This is just a short, fun chapter. I am going out of town and wanted to give you something first. Also fun chapter usually means heavy ahead as we get deeper into the plot.

Theme: Walk, by my all-time favourite band, the Foo Fighters. I don't own it, Twilight, or Twinkle Toes.

I updated because I am getting into the story. But I didn't feel the love last time, not one review :( Make it up to me now? But thanks for the alerts and favourites!

BPOV

I woke up the next afternoon after the best sleep I had had in awhile. I wasn't sure if it was because I had finally let go of some of my pain and shared it with someone else, or due to Jasper's calming influence. Maybe it was both.

I stretched like a cat and when I heard a chuckle I looked over on the chair next to the bed to see a very amused Jasper.

"Morning." I said, my voice still sleepy.

"More like afternoon." He said with a small grin.

I looked at the clock on the nightstand, noticing it was after 1 pm. "Hey, I'm on school vacation, ease up."

He just nodded but his tone turned hesitant as I stood up. He was expecting me to bolt. I sighed. "Jasper.." I sat down on the arm of the chair he was sitting on, ghosting a hand and over his arm, remembering the calm it brought me last night. "I would be lying if I said there wasn't part of me that was telling me to run, protect myself."

He nodded, looking defeated but I continued. "But, we're past that. I'm sorry but I can't go back to that. You're stuck with me now I'm afraid.

After I had some breakfast/lunch Jasper went to go for a hunt. I decided to get in a shower. First I put my Ipod into the dock of the stereo in the bedroom and turned it up so that I could hear it in the on-suite.

I took a nice, long, warm shower, finding myself even singing along a few times. Not that much had changed since yesterday, and at the same time everything had changed. I was still the girl that had been abandoned by so many, with little to look forward to. But at the same time a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

I wrapped a big fluffy white towel around me. It was like one you would get in a fancy hotel. I went back out into the bedroom to pick out some clothes. I didn't have anything. I had come right from school and had told myself I wouldn't spend the night.

I picked up my jeans from out of the bathroom giving them a little smell. They would do at least for today. I rifled though the room and found what I assumed was one of Jasper's t-shirts. It was black and had a cowboy and a horse on it. There was a saying across it: There's only one rule to being a cowboy: never squat with yer spurs on. I laughed to myself. I bet this was part of his rebellion against everything Alice. She never would have allowed that shirt.

I put it on as I continued to get ready. I was looking around for a blowdryer, a dance in my step despite myself. I listened to the latest Foo Fighters album as my feet did a little shuffle and my head a bob.

"I'm learning to walk again. I believe I've waited long enough.."

I dropped the brush in my hands as I heard a low chuckle from the doorway. Damn vampires and their sneakiness.

"How long have you been standing there?" I was in such a good mood I couldn't even convince myself to blush at Jasper's amused grin.

"Long enough to see that mighty fine performance of yours."

I laughed and took in his smile. It was one of pure happiness. "What's got you so chipper this afternoon?"

"Your emotions are just really good today." I returned his smile, both of us enjoying this moment. I didn't know when the darkness was going to consume me again so I decided to enjoy it. I knew it was going to be a good day.

"Well come on twinkle toes, I got someone for you to meet."

I looked up curious, wondering who he could be talking about. I followed him anyway as we headed out of the room. "Wait, twinkle toes?" I groaned to myself but Jasper was pleased at my new nickname. I could tell by his chuckle.

We walked down the stairs and I saw two vampires standing in the foyer. The woman was of small stature, about my height, thin, with blond curls. The man was almost as tall as Jasper with hair that shone like the sun. They looked over at Jasper and I with big grins plastered on their faces.

"Bella, this is Peter and his mate Charlotte. Guys, this is Bella." Of course, the two characters from Jasper's story from last night. They were just how I imagined, beautiful, statuesque, but warm like Jasper.

I looked into their crimson eyes, remembering Jasper saying they drank from humans. I didn't find myself scared though.

"Hi. Nice to meet you, thanks for letting me stay in your house." Their smiles stretched further, relieved to see I wasn't afraid. The tension was immediately broken and Peter came up to hug me.

"Thank you darlin' for keepin' our little Jasper here busy while we were away." I smiled into our hug. I could already tell we would get along. That little part of me tried to break into my thoughts telling me not to get attached to more people, but I suppressed it for now.

Charlotte opened her arms in turn and as I hugged her, I noticed how amazing she smelled. Jasper had told me she was the only other human whose blood smelled as good as mine. I could imagine why. She smelt like everything summer and I immediately felt a connection to her.

I stepped back as I heard Jasper ask what they had brought with them. Peter spoke. "We thought we could all use a fun activity." I laughed as Peter held up a sled.

"Vampires can go tobogganing?" I asked, trying to imagine it.

"Of course." Peter replied as he held up a bottle. "But this just isn't tobogganing. It's toboozening."

I laughed. I knew we would get along just fine.

JPOV

Bella had spent most of the past week around the house with Peter, Charlotte, and I. I was pleased at how quick of friends they became.

I was also pleased at Bella's progress. She was still struggling with herself, but she was moving on. That first morning when I saw her smile, it meant everything to me. Her being in my shirt didn't hurt the situation either. I tried to stop my mind's wandering at that thought.

Her friend Trip was back in town and I was bringing her over so we could all hang out. He was important to her, and I knew that if I wanted to be friends with her we would all have to get along and play nice. I was also interested in what else I could find out about him.

We walked up to the doorstep and Bella let us in. Immediately the boy I remembered from a night a few weeks ago stood up and scooped her into his arms. "Cookie! Did you miss me?"

"Of course. I can't believe you're back here associating with us now that you're a famous artist and all." He put her down and shot her a smile.

He looked back at me with a slight glare. I decided to get a read on his emotions and noticed they were not present. I doubted now that it was a fluke the other night.

"Trip, this is my friend Jasper." I extended my hand to him as he shook it hesitantly. I then handed him the case of beer that Bella had suggested I bring.

A smile rose on his face with a chuckle. "I think we're going to get along just fine." And with that it all hit me like a waterfall. I could hear his heartbeat, smell his scent, the rain and the forest, as strong as Bella's. And then I felt his amusement, content, and a slight amount of protectiveness. What the fuck?

We sat as Bella and I were recounted with stories of his week in New York, mostly his observations of various people. I could see why he and Bella got along, they were both very observant people but preferred to be on the periphery.

After about an hour another young man came in, the bulky one that reminded me of Emmett. "Trip! Good to see you buddy. Glad you're here, I just got a new pipe, let's break it in."

He sat down getting everything ready and lit it as he passed it to Trip who proceeded to pass it on to Bella. She was nervous. She was still worried I'd judge her I guess. I had told her that I wasn't in any position to judge and I'd meant it.

After she passed it to Luke he held it in my direction. Bella looked at me incredulously as I inhaled deeply. "You can smoke pot?" I chuckled, and luckily the other two seemed to miss her comment.

BPOV:

I sat in the living room now, watching some movie that I wasn't really paying attention to. Luke and Jasper came in from playing X-BOX. I laughed to myself. If I didn't know any better I could have sworn he was human, the way he yelled at the TV screen and smashed on the buttons. And who knew vampires could get high?

I looked up from Trip's shoulder which I was leaning against. Luke was smiling. "Trip, dude. This guy is pro at every game. His reflexes are intense." I laughed. I guess Jasper had made himself a new friend.

"Oh and guess what else. He can blow smoke rings."

As the boys sat on the sofa and Jasper tried to teach them the art of exhaling smoke into a ring I laughed to myself. "Jasper, I think you've got yourself some serious admirers."

Eventually we left. We had drove over but we decided to run back because neither of us was really up to driving. Trip and Luke had pretty much passed out. Trip was exhausted from his travels and Luke always passed out before everyone else.

I jumped onto Jasper's back but I kept getting distracted and letting go. So now I was on his front, his arms around me as I held onto his neck and the bag of chips I insisted he brought me to get. I found myself content and was actually disappointed when we arrived. I enjoyed the feeling of being cradled to him like I was something special.

The running should have made my head spin, especially now, but it didn't. Jasper probably wasn't running very fast anyway due to his own head.

We went in and plopped ourselves on the couch as he poked his finger into my cheek. It wasn't hard enough to hurt me but he made my skin jiggle. "Twink, you're warm and squishy. I wish I was warm and squishy." He looked sad as he poked his own cheek.

I poked it too. "But Jasper, you're strong and cool."

He just continued to pout as Peter came down the stairs. Jasper's head was resting in my lap now as he sulked.

Peter took in the scene in front of him with a raised eyebrow. "What's eating Charlie Brown over there?"

That caused me to crack a smile but Jasper fought off his as he frowned. I looked up at Peter with a shrug. "He's upset because he's not squishy enough."

This caused Peter to laugh a hearty, deep laugh. "I know how to cheer him up. Hey Jasper. I got a question for ya. How much did it cost the pirate to get his ears pierced?"

Jasper looked up at him with a straight face. "I don't know. How much."

"A buck-an-ear."

Everything was quiet for a full minute before Jasper started shaking in my lap. He was laughing so hard that his body was actually shaking. He looked up at me to see why I wasn't laughing quite as hard. "Get it? Because it sounds like buccaneer?"

I smiled and laughed, mostly at him. "Yeah, I get it."

Jasper closed his eyes as I stroked his hair softly, enjoying the feel of it between my tingly fingers. He smiled. "Thanks Peter, that cheered me up. But I still wish I was warm and soft, and that I could dream. I think I'd like to dream, and eat pizza."

Peter shook his head at the situation. "CHAR! Dig out the camera!" He yelled as he ran up the stairs.