Chapter 3: Jasper's POV

"But you left me." My heart broke when she said those words.

"Darlin', I'm-"

"Don't." She snarled out, and I immediately felt worse. "Don't feel sorry. You have nothing to be sorry for. You saw a chance to get out of that hell-hole and you took it. Yes, it hurt me, but I was happy knowing you were free. I'm an idiot for bringing it up." She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the couch, climbing on my lap.

"I would've done the same thing." She said, placing her hand on the side of my face, tracing one of my many scars. "I did do the same thing. I'm here, aren't I?" She said. We sat there in a comfortable silence.

After I while, I broke the silence.

"How did we go from me comforting you to you comforting me, Darlin'?"

She sighed and rested her face in the crook of my neck. It amazed me how well it fit there. She breathed in my scent and started to trace the scars on the back of my neck. We didn't move one inch that night, and nothing interrupted us.

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***~~~***Stella's POV***~~~***

I could stay in Jasper's arms forever. He was my protector, he was my safety net, he was my reason for existence. He knew that too. We could be ourselves around each other. We never had to hold back anything from each other. We told each other the complete truth. We knew each other's limits, likes, and dislikes.

But now, I could tell I was no longer his lifeline. He had found another reason for existence. He hung on for someone else now. A small part of me was happy for him, that he found happiness after he left. But my heart was breaking.

So here I was, sitting in the arms of my Major Jasper Whitlock, coming to the realization that he wasn't really mine anymore.

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That morning, the phone rang. It was one of the girls, Rosalie. Jasper buried his face in my hair and groaned. He clearly didn't want to get up, so I got up and pulled him up with me.

"Get up Major. You are answering that phone wether you like it or not."

He groaned again but went to answer it.

"What, Rose?" He said groggily.

"Alice told me to call and make sure someone arrived." I heard her say. Great. They know about me.

"Uh...yeah. Someone came yesterday." Ouch. So now I'm just someone. "Why?"

"Alice said she saw someone was going to visit. She wanted me to make sure they arrived."

"Yeah they came. Is someone crying in the background?" He asked.

"Ummm...yeah. That's...Nessie. She uh...misses Jake. Bella just called him to visit us."

"Oh ok well...bye."

"I'm sorry. Did I interrupt something?" She snarled bitterly.

"No." He snapped back. "I was just relaxing for the first time in months."

Great. So he doesn't even mention me. I got up off the couch, feeling rejected, and walked up the stairs.

I was walking down the hallway when I heard Carlisle's voice.

"Can I help you?" He asked. I turned around and there he was sitting in a huge office.

"No, I was just... actually, do you have a phone I could borrow?" I asked.

"Yes." He said and pulled out a silver cell phone. "Might I ask, what for?"

"I just wanted to call Peter and Charlotte and let them know where I am. I tend to run away to them so that's always the first place Maria looks for me." And I need girl advice from Char, I thought but didn't say aloud.

"Ok. If you want to go visit them that's fine with me." Perfect. Just what I need. A vacation with two of my best friends away from a broken heart.

"Thank you. I think maybe I should go. I mean I haven't seen them in forever." I dialed Peter's cell number. I had it memorized for when I ran away. The phone was only halfway through one ring when Char answered.

"Darlin' we are in the car almost there. I have clothes for you at the house and we already have the PERFECT hunting spot. I'll see you in one hour sugar." She said. I didn't even get on word in before she hung up.

"Well, I guess I'll be out of here in one hour."

"How did they..."

"I really don't know, Peter just knows stuff."

"Oh ok then. Will Jasper be going with you?"

My face fell at his words and I guess he noticed because he said, "You know, if you ever to talk, or just need some comfort, you can come to me or Esme when she comes back, or if you stay that long."

Touched, I whispered, "I could use just a nice, father-daughter hug right now." He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around me and whispered:

"Welcome to the family, Stella."