Chapter Eleven

Bella

After he'd gone I lay awake with everything whizzing round my head. What was I to do? Should I speak to Jake, Billy, or leave things alone and live my life as normal. The trouble was I knew too much. My life had been ordinary up to this time, Monsters were in fairy tales and Humans ruled the world. Now it seemed that was a lie, Monsters lived in our world, hiding in plain sight and playing with humans as they chose. Would I spend the rest of my life watching my back? How long would Jasper and his friend guard Alice and myself? Was there a time limit? Would I be safe when I reached a certain age? What about Alice? She was already a vampire but still needed protecting. Was this to be my life, waiting to be snatched, and shadowed by a Guardian? Not that the idea of Jasper Hale as a guardian angel wasn't appealing, he was gorgeous, but I doubted he looked at me as anything more than a job, a client. If I didn't accept his help would Charlie be in danger too? He didn't know anything and he'd never done anything, but that didn't seem to matter in this parallel universe. I picked up my cell phone a few times and started to text Jake but I never knew what to say, or even if I wanted to speak to him. Who could I trust? Was Jasper really who he purported to be? Or would he hand me over to this Volturi leader if I let him look after me? Was he really a white knight or the devil in disguise?

The next morning I got to school early to wait for the Cullens, it wasn't Jasper I wanted to talk to though but Alice. If she was in the same danger as I was perhaps she could tell me what I should do. I wanted to know if her story would be the same as his I guess. The Volvo turned up first with Edward, Alice, and the guy I'd met on the road, Peter. He watched her go into school before turning to me,

"Bella"

I nodded

"So have you made your mind up yet if we're wearing the white or black hats?"

I shook my head and followed Alice into school. As I turned into the main corridor she was waiting,

"Bella, you wanted to speak to me?"

"Yes if you don't mind."

She dragged me into the deserted Cafeteria and shut the door.

"What did you want to know? Jasper told you about me and he told me about you. So I have Peter now and you have Jasper"

She sounded a little bitter

"I'm sorry, I didn't ask for anyone. In fact I didn't know anything about it until a few days ago"

"A shock I bet, It was to me. We have to stick together and save each other or we're all dead. So are you in?"

"I don't know Alice. I don't know who to believe any more. I find it hard to believe I have a gift, you do though, can I ask what it is?"

"I guess you deserve to know and I can tell you what yours is too. I see the future, well the future as it stands. If people change their minds then the future changes. Its pretty good but not fool-proof"

"And mine?"

"What did Jazz tell you?"

"I'm sorry Jazz?"

"Jasper"

"Oh of course, stupid me. He told me I'd protected Renee and myself but I have no idea how"

"I don't suppose you do because you have no control over it as yet. You automatically protect those you love, but not others for now"

"For now? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh well, I'm not sure...oh what the hell. If the future doesn't change you will become like us."

"A vampire? How? Who?"

"I can't tell you that yet because I don't know. Things change as I said but if things remain the same then you will become a vampire. Now we better go or the others will wonder where we've gone."

"Alice. Do the others know, about us and Jasper.?"

"Yes, well Edward found out so we had to tell the others"

"How did he find out?"

"He has a talent of his own. He can read thoughts"

"Anybody's?"

She smiled brightly,

"More or less, I stop him by thinking of things he hates so he tunes me out, and you of course."

"Me? Why can't he read my thoughts?"

"Your shield of course and it drives him mad because he fancies you."

I looked at her in horror,

"Edward Cullen fancies me? Why?"

She pursed her lips and sighed,

"Did you ever start a conversation you wish you hadn't? Edward is pulled to you by your blood"

"He wants to kill me?"

"Yes, but he won't. He's very proud of his ability to resist the pull of your blood."

"I'm glad to hear it Alice!"

"He won't I would have seen. Besides you have the most powerful of all protection now, Jasper Whitlock"

"Whitlock? I thought he was Hale?"

"Whitlock's his real name but he needed a cover to be with the Cullens so he passes off as Rosalie's brother and she's Hale. Now we really have to go Bella, come on"

I found myself towed to class by Alice who then carried on as if we'd never had the conversation, although she was more friendly. I kept an eye out for Jasper but I never saw him until lunchtime. When he walked into the Cafeteria I watched him. He looked like the rest of the students, or did he? Not quite, it was as if he were playing a part and playing it well, but it was a mask. There was another person behind the student façade. He sat with the other Cullens at their table and didn't look over although I had a sensation that he was aware of my scrutiny.

"Bella, Earth to Bella"

It was Mike,

"Hey, you on for the weekend? Were going to the beach for a party. It's supposed to be dry so we thought we'd have a beach barbecue"

I nodded without even thinking about it. I hadn't been out for a while with friends, it might be nice to stop thinking about the past for a while. When I looked back over at the Cullen table it was empty. They must have left together while I was listening to Mike and I wondered when I'd have a chance to speak to Jasper.

As we walked out Angie nudged me,

"Bella, I think Jasper Hale wants to talk to you."

He was leaning against the wall smiling at me.

"OK I'll catch you up Angie"

I went over to him,

"Hi, I thought I'd missed you"

"You can't miss me Bella, I'm your security remember?"

"Guardian angel sounds better. I spoke to Alice this morning"

He nodded "

"She told me. So what have you decided?"

"I guess I need help and I have a lot of questions"

"Yeah she said that too. OK so we need a way to be together a lot. Any ideas?"

I did but I'd rather have my fingernails ripped out with pincers than tell him, so I just stood biting my lip,

"OK, down to me I guess. How would you feel about being my girlfriend? For a while at least. That way no one will question why we are together"

I laughed,

"Trust me, everyone will question why you are going out with me"

He looked puzzled

"Why would you say that?"

"Try looking in a mirror. Senior hunk goes out with spotty junior"

He laughed and for a moment he looked young and vulnerable,

"Well spotty junior you want to date?"

If only I thought but I nodded.

He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close, as I stiffened he whispered,

"Get used to this Bella its our cover, you are supposed to enjoy being close to your boyfriend, especially when he's a senior hunk."

I took a deep breath and smiled, it felt good actually, his body was hard and the cold radiated from his shirt but I felt safe.