A/N This story is rated M for adult content, don't read if you're under 18.

Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight.

Fic Rec of the week:

Some Things Don't Need to be Said by K says

This is a truly original story about a friendship between disabled Edward and a popular Emmett that could be something more. Please read and encourage the author to finish this story!

Chapter 8 - Revelations and Rash Decisions

Jasper sat across from Edward in the small hotel room. The two had managed to evade any press by leaving the site through a little-used back gate. Joe had devised some diversion that sounded like a boxing match. Jasper had led a pliable Edward to Joe's truck, parked outside the back gate, and the two had driven the twenty minutes to the hotel.

Edward examined his hands as he gathered his thoughts, absently cleaning his nails and brushing the newly-formed calluses on his palms. Jasper was worried he'd pushed Edward too far. He hadn't intended to issue the ultimatum, it had simply come out. He had no intention of ceasing in his pursuit of Edward, even if the younger man completely ignored him. Jasper was drawn to Edward like a moth to a flame. Every time he looked at Edward, he remembered the husky promise the younger man had made only a few nights before. He remembered their bodies thrusting together in perfect counterpoint. Jasper had never felt such a connection, and his frustration was due mainly to the fact that he was so god damn scared of losing Edward.

Jasper knew he had fucked up. He hadn't called after the night he'd made love with Edward. He had bid on the younger man to provoke some sort of recognition. He had followed Edward to Texas, effectively trapping them both in close quarters under the watchful eye of the media, and now he had forced this little gem of a confrontation. Jasper opened his mouth to let Edward off the hook, he didn't know why the younger man was upset, but he couldn't stand adding to the tension.

"Edward, I—"

"I got fucked over in college, Jasper." Edward cut through Jasper's weak voice, finally deciding how to approach the subject, "I never let anyone back home know how fucking weak and pathetic I was, but I got into a couple relationships that just… They made me realize that I could never have anything normal without worrying about ulterior motives." Jasper met Edward's emerald gaze steadily. This must have been what Emmett was talking about.

"I don't have any ulterior motives," Jasper's voice sounded tinny and flat to his own ears. He wasn't lying, but he was feeling fucking guilty, and his assertive air from early had completely vanished. Edward's eyes snapped with cool calculation.

"Why are you here, Jasper? Why did you come to Texas?" His voice was calm, but Edward had been wondering why the blond would go to all the effort if he wasn't another Felix, or in it for something more than a simple relationship. He knew Jasper couldn't possibly be that hard up for a date.

"I… I guess I wanted to force you to listen to me," Jasper shifted uncomfortably, "I don't know, Edward. I don't fucking understand why I can't get you out of my head. You frustrate the hell out of me, and I don't like it, but I can't deny it either. You blow so fucking hot and cold that I get whiplash."

Edward sighed, "When I first got to college, I thought it would be great, you know? I was on the other side of the country, I was young and gay. I thought I could be comfortable in my own skin. That's why I jumped at the chance to go out with James. He was into me, and he made me feel special, not aberrant or lonely. I didn't want to be fucking lonely.

"I guess I realized that my lot in life was going to be an endless parade of shallow assholes who just wanted to make a quick buck off my face and any bit of salacious gossip they could dig up, so I tried to explore as much of life as I could before I had to face the proverbial music.

"I dated James for a couple weeks before he finally convinced me to sleep with him. He was my first, and I thought it was love," Edward's voice was bitter and resigned, "The asshole dumped me the next day. He said I was just a one-time thing, that he'd wanted to fuck a dude one time so that he could say he'd done it. It fucking hurt, Jasper." A tear slipped out of one of Edward's eyes and rolled sluggishly down his cheek. It pooled at the end of his nose and dripped silently to the carpeted floor.

"I had no… I… fuck, Edward. Everyone isn't like that, you have to give people a chance…" Jasper struggled to find some line of reasoning that would help Edward to realize that he wasn't the same as James, that people were better, "I know Emmett told you stories about me, but I told you I'm not like that. I don't just randomly fuck people, and it wasn't just a one night stand." Jasper's voice sounded weak and desperate to his own ears, he paused, trying to find some way of expressing himself.

Edward continued with his story, "It wasn't just James. The only other guy I ever tried to date was even worse. Felix." Edward's voice broke, and he let out a gasping sob, "I really did fall for h-him… He fucking courted me. He knew who I was, and he dated me for my money. He fucking used me. He stole from me, and tried to blackmail me. I loved him and he tried to leverage my feelings to pay off his fucking gambling debts." Tears were falling thick and fast, splashing on Edward's hands, "You have no idea what it feels like to be reduced to a dollar sign by someone you love, Jasper. And the worst part was that he did it so coldly. He played me and I fucking fell for it. It hurt so much more than James because it just showed me what the rest of my life would be like."

Jasper felt sick, "Edward, I would never…"

"It doesn't matter, Jasper. I can't take that chance. Do you know what it's like to look at every man you find attractive and wonder, 'how long will it be before he shows his true colors?' I can't be honest about who I am because every man in the city would have me at a disadvantage. I would never have an honest relationship again. I've tried to live both lives, Jasper. I've gone to clubs and tried that scene, but even there… people are all fake, and they all have a fucking agenda. I only came out to my family so they would stop wondering why I wasn't dating any girls. I couldn't do it. I've been trapped between the knowledge of what I am, and the knowledge of what I have to hide."

Edward turned his head away from Jasper, "I guess I thought, when you met me at the airport, that maybe I could have something with you, be free… be myself. I tried, Jasper…"

Jasper ran a hand through his hair, "It was that fucking photographer, wasn't it? The one with dark hair." Edward nodded glumly, "I get it, Edward… I guess. I just hoped maybe you'd want this as much as I do."

Jasper sighed and stood, "I shouldn't have forced you to come here. I knew you didn't want to. I can't do it, Edward. I can't just turn my life upside down and put everything I have into a relationship with a man who doesn't trust me. I thought we could have something special." He moved toward the door and Edward surged off of the bed, grabbing his wrist.

"Jasper, wait. Don't leave…" Edward pulled the other man to him and kissed him furiously, he wanted to put the past behind him, and he wanted to try with Jasper.

"Jasper, I… I don't know how to be any different. I know you're not out for the money, I trust you more than anyone I've ever been with. I just… I can't be outed by the press. I have to do it on my own terms." Edward clung to Jasper, trying to draw strength to face the world, but Jasper stiffened.

"Edward, I can't hide who I am. I'm proud of what I've done, and I'm not scared of the media or anyone else. I deserve someone who gives as much as they get. You can't promise me that you'll trust me, Edward, and you shouldn't have to. I'm just not the right guy for you." Jasper pulled away from Edward and opened the door, leaving the younger man alone in the hotel. He went to the truck and sat in the driver's seat for a moment, resting his head on the steering wheel.

Edward felt the reality of the moment sink in and stood forlornly in the middle of the hotel room, arms at his sides. It didn't matter. He was too weak to fight for Jasper and so Edward lost him. Edward sat on the bed and curled on his side, tears flowing freely once more. He heard the truck start outside and Jasper drive off, back to the site. Edward lay like that for hours. He cried until the tears stopped, and then he drifted off to fitful sleep. His dreams were full of images of Jasper, smiling, laughing… Jasper.

Jasper drove back to the site with his insides in knots. He'd just told Edward he couldn't do it. He rejected the man he had fallen in lo—. I don't, it's not possible. Jasper composed himself and parked the vehicle behind the shed. He came out and entered the yard, happy to note that no press seemed to be on the site. The volunteers were busy at work, so Jasper made a round of the building, making sure that all the jobs were being done. Jake cornered him when he came inside the building.

"Where is Edward, Mr. Whitlock?" The cameras were pointed at Jasper's face, he shook his head.

"I can't tell you that, it's a private matter. Suffice to say, Mr. Cullen is fulfilling obligations that go beyond this project. Beyond that, you will have to ask him if you want details. I will be personally filling in for him so that he can take care of this matter."

"Does it have anything to do with his family?" Jake importuned Jasper further, and the blond felt his temper fray. He didn't really like the documentarian. Something about Jake didn't sit right, perhaps because he was so obviously interested in Edward on a personal level.

"I've told you already, I won't comment on the nature of Mr. Cullen's absence, only that it will not affect his commitment to this project. If you'll excuse me, I have work to attend to." Jasper vaulted over a low wall onto the staircase Jake was blocking and ascended to speak with Joe.

The old carpenter looked up when he heard Jasper's footsteps, "No Edward?" He commented mildly. Jasper felt his gut clench. He shook his head, "Is he going to be back? Or did you scare him off entirely?" Jasper stared at Joe angrily.

"I didn't—"

Joe snorted, "Anyone who pays the least bit of attention can see that you're half in love with Edward, anyone who knows you anyway. It also doesn't take a genius to notice that he's been dealing with something serious these past two days. You probably pushed too hard and fucked everything up." Jasper opened his mouth to retort, but Joe held up his hands in a placating gesture, "I'm not saying it's one hundred percent your fault, Jasper, but you are four years older than him, working in your comfort zone, and if I'm not mistaken, you aren't being followed around by the media 24/7. Christ boy, Edward is so self-conscious he won't even make a trip to the grocery store for fear of attracting attention." Jasper gaped. He had assumed Edward was simply used to not buying his groceries, he hadn't considered the effect Edward's celebrity would have on his day to day life. He worked his mouth for a moment, trying to say something intelligent.

"If you want the advice of someone who's been married for more years than I can count, tell him how you feel. Tell him you're scared shitless because of how much you care for him. Show him that he doesn't have to change his entire life, and let him react how he will. It always works for me." Jasper frowned, "Conversely," Joe continued, "You could keep your head stuck up your ass, let him finish his project in peace, and leave him to his own life. Either way you risk getting hurt." Jasper stood there for a moment in silence.

"Either way, be sure it's what you want, Jasper. If you do put yourself out there, don't pull the rug out from under him again. He's obviously dealing with some baggage, and it isn't fair to toy with someone whose life has been shitty since he was a kid. I can't even imagine what it would be like to be an awkward teen dealing with the media, and Edward is now the only normal child in a family of odd ones. I wouldn't be surprised if he's taken on more a more responsible role than he's necessarily prepared for, just because of how wild his brother is." Jasper flushed, knowing he was partly to blame for Emmett's behavior and reputation. Joe gave him a shrewd look, "Ask yourself if he's worth it, Jasper, and if he is, then don't give up on him just because he's confused or scared."

Jasper was amazed at how completely Joe had pegged his feelings for Edward. He was also surprised by the depth of the one-sided conversation that had just taken place. He felt like he should say something, make a decision and let Joe know. Jasper stood there for another several minutes, pondering what Joe had said, contemplating his feelings for Edward, which were disturbingly close to love, and considering his options. Of course he wanted to fight for Edward, but he hated the fact that Edward kept jerking him around, and didn't want to simply drive back to the hotel and tell the younger man that everything was fine the way it was. Jasper really wanted to talk to Emmett, but was afraid of what his best friend might do if he knew Jasper had left Edward alone and crying in a hotel room. He shuddered. Just then Joe spoke up.

"Are you going to take care of the moldings? I think it's only fair, since you were the one that deprived us of a very dedicated worker." Joe held his gaze, and Jasper nodded numbly.

He spent the rest of the afternoon wishing the documentary crew would shove off, and watching the site for the brown haired cameraman who had caused Edward such distress. By the time that everyone was done for the day, Jasper was no closer to deciding what course of action he should pursue with Edward. He at least needed to warn the younger man that his absence had been noted and he needed to explain (or not explain) why he was not on the site to the documentary crew. Jasper approached Edward's door with a deep feeling of trepidation. He knocked softly and got no response. He peeked in the window, but the lights in the room were all off. Jasper returned to his room next door and lay on his bed, thinking and unable to get to sleep for hours.

Around two in the morning, Jasper came out of a half-sleeping stupor when he heard scratching sounds. He hurled himself out of bed and yanked his door open, only to see a dark figure at Edward's door. He growled in a feral tone and the dark figure dashed away. Jasper started to follow, but the shadowy form disappeared into the night long before he got close. Edward's lights were still off, but Jasper's heart was pounding. He returned to his room and found his cell phone. He located the number he wanted and pressed send, heart still in his mouth as he waited for the call to connect.

"Hey, it's me," Jasper spoke swiftly, "I need the number of that man who you used to use. What was his name? Dmitry something-or-other. Yeah, that's him." Jasper wrote down the number, "Thanks. I just needed the number for a client, everything's fine… I promise… bye." Jasper hung up the phone and immediately dialed the number he'd just been given, "I need to speak to Dmitry Bressler, yes. My name is Jasper Whitlock…"

Edward was going to change Jasper's mind. He wasn't sure how, but he would do it. Edward was, first and foremost, a salesman. Not only was he a salesman, but he sold nothing. Edward got people to give their money away. Literally. He would simply treat Jasper as he would any client. He would be professional, present a tempting offer, and play up all the advantages of buying in. Jasper wouldn't know what hit him.

Edward decided to wear his relatively impractical, but completely fuck-hot butt-hugging jeans. He was also going to wear a white t-shirt that was a size too small (he wasn't sure how it had gotten into his luggage, since he hadn't worn that size shirt since he was much smaller). He had a belt with a shiny silver buckle, since he hadn't actually used the tool belt, and he dug around in his laptop bag until he found a silver key necklace he hadn't worn in a couple years. He hooked it around his neck, donned his glasses and over shirt, slipped on Jasper's boots, and picked up his hard hat before striding out the door. He hoped he looked confident and not completely desperate.

Jasper glanced at him as he approached the truck. Edward was pleased to see the blond man's gaze rest for a moment on his necklace, then on his belt, then go a little wide at the ridiculous jeans, "Um… Edward, those jeans are… are you sure you want to wear them to the site?" Edward nodded and slid smoothly into his seat. Jasper wanted to advise Edward that his jeans would not work out well on the site, but Edward didn't currently seem to be angry, and Jasper wasn't sure how much latitude their conversation would stand before Edward shut down. He sighed quietly and hopped into the driver's seat. Edward was looking out the window at the hotel, and Jasper drank in the younger man. Something had changed in Edward's demeanor since yesterday. Jasper also noticed the belt and necklace.

"Uh… I told the documentary crew that you were dealing with some business issues yesterday, so they'll probably ask you where you were. I didn't realize… I didn't know we wouldn't be coming back… together." Edward nodded, but said nothing. Jasper lapsed into painful silence, kicking himself yet again for pushing so hard yesterday.

"Thank you," Edward's voice was so quiet, Jasper wasn't sure if he was imagining it, he didn't respond. The tension in the truck was not the same as it had been the previous two days. Jasper felt guilty, and Edward felt more nervous than fearful. They stopped and got coffee and bagels as they had the first few days, eating in silence as they drove the rest of the way. When they arrived at the site, the normal crowd of reporters waited to get their pound of Edward's flesh. Jasper gripped the steering wheel tighter and drove through the crowd, rather than parking in the lot with the others. He drove right up to the gate and brought Edward's door so it would be only a single step from the site. Edward glanced over, a look of gratitude on his face, but Jasper simply looked forward, glad that his face wasn't tingling as it always did when he blushed. Edward murmured another thanks and hopped out of the truck. He strode into the site without answering a single question, and Jasper parked the truck. He hoped out and stalked over to the small crowd of newspersons.

"Now listen." The cameras and microphones swung around to point at Jasper, "Mr. Cullen is a normal individual with a life. He's attempting to give back to a charity that helps men and women who are victims of abuse all around the country. Is it too much to ask that you not pester him and hound his every waking moment? Do you think he enjoys all this attention? Because I can assure you, he does not. I would ask you to kindly consider how you would feel if such a group were to swarm your workplace, interrupting your daily life for no good reason. Please just leave the site. Mr. Cullen has answered all the questions he intends to answer for the duration of his time on this project." Jasper strode through the gate and swung it shut behind him. The metallic clang lent a sense of finality to his words and he smiled a little as he walked toward the building whistling.

He headed inside to talk to Joe and bumped into Edward. Their chests collided and Jasper's hands automatically shot out to steady the smaller man. His eyes widened as they took in Edward's shirt, obviously too small, and sinfully clinging to his skin, much like his wildly inappropriate jeans. Jasper stepped back swiftly before Edward could feel the effect his appearance was having. Jasper stepped aside without a word, still gaping at Edward. The younger man walked past, looking down with a small smirk on his face. Jasper stared after Edward until he turned and his piercing green eyes met Jasper's blue. Jasper jerked around and walked quickly (but not too quickly) up the steps to Joe's workplace.

The older man smirked at Jasper's slightly scandalized expression, having seen Edward only moments before. He didn't comment on it, however, simply reporting that the rest of the volunteers had started arriving and that work was on schedule. Jasper nodded and thanked Joe before walking over to the desk where the blueprints were laid out. A window above the desk happened to look out onto the site, and Jasper happened to notice Edward walking back from the shed with an armful of wood for Joe to work into moldings. He didn't notice how Edward's arms were emphasized by the small t-shirt or how the white fabric riding up combined with the low hanging jeans offered a sliver of pale skin to the wandering eye. He certainly didn't gape at the strip of black fabric over the waistband of the jeans.

Joe cleared his throat quietly behind Jasper, and the blond jumped. He tore his gaze away from Edward and shuffled papers as if looking for something. Jasper had no idea what he had come over to the desk for, but it couldn't have been that important. He quickly excused himself and practically ran down the stairs and into a side room before Edward had a chance to reach the building.

So it continued for the next few hours. Jasper would notice Edward bending down to hammer in a piece of molding and he would freeze, fantasizing about the perfect ass encased in skin-tight denim. He would pass Edward in the hall and see a bead of moisture hanging from the end of the silver key around the younger man's throat. He would see Edward sitting in the break tent with his thumbs hooked in his belt, pulling his low jeans tantalizingly lower.

By lunch, Jasper was distracted and aroused in equal parts. He kept glancing over at Edward, who seemed to have mostly recovered from his anxiety. The redhead would still glance around, eyes following various reporters as the circled the site like sharks or wolves, but he seemed to have regained his composure after the past few days of drama. Jasper entertained a glimmer of hope that Edward was perhaps a little better for having shared his fear with someone, but he quashed it, knowing that his ultimate rejection had driven Edward from the site for half of the previous day. He never spoke directly to Edward that morning, and the younger man made no effort to interact with Jasper. They were mutually aware of each other, and when only an observant few were watching, they would sneak glances at each other. Joe was wildly entertained by the entire affair.

In the afternoon, Edward attempted to make up for the time he'd been away the previous day. He started spacing his breaks further apart, even though the sun beat down hotly. At about three, Edward had been working for over two hours and Joe told him to knock off for a twenty minute break. Edward said he would, but kept working. At four, Edward collapsed.

By that late in the afternoon, the only people on the site were the workers. The documentarians usually left before three, having enough shots of Edward working to piece together the day's work. Nobody noticed Edward until a few minutes after he had fainted. Cecily, the high school girl, happened through the hall and her shouted warning brought Jasper and Joe at a dead run. They feared the worst.

When Jasper saw Edward's form, laid out on the ground, he became almost frantic. He ran to the smaller man and checked his pulse and mouth. He sighed in relief that Edward was still breathing. Jasper felt the younger man's forehead and he was feverish.

"Fuck, how long has he been working? Joe?"

The older man scowled, "Well, if he didn't take a break when I told him to, he's been working for over three hours." Jasper's eyes widened as he scooped Edward's body up in his arms and carried him to the shade of the break tent.

Once there, Jasper quickly soaked several towels with ice water and began to bathe Edward's fevered skin, leeching the red cast from his overheated flesh. Edward's face was contorted in a grimace, but he arched his body into the cool touch of the towels. Jasper peeled off the ridiculous t-shirt and wrapped a soaking towel around Edward's chest, cooling him further. Edward came to after about five minutes, eyes fluttering in confusion. Jasper was so relieved, he almost reached out to stroke Edward's cheek, but the commotion had summoned the photographer, who stood right outside the fence, snapping pictures. Jasper wanted to get the shotgun out of his truck and blow the camera to smithereens.

"Jasper?" Edward's voice snapped Jasper out of his pleasant daydream and he looked down at the younger man, only to realize he was toweling off the redhead's abs, dangerously close to his belt. Jasper jerked his hand back, embarrassed at his wandering limbs. Edward's cheeks were still tinged pink, and he sat up slowly, "What happened?"

Jasper's eyes narrowed and he scowled at Edward, "Next time, when Joe tells you to take a break you listen. It doesn't save us any time if you have to stop working an hour early because you didn't take a fifteen minute break. Damn it, Edward. It would have been very bad if the documentary crew had captured that. We don't need people to think that working on these projects is dangerous. You could have been seriously hurt if you were using the nail gun or any of a hundred other tools."

Edward had the good grace to look properly abashed, he averted his eyes and saw the towel wrapped around his torso, "Did you take off my shirt?"

Jasper was staring at a bead of moisture on Edward's lip, and he didn't hear the question until Edward nudged him and repeated it with a small smirk, "I had to, you were overheating. I need to take you to see a doctor as soon as you can walk."

Edward frowned, "I'm fine, Jasper. I can go back to work."

Jasper stared as Edward removed the towel and moved to pull his shirt back on, then he shook himself out of it and grabbed the shirt from Edward's hand. Their fingers brushed and Jasper yanked his hand back as if electrocuted, "You don't get to make the call, Edward. If you don't go to the doctor, I'll send you home. I won't have workers on the site who can't take orders, especially when it comes to their own safety." Jasper raised a bottle of water to his lips and began to drink.

"Fine, I'll follow your orders, Whitlock, I wouldn't want you to… punish me." Jasper choked and spit out his water, and Edward smirked again.

A/N I rewrote the confrontation scene like, five times. I'm still not sure if I got it to say what I want it to say. What do you all think? Is there hope? Who's going to crack first?