I thought Bella deserved her moment in the sun this time around.

Bella's POV

Jasper and I made it home in record time-no surprises there. Overall, I think the trip went pretty well. He's done great being in such close proximity of me; I was really pleased. The only downside was that awkward moment when he caught me…the only way I could describe the way I felt was naughty. It's not like I thought about Jasper in that way! It's just…I haven't been that close with someone in a while, in such an unguarded manner. Even with…him…it wasn't that unrestrained. But it was just an accident-no big deal. It was Jasper we're talking about. Jasper!

When I woke up the morning after our stay and found him on the other bed, I thought we had blown our second step. Or, even worse, that I acted out my little dream. That would have been mortifying. I still remember it vividly.

We were outside, but not anywhere I recognized. It was in the forest somewhere-everything was green as usual. I felt…good. I felt like I had no reason to be sad anymore-that everything was okay. I looked down, and found myself holding hands with Jasper. Nothing about it felt strange. He looked at me and smiled, and I couldn't help but do the same. We came to a stop, still in the forest. Normally that would frighten me-I didn't like being places where I could get lost. But I felt safe, and it was nice with just the two of us. Jasper grabbed my other hand and turned to face me. His eyes were burning-it made me burn too. Suddenly it didn't matter where we were. He grabbed my face and pulled me to him.

"Bella…love…I can't…I can't wait anymore." He whispered huskily.

"Me either," I replied, burning even hotter. Suddenly his lips crashed onto mine and I threw my arms around him. He was kissing me like…like no one else in the world could ever kiss me. I heard his low growl-a growl of pleasure-as he lifted me up. We were in sync-I wrapped my legs around him and pushed myself to him. He was ground against me, and I couldn't help but push back…

That's when it ended. I blushed at the thought of it, now that I was alone in my room. Honestly I had no idea where it came from-I've never even looked at Jasper that way-until now. When I woke up, and he was lounged on the other bed, I couldn't help it; the dream was fresh in my mind. He was beautiful-but so were the rest of them. Tall and slightly muscular with beautiful honey hair that fell just above his eyes, it was hard not to find him attractive. But so what? So what if he was gorgeous? He was Jasper-and we were friends. I was just clutching on to anything that was close to him. I wouldn't think of it again.

We were moving on to step 3. We decided that the element of surprise would be where we headed next. Or, at least as much of a surprise as a clumsy human could spring on a vampire. It was one thing for me to walk up to Jasper and hug him. I was going to try running at him, throwing myself at him, jumping at him-anything to illicit 'the burn' which I've come to call it. He was apprehensive at first, afraid that it would be too much. But I trusted him. He'd come close to taking me out a few times, but quit. I was certain, if it came to it again, I could shake him out of it again. So that's where I was headed now. Charlie rolled his eyes at me when I told him I was heading out-he had no idea where I was going. I think he was just glad that this whole mess wasn't upsetting me as much as he thought it would. If he only knew.

I drove up to the house, knowing he could hear me. It still panged my heart to see this house without all of its inhabitants. When I stopped in the driveway, I could see his honey-hair poking out behind the curtain. I chuckled, knowing he could probably hear me.

"Think something's funny, do you?" he asked, playfully. If you would have told me 2 months ago that Jasper Hale, king of the sulking vampires, could be playful with a human (and not eat them directly afterwards) I would have laughed in your face. But I liked this Jasper-the real Jasper.

"Nope, just glad to see you're excited to see me." I rolled my eyes and followed him inside.

"So…how are you planning to illustrate this plan of yours, Ms. Swan?" he asked subtly, but I could feel the undercurrent of worry. Silly empath.

"I can't tell you, what good would that do?" I told him. "Why don't you pick out a movie, and I'll go make me some popcorn." He nodded and headed over to the massive DVD collection on the far wall. I paddled into the kitchen, still fully stocked with snacks for me, and grabbed a bag of microwave popcorn. I leaned against the counter listening to the kernels explode, saddened because they smelled so good and I wouldn't get a chance to eat them. When it was done, I threw it in the bowl and slowly rounded out of the kitchen. Jasper was standing in front of the DVD's, evidently still undecided. He's probably seen them all a thousand times. I was glad to see he was absorbed in something-it would make it slightly easier.

I took off running at him full speed, still carrying the bowl of popcorn. Seconds before we collided, he turned and saw me, eyes growing wide. I grinned and kept going. I threw the bowl of popcorn at him-some of it imbedded in his hair-and lunged myself out him. He caught me in midair. I did the only thing natural-I flung my legs around his waist. I looked up at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

No anger and he didn't look hungry. But he looked…alarmed. Surely I didn't surprise him that much-he was a vampire for Christ's sake! But then things started to sink in.

Jasper had his arms around my waist, and I had my legs around his. I was pressed just about as close to him as I could possibly be. My dream! Oh, kill me now. My face suddenly flushed tomato red and I struggled to get free from him. Why he carrying a stick in his pocket? What's he going to do with it? Wait…oh God.

He must have felt my embarrassment and alarm so he promptly set me on my feet. I was confident that if he could have blushed, he would have. I was blushing enough for the both of us.

"Surprise?" I whispered, trying to play cool. He laughed, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Surprise, indeed, little lady. Are you comfortable with step three now?" he asked, backing away from me towards the couch.

"Uh huh. Sorry about…the popcorn. I thought it would help with the smell, you know…" blah blah blah, Bella! What's the matter with you?!

"Nice thinking. It helped, I guess…" awkward stare. Boy, this was nice. Where's that hole I'd like to fall in?

"Good, good. So…did you pick out a movie or not? I'll have to go make some more popcorn-I don't really feel like eating you…I mean the popcorn in your hair, or whatever…" Shut up, Bella!

"Yeah…so you go do that, and I'll get the movie ready." Good plan! Run away! I sped towards the kitchen, catching my breath the whole way. I slammed into the counter, throwing my head down. That didn't just really happen, did it? I didn't just feel…and with Jasper…surely it was just an accident. Yes-just an accident.

Don't worry-I know some people are afraid I'll have them in love like 4 weeks after Edward and Alice left. That's not the case. But that doesn't mean that she can't find him attractive, or vise versa, right? Denial only makes the heart grow fonder.