Beautiful People, Beautiful Problems - Lana Del Rey, Stevie Nicks

"My heart is soft, my past is rough."


I struggled to keep my eyes open during McCarty's lecture this morning. The man was entertaining as hell, always making otherwise boring rants about history and terminology none of us would ever use unless we because historians too. The man managed to keep his lectures funny and interesting and I had no idea how he managed to always keep a smile on his face. So many of his students loved the enigma that was Emmett McCarty while the girls often fawned over him as though he were a piece of meat.

He was handsome, I'll give him that, but I never thought he was jaw-dropping hot. I'm sure plenty of girls such as Jessica Stanley would disagree with me.

"Now I'll be out of town next week to visit my old man so Mr. Whitlock will be subbing for me. Get ready!"

I blinked away my exhaustion as the mention of Jasper's name instantly roared throughout my body, forcing me to recall last night.

After my little breakdown in front of him, Jasper and I pretty much got our feelings for one another out in the open. As much as I wanted to stay with him...I decided to go back home to avoid any temptation that was becoming harder to ignore every time I find myself alone with him.

I knew that without a doubt if I had stayed at his place, I wouldn't have been able to control this urge that always pushed me towards him. The need to claim him as mine. The urge to be devoured by him again and again.

Great, now I'm horny...

"I never wanted to let you go and if you had let me? I'd have fucked you the next day too. I couldn't get enough of you." That had been what he said to me shortly after admitting that us sleeping together wasn't a one-night stand deal. His words remained with me long after he drove me home and dropped me off a few houses down from mine. I didn't want to chance Charlie seeing me getting out of a man's car and have him explode again or risk Jasper offering to walk me to the front door.

Despite refusing his offer for a ride, Jasper heard none of it and even opened the car door for me without blinking an eye. I think I knew him well enough by now to know that he was respectful, a true southern gentleman. I liked that about him.

The school bell rang again, giving a signal that the next period would start soon and effectively startling me out of my daydreaming. I cleared my throat and quickly shoved my textbook into my backpack to follow after my friends who were already making their way out of class.

"Study up and behave," McCarty shot a pointed glance to Jake as he walked past him.

Jake blanched at our teacher, "What?! I'm always well-behaved!"

A few of our classmates laughed at the two always bickering. If I didn't know any better, McCarty had to be Jake's long-lost brother.

"Sure you are!" He said as he ruffled Jake's black hair with a chuckle. I was about to sneak by, using Rosalie's tall frame as a shield when I heard my professor call out to me. "Hey, Miss Swan? A word please?"

Rosalie glanced at me warily, her eyes speaking volumes of her concern for me but I did my best to ignore it as I sighed, "I'll meet you in the cafeteria."

She left with a nod but not before stealing a quick look at our burly professor. A look I couldn't quite decipher but when I looked over my shoulder I found that McCarty was also watching her before quickly turning his attention back to me, an expectant look on his face.

I hadn't told Rosalie what happened when I walked up to her this morning with a bruise the size of a baseball on my cheekbone or the split lip that I'd managed to hide with some concealer. Of course, my best friend noticed my ridiculous makeup since I never used it and paled when she brushed my hair aside and saw the bruise Charlie had given me. I knew I had no chance of escaping her questions so I merely told her we'd talk later. She would hold me to it, I was sure about that. Rosalie was a determined woman so I had no doubt in my mind that she would make a great lawyer in the future following in her father's footsteps.

I waited until all the students in class left the room before turning to face Mr. McCarty. I forced a smile as I met his wary gaze, "What's up, Teach?"

He crossed his arms, the muscles expanding the sleeves of his black button-up shirt that defined his athletic body.

"You tell me? Mind telling me why you look like you got jumped by a couple of bullies?" Great.

I tried my best to laugh his worries off but I knew it was no use. Emmett McCarty was one of the few people who knew about my tumultuous family dynamic. There had been a few times when I confided in him regarding my financial situation and the times I felt utterly hopeless that I wouldn't be able to attend my freshman year of college in the fall because of my parent's neglect towards my savings. He didn't know about the drinking or the...hitting. Only Jasper knew about that.

"I guess that's sort of what happened..." I shrugged. Sensing his concern for me I smiled again and hoped I could somehow steer the attention away from me. "How's your dad doing?"

McCarty sighed with the shake of his head. He was more than used to my avoidance of any topic that lingered a little too close to my mom or dad. When he looked at me again he gave me a soft smile that revealed the dimples in his cheeks, "Much better thank you for asking." A pause and then, "Isabella you know you can talk to me about anything right kiddo? That's what I'm here for. I'm sure you know that given all the talks we've had before."

As soon as he spoke the words with all the sincerity Emmett McCarty always seemed to have with his unexpected touch of kindness, the back of my eyes began to sting.

Fuck. Don't cry. I cleared my throat to shake the vulnerability away, "Yeah, I know. Thanks for the offer, I appreciate your willingness to help me. I really do. But I'm fine."

His shoulders dropped as he uncrossed his arms, clearly resigning in pushing me for answers, which I was grateful for considering I wasn't sure how much I could handle after telling Jasper yesterday and will have to tell Rosalie eventually too.

"Well you know I'm here if you need to talk, about anything."

I smiled at him warmly, "I know. Thank you."

"Anytime, kid," I was about to walk out of the classroom when I heard McCarty call out to me again. When I turned, I expected to find him smiling or toss me another joke but instead, I found a grim expression on his face, "If anyone hits you again, I'd encourage you to tell someone. Anyone who can help you. Don't keep this quiet, you hear?"

"...Yeah, I hear you." This time I couldn't shake the emotions lodged in my throat. "Loud and clear."


"What the fuck, Bella?" Rosalie breathed incredulously as we sat in a booth at Newt's, one of the only places open to sitting in the crowded coffee shop around this time. I had work in an hour so we decided to hang out here after school and talk about the issue painted all over my face. Rosalie's expression was one of disgust for my parents and worry as a deep crease between her perfectly-shaped brows set in. "What are you going to do? We should call the police or something."

I stiffened, immediately shaking my head at her suggestion. I knew where this conversation was headed and I was not ready to consider that option yet. Not yet...

"Charlie is the police, Rose. No one is going to do anything about that even if I did tell the entire department. And I sure as hell don't have many options since I'm eighteen now. The only thing I can do is wait until the semester's over and pack my things to get the hell out of there."

Rosalie bit her lip, her fingers pinching the straw of her now-forgotten iced latte.

"But Bella...he hit you? How could he do that? You're wonderful and so patient, with both of them. How could they treat you like this?"

Tears flooded my vision but I couldn't bring myself to hide them from her. Not when her bright blue eyes pierced through mine with unyielding concern.

"It wasn't like this. My mom always had a problem, I knew that since I was a kid. I'm not stupid enough to try to convince myself otherwise. But..." I ran a hand over my face, through my hair, "It was never this bad."

"Why didn't you come to me sooner? Did you think I'd judge you?" She asked, reaching across the table to take my hand. I stared at her long fingers that warmed mine.

"I don't know," I admit feebly, "I guess I was so used to the dysfunctional way my family lived that I didn't realize how bad it truly was until I met your family and Jacob's. This has been all I've known for as long as I could remember. I guess I was afraid that you'd think I was no better than my parents."

We were both quiet for a long time. Two statues holding hands amidst the chaos around us in the shop.

When she finally spoke, I realized why Rosalie was my best friend in the first place. Why she would always be my best friend.

"The fact that you know it's a dysfunctional family is proof enough that you aren't anything like them. Because you're not. Not in the slightest." Her hand squeezed mine for emphasis.

I forced a smile, "You get me."

Rosalie's eyes shined with unshed tears and it made my own slip down my face before I quickly wiped them away with my free hand.

"Bitch, I always got you," She replied before we both let out a series of pained laughs. "I love you, Bells. If you want to stay at my place for a few nights to get away then let me know. My parents won't mind! They love having you over."

"Thanks, Rose but I actually–" My phone on the table buzzed right as I was about to answer her and my heart did a weird loop around my chest as I read the name of who had just texted me. I grabbed it and flipped my phone open to make sure I was seeing it right before Rosalie could see the name on the small screen.

Southern Stranger: What time do you get off work tonight?

Bella: 8:30. Why?

The response was almost instant and I ignored the way my insides suddenly turned to molten lava as I read his next text.

Southern Stranger: Because I'm coming to pick you up, remember? We still have to talk.

Bella: I thought we already did?

Southern Stranger: A different type of talk, darlin'. I'm not anywhere near done talking to you. Be ready.

Holy shit...

"Bella? You alright?" My eyes shot up to Rosalie, finding her staring between me and my phone that I currently hand clutched in my hands.

"Y-yeah, perfect," I said as I snapped my phone shut and placed it back on the table. Facedown this time. Stupid move since Rosalie rarely missed a beat and arched a brow at it. I sighed, "I was trying to say that I already have...plans tonight."

"With who? Jake? I swear if you're ditching me to hang out with that dog and I'm not invited-"

I chuckled, "No no, not with Jake. Don't worry."

"Then with who?" With our hot-as-hell history teacher who subbed for McCarty. As much as I wanted to say that, I didn't. I couldn't tell anyone, not even Rosalie who I trusted with my life and my own secrets. Because this wasn't a secret that belonged to just me. It was between me and Jasper. I couldn't betray his trust like that. So I did the next best thing.

"Do you remember the guy from the wedding I told you about?" I bit my lip.

Rosalie's lips parted into a perfect O shape as she realized where I was going with this.

"Shut the front door because you're a lying salesman."

I chuckled, shaking my head, "No, I promise you I am not lying." I smiled, feeling the weight I'd been carrying over my shoulders for months finally being lifted. Ignoring the other smaller weight that settled in my stomach.

"Tell me everything!"

And I did.

Well, the parts that I could tell her about–without revealing who Jasper really was–to my best friend.

Let's just say for all intents and purposes that Rosalie knew Jasper Whitlock as the hot Southern Stranger who'd given me the best sex of my entire life. She also knew that I was seeing him again tonight and that he had no intention of letting me go so easily.

After Rosalie's thorough interrogation and working the shift of my life to get out of here as quickly as possible, I got another text ten minutes before my shift ended.

Southern Stranger: I'm parked around the corner across the street by my car. Want me to come walk you?

Bella: As nice as that sounds, Mike's closing with me tonight. I don't want him to see you. I'll walk.

Once we closed shop and I bid Mike good night without giving him a chance to talk my ear off as he usually did when it was just the two of us, I walked as quickly as I could across the street and around the corner. I stepped onto the sidewalk and immediately noticed him, felt drawn to him like a magnet.

Leaning against his sleek black XC60 Volvo, Jasper was the epitome of sexy in his black button shirt and slacks. I bit my lip as I took him all in from the suede shoes to his blonde locks that curled around his chin. I wanted to wrap my finger around one of those curls and tug on it.

"You actually came to get me." I breathed. Jasper's blue eyes held me captive as I came to a stop a few feet away from him, still cautious of anyone we knew possibly hanging around this part of town.

His grin made the knot in my stomach tighten just a bit more.

"I did. Ready?" He asked as he pulled open the passenger door and held it for me until I hesitantly sank into the seat.

We didn't touch at all. Not even in passing. It was as if we truly were strangers to each other, acquaintances going to the same place in the same car because it was easier that way. Jasper hadn't touched me at all but the moment I got in his car and he closed the door, I was immediately welcomed by his sweet, intoxicating scent. It made the knot in my stomach tighten again. Made me squirm slightly in the seat when warmth started to pool in my panties. God, how pathetic can you be? Why are you turned on now of all times?!

Jasper came around the car, hopped in, started the engine, and pulled into the street without saying much. Not that I minded since the silence we usually shared was peaceful. Comfortable. I liked being around him a little too much.

When we were finally on the highway heading towards his place, Jasper spoke in that low gravelly voice of his, "How was your day?"

I licked my lips as I tilted my head to look at him, "Good. And yours?"

"I spoke to Emmett." He said.

I tensed but tried to play it off, "Oh?"

Jasper shot me a quick glance before he eyed the bruise on my face, "He told me to keep an eye on you next week in class. Make sure to notice if any more bruises show up."

"Shit," I sighed as I slumped back in the seat, "What did you say?"

I could already imagine Jasper telling him everything about my parents. About Charlie-

"I told him I'd keep an eye on you. What did you think I was going to say?" He sounded genuinely confused. I blinked at that and looked at him. Jasper seemed to realize where I was going with this before I could find the words and shook his head, "As much as I hate the idea of anyone laying hand on you, Isabella. I'm not going to tell anyone about it. You trust me for a reason, right?"

I didn't have to think about my answer too long.

"Yes, I do." I released a breath, rubbing my hands up and down my legs to sate my nerves.

"Good," Jasper said, the corner of his lip twitching as if trying to fight off a grin. "I'll hold you to that when we get to the apartment."

Oh man, he had no idea how excited I got just hearing that. Then again, staring into his depthless blues that poured lust into me, I think Jasper knew exactly what I was feeling.

Damn him.


"So what did you want to talk about?" I finally asked as I watched him move about the impressive open kitchen he had in his apartment. I'd been mindlessly sipping the sparkling water he'd offered me and watched him with fascination as he began cooking. The smell of garlic and butter made my stomach growl with anticipation. But there were more pressing matters I cared about than eating.

Jasper turned to face me after closing the oven to let the lasagna bake. He watched me closely from the other side of the island as he brought the beer bottle up to his mouth. I tried not to squirm on the stool I sat in as my gaze flickered to his tongue as he licked the droplet of beer on his bottom lip.

"Are you impatient, darlin'?"

"You know I am." I snapped, feeling my face flush because of his teasing. "Stop teasing me, you know I don't like it..."

His chuckle was low and rough, trickling my skin. I kept my eyes focused on the green bottle in my hand, picking at the label. The sound of his sigh made my heart jump as his footsteps neared, even in comfortable silence he kept me on edge. I never knew what he was up to, what he wanted to do to me next.

His hands took the bottle from my hand before he spun me around the stool, "Look at me." I slowly obeyed, feeling every inch of me beginning to vibrate with tension as I met his warm eyes that took me in. Jasper's hands slowly trailed up my arms, squeezing the exposed skin between my shoulders and neck making me release a sigh. I leaned into his touch, unable to deny how good it felt to have him touch me finally. When his thumbs rubbed the knots behind my neck I bit my lip to stifle a moan. He noticed, whispering before licking the curve of my ear, "You want me."

Not a question but a statement.

I nodded.

"No," he tugged me back so I would look t him again through hooded lashes. Jasper repeated, "Say it for me to hear. You want me."

"I want you."

He leaned closer, trapping me between him and the island as he positioned his hands on the counter on either side of me. My heart roared in my chest.

"If we do this, there won't be any going back. I need you to understand that. I'm not playing games with you, Bella. Once you're back in my bed, I'm not letting you go. If we do this, you're mine and I'm yours."

"What about-"

"We'll find a way to work it out but no matter what that entails, I'm not willing to let that prevent what could happen between us from happening."

The sincerity in his voice unraveled me completely. This was real, he wasn't playing with my emotions or trying to pursue me because he's a lecherous teacher. Jasper wants me because I'm me...

I licked my lip as he cupped my face, his cold hands cooling the hot pink skin on my cheeks. I nuzzled into those strong hands, "I understand. I want you, every inch of you. I want you to touch me, kiss me...fuck me. All the time. I don't want anyone else, Jasper."

Jasper grinned as he leaned forward, his lips barely grazing mine as he rubbed them from side to side, testing me, tasting something he's already had countless times as if it was new. I could smell the beer on his breath and I felt myself getting wet with the scent that was all Jasper.

"Good," His eyes bore into mine as he held me still, keeping me from yanking on his shirt and making him kiss me, to ravage me right now. "Because I'm so ready to fuck you all night again," Just as I prepared myself for that to happen, the timer of the oven went off loudly. Jasper chuckled as he slowly stepped out of my reach and saw the flustered look on my face, "Dinner's ready."

I cleared my throat, feeling too dazed to make sense of anything right now when all I could think about was having his lips all over me.

"Great...I'm starving."

"I bet you are."

"Shut up," I groaned but couldn't help smiling as he grinned at me. Oh, he definitely knew what he was doing to me. Two can play at that game though.

Standing up just as he was checking on the lasagna, I leaned in close behind him and whispered, "You know, that day I ran out of the coffee shop to avoid you? I made myself cum while thinking about you in the shower."

Had I not been right next to his beer bottle to catch it, Jasper's hand would have knocked it over when he jerked in surprise. He turned to give me a wry grin, "You're not playing fair now, Miss Swan."

I glanced down at the delicious-looking pasta and smiled innocently, "Smells good."

And then I turned on my heel and walked back to my seat. I didn't fail to notice the way he cursed under his breath before readjusting himself in his pants. This night was going to be fun.

Bella: 1

Southern Stranger: 0