Chapter Seventeen

Bella

I could have stayed outside longer with Jasper but he turned and we walked back to the motel with Peter but as he crossed the parking lot Jasper put a hand on my arm.

"Bella have you eaten yet?"

"No, but I can something later, It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does, look there's a bar over there, come on I'll buy you dinner or at least a drink."

It seemed important to him that we didn't go back yet so I nodded,

"Thanks that would be nice. See you later Peter."

He looked back and winked,

"Just try not to get into any trouble while I'm gone, either of you that is."

Jasper

I couldn't explain why, I just wanted some time alone with Bella, to hear what she'd done with her life since that disastrous party that resulted in our leaving and the fact she was happy to accompany me felt good. As we walked into the bar she took my arm and I led her across to a table.

"I won't be but a second I just have to make a quick call, I have someone else looking out for your professor."

"He's not MY professor but thanks Jasper."

I hurried outside to make the call, I didn't think Hunter had made any more progress than Darius but it paid to have as many on the task as possible.

Bella

The server brought my drink and a menu then went off to serve another table and I opened the menu to glance at, I was hungry but I really didn't know what I wanted.

"Hello beautiful."

I looked up to find a man had taken the seat opposite smiling at me a little lecherously.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this all alone?"

"I'm not alone. My friend will be back in a few minutes."

"Really?"

He looked at the single glass on the table then around the room,

"You don't have to be embarrassed that you're alone. My name's Buck, care to dance?"

I shook my head anger vying for top dog with nerves.

"Really I'm not alone and no I don't dance."

He dragged the chair back making the legs squeal on the floor and came round the table breathing beer breath on me as he leaned in far too close.

"I could teach you to dance, it'll be fun, come on."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled almost dragging me from my chair but then a pale hand closed around his and pulled it away tendons standing out and I looked up to see Jasper standing there still holding Buck's hand and by the look on Buck's face too tightly.

"Hey, I was just talking to the lady."

"But you weren't listening to her were you? She said she wasn't alone."

Jasper's face was cold and his eyes sparkled dangerously as Buck made a futile attempt to free his trapped hand.

"You should listen more carefully and don't ever assume a lady wants your attention. Do I make myself clear?"

Suddenly this wasn't the smiling and quiet Jasper Hale standing here, this was something very different and I knew he could kill Buck in a heartbeat and not think twice about it.

"Now apologize."

Buck swallowed hard and tried once more to break free but then turned to me,

"I'm sorry Miss, my mistake."

I nodded nervously,

"Its OK."

Jasper swung him round to look into his face,

"It most definitely is not all right. Make sure I never see you near Bella again. Now get the hell out of my sight!"

Jasper shoved hard and Buck went flying, crashing into a couple dancing who cursed him, then he was gone and Jasper sat beside me.

"I'm sorry Bella, I shouldn't have abandoned you like that."

"Always my hero."

"Sorry?"

"Last time you acted the hero I was the one who ended up on the floor if I remember."

He looked stricken until I laughed,

"I never blamed you for that Jasper. I think you were trying to save me from everyone's blood lust that evening, I'm just sorry it ended the way it did."

"You mean you and Edward?"

"No, I don't think that was ever going anywhere long term. I meant you and Alice getting divorced."

"It had nothing to do with you Bella."

"Well I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that one."

I was saved from further discussion by the server coming for my order and flirting outrageously with my companion who just ignored her like she wasn't there.

While I ate I told Jasper about my life since they left, not that it was very exciting but he seemed genuinely interested and then I asked what he'd been doing.

"Alice said you stayed with Peter and Charlotte a while then traveled."

"You mean I became a nomad. I never feel comfortable in one place too long. At least not until Alice and I joined the Cullens. That did feel like home for a long time."

"What changed?"

"I guess we did. We both came to understand that what we had, while wonderful wasn't enough. I think we both thought we were mates for a long time but little things started to add up till we saw there wasn't the depth there like Emmett and Rose or Carlisle and Esme. I loved Alice, I guess I still do, but I believe there's more and hopefully I'll find that special someone one day."

"I hope you do, you deserve happiness."

"Thank you Bella. Now would you like to dance?"

I shook my head rapidly,

"No, I haven't improved any since the last time, trust me."

He laughed at that memory, when he and Alice had taken to the floor like professional dancers and I had glided round only because I was carried by my partner.

"OK then well I guess we should get back to the others."

"You will try to help Jay won't you Jasper? I know he called you a coward but that only makes him a fool not worthless."

He smiled at me and took my hand in his squeezing it gently,

"We'll find him Bella. He's lucky having a friend as loyal as you and so it would seem am I."

Jasper

As we walked from the bar I sensed trouble and saw waiting in the shadows Buck and a couple of his friends. With a sigh I turned to Bella,

"Go back inside. I won't be long."

She looked around and spotted Buck and his friends move from the shadows to confront us.

"Good call boy. You go back inside sweetheart, we'll have that dance after I finish with pretty boy here."

I pushed her gently back through the door and walked out into the parking lot to give myself room to maneuver.

"Do yourself a favor and go home."

Buck held up his bruised hand and scowled,

"If you think I can't fight with a mangled hand you'd better think again boy…. Chuck!"

At the shout his friend handed him a baseball bat and I sighed,

"You really want to go through with this?"

In answer he swung the bat and I reached out and caught it, stopping the swing dead and staring into his face as I wrenched it from his grip.

"Bad decision Buck."

I swung the bat and fractured both his knee caps leaving him writhing on the ground,

"Guess you won't be dancing any more. Now, you two want some of this too?"

Chuck pulled out a knife and flashed it in front of him like a circus performer. I snapped the bat in two and threw it to the ground then grabbed the knife in my palm holding it tightly and then bent the blade over and let go. Buck looked at his knife and then my hand expecting to see blood pouring from it. The third guy thinking I was either injured or distracted attacked from the rear but I heard him coming and twisted punching him in the face smashing his jaw and nose and he folded. Chuck looked at him and then Buck before running as fast as he could into the darkness. I lifted a screaming Buck and spoke very low,

"In future check who you're threatening and mind your manners where ladies are concerned."

Then I dropped him back to the ground and went back for Bella.