AN: Bella wakes up at Jasper's. She walks in on him fast asleep and admires him. Can he be more than friend? Bella is afraid of what may happen.

Chapter Ten: Will You Be My Friend?

Bella, December, 2010

I woke up in a strange bed. It was comfortable and while I didn't want to leave, I had to. I must have fallen asleep at the kitchen island, and Jasper brought me upstairs, but I had to go.

I crawled out of the comfy bed and made my way to the door. The hallway was dimly lit, but it wasn't eerie. It was peaceful. I always felt uncomfortable in James' house from the first moment I set foot in it. But not Jasper's. I felt oddly 'at home' here.

Maybe it was him. Maybe it was Jasper that caused that feeling. He was a great person. Who wouldn't want to be around him?

Jasper's bedroom door was ajar, and I know I shouldn't do it, but I move to it either way. Something in me was just so curious about him. My rational side was telling me that it was okay, he was probably awake and I would just be letting him know that I was heading over to the main house now.

But my crazy side was laughing her ass and hoping that he was just getting out of the shower.

I had to get these reawakened feelings and desires under control.

There was light coming from inside his room and I nervously knocked. "Jasper?"

No answer.

"Jasper?"

Still no answer.

I stood there a little playing a game of 'should I? shouldn't I?' before I bravely pushed the door open.

I know I should have just written him a note and gone over to the main house by myself because Maria must been wondering where the hell I was, but I wanted to see him. So I told myself, maybe Jasper called her while I was waiting for him at the hospital.

I loved spending time with Jasper today. He was so much fun. He was like a kid in a candy store at the supermarket; such a prankster. "I wonder if I can ask him to go with me again, or at least until I know my way around?"

I shook that thought clear and focused on Jasper's sleeping form on his bed; his tattooed back rising and falling with each breath he took as he lightly snored. He looked so adorable. I loved his tattoos. I have always wanted to get one, but…

No! I wouldn't do it. I won't think about my past right now. I had other days for thoughts of James to torment me. I was happy today and I plan on spending the rest of my night that way.

Jasper's muscular, tatted back was providing me with enough distraction to put James in the back of my mind. A breathy sigh left me as I surveyed the medical symbol in-between his shoulder blades in fascination before I spotted the end of another tattoo on his left shoulder.

Moving around to the other side of the bed, lost in my admiration, I saw that it was a tattoo of a tiger on his shoulder.

My rational side pleaded with to leave the room, but my crazy side was whispering for me to stay. Maybe wait until he woke up and then ask him about his tattoos.

What the hell was I thinking?! Wait? In his room?

However, madness overpowered rationality, and I continued to stare at his body art.

I used to fear getting one, but not anymore. Especially with all I have been through, I want something to symbolize my survival.

Maybe Jasper could give me his advice on the subject. There was a side of me that just trusted him. I felt like I have known him forever.

I was so lost in thought, I froze on the spot when Jasper turned over. But thankfully, he didn't wake up.

I really should go, but the sight of his chiseled abs had me so enamored, I couldn't will my feet to work.

This man wasn't born. He was sculpted.

Jasper was one of the most desirable beings I had ever seen. Standing there, looking at him, I had the strongest urge to just climb into bed and lie down beside him. I had to fight myself to stay planted in my spot, and not let my crazy thoughts get the best of me.

I had to admit though, Jasper was one fine specimen. I wasn't dead, and I know a handsome man when I see one. But Jasper Whitlock was beyond that.

He was the epitome of what handsome should be. Fuck, he broke the mold when it came to it. Even a woman with limited experience as myself, could admit that the sight of this man did things to me.

He was irresistible. And that body coupled with his devilish smirk was a killer. He was positively hypnotic.

Jasper stirred and I gasped, frightened of the fact that he was about to wake up and see me standing over him like a stalker.

It got worse.

Before I could move, he yawned and stretched causing his abs to flex with his movements and I swore something deep inside me moved. Damn, him and his perfection. And before my rationality could kick in and propel me to run from the room, he opened his eyes and they immediately found mine.

"Bella?" he said, his voice groggy and filled with sleep as his drowsy eyes took me in standing there like a freak.

"Umm…I-I woke up and I…" He sat up while I stumbled over my words, trying to find the right thing to say. He held his hand up and stopped my ramblings.

I shut up. "You woke up and found that you were in a strange bed and you want to go over to the main house now?"

Wow! He took the words right out of my mouth. "Yes."

Jasper smirked and my stomach flipped. "Okay, let me get a shirt on."

"Alright!' I ran from the room.

I waited for him outside his room. "Hey," he said, stepping out of his room and wiping the sleep from his eyes while I sneered at his shirt when he wasn't looking. I hated the offensive material for covering the glory that was Jasper's abs and broad shoulders.

"Hey," I croaked, and cleared my throat. He smiled, probably thinking I was hoarse from just waking up, but I knew it was from thinking about other parts of his body that I shouldn't be thinking about; or wondering if they were as impressive as his upper torso.

We climbed down the stairs together and headed out the door into the cool night air. A slight shiver went through me and Jasper asked if I was cold.

"Are you okay?" He was so concerned. It was sweet.

"I'll be fine."

"I can lend you a jacket."

I smiled. "Thanks, but let's just head over to the main house. Maria must be wondering where I am."

He looked a little worried. "Shit."

"What?" I asked.

Jasper chuckled but it sounded shaky, like he was nervous. "She must be worried like hell because I didn't call her."

"What?" I said incredulously. "I thought you did."

"The day got away from me."

"It'll be okay," I was telling him that like he was the one who would get in trouble. I was the one working here, not Jasper.

"I'm sure it will."

"So, are you hungry?"

"This late, Ms. Swan?" he said in amazement. We had slept a long time. It was pretty late. But Jasper somehow sensed that I was worried and wanted to ease my mind. "You're not in any trouble, Bella. Mom will be cool about it. It's a weekend and she probably called Aunt Esme already to know when you left so she knows you're with me."

"That's good to know," I sighed, and then Jasper threw my question back at me.

"Are you hungry?"

His smile made me feel so free, so confident. "I don't know. Depends on what you're offering."

Jasper's mouth hung open and I wanted to be nervous that I just spoke to him like that, but I couldn't. I liked it.

I also loved that Jasper just rolled with it. "I am excellent at cooking," I laughed and he shot me a look that made me laugh even harder, but he went on, "So it would have to be between filet mignon or beef tartar?" he boasted with a wide grin.

I laughed some more at his silliness and told him no thanks.

"You're denying yourself the work of a true chef, woman," he said as we stepped up to the entryway and Jasper opened one of the double glass doors for me and I entered the kitchen.

"Nope, I'm surviving the work of an amateur." My confidence was out to play.

Jasper held his hand over his heart in mock horror as he walked in too. "Are you mocking me, my dear?"

"No. Why would I?" I said sarcastically, "I'm sure you are an excellent chef."

"It's good to be recognized for my skills," he said, making me scoff.

"Yeah, at ham and cheese sandwiches," Maria scoffed this time at my answer, making me jump and laugh at myself.

"Evening, Bella," she said with a smile, walking pass me, heading to her son, who she smacked on the shoulder. "Where were you two?"

"Ow!" he yelled, laughing. "That's child abuse."

She rolled her eyes at him and went on, "I was so worried. Jasper, I thought you two would be home sooner." You could hear the motherly tone in her voice like she wanted to scold him, but mostly, she was glad he was okay. And it warmed my heart that she had included me as well.

"Sorry," Jasper said as we all took a sit at the kitchen table. "But this one was having so much fun, we lost track of time."

"I didn't!" I laughed.

"Did too," Jasper countered with a smirk.

"It was him," I turned to Maria and said.

"Alright! It was," Jasper confessed. "But Mama, between work and then a trip to the supermarket, I realized something."

"What?" Maria asked.

"Sue really buys a lot of things," Jasper said, and I giggled. "Watching Bella today, taught me about half the things she buys."

"They're dealing with you," Maria countered with a grin. "They'll need a lot of things."

"Ha Ha," he mumbled, making me chuckle loudly and he winked at me. "Anyways, we got back and after unpack the groceries, we got tired. Bella fell asleep, first and I was only going to lie down for a second." I couldn't help but notice he didn't mention that I was standing over him when he woke up.

"Well, it sounds like a helluva day and you two had every right to be worn out," she said. "So Sue left some food for you two and…" she didn't get to finish before Jasper was out of his seat and over by the fridge rummaging through it, and yelling "Yes!" when he found the containers with our names on it. He popped his in the microwave immediately and Maria started laughing.

She turned to me, still lost in mirth, and said, "You'll have to excuse my son's exuberance for food, Bella. I swear, his daddy dropped him on his head as a child."

"It's fine," I smiled.

Her eyes softened as she eyed me. "So, did everything go okay? Esme didn't pressure you too much, did she?"

"No, she didn't. It was fine," I told her. "We have another session coming up soon."

"That's great," she commented happily.

"Sue made one of my favorites," Jasper said as he made his way over to the table and placed a newly heated container in front of me with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and greens.

"He has a thing for fried chicken," Maria explained, shaking her head as she got up. "Well, I'm sleepy; it's been a long day so I'll see the both of you in the morning, good night."

"Night." Jasper and I answered simultaneously. She smiled and shook her head again, leaving the kitchen.

Jasper was a riot while we ate. He was very playful as he tried to unsuccessfully, more than once, to steal food off my plate until I was laughing through the rest of my meal.

We washed out our containers and then Jasper escorted me upstairs to my room. We laughed and talked the whole way to the door.

I stopped in front of it, reluctant to open it, not wanting to leave Jasper behind just yet. "You have tattoos." I slapped my hand over my mouth and my eyes went wide, but he just laughed; the easy sound of it making me feel as carefree as it sounded.

"How long were you standing there?" he inquired. I was wondering when he would ask. He hadn't addressed the fact that he woke up and saw me standing over him.

"Not long, but I guess I became so fascinated with them, I couldn't move." Along with your body.

"Well, I love them. Might do more, may not," he said. "They just mean something to me."

"What do they mean?"

"The one on my back was done when I graduated med school."

"And the one on your shoulder?"

"The tiger was when I was eighteen," he said. "Tigers are one of my favorite animals. My dad and I got the same tattoo. It was done for my eighteenth birthday."

He looked misty eyed when he spoke of his father. Mr. Whitlock was very much loved around here.

"That's cool," I commented, leaving any questions about his dad for another time.

"What kind of tattoo do you want?" I loved how he said that. What tattoo do I want? I felt hopeful just hearing him saying that.

"Something symbolic, or just something fun. I don't know yet," I smiled.

"Alright then," he said, returning my smile. "Well, let me know when you're ready."

He wanted to help? "Really?" I said excitedly.

"Really," he chuckled. "I'll be glad to help."

We stood there for ages. Jasper looked like he didn't want to leave, and I definitely didn't want him to go. His piercing blue eyes made my knees wobble under their intense gaze. The air was sizzling between us, and I didn't know if Jasper could feel it, but I did.

There was something there. So powerful. How long could I resist it? Staring into Jasper's eyes, I could see him struggling as well, and he was the first to break the silence. "Well then, good night, Bella."

He started to move away, and my heart wept. "A-a-are y-you heading back over to your place?" I stammered.

"Yes," he chuckled. "But I'll see you tomorrow, Bella."

Again, that hope, and a promise. I smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow, Jasper. Thank you for today. I had fun."

He gave me a beautiful smile, making my heart flutter, and then he said in a nervous tone, "I was hoping I didn't scare out of wanting to go shopping with me again."

"No, in fact, you can come along any time you want." I was glad he wanted to do it again without me asking. In fact, he was worried he had scared me off. He couldn't, I loved spending time with him. So very much.

"Thanks, Bella," he beamed. "Good night."

Jasper walked off with a broad smile and I whispered, "Good night," as he walked away.