Bella

Edward was pissed. I could tell he was pissed, because he was clutching the steering wheel so tightly it looked like it might break, and I could see his harsh breaths steaming up the interior of the car. "Edward, it's all right."

His eyes were blazing as his head snapped towards me. "It's not all right! You could have been hurt, or even killed. I should have known better than to bring you over there."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Yes, I could have possibly been hurt tonight, but I hadn't. Being killed had never been in the realm of possibility. I kept my voice as calm as I could. "I really don't think it was that bad. Jasper knocked the breath out of me, that's all. He didn't hurt me intentionally, and he certainly wouldn't have killed me."

I would have liked an explanation of what exactly had happened with Jasper, but it didn't look like I would be getting one anytime soon. The shocked looks on both Carlisle's and Esme's faces told me that they weren't sure what was wrong with him either, and furthermore, they had been just as frightened as I had.

"You don't know that. What happened with Jasper . . . well, none of us really know what he's capable of. He could well have hurt you."

Now I was starting to get a little pissed myself. "And I could have fallen down the stairs and been hurt also. Guess I shouldn't use those anymore. Oh, maybe I should walk home, just in case you have an accident. Oops, I might trip and hurt myself doing that too! You can't protect me from everything, Edward!"

He glared at me, but I glared right back until he softened. "Bella, I'm sorry. You're right, I can't protect you from everything, but I don't want to see you taking unnecessary risks. Jasper has problems. No one, not even you, can deny that. It might just be wisest if you kept away from him for right now. Just until he's a little more relaxed."

If you just took his words at face value, they did make sense. Why would I deliberately put myself in the path of someone who was clearly unstable? No, his words made sense; it was his tone I didn't like. He was using his aren't you precious when you try and think, but I know better than you do tone, and it increased my ire. "So, what, you don't want me to come over to the house anymore? No more double dates? Am I even allowed to talk to Jasper?"

Edward sighed softly, then offered me his most charming little grin. Nice try, buddy, but it's not going to work this time. "Of course not. You know that my family loves you, and I wouldn't want to take you away from them. No one is saying that you should be rude to Jasper, or not talk to him, just kind of keep your distance. It shouldn't be that hard. He's not very friendly anyway."

No, he wasn't. At least not in the 'lots of hugs and kisses' way that the rest of the family was. But he always greeted me politely, and asked how I was, even if he did have to struggle to get the words out. I kind of felt like we were friends, or at least on very friendly terms. I didn't want to hurt his feelings by backing away suddenly. "So, what are you going to do, keep him chained up in the basement when I come over?"

He flinched visibly, looking down at the steering wheel. "No, I'm not Maria." The words were so low that I barely heard them.

"Who?" The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Then it hit me like a fist in the gut. Maria was the foster mother who'd had Jasper before Carlisle and Esme. "She kept him chained up in the basement?"

"Bella, it's not my place to discuss Jasper like that. He deserves his privacy." His voice was quiet and filled with pain.

He might as well have just said yes. If it hadn't been true, he would have told me. My heart broke at the thought of shy, sensitive Jasper left alone in the cold and dark like that. No wonder he had problems.

"It's better for him, too, you know." Edward really was pulling out all the stops.

"How?" My tone told him that I expected a really good explanation.

We were stopped at a red light, so he was able to give me all of his attention. He seemed to really be thinking this through, so I didn't push. Finally he started speaking. "I know you think I'm being mean, but protecting you is my first priority. I don't know what happened with Jasper tonight, but I was afraid I was going to lose you. Even if he didn't hurt you, you might decide that my family was too much for you, and that you wanted out. I would understand if you did."

I started to protest, but he held up a hand to silence me. "I love Jasper like a brother. He's a really neat guy, but he's had to suffer more than any one person should. It changed him, Bella, and I don't want to see either of you hurt. It's hard for him to be around strangers, and it's probably better for him to be with just the family for a while."

"But . . . I thought I was part of the family, too." It hurt me to hear him say that, like I was just a little diversion for them.

He hastened to reassure me. "You are. It's just that you aren't there every day, and that makes it a little harder for him."

He was slowly working his way back into my good graces, but I wasn't going to allow him to push me around. "But doesn't that mean I should be around Jasper more? I mean, if it makes him nervous to be around strangers, shouldn't I make it so I'm not a stranger anymore? Then he wouldn't be so upset."

Edward's mouth opened and closed a few times as he tried to think of a good counterargument. I gave him a minute or two, then pointed. "Light's green."

He stomped the Volvo's accelerator with more force than strictly necessary, causing the tires to give an agonized squeal. "Bella, I'm just trying to do what's best for you."

I huffed. "How old are you? Oh, that's right, you're sixteen, the same age I am. You aren't my father, and you don't need to make choices based on what's best for me. I'll decide that, not you. I understand that you're upset about this, but you're a lot more upset than I am. What happened with Jasper happened, and no one got hurt. Just let it go."

"No one got hurt because we were able to get the pair of you apart fast. It could have been worse."

We were just talking in circles. Jasper wouldn't have hurt me; I could read it in his eyes. He had wanted to get away from me, and everyone else, as fast as possible. He hadn't intended to run into me at all, much less knock me down. "Whatever." I was fully aware that that made me sound like a petulant teenager, not at all like the adult I had been trying to pass myself off as, which just made me more irritated.

By this time, we had pulled into my driveway. I didn't want Edward to go away thinking I hated him, so I gave him a kiss on the cheek, despite the fact that my anger hadn't completely cooled. "I love you."

He smiled back at me, but sadly, like he still felt like he might lose me over this. "I love you, too."

"Tell Jasper that I hope he feels better soon, and I'm not mad about him knocking me down, all right?"

"Of course." He put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway, beeping the horn goodbye. I waved and went inside.

Charlie jumped when I came in the door. "Bella? What's wrong? You're back awfully early."

There was no way I could tell him the truth, so I settled for a half lie. "Edward's brother got really sick, so he brought me home early."

"Which brother?" His tone was a little suspicious, just like it always was when I was out with Edward. After so many years of being Chief of Police, his lie detector was finely tuned, and he wasn't going to let any boy get away with being too handsy with me.

"Jasper, the new one." I looked him dead in the eyes, hoping he would be fooled. Technically, Jasper was ill, just not in the way he thought.

"Poor boy, he can't seem to catch a break. I already ate at Billy's, but can I make something for you?"

I could tell that he was hoping I would say no. After being forced to eat his meals for the first few days after I arrived, I wasn't looking forward to repeating the experience. "No, I ate at the Cullens'."

As I stood there and looked at Charlie, it suddenly occurred to me how much I loved him. Sure, he hadn't been around when I was younger, which was as much Renee's fault as it was his, but he had taken me in without hesitation or complaint when I had needed him. It couldn't have been his idea of fun to suddenly get a teenager whose world had been turned upside down.

I had complained bitterly to Renee when she told me I was moving in with Charlie, begging her to keep me, even if it meant being on the road with her and Phil. Now, after meeting Jasper, I realized how lucky I had been. I still didn't know the circumstances that had led him to foster care in the first place, but there had been no Charlie to rescue him once he had been put in the system.

"Charlie?" I waited until he was looking at me to continue. I had wanted to call him Dad, but, as always, the word got stuck in my throat. "You know I love you, right?"

He leaned back in his chair, clearly embarrassed by my declaration. "Of course, Bella. What brought this on?"

The fact that I'm glad I'm not being locked in a basement and hit with a poker? "I was just thinking about all the people in the world who don't have anyone who would take them in like you have. I love you." I had said the words more in the last two minutes than I had since I had arrived.

He turned red and looked deep into his coffee cup. "I love you, too." His humiliation complete, he stood up and patted my shoulder, the Charlie version of a hug. Then he fled the room.

I went back into the kitchen and grabbed a soda and some chips. I had really only half finished my meal at the Cullens' house, and my stomach was complaining a little. I was debating whether to take it to my room and get started on my homework or eat in front of the TV when I noticed my purse had tipped over on the counter. When I picked it up, my cell phone slid free, clattering across the counter.

I picked the little silver phone up, twirling it around my fingers. Should I try calling and checking up on Jasper, or would that just be creepy?

Alice's face suddenly flashed into my mind, the way she had looked as Emmett and Carlisle hauled Jasper out of the room. It had been like her own heart was being ripped out. I had wanted to stay with her then, but Edward had all but dragged me from the house and into the car. I would call Alice. If everything was all right with Jasper, and she needed to be with him, it would be fine. If not, she would at least have someone to talk to.

The phone rang on and on, and I was about to hang up when a tiny voice came on the line. "Hello?"

"Alice?" I had never heard her sound anything but cheerful and upbeat. Now her voice was heavy with tears, a tired monotone. My stomach clenched. Out of all of us, Alice should never have to sound like that.

"Bella." She managed to get the word out before starting to cry again. So Jasper wasn't all right after all. "Bella, it's really bad here."

I set my tray down on the couch and sat. "Tell me what's wrong. Is Jasper all right?"

"I don't know. Dad's still got him in the living room, but he won't let anyone else come in there. Mom tried, and Jasper just flipped out on her. They called Felix, and he said that we might have to have Jasper committed."

Her words didn't make much sense. "Who's Felix?"

She sniffled softly. "His shrink. They were going to call 911, but Felix said to try and calm him down at home first. If they can't do it by morning, he's going to the mental ward. Then we'll lose him, Bella. Even if he gets out of there, Social Services won't place him back with us."

I had no idea how to comfort her. Fortunately, she didn't really pause long enough in her story for me to say anything. "He was screaming bloody murder for a few minutes after you left, but now it's just silent down there. No one seems to know what's happening. Rose stormed off down to her garage, and Emmett went with her. I don't know where Mom is."

"So you're there all by yourself?" Anger swelled up in me, and I was pretty close to getting in my old truck and driving back over there. "Do you need me to come?"

"I'd like that, but I don't think it's a good idea. Edward will be home soon and I'll be all right." She paused. "Can you stay on the line though, until he does?"

"Of course." What else were best friends for? I had never had a close girlfriend before, and was surprised at how quickly Alice and I had bonded. We were close to the same age, both starting our first real relationship, and both needing someone. True, the thought of doing as much shopping as she did on a regular basis made me cringe, but other than that, I loved her deeply.

"He didn't hurt you, did he? I'm sorry. I should have asked that first." Her voice was low.

"Of course not. I think I was just standing in the wrong place, and you know how clumsy I am anyway. I think I may have elbowed him pretty hard when we fell, though." I tried to lighten the mood a bit. "He may be the one who ends up bruised from it."

"I don't even think he's noticed. He didn't even know who we were, Bella. It was like something had possessed him." Her voice was low.

I tried frantically to think of something, anything, that might be comforting. "But you said he's quiet now, right? Maybe he wore himself out and fell asleep. A good night's rest fixes a lot of things."

"Maybe. But if he's asleep, why wouldn't Dad come up and tell us that he's all right?"

"I don't know, maybe Jasper wanted him to stay?" It didn't seem very likely, considering that Jasper seemed to have very little need for any of the Cullens', save Alice herself, but I had to try. "Okay, look at it this way. You said that Jasper's therapist told you to take him to the hospital in the morning, but only if he's not better, right?"

At her teary yes, I kept going. "That's good, though, right? If he thought Jasper needed to be committed, he wouldn't have given your Dad a choice about calling 911. The doctor thinks that Jasper's in the right place by staying with you guys, and he knows what he's talking about."

"I didn't think of that." Her voice was considerably perkier already. "You're right, Felix thinks we're doing a good job, and he wouldn't lie to Dad. His first job is Jasper, then the rest of us."

I was encouraged by her reaction. "Yeah. I think he just got a little overwhelmed when the candle jumped up like that. I kind of scared me too, to be honest. He really does seem happy with you guys. I can tell a difference from when I first started coming over to now."

"Really?"

I was glad that I didn't have to lie. "Definitely. When I first met him, he could barely even look at me, he was so nervous. He's still nervous, but not like he was. He's better. He even talks."

Her soft giggle was a welcome sound. "Yeah, he does talk a lot more."

"Listen Alice, when Jasper is up to having company, will you give him a message for me?" I tried to sound as confident as possible, like there was no possibility that Jasper wouldn't be better and able to take the message.

"Yeah, I'll tell him first thing tomorrow." She was getting some of her own confidence back. "What is it?"

"Tell him that I don't blame him for running into me like that? I told Edward to pass the message on, too, but I want to make sure he gets it. He always seems to think that everything is his fault, and I don't want him to feel that way. I think he's got enough to worry about."

"How are things with Edward?" Now that was the Alice I knew and loved. Always more concerned about others than herself.

"Fine, I guess." I heard my own irritation. "He's pissing me off."

"Yeah, he gets that way. What did my idiot brother do now?"

"He just thinks he's King Shit all of the time. Everything he thinks is perfect, and I don't know anything. He won't let me have any opinions of my own."

She huffed. "Moron. Bella, you have to understand that Edward is the baby of the family, so he's used to having us all give in to him. Plus, he was the only child for a long time, so he's sort of spoiled. Don't let him push you around."

"I know. I really did. I was just afraid that if I pushed too hard, he would realize that he could do better." After all, he was perfect and I was . . . well, not ugly, but not that pretty either.

There was a noise in the background and I heard her speak to someone else. "Bella, Edward's here. Thanks so much for staying with me and being so understanding of Jasper's problems. I couldn't ask for a better best friend."

I told her goodbye and hung up the phone. The unfairness of the situation she had found herself in hit me suddenly, and I felt tears spring to my eyes. She shouldn't have to be taking care of Jasper like this, and he shouldn't have been put in a situation where he was so traumatized he needed that extra care. Life sucked sometimes.

I picked up my nearly forgotten soda and drank while I thought. Edward had always been reluctant to discuss Jasper, which was a little odd. I always got the impression that the blond was as much of a mystery to him as he was to me, and if there was one thing Edward hated, it was not understanding things. Alice talked more, but she mostly talked about their dates and Jasper as he was right now, not what had led him to be that way.

All I really knew was bits and pieces, nothing that could help him long term. He was seventeen, and his birthday would be on the fifth of May. I was sure of the date, because Alice worried endlessly that he would leave then. I personally didn't think he would, if for no other reason than that Alice was his heart and soul already, and he wouldn't be able to live without her.

It was rude to stare at people, especially considering how neurotic Jasper was anyway, but I couldn't help it when I saw the two of them together. They just fit. I wanted things to be like that for Edward and me, but they weren't, at least not yet. I got upset with him for stupid little things, and he sometimes treated me like I needed hand-holding for everything but going to the bathroom myself. I had never once seen Jasper treat Alice like anything less than the most important person in the world. If they fought, they certainly hid it well. For the most part, they just seemed content with each other's company.

What else did I know about Jasper? He didn't sleep well, I knew that. Sometimes Edward or Alice would come to school with dark circles under their eyes. If pressed they would say that Jasper had been restless the night before and no one had slept well. I might not be the smartest girl in the world, but if he was waking the rest of the family up with him, he was probably a little more than "restless."

Other than those two things, and tonight's rather disgusting revelation that he had been kept confined to a basement at least part of the time, I knew nothing about him. So why was I so sure that he hadn't wanted to hurt me tonight?

I didn't know. All I knew was that it was true, that he wouldn't have hurt me. He understood pain, and he wouldn't ever consider inflicting it on someone else. Even though he had been panicking tonight, he had done his best to keep me safe.

My head was starting to pound with all the confusing thoughts whirling around in it. I wasn't sure what to do now. Everything seemed so pointless when compared with the drama unfolding at the Cullen house.

"Hey, do you need something?" Charlie had come back downstairs without me realizing it.

"No. I'm just . . . I don't know, I guess I'm restless tonight." I was a terrible liar, and Charlie was excellent at sniffing out the truth.

He leaned against the counter. "Bella, what really happened tonight? Did that Edward do something?" For some reason, Charlie had never liked Edward.

"No, Edward didn't do anything." As usual. I loved him with all my heart, but there were definitely times when I wished he would man up. What sort of teenage boy wanted to wait until marriage to do anything beneath the clothing? Really? At the very least he could act interested.

"Then what happened?" Oh, god, I had actually been thinking about sex with my father standing right there. Hopefully the kitchen was dark enough that he couldn't see how red my face was.

"I told you, Jasper got sick and Edward brought me home." I don't know why I bothered repeating the lie, as he apparently hadn't believed it in the first place. I really wanted to spill my guts to Charlie, but I didn't know how to do so without violating Jasper's privacy. After all, it was the only thing he had left.

"Why didn't you just stay there? I mean, Jasper would be in his own room anyway if he was sick, and you could have still enjoyed the party."

Damn Charlie and his stupid logic. "Unless he was contagious." It was a weak comeback, and we both knew it.

His dark eyes, so like my own, bored into mine. "Bella, Jasper didn't do something, did he? Is that why Edward brought you home so quickly?"

His insight was so unexpected that I found myself stammering for an answer. "No, he didn't. He didn't hurt me. Why would you think that?"

"People talk, Bella, especially cops. Especially when you have a case as terrible as Jasper's was. I'm not saying the Cullens' were wrong to take him; it was wonderful of them to try and give him a second chance, but no one gets away from that sort of abuse completely intact."

He was the second person to say that in less than two hours. "He's not like that, and you ought to know it. Did he act up when we went to dinner over there? No, he barely even talked! It's not fair for you to pick on him like that!"

I knew that I was overreacting to this, but I couldn't make myself be calm. It was just easier to scream at Charlie than to scream at Edward, who was the one I really wanted to scream at. Luckily, Charlie took my tantrum in stride. "Bella, calm down. I'm not saying that Jasper is dangerous, but I know something happened. He's Carlisle and Esme's child, and his safety their first priority, just like you are my child and your safety my first priority. Now tell me what happened."

My anger deflated. "First thing, he didn't hurt me. We were eating, and everyone was happy, but then he accidentally set his plate on fire. You know, it was paper and he was holding it over a candle." Tears started to form again as I remembered the scene, but I didn't give in to them. Poor Charlie couldn't even handle an I love you, much less a full-blown breakdown.

Charlie awkwardly patted my shoulder, giving me the strength to continue. "He just lost it. I don't know if he got burned or not, but he jumped sideways, and knocked me down. I swear, that's all that happened, but Edward got all pissy, like Jasper had done it on purpose."

He nodded. "He loves you, Bella, and when you love someone, every little threat looks exaggerated. He probably thinks you blame him for not protecting you, and no man ever wants to feel that he's failed to protect someone he loves."

Uh-oh. "So you think he's right. You think I should stay away from Jasper, too."

"I didn't say that. You don't seem to think he's dangerous, and you have good instincts, kiddo." He looked down at his hands, not used to giving me compliments. "If any of those Cullen boys lays a hand on you, though, well, I've got a shotgun as well as my service pistol."

It felt good to finally have someone believe in me. Not that I didn't love Edward, but we definitely needed to work on having some equality in our relationship. "Thank you, Charlie."

"You're welcome, Bella." He gave me a quick smile and put his beer bottle in the bin. "You have a good night."

I was barely back up to my room before my cell phone rang. It was Edward. "Hello?"

"Hey, baby, it's me. Listen, I'm sorry for the way I acted in the car. You were right, it's not fair for me to make your choices, and it's not fair for me to demand that you stay away from the house. I just got so upset when I thought you might be hurt."

Cute, but I had my doubts that he had become so remorseful on his own. "Uh-huh, did Alice tell you to say that?"

He chuckled. "Yes. She lit into me as soon as I got home. But she's right, I was acting like your father and not your boyfriend. Forgive me?"

A part of me wanted to keep him squirming for a while, but now wasn't the time. There was enough going on at his house without me adding stress from my end. "Of course."

"You have no idea how good it feels to hear that. Oh, Jasper's doing better. Dad's still sitting with him, but now Mom's in there too. Hopefully he'll be fine in a day or two."

I felt relieved, remembering Alice's earlier worry. "That's good."

"Listen, Bella, I have to go, Alice is pestering me. Can I pick you up for school tomorrow?"

"Of course." I would have been kidding myself if I had pretended he wouldn't be totally forgiven by then. "I'll see you then."

He said his goodbyes and hung up, leaving me alone. Which, considering all the excitement of the day, wasn't really a bad thing. I flopped backwards on the bed, thinking the night over. Jasper's meltdown, Edward's overprotectiveness, Alice's sad voice—it was all enough to make me dizzy. But I never doubted Edward, or his love. As long as I had that, what else mattered?