Chapter 14

EPOV

"Jacob"?

Just his name sent an indescribable rage cursing through my entire being. What was it going to take to get rid of this fucker? I thought. I watched, helpless as Bella stood to her feet and walked over to him. My fists clenched on the table and I had to stop myself going over there. It wasn't my business...at least not yet.

"Bells, I knew you would be here," Jake beamed, clearly pleased with himself.

"What are you doing here Jake? I asked for space, can't you even give me that?" Bella sounded suddenly drained and exhausted. All that hard work we had done in building her back up seemed to be undone by one conversation with the asshole.

"I know, I'm sorry baby. But how could I not see you on your birthday? I thought maybe...maybe we could get something to eat." I couldn't believe what I was hearing, was this guy for real?

"She already ate..." I almost growled at him. His head whipped around and his eyes narrowed.

"I don't remember asking for audience participation," he countered, and I felt my fists tighten even more.

"Stop it, please. I do not want a public scene again, I can't take this." I could tell that Bella was on the verge of tears, and it was instinct that caused me to stand up and put my arm around her neck.

"What are you doing with my fiancé?" He was now practically yelling and I felt Bella tense in my arms.

"Will you keep it down! It is pretty obvious that you are completely oblivious to the fact your so-called fiancé is trying very hard to keep it together and has no desire to draw attention to herself," I spoke through gritted teeth.

"Oh, so now you know her better than I do after what, a week?" Jake snorted, and then it turned in to a bark of a laugh.

"Actually, yes. So what the fuck does that say about you, Jacob?" I responded and his laughter stopped instantly.

"You're an arrogant prick. I knew from day one that you were trying to get in to her pants. Why do you think I lost my temper so much to begin with? This is your damn fault! You're the reason that Bella was in hospital! You're the reason she is being kept away from me!" He stepped close to us with each new statement and I suddenly felt the need to stand between him and Bella. He would never hurt her again, not as long as I had breath left within my body.

"If you really believe that, then you are seriously deluded. Bella deserves better than to flinch with every sudden movement. She should live knowing that she is worshipped, not abused. Isabella deserves nothing but utter love and devotion." I was struggling to keep my words calm and even. I had never wanted to hurt someone more in my entire life.

"And I suppose you love her enough to give her that?" Jake laughed as if it was the most absurd thing that he had ever heard.

I lost it completely and I pushed Jake's chest sending him backwards slightly. "YES! I love her enough to treat her right and if she will give me a damn chance then I will show her how she deserves to be loved!" I heard Bella take a sharp intake of breath behind me. Fuck!

I turned to see an utterly confused and scared Bella, her arms wrapped around herself. I cringed and took a step towards her, but she recoiled slightly. I had completely blown it, I was so close, and then I had revealed too much too soon.

Jake laughed and I bit back the need to break every bone in his body with a satisfying crack. "Looks like she doesn't feel the same way about you buddy."

I took a lunge towards him but Bella stepped in between us. She took a deep calming breath and closed her eyes, willing the words to come out. "Jake, you shouldn't have come. I am not ready to deal with things between us yet, I'm not strong enough. Please, I need a little more time."

Jake reached out to stroke her cheek with care, and while he may have missed the small flinch, I didn't. "Please just call me, baby, we need to talk." His eyes were pleading with her and she gave a small nod in response. I caught the smug smile in my direction, over her shoulder as he hugged her.

Bella and I both stood in silence as Jake left and I shoved my hands in my pockets, a habit I had since I was a child whenever I was nervous. Her big brown eyes turned to look at me and I opened my mouth to apologise, but she held her hand up, halting my attempts.

"Can...Can I borrow your car?" Her voice was timid and strained.

"Of course, Love. Do you want me to get a cab back home?" I tried to cover up the fact that I was terrified I had just ruined our progress in friendship. I was completely taken by surprise with her question, but I would never deny Bella anything.

"No, we can go home first. Are you sure you don't mind?" I could see the tears beginning to well in her eyes.

I used my thumb to wipe away the one stray tear which had escaped and I smiled at her. "Of course I don't mind, Bella. You are more than welcome to borrow anything you need. For all I care, keep the damn thing."

Bella laughed a little and seemed to visibly relax. I could only hope that she was smart enough to not drive to that fucker's place.

BPOV

I walked up the strange driveway, suddenly very nervous about what I was letting myself in for. I closed my eyes tightly and tried to find some form of inner strength. I knocked on the door very lightly. It only took a couple of seconds before it swung open. I smiled shyly.

"Um...Hi," not my best opener, but I really had no idea what to say.

"Afternoon Sugar," Jasper drawled. His hair was still wet from what I assumed was the shower and he wore a pair of black jeans and a white shirt which he was still in the process of buttoning up. I noticed a tattoo on the right side of his chest. It was an old looking Celtic cross. Somehow, it really suited his personality. He stepped aside and gestured for me to enter the house.

I walked in and stood in the foyer, unsure of where to go. I was suddenly thinking that maybe this wasn't a good idea. Jasper put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a brief squeeze, which strangely calmed me. "Don't worry darlin', I don't bite," he laughed and lead me in to the living room. There was a huge brown leather sofa along the far wall.

"Do I have to lay on that?" I felt absolutely stupid, but my mind wasn't exactly on top form.

"Only if you're real tired. Relax Bella, sit on the damned TV if you wish...actually no, don't. There is a game on tonight." Jasper's kind, wide smile put me at ease and I sat on the sofa, a little awkwardly.

"Would you like a drink Bella? I have some beers or Sweet Tea or a little wine that Alice left. I'm not well equipped for visitors, sorry." He ran his hand through his wet hair and I took a moment to see just how attractive Jasper really was. I had never looked at him that way before, and I suddenly saw what attracted Alice. He was so kind and genuine; he always made me feel more relaxed.

"I guess a little wine on my birthday couldn't hurt." I muttered, and then instantly regretted it. I clasped my hand over my mouth but it was too late.

"Don't worry, I can keep my mouth shut." Jasper laughed as he left the room. I took a moment to look around and saw that most of the pictures on his wall were hand painted and all seemed to be the same subject...Alice.

As Jasper entered the room, I couldn't take my eyes off the art work. "Did you paint those?" I whispered in absolute awe.

"Yes Ma'am," he nodded. I smiled, it was clear to anyone how much he loved Alice just by looking at the way he painted her. It was touching and very intimate. I jumped a little when I heard a pop next to me. I turned to see that Jasper had two champagne flutes in his hand and was pouring champagne in to each of them.

"W..What are you doing?" I asked.

"Well it would be rude to not celebrate your Birthday, Bella, and my Mama would never forgive me. I was brought up with manners don't you know?" he laughed and handed me one of the glasses. I blushed and we quickly clinked the glasses together in a toast.

"Should you be drinking during a session?" I took a sip of the bubbly alcohol and enjoyed the way the fruity tang hit the back of my throat.

"You aren't paying me Darlin', its fair game." Jasper sat back on the chair opposite me and I instantly tensed.

"So are you therapist guy now? I asked awkwardly.

"Therapist, friend, stranger... Bella, I am here to be whatever you need me to be. Relax, you aren't under interrogation. If you want, we can sit in silence and get buzzed on the bubbly," he shrugged, and then took a long pull from the champagne flute.

"Edward said he loved me," I blurted out.

"Or we can dive right on it." Jasper chuckled. "So how did you feel hearing that?"

I shrugged and sat silent. Jasper didn't move, his eyes remained fixed on me as he waited patiently. The silence in the room was deafening.

"Scared..." I finally rasped and Jasper only nodded once in understanding.

"Why scared? Surely love or affection is a positive, isn't it?" Jasper's voice was cool and even, almost therapeutic, the irony was not lost on me.

"Not when I don't deserve it." I didn't realise what I had said until it was too late.

"Is that how you feel? Or what you have been told?" Jasper asked as he put his glass on the small coffee table.

"Both, I guess." I drained the rest of my glass of champagne, hoping it would help to make this conversation easier.

"You guess? What does that mean?" Jasper leant back in his chair and crossed his ankles, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"I don't know. I want to be loved, but with Jake I always feel like I am constantly fighting to keep his love and affection. It has never really been easy, and I always kind of attributed that to the fact that I am difficult to love." I began to pick off imaginary pieces of lint from my jeans.

"Why do you assume that you are the issue and not Jacob?" Jasper asked.

"Seemed the logical choice." I shrugged yet again.

"Why do you think that is?" Jasper ran his hand through his hair again and I let out an exasperated sigh.

"I have no idea, do you have to answer everything I say with yet another question?" It was really damn irritating.

"Does that bother you Bella?" He asked, his mouth pulling in to a mischievous smirk.

"Wow, you really are a shrink." I muttered.

"Okay fine, you want me to be friend guy?" Jasper leant forward, his hands braced on his knees and a serious look in his green eyes. "Any man who touches a woman in anything but passion should be sodomised with a red-hot poker." My eyes widened and my jaw dropped open in absolute shock. "I had an old fashioned upbringing, and that is truly how I feel. When I pieced things together, I was a little disappointed I didn't get a chance to meet the guy."

I groaned. "Not you too. I have had too much male testosterone for one lifetime."

"Sorry Sugar, but you wanted me to be a friend and this is your friend Jasper. He also wants you to know that Edward is a good guy and I find it hard to believe that he would push you so hard and so fast by confessing his love for you out of the blue. Am I right?" Jasper paused briefly for my answer.

"Jake interrupted us earlier and they got in to a slanging match... again. I am so tired of it all," I sighed.

Jasper moved to sit next to me on the sofa and refilled both of our glasses. "I am sure he knows that, Bella. I have known Edward for a long time now, so trust me when I say that he would only have wanted to protect you."

"Things with Edward are too easy, it scares me." I could feel the tears beginning to brim and threatened to spill over.

"And what is so wrong with easy?" he questioned.

"I have never experienced it before. I keep waiting for a nasty surprise or incident that makes me realise that he isn't so simple after all. I really want to find out how far things could go between us, but what if he realises that I am not easy to love and he gives up. I'm tired of fighting for people to give a damn about me." I knew the tears were streaming down my face, but I couldn't stop them.

"Do you have to fight for Emmett to love you?" I shook my head 'no'. "What about your father?" Again, I shook my head. "And trust me when I say that Alice loves you as a sister already, she tells me enough. Rosalie cares for you as much as her stone heart will let her, and I will be honest with you darlin', I don't get out of my bed on my day off for just anyone." he laughed.

"You were asleep? It's the afternoon," I told him.

"Some of my more dependant patients do not have much consideration for what time of day or night they call me. My job is pretty much 24 hours, Bella. My days off however, all calls are transferred to another doctor." Jasper smiled and I suddenly felt very guilty.

"I'm so sorry, I should go. I really didn't mean to interrupt your day off, I am so sorry Jasper." I started to stand up, but he took hold of my wrist and gently pulled me back down on to the sofa.

"When you called, did I not tell you to come over?" he asked.

"Well, yes..." I muttered dumbly.

"Then why do you suddenly feel like you are here uninvited?" I really didn't know how to answer that question.

"Darlin', I wish I could tell you that there was a quick fix for all this but the truth is, Jake has done a lot of damage to you both inside and out. You have zero self esteem, but I didn't need this little conversation to see that. There are a few courses which would help with that. To help you to meet women who have been in similar situations with similar decisions to make. My only advice for right now is to tell you to stop worrying so much. You have a tight circle of people who care for you and will protect you at all costs. It's a safe environment and one in which you could thrive if you would just allow yourself to accept their love." I took in Jasper's words with a couple of small nods. I knew what he was saying made sense, but it was just a lot to take in at once.

"I don't know what to do about Edward." And I truly didn't. I had never been so utterly confused in my entire life.

"What do you want to do?" Jasper asked and I felt my cheeks redden with a blush and he laughed a little.

"So what is stopping you?" Jasper asked as he took another long pull from his drink.

"I have only ever made love to one man...Jake." I could feel my body burning with utter embarrassment.

"Sugar, if he hasn't had you screaming his name in pure ecstasy, then he hasn't made love to you, and quite frankly needs to a lesson or two on the female form," Jasper said nonchalantly.

I could feel the champagne having a dizzying affect on my mind and I giggled a little. "I think that has gone to my head," I laughed.

"Then maybe we should get you something to eat. How do you feel about cupcakes?" Jasper was already out of his seat and in to the kitchen before I could answer.

He returned a couple of minutes later with a lit cigarette between his lips and a single cupcake on a plate. In the cake was a single pink candle that he had lit. I opened my mouth to protest but Jasper cut me off. "Indulge me..."

"You aren't gonna sing are you?" I asked with a mock grimace.

"Am I to take it that you didn't enjoy my Beatles tribute?" he asked in mock horror, clutching his hands to his chest.

"You were great. I hadn't laughed so hard for ages." I giggled again remembering the three men with their dance steps and synchronized snaps.

"No singing, I promise. Go ahead...make a wish," Jasper instructed.

I closed my eyes and silently made a wish for the one thing that I wanted more than anything else. I wish to feel whole again. I blew out the candle and Jasper clapped and whooped, making us both laugh again.

EPOV

I was pacing the kitchen, wondering where Bella could have gone. I knew I shouldn't have let her go out alone, she had been gone for almost two hours and I had no idea where she was. Her phone was off and worst of all, Emmett was due any minute. I could see how it would play out. Emmett would walk in, I would tell him, Hey dude, I lost your sister. Cut to an image of Alice standing over my grave telling me I am an idiot and Emmett didn't make me suffer enough.

I groaned and slammed my head down on the counter top. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and I didn't even bother to check the ID before I picked it up, not moving from my current position.

"What?" I asked gruffly.

"Well hello sunshine..." Jasper laughed and I rolled my eyes.

"Now really isn't a good time, man" I told him and was about to hang up on his cheery ass.

"Are you, by any chance, missing one pretty little brunette?" I instantly stood upright, suddenly paying full attention to what Jasper had to say.

"You have seen her? Where is she? Is she okay?" I was starting to panic again.

"Chill. I knew she wouldn't have told you where she is going. That girl is a lot of things, but hard to predict she ain't."

"Jasper..." I growled, my tone filled with warning.

"Okay, okay. She came by to talk. Seems your little run in with her ex rattled her. Not to mention the big dramatic confession of love, smooth move moron," he scolded and I knew he was right, I had fucked up.

"Is she alright?" I asked again.

"She is fine. I talked her down a little and we had a drink and then talked some more. She seems in a somewhat better place now. But Edward, you need to tread carefully, this girl is so fragile it's unnerving." His voice suddenly sounded very professional.

"What do you mean?"

"That cracks are starting to show, Edward, but these are only the ones she is willing to let us see happening. Who the hell knows what is actually going on inside that muddled head of hers? She has serious self hatred issues and a huge inferiority complex, but that is pretty standard for this kind of case."

"She is not a fucking case, Jasper" I yelled.

"Now you know that isn't what I meant. Look I just called to let you know that she was here and she is taking a cab back home." he sighed, clearly tired with my tantrum.

"What the fuck is wrong with my car?" I asked.

"She has been drinking. Want me to put her behind the wheel of your precious Volvo?" he retorted, clearly challenging me to question his judgement.

"Thanks Jasper."

"Don't worry about it, but you will be paying back for the cab, trust me," he laughed.

"I didn't mean for that..." I started, but Jasper quickly cut me off.

"I know what you meant Edward, and there are no thanks needed. I care for Bella too; the poor girl has been through so much. When I offered to help her, I meant it, and I am glad she made the smart move and came to talk to me. She knows she is welcome to speak to me any time and any place." I heard the sound of Alice walking in to the room and her high pitched giggle, follow by what sounded like a slapped ass, indicated that it was time for me to go. I didn't bother to say bye, I knew I had already lost him to my sister.

Just as I put the phone back in to my pocket, the front door opened. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief as I saw Bella standing there with a shy smile. I opened my mouth to speak, but was take aback as Bella came rushing towards me, a woman on a mission, and her lips met mine in a hard and heavy kiss, her arms wrapped around my neck tightly.

What the hell?