A/N: Chapter Eleven is here! Keep up the reviews, they mean SO much to me! Love hearing what you all think! Thanks to my lovely beta Mimi. Check out her stories! Uhm, not much else to say so enjoy!
Banner! http:/www(dot)flickr(dot)com/photos/39135933N04/4975130839/
The door creaks open, breaking the kiss, as Edward gently pushes me behind him, preparing to brace Charlie's wrath.
"This counts as trespassing, you know," Edward calls.
"Uhm, since when is walking into your own house called trespassing?" Alice saunters in pulling a confused Jasper behind her.
"Never mind. Hey, Al. Jasper," Edward nods. "Was anyone outside?"
"Nope, not unless you count that creep-o cat that hangs out by the garage," Alice giggles as she pulls Jasper next to her and, in turn, he wraps his arm around her waist.
"Did we interrupt something?" Jasper asks looking between me and Edward.
I shake my head. "Nope, nothing interruptible was occurring."
Edward raises his eyebrow then chuckles slightly before stepping to the side. "Where did you two go to dinner?"
"Café de Paris, of course! We sat in that romantic little booth. The food was so amazing," Alice muses resting her head on Jasper's chest. "You two should check it out sometime," she adds a wink before taking Jasper's hand and pulling him towards the stairs. "Night Bella, night Edward!"
"Night," I give a slight wave.
Edward turns to give me a slight smile and watching his lips curve on his sculpted face causes one of those cheesy flashbacks to override my brain. I bite my lip as the image of the kiss radiates through my brain in full force. Edward's smooth lips against mine should be enough to force me back into his arms but it's not desire that settles in my heart, its confusion.
It's obvious that I have feelings for Edward but, to what extent? I care about him; after all, he is the one who showed me how to care for someone. What caring means; how it feels. I like Edward that I know for sure. But right now I'm not focused on trying to make him my boyfriend, or where we can go on our first date. I'm concerned about when my devilish father will appear next and what we'll have to endure. This isn't the time for love; it's the time for survival.
Confusion mirrors itself on Edward's face and I wish that I could have Charles Xavier from X-Men here to telepathically tell him to stop biting his tongue and spit out the shit flooding his mind.
"That wasn't weird, was it?" Edward finally speaks up.
"So, I think the coward ran off," I switch subjects.
It's not that the kiss was awkward; it's just that it's not the event occupying my wave length.
"Yeah, looks like it," he nods, peaking out the window. "Want me to check?"
"No, he'll make an appearance if he wants to be seen. No need to get our panties in a bunch."
"You said 'panties,'" Edward smirks.
"I said 'panties,'" I confirm with my own smirk.
This is the Edward I need. The Edward that makes me smile when my brain is doing shit flips. Shit, what am I even saying anymore? Fuck, I swear I need my own at-home neurologist.
Morning comes almost instantaneously and I can feel the unusual distance between Edward and I. I mean, we're like falling off the bed on separate sides. It's like we're in kindergarten again and we're worried that we'll catch each other's cooties. Hey kids, it's called STD's and they suck ass.
I quietly roll out of bed and tip toe downstairs, hoping to not cause a disturbance in the Cullen house. My stomach growls as I near the kitchen, giddy with the awaiting Lucky Charms. My eyes are still adjusting as I grab a bowl, pour the delectable charms in and swirl in the milk. I stick a spoon in and shuffle over to the table yawning, my eyes closed, and wearing morning glory Bella on my sleeve.
"Tired?" Jasper questions with a small laugh as he sets down his own bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and my eyes fly open with a gasp.
"Shit, you scared me."
"Well shit," he muses in that sexy accent of his.
I raise an eyebrow. "Picking on me now?"
"Who me? No, I'll leave that for Rosalie. She seems to get that down pretty well," his smile replaces itself with a frown as he sees the hurt on my face. "Really sorry about that, Bella."
Jasper's eyes lock with mine and I give him a small nod. The Cullen boys have a way with their words and features. Edward with his smirk and now Jasper with his comforting eyes. They send a wave of comfort over me as I take a bite.
Now that I think of it, I'm shocked Jasper's even talking to me and I'm shocked I'm even talking to him. From what I know, Jasper keeps to himself as much as I do. I guess we're kind of perfect people for early morning pow wows with a side of shitastic Lucky Charms.
"Where's Alice?" I break the silence.
"Early morning sale at Banana Republic," he chuckles. "Has to get some pretty shoes for a pretty dress," he enunciates 'pretty' with his thick accent which makes me laugh.
"Damn Jasper, you're like straight off the horse, aren't you?"
"Not far from it," he grins, swirling his cereal.
"Let's hear it, cowboy," I urge.
"If you insist, ma'am," he smirks. "I was born in Austin, Texas in 1986 at 5:23 am at Austin Central Hos-,"
"Spark Notes version, please," I laugh.
"Right," he chuckles. "Uhm, spark notes, spark notes. My mother battled depression most of her life, which didn't make life at home much easier," he starts and I immediately regret pushing him into telling me his life story.
"Jasper, you don't have to-,"
"It's the past Bella, it's good to talk about it," he reassures. "But if you'd rather me stop, just tell me." I shake my head and he continues.
"My father ran off shortly after my mother got worse, couldn't deal with it, I guess. Anyway, my mother blamed me for my father's leaving. It started with a shove and ended with me going through a glass window," he sighs looking down at his now empty cereal bowl. "I never blamed her for doing what she did, though. My mother was a good person; separate from her depressed self."
"Jasper…I'm sorry, really."
I wanted to shout out to him everything going on in my fucked up life right there, right now. I wanted him to tell me that everything ends sometime and that one morning Edward and I will wake up as our worries about Charlie are put to bed. For good.
"Like I said, the past is the past," he gives me a small smile.
I move across the table and sit next to him as I put my hand on his arm, doing my best to comfort him. I'm not a comforting-type person, but I can relate to him; even if he doesn't know it.
"I've got a few scars that used to remind me," he continues lifting up his sleeve to reveal his scarred arm. My mind skips back to showing Edward my own scars behind Forks One Stop Grocery. The abnormal shakiness in my voice as I opened up to my bag boy. Jasper's voice is a complete 180: calm, smooth, normal. His voice gives me hope that one day mine will be the same. I won't cry or get pissed off when someone tells me I have "daddy issues" or when someone asks how my father's doing. One day, I'll be able to look back on my life and see it as a stepping stone, not as a blockade. The thought is so close, yet so far away.
"But after I met Alice, the scars didn't remind me of how my troubles ruined my life, they remind me about how everything comes to an end. And with an end, starts something new. And my new wears red heels and a pretty white dress," he grins as Alice skips in.
"I got the shoes!" She cheers as she plops down on Jasper's lap, giving him a quick kiss.
"I knew you would," he grins, securing her.
"Morning, Bella. Sleep well?"
"Not bad," I nod, giving her a smile.
The smile's not fake and it's not pity for Jasper having to deal with the hyperactive Alice. It's genuine. Alice was a life boat when all Jasper needed was a raft. Kind of what Edward is like to me…
"I'm going to get changed, congrats Alice," I toss her one more smile then pat Jasper's hand once more. "Good girl talk, Jasper."
I wash out my empty cereal bowl then practically sprint out of the room as Jasper and Alice "reunite". I walk back upstairs without a sound and watch a sleeping Edward from the doorway.
I'm the Titanic and Edward is my lifeboat. I sigh knowing what I have to do as I climb into bed next to him. I scoot closer then plant a soft kiss on his forehead. "Thank you, Edward. For everything."
Sleep or not asleep, the effort has been made.
"Did Bella Swan just thank someone?" Edward grins as he rolls over, almost knocking me back before rescuing me with his cool hands.
Not asleep.
"Uhm, yes. Yes I did."
"What would be the occasion? Am I dying?"
"Jasper just told me about his life," I nod. "Made me realize what you do for me, so…thank you."
"Well, thanks Bella. That means a lot."
"Sure…but please, don't get all Hallmark card on me. I've acted like too much of a girl today. Gab session in the kitchen with your brother, I comforted him. And now I kissed your forehead. This cannot be good."
"Very true, I thought super heroes didn't kiss?"
"They don't, ass wipe."
"Now that I think of it, I kiss my grandmother's forehead. So, I really wouldn't freak out over it," he smirks.
"Phew. I was almost going to have to write in my Diary about it," I stick out my tongue.
"Let me guess," he purses his lips, looking at the ceiling before directing his attention back to me. "Pink, fluffy, red lipstick marks all over the cover? Possibly a kitten bookmark?"
"Guilty," I laugh, untangling Edward's hands from my waist, which I now realize was kind of awkward. "But as for the kitten bookmark? It's a pony. Please get it right."
"You know you can kick me out whenever you want. I won't act like some lame-o on Jerry Springer."
"Comforting thought," Edward chuckles as he nudges my side as we sit on the back steps of the Cullen house. "But, I don't plan on evicting you anytime soon."
"Are you sure your family doesn't mind?"
"Entirely sure."
"I mean, what do they think?"
"Your house is being tented, Charlie is putting in extra shifts at the station to pay for the expenses and you are bunking with the best bag boy in town," he smirks.
"Damn, Edward. You're like a lawyer or some shit."
"Thank you?"
"Oh, you're welcome. They make a shitload of money."
"So, all that matters in life is money?"
"Course not. World domination is the second half."
Edward snorts and I elbow his side. "You are a sick, sick person, Isabella Swan."
"Back off, Cullen or I'll sick my henchmen on you."
Jasper must have squealed on our pow wow to Alice because the next thing I know, I'm sitting in Edward's Volvo driving to some bar with Alice, Jasper and the lawyer. Alice is squeezing my hand in the back seat, Jasper taking the front with Edward, and is bouncing up and down.
"Edward said you wouldn't let us take you out, but he was so wrong!"
"So wrong!" I cheer sarcastically as I see Edward's eyes in the rear view mirror and hear his quiet laugh. I give him a quick glare before turning back to my newly found Care Bear. I'm just glad she didn't make me match her sequined party top. Oh the horror.
We exit the Volvo into the cold, Forks night and rush into Big City Tavern. Big city my ass, this is Forks people. Population 3,120. Try Seattle. Edward holds the door open as Alice and Jasper rush in to get us a spot at the bar.
"You suck," I throw daggers at Edward.
"For once, I have no part in this whatsoever," he says, ushering me inside.
I roll my eyes. "You have a part in everything, Edward. Just don't let me drink more than two whatever's."
"Only two? Are you that bad?"
"Two. Two unless you want to hear about my vacation with my dementia ravaged grandmother. Two words: Sponge. Bath." I shudder.
"Shit," Edward shudders too. "Two it is."
I stick to my limit of two, Edward doesn't exceed three and Alice has her share of three and a half "Sex on the Beach". I don't know how or why there is a drink called "Sex on the Beach" but I do know that it is blue and it comes in a fishbowl. Jasper. Jasper, Jasper, Jasper. Where the hell do I begin? This "quiet, keep to himself guy" has had three Mudball shots and -one, two, three, four - five Jack Daniels.
Alice wanders to the bathroom, pulling me with her.
"Oh my gosh, isn't this so fun?" she asks as she does her business.
"This definitely beats my second cousin's Bar Mitzvah," I agree. Why the hell am I having a stall-to-stall conversation?
Alice emerges from the stall shortly after I dry my hands, washes her hands and re-applies her lip gloss. "Let's go!" she giggles, grabbing my hand and running back to the boys. But, only one boy is found.
"E-Edward, where's Jazz?" Alice panics slightly.
Edward is in a fit of laughter as he points to the karaoke stage. There Jasper stands, leaning on the microphone, singing the one and only "The Circle of Life."
"Oh…my…god."
"It's the Circle of Life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the Circle
The Circle of LIFE!"
Jasper squeaks through the song and occasionally finishes off another Jack Daniels.
Jasper - 6. Safety of the ears of patrons at the bar -100.
A few cheers erupt in the crowd and poor Jasper, who won't remember this in a mere 10 hours, thrusts his hand into the air as the song concludes and finishes by kicking the microphone stand over.
"Time to go," Edward says as he rushes to the stage to help his drunk, out of his mind, brother.
"Aw, no encore?" I pout with a smirk.
"Oh, please no," Alice giggles.
We manage to get Jasper buckled in the back seat without much of a fight.
"Y-ou…g-guys…k-kn-ow…how t-t-to…r-rock!" he stutters.
"No, Jasper. That's all you, my friend. All you." I correct.
"Hey, Jazz. Sing Celine Dion next time, will ya? Edward asks, laughing.
"A-anything…f-for my b-brother."
"Ah, Jasper's first drunk experience. Anyone have a camera?" Edward asks.
"No, no no! I look like a m-mess!" Alice pleads.
I free my phone from my pocket and stretch around in my seat. "Sorry, Al."
"Bella. DON'T!"
I position my phone, my finger on the capture button.
"BELLA!"
"Smile!"
Alice strikes a pose as Jasper tries to smile, but you know those drunken pictures hiding in your closet, he looks trashed.
"Wasssssss up!" He yells.
Edward, Alice and I manage to get Jasper upstairs and in bed. We say good night as he sits up and high fives us. Right before he…throws up all over Edward.
"Worse than sponge bathing your grandma?" Edward asks, pinching his nose as his eyes flutter.
"Considering you have a mixture Jack Daniel's and Gold Fish covering your body? I'd go with…fuck yes for 200, Alex Trebek."
"Run."
"Aye, Aye, Captain!"
A family. Something I've never even dreamed of having has become what I need most. Although this certain family may be covered in Jack Daniels and Gold Fish…I think they'll do. It's up to me now. They've made it clear that I'm a welcome member; I just can't fuck it up.
