A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed. I love you soooo much for that!
I"ve just realised how looong this fic might end up being. Longer than anything I've ever written. It's kind of overwhelming. But good for you guys I guess :)

I haven't become Stephenie in the last week, so... that means I don't own Twilight and its subsequent friends.

When the sun began to peek over the horizon, I knew we needed to leave, but my body was protesting.

"Jazz, come on," Alice urged as I stayed rooted to the ground beneath the tree I had spent the night sitting in.

"But..."

I felt her frustration and amusement. "You do realize that if you're late for school and get detention, you won't be able to study with her after school."

Without further need for encouragement, I took one last look at the small window of what we had worked out was her bedroom, and began the run home.

It had been a relatively successful night. We sat in adjacent trees, firstly listening to Bella's awkward conversation with her father over dinner, and the sounds of her night-time activities, before lapsing into conversation. She expanded on the details of the visions she'd been having of Bella over the past two years, which gave me insight into the girl she was as opposed to the simple pulling 'presence' my mind saw her as at the moment.

Grabbing a backpack as I made my way to my bookcase, I ensured that I had all the books we would need for our history project. I cursed that schools nowadays were such sticklers were referencing your information, so I couldn't just write what I knew from second-hand fireside accounts.

I stepped out onto the front porch and froze at what was in front of me. "He's going to kill you, you know?" I told Emmett. "And not humanely. One piece at a time, so you can feel every lick of the flames."

"Huh," he scoffed. "I'd like to see him try. And this is the only car we all fit in comfortably." He gestured towards Edward's Volvo, of which he was preparing to drive to school.

"Fine. But when he finds out, I want this image to be the first thing he sees in your heads, please: We can't take this. We don't have Edward's permission." I tried to make my protest at least look convincing for the inevitable time when he saw this encounter in our heads.

Sitting in the passenger seat - the girls fit into the back much easier than I did - I was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Oh, dude, you're like a little kid waiting for Santa over there. Chill."

I sent a vicious glare at my brother who was speeding towards the school. Towards Bella.

"Seriously. You only just left her, didn't ya?"

"But I could only feel and smell her. I need to see her."

"God, you've got it bad." I assumed that Emmett had been filled in on the details once he returned back from depositing Edward into the care of the Denalis. They would have met him somewhere near the Alaskan border to make the trip faster for him.

I just shrugged at him. I wasn't about to deny that I 'had it bad' as Emmett described. It was fairly given that I was rather obsessed with Bella.

"Okay, Romeo," Rosalie growled, but there wasn't any malice in her essence. "We're almost there. Can you quit the vibrating now?"

I looked down, to see my leg shaking nervously. "Oh. Sorry."

She was already here at school, I could tell - the pulling didn't get worse as we past her street, and continued lessening infinitesimally as we drove. I couldn't help grinning as we pulled into the parking lot. The truck which had been sitting in her driveway all night was here - as much as the hunk of junk could be classified as a vehicle. Even better; the girl herself was standing on the lawn between the parking lot and D Block.

She was beautiful. Her long hair was blowing in the breeze, and it was obviously annoying her, as she kept brushing it off her face, a burst of impatience pulsing through her each time. Her jeans hugged her body, showing off the curve of her hips from below the hem of her thick coat. She was relaxed as she talked to Angela Weber, shifting her weight between each foot periodically. A few of the boys around were glancing at her with lust; a fact which angered me so much I had to keep myself in check to stop from projecting.

I was out of the car almost before Emmett had come to a stop, and I could hear Alice's low chuckling as I moved across the lot towards her. I was halfway when she glanced up over Angela's shoulder, and saw me. If I had a functioning heart, it would have been pounding when her face burst into a wide grin. She quickly attempted to neutralize her expression, but I had seen and felt how happy she was when she saw me, and a faint blush and quirk in the side of her mouth betrayed her emotions, even if I hadn't been able to feel them myself.

I felt my feet continue towards her even without my conscious permission, and before I could plan what to say to her, I was standing behind Angela, my eyes locked on her face.

"Quit staring, Jazz. You'll freak her out," Alice hissed from across the lot at vampire frequency.

I tried to take her advice, and schooled my face to a less intense expression, and forced my eyes to wander, hoping it looked human.

"Hey, Jasper," she smiled, alerting Angela to my presence, turning around to face me.

"Hello Bella. Angela."

Angela registered shock and a little apprehension. I guessed that I'd never really spoken to her before and she was taken aback.

My skin was tingling, aching to reach out and touch her, but I bit back the urge.

Angela looked between the two of us. "Um... well, I'll see you in class, Bella." She raised her eyebrows, asking for confirmation.

"Sure, Ang."

"How are you?" I asked as Angela walked away, instantly mentally kicking myself for the trite small talk.

"I'm good." She was filled with amusement.

"I... I was wondering if you would like to sit together at lunch today." I couldn't believe how nervous I was. I could hear my siblings laughing at me, and directed some wrath towards them.

"Spoilsport," Emmett laughed. "If the shoe was on the other foot, you'd be laughing your tiny ass off."

Bella was nervous as she considered my offer. "Uh, well, I had thought I was going to sit with Angela, but... you can sit with us if you like."

I hesitated. I wasn't sure how comfortable I was at the prospect of sitting with other students.

"Say 'yes', you idiot," Alice groaned. Her voice was closer as they walked to class.

My concentration back on Bella, I studied her earnest face. "Sure. That'd be great." Happiness flowed out of her. I couldn't believe my luck that this girl was actually excited at the thought of spending time with me. I did not deserve this.

I could feel them approaching, but didn't expect Emmett to throw his arm around my neck. "Come on, Jazz. Step away from the pretty lady before you make her late for class," he jested, causing Bella to blush furiously.

"I'll see you at lunch, then," she said softly as Emmett began to drag me away bodily.

I tried to struggle, but Alice's hiss made me stop. "'Till then," I replied, before turning to my siblings.

"Nice one, bro. She's cute." Emmett punched my arm playfully.

"Stay away from her," I growled.

"Oh, come on, dude. Let me have my fun. This is a big deal."

"I'm aware of how 'big' this is."

"Just leave him alone, Emmett," Rosalie said softly, catching my eye, and I nodded my thanks.

"But babe, we've never got to watch one of us courting. He's so adorable." He pinched my cheek like I was a small child.

"Quit it." I swatted his hand away.

Alice stepped in front of us all, stopping us in our tracks. "Here's what's going to happen. We ALL back off, and let Jasper get to know Bella. No teasing, Em. This is a hard enough situation - for all of us - without any added pressure, okay."

"Yes, ma'am!" Emmett grinned, as Rosalie nodded silently.

"Thanks, Allie." I gave her a look of camaraderie.

"Now, go. Get to class, all of you," she demanded.

I was watching the main door to C Block, where Bella was just disappearing.

"Four hours," Alice whispered. "Then you'll be right next to her."

I felt like an idiot. I had spent decades at war, leading soldiers into battle without fear, and yet approaching that long table in the middle of the cafeteria filled me with incredible nervous tension. I looked over to the table by the window, where my family was settling down, wishing I was with them, but my body continued to move towards Bella.

"Hi," she said softly as I got near, and moved along the bench to make room for me. We were at the end of the long table which seemed to be filled with a good portion of the junior class. It was rather... overwhelming for my senses. They were so much closer to me than during classes, and the pulsing blood and teenage emotions mingled, making me more flustered than I was the other times I'd been around Bella.

Apart from initial salutations, I was content to let the conversation happen around me, allowing Bella's scent to flood over me. I would lean closer to her each time I took a breath, taking in the Bella-saturated air with fewer scent particles from other humans. Most of my effort went into swallowing the filth they called food, and monitoring the emotions around me.

Bella had waves of anxiety and nervousness periodically, and embarrassment each time attention was on her. She was asked multitude of questions about her life at her old school, which I learned was in Arizona, and she always kept her answers brief, diverting attention elsewhere quickly. She seemed to be a true introvert, and I felt the need to protect her from the constant scrutiny.

A few of the boys were paying her too much attention, and had some feelings towards her which I did not approve of. When the Newton kid reached across the table and touched her hand, I could feel a growl rumbling through my chest which only stopped when Bella sent me a confused look.

"You don't ever talk to these people normally, do you?" she whispered, leaning close to me so that I could almost taste her skin.

I glanced around the table before looking back at her, directly into her eyes. "Uh... not so much," I admitted.

She smiled conspiratorially. "How about tomorrow, we sit where you choose?"

I couldn't help the huge grin that spread across my face. She wanted to have lunch with me again? "That would be lovely."

"It hasn't been too bad sitting here, though, has it?"

"I'd much prefer to be right here where I am, than at my normal table." Her face was turned towards me, so close to my own, and I studied and memorized every tiny freckle decorating her nose and cheeks. There was such perfection in the imperfections.

I glanced across at Angela before leaning in to whisper in Bella's ear, swallowing back the venom that pooled in my mouth from being so close to her jugular. "I've got something to tell you this afternoon, too. You'll like it."

I couldn't help smirking at the questioning look she sent me, and her frustration when I shook my head to indicate I wasn't going to gossip until we were alone.

My body shook at that thought. Alone. We were going to be completely alone after school. The prospect of getting to know her better thrilled me to the core. My mind drifted away to how it would be to breathe in nothing but her essence for hours - bliss.

Around us, people began collecting their belongings and dumping their trash and trays. I reluctantly did the same, my body protesting with every inch I moved away from her.

Alice stopped me before I made it to the door, excusing us. Bella smiled softly and said goodbye.

"See you in class," I reminded her as she walked away before turning my attention to Alice.

Nervousness trickled from her. "Um... do you want me to come with you this afternoon?" She looked up at me earnestly. "If you don't feel like you'll be in control around her, I can hang out in the tree..."

I considered the option. While I hadn't spent any time alone with a human, I didn't feel like Bella was in any danger by being with me.

"I believe I'll be okay."

She nodded, and allowed her eyes to flutter closed, forcing a vision out. "Yes, you will be." She smiled. "I'm proud of you. Really, I am."

"Thanks. I'll keep my phone next to me, in case anything changes."

"Good idea. I'll keep an eye out for you." She seemed deep in thought.

I sent her my sincere appreciation.

"We'll talk when I return home," I assured her.

She smirked at me. "And we have all the hours during 'Bella watch' tonight."

"We're going again?"

"Yup." She smiled. "You really are a lost cause when it comes to being away from her."

I looked down the hall where she had just disappeared. "Yeah, I am."