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EPOV

Waking up alone after the night I've had should've left me feeling a little sad, but the note on the pillow next to me erases all doubt and leaves me with nothing but a broad smile on my face.

It pains me to leave you, but I've got to go. I hope we can meet up for lunch. I look forward to looking into those beautiful eyes, baby.

Your love,

Jasper.

My love. He is. Jasper Whitlock has crept into my heart and awakened it. Where and when it happened didn't matter. All that matters is that I love him.

What he told me last night about wanting to be in my life for as long as I or life allowed it, was truer than anything I've ever felt or heard. I've never had anyone love me this much; anyone outside of Tanya. She had been the only one I had, who threw me a bone in the love department. I never felt from my parents. Come to think of it, even as a small child, they never acted like they loved me. They didn't act how I thought parents were supposed to act, and I felt more affection from my nannies and the maids than I did my mom and dad. I know realized that this was why I was so adamant in achieving so much when it came to my education. I wanted them to be proud of me. I thought that maybe, finally, they'd show me even an ounce of affection.

It hurts to think about it.

However, here was this great guy, Jasper, who took a wrong turn and ended up where I didn't want to be, but was refused to in order to survive. He unknowingly opened my heart. He made it beat again. Then, he did the impossible though I fought him the whole way. He pulled my best friend and me out of the rut. Now, he wants to love and be there for me no matter what.

God help me, I want the same thing.

I want to love Jasper. I also want to protect him, care for him and stand by him for as long as life lasts. I show him every day how thankful I am that I know him. I want to able to tell him that I love him too without worrying that he's drop me like tomorrow's garbage. It's what I fear the most, being brokenhearted once more over a guy I'd foolishly fall for. Am I being a fool to want to love Jasper? I don't think so. Somehow this love feels different. I feel different around him.

With Seth, I was always afraid that the other shoe would drop in a minute every time I saw him. But I'd push the feeling and tell myself that we were meant to be. How fucking stupid! Meant to be? When I called the guy and he didn't want anything to do with me.

It had been a horrible night and if Tanya, Embry and his friends hadn't come to my rescue, I thought I would've been dead. The john told me it was only him, but it turned out he wanted to pass me around to his friends. We didn't go far, just a place around the corner. But just as we were about to get down to business, here comes more guys. He explained that he and friends wanted to party with me. Counting him, that was about four guys. I wasn't about to be ripped apart, so I backed out.

He was pissed when I threw his money back in his face and walked off. But that was my mistake. Someone smashed a bottle over my head and I went down. I wasn't knocked out so I shook it off, and tried to get up. Some of the others hookers had warned me about what happened with these type of johns and how some guys or girls never come back. I wasn't about to be a statistic. But the fucker was stronger than me.

We got into a fight as his buddies looked on, egging him on. I got a few punches as did he. But when they realized I was winning, his friends joined in. A hard blow sent me to the ground, but before I tried to get up, he kicked me in the gut. Suddenly, I heard a scream and saw Tanya on one of the guy's back, biting his ear while he screamed and tried to shake her off. Embry took down the john, pointing his gun at him while I crawled out from under him and got up, punching him in the face. Embry's friends handled the rest of them.

By the next morning, I was done with everything and ready to go home. I thought about Seth and told Tanya about him. She thought that it was wise to call first, see if he can let me stay with him or something. I was so blind. I was so homesick. I thought it was a good idea.

So we went to a payphone in the city, and she was ready to dip into her savings and pay for a ticket to Seattle, if Seth told me yes.

I dialed his number and he picked up on the second ring. "Hi," I breathed out, happy to hear his voice.

"Hello." His voice was so cold and distant, but I didn't pay it any mind.

"I missed you."

"Why are you calling?" His question, threw me through a loop. My knees almost buckled because I thought he'd at least tell me he missed me too.

"I-I-I wanted to hear your voice. I wanted to talk to you. I love you, and I wanted to say how sorry I am that my dad acted like that. Seth, I-"

Before I could say another word, he cut me off. "Listen, I can't ever talk to you again. What happened with us was just…fuck! We're young and we were just experimenting for fuck sake. It wasn't something I took seriously, I hope you get that."

"Why the fuck are you saying this to me?" I shouted. I didn't understand what he was getting at. Tanya gripped my other hand, staring at me while my tears clouded my vision.

"Why? Why?!" he shouted. "Because of your bullshit, my life was almost fucking ruined. You influenced me! You tricked me! I thought I was experiencing something good. You were so fucking convincing and I fucking believed you. I almost disgraced my family." His family was listening to us, I told myself, but they were always nice to me so why would he be acting like this? I was so confused right now.

"Seth, please, baby, I'm sorry," I pleaded. "I'll come back, I'll explain to them."

"Come back?!" he yelled. "Don't you ever fucking show your face in Forks ever again. I never loved you. I was just going through something. Experimenting, you idiot! And you tricked me." I couldn't answer. I couldn't defend myself. I felt like the world was crashing down around me. Seth didn't love me. He lied. It was all that was in my head.

"Do you hear me, Edward?" he sneered. "Don't ever fucking come here again. Your parents are right. You fucking need help." He hung up. He hung up and I practically collapsed to the ground, taking Tanya down with me. Right there, on the busy sidewalk, Tanya held while I cried.

I wipe the tear away at that memory and thought of Jasper and how amazing he is. How different. Jasper is beautiful and thoughtful, and when I think about what his parents have done to him, it makes me so fucking mad. Who would want to do that to a person? Make you suppress your life for them? But then again, I've got my folks, who kicked me out because I wasn't the perfect straight son they wanted me to be. A boyfriend that saved his own neck and hung me out to dry. The bottom line is, I didn't deserve to be a Masen because I was gay. When I think about it, it pains me. How can the people who are supposed to protect and love me do that? In a way, our situations are almost alike. We've both got parents who aren't satisfied with who we've chosen to be, and want to change us. Though, we've not talked in depth about it, I can see it.

Why would he date Alice, for appearances and otherwise? He knew he was gay, okay with being gay, but still had a girlfriend? Bullshit. It was forceful parents, in his case trying to force their ideals on him. My parents never gave me a chance to defend or explain myself. I was promptly thrown out. Everything I had done, the perfect grades, right attitude, getting a scholarship to a prominent college, was all for nothing. I was even invited to an early enrollment summer program at said college, but I didn't go...for Seth. I didn't want to be away from him, and in the end, he fucked me over. I stood alone. He blamed me for him being gay. He fucking blamed me for liking to take it up the ass. He escaped it all unscathed and I was the pariah.

However, as I lay here, my hands behind my head, staring up at my ceiling, I think about how dramatically my life has changed for the better. Since Jasper came into it, I've opened up my heart and mind to possibilities that I never thought I'd ever want again. I'm twenty years old, and after Seth, I swore to myself that I'd never love another, because it hurts too much when they throw you aside. But Jasper has been determined to change that.

Things that I once thought would take forever are now happening in the blink of an eye. I want to tell him to slow down... I will tell him to slow down, but secretly, I love the attention. I love that he wants me. I love that every look, every smile, and lustful gaze is because of me.

My heart feels like it is being ripped out of my chest when he's away, like right now, and it skips a beat whenever he's near. I love everything about him. His smile, his serious looks, the way he scrunches up his nose when he's concentrating, even his sad face.

Just every living thing about him.

"Lover boy! Wake up!" Leave it to Tanya to ruin reminiscing. "It's time to get up, unless you want to be late." The reminder of work, and it being my first day, has me scrambling out of bed. I almost trip over the sheets tangled around me in my rush to get to the bathroom.

"I've got breakfast waiting!" she shouts through my closed door.

"Thanks!" I yell back, running to the bathroom. I quickly strip off my clothes and jump into the shower. I'm in and out of there before I can think about it, and head to the sink get the rest of my routine out of the way.

Freshly showered, shaved, teeth brushed, and I'm standing in front of my open closet, wondering what to wear. When I went with Jasper to the coffeehouse, the girls I saw had on uniforms. Black pants, and a black t-shirt with the coffeehouse's logo. So maybe I'll put on a pair of black jeans and I'll probably get a t-shirt when I report for duty. It's seven am, and I've got about thirty minutes to get out the door. I throw my boxer briefs, the black jeans, a black t-shirt and head out to the kitchen.

"Hiiii," Tanya says in a cheery voice as I head for the table. I turn to give her a sarcastic remark, only to see her holding up a t-shirt with the coffeehouse logo.

"How did you?" I gasp. I can't believe she has that. How the hell did she get that?

"Met Emmett yesterday," she says as if she read my thoughts. "Jake brought him over and he dropped this off for you, I had a little interview for a cocktail waitress position at his club, After Dark, and then I got hired and got my uniform. Have I told you how much I love your boyfriend? He's my fucking fairy godfather."

I laugh out, telling her she's fucking nuts. "Wow, though," I breathe out. "He really is. I'm so happy for you. But, umm...listen...I'm sorry about blowing you off last night when I got in."

"Jasper explained." She smiles. "Ate a little too many sweets, I take it?"

"Yeah, but, I had a lot was on my mind after meeting Alice."

"Ugh," she says with disgust, rolling her eyes. Knowing Tanya, if she were there when I met Alice, there would've been a fight. Tanya isn't one to take people's insults well. She's an "I'll punch you in the face, if you say that one more time" kinda girl. "The stupid slut that thought if she fucked Jasper long enough, he'd go straight?" she asks with a laugh as she places a mug of tea in front of me with a plate of scrambled eggs and sit down.

"Thanks," I say, taking a sip of my tea. "And yes. She wasn't exactly happy, and I think she's gonna tell his parents."

Tanya always knows how to calm me down. I thought as I sip the herbal tea. She always gave this the next day after I'd have a sugar rush. Having experienced the madness I tend to unleash when I'm high on sugar. Plus, I really need the calm effect the tea has on me at the moment, because I'm going out of my mind with nervousness. I've never held a real nine to five job before and I don't want to screw this up.

"Whatever is bothering you, please let it the fuck go," she admonishes, reading me.

"I can't help it."

"Yes, you fucking can and you're gonna tell Jasper about it as well as not worrying about being perfect at work today."

"I'm trying not to worry about work, but I find it hard not to. As for Jasper, I want to talk to him. I'm really worried about what I said to Alice and how she's probably going to use it against us."

Tanya smiles. "What?" I ask her.

She sighs and says, "You said 'us'. God, I'm so fucking happy for you."

"Yeah, I'm happy about you and Jake too."

"Oh please," she says, quickly, making me laugh and choke a little on my eggs.

"What?" I mumble. "He likes you." I don't mean to stray from the matter at hand, because I can tell Tanya anything, but I love the way she's trying to deny that she likes Jacob.

"Of course, he likes me," she states. "I've got a beating heart, hair he can pull on when he fantasies about fucking me, and oh yeah, a pussy!"

I choked on my tea on that one. "I think it's more than that. But you two are going to play hard to get and I'm gonna sit back and enjoy the show." Tanya doesn't answer that one. Instead, she ducks her head, but I can see the pink of her cheeks brighten up with her blush.

"Guys like that..." she starts.

"Would be fucking idiots if they didn't see how wonderful you are." I get up and kiss her on the forehead before moving to the kitchen to put my mug and plate in the sink.

"Thanks, babe," she says as she comes up and hugs my middle.

As I move to the door without her giggling against my back and not letting go, I grab my phone, keys and wallet, pocketing them. She lets go then, moving in front of me and says, "But seriously though, does Alice know your last name?"

"No, but..."

"But nothing, just make sure you and Jasper talk. Build a helluva defense against the bitch, because she thinks he's gonna come crawling back. At least her and his parents will expect him to when they come down on him." Just being reminded of that makes me panic a little. "And don't panic, Edward. Just stand by him and I'm sure he'll do the same for you. And I'll be here when your parents come down on you, you'll have us. You're not alone."

"I know that, thanks." I say, hugging her.

"Sure." She smiles. "Now get out of here."

We move to the door, before I remember that I've got no money. I'll have to run to an ATM for some cash from my savings. Since I won't be paying for an apartment for a while, I've got a good amount of money to pay for other expenses and I want to start looking into school.

"So are we good on our talk?" she asks.

"Yes."

"And what's our motto?"

"We face shit head on, and we fucking deal with it."

"That's my boy! High five?" I slap her palm and then pull her into another hug. "I want you to see you at the club."

"Get out of here, perv," she says, pushing me to the door. "You just want to see me in tiny shorts."

"Yes, I do." I laugh, opening up the door to see him standing there.

"Hi, darlin'."

"You had to go to work," I say. The smile on my face broad as Jasper stands before me in his white dress shirt, navy blue pants, boots and those glasses on his face.

He steps over the threshold, kisses my lips and bids Tanya good morning before turning to me. "I want to take my boyfriend to work on his first day. I just ran home to shower and change. Sorry if my note sounded otherwise." The southern drawl is coming out in volumes with that sentence and I can feel my jeans tighten. If only it wasn't the first day. Shit!

"It's alright. Thanks. I was going to call you for the address and take a cab," I explain, while trying to will my mind to think about something other than Jasper fucking me. "Except I've gotta find an ATM to draw some money to last me today. Plus, I don't want to be late on my first day."

Jasper is the picture of calm as he says, "Check your wallet." I eye him while hesitantly pulling it out of my back pocket and opening it up. As my mouth falls open in shock, he says, "I'm sorry, and I can't promise it's the last of my extravagance, but I will ease up from now on. I think." He laughs, walking over to Tanya and pulls out his wallet, handing her a wad of cash.

"Forgot to give you this last night," he says.

"This is like 500 bucks?!" Tanya yells.

"Yeah." He chuckles. "If makes you feel any better, Edward got the same. It's just until you guys work out your accounts, because everything has been so crazy. It's just pocket money."

"Thank you," I breathe out as he makes his way back to me. I should be mad. But he has no idea how right he is. It's just pocket money. I'll be working for my own money from now on.

We tell Tanya "later" and head out. The car ride over to Emmett's coffeehouse, "On The Run", is done in silence with his hand in mine. I memorize the turns he takes and when we pull up at exactly eight on the dot, he programmed the address and phone numbers into my phone.

"Thanks, Jasper," I say, pulling him into a kiss.

"Mmm...A guy could get use to this," he mumbles against my lips before pulling away. "Sure thing, baby, just promise me you'll have a good day. Try not to be too nervous. Everything will be alright, and I'll see you at lunch."

"Bye," I mumble out against his neck as he pulls me into a hug. "Have a good day."

"You too." I get out and wait until he pulls back out in traffic and drives off. Turning around, I sigh deeply, hold my head up, and walk into the coffeehouse. Though, my nerves are wracked with nervousness.

I can do this.

~~sjfm~~

Everyone is polite enough. They all bid me good morning as I move past them. I nod to some, answer others, while making my way to the counter to ask for Emmett's office, but he walks out just then.

"Hey, Edward," he says, coming around the counter, and slaps me on the back in greeting. "Found your way okay?"

"Jasper dropped me off."

"That's good."

"But I have the address, and I think I can find my own way tomorrow," I'm quick to say. I don't want him to think I'm expecting some sort of special treatment because I'm dating his friend.

"That's good to know," he says with a smile. "Now come on, grab an apron and let's get started."

He leads me around the counter and hands me an apron. I tie it around my waist while Emmett gives me the lowdown on the rules and procedures.

"Okay, any bags, backpacks, store it in your locker by the office. Any problems, come and talk to me. Try not to be late for work. No drugs, there is no smoking in here, do you smoke?"

"Occasionally."

"Alright then, outside on breaks," Emmett says as a short brunette walks up, telling us good morning.

"This is Becky," he says as she turns to me. In a way, she reminds me of Alice, but with taller hair and a much friendlier disposition.

"Hi," she tells me, shaking my hand.

"Hi."

"You'll be working with Becky this week; she'll show you the ropes." Emmett says, leaning back against the counter with this laidback attitude that seems out of place for someone with bulky stature. He moves off the spot and heads over to the other workers to help them prepare for the rush. While Becky starts to show a few things and tells me she'll be working at the cashier register today while Lily, another worker, and I will be preparing the orders. I agree with a sigh while praying I don't fuck up.

At first glance, you'd fear Emmett because he reminds me so much of the bouncers I've seen at the clubs Tanya and me go to sometimes. However, look past that, and you see how wrong you are. Emmett has a bright personality. He's courteous, always smiling, and everyone here seem so relaxed. He must be a great boss, and I can see myself liking it here.

If I can survive the first day.

"Now, I've got an open door policy," he says, coming back over to me as a few people start to walk in. "So don't be afraid to come and talk to me if you've got a problem, cool?"

"Yeah, sure." I smile.

"Good." As soon as he says that, I look toward the door only to see a mad rush of customers pouring into the coffeehouse.

With a slap on my back, Emmett says, "Let's get started."

~~sjfm~~

"No...umm...thank you, come again," Becky says to the customer. "No, Edward, leave that down there. Come up here."

She was getting frustrated with me, I can tell, but she just doesn't show it. Lily have given up on me long ago and with a timid smile stays out of my way, so that I won't burn her like I've already done myself. I've broken three coffee mugs, burned myself on the espresso machine, splashed cold cappuccino on a customer which Emmett had to talk down to get him to stop cursing at me, and I fear what I'll do next.

"I'm so sorry, I've never..."

"It's okay," Becky reassures me, after the swarm of people cooled down to a minimal amount. "I made a helluva lot more mistakes than you did on my first day, I'm not upset. Neither is Lily. Lily smiles and agrees as Becky goes on, "Emmett is a great boss, he kept me on and I learned quick and tried not to screw up."

"I don't think I can do it," I tell her.

"I think you can," she counters. "You just gotta find what works for you."

"I don't know."

"I do." She reminds me of Tanya in that moment. Always pushing me to believe in myself, and never letting me give up. Becky moves from the cash register, and Lily takes over with another customer. Becky helps me with the order and asks, "Okay, what are you good at?"

Now that is loaded question and I can't exactly tell her blowjobs, so I go with something I've known and loved all my life. "Numbers. I'm good with numbers."

"Ugh, you like Math?" She scrunches up her nose. "I hate Math."

"I'm a fan of it," I say proudly, as another customer walks in.

"Fine, that sounds good," Lily says, joining in. "Come here, you're gonna learn the cash register."

"What?" I whisper nervously, watching the guy draw closer. "I can't."

"Yes, you can," Lily counters. "Now come on."

She pulls me to the cash register, standing beside me as I welcome the customer and take his order. Becky moves to prepare it with a smile, while I man the register. I feel good. I take his money, make his change and give him his receipt.

I chuckle as the guy walks off. "Shit, I did it."

"Yes, you did." Becky squeals as she and Lily hug me. "See, you were great."

"Thanks."

The day thankfully passes without any more disasters. Around lunchtime, Jasper walks in with a statuesque blonde on his arm. She has her arm wrapped around his as they approach the counter together. I should be jealous, but I recognize the girl from a picture on Emmett's desk, and Becky whispers "boss's girl" by the time they make it to the counter. Rosalie greets Lily and Becky before looking over at me. She seems to be analyzing me, but I only have eyes for the man on her arm.

"Hey," he says with a bright smile that just brightens up my day.

"Hey."

"You two are too cute," Becky comments, walking by with some coffee mugs. "Hey, Professor Whitlock, I'll be in class later."

"That's good; hope your assignment is complete." Becky nods while I realize that she's a student at NYU and in the class Jasper no less.

"Edward, do you have class today?" Becky asks me.

"I don't go to NYU."

"Oh. Cool." Becky says.

"Wow, really? You look so much like a guy I know in my sociology class." Lily says. "Weird, gotta go. Later."

"Later." Becky moves to go with her too. "Well, we'll see you after lunch, Edward, Bye."

"Bye, you two," I tell them as they walk off.

"Made friends? That's great," Jasper comments as I take off my apron and walk around the counter.

"More like my saviors, I was horrible."

"You'll get the hang of it soon," he says, taking my hand. I grip his, happy to feel it in mine. Just having him near, makes me breathe a sigh in relief.

"So, I'm Rosalie, Emmett's girlfriend and Jasper's T.A." Rosalie says, extending her hand to me. "So you're the guy who's put a bright smile on the professor's face."

Taking her hand in mine, I blush at the statement and introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Edward."

"You're cute." I blush again. "You should really think about going to school there," Rosalie comments.

I don't answer, and she goes on, "Where are you from?"

"Rose..." Jasper says in a warning tone.

"What?" She laughs. "Are you in the Witness Protection program?"

"No, I'm not," I reply, smiling. I'm not afraid, and I don't have to tell her my life story. I can just say the basics and I'm now cool with that. "I'm from Forks, Washington, and I graduated high school the top of my class, but I had a falling out with my dad and he refused to pay for my other expenses since I was going to go to Dartmouth on a scholarship."

"What an asshole!" she exclaims, making me laugh.

"Yeah, you can say that."

"So what, you've got the Diploma, the SAT scores, and you even got a scholarship to a prominent college," she says. "What's stopping you?"

Jasper looks between us, leaning back against the counter, his hand still in mine, but says nothing. His face unreadable and I think he may be allowing me to handle this, which I'm glad for. "I've got everything but the money, Rosalie."

"Hmm, well, you never know what the future holds, Edward," she says as Emmett walks over to us, slapping Jasper on the back in greeting, much like he did me and then kissing Rosalie.

"I hope you'll think about it. I'd love to show you around campus whenever you're ready. Later, you two," she says, walking off with Emmett. "It was nice to meet you, Edward."

"You too."

"Go for lunch, Edward," Emmett says with a smile.

"Thanks, boss."

Jasper leads me to his car. The minute we get inside, his lips find mine.

"God, I missed you today," he groans. The sound of his deep, rich voice as he nips at my neck goes straight to my cock, awakening the feelings I had this morning. "Thanks for answering Rose. I know she can be a snoop sometimes."

"It's okay. I get it; they love you and want to protect you." He moves away, leaning back against his own seat while trapping me in his gaze. I'm lost to the depth of his eyes, but I break the spell by looking down at my hands.

Jasper says nothing and after a while he starts the car and we're off. We end up at a bistro he says he wants to try and wondered if I'd like to as well. He happens to pick a place on my list, Sullivan's Bistro, which I tell him is on my list of places to go. He's glad to hear that.

The feel inside the bistro is nice. A great lunch spot and we find a table quickly, ordering something to drink. Jasper tells me to pick lunch, and I go with two Tex Mex burgers. While waiting on the order to arrive, we get to talking. Sitting here, it feels like the right time to tell him about some of my worries surrounding our parents, and even school.

But Jasper is one step ahead of me.

When lunch arrives, and we dig in, he decides to ask after a moment. "So school? College? What are your plans?"

"I want to go, but don't where or how."

"What have you got?"

"What do you mean?"

"Rose mentioned some of the criteria such as Diploma, SAT scores. What's your GPA like?" he asks as he takes a drink.

"It's a 4.0."

Jasper chokes a bit on his drink. "A 4.0?"

"Yeah. And please don't ask how come I ended up being a hooker." I want to lay it out there. I'm aware of my talent, but it wasn't enough. Especially for my parents.

"Wasn't gonna, but...okay forget that, what was your score on the SATs?"

"About 2100."

"Shit," he mumbles, and then stops eating, wipes his hands in his napkin, and runs it through his hair. "Baby, the highest score is a 2400, and you got a 2100?"

"Yeah."

"You're fucking smart!" he exclaims.

"Yeah, I'm real smart." I don't feel so smart. Not anymore.

"Baby, don't do that," Jasper says. "Look at me. You're smart." He reaches across the table taking my hand in his.

"Jasper, aren't you worried?" I ask, wanting to be off the subject of school for a bit when something else pops up.

"About our parents?" he asks, seemingly knowing what I'm thinking.

"Yeah."

"Alice already blabbed, so I don't see a reason to act any different now," he explains.

"What about the press? You're high society."

"So are you," he counters, lacing our fingers.

"You'll be a far more breaking story than me," he says. And it's true, he's right. I'm sure my dad has concocted a story for my absence, but how long did he think it would hold up?

"I am, aren't I?" I chuckle.

"Yeah, they've been telling people that you chose to go to school overseas. But I don't want you to worry about them; I'll be here when they show up."

"Thanks," I whisper, taking a bite of my burger with my free hand.

"Let me be clear, you're afraid and I know it," he says, staring into my eyes, intensely. He's as serious as a judge, but the soft touch of his calloused hand comforts me.

With a sigh, I explain myself. "I haven't felt this secure with anyone I've been with, the last guy to even come close was Seth, and I'm wondering, are you the same? I really don't want you to be. I want to forget these doubts and move the fuck on. I want my past to stay my past." I paused, taking a sip of my water. "But the more things work out for me, the more worried I get that something will come along and pull the rug out from under me."

"Whatever that will be," Jasper says. "It won't be me. I'm here for you. I want you, and if I have to fight for you, I will. I've never felt like this, and I'm not about to come this far, just to let it go. We're in this together."

His answer is all I needed. Every bit of doubt that has plagued me since last night seems to dissipate with Jasper's answer. But it's not only the answer; it's the look in his eyes. It's the truth that lies there.

"As for school, we have to figure something out."

"Like what?"

"Let me make a few calls when I get back to work."

He reaches across the table and kisses me, and with my mind at ease, we continue lunch with idle chat while he hints about a second date.

"No," I tell him when he mentions where he wants to take me.

"No?" he questions.

"It's my turn," I say, smiling. "Jasper, would you like to go out with me?"

"Yes," he says.

"How about tonight?"

"Okay." He chuckles.

"Good. We're going to a club." He looks at me questioningly, but doesn't say a thing.

I'm thankful for that, because tonight will be nothing but fun. Yesterday, my mind was filled with doubt about Jasper's true intentions, but he's put that to rest. He's here to stay for as long as I want him to be.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks to my girls, beanothercullen & abbymickey24!

Next: Enrolling E. Masen