A/N: Another chapter so soon?!? :) LOL, well yeah I am posting another chapter right away because, well, I won't get a chance to post again until early next week. Sad huh? Well you can blame my other obsession (Harry Potter) and the fact that I am a geeky gamer who is itching to play the new video game that just came out :)

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, pm'd and all that jazz. You guys rock and I can't get enough of you all!

Lea! My beta, my friend, my sister – THANK YOU!

Disclaimer: Alas…..I still don't own……*sigh*

Jasper POV

All I could do was sit there and stare. Bella is going on a date. A date that isn't with me. Why did I wait? Why didn't I just grow some balls and ask her? Because you were trying to give her time to get over Edward. Yeah, well, a lot of good that did – she is apparently more than ready. You didn't know – gentlemanly thing, remember? Oh fuck me.

While my head continued to have an inner battle with itself; Bella continued to ask me things I couldn't hear. Her mouth was moving but no words were coming out. I looked passed her face and saw Alice looking right at me. She mouthed an 'I'm sorry' and then directed her attentions back to Jacob and Emmett. I felt the fissure in my heart start to crack a little bit more as I sucked it up and concentrated on Bella. "I'm sorry, what'd you say Bella? I was zoning out a little bit."

"I was asking if everything was alright and wondering if you were having a good time, but now I know that you were zoning out I have to ask…what's up?" She had a peculiar look on her face. I am sure she was trying to work out the puzzle in her head of what was going on in mine.

I shook my head and looked around the table briefly noticing that nobody was paying attention to us – or at least trying not to. "Oh, nothing. Just thinking about some old memories….." Hope she bought that - time to deflect. "…so…" I cleared my throat, "you're going out tomorrow night? Need me to watch Elizabeth?"

"Oh no…no…I can't ask you to do that. I am going to have my mom watch her. After my date I'll pick her up and come home." Home. She thinks of my house as home. God this is killing me. Is she going to bring him home? Fuck that. I may be able to stand by and watch her leave our home to go on a date, but I'll be damned if she brings him back to my place.

"Oh. Okay." The rest of the dinner passed without much speaking between Bella and I. Honestly, you could probably have cut the tension in the air between us with a dull butter knife. It was ridiculous and I am sure that all the other people at the table could tell too. Not to mention the death glares that Alice was spreading around pretty much kept everyone off the topic of Bella, me or her date. How did she not notice or realize my feelings for her when everyone else so obviously did?

An hour later we said our goodbyes and planned to meet up with everyone back at the condo tomorrow to move the rest of the stuff. Bella had said she had decided she was going to hand over the condo to Edward, having him pay for his half, so she was going to leave some of the bigger pieces of furniture. We picked up Elizabeth from her mom's on the way back to the house and got home around eight o'clock. I promptly went to bed claiming exhaustion was taking over me. Really, I just wanted to be left alone.

The following morning we got ready for the day and left at nine in Bella's truck. We took Elizabeth to her school since she was in her final two weeks before school got out for the summer and Renee had informed us she would pick her up. She really is a sweet woman.

We entered the condo and found that Alice, Rose, Jacob and Emmett had gotten there far before us. The rest of the boxes were packed up and lined up against one of the walls neatly waiting to be moved. The furniture we were taking was pulled out and waiting to be moved. And all the appliances were unplugged and waiting. The washer and dryer were being left for him. Alice came flying out of Bella's bedroom moments later. "Isabella Swan! What do you call this?" She was waving a couple tee shirts and pants around in front of her.

"Um…clothes?" Bella said cautiously.

"How are you supposed to go on a date without any date wear?" Seems like "old Alice" is back. Bella had told me all about Alice's obsession with all things fashion and how much she loved to play "Barbie Bella". I wonder if I am witnessing that infamous side of her now.

"…Uh…I haven't gone on a date since high school Alice. I was just going to wear something comfy….like jeans and a tee shirt." Bella grabbed the clothes out of her hand and threw them in a bag continuing to pack things up.

"Not happening with me here. If the boys will agree – I think they can handle moving this stuff on their own. You, me and Rose are going to go shopping for a new outfit and get you ready for tonight."

"Alice, no! My date isn't until 8:00, its only 9:30am! I can't ask the guys to move my stuff without me here to offer whatever assistance I can." Jacob walked over to where Bella was stuffing clothing into a suitcase. He threw his arm over her shoulder and gave me a quick glance.

"Bella, Bella, Bella. You need to go out and have some fun. You act like a middle aged woman more often than not. Really, go with them. There isn't much you can do to help with the moving today. It's all heavy furniture that only us guys should be moving. It won't take long."

Alice let out a girly little squeal, grabbed her purse and ripped Bella out of the apartment with Rose trailing behind them. I heard Bella's truck downstairs start up and peel away out of the parking area – Alice must be driving. I looked over at the guys. "Is Alice always like that?" I asked hesitantly. Emmett busted up laughing as he picked up a little coffee table and headed down stairs to the little moving truck they rented. Jacob answered me though.

"Yeah. I swear she never calms down. But she loves to dress Bella up and she hasn't gotten to in a very long time….I doubt you'll get to see Bella again until after her date tonight." I just shook my head at his statement and started to help them load the moving truck while trying to push all of the thoughts from my head. Bella obviously doesn't like me. I could have sworn that at times she did – like the kisses. One does not kiss like that with so much passion and not have feelings behind it. Well, at least that is what I thought. Perhaps Bella is just a really really good kisser.

By 4:30 Emmett, Jacob and I had cleared Bella's condo out of everything she wanted to take and had it completely moved into my house. Most of it went into the spare bedrooms until we figured out where to put it. The guys left with the moving van to return it before closing time and to meet up with the girls to catch their late flight home tonight. Apparently shopping for a date outfit did indeed take all day. They weren't even back to the hotel yet from shopping. I really won't see her until she gets done with her date. Would it be immoral to hope and pray that it goes terribly wrong and she comes home early? No, I shouldn't wish that. All I want it for Bella to be happy and if it's him that does that, well then, I'll just have to learn to live with it. Or kill him. One or the other.

I decided to make myself an early dinner – teriyaki chicken with rice – and decided to watch a movie to distract myself from Bella and the fact that she is out on a date. I really actually wanted to watch Elizabeth for her tonight. One - I like being a surrogate father to her, two - she would keep me distracted, and three - I had the hope that if Elizabeth was here with me then it would give her an absolute reason to come home tonight. Without her here, what real reason does she have for not going home with him tonight? I didn't even know about him until last night. I had no idea that she had 'met' someone at work and it hurt that she didn't tell me. I told her about Courtney, albeit a couple days later, but I still told her. Perhaps she is doing this to get back at me? No, why would she feel the need to 'get back at me'? I'm so confused.

It's 8:00 o'clock and she is meeting her date right now. Her Garrett. I put in another movie trying to distract myself. My favorite movie – Tombstone and still all I can do is picture Bella as Josephine. Wearing one of those southern dresses with the umbrella or horseback riding in the woods with Wyatt Earp. I'm losing my mind.

10:00 o'clock found me putting in another favorite movie while I waited up for her. Fuck, now I am waiting up for her? What am I, her dad? Should I have a shotgun ready in case she brings him over or he decides to scale the tree next to her bedroom window? What the hell am I thinking? I walked over to my fridge and pulled out a beer popping the top off as I watched the opening credits for Major Payne roll across the screen. I needed a comedy to cheer me up. Good luck there.

11:00 o'clock

12:00 o'clock

1:00 o'clock

She's not fucking coming home. I was dejected and depressed and all around spent. I walked my miserable ass to bed and crawled in. I fucking knew it. No sooner did I fall asleep did my alarm go off for work. Fucking six am already! I don't know how much more miserable I could be. I peeked out the window and saw Bella's truck was still not in the drive. She never came home. Okay, I could get more miserable. Fuck me I am not going to work today. I fell back asleep and awoke four hours later. I haven't sleep until ten in a long time. I checked outside again and saw her truck was still not there. Fuck.

My phone beeped beside me on the table and I checked it to find out I had several text messages from Felix and Demetri – both of whom were inviting me over to Peter's house. Apparently everyone skipped work today. I sent a quick text back saying I'd be over soon. I quickly showered, dressed and dragged myself out to my truck. What a wretched walk that was knowing that I still wouldn't find Bella's truck in my driveway. God, now I am whining like a girl.

Within minutes I was walking into Peter's house. Charlotte was in the kitchen making something to eat. I gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek and made my way into the living room. Peter was sitting in the recliner with his boy bouncing on his knee. Felix and Demetri were sitting on the couch each with a beer watching the college game on the TV.

"Hey guys…." I sounded different than normal and I knew I could hear it in my own voice. Peter probably could too.

"What hel…heck is wrong with you?" Felix asked as Peter shot him a look for almost cussing in front of Paul as I sat on the other couch.

"Um…I'd rather not talk about it." I answered looking down at the ground.

Peter of course noticed my resistant tone and took it upon himself to force me into the spot light. "Would this have to do with a certain girl that just moved in with you?" he asked knowingly.

"You mean the same girl who went out on a date last night and never came home?" I asked back. Felix and Demetri both didn't know yet that Bella had moved in with me as far as I knew.

"Wait, I'm confused." Felix asked. Demetri nodded his head along with him looking between Peter and me.

I turned towards Felix and Demetri, "Bella moved in with me as roommates because someone broke into her house. She went on a date last night and she never came home." I sounded heartbroken. What is happening to me? Guys don't have pow-wows like this and talk about their "feelings".

"You're in over your head with this girl aren't you?" Felix asked incredulously.

"Jasper….Bella didn't do what you think she did last night." Demetri was so quiet I almost didn't hear him.

"What do mean?" My head shot up and I stared him down.

"Last night, a round 9:30 or so, Bella called Jessica – who was at my house of course, crying her eyes out asking if she could stay over at her house. Jess left right afterwards and I haven't heard from her since."

"So Bella didn't stay out all night with some guy?" My mood immediately turned around and I was almost elated except for the part about Bella crying. I wonder what happened and if that guy hurt her then I need to find him.

Bella POV

Alice was not freaking kidding. We spent all day at the mall and other local shops looking for the "perfect" outfit for tonight. I should have figured Alice would go into personal-shopper-from-hell mode the second she found out that I was going on a date. Note to self – never tell Alice about a date again.

By six o'clock we were pulling up in front of the hotel where Alice insisted upon her helping me get ready and I apparently don't have "the necessary tools" to get me ready at my own home. Home. Jasper's house really does feel like a home should. My condo didn't feel like a home, nor a house – it still felt like we were renting an apartment.

By 7:30 Alice had "worked her magic" so she said. My hair was up in a neat yet messy looking bun. I was thrown into a simple jean skirt that came to almost the top of my knees. My shirt was a simple blue camisole with a knit white half sweater for the top. And Alice, bless her heart, put me in plain black ballet flats instead of heels. I actually liked this outfit, except for the skirt part. It was comfortable yet casual and not too dressy.

I drove over to Carmella's Restaurant. I had been there before so finding it again was not difficult at all. I walked in and it was five minutes until eight. I spotted Garrett immediately. He had his sandy long hair pulled back in a low pony tail and he had shaved but still had a bit of scruff on his face. He was wearing a pair of well warn looking jeans and a simple black button up shirt open with a white shirt on underneath. He looked good but why was I picturing Jasper wearing that same outfit? I shook my head hastily and smiled while I walked over to Garrett. He gave me a quick hug before he pulled my chair out for me.

He asked me how I was and what I had been up too. I filled him in on the break in and the following repercussions from that. He was shocked and of course asked if I was okay. Although, I did notice the brief flash of some other emotion cross his eyes when I told him I moved in with my best guy friend. But it quickly disappeared as we ordered dinner. I had shrimp pasta in white wine sauce and he had the meatball marinara in angel hair pasta. The food was fabulous to say the least, but for some reason as Garrett told me stories about his family – I started to zone out. He was a good looking man, very sweet and so far any girl would be incredibly lucky to be sitting here with him. So why couldn't I get that look on Jasper's face from last night out of my head? He couldn't feel the same as I do, could he? No. He would have said something by now. Like when he found out I was going on a date. I chalked it all up to it being a stressful time and he has been the one true friend there for me through it all. I snapped myself back to reality to focus on Garrett – on the here and now to try and enjoy this date. Jake was right – I deserve to have some fun. I took a drink of my wine and listened intently on his story about visiting the great wall.

Dinner progressed smoothly and by 9:15 we were walking out to the parking lot. Ironically, our vehicles were parked right next to each others. I opened my truck door and threw my purse on the seat and set my keys down. I knew it was coming. The good night kiss would be happening now because we're taking separate vehicles home instead of him dropping me off. What guy takes a girl on a first date and makes her drive herself anyway? Maybe I am old fashion.

"I had a good time tonight Bella. Perhaps we could go out again sometime?"He looked hopeful as he stood inches away from me. His face was so close I could see the varying golden coloring in his eyes. His hands were on either side of me pining me up against my truck in a nonthreatening sort of way.

"That could be nice." I said with a small forced smile looking down and I could feel the blush rising up in my cheeks. But could it? Could it be nice when all I thought about tonight was Jasper? What is wrong with me? He doesn't like me, does he? Does it matter? I felt Garrett's fingers under my chin lifting my face to look back up at me. Here we go.

In a nearly stereotypical movie fashion kind of way he slowly leaned in keeping eye contact. I had to close my eyes with the tears I could feel coming on. No. I felt his lips brush mine gently before he more forcibly pushed them against mine that were not working in sync with his. I felt the tears fall down my face as the dams broke open. There was no going back. I needed this. I needed a kiss from another man for the inevitable to break free and practically slap me in the face. What the hell was I doing? This is not what I want. It was all wrong. He was too tall and he was more muscular then what I wanted. I didn't like the scruff of his face or the hardness of his lips. His hands were too soft as if he hadn't worked a real job a day in his life. His taste was all wrong and the feelings were all wrong. Garrett was not Jasper.

I pushed gently on Garrett to get his attention to back off. He immediately pulled away and his jaw dropped when he noticed the tears streaming down my face fiercely. "I'm sorry. I ca…can't do this." I choked out as I tried to climb into my truck.

"But you just said…" He mumbled at me as I was getting ready to slam my door.

"I know what I just said but I can't. I can't go out with you, kiss you, or date you knowing that my heart belongs to another whether he knows it or not. I am so sorry."

His face showed the pain of my statement. But the pain written on his face wasn't nearly as heartbreaking as the pain from Jasper's face. Garrett would get over this and move on. Jasper, whether he loved me or not, had my heart and I wouldn't do anything that would put that look of pain back on his face. "It's Jasper isn't it?" He asked dismally.

"How did you know?" I asked as I started up my truck.

"They way you talk about him verse the father of your child. You hold him in more revere than the other guy as if he was the one you worshiped. I get it. I hope he realizes what he could have and doesn't let it pass him by." He said as he shut my door for me. I put my car into drive and tore out of the parking lot. How is it that Garrett, a guy I just met could see the way I feel about Jasper just by the way I speak about him, but Jasper can't? I can't go home yet, not like this. I grabbed my cell in my purse and immediately flipped it open. 9:30, dammit! Alice is on the plane right now probably just touching down in Seattle. God I need a girlfriend to talk to. Jessica!

I scrolled through my numbers and found her cell number. I waited as I heard it ring, trying to control my tears while I waited for her to pick up. "Bella?...What's wrong? Why are you calling me so late?" I could hear Demetri in the background. Sounds like I interrupted something.

"I'm sorry Jess. I am going through a hard time and I wanted to see if I could come over. I really need to talk to a friend right now."

"What about Jasper? You live with him now don't you? That's what Jane said."

"I need a girl friend to talk to. I need your help. Are you home?"

"No. But I can be in ten minutes, meet you there." She said as she hung up the phone. That would be perfect timing since Jess lived on the other side of town from where I currently was. I pulled over briefly so I could wipe my eyes with some tissue so I could see to drive. Alice would kill me if she knew I destroyed all of her work. Although, given the circumstances, she might be happy. She was so upset last night when I accepted the date, maybe it was because she knew all along that I had deeper feelings for Jasper then even I realized. I should have bet on her "spidey senses".

I pulled into Jessica's apartment complex just as she got out of her car. I whipped my truck into a spot, grabbed my purse and keys and stumbled out of the truck towards Jess. She immediately saw my tear streaked face and came rushing over to me. "Bella, oh my god. Come on. Let's get you upstairs and figure out what's going on." I let her lead the way to her third story apartment. I noticed boxes lying around – some half packed. It looked like she was moving too.

"Jess? Are you moving?" I noticed her bite her lip as she sat me on the couch and handed me a beer.

"Um, yeah…We haven't told anyone yet but I am moving in with Demetri. But that's not important right now. I want to know what has got you crying so bad and running to my apartment in the middle of the night." She pulled a blanket and a spare pillow out of the hall closet and handed them to me. She even brought me the tissues from her bathroom. She may act like a ditzy blond sometimes, but she really is smart and caring when she wants to be.

"Um….Well..." I cleared my throat as I continued, "I went on a date tonight. The first one since Edward…"

"That bad huh?" She joked. I couldn't help but snicker along with her.

"No, really, he was entirely too sweet and any girl would be lucky to have gone on a date with him…..no….it's just….." I stumbled over my words, "…he wasn't the one I wanted to be out with….not the one I wanted to be kissing…" I wiped my eyes with the tissues as Jess patiently waited for me to continue. "I actually started crying while he was kissing me because I had to have this epiphany just then."

"Is it Edward? You don't want to divorce him or something?" She looked at me a little perplexed.

"Actually no. I haven't felt anything for Edward in a while so I have done moved on from him. The only thing hurting me about Edward was the way he treats his daughter."

"OH MY GOD ISABELLA! JASPER?!?!" She almost screeched at the top of her lungs. This is why I couldn't have this conversation at home or with Jasper. I nodded my head ever so slightly looking down and not meeting her eyes. "I fucking knew it! The way you look at him, the way he looks at you. I could just see something there."

"Really? You couldn't let me in on that. I didn't realize what I was feeling but I up and went and broke some poor innocent guy's heart because I didn't know and had to find out the hard way." I said with a bit of annoyance in my voice.

She sat back against the arm of the couch and looked at me. It was a few minutes before she spoke. "So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Keep silent. I just moved in with him and I don't want to ruin our friendship on some feelings I don't think are returned. So, I'll keep to myself and not ruin a good thing."

"Are you really that fucking blind Bella?" I looked over at her totally confused. "Do you not see the way that boy looks at you? Or acts around you? Sticks up for you or bitches out your husband at the reception for cheating on you? That guy is madly in love with you and if you can't see that then you are an idiot."

I sat there and thought for a second. It can't be. "No way. He would have asked me out by now don't you think? I mean, obviously I am over Edward if I am accepting other dates."

"Jesus Bella. He is a home grown down home cookin' southern raised boy." Her voice was loud and steady. She has never talked to me like this. "He is a one in a million gentleman. He was probably waiting until he knew you were over Edward. Probably until your divorce was final so he wouldn't put you in an uncomfortable position. Plus, he is shy and probably thinks you don't like him either. I swear with you two, it's like I am back in freaking high school again. You two need to just get over yourselves and just get on with it already."

I sat there slack jawed as I considered what she said. Jasper likes me too. Holy. Hell. "I'm sorry Bella. I didn't mean to raise my voice like that – but someone needed to." With that she got up and walked into her bedroom leaving me there on the couch to think about everything she said.

I rolled over on the couch and tried to get as comfortable as possible. This wasn't the first time I have spent the night on the couch. I wonder if Jessica is upset at me a little for interrupting her night with Demetri. I wonder if she is right about Jasper. I immediately went over everything in my head from the second we met until now. I could see where Jessica got her assumptions. Jasper has been really kind and affectionate to me, but does that mean he likes me?

I remembered the feeling I got in the pit of my stomach when I first saw him on that elevator when he tipped his hat at me and said 'ma'am' in that sexy Texan twang. I knew then that I felt the attraction, but does he? Or, am I just a good friend? The two kisses I shared with him were extraordinary. I can still feel the butterflies in my stomach. Then there was the holding me as I cried over Edward, or taking care of me and sticking up for me when shit started going south, or the coming to my house in the middle of the night to rescue me from a stalker. Friends did that, right?

I slept a rough night on Jessica's couch filled with dreams of Jasper and the should of, would of, could of questions. I woke up just in time to get my butt into work. I couldn't have this many days off without going crazy. I called my mother on the way and found out that she got Elizabeth off to school easily enough. It was Friday already. The attack was on Tuesday yet time flew by and so much happened.

I walked into the bar and hung up my coat. I changed into a camisole set I kept at work for just in case instances. Thankfully I had them today. I didn't want to go home yet. I made it out into the bar and notice for it only being 10 o'clock in the morning that we were already rather busy. The rodeo was still in town until tomorrow and it usually doesn't start up until around 3 o'clock so all the cowboys come here to get drunk first. Ironic right? I moved right in and started helping Kate serve drinks. Before I knew it 2 o'clock was upon us. I passed Kate as she was running out on the floor with a full tray of drinks. "Bella I didn't get a chance to get the gentleman at the end of the bar a drink. Will you grab him a drink for me? I know it's not your section, but I'm swamped."

"That's fine Kate. No problem." I walked down to the other end of the bar. I set a coaster on the table in front of a familiar looking guy. He had dark skin and a striking white smile. "Welcome to Royale, can I get you something to drink?" I asked politely. I noticed him glance at my name tag and then look me in the eye again.

"Hello Bella, My names Laurent. I'd like a Bud light please."

A/N: Okay….So I wrote another outtake for all of you. Review and we get to see a special outtake from one of our favorite burly men from this story, because, those of you who really know me know how much I like to write from his POV. Special thanks to jcullenluvr for the idea for this outtake!