Chapter Eighteen

Bella

I knew I was going to enjoy the barbecue, my first outing with school friends ever and I wasn't disappointed although I think the company played a part in that. We returned to the others but instead of meeting up with Alice and Edward as I expected Jasper steered me over to Angie, Mike, and my other friends and we sat round the bonfire watching some of the crazier party goers surf. Angie explained that she didn't like swimming in the sea and hated surfing but her boyfriend Eric enjoyed it so she was used to sitting watching him with some of the others. Mike seemed to have hooked up with Jessica although I could see this didn't please Lauren and neither did my close friendship with Jasper Hale although she tried to hide her annoyance from him. We chatted and laughed and although Jasper didn't say much he was a comfortable presence and as the afternoon wore on to evening and the light faded he wrapped his arm around my shoulder pulling me closer which didn't go unnoticed by anyone around the bonfire. He didn't eat anything, apparently he was on a diet of some kind but he made sure I had plenty and kept me supplied with sodas, I didn't like beer anyway.

Mike dragged Jess up to dance by the fire light and I watched for a while as Edward and Alice came closer to join us. I had no idea how to dance but then it didn't look difficult especially as the couples who joined Mike and Jess seemed more interested in getting close than actually moving to the beat of the music.

"Would you like to dance?"

I looked at Jasper in panic and he laughed,

"I don't think there are any special steps to learn, come on it'll be fun"

I allowed him to pull me up and we joined the others although he didn't attempt to pull me as close as some. Lauren looked like she was trying to get inside Tyler's clothes the way she was moving and his girlfriend was not amused. It started to get too cold for me and Jasper handed me his jacket although I protested,

"They make them tough in Texas ma'am" was the only reply I got but it was nice to be wrapped in his jacket with its slight musky scent and I pulled it close around me. Alice was quite talkative but Edward mostly sat watching me a little too intently for my liking although I felt safe enough with his brother at my side.

When the party broke up about midnight we collected my containers and Jasper carried them back to the car for me then opened my door so I could get in. I was sad thinking this was the end of a wonderful day, probably the best day of my life and I guess I was quiet on the way back.

"Tired Bella?"

I nodded and yawned,

"Yes but I enjoyed myself. I hope there's another party soon."

"I'm sure there will be, Mike is always arranging something or so I hear. I had a good time, thank you for your company."

"Thank you too, it was fun"

"Well perhaps we can do it again some time if you aren't fed up with me"

I looked at him startled he could think that and reached out to touch his hand on the steering wheel.

"You're freezing, I shouldn't have accepted your jacket."

His smile was a little strange but he just shook his head,

"I don't feel the cold Bella trust me. Now here we are and by then look of the lights your dad stayed up to see you safely home. I'll walk you to the door"

Dad opened the front door as we reached the steps and looked out anxiously,

"Did you have a good time Bella?"

"Yes very, thanks to Jasper"

Dad thanked Jasper who took his jacket from my shoulders and kissed me briefly on the cheek,

"Thank you for a wonderful evening Bella. I'll see you Monday at school."

Dad ushered me inside as Jasper walked back to the car and drove off but as soon as he was gone I felt that strange ache start up in my chest which was very odd but dad ushered me through to the kitchen and made me a hot chocolate asking lots of questions mostly aimed at ensuring that I had enjoyed myself. Seeing me yawn yet again he stopped with a rueful smile,

"Sorry Bella for the interrogation but I'm not sure what to say, I've never had my teenage daughter go out on a date before, hell I've never had my teenager daughter go out full stop."

"I'll tell you all about it in the morning but I'm pretty tired. I'll just wash up the containers before I go up"

"I'll do that, you just go to bed."

He shooed me out of the kitchen and I ran upstairs rubbing the ache in my chest and wondering if it was something I ate, but no I'd had it earlier in the day, before Jasper arrived.

Once in bed I closed my eyes and thought about the barbecue and how great it had felt to be one of the gang for the first time. I also considered Jasper, I liked him certainly, he was handsome and sweet, thoughtful and very interesting, but I didn't fool myself into thinking this had been more than a one of. He would probably just say hi in passing on Monday but in fairness he hadn't abandoned me today not for a second, except when I went with Jess to the primitive toilet area, a dip in the trees the guys were not allowed near. On the way she quizzed me about my "date" and I told her how I'd given him a lift and his invitation to go with him.

"You are the first girl he's even looked at in the two years they've been here Bella. Doesn't he scare you?"

"Scare me? No, why should he?"

"Well its just they're so perfect, so gorgeous and …...well you know. Did you see Lauren's face? You want to watch her, she can be a real bitch."

"How do you mean?"

"Well I happen to know she tried her luck with Edward and Jasper when they first arrived and she wasn't happy at being rebuffed."

"Right, well I'll watch out for myself"

It was rather nice having someone jealous of the guy I was with, a novelty for me but I had seen the dirty looks she threw at me from time to time and wondered what she might say at school next week.

I missed Jasper on Sunday which was crazy after just one date that wasn't even really a date. I couldn't settle to anything and the ache in my chest only disappeared after lunch and was back by bed time, still I would see him tomorrow at school and even a smile or hello would be more than I should expect. I'd had a full week in Forks and I was happier than I had ever been, this really felt like home and my dad was everything my mum hadn't been. I wondered as I waited for sleep what my life would have been like if I'd lived with him and not Renee as I grew up. I knew my upbringing would have been different that was for sure. I dreamed that night, that we were back at the bonfire and Jaspers arm was around me while Lauren stood in the shadows, her teeth showing as she scowled at us. Would she really try to cause trouble for me because Jasper accompanied me to the barbecue? It seemed so silly especially as she had ended up with Tyler anyway. It wasn't as if she'd been alone or dumped by Jasper for me so I didn't understand but I was to find out just how upset she'd been the following day.

I drove into school and looked around for the Cullens cars but they were absent, the sun shining on the puddles where they usually parked and felt quite disappointed. Angie pulled up next to me with Jess and they smiled seeing the direction of my glance.

"They wont be in today Bella."

"Why not?"

"Dr and Mrs Cullen take them out for hiking and camping trips when the weather permits and the principal doesn't mind, they're all straight A students anyway."

"Yeah, I tried that one on my parents...not a chance...still never mind, tell us all about your date you sly dog"

Jess gave a rueful smile at the memory.

Although I tried to insist it wasn't a date I knew they didn't believe me and eventually gave up although they weren't the only two who were interested in my "friend". Everyone was pleasant enough until we got to the cafeteria to see Mike and Eric confronting Tyler.

"What's all that about?"

Jess shrugged and went over to find out while we took our usual places although I couldn't help glancing over at the empty Cullen table as I did so.

It was a few minutes before Jess came back accompanied by the two guys and none of them looked happy.

"What happened Eric?"

Angie sounded concerned and the look Eric and Mike gave me as they shook their heads told all of us it concerned me but I couldn't understand why. Then I looked over to where Tyler and Lauren sat to see her smirking over as she spoke animatedly to her cronies. Then the penny dropped,

"What did she say about me Mike?"

He frowned,

"Don't take any notice Bella she's not worth it."

"But what did she say?"

He wasn't going to tell and I only found out at the end of the day after Jess had spoken longer to Mike and Eric. She and Angie invited me for coffee and explained. Lauren was telling everyone who would listen that Jasper Hale and I had disappeared for an hour in the woods and when we came out it was quite plain what we'd been doing. Although I was shocked at the inference I burst out laughing because it was so absurd and I was glad that she had been put right and laughed at by everyone else who had been present, except of course her little group of "friends".