Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own any of it. It all belongs to Steph Meyer.

A/N: Sorry that it took me so long to update. I got busy with prep for finals...then when they were over, idk...I just didn't update...Thanks to all those who reviewed, and who knows reviews may make the updates come faster...also, check out the new chapter one, I changed the beginning somewhat...lemme know what you think, even if it's just a flame...

BPOV

At some point last night, I had fallen asleep in Jasper's arms. He had been there when I woke up. It had been a peaceful sleep too; I probably owed that to Jasper. He asked if I wanted to go to school today, and I told him that I probably should. He gave a slight nod and left me to get ready. I skipped breakfast and walked on out my door on my way to my truck.

Jasper was across the street, leaning against his new black Jaguar XF. I probably shouldn't have been surprised.

"I thought you might want a ride," he said smiling at my reaction.

Not much later, we were sitting in the school parking lot. I was procrastinating getting out to go inside. Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to my day. "Do you want me to stick around? Just in case—" he asked trailing off.

The selfish half of me wanted to say yes; the other part was saying no, it won out. "No, you don't have to dot hat Jazz." I said somewhat reluctantly.

"I'll be around here somewhere." He was out and around the car with my door open before I could even react. I hadn't even seen him move. Stupid emotion-sensitive vampire... "I'll walk you to your first class," he said reaching for my books. I considered trying to stop him but decided to just go ahead and step out: really, why bother?

To no one's surprise, I stumbled as I got out of the car. Jasper grasped my shoulder to steady me and gently led me away from his car, deftly pushing the door shut behind me with a nudge from his foot. A smirk played on his features and he let his had fall, brushing my arm as he went, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake and invoking sparks that shouldn't have been. He laced his fingers through mine and shot me a lopsided half-smile. I felt my cheeks turn a bright scarlet; which only furthered to a deep crimson as he laughed at me, seemingly unaffected by my blood.

I hate how he affects me this way...WAIT affects me like WHAT...there shouldn't be anything here..right? Should there? Completely confused, my brain pretty much shut down that train of thought. It was too much for it to comprehend. There just wasn't enough room in my head for philosophical thoughts next to Calculus, Wuthering Heights, Shakespeare's dramaticsand the chaos of the past sixteen hours.

I felt one corner of my mouth twitch and pull upward. Jasper squeezed my hand and started to lead me towards my first class. At the other end of the parking lot, leaning against his silver Volvo was my Greek go. No, he wasn't my anything anymore. That thought alone would have torn me apart if it hadn't been for Jasper. Once again, he helped me stay calm. He squeezed my hand again and unexpectedly pulled me against him, trading my hand in favor of putting his arm across my shoulders. Unconsciously, his posture stiffened and he took on what could only be described as a protective pose.

Edward stiffened visibly, even from where we were. Whatever Jasper was thinking, Edward didn't like it at all. Only his eyes followed us as we passed him, his jaw tense and his eyes charcoal. I thought I heard him growling, but I couldn't be sure. The majority of the people in the parking lot had stopped what they had been doing to stare. It was eerily quiet.

"Jasper?"

"Give me a minute," he said, knowing what I meant. "I don't know if it will work though..." A few people went back to what hey had been doing as though we were no longer there, while others rushed off in a mad dash to who knows where. Most of them though, still stared at us as though they were seeing a forbidden taboo.

"Crap. There're too many people." It was still deathly quiet with almost all eyes trained on us. The high-pitched incessant buzzing of the five-minute bell echoed across the school seeming much louder than normal, and sending everyone off in a rush to their classes after a brief hesitation. Hmm...saved by the bell, I guess the old cliché really does ring true sometimes. We too moved on, continuing on our way to my first class.

When we got there, the room was empty but for Angela. "Bella, do you want to trade seats with me for today?" she asked. She hadn't asked any prying questions or made accusations as Jess would have; she simply just offered me her support in the only way that she knew how. She hadn't even made a comment about Jasper's hold on my shoulder.

I flashed her a grateful look and carried my books up to her normal seat with Jasper trailing behind me. I leaned into him trying not to hyperventilate as my anxiety mounted. Knowing what i felt, he pulled me into his arms in an attempt to comfort me. "You'll do fine. If you need me though, I'll come and find you." he whispered in my ear before brushing my cheek with his lips in a chaste kiss. He turned to leave, sending calming waves my way as he walked out the door. The feelings may not have been genuine, but they did help.

Edward walked in at the bell. His face was a mixture of pure longing tainted with anger, a deep, deep sadness and an overwhelming fear. I turned around sat down and steeled myself for what I figured to be one very long hour-and-a-half as I felt Edward's liquid obsidian eyes bore into my back.