Chapter Thirteen

Charlie

When Bella got back from her outing she looked much more relaxed and Alice followed her in. I struggled to get up but she put a hand out,

"Please don't get up Chief Swan,. I just wanted to apologise if we are late but I dragged Bella round the department stores. I'm a bit of a serial shopper I'm afraid."

"No problem Alice. Its nice to see Bella has found a friend this quickly. I was worried she might take her time, she's rather like me, a bit of a loner. Are you staying for coffee?"

"No but thank you for the offer. I have to get back before Esme sends out a search party. See you at school tomorrow, glad to see you looking better Chief Swan"

After she left Bella made us a drink and brought in my pills then sat down opposite and handed me a little package.

"What's this?"

"Just a little thank you for making me feel so welcome dad."

He opened the bag and laughed as the Jaws trilogy fell into his lap,

"I remember you saying how much you liked them and I knew you didn't have a copy so it will give you something to watch while you are recovering. How is it anyway?"

I moved my shoulder experimentally and winced,

"Stiff and sore but I can move it again now so I guess I'm getting there. Jake made dinner, well he warmed up a fish casserole Sue sent for us. Did you eat out?"

"No I guess we just forgot. I'll grab something then I better go catch up with my homework."

Bella

I got some pop tarts and threw them in the toaster while I made fresh coffee, it hadn't occurred to me to eat while we were out and Alice hadn't suggested it, maybe that's how she kept her perfect figure! I took the hot pop tarts upstairs and sat at my computer to answer the e mails from Renee, as if ringing her twice a week weren't enough she had to shower me with questioning e mails whenever she got bored at home. I tried to answer as many questions as I could but I didn't have much news for her usually. The shopping trip with Alice made a change do I explained all about it then hit send before taking out my history books in preparation for an assignment which wasn't actually due until next week but I decided to start it anyway. As I began making notes I heard the ping of mail received from the computer and clicked in to my mail program expecting to find an e-mail from Renee but it was from Alice thanking me for accompanying her this evening and suggesting I might like to go to the movies with her at the weekend. I sent back an acceptance, not that I had any idea what was on at the moment. It wasn't until I'd sent it I remembered the barbecue at the Res, damn, it was this weekend too. Still Charlie could still go, Harry would pick him up and he could stay over. I'd be fine for one night alone surely, deciding to tell Charlie the next day I carried on with my notes until I started to yawn then showered and climbed into bed taking the little box out and opening it to look at the bear fang. Had Alice been right? I hated to think so, I liked the idea of my angel so I ran my finger down the smooth surface and them put it back under my pillow and turned off the light dreaming of huge bears and glittering angels fighting over a cowering and scared child, a younger me!

At lunch the next day Alice dragged me over to sit with the rest of her family determined to introduce us properly. Rosalie hardly spoke just grunted and looked away making me feel very awkward but next was Emmett and he was so different from his girlfriend that it was almost a shock. He took my hand in his looking like a dolls in his great palm and shook it energetically,

"Good to meet you Bella. Alice had fun yesterday and its good someone else has to put up with her craziness and give us a break."

I couldn't help liking him, his grin was infectious. Then I turned to Jasper and he took my hand in his shaking it but there was a big difference, both he and Emmett had a cold grip but something shot up my arm as Jasper touched my hand and I saw something fill his eyes. He looked from me to Alice and managed a low "Hi Bella" before getting up and walking out of the cafeteria very fast.

"Well it looks like you have a certain effect on my brothers Bella, one runs away to Alaska and the other leaves the room. Well done."

Emmett hushed Rosalie but I turned away hurt and embarrassed and despite Alice's telling me to ignore Rose I couldn't. Jaspers sudden departure had hurt me and why would Edward run away because of me? We hadn't even spoken to each other. I broke free of Alice's grip and walked quickly to the rest room locking myself in one of the cubicles and resting my head in my hands. Why did Rosalie hate me so much? Why had Edward Cullen run away? What had upset Jasper? Had I just blown it with the entire family? At least Alice still seemed to like me but that could change at any second it if the others were any indication.

Alice

I was furious with Rosalie,

"That was uncalled for Rose. You could have been polite."

"Why should I Alice, she's a danger to us all. Why don't you leave her be, before it all blows up in your face".

Emmett started to remonstrate but she gave him one of her famous don't you dare looks and he subsided playing with the apple on his tray. He shrugged at me and I went after Jasper, he'd recognised something in Bella I was convinced of that and I finally found him sitting in the back of Emmett's truck looking into the distance but not seeing anything in front of him. As I jumped up beside him he turned to me,

"You knew didn't you?"

"Knew what?"

"About Bella."

"Being the little girl you saved in the forest? Yes. I'd seen her coming, I told you so."

"You never told me it was her though and now I find she's Edwards singer, what a mess. She doesn't recognise me though?"

"No but she remembers you."

"How do you know that?"

"She told me about it, about the angel who saved her from the bear."

"Angel? That's a laugh, demon more like."

"Stop putting yourself down Jazz, angel was her word not mine and she's still got the bears canine in a box under her pillow."

"Yeah sure".

"Hey are you calling me a liar Jasper Hale? Look for yourself if you don't believe me."

Jasper

I knew Alice wasn't lying but I was in a difficult position now, I had found my mate again after all these years only to discover she was my "brothers" singer and that put her in terrible danger.

"I can't let Edward kill her."

"I know. Carlisle has gone to Alaska to talk to him, try to persuade him to stay there and then we all move somewhere else, well away from her."

"Has Carlisle told anyone? Esme?"

"No I made him promise he wouldn't. He's worried about what will happen if Edward decides to come for Bella."

"I'll kill him."

She nodded and took my hand,

"I know Jazz. I told Carlisle that."

"Can you see what's going to happen?"

"No, I don't see Bella's future, I think she hides herself in some way, perhaps a gift of her own, and yours isn't clear any longer but I wont see anything until Edward decides what he's going to do. For now all I can do is watch for danger. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know, how do I even approach her? I've no experience of human interaction, not close and personal. Maybe she wont like me."

"She already likes you Jazz, you must be able to feel her emotions, does she dislike you?"

"No"

"Does her heart beat faster? Her breath come quicker when you are around?"

"Yes but I'm a vampire Alice, she's supposed to react like that."

"Well she doesn't react like that to me so I rest my case. Its down to you now Jazz, you have to make the first move."