Edward's old room was right at the top of the stairs, so I didn't have to go far to get to Alice and Jasper's room. I hesitated at first, before knocking, hoping I was making the right decision.
"Jas...Jasper, its Chris, can I ask you a question?" there was a moment of silence, then to my surprise the door slid open and Jasper stood there, looking at me expectantly. "Um, Hi," my mind kept profiling him, the scars, the battles he must have seen and participated in both as a human and as a vampire
A part of me was terrified, but I had to see past all of the scars and his body language and just see a member of our family. That was Edward's problem, he wasn't reading Jasper's mind past the surface and it explained his distrust of Jasper, because I was at fault for that in the beginning, but I had struggled and managed to see past that. Edward should know that he can't just rely on an ability to see people.
"Yes Chris?" Jasper asked
"Em's got a ball game on the wireless and I was wondering." I took a deep breath, could he sense my fear? My nerves? "Look, do you play chess?" He tried to hide it, but I saw Jasper's eyes light up, briefly.
"Yes." He replied
"Well, I just got a new set and I want someone to break them in with me. Em thinks I cheat, Edward does cheat, Carlisle is reading, and I'm tired of playing against myself.
I saw Jasper hesitate at the anticipation of being in the same room as Edward. He had been doing a decent job of avoiding Edward, bot of us knowing full well that Edward had been pushing Jasper's buttons at every chance, maybe Carlisle, Em, I could make sure Edward behaved, sort of.
"I suppose." Jasper finally replied and followed me down the stairs. He stopped at the bottom step as soon as Edward's poisonous glares shot our way.
"Come on, ignore him." I spoke up, catching Jasper's attention. Edward's glare intensified at me, accusing of me of betraying him, telling me I was an idiot and making a life threatening mistake.
Edward I thought give him a chance or leave him alone.
I opened the chess box and couldn't help but admire the pieces again, still finding it hard to believe that it was mine now.
Jasper picked up the knight and turned it over in his hands admiring it and studying it. He held it up to the light and studied the detail.
"This set is exquisite." He murmured "beautifully carved, I have never seen anything like it." he paused and looked at me "how old is it?"
This was easily the most Jasper had ever said to me personally in a single sitting sentence. I was kind of dumbfounded and surprised that the offer of a chess match was all it took to reach Jasper.
"I don't know," I admitted as I put the pawns into place. "I can tell you that its made of Ivory and onyx and the board is made marble." I left the original owner's name out of the conversation. Jasper was older then everyone in the family minus Carlisle, there was a good chance he knew the Volturi too, or at least the name.
"Well, do you play as white or black?"
"It actually doesn't really matter to me, but I do prefer black."
Jasper didn't even try hide his surprise
"Really? Most people prefer to take the first move."
I shook my head
"Not me." I grinned a little "being a profiler you see things different." Jasper nodded, understanding.
Em looked up from the wireless and grinned wide at us, shaking his head sympathetically at Jasper as we sat down to begin the game.
"Be careful Jaz," he said loudly, Jasper jumped defensively for a moment at Emmett's booming voice, then he looked back at me confused calming a bit.
"Jaz?" he whispered
I shrugged and grinned, and slowly, Jasper returned the grin, the first real smile I had seen on him since him and Alice showed up on our doorstep, it also gave me more proof that Edward was wrong about Jasper, like I knew he was.
"And why am I being careful?" Apparently Jasper was learning that Em is the least serious person in the family.
"The kid is relentless when it comes to chess and he cheats."
"I do not cheat." I replied "its strategy and planning." I pointed at Edward "Madam Fortuna over there cheats."
Carlisle and Em began laughing loudly, Jasper chuckled, also a first from him, while Edward pouted and glared at me.
The laughter calmed and our game picked back up. It actually picked up speed and reminded me of the speed chess games I used to watch with my father and participated in once, only difference was there was no clock we were the clocks.
Jasper was a brilliant opponent and we were evenly matched on the skill level, which made the game that much more exciting. I didn't even try to profile Jasper, the game was intense enough without having to study my opponent, I could see his military mind going strong, this was a battle and he was strategizing it just as he would the field of war.
We were down to only small portion of our armies, either one of us could win at this point and I had been pleased that there had been no comments from Edward, that thought had had barely crossed my mind when Edward took that thought to mean I was giving him full permission to instigate, his comments started, talking to Carlisle about Alice within earshot of Jasper, as if he wasn't even there.
"Its nice that Alice went out with Rose and Esme today." He said nonchalantly."
"Yes," Carlisle replied, half paying attention. He was focused on his medical journal that had arrived only the previous day.
"Its good to get away from dull situations now and then of course, change of scenery." Edward said louder "you never want to be tied down with all that dead weight holding you back."
Quickly I looked up from the match at Jasper, both of us knowing full well who Edward was referring too. Jasper took deep breath and let it out slowly, he was holding his own here, but I wondered how much pushing it would take from Edward before Jasper snapped.
"Just ignore him," I said so softly that only Jasper heard me, "he's being a bloody tosser."
Jasper raised an eyebrow, a confused look washing over his face
"Tosser?" he gave me a slight grin "more British terminology I suppose?" I nodded
"Yeah, it basically means idiot, though in Edward's case its being kind, daft works too."
"I do wonder how long they will be." Edward continued, ignoring my thoughts and now my own glares his direction.
"Hm?" Carlisle was paying about as much attention to Edward as me during a particically boring lesson.
"Well, until these day trips turn longer, weeks, months, who knows even years."
"Where could anyone possibly go shopping for years that was supposed to be a day trip?" Emmett asked, playing right into Edward's ploy.
"Oh, Paris, Rome, Milan, even Tokyo, the possibilities are endless. After all once you break away from babysitting for someone, it must be such a relief to not be under their thumb all the time.
Edward knock it off your treading in dangerous waters. Jasper's holding his own here, but you pushing him to the breaking point, stop it please you know I don't beg, but I am begging you to stop! I watched my brother's body language; he didn't believe me he was trying to prove a point, one that did not need to be proven. I shook my head, begging my brother to listen to reason. You're doing something we are all going to regret, leave him alone! I thought angrily.
Now Carlisle had realized what was going on and he shot Edward a warning glance
"Edward, that's enough."
"I'm just stating the facts Carlisle, it will be even better in the fall when Alice goes to school with us, think of how happy she will be and how stressless her day could be without a certain someone hovering over her all the time."
He did it…he actually did it.
"Edward!" Carlisle jumped up.
It was all too late.
Everything happened in a second, I never even saw Jasper move as he suddenly had Edward pinned to the wall by his throat, teeth bared.
I was on my feet, my chess set hitting the carpet with a thunk as Emmett jumped up as well, both of us unsure how to react. We both looked to Carlisle for what to do, but our father seemed as stunned as everyone else, before he stood up slowly and moved cautiously towards them.
For the first time in my vampire life, Edward actually looked scared, like a child about to be punished. But I could see Jasper's face, his temper had flared, but only for a moment, granted he still had Edward by the throat, but Edward wasn't in danger anymore, that brief moment had been all the rage from Jasper.
"Jasper let him go!" Carlisle repeated. Jasper growled again and I could see it in his body that he wouldn't move to back off, but I could also tell that Edward was not in danger anymore. This was Jasper's way of warning him letting him know that he was not to be taken lightly.
Edward looked over at me, begging for my profile. But now that I knew there was no immediate danger, Edward would not get the benefit of my profile, I had warned him, more times then he deserved. I focused intently on my chess moves, going over each one in my head.
Edward's eyes narrowed at me when he realized I wasn't going to help him. I had warned him to knock it off, a little scare from Jasper was much less then he deserved. My lack of support also told Carlisle that the situation was calming too. He knew I would only hold back on my profile if I felt no danger.
Emmett would be the one who could calm Jasper. Jasper trusted Emmett above all us Cullens, so I felt better when Emmett moved closer to Jasper
"Jasper, let him go, its ok pal, let him go." I saw Jasper hesitate, before he nodded as he released Edward's throat. I tilted my head, understanding what was going through Jasper's mind, what Edward had either refused to tell us or just had been to blind to realize. Jasper was more controlled by his instincts than the rest of us. It's like he gives into them completely and is unaware at what his body is doing. Interesting.
Jasper looked at each of us in turn, before walking away quickly, right upstairs and out of sight.
Now we all turned on Edward for an explanation. I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at my brother as he rubbed his throat.
"Edward, care to explain yourself?" Carlisle asked, his voice starting to rise, Carlisle rarely if ever raises his voice, but this was looking to be one of those times
Emmett turned to look at Edward, a look on my easy going brother that I had never seen before. I have never ever seen Emmett THAT mad over anything other than some kind of sporting event
"What the hell was that all about!" he growled
Edward seemed taken aback for a second at seeing Emmett, who rarely if ever gets angry, look like he was ready to kill.
"I showing everyone what you have all decided to ignore, proving my point," What that you're a bloody gyte? I thought. Edward glared at me as he read my thoughts but continued this raving like a lunatic. "He is dangerous, to us and to Alice, and to the people in town. We're practically harboring an insane murderer here!"
"Are you bloody serious?" I exclaimed
"Chris," Carlisle warned,
"No Carlisle the kid is right, that is complete bull Edward and you know it. "
"Emmett."
I could hear it in my father's voice, he was just warning us out of habit, Not that it stopped Emmett as he continued, I was proud of him. Criticism coming from me might be ignored by Edward, but from Emmett Edward might actually listen, he might not agree, but it will hit him hard.
"Edward you have been nitpicking him for weeks, looking for any excuse to instigate him and it finally came back and bit you in the ass like you deserve."
"Enough." Carlisle stepped in again, before turning to Edward "Emmett is correct Edward, I have been warning you to back off, so has Chris, and Esme, we have all been trying to warn you and you have ignored us."
"He hasn't told us everything, he's hiding something and making sure that I can't see it and Chris is being to oblivious to notice."
"Hey!" I exclaimed
"You haven't exactly given him reason to pour his heart out to you Edward." Emmett growled "he actually came down here without Alice and played chess with Chris and was enjoying himself. You had to go and ruin it to prove a point. Try listening to Jasper instead of reading his mind."
"It doesn't take a mind reader to know he is dangerous." Edward shot back, glaring at Emmett.
Ok, I had kept my mouth shut long enough, I had tried to keep quiet and not instigate, but I'd had enough.
"No it doesn't…but it helps if you look at things from both sides…if you only look for the danger that's all your going to find, you want him to be dangerous you want to find that side of him if only to prove to the rest of us just that!" I shouted "Emmett's right Edward, Jasper just showed the self control he possesses." I paused as I felt Carlisle step forward to calm me down, but I ignored him "a part of him wanted to kill you right then Edward and if he had listened to that part you'd be dead right now. Wanna know why you're still standing?" Edward glared at me while Emmett and Carlisle stared at me in shock, Carlisle would normally have put a stop to this argument, but was just to stunned, which is fair enough. We rarely if ever argue to this intensity. I typically side with Emmett and just kind of sit back and watch, because typical arguments are between Rosalie and Edward and are therefore amusing. I ignored the surprise from my brothers and father and continued "he knew the pain it would cause. He was warning you Edward… telling you as I'm telling you…chose your words more careful! And stop putting yourself on a pedestal Edward you have no right to judge ANYONE but yourself. No one has the right to judge another's deeds… especially without looking at their own as well!"
"You cant profile him Chris! It's impossible to profile someone so uns-"
"No, its not Edward! And he's not unstable, the only one who is a danger around here is you and your bloody gob! And if you just shut the bloody hell up for on-"
"Christian…" Carlisle warned me, and normally I apologize for my language, especially when Esme is around. But I was in the right on this and I would not apologize for something that I am not sorry for.
"-For one second and listen to him unbiased you might learn as much about him as I just did in that few seconds he had you pinned to the bloody wall! I learned more about Jasper just now than I have in weeks. I profiled him…I learned…which if you would just stop and truly listen to his thoughts you would as well."
Edward started to open his mouth again, but shut it, realizing that anything he said at this point would lead to me telling at him more and the possibility of me speaking not only with an accent he'd struggle to understand, but the very real possibility of me shooting off more Gaelic.
"I'm going to go upstairs and try to talk to Jasper. Edward you are to stay down here I do not want you anywhere near Jasper until I say so you are to leave him alone understood?" Reluctantly Edward nodded, still rubbing his throat, he had come close to death in that few seconds and all of us knew it.
I turned my back on my brothers and father and returned to my table, picking up my pieces from the floor, examining each one to make sure none were damaged in the "earthquake" thankfully they had all hit the plush carpet and therefore did not sustain any damage.
I felt Emmett come up behind me and help me up the pieces in a new match. I glanced up at him and he returned it with his usual grin, it's a catchy sucker and I willingly returned it.
"Are you ok kid?" he asked moving his pawn out
"Yeah…I think I might go catch a flick in town, Three Musketeers is playing, its about as horrific as I'm gonna get right now."
Emmett reached over and gently shoved me as I took his knight, his rook, and a pawn in four swift moves and on my fifth move had his queen in danger of being taken.
"You need company?"
I shook my head
"Naw, thanks Em, but I really just need to think things over, if you go with me to the flick you and I will be commenting on it and making fun of it, I'll never get any thinking done with you 'round." Emmett grinned
"If you are referring to the swamp thing incident that movie deserved every comment it got, you could see the suits zipper!"
I chuckled as I swept my chess pieces into their respective case and covered the marble board with a cloth.
"Tell Carlisle where I went ok?" Emmett nodded as I shot Edward one last glare. Carlisle would be be likely to panic if I randomly vanished from the house, especially after something like a fight nearly breaking out.
Just a translation when Chris called Edward a gyte, it's Scottish Gaelic for idiot/dummy...take your pick, in other words, exactly Edward here in this chapter.
