Chapter Fifteen

Jasper

Of course I hadn't gone to meet anyone nor had I visited Port Angeles but I had approached the reservation village, staying well to my side of the treaty line. I knew only too well how the Quileutes would react if I crossed the border, it was tantamount to a declaration of war and that could get Bella hurt or killed. Instead I stayed my side and watched for her to leave cursing the later it got. I missed her and I hated she was on the wrong side of the border in wolf territory although from what Carlisle had told me there were no wolves in the Quileute village, there was no need for them once the Cullens left and the young men stopped phasing until there were none at all and they would only return if the vampires returned, something Carlisle had no intention of doing in the near future.

I was relieved therefore when I saw the cruiser leave the village and head towards the treaty line. Now I just needed to get back before they did, an easily enough done thing. I was sitting watching TV casually when I heard the cruiser pull up and went to greet my host and fiancé,

"How was it? Did you have fun?"

Charlie seemed to have enjoyed it more than Bella who was a little tense and I decided I would find a way to speak to her alone very soon.

"They were sorry not to have met you Jasper."

"I'm very sorry but I just couldn't put my errand off, still as long as you enjoyed yourselves."

"Yeah, maybe next time."

"Maybe Chief."

"I think you should call me Charlie, Chief sounds a little too formal under the circumstances."

"Thank you Charlie. I wonder if its too late for Bella and I to take a short walk."

He shrugged,

"You're both grown ups now so you do what you like but I'm dead beat, I'm going to bed. See the pair of you in the morning."

I took Bella's arm and led her outside onto the side walk,

"What's the matter Bella? You're tense, did something happen?"

She smiled at me holding my hand tightly,

"Nothing really, I missed you today, don't lets be parted again like that."

"Suits me, so what did happen?"

"I just got the feeling I was being watched. There was a stranger there, Johnny something or other and I got the impression the others weren't happy with something he said."

Johnny H? Now that was someone I hadn't expected to be lurking around and it made me feel uncomfortable although I doubted very much if he would make an attack, it wasn't his way unless backed into a corner. I wouldn't feel happy until we left Forks and I wasn't leaving Bella unguarded until then either so once she was asleep and Charlie too I made my way into her bedroom and sat watching her, an ear out for anyone approaching but nothing happened to my relief and I left going back to my own bedroom in the attic before anyone woke up.

We spent the morning with Charlie helping him with a few chores in the garden, moving the tool shed into a corner so he could build a new barbecue in its place. I tried very hard not to let my inhuman strength become apparent although it would have been easy enough to lift the shed myself and move it. Bella and her father had dinner together at the diner and then we left promising to return soon, after Bella's summer camping trip. Charlie seemed easier with the idea of me in Bella's life after these couple of days so it had been worth the effort and he waved as we drove away from the house headed back to Seattle and the last few weeks of college.

When we got back there was a note from Toni waiting for Bella and it contained bad news. Clarissa's father had been involved in a serious road accident and she had gone to be with him. I left Bella making phone calls to find out more while I made her supper and ran a bath. Toni promised to ring as soon as she heard anything but I knew Bella wouldn't settle until she spoke to Clarissa herself. They had become firm friends and if it hadn't been for Clarissa pushing Bella into moving in with me Bella would never have left her friend so I owed her too. I sat with Bella as she ate but really she only picked at her meal then washed her hair for her as she bathed not wanting to intrude on her thoughts by joining her as I usually did.

"Jazz, is there something wrong?"

She interrupted my thoughts as I washed her back longing to trail kisses down it to her hip bone,

"Sorry? No why?"

"I thought maybe meeting my dad had changed things."

I laughed,

"Not at all, why should it?"

"Well, normally you'd be in here with me but you never even suggested it"

I didn't even wait to explain, l simply stripped off and joined her then held her close and kissed her gently,

"I was just thinking you might want some space to think about your friend."

She sighed holding me even tighter,

"He's all she has left. If anything happens to her father what will she do?"

"I have no idea but we'll be there to support her when she comes back, or at least all her friends will I'm sure."

She slept uneasily in my arms and I knew she was thinking of her friend and while I could have helped her sleep soundly I didn't think it was right to interfere, not yet. When she woke up Bella looked more weary than when she fell asleep but when the phone rang she jumped out of bed and grabbed it almost dropping it in her haste. When I heard Clarissa's voice on the other end I went out to make coffee for Bella. I had heard mechanical noises in the background, muted hums and beeps and knew she was calling from the hospital and I listened in.

"Clarissa I'm so sorry, I spoke to Toni when I got back last night. How is your dad?"

"Not good Bella, I don't think he's going to make it, my Aunt and Uncle are here now and they want me to go back to college but I can't. I couldn't leave my dad now. Could you check on my room, I left in such a hurry and I forgot to tell Toni where the spare key is."

"Of course, let me know if there's anything else I can do and please keep in touch."

We drove over there before classes and checked everything was secure and tidy, Bella emptied the fridge and threw stuff away before putting food out on the sill for the birds just as her friend did every morning and piled up her scattered text books then we left. I skipped my last class to be there when Bella finished for the day and we drove home in silence. Bella was still thinking of her friend and everyone had been asking where Clarissa was which made things even worse. We hadn't been home long when the phone rang and it was Clarissa again but I could hear her voice quavering and knew it was more bad news.

Bella dropped the phone tears falling from her beautiful eyes as she heard Clarissa's father had died about three hours ago and she was only coming back to college to pick up her things then moving to her aunt and uncles place. She couldn't face finishing college even though both her aunt and uncle and Bella had begged her to. Clarissa's world had fallen apart and at the moment she couldn't see beyond that. She appeared white faced and trembling two days later and Toni and Bella helped her pack her things up and said goodbye hoping to see her again in the future but knowing they possibly never would.