Back to Jasper!

If a vampire could die of embarrassment, I was certain that I would have.

Bella and her little schemes to 'desensitize' me-how far was she going to go? I understood the ride in the car, and sleeping next to her. Nothing nefarious there. But to come flying at me, throw food at me, and wrap your legs around my waist? Too far! I saw her coming. I was a vampire, after all-I could hear her sneaking around the corner and then her frantic footsteps coming my way. Hell, I'm not even upset about the popcorn in the hair. It did help, a little. That is, until I realized what position we ended up in. Bella acted unconsciously and threw her legs around me-I'm sure it was only a natural way to keep her balance. And, of course, in response I put my hands on her waist-to prevent her from falling, of course. What I didn't expect was the feel of her…warm, soft, pliable in my hands…and that's what got me into trouble.

I was only a man, and could be counted on acting as such. She was a woman-an attractive woman-so I reacted naturally. Here I was, self-affirmed southern gentleman, growing hard while holding my 'brother's' ex girlfriend. And, bless her, she didn't even realize it at first. So innocent. And then I watched the realization dawn on her innocent little face-watched the blush grow to an alarming peak-and then she scrambled down.

Neither one of us had been bold enough to say anything about it. She apologized for the food, and then we watched a movie. She didn't waste any time leaving afterwards-probably mortified to be in the same room with me. Surely Edward never let her get that close to him. She probably thought I was a horrid creature-first, I try to suck her blood on numerous occasions, and then I let…that…happen. She was right to run away. But in all honesty, it was just being in that position with her…it had nothing to do with her…I think. At least, that's what I'm going to tell myself. I spent the two days after our second little 'incident' hunting and thinking-about nothing really. Just dull thoughts to keep my mind busy. I wouldn't be surprised if Bella never came over again.

But leave it to her to have more faith in me than I deserved.

The following Friday I was up in my room tolling away, packing up Alice's things. She didn't leave much behind, but I couldn't look at it anymore. I had moved on into being incredibly angry at her for leaving me with such a cryptic explanation. I was still saddened by her departure, and I honestly wanted to trust her words, but why? After all these years, what could she have seen to drop me like she did? I heard a tentative little knock on the door. Bella.

"Hey, Jasper. How's…things?" she asked, walking past me into the living room.

"Good. Hunting, packing, cleaning, the usual. You?"

"Same old, same old. Moping, cooking, school…nothing fancy. What are you packing? Are you leaving?" she asked, morosely.

"What? Oh-no. There were some things of Alice's in my room that…I wanted to dispose of. No big deal." I saw realization dawn on her face, followed by an overwhelming sense of pity.

"Oh, Jasper…I'm so sorry. Would you like me to help?" She reached out and touched my arm, and I was moved. I just couldn't get over how strange it was for me to care for a human like this-as a friend. I saw humans as just that-humans. Meant for food, and an untouchable source. But Bella wasn't human. She was my friend.

"You don't have to do that, Bella. It's kind of sad work," I tried my hand at a smile.

"But I want to! I was thinking-you've been doing so good lately at not eating me that I thought we should change this program your on." I laughed at her callous wording.

"Change as in…" I wasn't sure I could handle anymore of Bella's little plans.

"Well, maybe it could involve both of us, instead of just you getting over something. Maybe it could be…getting over them. We could call it 'Operation Jasper and Bella get over Alice and…Edward." She had said his name-something she had neglected to do since he left. Suddenly I was proud of her. It was a good idea, too-we could both use some healing.

"Well, little lady, I think you've got yourself a deal. But I think your name is kind of lengthy…how about 'Operation Moving On.' That's fitting, and easier to say." I grinned at her.

"Wonderful. So let's get started! Today, we'll do your room, and maybe tomorrow, just for the sake of it, we could pack up some of…Edward's…things." She did it again! Good girl.

"Sounds like a plan. Why don't we get started-I've just started on her closet." This would be good-being in Alice's closet, where everything smelled of her, was hard. But with Bella here, I wouldn't focus so much on it. I lead Bella up to my room-I refused to call it our room anymore-and grabbed a box off the floor. Bella stood in the doorway, just looking around. "What is it?" I asked.

"It's just…I can feel her in here. I loved her, too, Jasper, and I'm going to miss her." I heard her sniff, and I could feel her sadness for her lost sister. I could only nod at her-I knew how she felt. Everything about this room screamed "Alice" and it killed me. Bella sucked in a deep breath, steeled herself, and walked towards the closet.

"Everything in there is hers. It doesn't matter what goes where-just put it in a box." It's not like she would come back for it. I heard Bella start gathering shirts, pausing every now and then and inhaling. I heard her mumble "apples…Alice smells like apples…" under her breath. I could smell her crying, too. But I wouldn't comfort her now. I realized that she wasn't just grieving the loss of Edward-she was grieving the loss of all of them. Carlisle and Esme-parents in a sense. Alice-her sister in every way but blood. Emmett-her brother who loved her, even though he never said it. And Rosalie-who secretly only wanted the best for her. We worked in silence for most of the afternoon, just packing everything up. Eventually we had it all done, and I moved the boxes into a spare storage closet. I was almost exhausted as I joined Bella on the floor of the now-empty room.

"Thanks," I said. I didn't know what else to say. She had effectively helped me pack up my life and put it away. Alice was in boxes, and I was alone now. I couldn't stop the grief that radiated off of me, sure that Bella could feel it. I looked over and saw her crying, confirming my thoughts. "Sorry…" I mumbled.

"No, Jasper, don't you be sorry for a thing. It's them who should be sorry!" I was shocked by her sudden wave of anger. "Just so they could go…gallivanting off to new horizons, looking for 'distractions' and whatever else makes them happy…they left us, Jasper! For no good reason. And what's left of us?" She stood up abruptly and marched up the stairs to the 3rd floor-Edwards room. She flung the door open with wild abandon.

I watched her stand in the doorway as she had done in my room, but this time she seethed. She turned to the wall that housed his CD's-only I knew he didn't need them anymore, they all reminded him of her-and pulled them all off the shelves with a sweep of her hand. "I can't listen to music anymore…"

She grabbed his journals, which he had piled on the floor, and ripped the pages out. "If I can't have my memories, neither can he!" she screeched, throwing the pages everywhere. I watched as they fluttered around her, red and angry, and just let her go.

She marched into his closet and started ripping his clothes off the rack and throwing them as well. "I can smell him, damnit!" she cried, but didn't stop. I let her go, watching her path of destruction as she went. She destroyed his whole room that way, screaming all the while. When she was finished, she turned to me and smiled.

"Jasper, don't you ever be sorry for feeling sad. They did this, not us. And we'll get through it-together." And she walked out of his room. The phrase "zero to sixty" flashed into my mind. I knew she needed it, and I was glad of it. That was for Edward-she wanted to get as close to him as possible, and that's all she could do. Now she could start to heal. Now we could start to heal.

Alice was in boxes and Edward was in pieces, and Bella and I would be okay.

I really didn't think this chapter would go like it did, but I like it. Also, I have to say something. I know, in virtually every Jasper/Bella story he calls her darlin'. I don't think I can do that because I don't see him saying that. So please, don't hold it against me!