Jasper

Lunch went as usual between the four of us, but Edward was slipping. He wasn't shifting like a normal human would, he wasn't picking at food, and worst of all, he would not stop staring at the human girl. I concentrated hard, trying to get a read of his emotions, but for the most part, I could only get flickers of what he let slip by. His entire focus was on Swan, totally disregarding, and tuning out any other thought within his proximity.

"Edward," Alice asked semi quietly, "Edward are you okay? Do you need to take a minute?"

Her question went unanswered as he just continued to stare at the human. Rose and Emmett look at one another, worried. Alice sinks back into her chair in disappointment. I frown, hating to see her lose her favorite sibling before my eyes. I would have to handle this situation with expert care, as much as I didn't particularly care for Edward, Alice loved him, and I know hurting him would deeply hurt her.

Maybe I was missing something? This girl had to be quite the stunner to impress Edward. I mean, sure, he couldn't read her thoughts but was that really enough to entrance a vampire? I took a moment to examine Isabella, I mean Bella, that's what she liked to be called anyway. She was okay, I guess, pretty in that small town kinda way but nothing to ride home about, especially in our world.

She looked very tense, clearly seeing Edward's strange display. That's odd, mates typically love to be looked at by their significant other. I decided to look into her emotions a little further, and upon finding the confirmation I was looking for, I felt myself still.

Edward's emotions towards the human girl were intense and inappropriate. At first, I was simply skeptical about him finding his mate in the Swan girl, but now that I could feel her disdain towards him, I knew it would be impossible. The Swan girl was projecting so much uneasiness and hate towards my brother that I almost confused her emotions for mine. My brother, on the other hand, was masking his emotions as much as he could, but when he did slip, he projected possessiveness, hunger, and jealousy. This wasn't even close to a mating connection at all; she was his singer, and he was obsessed.

I hear the human excuse herself, and Edward follows her. I feel Rose kick my shin, and I glare at her in response.

"What," I ask annoyed.

"Are you seeing this? We can't just sit around waiting for something to happen! We have to do something," she says feverishly, but just loud enough for our table to hear. Rose's emotions were filled with trepidation, worry, and urgency. I've never felt her feel so strongly for anyone besides Emmett and herself.

I cocked up one eyebrow and answered her, "what can we do? If you haven't noticed there are humans everywhere, there's not much protection we can provide".

Our conversation, though not too loud in the cafeteria, was just loud enough to be too loud to be talking about in public.

"Guys keep it down", Alice said with annoyance etched upon her beautiful face. She looked between Rose and me curiously, knowing that the two of us have never been close and are now keeping something from her likely would bring her great discomfort. I gave her a sheepish smile, and she rolled her eyes. I knew I would be in for it later.

"I'm sorry, but am I the only one who doesn't know what the fuck is going on here," Emmett asked lightly, but his emotions told me he was looking for an answer.

"Was that Swan," Emmett wonders out loud as several children already leaving the cafeteria direct themselves to the commotion.

"Bella," exclaims Rose before running at human speed towards the confusion.

"Well shit", I mutter before following her.

Rose

I shifted through the crowd at a painfully slow pace, still trying to do my best to remain as human as possible despite my brother seemingly trying to expose us all. I hold my breath and swallow the venom pulling in my throat. I hadn't hunted well in a while too preoccupied with the development of my new ability to waste time chasing venison. I had to try especially hard to remain in control.

"What? Are you insane? I'm not your love, I don't even know you," I heard the human girl screech. I groan, feeling frustrated by my hunger, and even worse, all I wanted to do was take Bella away from the freak that was my brother. I finally got a break in the crowd a few feet behind Edward. I tensed when seeing him, my brother seemed to completely abandon the human charade now. He was too still, too angry, and unnaturally intimidating. I could hear the murmurs of curiosity and now concern rise the more Edward continued.

"Cullen has lost it."

"He said she was his what?"

"Were they even dating?"

"What's wrong with Cullen, his eyes? They don't look normal."

"The Cullens have always been off? What else are they hiding?"

"Oh shit, this is bad" I heard Emmett say lowly to who I would assume would be Jasper.

"Y'know they all never really eat right, I hear the Lauren girl whisper to Jessica hastily, "all they do is play with their food while this one stares! I didn't even notice until this one started acting like such a freak!

Jesus Edward, I thought loudly. You've been leaving us wide open for God knows how long. I saw his head tilt in my direction slightly but I was otherwise ignored completely. I looked at my family, Alice's eyes were brimmed with tears, while Emmett hunched a bit as if trying to make himself seem smaller, and Jasper, he just looked beyond pissed.

"This needs to end now", I thought as loudly and as fiercely as I could.

"Edward", I said in a commanding tone while giving I'm sure would be a look that could kill, surprising several of the children as it was the first time many of them have even heard me speak. I couldn't help but appreciate their stares in awe.

"Rose", I heard Emmett gasp in shock.

She's not your mate, I thought confidently. Hearing that thought, his head swung around to face me, his eyes now dark surrounded by deep purple circles. Even for a vampire, this sight was frightening, this was a man crazed beyond anything I've ever known. Alarms are going off in my head, stay away from him, danger! Get the girl! Protect the girl! I had to resist swooping Bella in my arms and raking her right then and there. Obviously hearing my inner turmoil Edward cocked his head in curiosity; rightly so, no one else knew about my new ability. He stared at me intently for a moment, his mouth in a thin line before Jasper interjected.

Jasper dismisses Edward and has a silent conversation with him before he finally decides to leave. I looked at Bella, she was pale and disheveled looking by now, but still, I had to admire her courage, she stood up to him. I smiled sadly to myself before nodding and giving her a silent I'm sorry before making my way to the parking lot. As I walk to my vehicle I am frustrated to see Edward long gone. That little asshole is intimidating women and nearly exposing us and now he decides to run away, I think bitterly. By now, the rest of my siblings are by my side with Edward following at human pace behind, Emmett is eyeing me curiously but I can also tell he was proud of me for sticking up for someone other than myself. Alice looks distraught and guilty, probably feeling bad that she hasn't been able to see today's transgressions. I give her a side hug and smile a bit when she looks at me warily, seems like this new ability has turned me into a softy. Just then, her face goes blank and eyes wide before it is flooded with fear. Jasper flits to her side and I stifle a disapproving glance in his direction. Alic, what is it, he questioned urgently.

"Carlisle, she panted, "we need to talk to Carlisle".