hey people. sorry for the late update. it's been a long and hard week. but i FINALLY got this chp done.

nothing else to say, but enjoy.

Chapter XXXI

(Bpov)

I had another run in with Tanya before my class. Oh, how I love those. I admit, I probably shouldn't have said hi to Edward while they were hugging. But who cares? All I was doing was greeting a friend. She was the one who had to remind me that I didn't have anyone to spend Valentine's Day with. I wasn't bother by the comment or by the fact that she was correct. I don't really see why I should be.

When class ended, Rosalie said that Emmett want to see her for something. She was hoping it was for next Wednesday, the same holiday that Tanya was talking about. I told her I would see her in English. She asked if I could grab her book from my locker since she was going in the opposite direction. I told her I would.

That's what I was doing now. I was trying to put in the combination when someone poked me in the sides. I gave a light jump. I turned to see who was behind me. I felt a tap on my shoulder when I saw no one was there. I turned to my left to see Jasper casually leaning against the locker and his body was turned to me. "Hey; just person I wanted to see." He greeted.

He wanted to see me? I wondered why. "Hi." I replied with a smile as I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "How's it going?" I asked. I haven't really seen or talked to him since he asked me to…"hang out" last Monday.

He gave a shrug. "Okay."

"So why did you want to see me?" I asked.

He gave a smile. "I have something to show you." He reached in his back pocket and took out something. He unfolded it before showing it to me. when he did, my eyes popped. I saw it was a Bio test, probably the same on Edward had to take. But that wasn't my eyes popped. It was because of the score in the corner of the front page that was circled.

It was a sixty-eight. What the heck? That was a D. I grabbed the paper from his hands. I looked at it to see if I was reading the number right or at least if I was reading the name correctly. I was. How the heck did he get a sixty-eight? I know the subject was hard, but his sister said he was better at it than she was. She said he got better grades. "How did you get a D? I thought Rosa said you were the smarter twin." I asked.

"Maybe my smarts are fading." He joked.

"Jasper, how can you joke about this?" I asked in a confused snap. I realized it was the first time I snapped at him. but I didn't find failing a thing to joke about. It was why I was so hard on Rosalie. It was because I cared and wanted the best for the people I cared about.

He chuckled again, clearly not bothered with my snap. Then he gave a shrug. "I don't know; I guess I just find it amusingly cute that you care enough to snap at me like that." he replied. I couldn't help but blush. Still not use to him calling me anything like that. "Anyways I think might need some help studying." he said as he took the papers out of my hand. "Maybe some from the smartest girl in school." He said with a smile. Was he talking about me? Judging by the way he was smiling at me, I'm pretty sure he was. Who else would he be talking about? "We have a quiz in math coming up on Friday. Maybe you can come over and help me study so I can do better" he asked. He was talking about me.

"I might have to help Edward." I reminded him. Why would he think that would have changed?

"I think he could do without you for once." He said.

I shook my head. "Doubt it. he might really need my help." I answered.

"I might need it too." Jasper said.

I chuckled. "No you don't." I told him as I turned back to open my locker. He didn't need a tutor. So he had one bad test, he was still smart. He was probably just had a bad day or something. I've bad test before; never that bad, but still. He didn't need me like Edward did. Edward was doing better, but he still complains how he needs me for anything math or science related. The most I could do with Jasper is do homework with him, not that I would like that. I mean anytime I get with Jasper Hale is good.

He gave a humored sighed. "That didn't work as well as I thought it would." I heard him mumbled.

"What didn't?" I asked as I looked for the two copies of the same book.

"Bella." He said.

"Yes?" I answered. He didn't answer. He didn't say anything so I looked at him. "Jasper, what?" I asked.

"I failed on purpose." He admitted.

"What why?" I asked confused. What reason was good enough to do something like that?

"I was hoping I could use it as an excuse for us to hang out."

"Huh?"

"Like I said before, it seem like we never do outside of school. Belle, I didn't ask you to the festival last week to be nice or because I know you're taking French. I did it because I wanted for just you and me to hang out because I really like it when we do." He said.

"Wh-what?" I choked out. What he said shocked me because I didn't think he would actually want to hang out, just the two of us.

"I want to have some alone time with you." he repeated, stretching out every word so I could understand him clearly.

"You-you do?" I stuttered.

"Yes." He chuckled. "Why is that so hard for you to believe?" he asked.

Because he wasn't supposes to like me, not like that. He was the most popular, next to Edward of course, guy in the school. I was just Bella. I wasn't anything special. Even with my change, it was just hard to believe that Rosalie could have been right all this time. It was hard to imagine that he would like me like I like him. All this flirting and teasing just seem too good to be true. "I don't know." I answered.

"So I don't have track try-outs, and I believe you don't have to help Edward with anything. Come over tomorrow?" he asked.

"I…uh…I…um." I didn't know what was wrong with me. I didn't feel like confident Bella anymore. I felt like how I felt when I use to avoid going over Rosalie's house in fear of running into him. And even though I hadn't worn them to school for about three months now, all of a sudden, I felt the need to push up my glasses. "I …" I concluded to be lost for words as I played with the metal part of one of my notebooks. Say something Bella. You're been talking to him for three months, maybe more. You can talk to him. So just say something; anything. "Uh…" Anything but that. Fortunately, I turned and saw my way out. "Rosalie." I called her as she was walking pass us. She turned to us and smiled. "We can talk about that…thing you wanted to talk about before class." I told her.

She gave a confused look. She didn't know what I was talking because I was lying. She didn't want to talk to me about anything. In fact, I think she didn't stop because she saw me talking to Jasper and she made it a thing not to be next to me when I was except when she needed something. But she must have seen something in my eyes because then gave a face of realization. "Right. We can talk about it on the way to class." She played along. I was glad she did. "Should I come over there?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I'll come to you. I'm done in my locker." I told her. I looked at Jasper. "Sorry. I have to go." I told him before closing my locker and walking over to his sister.

"Okay, mind telling me what the hell that was about?" she asked when we were out of ear shot of Jasper.

"He asked me to come over tomorrow." I said, getting right to the point.

"Um…your crush wants to hang out with you at his house; isn't that a good thing?" she asked. "And why are you acting so shocked that he did, considering you've been alone with him before?" she pointed out.

"Yeah, but those times weren't planned, and you know what happened those other times"

"Oh yeah, making out with your crush is so terrible." She said sarcastically. "I never thought that would be the biggest problem."

I shook my head. "What if he expects something like that to happen every time? I don't think I can handle it every time." I asked.

"I'm sure he doesn't, Bella. And so what if he does? Better question, why the hell are you afraid that would happen. I'm sure he isn't afraid of that." she said with a chuckle before continuing. "I mean, if I wasn't dating Emmett and someone I liked invited me over, I would be hoping for that." She replied.

"I'm not you." I reminded her followed by a sigh. "Remember the first time we…" I tried to come up with another word because I don't think I feel right saying the word I needed to. But I couldn't come up with anything one so I just said it. "The first time we kissed, I lost my breath." I reminded her.

"Yeah, but you said it was because of the thin air." She said, reminding me what I told them at the cabin.

I shook my head. "I don't know if it was or wasn't. The point is, what if that happens again and again and I can't stop it and end up embarrassing myself. Once that happens, he will want to stop hanging out with me." I told her.

"Goodness, Bella, would you stop 'what if'ing the hell out of everything?" she urged.

"But…" I started, but she stopped me by shaking her head.

"And stop with the 'but's. Stop looking for excused. He likes you and I don't think that will change because you do something embarrassing. And I know you two will probably be spending some time together. Some it is going be when no one else is around, so you should probably just get to it." she said.

"Well, that's helpful." I mumbled.

She gave a sigh. "Okay, point taken." She said, catching my sarcasm. "Look, maybe you could keep him distracted. Talk about football or something. I'm sure he would love that." she said. I could use the whole "I don't know about football" thing to my advantage. "But just so you know, that might only work for so long. I think you just try to get use to being alone with the boy. And if something happens, I suggest you just go with it. You might end up liking it." she said with a chuckle.

I had no doubt I would like it because I liked it before. That wasn't what I was afraid of. I was just scared of embarrassing myself. I didn't want any reason for us to stop…whatever the heck we're doing. I guess that was as good as it gets.

"Whatever. Anyways, speaking of guys…" I said, switching the conversation over to her because I no longer wanted to talk about me. "What did Emmett want to talk about?" I asked.

"He wanted to know where I wanted to go for dinner next Wednesday." She replied.

As soon as she did, I rolled my eyes because I know exactly what she was talking about. "I forgot you were one of those." I mumbled. I wasn't just replying to Tanya's rude comment when I said I didn't care for the holiday. I think it was the shallowest holiday ever. Because why wouldn't someone love be determined on how much they buy each other?

She laughed. "So I like Valentine's Day and I like getting gifts, sue me. It's the one day, besides my birthday, where I can get him to do what I ask without feedback." She replied.

"So what is he getting you?" I asked since she probably ready know or already got it.

She gave a shrug. "He said he wasn't telling me this year. He said he wants it to be a surprise." She answered. That was a first. "But I did get him something." she said.

"I thought girls only got a gift." I said. I never celebrated it with anyone but my dad so I didn't know how the whole holiday worked.

"I know, but I thought it would be nice if he got something this year." She said before she reached in her book bag and pulled out a small bag. She opened it and pulled out something.

"A whistle?" I asked as I took it and looked at it.

"A platinum one. It cost me like a hundred bucks. Plus I got it engraved." She said excitedly. I looked on the side. The way the light hit it, I could E & R in a heart sketched in the side. "I hope he likes it. I got because he said he would need one for his program he's doing over the summer before he goes to school." She said.

"Did he get in?" I asked. She nodded. Sometime during the year, her boyfriend applied for some college on the other side of the country. Rosalie said if he got in, he had to do an internship or something over the summer to get some extra credits. "Doesn't he want to be gym teacher or something?" I asked.

"A coach!" she snapped as she yanked the whistle out of my hand. "Stop saying that, Bella, he wants to be a coach." She corrected me.

"Sorry." I chuckled. She was snapping because I always got that wrong. But the way I see it, that's all a coach was, a glorified gym teacher. If you can't do, right?

"Whatever. I got something else just in case he doesn't like it." she said before pulling something else out of the bag. She showed the second thing to me.

"A wallet?" I asked. She nodded. "Why a wallet?" I asked.

"Because he needs one. Every time he talks me out, he has his money in rubber bands. I tell him all the damn time I'm not a damn stripper or a fucking hooker, but you think he listens to me? Nope. His excuse is that the less he spends on himself, the more he can spend on me. I let it go for a while until I see those damn rubber bands again." she complained. First she got mad at me for mixing up his desired profession, then at him, though he wasn't even here. It was funny how she switched so fast. I laughed at her. "Why are you laughing? That's not funny." She complained more.

I laughed more. "I just find it a little funny that you talk about him like that, but I know how much you like him." I told her.

She rolled her eyes as she stuffed the bag back in her book bag. We started walking again. "Bella, I don't like him. I can't stand him. He doesn't listen to me, he's wants me all to himself; and sometimes, he can be a total idiot." She said.

"But…"

She gave a sigh. "But he's my idiot and I love him. I honestly don't think I can see myself with anyone else." She answered right before we walked in the classroom.

We took our seats. "I'm glad he makes you happy." I said ad the bell rang.

XXX

People were talking about that stupid holiday all week. I thought I would never hear the end of it. I was kind of glad when it came. At least people won't be talking about it when the day was over.

I woke up and got dress in the outfit Alice dropped off the night before. She said everyone was going to wear pink, red or white for today. When she heard I didn't have anything pink she brought me a black shirt and light pink button-up shirt with white buttons and white stitching. She said she didn't want me to feel let out, but I just think she just used that as an excuse to go shopping for me because she knows I wouldn't.

After I got dressed, I walked out my room. When I opened the door, I found a single rose, a card in a pink envelope and a long red box in front of it. This was the only thing I like about this holiday. I smiled at it because I knew who it was from. He was the only person, well only male, who would give me something. He must have placed here before going to work.

I picked everything up and opened the envelope first. It was a card with a baby goat sleeping next to a bigger one. When I opened it, it said. "When it comes to daughters, you're the baaaaaa-est. Happy Valentine's Day, love Dad."

"Oh, Charlie." I mumbled in humor at the cheesiness. He always had a thing for the lame puns and metaphors. I couldn't help but smile at them every year. I opened the red box. I pulled it out. It was a necklace with a small turtle charm on it. On the back, "I will always protect you" was etched in the back, like every other turtle thing he gave me. I guess it was a hand-in-hand thing. I didn't hesitant to put it on. I put the card and rose on my dresser on my dresser before leaving for school.

"Cute necklace." Rosalie said when she saw me. She walked next to me as I walked to my locker.

I smiled at her. "Thanks. My dad left it for me this morning." I told. When I turned to her, I noticed something. I gave her a confused look when I saw her with her hands behind her back. What was she hiding? I stopped walking and faced her. "Rosa? What's behind your back?" I asked. She smiled before showing me three bright yellow roses. "Rosa, no…" I groaned. She did this every year. Every year, I tell her she doesn't have to because if I had a choice, I wouldn't even acknowledge the holiday. But every year, she doesn't listen to me, just like this one.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Izzie. Will you be my valentine?" she asked sweetly with a smile to match, ignoring the groan, like any other time.

I gave a smile. There was no point in fighting her. "I thought Emmett was your valentine." I reminded her.

"I can have two." She said. "Are you going to question me or are you going to take the flowers?" she urged.

I laughed as I took them from her hand. "Why is there three?" I asked, thinking that was a weird number of flowers to give someone.

"One for each year we've been best friends." She answered.

I smiled at the flowers. I had to admit, even though I wish she didn't, I liked that she got them for me. It was nice that she appreciates our friendship just like I do. Probably not as much as I do, but it was still nice to know she wanted the friendship. When she does things like that, it makes it easier to ignore the comments anyone makes about us. "I always feel so bad when I don't get you anything." I told her.

She gave another shrug. "Don't be. Emmett does so much for me this time a year, that's it's usually enough. It's nice to give for once." She gave a smile. "However, it would be nice to get one more thing."

"I'll remember that." I laughed. She hooked her arm with mine before walking with me to my locker.

When we were there, someone skipped to the side of us. "Happy Valentine's Day!" Alice cheered. I will be hearing that all day. I think I was already tired of hearing that phrase.

I turned to her. "Hi Alice." I said as I took off my coat. She had her hair pulled back to show off her dangling diamond-heart earrings. "Cute earrings." I told her

She smiled. "Thanks. Edward got my mom and me a matching set." She said. Did he? I didn't know what was more shocking. The fact that's she got something from a brother or that's she got something from Edward. He didn't seem like the gift giving type, especially for a stupid day like today. And I didn't think he would do something sweet as give his mother and sister matching jewelry. I wondered if he did it to be sweet or because he didn't feel like looking for two different things.

"Nice. What did your dad give you?" I asked because that was something I was more use to.

Alice shook her head. "Nothing; he's taking me shopping this week." She answered. That seem like an easy way out, but who was I to think that. That might be something normal for their family. I mean, it wasn't like they didn't have the money to waste. Then Alice let out a happy breathe. "Aw, I love this holiday." She said.

I hung my coat on the hook before grabbing my books for my first classes. "Why?' I asked as if that was the most bizarre thing I have ever heard. Alice wasn't dating anyone. Why would she like a holiday that celebrates relationships? It seemed backwards to me.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "What the hell do you mean why?" she asked as if I insulted her.

Rosalie laughed. "Bella doesn't appreciate the greatest of February 14th." Rosalie joked.

"I don't see the point of it." I corrected. The way I see it, it was the Homecoming Dance of holidays. It was stupid and senseless and the only reason it was created was to make people feel bad about having something. I chose not to care about it.

"What?" Alice said. "Come on, the sweet perfume of flowers, the great taste of chocolates and the best thing, sales on jewelry. How can you not love the feeling? Can't you feel it, love in the air." She took in a deep breathe. "I think it's going to be a good day." She said. When she did, the bell rang.

"We should get to class." I said, closing my locker.

All during the first period, it began. People were coming in to deliver a flower or a teddy bear or something to a girl. The girl getting the gift would light up with false excitement. They like to make it seem like its real, but I know most of the girls told their friend or someone to send them something so everyone else would be jealous. I didn't care. I was use to not get anything on this day. I just wish everyone else didn't care so much about flowers that will die and bears they will throw in the closet as soon as the day was over.

When the period was over, I went to my locker. I needed another notebook because the one I had ran out of pages. While I was there, someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned to see one of the underclassmen delivering item smiling at me. She was holding two orange roses. "Bella Swan?" she asked with a smiled.

"Yes?" I said in confusion. She handed out the roses to me. "Are those for me?" I asked in shocked.

She looked at the tag that was wrapped around the stems, holding the flowers together. "You're Bella Swan, right?" she said looking at me again.

"Yeah, but…"

"Then these are for you." She said.

I looked at the flowers again. They really were pretty. I don't think I've ever seen any other color rose but red in person before. "Thank you." I said as I took the flowers from her hand with hesitation. She gave a nod before leaving. Rosalie already gave me her annual yellow roses so I couldn't help, but wonder who send me these. And why were they orange? I mean they were a pretty orange, but significance did the color have? I looked at the tag to see if there was a name. I thought it would give me a clue to why I got them. But when I opened the tag, it just "Have a good day!" in the nicest cursive I think I have ever seen. I thought it was typed for a second, but then I saw the "G" was written in a way a little too wild to have been done by a computer.

I don't know who gave me these, but I was happy I got them. Maybe the girls' reactions aren't so fake.

I stuck them in my notebooks before going to class.

After that, that was happening to me all day. Right before third period started, someone else stopped me and handed me two more orange roses. This time the note say "Can't wait to for it to be you and me…"

Then when fourth period started, I got two more and the note said "…because you are great company." When I got that one, I figure it connected to the last one like a poem.

Then lunch came and I got two more. when the girl walked to the table with them in hand, every girl at the table looked up. I think it was safe to say that everyone, expect Rosalie because she was there when I got the other ones, were shocked when she said my name and handed them to me. All the girls asked me who sent them. Then Tanya said "Yeah, would be desperate and cheap enough? I mean, the loser couldn't afford red roses." Of course she had to say something like that. there isn't a day where she doesn't say something like that me. Too bad it didn't take the smile off my face. I loved the fact they were orange; it made them, and me, different ant everyone else today.

I looked at the tag to give everyone the answer they were looking for, but I couldn't because again there was no name. But I did read what the tag said for them. This one said "Hope these are brightening your day…"

Then lunch was over and my sixth period class started. Half way through, an underclassman knocked on the door. "More?" Rosalie asked in shock when he announced name. I thanked him when he placed them on my desk. "Is there at least a name on this one?" she asked. She was the one who was getting annoyed that they weren't signed. I, on the other hand, found it a little charming that they weren't. I mean, I would have liked it if they were then I would know who to thank. But a little secret admiring can be good too.

I looked at the tag. I heard her sighed hard when I shook my head. "…Just like your smile can brighten a hallway." I read with a smile. it was another conclusion. I placed them on my desk before listening to the rest of the lesson.

After the last period of the day, I was stopped on the way to my locker by another underclassman. I saw she had two orange roses in her hand. "Are those for me?" I couldn't help but ask.

She looked at the tag. "Bella?" she asked. I nodded. "Then yes. Happy Valentine's day." She said. I thanked her before she walked away from me. These two made me the happiest because it made it a dozen. I didn't I would ever get a dozen roses. I looked at the tag. This one said nothing special. It was just "Happy Valentine's Day!" this was one was different from the other ones because it had a heart on the corner

I stuck them in my binder before walking to my locker.

"Got some more?" I heard a voice when I opened my locker door. I looked to see Edward looking at the flowers sticking out of my binder. I nodded. "And there's no name?" he asked. I shook my head. "I'm sure whoever it is will reveal himself sooner or later." He said. I kinda hope so. Once again, it would be nice to know who it was to thank him properly. "Anyways, I wanted to stop by your locker before going to mine to ask if I can come over tonight." He said, getting to the point.

"Why; you don't have a test or anything coming up." I reminded him. I looked at his schedule yesterday to make sure he did or didn't and he didn't; well, none I was aware of anyways. But it might be one he just learned about again.

"I know, but we start practice again tomorrow. They're going to be running until around ten until the game, so I won't have time to come over for the next week." He replied.

"Oh." That makes sense. "Don't you have something planned with Tanya for today?" I asked.

He surprised me when he shook his head. That was funny. She seems like the type to demand something for today. "We went out yesterday so I can give her gift so she could show it off today." He answered. Oh that made more sense. He must have given her the golden bracelet she was sporting today. Just when I thought she was a kind of a decent person. Glad to see she never proves me wrong.

"Well, okay. I think my parents are going out tonight so sure." I told him.

"Okay. I'll see you in a few hours." He said before walking away from me.

When Edward was gone, I went back to trying to remember what I had for homework. While I was trying to think of what we did in each class to help me, I felt something poke me in my sides. I gave a yelp along with a light jump just like any other time. No matter how many times he did that, I was always surprised.

I turned and smiled at him. "Hi Jasper." I greeted.

He smiled back as he leaned against the locker next to me. "Hey Belle." He looked at the top shelve of my locker. "Nice flowers." He said, looking at where I put all the roses I got today. After the first three, I started putting them in my locker. I knew how it felt not to get anything on this day so I didn't want to be like Tanya and rub my received items in people's face. However, I would be lying if I said I didn't like that I had the option of doing so.

"Thanks." I answered.

"Did you like them?" he asked. I gave a shrug. "What does that mean?" he asked.

I looked at him. "I did like them and I was glad someone went out their way to send them to me and made sure I got them in almost every period, but I could have done without them."

"What do you mean?" he asked again.

"I mean, I think people make too much of a big deal of out this day. And I'm not one of those girls who feel I should have to get something" I told him before turning away from him.

He gave a chuckle. "I'll remember that next time." he said. when he said that, it didn't take me long to guess what he meant.

"You send them?" I asked.

He nodded. "This is the time I would say happy Valentine's Day, but…" oops.

"Thank you. I really did like them." I told him again.

"I'm glad." He answered.

"Why orange?" I asked because that was an abnormal color to give someone. I've received red, yellow, and even white once, but never orange.

"I wanted to give you something special. You know how I like being different when it comes to you." He said with a smile I couldn't help but blush because that reminded me of the last time he said he wanted to be different. "The woman at the flower shop said orange was less intense than red, but a little bit more friendly than yellow. I thought that describes us well enough." He answered.

"Well, thank you." I said again.

"You really like them?" he asked. I nodded. I didn't have to have them, but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy getting them all day. "Good, because I kinda have something else to give you." He said.

"Jasper, you don't have to give me anything else" I told him.

"I've actually been meaning to give this to you. I just thought now was the best time." he said. He completely ignored what I just said. He took his book bag off his shoulder and reaching inside one of the pocket. He pulled out something that was tied with a ribbon and handed it to me.

I could tell it was a book as soon as he pulled it out, but I didn't know what book it was. I don't remember telling him what my favorite one was, so I had no idea what it could have been. I moved the ribbon to see the title. It was in French, but I knew enough of it to know what it said. "Beauty and the Beast." I read the title.

"I got it from that festival I told you about a few weeks ago." He said. I looked at him. "Since you couldn't go, I got that and I thought you might like it, though it's mostly in French, so you might not understand a lot of it." he joked.

I took the ribbon off and flipped through the pages to see he was right. I always saw there were translations on the side, so "I think I could manage." I told him. I looked at him and smiled. "Thank you. I think I might have fun with this." I told him.

He chuckled. "I was hoping you would say that. I think you're the only one who would. Do you really like it?" he asked.

I nodded. I appreciated the thought that he got something for me even when I said I couldn't go with him. It means he thought of me. It also means he listened and remembered when I told him I was taking my third year of French and was most likely going to take it in college as well.

I also found it a little funny that "Belle", Jasper's nickname for me, is not only the name of the female main character, but it also means "beauty" in French I wondered if he knew that when he thought of the name. Probably not; it's a piece of random information that I was sure a lot of people didn't know or cared about.

"I do. Thank you. And thank you so much for the flowers. I don't think I ever got a dozen roses before. They are beautiful." I said before hugging him.

"I'm glad I could make your day better." he replied as he hugged me back.

I'm pretty sure we would have hugged longer if he didn't pull back. He never pulled back before. We were always interrupted or I would pull away, but he never would. But this time, he did. I wondered why. Then, he looked at me but it wasn't until he leaned in when I realized why he pulled back.

And if we were anywhere else, I would have let him. However, we were in school. Even though people were already leaving, there was still a lot of people in the hall. People who could be looking at us. I don't think I could do that just yet.

So before his lips could touch mine, I turned my head. He stopped for a second before going on to kiss my cheek.

"Enough you two." we heard his sister. Jasper pulled away. He gave a hard sigh and cursed under his breathe I turned to see she was behind us. I wondered how long she was there. "Must you two make out in school?" She teased; I'm sure referring to the kiss on the cheek. That answers the question of how she was there.

"I would hardly call a peck on the cheek making out." he answered.

"I was just joking, bro." she chuckled. Her eyes moved. "However, I see you've made no move to release her yet." She pointed out. I realized she was looking at my waist, which was where Jasper's hands were still wrapped around. She was right; we really haven't moved out of our embrace yet.

I'm sure he realized the same thing I did because our hands dropped from each other at the same time. "What the hell do you want, Rosalie?" he asked in annoyed tone.

"You need to come with me to the gym." She answered.

"Why; I don't have practice until tomorrow." He reminded her.

"Yeah, but coach wants me to start the girls today." She said.

"I still fail to see what the hell that has to do with me." he replied.

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but we came to school today in the same car." She said. "And I don't feel like taking you home and I don't want to wait for you to come back and get me, plus we have to take Alice home. So you have to come to practice with me."

"Great." He sighed hard in annoyance. He turned back to me. "I guess I have to go. I'll talk to you later." He said. I nodded before he hugged me again and leaving me.

XXX

"Bella!" I heard someone call me. I shook my head and looked at Edward, who was sitting next to me on the couch. "Read the next question." He said. I had a feeling he was repeating that more than he would have liked.

"Right…sorry." I told him before looking at the history book again to find where we left off. When Jasper left me, I finally had time to get my things together and left the school. A few hours after hours after I got home, Edward rang the bell. We've been working on his history homework ever since.

"Are you okay; you seem preoccupied." He pointed out. I smiled at the word choice. At least he was still using the words I would give him.

But he was right. That was the reason it was taking us so long on his homework. It was because I kept getting distracted. I just kept thinking about Jasper.

I was thinking about how he gave me flowers, the color orange because it was "more intense" than "just friends". He said it was like us. He was right. I'm sure by now, everyone in school can guess there was something between us. They just didn't know what that something was. To be honest, either did I. It made me think of what I told Jacob, we were just hanging out. I was okay with that, but I couldn't help but wonder if he was too. I don't really know how he felt about us.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just think about Jasper." I told him honestly.

I heard Edward give a hard sigh. "What about him?" he asked.

I gave a smile. "He was the one sending me the flowers all day." I answered.

"Of course he is." He mumbled. When Edward said that, it made sense. I don't know how I didn't guess who it earlier. I mean he's the only I've really been hanging out with lately and the one who "really wants to spend more time with me". I guess I'm still finding it hard to believe he and I are so close. "Do you want to talk about it?" Edward asked. Talk about Jasper with Edward?

"Not really." I answered. Edward and I were friends, but no thanks. I would just feel too weird about it. However, talking about Jasper with Rosalie is weird too. "Actually, can we take a break?" I asked. Maybe that would help me clear my head enough to help him.

"Sure; why not?" he answered with a nod. We both placed our book aside. "Since we're on a break, I think this is the perfect time." He said.

"For what?" I asked. He smiled before reaching in his bag. I sighed hard. "Edward, not you too." I groaned as I saw him pulled out a black box.

He chuckled. "I think you're the only girl who would groan at a Valentine's gift." He teased. For someone who didn't care for the holiday, this one would be the third or fourth one of the day. I just didn't get why everyone felt the need to get me something for this silly little holiday.

I rolled my eyes. "Why did you even get me something?" I asked.

He gave a shrug. "I figure it's the least I can do for you helping me. Besides, it's not a big deal. I get something for Alice and Esme every year. When I was picking up Tanya's gift, I saw this and got it for you."

I gave a sigh. "You didn't have to do that." I told him.

"Bella, I can't return it so you might as well just take it." he playfully snapped.

I looked at the box. There was no way he was going to let me not take the box out of hand. I should at least humor him, right? I took the box out of his hand. I looked at him. He nodded, telling me to open it. I gave another sigh before turning back to the box. I lifted the top of it to look inside. When I did, there was a small all silver turtle. The only thing that was a different color was the shell. The shell was a bright green emerald color. It had small crystals for eyes. It was so cute; almost precious. Where did he even find this? "Do you like it?" he asked.

"Yes." I told him as I pulled it out the box to get a better look at it.

"It's just a small statue. I don't think it does anything special, but I figured you could use it as a paperweight or something."

I smiled at him. "It's perfect. It might be one of the best things I've gotten. Thank you." I said before hugging him.

"You're welcome." He said as he hugged me back.

I pulled away and looked at the small turtle again. It was so shiny, I almost didn't want to touch it because I didn't want it to have smears or smudges, but then I didn't want to put it down either. "I think I will name it Oz." I mumbled.

"Name?" he repeated in question. I looked at him "Do you name all your turtles?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I know. It's a little lame." I admitted.

"A little." He agreed in a tease. I rolled my eyes. "So why Oz?" he asked.

I pointed at the shell. "Because his shell. It's emerald and it reminds me The Emerald City from my favorite movie, the Wizard of Oz. Did you know that movie has so many symbolism in it. Like for example, The Emerald City was not green because that's the color of money and riches, but because green is the color of greed and envy which is a big part of the movie." I said. When I looked up, I saw he was trying to keep from laughing. "Sorry, I'm rambling. I know you probably don't care." I admitted.

He let out a chuckle. "I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing more at myself. You're so hot now, I forget how much of a nerd you are." He joked.

What did he just call me? I don't think I ever heard him call me that. No, I never heard him call me that. I heard it from Mike, from Eric, even Jasper sometimes, from everyone other person, but never from Edward. Not that I was nerd, he says that all the time. I never heard him call me "hot" before.

I know I shouldn't, but I couldn't help but think about what Jacob told me. I haven't thought about it since that weekend. I thought the less I do, the more I could pretend he never even said it. But when Edward said what he did, I felt like Jacob was in my ear, saying the same thing again.

"Really to start again?" he asked when he saw me finally place the small silver turtle down.

"Sure…" I said.

"Are you okay?" he asked. My guess is because he heard it uneasiness in my voice.

"Yeah." I said. I couldn't go through with the lie. I shook my head. "No…no, I'm not." I told him the truth. He looked at me. I sighed hard. I should tell him, right? Maybe he could set my mind at ease. "Okay, Edward, I have to tell you something. The weekend of your last game, when my cousin stayed over, while we were talking your name came up."

"My name?" he asked. I nodded. "What were you talking about for my name to come up?"

"Uh… well, Jacob said something and I was just thinking about it."

"What is it?" he asked.

"He said…well, he said…" I couldn't get it out. It was just too strange. "You didn't buy that for me because… well, you don't like…'like' me, do you?" I asked.

He laughed. "Of course I do. Why else would I get it?" he answered. Okay, that might not be the right way of asking. I might have to say the words.

I really didn't want to. I should just stop. Nothing good can come this. I should just stop right now and not ask. But I needed a clear mind. I needed to be sure I snapped at Jake for a reason. That reason being because I was right and he was wrong. Edward didn't feel that way. I just needed clarification and Edward was the one to give me it.

"No. I mean…you don't like…" I sighed hard. This was so freaking hard.

"Just spite it out, Bella." He said.

Okay, here goes nothing. "You're not like in love with me, right?" I blurted out.

He stared at me

welcome to the bottom of the page.

ok, there was a question on if i will keep writing this story. the answer is yes, i am. i won't be working on APL again until, the earliest, over my Christmas break. it depends on when i am done with this story. if i am done with it before my thanksgiving break, i will be working on APL. if not, i won't be working on it until the summer so i can have more time. i hate that i don't have time to write, but that is the life of a college student. i stay busy. i just want a break. but i gotta do what i need to do before i can do what i want to do. i hope you understand.

Anyways, thx for all the reviews and favs and alerts. as alway, love you guys.

Luv & Rockets