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Chapter Fourteen: Protective

Jasper

If I thought that a game of baseball would help get Edward out of his gloomy, conflicted mood then I was wrong. For the entire time, he was looking distracted. The family's gaze would flicker towards him constantly, trying to figure out what was playing on his mind. Esme and Carlisle were concerned for him; on the other hand Emmett and Rose thought that he was just being difficult.

I knew better. Edward's emotions were chaotic. Protection. Fascination. Hope. Despair. Inspiration. Failure. Determination. Will.

Alice had told me about what she saw for our 'brother's' future. Apparently, fate was uncertain and he was at a series of crossroads. My only idea was that perhaps Edward had found his soul mate. The only question now was, who?

I had the feeling that perhaps Alice knew or had the faintest idea who she was. However, I was not one to be inconsiderate and pry. The future was never set in stone; just one tiny decision could cause a shift.

Either way, Edward was going to drive me crazy.

It was Monday morning and we were in the Volvo, speeding down the highways on the way to school. It was mildly annoying. I was sitting at the back with Emmett and Rosalie who were in the process of making out. I could have been alright with that on a normal day but Edward's emotions were making more frustrated.

Calm down Jasper. Calm down. I instructed myself.

The moment the car stopped in the parking lot, I opened the door and got out. A taste of happiness and at the same time a bit of weariness met my senses. It appeared that today would be an ordinary school day. Minus Edward's brooding mood, of course. I wondered how he would affect the people around him.

Edward

Bella had already arrived when I walked inside the lab for Biology. She was speaking to Angela Weber about somebody called Jacob Black. The name rang a bell but at the moment, I could not place it. I sat down at the table. Watching, I saw a blush creep up her face as Angela commented on something that I had not cared to listen to.

I was glad that my thirst was safely under control. No. I would not allow myself to be a menace towards her. No. Of all the things that could be dangerous to a human being, I was not going to let me vampire instincts get the better of me. I wanted to protect Bella.

At that moment, Mr Banner entered the classroom and a silence fell. Bella moved into her seat; she gave me a deep nod and that was it. Well, it looked as though somebody was in the mood for ignoring me. Mr Banner was going on and lecturing the whole time, so I never had the chance to start a conversation.

The bell rang.

"I'll see you around." she told me as she started to walk towards her next class with Mike.

I packed my things really slowly. Even for a human, I was crawling at a snail's pace. Why? Well, right now, I couldn't even comprehend myself. Was my head making sense after all? Was I really jealous about Newton? I didn't remember having any of these emotions before. My family were on fairly good terms with his own. We frequently bought camping gear from their store; we had no use for it but the equipment helped flesh out the human facade.

I had no idea at all.

This would be the brilliant time where Jasper could assist me, except for the fact that he wasn't here. I sighed; Mr Banner was starting to get worrying thoughts about my awful stillness and I relaxed suddenly. The thoughts of approaching seniors made my head snap up. If I remained her for too much longer, I was going to start getting suspicious. With a quiet mutter to my teacher (although my knowledge probably exceeded his own) I left for my next lesson.

I didn't pay attention to anybody during the day only answering a few questions when my mind reading head notified me to do so. I could hardly be described as a zombie; to the average human mind, I may have looked the same as usual.

Jasper wasn't so easy to convince. As I was staring in the direction of Bella Swan and her friends, a leg kicked at my chair. It was Jasper. Of course.

Edward. What's going on with you? You're emotions are a whooping mess! I caught my very own mood readings from his head. I can't even tell how you're truly feeling. Not a good sign for an empath, like me. But, sometimes, your mood flickers so fast or combines in the most unnatural way. Jasper's judgement gave me something else to think about.

I already was aware that my mood was conflicted. Jasper had complained about that so often and I myself was forced to admit it.

The question was, why?

Why did Bella Swan have to come along and totally reshuffle my simple way of life?

Why did I get the sudden urge to protect her? From all dangers, large and small?

Why did I find myself unable to think of anything else? Why had in the space of just a few days everything changed? Why? Why? WHY?

Jessica

I was feeling hopeful. Today, at lunch Bella had admitted that she was sort of dating Jacob Black, a kid from the reservation at La Push. This was a great sign for me.

I hoped that Mike would lose interest in Bella now that she was kind of going out with somebody else. I hoped that he would start noticing me more often. Like, I was pretty, wasn't I? And, I was popular as well as among his friends? How could he not notice me? I was the best friend of Lauren Malory; she was undoubtedly the hottest girl in our year.

I deduced that Mike had just been sidetracked by Bella's arrival. She was just like a shiny, new toy. Once all the big enthusiasm had died away, the interest would be directed back to where it had laid formally. I had known Mike for many years; he was an extremely good friend.

There was a school dance coming up soon in March. I was hoping for a chance to ask Mike. With Bella being sort of in a relationship, I was fairly sure that she wouldn't be asking my ideal date. However, would Mike be willing to go with me? He was very proud at times and would not relent very easily. I scowled. This could be bad if he tried to claim Bella. However, even boys like Mike changed when the girl they wanted was out of reach.

Looks as though I had an even chance should I ask Mike to the dance.

I sighed. Even wasn't good enough for Jessica Stanley. I wanted to be sure. But, if I couldn't get Mike, I'd still want to go to the dance, right? Yes. This meant that I would need to consider somebody else. I would not mind going with Tyler but it was Lauren who fancied him, not me.

If Bella had been out of the picture, securing Mike would have been so easy.

But now, I had to compete with her for his attention.

Edward

If any of my family were to see me right now, they would think that I had gone totally mad. Then again, I wasn't too sure that I was sane either. For instance, why was I sitting in a tree?

My only thought was; I needed to protect Bella and make sure that even in her sleep she was safe.

So, here I was. Thinking that I was not mentally sound. Sitting in a tree. Staring through a window. Watching as the most beautiful human girl that I had ever seen rolling about in her bed. I was transfixed. My heart had not beaten in nearly a hundred years but as I watched, it seemed to come alive. What was first a simple desire to protect had become something bigger.

Fascination.

I opened Bella's bedroom window, taking care because it was quite stuck. I would have to bring oil the next time I came.

I stopped. Next time? Was there even going to be a next time?

My dead unbeating heart appeared to hold the answer for my mind did not need to ponder. Yes. I would. I would come every night and watch as Bella Swan slept. She was precious and fragile.

My angel.