthusiastic for my liking.

"Great! So erm where you going tonight?"

I gave him a strange look. Where did he think I was going?

"Back home to crash out, I'm beat."

Hoping he'd get the hint I yawned daintily. Unfortunately he was either too thick or simply didn't care because he continued to follow me and engage in random conversation.

By the time I reached the lot everyone had already cleared out and gone home. Mike waved at me as he drove past and I resisted the urge to give him the finger.

At least until he'd driven round the corner anyway.

Feeling a little better, I rummaged in my pocket for my keys. As I tilted my body to fit my hand in my jeans pocket, they promptly fell out of my hoodie- straight into a muddy puddle.

I groaned.

"Oh great, just what I need." I looked up to the sky with a sarcastic smile. "Nice to know you're looking down on me big guy. Thanks a bunch."

As I reached down to gingerly fish them out, the back of my neck prickled. I stood up immediately and spun round, only to find the very face that had been haunting my thoughts all afternoon.

Jasper Cullen. What a way to top off the day, I thought sarcastically, convincing myself that I wasn't the least bit excited to see him.

I was struck again by his beauty and the urge to touch his icy skin. This would not be a good idea for either of us.

"Hi."

With the pleasantries over with I turned round and bent to my keys again. All I wanted to do was go back to my room. Was that too much to ask?

Apparently, it was because the next thing I knew Jasper's hand appeared in my vision and snatched my keys up.

"Hey!"

I straightened and put my hands on my hips, trying to brazen out my terror. I was stood in an abandoned car lot with a vampire. Even if he was vegetarian, it still scared the living crap out of me.

Jasper smiled at me and I felt every nerve in my body tingle. Terror, that's what that was.

Yeah you keep telling yourself that. A little voice sniggered in the back of my head.

I'd never seen him smile before and I couldn't help but smile back.

I'm smiling. At a vampire. In an empty car lot. Okay, I was officially insane.

I held my hand out.

"Can I have those back? I really need to get home."

He shook his head and I frowned.

"I need to talk to you Bella."

If I wasn't so terrified I was pretty sure I would've melted into a puddle right there on the tarmac. I'd forgotten how gorgeous his voice was. It sounded like honey and whiskey with a gravelly undertone. No, no lusty thoughts allowed Bella, he's am empath doofus.

I struggled to form a rational sentence.

"Well you can talk to me tomorrow can't you? So, my keys?"

I bobbled my head at him and stood there with my arm outstretched like an idiot. I must have looked like a human teapot.

He shook his head again and dropped them into his shirt pocket.

My stomach twisted as my attention was drawn, against my will I might add, to his perfect chest. The shirt only slightly outlined it and I felt annoyed. Stupid piece of cotton. Didn't it have anything better to do than hang around spoiling my view?

I gave myself a mental slap. Concentrate girl.

"Sorry darlin', we really need to talk."

Now he was just messing with my hormones on purpose. That little endearment, spoken in his soft Southern accent, made me want to do nothing more than jump on him.

Not a good idea Bella. Just get your damn keys back and get out of here before you do something you'll regret.

Vampire, vampire, vampire. Remember that. He wants to suck your blood, not your face.

"Well make it quick then, I want my keys back."

I was surprised that my voice came out normal as my throat felt tight. I couldn't help but be mesmerised by his beautiful amber eyes. I felt like they were staring through to my soul.

"If I'm wrong Bella then this won't make any sense to you."

Probably wouldn't make any sense anyway, my brain appeared to have short-circuited from lust and terror overload.

I still couldn't tear my gaze away from his.

"What do you know about us? My family?"

My heart damn near jumped out of my chest. I was pretty sure it must have cracked a couple of ribs down there.

"Your… family?"

My voice sounded croaky and I cleared my throat.

"Do you know what we are Bella?"

Ah the millon dollar question, although I wasn't sure how to answer. Would it be better to pretend innocence? Would he have to dispatch me if I admitted I knew his family were vampires? Is that why he'd waited for me after school, had he been sent to kill me?

My terror escalated to a level I hadn't felt since I'd left Mark and Sarah. Only this time I felt waves of calm wash over me, and my mouth seemed to move of its own accord.

"Yes Jasper I know what you are. You're a…"

I hesitated before taking a leap of faith.

"You're a vampire."

(Does this count as a cliffy? Haha :D)