Chapter 14: First Lesson

I hadn't told anyone of the details of my odd dreams, though I had informed them that it happened again. I didn't think I should mention that Jasper had been licking me…and that I had been licking him. That seemed pretty messed up to me. At this point, Jasper and I had barely even spoken. I knew that I was attracted to him, alright, but I certainly didn't feel the need to lick him.

Although I did wonder what that would feel like…no, Izzy. Bad Izzy. Concentrate. Today was to be the first lesson. Jasper and I were going to teach them the basics. I could tell Emmett had been in a few fights, but those were the kind where drunken punches of rage were thrown, and wouldn't be the kind of fighting that would allow him to win. But he would be fairly used to the way he already fought, and would take some effort to change. Alice would both be stubborn and refuse to learn, or would go along. I, of course, was hoping for the latter. Either way, she was small, like me, but frail. She'd have to develop some muscle.

Rosalie already worked out, and was in pretty good shape. I expected that she would be pretty open to learning to fight, as she would probably want to know how to defend herself. She was independent like that, and she'd definitely be interested in some self-defense. But she'd have to have enough combustible anger or some other fuel for her to strike out.

Edward had me most concerned. He just seemed too non-violent. He could read thoughts, which could help him depending on who he went up against. I would have to be sure he didn't become too reliant on it, though. Because if he went up against someone like me or Jasper, he wouldn't be able to read our next moves from our minds. We relied more on our instinct than anything else, in a real fight. I could tell we had many similarities, and that gave me some insight into his mind, but even I knew that Jasper could be surprising.

I just hoped that the whole mind-reading thing wouldn't give him a complex. I didn't want him to become and obnoxious, controlling asshole, or think he was better than everyone else just because he could hear all the passing thoughts floating through minds. Because as far as I could tell, he could only read the surface thoughts, not the deeper core beliefs that make us who we are. I mean, a girl who believes in staying a virgin until marriage can still fantasize all she wants about sex, and who hasn't had some errant thought about killing someone who rubbed them the wrong way? Then again, this was Edward we were talking about. I shouldn't worry about this new surprise changing him. He wasn't that type of person, although I knew that he could've been.

Anyway, it was nice out for a change, and it was the weekend. I would get to be with all my friends, teaching them something that made me feel alive. There was no reason that I should be unhappy, and I was determined to be in a good mood for once.

Jasper showed up early so that we could discuss what we were going to do. We both agreed today we should stick to the basics. I wasn't even sure if Alice knew how to make a proper fist. We also agreed on some basic moves we could show them and I opened all the windows downstairs so that there would be a nice breeze to cool them down. After all, they weren't used to this; we should ease them into it. Edward and Jasper's mom, as well as Emmett's Nonna were used to them being here all the time, already, and we told them that it was for school. Alice and Rosalie's moms weren't usually home, but they were also told the same lie.

After a while, Jasper and I's conversation turned to more usual things. We sat on the floor of my basement, and we talked about how bitchy some of the teachers were, and other things as well. There was still about half an hour until one, when we had all agreed for the others to come over. All of a sudden, Jasper smirked, and it made me suspicious.

"What?" I asked, warily. I rolled my shoulders, trying to alleviate the persisting ache in my back.

"Oh, well, you know, I was just thinking, our last spar ended in a draw. Don't you want to do a tiebreaker?" At this, I smirked back at him. I enjoyed our last match, because it had been a while since there was someone who could pose a challenge to me. Besides, it had been fun. Neither of us had had any aggression, but it was more lighthearted.

"A draw, huh? I clearly remember you going down," I teased, poking him a bit on the shoulder.

"Only after you went down first," he teased back, poking me in the stomach.

"Don't poke my tummy!" I pouted playfully, feeling more comfortable with our banter than I had in a while.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Should I apologize to your tummy?" He leaned down over my stomach, speaking to it. "I deeply apologize for any discomfort I may have caused you, you are a fine tummy and you didn't deserve it. It was my fault for poking you without provocation, and I accept any consequences you may have for me. I'm sorry, it's a problem in my life, and I need to get help." The completely serious look on his face had me laughing so hard, tears escaped my eyes.

"Stop it, Jasper; you're going to make me pee myself!" My face was absolutely red from laughter, and I couldn't stop.

"Eww, Izzy. I already apologized. Don't pee on me!" His response only made me guffaw more. The look on his face was priceless. He had contorted his face in a look of mock disgust, and it was absolutely hilarious.

"You amuse me, Jasper," I finally got out, after my laughter had subsided a bit.

"Glad to be of service," he said, bowing his head playfully and making a flourishing gesture with his hand.

"Shut up!" I couldn't be laughing any harder. "You're going to make me suffocate on my own laughter! How would you feel then?"

"I would find it pretty funny," he teased, "and I would make sure it was carved into your gravestone for all the future generations. I'd also write a speech for your funeral. Couldn't you just hear it now? Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today because, in a fit of hysterical laughter, one that made us concerned about her mental health, she could literally not breathe, and died. Sadly, we will never know the joke that she was laughing at, as she took it to her grave. It might be just as well though, for the insane powers of this apparently incredibly funny joke should not fall into the wrong hands, as it would surely lead to world domination."

I had never seen Jasper with his guard down before, but I was pretty close to seeing it now. He was joking around, and he looked so carefree. I really liked it. I hoped that I would see him like this in the future.

I nudged his side with my elbow. "Come on, like you would be allowed to speak at my funeral. I plan on leaving a special section in my will just to say that, under no circumstances, should Jasper ever be allowed to speak at a public event concerning me."

"Aww, I feel so touched, Izzy. I get an entire section of your will?" I grinned.

"Only if you're nice."

"I can play nice. Want proof?" I raised my eyebrow. This should be interesting.

"Let's see what proof you have, Jasper." He grinned and scooted behind me, ignoring my questions as to what he was doing.

He sat with his legs crossed behind me, and instructed me to do the same. When I asked him why, he just smiled and said to trust him. I figured, meh, my curiosity was never gonna be satisfied if I didn't, so why not. He then proceeded to give me the best backrub I had ever had before. He must've noticed that my back had been bothering me. It was sweet, and for some reason felt really touching.

I threw my head back and moaned breathily, "Jasper, your fingers are magic. This is definitely enough to get a section in my will."

For some reason, his voice sounded just a little bit strained when he said, "Good. I told you I could play nice."

"Remind me to make you give me another one of these," I said, continuing with the banter.

"Now, why would I do that," he chuckled in my ear. I couldn't help but suddenly notice how close he was to me, and yet I didn't feel tense or on guard at all. I was nothing but putty in his hands. His backrub skills were seriously too good to believe. His breath tickled my cheek and smelled like citrus and a drop of honey. It was fresh and sweet all at the same time.

"I don't know, but I've got to figure out a way. This feels so good." He chuckled again.

"I'm glad to hear it." I knew his hands weren't exactly velvet soft, but the way he moved them around my back was such a gentle, but steady pressure that I couldn't help but feel extremely relaxed.

"Seriously, Jasper, this feels really good." I was dangerously close to just falling into a coma of pleasure from all the relaxation he was giving me.

He said nothing, but I could tell he was just smiling. I had closed my eyes for a while, but when I opened them, I inadvertently caught a glimpse of the clock hanging on the wall, and I scrambled to get up.

"As much as I want you to never stop, the others are gonna be here soon." I offered him a hand up, which he took, although we both knew he didn't need it.

"Alright. This should be interesting." My thoughts exactly, Jasper, my thoughts exactly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Destiny~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"No, Emmett! You can't just go around punching randomly!" He's going to make me die prematurely.

"Well why the hell not?" Emmett, you're such a dumbass.

"Because, they're going to kick your ass if you do, like Rose just did!" At this, Rose smirked at him.

"Rose did not kick my ass! It was an accident"

Rose walked over to him and gloated, "Oh, you know I did, you big buffoon. There was nothing accidental about that."

"Shut up! I just-I just slipped!"

"And fell on your back, and threw a sissy fit? All by accident?" Emmett should just stop being in denial about it. If he wasn't going to change his way of fighting, he was going to be a pain in the ass.

"I told you! You've got to think! You can't just go around swinging your fists. You're too focused on using pure force, you're too slow! Rose is fast on her feet. So unless you want to keep getting your ass kicked, you've got to get faster!"

"No, I don't!" He knew that I was right; he was just too stubborn to admit it.

I was going to punch him in the face if I got any more worked up. Trying to remain calm, I asked, "Do you want to keep on getting your ass kicked by Rose?"

He looked like he was about to protest before he caught a sight of my expression. Shrinking back a little, smartly, he hung his head. "No."

"Then start using that head!" I usually didn't get all worked up like that, but Emmett could just be so infuriating. I walked angrily over to where Jasper was standing and took a deep breath to calm myself. "Alright, Edward and Alice, your guys' turn."

As Edward and Alice walked to the center and started sparring, Jasper turned to look at me. By the utterly amused expression he had on, I knew that he was going to tease me about something.

"So I notice that Emmett has a special talent for pissing you off," he said with a smile both on his face and in his voice.

"Yeah," I sighed. He was just so exasperating.

"I also noticed your mouth gets awfully dirty when you're mad."

"Nuh-uh. I just said ass. That's not that bad…"

"Mm-hmm. I could tell you were cussing him out in your head, though."

"Well, okay, but he just won't listen to me!"

"Whoa there, calm down. Don't get yourself all worked up again. I think he got it this time."

I simply nodded, turning my attention to Edward and Alice. We had only taught them the basics, but they were doing pretty good. Really, the only problem, as expected was that Emmett was too stubborn in his ways. And, also as expected, Edward was a little reluctant when he was sparring. He just didn't want to hurt anyone. But, he was a little more competitive than expected, and had some pride, so he wasn't doing too badly. So far, Rose was doing the best, as I had thought. Edward was just behind her, then Alice, and lastly, Emmett, a fact that he hated. He just wouldn't listen. Edward was kind of slim, so he, as well as Rose and Alice were pretty fast, and I had told them to use this to their advantage. If Emmett would just be lighter on his feet, he could be, too, and I had told him this. He just continued lumbering about. Like a less hairy version of Bigfoot.

I knew from sparring with Jasper that he was both powerful enough so that his blows were devastating, but also light on his feet, quick and lithe in his strikes. He had enough muscle on him, more than the average teenager, if you could call him that. But he was muscular in a lankier way than Emmett but more solid than Edward. Edward had a poet's body, with some muscle, but you could tell he didn't exactly work out. Emmett, well, he was just pretty massive. Jasper was tall and muscular, kind of in the middle. I realized that I had been staring at Jasper's chest while thinking. Slightly embarrassed, I turned away, but not before Jasper caught me staring at him. I cleared my throat and refocused. I could see Jasper smirking at me in my peripherals, though.

Edward was dragging this one on, like he did every one. He was just too hesitant. He had been sparring Rose first, but now with Alice, he seemed even more so. I glanced over at Jasper, knowing that he had come to the same conclusion. I sighed. "Do you wanna go, or should I?" He gestured for me to go, as he had almost every single time before. Apparently he was more than happy to let me be the one with all the yelling and stress.

"Guys, stop. Edward." Edward looked up, a little confused, before he realized what I had come to do. Again. He came over warily. "Edward, you already know what I'm gonna say. I know that it's just not who you are, but let me tell you something. What if it just comes down to you? Would you just let us die, or would you fight for us? For Alice? When the time comes down to it, would you still hold back and let them beat you? And kill all of us?" I really didn't want to yell. At this point I just wanted him to realize that he couldn't hold back in real life. And he had to be prepared as possible. This meant letting himself go a little. After I told him this, he sighed.

"I know I just…I don't want to have to hurt anyone." I nodded in empathy.

"I know, but you have to try to try a little harder. It's all practice." Stepping back, I announced to everyone, "How about Emmett and Edward spar?" I figured Edward would let himself loosed up a little, and we could see if Emmett decided to listen to me yet or not.

Everyone nodded, and I walked back to where Jasper was standing. Apparently Edward took my words to heart, and since Emmett didn't exactly want to be last still, he was actually making an effort to be lighter on his feet. I sighed in relief. Finally.