A Game Gone Wrong
Let's put it this way, if I owned any of these characters, I wouldn't be typing on a laptop that likes to crash or twisting the story around for my own amusement
Ch 2
Bella ran away as fast as she could, her heart numb but her mind racing. How could he? And with Alice? He told me he loved me. I've been waiting for him to change me for 3 years. I finally gave in to going to college before the change. And I promised to marry him. I graduated early and the wedding is in two months. How could he? How could he? Her feet carried her up the stairs and down a hallway, into a room she didn't recognize. I don't care as long as it's not HERS or HIS. She looked around seeing none of the signs of her best; excuse me, ex-best friend and fiancé. The only thing her mind truly registered was the dark bed hidden in a corner. Stumbling, she made her way over to it and collapse in silent sobs.
This was how Jasper found her minutes later when he made his escape upstairs. He had no thought but to get away from the emotions flying around downstairs. Edward and Alice's guilt, Emmett's rage, Rosalie's confusion, and his own utter despair. He opened the door of his sanctuary, expecting to find his bed empty, needing the comfort of something so human. Instead, he found something much more human sitting there, sobbing. The pain flowing from her rivaled his. He turned to leave, planning on hiding unnoticed in Carlisle's study, when she looked up.
Bella gasped when she saw him standing in the doorway. Hurriedly, she wiped at her tear stained cheeks, hoping he hadn't been standing there for long.
"Um, h-how long have y-you been standing there Jasper?" she asked, unable to keep her voice from shaking.
"Not long. I'd say I'm sorry for interrupting you but you are in my room." Bella jumped up from the bed, immediately apologetic.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry! I didn't know, I just walked in and knew it wasn't one of theirs and…" He cut her off.
"Darlin' I'm not yelling at you, or even kicking you out. I just wanted you to know why you didn't get to finish your cry fest. And to be honest, I'm glad I found you. I don't think either of us should be alone at the moment."
"Why's that?"
"You can't do something exceptionally stupid if you're not alone." Bella smiled just the smallest bit.
"I suppose that's true…so, we'll just both hide in here?"
"Well, I don't suppose it's hiding if we're together." Her smile widened a fraction before she slid back into her position on the bed. They both fell quiet as Jasper took a seat on a nearby chair. Soon, Jasper's thoughts were running away with him, remembering the last time he and Bella had been left alone together.
2 years earlier
It was one of the rare sunny days the tiny town near Hanover where the school was located. Norwich was just over the river and only a short drive to Dartmouth where he was studying music for the fourth time as Edward studied the culinary arts with Bella and Alice tried her hand at medicine. Rose and Emmett were off on yet another honeymoon, this time in Australia, where Em was determined to hunt down a kangaroo or something equally odd. Everyone was taking advantage of the rare warmth and spending it outside. The rest of the family was going hunting in the nearby "forest". It wasn't even close to the land we had in Washington, and we had to change hunting grounds every few months to not deplete the wildlife, but never complained. Not as long as Bella was happy here. I, however was not going hunting. I was babysitting.
"Please Jazzy! Edward just haaaas to go hunting with me today! And you hunted just yesterday, please! He won't go unless someone stays behind to watch Bella, you know that! Pleeeeeeease!" Alice could put a dog to shame with her whining, but he had never truly learned how to refuse her.
"Fine Ali, I'll play Bella Babysitter"I smirked at my play off her Bella Barbie. "But it's not like she ever does anything with me anyway. We've never really talked; the closest we've ever been was Phoenix." I referenced the dark days running from James.
"Thannnnk yooou!" Alice gave me a quick hug before flitting out the door in excitement. What had he gotten himself into?
I followed the sound of heartbeats to find Bella sitting in the library of the house reading a well-worn copy of Wuthering Heights.
"You know, I'm sure Edward would buy you a copy of that that isn't falling apart." Bella jumped, not having heard me enter. "I didn't mean to scare you Bella."
"It's ok Jasper. I just didn't hear you, that's all. You'd think living in a house full of vampires I'd be used to it by now," she laughed. "Are you going to sit down?" I nodded and sat in a chair almost across the room. "Jasper I don't bite you know…" I smiled at how silly I was being and moved to the chair next to her.
"So, Wuthering Heights again? How many times does this make?"
"42, the answer of life."
"Of course. Has it changed any this time around?"
"Nope. And that's what so wonderful about. No matter how many times I read it, no matter how many different editions there are, Heathcliff and Catherine always fall in love, despite the fact that everyone in the world seems to object to it. It never changes and it never will." She said this with such a look of ferocity and passion that I got the feeling she'd had this conversation before.
"Bella, I wasn't trying to tell you to stop reading it…"
"I'm sorry Jasper. I've just defended myself and this book so many times that I can't seem to answer a simple question about it without getting defensive now."
"I understand. Everyone has a book like that I'm sure. I do at least."
"You do? What is it?"
"Guess,"
She began thinking hard. Her face scrunched up and her nose crinkled. It was such a human move, but it was adorable to watch.
"War and Peace?"
"I was a major, that doesn't mean I only think about war Bella."
"Um…Interview With A Vampire?" I laughed at that.
"Keep guessing darlin', maybe you'll figure it out someday." She kept guessing, ranging from Pride and Prejudice to The Fairy Godmother to Mein Kamph written by Hitler. She never managed to figure it out but it kept us busy until the others returned from their brief hunting trip.
"Jasper?" Bella's voice drew him out of his thoughts.
"Yes Bella?"
"Could you do me a favor?" He inclined his head, waiting to hear what she asked before agreeing.
"Would you run to the library…you can get there and back fast enough that the others won't catch you. I don't have that luxury…" He nodded and without a word ran to the library and back and returned with two books in his hands.
"Here you go Bella," he whispered quietly, afraid talking any louder would draw the attention of those they wished to avoid. He handed her the copy of Wuthering Heights. She may not have asked for it specifically but he understood that it was the book she wanted to escape in. He settled back into his chair with his own favorite, determined to forget for a minute or an hour.
"Prisoner of Azkaban? Why didn't I guess that?" Bella exclaimed, having glanced up to see what book he had chosen.
"Probably because it's childish to continue reading Harry Potter…"
"Why that book?"
"Because I can relate to Sirius Black. One day I hope to have the unconditional love he had after Harry found out his past." With that he turned back to his book and read.
A/N So I know this took forever in relation to getting the first chapter up but I'm claiming school as my excuse. Finals and such have been killing me...not to mention I'm in a "scholarship program" known as Junior Miss...So show me some love pretty please!