…on with the next chapter – have fun and don't forget to tell me what you think

as always, twilight belongs to SM

4

A week later

Peter's POV

Jasper called again, sounding over the moon. The past few times he had just been texting, asking for news on Bella, and I was sure he was keeping something from me, not a good sign with him. We had tried to reach him, but his phone just went straight to voicemail, and after three days Char and I were really worried. Now I listened in silence while he enthused about the Cullens and their lifestyle.

"So, does it work?" I asked when I finally got a word in.

"Of course it works", he said impatiently. "I've been feeding on deer and moose, and we went to Mount Rainier yesterday to get some more lasting stuff."

"What's more lasting?"

"Anything that eats meat. Mountain lions are good."

"Aha, and you don't crave any other blood?" I was sceptical about this stunt, much as I wanted him to have found a way to deal with his gift and his conscience.

"I'm not sure, I think, I'll always want that, but at least this way I won't be dangerous if I don't get it, and I can survive."

"H-hm. Jasper, I hope you have not been talking about your past too much with them…" I knew he was a reserved kind of guy, but with this new-found lifestyle (Jasper staying with other vamps voluntarily?) I hoped he hadn't let his guard down.

"No, I… Peter, I like them, and I don't want them scared."

"Good, because I have found out a bit about your 'father'-figure. Turns out he is a friend of Aro Volturi, used to live with them for a while."

"I can't really believe that, Edward said that Carlisle has never even had human blood, that doesn't sound like a Volturi at all." He sounded incredulous, appalled even.

"Jasper, be careful. You said he has people with gifts, maybe he's collecting for Aro…"

"I really don't think so, he is sincere and a thoroughly good man. Besides, once I have Bella, I would not have to convince her to become a killer, but just to join a family, which I think will be far easier than the other option."

I sighed. Of course we had hoped they would be joining us. Char was next to me at once, comforting me and frowning at the news.

Apparently he had caught on to my thoughts. "Peter, I'm not abandoning anyone, it's just that for once in more than a century I haven't killed to eat… it's… fantastic."

"Ok, good for you. And you are sure about that High School stunt?"

"Yes, we'll try that in two weeks. I've been cramming up on facts and the stuff they have to learn nowadays, confusing, I can tell you, but I'll be sitting at my desk when Bella comes here."

"Now that will be impressive." The God of War was going to High School.

"Yep, and I'll be the other new guy, and a junior too, plus we're trying to get me into all of Bella's courses…"

"You told them about her?"

"No, there is a slight… difficulty."

Aha, here it comes. "Such as?" Just then I saw a tiny spiky-haired female vampire. "Oh, having girlfriend trouble?"

"How do you…? Ah, just forget it. In a way, Alice is interested, but I've told her, I'm not. It didn't seem a good idea to tell them about Bella yet."

"I thought so. How are you dealing with their gifts?" Knowing the Major, I was sure that he would have been strategising on that as well.

"It's difficult but manageable if you know how they work. Got to go now. I call you later." With that the connection was cut. Apparently he had been keeping our connection a secret – wise move.

"Char", I said. "as soon as Bella moves, we're going up to Washington State, too. That whole set-up sounds a bit too good to be true to me."

She nodded with a grim face.

Two weeks later

Edward's POV

Today is the big day – our new brother will go to school with us. We have found a legend for him, which will explain why he as Rosalie's brother has only now joined us as well as help with keeping humans at a distance to make it easier for him.

Jasper is a very private person, apparently Carlisle is right, and there is something in his past that has made him extremely wary of other vampires. We can talk easily about literature and history which he's very much interested in, and he has a lot of original thoughts on historical topics. He was the fastest person ever to catch on to my gift and keeps his thoughts very much to himself. I can feel he's hiding something, but Alice assures me, it will not be dangerous for our family. I feel a bit … uneasy with him, everything about him screams killer, but Alice has definitely fallen for him, she is thinking about making him hers almost constantly, and in a very lustful way too. If I still could I would be blushing, and I'm pretty sure Jasper can feel her too, though how he feels about it I don't know.

Carlisle told me he is an empath and that that made him fed up with killing humans, which was what made him so eager to join our lifestyle. I hope so, because I don't want to see Carlisle and Esme hurt. Esme likes the idea of another son, and apparently he is quite attractive to females – which I can't understand – but always makes sure she's not alone with him. Jasper on the other hand seems to like her a lot, Carlisle thinks, her emotions are peaceful to him, which is quite probably true.

Emmett has really taken to him already, the two have been out hunting together a lot, and of course Emmett would also like to see Alice happy. The same goes for Rosalie in a way; she is less enthusiastic about Jasper, though she also finds him attractive. Oh dear, what will happen when the human girls see him?

I have noticed that he tends to stay out at night, and last night I followed him into the forest. We hadn't gotten far when he suddenly jumped me and only let off after identifying me. Must ask him, how he learned to fight that way.

"Why are you following me around?" He asked, still tense and thinking about how to get the better of me in case I attacked again.

"Well, what would you do if a new member of your coven went on secretive walks and kept his thoughts from you?"

He smiled at me crookedly. "I don't know about the thought thing, but as for the solitary walks, well, how would you feel if you could not only hear those two passionate couples' thoughts but feel their emotions as well while you were on your own?"

"Oh", I was nonplussed. I had never figured someone could get into my very own predicament, being as uncomfortable around all that passion as I was. "You're right. I do apologise." He waved the apology away. "Do you want to be alone?"

"No, it's ok." He asked me questions about Alice and the other family members, and only when we returned to the house in the early hours did I realise that while I wanted information, he had been the one getting it. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but there is something about Jasper that makes me uneasy, and I think that charisma of his ought to be watched closely.

Today worked out quite well. He was strained and tense all through school, but as he is with either me or Alice in every lesson, we could keep track of his thoughts and intentions easily – no danger there. He must be extremely disciplined, and he is certainly determined to make this work.