Jasper's PoV

A week later we decided to emerge from our room where we had lost ourselves in reading, playing board games, playing video games, cuddling and exploring what we could do without causing a massive anxiety attack in each other and sharing the occasional kiss. We worked out that the safest bet for now was to keep clothes on even though all our senses were telling us to have sex and mark each other, we refrained.

We were currently in bed, with Bella sprawled out on my stomach while I read to her a history book. She had wanted me to read Romeo and Juliet to her but I had said 'no way in hell' which got her to giggle uncontrollably for a few minutes. That's how we settled on history. If I had to read, I got to pick the book. If she wanted to read, she could read to me Romeo and Juliet although I made no promises that I wouldn't put music on to drown it out. She was trying to catch up on her reading list that she had long forgotten for high school and we had talked about her finishing it but hadn't come up with any conclusions yet. She was still a newborn with needs.

"Ugh, I think I'm hungry Jasper" she complained after a bit.
"Well let's go eat my cranky Bells Bells" I chuckled "Don't call me that" she snarled in my face.
"Yes ma'am, won't do it again, sorry miss" I said, raising my hands in surrender while smirking.

I followed her out, still chuckling at her mood swings. Everyone else was on the beach sunbathing and Rose waved in our direction before we took off. I followed Bella but kept a distance not wanting to spook her when she was hunting. She found a deer, leapt into the air and made the kill from above looking like a fallen angel. She then followed me as I chose my target and kept her distance as I ran forward to another deer. I saw her watching so I indicated that she should come share my kill. I wasn't really that hungry but I knew she was and sharing a kill suddenly seemed like a good idea. I had never done that before and was thrilled when she joined me, resting a hand on mine, setting my whole body on overdrive with need. As soon as Bella drank the last drop, I pushed her into the nearest tree at vampire speed causing it to shatter as I kissed her passionately, surrendering all my feelings into her. She then pushed me backwards into the dirt kissing me just as passionately. I couldn't feel any anxiety rising in any of us so I rolled us over on the forest floor and kissed her neck once before pulling back to look Bella in her face to ask permission. She smiled so I continued exploring her neck while holding her tightly in my arms. She was feeling horny, I could feel it, I could feel it in myself but we had both agreed we weren't sure if we were ready yet, at least that's how I still felt.

Eventually I pulled back to rest my forehead on hers while breathing in her scent with my eyes closed. Bella gently stroked my face and eventually I opened my eyes to see her staring at me with a small smile. I kissed her softly before standing up and offering a hand out to her. She took it and we made our way back to the others.
"We were wondering if you would be so kind as to lend us Bella for a shopping trip today?" asked Rose as I sat down next to her and pulled Bella down to sit on the massive blanket next to me.
"I suppose, I'm coming though" I said.
"Jasper you have had Bella for the past week, it's time for a girls day!" she said.
"Do you even want to go on a shopping trip?" I asked Bella.
"Yeah kinda, there are some things I want" she said.
"Well what if you lose control, I'm coming, so is Emmett and Peter" I said.
"Fine," Rose pouted. I rolled my eyes bringing a giggle out of Bella. I wanted to hold her but wasn't sure how she felt about showing intimacy in front of others. Char and Peter were holding hands as they sat next to each other. Char was resting her head on Peter's shoulder while he rested his on her head and Emmett had Rose in his arms between his legs with his arms around Rose's collar bone. I reached out to Bella's hand next to me and tugged it gently towards my body indicating for her to come closer. Bella moved closer to me and held my hand as I circled my other arm around her shoulders. I gently kissed her forehead before turning to watch the sun slowly rise.

Eventually the others left to go hunt quickly before we headed into town. I had pulled Bella into my room for a moment and was rummaging through my suitcase.
"Ah here it is, this is yours Bella" I said as I got up and passed her an envelope.
"What is it?" she asked as she turned it over to see her name written in Esme's handwriting.
"Open it" I said smiling. Bella frowned but started opening it carefully and found a credit card inside with her name imprinted.
"Esme and Carlisle made an account for you the day they met you. They knew even then that you would be a vampire and a part of our lives forever. They were going to give it to you the night of your birthday but couldn't once Edward demanded that we all leave your life for good. It broke their hearts to have to say goodbye but them wanting to be good parents and respecting what Edward wanted, they listened to him. They had asked that when the time was right, if I could pass this to you with their apologies. They would love to sit down some time and share a meal, spend time together like we used to and asked me to tell you that when you are ready, they would love that. They understood they hurt you so they left before you finished your transition but they were there when we got rescued" I said before pulling Bella into my arms. She was crying, only there were no tears. I rubbed her back and kissed her forehead before tightening my grip around her.
"Thanks Jasper" she mumbled into my shoulder.
"No worries, there isn't a limit, just don't look at how much is in there, I know how you feel about money and I feel the same way but it's their gift to you" I said before kissing her cheeks where there would have been tears had she been human.

Bella left to change out of the clothes she was wearing last night and I did the same and waited for her to come outside where I was waiting for the others to run back. When Bella did come out I couldn't resist running to her to pull at the draw strings of my hoodie on her before crashing my lips onto hers. She was wearing my hoodie and a pair of jean shorts with no underwear from what I felt when I grazed the top of her shorts with my pinky causing her to gasp in surprise. When I pulled away, I saw the biggest smile on Rose's face over Bella's head as I draped an arm around her shoulders.

We made our way to the mainland in a small boat and ordered two taxi's to take us to the nearest mall. Once we arrived and got out of the cars after paying the drivers, I draped an arm around Bella before we followed Rose into the mall.
"Oooh" Char squealed as she pulled Rose in the direction of a dress shop. We followed behind Emmett and Peter and I kept tabs on Bella's hunger. There was only one lady in the shop while outside was fairly quiet so I let Bella explore while situated myself between the lady and Bella. But there was no hunger coming from her. I wasn't sure if I should be annoyed or proud. It took me half a century to get to where I was and I still wasn't perfect. Bella had made my self control look amazing but around other humans that weren't my mate, even I was tempted.

"What do you think Bella?" asked Char as she held up a deep purple dress with lace sleeves and a short skirt that flared out.
"Oh wow, I love it, can you help me try it on?" she said.
"Sure" Char beamed.

I had to admit that as much as I hated being dragged around the mall to go shopping I did enjoy seeing Bella in a dress. I hadn't seen her in one before besides prom, it was always jeans or shorts with a top. Bella came over to me and I took her hand before twirling her around causing her to giggle.
"You look nice in it, you should get it" I said, smiling at her.
"Alright I will then!" she said and made her way back to Rose to take it off.

Bella seemed fine so after a few more stores I decided she could have the girls day that Rose originally planned for. Me, Emmett and Peter made our way to a nearby garage to look at cars to pass the time.

Bella's PoV

"Alright spill" said Rose as she sat down next to me in the changing room couches after we watched the guys head off. "Spill what?" I asked.
"You kissed!" Char said excitedly.
"Yeah we've done that a few times, more so recently" I said, smirking. It was definitely not our first kiss, just our first one in front of them.
"Well, have you gone further yet?" Rose asked.
"No, I think I want to though" I said smiling as Rose and Char jumped up and down with excitement.

They didn't press for details which was nice and helped me shop for some new clothes. I found some nice tops and cute high heels that were no longer death traps for me. Rose and Char ended up dragging me into a lingerie store despite me saying I didn't need any of that nor could I put any of it on without having to ask for help.
"Look you could just wear it underneath your clothes and the next time you're hunting with Jasper, just let him take your clothes off and there you go" said Char as she shared a look with Rose.
"What do you think we do in the forest? We just hunt?" I asked innocently.
"Oh please, we heard you guys this morning" said Rose.
"Damn, I hate that super hearing" I mumbled. The lady running the store thankfully was busy with other teenagers who had come in a while ago but I forced my attention back onto the conversation instead of the blood pulsing in their veins.
"So you want to go further, what's holding you back?" said Rose as Char went to look at a black lace corset.
"Cold feet" I mumbled.
"Yours or his?" she asked kindly.
"Both? But mostly his I guess" I said before hiding my face in my hands. I'm sure I would be blushing right now if I was human.
"What changed for you, you said a few weeks ago you couldn't stand to be touched by him?" Rose asked while stroking my back.
"He's still the person I was falling for before Maria's camp, he's still kind, gentle and a really good friend" I mumbled into my hands.
"Well why not look around for something to get his attention, you definitely had his attention when you were wearing that dress. I know my brother doesn't' really care for lingerie, just wear something pretty like a cute cotton dress and he will swoon like it's the eighteen hundreds again" Rose said, smiling wickedly. I rolled my eyes but took her advice and started looking around with a new intention. I wanted Jasper's attention, especially after this morning's kiss after that hunt. My body was in overdrive with need and I had the feeling his was also. Then when he kissed me in front of everyone else, it was becoming addictive, like a drug that I needed to have more of. I wanted him to kiss me again, I wanted to go further if he was ready.

Some time later, I found several cute dresses and some new outfits that were weather appropriate in this heat, they were shorts with a crop top with a hoodie and drawstrings. I had brought every color I could thinking that would grab Jasper's attention for sure. Rose, having seen what I had purchased, dragged me off to yet another store where we shopped specifically for that style of crop tops with hoodies and leggings to go with it. It was just our thing and I liked our thing, I liked when Jasper tugged at my hair or the drawstrings of a hoodie that I'm wearing.

Eventually we ran out of things to buy so we called the guys and made our way back. Once we boarded the deck, Jasper helped carry my purchases to my room and I wondered if he would want to stay tonight instead of going to his room. We had spent the last week in my room but we were constantly doing stuff. I wondered if it would become a habit of him spending the evenings with me, if we could cuddle at night time in comfy clothes. Jasper had left me to my own unpacking and was currently racing around the island from the sounds of it.

After putting everything away, I managed to get dressed into a bra without ripping it this time, underwear, a pair of leggings and a purple crop top with a hoodie. Rose had found more sturdy undergarments for me to try. It gave me hope for been able to wear my old stuff one day since I had a few pairs of beautiful lace undergarments that my mother had given to me. My mother, I missed her, she had no idea what had happened to me, nor did Charlie. I had to figure out what I wanted to do about that. I knew it was dangerous for them to know my secret but I wasn't sure if I was ready to say goodbye yet. I knew it would be easier, a nice clean break but the last time my father saw me, I was a broken mess. I wanted them to have a nice memory of when they last saw me, of me happy, and whole. Truthfully I wanted more memories of them before I said goodbye now that my old ones were coming back to me.

I made my way out to where Jasper was laying on a massive ottoman. Imagine a circle-shaped ottoman that had six pillows up against a ridge on one side, a dome offering shade and it could come apart if you wanted to provide seating for more than two people. It was a beautiful piece and I very much wanted one of my own if we decided to settle somewhere warm one day. Jasper was currently stretched out with his eyes closed enjoying the sunshine so I bit my lip and carefully made my way to him trying to be as quiet as possible. I wanted to see if I could scare him now without my heart beat to give me away..
"Bella, I can smell you, come here already," he said, opening an eye.
"Lame, I wanted to try to sneak up on you" I said as I laid down next to him falling easily into his open arms.
"The only way you're going to succeed at that is if you zoom up to me and I'm not listening to every sound or smelling every scent" He said before gently tugging at my hoodie's drawstrings.
"I like this, it's cute" he said before softly kissing my forehead.
"I have at least twenty outfits like this one" I said.
"Nice, I can't wait to see them all," he said softly.

The others were in their rooms, they probably could hear us but I hoped they would mind their own business. I still wasn't used to the idea that they could hear every exchange we made if they wanted to.
"What were you thinking about when you were getting dressed? Your emotions were sad" said Jasper as he brushed his fingers through my long hair that had grown down to my waist in my transition.
"I was thinking about my mum" I said, closing my eyes and snuggling deeper into Jasper's chest.
"Do you miss her? Did you think any more about what you wanted to do with your life?" he asked.
"A little, I was thinking over what you said about keeping them in my life for the next few years. If it's possible, I want to finish high school, graduate and then we can stage an accident, I want their last memory of me to be happy, not of a broken girl" I said.
"Rose said your shopping trip went well, how did you feel around humans?" he murmured into my hair before kissing my head gently.
"It was hard but not unmanageable. I just tried to ignore them mostly like I did when we were dancing" I said sitting up to look Jasper in the eyes.
"We could go back to forks high school, finish senior year together, graduate and then move on. I'm supposed to be a senior this year but since I never showed up, it puts us in the same year if you can pass your exams. We can do a few online courses to catch you up and then sit your exams at the end of this year putting you as a senior with me. I can make sure we are in the same classes so that if you need to get out, I can help you leave" he said.
"That actually sounds perfect!" I said excitedly.
"You know that the exams are in a week's time right?" I asked.
"Oh shit"
"It's fine, I'll help you study but there's no way I'm reading Romeo and Juliet to you" Jasper said smirking and causing me to roll my eyes. I snuggled back in for another five minutes before getting up to find a laptop to see what I could do about my grades.