Chapter 3

I climbed out the car, staring uncertainly up at the huge house. I had seen houses this big before in Phoenix. I had never known anyone who lived it one. I found people in giant houses tended to socialize within their own tax bracket.

"Come on in," Alice said, turning to usher me up the steps of the house.

The inside of the home was massive and stunning. I heard my own startled intake of breath, unable to control it. The furnishings were obviously expensive, the entire bottom floor seemed to be one large expansive main room immaculately decorated. There were several couches, bookshelves and paintings covering any part of the walls that weren't already glass windows, an ornate chess table, and a grand piano.

"Wow, Alice," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "your home is beautiful."

Alice beamed. "That's all Esme's touch. She has a fabulous eye for design. Come upstairs and I'll introduce you."

I followed Alice up the winding staircase in a dumbstruck silence. The top of the stairs opened out into what looked like a traditional living room on one side, and a kitchen on the other. I could see that the kitchen was laden with every type of junk food snack imaginable, laid out and beautifully presented on platters usually reserved for much finer cuisine. In the living room, Alice had laid out so many pillows and blankets to form two plush beds on the ground. It didn't seem real. It was like stepping into a sleepover from a movie. I was suddenly struck by the fact that she had said she had never had a sleepover before. I believed her now. This was all… over the top. It wasn't realistic. It was set design, not real life.

"Wow, Alice," I said, taking it all in, "you really went all out."

"Do you like it?" she asked eagerly. I grinned.

"It's great. I love it."

She beamed at me, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"I'm so glad," she said, and then turned to call down a hallway, "Esme, Carlisle, Bella's here."

Dr. Cullen and a woman whose beauty I had come to expect, but still somehow caught me off guard, came in the room from the hallway.

"Bella," Dr. Cullen said warmly, "it's so good to see you again. This is my wife, Esme. I don't believe you've met."

I shook my head. "It's lovely to meet you, Esme. Good to see you again, Dr. Cullen."

"Carlisle, please," he corrected smoothly.

"Carlisle," I said, smiling at him. I could see why he was such a good doctor. He had a way of putting people at ease.

"I'm happy to finally meet you, Bella," Esme said, "I've heard such lovely things about you."

"About me?" I asked, confused.

Her brow crinkled slightly. "Well, yes dear, I-"

"Bella!" She was cut off by Jasper, as he and Edward walked into the room, "I didn't realize you were here already."

Edward was nearly shaking with silent laughter.

"Bella," he said, his laughter coming to a sudden stop as he took on a serene expression and went to stand by Alice's side, shooting Jasper a look, "I don't believe we've had the chance to meet yet. I'm Edward."

"Nice to meet you, Edward," I said, trying my hardest not to look past him as I spoke to watch Jasper.

"So, what's on the agenda for you ladies tonight?" Jasper asked nonchalantly, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the counter.

"Nuh-uh," Alice said, vehemently, "this is a girls' night. You two need to clear out. You promised."

"Don't worry," Edward said, wrapping his arm around Alice, "I was just about to take Jasper here out to play some baseball." He kissed her lightly on the cheek and she smiled up at him. Then Edward turned, and clapped Jasper on the back, leading him to the stairs.

I couldn't help the pang of disappointment I felt knowing that Jasper was leaving the house. He turned and grinned at me one last time before they disappeared downstairs. God, it was a good thing women were more rational than men, or that cocky grin of his could have started more wars than Helen of Troy.

"We'll leave you girls to it," Esme said brightly. "Let us know if you need anything." And with that, she and Carlisle disappeared back down the hallway.

I looked down the hallways expectantly for a moment. "Aren't Rosalie and Emmett here?" I asked.

Alice averted her eyes, busying herself grabbing my bag for me and carrying it into the living room.

"No," she said just a little too smoothly, "they had an event out of town. They'll be gone for the weekend."

That nagging part of my brain told me it was because of me again. The rational part argued that it was wildly egotistical to think so.

"So," I asked, following her into the living room, "what is on the agenda?"

Alice grinned sheepishly. "I'm not sure. What do people normally do at sleepovers?"

"I don't know," I said, realizing she was the only person I wouldn't have to feel embarrassed making this confession to, "I've never actually been to one."

We smiled at each other, sharing our moment of outsider-ness.

"Okay, well I have watched plenty of sleepover movies-" Alice started.

"I can tell," I interjected with a laugh. She waved me off and kept talking.

"So, we will just have to take our ideas from them. I could do your hair?" she asked eagerly. "It's so pretty and long. I've never been able to grow mine out."

I looked at her short black hair. It seemed effortlessly perfect. I wasn't sure why she would be interested in my messy locks.

"All right, nothing crazy though," I said.

"No, I just thought I would braid it."

I sat on the floor in front of the couch and she began to braid my long hair, her fingers working nimbly. I wondered how she had become so skilled at this if her hair had never been long. Did Rosalie let her braid her hair?

"So, can I ask how you guys all ended up with Dr. C- I mean, Carlisle and Esme? Is that too personal?" I asked as her fingers ran through my hair.

"Well, Esme is Rosalie and Jasper's aunt. The rest of us are just regular old foster kids. Edward was placed with Carlisle first, before he met Esme. Emmett came next, then me."

She kept braiding my hair, and I let the silence fall over us again, before asking so quietly I wasn't sure she could hear me at first, "Is that the real story?"

Another moment of silence washed over us before she said softly, "No."

"I hope someday you'll feel comfortable enough to tell me the real story, but the cover story works fine for now."

We fell into a comfortable silence again.

"There," she said eventually, "finished. You know, Bella, you really are something else. I knew we would be friends."

I turned to look up at her. She was smiling brightly at me. "I'm glad," I said. "So, can I ask about you and Edward, or is that also part of the real story?"

Alice laughed brightly. "I will tell you what I can about me and Edward, but then you are going to have to let me ask some questions of my own, preferably before the boys come back." I nodded vigorously, eager to learn more about this strange and enchanting family. "Before I tell you, I guess I need to ask, exactly how much is it that you know?"

"I don't know anything," I said, trying to sound earnest, "Jasper hasn't said a word."

She grinned at me. "I'm not going to be mad at him. The only people who would be mad aren't here right now."

"Rosalie and Emmett," I said, guessing.

"Mostly just Rosalie, but Emmett loves her. He will always be on her side."

"I know you're all strong, fast, and absurdly good-looking. I also know you don't eat food, so I'm a little appalled at the amount you've laid out just for me."

She laughed, "I wanted to make sure we had something you liked. I don't remember food. I don't know what's good."

"So you did have to eat before, but you don't anymore?" I asked eagerly, thrilled to add this new bit of information to my list.

"You're quick, Bella. I can see why Jasper likes you." I blushed a deep crimson at this. "People like us, we are already outsiders, freaks. Edward and I, we are even more so. We connected because of that. Our strangeness compliments each other."

"I'm not sure I get what you mean. How could any of you possibly be outsiders? You're beautiful and good at everything you do."

She grimaced, seeming to choose her words very carefully. "People like us don't typically assimilate to human society. It's hard for us. You've noticed our above human abilities. Among other challenges, it makes it hard to blend in. We have to control ourselves. Remember to respond in human ways. Edward and I, and Jasper as well even, we have abilities beyond normal for our kind, making us freaks among freaks. When I met Edward he was, sullen, forlorn, he'd known nothing but self-inflicted suffering. He couldn't imagine happiness. I on the other hand, had experienced none of that, and I knew, I could see, that we could have a happy life, together. That we would. Once he saw that as well, it was easy for us."

I sat in silence for a moment, thinking about her words. She had revealed so much and so little at the same time. It was hard to imagine Edward, who always seemed to be smiling when I saw him, as unhappy. But that wasn't what my mind was caught up on. She had said they had abilities beyond normal for their kind, and that Jasper did too. My thoughts swirled. I wondered what that was. I wanted to ask so many more questions, but I knew she wouldn't answer. I was grateful she had shared as much as she had.

"Now it's my turn to ask the questions," she said brightly, her shift in demeanor back to playing human was almost instant. "I asked Edward to clear Jasper out because we are all very curious about you and my brother."

I blushed deeply.

"That's not technically a question," I said evasively.

"No, I suppose it isn't. Let me try again. Bella Swan, do you have feelings for my brother?"

I sighed and dropped my head into my hands, embarrassed.

"Does it matter?!" I cried exasperatedly, the sound muffled by my hands. "He's so far out of my league we might as well be talking t-ball vs. the majors."

I wasn't sure if I had used the sports reference correctly. I tended to tune out Phil anytime he talked baseball, but baseball was on my mind for reasons I preferred not to let solidify into coherent thoughts. Alice laughed her tinkling laugh again.

"Bella, Jasper is a little… old fashioned, and stubborn, but I can tell you this; in all the years I've known him he's never offered to drive anyone else to school. We were all shocked. I think it's a good sign. And I'm certain we'll be seeing more of you around here."

I peeked up at her, lifting my head from my hands. "And exactly how many years have you known him?" With this family, I was starting to think anything was possible.

Alice smiled obscurely. "A few," she said. "Jasper was right, you are quick."

At that moment a crack of thunder cut through our conversation. I looked up, startled. Sure enough, a storm had started outside. Another strike of lightning lit up the sky.

"Oh my God," I cried, jumping up, "are Jasper and Edward out in that?"

My concern was punctuated by another crack of thunder. Alice just laughed again.

"Don't worry, Bella. The boys will be fine. Now, I think the next step in traditional sleepovers is movies. What do you think, thriller or romance?"

I was afraid watching a romance would invite more questions about my crush on Jasper. Despite Alice's attempted assurance, I just couldn't imagine he was interested in anything more than friendship with me.

"Uh, thriller?" I said, wishing it sounded like less of a question.

"Perfect. If you want to get changed into your pajamas, the bathroom is the first door on the right," she said, pointing down the hallway.

I grabbed my overnight bag and headed down the hall, realizing that I had never been offered a tour of their home. I assumed that was on purpose. Alice had been so smooth about it, I hadn't even noticed. I couldn't help wondering if any of these doors led to Jasper's room. What did it look like? I shook the thought from my head and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

The room was pristine. It looked as though it had never been used once, like it was a bathroom in a model home. I realized with a chuckle, it probably hadn't been. If you didn't eat, you probably didn't need to relieve yourself. I wondered, with a pang of embarrassment, if they had only set it up, stocked it with things like toilet paper, in preparation for my arrival, like the kitchen. I tried to think only about how considerate that was, and not be embarrassed as I quickly changed into the pajamas Jess had given me. I looked at myself in the mirror. To call the hairstyle Alice had done a braid seemed like an understatement. She had intricately weaved together the strands of my hair like a tapestry, leading into a single plait the hung over my left shoulder, some pieces hung loose around my face. Mixed with the silk pajamas, I realized that I looked like someone attending a movie sleepover just as much as my surroundings seemed to be one. My self-confidence boosted a little, and I headed back out to the living room.

Alice was there, already changed into pajamas of her own, a delicate looking purple button-up long sleeve top and matching bottoms, with a remote in her hand and the TV on behind her. Damn, she really did move quickly. And she must have been quiet too. I was sure all the rooms were further down the hall than the bathroom, but I hadn't heard her pass by. She was smiling.

"I picked some classics, Rear Window and Gaslight. Have you seen them?"

"No," I said, shaking my head, stopping to grab a bowl of popcorn from the many snacks on the kitchen counter before I joined her on the Cullen's living room floor where all the cushions had been placed to make makeshift beds. We sat with our backs leaning against the couch.

"You'll love them," she grinned, starting the first movie.

She wasn't wrong. I did love it. It had my nerves on edge. Alice always seemed to know right before I was about to jump or react to something, so I was sure she must have seen the movie before, but that didn't make it any less fun.

We were halfway through the second movie when Alice said, without turning, "Esme will be furious with you two for dripping on her floors."

I startled, turning to look behind us into the kitchen, where Jasper and Edward were standing, thoroughly soaked from the rain. I hadn't heard them come in. I gasped.

"Aren't you guys freezing?" I asked.

Edward laughed a little. Jasper just grinned at me.

"We're fine Bella. We were just headin' to change before little miss bossy interrupted," Jasper said.

Alice stuck out her tongue playfully at him. Edward swooped over to place a kiss on the top of her head.

"We'll be right back to dry the floors. Esme will have no reason to be angry," he said sweetly to her.

With that, Jasper and Edward left the room to head down the hall. I tried to focus on the movie for a few seconds, but then blurted out, "Were they out playing baseball in the rain?"

Alice laughed again. "It's fine, Bella. I promise. You don't have to worry about them."

"But they could get sick. They could get hurt."

"We were at risk for neither," Edward said. I jumped a little, startled that he was back in the room. When I turned to look at him, he had changed into dry clothes and was drying the floor where he and Jasper had dripped water.

Jasper came strolling in a few moments later, his movements pointedly slow, glaring at Edward. He had also changed into dry clothing now. "You changed quickly, Edward," he commented, as though trying to make an offhand comment, but his tone was pointed.

"I'm not the one who gave up the charade to stop a car with my bare hands, Jasper," Edward said in a teasing tone, smirking back at him.

"We could at least try to keep up pretenses," Jasper said, sounding annoyed.

"Look," I cut in, "I don't want to interrupt or anything, but to be clear here, from normal human speed perspective, you both changed too quickly. Like way too quickly. Taking off wet jeans isn't a quick task for us average folk."

They both turned to look at me for a moment, before Edward burst out laughing.

"I like her," he said.

Jasper threw his hands up in exasperation. "Okay, now that we've all had our fun at my expense, can we at least join you ladies for the rest of the movie before Alice exiles us to our rooms for the rest of the evening?"

I looked to Alice. It was her night, after all. I would do nothing to wreck her plans. She appraised Jasper for a moment.

"Oh, I suppose so," she said.

Edward moved so quickly I almost couldn't see him, just a blur moving to sit by Alice's side. I jumped a little, startled. I knew how quickly they could move, but I had never seen one of them do it before. Jasper let out an annoyed sound. I turned to smile at him to reassure him that it didn't upset me, though I wasn't sure that was his concern. He walked, normal speed, over to where we were sitting on the floor. He swooped down to lift a blanket from the collection on the ground, draping it around my shoulders as he sat down next to me. I felt my heart jump up into my throat. It was probably the closest we had ever been.

He wasn't touching me. It was as though he had very carefully placed his body so that it was just not touching mine. I tried to focus on the movie. I could feel the icy cold of his skin radiating off of him, sure this was why he had placed the blanket around me. Our shoulders brushed. My heart rate spiked, and despite the cold from his presence, I felt like my whole body was on fire. He turned to grin at me. I blushed and turned back to the movie. I wasn't able to focus on it though. I could only focus on the fact that every now and again, Jasper would move slightly and his shoulder would brush up against mine and send my thoughts racing to wildly inappropriate places for such an innocent touch. God help me, this man would be the death of me.

When the movie came to an end, Jasper stretched his arms up, brushing against me one last time before standing. Edward stood as well, looking reluctant. I wondered, for the first time, what their sleeping arrangements were like since they were all together. When I had thought them to be mere humans like the rest of us, it had seemed wrong. Now? I couldn't imagine why these fantastic beings should be constrained by human traditions. Was I keeping him from Alice tonight?

"Thanks for letting us join," Jasper said. He was addressing Alice, but he looked at her only briefly before turning to look at me. "Sleep well, ladies."

Edward placed a chaste kiss on Alice's lips, and the two men departed the living room down the hallway.

"Sleep well?" I asked, turning to Alice.

She laughed, "It's past midnight, Bella. You should get some rest. I know you have plans with your friends tomorrow."

"Past midnight?" I asked in shock, "Wow. Time flies."

Alice smiled at me. "I've had fun. You'll come back for another sleepover, won't you? We haven't scared you off?" They were both questions in phrasing, but her tone was a statement. I simply laughed and nodded.

"Of course I'll come back, Alice. This has been the best first sleepover ever."

"Perfect, because we didn't even get into sleepover games!" she said enthusiastically, clapping her small hands together. "You're going to love them."

We climbed into the covers of the makeshift beds on the floor.

"Honestly, Alice, I think I'm too wired to sleep," I said.

"Do you need help calming down?" she asked.

I laughed. "What, now you are going to tell me you can help me calm down enough to sleep too? Alice, I don't think even you could pull that off right now."

I was too embarrassed to tell her what exactly it was that had me so wired.

She just shook her head at me smiling, "No, not me."

I wanted to ask who, but the deep sense of calm was already washing over me. It had been a long day. As soon as the calm hit my senses I was drifting off to sleep. I could have sworn I saw Jasper, standing at the end of the hallway, but it was probably the beginning of a dream.

And I did dream about Jasper. Maybe too much. It was like falling asleep with my nerve endings still on fire from the casual brushes of his shoulder during the movie had sent my mind into overdrive. The dreams were hazy and lustful. I dreamt of him actually touching me. No casual brushes while watching a movie with his siblings or while handing me my papers in class. I only wished I could have remembered the specifics of the dreams better when I woke, but perhaps it was better for my continued sanity in Jasper's proximity that the details faded as I opened my eyes.

It took me a moment to place where I was when I woke, laying on the Cullen's living room floor. I rolled over to see that Alice wasn't next to me anymore. She must have woken up already. I wondered what time it was. I rubbed my eyes and pulled myself up to a sitting position.

"Morning, Bella," came Alice's chipper voice from the kitchen. I turned to look at her. She had already gotten dressed, and looked perfect as usual. I was sure I looked like a mess with bed hair. "I made coffee if you want some."

I nodded vigorously, trying to form words in my tired state. "I just need a minute," I said, standing and heading to the bathroom. I took a moment to be human, using the bathroom, brushing my teeth, and pulling out the braid Alice had done last night. It was now a mess. I ran my hands through my now wavy hair, and then stumbled back into the kitchen where Alice placed a mug of coffee into my grateful hands. I took a drink.

"Mmmm," I hummed, contentedly, "Alice, this is delicious. Were you a barista in another life?"

"You know, I don't remember," she said with a laugh, "but this is actually a skill I picked up recently in this lifetime."

That opened up so many questions I knew I would have to wait to ask.

Esme walked into the kitchen. "Good morning, Bella. I hope you slept well. Can I make you something for breakfast?"

"Oh, no, Esme, really. You don't have to cook just for me."

Shit. I realized too late that Esme hadn't been there to know just exactly how much I knew about their family. However, if my knowledge that they didn't eat surprised Esme in any way, she covered it perfectly. I wondered if they had told her…

"It's really no trouble, Bella. But we also have some premade breakfast in the fridge if you'd like. Jasper told me you were partial to muffins."

I looked at her for a moment, confused, before I remembered my reaction to losing my muffin while in shock from the near car crash. I tried my hardest to not roll my eyes. Of course that would be the detail Jasper would remember from that day.

"That's great, Esme. Thank you," I said, walking over to the fridge and opening it to look inside. For a family that did not eat food, the fridge was surprisingly well-stocked, and well-stocked with some of my favorite foods. At this point, I doubted that that was a coincidence. I leaned in to grab out a blueberry muffin.

"Morning, Bella," Jasper's voice came softly from right behind me as I closed the fridge door, startling me, "did you sleep well? Nice dreams?"

I turned to face him, horror flooding my body. He couldn't possibly know, right? I felt a flush rising up to cover my body. Jasper was smiling innocently at me, a little too innocently.

I noticed Edward had entered the kitchen as well. He seemed amused by something as he stood next to Alice, watching me and Jasper. Esme must have left at some point. Damn this family moved quietly. I was adding that to my list.

I cleared my throat, willing my voice to come out even and not shaky.

"Y-yes. I slept great. How about you?" I avoided the dream question. I didn't know if my voice could be trusted to lie this early in the morning.

Jasper just smiled at me again. "By the way, nice PJs," he said in that low sexy voice of his, and then slipped away back down the hallway. I felt my blush grow darker, and Edward chuckled. Alice swatted his arm playfully, and he dipped to kiss the top of her head before exiting the room.

I finished eating my muffin, my mind racing. Jasper couldn't have known, could he? Unless, what if I had talked in my sleep? Would Alice have overheard and told Jasper?! No. She was too nice for that, but she might have mentioned it to Edward and he could mention it to Jasper. Edward had seemed amused too, after all. They were both in on my embarrassment.

"Alice," I blurted out suddenly, "I didn't-" I was almost too embarrassed to finish the question, "I didn't like talk in my sleep or something, did I?"

She looked at me, confused. "No, not a peep. Why?"

I looked down at my feet. "Nothing. It doesn't matter."

She didn't believe me, I could see it in her eyes, but she dropped it.

Seeing that the subject needed to be changed, she grinned at me, "Want a tour of the garage?"

It was not quite the same as being offered a tour of the house, but I was excited nonetheless.

"Absolutely," I said happily, "just let me get dressed first."

I grabbed my bag and raced down the hall to the bathroom. I didn't get changed quite as quickly as their family could manage, but it was still pretty damn fast. I came back out a moment later in the outfit Jess had approved, jeans and a fitted light blue top that she deemed showed off my figure well. Jess was all about an outfit needing to make your boobs look good.

When I headed back out of the bathroom, Alice was waiting, and I noticed that the living room had now been cleared of all sleepover mess. It looked like I was sure it normally did, just couches and television. I couldn't help gasping a little. I wondered if I would get used to their speed.

Alice just chuckled at my reaction. "Don't worry, Esme helped me before she took off to work in her garden."

As if that made the speed at which the room had been cleaned up more normal somehow. She led me down the stairs and through a door at the back of the bottom floor. It opened into a massive garage. It was bigger than Charlie's house. Hell, it was bigger than Renee and Charlie's houses combined, and it was completely lined with automobiles. I saw now that the Volvo and BMW were the most affordable of their vehicles.

"Wow," I said breathlessly, "How many cars do you guys have, Alice?"

She flicked on the lights in the garage. It was bigger than I had imagined.

"I'm never really sure. Rosalie and Edward are always bringing home new ones. Around forty or fifty at my last count?" She started walking down the aisles.

I followed her, feeling like I was in an alternate universe. I recognized an Alpha Romeo, a Rolls Royce, a Maserati, a- "Oh my God, Alice!" She looked up at me, startled. "Is that a Tucker '48!?" The classic car was in pristine condition.

"You know your cars," came Edward's voice. I turned to see him and Jasper standing quietly in the garage behind us.

"Uh-not really, Renee, my mom, she was a big car fan. Or, I guess I should say, she was a big fan of car guys," I said, babbling stupidly trying to explain myself. "I really know almost nothing about cars. I just got pretty good at identifying models."

"Well, we aren't able to take them out much. It's nice to have someone who appreciates them, in whatever way," Edward said, smiling.

Jasper was standing behind Edward, leaning against one of the cars, looking casual and sexy as hell again, grinning at me as though I had passed some test I hadn't known I was taking. I found it irritating.

"So, who owns all of these?" I asked, looking around the garage.

"A little bit of everyone, but mostly me and Rosalie," Edward said. "Esme only has the one car. She doesn't really like to leave the house much. Carlisle has a couple. Emmett can't be talked out of upgrading from that cursed jeep of his. Alice owns quite a few. You'll notice eventually her taste is for European sports cars. And Jasper sticks to his British Vintage."

I looked over to Jasper, confused, before remembering. "Oh, the motorcycle. Where is it?"

I expected Jasper's cocky grin this time. He pushed up from where he was leaning against the car, "She's this way," he said, leading us down one of the aisles of cars.

I groaned. "Oh God, you're one of them."

He turned to look back at me, confused.

"People who call cars or motorcycles, or any other inanimate object for that matter, she," I clarified.

Alice laughed at this, and Jasper looked embarrassed, something I had never seen him do.

"Does it bother you?" he asked. He sounded worried.

I liked the idea that he should care if it bothered me.

"No," I answered, rolling my eyes, "I was only teasing you."

He grinned at me, stopping in front of a sleek, classic looking, black motorcycle. I stepped forward, running a hand gently along the handlebars.

"She's beautiful, Jasper," I said, sincerely. The motorcycle seemed to suit him perfectly.

He grinned even wider at my chosen use of the feminine to talk about the bike as well.

"Do you want to go for a ride?" He asked. "I could take you home."

I eyed the bike, unsure.

"Charlie would kill me," I said. "And you," I added for emphasis.

"Is he home?" Jasper asked, his voice sounding just a little too innocent.

"Noooo," I said cautiously, dragging out the syllable. Charlie was out fishing today.

"Then live a little, Bella," he said, holding out a helmet that had been hung on the wall behind the bike.

His words sent a thrill through my spine. Rational thought went out the window. I stared into his golden eyes for what felt like an eternity.

"Okay," I said, "I just need to get my bag."

"I'll get it," Alice said, startling me. I had forgotten they were there. She disappeared, and in only a couple of seconds had reappeared with my bag. "I'll see you at school, Bella," she said brightly, handing me the bag.

"Thanks, Alice," I said, slinging the bag over my shoulder, but she and Edward were already gone. This time, Jasper didn't seem annoyed with their speed. I took the helmet from Jasper, suddenly acutely aware that we were alone together. "I've never ridden on a motorcycle," I said, pulling the helmet on. I thought about insisting he needed one as well, but remembered that he had stopped a van from crushing me with his bare hands.

Jasper smiled. "Well, I'm thrilled to be your first." I tried not to let my mind run wild with all the double entendres of that sentence. "It's easy," he said, climbing onto the bike and keeping his feet on the ground, "just climb on behind me, and hold on tight." There was that cocky grin of his again.

I climbed onto the motorcycle behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. It was the closest we had ever been. God, and I thought the movie last night had been bad. Jasper kicked the motorcycle to life. I squeaked and tightened my grip around him, my body pressing up against his. He tensed for the smallest moment, then relaxed. I could practically feel his smirk.

"You okay?" he asked, "You seem nervous."

"I'm good," I said, though my voice came out a little shaky. My adrenaline was racing and my heart was pounding, but I didn't think it had much to do with the motorcycle.

"Good," he said, "hold on."

And with that, he took off out the open garage door and onto the forest road. It seemed less ominous in the daylight, more peaceful. I rested my head against Jasper's back and let the scenery fly by. All too soon, we reached Charlie's house. Jasper eased the bike to a stop and killed the engine. I reluctantly loosened my grip around him, and pulled the helmet off, standing from the motorcycle. My legs were a little shaky. Jasper chuckled, standing the bike up and coming to steady me.

"Are you okay, Bella?" he asked, amused and concerned.

"I'm fine," I said, practically buzzing from adrenaline, "more than fine. That was amazing Jasper. I get why you drive that thing."

Jasper beamed at me. "You mean, you get why I drive her."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm really glad you enjoyed it, Bella. You should come riding with me more often."

My heart pounded and I felt like my stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies.

"Really?" I asked, unable to believe the offer.

"Of course," he said, confused. "Why are you so surprised? I like spending time with you."

"I don't know. I guess I figured you spend all your time with super human, super beautiful people. I must get boring after a while."

"Bella, you could never bore me. You are a constant surprise."

"Me? Surprising?" I said, not believing it.

He looked at me like I was missing something vitally important.

"Bella, you must have noticed no one else ever wants to be around us, ever comes close."

"Well sure, but they are just intimidated. If they knew how nice your family was-"

"Bella, they are scared of us. They might not realize it, but they are. Their very instincts tell them to keep their distance. Our existence is a lonely one. But you," he appraised me for a moment, seeming genuinely amazed, "you have never been afraid of us."

He was being ridiculous of course. There was nothing to be afraid of.

"I don't think you're as scary as you think you are, Jasper Hale," I said.

"That's my problem. I don't want to scare you."

"You're being cryptic again."

"Yes, well, as I said, that is a condition of friendship with me."

"I'm going to figure you out someday, Jasper."

He sighed, looking at me for a long moment.

"I get the feeling you will, but I'm not sure whether that will be for the best," he said softly, looking down at me. Then, as though he had flipped a switch and was back to pretending to be normal, he said cheerily, "See you Monday, Bella."

And he jumped back on the motorcycle and drove away. I realized the helmet was still in my hands. Shit. I'd have to hide that so Charlie didn't see it.