Chapter Twenty

Bella

I sat in the truck, nervously glancing around at the trees too close for comfort. I slid over until I was in the driver's seat ready to hit the horn if I saw the slightest movement anywhere. As I looked I thought about Peter and my feelings for him, was I just happy to be with someone who could protect me? That was certainly a part of it, but he was handsome and funny and he obviously liked me. We were good together and I enjoyed his company. The thing that concerned me was his resemblance to Jasper Hale. I had a nagging doubt that I was fond of him partly because he reminded me of Jasper. The thing that confused me most was that I'd never felt anything for Jasper when I knew him, except an overwhelming sense of gratitude for his help and his few words. The most communication we had ever enjoyed was about two sentences until the night in the Ballet Studio. When he locked eyes with me it was as if we spoke a thousand words, all forbidden. After that I didn't see him until my disastrous Birthday Party except in passing at school and I'd always avoided eye contact.

My Birthday Party had been a disaster which led Edward and the rest of the Cullens into disappearing from my life, destroying it in the process. I thought about what had happened over and over again. The accident had been my fault for cutting my finger. Every pair of eyes had locked on the drops of blood that dripped onto the cream carpet. Jasper had tensed and I saw him stop breathing. At that point I would have bet my life that he wouldn't have attacked me but Edward over reacted and threw me backwards into the table full of crystal plates and glasses. The blood the gash in my arm produced was too much for all of them except Carlisle and Jasper had been stopped from attacking by Emmett and Rose. Yet Jasper was the strongest of them all, a seasoned fighter by all accounts or at least that's what Edward had told me, so why did he allow himself to be stopped so easily? It was a question I never got to ask or have answered, but he was there in my subconscious from that day on, the one Cullen I wasn't prepared to let go of and I didn't know why. I knew I'd never see him again and then at the funeral Alice told me he'd gone and for a brief moment I felt a stab in my heart, he was gone and I would never see him again. Now I had Peter, Jasper's shadow man, and I was so confused about my feelings. I could never see Jasper again and decide if I did feel something for him so should I let him go and see if there was something possible with Peter?

I heard a rustling and was about to slam my hand down on the horn when I saw Peter smiling at me, he was hanging upside down from a nearby branch and I had to smile at his antics. He climbed down like a monkey and motioning me to wind the window down slithered through it to sit in the passenger seat. He looked as if he'd climbed a few trees with green stains on the knees of his jeans and I saw on the cuff of his sleeve a single drop of blood. It mesmerized me and he looked down before wiping it off self-consciously,

"Sorry Bells I didn't see that"

I shook my head and smiled,

"It's OK Peter. I know what you are remember. I've never been so close to a vampire who's just hunted."

"Best time to be with one I'd have thought"

He raised his eyebrows and smiled and I had to laugh.

"Right you drive back I'm tired"

"Vampires don't get tired" I pointed out.

"Who told you that Bells? Edward the ass hole I'll bet. We get tired mentally and I'm bushed. Wake me when we get home"

"But I don't know the way" I said

"Follow the crushed vegetation Princess."

I started the truck and turning round in the small clearing started for home. He was right of course the crushed vegetation made a pathway for me to follow. As I drove something occurred to me.

"Hey you hunt humans not animals, so why are we in the middle of nowhere?"

He opened one eye,

"Nowhere? The town was just over the next rise."

I sighed, looked at his grin and drove on.

Peter

When we got back I went up to shower while Bella fed herself. She was good company, not whiny, and fun, she made me laugh and not many people did that. I wondered if she felt the same way about me, I wondered if she might consider me in a slightly different role than just protector. A real live Prince Charming maybe but then I had to consider Jasper. There was something between them at least on his side or he wouldn't be looking out for her. Did she know? Did she feel anything for him? Did I care? Yeah I did and that's why I'd been cautious up to now. I came back down in thin cotton pants and a baggy shirt open half way down the front. Not to seduce just because they were comfortable and I intended relaxing this evening. Bella had eaten and cleared up and now she was sitting curled up on the couch gazing absently into the flames of the log fire I'd lit as soon as we got in.

"Do you think Edward will be back?"

"Yes. He has a thing about you and it will keep drawing him back until you are no longer available"

"Dead?"

"Or mated elsewhere maybe"

"Mated?"

"Didn't he tell you about that?"

"Not really. He didn't talk much about feelings really, except that he loved me."

She laughed bitterly at that,

"You didn't believe him?"

"Oh no I believed him until he dumped me in the middle of the woods telling me I wasn't worth bothering with any longer."

"Ass hole. So when did he come back?"

"My Dads funeral. He tried to say it had been a mistake, that he still loved me"

"What did you tell him?"

"To shove it"

"I like a girl with a bad attitude."

"I like you too Peter"

I looked at her wondering what, if anything, she was telling me,

"So what do you want me to do if Edward comes back?"

"Kick his ass into next week Prince Charming"

"Your wish is my command Princess"

She uncurled her feet and moved to sit beside me still looking into the flames,

"Can I ask you about Jasper?"

"Sure but I can't promise to answer"

"Fair enough, has he split up with Alice?"

"Yes, shortly after they left Forks."

"Is he with someone else?"

"Not to my knowledge. Why?"

"Idle curiosity that's all. You don't have anyone?"

"No. It's just me and half shares in Titan"

"Does Jasper come here often?"

"No not often. It's home when he wants it but he travels a lot, a bit if a wanderer."

"Oh Right."

I could see the wheels turning in her mind and I wondered what she was thinking.

She leaned against me,

"Do you mind?"

"No. I've hunted so you're safe"

"No I mean do you mind me being close?"

"I know what you meant Bella. No I don't mind but I think I should tell you that I'm getting kinda interested in you"

She nodded,

"Yeah me too but I don't know if its right. I've got some unfinished business before I can commit to anyone"

"I get the message. How about close friends for now?"

"What exactly does that entail?"

"A cuddle, maybe even a kiss occasionally"

She thought about this,

"I don't want to lead you on Peter. I'm not sure where my heart belongs"

"Fair enough. I'm a big boy and I know where I stand"

I lifted my arm and she snuggled close putting her head on my shoulder and closing her eyes. It felt good, her warmth flooding my body and as her breathing evened out I knew she'd fallen asleep. I allowed my raging hormones their head for a little while, getting hard and enjoying the sensation of sexual tension. It had been way too long since I got laid, I decided.