Hi, friends! Thanks so much to all of you who reviewed and followed and favorited. Y'all are the best. I hope you enjoy the update! :)

Chapter Two

Bella

After the Cullens' strange exit from the lunchroom, everyone was abuzz with speculation. What had made Jasper so angry? Were the brothers fighting? If so, was it serious or simply play? From what I could tell, the display was out of character for anyone from the family—even if it was a show of fun.

Selfishly, I hoped this would mean I'd have a reprieve from being the school novelty. I'd only been through a partial day of being the subject of whispers and gossip and I was already keen for it to end.

Not that I realistically expected it to have any lasting affect. But some time to catch my breath would have been appreciated.

The distraction only lasted until next period, however, when I had to march myself to the front of the room and introduce myself to the teacher. He didn't make a big production out of it, but I could feel the eyes on my back as the rest of the students waiting for class to start watched our interaction. Their eyes didn't shift away when I sat myself in the seat indicated for me either, and I began to grow curious as to why. I was at a table by myself. Did that just make me easier gawking material? Though I didn't see how since my seat was near the back of the room…

My thoughts ceased spinning a moment later when, right as the bell rang to officially begin class, Edward Cullen slipped through the door and hurried over to the seat right beside me.

Well, then. That explained that.

Mr. Banner launched right into the lesson, so there wasn't time to introduce ourselves but I figured the boy would at least acknowledge I was now sitting beside him with some sort of friendly glance. But I was wrong. He didn't even notice me or a moment—then he stiffened. His head turned slowly in my direction.

His eyes, gleaming dark as night, glared directly into mine.

The expression was so angry I nearly flinched. I definitely wasted no time breaking eye contact and focusing back on the front of the room. For the rest of the class, I was too intimidated to try to see his face again but it didn't escape me how tense Edward sat in his seat. His back erect, body taut, hands sometimes clenched in fists. He was clearly furious…at me.

Why? I hadn't said a single word to the boy. Maybe he knew Jessica and I had been talking about his family during lunch? But in such a small town as Forks, you couldn't get angry at every person who got nosy and talked about you behind your back. You'd have to hate everyone, and that'd take more energy than it was worth. Then again, hadn't it been mentioned that the Cullens kept to themselves? It was possible that talking about them really did make him mad. But that mad? I found it hard to believe.

The only sure fire way to find out would have been to ask him, but that was obviously out. So instead I sat in uncomfortable silence throughout the entire class while Mr. Banner lectured, Edward Cullen sat stone still, and the rest of the class snuck glances back at us whenever they could.

Finally, the bell rang and before I could compose myself and storm out of the room Edward did so himself. I stared behind him in shock.

Strange, was all I could think. This entire thing was so incredibly strange. Another piece of the puzzle for me to figure out.

Mike Newton came to my side as I shoved my notebook into my backpack. "So did you stab Cullen with a pencil or what?"

Throwing him a narrow glance, I said, "So that was Edward Cullen?"

"Yeah," Mike answered, trying to remain neutral but I could tell he wasn't Edward's biggest fan. "He's usually more laid back. I think he's a science genius or something. This class is an easy breeze for him, so he just chills in the back."

I sighed. "But not today."

Mike smirked. "Nope. So what'd you do?"

"Not a thing." I shrugged. "Didn't even say a single word to him. Maybe he's having a bad day."

"Maybe," Mike said noncommittally, obviously done with the topic. "So where are you going next?"

Heading out the door with Mike at my side, I answered, "Gym."

He grinned. "That's where I'm going too! We can be partners."

"Great!" I replied as enthusiastically as I could, though garnering any sort of enthusiasm for gym was a challenge any day—let alone today when my mind was so full of Cullen intrigue.

Mike chattered the entire way to the gym, but I didn't pay much attention to any of it. Luckily after meeting Coach Clapp and receiving my gym uniform, I wasn't forced to participate in class today. Instead I sat safely on the bleachers, my brain turning over everything I knew about the Cullens so far.

Which was, basically nothing. I needed to learn more. Because I was clearly obsessed. But the only way to learn more would be to either ask around—which meant I'd get a lot of gossip, most of which would likely be false, and word could easily spread that I was asking in the first place—or to ask them directly.

Remembering Edward's glare in biology had me backtracking on that option immediately.

Perhaps I didn't need to pursue information so overtly. Maybe remaining observant would be a better option—and more accurate.

So that was what I decided, as the bell rang for the school day to end. Surely paying good attention would shed light on facets of the interesting family, and then my curiosity would be appeased and I'd be able to move on with my life.

That was what I told myself, but a nagging feeling in my gut told me things wouldn't go nearly as smooth—not at all.

Edward

After parting ways in the woods, I made it to class just tin time to miss being tardy. In the rush to get to my seat and return to acting as uninteresting as possible to assuage the interest of the students after the show in the cafeteria, it took me longer than it should have to notice that the seat next to me was not empty as normal. I'd been granted a boon in this class when I got seated by myself—well, not exactly a boon since Mr. Banner had done it on purpose seeing as he didn't want other students to be partnered with me on assignments and labs. My intelligence took away from the other students' learning experiences, he'd explained to me when he'd made the decision early in the school year. I hadn't argued. I preferred the table to myself.

But now an increasingly familiar girl occupied the single spare seat in the room.

I felt her eyes on me, and while realistically I could deduce that she simply wished to exchange a friendly greeting, I was so on edge from what was happening with Jasper—because of her—I couldn't refrain from letting my fury show when I turned to glance at her.

It was immediately obvious that I should have at least tried to rein my emotion in a little, because she paled and snapped her gaze toward the front of the room barely a second later.

Regret flushed through me in an unexpected wave. I'd scared her. I shouldn't care, but for some reason I wished I hadn't done so. It wasn't her fault she was so appealing to my brother. It wasn't like she even knew that creatures such as us existed.

Regardless, the situation remained unchanged. Jasper was struggling, and the new girl was the cause. So I didn't apologize. I didn't acknowledge her in any way for the rest of class, actually. I simply sat there, my body full of tension. It really would have been better if I'd gone with Jasper and Alice. Or if not there, then at least home where I didn't have to keep up the human facade.

But the plan was for Rosalie, Emmett, and me to remain until the end of the school day. I couldn't go back on that now, no matter how much I desired. After biology there was only one period left anyway. Not much longer to endure. And with any luck, I wouldn't have the Swan girl in my Spanish class.

As soon as the bell rang at the end of the period, I quickly gathered my things and was the first one out of the room. I knew the new girl stared in shock in my wake and that the Newton boy had noticed my discomfort and subsequent haste, but I didn't care. I was out of that room and away from the source of my tension. Now I could calm down a bit until I could go home and work on figuring out what to do to handle Jasper's dilemma. I spent the majority of my Spanish class, save for the time when Goff asked me a question and I had to pay attention enough to give the correct answer, trying to come up with a helpful recommendation for how Jasper could endure the temptation of Isabella Swan's blood.

All the options led to our family relocating, however.

So when the bell finally rang and I went to meet my brother and sister at my Volvo, I was both eager to get home and dreading the inevitable decision that awaited.

Jasper

It was almost extraordinary how much less difficult it was in the hospital now that I knew the blood of the many was nothing compared to the blood of the one. The sick and injured in the Forks hospital were appealing, but none so much as the girl. And if I could resist the girl…with some help from my brothers…then I could handle sitting in Carlisle's office within a building of bleeding wounds.

Alice sat next to me while we waited, my hand in hers. "How's our future lookin', darlin'?" I asked, laying my accent on thick in hopes of making her smile. My worries were not for her to stress over.

Her lips tipped up as she met my eyes, hers shining with expectation. "Interesting. Very interesting."

I frowned now. "What?" I was sure she'd be grim, our departure from the convenient town of Forks imminent. Instead, not only did her eyes sparkle but her emotions were light. Whatever was to come next made her happy, excited even.

She winked at me, settling in her chair right as Carlisle walked in the door, shutting it firmly behind him. "Let's just see what Carlisle has to say."

Carlisle rounded his desk and seated himself in his chair, looking at us with raised brows. "What I have to say about what? Is something wrong?"

"Yes," I said at the same time Alice said, "Depends on what you mean by wrong."

Carlisle's gaze flickered between us as uncertainty and confusion circled the air around him. It pricked at me, and I leveled it out with some serenity—just enough so that it didn't begin to affect my own emotions. "Well, maybe you should start at the beginning. What happened to bring you here?"

Alice turned to me and I sighed. It was absolutely my responsibility to tell this story, but I was dreading it. Disappointing Carlisle was terrible. "I almost drank from a human today at school."

Carlisle's head tipped to the side and I was surprised by his reaction—wonder instead of sadness. "Almost, you say?"

I blinked, nodding. "Yes, sir."

He smiled. "Jasper, that's wonderful."

My brow furrowed. "No. It's not. I almost murdered Isabella Swan today. In the cafeteria of all places, where a school full of humans would have seen."

"But you didn't."

I shook my head. "Only because Emmett and Edward threw me out of the building. Honestly, Carlisle, don't give me more credit than I deserve here. If it had been me in that room without any of the others to drag me out, I would have exposed us."

Carlisle's smile dropped as he thought through my words, but his happiness did not fade. "And you came straight here to tell me about it. As opposed to, say, pretending to be alright and going back to find the girl later when the boys weren't around. Or running off on your own to binge feed as a coping mechanism. You're searching for a permanent solution, Jasper, and that's good. It means you're invested. And investment means you can do this."

"But what do we do now?" I asked, allowing Carlisle his positive outlook. I knew nothing I said would shake it. Now we needed to find some answers. "I can't stay here. Not with that girl around."

Carlisle's head tilted thoughtfully. "Why not?"

My eyes widened. "Because I can't resist her!"

"You did today."

"Not really."

"She's alive and you're here," he stated firmly. "You resisted."

I sighed. "Sure. I did. But I won't be able to do it again. I needed a substantial amount of help this time!"

Carlisle met my eyes. "Why are you so certain you cannot do something the rest of us know you can do?"

My eyes narrowed, but I was unable to shift my gaze from Carlisle. I was locked in his searching stare. "I am still learning control."

Carlisle shook his head. "That is a weak excuse. You have control. You simply need to strengthen it." He paused, lips pursed as he thought.

"Yes," Alice said suddenly, causing both of us to turn to face her. "That's it, Carlisle. It's perfect. And, personally, I love it." A smile stretched across her face and I was dazzled.

"Will it work, though?" Carlisle asked, snapping me out of my reverie at my love's beauty.

Alice shrugged. "Only time will tell." But there was a sparkle in her eye that said there was more that she was not saying. I considered trying to question her on it later but decided against it right away. When she was ready to share, she would. Timing was everything, and I knew better than to nag. I could be patient.

Carlisle nodded, taking Alice at her word. "I don't think you should leave, Jasper."

"Then how do I stay?" The question was for Carlisle, but my attention was on both him and Alice. Carlisle was calm and hopeful, while Alice was eager.

"You strengthen your control," Carlisle answered. "And to do that I think it would be a good idea for you to become friends with Isabella Swan."

And that's it for chapter 2! What do you think? Please leave a review with your thoughts! Until next time, I hope y'all have a great week!