AN: S.M. owns Twilight.

Chapter ten. Hidden treasures.

Dear Nan,

Vlad had to leave and get back to slaving away in the salon. Steve and I will miss him and it seems that we both are keen to stay for the whole summer and get to know this place thoroughly.

Before he left, Vlad managed to get his hands on Jasper's hair. He went into raptures and ended up whipping out his scissors, and gave Jasper a tiny trim and added a small shaped angled edge around his face. Then with a fair amount of product and fluffing, Jasper was pronounced perfect. (I already thought he was perfect)

Poor Jasper, he just shrugged and huffed.

I don't think he'd ever been near someone quite like Vlad before, and I told him I sympathized. I told Jasper how Vlad and his whole salon crew grabbed me, and did a whole lot of things to me on the morning I turned 16. It was such a new experience being fussed over and treated like a princess that I cried.

Jasper smiled and said that although he felt happy to have his hair cut by a professional, rather than hacking it off in his bathroom mirror like usual. He assured me that he wasn't likely to cry just yet. Though he said he probably would get emotional, if Vlad coloured his hair blue or purple.

I knew he was joking with me and Vlad, but I couldn't help myself when I turned to

Vlad and raised my eyebrows and said, "Jasper, you know some nice red streaks through you hair, would be just the thing to give you a lift and add that special something. What do you think Vlad?"

The look on Jasper's face was priceless, I started to giggle.

Vlad rolled his eyes and patted him on the shoulder, "don't listen to her sweetheart, she's just pulling your leg. I'd never dream of doing any such thing your hair really is perfect, I love it."

Jasper looked at me with a little grin, "you're going down Swan, I swear."

"Oooh, you're so scary, I'm shaking in my boots already." I smiled at him.

"Don't be prepared to start something you can't finish, little girl." he threatened.

"Yeah, yeah now I'm really scared." I started moving outside, in case he decided to retaliate, as I neared the doorway I turned and stuck my tongue out at him.

Jasper sprang up out of the kitchen chair and whipped off the towel around his shoulders and leapt in my direction. I dodged him and ran out into the garden and down the path. I wasn't going as fast as I wanted, because I was laughing so hard.

Jasper grabbed my waist, "aha! Now Swan what am I going to do with you, eh? How am I going to teach you not to mess with me?" he smiled as he pulled me closer.

I couldn't stop laughing, "Jasper, Jasper ok I'm sorry I was only joking, actually your hair is kind of perfect."

I straightened up and tried to look at him, but just went all beet-root red in the face. I ended up looking down at the path instead. I kicked the dirt and cleared my throat.

"Ahhh Jasper..."

"Yeah?"

"Umm, well I was wondering what kind of cake is your favourite?"

Jasper shook his head and grinned. "Favourite kind of cake... I can't actually say. I don't think I have one, why do you ask?"

I looked down at the path again, and kicked the dirt a few more times. I wasn't sure what to say. God this is so embarrassing.

"Oh, ok well, I just thought I could make it up to you by making something delicious like a cake; so that you might find it your heart to forgive me for being mean about your beautiful hair."

"Something delicious let me think... I could think of a few things ... But you're kind of young and I don't want to take advantage of your kind offer." Now it was Jasper's turn to be embarrassed.

"How about I make you a nice chocolate ganache cake, with a swirly marble frosting made with white and dark chocolate and some cherries on top? Can we call it quits and be friends then?" I took a deep breath and looked up at him biting on my bottom lip. What if he wasn't a chocolate lover? What if he liked savoury flavours instead?

Before he could even answer me, I quickly said, "or maybe you prefer a pie or casserole, or soup? I can cook just about anything, so just let me know, and I'll make it for you. 'Cause, you know, it's really important to me to not lose your friendship."

What the hell was wrong with me? Now I felt like crying, and I was having severe trouble just shutting up! He was going to think I was a complete and utter lunatic, with verbal diarrhoea. Oh my God! One minute I can't speak, the next I can't shut up!

I was still looking down and getting all emotional and stupid tears leaking out of my eyes. I wiped my hand over my face and turned to go back inside, so he wouldn't see me being an idiot cry-baby.

"Bella, Bella honey wait up." Jasper said quietly, "please don't cry! God I'm such a dick when it comes to saying the wrong things. Please forgive me, I was only teasing, you don't need to go to all the trouble of cooking for me." He came up and put his big long arm over my shoulders and started walking slowly inside with me.

"Look, I like having a friend like you. You're funny and perceptive and Truffles loves you." Jasper said sweetly.

"Yeah well Truffles loves everybody, she's not very discriminating. In fact she'd probably lick a burglar to death."

Jasper let out a sharp hoot, "I believe she would too. Anyway, about that cake, why don't you surprise me? I'm sure to love anything you cook."

"Why would you say that? I could be an appalling cook, who's delusional about how good she is. You can never tell what something tastes like, until you try it." I said, with more verbal diarrhoea.

Steve and Vlad had been listening all this time to our verbal sparring. "Well young Jasper, there's only one thing I can think of to say to you that's going to solve this dilemma." Vlad nodded.

"What's that?" he asked, quirking his right eyebrow up.

"You'll just have to make yourself available every evening, to come over and sample our little Bella's delightful culinary skills. Then you can find out what your favourite dish is." Vlad's smile was a mile wide.

Steve just nodded.

"It's just a pity that I won't be here to taste the great delights of Bella's kitchen. I've really got to go back before my salon falls to rack and ruin and Lakshmi and Luke have a tiff over how to make the best coffee, or which colour they will paint the salon next."

With last minute hugs and kisses and cautions of driving safety, Vlad finally got in his car and drove off with Steve looking quite tearful.

"So Miss Bella Swan, what's on the menu this evening?" Jasper asked cheekily using all the southern charm he could muster.

"It'll be a surprise. I hope you like Mexican."

"Hell yeah, it's right up my alley. I'll bring something from my aunt's garden, how about some salad ingredients?"

"That sounds absolutely fine Mr Whitlock, dinner will be served around six, so come over a bit earlier and you can show me how you like the dressing on your salad, ok?"

I gotta say Nan, those fellas sure can eat!

There was nothing left at the end of the night, even the fancy chocolate cake got demolished. It was like Steve and Jasper had hollow legs or something. And the praise! It's a wonder my head hasn't swelled up! You'd think Jasper hadn't ever eaten a decent Mexican dish in his life.

By the end of the night he was in raptures and Steve was agreeing with him.

I spent a little time outside looking up at the magnificent night sky. I swear every star was out blazing like diamonds.

Jasper caught up with me and we admired the sparkly sight together. When I asked him why he didn't bring his aunt over some time for a meal, Jasper said she was in New York at a big retrospective of her work at some fancy gallery. She wasn't expected back anytime in the next month.

I asked him if that freed up his evenings, and he said yes. Apart from the occasional pool tournament at his local watering hole, he was available to sample my cooking, if the offer was still open.

Of course I just nodded.

He thanked me for the best food he'd ever tasted and kissed my hand, again! He bid me sweet dreams and walked off into the night. I have to say he sure is easily pleased. Whoever said that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach wasn't wrong!

I get the feeling that's how you made sure Marcus never forgot you. All the food I cooked tonight, were recipes that you taught me. Nan, I'm so happy you and I spent so much time together talking and cooking. They are my favourite memories and I can re-live them any time, with those flavours of your heart.

I'll always love you Nan. Night, night. B xxx

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