A/N Hello to all the wonderful people who are reading and following this. Would love a review or two and maybe a few ideas about where the story could be headed. I have a plan in mind, but am open to ideas.

I have many ideas in my head, but as always, the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

It was a couple of days before I saw Jasper alone again. Our little group was pretty much inseparable these days, so he was there, but there was no chance to speak about what had happened. For my part, I was a total mess. I didn't understand what had passed between us. Jasper had always been, and still seemed to be, head over heels for Alice. He was my closest friend and I had never wanted more from him than that. It never occurred to me that there could be more than that. And then there was the constant clenching of my insides, the tumbling of my stomach and that tingling in my newly awakened nether regions when I replayed the kiss in my mind. It was definitely ... more.

I was waiting in the parking lot for the rest of the group after school. Being the youngest of us, I had yet to get a driver's permit. But with most of the others having both cars and driving skills, I never had trouble getting from place to place. I braced myself against the chilly air, staring into the distance and hoped that someone would show up soon. Someone did, but it was probably the one person I was least equipped to deal with at that moment. Jasper, of course, was walking in my direction. And he'd seen me too making any thought of a quick escape impossible.

"Howdy Miss Scarlet," he said grinning from ear to ear. As if in direct response to the nickname, my face immediately filled with blood, blushing from my hairline to my jaw.

"Jazz," I nodded. "You sponging a ride from Edward too?" I asked, trying to stay calm and act completely cool and collected.

"Yes Ma'am, that I am," he replied, wandering over to lean against Edward's shiny silver Volvo. "You coming with us to the diner or is he dropping you off at home first?"

"No, I'm up for the diner," I replied. I wondered if he would mention that awesome afternoon in the prop room, or kiss me again, or even just acknowledge me in some small way, but at that moment Edward, Emmett and Rosalie arrived and we left for the diner.

It had been a great afternoon, as they always were back then. Great food, great company, Emmett's awful jokes and Edward's witty comebacks. Alice had come in at one point. When she came through the door, she looked over at Jasper, smiling shyly. He smiled back and she waved before scurrying off with her friends, her face a shade of red to rival my own blushes. It was plain to see the joy in Jasper's face at this small progress.

I could have stayed forever, but before I knew it, it was time to head home. The weather was cold, but fine, so I decided to walk the rest of the way from the diner. It would be good to be alone with my thoughts for a while. I was really surprised to hear Jasper's voice asking me to hold up, that he would walk with me.

It was an uncomfortable silence for the first few minutes. I didn't know how to begin and I felt compelled to ask him about the kiss. I had become obsessed by it and what it meant. Were we still friends? Were we more now? Did he still want to be with Alice? Of course he did. What did I have to offer him? And the look on his face when she had smiled and waved, well, I hadn't seen Jasper look that happy in a long time.

"I think you might be making some progress there cowboy," I said by way of an icebreaker.

Jasper just grinned down at me, full of that radiant happiness I'd seen earlier.

"Baby steps Miss Scarlet, baby steps."

I grinned in spite of myself. There was that calm and certain Jasper I had grown to love. So sure that it would all be happy endings. "The good guy always gets the girl," he chortled. Despite my confusion and my inner turmoil, I couldn't help but feel happy about Jasper's small success. It made him happy, and I wanted him to be happy in whatever shape that came in.

"So how's Magic Mike doin'?" Jasper asked, breaking my reverie. I laughed so hard I had to sit down in the middle of the road to get my breath back before we could continue on our walk.

"I love it," I laughed. "Magic Mike! Except, I've come to the conclusion that he is anything but magic." And there it was. I'd admitted it and it was out in the open. It was the beginning of the end and I knew we wouldn't date anymore.

"And what bought you to this extremely intelligent conclusion may I ask?" smirked Jasper.

So here it was. Finally an acknowledgement of that fantastic kiss. Finally a change to have the conversation that had been circling around in my head for the last few days.

"I think you know Jasper," I almost whispered. "Chemistry ... turns out I found some, just not with Mike."

"I thought that may have been it Miss Scarlet." He was quiet for a minute. We had reached Jaspers house. He looked at me, his eyes dark and then said, almost too quietly to hear, "It is what it is and it was what it was Bella. Don't read too much into it."

And then he was gone again and I was again alone to wrestle my thoughts.