Whomever izzy is, I'm sorry I did not reply to your review; I couldn't find you on the site.

Edward's POV

"Someone was talking about Travis."

Everyone's gazes snapped from Bella to me. Everyone except Bella. She did, however, tense at the mentioning of her dead brother, and turned her face further into Jasper's chest. I briefly wondered if she did that to hide her scar.

As she was hiding her face, I stared at the back of her head as I pressed my point. I knew I was right; Travis was the only reasonable explanation.

"Someone did, didn't they? Who was it?"

Bella flinched at my obviously harsh tone. Jasper pulled her closer to him, and shot me death glare. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Rose and Emmett glaring at me too. Before I could correct myself and backtrack, Rose took over.

"Bella, honey," she whispered, "is Edward right? Please? Who was it?"

Jasper began murmuring to her again, presumably asking the same things we were. His hand gently trailed over her arm in a soothing manner. She relaxed into his embrace, but kept her face hidden. Jasper kissed her forehead before burying his face in her hair.

Rosalie chose that moment to hit me.

I turned my attention to her. She was glaring at me, and her nostrils were flared.

"What?" I mouthed.

She rolled her eyes, but glanced meaningfully at her brother and his girlfriend, before returning her glare to me.

Oh. Rose was chastising me for so blatantly staring at them in their private moment.

Oops.

My expression must have been sheepish (and somewhat guilty) enough for her, because she basically ignored me after that.

Rosalie and I had never had an easy relationship. After what happened with her family, and she and Jasper moved in with us, she would only spend time with Jasper, and on occasion, Esme. If Jasper left a room, so would she. Jasper and Emmett became friends before he started dating Rose. Emmett did what the rest of us, not even Esme, could not accomplish.

He broke through Rose's shield.

I sighed to myself just as the bell rang. Time for class…with Alice and Rose.

Great.

BPOV

If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies?

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love

If today was your last day

I shook my head at Nickelback's If Today Was Your Last Day. Oddly appropriate, but that didn't mean I had to be happy about it.

I sat outside at one of the picnic tables. I was in study hall, and there was only 10 minutes left before lunch, and I could see Jasper.

Why the fuck would I need a study hall? I could be in a class, keeping my mind off of Travis!

I winced. I had already been missing Travis this morning when we came to the school. I don't know what happened; one second I just want to get on with all the first day bullshit so that it'd be done, and the next, Jasper is holding me and trying to calm me down. The man's a saint.

The fucking asshole! He had no right to say those things! None!

My grip tightened on the edge of the wooden table. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I thought about last night; Jasper had slept over.

We were lounging in the living room. Jasper was lying on his side on the couch, and I was curled up in front of him. His left arm was around my waist, holding me to him, while his right arm supported my head. Riley was lying on the floor, right below my head. Ever the guard dog.

The TV was on with Two and a Half Men playing. I couldn't stop laughing at how Jake kept managing to outsmart Charlie.

Jasper lightly kissed my neck. I turned slightly so I could kiss him fully on the mouth. I hadn't even known him a day and I already felt safe with him; already trusted him. I still didn't understand it, but I did.

"Are you tired?" he whispered against my lips. I shook my head, and kissed him again. Screw exhaustion! I had a gorgeous man lying next to me, dammit!

"Do you want to go to bed?" That same sexy tone. I nodded this time. He grinned, before tossing me over his shoulder and carrying me up the stairs. I was laughing by the time he set me on the bed.

He kissed me again, like he had earlier in the kitchen. My hands moved to play with the hair on the nape of his neck. His lips were chapped, but so soft.

I don't know how long it lasted, but we were both gasping for breath when we finally separated. He didn't ask to take it further, and for that I was grateful. I couldn't. Not now.

I glanced at my watch; it was after eleven. I yawned and Jasper chuckled.

"Tired?"

Stifling another yawn, I nodded.

He stood, offered his hand, and pulled me off the bed. I stumbled to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth.

When I got back, I found Jasper had also changed. Plaid pajama pants and no shirt. He was tanned, tone, and fucking hot. I was one lucky lady.

Catching sight of me and my attire, his eyes darkened slightly and he grinned wickedly at me. I smirked in response.

Taking my hand again, he led me to the bed (where he had already pulled back the covers) and let me climb in, before crawling in after me. Jasper flipped himself onto his back, and I settled my head on his chest. He was so warm. I felt safe and loved. For the first time since Tray died, my eyes slipped closed without a fight.

Right before I fell asleep, I noticed Riley curled up at the foot of the bed. I think I slept with a smile on my face.

I was snapped out of my musings by the bell.

'Bout fucking time.

My hand ached slightly from the grip I'd exerted on the table. It was red and raw from where the rough wood bit into it, but whatever. It had nothing on my arms. I tugged my sleeves down to hide the bruises. I'd tell Emmett and Jasper…later. I knew they'd be upset that I didn't tell them ASAP, but upset I can deal with.

I schlepped to the door where all the other study hall kids were stampeding to get through.

Animals.

Rose was already waiting, although she made sure to stand well away from the door. Smart girl.

I must have looked depressed or something, because she gave me a quizzical look. I cocked my eyebrow at her. I don't know how long our staring contest lasted, but eventually Rose just shrugged and led the way to the cafeteria.

Jasper wasn't there yet, but Emmett was. Rose pulled me to the lunch line; we each grabbed a tray and tossed in random food items. I didn't really care what I grabbed; I didn't eat much, and I'd be sharing with Jasper anyway.

Rose and I sat down with Emmett, and within seconds, half of the food Rose had bought was either gone or in the process of being shoved down Emmett's mouth. Rose wrinkled her nose, but smiled, and I just laughed.

Jasper appeared next to me, and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me into a hug. I smiled at him, but glancing over his shoulder, I saw Edward just standing there. I beckoned him over, and he took the empty seat next to me. I would have to find a time to talk to him later. Something was up between him and Alice. And I was fairly certain I knew why.

Lunch was fun and relaxing; a much needed change from this morning. Some red head came up to the table, babbling to me about being the "new girl." I would have just ignored her, but I don't like people who point fingers. Years spent walking the streets of Vegas with whispered rumors and pointed fingers in my wake. I recited that quote that denounces finger pointing to her, and after she realized I wasn't going to give her the time of day, she stormed off to go have her little temper tantrum.

I honestly didn't see what so funny about the whole thing, but everybody else was freaking giddy. Eventually I broke down and joined in the antics.

"So how's your first day goin' so far, Darlin'?" Jasper asked, once things had calmed down.

There went my good mood.

I wanted to tell Jazz what happened, but not with everybody else listening. I kept my expression carefully guarded as I shrugged, hoping to placate him with my answer. "Just like Rose said: stares, glares, and gossip."

I think he caught the hint, because he whispered so only I could hear when he asked, "What's goin' on, Baby?"

I shrugged again, keeping my eyes on the table. I could feel my expression tightening into one of anger. I tried to calm myself, but I couldn't get those idiots and their taunts out of my head.

"Someone was talking about Travis?"

Damn you Edward!

I rested my head on Jasper's chest and closed my eyes. I really didn't want to deal with this shit.

"Someone did, didn't they? Who was it?" he pressed.

I felt Jasper tense at Edward's tone. I didn't like it either, but I was to mentally exhausted to tell him to shut it.

"Bella, honey, is Edward right?" Rose asked. "Please? Who was it?"

Jasper must have been able to sense my reluctance, because he murmured, "Don't worry 'bout it right now, Honey. You can tell me later."

I felt myself relax into him as he kissed my forehead, and pressed his face into my hair. I was so relieved he let it go. For now.

We stayed like that for I don't know how long, but then the bell rang. We bid farewell to our siblings, and headed off to our joint Latin class.

We reached the classroom, only for me to freeze in my tracks. The guy from earlier was leering at me. I tensed; my automatic response to that kind of expression, as well as many others.

This was gonna be a long class.

My sincerest apologies for the delay. I was doing so well with writing, but then school decided to come back with a vengeance.

I got all of one guess on the cliff hanger from my last chapter. She wasn't right, but hey, she tried.

So who do you think is harassing Bella? And why do think preparing for a fight is her automatic response? If you guess, I WILL tell you if you're right or not.

Until next time, my darlings.