Bella's POV
I was waiting, fully dressed and ready to go, on the porch steps when Edward came out of his house. I stood up and walked to the Volvo, looking down at my feet. I waited while he unlocked the doors, then climbed in.
"Hey." Edward said as I buckled my seatbelt.
"Hi." I said quietly.
It was quiet while we drove. Too quiet, so I turned on the radio, not really listening to it, but just to have something to make the quiet go away. Edward glanced at me every now and then, when he thought I wasn't looking. I knew what I was thinking, and what he was too.
Where do we go from here?
Let see what we know.
Edward and I have been friends since birth.
We've gone through almost everything together. Parents fighting, losing our baby teeth, broken bones, highschool, eighteen birthdays each.
"Bella, if you don't come out in ten seconds, I'm coming in." Edward growled from outside the girl's bathroom.
It was our sophomore year. We were sixteen.
I glanced in the mirror as I passed by. I looked like hell. My eyes were red and puffy, still wet. I wiped at them again. My hair looked like a haystack, and my nose was running.
"Four....three...." I crept out of the bathroom just as he got to one. The next thing I knew, he was hugging me, and my face was buried into his shoulder. The halls were empty, as it was five minutes after the bell.
"Tell me what happened." He demanded, letting go of me and looking at me with a stern face. It looked like his eyes darkened a shade.
"Give it a few minutes, and you'll know anyways." I sniffled, another tear leaking out. He caught it before it could roll off the end of my nose.
"What do you mean?" he asked, running his hand through his hair. I knew he was fighting to keep his calm.
I choked on the words as they left my mouth. "Grant Jones said I slept with him."
Edward walked away from me, stopping to slam his hand into a locker with a bang before coming back to me. His jaw was locked, his eyes sparking with anger. Then he looked down at me. My bottom lip was quivering, and I knew that my eyes were brimming with tears again.
He let all the breath out o his lungs in one sigh, and reached out and hugged me again. I could feel his hands shaking on my back.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it, Bella." He promised.
I reached across the center console at a stop light, and brushed the hair back off Edward's forehead. He jumped, and turned his head to face me. I ran my thumb over the long line that his messy hair usually covered. His eyes closed for a brief second.
"I was just remembering when you got that." I said as the light turned green, and turned to face the road again. Edward smiled grimly.
"Yeah. Grant got off worse though." He said, smiling smugly. I dropped my hand, and curled up on the front seat.
"Yeah. He got..." I trailed off, trying to remember.
Edward picked up where I left off. "A broken hand and a bloody lip." He said, a little proudly. I nodded, hiding a smile.
"And you got that scar and a black eye that lasted for a week. You still had it in the yearbook pictures." I giggled a little.
"Yep." He popped the 'p,' and smiled at me.
That was the day I realized I loved Edward. Almost two years ago.
What about Jake? What did I know there?
We'd been enemies for years.
I'd really only known him for a few weeks.
Half the time I was with him my mind was on Edward.
"Bella?" Edward's voice cut through my thoughts, and I jumped. He chuckled a little. "Bella, we're here." He said, stepping out of the car. He popped the trunk as I got out, and pulled out his backpack and my book bag. He handed mine to me, and we walked to our first class together.
So, we weren't back to normal. Things could never go back to normal between us, at least, not until we created a new normal. You can't admit that you love a person and have things be normal the next day. But...we weren't fighting anymore. And that was always a good thing.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
"Bella!" I heard the high pitched squeal, then I was tackled from behind. I stumbled into Edward, and, laughing, he steadied me. Alice hung onto my back, her arms around my neck. Her feet weren't touching ground.
"Alice!" Jasper and I yelled at the same time.
"Choking." I gasped out, tapping on Alice's arm.
Alice giggled as Jasper gently lifted her off my back. "Oops! Sorry, Bella." She said. Jasper shot me an apologetic look as he set her back on her own two feet, a protective arm holding her against his chest.
"I'm sorry, Bella. She got into the coffee this morning and..." he trailed off, looking down at Alice, who had an excited grin on her face.
She was wearing a rainbow, tie-dyed tee shirt, and a pair of paint splattered jeans. The outfit matched her personality. Colorful and hyper. Add caffeine or sugar...
Run!
"I love you, Bella!" Alice yelled, breaking out of Jasper's gentle hold and tackling me again.
The bell rang, and Jasper pried Alice off me for the second time.
"Sorry!" he apologized again. "Ali, Baby, we need to get to class." He urged, trying to tow her in the opposite direction. Alice waved wildly back at me and Edward, then started skipping so suddenly that she was dragging Jasper along.
I was about to turn and follow Edward to our class, but then Alice skidded to a stop.
"Bella! You're having dinner at our house tonight! My parents want to meet you!" she yelled, then was off again.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*
I met up with Jasper after gym. I was going to just go on home with them now, so I wouldn't have to catch a ride later. Edward was going to let my mom know where I was for me.
Jasper and I waited by their car for Alice to show up.
Jasper was a good guy. He didn't really say too much. He was more the quiet, serious type. He and Alice balanced each other out. I still didn't really know too much about his past, or why he'd moved with Alice, but that was okay. I didn't have to know right away.
"Hi!" Alice bounded up and hugged me, then Jasper. "Ready?" she asked, skipping around to the passenger side of the car. Jasper climbed into the driver's seat, and I got into the back.
After listening to Alice chatter for a good ten minutes, we arrived at the Brandon house. Alice hooked arms with me and skipped up the sidewalk and waited for Jasper to unlock the door. He held the door for us, and Alice dragged me inside.
I liked it. It was homey. I took a look at the pictures on the walls, following Alice up the stairs while Jasper drifted off towards the kitchen. I wasn't surprised to see that pictures of Alice and Jasper were everywhere, all ages. It seemed like they'd been together for their whole lives.
Alice's room was yellow. Sunny, just like her. The wall color reminded me of lemonade, but it was nice.
Alice kicked her shoes off, and sat down at her desk. There was a recent photo of her and Jasper in a frame on her desk. I put my own shoes next to hers, and sat down on the bed.
"You're curious about me and Jasper." Alice said, didn't ask. Well, I thought I'd done a good job on hiding it...
I smiled sheepishly, and nodded. "A little bit, yeah." I admitted, tucking my legs under myself.
Alice shrugged. "A lot of people are. They just won't admit it." She spun herself around in a full circle, then stopped, facing me again. "Are you ready for the story?" she asked, smiling a little, like she always did when she was thinking about Jasper. I nodded.
"Jasper and I's history is a lot like you and Edward's." She said. "Our parents were friends for years before we were born, so it was a given that we were close while we were growing up." I nodded, knowing what she meant. "But, unlike you and Edward, it was always obvious that me and Jasper weren't...friends. We were always something more." Alice had a far away look in her eyes, and a small smile on her face.
"Of course, we didn't officially start dating until we were oh...thirteen and a half. Actually, he was fourteen by then. But that doesn't matter. To put it simply, Jasper and I've been engaged since birth." She giggled a little.
It didn't shock me to hear her say that. Alice and Jasper were the perfect example of soul-mates.
"So, when my dad got transferred....Jasper came with us. There wasn't a question about us being apart."
"Didn't your parents mind?" I asked, a little incredulously. Alice shrugged.
"Not really. Well, my dad, for a little while, but he got over it pretty fast. My mom was always okay with it." She sighed. "And Jasper's parents...they didn't really care too much about it. He's eighteen, and they knew that they couldn't stop him, even if they wanted to. And they've always been a little bit busy with his sister, Rose. She's a model...she's barely even home. They travel with her a lot. So it was easier for them too." She smiled. "So, now me and Jazz get to live together full time."
I felt lonely.
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
It was finally Friday. I was waiting for Edward at the Volvo after school got out.
It was getting colder. It was expected, as it was the middle of October.
I shivered a little, and reminded myself to wear a heavier jacket the next day. I could see Edward come out of building two, walking with his hands in his pockets and his head down. I tapped my foot a little impatiently, wishing he would walk a little faster.
"Bella!" A voice yelled, and I turned my head towards it automatically. It was Jasper. He strode across the parking lot, making better time than Edward, and stopped in front of me. He looked.....
Well, he didn't look good.
His eyes were slightly bloodshot, and he was paler than usual, even though he had fair skin to start with. He kept clenching and unclenching his fists over and over again, and popping his knuckles like he wanted to punch something. He was shaking slightly.
Had he been like this all day? I wasn't sure. Maybe he had been, and I just didn't notice. He'd only spoken to me once, when I asked him where Alice was. He'd given me a short answer -"She had to do stuff at home."
Edward walked up before Jasper could say anything.
He took one glance at Jasper. "What's up with you, man?" he asked, sounding casually concerned. Jasper just shook his head at him.
"Bella, can I drive you home? I need to talk to you. Please." He asked in low, dangerously calm voice. I nodded immediately, but Edward grabbed my arm. He gave me a look that clearly said that he thought I was crazy, but I shook him off. I knew Jasper. He would never hurt me, even in the state he was in.
"Of course." I said, and waved at Edward, walking back to Jasper (and Alice's) car with him. When Jasper pulled out of the parking lot, he was speeding. He never went more than five above the speed limit.
"Do you mind if we just drove around for a while?" Jasper asked, his eyes flicking over at me for a second.
I nodded at him. "Yeah, that's okay. Now start talking." I demanded. Jasper sighed and turned down the road that would lead to the highway.
"Alice stayed home today because she needed to get the spare room ready for my sister." He said, staring at the road. It started drizzling, and he turned on the windshield wipers, and slowed down a bit.
"Okay." I said. I still didn't get why he was acting so weird today.
"Bella, I've always been jealous of my sister. She's two years younger than I am. Sixteen. She was always the favorite of our parents. Always." He struck the steering wheel with the heel of his hand. "But, that doesn't mean I didn't love her. She's my sister. Of course I love her." He took a shaky breath. It surprised me, seeing Jasper...not break down. He hadn't gotten to that part...yet. But he was crumbling.
"Rose is moving here. My parents talked to Alice's." he said in the same low, strangely calm voice he'd used earlier.
Jasper pulled into the parking lot of one of the town's gas stations and parked. There a strange choking sound, and I realized that he was past crumbling now. He was at break down point.
"Bella, Rose was raped." He choked out. "My baby sister was raped."
*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.
It took Jasper and hour to get the whole thing out.
"Bella...I'm asking you to help me out. Please. Rose is going to be here at around eight tomorrow morning. From what my parents have told me....she's a mess." He took a deep, calming breath. "I think it might be a good idea, for her to have someone other than just Alice, you know?" I nodded. "Rose won't let..." he had to pause to take a few more deep breaths. "Rose won't let any males within five feet of her, apparently. I won't be able to be there for her, like I want to be. Please...help me out. You're one of my best friends, Bells."
So, I was now driving, worried about Jasper's self control. I pulled up to the Brandon house and we went inside.
Alice immediately went to comfort Jasper, leaving me to trail along behind. So, I dug out my phone, and dialed Edward's number.
"Bella?" he picked up on the second ring, sounding a little panicky. "Are you okay? Is Jasper okay? Where are you?" he asked in the same tone. I sighed.
"I'm at the Brandon's." I said, a little frustrated with Edward's manner. "I'm perfectly fine. But, I need a favor." Before, I wouldn't have thought twice about asking Edward this. But now...things were different.
"Anything." He said, not having to think about it twice.
That's when I heard the little voice in the back of my mind for the first time. It had been there all along, but I just now realized it, now that my guard was down.
Edward loves you, totally and completely. Unconditionally. Like Jasper loves Alice. Jake only thinks he loves you. You love Edward. He stole your heart years ago. You don't love Jake.
"Bella?" Edward asked. I hadn't realized how long I'd kept him waiting.
"Sorry!" I apologized. I made a decision, right then and there. "Actually, never mind. Sorry to bother you." I said, then hung up.
"Alice?" I called up the stairs. She and Jasper stopped halfway up, their arms around each other's waists.
"Can I borrow your car? I need to go back home, clear this with my parents...pack a bag..." Alice nodded.
"Yeah. See you in a little while." She said, oddly subdued for Alice. But it was to be expected, given the circumstances.
I was pulling out of the driveway in two minutes.
Jake first...then Edward.
Okay. So it's a bit of a cliffie. I apologize, but I thought this was a good place to leave it.
So. Bella has finally made up her mind. Yes!! I just couldn't drag it out any more. And...I think y'all would start the death threats if I did, anyways, so it worked out rather nicely =D
And...enter Rose. I just had to have her in here somewhere. We'll see some more of her next chapter.
I wonder what y'all's view of flashbacks are? Personally...I love them. They're so fun to write, and give more depth to the story, in my opinion.
For all of you Jasper/Alice lovers out there, check out my fic "A Bow In Her Hair"
To all of y'all who review last chapter...Thank you. sooo much. I'm not very good on responding to them, but if you have questions to ask, I will answer them. Each one makes me smile.
And now....review. Please. Reviews are better than M&Ms. Super long reviews, A.K.A the reviews were y'all tell me exactly what you were thinking about the chapter, favorite lines, etc, are better than M&M and Snickers Blizzards (Dairy Queen sounds really good right now...)