Chapter Seventeen

Jasper

I still wasn't sure this was a good idea as I drove to Bella's house having borrowed Alice's little sports car, more practical than my bike especially as there were plenty of clouds rolling in. Alice had spent all night giving me sidelong glances while Edward couldn't make up his mind whether I was interested in Bella or just her blood like him.

"Oh I don't think Jazz really wants her blood Edward, he's more interested in her body and mind."

I found myself staring out the window into the darkness in the direction of Forks and noticed the niggling ache was back. If it didn't stop soon I would speak to Carlisle about it, I didn't like not knowing what was going on inside my body, I'd never felt any discomfort since becoming a vampire that wasn't related to a war wound healing.

About one thirty I got ready and drove up to Bella's just before two smiling to see her watching out for me. I hoped she wasn't expecting too much although I found myself looking forward to having her company for the rest of the day even if it meant being around a load of other kids from school, at least I could keep her safe from my brother this way. I walked slowly to the front door where Bella stood waiting, a shy smile on her face and I noticed the closer I got the less my chest ached but before I had a chance to analyse this she spoke,

"Hi, I thought you might change your mind."

"Now why would I do that? I offered you a lift to the barbecue and I am looking forward to your company"

I sounded a little stiff and formal but truth be told this girl was messing with my head, I found myself looking into her eyes, watching the movement of her lips and inhaling her scent. She moved aside for me to enter and then led me into the kitchen where Chief Swan sat with a can of beer open in front of him. He looked up at me and stood holding out his hand,

"Good to meet you Jasper. I hear you're accompanying my daughter to the beach barbecue so I'm making you responsible for her today"

Bella blushed furiously but I nodded, I understood his concerns,

"Of course sir, its good to meet you too."

He seemed to approve of my answer because he sat back down as Bella picked up various trays and plastic containers so I moved to help handing her the car keys,

"You open up and I'll carry these out for you Bella"

When she'd left Chief Swan cleared his throat,

"I probably don't have to tell you this son but my daughter is very precious to me and she's only just arrived so you look after her or you'll have me to answer to."

I nodded smiling inwardly, if he knew my true history he would lock his daughter up and reach for his rifle.

"I understand sir"

Bella looked anxious as I joined her and took the boxes from me putting them in the trunk of the car.

"I hope my dad didn't embarrass you too much."

"Not at all, he's just looking out for you and I appreciate that. So as you are my responsibility it seems as if we are to be together today. I hope that meets with your approval."

She smiled in genuine pleasure once more,

"I think I can live with that Jasper"

I opened her door for her shutting it again once she was safely in her seat then took my place behind the wheel and drove slowly away aware of her fathers eyes on us.

"Is this your car?"

"No, I borrowed it from Alice. I don't have a car, just a motorbike."

"I've never been on a motorbike but it looks like fun"

"It can be and perhaps one day I might persuade the Chief to allow me to take you for a spin but parents seem a little wary of girls riding on motorbikes."

"Have you taken anyone else out for a spin?"

She blushed as she asked and I knew it had taken a lot of courage to ask the question so I shook my head,

"Only my sisters."

"You don't have a girlfriend?"

"No, I wouldn't have offered to take you if I had, I don't believe in playing games, someone only gets hurt."

She nodded her approval and relaxed back into her seat as we drove towards the beach, thanking all the Gods that they hadn't chosen the reservation beach but then remembering there had been some trouble between the reservation boys and the high school boys a few months earlier causing a blanket ban of the reservation lands until tempers cooled, it had been over a girl, it was always over a girl of course. Having Bella here so close to me was the most wonderful feeling, she was a very beautiful girl and totally unaware of it. There was something almost naïve about her yet I could tell she'd been through a lot.

"Do they have a lot of these barbecues?"

"Quite a lot I think although I haven't been to one before"

She looked at me puzzled,

"So why now?"

"I found someone I wanted to spend some time with"

Well it was true, I had, even though I was also on security detail.

"Thank you. I've never been to a party before so its a little nerve racking."

"You'll be fine Bella. Everyone has been very welcoming haven't they?"

She nodded,

"Yes, well most. I don't think Lauren likes me very much and I'm not sure why."

"Lauren doesn't like competition."

"Competition?"

"Yes, Lauren likes to be the centre of attention and at the moment all eyes are on you,. The new girl"

"Oh I see... I think. I take it she'll be there?"

"I'll be surprised if not, I think she has her sights set on Tyler although I would imagine his girlfriend Sally isn't too pleased about it."

The car park was already filling up but I got a space close to the beach so we didn't have to carry her stuff too far. She waited as I took the boxes out of the trunk picking up a couple while I balanced the others and led the way across the sand to where the majority of the people were congregating and found trestle tables set up for the food and drink while a couple of the guys were lighting the huge barbecue. Others stood talking, cans of beer grasped in their hands, all illegal of course but to be expected. As we approached the voices died away and everyone turned to watch, wondering what Bella was doing with one of the strange Cullen boys no doubt. Bella noticed and flashed me a worried look but I winked and placed her offerings on the table before turning back.

"Would you like a walk down the beach while its still dry?"

She nodded self consciously and took my proffered hand all too aware of her new friends wide eyed stares.

I took her along to the far end of the beach talking about nothing really, just her pleasure at coming to live with her dad but she said nothing about her mother and I didn't pry, maybe she would tell me one day. I was just happy to have her hand in mine although I expected her to comment on how cold mine was, maybe she assumed it was the breeze making it feel that way. We sat on a driftwood trunk that had become jammed between rocks on the beach and I told her a little about the family and my cover story. How Rose and I were orphans, our parents being killed in a car crash when we were about twelve and how Dr and Mrs Cullen had taken us in.

"Don't you have any other family at all?"

"No, just my sister. What about you? I know you were living with your mother until recently"

The hurt look on her face made me kick myself for asking but it was too late now.

"No, I'm an only child but that's probably a good thing...anyway maybe we should walk back now. I can see Alice and Edward and you really don't have to stay with me all the time."

"Would you be worried if I said I was quite happy to stay with you?"

She smiled, her cheeks glowing with a mixture of cold and blushes,

"No, it would be nice, so long as you don't try to get me surfing."

I just looked at the sea which was a leaden grey colour,

"I think I'll give that a miss."