JPOV

The Cullen's had this thing, really Carlisle, where when conversations got heated we would go to the rarely used dining table for a 'family' meeting. It can actually be a quite funny thing when it's someone else in the hot seat. Currently, though, it is really not funny. I found myself seated at the head of the table, Carlisle and Esme opposite me with Edward and Alice to my left, Rosalie and Emmett to my right. Esme kept sending me reassuring smiles, her love shining through the fury easily. Carlisle seemed deep in thought, questioning something in his head.

"Jasper, you're going to hurt her."

"Alice, enough. Jasper is stronger than you are giving him credit for. He was in close proximity of her all evening and didn't feel like attacking her. Besides, have you seen a vision of him doing such?" Esme chastised, standing up as she made her point. I give her a quick boost of appreciation before looking at Alice, who appeared deep in thought.

"You can't force a vision to come, Alice. Why can't you let me do anything without knowing the outcome?"

"Because not knowing the outcome on something like this could cause us to have to move."

"I am not moving again. Emmett and I are so close to graduating again, and I plan to spend a year on Isle Esme. Moving means starting back at the beginning soon." Rose chimed in, finally looking up from her manicure.

"We won't have to move because Bella's not in danger with me."

"You can't tell her what you are, Jazz." I stared daggers towards Alice. "It's against vampire law, and it's not like you love her or anything." My temper flared at that, absentmindedly rubbing the spot under my left collarbone.

"I never said anything about telling her what we are. And stop calling me Jazz!" I stood up and started pacing, rubbing the spot a bit more while thinking of ways to rip Alice's head off.

"Jasper, that's my wife you're thinking that about."

"Well your wife needs to let me live with out dictating my every move. That's what you are for. You guys make a great pair."

"Enough. Boys, sit down." Edward and I listened to Carlisle, huffing our annoyance. "Alice you are going to leave Jasper alone. He can make his own decisions, and maybe Bella will be good for him. Jasper, be respectful and listen to yourself. If you are starting to doubt your control at all, leave. Don't push it." Carlisle looked pointedly at me and I nodded. With his final words he got up and went to his office everyone migrating to their own rooms. Esme lingered back and sat down next to me.

"I think I like her Esme. In a way I never thought I would since becoming a vampire. And when we are apart there's this pull in my chest that makes me want to be near her again. But she's human. We can't become anything. I could hurt her." Esme placed a hand on mine, smiling softly.

"It's okay if you do, Jasper. Don't let anyone tell you other wise. Explore where this could go, you never know. Maybe she feels the same way. As for her being human, I may have never met her, but I feel like there is more than meets the eye with Bella." She left me with that, heading to the kitchen. I sat at the table for a bit longer before deciding to head to my study.

BPOV

Jasper stayed on the fore front of my brain for the rest of the evening. I couldn't even get into my favourite book without getting distracted. I went through my night time routine, had some tea and curled up in my bed to attempt to watch a movie. I knew if I wanted to see what could come from Jasper and I, I would need to be honest to not only him but the rest of the Cullen's as well. Pausing the movie I grabbed my phone, calling the first number in my contacts.

"Hello, father."

"My sweet Isabella finally decided to call her dear old dad. I was thinking I'd sooner perish than be honoured with a call, especially when the guard have already heard from her."

"Oh, please. you know the only reason anyone got to hear my voice was because Caius is impatient." I heard dad laugh which calmed my nerves. "Are you alone in your office or do you have an audience?"

"Marcus is with me but he can leave."

"NO.. no, sorry, he would be useful actually as well." I took a deep breath, shimmying my shoulders from excess nerves. "When you speak of finding Sulpicia when I was three, you mentioned a pull. What is that exactly?"

"The mating pull, yes. It's a feeling vampires feel near their true mate. A beacon of sorts to help them find them. It lessens once you've mated a few times, but it's still there. Before you mate, it feels scared, threatened. It wants to be bonded so if feels like it hurts when you are away from the source it wants." I stilled, even more than a vampire would. "Isabella, why do you ask? Did you find your mate?" I could hear how interested he was, I could practically feel him sitting up taller.

"I'm not sure. And even if I did, what if he doesn't feel the same way?"

"Bella, dear, are you feeling a pull now?" Uncle Marcus asked, in which I nodded before remembering he couldn't see me.

"A bit, yes."

"And do you know who you could possibly be feeling it from?"

"I do, but I barely know him, what if he isn't feeling the same way?"

"Isabella, if you feel it then he does too." I let that sink in, the sound of Aro moving around barely registering. "We need to have a ball! My daughter finding her true love so young, calls for a celebration."

"Woah, woah, no, no. Dad, no. First off, no one knows I exist and I don't want a ball for this reason to be why they do. And second, you are not meeting him anytime soon."

"Oh yes I am. Or I'll send the guard to come grab him."

"I run the guard, they wouldn't."

"I out rank you, Isabella." He didn't say it maliciously, but in such a way I bit my tongue. He did pull higher rank than me. But Jasper could not be thrust into all this. If I was going to tell him, it would be on my terms.

"How about this. We compromise." Marcus chuckled in the background while Aro grumbled out an, Let's hear it. "I'll let you call Carlisle. He was eyeing my bracelet when we first met, and from what I know about him he's probably been wracking his brain trying to figure it out. Tell him, not to say anything yet, that I will spill the beans on my terms and probably soon. Let me start a connection with Jasper," He gasped at my slip of tongue.

"Jasper Whitlock is who you think you are mated with. The God of War?" I cringed at his tone, recalling reading that in the file months ago.

"Possibly. Anywho, if it goes anywhere, in a couple months I'll think about coming out to the castle with him, during Thanksgiving break. Deal?"

"Deal."

"Okay, I'm going to hang up now not because I'm mortify of this conversation and the fact I had it with my Father but because I'm sleepy, and have school in a few hours."

"Whatever you say, Isabella. I love you, and miss you."

"I love and miss you too. Bye father, bye Uncle." I hung up and turned the tv off as well. I burrowed under the blankets a bit more. I rarely needed sleep but it was refreshing waking up from a nap when I did. I closed my eyes, letting myself think about the southern cowboy.

After what felt like only a few minutes, I woke up to my alarm ringing loudly. Sighing, I dragged myself out of bed, taking stock of my closet. I really needed to get Jane to send me some more clothes from my wardrobe at home. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater, deciding to dress down based off how I saw the rest of the student body dress. I repacked my school bag and memorized my classes. It was my goal to make it through a whole day of school preferably. And that's how my day's went. I found out I shared a class with Jasper, the aftermath of making it through an entire day I suppose. We talked, but he seemed guarded and conflicted.

It was the following week on a Wednesday that things felt like they drastically changed. Jasper and I were paired up on Monday for a project. We were given ample class time to work on it, but would need to meet up outside of class to get the presentation put together before the due date. We had decided to meet at my house that weekend to finish it. I was walking to my first class of the day when I felt someone fall into step beside me.

"Good morning, Bella."

"Good morning, Mike. How are you?" Mike Newton the bane of my short existence here in Forks. It's not like I was befriended by everyone in the school, but I did find Angela Weber quite delightful and often found myself sitting with her group of friends if I wasn't entertaining Alec's phone calls. Mike was my least favourite human of the bunch. Arrogant and cocky, two qualities that made me grind my teeth in annoyance. And the vapid Lauren that constantly tried to be my best friend that made me shiver with anxiety every time she started up a conversation with me.

"So Bella," I nodded and gave him a small smile, my attention seeking refuge from him. "I was wondering since the debate club has a team meeting at lunch if you'd like to grab lunch with just me today?" I froze in my walks and looked at him, fumbling for an excuse.

"Oh, Mike thank you for the invite however I think I-"

"She's unfortunately grabbing lunch with me." Mike and I both turned to the newcomer, shock on both our faces for various reasons.

"Uh, mhmm, yes. Sorry, Mike. I can't get lunch because Jasper and I are meeting up to discuss the final stage of our History Project." I shot him a grateful smile before turning back to Mike. "But maybe see if Jessica would be down. She was just discussing that she never knows what to do on Wednesday's since everyone is gone.." I trailed off hoping you got the hint.

"Maybe I'll see if she wants to grab lunch then." He waved goodbye before leaving, Jasper and I watching him walk fully into the building before looking at one another.

"Thanks for saving me. I'll take eating lunch in my car than having to spend time with him alone any day."

"Actually eat lunch with me." I must of had a look of uncertainty as he launched quickly into an explanation. "Mike will see we aren't lying, and I think you and Rosalie would get along." I stared at him for a moment longer before nodding.

"Sure. I'll eat lunch with you and your family." The smile I got in response would make me agree to anything, Tucking a hair behind my ear I smiled back before excusing myself to class. I sat in my usual spot for first period, reviewing the notes from yesterday even though I knew the contents well. The bell was about to ring when I felt another presence stand beside me. Looking up, I leant back on instinct. A small smile forcing an appear.

"Alice, how can I hep you." I was very use to the stares, read glares, that Alice reserved for me during this class time in the past week. I could clearly tell she did not like me, without even looking into her mind.

"I hear you are sitting with us during lunch."

"I am, Jasper invited me. Is that going to be a problem?"

"It is." She snipped back quickly. A quick glance around me showed that a few of the students were listening in. "You need to stay away from him, since clearly he isn't going to stay away from you."

"And did Jasper ask you to tell me this? Because he seemed fine when he asked me no less then ten minutes ago."

"You don't want to get on my bad side, new girl."

"Why, is it better then whatever this is? I'll leave Jasper alone when he asks me to, not you." I tuned back to my note, dismissing her by ignoring her. She stalked back to her seat, eyes never leaving me. I let out an exaggerated breath, calming my nerves as the teacher started talking. A sharp pain in my shoulder caused me to wince and rub it. My head turned towards the door, the urge sudden as if Jasper was right on the other side.

Making it through this class felt like it took a million years. When the bell rang, I was out of my seat and onto next period. Math passed quickly, and soon I found myself getting ready for lunch. Surprisingly, Jasper met me at the class door, shooting me a small smile.

"I heard about Alice. I am so sorry, I hope she wasn't too rude." He looked unsettled, his hands opening and closing as he talked. I calmed myself as much as possible and sent it his way, hoping to help in anyway i could with out giving myself away.

"Jasper, it's okay." I reached my hand out to touch his forearm, sparks zapping where we made contact. I quickly pulled away. "Sorry." He was looking at where I was just touching before looking up at me.

"Would you still like to sit with me? We can get our own table?"

"Sounds like a plan."