Inspired by Mary's Song by Taylor Swift.

"Isabella, Jasper's family is coming over today, so I want you two to play nice, okay?" My daddy said, picking me up and spinning me around. "I know you two kids get along okay, even though he's nine, and you're seven. Just remember to only stay on our block, alright, honey?"
"Yes, daddy. Do I have to wear a dress?" I wrinkled my nose. Mommy always made me wear a dress.
"You're my baby girl, Bells. That said, you can wear whatever you want, as long as you don't tell Mommy." His eyes twinkled and he tapped me on the nose, then winked at me. "Now you should go wash up, okay honey?"
"Okay, daddy."

"Hey, Steve! Hi Melinda. Oh, hey there, Jasper. Come on in! You know, this kid's going to be over here a lot when they're older. One day, I bet you they get married."
"I was just telling Mel the other day. She doesn't believe me. But I guess you and I will just have to wait and tell them I told you so."
"Mel, are they talking that nonsense again? Why can't they believe Jasper and Bella will just be best friends?"
"Because we know that they're going to get married someday, Renee. Isn't that right, Steve? Then we'll really be family. Won't that be great?"
"Oh, my, my, my. You hear that Ren? They're plannin' the weddin' already."
I heard my daddy and mommy saying hello to the Whitlocks, and hurried down the stairs as fast as I could, but I fell on my butt. It kind of hurt, so I pouted a little bit.
"Are you okay, B?" Only one person called me B. I looked up to see Jasper standing over me, his eyes all shiny like those stars we like to look at.
"I'm fine, J. I fall down a lot, remember?" He smiled at me, and asked the parents if we could go out now.
"Just until we call you for dinner, sweetheart." I liked Jasper's mom. She was nice. She tells me to call her Melinda or Mel for short. Just like his dad told me to call him Steve. They were really great. They took me out for ice cream with J and Pete, sometimes. Peter is Jasper's cousin. He lives on the other side of town, but it's not like it's a big town, so he comes to visit a lot. He's eight, so we were all in a row whenever he came over.
Jasper goes to the same school as me, but he's in third grade. I'm in second, because I got in school younger than he did. But at school, he says hi when he sees me, even though third graders and second graders are supposed to be separate. I like to play with him, even though he's mostly in charge cuz he's the oldest. We're best friends, cuz our parents are best friends, and they live real close to, so I can play with him a lot.
"Here, B. I triple dog dare you to jump over this creek." We were in the woods behind my house, where I like to play pretend. I don't think J likes it too much though. But he plays pretend for me, and I do some third-grader stuff for him, too. Like jumping over creeks. "I bet you can't do it. You know what happens when you back out of a triple dog dare, right? I'm bigger than you, I'd have to beat you up."
Well now I had to do it. I looked at the creek. It didn't look too bad. Okay, who am I kidding, it was wider than I'd ever jumped before. But I couldn't let J have to beat me up. So I closed my eyes really tight and jumped as far as I could. All of a sudden, it was really cold and wet. I quickly swam to the surface like J taught me. I almost made it! But I didn't, and that made me really sad. Jasper was really cool, and he was my best friend. Now he'd beat me up, and that wasn't good.
But when I got out of the creek, he didn't say anything about beating me up. He just made sure I was okay, and then he said that I was really brave for trying. That made me really happy. Then he said that it was my turn to dare him. I thought about what I could do. Then I thought of something. Jasper and I played house a lot, usually because I begged him to. So we were kind of husband and wife, right? And Daddy said that husbands and wives kiss and hug each other. Me and Jasper already hugged, but we never kissed. Jasper said that even though I was his friend, I was still a girl, and girls were weird, and he didn't want to catch cooties, just in case. So I raised an eyebrow at him and started smiling my evil smile. "I double-dog dare you to kiss me on the lips, Jasper Whitlock. And if you back out, I get to play your video games for a week!" I was proud of myself. There was no way he'd kiss me, and then I would get to play his games!
"What? My games? But you always drop them!" He looked really scared.
"Well, too bad. I'm going to get them for a week. I double-dog dared you. So ha."
"What? But...but my games! You know what? I'm not going to let you win that easily." I was a little confused, but then he took a deep breath, and started leaning forwards, eyes closed. He was making a kissy-face. I got really scared, then. I didn't think he'd actually do it. So I ran, really fast.
"HEY! NO FAIR! YOU DON'T GET TO PLAY MY GAMES, B!" I heard him shouting, but I didn't care too much about his games then. My heart was still beating really fast.

9 years later
"Bells! Come down here! The Whitlocks are coming over!" I heard my dad yell from downstairs. I immediately blushed a little when I thought about that. Jasper was coming...I immediately went to go change my shirt, from an oversized t-shirt to a cuter fitted one I got last weekend. I wasn't so much of a tomboy anymore, but I still liked comfort and hated dresses. And Jasper wasn't a kid anymore, either. Now, he was kind of hot. Okay, really hot.
I bounced down the stairs, but of course, being me and clumsy, I fell on the last one. "Oh, come on. Really?" I mumbled to myself.
"You okay, B?" That rich voice got my heart pumping double time right away.
"Yeah, yeah. You know me. Clumsy." I kept my head down, trying to shield my blush. Calm down, it's Jasper. He's your friend, remember? Just because you have a crush on him doesn't mean you should act all weird. He knows you really well. Plus, he'll be eighteen in half a year. He's way too cool to hang out with me, and yet he is, because I'm his best friend from when we were kids.
"Still. You sure?" I looked up. His damn eyes were doing that twinkly thing again. Why did he have to be so awesome? Nice, caring, sweet, hot, just Jasper. I'd known him since we were in diapers, he'd always been great. But then puberty hit, and boom. We weren't those little kids anymore.
"I'm fine, J." I managed a smile. He grinned back and suggested we go out to the woods, for old times' sake. He was graduating at the end of the school year, and even though he was staying in the city, he'd be a college guy. Even further out of reach. So I said sure.
Lately, I'd begun to think he might like me too. He was always play-flirting with me, but he'd upped the ante a bit. He drove me to high school every morning, and he didn't even just honk his horn in the driveway. He was just so...Jasper, and I might just be misinterpreting friendly gestures, but I couldn't help it. It was Jasper.

"So..." We'd walked until we reached the creek, where he'd leaned against a tree and I perched on a log. I had decided that this awkward silence thing was overrated and decided to open my stupid mouth without knowing what to say.

He smiled at me mischievously. "B, I dare you to jump across that creek. You never could when we were little."

I raised a brow. "Or what? You'll beat me up?"

"I am bigger than you, you know." He wagged his eyebrows at me playfully, then gestured to the creek.

I laughed at him, then faced my challenge. I backed up a little, to get a running start. Then I ran as fast as I could and made a flying leap over the creek. I landed with only a little stumble, then turned around to face him with the stupidest grin on my face. "Yeah well, my legs are longer now. You never did beat me up."

He winked at me and said, "As for the first thing, I've noticed. And to the second, maybe I just forgot. Anyways, it's your turn to dare me." He backed up a step and launched himself over the creek with ease. He landed, slightly crouched, right next to me. I wasn't prepared for how close he'd be, and felt a little startled.

"Hm. I wonder what I should make you do." I put on an exaggerated thoughtful expression.

"Well," he started circling me, then came to a stop in front of me and leaned in, so his face was only a few inches away from me. "What did you used to dare me? When we were kids?"

I frowned in confusion. I usually didn't dare him back. Then I suddenly remembered, and gasped a little. I ducked my head, heart pounding in my chest. I decided to treat it as a sort of joke, in case that wasn't what he meant. I looked up, a forced grin on my face. Raising an eyebrow, I spoke the words from years ago. "J, I dare you to kiss me. If you don't, I get to play with your video games for a week!"

He chuckled, turning away, and I was about to deflate of relief and disappointment, when he looked back at me. Stepping closer, oh so slowly, he suddenly turned more serious. "No running this time, B. I'm not letting you play my games, a week is far too long."

Wait. He hasn't played video games since...my thoughts were cut off as he leaned in really close and planted a kiss on me. I couldn't stop myself from kissing him back as best I could, once it registered in my mind that Jasper Whitlock was actually kissing me. It was amazing, and felt like my first kiss all over again, erasing all my thoughts and scrambling my emotions. All I knew was that it was amazing.

We finally broke apart, breathing hard, and all I could do was smile so hard it hurt. He was grinning that beautiful grin that I loved, and he held my hand to his heart.

"Damn," he breathed, forehead still leaning on mine. "Do you know how long I've wanted to do that?"

I felt goofy and silly inside, and I laughed outrageously. It was cliche but I'd wanted him to do that for ages. "Well, Mr. Whitlock," I replied, thickening my accent, "you sure do know how to make a girl swoon, don't you."

He laughed and played along. "Aw, shucks, ma'm. I'm not all that." His accent was full out ridiculous now, but it was adorable.

"Oh my my my, you sure are a catch aren't you, Mr. Whitlock. Swoon-worthy and with a manageable ego. Why, I might just keep you to myself."

"I hope so, ma'm. I sure hope so."

"Daddy, I have something to tell you." I tried my best to act nonchalant.

"Yes, Bells?" He looked over his paper at me, and I took a deep breath.

"Actually, I'm telling both of you." I glanced at Mom, who put down the mug of tea she was drinking from. I rubbed my palms against my legs nervously, then took a deep breath. "The thing is, Dad, you know how you and Jasper's dad are always joking about us growing up and falling in love? Well..."

"No way. We never thought you'd actually...you're not pregnant are you?" I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not.

"What? No! I just wanted you guys to know that we've been dating for a few months now, that's all. I mean, you know Jasper. You know how good he is, and so I didn't think it'd be all that big a deal..."

"Didn't I tell you no dating until you were thirty?"

"Dad. He's not exactly my first boyfriend."

"Oh, you mean Eddie. The transfer student from up north? He was lousy."

"It was Edward, Dad. And he was kind of lousy, yeah, but he was my first serious boyfriend. But, it's Jasper, dad. Remember? When I was seeing other guys, you always complained about me not finding someone as good as him. Well, now I have."

I swear, my dad actually pouted. Full on puppy-dog pout.

"Don't listen to him, honey. He's fine. He just won't admit that he's actually happy with one of his little girl's boyfriends. Or that his little girl's actually grown up. I, for one, am happy for you. You'll have to tell me more later, when Mr. Grouchypants here isn't sulking." Mom winked at me all conspiratorial, then went back to her tea, glancing at Daddy over her mug.

"So, I told my dad." I was currently leaning against Jasper, reading a book while he did his homework. I'd finished mine a little while ago, as today he had a lot more than I did. It was getting closer to his graduation..

"And is he going to shoot my head off?" I smiled. Jasper knew very well how overprotective my daddy could get. In fact, he'd done his share of intimidating my 'no good' boyfriends.

"Well, he knows you, Jasper. Our dads are always joking about us falling in love, remember? He'll be fine. My mom was real happy, so you'll probably be fine." I patted Jasper's arm playfully, and he rested his chin on top of my head.

"That's not a no," he joked. "My parents are insanely happy. Dad's all excited, and Ma's always liked you."

"Well that's good."

"Yeah, it is."

Three years later

"Happy anniversary." I grinned, turning around. Jasper stood behind me, holding a bunch of my favorite flowers.

"Oh, Jasper. You're so sweet!" I planted a big kiss on his lips, then smelled the bouquet. "Here." I handed him a small box, white with a blue ribbon.

"You didn't have to get me anything, B."

"You just handed me a bouquet of flowers," I reminded him. "You didn't have to do that, either." He grinned, sitting down on our favorite bench, and slowly opening it.

"You remembered!"

"How could I forget?"

"God, I love you, B." He pulled me into a tight hug, and I returned it.

"I love you too, J, so much that sometimes it scares me." He pulled back, looking into my eyes. I knew we were both remembering our first fight.

It had been over nothing really, something so insignificant neither of us could remember it a few days later. We both knew we were overreacting, but it couldn't be helped. I think we were both a little scared of how much love and trust and faith we put in each other. Anyway, we had ended up screaming on my front porch. Jasper tried to remain calm and ration, like he always was, but i knew him well enough to push all his buttons the wrong way. He was shouting, but I was screaming at the top of my lungs, so hard my throat started to hurt.

I ended up slamming the screen door on my way in, not even kissing him goodnight like I always did. I stormed past my parents, who had been woken up by all the noise we were making. Hot tears were pouring down my face, and I threw myself onto my bed.

My dad had come in, demanding to know if Jasper had done anything to make me upset. At that point, I had calmed down enough to know that it was mostly my fault. I told him so, and explained that I had started a fight for pretty much no reason at all, and how I was now scared to the bone that Jasper would want to break up with me. My dad sighed, and explained that there was probably no way that was happening. He gestured to my window when he saw my confused look, and I went over to look through it.

Jasper was pacing on the lawn, running a nervous hand through his hair. I could tell, even from up here, that he was worried about something. We just knew each other that well. He finally sat down on the front porch steps, head in his hands. i looked at my dad with questions running through my head so fast I couldn't say any of them. He told me that Jasper had been like that the entire time I had been up in my room. I checked the time, and was shocked to see it was already Sunday, no longer Saturday.

I raced down the stairs, not even tripping once, and flung open the door. He slowly stood up, and stepped towards me as I crashed into his chest and sobbed, apologizing over and over. He held me, running his fingers through my hair, and kissed my forehead.

After I had stopped crying, I told him how sorry I was at picking a fight, how terrified I was of feeling this strongly for him, everything. He apologized for yelling at me, saying that he was scared, too. I saw the truth of it in his eyes, and he told me how sorry he was for raising his voice at me, his voice sounding broken. I knew that he was raised not to yell at the people he loved, and I felt so regretful for making him feel that way.

By then, the sun had already come up, and we felt more at peace, holding each other in the early morning.

I looked at the man who I had loved since forever, and kissed him deeply, knowing that he was the one for me. He smiled at me, and I snuggled up to him, my breath slightly visible in the cold air. We watched as the sun came up, and I was glad we had made a pact to watch the sun come up together from our bench every anniversary. It was breathtaking, and well worth waking up so early.

"B? I have something to ask you." I turned to look at Jasper, looking oddly vulnerable. I immediately became concerned.

"Anything, J. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing's wrong. It's just...I went to go see your dad a couple weeks ago, and-" He seemed nervous.

"He didn't suddenly become overprotective of me again, did he? Don't worry, he really does like you, you know that right?"

"No, no, it's not that.." Then he suddenly broke apart from me, but before I could become worried, he stood and then went down on one knee.

"J...is this what I think this is?" He smiled at me, and my eyes grew wide as he reached into his jacket pocket.

"Isabella Marie Swan, I love you so much it hurts. You've always been my best friend, and you're the most important person in my life. It's been a long time coming, but would you do me the honor of becoming a Whitlock? Would you be my wife?" My heart was in my throat, and I felt like I couldn't speak. I'd never been a huge fan of marriage, it was just a piece of paper to me. But this was Jasper, and Jasper knew me inside and out. I loved him, and he loved me, and I couldn't possibly say anything other than...

"Of course! Oh, wow, J!" I all but attacked him with my hug, and kissed him soundly, grinning without knowing it. With my face buried in his jacket shoulder, I mumbled, "You make me so happy, Jasper."

He must've heard it, because he turned to face me, the happiest I'd ever seen him, and squeezed me tight enough to take my breath away. "Oh my, my my, Isabella. You sure are a catch." I laughed so hard it was crazy, kissing him over and over until my lips were numb.

Our wedding was simple, neither of us was too fancy. I wore a white dress that had no frills or lace, just very basic. The bottom faded into a light shade of blue, but that was about it. I was more focused on the fact that I was marrying my Jasper, then any of the details.

It seemed like the whole town came, and our mothers cried tears of happiness. My father was grinning so big it rivaled mine and Jaspers, clapping my new father-in-law on the back and saying even though they hadn't really believed we'd get married, it was nice to be legally related.

All in all, it was perfect and amazing and more than I ever thought it would be. Right before we left for the honeymoon, my mom came up to me, tears in her eyes.

"Oh my my my, Bella, it was beautiful! You two are so happy it makes me cry. Your father and I love you, so much, and it's good beyond imagination to see you with someone as good as Jasper. He makes you happy, and that makes us happy. Don't forget to call, baby girl." And we hugged each other as she cried, bringing tears to my own eyes.

I felt truly complete then, as cheesy as it may sound. It was the beginning and the end of something great, and as I looked at my soulmate, my Jasper, I couldn't help but think, Oh my, my, my indeed.