Chapter 23: Hitting The Books

~Me and you…and you and me. No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be. The only one for me is you, and you for me. So Happy Together~

~Natalia~

Never in my life would I ever think that I'd actually be excited to go to school. But, after our major breakthrough over the weekend, it finally seemed like Jasper was ready to come back to school with the rest of us. And, I couldn't be happier. My days seemed to drag on knowing that he was at my house, just sitting in my room, waiting for me to come back. But now, he'd be there with me…in five out of my six classes.

It was Monday now. And, even though it was a regular, freezing Monday morning in the middle January, I found myself so nervous.

"Natalia are you ready?" Alice bounced into my room and looked at me.

"Yea…" I mumbled, grabbing my jacket and slipping it on. I walked out the room but she didn't immediately follow me. She stopped and bent down on the side of my bed and stuck her hand underneath, looking for something I guess. And, when she pulled the bottle of pills out, she frowned.

"Have you not been taking these?" she asked me as we walked down the hallway.

"Um, no…there's no need to anymore. See, I'm happy again Alice." I smiled at her.

"I see. Not even as a precaution? You haven't taken these since he's been back?"

"Not once…" I took the bottle out of her hand and walked up to Carlisle when our doorbell rang.

"I wonder who that is." Edward came down the stairs and opened the door.

"Hi beautiful." A voice whispered in my ear as I stood with Carlisle.

"Hey yourself." I giggled when he kissed my cheek.

"What is it you needed to talk to me about Natalia?" Carlisle snapped me from my thoughts and stares at Jasper.

"Oh…oh yea that's right!" I blushed and pulled the bottle of pills from my pocket.

"Carlisle…" I smiled "I think I won't need these anymore." I dropped the bottle of pills into his hand. He cracked a small smile. Carlisle never smiles like that. Unless…unless there was something that he was hiding from all of us.

"What was that look for?" Esme came in and joined our little conversation.

"Natalia, I have a confession to make…" he ran his hand through his hair "I do hope that you don't get mad at me." He sighed.

"What is it Carlisle? You don't think I should still take them do you?"

"No, no it's not that. It's just that…well…those pills aren't really what I told you they were."

"What?" I was beyond confused.

"I mean yes for the first two weeks, I made sure you were taking the actual pills because you were emotionally and mentally in need of them. But, after that night when you started to feel better…you know, that night you finally talked to Edward…well, I switched your pills Natalia."

"What?" I laughed "What were you giving me?" He switched my pills? What the heck was he giving me then?

"No, no, I wasn't giving you anything bad…actually I wasn't giving you anything actually. I was giving you sugar pills." He shrugged.

"Sugar pills?? What …how…why!" I choked out.

"Because I knew that you would be able to bring yourself out of the depression you were in Natalia. But, I couldn't just have you stop taking the pills…I had to make you believe that they were making yourself better. Otherwise you wouldn't have believed me. But, you are stronger than you think…you just needed the pills to keep you motivated I think."

"That's sort of cruel Carlisle…how did any of us not know?" Edward shook his head.

"I kept my thoughts to myself son. And, Alice didn't know either…because I kept changing my mind." He laughed lightly. That sneak!

"Well, I guess that's a good thing then." I shrugged. There was nothing I could do anything about it now.

Honestly, I wasn't mad at Carlisle. He had a lot in faith in me apparently. So, I was very thankful for that. I loved Carlisle…he was my dad after all.

"It's alright Carlisle. I'm not mad at you." I hugged him tightly "Esme on the other hand might be a different story." I laughed as we both looked back at her and she had a stern look on her face. She didn't look too pleased that she hadn't been in on this little experiment.

"Come on Natalia." Jasper grabbed my hand "we're running a little late." He smiled. Oh, man. That meant he'd be driving fast to school today.

"Not too fast okay?" I laughed as I put my seatbelt on. He started the car and was off.

"Or not…just don't screech into the parking lot…you were recovering from a car accident remember." I smirked.

"You got it." He smiled and pulled smoothly and slowly into the parking lot a few minutes later.

"Everyone's looking at us." I sighed as he opened the door for me to get out. He wasn't playing the part of someone who was in an accident very well.

"Want me to carry your books?" he joked and I glared at him.

"Very funny. I'm the one who's supposed to be taking care of you…."

He just shrugged. He didn't care…that much was obvious.

"What's our first class again?" he said, avoiding all the looks the people were giving us. He did, however, wrap an arm around my shoulders.

"Math." I sighed. I hated Math. But, with Jasper…it'd be more bearable.

"Oh, yes how could I forget…" he smiled. He wouldn't admit it but, he actually liked math.

"Shut up…we can't all be a genius like you." I frowned. I, on the other hand, was terrible at math. We just didn't get along. I mean, all those numbers…when was I ever going to use it in real life??

Math, Chemistry and the dreaded P.E. all passed the same way.

In Chemistry, our teacher made me show Jasper step by step the lab we had been working on. He pretended to pay attention as I explained it to him but he had already done this type of thing a dozen times before. During the time that Jasper was gone, Edward had been my lab partner. But, someone dropped out of the class so now BOTH Jasper and Edward were my lab partners.

It was a little annoying, being as they knew EVERYTHING before we even did it...but, all the girls in the classroom were just swooning over them and probably hating me even more.

In P.E. we were playing indoor hockey. The boys coach wasn't there, so we were combined for today. Whoever thought it was a good idea to let boys and girls play hockey together wasn't in their right mind. Luckily, Jasper had to sit out…the teacher telling him it was "too rough" for him.

Ha, go figure! I, on the other hand, got beaten up in those fifty minutes.

"You were pretty aggressive." He laughed as I winced when I walked out of the locker room. I sat next to him for the last few minutes of class.

"Well, did you not see that they were killing me out there…I couldn't let them keep hitting me with those sticks."

"I know." He sighed and suddenly he was on the ground beside me. He grabbed my sore ankle and placed his hand on it and started rubbing it gently. The pain instantly started melting away "I almost got up like five times to go over there and hit someone back…." He laughed.

"That wouldn't have been good…you should get up Jasper…we don't want people being suspicious."

Everyone was falling over themselves to welcome Jasper back. The teachers commended him on getting all his work done and turned in on time. Everyone else was in awe because Jasper had no scars or anything from his car accident.

"Little did they know just how many scars I do have." He whispered to me as we walked down the hallway.

"My solider…" I smiled "you're a fighter Jasper…always have been. Always will be. But, you're my solider now." I joked.

"Of course…always at your service." He nodded his head at me. I'm sure if he had a hat, he would've tipped it at me. I smiled at the very thought.

"Southern hospitality." I blushed "very nice." I looked at him as we entered the cafeteria.

When we walked in, it was like all talking ceased. I felt like everyone had just been talking about Jasper and I.

"Don't mind them…come on." He pulled me towards the line to get something to eat. He grabbed a tray and started putting things on it for me. I quickly took it out of his hands when people started to stare.

"What are you doing?" I whispered to him "you have a charade to put on remember?" I reminded him for the tenth time today.

"So I can't carry the stupid tray for you?" he smirked.

"That's exactly what it means…" I laughed and went on my way with him right behind me. "You want a sandwich?" I tied to be as serious as possible but I was having a really hard time doing so.

He didn't answer me, he just glared at me.

After we paid, we walked across the room where everyone else was.

"You know…" I set down the tray of food "you're extremely attractive when you're irritated with me." I sat down and kissed his cheek. He remained stoic for a few moments before finally smiling back.

"That's what I thought…" I giggled as he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

"Jasper, please don't think those kind of thoughts about my sister when I'm around….it's a little too much info." Edward rolled his eyes. "I already have to deal with the two of you again in Chemistry...I can only handle so much." he sighed.

"What are you thinking??" I laughed, eating some of the sandwich I got.

"Nothing in particular…just about how you have me wrapped around your pretty little finger." He said in my ear, the cold air making me shiver a little.

"Yea, literally." I turned my hand so he could see I was wearing my ring again.

"Please…don't ever take that off again okay? Well…at least until you start wearing the other one."

"I promise."

"Look, the gang's all back together again…." Alice beamed as we sat around the table in the cafeteria. She had clearly been watching too many musicals again. But, she was right. All six of us were together again. Sitting and laughing…almost like the past two months never happened. Even the other students took notice. And all eyes then focused on Jasper. Who, out of all us looked the happiest.

Though, I'm pretty sure I came in a close second.

Edward was telling Bella and Rosalie how Carlisle had switched my pills. He still didn't look too pleased about it.

"What if you really needed them Natalia?" he tried to explain his frustration.

"It's in the past now…" I sighed "Carlisle's a doctor…he knew what he was doing."

"I guess we weren't the only ones who felt that our love was strong enough…" Jasper cut in and my brother just rolled his eyes.

"That was so cheesy…" he smirked. "but, you're right.." he finally gave up.

Then, suddenly something hit me.

"Oh, I totally forgot!" I unwrapped myself from Jasper's hold and grabbed something out of my bag.

"What?" He laughed and looked at me funny when he saw I was holding my psychology book in my hand.

"I have a test…in like twenty minutes." I frowned. Too much excitement for one day apparently.

"Well, why don't you just ask me your questions?" Jasper took the book out of my hand.

"I would, but I really need to pass this test Jasper…my grade depends on it." I tried to get the book back from him but he wouldn't give it back. He just had this smug smile on his face.

"You're right…coming back to school was a great idea." He laughed as I kept trying to get the book out of his hands. He kept moving back until I was practically in his lap, still not being able to get it back from him.

"Hey, hey…miss Cullen, no funny business over there." A voice yelled at me from somewhere and I glanced up to see one of the professors who were walking by glaring at me and shaking their head. It caused nearly everyone in the room to turn and stare at me. "Let's not forget, Mr. Hale has just come back from being in a very bad car accident." The woman shook her head at me again before going on her way.

"give me the book Jasper…" I stared down at him "or I swear…I swear I won't kiss you for a week."

"That's the best you could come up with?" Bella laughed. But she stopped when he dropped the book into my awaiting hands.

"Jasper can't even go an hour…Natalia's smarter than you guys think." Alice laughed.

I spent the next fifteen minutes studying as hard as I could. Jasper didn't say anything in those fifteen minutes. But, he had a smile plastered on his face so I knew he wasn't mad. He was perfectly content with the fact that he had just embarrassed me in front of nearly the entire school.

But, as long as he kept beautiful smile on his face, that's all that mattered to me.

The bell rang and it was time to go.

"Good luck on your test. You'll do fine…" Jasper smiled and tried to calm down my nerves and gave my hand a squeeze before he was on his way.

"That Jasper Hale, he is so hot…I don't know what he sees in that Natalia girl. I don't know how she and that hottie brother of hers are even related." I heard a girl telling someone as I went and took my seat.

"That's because Edward and I aren't really related….idiot." I smirked and she just rolled her eyes at me. Were people in this place ever going to let me forget the fact I was completely plain…compared to the rest of the people I hung out with.

I actually breezed through that test. It was much easier than I thought it was going to be. When we got out of class, Jasper was standing at the doorway waiting for me.

"What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"

"I had art…and well, I can't really do anything right now…you know, since I hurt my arm." He shrugged.

"Oh, I see. Well, are you ready for English? We are supposed to start on those big senior papers today."

"Can't wait." He smiled and we started walking. But, he sort of took us the wrong way because we ended up going towards the parking lot.

"Um, I know you've been gone for awhile, but this isn't the way to our class." I looked up at him but he just kept walking. He didn't stop until we were at his car.

"Is there a reason we're out here?"

"I need a book…can you get it for me?" he opened the door for me.

"What book Jasper…" I laughed looking inside but not seeing any sort of book in there. I stepped back outside the car and closed the door when I came up empty handed.

"Oh yea, that's right…I don't need a book. I just remembered." He said innocently.

"Well then we better go before we're late…" he stopped me when he pushed me, not so gently, against the door of his car.

"I can't believe you were actually thinking of denying me this for an entire week…" he pressed up against me and closed the gap between the two of us.

Talk about chemistry. I forgot all about where we were and how we were late for class the moment those lips touched mine.

Jasper was like my oxygen…I needed him to survive it felt like sometimes.

"Remind me…" I breathed out, trying to catch my breath "to come up with better threats next time. Because I don't think I could handle a week without that either." I blushed, our arms still wrapped around one another.

"Good. Now, let's get to class. We're already late." He grabbed my hand and we walked quickly to the classroom.

"Wait, wait…my face isn't all red is it?" I stopped him before we walked inside.

"You looked flushed…but we'll just say you were running. Now, here wrap your arm through mine…so it looks like you were helping me." He laughed but I did what he said and we walked into the classroom.

"Well, Miss Cullen…Mr. Hale how wonderful for you two to join us. Class begins at one forty five in case you forgot."

"I'm sorry…you see, I forgot one of my books in my car and I asked Natalia if she could go get it for me. She had a little trouble finding it…but we're here now. She didn't want me moving around too much…you know?" Jasper said smoothly, his face calm as usual.

"Ah, very well then…take your seats you two." The teacher smiled at us, but his voice was still stern.

"Using your gift again?" I whispered to him as sat down.

"Just a little."

We spent the rest of the class talking about the papers we were to right. It made me a little nervous. Because, basically this paper determined whether or not we passed the class. So, it was the difference between graduating and not graduating.

"Why are you so worried about the paper? You're a good writer Natalia…." Was the first thing out of Jasper's mouth when we walked outside.

"If I don't do good on it, I won't pass the class. If I don't pass, I don't graduate…and I don't get to go to college." I stared at him.

"That's thinking a little extreme don't you think? Of course you're going to pass the class and graduate…" he waved to Edward and Bella who were going to her house.

"Says you…I've worked so hard this year Jasper…" I frowned as we got into the car. I could see Rosalie and Alice driving off. They must be going shopping again. For Rosalie's wedding.

"Don't worry.." he grabbed my hand, trying to calm me down "I'll help you in whatever way I can…I'll personally make sure you graduate." He laughed.

"Well, that might be a problem…" I looked over at him.

"How so?"

"Jasper, we can't be late to class everyday…it's not good." I sighed as we drove to my house.

"Natalia, I spent two months away from you…so, if I want to steal you away for a few minutes during the day to show you just how much I missed you…I'm going to do it." He winked at me.

"Not to say I wouldn't mind it…it's just that I don't want to be showing late to my classes all the sudden. Teachers start to take notice after awhile."

"Fine, fine…I'll pick better times then." He said as we pulled into my driveway. As usual, he was opening my door before I had time to blink.

"like now?" he laughed and picked me up effortlessly in his arms.

"Tempting." I laughed as he opened the door "but we have two tests tomorrow…or did you forget already?"

"Please…" he looked down at me with those eyes. "and then it'll be nothing but studying for math and chemistry."

"Okay…as long as you promise…" I started but he was already going up the stairs.

"Of course…you and me darlin'" he smiled the smile and I was gone. That's all I needed…he had won me over with that one look.

"Mm, I think I'm starting to like Mondays…" I whispered to him and he nodded quickly and wrapped his arms around me.

I quite liked the sound of "you and me…" It's the way it should be. There was no one else out there.


I hope you guys liked it. The next chapter I think is going to be my Valentine's Day chapter. So, if anyone has any ideas/suggestions…let me know, lol.

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