Chapter Sixteen
Bella
I put the card down beside the locket and he took me in his arms pulling me close and kissing me again. Somehow it felt right, comfortable and safe. Alice had seen this and it hadn't upset her, she knew she was leaving and she knew we would find each other and her blessing. The warning about the Volturi wasn't necessary though, I hadn't forgotten about Jane's warning or Aro's greedy hands. I could protect myself because I had against Aro's intrusion to my thoughts and Jane's attempt to bring me to my knees with her gift. As for protecting others I didn't understand what she was saying, could I protect others or was she telling me I may be able to at some time in the future. As I had no idea how I was protecting myself I guess she was thinking of my gift which would be more powerful if I became a vampire too. For now I was just happy to be in Jasper's arms but then he pulled back and smiled again.
"I guess this means you are ready to go home?"
I nodded, it sounded good to me.
"Then I think you need to speak to your parents or Charlie will come hunting me down."
I nodded and he handed me the phone,
"You've got half an hour then we need to leave. I'll give you some peace and privacy. I'm going to hunt quickly."
As soon as he was gone I missed him even more but taking a deep breath and pulling my courage up from where it had sunk, somewhere on the floor, I rang Charlie.
"Bella, hows it going? Still travelling with the Cullen boy?"
"Its Hale dad, Jasper Hale, and yes I am as a matter of fact. I'm not going to Renee's so I thought I should let you know."
"Really? Where are you going then? Somewhere with Jasper Hale I suppose."
"Yes, we're going to his place for a while."
"I see, you think its wise after what happened with Edward Cullen? You don't know this guy very well Bella, he could just be after one thing"
"Well if he is he'll be disappointed won't he. No dad, I know him well enough and its my life. I'm not a kid any more I have to lead my life the way I think works for me."
"Well it sounds like you made your mind up. How long will you be there?"
"I don't know."
"You need a job Bella, a career, or college, something. Don't end up like your mother, drifting from one dead-end to another, you've got brains, use them."
"Thanks dad. I will and I'll ring you again soon"
"You're not going to tell me where you're going?"
"No, not yet. Bye dad"
I put the phone down before he could start a lecture on sleeping with strange men! Now I had my mother to contend with and I had no idea how she would view my actions.
The phone rang so long I thought she was out but then she answered and I realized she'd been asleep,
"Oh Bella hi, how's your road trip going? Met any hot guys on your travels?"
"That's why I'm ringing mum. I'm not coming to visit, at least not yet."
"Oh why?"
"I didn't tell you but I'm not travelling alone, Edward's brother Jasper is with me"
"Now Edward I could have guessed but his brother? What's going on? Did you break up with Edward because of his brother?"
"No, he started out as a companion, he's headed south too or he was but things changed. I'm going to his place with him"
"He has a place of his own? How old is he Bella?"
"He's nineteen, it's the place his parents left him. He's an orphan."
"Oh, what does Charlie say?"
"He's not happy"
"I didn't think so, are you sure about this Bella? I really think you should take your time. Get some distance from Edward before you jump into another relationship. Don't forget you have no idea where you are going yet, no college, no job. Is he supporting you?"
"I guess so."
"Then be careful what he wants in return. He might get you to his place somewhere isolated and you could be forced to do anything"
"Mum, I know him"
"No Bella you think you do. It's not the sane at all. He could be...well anything."
"Yes I will be careful and I promise to keep in touch"
"Make sure you do. You have no idea what you want to do with your life yet, you're far too young."
"You were my age when you married Charlie mum"
"Yes and see what happened there. Still you'll do what you want so I'm wasting my breath. Please take care Bella. Don't make the mistakes I did."
"I won't mum. I'll speak to you again soon."
I put the phone down with relief, all the hard work done or at least I hoped so, then my cell phone went off again, Charlie or Renee? I came down on the side of Charlie but I was wrong, way off base.
"Bella?"
"Carlisle? Hello"
"I wanted to speak to you. Are you alone?"
"Yes, why?"
"Charlie just rang me, most upset because you are going off with Jasper. Is this true?"
"Jasper is with me yes."
"Is he responsible for your leaving Edward?"
"No that was down to Edward's behaviour. Jasper was just going in the same direction so we started to travel together."
"Yet now you are going to his place to stay with him. Remember what he is Bella and remember you are a human. If he slips there will be no one there to save you this time and Edward is distraught, he thinks Jasper stole you."
"Well you can tell him from me that his behaviour caused the rift not Jasper and please don't upset Charlie, that wont help."
"Very well Bella but please be careful"
As I put the phone down I realized Jasper was back and he looked concerned,
"That was Carlisle?"
"Yes Charlie rang him after I spoke to him. He wanted the low down on you I assume."
"What did Carlisle want?"
"To warn me to be careful and to tell me Edward is heartbroken because you poached his girlfriend."
"Did anything he said make a difference?"
"No, did you expect it to?"
"I hoped not. Are you ready to go? You can tell me about Charlie and Renee on the flight."
I thought about what everyone had said as we drove to the airport, it seemed no one had asked me how I felt about things. Everyone seemed to assume I was being blindly led by the nose yet again as if I didn't have a will or brain of my own and that annoyed me.
"Jasper. Do I look stupid?"
He smiled,
"No, why?"
"Then why does everyone assume I don't have a brain or any decision making skills? I'm getting sick of everyone thinking they know what's best for me. I can make my own decisions."
"Good, then you can decide whether we go straight to the house or if you'd like a few days in Cody first? Maybe you'd better get in a few supplies"
"Like food maybe?"
"Unless you like bear or elk"
"On the hoof or paw? No thanks. How about a day in Cody for shopping?"
"Just as you like"
"The solitude is sounding better every day."