Bryce

The week flew by. At least for me it did. It only took a day to get Ade and I moved into the Cullen's house. I ended up sharing a room with Alice while Adeline got the spare room. I did not mind rooming with Alice. We had a lot in common and she was fun to be around. A little too perky for my taste but that's what Alice was like. Her mood wore off on me sometimes though. I would have moments where if felt like I wanted to jump up and down for no reason at all. At first, I thought it was Jasper's doing but he promised he was not doing anything. I remember him smiling at me when he told me that I was just happy. Happy for no reason at all.

Well, that wasn't true. I knew then why I was happy. I had friends besides Adeline. I had people that understood my gift and did not try to lock me up for it. I had people that were going to help me and not hurt me.

I had a family.

It was not a perfect family though. That was all thanks to Edward and Adeline who fought like cats and dogs 24/7. I mean, they were at each other's throats non-stop. He would casually correct her on something and she would flip out and tell him that he is an egotistical, want to-be know it all who really does not know it all. Then she would somehow attack him with a sports ball and he would get her thrown out of the game. It was quite annoying when they both got to yelling but Esme would get them before they started breaking things.

Speaking of Esme, and Carlisle for that matter. They were amazing. Esme loved cooking for Adeline and me. She loved baking and watching the cooking shows on TV. I told her she needed to slow down on the sweets though. I already gained 5 pounds since we moved in. Carlisle was constantly asking me questions about my past and my powers but I still did not know too much about it myself. He was also working with Adeline and Edward to try to see who could be after me. They really were like the mother and father. They cared and protected us.

However, when it came to protecting me, Rose and Emmett were my guards. Emmett never let me out of site. At school, I'd find him peeking down the hallways and sometimes waiting at my classroom door. Rose would walk with me to every class and anytime someone got to close to me, she would glare at them. I wanted to tell them both that I was feeling better about being around people but it felt good to know that they understood. They didn't treat me as if I was fragile but they didn't think that I was completely okay now.

The last person in the house was the one that made me feel the most comfortable and normal. That was Jasper. He did not crowd me like Emmett and Rose but he was always there. We together in the classes that we had and he walked with me to my classes with Alice and Rose. On the really cloudy days, he'd lead me away from our crowded lunch table to sit outside on the patio. I liked those days. While I would eat, he would read from his journal aloud. Sometimes he would stray from what he had written but it was only to tell it in more detail. I asked him one day why he kept the journal after all these years and his answer almost made me cry. He said that he did not want to forget who he was before he was changed.

"I can't even remember who I was then," he told me as he flipped through the pages of the old journal. "I'm guessing my mother told me to write this."

"Why do you say that?" I asked after I swallowed a bite of mashed potatoes. He flipped to the first page of the journal and slide it over to me. I wiped my hands on my jeans and looked down at it. "'Ma, said that anything could happen in a war. She said that it is always good to have memories but if something bad happens, you could loose the best ones. Therefore, I am taking her advice and writing this. I do not wanna forget.'" I pushed the book back over to him and smiled. "Sounds like your mom was a wise woman."

He smiled sadly and shrugged his shoulders. "I wouldn't know but it seems like it."

As much as I would like to forget my past, I think it is what makes me stronger. Jasper did not even know what his childhood was like. All he had was a journal from the war and it was about the people he met and the things he did.

A sharp pain in my foot made my jerk my head up from my desk. I looked next to me and saw Alice's concerned face staring at me. This made me panic because Alice was never worried.

"What happened?" I whispered. Our history teacher didn't like talking while she was lecturing. Alice leaned over closer to me and put her hand on my forehead.

"Well, besides that fact that you are burning up and sweating your behind off, nothing." she said and frowned as she pulled her hand away. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." I breathed. "Anyway, how can you tell that I'm hot when you're freezing? Aren't I always hot to you?" She glared at me and raised her hand.

"You never sleep in class and you're hotter than usual," she whispered before raising her voice to the teacher. "Miss. Cannady, Bryce isn't feeling good. I think she might be really sick. Can I walk her to the nurse?" Mrs. Cannady stopped her lesson and walked over to me. She laid a hand on my cheek and frowned.

"By God, Miss. Dawson, you are burning up. Alice, please take her to the nurse." she scribbled out a pass and handed it to Alice before walking back up to the front of the class. Before I could even move out of my seat, Alice had both of our books and bags in her arms waiting for me by the door. I really hated when they pulled that crap.

"Hurry, much?" I mumbled as I passed her and walked into the hall. The first thing I noticed was Jasper speed waling down the hall towards me with a hard look on his face. He placed both of his hands on my arms when he got to me.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing's wrong but why are you out of class?" I asked and he looked over at Alice. He let go of one arm but Alice's hand replaced his. Then they proceeded to haul me down the hallway.

"I asked Edward to get Jasper to come with us. He's going to drive you home," she told me causally. I groaned and tired to root my feet to the ground. It didn't work.

"I'm fine. I don't need to go to the nurse and I don't need to go home." I protested.

20 minutes later...

"I'm fine." I whined as Jasper drug me to the car. He grunted and opened the door for me.

"You have a 104 degree temperature, Bryce. That's not fine." he helped me in the car and walked around to the driver's side. "You better be glad I'm not taking you to the hospital."

"Oh, but if the medicine Esme got doesn't work you will." I crossed my arms over my chest as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"You're right." he nodded. "That's what Carlisle said to do so I will follow his directions."

I turned in my seat and laid my hand on his. "But, Jasper, I feel fine." I stressed. "I don't feel sick at all." He wrapped his fingers around mine and squeezed.

"Bryce," he started softly. "A human's body runs at about 98 degrees. You're 104 right now. Even if you don't feel sick right now, you could get sick soon." he looked over at me and smiled a little. "I'm taking you home, pumping medicine in you and there's nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind. Just let me take care of you, okay?" I might have swooned if it wasn't for the fact that he said there was nothing I could do about it. I took my hand away from his and looked out the window. It looked like it was going to rain.

"Bryce." I ignored him and he sighed. "I worried about you," he admitted in a small voice. "I can't get sick. None of my family can. However, you, you can get sick and you can die. I don't want you sick or dying, Bryce." I could feel his emotions now. Not only in his voice but also in the waves he sent me. He was worried and he just wanted me better. He cared about me.

"Alright. I'll take the med's and take it easy." I gave in and I felt him reach for my hand again. I linked my fingers with his and pulled his hand over to my lap so I could wrap my other hand around his.

We stayed like that for the rest of the way home. The only time we let go was when we got out of the car and when he met me on my side of the car, he held his hand out again. I blushed when he winked at me and lead me into the house. Our moment didn't last long inside though.

"Oh honey, are you okay?" Esme attacked me with a fierce hug when I walked into the kitchen. That forced Jasper and me apart but I didn't have time to feel sad. Esme pushed me to the counter and pointed to a bowl of chicken noodle soup and two red tablets with a glass of water. "Take your medicine and see if you can eat. If you can't, don't worry about it." she patted my cheek and looked at the lock behind her. "It's 11 o'clock now so you take two more tablets at 3. If you are not cooler by 5, Carlisle said for us to take you to him. He's pulling a double today so he'll be there all night."

"Esme, really-" I started to protest but she shook her head and handed me the pills.

"Take them. Try to eat. Then rest." she told me sternly. I heard Jasper cover a chuckle and I glared at him. I grabbed the water and swallowed the pills before she could shove them down my throat. She smiled when I opened my mouth to show her I did take them. I stared at the soup and frowned.

"I'm not really hungry. Maybe I can go rest now?" I asked and she nodded fervently.

"Of course, dear. Jasper help her upstairs and lay her down. I'll be down here if you need me." she kissed my head and frowned when she pulled away. I guess I was much hotter today. Jasper took my hand and lead me out the kitchen.

"She loves playing mother." he whispered.

"Ya think?" I snorted and followed him up the stairs. "But I don't mind. I've just never had so many people care that I was sick." If I had not have been watching his back when he stopped, I would have run right into him. He turned to face me and I nearly melted at the look in his eyes. It was smoldering and loving.

"I've told you before, Bryce. You will never have the chance to feel unloved or uncared for again. Not while I'm around." he brushed a strand of hair from my face and leaned down to my ear. "And I don't plan on leaving you anytime soon." I felt my heart beating rapidly in my chest and for the first time in forever, I wanted him closer. He was a man but I wanted him to touch me. I looked up into his eyes just in time to see something flash through them. Whatever emotion I was projecting, and Lord knows there was a lot of them, must have snapped him back to reality and he turned back around.

"You need to rest. You can have my room. I have a leather couch that should keep you cool."

1 hour later...

After Jasper left me in his room, I crashed. I did not realize that I was so tired but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was a goner. It was not a good sleep though. My mind was racing while my body was resting. I could not help but be a little sad that Jasper did not stay with me when he brought me up here. Yes, I was sleepier than I thought but I rather expected him to stay a few minutes and talk with me. In the car and at school he was right by my side and wanted to make sure I was okay but now he was gone. I guess I must have really freaked him out on the stairs. I know my million raging feelings were probably a little annoying to him and I know he was still a little uncomfortable with humans but I thought...

Well, I thought that he liked me. I liked him and I know he probably felt that from the stairs. My need to feel him closer to me was the more present emotion on the stairs. The fact that he was a vampire might make this situation a little odd but I knew what I felt. I felt that we had a connection. I felt like a normal girl when I was with him. I didn't have to explain myself all the time. He just knew. He also didn't ask how I was feeling every 5 minutes. He knew that too. With him, I was not constantly reminded of having a bad past with men. He made me feel safe and protected. We just worked well together.

At least, that's what I thought. Maybe I read him wrong. Maybe I took his kindness for something more than it was. Maybe I was over exaggerating his feelings for me. Maybe I should have been born an empath so I could know what the hell was going on with him.

Thwap!

I jerked from my restless sleep and looked over at the window. It was storming. Bad. I knew it was not any later than 3 o'clock, because Esme would have woken me up for my medicine, and already it was pitch black outside. I rubbed my eyes and tried to sit up.

I stopped short.

My body was killing me and if I moved my head, I felt the bile rise up in my throat. Oh, now I felt sick. I laid my head back down and threw an arm over my face.

"Knock, knock." I moved the arm from my face in time to see Jasper walk into the room. I wanted to be happy about him coming to see me but my earlier thoughts conflicted with that. I saw him wince and I moved my arm back. "How are you feeling?" he asked in a soft voice. I could tell that he was still standing by the door and the distance he was all of a sudden putting between us made my angry.

"Fine." I spat. I heard him take in a sharp breath and waited for hi to either move closer or say something else. I wanted him to ask me what was wrong. I wanted him to tell me why he was so distant all of a sudden. I wanted to know why he even cared.

"Well, I just wanted to check on you. It's only noon so you still have a few more hours to nap." his tone didn't hold any emotion at all. "I'll be in the library if you need me." I heard the doorknob turn and in an instant, I was up on my feet, ignoring my aching and nauseous body.

"Ya know what; I'll go to my room." I stormed past him through the open door and into the hallway. "I don't want to crowd you or make you uncomfortable."

This time I didn't want him to say anything or try to make me feel better. I just slammed the door to my room and threw myself down on my bed.

Jasper

2 hours later...

I felt bad. I felt really bad. I knew that she was angry with me and she had every right to be. I was acting like an ass and that was unusual to me. Nevertheless, so were her feelings...the ones she felt for me. At least, I think she was feeling them for me. There wasn't anyone else on the stairs with us but why would she...want me? She is human. I'm a vampire. I could kill her. I could relapse and bite her. I highly doubt I would because I don't want to add to her pain but it could happen. Anything could happen...

Including her feeling things for me and me feelings things for her.

When I walked her to the room and left, I felt her sadness and when I came back and did not go near her, I felt her anger. She was still...wanting me but she was angry. She was conflicted. She wanted to be...close to me but she wanted me as far from her as possible. I don't want her to feel that way but I'm afraid to get too close to her. She is already too comfortable with me. Rose and Emmett said so. They told me to try to put some distance between us but I didn't want distance. I wanted her to feel comfortable around me. I wanted her to feel safe with me. I thought that it was progress but her bodyguards, Rose and Emmett, thought it might have been some kind of mental condition.

I think that they need to get new day jobs.

I pressed my ear to her bedroom door and sighed. She was sleeping still. I wanted to wake her up and apologize but she was still sick. I could tell that she was still in pain and not feeling good. I banged my head against the door lightly and gripped the doorknob. I turned it slowly and pushed it open. I scanned the room and saw her lying on her back on her bed.

She looked peaceful. I stood there for a moment debating whether to go in or not but decided against it. I grabbed the knob again and started pulling it shut.

"No." My head snapped up and I pushed the door open again. She was still asleep. But...

"No, Jasper. Please, no." she muttered. I walked into the room and froze when I was half way there.

She was scared. Frightened.

I ran to her bedside and kneeled down. She was sweating profusely.

"Bryce, wake up." She did not so I reached out to her arm. My plan was to shake her a little but the moment I touched her arm, her eyes shot open. I knew the moment her unfocused eyes met mine what was going on. I knew this look. She was having a vision.

"No, Jasper. Don't. Please." she panted. I grabbed both of her shoulders and shook her as hard as I could without hurting her.

"Bryce! Bryce, wake up. It's okay." I shouted but she didn't respond. Big tears were falling down her cheeks and her pain was unbearable. "Please, wake up." I begged.

"Don't. Hurt. No, please. Ade, wait!" she opened her mouth as if she were going to scream but no noise came out. Her eyes closed and opened back up.

"Bryce?" I whispered. She was shaking uncontrollably. I didn't move when her tiny hand reached out and touched my face.

"You're okay," she breathed. I nodded my head and covered her hand with mine.

"It was just a dream." I assured her but she wasn't having it.

"No, I thought so at first but it wasn't. When you touched me it became more vivid." she started crying again and I moved on to the bed to hold her in my lap. Her arms and legs wrapped around me as I held her to me. "Oh my God, Jasper. It was horrible. Horrible."

"Hush now. Calm down." I whispered into her ear. "Tell me what happened." A small whimper escaped from her lips and she pulled back a little. Our eyes met and I swear the world stopped.

"Jasper?" her voice sounded broken and soft. Her breath attacked my face in warm waves. How did she get so close?

"Yes." I whispered. In an instant, the feelings she had on the stairs were back but this time they were in full force.

One hand moved up my back and to my hair, tangling in and holding on for life. "Kiss me."

Sorry it's taken soo long. But I for some reason could not write for this. Now that I have my mojo back, I'll try my hardest to update everything regularly. I'm REALLY nerveous about this so please leave me some feedback.