Moving on, y'all ready for some more Peter? Of course you are.
SM owns these people. I turned them into irreverent smartasses.
Jasper
After stopping on the way home to hunt, I'd arrived home to find Peter giggling his ass off looking at something on his laptop. God only knew.
"What's so funny?" I asked him, setting my keys in the little bowl in the entryway.
"Lolcats, Jasper," he answered, all chuckles.
"The fuck?" I asked him, not sure if I heard him correctly. Cats?
"It's this website I came across, these cats with fuckin' High-LAR-ious captions on them. Almost makes me wanna get one, if Iwasn't afraid you'd have it for a snack."
"And what exactly would we do with a cat? Assuming one would stick around the place, which it wouldn't," I said, walking over to have look at the screen. Why did the captions have such poor grammar and spelling? Aren't cats supposed to be fairly intelligent creatures? And what would they need a walrus's bucket for? Why does the walrus even have a bucket? I didn't get it.
"Trust me Jasper, you could use a little pussy." Shot that fucker the bird for that one.
"What's the matter Jasper, don't like to play with your food?"
I crossed my arms across my chest and looked back at him.
"Then again, maybe you do," he said. The twinkle in his eye was back. Shit. He sighed. "Well, it's obvious you didn't get any. No matter; so when's she coming by?" He was such a bastard, he really was.
"You seem to know so fuckin' much, what do you think?" If he's going to pull this all-knowing shit, least he could do is throw me a bone.
"Lighten up, do you have to be such a bitch about everything? It'll be fun having Bella around, she's a tough broad. Not much you can throw at that gal that she can't handle. And once you change her? Fucking un-stoppable."
What? "Change her, Peter? Christ, we just reconnected two days ago; don't you think that's rushing things a bit?"
"You tell me Jasper; do you see yourself walking away from her and out of her life?"
I couldn't answer him, even though I knew damn well he was right.
He took my silence as a confirmation of his suspicion and smirked. "That's what I thought. I hate admitting I agree with the Pocket Bitchpire, but she was right on this one, so I'm gonna say it again: don't fuck it up. You need her."
He turned his attention back to his laptop, starting to chuckle again. The guy was a fucking badass on the frontlines of battle, and fucking giggling at pictures of kittens.
I shook my head and walked to my room. Bella had given me a lot to think about, but none of it mattered. It certainly didn't make me think any less of her, quite the opposite really. Wow, Bella was a mother. And in a testament to the kind of person she is, she gave away her heart, more or less, so her child would have the best life possible.
She'd lost Edward, lost her father, lost Jacob (though I couldn't feel too terribly about that one), lost her child, and just picked herself up by her bootstraps and carried on. She's tough, selfless, independent, and fucking sexy as hell, and… she gave me something to look forward to again. Peter was right; I needed her. I would take her in any capacity she would allow me to; as her friend and confidante, or if Fate decided to grant us just one favor, as her lover and Mate.
My thoughts were suddenly consumed by what the latter option would entail, envisioning her body entwined with mine, making her my own. I groaned. I needed a distraction. I grabbed one of my thicker, less inaccurate Civil War history books from my bookshelf and lay back on my bed to pass the time until Bella would be calling. Time had never moved so slowly.
After several hours of reading the same page over and over, I put the book away, then grabbed a quick shower and threw on a t-shirt and some jeans. Checking the time, and then my phone to see if I'd missed her call while in the shower, I decided I'd waited long enough, so I sent her a text. And then I sent her another. And then another. What the hell? Did she change her mind? Oh hell no, not an option, sweetheart.
I grabbed my truck keys and headed for the front door, passing by Peter who apparently had taken to pacing a hole in the carpet himself.
"It's about goddamn time! Wake her fuckin' ass up and get her over here," he growled.
I grinned at him. "Anxious, are we?"
"Fuck man, it's not like you've been throwing off calming vibes in there. Fucking go, already!"
"Please Jasper," Char called from the other room, "I'm really not ready to replace the floors in this place just yet. Go get Bella and hurry back. I can't wait to meet her."
I threw on a long-sleeved hooded jacket and some sunglasses, though they weren't going to help that much in my efforts to be incognito in the bright Arizona sun. "I'm on my way," I said.
Bella's apartment was about a thirty minute drive from our place, but I was going to make it in twenty at the rate I was driving. When she finally called I was only a few minutes away, a fact about which she sounded less than thrilled. Oh well, I thought to myself with a chuckle, flooring the gas.
When I got there, I waited about 15 seconds in my truck before I determined the coast was clear enough for me to run to the door and let myself in.
"Bella?" I heard water running, she must still be in the shower. Not without effort, I restrained myself from investigating that scenario further and settled down on her sofa to wait.
She soon hurried out of her room, toothbrush in mouth, looking fucking incredible in her teeny little khaki shorts and a snug camo tank top. My second-in-command definitely took notice of that. Her hair was piled up in another one of those sloppy buns on her head, small wisps falling down the nape of her neck. The scent of her adrenaline stirred the beast within me for a moment, but I suppressed it, instead reveling in the scent of cherry blossom on top of her natural freesia fragrance. It was a mouth-watering combination, and not necessarily in the bloodlust sense. I wanted to run my tongue over every inch of her skin. "I hope you don't mind I let myself in."
She jumped a mile, her heart stopping briefly before starting to race.
Bella
I woke up Sunday afternoon feeling lighter than I had felt in years. I felt a little bad for unloading all my misery on Jasper, what with that emo shit he already has going on, but the effect on me was cathartic. It was as if I'd gone to Confession, confessing all the supernatural stupid freaky shit that had taken place in my life, and Jasper had absolved me of my sins. It was nice to finally be able to talk to someone without the need to censor myself, and get it all out in the open. I also think it was the first time in a very long time that I'd gotten a buzz like that with someone of the opposite sex and it didn't end me in fucking my miseries away. Baby steps, Bella, baby steps.
I got out of bed and padded into the kitchen. My cell phone was on the counter, the message light blinking. One from Lara:
Hey B, I'm spending 2day w/Ben. Txt me and let me know ur ok. Did u get some? ;-) ~L
Oh Lara, you goofy snatch. I replied back:
Doing good & no I kept my legs closed, write it down. Chillin w/ Jaz later. Tell Ben Hi. ttyl ~B
Next message was from Jasper:
Call me when ur up, can't wait to see u. -JW.
Then another from Jasper:
Damn woman what r u sleeping all day? -J
And another:
If I don't hear from u by 3 I'm coming over. –J
Wow, pushy much? I looked at the clock. Shit, it was already 2:45. I called Jasper.
"Mornin' sunshine," he answered. It sounded like he was driving.
"Hey Jazz. Sorry, I just woke up a little bit ago and just now read your texts. Where are you?" Please don't be on your way here.
"Well Ms. Swan, I'm going to be pulling up to your apartment in about 10 minutes. Sorry sugar, I couldn't wait any longer." I could clearly envision the lazy grin that was probably on his face right that second.
"Jesus Jazz, where's the fire? I haven't even showered yet!" I grabbed a strawberry Poptart (damn you Kellogg's, why can't I quit you?) and headed back toward my room to get ready.
"Get on it woman, I'm almost there," he chuckled.
"Stupid pushy vampires," I muttered. "Well drive slower, I'm getting in the shower now." I hung up, started the water, and shoved nearly half a Poptart in my face. My phone buzzed. Lara.
Have fun, I want details later! XOXO
I put my phone on the counter and put my hair back up in a bun again. I hoped my hair didn't stink because I definitely did not have time to wash it now. Fuck! I shoved the other half-piece of Poptart in my mouth and climbed in the shower. After a quick lather and the fastest shaving of legs on record, I was rinsed, dried and smoothing my favorite cherry blossom-scented lotion on my skin. I almost decided against the lotion, but I already knew that the smell of my blood was going to be much more tempting than the smell of my body lotion so I figured it would be the least of my worries. The remaining traces of lotion on my hands I ran through my hair, attempting to freshen it, trying to shake it out and finger comb it into something presentable, then giving up and putting it back up into a messy up-do on my head.
I looked into my bedroom at the clock on my nightstand, 2:56. I threw on a pair of khaki cargo shorts that hit around my upper thighs and a camo tank top, then hastily rubbed on a thin coat of foundation, followed by a quick smear of bronze shadow. A few swishes of mascara and then I loaded my toothbrush with paste, shoving it my mouth and walked out into the living room.
"Hope you don't mind I let myself in."
"GAH!" I jumped about two feet and nearly gagged on my toothbrush. Jasper was seated on the sofa. "What the fuck Jasper! Are you trying to give me a fucking stroke? God dammit!" I clutched my chest, trying to catch my breath.
He laughed, entirely amused at my near-shitting myself. "Sorry darlin' didn't mean to spook ya. It's just not exactly prudent for me to linger outside very long, what with the sunshine and all."
"No shit. So why did you come? I was going to call and get directions for your place, you know. I'm very capable of driving myself to wherever the hell your bat cave is; no sense in putting yourself at risk for me." I scrubbed my teeth as I walked into the kitchen, spit in the sink, and rinsed my toothbrush. Jasper watched my every movement. "Taking notes?"
He smiled, shaking his head. "I came here because, as I said, I got tired of waiting. Peter and Char are rather anxious to meet you as well." His face reflected a cross between confusion and worry. I wondered what that was about.
"He doesn't think you're bringing home take-out, does he?" I walked back toward my room to put my toothbrush away and grab my phone and my flip flops.
Jasper sighed. "No Bella, I already told you. You have nothing to worry about with Peter, in that aspect anyway. His control exceeds mine, regardless of the fact he feeds from humans."
I stopped and studied him for a second. "How is the control issue going Jasper? You seem to be doing pretty well; I don't make you too uncomfortable do I?"
He slowly walked toward me until he was standing less than a foot away and then reached out to pull me closer to him, placing his arms around me in a loose hug. "What do you think?" he asked leaning forward slightly, locking his eyes to mine. Yeah, Edward's 'dazzling' had nothing on whatever the hell Jasper was doing to me with his stare.
"Uh, s-seems to be w-working out pretty well for you there, big guy," I stuttered. I looked away, closing my eyes, trying to regain coherence and resist the urge to pop up on my tiptoes attach my mouth to his. Baby steps.
He straightened up, mouth curled into that lazy grin. "You ready to go, sugar?"
I nodded, feeling like a total nub, and pulled away to slip on my flip flops. Jasper walked around me toward the front door, giving me a light slap on the ass. "Then let's roll, woman!" That mischievous tap caused an eruption of a whole batch of tingles going off in my body. Holy shit, did that just happen? Please sir, can I have some more? I shook my head to clear those thoughts away. Jasper was standing at my now open front door, looking even more amused than before. Well fucking duh, of course he knew exactly how I was feeling about that little exchange now didn't he? Friggin' know-it-all empath.
"You lock up and I'll meet you in the truck. Normally I'd walk you to the truck like a gentleman, but I need to be kinda quick considering the time of day." I nodded, and then he was gone. I locked my door and went to join him in the truck, where he was already starting the motor. He leaned over the center console to open the passenger-side door for me when I reached it.
"Thanks," I said and hopped inside.
We managed to avoid any discussion of last night's conversation, much to my relief, instead opting to bullshit about life in Phoenix. As I'd guessed, Jasper didn't get out much unless it was at night. Once we got just north of Scottsdale, Jasper turned off onto an unmarked road and headed up what was obviously a private drive. A few minutes later we stopped at a gate, where he pressed a few buttons on the keypad, opening the gate. "We like our privacy," he shrugged. Business as usual for vampires, the ones I know anyway.
A couple minutes later we pulled up in front of a large Spanish-style stucco home, with a red tile roof and rounded arches over the doors and windows. I was suddenly nervous; this felt a little like déjà vu and I really hate that shit. Jasper hopped out and hurried to the passenger side to let me out.
"You know you don't need to treat me like some fucking gilded lily, I'm perfectly capable of opening my own damn door," I groused.
Jasper looked a little exasperated. "And my momma raised me with some fuckin' manners. Now take my hand, say thank you, and get out of the damn truck."
I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Oh FINE, since you put it all fucking polite like that," I took his hand. "Why thank you, Mistah Whitlock, you're such a gentleman, I do declare!" I batted my eyelashes; worst Scarlet O' Hara impression ever.
He mussed my hair and laughed. "Minx! Let's get inside and see if Peter was successful in destroying the living room floor yet."
"Huh?"
"Nevermind, c'mon in," he opened the door. I stepped inside the foyer.
From what I assumed was the living room, sauntered in a pasty Matthew McConaughey look-alike, with shaggy, wavy, dirty blonde hair, twinkling eyes, and a sexy swagger. Well, alright alright alright. I could get used to being surrounded by these fine unnatural specimens. He stopped and stared for a moment, looking me up and down with a smirk, then turned and called over his shoulder, "Char! Dinner's ready!" I heard a giggle from the other room.
Jasper hissed disapprovingly. My jaw dropped. "Are you fucking kidding me?" This guy was all jokes. Awesome.
Peter started busting up, laughing his ass off.
Jasper glared at him, eyes narrowed, looking a little scary but at the same time rather fuckable. Mmm. He glanced at me, eyebrow raised (shit, I forgot about the empath thing again), before turning his eyes back onto Peter. "Just what the fuck are you trying to pull man?"
"Don't be gettin' all uptight Major, just breaking the ice," he stepped up to me, grinning, with his hand out. "Peter Whitlock. I didn't frighten you, now did I sweet thing?"
I heard a low rumble come from Jasper; what's his deal?
I took his hand. "Bella," I smirked. "And not even remotely frightened, so Jasper," I looked over at him, seeing he was watching our interaction carefully, "you can cease doing your Edward impersonation and remove the fucking log pole from your ass."
That just set Peter off again. He put an arm around me and led me through the house. "Oh honey, you and me are gonna get along just fine. C'mon let's go introduce you to Char."
I looked back over my shoulder at Jasper, who was still standing in the same place, wide-eyed and speechless. "You comin' Major?"
His expression changed when I said that, his eyes darkening noticeably. "Oh, Ms. Swan, just try to keep me away," he said with a panty-dampening wicked grin. No really, there was definitely some moisture gathering down south. Fuck dazzling, I'll take the Whitlock Smolder thank you very much.
I turned back to Peter and, knowing Jasper would hear me anyway but that was beside the point, whispered, "Why are we calling him Major, anyway?"
Peter stage-whispered back at me, "Tell ya later. By the way, you smell delicious." He winked at me, waggling his eyebrows. Well, isn't he a randy one?
"Peter, I'm fucking warning you," Jasper growled.
I rolled my eyes while Peter just chuckled and gave Jasper the finger as we continued on our way into the kitchen. I had a feeling it was going to be an interesting night.
