BPOV

I slammed the door as I arrived home, wincing at the sound of metal crunching against metal. I changed out of my nice clothes and threw on some human running clothes, for the sake of appearances. A tradition I had started back home, I laced up a pair of running shoes and started on the trail behind my house. Although I could run at lightning speeds, since a child I took to running at human speed to calm my nerves. It took focus to not start running full speed, which helped distract me long enough to calm me down. After a few miles of this, I jumped into a tree, another common habit of mine, perching at tall heights. I situated myself as comfortably as I could and watched the tops of the trees sway, closing my eyes and enjoying the quiet. I'm not sure how long I stayed like that, but I was brought out of my musings by the sounds of laughter and taunts. Naturally, I slowed my heartbeat

The Cullens' appeared in a matter of seconds, most likely coming back from hunting. Jasper seemed deep in thought, not appearing to be actively involved in the conversation around him. His face was relaxed other than the pinch between his eyebrows that gave him away. The group around him were joyous, ribbing at one another to get a reaction. Rosalie and Emmett were connected from the hip, Emmett's arm wrapped securely around the blonde's shoulder, affection radiating off them. Edward and Alice were more reserved, walking hand in hand and a quiet love emanating. Jasper seemed lonely, a tinge of guilt warmed my stomach at the thought of him living in a house full of mated vampires. I continued to observed them, as they passed underneath me.

A tingle in my chest stole my attention for a moment as I rubbed absentmindedly at the spot below my left collarbone, puzzled by the sensation. When I looked back at my targets of attention my eyes met in a hold with Jasper's. I froze, unsure how he knew I was there. I felt the fear catch in my throat, not use to being caught off guard as Jasper staggered slightly as i did so. That caught the attention of the rest of the group, pulling his attention away from me long enough for me to jump from the tree and start running full speed home. As i neared my house and noticed I wasn't being followed, I slowed, taking stock of my emotions and thoughts.

My physical shield was a power of mine that hadn't fully grown. I knew this since I often found out new cool things I could do with it. Due to this, I didn't often have it active unless threatened or as a precaution. I knew how to defend myself with out it, my number one rule for the guard was don't fight with your powers unless needed. It was more important to be able to protect against any threat then rely on a power. Not sure If Jasper would tell the other's what he saw, i bit my lower lip and stalked up the front steps. Entering my house I ran upstairs for a quick shower before throwing on some sweats to curl up and read a book. Letting myself get immersed to distract me.

JPOV

I could sense an emotion that wasn't coming from the couples in front of me. We had just finished hunting, when we decided to take our time heading back home. Edward and Alice were doing their usual silent conversation thing, which based off their emotions was turning lusty. Rosalie and Emmett were discussing the next trip they wanted to go on, for once not making me uncomfortable with their feelings towards one another. But curiosity kept peeking through the content and happy ones, and it felt like it was coming from further away. With the others involved with themselves, I glanced around, trying to see if there was anyone else out there with us. I doubted it, seeing as we would have heard them way before now. We were closer to home now, the path continuing to get more and more covered by trees above us, the tell we long ago learnt.

As I was just deciding to give up on where this emotion was coming from, I felt a small sensation, urging me to look up and behind us slightly. Expecting to find nothing, I schooled my features as I noticed a figure up in the tree. My senses didn't warn me it was a threat so I continued to stare, willing them to look down at me. I could hear the others getting further away as suddenly I found myself staring into the new girl's eyes. Bella was up high in a tree, much further than a human should be. A strong dose of fear hit me, causing me to stagger from the force of it.

"Jasper, what's wrong?" Edward was suddenly beside me, and I made the mistake of looking at him. By the time I looked back to where she was, she was gone. I quickly glanced around before shaking my head.

"Nothing, thought I saw something, must of been a squirrel." He took that answer and we continued our journey home. I couldn't get Bella off my mind. Her reaction to us at school was refreshing, she didn't seem to fear us but she clearly didn't worship us like many humans did. And now finding her in a tree, something was clearly different about her. Plus, that feeling I got, the tingling sensation was gone, but there was something that felt like a dull ache the further we got away.

Arriving home we said hello to Esme, Carlisle was still at work. The couples went off to their quarters, their emotions revealing everything I didn't want to know. I joined Esme in the kitchen, where she was baking cookies for the police station.

"How was school, dear?"

"It was fine, Esme. The girls aren't very happy about the new girl and they were worried about me as usual, but I didn't have any inkling of hurting her, so that was nice." It was actually nice, that for once I was confident in not wanting a human's blood. "They all went to their rooms but I don't really feel up to doing anything." Esme walked over to me, placing the back of her hand on my forehead before shooting me an apologetic look, a reflex from her human past. She caressed my cheek while staring into my eyes, her motherly instinct reading right through them. She sighed fondly and leaned against the counter.

"Tell me whats wrong, Jasper. There's no way you are feeling this down from the feelings in the house from those rambunctious vampires." Esme had always seen through me. While many assumed Carlisle was the leader of the coven, I often felt like Esme truly was. She could read the room in any second and she didn't even need my power to hit the nail on the head.

"I'm not sure. The new girl just has gotten my attention, but I promise I don't want to kill her." Esme patted my shoulder.

"I believe you. Carlisle and I had a long talk about Isabella last night actually. He too felt different about her, like she carried this air of confidence near us that no human has ever done before. He also felt like he knew her. Maybe she is just one of the good ones, nothing wrong with you befriending her if you feel like it."

"But the others. I've struggled in the past, and what if this is a trap that my own mind has managed to set up for me to fail?"

"Jasper Whitlock," It was always serious when she used my given name. "Believe in yourself, like I believe in you. How about this," She moved around the kitchen in a flurry before ending up in front of me with a Tupperware dish. "Go deliver these to Isabella. She lives in the recently not vacant house on Ware. A housewarming gift if you will." I stared at Esme for a bit, feeling her love and confidence in me before nodding. Grabbing the dish, I made my way over to her house. I ran most of the way before walking once I got to her tree line. The house was big, and looked like it had gotten some work done to it before they moved in. I climbed her porch steps before knocking lightly, mentally preparing what I should say in my head. I didn't hear her footsteps and soon she was standing in front of me, a hesitant smile gracing her features.

"Oh, uh, hi." I stuttered out, unable to break eye contact with her when I felt that sensation again. I held out my hands, "My mother, Esme baked you some housewarming cookies, and I came to give them to you." She looked at my outreached hands delicately grabbing the container without touching me.

"Thank you so much..." she hesitated, eyes widening as she looked back up at me.

"Jasper."

"Thank you so much, Jasper." Her features relaxed before she took a step back, a amusing smile suddenly gracing her face. "Why don't you come in, we can share some cookies and you can tell me what fun things there are to do in this town." She didn't give me time to answer as she left me there on her front steps to follow her through her house.

I looked around then up at the sky, shaking my head about how I got into this situation. I closed the door softly behind me, and toed off my shoes quickly, before setting off on the path she took. I found her in the kitchen, warming up some milk. Her house was well decorated, something even Esme would fawn over, which is exactly what I told Bella.

"Oh, you are too kind. It's a hobby from back home. My father and uncles let me decorate the place a lot." She laughed like she was in on some joke before placing the cookies on a plate in front of me. "Have one, please, they are so good. You're mother is a great baker." I grimaced slightly before declining.

"Esme would kill me if I had anymore cookies." I fibbed, watching her dunk a cookie in a glass of warm milk. "So, I think my dad mentioned you were from Italy? That's a far travel to Forks."

"Yeah, it was but so far I'm happy I did it. My dad still has a lot of work to do in Italy so it's nice to have a bit of independence. What about yourself?"

"Well, I'm adopted. Myself and Rosalie are actually twins."

"Oh, that's cool. Back home, there are these twins I'm actually really close to and it was always fun watching them tease and bicker with one another."

"Are you an only child?"

"Oh yeah. I'm not really complaining we have a lot of close family friends that lived with us so I never felt like an only child."

"Wow, you must of lived in a castle or something." I laughed to show it was a joke while Bella shook her head in amusement, softly saying under her breath, you have no idea. We talked for a bit longer, just small talk getting to know one another. It felt good, never having really felt this connection with someone. And she seemed comfortable in my presence which was nice for once. I glanced up at the clock in her kitchen. "Oh my. Is that the time? I should let you get some sleep."

Bella also glanced at the clock, surprise flitting across her face.

"Oh, time flies in good company I guess. I didn't notice a car when I greeted you. Did you walk?" I nodded my answer which resulted in her heading to a bowl on the side of the counter, returning with a set of keys. "I'll give you a ride home. Only fair for the cookies and the ride Carlisle gave me yesterday." She walked away again, not waiting for me to follow.

"Thank you, Bella. Rose is going to freak when she notices I got a ride home in your car." And among other reasons, I continued in my head.

"Why don't you give it a test run then? Really rub it in." She threw me the keys and got in the passenger side, leaving me to get in and start the car. The engine purred to life, and I was almost disappointed that we lived so close to one another. We were quiet on the ride to my house, the closer we got the more dread I felt. I parked the car and pulled the emergency brake, turning myself towards Bella.

"Thank you for letting me drive your car."

"Anytime. We should hang out again soon, I quite enjoyed my time tonight."

"I would like that." I started getting out of the car, feeling the inhabitants of the house questioning what I was doing. Bella got out of the car as well to switch seats, causing a load of fury to come my way. Bella never once glanced at the house but made eye contact with me once more before leaving to go back home. A smile pulled at my lips, missing her presence. I noticed that sensation was back, but ignored it as I prepared myself to enter the house.