Chapter Twelve

Bella

By the end of school it was all over that I was dating Jasper Hale and Angie dragged me in to a corner at the end of English,

"Why didn't you tell me about you and Jasper? I'm amazed, jealous and in awe of you"

"In awe? Why?"

"Because he scares the pants off all of us. He looks so dangerous Bella. When did he ask you out? Tell me all about it?"

I couldn't tell her because it was too crazy to explain so I just shrugged,

"He asked me out at lunchtime."

"He is so hot. Are you going out on a date or just in school?"

"I'm not exactly sure Angie. It's a bit early to say"

As we walked out to the Car Park she grabbed me again,

"He's waiting for you at your truck. God he looks like a model."

I had to smile, she was right, he did look like a male model leaning against the side of my truck one foot up on the door with a smile on his face. As I walked up to him he put his arm around my shoulder and kissed me on the cheek, Angela's eyes just about popped from her head.

He held his hand out for the keys and drove me home,

"Hope you didn't mind the kiss but we have to look as if we are dating"

My heart was thumping a rhythm of its own and my mouth was still dry so I just shook my head and mumbled

"No problem"

At home he gave me back my keys and walked to the door with me

"You coming in?"

He shook his head and my stomach dropped,

"I don't think Charlie would approve. He hasn't met me yet."

"Yet?" I gasped out,

"Well, if I'm going to be protecting you we are going to spend a lot of time together so he has to know why"

Of course, I hadn't thought of that. Charlie might not be too happy me dating Jasper but he was only a year older!

"OK So how do we play it?"

"I'll come for you in the morning and take you to school. You'll be OK there during the day, during lunch you and I better sit together and I'll walk you to all the classes I can. At the end of the day I'll drive you back home. I'll watch from outside till morning and we start all over again. That OK by you?"

How could it not be? I had the most sexy guy in the school playing my boyfriend. I just wished it wasn't all an act but for now I'd take what I could get.

"What about Alice? You were her boyfriend before"

He shook his head,

"No I was her security before, now Peter is. Alice and I were never a couple."

"Oh OK. But I meant how do we play it with Charlie?"

"I'll come over Saturday morning to introduce myself then hang around. I believe we have a barbecue to attend in the evening"

"Oh God, I'm sorry. I never thought..,"

He smiled again and took my hand,

"Where my girlfriend goes I go and anyway it might be fun."

He patted my cheek and walked away. How he was getting home to the Cullen house or if he was even going I had no idea and my brain was in overload so I went in and calmed myself making dinner for Charlie, baked fish from the freezer with salad and home-made fries. I thought I might try to pave the way for Jasper over dinner

Charlie sat back patting his stomach

"Bella that was good. You cook almost as good as your grandmother."

That was high praise indeed!

"Ah Dad, I have something to tell you"

He sat up a little straighter hearing the tone of my voice,

"OK, Good I hope"

"Well I think so. You know the Cullens?"

He nodded,

"Yeah, Dr Cullen is a good man. The kids never cause any trouble. Always very polite and well-behaved for teenagers. Why?"

"Well Jasper asked me out and I said yes. He's coming over on Saturday to introduce himself"

Charlie went quiet and I saw him trying to work out which one was Jasper.

"He the big guy?"

I shook my head

"No that's Emmett."

He seemed relieved by that,

"So, I know the youngest is Edward, I met him at the hospital with Dr Cullen so Jasper must be..."

His eyes narrowed and I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

"He the blond one? The one who always looks as if he's spoiling for a fight?"

"Well he's blond but he doesn't fight. You said they're all really well-behaved"

He shrugged,

"OK I'll meet him, but you be careful. He's older than you"

"Only a year Dad"

Charlie wasn't happy but after what he'd said he could hardly object out of hand.

After clearing up I went upstairs to do my homework, an essay on Great Expectations. I liked the book so it wasn't an arduous task and I finished in time to swat up for a quiz in History the next day. When I got ready for bed I saw it was raining and I was glad I wasn't outside. I got into bed and fell asleep quickly, the first time since Renee died.

The next morning Charlie was gone early and I got my stuff together and looked out the window. It was still raining but Jasper stood seemingly unconcerned by the truck. I ran out and unlocked the door so he could get out of the rain. His hair was dripping and the bottom half of his jeans wet.

"What happened to you? Did the Cullens throw you out?"

He smiled and shook his hair like a dog, showering me in water droplets. As I squealed he smiled,

"I wasn't at the Cullens last night. I can't guard you from there"

I looked at him, eyes wide

"You stood in the rain all night watching my house?"

"Not exactly. I was in the tree by your window. I have a good view all round from there."

"But it poured with rain"

"Yeah it did, hence the wet hair"

"Didn't you get cold or bored or soggy?"

"Yes, but it goes with the territory. Don't worry about me Bella, I'm tough"

When we got to school all eyes seemed to be on us as he put his arm around me and walked me to my first class kissing me on the cheek before leaving. Picking my heart off the floor and shoving it back in my mouth I walked in to Geography and sat down cheeks flushed. Jessica who sat in front of me turned to look,

"So it's true Bella. Are you bringing Jasper to the barbecue?"

I nodded unable to speak because I'd just seen the expression on Edward Cullens face, he was livid. I tried to ignore him the rest of the lesson but it wasn't easy because Jess kept whispering,

"Edward's still looking at you Bella. What did you do? Run your truck into his Volvo?"

As I walked out of class Edward tried to catch my attention but slipped back into the general crowd when he saw Jasper waiting for me. He put his arm round my shoulder and kissed me on the cheek again,

"You OK beautiful?"

I nodded still looking at where Edward had disappeared,

"Don't worry about Edward. He'll sort himself out. Unless you'd rather be with him than me"

I shook my head violently

"No I'm fine thanks"

As I turned to look at him he brought his mouth down and kissed me gently on the lips. Our eyes met and there was something unreadable in his. As he looked up I swallowed, my lips were burning although his had been cool. His arm came around me more tightly and he guided me to my next lesson where he kissed me on the cheek and disappeared. I had a dreadful quiz in History although I loved the subject, I couldn't get the feel of his lips on mine from my mind. Angela carried me through the lesson and at the end she waited until the others had left before shaking me gently.

"Bella you need to come back to Earth, we have calculus next and I need help with that."

I nodded and pulled myself together but only because he wasn't waiting for me so I could clear my head, although I was disappointed.