Edward's POV
I have to say, I was impressed with Bella. She held her ground, and refused to let Alice steam-roll over her. Not to say I don't love Alice, I do. I don't however; appreciate the way she's always pushing her opinions and thoughts at others. Alice, unfortunately, has not yet harnessed her verbal filter.
Today was our first day of school with Bella. I had taken Alice home before she could start another bitch-out. (Girl just didn't know when to stop). Emmett came back with Rose to spend the night at our place, but Jasper stayed back at the Swan's…with Bella.
Honestly, I was surprised Emmett let it happen; I imagine Rose played a part in convincing him though.
I was happy for Jasper. Even though I hadn't known Bella long, I could tell she was a sweet girl. And Jasper was a good man; he'd take care of her.
I pulled my Volvo into a vacant parking space, about six cars down from Emmett's Jeep; he'd stopped by his house on the way over to pick up Bella and Jasper. I did this in the hopes of preventing Alice from pissing Bella off again.
As luck would have it, Alice had been paying attention.
"Edward," she chirruped, "why did you park so far down? There was a vacant spot on the other side of the Jeep."
I sighed, and turned to look at my girlfriend, her grey eyes boring into mine. I sighed again.
"Alice," I began, "you and I both know why I chose to overlook that parking space."
Her expression portrayed confusion, but I knew better.
"Don't bother pretending you don't know what I'm referring to."
She didn't give up her act. I figured I should just cut my losses and spell it out for her. "I parked over here in an attempt to prevent another confrontation between you and Bella."
"What?" She was incredulous. "Edward, I was only trying to help her. She," Alice sneered, "should be apologizing to me."
I stared at her, and she glared back at me.
She can't be serious. There is no way she's that clueless.
Her eyes were hard as flint; her mouth set in a firm line. She was serious.
Holy shit.
I rolled my eyes and got out of the car. I wasn't entirely sure why, but Alice and I ever seemed to see eye to eye these days. It had been so much easier when we had first started dating. I sighed. Alas, that was always the case. Bella caught my eye (and my frown) and waved me over. I grinned at her. She really was a sweetheart.
She walked forward, meeting me about halfway. She leaned towards me.
"Are you ok? Your expression was a mixture of disgust, anger, disbelief, and wistfulness," she whispered conspiratorially.
I snorted. "You are surprisingly perceptive. And also correct. It's rather eerie actually."
It was her turn to snort. "Have you ever considered that maybe you're just one of those guys that wears his heart on his sleeve?" she smirked.
I rolled my eyes at her. "Nice try, B." I started to walk past her, towards the others, but I stopped just beside. "And yeah, I'm ok. Thanks."
She smiled at me over her shoulder, before turning to Jasper (who had appeared on her right) and taking his hand, walked towards the school.
I turned back towards the Jeep…only to find Rose had stepped up behind me.
She smiled at me, but her eyes were drinking in the sight of Jasper and Bella.
"They're cute together."
I couldn't help but softly chuckle at such a simple phrase.
"She's good for him," I agreed. Then I had a thought.
I turned to Rose; a sly grin on my face. I offered her my arm, saying, "Madam," as I did so.
True to character, she rolled her eyes at me, but decided to humor me and hooked her arm through mine anyway. We strolled after Bella and Jasper, leaving Emmett back at the Jeep. He could find the school by himself.
As we passed my car, I glanced over. It's empty; Alice must have gone to class. Rose noticed my stare, and gave me a questioning look.
"Is everything ok between you and Alice?" she asked.
I shrugged. "Don't worry about it."
Through my periphery, I saw her staring at me in confusion, but she shrugged it off.
"Suit yourself."
We caught up to Jasper and Bella at the door. Jasper stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist, hugging her to him. Bella stood with her head bowed, her hair falling to conceal her face. Her left hand clung to Jasper's wrist, and her right clutched something at her throat.
"Bella?" Rose whispered. She raised her hand to pet Bella's hair. Bella flinched slightly, causing Rose to pause, before she relaxed to the gesture.
"Are you alright, honey?"
Bella lifted her head slightly, and Rose pushed her hair back over her ear. She gave Rose a rueful smile and a shrug. "As much as to be expected, given the circumstances."
Circumstances? "Bella?" I asked softly. "What's that you're holding?"
Her eyes softened as she turned her gaze down to said mystery. She opened her hand as a flower opens its petals to reveal two flat, rectangular pieces of metal on a silver chain. The rectangular pieces had indentations on them; printing.
They were dog tags.
Ah, the circumstances. I kept forgetting that Bella had only just recently lost Travis.
And James, and her home, and her life…
No wonder Bella looked like she had just taken a punch to the gut. She was a tough girl, but now I was even happier she had Jasper (as well as the rest of us). No one should have to go through that alone.
Jasper squeezed her waist and placed a soft kiss behind her ear. Bella turned slightly towards him, the corner of her lips quirking up into a tiny half-smile.
Rose stepped forward. "Come on; I'll walk you to your first class."
Bella gave Jasper a quick kiss goodbye, before hooking her arm through Rose's and sauntering off. Jasper stared after them; his face drawn with concern.
I clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, man, it'll get easier…for the both of you."
He kind of glared at me, but he appeared to calm down after a moment. "And what makes you so sure?"
Now it was my turn to give him a look. "It's gotten easier for you and Rose has it not?"
His nostrils flared a bit, but he smiled at the same time. Jasper had never been very open to discussing his life before Carlisle and Esme had adopted him and Rose. (I may be their biological son, but with everybody else referring to my parents by their first names, it was bound to rub off on me eventually).
I grinned back at him, before shoving him through the door. "Come on," I told him, just as the bell rang. "We're gonna be late."
. . .
Jazz and I met back up with the girls later at lunch. Emmett was already at the table; Alice, however, was nowhere to be found.
Jasper quickly sat next to Bella. Em was next to jasper, and Rose him; leaving a seat between Bella and Rose for me.
Bella grinned at me, and waved me over.
I sat down in time to hear Emmett bitching to Bella about poker; apparently she'd whooped his ass. Bella was defending herself with the argument that playing cards was a popular past time for people in the military; James and Travis had taught her a couple of things.
"Em, she's from Vegas," I intervened.
"And there's that," Bella laughed.
Jasper had his arm wrapped around her, and she leaned into him as she continued laughing at Emmett. He smiled at her and kissed her hair.
Lunch passed without much event, save the many stares and pointed fingers directed at Bella. Jessica Stanley, the biggest gossip in school, even came up to our table.
"Aren't you Isabella Swan?" Her finger was pointed at Bella; her expression clearly showing she was looking for "dirt" on the new girl.
Bella took one glance at Jessica, and the finger pointed at her, and replied, "Every time you point a finger at someone, there are three pointed back at you."
To say Jessica was startled would be an understatement. She did an impression of an open-mouthed bass as she gaped, before stomping off in a huff as Bella continued to ignore her.
We all just stared at Bella. She was drinking her water and nibbling at the food she shared with Jasper, acting as though she hadn't just sideswiped the town's pariah. Bella caught our glances and shrugged.
What followed, I honestly cannot explain. Maybe it was Jessica's expression, maybe it was the interaction as a whole, but what I think really caused it, was Bella's utter nonchalance about the entire situation.
We laughed. Bella looked at us like we were all mental, but that only made us laugh harder. Her lips twitched, and she finally joined in with her own infectious laughter. And right then, I was thankful to Jessica for walking over. It was worth it to see Bella so free, her expression unclouded from the hell that had become her life.
Jasper's eyes met mine, and I could tell he agreed with me. I grinned at him, and he threw one back at me.
What could I say? When I was right, I was right.
"So how's your first day goin' so far, Darlin'?" Jasper asked Bella. I leaned forward eagerly; I'd been wondering the same thing.
Her carefree expression was replaced with one of indifference. She shrugged.
"Just like Rose said: stares, glares, and gossip." Her eyes tightened ever so slightly, contradicting her lazy tone.
Jasper's narrowed as he looked down at her, but she wouldn't meet his gaze. He leaned in and whispered something to her that I didn't catch. He must have been asking her a question, because she shrugged in response. I noticed Rose was scrutinizing Bella, and Emmett kept glancing at the pair out of the corner of his eye.
And then suddenly, I realized what was wrong.
What's wrong with Bella? Is Edward right? Leave me your thoughts.
Until next time, my darlings.