Chapter 12
We didn't do much for the rest of the day.
Well at least I didn't, Bella slept.
And slept.
And slept.
Around 7 I picked her up and took her to my car but she barely stirred. That worried me a little so I placed a hand on her head to check her temperature, she was a little warm but nothing too serious. I drove the short journey to Bella's house, parking in her empty driveway. I sighed with relief that her dad was not back yet, I could just imagine trying to explain what I was doing with his unconscious daughter.
I sat in the car and simply waited for Bella to wake up but when the clock struck 7.40 and she was still asleep, I decided to wakeher up.
"Bella" I said gently looking into the backseat.
I got out of the car opening the back seats and tried again.
"Bella" I placed my hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently "It's time to wake up, you're home"
She moved a little but soon resumed sleeping.
"Bella!" I said louder and slightly more aggressive. Her eyelids fluttered before opening and she sat up quickly in surprise nearly hitting her head against my own.
"Ja-Jasper" she squinted as though her eyes hurt "Wha- what I am, where am I?"
"Home, it was getting late so I brought you back"
"Oh" she paused "Is my dad here?"
I shook my head slowly as she simply looked down at her legs and began playing with her fingers in response to my question.
"Where are your keys?" I asked stepping back slightly.
"Oh, um" she picked her bag which I had placed on the floor in front of her and began fumbling about in it before bringing out a key ring "It's the gold key"
I turned and made my way to the door, unlocking it before going back to Bella and handing her the key. I helped her out of the car and walked her to the door.
"So" I said uneasily, scratching the back of my head. Her brown eyes were dull and they showed nervousness in them, I didn't understand why she'd be nervous. "Will you be okay till you're dad gets home?"
"I'm used to it" she smiled sadly.
"That's not answering the question though; Bella will you be okay till you're dad gets home"
"Like I said, I'm used to it" she smiled again. "Bye Jasper and thank you, for everything. I will never begin to explain how much that meant to me, how much you mean to me"
"It's okay Bella, I-" but I was cut off as she flung her arms around me, nearly sending us toppling over.
"No, it's not okay Jasper, it's amazing. What you've done is truly amazing." Her voice was muffled slightly as a result of my chest. "There were people I'd known for years, Jasper, years and not one of them have ever defended me the way you have. Everyone was quick to point fingers and even though everyone warned you away, you didn't leave and every day I kept thinking to myself, 'he's gonna go now', 'he's gonna leave me when he finds out'. He's gonna hate me like the rest of them and the thought of you ever hating me Jasper was like a dagger through my heart"
I kissed her forehead and slowly removed my arms from around her.
"Silly Bella, I could never hate you"
"I bet you could"
"Nope" I said popping the p "I don't think I can"
She smiled again her beautiful eyes sparkling. She looked radiant with her flushed cheeks and strewn hair. I leaned forward and stroked her cheek gently before cupping it with my hand.
"Are you sure you'll be alright alone?"
She shook her head "No, could you stay, even if it's just a little while. I like having you around me. Everything just seems better when you're here"
"I'll stay as long as you need me to, let me just move the car so you're dad doesn't box me in when he gets here"
She nodded her head and I headed back towards the car. As I entered the car, I noticed her disappearing into the house, I reversed the car onto the street and parked a bit down the road before cutting the engine and jogging back to the house.
When I got to the house, the door was still open and Bella was still no where in sight. I closed the door behind me. I could hear sounds up ahead and followed them. I saw Bella crouched down by a cupboard taking things out.
"Hey" she smiled slightly, putting a pot on the stove and pouring water in it before turning on the gas. "I'm just making some pasta for Charlie's dinner, it won't take long, I just need to boil it"
"No problem" I said shrugging slightly "Do you need any help?"
"Err" she looked around "No I'm good, you can take a seat at the table if you want"
"Yeah sure" I sat down and looked around the kitchen taking it in but most importantly I watched Bella.
She seemed so in her element as she flew around the kitchen, her hair falling out of the messy bun that she'd thrown it in. She seemed confident and sure of herself in a way that I'd never seen her before.
She completely threw herself into the task of cooking, she boiled the pasta, made a beautiful sauce with an aroma that could tempt even the most stubborn of taste buds. I watched as she began cutting vegetables for the salad, entranced by her petite fingers and how they held so gently-
"Ouch!" Bella suddenly exclaimed. I snapped out of my reverie and noticed her holding onto her finger, I jumped as I noticed the blood seeping.
"Bella hold your breath and look away" she nodded doing as I said. I held her hand under the tap watching as the water ran over it and the blood washed down the drain.
"Is it gone?" Bella asked sounding shaky.
"Yeah it's gone" I paused moving her finger under the water just to make sure. "Where do you keep the first aid kit?"
"In the top cupboard, to the right of you"
I released her hand and opened the cupboard taking out the first aid kit. I washed my hands before taking out an antiseptic wipe and cleaning the cut, then I took out a plaster and wrapped it around the small cut, placing a kiss on it when I was done.
"All better" I said and Bella giggled, her cheeks flushing as she did so.
"Let me just finish the salad, I'll just be a minute" she began turning to the counter when I stopped her.
"I'm not going to risk you hurting yourself again, let mefinish it and you sit down"
"Jasper I can't let you do that"
"Yes you can" I said pushing her in the direction of the table "Sit"
I walked back over to the counter and resumed cutting whilst Bella watched, playing with her fingers as she did so. She was adorable, she really was. I gave the sauce one last stir before turning it off and draining the pasta.
"All done" I said smiling at her. She stood and walked towards me, surprising me with a hug.
"Thank you" she said, she sounded choked. She pulled back and I could see tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" I asked concerned "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head smiling "No, I'm fine, perfect actually" but even as she said this, more tears began to fall which I quickly wiped away. I hated to see her sad, it hurt.
"Something's obviously wrong or else you wouldn't be crying"
"Or maybe everything's fine which is why"
"Bella, what's wrong? Please tell me" I asked again.
She hesitated, worrying her lip "Okay but not here, in my room" she smiled cheekily moving to the kitchen entrance "Catch me" and she dashed off.
"Bella" I called out after her, before going after her. Despite her head start, I still caught up to her on the stairs, I picked her up bridal style and went to her room, putting her gently on the bed.
She lay down and patted the space next to her. I happily obliged.
"So…."
"Subtle Jasper, subtle" she giggled then her face turned solemn. "Growing up with my mum Renee, she was always really flighty, I was the adult of the two of us. I never really had a childhood I guess, I've never really felt looked after, it was always me looking after others. First Renee, now Charlie, not like he needs it or anything but it's the little things like the fact that he can't cook, so before me he was always at the diner and that's not good for him" she sighed and squeezed my hand before laying down on my chest "You make me feel protected and looked after. That's why I cried, it's weird feeling like this, it makes me appreciate your presence in my life all the more, though I'm continually worried you'll leave, now more than ever and I'm just glad for the few moments that I have with you here"
"Bella, I told you I'm not going anywhere, to be honest I don't think I could even if I wanted to" I could feel a smile on my face as I said that. "Tell me more"
"I don't think Renee ever really wanted me, I think she feels like I stole her youth or something, she had me young, she was only eighteen. What eighteen year old wants to be tied down by a kid? I felt unwanted a lot grpwing up, I don't think she meant for me to know but I did, I could feel it and every now and again, I could hear her talking to people and they'd tell her to send me to my dad but she'd refuse"
"She must have wanted you then"
Bella looked me dead in the eye "She refused because then Charlie would have no reason to send her checks, she wasn't working, she'd have nothing to survive on" she sighed and lay back on my chest "One day though, the place we'd been living, we got evicted, we ended up in a women's shelter. Renee called her mum who wired her some money and we moved in with them, when Charlie found out, he demanded I move in with him, Renee was happy to send me off, especially about that time she'd started dating again and it would mean less responsibility for her"
"I'm really sorry Bella"
"Don't be, it's my mother who should be apologising, but she won't. She's oblivious to the people around her and the hurt she causes. She's got her perfect little family now with Phil, she doesn't want nothing to do with me anymore, unless it's to help her with the baby and with the housework"
She was quiet for a while and I racked my brain for something to distract her with.
"When I came to Forks, I was trying to run away from everything that had happened at home, see where I live, everyoneknew what happened and everyone knew that I'd flipped out. Though my anger calmed and I got better, I guess, everyone still knew and they still talked and when Carmen asked if I wanted to move in with her and Lil, I just couldn't turn down the opportunity. I realise now that running away isn't the option, even if staying is hard. You taught me that" I stroked her hair with my hand "You're strong and brave and I admire you Bella"
"No you don't"
"Yes I do"
It was silent in the room.
"Jasper?"
"Yeah?"
"We need to do some more work for History, I mean I've done some, quite a bit actually and I think we should focus on that"
"I've done some stuff too" she sat up.
"There's some things I wanted you to illustrate, if I give you a list, could you do it over the next few days?"
"No problem" she walked over to her table and started rummaging. It was obvious she was trying to divert attention from herself, another thing I loved about her. She was so shy.
"Here's the stuff I've done and the checklist thing we made, you can I guess go through what you've done and then we can get together to tie up any loose ends"
"Sure, just text me or something when you're free and we can meet up in the library, like old times"
She giggled beautifully "Like old times"
I heard a door slam in the distance and a voice call out "Bells"
I glanced at my watch and sighed sadly. "I better get going"
"Yeah" I stood and pulled Bella to me, inhaling her strawberry scent, reluctant to pull away. "So, how are we going to do this?"
"Maybe you should leave by the window, you can use the tree to climb down"
"Okay" I walked over to the window and opened it up. I climbed onto the tree. "I'll see you later Bella"
"Bye Jasper" she said softly and watched as I navigated myself down the tree. When I reached the bottom I waved back up at her and ran to the car getting in and driving away.
