it's been a long time...shouldn'ta left you..without a dope beat to step to...

enjoy...

Chapter XXV

(Bpov)

When Jasper and I walked back in the cabin, Rosalie and Edward greeted us. They said they were just talking about me before we walked in. I wondered what they were talking about and what they were saying that included mentioning me. And why were they talking to each other about it, whatever it was? I'm sure it was nothing too bad. I mean it was Rosalie. She wasn't the one to talk about people behind their back. But still; I couldn't help but wonder.

Then she asked me if I had fun. I told her it was worth bailing out on our ice skating plans, jokingly; well, half-jokingly. When I did, she started staring at me. When I asked her why she was staring at me, she asked me what the look I had on my face was. She insisted it was because of something that happened. I didn't know I was smiling a certain way, I mean I really didn't know I was smiling to being with. Then when Jasper and I didn't tell her anything, she grabbed my wrist and started dragging me to the stairs.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"To find Alice." She answered.

"Rosa, my snow suit." I reminded her that it was still where I took it off at. My dad told me I needed to pick up after myself, so I didn't want to leave it in the middle of the floor like that. It would be rude to have someone else pick up after to me. And what if Edward's mother thought I was some lazy, messy brat who expects people to clean up after me. Plus, I wasn't comfortable not having it back in my suit case when so I know where it was when I went to grab it again.

"We can get it later. This is more important." She said. It wasn't that important that she could wait a few minutes for me to tell her, if I was even going to tell them.

But she wasn't going to see it that way. I'm sure she would think it was so important for her to know what happened between Jasper and me that I tell her right this minute. I figure I'll let her drag me.

Before we got to the stairs, I turned to the guys. "Bye. I'll see you guys later." I told them before she dragged me up the stairs.

"Bye Belle." I heard Jasper chuckled.

Rosalie got me to the second floor before I said anything back. "Rosa, can you let me go? You know I hate being grabbed." I reminded her.

"Not until we find Alice." She replied.

We got to the room we were staying in for the week. We saw she wasn't in there. Then we saw Ms. Esme. "Hello girls." She greeted. I wondered what she was doing up here since her and her husband's room were below us.

"Hi Ms. Esme." I greeted.

"Hi." Rosalie said shortly. "Do you know where Alice is?" she asked.

Esme nodded. "She just went in the bathroom." She told us. "By the way, dinner is in about an hour." She reminded us. I still couldn't believe she cooked for us, three meals every day. I didn't even get three meals all the time at home. Where does she find the time to be that kind of mother, the one who cooks all the time and do other things you expect to see only from stay-at-home mothers, with the job she had? I was happy she did; everything she's made us has been great, like the first time I stayed over their house.

Rosalie and I both nodded before Esme walked pass us. Rosalie dragged me to the closed bathroom door. "Rosa, don't bother her." I told her.

She didn't listen to me as she knocked on the door. "Yes?" Alice answered.

"Hurry up." Rosalie responded.

"Why?" Alice asked.

"Bella has something to tell us about her time with Jasper." Rosalie replied.

"I really don't." I said in a mumble.

"Hush, yes you do. I know it." Rosalie said to me.

There was a silent moment. "I'll be out in a second." Alice answered. We heard the water run and hit the sink before she turned it off. She opened the door. She looked at us while she was drying off her hands. She looked at Rosalie then she looked at me. Then she started at me the same way Rosalie did. What was wrong with them? "What is that smile?' she asked turning back to Rosalie.

What smile? What were they talking about? Did I still have that same smile on my face from when Jasper and I were on the ski lift to the higher mountain? I couldn't have. That happened almost twenty to thirty-five minutes ago. I couldn't still be smiling. I think they wanted something to have happen between us. They wanted me to have a reason to leave them. Because of that, I think they were seeing things because I don't believe I was smiling a certain way.

"That's what I asked. She wouldn't tell me. I figured you can get it out of her." Rosalie said.

Alice smiled. "I'm sure I can. " I rolled my eyes as she grabbed my other arm. They pulled me to our shared room. They sat me on one of the beds. Geez. They were too excited about something I probably won't even tell them. At least they let me go. "Talk. Tell us what happen." She demanded.

I shrugged. "He taught me how to snowboard." I told them.

"Come on Bella, why won't you tell us?" Rosalie whined.

I chuckled. Why was she whining? It honestly wasn't that important. Alice turned to Rosalie. "I know why she won't. Because nothing happened." She said to her. She turned back to me. "Nothing happened." She repeated.

When she said it the second time, it seem like Rosa caught what Alice was saying. "Oh, you might be right." she said, playing along.

I chuckled again. Really? Didn't they think I was a little too smart for reverse psychology? "If that's what you both believe." I said with a shrug as I tried to get off the bed. They weren't going to let me go as they both pushed me back down to where I was sitting. I should have known they wouldn't have let me go that easily.

"Okay, that didn't work." Rosalie pointed out to Alice. I nodded in agreement; know what she was talking about. She looked at me. "Can you at least tell us what base you got to?" she asked.

"Does she even understand what that means?" Alice asked.

Hey, I was right here. That was the second thing they said something like that in front of me. Could they say things like that when I wasn't in the room? "I was socially awkward, Alice, not an alien. I know what that means." I told her; rolling my eyes along with it.

She looked at me. "Okay, so what was it. Second, did you make with him? Third, fool around behind the cabin, in the hot tub?" she asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Alice, it was just a kiss." I said before I knew what I was doing. I covered my mouth with both of my hands as if that was enough to make to words go back in my mouth. It wasn't that I didn't want to tell them. I did, but I didn't tell them at first because what if I was looking too much in it. He could have been just doing it and not thought anything of it. He probably thought it was just something that didn't mean anything. and if that was the case, I would look like the typical teenage girl who ran and told her friends every and anything that happened between us.

On the other hand, he did want to do it again and I was the one who pulled away. He probably thought I was th one who thought it was nothing. I was still a little confused about all of this between him and me so I didn't want to talk about it in fear of furthering the confusion. Plus if I tell them that, they would ask what happen and I didn't want to tell them we had to stop because I couldn't breathe correctly and started my heavy breathing in the middle of it. It was embarrassing enough the first time.

It was too late. Once the last word left my mouth, their dropped open. "It was just a what?" Rosalie said.

"A kiss. It's not as good as make-out ses, but still. I knew if I aimed high enough, she would tell us." Alice gloated. I gave myself a mental hit in the head. That was why she skipped right to second base. I should have seen though that plan. I saw through the first one, why didn't I see the second one was a trick as well? Maybe I wasn't that smart. Maybe acting dense was becoming more of an act. "I can't believe you actually kissed him." Alice said.

I rolled my eyes before dropping my hands from my face. It was out; no use in trying to act as if it wasn't. "He kissed me." I corrected.

"What?" they both exclaimed. Rosalie smiled. "But you liked it." she assumed.

Alice laughed. "Please. Judging by the smile she was sporting, she fucking loved it." she added. They both laughed. I couldn't stop the blushing. This is embarrassing. Another reason why I didn't what to tell them.

After a moment, Rosalie gasped, as if she just realized something. She grabbed my hands excitedly. "Izzie, that was your first kiss." She said. So that's what she realized. Did she have to grab me again? I removed my hands from hers before I nodded to confirm. Unlike Jasper, she already knew that before it happen so I wasn't too embarrassed to let her know her assumption was correct.

"Aw." Alice said as if I was a puppy that kept licking her face. Well, I wasn't until Alice did that.

I cover my face to try and stop the blushing. "Can we please stop talking about this? It really isn't that big of a deal." I told them

"Yes the hell it is." Rosalie said. "Bella, you had your first kiss with the boy you've had a major crush on for a long time; that is huge." She said as she sat next to me.

"Yeah, so go on and tell us all about it." Alice agreed as she sat on the other side of me. They took turns nudging me until I finally gave them the information they wanted. Eventually, I told them everything. From him teaching how to snowboard to me falling a few times. I told them how every time I fell he would help me up.

Then I told them about how we were on the ski lift and he asked if he may do something. Not knowing what he meant, I told them I said sure before he leaned in to kiss me. I couldn't even finish the detail of it because I started covering my face again to hide how much I was blushing. I finally skipped pass that part to the part where we had to stop because of my dumb breathing problem. They both tried to keep from laughing. Rosalie said she never heard of anything like that. I had to agree with her. It was unique. Then I made them promise not to say anything to anyone else about it. I didn't need anyone else doing what they did.

"Why did you lean away?" Rosalie asked when I told them about when he was trying to give me the second one.

I chuckled. "I was still getting over the first one." I half-lied, not wanting them to know about what Edward told me. I didn't want them to know for the same reason I didn't tell Rosalie about Edward and my deal at first. They might get involve or tell me something that will confuse me more. I decided I was going to do what they told me before and just have fun with him. No one needs to know why.

"You guys are so cute." Alice said. I chuckled. Just then, my phone rang. I reached down and pulled out my phone from the side of my boot. I thought if I keep it there, it would be a less chance of me losing it than in one of my many pockets on my snow suit. I unlocked it. I looked at the text and smiled. "Who is it?" she asked.

Rosa laughed. "As if you had to ask. What does my brother want?" she asked, knowing already who it was without me having to answer Alice's question.

I shook my head. It was nothing, really. I was just happy he was texting me. "He just asked what I was doing." I told them.

"Tell him you're having girl time." Rosa said.

"And that you'll talk to him later." Alice added. I didn't want to, but I told them fine before I told him what they told me. He didn't reply back, so I assumed he knew it meant that we couldn't talk right now; well, I wasn't "allow" to talk to him.

We talked about what would happen now between Jasper and me. I told them I didn't want to start thinking it was something when it wasn't and end up getting my feelings hurt. I reminded them that we were just going to have fun. Then Rosalie compared what was happening with me with what happened when she and Emmett started dating.

We kept talking until Emmett himself came up stairs and poked his head in our room. He said that we still had about thirty minutes before dinner was ready and asked Rosalie if she wanted some alone time in the hot tub. She looked at Alice and me. We both nodded. She left me go and hang out along with her brother, wasn't it fair that she got to do the same with her boyfriend? She told him she'll meet him there before he left to change himself.

After she left, Alice said she was going to call one of her best friends. I told her I would leave alone. She said it was fine and that she was just going to asked her what she wanted from one of the gift shops. I told her I didn't want to feel like I was intruding on her and her friend's conversation.

So I left the room and went down stairs. When I got to the living room, I saw Jasper on the couch. He was looking at the TV and flipping through channels on it. I didn't see that when I was in here before. I looked to see a cabinet door on each side of it. It must have been hidden in the cabinet. I guess that would explain it. "What are you watching?" I asked when I saw he was still just flipping through channels.

"News, news, stocks, and the shopping network." He joked.

I giggled. "Not really much on, huh?" I teased.

He chuckled before looking at me. "Not really." He moved over. "Come sit and watch 'nothing' with me." he invited. It wasn't like there was anything else to do. Plus it would be the second time in one day that we will be alone. I nodded before walking over to him. He moved over a little more and made room for me. I sat next to him. "Girl time over?" he asked.

I nodded. "Sorry I couldn't talk to you." I said.

He chuckled. "It's fine. Emmett took my phone after I read your text, something about not wanting me to hold up the game, so I wouldn't have been able to talk to you either." He replied. I laughed. I wasn't surprise Emmett did that. Rosalie is always telling me how when they're together, he wants all attention on him. I wonder if he just wanted the attention on him for it to be away from me. I doubt that was the reason. I think he was just selfish with people's time. "What about you?" he asked, turning his whole body to me. I gave a confused look. He chuckled. "Why couldn't you talk to me?" he clarified.

"Oh." I said in realization. "I told you, girl talk." I reminded as I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. Talking to him has gotten much easier since that day he helped me with my books. However, I do wonder if the feeling of questioning when and if I was going to embarrass myself in front of him would stop.

"What were you talking about?" he asked, curiously.

I chuckled. "I don't think I'm supposes to tell you." I told him.

He chuckled back. "Probably not. But what if I'll tell you what Edward and I was talking about when you left if you tell me." he negotiated.

"Do I even want to know?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Probably not, but I want to tell you." He answered.

"Then just tell me." I told him. I wasn't interested before. I wouldn't have cared if he told me or not. Now that he said he wanted to, I wanted to know.

"I will, if you tell me." he said. That seemed only fair. I nodded. He smiled. "Okay, I'll go first then. I'll be honest, we were talking about you." He said.

"Me?" I repeated in question. He nodded. Why was everyone talking about me today? And why with Edward? Jasper was probably talking to him about me for the same reason I was talking to Alice or Rosalie about him. "What about me?" I encouraged him to go on.

"About how I like hanging out with you. And about the kiss." He said with a soft smile. When he did, his face became a very light shade of pink. It was so light, I don't think I would have noticed it if I wasn't sitting so close to him. Was he blushing? I don't think I ever seen a guy do that before. I didn't think males were capable of it.

His blush made me do the same. I gave a small and soft laugh before turning away from his eyes. "I guess it's only fair." I said softly.

"Why do you say that?" he asked.

"Because I told Rosa and Alice the same thing." I told him. "Is that okay?" I asked when he didn't answer right away.

On the side of my eye, I saw him give a shrug. "Like I said, I told my friend so I think it's okay if you told yours. It's not like it was unexpected." He said.

I looked at him. "Unexpected?" I repeated. What did he mean by that?

His smile dropped. "Uh…not unexpected." He answered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, it wasn't like I asked you to come with me in some kind of scheme to do that. I was just as surprised as you were that I did it. I just meant that…" he stopped and smiled. "I wanted it to happen and I'm not too upset it did." He teased. I chuckled as I looked away. "How was it, for you know…" he stopped. He probably didn't want to say what I know he was thinking because someone might in ear shot.

I giggled as I tucked my hair behind my ear. "Like I said, it was fine." I repeated. I looked at him. "Better than fine."

He chuckled as he shook his head. "Something about that word." He mumbled. He looked at me. "Maybe we really should try again; you know make it much better than just 'fine'." He moved closer to me. He placed his hand gently on my face; so gently, it was almost like he was afraid to break me if he touched too roughly. His hand was barely on me, and I felt my heart jumping all my body, not just my chest. "You know what they say about practice." He said softly, looking at my lips. He looked at my eyes again before he leaned forward.

He was so close to my face; I could feel his breathe on me. His lips weren't even on me before I felt like my breathing starting to speed up. Maybe I didn't do it earlier because I wasn't ready for him to be that close to me again, not because of what Edward said; through that was a good excuse.

Without thinking about what I was doing, I leaned away again, making his hand come off my face. He opened his eyes and looked at me, as if to ask why I pulled away again. "I…I'm sorry." I said.

"No, it's fine." He said as he dropped his hands. "It's my fault." He said as he moved back where he was. "I just thought…"

I stopped him by shaking my head. "It's not you. It's me." I told him. "I don't think I'm ready for another one that quick." I told him honestly. It was me because I didn't think I was really for that. What if the first time didn't have anything to with the thin air, but just because I wasn't ready for it. I mean it would have helped for a warning; I could have prepared myself for it more.

He nodded. "Another time, I get it." he looked at me and smiled. "But you should know that going to keep trying." He told me.

"Why?" I said, without really meaning to.

He chuckled. "Two reasons." He said holding up two fingers. "For one, I liked what happened and I want it to happen again. And two, I chase after what I want." He told me, still with that same smile.

What he wanted? Was what he want…me? I choked back my nervousness. "Are you saying all of these to ask for my permission?" I said with a small smile. I thought it was appropriate since that's what he always seem to do when it come to me and my personal space.

He chuckled. "More like warning you so you don't think I'm some kind of creep." He answered. After he said that, we just stared at each other. It was that day when he was at my house and we ran out of small talk. I didn't want to anything to be say, but if nothing happened soon, I was afraid he was going to try to kiss me again. I don't think I could lean away three times in a row.

"Hey kids." We heard a voice a male voice. We both turned to Mr. Cullen as he walked in the living.

"Hello, Mr. Cullen." I greeted.

"Hi." Jasper added.

"Dinner is almost ready and Mrs. Cullen asked me to get everyone. Can you two wait in the dining room while I get everyone else?" he asked. We both nodded before getting up and walking to the dining area.

XXX

The rest of the week, I soaked in every bit of the trip. I went to town with Rosalie, Alice and Ms. Esme for the spa day Alice promised us. I don't think I could remember a time where I was so relaxed. We even went in a mud bath. I thought I was silly. I figured it was something like that was equivalent to a little kid playing in the mud, but my mind was changed once we in. The gooiness of the mud felt confronting. Then when we got out and rinsed off, my skin was so soft and smooth. Who knew mud was such a great moisturizer?

Rosalie and I went ice skating so many times; I think I can consider myself a pro now. However, I would still like to learn how to do those spins the figure skaters do in their routines. I went snowboarding with Jasper as well a few more times. After our talk, he promised not to surprise me like that again. He said he would try, but there would be more of a warning. I was happy about that. We don't need another episode.

He did try that day right before dinner, but Edward and Emmett was there and because what I told him, I leaned away again. He hasn't really tried it anymore. I was so pleased he respected what I told him.

I still stood by what I said. I don't think I was ready. But I needed to make myself ready because I really liked what he did and I did want to do it again. The only way to learn is to try it again. Like he said, I did know what practice made. It made perfect and I don't think I minded the thought of it be perfect, though I'm sure any time he does it again will be.

During the week, Emmett ever asked me to play pool with him. I was surprised he did since he wouldn't really talk to me all week, not alone anyways. There was always someone else there with us. We played one game with just the two of us. While we did, he stretched for the small talk. I was glad when Jasper and Rosalie walked in and joined us. Not just because it was my favorite twins, but also because I wouldn't have to pretend like the snow and the ice and our classes were all such stimulating and fascinating topics. At least he was trying to be friends with me. However, I think I will just be best if we were friends when Edward or Rosalie or anyone else was around.

We were there during New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It was my first one without my parents. Starting the new year without my mother I could handle, but I did miss my dad. I called him so he could count down with us then called back for Washington's New Year. When we got to one, Jasper walked over to me. He leaned into me. I thought it was going to be one of those "tries" he warned me about. He smiled before pulling back and giving me a hug instead. It gave me an idea.

When he pulled away, I went around and hugged everyone. I even gave Ms. Esme a small one-arm hug of thanks. I would have done the same with her husband but he wasn't there. He had to leave and go back to Forks early because of a seven car pile-up. In hindsight, it might have been best I didn't. It might have been a little weird considering.

I tried to hug Edward, but when I got to him, he pulled away and said he had to call Tanya before leaving the room.

It wasn't the first time he ignored me or pulled/walked away.

The whole week, I tried to hang out with Edward, but I would never see him until a meal came. Then afterwards, when I would try to catch him and say we could go skiing or to town or something, he would just say he was already busy. If I didn't know any better, I would think he was avoiding me. But why would he be doing that? I didn't do anything to make him upset or mad at me. I know I left him that one day, but he told me to go and said we could work later. But since then, later never came. I tried not to worry about it too much as the week went on, but I couldn't help but wondered what was wrong with him.

Like all good things, the trip came to an end. I was glad. I was having so much fun, but I was really starting to miss my dad and my own bed. I was definitely missing my own bathroom and not have to wait for seven other people to use it.

But the fun lasted a little longer on the plane ride back.

"Is it a horse?" I whispered to Jasper. On the plane ride back, I got to sit between Jasper and Alice while Edward, Rosalie and Emmett were in front of us. Everyone seemed tired when we left the cabin and I was guess they were sleeping. Jasper and I wasn't because I wasn't sleepy enough and he said he could never fall asleep on a plane. Because of we were playing Twenty-One Questions on his tablet to pass the time. We had to talk quietly because it was late and, once again, I'm sure most of the plane was asleep.

He chuckled before shaking his head. "Twenty-one." he answered the number of my questions before tapping the screen.

I looked at him in disbelief. "Then what is it?" I asked as I took it from him. "A unicorn? That's a horse." I told him.

"No, it not. Give it back, it's still my turn." He teased as he tried to take it back.

I laughed softly. "No way; a unicorn is technically just a horse with a horn so it's my turn." I told him as move it out of his reach.

"Yeah; technically, not actually. It's still my turn, Belle." He answered before taking it out my hand.

"You're such a cheater." I teased.

He laughed. "Don't be mad because you're fifteen points behind. Here, I'll pick something easy this time, let you catch up." He teased back.

I giggled. "Try picking something non-fictional while you're at it." I replied.

"You don't know unicorns aren't." he answered.

I rolled my eyes. "Just take your undeserved turn." I told him. He chuckled before tapping on the screen again. He found what the one he wanted and said okay. Before I could ask a question, I looked up to see Edward looking at us. "Hey, I'm sorry. Did we wake you?" I asked softly.

Edward shook his head. "I was watching a movie on my laptop. What are you two doing?" he asked.

"We're playing Twenty-One Questions. Bella keeps thinking I'm cheating." Jasper answered.

"Because he is. Do you want to play? Maybe he will stop if someone else is watching him" I joked.

"Uh, no. you don't want me to play." Edward answered.

I gave him a confused look "Yes I do." I told him. Why would I ask if I didn't want him to join us? I wouldn't have said I did if I didn't.

I was hoping he stop upset with me for whatever reason and would actually do something with me before we landed, even if it was playing a silly game. "Come on, play with us." I invited.

Edward gave a smile. "Thanks, but you two seem to be having enough fun." He said before rolling his eyes away from us. What in the world was that about?

"Does he seem angry to you?" I asked Jasper softly so Edward wouldn't hear.

Jasper gave a shrug. "He might just be tired. You wanna keep going?" he asked.

I thought about it. If he was really tired, maybe our teasing a giggling was keeping him awake. But then I remember he said he was watching a moving. So he was keeping himself up. But what was the eye roll about? And why wouldn't he think I wanted him to join? Yeah, I like the alone time with Jasper, but we were just playing a game and it was fine.

But it might be something he's handling personally and had nothing to do with me. So I nodded to Jasper. "Then ask your first question." He said.

I chuckled. "Okay, let me think." I said.

After that, we kept playing the game until we landed. When we landed, it was well after midnight. I didn't want to risk waking up my parents so I stayed the night with Rosalie at her house. It made sense since she was the one who picked me up when we left and is going to take me back home. I didn't have a problem with it because it was a less chance that I would bump into Jasper and embarrass myself now.

Luckily, I never got a chance because the three us of went to sleep the moment we walked into the door. The next day, Rosalie woke me up around noon so she could take me home.

"You're finally home." she joked as she pulled up in my drive way. When she did, I smiled at the scent of familiarity. I had fun, but it was good to be home.

"What me to walk you to the door?" Jasper said after he turned to me. He told Rosalie he was coming to take me home to help me with my bags, but she claims she knew the real reason. I like to think I did too.

I smiled at him. "Sure." he got out from the passenger's side before opening my door in the back. Rosalie popped the truck so we could bags. He grabbed the heavier one before I could even reach of it. I wasn't surprise nor didn't see it coming. He's been doing it since he saw me by Rosalie's car the first time.

"Did you have fun this week?" he asked me as we walked to the front door.

I nodded. "I did. Expect…" I stopped, thinking about Edward and how he ignored me all week.

"Expect what?" Jasper asked. Was it okay to talk to him about this? I'm sure it was. I mean, it wasn't like I was talking about someone he didn't know or wasn't friend with. Edward was both our friend so it was okay, I'm sure.

"Something about Edward is bothering me." I admitted.

"What?" he asked.

I shrugged. "He just seemed distant all week. And then that thing that happened on plane. I don't know. I feel like he was mad at me." I told him. I didn't like it when people were mad at me, especially if I didn't know the reason. I would always try to stop it or fix it if I could. I looked at Jasper. "You don't think he's upset about what you told him, do you?" I asked.

Jasper gave a thinking look before shaking head. "I don't think so. I mean, I don't see a reason why he would be." He said. Okay, I admit. It might have been a reach to think that, it might have even been a little vain. But what else was I supposes to think? It just seemed like he stopped talking to me after that day. I gave a sigh. The answer Jasper gave me didn't help me at all. "Like I said, he's probably just tired. I'm sure he would be fine when we go back to school next Wednesday." He said.

I hope so. I'm sure he was right. He knew him better than I did. I gave a nod.

"You might be right." I agreed. We got to my door. "Thank you for helping me." I said to him.

"Sure thing. Need me to carry them to you room?" he said with a smiled.

I gave a smile. "Is this one of your tricks?" I asked, knowing he knew what I was referring to. With that, I stopped thinking about Edward. Jasper was right. Edward would fine. He was probably just ready to come home like I was. He probably missed his girlfriend more than he thought he would.

He chuckled. "Thanks for thinking so little of me." he joked. Then he shook his head. "No, I was actually really asking just to be nice." he answered.

I gave a disbelieving smile. "Thank you, but my father is home so he can help me if I really need it." I told him.

"Okay, well, I'm glad you came." He said.

"Me too." I told him. I think it would have been another one of our moments if Rosa didn't honk the horn. We looked at her. She was signaling Jasper to hurry up. He held up his finger telling her to wait. We turned back to each other. "I have to go." He said. I gave a nod. He set my bag down before he wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me. I didn't hesitant to hug him back.

He held me longer than I thought he would. I thought it would be a quick hug and then let me go. But he kept holding me in his tight hug. I was okay with it.

It probably would have been longer if a door didn't opened. We pulled apart and looked towards my front door. My mother was standing there in the door way, giving us a look. "So nice for you finally rejoin us, Isabella." she said. Before I could say something back, she went on. "You told your father you'd only be gone a week." She said, crossing her arms.

"It was only a few extra days. I'm sorry." I told her.

She rolled her eyes. When she was done, they set on the person next to me. When they, she had her infamous smile on her face. The same one she used on Edward. "And who is this handsome young man." She said. Dang it, I totally forgot about her and how she acted around the opposite sex. In my defense, I didn't take in account of her opening the door with Jasper next to me either.

Well, there goes whatever Jasper and I were doing. There's no way he would look at me the same way after meeting my mother.

"Mom, this is Jasper." I introduced him.

"Rosalie's brother." She assumed.

I saw him nod. "Yes, ma'am."

She gave her flirty laugh. "Oh, don't call me that. You make me sound so old. You may call me Renée." she said.

"I don't think I'm very comfortable with that, ma'am." He answered. What? I looked at him in shock. He was smiling at her, but it wasn't the smile I've seen so many guys give her. He wasn't stunned like Edward. He didn't look at her like some hot girl in the mall or like she was my prettier, older sister. He looked at her like she was…like she was…a mom. Just a mom and nothing more. That was a first.

"Oh." She said, as taken back as I was. "Well, Ms. Swan is okay, too." She answered. I looked back her. I saw she was smiling, but it soften. The comment he made knocked her down. "You went on the trip as well, correct?" she asked. He nodded. "Was it fun to be away from the parents for a while?" she asked in a teasing tone.

He chuckled. "Yeah, it's always nice to take a trip away from home. I had fun with Bella as well." He said.

Her eyes widen in shock. "Really? With her?" she asked as if it was so unrealistic that someone could have fun with me. I guess to her, it was.

He nodded. "She made it one of the best trips." He answered. I was glad he wasn't looking at me because I felt my face change to a more redder color because of the comment.

"Well, then it's a good thing I allow her to go." She said. I rolled my eyes. Please; my dad let me go. She was against me the whole idea. I didn't say anything because I knew she was just saying that because of Jasper.

"I'm glad you did." he answered. Rosalie honked her horned again. This time it was longer and more urgent. He looked at her then looked back at my mom. "I have to go. Rosa and I have to finish unpacking." He told her.

"Okay, tell Rosalie I said hello and thank you for bringing my daughter back safely." she said with a smile. And the award for the best woman acting like an actual caring mother goes to…

He nodded to her before turning back to me. He gave a one more hug. This one was the little one I expected the first one to be. "I'll see you at school." He said when he pulled away. He turned back to my mom. "Nice to meet you Ms. Swan." He said.

"You do, Jasper" she said before he turned around and let.

She looked back at me. "What in the world was that?" she asked when Jasper got back in the car and Rosalie drove away.

"What was what?" I said as I kicked my bags in the house because I didn't feel like picking either one of them up.

"That hug. What was that?" she asked. Why did she want to know? And why did she sound not pleased like she walked on us doing something a lot more imitate? I looked at her to see she had the face to match her voice.

"It was just a good-bye hug. I give them to Rosalie all the time." I told her.

She sighed and shook her head. "Well make sure that's all it was." She said.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I kicked my bags by the stairs so I didn't have too far to carry them.

"Don't look too much into it. I hope you don't like him, it would be a waste of your time." she said. Oh, this should be so interesting. I turned to her and waited for her continue. "I'm just saying he's completely out of your league. It's like you haven't learned anything from being friends with Edward. You need to know who and who not to go for. We don't want you to have some kind of break down when he say he just like you as a friend and the only reason he's nice to you is because you're friends with his sister." She said.

Now she was sounding like Tanya and I didn't like that. I doubted myself once when Tanya said to me. I wasn't going to let my mother make me do it again.

"Why do you that?" I asked.

"Do what, Isabella?" she asked as if she didn't just say what she did.

"Why do you talk to me like that? You talk to me like you're a teenager, like you're my peer. I deal with enough rude teenage girls at my school. I shouldn't have to come home and deal with it from you too." I told her before I grabbed my bag with my clothes in it and walked up one step.

Before I can go further, she stopped. "You can't talk to me like that, young lady. I am your mother…"

"Then act like one." I cut her off. I looked at her and she looked dumbfounded. "Mom, I know you think you're helping me with those comments, but you're not. You do the exact opposite. I don't need a Mean Girl in the house with me. I need someone I feel I can come to who won't laugh at me or put me down or say something I would hear from Tanya and Kate. I need a mother. You might not want to be one, but you are. I just wish you would try hard to fill that role. But I guess I should just stop trying to force that information in your head. You clearly don't get it." I said before climbing the rest of the stairs.

So much for wanting to come home. Leave it to my mother to make me wish I stayed away a week or so longer.

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