Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 8

She yelped, knowing that in a second that she was going to end up with burns, but then she felt movement, gasping as she realised solid arms were wrapped around her even as she was suddenly facing Alice. What? She heard the thud of the pot hitting the kitchen floor, her heart racing from adrenaline. Jasper? She slumped in his hold, panting, and then her eyes widened and she was struggling to turn in his arms.

"Jasper?" How had he not made any noise of pain at getting splashed with boiling water? "You need to get into a cold shower, quick. Then we…we need an ambulance," she rambled. She finally got turned around, staring up into golden eyes. "Jasper you need to move, the burns will just get worse."

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Hearing Bella so worried for him felt…nice. He could feel her fear but it wasn't of him, it was for him. He glanced up at Alice, how was he meant to hide this? His clothing was wet, he should be burnt, but she just smiled at him. Had she seen this coming? Then why? He felt Bella begin to try and get free, and slowly let her go…and he didn't want to. She was so warm and soft, but he didn't want her blood.

"Jasper?" Bella called his name again, and he looked down at her, feeling her confusion.

"It's okay Bella, Jasper is fine," Alice finally spoke up.

"But…" she glanced over at Alice and then back at him, and he glanced at his wife, she had wanted this, she wanted Bella to know.

"I'm not hurt Bella," he promised, slowly turning to show his soaked jumper. He took a deep breath and then pulled it off, hesitating at his shirt, he hated showing his skin and for a good reason. Even human vision would pick up some of his scars and he didn't want her to be scared.

"It's okay Jasper," Alice whispered, and he trusted her, he did.

He lifted his shirt, revealing pale skin with no redness or burns. He bit his lip as a warm hand pressed against his skin, it felt nice.

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Bella touched the skin of his back; it was cold though wet. How was that possible? The water had been boiling, he should be hot, burnt. She could feel small scars under her fingers…all over his back, what could have caused so many scars? She could just make some out but then Jasper was turning, pulling his shirt back down.

His skin was ice cold, hard…she'd never actually seen any of the family eat…they never went to school in the sun…it was crazy…wasn't it? She looked from Jasper to Alice, unsure what was going on, but Alice just smiled gently at her.

"It's okay Bella."

"How?" they were just crazy old ghost stories, weren't they?

"You've already guessed," Alice answered, and Bella swallowed. Alice stepped closer and held her hand out. "Don't be scared Bella, you're perfectly safe with us," she promised.

This was crazy but… "Vampires?"

"Vampires," Jasper agreed softly.

Bella looked back at Alice and slowly reached out to her hand, Alice turning her wrist and she realised what she was offering so she pressed her fingers against cold skin, waiting…she couldn't feel her pulse. She stared at the pale wrist and then up at Alice who was still smiling at her. "Okay…vampires. Like the Quileute legends?"

Jasper nodded. "Carlisle made a treaty with the tribe many years ago that lets us live here in peace as long as we don't harm anyone."

"We don't drink human blood Bella; we call ourselves vegetarian vampires though we don't eat vegetable obviously. We drink from animals," Alice explained.

Bella sat down, mind spinning. It was really true?

"Bella?" Jasper called and she looked over at him, to find he'd rolled back a sleeve, her eyes widening as he picked up a sharp knife and then slid the blade along his arm. Bella stared in shock as the blade shattered before moving close enough to touch his arm, feeling more scars but finding no mark from the knife.

Okay, so they were vampires who didn't drink human blood, she could deal with that. "So Edward's issue with me?"

"Your blood," Alice answered. "Everyone has a unique scent and some people smell better than others. You smell really good but your blood calls to Edward even more."

"Oh."

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As she explained, Alice felt things shift, the visions of Bella with Edward fading away. That left Jasper and Garrett as her possible mates. Seeing the way Jasper had reacted to Bella and her touch well…Alice hid her reactions behind her concern for how Bella was handling the truth. She loved Jasper but after seeing how happy he could be with Bella how could she stand in their way?

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Jasper felt a flicker of something from Alice, but his wife was focused on Bella.

"We won't let anything happen Bella, we all keep a watch on him when you're in class together," he assured the young human.

He had felt an interesting mix of emotions from her but…there had been no real fear of them which was surprising. Was it because she knew them? Trusted them even now knowing what they were?

"You can't tell anyone," he warned her, trying to be stern but also gentle. He didn't want to scare her, but she had to understand how serious the situation was. "There are rules and telling humans is forbidden, if anyone finds out that you know then they'll come for you and us."

That got a flash of fear, but she nodded slowly.

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She hadn't planned to tell anyone but hearing what would happen…the idea that she could get them all killed, because even if Jasper hadn't said it outright it was obvious what he meant, that scared her. It suggested that there were enough vampires out there to have some sort of organisation or government or something. She wasn't sure if that was a relief, that they had some form of laws, or if it made things scarier.

"Why tell me?" She asked, confused.

"You've been suspicious there was something different about our family all along, especially after Jasper saved you, and now this?" Alice shrugged.

Okay, that made sense. She'd never been able to fully put the stories out of her mind since Jake had told her. Wait… "Does that mean the story of wolves is true too?" she asked and the two exchanged a quick look. "Okay then. Forks, home of the Supernatural."

"There isn't a pack here now," Jasper quickly assured her.

Did that make it better? It was good to know Jake wasn't a wolf and hiding it.

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Bella watched them drive away and then headed upstairs to finish her homework, in theory. In reality she collapsed on her bed to stare at the ceiling and think. They'd answered some questions about how different they were to the myths and Alice had agreed to meet up with her the next sunny weekend so she could see her in the sun.

Vampires…it was crazy but there was no denying they weren't human. Did it change anything? They were still the same people she called her friends. It definitely explained why Jasper often appeared to be in pain, it'd be like living in a chocolate aisle or something.

She could never let anyone know she knew; she would not endanger her family. Her awe of Dr Cullen had gone up a million degrees. A vampire Doctor, he was incredible. The idea that Edward was drawn to her blood more than the others was…creepy. His reaction to Jasper saving her that day was ridiculous. Jasper had stopped not only her dying but Edward possibly massacring the other students because of her blood.

There was just so much to work through but…she still wanted to be their friend.

TBC…