Chapter Sixty Three
Bella
We drove away from Forks and I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Jasper smiled at me, "Just me and you now. Not quite how we planned, college, apartment sharing"
I laughed, "Well college I can do any time if I want to and the flat sharing is still going to happen, just slightly differently."
I slid over to sit close to him and put my hand on his thigh.
"Do you remember the last time we did this?"
He groaned, "Vividly. You drove me crazy then and you still do."
"Good. I'd hate to think you forgot about it" I ran my hand up his thigh even higher and he gasped.
"Bella you keep that up and I'm, going to find a motel somewhere"
I grinned, "Just so happens there's one up ahead and I am getting tired and hungry."
He looked over with concern, "You OK Bella? Is all this driving too much for you?"
I shook my head, "No I'm fine but I am hungry."
He pulled in to the Diner by the Motel and came round to help me out of the car. I was still stiff and sore from the accident and I appreciated his steadying hand. When he'd got me seated and given me the menu he went out to gas up the car. I looked at the menu but I wasn't very hungry any more. I ordered a Risotto and a soda for myself and a burger and coffee for Jazz. Just for appearances, he'd drummed it into me that vampires had to appear to fit in. When the food arrived the smell wakened my appetite and by the time he came back I was just starting on his burger. He slid into the seat opposite me with his usual heart stopping smile.
"You were a long time" I pointed out.
"Sorry. I thought perhaps we should stop for you to rest so I booked a room for the night". Seeing my wicked smile he went on hurriedly. "Once you get settled I thought I might go hunting"
"We'll see" I whispered picking up his coffee and tasting it.
Jasper
Bella was looking very pale and I thought a good nights sleep away from everything might help. Besides we were in no hurry to get anywhere. If it took weeks to find a place I didn't care. As long as I was with Bella life was as good as it got. When she finished eating I helped her out and across the forecourt to our room. She smiled as I unlocked the door
"I hope your intentions are dishonourable" she whispered in my ear.
I helped her over to the bed where I'd deposited our bags,
"Showers through there and I'll leave my cell phone so you can ring Charlie."
"You're really going then?"
"I thought you'd like a little privacy"
She smiled, "I don't think privacy's something I remember."
"Yeah well, now we're away from Forks you can have all the privacy you want". I kissed her on the cheek before opening the door again, "I promise I wont be long."
Bella
When he left I felt alone and frightened. It had been so long since I'd had any privacy that it scared me. I sat on the bed and picked up the jacket he'd thrown there with the bags. I held it to my chest and I started to panic. No matter how many times I told myself I was safe it wouldn't get through. My breathing became more rapid and the room started to spin. With a shaking hand I picked up the cell phone but there was no one I could call. If I rang Charlie it would only worry him and I didn't want to talk to Esme or Carlisle.
I lay down and hugged the pillow, trying desperately to slow my breathing and watching the bedside clock tick the minutes by. He'd said he wouldn't be long but how long did that mean? Hours? I couldn't control my panic for hours. I'd have to try doing something, anything to take my mind off the fact I was alone in a strange town, in a strange room. I got up and walked to the bathroom door but I had visions of Edward waiting inside to spring out on me.. I put my hand on the door knob but it was shaking so much I couldn't turn it.
I looked at the outer door and imagined the handle was slowly moving as if someone were trying to open it very quietly. I ran over and pushed against it with both hands, then I looked out of the window expecting to see Alice's smiling face peering in at me. The forecourt was deserted, or was it? I saw a shadow move over the far side of the building. As I watched it seemed to be getting larger, as if someone were walking slowly towards this room. The terror made me feel sick and I ran into the bathroom, heedless of the ghosts that might be waiting for me, and sank down by the toilet vomiting back all the food I'd eaten earlier. When the heaves finally subsided I lay on the cold floor too exhausted to move. Then I heard the outer door open and I looked up eyes wide, wondering which of my enemies I would see.
Jasper
I left Bella to shower and change in privacy. It had been too long since she'd had some peace. I took the car a few miles away from town to hunt in the woods. I hated being away from her so I made a quick meal of a small deer and a couple of squirrels. I wasn't really thirsty anyway so I was glad to head back to my lady. As I parked up I suddenly felt a great weariness tinged with panic and I ran for the door. As I opened the door the panic spiked, I was sure Edward had found Bella, that he was hurting her as I stood there so I burst through the door to a piercing scream.
"Bella" I shouted, then stopped, the room was empty.
I looked through the bathroom door which was ajar and saw her laying on the tiled floor, her eyes wide and her whole body shaking.
"Bella darlin' are you OK? What happened?"
I picked her up in my arms and carried her back to the bed still shaking violently. I pulled her onto my lap and stroked her back trying to calm her.
"What happened Bella? Who scared you?"
She couldn't talk through her sobs so I just held her, until her rigid muscles relaxed and her sobs faded away.
Bella
When the outer door opened I tried to hide, pushing the bathroom door but it caught on the bath mat I'd dropped and wouldn't close completely. I heard the door crash open and saw...Jasper. It was Jasper standing there ready to fight, not Edward or Alice, not some nameless bogey man, and I started to cry with relief. I felt his arms around me, his scent calming me and I sobbed my relief into his shoulder. When I could cry no more he asked me what was wrong and I tried to explain but it didn't make sense even to me.
"I was so frightened, being on my own. I saw shadows and I thought Edward had come for me"
"Bella I promise I wont leave you again. There's no one going to hurt you. I won't let them. You're safe, just try to relax my love" and he kissed away my tears and held me safe.