Chapter Fifty Six
Jasper
I tried to pass Jake but that was never going to happen.
"OK Jake, whatever you need to get off your chest can wait till we get outside."
I pushed him to one side and walked down the stairs feeling him hot on my heels. As soon as we were out in the car park he grabbed my arm,
"Let go now or lose your hand"
He pulled his hand away, "So, happy now Leech?"
"Jake I'm not in the mood for your games. Just spit it out"
"Billy told me you explained everything to Charlie. Great, now he's in danger too. Good move."
He was shaking and I knew his control was slipping.
"He needed to know so we can keep Bella safe."
"Oh like you just did?"
I sighed, "Jake, you know who's responsible. It was you who pulled Edward out of the truck. We don't have a quarrel so don't start one now."
He laughed, a sharp gruff noise in the empty car park. "No quarrel? You're a leech and you put the girl I love in danger or had you forgotten?"
"No I hadn't forgotten but as long as we keep the treaty there's nothing you can do about it. And just so you know I didn't put her in danger, I tried to stop her. You, on the other hand, put her in the hospital and tried to blame me."
A growl rumbled in his chest "Leave her alone. You're nothing but trouble and you will cause her death if you don't stop bothering her and her father."
I turned, "I think your friends are watching Jake so I'd control your temper. I'm going back in and just so you know she's not in love with you."
"Really? And how do you know that?"
"Very simple mutt, she's in love with me"
As I walked back through the door I heard a snarl and the sound of paws on tarmac as Sam and the others pulled Jake into the trees.
Bella
Charlie tried to tell me what had happened but he didn't really know himself.
"Jasper will explain when he comes back in"
"Has he been here all along?"
"Yep. Apart from when he and Carlisle came to the house to tell me about themselves"
He gave me a knowing look but I had no idea what he was referring to.
"Will I get my memory back?" I asked him. It was scary not knowing what had happened. I'd lost great chunks of my life suddenly.
"How long have Jasper and I been going out?"
He smiled, "A while and I have to say I'm warming to him."
He turned as the door opened and I saw Jasper walk back in. He was stunning, like a male model yet he moved like a big cat. He came over and smiling bent to kiss the top of my head,
"How you feeling now darlin'"
I loved the way he said that, and he was my boyfriend? How had I got so lucky?
"I'm still confused Jasper"
He nodded and sat down in the chair by my side. I reached over to take his hand and gasped as I felt how cold it was. He tried to pull away but I held on.
"I was going to a funeral I know that. But whose?"
My dad answered, "Renee and Phil. They had a car accident."
I struggled with the holes in my memory then something clicked,
"Edward! He did it, I remember. He wanted me to go to him and you tried to stop me. You said I was a bad liar...I remember, I wrote you a letter."
He nodded, "Yes and I stand by it, you are a very bad liar."
Charlie looked confused but I didn't have time to fill him in, memories were flooding back.
"Alice...she's working with Edward. They threatened Charlie and my friends"
He nodded and sighed, "Well your Dad has protection and he knows about us"
For a second that didn't make any sense, of course Charlie knew about Jasper and I.
"Oh...you told him everything?"
"We had to, he knows about the Quileutes too."
I looked at my Dad who was looking a bit green now. "Oh sorry Dad. You were never meant to know." "Yeah I kinda worked that out for myself. Seems like we're not in Kansas any more Bella"
I smiled at that and took his hand, being careful not to dislodge the cannulae in my hand. As I looked it dawned on me what was in the line, the red blood feeding into my body. I swallowed and looked at Jasper, his eyes were black and the bruises under them made him look as if he was recovering from a broken nose. He saw my gaze and smiled,
"I'm fine Bella".
I shook my head, "No you're not. You need to hunt. I'm fine in here. GO."
He shook his head, "Not a chance. I'm sticking to you like glue. That way I might just keep you alive long enough to marry me."
I was taken aback by that and looked at Charlie. The horrified look I was expecting wasn't there. He looked amused if anything.
Charlie
I was glad Bella's memory was coming back although it had been difficult when she remembered the funeral. Luckily she seemed to take it in her stride and what she said about Edward and Alice just matched what Jasper and Carlisle had told me. I was puzzled by the apology she made to Jasper until it hit me, I was sitting beside a vampire who was watching as blood was dripping into his girlfriend's veins. He had some kind of self control! She even tried to send him out to hunt, animals I hoped, but he wouldn't leave her. Damn the guy, I was almost starting to like him.
Then he turned to me, "I met Jake earlier".
"Oh what did he have to say?" as if I didn't know, he'd already approached me in the hospital restaurant.
"To tell me I was dangerous and to leave Bella alone"
I smiled, more or less what he told me. "And what did you say to him?"
"Not much. I just pointed out he was more dangerous to Bella than I was".
"Well you're still here so I guess he kept his temper."
"No but his friends took care of him. Are you going to do anything about the assault?"
Bella looked up at that, "What assault? Oh when he knocked me into the stove?"
"Yes and lied about the accident. I should arrest him but I think he's in enough trouble as it is"
"How do you mean?" Bella asked.
"Well he's been in hiding for a while now and he's lost the girl he loves to his greatest enemy. Do you want me to arrest him Bella?"
She thought for a moment, "Yes. I want you to arrest him and I want you to give him a formal warning about his behaviour. Make him understand that violence isn't acceptable. I'd kick his furry butt myself if it wouldn't result in a broken foot."
Jasper laughed, "I'll happily do it for you, if you like"
She patted his hand, "I know you would but he's not worth it. We seem to spend our whole time pulling each other from bad situations don't we? Is that part of love?"
He nodded and leaned in to kiss her.
"I'm going out for some fresh air" I left the love birds too it.
