CHAPTER 9

As soon as the professor dismissed us for the evening, I threw my bag over my shoulder and started for the door. Because I kept my head down, and was pretty much blocking the buzz of the students around me, I was startled by the sound of Bella's voice as she clearly called my name over the crowd. I froze in place, and then slowly turned to face her and Katrina as they hurried in my direction.

Katrina's thoughts were of Alice. She was obviously put-out by my assumed relationship status. I could only guess why Bella had called my name. But every fiber of my being wanted to rejoice in the fact that she had.

"Hey Edward!" she smiled pleasantly. If she was worried about my behavior in the bar, she was hiding it well.

"Bella…." Did she hear the way my mouth worshipped her name? I cleared my throat. "Hello Katrina!" I tried to smile in her direction also. But my eyes wanted to dart back to Bella's perfect features.

"I… wanted to say thanks again. For the other night," Bella stumbled on her words, looked down, and blushed. The delicate pink in her cheeks caused me to suck in a quick breath, and I was staggered anew by the scent of her. I closed my eyes and focused on the burn in my throat. I needed this. It was getting easier each time.

"You don't owe me thanks," I said, with my eyes closed. My voice sounded deeper to my own ears. I cleared my throat again and blinked to look at the girls. "Really, it was nothing." I had to work to make my voice lighter.

"We wanted to talk to you," Katrina hurried to join the conversation. "Will you walk out with us?"

Of course I would. Here was an invitation that I could not resist. Inwardly, I was jumping to the side and tapping my heels together in the air like some character from a cheesy musical. On the outside, I nodded and shrugged a little to pretend indifference.

"So… what's up?" I finally broke after holding the door for them to exit ahead of me.

"Rumor has it," Bella began, "That next week… we are going to be given the opportunity to break into small groups."

"I have a friend who took this course last semester," Katrina confided in me. "The professor likes each group to choose some subject… anything that can be hunted up in history…" Katrina began.

"Then he puts our names on a list so that we can use the historic documents vault at the library, computer codes to access documents at sister schools, gives us free reign to just… dig through records. And the groups have to search through and find different sorts of documentation that provide evidence…" Bella continued.

"You know! Stone writings, coins, papyrus…. any records of historical documentation we can find."

"Like a treasure hunt!" Bella smiled. She actually seemed a little excited about the project. Her cheeks were still pink. I could have told them the same information. The professor had been thinking about the assignment at the end of class tonight.

"What does any of this have to do with me?" I asked. The two girls looked at each other and then back in my direction.

"We wanted to know if you'd work as part of our team!" Bella gave me a small smile. I felt stunned. I was still reeling from the suggestion when Katrina spoke again.

"You seem like a smart guy. And this will probably be a lot of late nights at the library. It will probably be safer. You know. Having a guy to work with when we are coming and going so late…"

I licked my lips and nodded. Of course it would be safer. With anyone but me. But while I knew I shouldn't offer to work in such close contact with the girls… I absolutely knew that I would. Hell- I was practically ready to dance at the very thought of it.

"Yeah. That sounds great," I smiled. Both girls seemed to sigh in relief at the same time. And then we were at Bella's car.

"I'm parked in the next lot," I said.

"Well… we'll see you Tuesday, huh?" Katrina asked. Her mind was already off the project and guessing that I was in a hurry to get home to Alice. I decided to just let her think as she was, for the time being.

"Sure! I'll see you!" I concentrated on not sounding too excited. Stay cool… I pushed my chin down and turned to walk away.

Bella grinned and offered a quiet "Good night, Edward," before they got into her car.

Yes. A good night indeed.

I entered my garage in much lighter spirits than I had been in when Alice had found me earlier. In fact, I could have whistled. Sure- Bella might be in a relationship with someone. But she had asked ME to work as part of her group. She invited me to spend time with her outside of class. Yes, it was for a school project. But I'd take it.

I found Alice, sitting with her feet up on the large ottoman in my living room, drying her newly painted toenails.

"Welcome home," Alice grinned. "Have you bought a new notebook and pen set for your late-night trips to the library?"

"You could have clued me in," I shook my head at her. Of course, she would already know that I had been invited into the project group by Bella and Katrina.

"No. They must not have decided to ask you until after I left." Alice shrugged. "Maybe you seemed a safer choice once they figured that you were unavailable? In which case- you owe me one."

"Where's Jasper?" I asked, looking around.

"Outside. Sitting in your Jacuzzi…"

Other than the wooded area that crept up to the back of my home, the Jacuzzi on the back deck had been a big draw for me when I bought the place. I enjoyed the sensation of the hot water swirling around my body. Submerging myself in the luxurious depth of water was better than a shower or regular bath. And the warmth made me feel… almost human. Jasper was a man who enjoyed indulgences. I wasn't surprised that he had already found it.

I walked to the deck, and saw him sprawled out in the corner of the long spa unit. His blonde head was tilted back, and his eyes were closed.

"For the love of all that is Holy…please help me talk Alice out of getting a rental. I need a place with one of these things," he drawled.

I laughed at his greeting and he opened his eyes to look at me.

"It's good to see you. How are you?" I greeted him warmly.

"I'd say 'better than you.' But at the moment… you're feeling pretty damned relaxed too." he replied. Jasper had the ability to influence the moods of those around him, but also to absorb the moods of those nearby. He could sense my happiness. "What's got you so chipper?"

"I was asked to be a part of her project group," I smiled. I didn't need to explain to Jasper who I was speaking of. He already knew all about Bella from Alice.

"Way to go, man!" he grinned up at me. "Now, maybe you'll get lucky!"

I frowned in his direction. "I'd say I've been lucky enough, just to get the invitation. I only want to spend more time with her. Nothing else."

"Yeah, right," Jasper snickered. He moved towards me under the bubbling water, to the control panel that turned on the large swimming jet in the middle of the unit. The water forced against him in a rush, spraying up at me as it bounced off his immobile form. It was meant to provide resistance for a human to swim against the forced current. It merely splashed past Jasper until he pressed the button to end the cycle. "Hmm. That kinda tickles," he said to himself.

I laughed at his observation. The jet was useless to me. I never used it. When Jasper started to rise up out of the water, I turned my head away with a grimace.

"Jesus, Jasper…" I groaned. "Couldn't you have at least worn trunks or something?"

"What's with the modesty?" Jasper grumbled good-naturedly. "It's not like I thought I would need to pack swim trunks for a trip to New Hampshire in the middle of winter!" Then he laughed. He had thrown his arms out to the sides, proud of his nudity and impervious to the elements as he dripped water onto my deck. "But I can understand if you are a little intimidated by me. I mean… I am a superior creature and all…."

Before he had time to see it coming, I let my hands streak out to push him backwards into the tub.

Alice stood at my elbow in less than a second, watching as Jasper stood up… swinging his wet hair out of his face and laughing.

"You could have warned me!" he laughed at her.

"No way. You deserved that one." she smiled down at him.

I followed Alice indoors, and Jasper made a point of dressing himself before joining us.

Together they caught me up on the happenings at home. I hadn't chosen to go home for Christmas this year, much to my 'mother' Esme's disappointment. Even Rosalie and Emmett travelled from South America to see everyone. I was glad I skipped it. While the idea of spending time with Emmett sounded great- he really was the perfect big brother figure- spending time in Rosalie's presence sounded about as appealing as fruitcake. To say we didn't get along would be an understatement.

Afterwards, we watched movies. But when Alice and Jasper started getting a little too comfortable with each other on the sofa- I decided it was best to go for a run and leave them to a little privacy.