Thanks as always to Naelany and wishingforlove.
Is everyone sitting comfortably? Then let's begin.
Jasper couldn't help but smile as he made his way quickly across campus to the dining hall on Friday morning. The gifts Edward had left him were thoughtful and what he needed to get through another weekend alone. Even though he'd already been running late, Jasper had spared a moment to stop the CD from playing and rip it into his iTunes so he could put it on his iPod when he got back that evening.
He'd overdone his workout that morning and had suffered through a cramp because he hadn't stretched out enough. Jasper was vaguely aware that he was pushing his body harder than strictly necessary in a quest to occupy his mind and exhaust his body, and he heard the warning signal loud and clear. Emmett had only reinforced that when he'd helped him stretch out of the cramp, effectively ending both of their workouts.
Jasper was still limping slightly when he reached the cafeteria, but the ibuprofen he'd taken when he'd gotten back to his room was starting to work. He still had the sample of valium from the back injury if needed. Hopefully he'd make it through the day without any trouble. Knowing he didn't have a lot of time, he grabbed a bowl of cereal and a banana, and poured a cup of coffee into a paper cup to take with him to class. He needed to get to the grocery store again in case he ran into too many more late mornings.
The girls were getting ready to leave when Jasper slid into a chair at the regular table. Emmett apparently hadn't made it, which just made Jasper feel guilty. If he'd been able to handle things better, he wouldn't have t push his body so hard and Emmett wouldn't…
"Stop it," Bella said quietly next to him. She sat back down while Jasper started shoveling cereal into his mouth in an effort to eat quickly.
He shot her a look, enough of a gentleman to not question her with his mouth full.
"Whatever you're thinking, stop," she clarified. She looked tired; her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail, and she'd dressed more casually than he'd ever seen her on a Friday in an academy polo over a thermal shirt with jeans and trainers.
Jasper swallowed. "It's not quite that easy, sweetheart." He swore sometimes he was raised in the wrong religion the way he so easily shouldered guilt. "Did Emmett make it to breakfast?" He asked, spooning up another mouthful of cereal.
"Mmhm," Bella said with a nod. "He flew in and out with an egg sammich."
Jasper felt mildly better at that. He glanced up at the clock on the wall and winced. "You should go," he said, mentally cursing. "You're going to be late."
"So are you, and we're going to the same place. My class will wait," Bella said off hand. "Slow down or you'll choke," she scolded mildly.
Jasper spluttered and she giggled. "Yes, dear," he said after he'd swallowed. He took another few bites and decided he was done. He could eat the banana on the way. "Ready?"
Bella nodded and rose with him. Jasper deposited his bowl in the dish area and pulled the banana from his coat pocket as they emerged into the morning drizzle. Bella tugged her beanie down over her ears and wrapped her scarf more securely around her neck. Jasper did his best to walk close so they could share body heat, but his hands were full and he was still moving awkwardly. Besides, he thought with a shiver, he was probably colder than she was. He needed to look into getting a better coat if he was going to stay in Forks long term. His trench coat wasn't doing a very good job of keeping off the chill.
Jasper made it to class with a minute to spare, though he hadn't bothered shedding his coat when he'd ducked into the office for his materials. It turned out that was a good thing, though, as the heater in his classroom seemed to be on the fritz. He called in to maintenance, but it appeared to be a widespread problem, and he was low on the list, since he'd been late getting in.
The temperature seemed to have dropped again by the time Jasper left the building for lunch. Rumors of snow were starting to spread through the student body. He groaned thinking about it. He cut his lunch short and went back to his room for the hoodie Edward had left behind so he could take his coat off in class.
Maintenance came around during the afternoon and finally got the heat back on, to his and his students' great relief. When he got back to his office at the end of his last class, he found a text from Emmett on his phone asking him to pack an overnight kit before coming to dinner. Apparently, they were going somewhere, and Jasper realized that Emmett wasn't going to take no for an answer when he reread the message. That, and he figured that it couldn't be anything worse than spending another Friday night in his room, moping about missing Edward.
Which is how he found himself at the Cullen house a couple of hours later, watching Emmett surrender his car keys to his mother.
"If you're going to drink, you're leaving your keys with me and you're spending the night," Esme said, her tone brokering no argument.
"Yes, Ma," Emmett said with an eye roll, handing over his keys.
"Hi, Esme," Jasper greeted her with a kiss to her cheek. "Thanks for letting us invade."
"It's no trouble, dear," she assured him. "I'd rather have you boys here and safe anyway. Just make yourselves at home. Carlisle and I will be around." She gave him a fond smile and wandered out of the room, Emmett's keys in her hand.
"Alright," Emmett said, dropping his bag on the floor near the couch. "The girls are having some bonding time, now that they all live in the same building, so I figured it was time for us to have a sit down. Beer?"
"Sure," Jasper answered, settling in one of the armchairs. He toed off his shoes and got comfortable, leaving his bag on the floor next to the chair. Jasper pulled his phone from his pocket, expecting Edward to call at some point during the night.
Emmett returned with four bottles of beer in one hand and a huge bowl in his other. "Mom made snack mix," he said, setting the bowl down between them and then handing Jasper a beer once he'd popped the cap off. "And I think there's fresh cookies hiding somewhere."
Jasper smirked as he accepted the offering. The Cullen boys and their sweets.
Emmett took a long pull off his bottle after he'd sprawled out on the couch. "So," he started after a beat. "Wanna tell me what's got you pushing your body harder than you need to?"
Jasper sighed softly. He should have expected that. "I'm having trouble sleeping," he admitted, picking at the label on his bottle before taking a swig. "The exercise makes me tired enough to get a couple of solid hours."
"You know you're risking a serious injury if you keep that up," Emmett cautioned. "And not just because of the way you hurt your back. How often are you hitting the gym?"
"Twice a day, but I'm not running all the time," Jasper said, defending himself. "Sometimes I swim, or do a weight training circuit. I'm trying to be careful."
"Are you going alone?" Emmett asked.
"Mmhm," Jasper hummed around a mouthful of beer.
"Dude, you know that's not safe, if you're as tired as you look." Emmett looked about as serious as Jasper had ever seen him, when not talking about Rosalie. "What's up, man?" Emmett asked, setting his feet on top of the coffee table. "This has got to be something more than just missing Edward. If it was that simple, you two'd just be trying to find ways to hook up at night during the week so the weekends would be easier. Not running yourself into exhaustion like there's a demon on your tail."
Jasper drained his beer and reached for a second and the opener Emmett had left on the table. He studied the bottle for a moment before looking at Emmett. "Have you ever thought you were so sure about something, only to have that fundamental knowledge completely fall out from underneath you?"
Emmett looked pensive for a moment as he sipped his beer. "I don't know, man," he said slowly. "I'd say maybe when I was forced to retire from playing football, but I think I always knew that I wouldn't be playing forever, and I had a backup plan in place. But I think you're talking about something else?"
Jasper nodded slowly.
"It's why you've been distant this past week, isn't it?" Emmett continued. "Talk to me, man," he said in a lower voice. "Is it you and Edward? Has something happened?"
"No," Jasper answered with a shake of his head. "Well, it's us, and…fuck," he muttered. "I'm kind of having a crisis of self identity," he said finally.
"What kind of crisis?" Emmett asked.
Jasper sighed. "My concept of my sexual identity is all kinds of fucked up right now," he explained.
Emmett finished his beer. "I'm gonna need more alcohol for this, I think," he said, rising. "I'll be right back."
Jasper nodded and took a long drink, trying to get his thoughts in order enough to talk with Emmett.
His lover's brother returned after a moment with six beers between his fingers. He set them up on the table and then pulled a couple bottles of water from the pockets of his jeans.
"Let me ask you something," Jasper started. "Did you ever experiment with your sexuality, or have you just always known you were straight?"
Emmett flopped back down on the couch with a fresh beer. "This stays between us," he said, gesturing with the bottle.
Jasper nodded.
"I never did anything like Edward," Emmett explained. "I'm straight, and I pretty much always knew that. But I had this buddy when I was a freshman, sophomore in high school, something like that. We were on the football team, and a few times…well, we gave each other a hand, if you read me. There wasn't anything to it. I mean, we weren't attracted to each other or anything like that. It was just something convenient."
Jasper nodded again. He'd seen similar things in the locker room from the track and swim teams. "Yeah, I know what you're saying," he answered.
"Where's this coming from, Jas?" Emmett asked, reaching for the bowl of munchies.
Jasper sighed again and finished his second beer. He set the empty bottle on the table next to the first. "I think maybe that I'm attracted to Bella."
"Whoa, dude," Emmett said, holding up his hand. "Let me ask you this first. Do I need to kick your ass for hurting my little brother? Cause no matter how much I like you, I totally will."
Jasper had to smile, though he didn't really feel it. "No. Edward and I are talking about this."
"Thank fuck," Emmett muttered, taking a long pull from his bottle. "So what's the big deal? Bella's cute. If I'd met her before Rosalie, I'd have probably hooked up with her."
"Yeah, well, you haven't always been a gay man, either," Jasper pointed out dryly. He reached for another drink. He popped the cap off and rolled it across his knuckles. "I'm confused. I've always thought that you find one person in life, and for as long as I've thought about it, that person has always been male. I found Edward, and for the first time in my life, everything felt right. And now this thing with Bella has me reconsidering everything I thought I knew about myself. Is it really possible to love, really love, more than one person? Part of me says yes, the rest of me is telling me that I have to make a choice, that I can't have them both. That I don't deserve them both. And at the root of it is whether or not I actually want to have that kind of relationship with Bella. She's a beautiful woman, and I do love her dearly, but how much of this has been missing Edward and how much of it is really my desire for her? I mean, she kissed me, so I think she maybe wants it, but is she just rebounding from James, or just interested in something she can't have?" He paused to breathe; apparently he'd forgotten that alcohol made him verbose.
"Slow down, Jas," Emmett said. "I can't even begin to try to untangle all of that mess," he commented. "So let me start where I can try to answer. Who's to say that love has to be between only two people?" he asked, raising his bottle in salute. "I'll admit, society dictates that each person has their 'one true love,'" he said, making quotes with his index fingers, the others of his right hand curled around his beer bottle. "But since when has society at large known what's best for everyone? Society is what gave us slavery and segregation, and mass panic about flu, and stampedes at the Wal-Mart on Black Friday. But I think you probably get that, right?"
Jasper nodded. He kind of liked this quasi-philosophical side of Emmett.
"So who says you only have to love one person. I get what you're asking," Emmett continued. "You want to know about a romantic relationship with them both, which yeah, okay, isn't really conventional, but who says it's impossible? I remember from a class I took in college that humans aren't really geared to be monogamous. It goes against nature to settle down with only one mate, when the desire of the species is to find the best compatible mate to produce offspring with the highest chance for survival. Sure, this is the 21st century, but those instincts aren't gone, man," Emmett said.
Jasper took a long drink from his beer, getting the feeling for what it would feel like to sit in one of Emmett's classes.
"Maybe this is just your subconscious' way of seeking out the two best mates for you," Emmett continued. "Of course, we could rule that out because you can Edward obviously can't procreate, but he's still your mate. It's possible that something in your body has triggered to Bella as the mother of your children, and that's where your attraction to her is coming from," he finished with a shrug. "But does it matter? What matters is what you want to do about it. Do you want to see where things could go with Bella?"
Jasper shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. I think so. But I don't know if I'm doing it for me, or for Bella, or even if it's because Edward seems interested."
"Man, sometimes you just gotta be selfish and think about yourself," Emmett advised. "You said Bella kissed you, so maybe she's interested. Edward…yeah, my little bro's a bit of a freak, but he loves you and he wouldn't do anything to hurt you or Bells. Sounds like the three of you need to sit down and talk a few things out."
Jasper slumped down in his chair, finishing his beer. "Yeah. I gotta sort some things out with Bella first, and I hope when Edward has a free weekend we'll get a chance to talk."
"Good. And by the way, you totally deserve to be loved, Jasper. Everyone does," Emmett said, setting his empty bottle near the other one on the table. "So stop hiding from us, alright? You're allowed to mope on Fridays when Edward leaves, but I'm laying down a moratorium on your weekday mopiness. No more. We also gotta talk about this running yourself into the ground thing," Emmett said. "It's not healthy."
"And this is?" Jasper waved his empty bottle at Emmett before setting it with its mates.
"Yes, every so often," Emmett retorted. "Look, I get that you're stressed and anxious and need to sleep. So we'll keep up our regimen in the mornings, but maybe you should talk to Rose about the yoga class she does a few times a week."
"I'm s'posed to be doing meditation with Edward," Jasper responded.
"Yeah, but the yoga will be good for your body, too," Emmett clarified. "Talk to Rose. At least it's a group setting, and you might like it. That way I don't have to worry about you drowning, or getting a cramp and hitting your head on the treadmill, or dropping a weight on yourself without a spotter." Emmett handed him another beer. "Just talk to her, okay?"
"Alright," Jasper promised. His phone rang on the table. Jasper picked it up and looked at the display. Edward. "Ye-ah?" he answered with a smile. Despite having eaten a good sized dinner, he was well on his way to buzzed after only three beers.
"Hey, baby," Edward said, laughing softly.
They chatted for a few minutes, Esme coming in to check on them while Jasper was on the phone. After he hung up with Edward, Jasper found that Emmett had set up a game for them to play (apparently they were done with serious talk). Several hours, many more beers, and a raid on the kitchen later, Jasper was stumbling his way upstairs to Edward's bedroom where he passed out across the bed, fully clothed. It had been far too long since he'd had more than a couple of drinks, and if he hadn't been drunk, he'd have known he was going to regret it in the morning.
Jasper woke late Saturday morning with a pounding headache. The room was dark, so someone had apparently come in at some point and pulled the curtains closed. He groaned as he sat up, cradling his head in his hands. After a moment he dragged himself into the bathroom and started running a hot shower. While the water heated, Jasper found a bottle of painkillers in the medicine cabinet and took two with a palmful of water from the sink. By the time he'd finished his shower his headache had receded and he was feeling marginally more human.
He followed the smell of coffee downstairs and was greeted by a smiling Esme and Carlisle, and an Emmett who looked a bit worse for wear. "Good morning, Jasper. Coffee?" Esme offered.
"Please," he answered, taking a seat next to Emmett. Esme set a cup of black coffee and plate of food down in front of him. Jasper took in the eggs, sausage, toast and fruit and looked up at her.
"Carlisle and I were known to party it up in our younger days," she confided with a wink.
Jasper and Carlisle laughed softly while Emmett groaned. "Thanks, Esme."
"Shh, too loud," Emmett whispered.
Jasper shook his head and started at the breakfast Esme had made for him while Carlisle chided his son.
"Jasper, sweetheart, what would you like for supper tonight?" Esme asked, pausing in her clearing up.
"What? How come he gets to pick?" Emmett asked with a pout.
"Because I say it's his turn, that's why," Esme said.
"But-"
"Emmett, has Jasper ever gotten to pick what we have for Saturday dinner?" Esme asked.
"No," Emmett grumped.
"Alright, then stop acting your shoe size and start acting your age, and maybe I'll make chocolate cake for dessert. Though maybe Jasper would prefer fresh fruit. It'd be better for us, after all," she said thoughtfully while Emmett spluttered at the thought of not getting a 'real' dessert.
Jasper laughed quietly. "Chocolate cake would be a wonderful treat, Esme, thank you. Uhm –" he thought for a minute. "Would potato soup be any trouble?"
"Not at all," Esme assured him. "Actually, that sounds really good. It's supposed to be another very chilly day today, so I think a pot of soup would be just what we'll need tonight." She patted him on the shoulder. "Maybe I'll pick up some good bread and we can have turkey melts to go with it," she said half to herself as she wandered away.
"Ow," Jasper said as he was kicked under the table. "What was that for?" he shot a look at Emmett.
"Stop kissing up to my mom, man," Emmett complained. "No wonder she likes you better than Edward and I."
Carlisle laughed as he rose from the table. "Because you and Edward are both spoiled mama's boys," he teased.
"Yeah, old man? Who is so completely whipped he's going to be sent out in that mess," Emmett said, pointing through the windows to the patio, "to go do all her grocery shopping?"
Carlisle grinned. "Not whipped. Just very well loved."
"Ew, Dad," Emmett said, making a face while Jasper laughed.
"Good thing you passed out last night, huh?" Carlisle continued on his way out.
"Oh, I'm gonna be sick," Emmett groaned.
"Good for you, man," Jasper called to Carlisle's retreating back.
"Dude, that's my mom," Emmett complained.
"And your dad, so what's your point?" Jasper asked, finishing his breakfast.
"I need to bleach my brain," Emmett whimpered.
"How do you think you and Edward got here?" Jasper couldn't resist teasing his friend.
"Immaculate conception," Emmett spat.
Jasper laughed as he rose, gathering his dirty dishes. "Keep tellin' yourself that, bro," he said with a wink. As he left the room, Emmett was muttering "wrong wrong wrong," to himself. Jasper was still laughing when he dropped his dishes in the sink behind where Esme was writing out her shopping list.
"Is there anything I can have Carlisle pick up for you at the store, Jasper?" Esme offered.
"No, thanks," Jasper said. "I've already planned to make a grocery run tomorrow."
"Okay," she said with a smile.
Jasper refilled his coffee cup from the carafe on the counter and thanked Esme again before he returned upstairs to Edward's room. He'd brought some school work with him in his overnight bag, planning on just spending the day at the Cullens since he'd be back over for dinner. He settled on the couch with his six stacks of homework and the red pen that had been in his Christmas stocking and slowly started grading. His headache faded as the caffeine and food were absorbed into his system, and he got lost in the work and the mellow playlist of Edward's piano music on his iPod.
He looked up some time later when he heard a tap on the door and someone calling his name. Bella was standing in the door way, two mugs in her hand. "Can I come in?" she asked when Jasper had pulled the earbuds from his ears.
"Sure, darlin'. What's up?" He asked, clearing a space next to him on the couch so she could sit.
She handed him a mug before she sat. Jasper inhaled the scent of coffee as she folded herself down. After a moment she shifted a bit closer, and Jasper lifted his arm so she could tuck herself against him. "Are we okay, Jas?"
"Of course we are, Bells," he said softly. "Why wouldn't we be?"
Bella fidgeted with her mug of tea. "Last weekend was pretty awkward."
Jasper huffed a humorless laugh. "Yeah, it was," he agreed. "I'm not upset about it, you know? I – you just confused me."
She sighed softly. "I know. Edward and I talked and…"
"And what?" Jasper prompted.
"I don't want things to get weird," she said quietly.
"Does this feel weird?" He asked, giving her a hug with the arm he'd draped over her shoulders.
"No, it feels comfortable. Right," she whispered.
"See?" Jasper said lightly. "We're okay. I like being able to be affectionate with you, Bells. I like that we can have that kind of relationship," he confessed. "I don't know that I want it to be anything more, not just yet, so you'll have to give me some time to get things straight in my head." He paused. "Pun not intended."
She smiled slightly.
"Hey," he said, waiting until she looked up at him. "I know what it's like to be starved for human contact. You need a cuddle, you can come to me, okay? None of this has to change until we're ready. If we're ready. If we want it to. If it feels weird, say the word and we'll fix it, okay?"
"What about Edward?" she asked quietly. The hint of anxiety was gone from her deep brown eyes, but that something else he'd seen the previous weekend was still there.
"You can cuddle with Edward too, sweetheart," Jasper assured her, knowing he wouldn't mind at all.
"No, I mean, what about you and Edward?" Bella clarified. "Are you two okay?"
Ah. Jasper smiled and kissed the top of her head lightly. "We're fine, Bells."
"He's really not mad that I kissed you?"
"He's really not," Jasper promised. "He probably wishes he'd been there to watch, actually."
That coaxed a real smile from her. He still didn't really have a solid feel for what she wanted, but he knew that was a conversation that needed all three of them, and so would have to wait until Edward had a free weekend. Jasper also knew that whatever happened, Bella needed to be in control over her decisions and have the freedom to choose and express what she wanted. He wouldn't control her the way James had.
"So this is okay?" she asked softly, shifting her cup to her left hand and winding her right around Jasper's waist, laying her head against his shoulder.
"This is absolutely okay," he replied. "We should do something next weekend, just you and me," he said.
Bella nodded. "That'd be nice. What are you thinking?"
"Maybe we could just do lunch or something on Saturday? Maybe drive up to Port Angeles and see what happens?" he suggested.
She nodded and yawned. He gave her arm a light squeeze and reached for the stack of papers he'd shifted to the arm of the couch when she'd joined him. "Tired?" he asked.
"Mmhm," she replied, shifting slightly and curling her legs up underneath her. "I haven't been sleeping well this week."
"I know the feeling, sweetheart. I apparently make a pretty darn good pillow," he teased, thinking about how Edward had sought him out for sleep that first weekend. "I'll wake you for dinner." He easily lifted the mug of tea from her hand.
"Thanks, Jazzy," she murmured.
"You're welcome, Bells," he said softly. He went back to his grading as her breathing deepened and evened out, and she snuggled a bit closer into his side. She mumbled a bit, nothing Jasper could make out, but then went quiet. Jasper pulled the blanket from the back of the couch down over her. He graded for another half hour or so until his own eyes began to feel heavy and he set everything aside and let his head fall back onto the couch.
"Hey, man."
Jasper woke at Emmett's quiet voice. "Hey," he responded, rolling his head and rotating his shoulders to try to loosen the tension. He glanced down at his side and Bella was still tucked up against him, her hair falling over her face.
"Got things worked out?" Emmett asked. He looked less worn than he had at breakfast, and Jasper guessed he'd probably spent the morning nursing his hangover until he was in a better mood.
"Started to, anyway," Jasper confirmed. "What's up?"
"Mom sent me up to get you two. Dinner's in about an hour," he explained. "You got Bells?"
Jasper nodded. "Thanks. We'll be down in a bit."
"I'll let mom know. Oh, and Rosie and I are going out after dinner," Emmett said from the door.
"I'll get Bella or Alice to give me a ride back," Jasper answered.
"Cool," Emmett responded, and headed back down stairs.
Jasper gave Bella a few more minutes before he began to wake her. He lifted her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear and then gave her shoulder a gentle shake while he called her name softly.
Bella stirred slowly, shifting under the blanket before she blinked her eyes open and peered blearily up at Jasper.
"Welcome back, sleeping beauty," Jasper said quietly.
"Hmph," Bella grumped.
Jasper chuckled softly and kissed her forehead. "Hey, it was me or Emmett waking you up. I thought I was going easy on you," he teased, coaxing a sleepy smile from her as she sat up.
"Thanks," Bella said dryly. She ran her fingers through her hair and gathered and twisted it up into a complex looking knot at the back of her head. When she held it there, Jasper guessed what she needed and handed over his pen, watching, somewhat fascinated, as she used it to secure the chestnut colored mass in place. "Is it dinner time?"
"Just about," Jasper answered. "Hungry?"
"A bit," Bella said.
Jasper rose and offered Bella a hand, and they went downstairs together, finding the rest of the family gathered at the table. Jasper carried in the soup, while Esme followed behind him with a plate of sandwiches. There were already small bowls of shredded cheese, bacon, green onions and sour cream on the table for everyone to doctor their soup to their liking. Everyone served themselves, and conversation picked up as they began eating.
Alice talked about a show she had coming up. She was hosting it, using her professional name, but several of her students were participating. It had been taking up a lot of her time, but she seemed excited and happy about the chance to showcase some of her students' works.
Rosalie didn't have anything professional upcoming, which was good, Jasper suspected, because she was well into wedding planning. He had to admit to tuning out some of that conversation, and Bella must've noticed because he was kicked in the shin under the table a couple of times.
Jasper really didn't have anything to share, but let everyone know that the intramural team was going alright and that he was making the arrangements for the visiting scholar who was coming in late April.
They kept going around the table until conversation dissolved into more general topics and the last of the soup and sandwiches were eaten up. True to her word, Esme had made a two layer chocolate cake and confided in Jasper that she'd hidden a slice for him to take back to campus for Edward, when he returned the next day.
Emmett and Rosalie left not long after dinner ended, anxious to get on with their date night. Jasper collected his bag and papers and got a ride back to campus with Bella.
He ended up in her half of the suite she shared with Alice, watching movies and helping her to finish unpacking. He carried empty boxes down to the dumpster when he left to return to his room for the night. They had agreed that, after the previous weekends' weirdness it was best not to risk a repeat. Jasper wasn't ready to strain their friendship (or whatever they were calling their relationship now) to get a solid nights' sleep. Besides, he justified his decision, Edward would be home the next afternoon.
It wasn't that late when Jasper got back to his room (and he realized that unlike his previous posts, he'd never thought of his dorm at Forks Academy as home) and he settled down with his laptop and sent Edward an email. Jasper grabbed a book and stretched out on his bed, pausing in his reading to respond when his computer chimed an email alert.
He and Edward chatted over email throughout the evening, until Edward said his goodnights, having an early morning to get the kids back on the bus. Jasper spent the remainder of the night trying to sleep and largely failing. He did take Emmett's advice, though, and not go to the gym to run or otherwise work out the frustration of not being able to rest. Instead he listened to music and read a bit, putting aside the schoolwork that taunted him from the table, trying to focus on just himself for awhile.
However, with the dawn, that attitude changed. After a shower and coffee, Jasper occupied his Sunday much like the previous one, with errands and school work. He tried to ignore his phone and pretend to not glance at the clock every fifteen minutes, but he was well aware of the time for most of the day. Edward had expected to be home around 5 in the evening, and while in his car, Jasper had heard the weather forecast predicting snow. He hoped the band would beat the incoming storm to Forks; mostly for completely selfish reasons.
"You used to have way more discipline than this, Whitlock," Jasper cursed himself quietly when he caught himself looking at his phone display for the umpteenth time. He tossed the thing onto his bed, out of reach, and turned to the shelf behind him to turn his alarm clock away. Distractions out of sight for the moment, Jasper managed to get his focus back on his reading (the new History club book) and discussion questions he was putting together, and was startled out of his concentration by a knock at the door.
"It's open!" he called, finishing a sentence on his notepad. He looked up with the door opened and smiled to see Edward, hair still damp, closing the door behind him. "Hey, you."
"Hey, yourself," Edward responded, moving further into the room. He approached Jasper at the table and kissed him softly.
"Mm. Welcome home," Jasper said quietly against his lips. "I missed you."
"I know," Edward answered cockily. Jasper laughed softly and rested his cheek against Edward's stomach as Edward combed through his hair gently. "Have you been sleeping?" he asked, his thumb shifting to caress over the skin under Jasper's eyes.
"A bit," he admitted. "Though I'm not sure passing out on Friday night completely qualifies." He looked up into Edward's face. "You look like you're managing better, too." Edward looked rested, and Jasper felt only a bit guilty that he was making Edward worry so much about him. He was also a bit envious at Edward's ability to make the transition better.
"Keeping up with 20 teenagers will wear you out," Edward remarked dryly, though he smiled. He kissed Jasper again softly and then let him go, backing up the few steps to sit on the edge of the bed.
"How was the trip?" Jasper asked, marking his page and closing the book before turning to face Edward, propping his feet up on the bed next to him.
"Good overall," Edward said, curling a hand around Jasper's ankle, making small circles with his thumb. "The kids had a good time, and it was a great experience for them. They're a bit disappointed in not winning, but they'll get over it fast enough. They've got another competition in three weeks, so we'll be working hard until then."
"You're not taking both bands next weekend?" Jasper asked, frowning. He thought the all-state weekend was for all the students.
"Uh-uh," Edward said with a shake of his head. "The Wind Ensemble is performing at the conference, but there was only one member of the jazz band that made it to All-State that's not in the wind ensemble, so she gets to tag along," Edward explained. "There were six members of the Wind Ensemble that made All-State, so they're going to have a long weekend, but it'll be nice for their classmates to be there to support them for the All-State concert."
"Ah, okay," Jasper said with a nod. He'd thought all the bands were going down to perform. "When do you think you'll be back on Sunday?" he asked. He'd only just realized that the next weekend was Valentine's Day, and he hoped to be able to pull something together for them for when Edward got home.
"I'm not sure yet," Edward said with a shrug. "I'll need to check the itinerary and see if there's anything planned for Sunday. It might be pretty late."
"Okay," Jasper responded, trying not to feel disappointed that once again their jobs were going to wreak havoc on their chances to spend romantic time together.
"I'll let you know tomorrow," Edward said, and Jasper nodded. "Why is your clock backward?" Edward asked out of the blue.
Jasper felt his ears heat up slightly in embarrassment. "I was getting distracted watching the time," he admitted.
Edward laughed quietly and gave Jasper's ankle a squeeze. "Come on," he said, beginning to rise. "We should get a move on to make it to dinner."
Jasper nodded and rose, tugging Edward to him when they were both standing. He slid his hand around Edward's neck up into the hair at the base of his skull as he drew Edward close for a deep kiss. Their tongues slid against one another and Jasper scraped his teeth along Edward's bottom lip as he broke the kiss. "I've missed being able to do that whenever I want," Jasper breathed.
"Me too, love," Edward agreed softly. They remained standing close for several long moments until a knock at the adjoining door interrupted their silent exchange.
"Yeah?" Jasper called quietly, not moving from Edward's embrace.
Emmett poked his head around the door. "Oh, hey, bro, didn't realize you were back. Just wanted to see if you were ready to head to dinner, Jasper, but it looks like you're good."
"We're just leaving," Jasper answered. He and Edward stepped apart, but Jasper kept a hold of Edward's hand as they stepped into the hall and waited for Emmett to join them.
They chatted idly on their way across campus. It had gotten cold again, and Jasper wrapped his new coat around him a bit tighter to ward off the chill. He was beginning to think he wasn't suited for colder climates; he hadn't remembered it being so cold in Colorado. But Edward tugged him a bit closer as they walked. "No wonder all the women in your life are trying to fatten you up," Edward remarked dryly. "At least you finally got a better fucking coat."
Jasper laughed softly and nodded. "Is it always this cold in the winter?"
"Naw, this is weird," Emmett responded as they reached the cafeteria. "We get a lot of rain, but it doesn't usually get cold enough to ice and snow, like they're talking about for later this week."
"Ugh," Jasper remarked with a shudder. "I hope 'they' are wrong," he quipped. The dining hall was well heated, and by the time they had gotten their food, Jasper was comfortable enough to take his coat off and drape it over the back of the chair he took between Edward and Bella. Bella's greeting smile seemed much more genuine than others Jasper had received throughout the week, and he could only attribute that to the fact that they'd talked and gotten things sorted between them.
Conversation over dinner was casual, mostly a rehash of the previous evening's summation of everyone's weeks for Edward's benefit. They paused in their talk for the Dean's address, and then continued after over coffee and dessert. It seemed like they hardly got to see each other anymore, with Jasper's extra-curricular activities, Edward's increase in responsibilities, Alice show prep, and Bella putting together the writer's symposium. Emmett and Rosalie were putting the wedding plans together in their spare time, so it was nice to linger with his friends and family and catch up.
After dinner, Jasper and Edward went back to Jasper's room long enough for him to pack a small overnight bag, and they ventured back into the cold to go to Edward's room for the night. Like the previous Sunday, they curled up together and talked until Jasper dozed off, warm and secure in Edward's embrace. He slept solidly throughout the night and when Jasper woke to Edward's alarm on Monday morning, he felt truly rested for the first time in a week.
Jasper easily wrapped his arms around Edward when he shifted to lie on top of Jasper after switching off the alarm. "We have an hour and a half," Edward said softly, rubbing his nose lightly over Jasper's throat and collarbone. "Because I really don't want to go to the gym."
Jasper smiled moved one of his hands from Edward's back to his chin, tipping his face up so Jasper could kiss him. "I like the way you think."
Clothes were divested quickly, and though the bed was small, they made easy work of getting close. Soon they were breathing heavily and the touches they exchanged were more urgent and needy.
"You do realize," Edward said breathlessly. "That it's been like two weeks since we've had sex."
"Yes, I'd noticed," Jasper responded dryly, though his breath was short as well. It was by far not his longest dry spell, but Jasper's body craved Edward's stronger than anything else he'd ever known. "You wanna talk about it, or do something about it?" he asked with a bit of snark in his voice, though the light nip to Edward's collarbone was teasing.
"Do something, please," Edward said, rocking his hips against Jasper's.
"As you wish," Jasper whispered. He made love to Edward like his life depended on it, like there was no time constraint, like they weren't sharing a bed that was too small in the middle of a dormitory full of young boys.
Though as it turned out, they had time for a round two before the real world beckoned.
Jasper pulled his sleep clothes back on and jogged his way across campus to his dorm to shower and dress for the day. He met back up with Edward at the dining hall, grateful that they'd woken with the alarm set for their regular gym meeting to they'd have a chance to eat.
Alice gave them a knowing look when they slid into their chairs. "Another good workout, boys?" she teased.
Jasper just winked at her.
Sometime between lunch and dinner, Valentine's decorations began to go up in the dining hall, Jasper noticed. When he returned to his building, he was happy to see it free of red and pink (being the boys' dorm, of course), but there were fliers up about the various fund-raisers for the holiday. The first through fourth years grouped together to do a cookie-gram delivery. The 5th years were doing a candy-gram, the 6th a flower gram, and someone in the 7th year representation had gotten bold enough to secure volunteers to do singing telegrams. Everything would be delivered either on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, to class or dorm.
The whole thing just kind of made Jasper depressed, and ruined the high he'd been carrying for most of the day after getting the chance (however rushed) to be intimate with Edward. He'd never been one to celebrate Valentine's before; even with Darryl, his one other long-term relationship, it just hadn't worked for them, two teenage boys. But he felt different with Edward. There was a real chance for Jasper to do something romantic for Edward, and as cheesy as it sounded to do it on the holiday, Jasper felt like doing something slightly clichéd. But his plans evaporated when Edward told Jasper that he wouldn't be back with the bands until well after the campus dinner, due to some event or other on Sunday morning, and it was another seven hour or so drive to Yakima.
Jasper felt his mood darken as the week progressed. He made up excuses to not eat with the group so he could avoid the dining hall, even though it hurt to give up his one guaranteed time per day with Edward. It was silly, and he knew it, to get himself so worked up about a holiday created by the greeting card companies, but he had hoped that they'd be able to spend the weekend together. So, despite Emmett's moratorium on moping, by Thursday, Jasper was securely in a funk, and he'd effectively cut himself off from everyone so that no one noticed. He'd even called and cancelled his appointment with his therapist, despite knowing that it really would have been better for him to have gone.
Thursday night, a half hour or so after he'd have returned to his room from the history club meeting (if he'd gone), Edward showed up with a bag on his shoulder.
"Hey," Jasper said, holding the door open.
"Hey?" Edward asked, an eyebrow raised. "I've hardly seen you all week and that's all you've got?" He came through the door, and Jasper closed it behind him.
"I'm sorry," Jasper said honestly. "It's just been a rough week." He took Edward's bag and set it by the closet, drawing the other man close for a long embrace. For the first time since Monday Jasper felt his spirits lift.
"I've noticed," Edward said softly, his mouth against Jasper temple as they stood in their hug in the middle of Jasper's room. "Are you okay? I've been worried about you."
"Yeah, I'll be alright," Jasper assured him. "It's nothing to worry about tonight," Jasper said. "I just want to be with you before you leave tomorrow."
"Hm, I like that plan," Edward said quietly. He kissed Jasper and it morphed into something long and languid, and they began their quiet evening of soaking up as much of each other's presence as possible.
Jasper spent the night trying to give as much of his attention as he could to Edward, though he was pretty sure that Edward could tell something was still bothering him. To his credit, Edward didn't say anything, and they just spent the evening pressed as tightly together as possible. Their need for each other was almost palpable in the room as they clung to each other, not many words exchanged after awhile. It was becoming quite obvious to Jasper that they needed to find some time to reconnect and soon, before he managed to ruin everything.
Edward fell asleep first, his head tucked under Jasper's chin, fingers spread as always over Jasper's chest, just above his heart. Jasper tried to stay awake and watch Edward, but the exhaustion of the week over took him and he was easily lulled to sleep by Edward's deep even breathing.
When Jasper woke to his alarm Friday morning, he found the bed empty, but there was a note sitting on what looked to be a book on the table. Jasper switched off his alarm clock and reached for the note.
Jas, I'm not sure what's been wrong with you this week, but I hope you can get it worked out, soon. I've missed you the last couple weeks, especially this week when you've been so distant. Please take care of yourself, baby. I hate seeing you like this when I can't do anything to help, because I have to leave you again for the weekend. I love you, and I'll see you on Sunday.
Under the note was a signed first edition of Izzy Higginbotham's first novel.
Jasper felt like complete shit. Edward had needed him to be there during the week before he had to go off on his own with thirty-odd teenagers again, and Jasper had been so focused on his own issues that he hadn't supported his partner, emotionally or physically, when he'd needed to. He sat on the edge of the bed, hands dangling between his thighs with his head bowed, the book sitting discarded next to him. Instead of going to breakfast, he grabbed a granola bar from his stash and didn't leave his room until a few minutes before he needed to be in class in an effort to figure out how he was going to make things better. He owed Edward a massive apology for his behavior, and he couldn't just fix things to appease his own guilt.
He spent the day avoiding everyone. Instead of going back to the office between classes, he just remained in his classroom. His students didn't seem to notice that anything was wrong, but Jasper felt like he couldn't concentrate on anything other than his swirling thoughts. But the day passed, if somewhat more slowly than Jasper had hoped, and he successfully managed to avoid to speaking with anyone other than his students for the day. His appetite was gone, so he went back to his room at the end of the day and kept the lights shut off and doors locked. His phone rang a few times, but he didn't answer it. Emmett knocked on the adjoining door, but Jasper ignored him. He could hear Bella calling for him through his door, but he didn't get up from his bed to answer her, either, even though she deserved better. Eventually, he just put his pillow over his head after he stretched out on his bed and closed his eyes, desperately hoping for sleep to carry him away.
Jasper woke Saturday morning feeling like he was hung over, despite not having the pleasant experience of getting drunk. He knew it was somewhat of an emotional hangover; it wasn't the first time he'd had one. Usually it happened after he spent too much time in crowds. His body ached as he climbed out of bed and went for the kettle in the kitchenette. There were messages scrawled on his board in Emmett, Rosalie, and Bella's handwritings, and he read them as he waited for the water to heat up so he could make a much needed cup of coffee.
Emmett's handwriting was huge across the top of the board. You're being an idiot again. I'm here if you wanna go beat the shit out of the punching bag in the gym
We're worried about you, Jasper. Please let us know you're alright. Rosalie's script was neat and tiny compared to Emmett's.
I'll be here at 10 am. You promised me a date, and I'm holding you to your word. I don't care what your problem is. Bella's message was to the point and despite not feeling it, Jasper managed a half smile.
Once the water was hot, Jasper made his cup of coffee and went back into his room, closing the door behind him. He wasn't quite ready to deal with anyone yet, and he just knew that if Emmett knew he was awake, he'd be over. He checked his email and wasn't surprised to find nothing new from Edward. Jasper needed to find a way to put things right between them.
After he'd finished his coffee, Jasper glanced at the clock; he had time to go for a run before Bella'd be over to drag his ass over the coals for being an idiot again. He changed quickly, remembering to grab a hoodie, and jogged over to the gym. The building was empty and quiet, which was pretty usual for a Saturday morning. Jasper grabbed a towel, stretched, and started running.
Jasper ran for just over an hour, which was somewhere around eight miles, given the easier pace he'd been trying to take to keep from aggravating his back injury and complying with Emmett's advice. He made sure to cool down when he was finished, stretching again.
Back in his room, Jasper showered and dressed in jeans, a button down shirt and a sweater. Bella had made their reservations for lunch, so he opted for semi-casual. Just as he was tugging on his trainers, there was a knock on his door. He walked over to open it, having locked up when he came back and went to shower.
"You're being an idiot," Bella said by way of greeting, her voice quiet and a worried expression on her face softening the words.
"Yes, ma'am," he responded quietly.
"Glad you understand the situation. Come on, you're going to buy me lunch and tell me what's going on," she said with a soft smile. "You're driving, but we're taking my car."
"Okay," Jasper agreed. He grabbed his new coat from where it was hanging on the corner of the closet. After he made sure he had his wallet and keys, Jasper locked the door and let Bella take his arm as they left the building. "Wow," he breathed. The sky was darker than when he'd left for the gym, and it had gotten even colder. "Should we be going out in this? It looks like it'll snow."
"I've got chains and I can drive in the snow," Bella answered. "And we're going. I need off this campus and some good Italian food, and you need to start talking," she said, brokering absolutely no argument. "But for now," she said, handing over the keys. "Let's get on the road."
"Can we stop for coffee?" Jasper asked
"Sure," Bella said with a shrug.
They made a quick stop at Starbuck's before Jasper steered them onto the highway toward Port Angles. Bella clutched at her hot chocolate while Jasper's latte with an extra shot rested in the drink holder so he could drive. They drove for a few minutes before Bella reached over and turned down the stereo and angled herself toward Jasper.
"Alright, Jasper, spill," she said authoritatively. "What's up with you lately? Why have you shut everyone out this week?"
Jasper sighed. "Valentine's day," he answered quietly.
"All this is just because Edward's going to be out of town tomorrow?" Bella asked more gently.
"Partly. It's also partly because he didn't even seem to realize what day it was when I asked when he was going to be home tomorrow," he explained. "I mean – it's not nearly as important as supporting the students, so I can see how he may have missed it, but it still hurt a little bit to know that he's not going to get home until late and we're not going to have a chance to do anything. So it's just been a hard week, not only having to deal with one more weekend without Edward around, but to have to be surrounded by everyone getting more and more into the spirit of the romantic holiday was just…really fucking depressing." Christ that sounded stupid having to admit out loud, but it was how he felt.
"And last night?" Bella prodded.
"I was upset because of the way I'd been acting," he confessed. "Edward deserved better before he went out of town. He left me a really sweet gift yesterday morning with a note that made me feel like a complete ass. And since I was already pissed at myself, I figured it was best to just hide and keep from lashing out at anyone else, 'cause even though y'all mean well, sometimes it's all just a bit much."
Bella nodded. "So, you're pissed at Edward but acting passive aggressive about it, and pissed at yourself for behaving that way?"
Jasper barked a humorless laugh. "Yeah, you can say that."
Bella was quiet for a moment before she spoke again. "Jasper, you know Edward loves you. Yeah, it's nice to have that recognized somehow, but why does it have to be on a day proscribed by greeting card and chocolate companies? Isn't it enough that you know that right now, stuck with thirty teenagers, he's probably thinking about you, wondering if you're alright, and wishing he could be here instead of there? Why does it have to be Valentine's Day to be special or romantic?"
Jasper sighed. "It doesn't. I just…I wanted to do the clichéd day, y'know?" he explained. "Most of it couldn't have happened, but we could have skipped the campus dinner and gone to see a movie, and then to the diner for dinner and pie, since we haven't been since before New Year's, and it's kind of like our place. Just, something for us, off campus together. We haven't had a date night since the semester started, and I know that's my fault for not just doing it as much as it is his and Dr. Anderson's for him being gone," Jasper finished with a sigh. "I really thought I could handle this arrangement, but we're both so busy during the week that we haven't been able to steal the time I thought we could."
"You're handling it better than I think I would," Bella said quietly. "Seriously, Jas," she said when he made a disbelieving noise. "I'd be a hot mess."
"I feel like a hot mess," Jasper answered with another sigh. "Everything's just coming down all at once and I feel like I might split apart from all the directions I feel like things are going," he explained.
"Jasper, sweetheart, I love you. Edward loves you. This, whatever it is between us," she said with a wave of her hand "we'll get figured out. I know it's brought up a lot of questions for you, and that it's useless for me to tell you to not be anxious over it because we'll get it worked out, but you don't have to deal with any of this on your own. You seemed so much happier the first part of last week, after you talked with Emmett, and after we cleared things up a bit. Even though things are confusing, I'm here for you, Jasper. You can talk to me. You've done so much for me in the, what, six months that we've known each other? Let me do something for you, even if it's just listening."
Jasper smiled and reached over to take her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'll try."
"Alright, try by telling me how you're going to apologize to Edward for being an ass this week," she directed. She made no move to pull her hand away, and Jasper didn't let her go.
He laughed quietly and outlined what he had in mind. Jasper figured simple was best, and Bella seemed to approve.
Snow was beginning to fall lightly as Jasper pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant Bella had booked for lunch. It was the place they'd eaten on their way home from Black Friday, and Jasper smiled to have remembered that. He parked at an available space away from the entrance and escorted Bella into the restaurant.
The food was great, and the conversation was mostly light, though there were a few moments where Bella had to drag Jasper back to the present from his wandering thoughts.
Jasper paid the bill, as promised, and after helping Bella into her coat, led her outside.
"Hold up a second, Bells," Jasper called, stooping over to tie his shoe when they emerged from the restaurant. The roads were beginning to ice over, and he didn't want to trip on his laces and slip on the ice.
Bella laughed and went easily down the stairs to the sidewalk below the restaurant, turning in a slow circle with her palms facing the sky as she caught snowflakes on her gloves.
Jasper grinned and shook his head at her childlike glee at the experience, before glancing back down at his laces. Just as he completed the knot, he heard the squealing of brakes and the sound of an engine.
He looked up to see a minivan careening toward them. Bella seemed frozen in place, her eyes wide. Jasper jumped down the four steps and snagged her roughly around the waist, pulling her tight up against him as he turned and tucked and rolled away from the vehicle. He grunted as he landed hard on his shoulder, curled protectively around Bella's smaller body; his had taken the brunt of the force of their landing. Jasper heard the grinding crash as the van collided with the porch of the restaurant, the sound and then shower of broken glass falling over them, as car alarms sounded around them from the impact.
Jasper lay still for a moment. He was on his back, cold and damp seeping through his coat, but Bella was still tucked up tight against his chest, shaking. "Bells, you hurt?"
"N-no, I d-don't think so," she stuttered. "You?"
"Not sure yet," he answered honestly, adrenaline still flooding his system making him not feel much of anything. He began to hear shouts from people and sirens in the distance. "No, don't move yet, sweetheart," Jasper said as Bella began to shift in an effort to move. "Paramedics are on the way, and I want to make sure you didn't hit your head when we hit the ground, okay? Plus, you're warm," he said lightly.
She nodded tightly and didn't move.
"Hey, you two alright?" Someone called out to them. "We've got help coming."
"I think we're okay," Jasper called back. "But we'll wait for the EMTs." Jasper's back was beginning to throb, as was his shoulder, the pain creeping up into his neck. He'd probably dislocated it again.
Bella was still shaking, and Jasper tightened his arms around her as much as he could while he whispered quietly that they were fine, that everything was going to be okay. The EMTs arrived a few minutes later. They extricated Bella from Jasper's grasp and despite her protests, slipped a collar on her and strapped her to a backboard before getting her out between vehicles.
Jasper was next, and he didn't fight the medics as they loaded him up. "So, witnesses said you jumped out and saved that girl?"
He would have nodded, but the neck brace they'd put on him restricted his movements. "We were on a date," he answered. "I stopped to tie my shoe and she was playing in the snow when I heard the van coming. I just reacted."
"Good instincts, man," the other medic said.
Jasper smiled a bit. "Yeah, I guess."
It was fortunately an otherwise slow day in Port Angeles, and it didn't take long for Jasper to be seen by someone in the emergency department. He hadn't actually dislocated his shoulder again, but he'd been assured by the doctor that he'd have some spectacular bruising. The doctor gave Jasper a couple of pills for pain to get him through the afternoon and said the best thing would be a long soak in a bath or hot tub. Jasper and Bella were both released after being given a quick once over, and they called a cab to get them back to the restaurant so they could get Bella's car and make the drive back to Forks.
"I called Esme and Carlisle," Bella said as they waited for the cab. "Just so they'd know we're going to be late."
"Thanks, darlin'," Jasper answered. "You okay?"
"Yup, clean bill of health," she responded. "You?"
He nodded. "Gonna have some pretty bruises, but doc said I was fine."
"Good. Thank you, Jasper."
"For what, sweetheart?" Jasper asked.
"You saved my life. Again," she answered.
"Oh, that," Jasper said lightly, tugging her into a hug. "That was nothing."
She smacked his arm. "I'm serious. Thank you." She stood up on tiptoes and kissed him softly on the mouth.
"I'd never forgive myself if I let something happen to you, Bella," Jasper answered softly.
The cab pulled up and Jasper guided Bella to slide in before him. They gave him the name of the restaurant and Bella snugged herself up against Jasper's side for the short ride. Jasper paid the driver when they arrived back at the restaurant parking lot. Thankfully, the scene had been cleared and both Bella and Jasper had given their statements at the hospital. Since Bella's car was parked away from the building and was not part of the scene, they were allowed to leave.
"Should I drive?" Bella asked as they approached her car. She hadn't let go of his hand since they'd gotten into the cab, and Jasper didn't really want her to.
"If you don't mind, yeah," Jasper answered. Despite the pills the doctor had given him, he was beginning to hurt. "You may be better experienced to drive on these roads than I am," he explained.
"Okay," she answered with a nod. She finally let him go as they got into the car. Bella cranked the heater up to high; Jasper had been carrying his coat since it was soaked and useless.
"Did you tell Esme and Carlisle why we were going to be late?" Jasper asked.
Bella nodded, concentrating on the road.
"So Esme's going to be all worried?"
"Mmhm," Bella said with a nod.
"Okay. Just so I know what I'm getting into," he said.
Bella laughed quietly and spared him a look. The snow had mostly stopped falling while they were in the emergency room, but the roads still looked slick. So Jasper settled back to let Bella concentrate with the stereo playing quietly. He dozed off after a bit, tired from the week, the adrenaline let down from the accident, and the conversation he'd had with Bella before and through lunch. At one point, he thought he felt her fingers in his hair, but he passed it off as a fleeting fancy.
He woke just as they cruised past the 'Welcome to Forks' sign.
"Hey," Bella said. "Feeling okay?"
"Yeah, just a bit sore. Drive wasn't too bad with me conked out, was it?" Jasper asked.
"Nope. You just missed my badly off-key humming to the radio," she teased.
"Damn. Sorry I missed that," he responded.
Bella grinned and she navigated through town to the Cullen home. There were small evidences of snow throughout town, and when they reached the house, the lawn was dusted white, though the walkways had been cleared.
It took Jasper a moment to get out of the car; the hour and a half trip had caused him to stiffen up. "Come on, old man," Bella teased as she offered her arm for him to lean on as he climbed out of her Mini. "Maybe this will teach you to stop taking flying leaps off of porches in front of careening mini vans sliding on icy streets."
"Hey," he protested as he closed the car door behind him. Bella giggled and led him toward the house.
Esme greeted them at the door. She folded Bella into a careful hug first, then handed her off to Carlisle when he entered the room. Then she turned her attention to Jasper.
"I'm not sure if you've got a hero complex, or no sense of survival instincts, Jasper Dale Whitlock," she chastised him before pulling him into a hug as well. "But thank God you were there. You're alright?"
"I'll be bruised, but I got checked out at the hospital and I'm fine," he explained.
"Okay. Do you need anything?" She asked.
"Nope." Jasper kissed Esme on the cheek. "But I need to send a quick e-mail. Do I have a few minutes before dinner? I know we were late."
"Of course, Jasper," she assured him. "Is everything alright?"
"I hope so," he answered quietly with a small smile.
She nodded thoughtfully and let him go. Jasper took the stairs two at a time and borrowed the computer in Edward's room. A quick search gave him the link he needed, and he typed out a vomit of words into the email, and sent it to Edward before he could change his mind. Taking a deep breath, Jasper collected himself, and went back downstairs to spend the evening with his family, and to apologize to the rest of them.
Okay faithful readers. There's no preview in review replies this week, but there will be two short chapters posted next week instead. Does that make up for it? ~_^ I hope you'll still hit that button and tell me what you think, though. :D