Jasper's POV

"Why is everyone always here?" I whispered in Bella's ear.

"It's because they love you," she whispered back.

I pulled away from her and looked at our company. There was Peter, my best friend, Rose, my sister, and Charlie, Bella's father. It was quite the mix of people.

"You seem to be doing well," Charlie said and I turned my attention to him.

"Yes, Sir."

"Jasper, please call me Charlie, we've been through this."

Yes, we had been through this. Didn't mean I had to call him Charlie though.

"So," Peter said, "I've got some good news."

"Oh yeah, what?" Rose asked.

"You know that apartment that was available in your building, Bella?"

"I do recall you talking about it."

"Well I applied for it and they accepted. I move in soon."

"You're renting?" Bella asked.

"Yeah, just like you," Peter said proudly.

"Why would you rent a place in the same building as Bella?" Rose asked.

"Because every awesome TV sitcom has all the people living in the same building, it's going to be so much fun," Peter said.

"He rented it because he can't be away from Jasper," Bella told everyone the truth.

"I'm not going to deny that," Peter said.

"I also have some good news," Bella said. She did? How did I not know about this?

"Really?" Charlie asked. "What is it?"

"My lease for this apartment is coming up and they've given me the chance to renew it or to let it go. I didn't know what to do. Jasper has a house and I thought we could live there-"

"What! No!" Peter yelled, jumping up. "You can't do this to me, Bella. I can't get out of my contract now. Why would you be so mean?"

"I didn't know you were renting the place. Anyway, I decided to buy the apartment. It just made more sense. I don't see myself leaving for a few years at least, especially if I get accepted to UW and financially it was just the best option."

"You're not moving?" Peter asked trying to calm down. I loved my Bella so much. Anyone who could fuck with Peter was okay in my book. "Wait, you bought this place? That's millions of dollars. How can you afford it?"

"I'm good with money, Peter," Bella answered.

"I think you're all missing the point," Charlie said.

"No, I'm not. Just when I get level with Bella she goes and buys this damn place, I can't win, ever."

"That's the point, Petey."

"Don't call me that!"

"Quiet," Charlie said firmly and everyone shut up. "You applied for college, Bella?"

"Yeah, the University of Washington. If I get accepted I'll have to start at the bottom academically and work my way up. But my grades from high school are high and Jasper is an alumni and he gave me a glowing recommendation letter. I'm hopeful, but I'm staying realistic. It's a bit of a long shot actually."

"You'll be fine," Rose said, "that school loves Jasper."

"This is good, Bella, I'm very proud of you," Charlie said, "but haven't you forgotten one major detail?"

"What? My court date? No, I haven't forgotten that. Life can't stand still just because I may end up going back to prison. I need to start my life, dad, and I finally can. Royce and James have been brought to justice, so now it's time for me to finally move on. If I do go to prison then I'll deal and I'll plan for my future on my release. They offer courses in prison, so either way I'll be able to further my education."

"You're not worried about going to prison again?" Peter asked confused.

"No, I've been there once before and I know that what I did was illegal. I need to pay for my crimes and I will. Whatever punishment the judge sees fit I will comply with. You can't just bend the rules society has set and expect to get off scot free. I always knew this day would come. I knew I would have to pay my debt back and I'm going to do that. I will walk into the court room with my head held high and I will tell them everything and hope that the odds are my favor."

"Excuse me," Charlie said, standing up. "I need to go."

"Dad," Bella called out, but he was already out the door. Okay, that was weird.

"Oh, Bella," Rose said sadly. "You're still the same as you always were. You never once backed down from what you believed in or your punishments. Jane would be very proud of you, sure she'd still think you were stupid for what you did, but she would be proud."

"Thanks, Rose, I just wish she was here with us all. I miss her every day and I know that her and Peter would have gotten on like a house on fire."

"We would have?" Peter asked.

"Yes."

"Tell me more about her. I'm the only one here who hasn't met her… But only if you want to of course."

"It's fine, Peter. Jane's been gone for a long time, but she'll always be in my heart. Jane was… I don't know where to start. Jane was very strong. To those she trusted she was warm, but firm. To those she didn't like she was cold and harsh. She had a beautiful heart. She was very funny, she had a kind of dry humor, dark, it was sometimes confronting, always surprising and just Jane. Others were scared of her, but she was always so nice to me, unless I annoyed her of course. Her strength and her inability to let others in became her downfall. She was filled with so much pain and agony that it just overtook her one day, but she's at peace now and that's a good thing."

"Well if she's anything like you, Bella, then I'm sure I would have loved her."

"You would have, Pete," I said quietly. I didn't like to mention Jane often. "She was the best and you would have met your match in her."

"Well now I'm depressed," Peter said. "Let's do something fun. Bella, do you have any alcohol?"

Oh Peter, and now he was going to be living in the same building as Bella and I... Kill me now, just make it quick.