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I feel angry. My manhood feels threatened.
That sucks, but I'm not going to let it rule me.
"Sorry for taking out my anger on you."
Jasper looks impressed with my quick recovery. Well, I haven't always been an asshole, just lately.
"So, how bad was it?"
"You want more?" He's reluctant to poke the beast.
I hold my hand out between us, facing my cupped palm inward, and wag my fingertips Matrix-style. "Bring it."
Jas smiles widely. "You look like a pack of wild hyenas in heat mated all over your head."
I nearly bust a newly-healed rib laughing.
-o-
"Fuck. Ow. Crap. Stop, Jas."
"Damn, it's good to see you laugh again, buddy."
"Well aside from the violent stabbing pain, it feels good to laugh again."
"So, you think this guy knows what he's doing?"
"I do."
"Well, thank fuck," he says. "I need my friend back."
"I'm working on it, Jas."
"I can see that," he smiles again.
"How is Bella?"
His smile disappears. "Honestly? She's not good, Edward. Anyone can tell just by looking at her, she's not herself. Alice says she doesn't laugh or even smile anymore, and you can't see a square inch of skin."
-o-
"This is all my fault."
"Hey," Jasper says, rising in his seat. "You're doing the best you can here. Just keep on the path. It's all you can do."
"She knows I'm working on it?"
"Alice says that's all that's keeping Bella going."
That's some measure of comfort.
"If you want to be agitated, you should let Emmett and Rose go at you a bit. I suck at this."
"Yeah," I admit, "I never could get mad at you."
"How's your hand healing?"
"Slowly, but at least I can manage a pencil with my thumb now."
"Go draw something, E."
A/N: :) XXX ~BOH