AN: Hey guys, thanks for reading! No we have not abandoned the story, we've just been kinda busy. Sorry for not updating faster, it's been a long winding road. Enjoy. lol.
P.S. How did you guys feel about Jasper's POV? Did you like it, did you not? Should it be left out of the story? None of you actually mentioned his pov in the reviews for the last chapter.
P.P.S. Jasper has not spoken...yet. lol. I'll shut up now.
P.P.P.S: We love you guys and Cullenlover1901 is a freak. Oh, and of course, reviews seriously make us happy :)
Disclaimer :We don't own Twilight.
So after earning ourselves a month of once a week after school eraser clapping, Jasper and I headed home. The drive was sort of awkward but I decided to just focus on the road instead of the person next to me, although I made this conscious decision subconsciously, I was going over the whole day's events in my mind. I predicted today to be boring and unsatisfactory but what I got was the complete opposite; today was exciting in every way, and it was all because of Jasper. I mean in the closet we were so close… I don't know what it is with him but this…this…obvious attraction… it's strange…wrong but right….
As I pulled into the drive way I saw Jasper smirk from the corner of my eye, I disregarded it—easier said than done— and proceeded to get out of the car. As soon as we got in the house we went our separate ways, Jasper to his room and me to mine, I don't know what I expected but the separation seemed so sudden and unnecessary.
I had been sitting in my room for a good hour trying to finish up my poem for English class before I decided to do something about my physical agitation. I stood from my place at the window seat and started towards Jasper's room, I don't know what came over me but I just couldn't be alone anymore.
"Hey Jazz, I'm going to the grocery store to get some stuff so I can cook dinner, do you want to come with?" I signed once I had gotten his attention.
"Jazz?" he signed back with an eyebrow quirked.
"Oh, sorry…I didn't mean-"
He waved his hands in front of him in a dismissing gesture. "No, it's okay, I've just never had a nickname before," he signed.
I smiled sheepishly. "So about the grocery store-"
"Yeah, yeah I'm in," he signed. "Just give me a minute to clean up here," he smiled as he waved to the mess of drawing utensils splayed about the floor.
I nodded and walked back to my room the way I came. I put on my jacket, grabbed my keys and wallet, and went down stairs. Jasper came down just as I finished making the list of things I needed…good timing…I thought as we headed out the door.
XOXOXOXOXOX
Jasper and I were walking down the pasta isle when I remembered that I needed fresh tomatoes—something I had forgotten to put on the list—I looked back over at Jasper who was reading the back of a box of pasta.
I tapped him on the shoulder and began speaking. "I need to get some tomatoes, do you mind getting the lasagna boards and meeting me in the vegetable section?"
He nodded and pushed the cart further down the aisle in search of the perfect pasta. After I sent Jasper on his mission I started on my own, I began walking towards the produce section when I heard faint voices in the distance, and it sounded as if they were having an argument of some sort. I started to think I was hallucinating but then when I finally arrived at the produce isle I saw two people. One was tall and lean with messy auburn hair and pale skin, while the other was short and pixy like with spiky black hair, and a voice like bells. As I walked closer I began to pick up on the argument.
"You are being utterly absurd; you know mom likes her lettuce and GREEN!" He nearly shouted.
"You know what, you can take your green lettuce and shove it up your pale white-"
I couldn't take it anymore…I laughed.
They both turned and looked at me-the small one-the pixie girl, turned back to berate the other male. "See, your stupidity gets us laughed at by random people!" She reached up and whacked him in the back of his head.
"Ouch! Why don't we just ask her opinion?" The boy reasoned.
"Fine!" she huffed crossing her arms "But you do it!"
"Excuse me, would you be so kind as to tell my sister that iceberg lettuce is white, not GREEN!" He said pointedly looking at the girl.
"And would you tell my dearest brother that the head of lettuce he is holding is in fact brown, NOT green nor white?" The girl said coming up to my other side.
"Both of you are wrong," I said coolly.
"What!?" They both shouted.
"Well the iceberg lettuce you are holding is actually a cabbage, and his head of lettuce is burgundy, not brown…why don't you try salad in a bag?"
They were both silent for a moment, looking at me incredulously. "That is a brilliant suggestion. Edward, I'll go get the dressing and why don't you get a couple bags of salad?"
"Sure thing," he replied, his eyes boring into mine.
I watched as the pixie like girl danced off in the other direction.
"I don't think we've met before, are you new in town?"
"No actually I'm not, in fact I have lived here all my life…I think you might be new to town though…well at least newer than me."
"Well, I moved here with my parents and my sister last year," he smiled a breath taking crooked grin. "Don't you find it strange—"he gestured to me.
"Isabella swan, but just call me Bella."
"Yes, don't you find it strange Isabella that we've never crossed paths?"
"No, I think you find it strange," I said walking in the direction of the tomatoes. "I just find it predictable."
"And why is that Bella?"
I picked up a tomato and smiled. "Fruit or vegetable?" I asked.
"Seeing as I'm an old fashioned kind of guy, I would say vegetable...why?"
"Well, there you have it…you think it's a vegetable, I know it's a fruit," I said.
"And?"
"You find it strange that we haven't met before, I find it highly predictable," I explained tapping my temple. "Different people different minds."
"How perceptive of you."
At some point we had closed the space between us…I took a step back trying to distance myself from the alluring creature, but I found myself falling backwards…I felt two arms wrap around me…and when I looked up I expected to see Jasper, but this time it was a bronze haired god…he didn't place me up right as I expected but we stayed dipped as if we were dancing.
"Edward Cullen…that's my name…" He smiled.
"I didn't ask…but it's always good to know," I answered, looking deep into his shining green eyes.
Suddenly I felt like I was being watched. I looked up and saw Jasper standing there frowning, looking irritated and…hurt?
"Jasper?" I said not expecting him to hear me.
Edward following my gaze then looked back at me skeptically, standing us both up. "Boyfriend?"
I shook my head. "I have to go," I said as I grabbed my bag of tomatoes.
"Bella!" He called after me but I didn't turn back.
I raced down the main aisle, looking down all the smaller ones, and when I got to the end I found him. Jasper was sitting with one of his legs to his chest and his head resting on top of it. His eyes were closed so I walked over to the cart to put my tomatoes down and then sat down next to him. I took his hand in mine; he turned his head to look at me, his eyes constantly changing their emotion. I brought the palm of his hand to my lips and kissed it softly; looking deep in his eyes, and signed, "I'm sorry."
At the touch of my lips to his skin, I saw through him for a moment, the surprise was as clear in his eyes as the relief. Quickly shaking his head and clearing his expression, he signed back. "No, I'm sorry, that was very rude of me…let's go home."
I nodded and stood up, pulling him with me.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
After we put the groceries away I began boiling the water for the lasagna boards. Jasper had gone upstairs to change his clothes, and when he came back down he was wearing some ripped jeans and a navy blue button down shirt.
"Jazz, can you start the hamburger while I go change?" I asked after getting his attention.
He nodded and I made my way upstairs. As I changed I realized that suddenly cared how I looked, so before I went down stairs I stopped at the mirror and re-did my eye liner and brushed my hair so it looked tame…
When I stepped on to the landing I noticed that Jasper was sitting at the table with his head rested on his arms, he looked like he was in pain.
I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. "Are you alright?"
He shook his head 'no'. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"My head hurts and I feel a little dizzy, it's nothing," he signed.
"Well, go upstairs and lie down, I will bring you some aspirin and water, okay?" I signed back.
He nodded reluctantly, and with that he was gone…I was left there to finish the lasagna on my own…
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
When the oven timer went off I fixed two plates of lasagna, two glasses of water and an aspirin for Jasper. Putting the items on the tray, I headed upstairs, being extra careful not to trip or drop anything. When I reached Jasper's room I put the tray on the hall way table and opened the door, my eyes were immediately drawn to the bed in the center of the room. There Jasper was sleeping, but he had the sexiest little smirk on his face.
"God you're ridiculous…" I sighed to myself.
I walked back into the hallway, and when I returned I placed Jasper's aspirin, food, and his glass of water on the bedside table. Looking down at him as he slept I could tell he was still in some sort of pain and decided to try and bring him some sort of relief.
I reached out to his shoulder and shook him gently. When his eyes opened he looked around franticly and then when he gazed at me he visibly relaxed. I smiled and grabbed the aspirin and the glass of water from the table.
"Here, take this…" I said as he sat up.
He took the aspirin first and then sipped from the glass of water; when he finished I remembered the food.
"I brought your food just in case you didn't feel like going downstairs, if you need anything I'll be in my room," I signed with a smile.
He smiled back at me as he signed, "thank you, I'm starting to feel better already."
I gently closed the door behind me and got my food and water from the table. As I sat down on my bed I looked around my room, it seemed insipid and vacant despite the red walls and dark wood furniture. I heard the sound of thunder so I moved to the window seat so I could watch the rain while I ate. After a while I heard a soft knock at the bathroom door, I put my empty plate back down on the bench and went to answer it.
I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. Jasper stood there in all his blonde glory with an impish smile playing lithely on his soft looking lips, and a lock of hair dangling in his eyes begging me to push it back.
"May I come in?" He signed.
I stood there for a moment, astonished by the random act.
"Why?" I said tactlessly.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise and I suddenly remembered etiquette and consideration.
"No, that's not what I- yes, you can come in," I stammered as I stepped aside.
As he walked in he looked around for a minute taking everything in, he looked back at me as I stood there awkwardly.
"I'm sorry, what I meant was, is there something you needed?"
He looked at me sheepishly as he signed "No, not really…I just didn't feel like being alone tonight, it would be great if we could just hangout for a while, but If you are busy-"
"No, no, not at all," I smiled.
He walked around looking at all the things I had placed on the shelves about the room; he stopped at one shelf in particular. The shelf had framed pictures on it, along with two photo albums.
He leaned closer to the photos inspecting them one by one, and then turned around.
"Did you take these?" He signed.
I nodded and he turned back around, picked up the two photo albums and sat down on the floor next to the window seat. I walked over and sat on the window seat with my back against the wall and my legs crossed at the ankle.
As Jasper flipped through albums he leaned his head back against my side and I involuntarily weaved my fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of it in my hand.
We sat there for an immeasurable amount of time, just relaxing, every now and then Jasper would see a picture and laugh or smile at it. Eventually Jasper grew sore from sitting on the floor so he got up, retrieved my plate and glass and asked if I wanted anything from the kitchen.
"No, I'm fine, thank you," I said in reply.
By the time Jasper had returned I was laying comfortably on the bed reading, Jasper went to his room for a minute and came back with a book. He walked to my side of the bed and peered over me and I sat up with in curiosity.
"What are you reading?" He signed.
"Pride and Prejudice…again," I replied.
"May I join you?"
"Sure, make yourself comfortable," I laughed.
He walked around the bed and laid down on the other side. After a while I felt his eyes on me, and when I looked at him he blushed a delightful pink color and returned his eyes to his book. A few minutes passed and I stopped reading to rest my head for a while. When I did this I realized Jasper's close proximity and I immediately had to push away my unsuitable thoughts.
When I felt Jasper's gentle touch on my shoulder it was my turn to blush as I looked up at him.
"Glasses?" He signed, referring to the reading glasses I was wearing.
"Hey! They are naughty librarian chic." I said, trying to play off my embarrassment.
"What did you mean by pride and prejudice 'again'?" He asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Well, I love all the classics but I haven't read any book as much as I have Pride and Prejudice," I shrugged.
"Why?"
"The story just captivates me in ways that…that nothing ever has… It's sort of like true love, me and my books," I said wistfully.
He nodded and smiled. "I don't think I have felt that way about anything in a while," He signed back.
"What are you reading?" I asked nodding towards his book.
"Letters Home: Memoirs of a Confederate Soldier, it's a great book," he signed in reply.
"You are in to battle pieces, huh?" I laughed.
"More history than battle pieces, but they are some of my favorites."
"That's understandable, being in a different time is very…therapeutic in a sense," I said.
We stayed like that, reading and chatting every now and then. At some point we both must have fell asleep because when I woke my head was on Jasper's chest and his arms were protectively around me; it was still dark outside. I reluctantly got up, turned the lights out and looked over at Jasper…he looked peaceful and content. I wanted so badly to return to his arms but I knew he would be cold and distant as ever in the morning.
I returned to my end of the bed and laid on my side, with my back facing Jasper. As my eyes drifted shut I could only think one thing… why can't I just be in his arms again…
This time when my eyes opened I could see first light. I numbly tried to take in my surroundings when I suddenly felt his strong arms around my waist, when I looked back Jasper was rested comfortably behind me, his body was pressed against mine, and I felt his cool breath on my neck in the most tantalizing way; just his hand alone was so close to my…oh god how am I ever going to go back to sleep now?
Just then I felt two lips against the nape of my neck…
AN: Thanks for reading, now review bb review! It might just make Paige (cullenlover) write faster. lol.
--Maybe Not by Cat Power--
We all do what we can
So we can do just one more thing
We won't have a thing
So we've got nothing to lose
We can all be free
Maybe not with words
Maybe not with a look
But with your mind
-TheSantiSuicide