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Vampires and Chocolate
Chapter Seven
Friends?

EMPOV

"Edward, man," I called to him, "Where's the fire?" He was running out of his classroom, down the language hall to the outdoor exit. As he passed me he shot me a desperate look, with coal black eyes and kept running.

Can a human actually run that fast? Well, one that's not an Olympic sprinter from somewhere in Jamaica anyways.

"Ed, what's wrong?" I called after him. He ignored me and I followed. I stopped outside the door, watching him run to the car and get inside. Jasper was next to me when Edward peeled out of the parking lot.

"Dude, what's with Eddie?" I asked Jasper.

"He's thirsty, very thirsty," Jasper responded.

"He shouldn't be, we just got back four days ago," I told him. "I know I'd be good for another week, though it's not preferable. Even so, I won't want to go at all for at least another day or two. Edward's always been…"

"I know," Jasper ran his hand through his hair. "It confused the hell out of me, first the attraction he had towards that girl, then the thirst. I wonder what set that off."

"Maybe the attraction did, doesn't it exaggerate your senses?" I asked.

"Yes, but have you felt that thirsty since you saw that blonde this morning?" He asked.

"No," I answered slowly. "Wait a minute, what do you mean?"

"The blonde, you're attracted to her," he said, simply.

"Yeah, well you saw her. Who wouldn't be?" I protested.

"Edward and I, for two. We were both distracted from her by another," Jasper answered as we started walking towards class.

"No, you both like the same chick?" I asked incredulously. This could get interesting at home.

"No, of course not! Didn't you see the little one?" He asked.

"Yeah, green eyes. She's kind of cute," I said, as Jasper headed towards his classroom.

He was watching her enter the room with the brunette.

"Kind of?" He asked. "I'll call Carlisle on lunch, see what happened,"

"Cool," I answered, heading towards my own class.


JPOV

I walked into the classroom after the two girls. It was a simple fact, by some twist of fate the three of us were attracted to the three of them. I knew where this would lead, though the other two would deny it. For totally different reasons too. Edward would cling desperately to his hermit like lifestyle. And Emmett would rage that he didn't get to have his fun dating a bunch of human girls. Ah, well it's best to leave well enough alone and let them figure it out on their own.

I went to the teacher, and of course she had to be one of the ones that make you introduce yourself. Didn't she get that no teenager out there wanted attention brought to themselves in this fashion, least of all one that was over a century old.

"My name is Jasper Cullen," and I'm really trying not to look at the green eyes burning into me right now, "My adoptive family and I just moved here from Alaska," I tried to project calmness rather than the nervous tension that had oddly settled into my gut, "I like to read," The teacher nodded and I gratefully escaped to the vacant pair of desks in the back row. If Edward hadn't decided to ditch to go hunt or whatever the hell he was doing, he'd be in this class with me. Thank God for small favors, I didn't know how long I would have been able to block him from my thoughts as I gazed at the back of the two girls a few rows up.

JPOV (Lunchtime)

"Yes, Jasper?" I heard Carlisle answer his phone.

"Carlisle, have you heard from Edward. He bolted out of here like a bat out of hell after first hour, and he was thirsty," I told him.

"Yes, he was here a little less than two hours ago, traded me cars and said he was off hunting polar bears and he'd be back soon,"

"Right, we were just worried. See you tonight," I replied, before hanging up.

I proceeded to the cafeteria, bought the food I wouldn't eat and sat at the empty table with Emmett.

"What's up?" He asked, poking at a cube of jello and watching it wiggle.

"He switched cars with Carlisle and went to hunt polar bears," I answered.

"Geeze, pretty damn thirsty then," Emmett said, guarding his expression from the prying eyes of the room.

"Yes, you think he really went to Alaska?" I asked him.

"Who knows? Edward is so predictable sometimes, but this," Emmett looked up at me from the jello.

"This isn't his nature, you're right," I answered.

"Shh! She's talking about him," Emmett nodded towards the table where the girls sat.

I listened as she talked about him, not gushing as most females do about us. She acted so matter of fact, then she said that after he sat down he was giving her a "death glare" and that she thought his eyes had turned from gold to black. Poor girl didn't know how right she was about the death glare, she was inches from death.

"You think Ed being thirsty has something to do with that girl?" Emmett asked.

"There is something, but I always thought it was some cover for someone loosing control…" I began.

"Like I did those couple times?" Emmett asked.

"Not sure, you were very young, Edward was supposed to be with you but he gets distracted," I answered.

"They did smell different, stronger and better…" Emmett began.

"I don't know, but here isn't really the place for that conversation," I answered. Last thing I needed was for him to be thirsty too and combined with mine it wouldn't be a good scene. The only thing that kept me under control earlier was the extreme confusion.

"Right, well time for class. What you got?" He asked.

"History," I wrinkled my nose. Yet another teacher to get it all wrong.

"Well, I'm off to auto shop," he answered as he got up to leave.

History was another class I would have shared with Edward, I went in and introduced myself to the teacher who told me they had no assigned seats and didn't do introductions (thank God). Just as I was heading towards the desks, Edward's girl walked in. He'd kill me if he knew I was referring to her as such. But at the moment it was better than "that girl". She was alone, so I went and sat in the desk next to her.

"Jasper Cullen," I held out my hand for her. It felt odd; I wasn't used to approaching humans.

"Bella Swan," She smiled sweetly, shaking my hand lightly. "You've been watching my friend,"

She noticed? How did she notice?

"Don't worry, we're used to it. I'm sure you are too. The drooling in the girls' bathroom today. I think they ran out of paper towels!" She was still smiling.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, I suppose I am."

"I have to say, you're a lot nicer than your brother," she was pulling her book out now.

"Yeah, about that. I wanted to apologize. I heard how Edward acted in class earlier today. All I can say is he wasn't feeling well," I tried my best to repair the damage.

"What, is he bipolar or something?" she asked.

I choked back a laugh, "Something alright,"

She laughed too, "Well I look forward to meeting him when he is feeling better, and you're other brother…"

I grinned; she was fishing for a name. I overheard what they were referring to Emmett as. "Emmett,"

"Yes,"

"I look forward to meeting your siblings as well," I told her.

"Particularly a green eyed pixie?" she teased, but her voice was tainted with sadness.

"What's wrong?" I asked. But the teacher got ready to start class.

"I'll tell you after class," she whispered.

The teacher wasn't horrible, but not great either. Mostly I was bored as usual. Bella looked about a bored as me, doodling in the edges of what was supposed to be her notes.

When class finally ended she looked over at me and asked, "What class you have next?"

"Physics,"

"I have chem, right next door. I'll tell you on the way," she stood and I followed her to the door.

"So what's wrong?" I asked again.

"Well, the thing is. Our adoptive parents just died, I'm not going to try to keep it quiet because if you three didn't show up it would be the only thing anyone would be talking about. I'm guardian until the other two turn eighteen in a few weeks, but we have to work a lot. We don't really have a lot of time," she tried to explain. Stress was thick in the air around her, stifling. How quickly had she turned from the happy, teasing girl at the beginning of last class to this burdened and stressed young woman.

"Bella, I know I just met you but I want to give you some advice," I told her and she nodded. "Friends are good to have in times of trouble,"

"Thank you, Jasper. You're a good man," she smiled.

"I hope we can be friends in the future," I offered.

"Me too," She smiled and waved as she slipped into the classroom next to mine.


Hope you liked it, more by Wednesday at the latest.

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