A/N: I cannot express the gratitude I have for everyone who favorited this and alerted this and reviewed this! I LOVE YOU ALLLL 3 You guys have no idea how happy I was when I clicked stats and saw all those favorites and alerts!! I was like oh my godddddd melt
Disclaimer: Steph Meyer owns all. I own Jasper in my dreams. He can bite me anytime he wants…:9
Two weeks had flown by like a day. With Jasper, time didn't seem like an issue, just being next to him had cured me of the gaping hole in my chest. I didn't think anything else mattered or existed when I was in Rome with Jasper. I just wanted him.
I had a slight epiphany in these mere weeks. I realized that when I was a human, I was, for lack of better word, dazzled by Edward's good looks. I was so infatuated that I did not take heed of the advice given to me by Charlie. He always disliked Edward, and I was so caught up in the relationship that I failed to see what Charlie had warned me against. Edward was my first relationship, my first love, my first anything, period. I had no experience in the battlefield of love, I just fell flat on my face in love with Edward because I didn't know any better. I doubted why someone as charming and ridiculously good-looking as Edward would love me, or even like me. I should have listened to my conscience, to Charlie.
But Edward had been willing to die when he thought I was dead. Did that not mean anything?
"What are you thinking about, beautiful?" Jasper wrapped his arms around me from behind, staring into the sunset on the balcony of our hotel room with me.
"My stupidity." I leaned into Jasper, allowing him to place kisses on my neck.
"My Bella, don't. Here, take a look at this. I spent the entire week working on this, sneaking in time here and there." He led me into the living room of our suite, where an easel stood in the middle with a large cloth covering the painting.
"For you," He gave me a short yet passionate kiss before unveiling the painting.
It was a painting of me. I know I shouldn't be surprised that Jasper, being the sensitive, loving, absolutely amazing man that he is, would do something like this for me. But I was surprised.
My mind was reeling, unable to process the thousand thoughts flying around in my head. I took in short gasps, trying to calm myself and stop the tears from flowing.
Jasper snickered, apparently enjoying my reaction. I slapped him, breaking into a humungous grin. It had been too long since I cried tears of joy.
Jasper had captured every detail of my face so perfectly, even down to that mole on my left cheek. My painting resembled Vermeer's the Girl with a Pearl Earring, only my brown hair was cascading in soft curls down my back and I had on a backless purple dress. Had Jasper known that the Girl with a Pearl Earring was one of my favorite paintings?
"Jasper, I don't even know what to say."
"Then don't." Jasper captured my lips in a heated kiss.
I didn't know what Jasper and I were. We were…roommates? Agony aunt buddies? Brother and sister? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Confidantes? Lover? Soul mates?
The only serious romantic relationship I've had is with Edward and there was no way in hell I was going to compare this one with that. With Edward, I felt unworthy of his love, I was constantly doubting whether Edward was going to stay for good and whether he did truly love me. With Jasper, I didn't even have to think; it all just came naturally. I didn't have to think whether my kisses were good enough. Everything with Jasper was wonderful beyond words.
Is this the lust talking?
I had no direction in my life right now. I was walking in circles, figuring out where I should go. Jasper was fast becoming the center of my world. I didn't know whether this new anchor in my life was a whirlpool, sucking me in and drowning me in the end. The only thing I could figure out amidst this chaos was that I felt…alive. Jasper was my support system, the sun of my solar system. He didn't just offer me light in the darkest situations, he gave me warmth, a safety haven to gravitate towards as I spun out of control.
In moments of desperation, depression and helplessness, people would grasp onto anything to stop themselves from plummeting into darkness, into the unknown. I didn't want to be grasping onto Jasper because I was desperate. I wanted to grasp onto him because I truly could not live without him in my life. I want Jasper to be in my life as not just an anchor but part of who I am. We would exist as one, orbiting around each other.
Do not swear at all.
Although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say, 'It lightens'. –Juliet, Romeo and Juliet
--
"Bella, what is this?" I had mounted the photographs I took of Jasper and given it to him. It could not even compare to the paintings he had done for me, but this was the best I could do. Photography was my thing just like painting was Jasper's.
"It's photos of you, silly!" I laughed.
"No, I mean…I look…human." I had altered some of the coloring on the photo so Jasper's scars weren't so apparent and his skin didn't look so pale.
"Don't move." I grabbed my camera and set it up on a tripod. I set the timer, snuggled up next to Jasper. "Smile!"
But before the camera took a picture of us, Jasper swooped me up, lying me down on the couch and gave me a deep kiss. I smiled, lacing my hands into Jasper's hair just at the instant the camera snapped the photo.
"I don't think I can wait to see that one." Jasper took the words right out of my mouth.
--
As much as I had enjoyed every moment of the last two weeks with Jasper, it was inevitable, and we had already put it off for too long—an entire month. We missed Esme and Carlisle, Rose and Emmett. We couldn't hide from them forever. Besides, we did nothing wrong. In fact, they should be the ones hiding from us.
"Jasper, are you sure? I'm scared." I tightened my grip around Jasper's arm, pulling him back before stepping out of the car we rented. The trunk of the car was filled with canvases and photography I had taken over the past month we had left the Cullen mansion.
"I'm sure, love. Don't be scared. I'm going to be with you every single step of the way." He lifted my face with his delicate fingers and placed a kiss on my lips, channeling love and adoration.
"Thank you so much Jasper. For saving me." I pulled myself tighter into his embrace, never wanting to leave. The last two weeks cemented my love for Jasper, erasing any doubt and concern I had about this relationship. We had taken everything slowly. Even though it was apparent we wanted each other, we didn't want our relationship to end on a bad note. The hardship that ignited our relationship fortified it; it even made Edward and my relationship seem like nothing. Almost. He was still a very large part of me. He had shaped who I am in the end of my life and beginning of my vampire life. I may not love him anymore but I can't deny this.
We could feel the cold stare they were giving us. We stayed in the car for a few minutes before reluctantly stepping out into the driveway of the mansion, hand in hand. Alice and Edward were standing right there.
"Bella, dear sister! I think you have something of mine, Edward's mother's ring? I believe it's mine now." Alice sneered, Edward's arms around her protectively. A stab of jealousy and sadness shook through my body. I went to the car, popped open the trunk, dug around the numerous paintings and photos before I could locate the ring. I contemplated throwing it on the ground, but I couldn't bring myself to do that. I couldn't bring myself to stoop as low as Alice or Edward would.
"Here." I shoved it in Alice's face.
"I don't even know why you two bothered showing up back here. Esme's heartbroken." Edward's turn to humiliate us, eh? I glared at him, igniting fire on my hands.
"She's heartbroken because you two would do something like this to break up this family." Jasper retorted, I could feel his anger and anxiety climbing, ready to react as soon as something happens. He placed his arms around me, calming me and diminishing my fire.
"We never would have worked even if we stayed together and you two know it." Edward smirked.
"Bella! Jasper!" Esme's voice pierced through the strained tension, I turned to see her running towards us. Carlisle, Rosalie and Emmett followed, big smiles on their face. It was apparent that they were happy and relieved to see us.
Rosalie ran right into my open arms, enveloping me in a tight hug.
"God, it's good to be back." I melted into Rosalie's comforting hug.
"You had no idea how torturous it was to live with these two sickos and not be able to kill them." Rosalie whispered in my ear. I laughed.
"Don't I get a hug?" Emmett attacked me from behind.
"Welcome back. We're so glad to have you back, dearest Bella, Jasper." Esme and Carlisle gave Jasper and I hugs. I would not let go of Esme. I missed her too much.
I didn't need to be an empath to feel the disgust radiating off of those two.
"No we're not." Could they get any ruder?
The rest of the family ignored Alice's comment and went into the house.
Rosalie looped her arm around mine as we settled into the couch, "…So, are you two an item?"
I smacked Rosalie on her arm, sure I would be blushing if I could.
"I'll take that as a yes. Good, way to show the two sluts up."
"We're not trying to show those two up. We didn't even plan on seeing each other. We were just…helping each other get over it. Along the way we just…you know…got together."
"Your ring! His pendant! Ooh this looks like it's serious…Sleep together yet?" Rose wiggled her eyebrows, smiling knowingly.
My mouth hung open, "What? God no! I just…got out of a relationship! I know it wasn't the world's best relationship but…it's still a relationship."
Rose was about to say something but was interrupted by a loud scoff. Alice.
"Anyone in their right mind wouldn't want to sleep with her." Alice sat on the windowsill painting her toenails.
"Shut up, Alice." Rosalie snapped. I honestly do not know what has gotten into Edward and Alice. They used to be one of the most important people of my life. They had saved me countless times, guided me through difficult phases in my life and unlife.
"I'm just telling the truth. Edward would drown himself in bleach every time he did sleep with you. God knows how hard he had to try just to put up that façade, always looking like you were the most important thing in his life." Alice had finished painting her toenails. She stood up, careful not to smudge the light pink polish. She was about to walk back into her room but stood still when she reached the bottom of the staircase. She had a grin on her face as she phased out of her vision and turned to look at me.
She hadn't smiled at me for the longest time and honestly, I missed it. I missed my best friend's contagious, carefree smile. But right now, I wish she didn't smile.
Her smile was a black crow, circling my head. It held a bad omen. I shivered as I sat on the couch, something vampires, unusual or not, should never be able to do.
A/N: READ AND REVIEW LOVELIES. I'm supposed to be filling out college applications and writing my college essay…someone give me something to write about. My life is too boring…oh if only I could tell everyone about my (imagined) encounter with Jasper and crew… if only I could spew out essays like I can spew out stories like this.
Again thanks a gazillion to those who reviewed/favorited/alerted this!!