Bella was confused.
Completely and utterly confused.
As she sat on her couch, she still couldn't fully register what had just happened – it was like everything got muddled. All she knew was that after Renee made the fateful phone call, she was a mess and didn't feel like working for the day. Charlotte understood, at least, and allowed her to spend the morning holed up in her tiny apartment.
Bella knew her aunt was concerned, and would probably just send her meals intermittently throughout the day, but she didn't expect to see Jasper Whitlock's concerned face at the door.
She wasn't sure how to explain it, but just the way he looked at her made her want to tell him everything that was plaguing her. And that's exactly what she did.
Bella was never much of a crier, but being in Jasper's arms just made her feel like she could just…release everything and not suffer any judgement. She hadn't felt like that in a long time, and even on the rare moments when she did, it was just with a certain Edward Cullen.
That's where a majority of Bella's confusion stemmed from.
Somehow, she felt like she was back in Edward's arms when Jasper held her. The way he offered comfort was also reminiscent of how Edward used to, and the familiar melody he hummed…
Bella groaned and buried her face in her hands. She was losing her mind trying to figure out what was happening in her life, and to top it off, she was also starting to get confused with her feelings towards Jasper.
His sweetness, his kindness, his genuine concern for her…all of these were making her have deeper feelings for him. And though she didn't know him all that well, she felt like she knew him, and he knew her.
Hell, she'd avoided even the slightest bit of romantic contact with men since high school, and yet she almost kissed the man not five minutes ago!
Bella's head snapped up as if that fact only made itself known to her then.
Holy crap.
I almost kissed Jasper.
And Jasper probably would have let her if the way he was inclining his head was any indication.
Suddenly, a rush of guilt twisted Bella's stomach. It was irrational, she knew, but somehow, she felt like she was betraying Edward with Jasper.
"Don't be stupid," she mumbled to herself, rubbing her tired eyes. "Edward's engaged to someone else. It's not like you cheated on him."
But it certainly felt like she did.
A knock on her door stopped Bella from further agonizing over her predicament. Charlotte came through without waiting to be let in, an understanding smile gracing her face.
"Hey Bellsie."
"Aunt Charlotte," Bella's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Um, is there anything you need help with? Are we short-staffed again?"
"No, no. Everything's going fine down there," Charlotte reassured, shutting the door. She sat next to Bella and wrapped around her shoulders.
"How're you doing?"
"Better," Bella replied honestly. "Mo – Ren – uh, the call just…I wasn't expecting it, but I'm better now."
"I'm glad," Charlotte hugged her tighter for a second. "I hope you know that you never deserved her treatment, Bella. You're a sweet girl and any parent would love to have you as a daughter. You know your uncle and I would."
"Yeah," Bella responded. Her aunt's words were too similar to Jasper's that she didn't know what else to say. "Thanks. I realize that now."
The room became quiet for a while, the faint noises from the café downstairs being the only sound until Charlotte sighed and removed her arm from Bella's shoulders.
"Bella," she began. "I actually came up here to ask you something."
"Oh. What is it?"
"What's going on between you and Jasper?"
When Bella didn't say anything, she continued. "It's not that I'm trying to pry, but it just seemed like I interrupted something when I asked him to go back downstairs. Is there something there or…?"
"I…I don't know," Bella said honestly. "I'm still kinda trying to find the answer to that myself. I'm just so confused, Aunt Charlotte. I'm starting to…like him, but…with Edward, it's just…"
"You feel like you're cheating on him."
"Yes!" Bella exclaimed. She was glad she had shared what had happened with her and Edward before. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm feeling. And it's just stupid! Edward's with Rosalie now, and it's not like he ever liked me that way."
"You still love him," Charlotte stroked her hair. "It's only natural that you'll feel that way."
"Yeah, I do," Bella didn't bother denying it. "I…this is going to sound strange, but I see a lot of Edward in Jasper, like the way he talks to me, and the way that we just…click. Do you think that's all in my head, or is there…I don't know, something else?"
The older woman sighed. "I don't know, honey. But I'm sure everything will work out in the end, no matter if it's with Jasper or Edward. You deserve that happiness."
Bella sincerely hoped that was true.
…
Edward held his phone to his ear as he stood idly outside Heaven after his shift. He had tried calling Scheduler four times already, but his diminutive guardian wasn't picking up.
He just wanted someone to talk to. Was that too much to ask?
Everything was so fucked up in his world. Aside from having to possess someone else's body every single day, an evil fiancée planning to destroy his family, a treacherous best friend, and a host who barely had anything to help him, he now had Bella to deal with as well.
Well, not Bella per se, but more like what he felt about her.
He had no idea what he was supposed to think or do. Bella's confession about him 'replacing' her with Rosalie stabbed him straight in the heart, and it looked like it also opened a vault of emotions inside of him, making him feel things he shouldn't be towards a person who was supposed to be just a friend.
For short, Edward needed some advice. Stat. And who better to give it than the opinionated, blunt and slightly annoying Scheduler?
If only she would answer her phone.
"Why are girls like this?!" Edward muttered angrily as he shoved the device into his pocket. "Call me any time, she said. I'll help you, she said. So much for that!"
"Whoa, easy there, buddy."
Edward turned his head to tell the bystander off, but was instead surprised to see a familiar face.
"Newton?"
"What?"
"Newton. Mike Newton, right?"
"Yeah, and who the hell are you?"
"Mike, it's me – Jasper. From high school?" Edward looked at him expectantly.
"Oh, yeah," Realization finally dawned on Mike after a moment passed. "Whitlock, right? That guy Angela Weber used to have a crush on."
Edward had no idea what he was talking about, but just decided to go with it. "Uh, yeah. That's me…I think. It's great to see you again."
"You, too," Mike held his hand out for a shake. "I didn't know you live in Chicago now. Seems like it's been forever since school, huh?"
"I know what you mean," Edward said. "A lot's changed since then."
"Tell me about it."
"So, what about you? I didn't know you lived here now either."
"Well, how would you? It's not like we ever kept in touch or anything. Hell, you barely spoke to anyone back then," Mike snorted. "Sorry, that was rude. And yeah, I'm in Chicago permanently now thanks to my wife."
Sensing some contempt in his tone, Edward tried to lighten the mood. "You're married? Congrats, man."
"Trust me, that's nothing to be happy about."
"Oh. Uh, well, I'm…sorry?"
"Don't be. It was my own doing." Mike shook his head. "Take it from me, Jasper. Don't ever marry a woman if you aren't a hundred percent sure you love her. Because in the end, you'll end up like me – hurting yourself with a loveless marriage or hurting your kids with parents who fight all the time."
Edward nodded in total agreement. "Yeah, I hear you."
"Good. Always keep that in mind," Mike said before sighing. "Well, I better go. My wife just sent me out here to pick up some meringue or macaroons or whatever the shit she ordered." He jabbed a thumb at Heaven. "And if I don't get back before dinner, I'll get another earful."
After Mike walked away, Edward looked up at the sky.
Are You trying to tell me something? he asked. Because if You are, message received. Thanks for letting me see Rosalie's true colors before I got to marry her.
His conversation with the Big Guy Upstairs was interrupted when a pink scooter pulled up near the sidewalk.
"Hey!" the rider called out. Edward was confused as to who she was talking to until he realized that the lady was actually Scheduler. He approached her just as she tossed a helmet at him.
"Get on," she commanded.
"What are you doing here?" Edward asked as he dutifully wore the neon pink safety gear. In any other scenario, he probably would have insisted that he didn't need it, but he knew better than to incur Scheduler's nagging.
"Well, I assumed you wanted to talk after leaving me four missed calls," Scheduler said, her tone wry. "So, we're gonna talk. Not here, though."
"Okay," Edward mounted the scooter's back seat without argument. "What's with the…vehicle of choice, by the way? And can people see you right now?"
"I've always wanted a pink Vespa," Scheduler replied simply as she took off. "And yes, people can see, but as far as they're concerned, I'm just some cute girl riding an equally as cute scooter. Oh wait, I am a cute girl riding a cute scooter!" She giggled and proceeded to speed up.
Edward rolled but didn't say anything else. He wished she would've chosen something a little more badass – he could just imagine how a six-foot tall man looked on such a girly little ride – but he wasn't going to complain.
He'd willingly ride a sparkly unicorn if it meant he could finally talk to someone.
"So, what's bothering you?" Scheduler asked when they reached Jasper's apartment. "I assume that your calls weren't made because you wanted to gossip."
"No, they weren't," Edward agreed. He sat down on the small sofa. "I'm just at a loss, Sched."
"What happened?"
And so, Edward recounted everything that happened that day as Scheduler listened attentively. Her expressions changed accordingly as the story progressed, but she didn't say anything even when he was finished talking.
"So?" Edward demanded. "Don't you have some kind of opinion on any of this? I kinda need some advice right now."
"Well, Ed, it seems to me like you're in love with her."
Edward gave a short laugh. "Oh c'mon."
"I'm serious!" Scheduler stood, hands on her hips. "You said it yourself – what you're feeling for Bella goes beyond the borders of friendship."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I'm in love with her! We've only reconnected, for goodness' sake. Maybe it's just a…a crush."
"A crush," Scheduler repeated dryly. "Oh, yeah, sure, Edward. It's just a crush."
"I mean, she used to be my best friend. And she's just so…nice. And warm. And beautiful. And – "
"She's the most perfect girl in the world," Scheduler finished for him. "And that's exactly why you love her."
Edward groaned and hit his head on the wall behind him. "Do you think I'm only feeling this way about her because I feel guilty for how I treated her? Or because she's the anti-thesis of Rosalie?"
"Both are possible, but I think it's deeper than that. After all, you have known Bella for a long time. Perhaps this is just your long buried feelings for her finally surfacing."
"I don't know what to do now, Sched."
"Focus on getting back to your real body," Scheduler said. "Face it, okay. You'll never really be with Bella while you're still in Jasper's body. Once you get three tears and wake up, then you can break up with Rosalie, and get with her."
"But it's so difficult finding someone to cry for me!" Edward complained. "Aside from my parents – who don't count – I don't think there's anyone else out there who loves me enough to shed a tear."
"Don't be so sure about that, Ed. Your feelings aren't unrequited, after all."
It took Edward a second to process that. "What, you're telling me that Bella loves me, too? Even after what I did to her?"
Scheduler smiled widely. "So you do admit you love her."
"That's not – I didn't – fuck. Okay, maybe I sorta…do love her. But even if she returned the sentiment, I can't make her cry over me! And don't you think she would've done that by now, anyway?"
"Well, didn't you ever think that maybe Bella's sorting out her feelings for you, too? I mean, the girl's bound to be hella confused."
"Why?"
"Need I remind you that you're not exactly Edward Cullen to the rest of the world?" Scheduler gestured at his body from head to toe. "Bella's probably trying to figure out if she like-likes Jasper Whitlock right now."
Edward jumped up from his seat. "But I don't want her to fall in love with Jasper!"
"So get back to your own freakin' body and make her fall in love with you," Scheduler poked him on the chest for emphasis. "Or make her fall in love with you more, I should say. Whatever. You get the point."
"Everything is so messed up," Edward rubbed his face.
"All of it can be solved if you just –"
"Yeah, yeah, I'll try harder to get the tears," Edward grumbled.
"You can do it," Scheduler encouraged. "You're a good person, Edward. Remember that other people love and care for you, too."
Edward doubted that, but the next morning, he found out just how true that statement was.
After he had possessed Jasper's body, Edward felt incredibly sluggish and weak. It was like his body weighed a ton, and his head pounded so furiously that he could barely get out of bed.
"God, this is terrible," he groaned as he tried to stand up. It was a challenge, and all he wanted was to go back to sleep, but he knew he needed to call in sick at Heaven first; he didn't want to get fired and not see Bella anymore.
He managed to make it to the narrow hallway outside Jasper's apartment where a phone was available. As soon as he let Charlotte know that he wasn't going to be in for the day, he stumbled back to bed and curled up under the covers.
Edward let Jasper sleep for a while as he contemplated calling Scheduler again. She was going to be pissed that he let his host get sick, but what else could he do? He was just about to do that when he heard a timid knock on the door followed by a soft voice saying "Jasper?"
It was Bella.
"Shit," Edward scrambled to possess Jasper's body once more. The heaviness and pounding headache returned, but he didn't care. He had to let Bella in.
"It's me, Bella. Um, Aunt Charlotte told me you were sick," Bella continued as Edward tried to get out of bed for the second time that morning. "You were so helpful to me yesterday, so I thought I'd…help you out, too."
Edward had the door open before she could finish her sentence. She looked like a goddess standing there and he probably looked as crappy as he felt, but Bella smiled anyway and lifted a brown bag.
"I got you some soup and some other stuff," she said. "Can I come in?"
Edward he nodded eagerly and let her pass.
Maybe Scheduler was right, he thought. Maybe she loves me, too.
Fun Fact: Pure Love (the show this story is based on) aired its final episode yesterday. All I can say is, I'm glad Filipinos love happily ever after's.