So, if I was the empath, how was it Carlisle knew better than I did how Bella and I felt for each other? I went to school late on Monday — not late for class, but late enough that I wouldn't be tempted to park next to the red Chevy. Late enough that Bella Swan had already gone inside. I spent lunch in the library. I left class early. I did the same Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Jasper? Anything wrong?" I looked up to see Jennifer Deering. Calculus had just let out, but I hadn't gotten up yet.
"No, why?"
"I don't know, you just seem, distant. See you tomorrow." She turned to go. I followed her with my gaze. Was I slipping? I didn't often let my emotions affect those around me. I could, all the time, but I controlled it. Was I not controlling it? I stood up and headed for my car.
There was a piece of paper under my wiper blade.
I dropped my bag on the seat and unfolded the paper bearing my name.
Happy Valentine's Day.
I never do this, so don't embarrass me.
Be my Valentine?
If yes, meet me in Port Angeles at the theatre at seven tonight.
If no, you never read this.
Bella
Whoa. This was an interesting way to get asked out. I pulled out of the parking lot and headed straight to Port Angeles. I needed to get a gift if I was meeting a Valentine, didn't I?
I pushed the pedal a little closer to the floor as I hit the highway. I actually passed her Chevy. The beast looked like it was crawling. It probably was. I'd have to give her a lift next time. What would she like? I drove up and down the streets of Port Angeles until I found a used book store. She'd told me she liked to read. Personally, I preferred a well worn book to a new one. Probably because I came with a little wear and tear myself.
"Can I help you?" the grey haired man behind the counter asked.
"Maybe. I'm looking for a gift, a valentine, for an avid reader. Something that's been well loved would be good."
The man smiled at me, and I felt his pleasure at helping me. "A Valentine," he mused. "How about some Browning poems... Their poems to each other would make a great Valentine." He walked down the shelves and pulled a hard-covered book from one. "Yes. Hmm." He held that one and ran his finger along, pulling out another. "Yes, yes." He held the pair out to me. "Take a look at those. What else? He rubbed a finger along his stubbly jaw. He wandered away and I flipped open the first book of Robert Browning poems. There was actually an old love note written on the cover page from a previous owner. I liked that.
Beth,
I know I never have the right words to say. Just hand this back when you need to hear them, all right?
Roger
The second was letters from Elizabeth and Robert to each other. I flipped through a couple. This one didn't have a note inside the cover.
"I have a couple of the newer romances. I don't know if that's what your girl would prefer." He held the paperbacks out to me, but I shook my head.
"I think these will be perfect. Do you have any gift wrap?"
"Gift wrap," he murmured, looking over his spectacles at me. He disappeared behind the counter. "Gift wrap," he muttered again.
"It's fine, I can find something..."
He pulled out a damaged atlas and ran a knife down the spine. "Not able to sell it anyway," he complained, using the oversized page to wrap one of the books. I wrote in the second as he did and cut out another map for wrapping.
"Thank you," I said, handing over cash.
"They aren't that much," he complained, squinting at me again.
"Consider it payment for the gift wrap," I said with a smirk.
He chuckled. "Thank you, sir. Thank you. I hope she enjoys them. Beth did."
I shook my head as I walked out the door. I walked from the store to the theatre stopping to pick up a single rose to go with my gift. If I was going to do away with avoidance, I might as well do it with a bang.
Bella shifted from one foot to another. A man whispered something to her and she gave him a look that sent him on his way. I laughed watching it. I wished I'd been close enough to hear. I swung wide, sneaking up on her even as she scanned the street for me.
"Happy Valentine's Day."
She whirled and stumbled, nearly falling. I grabbed her arms and steadied her. Her surprise soon turned to glee. "You came," she smiled. Then she smacked my chest. "You scared me."
I laughed. "Forgive me?" I pulled my hands back, holding my gifts out to her.
"Jasper, you didn't have to get me anything. I didn't bring anything for you," she complained. I felt awkwardness and unease from her now. She really didn't like being given gifts.
I shrugged. "I wanted to. It's nothing much," I reminded her. "Just a couple of used books. I hope you like them."
She looked up at me skeptically and then handed the rose back to me so she could remove the maps. She was careful not to tear the pages, folding each and tucking them into the book. "Browning," she said with a smile. "I've read some, but I don't have any." She turned some pages, read Roger's message to Beth. She opened the second and read my message aloud.
"Thank you for your letter, here are a few for you. Thank you, Jasper, they're great." She stood on tip toe and kissed me. I blinked in surprise. No human had tried to do that before. She slipped back to her heels right away, but her warmth was still on my lips. My throat was still burning with her scent. I put a hand to my mouth, running my tongue over my lips before touching them. It wasn't her blood, but I could taste her. It didn't soothe my throat, but it filled my heart. I met her eyes, and she blushed. I reached to touch her cheek, moving slowly. I still didn't quite trust myself.
My thumb stroked while my fingers curled under her chin. She was so warm, and she wasn't pulling away; she leaned closer. She was inhaling me, her eyes fluttering shut. Her heart sped, her breathing deepened; she was falling under my lure. I didn't want that.
"Bella?"
She opened her eyes and the lust waned from her slightly, replaced with simpler attraction and care. I moved fast this time. I put my lips where they barely brushed hers. I was still afraid of hurting her, but I wanted to know her reaction wasn't the lure. Her emotions didn't change as she pursed her lips, forming a seal with mine.
After two seconds, I pulled back. "Do you already have a ticket?" I asked, gesturing to the cinema.
She smiled. "No." She slipped her hand in mine, squeezing it before lacing her fingers between mine. It was hot; I could feel her pulse in it. She really had no idea, none at all.
"Allow me." I started to pull out my wallet, but she swung her purse around and released my hand. I missed it already.
"No way. You got a gift, I get the tickets. The least I can do. What would you like to see?"
I shrugged. "Whatever you like."
She purchased our tickets and led me into the dark theatre. From this point she didn't let go of my hand again. I looked at them, joined, before we left the lighted corridor. She noticed. "Is this all right?"
I expected my hand to be red where she was warming it, but it was still paler than hers. "Yes. This... is all right." I lifted her hand kissing the back and she blushed again before entering the theatre.
I could see perfectly in the dark, so I noticed her looking at me rather than the movie. I saw her bite her lip before moving our hands to my lap. I saw her eyes flutter shut and I felt her content as she put her head on my shoulder.
"I missed you, Jasper. I know I just met you, but I missed you."
"I know." I kissed the top of her head. My throat ripped with heat again, but I could resist the thirst. I couldn't resist Bella. "I missed you too," I whispered into her curls.
She turned her head to bring her lips to mine again. I winced at the burn, but indulged in the sweetness of her kiss. I felt her hand squeezing mine as she moved her lips with mine, rolling my lip between hers. She put her free hand to my cheek. I leaned into it, loving the way it felt. The softness of her skin, the slight dampness, the heat, the affection she displayed, that we shared.
The other lustful couples in the room were probably having a detrimental effect on my resistance. I put a hand to her ribs and pulled her closer to me, into the armrest.
She moaned very softly and I broke the kiss. I was being foolish. I couldn't have this, not with a human. I was going to hurt her. She sighed and put her head to my shoulder again. I sat back to watch the rest of the movie. And to think.