A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and here's the next chapter! I tried to make this one longer to make up for the length of the last chapter!
Song: Trouble- Never Shout Never
Previously…
"Feel like a drive Bella?"
"Absolutely." I beamed, before taking in Jasper's slightly disheartened expression.
I couldn't deny him anything.
"Hey Jas, Em do you guys want to come?"
Identical smiled engulfed both boys' faces.
"Hell Yeah! ROAD TRIP!"
BELLA POV
"Wait, what about everyone else? Will Carlisle and Esme be upset if we just run off like this?"
"Bella, you better decide if you want to do this or not. Because either we keep driving or we turn around because there is no way in hell that we're inviting them." Rose said practically spitting out the last word.
"Hey, don't get pissed at me for asking a question! This was your idea."
"You're right." She sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just the every the Denali's come around it just puts me on my guard."
"Why?"
Tanya and Kate didn't seem all that bad and Irina just unnerves me a little. What could they have done to annoy Rose this much? Granted it doesn't take that much…
"Why don't you ask one of the guys? They know more about them than me." Rose said deliberately, her knuckles tightening on the steering wheel of the Jeep.
"Come on Rosie, not this again." Emmett sighed from the back seat.
I looked at Jasper expectantly.
"Don't look at me Darlin', all I can tell you is that Rose is practically radiating jealousy and animosity."
Rosalie opened her mouth to argue but Jasper beat her to it.
"Empath, remember?"
"Cocky bastard." She grumbled, speeding up before coming to a sudden stop. "We are here!"
"Where is here exactly?" I asked, looking pointedly out the car window at the woods around us.
"Here, you'll need this." Rose said, ignoring my question, and tossing me something. "Bella and I will meet you guys there."
I turned and looked out the window just in time to see Jasper turn around and look back as he and Emmett entered the forest.
I couldn't help but feel a smile of my own spread across my lips in response before Jasper took off after Emmett.
What is going on?
I turned to look at Rosalie who was watching me with a smirk on her face.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Okay, whatever. Now what are we- why the heck are you in a swim suit?!?"
"Hmm…maybe because we're going swimming." Rose said smiling and rolling her eyes at me.
And for the first time I looked down and noticed what Rose had given me earlier. A swim suit.
"Okay, when you said 'go for a drive' I was picturing going FOR A DRIVE. Not driving to somewhere!" I protested, trying to hand the red material back to its owner.
"Same thing. And you haven't even looked at the swim suit yet! Come on I really tried to pick one that you would like!"
Grimacing, I looked at the thing.
"Well?" She questioned impatiently, an almost anxious look on her face.
"It's not as bad as I expected." I admitted, causing a pleased expression to show on her features.
"I'll wait outside while you put it on."
I glanced at the stretchy material again. It was a white one piece with cut outs on the sides. It wasn't something I would have usually chosen, but it wasn't as bad as the time Alice got me a yellow polka dot bikini. Yes, like the commercial. I think Alice bought me that one for that sole reason.
"Ready to go?" Rose asked.
"Yep." I responded actually feeling myself grow excited.
It was rare to have the chance to swim in Forks because of the weather, but today it was sunny and warmer than usual.
"It's just about a mile over here, I drove us most of the way there." She commented before stepping into the forest.
"We're walking?" I asked dumbfounded.
For once we were going to take things at my pace. I think this is the first time I haven't had to be carried somewhere.
"Well, yes. I am not carrying you there. And there's no way I'm going to sling you onto my back like a caveman. Besides you could fall off that way."
I snickered thinking of how uncomfortable I had been when Edward told me that he was going to carry me there on his freaking back. That was really stupid for me to agree to that when I really didn't want to do it. I should have put my foot down and told him 'no' instead of just mindlessly agreeing to whatever he said.
On the way to meet Jasper and Emmett Rose and talked about anything and everything. Truth be told, I really didn't know much about her until that conversation since we were just becoming good friends.
"Gosh, you can hear them from here." Rosalie said, rolling her eyes.
I laughed and peered ahead trying to get a glimpse of where we were heading. Suddenly, swimming in the cool water sounds really nice right now.
I looked around the clearing after we walked through the break in the trees. We were in a little treeless area with a waterfall and a lake under it.
Where are Jasper and Emmett? I just heard them a second ago. God, they better not be planning anything…
"Where are they?" I asked Rose, who just shrugged.
"Who cares? They're probably roaming the woods or something. I'll hear their footsteps if they get close again."
Warily, I sat on the edge of the body of water and put my feet in.
Oh, it isn't as cold as I expected.
"Hold your breath."
What? Who said that-
And suddenly something grabbed me from behind and I went tumbling into the water.
I resurfaced almost immediately, gasping for air.
I stood there in the water trying to regain my breath, when I realized that I actually wasn't standing and that I was in someone's stone arms.
"Jasper?!? What the heck was that?!" I spluttered, pushing my almost black colored, from the water, hair out of my face.
Oh great and now my jean shorts and tank are all wet too! Couldn't he have waited to throw me in after I had taken my dry clothes off and just had the swim suit on?
"Sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to startle you. But in my defense I told you to hold your breath."
"Startle me?!? You almost drowned me!" I smacked him in the chest as I said this.
He laughed and I felt the vibration go through his body at the movement.
Oh god.
Jasper is holding me and he is shirtless.
At that thought my entire face flamed red, much to my displeasure.
He could probably feel the embarrassment coming off me in waves.
But honestly could you blame me? I had only seen Edward shirtless a hand-full of times and Jake…he was my friend. So that didn't count.
Jake. Is this the first time I thought of my best friend in weeks? Am I really that selfish that I forgot him? I have been so caught up in my own world of being changed that Jacob completely slipped my mind.
I squeezed my eyes shut in fury at myself.
What kind of person does that?
"Bella? What is it?" Jasper asked pushing my hair out of my face so he could see it.
"I forgot him. I can't believe I forgot him."
"Forgot who? Bella, what are you talking about?" Jasper questioned setting me down on a rock by the waterfall.
I hadn't even noticed that Jasper started moving.
When was the last time I spoke to Jake? It must have been at the wedding reception. After Jake and Edward got into that horrible fight I hadn't heard from Jake, nor had I tried to make any contact with him.
He probably hates me by now. I know I would hate me if I was him.
"Bella, you have to calm down sweetheart."
I took a deep, shuddering breath and opened my eyes.
Jasper had sat me on the rock and was standing directly in front of me. We were eye-to-eye so I saw the concern etched on his face and in his eyes.
The water from the waterfall beside caused a light mist of water to hit us, causing water to soak both of our hair and drip onto our faces.
"Jasper, have you ever felt so angry at yourself that you wanted to be someone else?... Anyone else?"
"All the time."
I sighed and laid my forehead on his shoulder.
He wrapped his arms around me in an embrace and we remained in that position for god knows how long.
Eventually I sat back up straight and he released the tight grip he had on me; instead letting his hands rest on the rock on either side of my jean-short clad legs.
He remained stone-still, waiting patiently for me to explain why I was so upset.
"I'm sorry. It feels like all I ever do it cry and-"
"Isabella, don't you dare apologize."
"I was thinking about Jacob earlier. That's why I was sad." I confessed, changing the subject.
He cocked his head to the side questioningly, before recognition dawned in his eyes.
"Ah. The bane of Edward's existence."
I laughed and rolled my eyes.
He didn't know the half of it.
"Is it because after you're changed you will no longer be the bridge between both of our kind? You will have chosen to go with us, instead of him; and though I know that is not your intention…I imagine that's how he'll feel."
"I know." I whispered. "This is what happened when I was still with Edward. I was constantly having to choose between the two of them. And though Edward won most of the time Jake stuck with me. But I think, no I know that me becoming a vampire will be too much for him."
"Well why did you still choose us? I just thought you would have gone to Jacob after you and Edward ended things. I mean honestly, the guy loves you Bella; what's stopping you from going with Jacob?" Jasper asked, sounding honestly interested and curious.
The truth was the thought of leaving the Cullen's to be with Jake hadn't even crossed my mind. And now even thinking about leaving them sounded wrong. I wouldn't…no, couldn't ever leave any of them. They are my family now.
And so I told Jasper this.
"Honestly Jas, the thought of leaving you guys breaks my heart. I don't think I could live my life knowing that I left the only people I can truly call family."
I paused, bit my lip and continued hurriedly before I changed my mind and didn't say it.
"Especially now that we've become friends. I really don't know what I would have done without you. You are my rock, the sole reason I am not a mess right now and…I feel close to you Jasper. Even imagining my life without you in it…is unbearable."
I licked my lips nervously at Jasper's silence.
He was just standing in front of me, his head bent downwards with his golden blonde hair covering his eyes.
I stayed sitting on the rock between his arms frozen tensely in anxiousness.
What is he thinking? Had I said too much? Scared him away with my strong emotions that, by the way, he could feel as well as heard me confess?
He had to have known he was that important to me though. He had to know that I was utterly lost without him. He was my best friend. But that word doesn't even suffice to describe how important he is to me.
Not at all deterred by his lack of vocal response I put my hands over his and squeezed his hands.
"Bella." Jasper murmured, stopping my movement by interlocking our hands and bringing them up to his cheek.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"It was just the truth Jas."
"Still. It feels good to be…wanted and needed for a change." He sighed before smiling a rapturous smile at me.
His grin turned to a wicked one as he shook his hair, sending drops of water flying at me.
"Jasper!"
He laughed and extended his hand for me to take, helping me off the rock, as a peace offering.
"You are sooo lucky I just want to get back to shore and out of these wet clothes."
"Really now?"
"Shut up." I said, blushing lightly at his teasing tone.
"Hey there you two. Looks like you guys decided to have all the fun without us." Rosalie said by way of greeting us once we swam back to where she was sitting.
Her eyes were soft though so I knew that she had heard our conversation.
"So you decided to finally share Bella, huh Jazzman?" Emmett said to Jasper before winking at me.
"I thought you said you would hear them approaching!" I accused, narrowing my eyes at my sister.
"They were hiding up there." She said nodding up to the trees.
I glared at the blonde vampire standing next to me who just shrugged innocently.
"Unfortunately we should head back. I hear a couple of hikers a couple of miles off."
We all piled back into the Jeep and I was relatively silent most of the ride home while Rosalie and Emmett bickered in the front seat.
"So Rose." I started, trying to get them to stop fighting. "Why don't you like the Denali's? You never told me."
"Frankly Bella, they are a bunch of flirtatious women with no decorum or respect for what…or who belongs to others."
"Oh."
"Like once I actually had to pry Kate and Irina away from Emmett before they understood that he was taken. They backed off somewhat after I ripped out some of Irina's hair…but now that Jasper is single…"
Emmett burst out laughing so loudly I jumped. "Good luck with Irina dude."
Jasper rolled his bright eyes and punched Emmett in the arm. "Shut up asshole."
I groaned internally. Now I had to fight off two crazy vampires. Great. Have I mentioned that I can't wait until I'm changed?
"Tanya's not all that bad because she only has eyes for Edward, but the other two…you better keep an eye on them."
We pulled into their garage and entered the house, which was relatively quiet except for some voices from upstairs.
"Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to come back. "
The bronze-haired vampire paused reading everyone's thoughts before continuing.
"And it looks like it wasn't the most fun little trip."
Shit. He knows some of the words that Jasper and I exchanged. He knows about my worry for Jacob.
"Edward." I said coldly, before turning to go upstairs.
"I received a very interesting phone call while you were out playing."
"I really don't care what-"
"Seth called." Edward interrupted.
I froze.
"You didn't forget him too did you? You know, one of the wolves who helped me save you from Victoria."
Edward took my silence as an invitation to continue.
"Well, he called and told me that Jacob had decided to leave the pack. That no one, not even Billy, knows where he is and that he's been missing since the wedding. Seth called me because Charlie is still out of state and this was the only way to reach you."
I felt numb.
Jacob was gone.
"I-I've got to call him! Why would he do that? Doesn't he know that he is needed in the pack?"
"They've already tried calling him, love. He hasn't answered, and I don't think he will." Edward said, his voice softer after seeing how distraught I was.
"I still have to try calling him." I insisted. "And maybe I could have Charlie bring a note to Billy just in case Jacob comes back."
Why would Jacob run away again like this? And this time it is worse because he actually left the wolves. I had no idea they could just quit like that.
"Why are you guys all wet?" Kate asked coming downstairs and interrupting our conversation.
"Come on Bella. Let's get you something dry to wear." Rosalie said, walking straight past Kate up to her room.
I pulled my hand out of Jasper's and followed Rose after shooting Kate an apologetic smile.
"You can pick anything from the right side in closet." Rose said pointing to a door in the corner of her and Emmett's room. "That's where I hung some of the clothes you bought."
I walked in and grabbed a pair of jeans with ripped holes in the knees and a black V-neck tee shirt.
"And Bella I'm sure your wolf friend will be fine. He seemed like he could take care of himself and wouldn't do anything too stupid." Rosalie commented nonchalantly, but I could see that she was really making an effort to make me feel better.
"Thanks."
"Damn her." Rosalie growled all of the sudden.
"What? Who?" I asked, shocked at her change in tone.
"Emmett is going hunting with Edward, and apparently Irina and Kate decided to join them." She explained before taking off downstairs.
"I'm going also." I heard Rosalie say to the others.
I turned to walk down the hallway to the guest room, but saw Jasper's door open; so I knocked before entering his room.
He was lying on his sofa, just staring at the ceiling.
I sat on the end by his feet silently and closed my eyes in exhaustion.
"Don't go."
"What?" I asked confused, opening my eyes to see Jasper sitting up now. His eyes were looking intently into mine.
"Don't go after Jacob Black."
I stared at him in surprise.
He thought I would leave the second I heard that Jake was missing? Did he listen to anything I said earlier?
"Jasper! How could you think that after everything I told you at the waterfall? I am not leaving you. Ever."
"I believe you now, but what happens the next time I screw up and bite a human?" He asked bitterly.
He sounded like he was already setting himself up to fail.
"As long as I'm here you won't. I believe in you Jas." I said confidently, letting him feel the determination and trust I had for him.
"You know what you were saying at the waterfall about me?"
"Yes."
"I feel the same way about you."
Sneak peak at next chapter:
"Why would you do that?" I choked out. "Why would you get them to come here now?"
"Like I said before. You being changed…it's just not an option."
A/N: NO JASPER IS NOT SAYING HE LOVES BELLA. Neither of them has realized their feelings yet, as of now they are just really close friends. And I hope ya'll liked this chapter because I put a lot of Besper in it! Thanks for reviewing! If you guys have any questions go ahead and message me!