Chapter Nineteen

Bella

I missed Jasper and Alice but the day went quickly enough and Lauren, seeing she wasn't going to get a rise out of me finally decided it wasn't worth her while to carry on with the story. I went home slightly worried about the ache in my chest which was worse today and decided if it wasn't better by morning I would speak to my dad. I wasn't sure whether he had registered me with a local doctor or if I needed to go to the clinic in Port Angeles. I didn't feel like eating after I cooked a ham with creamed potatoes and vegetables and Charlie noticed looking at me worried so I told him about the pain.

"I'll ring Dr Cullen perhaps he could come and see you."

"Dad it can wait until tomorrow, anyway I think they are away, the Cullens weren't at school today."

He wasn't listening, already dialling the doctors number and I was slightly surprised when he answered but they might only just have got back. Whatever, he offered to come over and put Charlie's mind at rest so I went upstairs to change and do my homework while I waited somewhat embarrassed at the thought of Jaspers foster dad examining me.

When he arrived he had coffee first chatting with Charlie then asked if he could examine me after taking my blood pressure, temperature and pulse. We went into my room and pushed the door to as I pulled off my jumper,

"That's fine Bella. Now tell me if any thing hurts."

He pushed against my skin with cold fingers but I just shook my head,

"Does it hurt when you breathe in or out?"

"No, its not a pain really, more a dull ache"

I saw something in his eyes as I said that but he merely nodded and listened to my chest as I took deep breaths.

"Well I don't think its anything to worry about. I looked at your records and you've been an unusually healthy child."

"My mum didn't believe in taking me to the doctors for minor ailments."

"I see, but you had the usual sicknesses? Chicken pox, that kind if thing?"

I shrugged,

"I don't really know, I've had coughs and colds, headaches sometimes, but usually when mum was stressed."

"Right, well can you tell me if the ache ever goes away?"

"Yes sometimes."

"Can you tell me when?"

"Its not so bad at school and I didn't have it at the barbecue which is odd."

"Not as odd as you might think. I must tell you Bella that I think you'll find the pain wears off soon enough. I'd put it down to...the stresses of moving."

I looked at him because it sounded like he just made that up which was stupid, after all he was a doctor.

"I'll speak to your father, put his mind at rest but you don't need to worry my dear."

Strangely by the time I went to bed the ache was much better and still wasn't bad when I got up the next morning to see the rain falling once more. I drove to school eager to see if the Cullens were back today and sure enough their cars were in their usual places. I almost ran inside to avoid getting soaked, or at least that was the excuse I gave myself, and standing inside the doors as if waiting for me was Jasper. He smiled when he saw me and came over to take my books while I stripped off my wet coat.

"Back to the usual Forks weather. My father said you weren't well, are you feeling better this morning?"

"Yes thank you, it was nothing really."

"I wouldn't have known but I answered the phone to your father and he seemed concerned about you. By the way I'm sorry about yesterday, I should have called you"

"It's OK, Jess and Angie told me you go hiking when the weathers good."

"That's no excuse for not ringing you. I hope you'll forgive my lapse in manners"

Jasper walked me to class, seeming relieved when I said I forgave him, only leaving me as I went inside to see Edward watching me once more, his eyes darker than usual, or it could have been the light I guess. Alice was sitting beside him and she smiled at me brightly as always. The morning went slowly, I couldn't stop thinking about Jasper, and as a result wasn't concentrating but luckily Angie covered for me.

"Bella you'd better wake up this afternoon we have games."

I groaned, I hated games, I was just so awful at any kind of physical activity, balls went in any direction except the intended one and if I attempted to run I was sure to fall over myself within feet. Any kind of projectile became a weapon of mass destruction in my hands and as a team player I stank. Luckily there was lunch first and as Angie and I left Geography behind Edward, who had hung back until I got up to leave, she nudged me,

"It looks like you've got an escort to lunch, see you later"

She walked off as Jasper held out a hand for my bag,

"If you don't mind I thought we might have lunch together."

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my features at the thought of this and took his outstretched hand.

I wondered if Jasper had heard what Lauren said about us and that had me blushing as we walked into the cafeteria. As if he understood my thoughts he glanced over at their table and I saw Lauren blanch and look away, Tyler too.

"I understand a certain young woman had something to say about our conduct at the barbecue"

I nodded still not looking at his face and then I heard him chuckle,

"I don't think she'll be so eager to do so again"

"Did you say something to her?"

"Merely that it would be safer to keep her mouth shut about us"

That made me look up at his face and he leaned down and kissed the top of my head,

"Don't worry Bella, I just didn't want your father getting the wrong idea that's all"

"I don't think he heard what she said but even if he had I don't think he would have believed her."

"Good, well I think we can safely ignore Miss Mallory from now on. Come on lets get you something to eat."

The rest of the week followed a similar pattern with Jasper waiting for me when I got to school and walking me between classes then taking me into lunch although we didn't join the rest of his family. Instead he joined the table with my friends and they, after a short hesitation, accepted his quiet presence. At the end of the day he would be waiting either outside my class or leaning against the hood of the truck and he would drive home with me, never letting me take him home even if it were raining. He would see me into the house and then he'd just walk away which was strange but I had tried to persuade him to come in or let me drop him off but he would just smile that heart stopping smile and shake his head. We never did more than hold hands yet I felt very close to him and by the Friday evening it struck me that I hadn't felt the ache in my chest once since Tuesday when I saw him at school. It hadn't reappeared at night either so Dr Cullen was right, it was nothing to worry about.

On Saturday I had work which was a little scary because I knew nothing about camping or hiking but then most of the customers did so that wasn't a problem and if there were any problems Mike or Mr Newton were there to take over. I enjoyed the days work especially as I was earning my own money at last but I missed seeing Jasper and the ache had returned even worse today, by closing time I was finding it difficult to take a deep breath but I didn't say anything, I really wanted to keep my job. As I left my phone rang and I answered expecting it to be Dad telling me he was going to be working late but it was Jasper just checking how my day had gone. He told me he and his brothers were hiking but they would be back tomorrow sometime and asked if I would like to take a drive to Port Angeles in the afternoon. We chatted for a few minutes and when I put the phone away I noticed the ache in my chest had lessened a little, now how could that be? Was I in love and was it my heart feeling his absence, yeah Bella great, now you sound like a cheap romance novel!

Dad wasn't home when I parked up and there was a note on the kitchen table telling me he was working the late shift and giving me the usual instructions, lock the doors etc. I showered and threw on some old sweats then cooked myself some dinner and sat curled up on the couch with a book. It was nice having the place to myself although I loved it when my dad was here too and realised I was so much more relaxed and happy away from my mother and her new husband. I hadn't even thought about her in days and I didn't suppose she'd worried about me either, not any more now I was of no use to her. There was a sudden knock on the door which startled me and at the same time the house phone rang and I was unsure what to do first but decided it might be my dad on the phone so I answered that first. It wasn't Charlie but Esme who wanted to know if I'd seen anyone lurking around which seemed a strange question. The knock on the door came again and I explained I had to go as I had a visitor but she sounded anxious as she asked me not to answer,

"Please Bella, there's a prowler around, please don't answer the door if you're on your own"

"Should I ring the station? I haven't heard anything from my dad."

"No, I haven t reported it yet but I saw a guy in a hoodie acting suspiciously as I drove past your place a little while ago."

"I'll look out the window and see who it is at the door"

"No, just stay where you are. I'm coming over with Carlisle".

This all sounded really strange but if she and Carlisle were involved maybe I should wait. When I heard Carlisle's voice outside a few minutes later I went to the door and he explained they had seen someone running from the house and Emmett had gone after him while Esme volunteered to stay with me over night just in case the prowler came back. Carlisle promised to call in at the station and report the incident and after he'd done so Charlie rang, frantic to make sure I was OK and to tell me they had a patrol out watching for anyone acting suspiciously but next morning he told me they hadn't found anything although he was grateful for Esme staying. I knew he would be worried about leaving me alone but I wasn't sure there had been a prowler. I didn't say anything but I had peeked out while waiting for Esme to come and I had seen the face of the guy knocking on the door, it was Edward Cullen and he had looked agitated.