It's time, it's time! Halloween for Bella and Jasper! So, as usual, everything Twilight belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play with the characters. Beta-ing done by the wonderful EdwardsMate4Ever.

(Protective Jasper, bad $$ Emmett)

Cookie Jar

The cookie jar, shaped like a haunted house, was in the middle of the end cap Halloween display at Forks Outfitters. It summed up Halloween: so cheesy, yet so cute while still being a little scary. It was in the shape of a haunted house, with broken blue-white windows, eyes peeking out from behind both broken and unbroken panes, and the bare branches of a tree snaking up one side of the house.

Bella paused her cart in front of the display, smiling at the kitschy cookie jars. She picked one up and lifted the lid, which was the roof including a chimney. The cheap ceramic grated as she pulled it from the base before it opened. She looked inside, staring into the empty white ceramic interior. As she started to put it back on the shelf, she was jostled by a passing shopping cart.

The cookie jar fell from her hands and struck the floor, shattering into approximately fifty thousand pieces.

"Drat," said Bella, dropping to the floor to pick up the mess. She took a second to compose herself so she wouldn't glare as she looked up at the shopping cart that had caused the accident.

Whatever she was going to say next flew out of her head. Driving that cart was the best-looking guy she had ever seen. The blond was leaning over the handle of a basket full of beer, ice, chips and dip. As she stared at him, she saw someone turn and drop a whole ham into that cart. It hit the bottom of the cart with a thud, rattling the rickety basket and crushing some of the potato chips. She looked over and saw a huge man with an impish grin, who looked as if he could have inhaled that ham then wondered what was for dessert.

"I'm sorry," the blond guy said. He let go of the cart, leaned over and started picking up the pieces.

Bella had to take a deep breath. This guy was man candy. Lean but muscled, his now arms visible as he had pushed up the sleeves of his sweatshirt. A lock of blond hair tumbled over his forehead. Too bad his eyes were hidden behind a pair of Aviators.

"It's my fault, I'm just clumsy," she said, even though it had been his fault.

She crouched down to help him clean up the mess. Of course, the next visit from her clumsy fairy occurred immediately, and she cut her finger on a shard.

"Ow," she exclaimed and winced as blood spread along the slit in her skin. To prevent blood from dripping on the floor, she stuck her finger in her mouth, suppressing an automatic gag at both the taste and smell of the hateful stuff.

She thought she heard a growl, and when she looked up, she saw the blond man standing in front of his friend, struggling with him. It looked like he was holding him back, as he had pinned his arms to his sides.

What the heck?

"He left his wallet in the car," the first guy said. "We'll be right back."

They exited through the slats covering the doors of the butcher section, leaving the plastic waving in their wake, the only signs other than the abandoned cart that they had ever been there.

Was there a movie company in the area, shooting a film? She couldn't think of any other reason two such gorgeous men would be in the tiny town of Forks. Wait—two gorgeous men, together. Were they gay? Her heart fell. Not that I would have had a chance with him.

Were they employees or deliverymen?

She stood looking at the beer and other party supplies in their cart, hoping they would come back, when the store's assistant manager appeared with a broom and dustpan. She knew Mrs. Michaels well, as she had worked in the store a few times during the holiday rush.

"I'm sorry, I'll pay for this," said Bella.

"No, they bumped you, I saw it," Mrs. Michaels said. "Do you know them? Are they from around here? I don't think I've seen them before."

The two strangers appeared to have made an impression on other women too.

"You're hurt?" asked Mrs. Michaels, suddenly noticing Bella's cut. "I'll get the First Aid kit."

"Just a paper cut, I mean cookie jar cut." Bella laughed, even though the smell of the blood was making her nauseous. She kept Band-Aids in her purse, so she pulled one out and put it on. "I think I'll just get going."

Maybe the fresh air will help clear away the nausea.

She took the long way toward the front of the store, passing down a few extra aisles, keeping the butcher area and the abandoned cart in view as long as she could. Finally, she walked into the early evening, where rain had started to fall. As she crossed the lot, both the wind and rain picked up. Sheets of water came blasting through the lot, soaking her instantly. She shivered as she slogged through the wet parking lot, wondering if the two guys would come back for their beer.

The parking lot was surprisingly full. It was always full, no matter the hour. There often seemed to be more shoppers here than there were regular citizens of the town. People came from the neighboring towns and the reservation. The store on the rez was kind of limited in its supplies.

Just as she got to her truck, she saw a familiar figure. Jacob, her father's friend's son. Two years younger than she was, he had been carrying a torch for her for some time.

"Jacob?" she said then stopped. He looked taller. Much taller. He loomed over the SUVs that were scattered throughout the lot.

"Bella," he said. "Go home."

"What? What's wrong?" she asked. "If there's trouble, we'll call my Dad. And by the way, you can't talk to me like that!"

"Your Dad, wonderful as he is," Jacob said in an agonized tone, "can't help with this." He looked around the parking lot warily. "I need to get these people out of here. They're all in danger."

Something about the way he looked and spoke convinced Bella that Jacob believed what he was saying.

"Jake? What's going on?" she asked again, leaning forward to touch him on the arm.

"They're here," he replied. "All these people are in danger."

"Who's here?" she asked.

Just then the two men from the store came out around an SUV. They froze at the sight of Jacob, and then the blond one stepped forward.

Jacob started to shake. "You want to do this here, with all these people?" Jacob asked. "I won't let you have her."

Xx

It's those dang Halloween decorations that they sell everywhere! They're just so hard to resist, and if you break down and buy them, where can you store them until next year? Only so much room under the bed or in the closet, right?

Next chapter will be up in a few days.

Please leave a review, and I'll send a preview of the next chapter to all reviewers.

Thanks for all the support you've shown for these little stories this year.