Chapter 3: Starry Night

I'd spent three hours getting ready, I don't think I've ever put that much effort into my appearance. It had occurred to me Saturday afternoon that I had no way of contacting Jasper, no way of knowing whether or not he still intended to come to Jessica's party with me. I assume he didn't because I waited around till seven, and there was no sign of him. I decided to go on to Jess's house thinking maybe he'd be there waiting on me, he wasn't.

"I thought Jasper Hale was coming with you?" Jessica asked sloppily as she opened the door. I could tell that I was fashionably late for this party, everyone had clearly been drinking for a while.

"I think he decided not to come," I responded, trying to hide the disappointment. Jessica laughed and pulled me inside.

"Well it's no surprise, those people are way too stuck up to ever grace anyone with their presence," she snorted and made her way back to the party. I said hello to a few people, I talked to Angela and Ben mostly since they were the only sober ones. Eventually I cut myself away from everyone and walked outside to Jessica's back yard. I sat down on an old swing set and looked up into the sky, it was a beautiful night. I suddenly heard a loud crash inside followed by an uproar of drunken laughter, I shook my head and chuckled.

"Some party," a smooth voice came from behind me. I twisted the swing around towards Jasper, my heart flip flopping at the sight of him.

"I didn't think you were going to show up," I blushed hoping he hadn't heard the relief in my voice. He smiled and shuffled his feet across a patch of grass.

"I wasn't sure if I was, my family didn't want me to," he divulged.

"Why?"

"Not important," he sat in the swing next to me, "I came anyway, I'm tired of them always telling me what to do. I'm the oldest of any of the others, yet they all want to treat me like a child," he rolled his eyes.

"Usually people only do that kind of thing when they love you," I rationalized. He didn't respond. Instead he glanced up at the sky just as I had moments before.

"It's really starry out tonight," he pointed out.

"Yeah, it's a treat since usually there are clouds in the way."

"I like the clouds, the dark ones, the kind that bring thunderstorms."

"Why?" It was odd to learn one's favorite weather was the gloomy kind.

"I don't know, sometimes I'll sit on our back-porch when one is starting, when you can see the lightning forming, warming up…it gets me pumped up, like I can feel the electricity." I just stared at him unnaturally for a second.

"Thunderstorms are cool," I attempted to sound as cool as he had but failed.

"So you're not drinking?" he asked with a grin.

"No, I don't drink."

"That's very mature of you," he smiled.

"Well, I just don't see the point," I motioned towards the house, "Most everyone in there is drinking because they want to turn into somebody else, hoping that they can fake people into thinking they're cool. I think that's destructive, plus it's illegal…my Dad is the sheriff you know."

"How old are you?" he laughed.

"I'm 17 going on 49." We both laughed. We sat there for a few moments in silence, just letting the wind blow our swings around gently. It wasn't awkward though, it was very calm and soothing actually.

"So what are you doing after the party?" he asked finally.

"I'm going home, getting in my pajamas , eating a bowl of ice cream while watching Conan then going to bed," I chanted with fake enthusiasm.

"That doesn't sound very appealing," he remarked.

"Story of my life."

We talked for another hour or so about random things mostly making fun of the noises we heard coming from inside. Angela and Ben emerged during one of our conversations,

"Bella," Angela's voice squeaked off when she saw I was sitting next to Jasper.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Oh, I- I was just going to tell you that the weather channel just gave out a severe thunderstorm warning, so Ben and I are leaving," she explained. I looked at the crystal clear sky.

"Uh, well I guess I'll see you all later. I'm going to take my chances and stick here for a while."

"Ok, well have fun," she shot an amused glance towards Jasper, then back to me. We stayed outside, continuing our conversation about the pond and how peaceful it was. Suddenly a clap of thunder erupted directly overhead, followed by crack of lightening.

"You're favorite!" I teased him. The first few raindrops hit us as we made a run for the house.

After I'd said all my goodbyes (which took longer than expected since I now had to explain to everyone why I was leaving with Jasper Hale) the rain was falling full blast. We stood on Jessica's porch for a moment.

"Jeez, it's really coming down" I yelled nervously over another round of thunder.

"Don't worry," Jasper settled as if feeling my nervousness, "I'll follow you home to make sure you get there safely."

I hated driving in the rain, especially in my truck. The fact that the severe thunderstorm was raging all around me didn't help my stress. Jasper followed through with his promise and followed me home though, which made feel at ease. When I finally got there he even walked me to the porch. Charlie still wasn't back from fishing, I wondered briefly if it had rained on him.

"Thanks for following me home," I told him as I unlocked the front door. I pushed it open and flicked the light switch, only for the power to be out.

"Just great," I whimpered.

"Do you have flashlights?" Jasper asked, following me into the house.

"No," I muttered, "The only flashlight we have is with Charlie."

"Well I trust you have matches, or some sort of lighter?"

"Yeah," I said fumbling my way to the kitchen; I only tripped over three items before getting there. I grabbed some matches and went around the house trying to find as many candles as I could. I took them into the living room and spread them out across the coffee table.

"Why are you shaking?" Jasper asked as my hand shook over each wick, trying to light it.

"I'm terrified of the dark," I admitted.

"Is your father working tonight or something?"

"No, he's on a camping trip…" I shuddered knowing I'd be alone.

"You know, there really isn't anything too scary about the dark."

"Typical response from a non dark-fearer," I smirked, making him laugh. I watched him in the dim light of the candles. He didn't seem so pale in this light, it made him look very warm and gorgeous. More thunder cracked outside, bringing my thought away from him and making me shudder.

"I'm sorry I never got to know you better during school," he mumbled into the darkness.

"It's okay, I didn't put forth any effort either, so no harm."

"I like spending time with you," he smiled, "I haven't had a friend to talk to besides my family in a long time.

"Why is that?" I wondered.

"Probably because we try not to get attached to places, sometimes we move around a lot." His voice sounded troubled.

"Sometimes?"

"Well, sometimes we just pick up and move, no warnings no goodbyes…" he explained. I felt a strange panic at the thought of never seeing him again.

"Why would you do that?" I asked.

"I guess that's just our style."

"That's a weird style."

"We're weird people, though everyone in town seems to know that already," he chuckled. Another crack of thunder echoed across the sky causing me to yelp.

"Good lord, Bella," Jasper gleamed, "Here…" he got up and sat down on the couch next to me, "Sit on the floor in front of me." I looked at him wildly. "Trust me," he smiled. Honestly he probably could have asked me to go outside and shake a metal stick in the lightning and I would have, his grin was luminescent. I slid off the couch and sat down in front of him, my back against the couch, between his legs. I gulped.

"Relax," he whispered. I felt his hands brush against my shoulders, sending shockwaves down my spine. His caress was light, barely touching me yet the sensation felt solid and strong. I let out a long sigh, completely forgetting the storm outside, my body flooding with calmness and relief.

"Better?"

"How did you do that?" I breathed.

"I'm good like that," I heard his warm chuckle. I had a tee shirt and a hoodie on, but I couldn't stop myself from wandering what this would feel like skin to skin. My senses suddenly filled with a different emotion and Jasper pulled his hands away.

I cleared my throat, "Uh, thank…thanks," I pulled my hoodie a little tighter and sat down on the couch, maybe a little closer to him than I should have.

"So why are you hanging out with me now if you are trying not to get attached to Forks, you know, in case you all pick and move?" I asked directing the conversation back to earlier.

"I don't really know," he seemed torn, "I'm drawn to you," he whispered quietly, I had to strain to hear him.

"What do you mean?"

"It sounds crazy, but, you've changed everything I ever thought about myself." Crazy indeed. "You think I'm insane," he grinned.

"I don't believe that I can cause that kind of realization in a person," I dissented.

"Well you underestimate yourself."

"Well, if you're drawn to me…does that mean I'll see more of you?" I asked hoping he'd say yes.

"I shouldn't…" he mumbled.

"Why?"

"I'm not a good person Bella," he uttered with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. I laughed sarcastically.

"You seem nice enough to me."

"Well I'm not," he retorted. He breathed in heavily as if he were trying to smell something that wasn't there. "I'm sorry Bella, I should be going." He stood up and began walking towards the door.

"But the storm…" I called out to him as if he had some obligation to stay and take care of me. I pulled my gaze away from him, embarrassed.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," he soothed then walked out, leaving me utterly confused.

Several days passed and I heard nothing from him. Not that he had a duty to call or anything. I'd gone back to the pond several times, hoping to find him there, but he wasn't. Eventually I gave up, knowing that I'd done something or said something that had pushed him away. Typical of me.

I started going down to La Push again, I was tired of hiking. Jake and Alyssa were good company, when I could find him. Usually I'd go to his house and Alyssa would be there, but Jake would be gone. One day I walked down to La Push Beach on my own, wanting to be alone.

I'd gotten about halfway to the docks when I heard a familiar voice call my name. I turned around to see Quil Atera running up to me.

"Bella! Long time no see," he smiled when he caught up to me, falling into step by my side.

"How are you?" I asked trying to hide the fact that I'd been trying to be alone.

"I'm good, what are you doing in these parts?"

"Well I was coming to hang out with Jake…" I trailed off, lotta success that had been.

"Yeah right," Quil laughed bitterly, "No one see's the almighty brat pack."

"What?" I stopped and looked at him.

"Jake's been hanging out with Sam Ulley and his cult, I don't see him anymore, or Embry for that matter," he explained.

"Embry Call?" I'd remembered a few months ago when Jake had told me that Embry wasn't his friend anymore, that something had happened to him. Changed him. "The same thing happened to Jacob?" I asked.

"I guess… I don't really know what happened to either of them, but they're both following Sam around lately." Quil shoved his hands in his pockets. So that's why I hadn't been able to track down Jake recently. I was extremely angry…Jacob never kept things from me…and Quil! Poor Quil, Embry and Jake had been his best friends, how could they do this to him?

"Well what are they up to? Is he in like…a gang or something?"

"I have no clue, they don't even talk to me at school anymore, not they show up half the time anyway," he said.

"Thanks for telling me Quil…it was good seeing you." I said goodbye and walked back to my truck, driving to Jake's house.

I walked through the Black's front door, and immediately saw Jacob sitting on his couch, arm wrapped around Alyssa.

"Hey Bells," he said casually.

"I ran into Quil Atera earlier," I revealed. Jacob took his arm away from Alyssa, who looked very uncomfortable.

"So?" Jacob asked darkly.

"Can we talk alone please," I begged. Alyssa only looked slightly offended as she walked out of the room.

"What Bella?"

"I haven't seen you a lot this summer, you've been blowing me off quite a bit," I stung.

"Come on Bella, I've been busy this summer, that's all," Jake rolled his eyes.

"Busy with Sam Ulley?" I challenged, pulling a not so nice expression from Jacob.

"Stop it Bella. You don't want to go down this road…you aren't going to like what you find."

"Jake! We're friends, we don't keep secrets from each other," I reminded him.

"Bella, I can't talk about this with you," he sat back down with a jerk. I sat down beside him and gently placed my arm on his shoulder.

"Jake you can talk to me about anything, I'm your best friend, that's more than I can say for Sam, who just gives you a bunch of secrets to keep."

"Can you tell me anything?" he asked harshly.

"Of course."

"Then why didn't you tell me you've been hanging out with a Cullen?" I pulled myself back, shocked.

"What? Why does that matter?"

"I don't want you talking to him anymore," Jake commanded. My jaw dropped at his gall.

"You're kidding…"

"No I'm not, and if you know what's good for you you'll listen to me." I knew that for some reason people from La Push didn't like the Cullen family. In fact Charlie had told me once that the people on the Reservation wouldn't even go to the hospital where Dr. Cullen worked anymore.

"Look, I don't know what you people have against the Cullen's but they aren't bad people, you don't know anything about them," I shot.

"Bella they're…God, I can't tell you!" Jake spewed. "Get out of here Bella," he growled through clenched teeth.

"What?"

"Just go home." Then he turned his back towards me, walking through the kitchen and slamming the back door. Alyssa came back in, looking just as surprised as I was. I glanced at her awkwardly before going back to my truck and heading back to Forks.

I felt completely alone.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the story alert subscriptions, reviews, and favoritizing! Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter.