Chapter 6: Whitlock
Bella's eyes were closed. The stream trickled and burbled before her. Somewhere overhead a bird sang. The oh-so-very-rare sun cast its warm rays over her bare arms and soaked through her jeans. And beneath her head, Jasper's solid torso provided what should've been the most uncomfortable pillow on the planet. As it was though, he was reading her a poem and she was drifting in a dreamy state close to sleep but not quite. His voice was deep and intoxicating.
"One shade more, one ray the less,
Had half imapir'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweetly express-
How pure," he ran his finger through her hair, twisting them around her loose curls, "how dear their dwelling place."
She found his hand with hers, tangling their fingers together as he finished the poem.
"And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So calm, so soft, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tells of days In goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below.
A heart whose love is innocent. "
Jasper set the book down, watching Bella lay against him perfectly relaxed, more so than he had ever seen her. "You're an idiot," he said softly, fond and sad all at once.
"You say the sweetest things, Jasper Hale."
"Whitlock."
"Hmm?" she said, peeking one eye open.
"My surname is Whitlock. I took the name Hale when the Cullens took me in an' Rose an' I were supposed to be twins. But I think it'd be nice to be called Whitlock again, at least by one person, if you don't mind."
She smiled, thrilled to have some personal piece of him. He didn't share much about his past, and she somehow felt she shouldn't pry. "Jasper Whitlock," she said, testing the name out and deciding she liked the feel of it on her tongue. "It fits you better, I think. So tell me, Jasper Whitlock, how does a man go from knowing practically any Rolling Stones lyric to reading Lord Byron?"
"I am a man of many passions, Miss Swan."
He trailed a cool finger down her arm and she shivered. "I want to do something crazy."
He cocked an eyebrow and smirked. "Crazier than dating a vampire?"
"Oh please," she rolled her eyes, "you don't count, you're totally housebroken."
Her head bounced against his chest as he scoffed. "What'd you have in mind then?"
She flipped over to prop herself up on her elbows and face him. "I don't know, like... a tattoo or dying my hair or something. Or a piercing."
"All decent choices. Why the sudden urge?"
"I guess I feel... restless. Like I'm too predictable. Everybody knows sweet little Bella, but sometimes I want..."
"To rebel a little?"
"Exactly."
"Well," he sighed, "if you could wait 'til your father won't blame me for this little rebellion of yours, I'd be much obliged."
"He won't blame you. Honestly, I don't think he'll care too much."
"Be that as it may, I've got something else in mind."
"What?"
He grinned. "Meeting my family."
