Chapter Thirteen
Bella
"In the meantime Jasper will make sure you get home safely". Jasper took my arm and walked me go my truck. "I'll drive" he said helping me in the passenger seat and holding his hand out for the keys. My heart was still pounding from his touch as I shakily handed him the keys. He smiled and sighed, "Don't worry Bella. You're safe with me". I looked at him, "Oh I know. I'm not frightened of you". He chuckled ruefully, "Perhaps you should be". Then he started the engine and further conversation was impossible as the truck rattled its way through Forks. When he parked up I suddenly realized he had no transport home. "You can borrow the truck if you need. To get home I mean" although what I'd tell Charlie I thought I didn't know. He shook his head, "Its OK Bella, I'll walk". "But its miles and its about to rain, you'll get soaked". He looked up "I think I'll beat the rain" then he said goodbye and sauntered off up the road. I watched until he reached the corner, when he stopped and waved farewell. I put my hand up too. When he'd disappeared I realized it was getting dark so I went in and shut the door.
Tonight I didn't feel very safe, nothing had changed but everything had. Why was I in danger? Had what Jake said been anywhere near the truth. I almost rang him but I couldn't quite bring myself to believe it. I looked into the darkness then realized Charlie would be home soon and hungry. I grabbed some steaks from the fridge and started them cooking while I put potatoes in to bake and made a salad. We sat quietly, eating, until I couldn't put it off any longer, "Dad, I've been invited to a barbecue tomorrow evening". He smiled, "Great Bells where?" That was the hard one, "At the Cullens". He started and almost choked on his potato. "The Cullen place?" I nodded "Yes Dr Cullen invited me, after all I've spent a bit of time with them, at the hospital..." He butted in "OK Bella but how are you getting there?" I sighed, "Emmett's picking me up".He looked up slightly worried, "That the big one?" Here we go, "Yes, but he's really nice Dad". What could he say, the Doctor had invited me. "I thought you liked the Cullens". "Oh I do, it's just I've never heard of them inviting anyone to the house. Don't be too late back". Oh here we go again, "Dad, it's Friday." I complained. "Oh yeah, I forgot. Well, if you're going to be late back ring me. I'm on duty till midnight" Great I thought, at least I wouldn't have to watch the clock.
After dinner I pleaded homework and went up to my room. The window was partly open, the curtains blowing in the breeze. I looked round hastily but nothing seemed out of place, I even checked under my bed. I was becoming paranoid! Suddenly I heard the rustling and slammed my window shut. I stared out but I couldn't see anything. Then I heard the phone ring downstairs followed by a shout from Charlie, "Bells, phone". I ran downstairs looking at him questioningly. He shrugged and mouthed 'a boy'. Oh no I thought ,not Jake please. I took the receiver from him, "Hello?" I heard his voice, "Bella, its Jasper, Jasper Cullen". Oh, "Hi Jasper". Then I thought oh, its been called off. He must have read my thoughts because he hurried on, "I just wanted to tell you not to worry tonight. I'll be around, so you're safe. You can tell Charlie I was just finalizing the details for the barbecue, if you need an excuse for the call". "Thanks Jasper". I had no idea what he meant by I'll be around, but it did make me feel better. I showered and got into bed but I couldn't settle. Was Jasper out there in the rainy darkness somewhere? I climbed out of bed to look out of the window. I stared for ages, looking for movement, anything, but all remained quiet and I returned to bed.
Jasper
Out in the darkness I watched her looking for me and I couldn't stifle a small grin. Alice who had bitched about Bella ever since she turned up was now quiet about her. In fact she was pretty much ignoring me too. Things weren't right between us, they hadn't been for some time. As if the thread connecting us from the Diner in Philadelphia had snapped. She no longer looked at me in the same way and if I was honest I didn't feel the same way about her. They had never been as passionate as Rose and Emmett neither did they have the quiet devotion of Carlisle and Esme. Their feelings were like a soft candle glow that had never quite lit up the room and had now guttered and was fast going out. I would always be grateful to her for showing me there was another way to live but now I had to live it without her, perhaps with a new life partner. This time it would be my job to show the way. I watched the window all night wishing I was in there with her and hoping she would one day feel the same way although I knew it was highly unlikely. After tomorrow night I would probably never see her again. I sighed, was my life destined to be spent alone?
Bella
School on Friday was a real drag but at the same time time seemed to go too quickly. I wanted to find out what was going on but I was slightly scared at the idea too. Angela picked up on my nerves as we went into lunch. Edward Cullen was behind me in the lunch queue and as he leaned over me to get a sandwich I flinched. As soon as we sat down she questioned me. "Why so jumpy Bella? Anyone would think he was going to jump on you in the lunch queue". I tried to laugh it off but I couldn't help looking over at their table every few minutes. Edward was watching me, as was Emmett and he grinned at me, Jasper was watching Edward with an intensity that was frightening in itself. The afternoon was sheer torture, I couldn't skip PE any longer so I was let loose, armed with a volleyball. After hitting Mike and Jessica in the head I was sent to the subs bench by a relieved captain. A ball became a lethal weapon in my hands.
After showering I walked out to my truck and there was Emmett with a broad grin, holding his hand out for my keys. "Not driven anything this old before, should be fun" he said. I climbed in the passenger seat as we took off, "Hey, remember my truck is a senior citizen" I warned him. He laughed, "A mere stripling". When I saw the driveway to their house I realized what Dr Cullen had meant by finding their house. The driveway was long and covered by an arch of trees. It was dim and quiet among the trees, the only sound my poor truck engine groaning at the speed Emmett was pushing it to. When we came out of the trees I gasped. The house was beautiful, modern and mainly glass. In the sunlight it would be fantastic, but as usual there was cloud cover over Forks.