|- 259 -|
"Well, hey there," Jas greets my frame in his doorway. "You look like a man on a mission."
"I am," I admit to my oldest friend. "I've seen Banner again. Got new homework."
"Oh yeah?" Jas smirks. "Do I get to tell you what a dickwad you are some more?"
"No," I sigh, settling myself in his arm chair. "But I think you'll have just as much fun with this one."
"Damn, I love therapy! Okay, what's next?"
I roll my eyes. "I'm supposed to practice handling agitation."
Jasper grins. "You're asking me to agitate you?"
"I think I am."
-o-
Jasper leans forward and clasps his hands atop his desk. "You sure, buddy? Seems kind of harsh."
"I have to practice my mindfulness and emotion regulation skills."
"Promise not to shoot the messenger?" he hedges.
"I'll do my best."
"Okay. So …I picked up Alice at Mystique yesterday…"
"Wait, wait, WAIT! If you're about to tell me you saw Bella with some other guy, I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet."
"Edward, I already assured you, Bella is not interested in another guy."
"Okay." The oxygen returns to my brain. "Continue."
"I don't know quite how to say this…"
-o-
"Just say it already."
"Fine. Your ugly mug is taking up the entire wall over Bella's station."
"Ugh. Poor Bella," I say, miserably.
"Poor Bella? I almost fainted when I saw it. Jesus, Edward, you couldn't give a guy a warning?"
"It's not exactly something I wanted to brag about, dipshit."
"Yeah, I can see why. How'd she talk you into that one?"
"Look who's talking. Sit, Jasper. Stay, Jasper. Heel—" Fuck. My first trip out with the shiny new wagon, and the wheels have already fallen off.
"I'm sorry," I tell him, pausing to take a deep breath.
A/N: Old habits die hard...so he's not perfect yet. XXX ~BOH