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Chapter 36 – Confrontation Time

BPOV

I couldn't help the worry that overcame me as Jasper took the seat across from me. I nodded in response to Jasper's statement. I had to take a deep breath before I spoke. "How have you been?" I asked him.

"I've been okay I guess," Jasper replied.

Thankfully before anything else was said the waitress made her way over to the table. "Can I get you anything while you look at the menu?" she asked.

Jasper looked at me and noticed that I already had something to drink. "Are you hungry?" he asked me.

"Not right now," I told him because honestly I didn't have an appetite.

He turned back to the waitress and ordered himself a Coke. Once the waitress had dropped his drink off, Jasper took a sip before he spoke again.

"I got your letter," he stated and I just nodded. "I guess I have some questions."

"Okay," I responded.

"I guess I just don't really understand why you would say that you wished you had died instead of mom and dad. What can be so bad in your life that you would say that?"

I felt a surge of anger take hold and I had to take a deep breath before I spoke. "Did you not even read the letter I sent you? My entire life has been revolving around doing what others expect of me, with those same people not giving one thought to how I feel."

"There is no need to get upset Bella. I read the letter but even you have to admit that those statements came out of left field. I don't see how you believe that your life revolves around anyone. You answer to nobody. You have no responsibilities. I get that things have been crazy for you since your attack but you can't blame your unhappiness on others."

Instantly I saw red. Obviously Jasper didn't get it. Hell I don't think that he wants to get it. I shook my head. "Contrary to what you seem to think and believe, I do have responsibilities. As for answering to people whether you want to acknowledge it or not I have always answered to you."

"Don't give me that. I have never once made you answer to me."

"Oh really. Just in the last year any time I have tried to beg off and not do something that you wanted me to do you basically bullied me until I did what you want. Then when I wasn't happy about it you turned it around and tried to make it so I couldn't complain because I 'owed you.' You basically had me at your beck and call with no regard to what I may have going on in my life."

"Bella you are being overdramatic."

I knew that this conversation wasn't going to go well. "Let me ask you a question. What do I do for fun?" I asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jasper asked.

"Just please answer the question?"

"Well obviously you hang out with your friends, you drink, I don't know. Now, if I kept tabs on you as you try to claim wouldn't you think that I would know this information."

I shook my head because he was proving my point for me. "Actually Jasper, you are so far off."

"Then tell me."

"Well, when I'm not watching your house, driving you places, or working, I am generally at home. Alone." I stated.

"Now we both know that isn't true. After all if it was then you wouldn't have that tattoo and you wouldn't have met Edward at a bar."

I rolled my eyes before I spoke. "First of all, it's tattoos. Second, the only reason I was at the bar that night was because I was upset about having to once again cart your ass around. Jasper, have you once thought about how I feel or anything that might be going on in my life?"

"I fail to see what is so stressful about your life. You have a job you love and no responsibilities."

"Where do you keep getting the idea that I have no responsibilities?"

"Come on. You live alone. What responsibilities do you have? You have no mortgage, no spouse," he trailed off.

"Yes jackass I live alone. That means that I, alone, have to pay all the household bills."

"Yeah and you are an attorney. You make plenty to pay all those bills." Jasper snorted at me.

"I may be an attorney Jasper but you don't know shit about my job. Just because you believe the stereotype that attorneys make so much money, doesn't make it true." I told him with a shake of my head. "If you had bothered to take the time to ever talk to me or ask about my life you would know that I am one of the lowest paid attorneys in the city. That means that despite my title, I don't paid worth shit." I said as I was wringing my hands in my lap.

After I had finished my diatribe I looked up and saw Jasper staring at me in disbelief. "That can't possibly be true."

"It is. I can show you my bills and pay stubs some time if you think I need to prove it."

Jasper shook his head at me. "I guess I never realized."

"That's my point. You have never taken the time to find out any of this stuff." I said exasperatedly.

"You know you could have talked to me instead of letting it fester."

"Jasper, I know I shouldn't have let it fester but I have tried to talk to you. Anytime I would bring anything up you would tell me how good I have it and then you would start talking about how hard things were for you and Alice. I guess after a while I just finally realized that it doesn't matter to you so I just buried it." I said with a shrug.

We both quit talking as the waitress came over to check on us. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?" Jasper asked me.

"No, I'm fine."

When the waitress had walked away after refilling our drinks Jasper spoke again. "I'm sorry that I have made you feel like you can't talk to me. I guess I never realized."

I just shrugged because I really didn't know what to say to him. Sure he was acting like he understood and got it now, but how long before his attitude changes again.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes just drinking our beverages. Finally I got up the courage to speak. "I know that things aren't the best right now but I do hope that maybe in the future things will get back to where they were a few years ago."

I truly did miss the relationship that I had with my brother before. I just wanted him to acknowledge that I'm an adult and treat me as an equal.

Jasper looked at me. "I'd like that."

Jasper changed the subject and asked, "Why did you get the tattoo?"

I didn't even think before I responded. "Which one?" I asked him.

Jasper's eyebrows rose to an alarming height. "What do you mean which one? How many do you have?"

I fought the urge to get angry. Just after talking about how I hated being treated like a child here he was acting like this. Despite my efforts I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my tone. "For your information, your whore of a sister has four."

Jasper shook his head. "What do you mean four? When did you do this to your body?"

"It doesn't matter. The point in my opinion is that before you saw the one on my wrist you had no idea that I had any. However the minute you saw that tattoo you immediately judged and labeled me."

"No I didn't."

"Yeah you did." I said shaking my head. "I get that you don't like tattoos or even have any respect for people who have them, but the things you said to me you could have at least said in private instead of in front of everyone."

I could feel the tears start to well in my eyes. I really just wanted to leave because no matter what I said, Jasper wasn't going to understand. I took a deep breath as I fought to keep the tears from falling.

"Bella, I have no problems with tattoos. I just hate that you desecrated your body that way and the message that you are sending to others who see them."

"Oh really. Well for your information I got my first tattoo years ago. Until you decided to go and call me a whore I had never had anyone say that to me or even insinuate that."

"Bella, I didn't say you are a whore. You are blowing this way out of proportion."

I shook my head. "Maybe I am, but how would you feel if someone called Alice a whore for the way she dresses or does her makeup."

"It's not the same thing."

"Yes it is. You are judging me by something superficial. You are judging me the same way that you wouldn't want someone to judge your wife. I guess since all I am is your stupid sister it doesn't matter."

I knew that I was bordering on irrationality, but I couldn't seem to stop myself. The more Jasper spoke the more I heard the things Mike had said to me and the angrier I was getting.

Jasper tried to backtrack on his statements but honestly my anger and hurt was too far-gone that I could care less what he said. Finally I just stopped him.

"Jasper this isn't getting us anywhere. It's obvious that you don't see why I feel the way I do. I admit that I'm overly emotional right now and the longer we sit here the angrier I'm getting. Maybe we should just call it a day and agree to disagree." I said defeated.

"Bella, so basically you would rather just give up." Jasper stated. "Typical" he muttered under his breath.

"I didn't say that I was giving up. I was just recognizing that emotions are running too high right now and nothing is being accomplished other than possibly making things worse. Things didn't fucking fall apart in a day and they won't be fixed in a day." I said. "When you feel like pulling your head out of your ass and realizing that there are two sides to this then maybe we can talk again." I stated as I threw money down to cover my drink.

I fought the tears that wanted to spill as I made my way out to my car. Unfortunately Edward was working tonight so I couldn't talk to him. Instead, I made my way home and crawled into bed after changing into my pajamas. Am I ever going to be able to fix things?

JPOV

Fuck!

I sat there after Bella left trying to figure out what went wrong. All I wanted to do was find out why Bella felt the way she did and we ended up fighting. I thought about calling Edward but stopped when I realized that it isn't fair to call him and make him choose. Alice was supposed to be shopping with Rose so I knew she wouldn't be home. Instead I called Emmett and he told me to come over to his place.

When I got to Em's house I was quick to take the beer that he offered. "So what's up?" he asked after I drained half my beer in one swig.

I let out a sigh before I answered him. "I just came from meeting with Bella."

"Didn't go well?"

"You could say that." I replied.

"Okay, so are you going to tell me what happened or just brood."

"She is just so infuriating man. She took everything I said and tried to turn it around and make me the bad guy."

"How did she do that?" Emmett asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, she accused me of treating her like her life doesn't matter. And then she tried to say that I called her a whore."

"I can't really speak for whether or not you treat her like her life doesn't matter. However, I was there when you basically called her a whore when you saw her tattoo."

I looked at Emmett. I really didn't remember that. "No I didn't."

"Yes you did. And from what I understand you also said it again at the Cullen house after her attack. In fact I believe you said something along the lines about how she has ruined your life."

"Did she tell you this?"

"No man, Edward did."

I know that I was upset with Bella when we were at the Cullen house but I didn't remember saying that. Fuck, if this is true. Fuck, fuck, fuck. All I seem to do lately is screw up.

"Jasper, you have to remember that Bella was recently attacked. Neither of us can really understand the psychological affects that likely had on her."

"I know man, but she is my baby sister."

"She may be your baby sister, but she is also an adult with a job and responsibilities." Emmett said with a shrug.

I thought about what Emmett was saying and it made sense. It became obvious that a lot of what Bella had been trying to say was actually true. I knew that I was going to have to eat some crow with her.

Emmett seemed to sense that I needed time to reflect on what he had said and he turned on the game. By the time the game was over the girls had arrived. Alice and I left for home, where I recounted my conversations with Emmett and Bella with her.

I went to bed with a new resolve to truly listen to Bella the next time we talked.

BPOV

I woke the next morning groggy despite the extra sleep I got. I hated that things went the way they did with Jasper. I had hoped that we would be able to fix things but realistically I knew it was going to take some time. I let out a sigh as I got up and got ready for work.

The day didn't get much better when I got to the office and we had to stand outside in the cold because there was a gas leak in the building. Unfortunately, Tyler refused to let us go home and instead we had to work the entire day with all the doors and windows open. To say that I was in a foul mood by the time I got off work would be an understatement.

The first thing I did when I got home from work was drop myself into a hot bath. Edward had to work again tonight so I knew it was going to be a quiet night. I looked at my phone when I got out of the tub and noticed that there were no messages. I was disappointed that Jasper hadn't tried to reach out but then at the same time I told myself to give him a couple of days. We both had tempers and the best thing to do is give him a few days to process everything that happened at the diner.

I drug my laptop into the bedroom with me and huddled down under my blankets as I did some work that I had brought home with me. Before long I found myself falling asleep with the computer still on my lap.

I jolted awake as I felt the laptop being taken off my lap. I tried to grab at it thinking that I was dropping it when I swore I heard Edward.

"Go back to sleep sweetheart."

Knowing it must be a dream I just turned over and went back to sleep.

EPOV

I hated that I haven't gotten a chance to see Bella since she met with Jasper. I heard from Emmett that the meeting had apparently not gone as well as hoped. I had figured Bella wouldn't want to bother me while I was working.

We had exchanged a few texts but she hadn't mentioned anything other than what had been going on at work.

Tonight I had gotten of earlier than anticipated so I came over to see her. When I got here she looked so peaceful all bundled up in her bed. She started some when I took her laptop from her but she quickly rolled over.

I couldn't help but giggle at how out of it she apparently was. I stripped out of my clothes and crawled into bed with her. Bella's scent had me quickly succumbing to sleep as I felt at peace with her in my arms.

In the morning I woke up to find Bella's beautiful eyes watching me.

"Morning beautiful," I crooned as I leaned in to give her a kiss.

"Morning. What are you doing here?" she asked me.

"Well, I got off early and missed you so I decided to surprise you but when I got here you looked so peaceful that I just crawled into bed with you."

"I guess it wasn't a dream when I thought I saw you last night then," Bella said.

I chuckled. "Nope, it wasn't." I told her as I pulled her into my embrace.

We lay there for a while just relishing the feeling of being wrapped in one another. When Bella's alarm went off she groaned but got up. While she was showering I made my way to the kitchen and started the coffee.

When the coffee was done I poured Bella cup and took it to her in the bedroom.

"Thanks baby," she said as she took the cup from me.

"No problem. So how would you like to have lunch with me today?" I asked.

"That sounds wonderful." Bella replied as she continued to get ready.

We continued to just chat about work, as she got ready for her day. I wanted to talk to her about her meeting with Jasper but I knew that now wasn't the time. After she was ready for work we left together. I gave her a kiss as we parted ways with a promise to see each other for lunch.

AN

I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. Things have been crazy in RL and I am dealing with family illness. I am trying to get back on track but the next chapter will likely not be up before the end of the weekend.

I know some people won't be happy that the Jasper/Bella situation wasn't tied up in a nice neat package but in real life things don't happen like that. I promise that resolution is coming if you will just be patient.

Finally, I have finally posted information on my profile if you are interested in learning a little about me. Again I apologize for the delay as well as the shorter chapter but I really wanted to get it out without further delay.

Until next time.

Gypsy411