A/N Thank you to my beta reader, CaliGirl3377. In this chapter, we're slowing things down a little bit. We get some more Bella/Jasper interaction time. Enjoy!

Chapter 13- Bella

Waking up the next morning felt just like waking up my first time here. I'd gotten used to staying here for the past couple weeks, and I would even go as far to call a few of the Cullens friends, but now I was back at square one. I was so unsure if being here was the right choice anymore. But where else could I go? I was trapped.

Thinking about leaving the room, my stomach grew queasy, but it was so late in the morning. I was starving, and I had to get up eventually. I rolled out of bed in slow motion, stretching out my arms and reaching for my crutches.

Once outside, the house was silent. There was usually some commotion going on, but today it sounded like I was the only one here. That was honestly more scary than all of the Cullens being home at the same time.

My mobility was getting better, but I still had a hard time getting down the stairs. I hopped down the stairs slowly with my crutches tucked under my left arm and my right arm holding onto the railing for dear life. As I walked down the hallway heading into the kitchen, I still only heard the soft shuffle of the breeze outside. I turned the corner, and there really was no one in the kitchen or the living room.

I tried my best not to panic. Normally Esme and Alice were here at this time, but I was all alone. They weren't planning to kill me, were they? No, that was ridiculous. What happened last night was just a crazy coincidence, and I was being paranoid. The Cullens couldn't be monsters. I tried to tell myself that.

I took a few deep breaths, and slowly maneuvered my way to the kitchen counter. The kitchen table that tore in half was gone. An empty space took its place. All evidence of the chaos surrounding last night was gone.

I hadn't made food for myself in so long, and I missed cooking. I loved the feeling of chopping up vegetables and all the smells that came from the frying pan. It felt relaxing. Esme had been doing all that work for me this whole time. Now, I got the chance to do it for myself again.

I put water in a pot to boil and found a bag of noodles in the upper cabinet. I stood still waiting for the water to finish boiling. The clock ticking on the wall was the only sound.

The doorknob of the kitchen entrance began to rattle. My heart dropped, but it was only Esme and Carlisle who walked in. I felt partially relieved to see them, though I still had a lingering suspicion that they were lying to me last night. They came in smiling at me, acting as if everything was normal. Carlisle was quietly humming to himself.

"Good morning Bella. Oh, I see you're making lunch for yourself," Esme greeted me.

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"Rosalie and Emmett are working their usual shifts. Alice and Jasper are out shopping. We just got back from the furniture store in Port Angeles to look at new tables."

"You throw out the old one?"

"Yes, we dropped it off at the recycling center this morning," Esme told me.

Well that was fast. I wasn't expecting them to dispose of it so quickly. I didn't know what I was expecting from them honestly.

"Hey, since no one else is home, we'd like to have a talk with you," Carlisle stated.

"Yeah sure. What's it about?" I asked, nervously. Were they about to kick me out? Have I overstayed my welcome? I tried to swallow down the lump in my throat, but the anxiety was creeping in.

"First off, how are you feeling after what happened the other night?" Esme asked.

"Umm," I paused, not quite expecting that. "I'm still a little shocked. I'm a bit nervous about what will happen when Edward comes back."

"He won't bite you. We swear," Carlisle told me. He and Esme both chuckled. "We'll make sure he apologizes for scaring you. If you still feel uncomfortable seeing him, he can wait."

"Thanks. I don't think he'll hurt me. At least I hope not," I lied. I didn't necessarily need an apology from him. I just needed him to stay as far away from me as possible for as long as I was here. I would get a restraining order if I could.

"We won't let that happen," Carlisle insisted.

"Where is he?"

"He wanted to visit our extended family from Alaska, so we flew him into Anchorage."

Alaska? So they decided he needed to leave the state overnight and just managed to book a flight for him on such short notice? This wasn't adding up. There had to be something seriously wrong going on with him. I had no idea what the Cullens were talking about behind closed doors.

"Okay," I said. I decided not to ask anymore questions about it. They would just give me bullshit answers anyway. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

"Not quite," Carlisle began. "Your leg is healing fast, and pretty soon you'll be able to walk again without any crutches. We need to talk about your plans for the future."

"What, are you guys gonna kick me out when I can walk again?"

"No, of course not." Carlisle held his hands up. "You can stay here as long as you need to."

"Thank you. I just don't want to be a burden to any of you. You've done so much for me already." I could almost cry thinking about how much they've helped me these past few weeks. They've completely turned my life around. I didn't want to believe they were predatory monsters this whole time.

"It's no trouble at all. We love taking care of you," Esme assured me, coming around to give me a hug. I patted her on the back in return, praying she was being genuine. "We were just thinking that eventually you'd probably want to think about getting a job and just wanted to ask if you need any help."

"I want a lot of things. I want a car, a job, my own place, maybe go back to school."

"That's so great to hear. What are you looking to study?" Carlisle asked, intrigued.

"I don't know. I always thought I would major in psychology in high school. But I started failing school and gave up going to college. I don't know what I'd do now."

I had a lot of dreams and ambitions growing up. Dreams and ambitions I totally abandoned as I let my life slip away. My mother would've been disappointed. If only she were here to give me advice.

"You can always start out at community college and later apply for a university. That's what Emmett and Rosalie are doing," Carlisle suggested.

"I'll think about it. I should try getting a job first and work on school next year."

"That sounds like a great plan. What type of job are you looking for?" Esme asked.

"Anything. I don't care. I'd like to start somewhere in town or Port Angeles."

"We could help you fill out applications for any place we like. You can become a waitress, work at the Outfitter's store."

Oh gosh, wasn't Mike Newton's mom the manager of Fork's Outfitters? If I worked there, I'd have to face her and her son again. Really I'd probably have to see them again anyway with any job in Forks. This town was so damn tiny.

"I've been looking up some jobs. I haven't applied yet because I've been waiting to be able to walk again without my leg hurting." I didn't know how much longer that would take.

"You said you wanted a car, right?" Esme asked. I nodded. "Rosalie works at the auto shop in La Push. We could find you one from there."

"Oh, I don't want you to have to buy it for me. I was hoping I could save up some money after I start working to pay for it. I'd have to get a loan."

"We can give you a loan for it and you can pay us back over time when you start working. We could even charge interest if you like." Esme laughed.

Would this family ever stop being so generous? They wouldn't be this generous if they didn't have all this money, now would they? It was so crazy. I didn't deserve it.

"You'd really do that?" I mumbled, not even believing it was real.

"Of course." Esme nodded.

"Thank you." God, I desperately needed a car. I wanted to drive places myself and get back some sense of freedom. "Don't get me wrong, I like being here. But I feel like I've been trapped inside for weeks, and I want a car to actually go places myself. Be outside more."

"I understand the feeling. It can be very isolating if you're trapped inside all day."

"Hey, the whole family's planning on going on a day trip sometime this week to the national park. The weather should be nice in the coming days. Do you want to come?" Carlisle asked.

Well, wasn't that the perfect opportunity. I think this would be the first time they've done something together as an entire family. I wasn't sure I was ready.

"I don't know. Is there a lot of walking involved?"

"You only have to walk as much as you want to. We're planning on heading to Hurricane Ridge and there's a large scenic overlook. In the visitors center, there's a restaurant and you can sit outside and eat. Enjoy the nice breeze," Carlisle explained.

"Everyone's going?" I shivered thinking if Edward would be home by then.

"That's right. Except for Edward of course. He'll still be in Alaska."

I breathed a sigh of relief. This would be a great chance to get outside, and maybe I could practice walking again in a more open space. I didn't have to go on any hiking trails.

"I guess I'm down for it."

Esme smiled. "Great. We'll have to find a day when the weather's nice. It's been rather rainy recently."

I gave her a small smile in return, but I was still doubting myself. I hoped they weren't going to take me somewhere to throw me off a cliff. I really wanted to trust them, but that was shaky. I needed real answers for what happened the night before, and the only way to find out was to talk to Jasper.

For the rest of the week, the Cullens pretended nothing had happened. They brought in a new table that looked exactly the same as the old one, and life went on as it usually did. Alice and I still watched TV everyday. She liked to do my makeup and paint my nails even though I had yet to leave the house. Esme still prepared meals every day, although I started helping out with the cooking process. I shared a few recipes with her that I've known since childhood.

The meals I had with Jasper ceased. I tried to find him to ask more questions about what happened between him and Edward, but he was hardly ever home. I had no idea where he was all day, but he seemed to just come and go just as all the other Cullen teens did. I saw him once on Wednesday morning to say good morning, and he only nodded curtly at me in return. It felt like he was avoiding me which was beyond frustrating. More than that, I missed the time we had to talk together. With him gone, the feelings of loneliness and isolation were coming back.

Now it was Saturday, and Carlisle found some time to take off from work. Even though the previous two days were sunny and warmer, they decided today was the best time to go into Olympic National Park. We all drove in separate cars together there, and I was stuck in the passenger seat next to Rosalie with Emmett and Alice hammering in the back seat. Edward was still in Alaska, and I didn't know if Jasper was coming.

Rosalie didn't talk to me most of the way there, as I expected from her at this point. Things were mostly peaceful between us now. Neither of us acknowledged the other's presence and that was perfectly fine with me.

We turned onto a side road in Port Angeles past the national park welcome sign, and the elevation began gradually increasing.

"I can't believe you've never been here before. I thought you lived here for years!" Emmett exclaimed.

I shrugged. "I've never cared enough before. I have been to the Grand Canyon. That counts, right?"

"Nah, this is much better than the Grand Canyon," Emmett laughed.

"I beg to differ," Rosalie stated blankly. I didn't think she gave a single shit about being here.

I stared out the window as we drove up, and the mountaintops began appearing from behind the trees. God, they were so gigantic. And gorgeous too. I couldn't believe I wasted my life, never making an effort to come here.

Once we crossed over the timberline and neared the parking lot, the panoramic view of the mountains became a lot more clear. Wow. I couldn't stop looking at it.

Rosalie parked, and I didn't even wait for the others to get out before I burst out the passenger door and grabbed hold of my crutches to start walking toward the observation deck.

"Hold on, Bella. Slow down," Emmett called.

I looked behind, and Emmett and Alice were catching up to me as Carlisle and Esme were coming out of their car parked a couple spots over from Rosalie's. And right next to them was Jasper who just took his helmet off while getting off . . . a motorcycle? I didn't know he could ride a motorcycle. What the hell?

"What do you think, Bella?" Alice asked, drawing my attention away from Jasper and how the wind was blowing his wavy blonde hair in every direction.

I looked back at the view in front of me. "It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it," Alice cheered.

We walked onto the observation deck, and I stared out at the scenery around me. The mountains seemed to go on forever. They looked like black silhouettes fading into the sky with a few snowy peaks. I'd never seen a view like this before which was crazy because I'm form the fucking west. I know I've seen mountains before, but I've never seen mountains this beautiful. The view would've been better if the sun was out, but it was still breathtaking regardless.

Suddenly, I saw an adorable baby deer and its mom walk into the field in front of me. I forgot how much I loved animals. I immediately pulled out my phone to start taking pictures. The baby deer turned its head toward me for a second and stared at me straight in the eyes. We engaged in a staring contest as the deer slowly began to walk toward me. Why it felt so comfortable around me, I didn't know. It was so cute. I wanted to take it home.

Jasper appeared by my side, and the deer looked at him and sprinted away. I guess the little guy was so overwhelmed with so many people around.

"What do you think, Jasper?" I asked, turning toward him. I couldn't read his expression with his sunglasses on. I hadn't spoken to him in days. I needed to find a way to strike up a conversation with him.

"It's a mountain range, alright," he chuckled, staring off into the distance.

"It looks like literally every other mountain range that exists," Rosalie sighed. How typical of her to say that.

The visitors center had a restaurant, so I got myself a burger and fries. I was eating outside on a bench while all the other Cullens were just snacking on chips or a salad. Carlisle claimed most of them had eaten before leaving, and they weren't hungry. Yeah right. When would that excuse get tired?

Eventually, everyone went off to go hiking. Carlisle asked if I wanted to come with, but I declined. The trails were uphill, and even though my walking was improving, my legs could not handle that much strain. I stayed behind, and Jasper was still sitting across from me, finishing his sandwich. He was the only other person who ordered a full lunch, something that the other Cullens never seemed to do in front of me.

He ate like a sloth. We sat in silence for a few minutes, but I was done waiting.

"Alright. Tell me what really happened. I'm not stupid."

Jasper set the last bit of his sandwich down, staring at me with his sunglasses on. All the other Cullens were gone by this point, and we were seated at a secluded bench away from other people eating outside.

"Could you be more specific about what you're referring to?" Jasper replied calmly, his head tilted to the side.

"You know exactly what I'm referring to. The night Edward basically tried to attack me? You head slammed him into a table?"

Jasper merely shook his head. "I don't recall those details."

Unbelievable. "What do you recall?"

"You cut yourself with broken glass and almost fell. Edward ran over to try to stop you from falling, but he was gonna trip too, so I ran in to try to stop him from hurting you. There was no jumping. No leaping into the air."

He spoke in such a calm, direct manner, the way he always did. I almost believed him, but his story seemed unrealistic.

"So you're saying you rescued Edward from falling while he was trying to rescue me from falling?"

"Yes," he replied.

"You know how ridiculous that sounds?"

"It's the truth," Jasper stated, folding his arms over his chest. "What's really ridiculous is the notion that Edward tried to attack you. Why would he do that?"

"I have no clue. I haven't spoken more than two words to him the entire time I've been here. I don't ever know what he's thinking."

"He was just trying to protect you." That narrative wasn't working for me. I didn't know protecting someone meant your eyes turned black and you head charged toward them.

"I don't quite believe that. It looked like he was trying to bite me."

He seemed unfazed when I said this. "How so?"

"I just saw his mom open and his teeth barring like he was gonna take a bite and eat me."

Jasper let out a big bellowing laugh, something I never heard from him before. It was a strange sound coming from someone usually so quiet. "That's hilarious. Look, I knew in the heat of the moment, things might've appeared strange, but I can promise you with one hundred percent certainty he wasn't trying to 'eat' you."

"It's not funny." I smacked his arm lightly, not trying to hurt him. His skin felt hard as a rock. He pulled his arm back. "Maybe he wasn't trying to 'eat me', but I saw him running and jumping toward me like he wanted to attack me. I did not see him fall."

"You're never going to believe me, are you?"

"No. I know what I saw, and I won't be led to think I'm crazy."

"You're just telling yourself lies and creating stories in your head. Believe me, no one in this family has any reason to hurt you."

I'd like to think that. But all of Cullen's weird behaviors couldn't just be a coincidence, could they? Clearly, Jasper wasn't going to give me any straight answers. I just hoped with all my heart he was telling the truth.

"Where is he? If he's not in Alaska, just tell me. I can keep a secret."

He didn't budge. "There's no need. Like Carlisle told you, he's staying with extended family right now."

"Hmm," I sighed.

"He's sick," Jasper elaborated. Wasn't he sick the first night we met and bolted out of the room the minute he saw me? He couldn't always be sick. And why would you send him on an airplane if he's sick?

"Why can't he just stay home? With the doctor."

"Carlisle thought it would be best if he stayed away from you for a while because you told him you don't want to be around him. He'll come back soon."

"Why did you slam him into the table?" I asked. We had to address the elephant in the room. No normal person had the ability to manhandle another human of the same size like throwing a ball across the room with enough force to break furniture.

"I wasn't thinking." Jasper looked away and scratched the back of his head. He was deflecting. "It was just an impulsive reaction to get him away from you. Esme was pretty upset about it afterwards."

"You're fairly strong. You wouldn't know it from looking at you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He chuckled, taking his glasses off and raising an eyebrow at me.

"I just mean . . ." I paused, stammering for words. Why did I suddenly feel so awkward around him? "You just look pretty thin. I didn't think you had the power to split a six foot long dining table in half."

"There's a lot of things about me that would surprise you." He winked at me, and my heart beat faster. I had to look away. Why was he making me so flustered?

The air around us grew quiet again, and I felt at peace. I didn't know if he was telling the truth or not, but in a way it didn't matter. He stopped Edward from hurting me, whether Edward was trying to or not. I had to be grateful for that. My injuries could be a lot worse right now.

"I guess I should say thank you for saving me," I whispered.

"You're welcome," he nodded, and we grew quiet again.

"How long do you think the others will be gone?" I asked after a while.

"It shouldn't be too long. Maybe an hour or so."

"It sucks I"m handicapped. I'd love to do some hiking right now and explore." I'd been trapped in different places for over a year; my old car, the hospital, and now the Cullen's house. This was the first time I'd gotten to really do something fun.

"You still get the beautiful view right here. Trust me, this is about as good as it gets. You're not missing much."

"You're right," I agreed. "It is nice here, and I get to talk to you."

"You're stuck with me. I'm sure you'd rather be here with Alice."

"That's not true at all. I like talking to you. You're really nice."

I really did enjoy talking with Jasper, probably the most of his entire family. He seemed to be the most down to earth, and he had a way of making me feel comfortable and safe around him. It hadn't felt that way with anyone in a very long time.

"You think so?" He shook his head as if he didn't believe me.

"I do." I put my hand on top of his the way he did when he comforted me after we watched the Wizard of Oz. He didn't pull his arm out. We stayed like that for a moment, and I felt at peace.

"I know a place we can go if you want to walk on a flat surface," he suggested.

"Really, where?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

He helped me get up and walked beside me as we made our way toward his black motorcycle. It looked so big and intimidating.

"Do you think you could handle riding with me?" he asked.

"Umm," I began, unsure. I was afraid I would fall. "Probably. What will we do about my crutches?"

"Here," he said, taking my crutches and throwing them in Rosali's car. He helped me lift up onto the rear seat, handing me a helmet.

"Hold on tight," he yelled over the loud roar of the engine, and I wrapped my arms around his chest, holding on for dear life. His chest felt hard and muscular, which wasn't a bad thing at all. He backed out, and we drove away, the cool breeze splashing into my face.