Chapter Fifteen
Bella
Jasper looked at me then back at Charlie
"Sounds OK to me but its Bella's choice and it wont make any difference although I do have somewhere I have to be for the next couple of weeks".
"Oh, a job?" Charlie snapped sarcastically.
"Yeah you could say that Charlie, and it pays well".
I wanted to finish school but not at the expense of losing Jasper, something inside me screamed at the very thought of that.
"I need to speak to Jasper alone first Dad".
Charlie got up, "Be my guest" and he stomped out into the kitchen, making plenty of noise so we knew he wasn't listening in.
Jasper sighed heavily, "I guess I should have expected that".
I took his hands in mine and a shock ran up my arm and straight into my heart, which burst into flames.
"Do you really have to go?"
He nodded, "Yes Bella I promised some friends I'd help them for a couple of weeks".
"If I stay to finish school will you come back?"
He closed his eyes, an agonised look on his face. "Yes I'll come back for you".
"Promise?"
He pulled me close and laid his head on my hair, breathing deeply.
"You have no idea darlin' Yes I promise. I'll be back in a couple of weeks and then I'll wait for you to finish school, but you'll have a hard time with Charlie. Will you be OK?"
I put my arms around his waist, resting my cheek on his chest.
"As long as I know you'll be back I can cope".
What had this man done to me? The thought of being away from him set my pulses racing, my stomach knotting and my head aching. He put his hand on my back and pressed me closer, I
"I know how you feel",
"Oh yes Empath" I answered.
"No, because I feel the safe way. Keep your phone with you and I'll ring as soon as I can. Take care of yourself Bella, for me".
Charlie coughed loudly as he walked back in. "So?"
"I'm staying to finish school and Jasper will be back in a couple of weeks to wait for me".
Charlie scowled darkly. "Good. Pleased to hear it"
And I didn't think for one moment he meant Jasper returning.
"Look after her Charlie. There are some very strange people around Forks".
"Yeah well there'll be one less when you're gone" Charlie muttered under his breath. I knew Jasper heard but he chose to ignore it. I walked him to the door my heart already aching,
"Take care Jasper".
"Always do Bella or I wouldn't have survived so long".
"You watch yourself with the wolves and the Cullens. If you need me, call".
He took my face between his huge hands and kissed me deeply. When he broke away I was gasping for air. "I'm gonna miss you".
I couldn't speak for the tears as I watched him drive away, taking my heart with him.
As soon as I came in Charlie started. He wanted to know all about Jasper, how long I'd known him where I met him and a thousand other questions I couldn't answer.
"I'm going up to bed" I said in the end, just to get away from him. I showered and changed for bed then picked up my phone and smiled to see a message from him.
"Sleep well Bella I'll be thinking of you. X"
I sent one back telling him how much I kissed him and sending him my love before I crawled into bed. On my bedside table was an old and well-thumbed book I'd never seen before. I opened it to read the preface. It was about the Confederate Army and I flicked through it stopping open-mouthed at the centre. There was a photograph, a very old one, of a handsome young man in a Majors uniform and the caption read
'Major Jasper Whitlock'
the writing under it told of his last mission to save a convoy of women and children after which he went missing, presumed killed by Union Soldiers. It transpired he had been under age when he joined up and there was a quote from his mother,
"My son was brave and daring and I was very proud of all he did".
That was my Jasper, and he'd left it for me. I missed him so much already and he'd hardly been gone two hours.
The next day Charlie was in a really good mood, because Forks was Jasper free I assumed.
"I'm going to the Res this evening, Emily's cooking, I'll pick you up at the house when I finish my shift".
"I don't want to go".
"I'll pick you up" he reiterated, So be ready".
I scowled and grabbed my books for school. When I got there Alice was waiting, her face dark with anger. "I'm so sorry about Edward and Emmett, Bella. If I'd seen I'd have warned you but why are you still here? What happened? Where's Jasper?",
"You sound like Charlie" I complained. "Jaspers gone but he'll be back in a couple of weeks, I'm finishing school then joining him, and Charlie is not happy".
Alice grimaced, "Did you expect him to be?"
"No I guess not. Alice its driving me crazy already and he's only been gone a few hours. I've text him four times. I miss him so much".
She smiled, "That's good".
"How is it good?"
"It means you are right for each other. I doubt he'll be away as long as he said. He's missing you as much". "How do you know? What did you see?"
"I didn't need to see anything Bella I just know".
She walked with me to English and looked in with a frown.
"Looks like Edward is already there and he's not a happy bunny".
"Good" I snapped walking in and slamming my books down in the desk next to his. He looked at me for a long time before speaking,
"Bella".
"Don't Edward, just don't say anything".
I turned my back to him to talk to Mike Newton who beamed to see Edward in the dog house.
"So Arizona, you coming out tonight to the beach?"
I looked out at the rain, "Beach Mike? Why would I go to the beach in the rain?"
"Oh its going to stop lunchtime and by 5 the sun will be shining".
"Well if it does, then sure. Oh wait a minute, I can't, Charlie has plans"
I glared over my shoulder at Edward. He tried two or three more times to talk to me but I just ignored him. At lunchtime he took my arm and dragged me into an empty classroom.
"Bella you have to let me explain".
"No Edward as a matter of fact I don't. I'm not interested in anything you have to say. Nothing justifies trying to kidnap me, now let go of my arm".
He dropped his hand.
"Sorry Bella. I just need to explain why I did it".
"Oh I know why you did it Edward".
"You do?"
"Yes because you're a control freak who thinks I should do exactly what you say. Well surprise, I don't, now leave me alone".
"Has he gone? He asked as I walked to the door.
"Why? Scared he'll rip your other limbs off?"
He scowled, "It was luck. I could have taken him".
"Edward grow up. He could take you down with both arms tied behind his back and blindfolded".
And I walked away with a smile.
Emmett tried to talk to me too, but my tactic with him was slightly different.
"Emmett I don't want to talk to you. I trusted you and you betrayed me".
"Bella, Edward told me",
"Yeah well you could have tried asking me or even Alice before strong arming me"