Author Note: Wow. I lost power for three days right after I posted this due to an insane storm, and I come back to a ton of reviews on the first chapter. Thanks guys! That was a great surprise after a not so great weekend. Oh FYI, to anyone from Minnesota, I have never lived in that area, so any mistakes I make I truly do apologize for.
****
The next few days Bella spent looking over several colleges in the area, her aggravation mounting at her inability to make a decision. She was undecided between the University of Minnesota and Carleton College. Both looked to be good schools with decent programs, but she kept flipping back and forth between the both of them. Carlisle was sure he could pull strings to get Jasper and Bella into either school with such late notice; but she honestly could not make up her mind. She groaned in frustration as she threw a brochure on the floor with the others.
A familiar southern cadence filled the air. "Is everything alright? I can feel your frustration outside of the house."
Bella looked up to see Jasper smiling down at her. She shook her head. "You will think it's stupid."
Jasper plopped down next to her, the different college booklets laid out in front of the both of them. His golden eyes looked sincerely into hers. "No, I won't. Try me."
She bit her lip, another human trait that had not disappeared when she was turned. "It's just I am so indecisive. I know you told me it was okay to pick the school, but I can't make up my mind and I keep going back to if it is a school you would like as well. Both have great online programs and they have some really interesting courses on campus too. University of Minnesota is closer but I think I still may be leaning towards Carleton College. And then there is the issue of you."
Jasper picked up a pamphlet and flipped it over in his hands. "The issue of me?"
If Bella could have blushed, she would have. "Well it's just, if I was going to school with Alice or Edward, I would know immediately what kind of classes they would prefer, what kind of campus they would want to attend. But with you, well, I don't know a whole lot about you, which makes it hard. What if I pick the wrong school or sign us up for classes that you find boring?"
"Well, there is a solution to that."
"And that is?"
"Well, we can visit the campuses together just the two of us and decide which one is the best fit for us. Take a mini-road trip of sorts. It would serve a dual purpose. One, it would ensure that we both have classes that we are happy with, and two, it would give both of us an opportunity to get to know one another. That is, if you are okay with that. I know when I finally found Alice it took me years before I was alright with being parted from her."
Bella thought for a moment. She still had that pull to be near her mate, but she did really want to get to know Jasper. She noticed when Alice or Edward were around, he was more quiet and reserved. But on the rare occasions when they were alone such as this, she felt like she was really finally getting to know the real him. "It sounds nice, if Alice and Edward are okay with it."
A slow smile appeared on his face again. She noted that he probably had the nicest smile of all the Cullen's; it was not like Edwards, whose smile made her heart race, but it was something about the way Jasper's eyes lit up when he did so made her feel as if she were home. This particular smile however, also had a tinge of mischievousness to it as well. "We could go this weekend on Friday and come back on Monday."
Bella immediately returned his grin, knowing what he was doing. "This weekend, huh?"
"Well, I was thinking that they are predicting rain all weekend. We can walk around the campuses, do a little sightseeing. I mean, we would really want to get a feel for each campus so we would want to take our time."
"You know that Alice will view this as sabotaging the shopping trip she had planned with the family this weekend."
His eyes went wide in mock innocence. "Her shopping trip is this weekend? Why darling, I completely forgot."
"Yeah, right. It's too bad vampires have perfect memories."
"Do they? Well, it's too bad that I will have to explain to Alice that I have already made the hotel reservations and appointments with the Deans of each school."
Bella laughed uncontrollably. She liked this playful side of Jasper. She knew that Alice was going to be furious. "It's your funeral."
Jasper shrugged. "Well, I'm already technically dead, so I'm okay with that. Besides, I've dealt with the wrath of my wife before. It's nothing I can't handle. And really, do you and I really need new clothes? I don't know about you, but I can only stand only so many trendy clothes. The eighties are back, and well, I lived through it once; I really don't care to dress in those clothes again. Doesn't walking around college campuses sound much better then walking through endless store after store, till just the 'right outfit' is found?"
Bella imagined Alice making her try on endless pairs of ripped jeans, sweater dresses, and neon colored leggings. She shuddered at the thought. "Well, sign me up."
Jasper's head looked past Bella and she turned to see Edward gracefully jump through the window. He strode over to her, kissing Bella on the cheek. "Sign up for what love?"
She turned her torso the rest of the way towards her husband. "Jasper and I were just talking of taking a tour this weekend of the two college campuses I was having problems picking between."
Edward gave Jasper a knowing look. "She is never going to let you or Bella out of shopping, Jasper. Besides, the family was going to only go shopping on Friday, the rest of the weekend we were going hunting."
Bella put her hand on Edwards's chest. She knew he liked it when she did that. Using her most doe eyed look she could muster, she looked at him pleadingly. "Edward, of all people, you could convince Alice to let me go. I really do think this would be a good opportunity for me to do this. Please, Edward? For me?"
Edward sighed. "You just want to get out of shopping."
"Well… yes. I really do not feel like playing Bella Barbie this weekend."
Edward kissed the top of her head. "When have I ever been able to deny you anything?"
She leaned over and hugged him. "Thank you!"
As the next several days flew by, Jasper made hotel arrangements and appointments with the Dean of each respective school as promised. Alice was not happy with Jasper or Bella about getting out of her shopping trip. It was only after they each had promised her a day of shopping individually with her that she relented and stopped giving them a hard time about the trip. Bella of course knew that Edward had something to do with her giving in so easily.
Once Alice was appeased, she had admitted to Bella that she was happy with her husband and her best friend getting the opportunity to know one another better. Alice had stated that she saw the weekend they were going to have and she knew they would both have a good time and get closer as a result. Bella knew that Alice had always secretly wanted the four of them to be especially tight. Alice had the closest relationship to Edward outside of Bella and Carlisle, and Bella was her best friend. She thought it was a natural progression that Bella would become good friends with Jasper and she stated this weekend was a step toward that.
The fog was heavy and a light mist was coming down when Bella said her goodbyes to Edward Friday morning. She stood by Jasper's Audi, her suitcase in her hand. Jasper and Alice came out through the garage, holding hands, looking at each other lovingly. He picked up her petite frame as he kissed her, whispering softly in her ear so only the two of them could hear. She heard Alice say, "You too. I'll love you always and forever."
Bella, not wanting to intrude on their private moment any further, turned away and hugged Edward. He cupped her chin, looking at her softly. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too." Her heart pulled. Bella began to think that this might not be the best idea after all. How could she leave Edward for three days? "Maybe I shouldn't go."
The tender kiss he responded with made Bella doubt her decision that much more. "As much as I want to tell you to stay, we have to separate at some point, don't we? It's only three days. You will be back on Monday and then I promise, Monday and Tuesday, it is just you and I. I will have three days to think of something incredibly romantic to sweep you off you feet."
Bella's unshed tears blurred her vision. "I love you."
"I love you too. Have fun."
"I will." Bella forced herself to move away from him and step over the car door, placing her suitcase in the backseat.
Edward looked over at Jasper, who was mimicking the same movement as Bella on the driver's side. "Take care of her Jasper."
"I will." Jasper replied seriously. "I will return her to you safe and sound."
Jasper jumped in the car seat and started the car. Bella watched as Edward and Alice stood next to one another waving goodbye, their forms getting smaller and smaller until finally the fog became so thick that she could not see either one of them anymore. Bella sniffled, as she felt her sadness gradually melt away, into contentment.
"Thank you." She answered gratefully to her trip mate. She did not want to ruin this weekend pining away for Edward the entire time.
"You're welcome." He stated, keeping his eye on the road. "It is really difficult the first time you leave them. As I am sure you know by now, the pull you feel for your mate, it is one of the most intense things you will ever feel as a vampire. Trust me when I say that Edward is having as difficult a time as you are and Alice is having a difficult a time as I am. It gets easier, but you still hate it."
"How many times have you been away from Alice for more than a day?"
"In our nearly sixty years together? One hundred and forty one times, including this trip."
Bella watched the windshield wipers move methodically back and forth in front of her for a few minutes, before turning to back to Jasper. "Jasper, can I ask a personal question?"
He glanced at her quickly. "Of course you can."
"Well, in the past few weeks since I have been back and even before when I was human, I noticed that you tend to be very quiet and reserved whenever Alice is with you. But when you are alone, you are more… outgoing."
Jasper smirked a little. "Bella, as you know, Alice is a force of nature. Anyone who is her mate, well, it's hard not to fade into the background a little. She is so full of life; so full of energy that you just kind of let her take over. It's a joy watching her and it does not bother me."
"But you are a fun person yourself. You are witty, sarcastic, and intelligent. It's just, I guess I just wish we got to see it more."
"You are not unlike me, Bella."
"How so?"
"Alice may overshadow me, but Edward overshadows you as well."
"You think Edward overshadows me?" Bella couldn't help but have a little indigent tone to her voice.
Jasper nodded. "I don't mean it badly, so please don't take it that way. But just like how Alice is so over the top and vibrant, Edward is moody, emotional, and has a bit of a dramatic flair. Both have large personalities. You and I… well, we are more laid back. When you are not around Edward, you are more independent, more confident, and pretty funny yourself."
Bella had never thought of her relationship with Edward that way. But Jasper was right. It was not bad, it was just the way it was between her and her mate. Bella smiled at Jasper slightly to show that she did understand. In a way, it made her feel closer to Jasper, like they shared a special bond.
The rest of the trip to the University of Minnesota was fairly uneventful. They made small talk here and there, talking mostly of what courses they would prefer to take. Bella was pleasantly surprised to find that Jasper liked most of the same subjects she did. He had a deep love of history and literature. Since he already had one degree in history, they decided to make English literature their major.
The tour through the U of M was nice, they both agreed it was a nice campus, but it was more in the city and was a bit longer of a drive then they wanted. The online classes that were offered were varied however and the Dean of Liberal Arts was very nice, so they did not rule it out. They spent the night in Minneapolis taking a tour of the city, relaxing. Jasper joked that they should go the Mall of America and see how Alice reacts when she saw that they went without her. The following day they drove over to St. Paul, and then down to Northfield to Carleton College where they spent the night in a quaint hotel watching movies.
The following morning the both of them strolled onto the campus, and Bella immediately fell in love. Carleton was everything she had wanted her first college experience to be. The campus was older and she liked the tree lined pathways and beautiful brick buildings. She immediately had a sense of belonging that she had not gotten with the other campus. It also boasted one of the best liberal arts programs in the country, which was a huge plus in her book.
As they walked through the English building admiring the architecture, Jasper whispered in her ear. "Welcome to Carleton College."
Her body practically whipped around towards him. "Do you really like it as much as I do?"
He smiled. "More."
Bella could not help but squeal in delight and threw herself in Jasper's arms. She hugged him tightly, it was the first time she had ever embraced Jasper. It was different than hugging Edward or even Emmett. Edward was lanky there was not much in between the two of them. Emmett, well, Emmett was a bear and all she could feel were his large muscles when he gave her his big brotherly hugs. Jasper was a nice somewhere in between, and she found that her head rested comfortably on his chest while his arms wrapped soothingly around her. She relaxed at the embrace, but jumped away embarrassed when it lingered on a little longer than it probably should have.
They finished their tour, enjoying the rest of the campus. The Dean of this college was not available, but it did not matter to them. With Carlisle's help, they would soon be students and enrolling for the semester in the next several days. While they drove to the hotel, they decided to get a sooner start home so they would be home by Sunday evening. The family should be returning from their hunt at that time and she would get to see her Edward.
While Jasper made the separation of Bella and Edward bearable, there had still been a part of her that wanted to rush back home to him. She knew that he would be as thrilled as she was that they were home an evening early and she had a few ideas of how she was going to show him just how much she missed him.
As if Jasper read her mind, he nudged her. "Why don't you call him? I'll get the bags from up in our room and check us out, and you can let Edward know we are on our way home. Be prepared, Alice may have already ruined the surprise though with her gift."
She smiled. "Thanks Jasper. I'll call him right now."
"Good. I'll be back in just a few minutes. Hey Bella?"
"Yes?"
"I really had fun with you this weekend. I'm glad we came here just the two of us."
"Me too. Thank you for suggesting this."
She watched Jasper walk into the hotel. Bella was elated. She had the feeling that Jasper and herself would become close friends as she wanted and on top of that, she was going to be attending a fantastic school. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to daydream about the first day of classes.
Finally, she pulled out her cell phone, dialing Edward's number. The number rang once before an automated voice answered on the other side. "The number you have dialed has been disconnected. Please check your number and try again."