Bella's POV
"You're what?" I ask.
He doesn't look away. The weight of his stare is too much. His fingers clasp my wrist, tight. I notice how strong he is and how breakable I used to be. "I am," he whispers breathlessly, "in love with you, Bella Swan."
"No." I spin around, and run for the door. Before I know it, I'm no longer in the house, but just outside it.
I pace back and forth, fear and anger battling for dominance over my mind. Every emotion feels enhanced, making it hard to remember to think.
He's lying. Like Edward lied. He will leave me. He will abandon me when things get tough. He won't stick around. He won't love me forever. And that's what I'm stuck with now.
Forever.
Filled with so much anger, I scream. It's a horrible, miserable sound that cracks the earth and splits open the sky. I start running for the trees lining the backward. With one tug of my wrist, a tree is uprooted from the ground. It takes nothing for me to throw it.
The crack of wood against woods is deafening. So much so my scream is drowned out by it, but that's okay because I have a thousand screams lodged in the back of my throat.
"Bella," Jasper says. He's standing, arms crossed, by the garage.
"You don't love me," I tell him forcefully.
"I do."
"Stop it!" Another tree flies into the woods.
"Why won't you believe me?"
I turn to him. He's beautiful. More beautiful than I remember him being, but my eyes see things clearer now. I can see just how perfect he is. Too perfect. "I've heard those words before," I say bitterly. "I trusted in those words, and I was left heartbroken when they failed me."
"Bella," he says gently. "I am not Edward, nor will I ever be."
"I'm not going to fall into the same trap twice," I shoot back.
"You're angry!" he yells when I start walking into the woods, away from him. "You're confused and hurt. I get that, Bella! But you need to listen to me. So help me if you don't stop and hear me out, I will never stop following you. You won't be able to escape me. You can run for an eternity, but I will find you every single time."
I freeze. I can't seem to move. My feet have grown roots, and the roots are tangling their way into the core of the earth.
I hear him approach me. He moves cautiously, like one would with an abused dog. "The day I met Alice, she told me something," he says softly. "She told me about a girl. I wasn't given a name, but she told me if I waited for this girl, she would be my everything."
The back of my neck tingles when I feel his cool breath caress my skin. His fingers clasp my wrists gently but with a firmness I know is meant to keep me from running away. "I waited," he whispers in my ear.
His lips brush against my cheek. I can hear his smile. "I waited for you," he tells me.
"Jasper," I gasp. "Please."
I don't know what I'm begging for.
"I chose you, sweet Bella. I will always choose you." He presses his face into the crook of my neck. "Even if you don't choose me," he says quietly.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask, needing to know why he kept everything from me for so long.
"You picked Edward."
Those three words answer most of my questions. He chose me, but I chose Edward, and he kept his feelings to himself. Probably for the sake of his family. Then when Edward left, he must have thought I wasn't ready to hear the truth, and I wasn't really.
I gently pry his fingers off of my wrists, and I turn around to face him properly. "I asked Jacob out on a date because I realised I had feelings for you, which I thought was bad because of Alice."
I say the words calmly as if I'm not scared out of my mind. If I was still human, my heart would be racing and my voice would be shaking. I feel a sharp pain at the thought that my heart will never beat again, but I push it away when I see Jasper's eyes clear.
The smile he gives me makes him look younger. "You have feelings for me?" he asks. The way he says it, so hopeful, breaks my useless heart.
I see Edward in my mind's eye, causing me to hesitate. I have to bury the image deep. Jasper isn't Edward. Jasper isn't Edward. Jasper isn't Edward.
He stayed. He saved my life. He says he loves me. And I care for him. I would be an complete idiot to push him away.
Feeling shy, I look up at him from under my eyelashes. "I do," I say firmly.
The words trigger something in him because suddenly his lips are on mine, and he's pressing me to his body as if he wants us to become one. Pulling away, he laughs happily. "Bella," he says my name on an exhale.
His lips find mine again. His touch is desperate and needy. His hands ask for more when he slips them under my shirt, his fingers blazing a fiery trail up my sides. His tongue begs for entrance into my mouth, and I part my lips, desperate for more as well.
"Well, this is a pretty sight."
Breaking out of Jasper's embrace, I spin towards the vampire not five feet away from us. "Edward," I murmur, temporarily confused.
He's different. Everything about him is...more. I couldn't see him with my human eyes, but I can see him now. The sight of him turns my brain to mush. My thoughts are all scrambled. I'm not sure what to do.
Though Jasper doesn't seem to have the same problem. "Edward," he greets stiffly. "This is a surprise." He doesn't even try to make it sound like he's happy to see him.
"I gathered," Edward replies, his entire body tense.
Edward's eyes glide from Jasper to me, then back to Jasper again. His face is emotionless, and I'm about to open my mouth to say something when Alice comes skipping out, the backdoor slamming shut behind her.
"Bella!" she calls out happily. Her graceful approach distracts me from Edward.
Her hair is styled differently. No longer is it sticking up in all directions. She's got it curled around her face, the ends just touching her jawline.
What a silly thing to notice, I think.
Her thin arms wrap around me fiercely. "It's so good to see you again," she says cheerfully.
I can't help but smile at her exuberance. "It's good to see you too, Alice."
She smiles, causing her dimples to make an appearance. "I can't wait to start shopping! You're going to need a whole new wardrobe to go with your new look."
I make a face at the mental image her words create. "It will be fun," she scolds lightly. It hasn't even been an hour since she's been back and already she's forcing me to go shopping.
"Jasper, how are you?" she asks slyly, finally focusing on someone other than me.
Reluctantly, Jasper drags his eyes from Edwards stiff form. He grins down at Alice affectionately. "Just fine, Alice."
"I know. I had a vision," she says, smiling at us knowingly. "I'm sorry we intruded."
"It's fine," I say, looking to Edward. I attempt a smile, but find I have nothing to give but a tired grin.
"As glad as I am to see you Alice, what are you doing here?" Jasper asks.
I notice how he isn't even acknowledging Edward's presence now. Edward notices as well, if the dark look on his face is anything to go by.
Sobering, Alice glances back at her brother. "I saw you change Bella," she explains. "Edward wanted to see the change for himself."
The boy I fell in love with all those months ago, stares at me as he closes the few feet separating us. "Bella," he says, his melodic voice not as distracting as it was when I was human, but still overwhelming enough to leave me feeling off balance.
"Hi," I say lamely.
Jasper steps closer to me, and his arm curls around my waist, the touch undoubtedly possessive.
Alice smiles at the less than subtle move; Edward's jaw tenses. "I see a lot has changed in my absence," he remarks.
"Yes," Jasper replies coldly.
I glance up at Jasper. He's upset and I don't need to have his power to know he's worried. I make a decision then without really giving it much thought. "Jasper was going to take me hunting," I tell Edward and Alice. "I think we should do that now."
The ache in my throat has gotten worse, and it's starting to hurt. It's an uncomfortable sensation. One I'm not looking forward to dealing with for the rest of time.
Alice nods in understanding, and grips Edward's arm, taking him with her as she heads back to the house. "Take your time!" she says.
Once both of them are inside, I reach for Jasper's clenched fist. "Ready to teach me how to hunt?" I ask, smiling.
He doesn't return the smile, but he stops glaring at the house, so I consider it a victory. "I'm not sure how you have waited so long," he murmurs thoughtfully. "Newborns are not supposed to have as much control as you are exhibiting."
I laugh. "I've always been different."
He gazes at me, awe in his liquid eyes. "Yes."
I tug him into the woods. "Come on. I'm famished," I tease.
Gradually, he loosens up, a smile finding its way back to his face. I feel happy as I charge into the woods, Jasper right behind me. "Keep up if you can!" I yell over my shoulder playfully.
His laugh rings out through the forest. It makes me feel alive. He makes me feel alive. He's been there for me. He's been my friend. He's helped me, and he's loved me. How could I do anything else, but love him back?
Hunting had been...interesting. I caught a buck, but I managed to tear my clothes and get most of the animal's blood on my person rather than down my throat.
Jasper had gotten a good laugh out of my clumsiness, but he reassured me it would get easier. He better be right. I definitely don't want to be the only clumsy vampire in existence.
I make out the house through the trees, and I stop walking. "Bella?"
I tighten my grip on his hand, hoping to put him at ease. "When we get back to the house I want to talk to Edward alone."
"That's a horrible idea," he states decisively, authoritatively.
"Trust me, Jasper. I know what I'm doing."
He looks like he's about to argue, but he doesn't. Letting go of my hand, he puts some distance between us. "I could use a run. I'll be back in a little while," he says unexpectedly.
I'm left standing there alone after he's gone, worrying for him. Sighing, I shove my hair up into a ponytail. He thinks I'm going to choose Edward again. The thought has crossed my mind. My first love is back and we're both vampires. The set-up is perfect. Except...there's Jasper now.
Edward and I have some things to discuss.
I'm sorry! Don't worry though. Bella's smart. She'll make the right decision. And thanks for the lovely comments. You guys are the best. :)