Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play with the characters, with the support of my patient beta, EdwardsMate4Ever.
Chapter 9 – Senior Year - Plans
Renee and Charlie had worried about the same thing. But when they came by one cold night unannounced, on the pretext of bringing an apple pie to share, Jeb invited them in. They took off their mittens and warmed their hands over the stove. They left convinced that neither of the Whitlocks would freeze to death in their cabin.
Winter lingered that year. There was no logging during the rainy-snowy seasons of fall and winter, so most of the seasonal workers were gone by late fall. Only Jasper and Jeb stayed on. During this time, Jeb took a few quiet trips back to Texas while Jasper stayed in school. Bella knew that Jasper wasn't supposed to be left alone, so she didn't say anything.
A few times Charlie wanted to invite the two over for dinner as he had during the summer months, but Bella told him that Jeb was feeling under the weather, so Jasper would be coming alone. Initially Charlie let it go, but Bella had the feeling her father suspected the truth.
One night mid-February, Charlie turned the conversation to Jeb.
"So how's your uncle, Jasper?" Charlie asked.
"Just feeling a little under the weather tonight, sir," Jasper replied. He couldn't look Charlie in the face when he said it though. Bella saw him glance down at his food then look back up.
"Hm," said Charlie. "Well, when he's feeling poorly, you should sleep over here."
Jasper started to object, but Charlie continued. "Look, I don't want to have to run you back to your cabin and find that, say, he's not there at all, understood?"
"Understood, sir," said Jasper.
"Family situations are just that," Charlie said. "Family situations. I'm beginning to consider you family, so you should stay here rather than alone out there in the woods."
After that, Jasper spent a few weekends at their house. When Bella crept downstairs in the mornings, she would find him on the sofa under a red sleeping bag, tousled blond hair on the pillow and one socked foot dangling from under the cover.
Those weekends he stayed over, Jasper and Bella never tried anything in the house, as they were both sure that however concerned Charlie might have been for Jasper, he wouldn't have stood for him "interfering" with his daughter.
In early March, Bella waited anxiously for her letters from the colleges she had applied to. The first two letters that came in disappointed her. She had been accepted, but they were not in a position to offer her aid.
She felt it was a nice way of saying no.
Renee always gave her the mail when she came home from school. When the third envelope arrived, the one from the University of Washington, Renee was waiting for her at the door with it.
"It's here," Renee said, waving the envelope in the air.
Bella took it and hugged it to her chest. It was thicker than the two rejections she had received.
Renee stood in front of Bella, waiting. "Are you going to open it?" Renee asked.
Bella closed her eyes, fighting back tears. This could be her ticket out of Forks.
Finally she opened it. The university was offering her a financial aid package with their acceptance. She would be able to go to college in the fall.
"They said yes," she told Renee.
She handed the letter to Renee, who jumped up and down when she read it.
"You're in! You're going!" Renee squealed. "Oh, honey, I'm so excited for you."
Thoughts of leaving Forks, the dreary, rainy town she had grown up in, flashed through Bella's head. The only pangs she had about leaving were about Jasper. Maybe he could get a job in Seattle, or she could drive home on weekends. They would work it out, but it made the moment unexpectedly bittersweet.
When Jasper came by later that night to work on homework, Bella threw herself into his arms.
"Whoa, what's this?" he said, laughing as he pulled her close.
She could feel Charlie's eyes and turned her head. Charlie was watching them, biting his lip. Had he picked up that habit from her?
"Not that I'm complaining," Jasper whispered. His eyes were on Charlie as well.
"I was accepted by the University of Washington, and they gave me a scholarship," she squealed.
"Of course they did, honey," said Jasper, kissing the top of her head. "I knew you could do it."
After Bella's acceptance was announced, Charlie asked Jasper at dinner, "And you, son? What are your plans after graduation?"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking," Jasper replied. "Mr. White has offered me an office job with the logging company working with the books, if I get a little more schooling in." Jasper reached over and took Bella's hand and looked directly at Charlie. "I can't support a family on logging, as a logger."
"Go on," Charlie encouraged.
"I've been talking to Mr. White for a while now, and I've always had a head for figures. He's going to let me help with the books. After a little more schooling," Jasper said.
"Really?" Charlie looked impressed.
Jasper nodded his head. His hair, near chin-length, shook with the movement. He had taken some heat for it, but Bella loved it. He seemed to know, and so far, hadn't been in any fights. He could swing an axe with any man, and the lumber company seemed to appreciate him. The guys from the school had a healthy appreciation of the muscles that came with his work and didn't challenge him.
Bella's heart constricted looking at him, worrying that she couldn't keep him for long.
Xxx
Please leave a review.
I will send a preview of the next chapter to all reviewers. I'll be traveling through the end of March, so I'll post the next chapter in April. Manila and Kuala Lampur, here I come!
