Chapter Twenty One
Bella
I knew it was him even before I turned round, I had this strange feeling, the same one I got when I saw the biker, so that had been him too.
"Have you been watching me?"
He grinned and I caught my breath trying to remind myself he was in fact a vampire and potentially very dangerous.
"I admit it, yes. It was me standing against the wall there looking at you. So will you dance with me?"
I saw Jessica and Lauren staring open-mouthed while Angela behind them nodded furiously.
"OK but I don't dance very well I warn you"
"That's OK, I'll lead, you just have to follow."
As he took my hand I tensed, not sure what to expect when a vampire took you by the hand but apart from a certain firmness it didn't feel any different from mine.
"Are you OK?"
"Yes I'm fine thank you Jasper Hale."
"Ah, they told you all about me did they?"
We seemed to glide around the floor as we spoke and all I could do was look into those golden eyes,
"Yes, they told me you were with Dr Cullen so you must be one of them. Why aren't your eyes red?"
He laughed quietly,
"You certainly don't pull your punches do you?"
"No, I like to know my enemy."
"Is that what I am? An enemy?"
"You're the reason my mother fled Forks when I was a baby."
"Not guilty. This is my first time in Forks."
"You know what I mean though."
"Do I?"
I pulled away,
"Please don't play games with me Jasper Hale."
He nodded and pulled me closer again
"OK. My eyes aren't red because I don't hunt humans just animals but I really wasn't here the last time the Cullens visited."
"How long have you been with them then?"
"Is that the question you really wanted to ask me? Only I'm not sure that the middle of a dance floor surrounded by curious teenagers is the right place for that discussion. I've taken enough chances as it is."
Jasper
She was certainly outspoken and brave in the extreme dancing with me knowing what I was but her closeness thrilled me in a way that was totally new. Her hand in mine burned through to the core, her scent filled my head and set my senses reeling, she was intoxicating. I wondered if she would agree to talk to me away from the dance, sometime soon and I waited for her reply.
"Will you keep following me if I refuse?"
"Yes"
There was no point in lying to her, she'd only see me in any case.
"Then I'll meet you somewhere more private provided you promise to answer my questions truthfully."
"Very well. When and where?"
"Tomorrow in the trees behind the house."
"What time?"
"After lunch, about two."
"I'll be there but please don't tell me this is the end for this evening. I would very much like to be your companion for the rest of the dance."
She was about to ask me why when something stopped her. I felt a sudden wave of anger shoot out and turned to see one of the Quileute boys standing in the doorway glaring over in our direction. Tossing her head she turned back to me smiling,
"OK, lets sit down shall we?"
I led her back through the dancers to her table where the other girls sat, jaws touching the floor, and took the empty chair to one side of her. The others struggled to make conversation when all they wanted to do was drag her away and quiz her about what Id said and eventually they got their wish. The four girls hurried off to the rest rooms and the Quileute who hadn't moved from the doorway strode over and took Bella's seat.
"Stay away from her. She knows what you are and what you did."
"Really? And what exactly would that be?"
"Its your fault she's only just found her father."
"Not guilty, now why don't you just go home Jacob Black. Bella's in no danger from me but she could be from you by the look of things."
Jacobs hands were shaking and I wondered just how close he was to phasing for probably the first time. He was about to answer me when another dark hand touched his shoulder,
"Jacob, now is not the time or the place. Lets go"
Sam Uley the leader of the wolf pack stood glaring at me watched by nervous staff and dancers and I wondered what he would do if they approached him.
"Why don't you leave the Swans alone? Haven't they suffered enough?"
I didn't answer the question,
"I think you should get him out of here before there's an accident."
Sam knew I was right and pulled Jacob from the chair,
"I know you've been watching the treaty line. If there's any trouble its you I'll be looking for"
"Don't threaten me Sam, you have no idea what I'm capable of if I get annoyed and right now I'm beginning to get that way."
They walked out then, everyone falling back to give them a clear passage.
Bella
I only agreed to go with the others because I knew I wouldn't get any peace unless I did,
"Bella Swan, you're certainly a dark horse, Jasper Hale no less!"
Lauren licked her lips and I rolled my eyes at her,
"Lauren, he asked me to dance that's all."
"Yeah but he didn't leave did he? Sitting there with you looking all cosy, cosy, is he playing footsie under the table? Having a quick grope maybe? Not that I'd complain... he is gorgeous."
"Lauren stop before you make me throw up. There's nothing going on above or below the table. I leave that kind of behaviour to you seeing as you know so much about it."
Lauren threw me a dirty look and marched out,
"Some of us think we are so clever."
Jessica looked concerned,
"It's not a good idea to make an enemy of Lauren Bella. She can be a nasty piece of work."
"I'm not scared of a girl like that. Anyway she had no right to talk about me like that, its disgusting."
"True but he is gorgeous. What did you talk about? He's never shown the slightest interest in any one until now. Doesn't he scare you?"
"Scare me?"
That question worried me slightly, did they suspect what he really was?
"Yeah well he's got that dangerous air like he's ready for a fight all the time."
"I haven't noticed."
"Oh well, best of luck. I guess we should get back before he disappears on you"
Of course he was still sitting there when we got back an arm draped casually over the back of my seat and a smile as he saw us. I sat back down looking for Lauren on the dance floor,
"If you're looking for the man-eater she just collared Ben Cheney and he looked petrified."
I laughed at his description of her,
"I'm not surprised. I think she'd have preferred you though."
He cocked one eye brow,
"Not my type."
"And I am?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact you are Bella Swan."
His arm fell gently across my shoulders and stayed there until we danced again and by the end of the evening I had almost forgotten what he was...almost.
Jasper
The evening had been wonderful and I hated saying goodbye to Bella at the end but Angela's dad had arrived to pick the girls up.
"Don't forget our date Bella"
"Is that what it is?"
"I like to think so, I'll be waiting"
"Thank you for a nice evening, I enjoyed it more than I expected to."
I leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek wishing I was taking her home, taking her to bed and making her mine but I had to take things slowly as Alice said, much as it was a struggle to do so and I had to watch as she left me.
"So, you and Bella Swan! It looked like the two of you were getting on well. What's she got that none of the other girls have? You haven't taken the slightest notice of any other girl since we arrived Jazz."
I smiled at Rose,
"Lets just say she intrigues me. A human who knows what we are and still wants to talk."
"She knows? How?"
"Her mother, it's why she ran away remember?"
"She could betray us Jazz."
"I don't think so Rose."
"Well I think we should discuss the situation with Carlisle when we get back"
I groaned, much as I loved my "sister" her paranoia did become a little wearing sometimes.