A/N: Hey! So, here's the next chapter. This one is actually the first one to be beta'd yet. And I'd like to thank Xo BellaItalia oX for that! At this moment, she's my favorite person in the world. xDD Just... don't tell my niece that... she'll get upset. Either way, thank you! Hope you guys find this chapter to your liking. :)
I'm just starting the next chapter. Hopefully it'll be up by next Friday.
Also, I know I promised Rosalie and Emmett in the next chapter, last chapter. But, I want to get some things hashed out before they come back in the picture. You'll learn more about them later. Although, I did originally have them in this chapter, before I sent it to Xo BellaItalia oX, I took it out. It works out better this way. Don't kill me! :P
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just borrow. :D
The next morning seemed to come quickly for Jasper. He slipped out of the bed from underneath of Bella, before heading in to the kitchen to start on breakfast for her.
Soon, after heating up the oven burners, he could hear Bella moving around in her room, likely gathering her things to take a shower. As predicated, the shower started quickly after his thought. He made quick work on some pancakes with chocolate chips, knowing that her showers took less than twenty minutes.
Once she made it down the stairs and into the kitchen, she stood awkwardly at the doorway, hair down and soaking the back of her cotton t-shirt.
"I'm making pancakes." He gestured to the pan. "I put chocolate chips in them… is there a certain amount that you'd like?"
He watched her over his shoulder, taking in the way her eyes narrowed and she tensed up.
"Exactly when did I tell you that I liked pancakes?" She cocked her head to the side.
Jasper could feel her annoyance and he was tempted to throw a wave of calm at her. "Hey, I just remember the old days. I knew you liked them then and I was just trying to the help."
She wandered over to the fridge, getting out the milk he had just returned, and standing on her tiptoes beside it to reach up and grab a glass from the cabinets.
Calmly, Bella replied. "I understand that you were trying to help, but it irks me when you do things without asking. I would like to make my own decisions for once." Her eyes flickered to his, and the annoyance he had felt earlier was gone.
He flipped a pancake before responding. "Forgive me. I wanted to have breakfast ready for you when you woke up, to make you happy." Despite trying not to feel so, he was mildly offended. He never was good at hearing the things he's done wrong.
"And I understand that." She shook out her head a little bit, wet droplets hitting the ground. "But, remember," her piercing chocolate eyes met his again, "don't over step your boundaries. Got it?"
Distrust and wavering optimism rolled off of her in waves, mingled with a vaguely hostile emotion.
He nodded in reply, ducking his head slightly and flipping the pancake again. "Yes ma'am."
Through the rest of the morning and far into the afternoon, Bella was uncharacteristically quiet. That only changed once her cell phone rang.
She picked it up with a cautious greeting, imagining the phone call from Rosalie days earlier. But it was Henry, thankfully. She clicked over to speakerphone as she continued putting away the groceries that Peter and Charlotte had showed up with after breakfast. Although she had wondered where they were, she said nothing about the food that they had bought.
"Hells Bells! You have no idea how happy I was to get that voicemail from you! I'm sorry that I didn't answer the phone, I left it at home for a night with the wife, you understand."
"Of course, Henry, I know how the wife is." She teased lightly, really grinning for the first time today, considering her thoughtful mood all day.
She could hear his chuckle through the speaker. "I'm sure you do. Anyways, what's up? Are you ready to get back to singing, or you still doin' vacation? Also, I got somethin' I needa talk to you about." His tone grew more sober as the sentence progressed.
"I'm just about ready to start singing again. Vacation hasn't been that great for me, turns out. You know me; I can't just sit around and do nothin' all day long. And, what's up, sugar?" She definitely didn't like the change in the atmosphere.
"The pap, babe. I've got it smoothed over mostly, but have you watched the news? Not the silly Channel 13 shit, but I'm talking People Magazine, Cosmo, TMZ and all that jazz."
"No, actually, I haven't. I've been a tad preoccupied with things here at the vacation house."
"Preoccupied, huh? That's a little contradicting. What happened to just sittin' around doin' nothing?" He chuckled.
She shrugged, forgetting that he couldn't see, and ignored his comment. "What's with the news?"
"Oh, nothing…. just that apparently, according to them People and TMZ, you now have a super sexy, super pale, boyfriend." His tone declared his feelings on the subject. Henry was upset.
Then again, it was reasonable, considering that Bella was supposed to be the "Break-up Queen". The girl who was strong, independent, and didn't need a man.
"Well, he's not my boyfriend." He's my mate, she finished in her head. "He's an old friend. I dated his brother and was best friends with his ex back in high school. We were all pretty close."
"Then what's with the kissy faces?" His scowl was obvious.
The damned pet store girl. Little bitch.
"It was one kiss… in public. And shit, no one ever said that I couldn't date, either way." She huffed. "It's not illegal. Besides, I've been working on a new song." She fibbed quickly, effectively distracting him.
"Oh yeah? Tell me about it." Henry was excited.
She thought quickly, "I want it to be a surprise. And I'm still working it out. You'll be the first to know, though."
It was quiet on his side for a moment. "Well, okay. Just keep me updated, peach."
"You know I will." She smiled.
"Alrighty. Well, let me know, and then we can work from there on a show, or a tour. Whatever you'd like."
"Sounds like a plan." She replied.
He ended the call and Bella finished with the groceries, moving into her room and shutting the door.
Deep into the night, Bella worked on a song. For a split second, she was shitty at herself, why did she lie? Now it meant she had to work. She made a face at that thought, but sighed and scribbled a note into her leather bound notebook.
Bella couldn't help but let her mind wander to the people downstairs. She hadn't seen Rosalie or Emmett, but she had a feeling they were still here; probably being quiet for a reason.
What could she sing about? She thought about all of the other artists and two in particular popped up. John Mayer, a favorite of hers, and Taylor Swift.
She liked Taylor's music well enough, but she didn't like the immaturity. She was over twenty damn years old, and she still reminded Bella of a sixteen year old.
Mayer on the other hand…
The one day she had met him, about a year ago, she had really enjoyed his sense of humor, his quirkiness. He was shy at first, but once she got past that, they were attached at the hip throughout the entire party where she had met him. But, of course, rumors had started, and Henry didn't like that. She hasn't talked to Mayer in a while now. They still emailed occasionally…
The gears began to grind in her head.
One, she knew she wanted something slower. Maybe a love song; but nothing too slow.
Two, she knew she wanted to somehow get Mayer into the song.
Her mind flitted back to Taylor Swift. Everyone knew that she had a crush on Mayer. And they got along well enough, but he was about ten years older than her. He looked at her like a little sister.
Three, she didn't want to diss Taylor. But… maybe teasingly mock about the relationship.
She continued thinking about it.
Of course, at the same time, the song that Taylor had just come out with, "Dear John", had a really negative effect on John Mayer. And frankly, Bella didn't like that.
Bella grabbed her laptop, opening it and immediately going to YouTube on her internet browser. She searched John Mayer, and listened to a couple of his songs for a bit, before switching over to Taylor's "Dear John".
An idea was brewing.
She emerged from her room, hours later, with a song in hand.
"Charlotte?" She called into the hall, hoping that she was in the house. Despite that they were getting along and everything, she was still a little weary of the girl. But she had to admit, she wouldn't lie to her or sugarcoat shit. Besides, she was fun.
Char appeared in front of her, "Yes, Bella?"
"Hey, I'd like your opinion on this song; just the lyrics. I'll hash out the rest later."
She closed her bedroom door behind her, and led Char onto the stairs and sat down.
"Now, it's supposed to be slightly mocking, in a way, but humorous. It's about John Mayer."
"John Mayer? He's hot."
"I know." Bella giggled, "And he's really funny. I really enjoyed talking to him. He'll love this song as soon as he hears it, I promise."
Charlotte stared at Bella for a split second. "You've met him?"
"Of course, at a party. He's great. Now, listen." Bella ordered, before settling on the stairs and beginning to sing.
Dear John, I think that I could fall in love with you
Dear John, I'm sorry I didn't stay with you
But my stupid mouth, said some things I didn't mean
And looking back now, I just needed clarity
This is my love song for someone
Dear John, I could be your wonderland
Dear John, baby some back to bed
Cause I'm dreaming with a broken heart
And I knew it from the start
Wanna try again, I could let you tuck me in
Dear John, dear John.
Stop waiting on the world to change
Gravity is pulling me your way
Stop waiting on the world to change
Say what you need to say
Dear John.
Dear John, I'm bigger then my body.
Dear John, let's be friends, lovers, or noting.
Cause you'll never find another me, making it so hard to breathe.
Baby, can we slow dance while this room is burning?
Dear John, dear John,
Stop waiting on the world to change
Say what you need to say
Just a girl from Washington
Telling you why we could both be living it right
Dear John, dear John
Stop waiting on the world to change
Gravity is pulling me your way
Stop waiting on the world to change
Say what you need to say
Dear John,
Stop waiting on the world to change...
Charlotte listened carefully, and Bella watched her expressions in earnest. Once she finished, Charlotte nodded.
"First, you have beautiful voice and the lyrics… The references to the John Mayer's songs are perfect." She grinned. "One thing…..the Washington part…. I just don't know…"
Bella cocked her head to the side, and sang the song to herself again quickly. "I see what you mean. Washington doesn't fit quite right."
"Use Georgia, it's where I'm from." Charlotte suggested.
Bella went through the song, adding in Georgia instead of Washington, and re-sang it for Charlotte.
"Love it." Charlotte replied, sounding excited.
It turned out Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper had left for a hunt. Bella, Peter, and Charlotte were gathered at her living room coffee table with the song in front of them, a cell phone, a bowl of salsa and a bag of tortilla chips.
"Come on, Peter, just take one bite! It won't kill you!" Bella encouraged him, grinning ear to ear.
"Pussy." Char added, smirking at his torn expression.
"Come on, man, live a little." Bella picked up a chip, dipped it, and waved it in his face.
"If you don't, we all know you're not a real man." She antagonized.
Charlotte continued her statement, "And we all will know who the real man is, Jasper. Bet he'd do it."
Within seconds after jab, the chip was in Peter's mouth and down his throat. And he was gagging.
"Oh fuck, that was the nastiest thing I've ever freakin' tasted. Dear God, way worse than any animal Jazz has tricked me into trying!" He complained, glaring at the two girls in front of him as they giggled hysterically.
"Oh my God, you actually did it." Charlotte shook her head in wonder. "You're an idiot!"
Bella followed suit, "You're so gullible." She snickered.
Peter shot them both a dirty look, clutching his stomach as he shot out of the house. Charlotte could clearly hear him retching on the side of the yard.
"Disgusting." She grimaced. "I can't believe I'm mated to him sometimes."
Bella looked up at that, studying Char. What she said reminded Bella of something Rose would say about Emmett. And, Bella didn't really like that. Shouldn't you be happy you're not alone forever and that you even have a mate?
Bella shook herself and decided to ponder it again later. She stood up and turned for the stairs, just in time to see Jasper, Peter, and Rose and Em come through the front door, grinning and pushing each other around.
"I'm headed for bed." She told Charlotte, frowning at the group.
Shaking her head, she thought to herself. I have a house full of fucking vampires. It's high school all over again, dammit.
Thanks for reading. :)