Chapter 6
Tara's POV
Fortunately there was an outdoor area to the location where the dance was being held, this meant we could have out heart to heart conversation away from spying students.
We sat at one of the empty benches.
"Your emotions are all over the place," Jasper queried. He reached and took my hands and placed them within his, his touch was cold but relaxing.
"Why me?" I asked, another tear slowly fell.
"Because you're beautiful, funny, intelligent, great company and you know the other reason."
"I'm not any of those things," I mumbled staring straight ahead. Could it be possible that someone really cared for me? It was strange, an alien concept, I was the one always doing the caring, like with my sister, even like with Bella. It was me that looked out for people and made sure they were happy.
"I seriously need to rebuild your self esteem, you really are a fantastic human being, it's me that doesn't deserve you," Jasper desperately tried to gain eye contact.
"You're fantastic, you could have any girl around here right now, any vampire in fact, born 100 and whatever years apart, we're hardly meant for each other," I inwardly groaned when I heard the words spill out of my mouth.
"If you're uncomfortable with the vampire age thing then that is ok, but I've told you physically I'm only 20, but we can part company, if that us is what you wish?" as he spoke these words, I sobbed, very loudly, which caused a couple across the grass to glare at us for interrupting their intimate moment.
"I meant how is it fair, you waited all those years, I mean I know you had Alice and that your history was full of people who have dominated your life, but I've hardly waited at all in comparison for you to come along."
"Fate is a strange thing," Jasper answered.
"And I don't ever want us to part company," I responded, finally returning his eye contact. "I don't think I would cope."
"Me neither, but you're stronger than you realise," he smiled and pulled me close, this shocked me.
"You can deal with this?" I asked. "My scent being this close?" We were about an inch apart.
"Yes, I hunted a great deal over the past few days, and I think I'm easing slightly to your scent, we can dance if you wish," he answered grinning at me, clearly pleased with himself.
"Really? I'd like nothing else" I answered returning his grin, he was clearly willing to go to a great deal of effort to be this close and wanted to reduce the risk I was under, that alone should prove that it is definitely me that he wants.
As we re-entered the dance there was a slow song playing, so Jasper pulled me closer and I draped my arms gently around his neck, I raised my eyebrows to enquire whether it was fine, he smiled and nodded and shockingly pulled me even closer. "I guess you'll be good at this considering you dance?" Jasper asked.
"I didn't know you danced?" I asked curiously referring to his excellent ability; he shrugged his shoulders slightly dismissively.
"Let me guess everything easier for the immortal" I muttered, he laughed.
"Can you try to calm your emotions a little?" he asked pleadingly, "I want to try something out in a bit."
"You're the one causing my emotions to alter, so I only deserve the right to annoy you with them." I grinned and he laughed a little louder which cause the couple next to us to stare and shift away slightly. Whilst my attention was distracted as I watched the couple dance away from us I felt a cold hand move to my cheek. "Is this your experiment?" I asked, moving my head back to face his, he nodded and he closed my mouth by pressing on my jaw slightly, probably to stop me talking and runing the atmosphere. He reached in slowly and pressed his cold, tender lips against mine. Instinctively one of my hands around his neck slowly moved up and entwined my fingers in his hair. His lips cold on mine somehow made the kiss more passionate and desperate, eventually I needed air and I realised it was unfair to push his self control any further, I slowly separated myself.
"Human moment," I muttered as we pressed our foreheads together. "A little oxygen to reengage my brain", whilst I did this the track changed and we separated slightly as this was one was more upbeat, eventually our moment together was interrupted. As several of my friends began to appear round us as the music got more and more up beat it was then when I realised Jasper actually didn't know who any of them were, after several introductions Jasper was eventually discussing bikes with several of my friends and seemed completely at ease, I smiled as I reflected upon the Jasper I knew when I first arrived in Forks, tense around everyone, I was changing him and he was changing me.
Eventually I was perched on my front door step, Jasper's coat draped around my shoulders.
"This Saturday, how would you feel about meeting the family?" Jasper asked leaning his head on one side.
"Me?" I asked "Meet your family?"
"That's what I said and I've already been introduced to your sister briefly."
"Sure," I answered. Hopefully I seemed relaxed and my crazy emotions wern't betraying me.
"They're desperate to meet you and Edward's introducing Bella as well, so it won't be as pressured for you."
"I'd love to," I reached forward and kissed him gently.
Next evening
"I'm off out now girls," my sister said pausing in the living room door, "Not too late, you got school tomorrow," she smiled and left me and Bella alone for a girls evening in.
"So our first date, we had a brief argument or disagreement, our first dance and our first kiss," I summarised, Bella smiled.
"It sounded fabulous," and proceeded to inform me of her day out and what Edward showed her and what they talked about, eventually tiredness began to consume us both.
"How did we manage, to fall for vampires?" I asked giggling.
"No idea" she snuggled down deeper under her quilt.
"Did Edward tell you about Saturday?"
"Yup, I'm nervous already," Bella laughed, "Apparently they might play baseball."
"Vampire's play baseball." I shook my head.
"That's what Edward said," Bella laughed at my shocked face.
"I'm imagining us mortals will watch," I answered, we both paused as we heard a knock at the door.
"Expecting visitors?" Bella whispered.
"Nope," I didn't move.
"You going to answer it?"
"I'm going to peer through the curtains first" I tiptoed gently towards the window and peered through a gap in the curtain, "It's Seth and Jacob" I responded curiously, I couldn't help but notice Bella's eyes widened at the mention of Jacob's name, I moved round to the front door and unlocked it. "Hey" I responded as I moved aside enough to let them in. It was awkward considering both me and Bella were standing in our pyjamas.
"We're not staying long," Jacob answered.
"It is a little awkward for us," Seth explained.
"And for us," I indicated towards the fact we were in our pyjamas, Bella laughed.
"But we've been sent with a warning," Jacob continued.
"From people on the reservation," Seth added.
"You shouldn't spend time with the Cullen's and Hale's if you know what is good for you," Jacob recited looking at both me and Bella in turn.
"Are you serious?" Bella asked peering forwards slightly in the dark hall.
"They paid us to tell you," Seth caved.
"Tell them we've got the message and that they should pay up," I answered patting Seth's shoulder.
"Are you going to pay that warning any attention?" Seth asked his focus completely on me, his stare was intense, his eyes hurt worried, I knew his thoughts were dominated by concern.
"Seth-"I began
"They've sent us for a reason," Seth interrupted. "Doesn't this show the severity of what you're doing?"
"It's very kind" I answered grabbing his hand "But if you got to know the family, I'm sure your perception would change"
"It's not who they are, it is more what they are, that we're concerned with, the danger you are in" Seth continued taking away his hand and clenching it into a fist.
"I don't think I can back out now, it has progressed too far" I answered "You're too young to understand Seth" I smiled warmly; I didn't like the fact that it felt like Seth was acting like he had some kind of feelings for me. Seth seemed to roar and stormed out the front door, he was clearly disgusted with what I said.
I swivelled around.
"Jacob," I pleaded.
"I'll try to and make him understand."
"It's the same for me Jacob," Bella answered, Jacob didn't turn around.
"Good night ladies," Jacob answered moving towards the door.
"Just at least think about it for a few seconds" he wished us good night again and left. Me and Bella stood there in the hall, a few minutes ago we'd been dominated by laugher. Now, one small conversation had made us realise the danger we were in, one false move and everything could end.
"I'm still going Saturday, that's not changing a thing." I confirmed to Bella who nodded her head in agreement.