A/N: HEY. GUESS WHAT. I'M NOT DEAD! I deeply apologize for my lack of updates.
Since school has started, I have been kept up with a shit load of homework (Thanks, Mrs. History Teacher.); so I haven't been able to write much.
That, and the only time I've managed to get on a computer lately; was to research schools, since I'm switching schools due to some very shitty people. Or type up notes for my Speech Communication class (To any of you kids in high school taking that-Nerves are HORRIBLE. First speech was last week. After I presented, I was shaking so bad I started crying. Pretty pathetic huh?) Or go to Google Translate so I can cheat with my French papers. Or look up heated water dishes for meh chickens this upcoming winter.
That, and I have kind of taken up a new job. I've been doing people's nails for them. I am a very artistic person, and nail art is one of my newest hobbies. If any of you would like to see what I can do, I'll happily send a link to the album I've got. :3

Wooah. Long author note.^ Anywhoo. ENJOY.

x~o~x

Guarded

Chapter 10

It was early morning when Jasper had suggested they go out together. Though Rosalie wouldn't admit it, she was grateful for him. It was sweet of him to try to distract her from thinking of what she couldn't have—but she somewhat doubted that it would work; since he was yet another thing she knew she couldn't have.

First she had her innocence stolen by Royce. Then Carlisle changed her, and even though he saved her from dying; she had lost her human life, and her ability and hope to one day have a child.

And then Mr. Tall Blonde and Handsome walks into her life; with his mate, Mrs. Small, Petite and Annoying. Boy; didn't that just brighten her already pathetic life.

God, what're you even thinking? He was never yours to begin with.

She supposed it was true. People really did crave what they couldn't have.

Rosalie tried to push these thoughts away as she felt a warm, soothing contentment creep up into her. She looked ahead of herself at Jasper; her hand in his; leading her to wherever he had in mind. He was so incredibly sweet; so kind and patient to her—while she had just been vile and cruel and uncaring. She felt horrible for treating him the way she had.

He was such a true gentleman.

Whose hand she was touching right now, at this exact moment. Who knew that just one small touch, one gesture that probably didn't mean anything at all; could send little shivers up and down her entire arm, and set butterflies fluttering about in her stomach?

She silently prayed she could mask those feelings, keep them from Jasper's knowledge.

After they left the house, hours later, they reached a small forest; in a place that Rosalie did not recognize.

"Jasper, where are we?" She asked warily.

"It's a surprise," he said. He paused, sensing her apprehension. "Don't worry about a thing, Miss Rosalie. We'll be there soon enough."

She nodded, and gulped. She was nervous. She knew she shouldn't be, but ever since Royce had left her in the streets, she didn't like being alone with men—especially so far from her family.

But, Jasper would never hurt her. Would he?

It was almost dark when he stopped them, now deep into the small forest. There was a wall of bushes in front of them; blocking the path.

He smirked at her, gripped her hand tighter; and jumped into the bushes, taking her with him. Rosalie yelped, and started swatting away the brambles and leaves that blocked her path. Soon, though; Rosalie tumbled out of the bush; Jasper already standing nearby.

He stood above her, and began chuckling as he watched her desperately comb out little broken off twigs and leaves from her hair. "Jasper!" She yelped at him, anger filling her. "You better pray to God you didn't just mess up my hair!"

He sauntered over to her, still snickering. "Relax, Rose," He said, a smug smirk plastered across his perfect and scarred features. "You look as stunningly beautiful as always, Miss." His smirk turned into a shy smile at that, as he looked at his feet.

Rosalie felt a rush of exhilaration go through her at the compliment. She was used to people fawning over her beauty; but with him, it was different. If she was human, she had no doubt she'd be blushing.

Jasper sat down right next to her, and stared at her, as if he was waiting for her to say something.

"What?" She said, still combing her fingers through her hair.

He cleared his throat. "Well… What do you think of it?"

Rosalie blinked. "Of what?"

His brows furrowed slightly. Rosalie couldn't tell if he was suddenly annoyed or worried about her. "This," He said, using his arm to gesture to everything around him. "We're here. I thought—I thought this was the best place to go…"

Rosalie's eyes widened. "Oh!" She gasped out. She had not realized this was the place Jasper had in mind. She looked around her.

They were in a grassy area, a clear, freshwater creek surrounding them. There were dozens of kinds of flowers everywhere; lilacs, poppies, roses, peonies, forget-me-nots, rhododendrons—and several more Rosalie couldn't name. The creek had a rocky edge bordering it; and a waterfall cascading down into it.

It was the most beautiful and colorful place Rosalie had ever been.

"Wow," she breathed. She turned back to Jasper, her eyes wide. She saw him biting his lip, and could feel some of his nervousness leaking onto her.

"Look—I—I know that this may not be your kind of thing; but—if you don't like it, we can…we can go somewhere else—"

She started laughing at him. Christ, how long has it been since you've been able to genuinely laugh?

"It's perfect," she assured him, smiling. "I love it. It's gorgeous. Where are we, exactly?"

Jasper sheepishly grinned at her, his eyes beaming. "It was my favorite place when I was human—still is. I always came here when I was angry or upset and needed to clear my head… The sounds of the and waterfall definitely help with that."

He sighed a contented sigh, and laid down on the grass to look up at the darkened sky. "I haven't been in here in well over eighty years." He whispered to her sadly.

"I'm assuming you used to live here? Close by, at least?" She asked him.

"Yep. It was a two mile walk from the Whitlock household."

Rosalie laid down next to him on the bed of grass. "I wish I lived in a place like this," She said sadly.

"Where did you come from?"

"Rochester." She wrinkled her nose.

"City girl, huh? What was it like, living in New York?"

"It was… alright, I suppose. I used to love it there. But now I look back on it; and I wish I had never lived there." Her face twisted up in disgust, as her memories of Royce flashed back to her for a moment.

"Huh…" Jasper said, appearing to be contemplating it. "I always thought it'd be better there than here in good ole Texas."

"Texas? That's where we are?" She turned to him.

He responded with one curt nod.

Rosalie's face scrunched up in confusion. "I… I don't understand. What made you want to leave this place? It's just.. So peaceful, and—just wonderful."

"I'm not really sure why I left either, Miss Rosalie. I joined the army when I was just sixteen or seventeen. I was tall enough to pass off as twenty, so they let me in. To this day, I am still the youngest major in the Confederate Army." He turned to her, and gave her a sad smile. "It was also how I got changed."

Her eyes widened at that. She had heard Carlisle talk of how wars benefited vampires. So much blood would be spilled, vampires could just go to the battle grounds and take their pick. And sometimes, they don't finish completely when it comes to a still live human. And then, after a few days time, that same human could've emerged as a vampire too.

She remembered him talking about his friends who were changed this way. Liam, the mate of the Irish Coven's leader; and Garrett, a nomad.

Her stomach clenched at the thought of Jasper having to go through something such as that.

"Wh—what do you mean?" She stuttered, afraid to know.

"Nothing too terrible, Darlin'. I was out doing patrols one day; searching for wounded soldiers. It was nighttime, and I came across these three women. Now, of course they were the most beautiful I'd seen in my human lifetime—they were vampire, of course. The leader of their group thought I'd be of great use to them; so they changed me. " He grinned at her, weakly.

"Oh," she replied. "Why'd you leave them?"

He paused. "I got tired of their lifestyle," he said after awhile. "So I ran off on my own. That's where Alice came in," He smiled. "It was raining. I ran into the nearest place I could find—an old smoky diner. And there she was. Waiting for me to arrive."

Rosalie felt her heart drop at the mention of hername. "Right," she said quietly.

"But enough about me," Jasper quickly said, sensing her mood. He turned to lay on his side, propping his head up with one arm. "Tell me about your life in Rochester."

"Oh, it was—it was great, I guess. Well—most of it was. I was born during the Great Depression. My father was a banker, my mother was a housewife. I had two younger brothers—Harold and Kingsley. But, it was always clear I was the favorite out of us… My parents would spoil me like no other. And I was praised constantly because of my looks. I had people fawning over me left and right" She cringed slightly. She hated her beauty.

Jasper nodded, urging her to continue. She took a deep breath, nervousness and fear sneaking up on her as she saw flashes of Royce and his friends that night.. The way they tore her clothes apart… The way they penetrated her in all openings… The way they'd cut her, and hit her if she didn't obey…

No.She wasn't ready to tell him yet.

"I—I—don't exactly recall-remember how I got changed, really. I just know that I was walking home from my best friend's house; and then ending up in the street; bloodied and bruised." She took a deep breath, her breathing turned shaky. "That's—that's when Carlisle found me."

Rosalie shut her eyes. You killed them years ago. They won't come back. You're safe now.

She desperately hoped that Jasper would believe her lie.

She opened them to see Jasper's lips puckered. It didn't seem like he was buying what she told him; but he didn't ask any further questions; which Rosalie was thankful for.

It was quiet after that. Rosalie stared up at the starry night sky. You'd never see a sky like this in New York,she thought to herself.

She turned back to Jasper, who was still turned to her. Their eyes met, and Rosalie felt weakened. She could swear, she felt little shocks of electrical current run through her each time her gaze met his.

Jasper sat up, and stared at the bush wall ahead of them. He seemed deep in thought about something.
Rosalie did the same, thinking that they were probably leaving soon.

"Rosalie?" Jasper whispered breaking the silence.

"Yes?"

"I know we really haven't been talking for long, but… Do you trust me?"

She blinked. Unsure of what he was going to do. She could feel a slight anxiousness creep up on her. She nodded.

He beamed at her. His eyes were filled with a sudden confidence.

Jasper cupped her face and leaned forward. Before she could figure out what he was doing, his lips had met hers.

Rosalie felt a whirlwind of emotions. He was kissing her softly, his lips barely pressed against hers. Rosalie then roughly pulled him against her by his shirt against her; her fingers weaving themselves into his honey blonde hair. His large hands pulled her into his lap, and rested on her slim waist. She felt his tongue dart out to ask for entrance, and she obliged. He tasted like blackberries.

Just as soon as it had happened, she pushed him away in a panic. Rosalie stood up against the wall bush; and stared at him in absolute horror.

In a split second, she took off; running through the forests of Texas; wanting to get far, far, far away from him.

Oh god… She thought. Oh god.. No.. God no.. He couldn't have—Alice—no… Royce-

Rosalie knew all too well that tears would be plummeting down her face if she was human.

x~o~x

A/N: Sooo. Hit the little review button and leave a little note for me. O: I appreciate those very much. :D