I know you want Jasper and Bella together ASAP, but as I have decided to take things a little slower with this story, you might have to wait some more…

have fun with my little Sunday treat, and don't forget to review

twilight belongs to SM

9

Bella's POV

It hurt to shut the door on Jasper, especially when he was looking like that. On the other hand I knew that every time he was with me, my rational side seemed to shut off, and I became a bundle of feelings I could not explain to myself. Now with what I had heard about him, I was sure – rationally - that it was a good idea to stay away from him. I had unintentionally listened in to Carlisle on Sunday and Charlie had been quite adamant about it. "Jasper has been in juvenile jail, Bella, he has problems with anger management, the doc said, meaning he can't control his actions, and I don't want you alone with a young man who has spent the last two years away from all women. Am I making myself clear?"

So I had agreed not to spend time with him, Charlie's argument made sense after all, and I had Jasper's actions on Saturday if I needed further proof that what he wanted from me above all was sex. However, I kept thinking back to the time we spent together, all the laughter and talk, the way his smile made me feel and how I just wanted to run my hands through his hair. Did he really hurt someone so badly? Could I ask him about that? Not really. But what if he wanted to make a fresh start and we were all treating him like a pariah? That would not make him wish to be nice to people, would it?

And what the hell is going on between him and Alice? Mike said they used to come to school holding hands before I arrived, and I have noticed that when we aren't in class, Alice is almost inseparable from Jasper, sitting close to him and touching him casually like they know each other really well. Hm, so he shouldn't actually be in need of 'female attention', not with someone so beautiful hanging on to him. Somehow though I have the feeling that he does not want her near me or that there is trouble in that relationship.

I was lost. When his brothers stopped him from talking to me during lunch on Monday however, I thought that they must have a reason for it. If even they did not trust him, that did not throw too good a light on him.

Ah, on Monday Edward turned up again, and another thing started. He was really friendly in Biology, apologised for his bad behaviour the week before, for which he blamed a sickness and turned all charm and politeness, just like Angela described him. He even walked me to Gym. Strange. Then for the rest of the week he was all nice and friendly too. He continued his amiable behaviour and even sat with me during lunch the next Thursday, though he did not eat much. I felt the eyes of the rest of his family in my back for the first two minutes, then Jasper pulled out one of the other chairs at the table and plonked himself down with unnecessary noise. "Hi!" He said, and narrowed his eyes at Edward. He was wearing all black today, and he would definitely look the part of the bad guy if it weren't for his lovely curls. He had been all broody and silent the last few days, though he still stayed close to me in every class we had together. I could not help but smile at him and was rewarded by one of his crooked smiles and a husky "Hello Bella."

Then however a staring war between the two began and I felt very uncomfortable in the middle. They did not say anything, but you could almost touch the tension. Finally I just got up and excused myself with having to check something in the library and left them to it.

I shuddered when I got out of the cafeteria, the atmosphere had been extremely threatening, menacing even, and it was plain that others had caught up on that as well. When I got the next classroom, Mike and Jessica were already there, as was Angela. "Are you all right, Bella?" She asked at once in a concerned voice. When I nodded she said. "What was that new guy accusing Edward of?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

Mike snorted and Jessica said. "Well, obviously Jasper did not want Edward to rain on his parade with you."

"What are you saying?" I frowned.

"Oh come on", Lauren joined in. "Jasper is after all the girls here, and he doesn't want his brother to interfere." She twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, and I had the distinct impression of sour grapes with her.

"No", Jessica contradicted, "I think they are just worried about his erratic behaviour, that's probably why Edward's keeping to your side so much. My dad told me to stay away from Jasper, said he was bad company. Strange family, I've always thought so."

"Freaks", Mike added just when Mr Banner arrived and we could go inside.

That day's lesson was yet another lab session which meant that we were able to talk to each other, especially as Edward and I were usually finished before the rest of the class.

"What was that with your brother at lunch?" I asked. Reasonable question, I thought, after all they had behaved strangely.

"Oh, that, well", Edward obfuscated. Then he took a deep breath. "Bella, you need to stay away from Jasper."

"Aha? Because he is with Alice?" That was another explanation for the behaviour of the Cullen boys toward Jasper, which had come to me in the meantime. Though – really that was not something they should get involved in.

Edward snorted and shook his head. "Jasper is dangerous."

"I thought he was out on parole", I whispered the last few words, not sure how much the other students knew about Jasper's past, but surely the authorities would not release someone from prison who was dangerous. And Jasper did not feel dangerous to me.

Edward's golden eyes were boring into mine. "Please, Bella, do me this one favour. Keep a distance to him, he wants to hurt you."

"You're very cryptic."

Edward's fists were balled suddenly. "This is not exactly easy, you just have to trust me here. I only want to keep you safe."

I was just about to ask him to elaborate on his rather strange accusations, when the bell rang and he took off like a bat out of hell.

I shrugged and decided to put this down to some boys' prank. They probably had some kind of bet on or something. Jasper ditched Gym, so I could not ask him either. Pfft – guys. At least I managed to set up a meeting with Angela for after school, we were going to her place to work on an assignment and have some tea and cookies. At least my social life here is finally getting started.

Edward's POV

Alice reached me in Alaska after I had already made up my mind to return to Forks. I had come to the conclusion that fate had sent me my singer to test my resolve, and that I would deal with temptation and overcome it. Besides, being with the Denalis, especially Tanya, was making me miserable indeed.

"Edward, you need to come home, I have seen it, you are the only one who can protect Bella against Jasper. He is hunting her, he wants to claim her and kill her, you have to do something."

"Have you spoken to Carlisle about that?" I was already in the car. That did not sound good at all.

"Of course I have, and he is obviously going to help, but I need you here, Edward."

"I'm on my way."

"I thought you two were ok after that Friday", I said to her after she had pulled me into her room once I had gotten back. Most of the others were out, so there was no risk of anyone listening.

"We were, you saw us, but since then the new girl has arrived and now he is quite … deranged. He is convinced she is his mate, he stays with her all the time, and he even went to visit her at her home on Saturday. Imagine what could have happened!"

That was really worrying, she was right. I told her about my conclusion, and she confirmed my idea. "You are going to become friends, and you won't harm her. Isn't that great?"

"We'll see." I really like my prophetic sister, but I don't always share her enthusiasm.

Esme and Carlisle were overjoyed I was back, and we spent the rest of the night catching up until it was time to get ready for school. That way I could tell them about my big problem with Isabella Swan, i.e. that I could not hear her. Carlisle has several theories, but I did not confide my very secret own one to him yet. I would rather confirm it first.

The next day at school was given over to my testing the hypothesis I had come up with, so I kept watching Bella at every opportunity, talked to her in Biology, and walked her to gym (I'm not happy with Jasper there on his own, maybe I can do something about that), and I think I'm right. I had always wondered how I could find a mate with my gift so obviously preventing any kind of mystique, which is necessary for an intimate relationship, but now I know: I'm sure I have found her. Bella is just the kind of girl who I would have wanted when I was alive. She is shy, modest, well-read and cares for others more than for herself. Besides, her looks are all I wanted from a woman. I'm sure that with prolonged exposure to her scent, I can minimise the effect it has on me – I have already tried that by staying in her room at night, a little longer every night – and it's working. Of course I have no intention of turning her into a monster – no one could want that for the person they love – I just want a long happy life with her somehow. How I will break the news about my true nature to her is not yet clear to me, but I think as I don't want to touch her, that can wait until she notices I'm not aging.

The only fly in the ointment is Jasper. Alice is right, he is absolutely fixated on the girl and wants to do unspeakable things to her. At least, she does not seem to respond to his attentions and spoke to him quite coolly on Monday. When he announced he was going to her house, I almost stopped him, but Alice convinced me to let him go. He came back in a foul mood just in time to go to school the next morning, but because of my theory-testing I was sure he had been no danger for Bella.

Carlisle and Esme went hunting with Rosalie on the weekend, so Emmett convinced Jasper to show him some fighting tricks. I was interested as well, so I came along. Funny, somehow I had the impression I was not quite welcome there. Jasper is an extraordinary trainer, but I'm still happy Esme was not there to see the spectacle, she always hates it when we do that.

On the way back to the house I tried to reason with Jasper concerning Bella, but he was not at all receptive. "Jasper, you cannot attack the Chief's daughter, you know that. Just stay away from her."

"I can't do that", he answered irritated, and I could see images of him holding Bella and kissing her.

I growled before I could stop myself. Jasper crouched and turned on me. "Don't get in my way, you won't stop me."

"I don't think Bella is much interested in you at the moment, is she?" I said and left him standing. While she and I talked almost daily, she had definitely taken to cold-shouldering him whenever he approached her.

"I said stay out of this", he pressed from between gritted teeth.

"I am not hurting her", I started when I suddenly found myself on the ground with Jasper's burning eyes over me, his hands around my neck.

"Hey, Jasper, stop that", Emmett said good-naturedly and pulled him off with an effort. I decided to settle the matter by heading out to the house ahead of them to see if Carlisle and Esme had already returned.

I know Carlisle told Jasper again to be careful with the humans around, especially with the Chief's daughter, but Jasper just spun him the same yarn about Bella as his mate.

I'm not sure what was said, only that Carlisle was quite confused about his behaviour and made him promise to stay in line.

We never listen to when Carlisle talks to either of us, but at the end of their talk Jasper howled in frustration and took off running again. I wonder what he does all alone out in the woods, but I'm sure we would know if he had started feeding from humans again, the Quileute would have let us know.

The next few days Jasper kept his distance to me and only talked to Esme and Emmett as far as I could tell. He behaved atrociously towards Alice, once even pushed her away when she wanted to comfort him, and I think the only reason he kept up the charade of being her boyfriend at school was because he had promised Carlisle to stay out of trouble.

Things came to a head when I sat with Bella for lunch on Thursday. I thought it was silly to be her friend but never stay with her during the one longer break we got, and calculated that if I ate something small which I could get rid of before the lesson I would be ok.

We had barely sat down when Jasper joined us, radiating rage and jealousy. I told him to move so quietly that Bella couldn't hear it, but might as well have saved my breath.

"Get the fuck away from my mate!" he thought at me, growling under his breath.

I stared him down, and he repeated his order in an even more insolent tone.

I don't react well to orders, especially from people who have just joined our family and should be grateful for our acceptance, so I stood my ground. Bella of course was highly uncomfortable with Jasper's behaviour and like the true lady she is, left the table.

"We're not animals fighting over mates, calm down!" I told him calmly.

In reaction he narrowed his eyes at me and hissed. "Keep your hands off her or you're dead, boy!" and for a fraction of a second I saw images in his head that shook me to the core.

"What the hell are you?" I blurted out loudly, and suddenly he seemed shaken.

"What?" he asked as if I had just woken him up and I heard him counting down from one hundred slowly.

"The things I just saw, what kind of monster are you?" By this time the others had surrounded us to make sure that whatever confrontation was happening here, it was not in full view of the humans around.

Jasper started to leave but Alice put her hand on his arm. "Don't give up now!" He gave her a pained look and took off.

"Alice?" I was nonplussed. What could she know about Jasper and not have told me?

"Later, class will start in a minute. We'll talk at home." She skipped away.

Of course Bella wanted to know what had happened between me and Jasper, and I have to admit that I found it difficult not to tell her that he was a murderous vampire after her blood right there and then. At least I told her that he was dangerous and I firmly hope that she will take my guidance on this matter and not be alone with him anymore. I called Carlisle on the way home and told him we all needed to talk urgently.