5. PLANS

"UGH! THIS IS GOING TO TAKE FOREVER," JACOB COMPLAINED, TOSSING

another college application toward the middle of the oval mahogany table. There was now a pile of applications about three inches high on the center of the dining room table. Jacob slouched back in his chair, exasperated.

"You said you wanted to go to college," Edward reminded him with a wry smile as he passed through the living room and out the front door.

"Bite me," Jacob muttered under his breath. I assumed Edward heard it, but he ignored him. Bella had begged him not to fight with Jacob anymore. I was sure there were plenty of spats on the horizon anyway -- planning your half-vampire only daughter's speedily-approaching wedding to your wife's ex-admiring werewolf best friend was bound to cause some friction. I shook my head and moved a knight to take out Emmett's remaining rook.

Emmett and I were sprawled out in the back corner of the living room, engaged in one of our epic chess matches. We had combined four boards this time, and we played by the rules we had established for such games years ago. I was winning as usual, but you never knew. Sometimes Emmett got lucky.

Renesmee picked up the application Jacob had abandoned and began filling out the necessary information for him in her quick but elegant script. Although there were still the details to work out -- like how exactly Jacob was going to get in somewhere Edward deemed acceptable without a high school diploma -- we had narrowed the list of possible colleges down to about twelve.

"If it's this much work to even get in..." Jacob grumbled. Renesmee shot him a disparaging glance.

"You promised," she reminded him.

He sighed loudly and leaned over to take the application back from her.

"Give me the damn pen."

"So how is Jenks doin' with the forgeries?" Emmett asked. Any excuse to prolong his thinking time, I smirked.

"Well, Mom says it's going to be difficult, but she thinks he can do it. She gave him a little, um, added incentive."

I growled, not a deep animal growl, just a snarl of annoyance. I knew what kind of incentive J Jenks needed, and it wasn't monetary. Emmett rolled his eyes.

"Here," he said, moving a bishop to take out my knight.

"Oh, so much to learn," I sighed patronizingly. He had left his queen wide open.

"So," Renesmee turned back to Jacob, "Have you thought about what you want to major in? That might affect where we go. We'll have to look at the pre-reqs for classes too. We might be a little limited since--"

She cut off, biting her lip. Jacob looked up, half reproachful, half disconsolate. Emmett and I were quickly very absorbed in our game.

"Since I didn't finish high school," he finished glumly. "Yeah, I know."

"Well, it's not like you can't learn everything you need, even if you don't learn it in school," she added quickly. "I never went to school, after all."

We all rolled our eyes at that. Considering Renesmee learned to read by listening to her mother recite Tennyson while she was still in her crib, the thought of her finger painting and sounding out Dr. Suess books in the Forks school system was a bit ridiculous.

"You know what I mean," she muttered.

I knew she was frustrated. She never considered Jacob "dumb," but no one's intellect could really compare to hers. It was like Einstein hanging out with college kids. They could have carried on conversations, he may even have found some new ways of looking at things, but they simply weren't equals. Especially when Jacob's IQ did not match his education. He was a quick, intelligent kid, but he had never been much interested in literature or philosophy or history, other than the Quileute's that is. When you spent all your time with a house full of immortals with unending time and money on their hands to learn and educate themselves, it had to be tough on your ego. I assumed it was just easier to give up than to try to catch up. Renesmee wasn't sure how to make Jacob see that he had as much potential as anyone, he just hadn't applied himself yet. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but when you were practically perfect, how did you convince someone else that they were talented too without seeming patronizing? It was a thin line to tread, and I didn't envy her attempting it.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Edward or Renesmee can tell you whatever you need to know, and Jenks will forge you a four-point-oh, so what's the big deal?" Emmett shrugged and looked back at the boards. He didn't have a lot of options left now.

Jacob scowled. I could tell he was aggravated. He was a pretty proud guy, and I knew he didn't like the thought of the mountains of Cullen money he was taking to be able to attend school with his fiancée. It was a great tribute to his feelings for Renesmee that he was accepting this gift at all. (Not that he had a lot of choice. "Werewolf Protector of the Reservation" didn't exactly pay very well.) The thought of having Renesmee and Edward give him all the answers on top of that must seem almost unendurable.

He sat brooding, flipping the pen over and over in his hand. Renesmee decided to give him his space and strolled into the living room to observe what was about to be -- I smiled -- the final moment of the chess match.

"And, check mate," I said, nonchalantly knocking over Emmett's king. "Another match to Jasper."

I smiled a little smugly. Emmett glowered at me.

"Wrestling match. Backyard. Now." He got up and stalked off out the back door. I shrugged, chuckling.

"If you want to keep embarrassing yourself."

Renesmee giggled and shook her head.

"Play nice. You know what Grandma said about her new vegetable garden."

I cringed. Since there were finally people around the house who ate food, Esme had delightedly begun growing vegetables in a patch of the backyard, out near the south corner of the lawn. Emmett and I had already demolished that and her rose garden in one of our more exuberant tussles two weeks ago; I didn't want to destroy the recently re-planted plot again.

"I'll tell Emmett to keep it toned down."

"Right," she snorted. I saw her sit down in front of the TV out of the corner of my eye as I followed my brother out to the yard. Maybe I should let him win. He'd certainly be in a better mood if I did, but I could never quite bring myself to throw a competition. We were more evenly matched at this game, at least. Emmett had his incredible brute strength, I had my years of combat experience. Emmett stomped to the edge of the lawn and turned to face me, like a gunslinger in the old west.

"Remember to watch out for Esme's vegetables!" I called to him. He nodded, then scuffed at the ground like an angry bull. I grinned broadly and knelt into a crouch.

With a roar Emmett ran at me, coming with the force of a steam engine. This wasn't going to be pretty. I sprung over him and he wheeled around just in time to avoid taking out the back wall of the house. Maybe we should have gone into the forest, I thought quickly. He came at me again and this time I let him hit me, our bodies crashing together like boulders in a rockslide. This was one reason we didn't have neighbors. Emmett tried to get his broad arms around me, which was usually his tactic. He knew if he could just wrap those bands of steel around, no one could get free. But this go-to move was predictable, and I ducked down, smashing into his knees with all my force, trying to knock him to the ground. It didn't work. Emmett was able to steady himself before he fell, and he turned again to try to get a hold of me. I leapt quickly back and Emmett laughed now, a deep growl of a chuckle.

"It's no fun if you won't actually fight me," he provoked. I grinned wryly and readied myself for another leap. In the time it would take Jacob to blink, I propelled myself through the air and rammed into Emmett's chest. Apparently he wasn't expecting this, for he staggered back, grasping at me with his iron hands. Unfortunately I hadn't gotten my balance under me yet, and I wasn't able to spring back quickly enough. As Emmett fell to the ground he gripped his hands around my biceps like a vice, taking me with him. We rolled together in the sodden grass, each trying to pin the other.

We were still grappling when Esme found us.

"Oh, boys!" she yelled in exasperation, throwing up her hands. We both froze and looked up at her, our poor mother.

"I just planted those!" she wailed again, stomping out onto the lawn.

"Whoops," Emmett mumbled, sitting up. I brushed the now-mangled carrot tops and celery roots off my shirt, abashed. We had been oblivious to our location on the lawn, and the garden, once again, had paid for it.

"We're sorry, Esme. We'll plant them again..." I muttered apologetically.

"It's too late in the season now," she sighed. She stooped down to scoop up a murdered tomato vine. Emmett and I stood up, looking at the floor and shuffling uncomfortably. I felt like a schoolboy getting detention.

"I guess I should have known better than to try to plant something back here, knowing how you boys love to play..."

It was just like Esme to take the blame on herself. I felt intensely guilty. I'd find a way to make it up to her, though. Damn Emmett!

"Oh Jazz, you didn't!" Alice cantered out the door, gliding to stand next to Esme, her hand on her shoulder. Figured. Where was Emmett's guilt-trip?

"Oh, it doesn't matter that much," Esme sighed again. "They're just vegetables."

"We'll fix it," Emmett promised. I nodded. Esme seemed as though she was trying to hold back a smile.

"I know. But you're lucky I don't send you two to bed without supper," she barely suppressed her grin. "You look like two children who just got into the cookie jar or something."

Alice laughed, and Emmett and I couldn't help grinning sheepishly. Poor Esme always forgave us.

"We really will make it up to you," I said, as we all walked back into the house.

"Sure. But first, do me a favor. Take a shower. You two are filthy!"

I looked down at my tattered and dirt-sodden clothes, abashed again.

"The new Cavalli," Alice shook her head, referring to my now-ruined shirt. She had just gotten it for me from the fall collection. It had barely hit the runways. I looked at my feet again as I trudged up the stairs toward the bathroom Alice and I shared. Damn Emmett!

I tossed the mauled shirt into the wastebasket and undressed for my shower. I wondered, as I turned on the water, why we even paid for hot water. Lukewarm felt steaming hot to me. I stepped in and watched -- guilty again -- as soil and tiny hair-like roots washed down the drain.

"Knock, knock." I heard Alice's voice on the other side of the door. I didn't answer. If she was going to lecture me again I would pretend the water drowned her out.

"So I think I'm going to take a trip to Seattle tomorrow. The weather's going to change and it will rain all day. I was thinking you could go and get your tux fitted -- it came today."

The corners of my mouth twitched. Of course Alice wouldn't find any tuxedo in Washington acceptable for the gala event being planned for Carlisle and Esme. She had ordered one direct from Armani, but my suits usually had to be altered. I was taller than the average thirty-three, but the waists in the thirty-four's were always too big. And the arms were never long enough in those coats.

"Yeah, I'll go. What do you need to do there?"

"Well, apparently Seattle has decided to go vogue -- they've opened up a Michael Kors boutique. There are a few skirts I wanted to look at. And I thought maybe Bella--"

I groaned loudly.

"Well it won't hurt to ask her," Alice continued belligerently.

"Your funeral," I muttered. I hoped she couldn't hear me over the water, but I could picture her rolling her eyes. She closed the door and walked down the hallway. Hadn't poor Bella had enough in the past twenty-four hours without Alice trying to force fashion down her throat again? I couldn't help grinning, though. Alice was so persistent!

Certain that I had washed off all traces of the vegetable killing spree, I turned off the water and reached for a towel. When I was dry I wrapped it around my waist and headed into the enormous closet. Maybe I could find something that would appease Alice in here, something that would make up for destroying the Cavalli. I selected a Bottega Veneta ensemble -- also just off the runway -- that Alice was very fond of. The muted earthy tones brought out the gold in my hair and didn't make my skin look quite so pale. I had to admit, I thought as I looked myself over in the floor-length mirror, having a fashionista for a wife had its perks.

I hopped down the stairs just behind Emmett, who was running his hands through his wet curls absently.

"So who won?" Jacob asked with mild interest from the dining room.

"I did," we answered simultaneously. We all laughed.

"Apparently the only real loser was Esme's garden," Renesmee giggled. Emmett glared at her and my eyes shot to the floor again. She chuckled softly.

"Oh, she's not mad. I think she expected it would happen."

"So, any progress on the applications?" I asked to change the subject. Jacob groaned.

"I see," Emmett snickered. We both took seats at the table. I felt badly for Jacob. I really did like the kid, though his smell was still something I hadn't gotten used to. Maybe it would be a good thing when he and Renesmee lived somewhere else ... but no, I knew I would endure almost anything to have Renesmee around, just as we all would. The only thing that could make us let her go was just what had happened. She would be happier this way. None of us could deny her that happiness, however much we might miss her. I snatched an application and a pen and began filling out Jacob's information.

"Dartmouth?" Jacob snorted as he looked at the letterhead on the application in my hands. "Does Edward want me to never get in anywhere? Come on!"

"Oh, we got Bella in, we can get you in," Emmett grinned.

"I heard that!" echoed down from upstairs. Bella was apparently with Rosalie and Alice, no doubt being fashion-coached for the anniversary. Emmett snickered again.

"Oh, Dartmouth would be perfect!" Renesmee said, her eyes lighting up. "Dad has a house there and there are tons of woods and hiking areas, and it's only a few hours from Boston and Montreal and New York -- wouldn't Aunt Alice love to be close to New York?"

"Oh, no!" I grimaced, "You think she's bad now--"

"I heard that!" Alice called.

Hmm, Dartmouth, I thought. That actually wasn't a bad idea. Hanover was rather centrally located -- at least for those of us who could run over a mile a minute. And Alice would love New York City -- my god, she'd be in heaven! It was a good thing we had basically unlimited financial resources at our disposal -- between getting Jacob and Renesmee into college and turning Alice loose on Park Avenue, we would be living on the streets otherwise.

"I think Dartmouth would be good," I said, still thoughtful. "We'll have to see what Jenks can do. And Dartmouth doesn't have a Cullen Library yet."

Emmett chortled as Jacob moaned.

"I'll talk to my dad," Renesmee said confidently. She knew there were few things her father would deny her, and Dartmouth had been one of the "acceptable" schools he selected.

"Dartmouth it is!" Emmett crowed. "Rose! We're gonna be Big Greens!"

"What's a 'Big Green?'" Jacob grumbled.

"How's their baseball team this year?" Rosalie called down. Emmett's broad smile made me think there was something more to the joke that I was missing. I cringed -- I didn't want to think about it.

"I'm gonna go look at the course guide!" Renesmee cried excitedly. She moved over to Alice's touch-screen computer in the corner of the living room.

"Dartmouth," Jacob slouched in his chair, shaking his head, "My dad's never going to believe this."

I grinned. It was all going to work out, I was sure of it. Renesmee would grow up, it was inevitable, but we would all still get to be together. I would still be able to see her every day if I wanted to, and our family would stay intact. I didn't realize until I felt the relief wash over me how worried I had been. Losing my niece would mean more than her absence, it would mean the end of an era -- an era of immense happiness and contentment -- and the beginning of a darker time. No one would have been easy to live with if we lost Renesmee. It was hard to remember our lives without her -- well, figuratively speaking. Our memories were steel traps. But though we had thought we were happy and whole before her birth -- even overfilling, with the recent addition of Bella to our family -- I realized that we were missing a vital part of our lives without even knowing it. Renesmee had made us whole, had strengthened our bond. We were better for knowing her. It was certainly good we got to keep her near us -- what would we be without her now?

"Hey Jasper," Jacob's barely audible whisper broke through my thoughts. I raised my eyebrows in response, a little taken aback. His expression seemed to be asking me for a favor. How odd, I thought. I was truly fond of Jacob now, but it wasn't so long ago that I had been number two or three on his "Cullen Hit List." After Edward, it was me and Emmett that Jacob wanted dead, was fully willing, even eager, to kill. Well, try to kill. I assumed this was mostly because he viewed Emmett and me as the most dangerous. After he had imprinted on Renesmee, clearing all hatred of Edward and most the distrust of the rest of us out from his mind, he had been more, well, friendly to me. I wouldn't say he had "warmed" to any of us at first -- it was more that we had a common goal then, protecting Renesmee -- but the thoughts (and feelings) of trying to rip us to pieces didn't enter his head anymore. Throughout the past few years I would say we had grown closer, even rather amiable, but I wasn't sure that he considered us "friends."

He looked at me almost apprehensively but somewhat defiantly, as though asking for my help but fearing a rebuff. I couldn't imagine what he might want from me.

"Could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure," I answered, still puzzled, but I followed him to the front door.

"We'll be right back," Jacob called to anyone listening as we walked out the door. He strode swiftly across the porch and into the ferns, out of hearing range.

"What's up, Jake?" I asked kindly. He looked nervous.

"Well, look, I..." He shuffled his feet and stared at the ground. My God, he'd better not be asking me for honeymoon tips! I thought, horrified. Finally he straightened up and looked me in the eyes.

"So, I know you guys are going to bribe my way into school," he almost choked on the word, "but I want to feel like, I don't know, like I actually deserve to be there. Just for myself."

I waited. I didn't really know what he was getting at. He continued.

"I'm not dumb--"

"I know that," I interrupted him.

"Thanks. I know I could have done well in high school if I had, you know, stuck around. It just seemed so unimportant compared to...well, what was going on. But now..." His voice trailed off and he looked toward the house.

"Yeah, I know," I said quietly. Poor Jacob. I still wasn't sure what he might need me for, but I felt badly for him. I could feel the regret and and feelings of inadequacy warring with defiance in him.

"So I was thinking I'd like to get my GED at least. Prove to myself I could have passed high school. I know it won't help with Dartmouth," the last word was almost a snort, "But at least I'd know. Maybe the SATs, too..."

He looked at me again, almost daring me to laugh at him. I was perfectly serious. This wasn't funny, it was admirable. Jacob was a good guy.

"I think those are great ideas. You're a smart guy, it should be no problem."

His face broke into that easy grin now.

"Well, I don't know about 'no problem.' Actually, that's why I wanted to talk to you. I'm sure Bella would help me, but I feel kinda weird about talking to her about it. I kind of wanted to keep this to myself, you know? At least until I know for sure I'll pass--"

"Of course you'll pass," I cut in quickly. He grinned half-heartedly and continued.

"Edward wouldn't be able to read Bella's thoughts," he grimaced at the idea of Edward knowing his plan, "but I thought you'd be able to keep it from him, too..." He looked at me again, that same almost-beseeching look on his dark features.

"I won't tell him," I assured him, still confused. If he didn't want Edward to know, why tell me in the first place? Of course I would do my best to keep it from my brother if Jacob asked me too, but wasn't it safer not to tell any of us at all? Just keep it to himself?

He noted my puzzled expression and half smiled.

"You see," he continued, not quite meeting my gaze, "You're all brilliant and all that, right? Bella told me about the four-point-ohs and the who-knows-how-many college classes. And you've all taken your share of tests and all that. I ... I was hoping maybe you'd, well, that maybe you'd help me study." He looked me in the eye, trying to gauge my reaction.

"Oh!" I sucked in a quick breath of air, finally understanding. I tried to keep my expression supportive -- it would never due to wrinkle my nose at his smell now. "Of course!" I smiled encouragingly. This was so much better than honeymoon tips! I chuckled in relief, "Of course I'll help you! And if you want to keep it surreptitious, you have my promise I won't breathe a word."

He grinned broadly and looked me in the face again.

"Maybe we can start with vocab -- like what the hell 'surreptitious' means!" We both laughed loudly, and I patted him roughly on the back.

"No problem. We'll have you GED-ed and SAT-ed in no time!" We turned back toward the porch. I could feel Jacob's emotions lightening as the weight was removed from his shoulders. I spent a half a second wondering why he didn't ask his father or one of his pack brothers for help before I decided that he was right -- who had more practice with schools and tests than the Cullens? He certainly would never admit to Edward that he wanted to prove himself -- he was probably partially proving himself to Edward. Renesmee would be supportive, as would Bella, but I understood that he'd never want to disappoint them by failing. I doubted he would fail, with or without my help, but still. I understood his feelings. He greatly respected Carlisle, but I was sure he viewed the thought of Carlisle tutoring him as almost as humiliating as Edward helping him. He would rather gnaw off his own arm that ask Rosalie, or Emmett who would undoubtedly tell Rosalie. So who was left? Me, Alice, and Esme. Esme would certainly be supportive -- almost too supportive. It would be like Alice's too-understanding reactions to my weakness for human blood. Sometimes Alice's constant understanding and encouragement was too much, like when she had insisted on being my own personal cheerleader throughout our Forks High School days, praising me every second I didn't rip some poor child's throat out. It was almost degrading, despite knowing how well she meant. I knew Jacob was fond of Alice, but maybe because he felt less affection for me, he could admit to me this weakness, this desire. Because I didn't view him in any particular way, my vision of him could not be tarnished by this request.

My encouraging smile began to broaden to one of genuine anticipation. I certainly didn't mind helping him, and I was actually rather pleased that he had trusted me with this secret and with this task. I thought it would bring us closer together -- something I didn't really realize I had particularly cared about until now. But if he was going to marry Nessie -- my jaw clenched unconsciously at the idea -- then I would like to know him and be as close to him as I could. I'd like to feel as comfortable with him and as sure of him as Bella did, if that were possible, so I'd be as comfortable with and as sure of him for Nessie as possible. And what could it hurt? A cheerful, confident Jacob with a GED and respectable SAT scores could only benefit us all -- how much happier would Jacob be knowing he deserved to be at an ivy league school? And if he were happier, Renesmee would be happier, and what more could any of us want than that?

"Since when were you two so buddy-buddy?" Rosalie sniffed, as we walked back into the house, our arms around each other's shoulders. I was delighted to help the boy that was making my little girl happy. Besides, I admired Jacob's spirit.

"Oh, since he told me the best dumb blond joke. You wanna hear it?" Jacob chortled. With a huff Rosalie swung her long golden hair and flounced out into the garage. We both broke out into loud snickers.

"Just like children in the cookie jar," Esme sighed as she walked into the kitchen, shaking her head and smiling. We looked at each other and broke into unrestrained laughter. This was going to be a good thing. I was actually looking forward to it. I understood why Bella was so fond of Jacob -- the kid was easy to get along with. And maybe we could find some new ways to torture Rosalie, I thought, with a grin.

"Maybe our first order of business should be to research some new jokes," Jacob chortled, echoing my thoughts. I smirked broadly. Yep, I thought, grinning wider still, this would certainly be a good thing.

"To research and blond jokes," I chuckled, nodding at him.

"To research and blond jokes," he agreed. We laughed loudly again and set off toward the college applications.