The next morning passed quickly, and I was fortunately no confronted by Jasper, although he did continue to give me concerned looks when he passed me in the halls. I at lunch like normal by myself in the far left corner of the room. But the bell rang too soon, for it was time for the last class of the day, a class I had with jasper. Honors Earth Sci. I had always liked this class my teacher was sweet and she reminded me of my mother; whimsical, fun, caring, and absolutely gorgeous. Mrs. Blith was sitting at her desk when I walked in first as always. I started to make my way to my usual seat in the back when her voice stopped me. "Bella sweetheart I've changed everyone's seats find your name on the post-it and have a seat please." She smiled knowingly and went back to whatever she had been working on.
As I walked down the middle aisle that separated the lab tables I spotted me name on the third row back's table top written messily on an ocean blue post-it. Glancing to the right to see who my new lab partner would be and I think my heart stopped. "Bella honey are you alright, is something wrong?" she rushed to my side pulling me to face her.
I blush bright red as I sputtered out my answer. "I um can I please not sit here. Or maybe just a new lab partner?" I asked. Mrs. Blith smirked; I didn't understand her reaction to my question or my embarrassment. "Honey, do you honestly think I don't see the way you look at him? I mean he's totally cute and you being the beautiful creature you are, well, how could he resist?" she giggled smiling brightly at me as I blushed again.
"Hope you don't mind me playing 'match maker' 'cause you have an at home only project due in four weeks on the scientific element your choosing." My mouth fell agape at her admission and started to tell her that she was wrong that I didn't like him that way but the warning bell sounded and non-other than mister perfect himself walked in. "Good luck doll."
My now insane science teacher whispered as she hurried away heels clacking. She told everyone entering to find their new seats then turned to wink not so discreetly at me. Jasper smiled widely when he discovered that I was his new lab partner and all through class he would either pass me notes or try to talk to me all of which I ignored to the best of my ability.
Five minutes into class Mrs. Blith explained our project and the 'at home only' rule much to my despair. "Starting today" ,she said looking pointedly at our table. "I want you to start on your project, this will also give you all a chance to get to know your new partners better, and since you are all paired boy/girl you will start at the girls house and alternate of every other day." The bell rang just in time. "Have a nice evening class and please for all that is good in the world do your homework tonight." She stressed. I sat in my seat as all the other teens zealously racing to the door to start their social lives. Gathering my belongings slowly I noticed that Jasper hadn't moved yet either.
I looked up at him. He looked confused and I felt my stupid face flush at the utter intensity of his gaze. "Um I don't think we should do the project at my house. My stepfather doesn't really like visitors." I stated clearing my throat after my statement, just to fill the silence. He broke into a smirk then all traces of his mental struggle gone.
"Sorry darlin' rules are rules and ladies are first so should we start walking to your house now am I staying for dinner too?" I rolled my eyes and got up giving a half grin to my favorite teacher as I made my way out the door. The whole fifteen minute walk to my house Jasper chatted away not really needing much of my input, not that I minded much, I loved his voice. A small smile sprouted to my lips from the calm he oozed.
Taking a deep breath I let us in the back door and snuck up the back stair case. The house was quiet so I knew Phil wasn't home. Glancing at my clock radio I saw that I had a good two hours before I had to get Jasper out of here. He sat on my bed taking the time to look around my room as I closed my door locking it for good measure.
"You know a person's room tells a lot about them." He stated. I glanced at my feet hands tangled together. Slowly making my way over to him I plopped down so there was about three feet of space between us.
"Really?" I asked awkwardly, "Yep. Bella why don't you talk to people? I mean you talk when you have to but other than that you just kind of ya know..hide" he asked abruptly. I didn't really know how to answer that without telling my secret. "Jasper look, people just don't like me you saw the way Jessica and her clan of mean girls were with me this morning. I just don't feel the need to put myself out there if people are only going to hurt me. That's why we can't do the 'friend' thing, I'm sorry but after this project is done with I don't think is smart for you to be around me. I'm not….safe… for you." I went to get up but Jasper grabbed my upper arm, wrapping his long fingers around one of the worst bruises. I yelp in pain, trying to pull my arm back while he looked at me funny.
Letting go he opened his mouth to speak when suddenly I could hear angry foot step pounding their way up the stair case. My eyes went wide and my breathing erratic as I panicked. "Bella?" jasper questioned. "Bella what's wrong?" he touched me face getting me to look at him which snapped me out of my stupor. I whimpered while I struggled to push him towards my closet. I could feel the tears start to fill my eyes as I desperately attempted shoved him in.
"Shh Jasper you have to be quiet please, please just don't come out I'll come get you when he leaves don't come out…no matter what you hear. Promise?" I looked straight into his baby blues before my tears blinded me momentarily and continued down my face, he didn't respond.
I placed my hands on his cheeks, their warmth made me feel safe but only for a second. Then there was bang at my bedroom door causing me to jump another whimper fleeing my lips as our quiet moment was shattered. "PROMISE?" I repeated more forcefully this time.
Stunned and a little frightened by my tone he nodded his head frantically causing his blond locks to flow around his head. Pulling him to me "I'm so sorry" I whisperedinto his ear before stroking his hair and pushing him back once more. Putting my finger to my mouth as my last order of silence I shut the door and pushed my desk chair in front of it to insure he couldn't get out without my consent.
My heart raced as a drunken Phil taunted me still banging on the door and twisting the locked handle. "Open up the door you little whore! If you don't let me in I'll break it down and that'll just make me angry." His words where slurred. He must have had a bad day at work. To be home this early, I took a deep breath and called back, "I- you-you can't come in right now." My voice cracked out of fear. I calmed a little when I heard him walk away. I wiped my face slowly walking to the door and leaning my ear against it.
There was nothing. Nothing but silence, I calmed my breath regulating again as I started to back away. But then there was a click and I think my heart just about stopped. He unlocked the door and it creaked as is opened slowly revealing an extremely irate Phil. It was like one of those moments in a scary movie except that this was my life, my nightmare and now unfortunately…it was jaspers' too.
My lower lip trembled as he made his way into the room backing me against the wall right by my closet door. "What was that about me not being in here? Have you forgotten who owns this house you little rat?" He questioned grabbing a hand full of my hair, his rancid saliva flying in my face as his voice raised higher and higher. I flinched back causing Phil's grip to tighten and me to let out a pain filled whimper. "Please I-." I tried only to be cut off by a punch to the gut.
I heaved as the air was knocked out of my lungs wrapped my arms around myself. Still keeping hold to me hair Phil began to drag me over to my bed. "No! No please please don't!" I gasp out as he started ripping at my clothes. "Relax you little bitch." He grunted out and continued until I was down to my bra and undies. Tears rushed down my face in some sort of sick relief as he began dragging me out the door and to the stairs.
He had this sick smirk on his face like it was all just a game, like he wasn't really hurting me. He finally dropped me in front of the first step only to kick me in my rib cage sending my tumbling down.
Trying to catch my breath I looked up watching as he made his way to me chuckling evilly. Getting to my hands and knees I started to crawl away only to have Phil catch my ankle pulling me back and causing my skin to painfully slid across the hard wood floor. I cried out as he continued to pull me into the living room where there was a picture of my mother.
Picking it up, he held it close to my face. "You know what I did to her don't you?" He had this look on his face like he was reminiscing about the day he raped and beat her to death and now he would do the same to me. If not today, then sometime in the near future.
"I know you heard her screams. Every crake of each and every bone I broke. Ha you're just like her, a dirty good for nothing slut. But you do have something she didn't have, ya know that?" He questioned. I glared up at him. "Your smart." He whispered in my ear nuzzling his nose along my neck.
"And if you continue to be smart you won't hurt as much as she did. Now be a good little girl and make me dinner." He finished shoving me away from him. Letting a sob escape me I did what he said. And you wanna know the funny thing? It's that all this time all I really cared about was getting back to Jasper and hoping that while he was locked away in my closet he still wanted to be friends with me, because deep down inside me I knew I would need him.