A/N: Thank you everyone! Well, Billy has requested Bella's presence, Edward has disobeyed and flown the coop, and Peter and Charlotte are on their way. That will be an interesting meeting. On top of all that we still have the nomads running around. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 15 – Stay Away

As soon as Jacob left, Bella grabbed the phone and called Billy Black. It was odd to her that he would want to see her since normally he always called or visited with her father, but this time the message had been personally delivered for her and gave her an ominous feeling. Why would he want to talk to her? Her father was his best friend… maybe Jacob had gotten the message wrong? It was possible, and yet, Bella knew deep down that the message had been delivered to the intended target. Jasper had said that the tribe and the Cullen's didn't get along. Was it possible that Billy knew Jasper's secret? Was the other man going to warn her away from Jasper? Surely not, and yet, as she dialed the number, that is exactly what she expected to hear.

"Hello?" Billy answered the phone. He had a sneaking suspicion that it was Bella calling him instead of doing what he had originally asked.

Gripping the phone a little tighter with an increase of anxiety and fear, the brunette teen spoke, "Hi Billy. It's Bella Swan. Jake said you wanted to talk to me."

"Yes, but I asked him to invite you over," the person on the other end stated.

"Sorry about that, but I don't think I will be able to do that. Could we talk over the phone?"

"I would prefer in person, however, if there is no other way, I guess I have no choice. I just wanted to warn you to stay away from the Cullen's. They are outsiders to the area."

Her anger flared and she retorted, "One could say that I'm an outsider to the area as well."

"That's true, but your father has roots here."

"What does that have to do with anything? Dr. Cullen is one of the top doctors at the hospital and my dad seems to think they are alright."

"There are some things that cannot be explained, but there are wild animals that roam around here and you are at an increased level of danger around them. I know you think they are good, but they are dangerous. The last thing I, or anyone, wants is for you to be hurt."

"Then I think staying with Jasper is the best thing for me," Bella stated adamantly.

Sighing in frustration, Billy told her, "You really don't know what you're getting into, Bella."

She could feel her anger increasing and an urge to yell at the older man almost took over her senses. This was still someone older than her, he thought he had her best interests at heart, and he was her father's best friend. Tapping down the frustration she was feeling, she fisted her hand and told herself to calm down before she addressed the man on the phone, "No, when it comes to Jasper, I know exactly what I'm getting into. Maybe it's you who doesn't know the truth."

"Bella, I know everything about the Cullen's. I think…"

Interrupting him before he could continue, she snapped, "If you did, then you would know that he is a good man. I know you think you have to protect me and give me some kind of warning, but I am a big girl and can make my own decisions about who I am with and who I choose to be friends with. I have known Jasper for seven years now and he has protected me on more than one occasion, so maybe it is you who doesn't have his facts straight. The Cullen's are good people and you will not change my mind about them or JW! Now if you will excuse me, I have to get dinner ready for my dad." She hung up the phone before he could say anything else about the matter.

Jasper could feel the stress, fear, anxiety, and irritation coming from his mate as she talked to Billy Black and a good part of him wanted to take the phone from her and deal with the other man himself, but he knew he could not do that. Still it warmed his unbeating heart and made him proud the way she defended him and his family… if only Edward were not a part of his family. He knew she was not actually including Edward in that, but if she had called out the one individual, it would have made even more problems for the whole coven… damn that ingrate. Pulling her into his arms after she hung up the phone, he whispered in her ear, "Good job darlin'. It will be alright."

"He knows about all of you, doesn't he?" She asked quietly.

Nodding, he kissed the side of her head before he answered, "He does."

"How?"

The southern vampire knew he had to tell her the truth, while still concealing the truth about the tribe, and said, "Charlie should be home soon." He felt her stiffen and grinned, "So I'll tell you everythin' after you turn in for the night."

"Alright," the brunette agreed and stepped away from her boyfriend in order to start making dinner for her and her father.

It wasn't long before Charlie walked in the door and made a direct beeline for the kitchen, "You alright Bells?"

Looking up after placing a dish in the oven, Bella told him, "Yah, I was just feeling dizzy and a little sick this afternoon."

Charlie glanced at the other teen in the room and held out his hand to shake, "Thanks for looking out for her again. I know the nurse was out this afternoon and you took her to see your dad. I really appreciate that."

"It was nothin'. I will do anythin' to make sure Bella is alright," Jasper pledged to the father.

Something in the teen's eyes told Charlie that he was dead serious about that proclamation and it was a bit unnerving. To have such strong emotions and to make such a stance… the police chief had a feeling this was more than just teenage love, and yet, he was still afraid his daughter would be hurt somewhere along the way; and the last thing Charlie wanted was for Bella to go through what he and her mother suffered. Yes, he wanted Bella to have everything she wanted in life, but being the father of a teenage daughter, he also wanted to lock her up and throw away the key, ensuring no boy would come near her and break her heart. Actually, it would be better to just stay away. Jasper, he accepted and liked him just fine, but he was also afraid his daughter was getting too serious too fast; however, the way the Cullen teen treated his baby, Charlie could find no exception and would allow the relationship continue as long as Jasper treated her as a precious jewel. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Are you going to stay for supper?"

"Uh, not tonight. I was just staying with her until you got home just in case she felt dizzy again. My dad said she should be alright though," Jasper responded.

Nodding, Charlie's eyes moved to his daughter, "Why are you cooking if you're not feeling well?"

"I felt better and wanted to make dinner," Bella stated as she sat down in one of the chairs at the table.

Charlie stopped himself before he rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright. Well, thank you again Jasper, and tell your father thank you also. When he called me earlier I was a little concerned."

"It's no problem sir. I'm just glad I was with her when she started to feel bad," Jasper smiled. He turned to Bella, "Well, I'll be goin' now since I need to go home and study for a test tomorrow."

"What is your test in?" Charlie inquired.

"Government and economics. We are studying the government system from when the U.S. was founded through modern age, but tomorrow's test will only cover through the Civil War," Jasper answered and did not miss the snort of laughter that came from his mate.

Charlie raised an eyebrow, "Something funny Bella?"

"Huh, oh no. I was just thinking of something funny that happened at school," she snickered. Somehow the thought of Jasper studying anything about the Civil War was funny to her since he had been there… in the midst of it all. Composing herself, she said, "I'll walk you to the door." After they parted at the front door, Bella walked back inside knowing that Jasper was entering through her bedroom window in order to stay close, and regardless of the nomads and the fact that Edward was on the loose, she knew he did it to stay close to her and to protect her at the same time.

When she returned to the kitchen, Charlie spoke to her, "He's a good kid, but don't you two think you are getting way too serious."

"Dad?" Bella suddenly felt uneasy with the turn of conversation.

"I'm just saying that you are still in high school, so take it easy and have fun. Don't get me wrong, I like him, but I don't want you to rush into anything."

"It's fine dad. We are taking our time and enjoying being together right now."

"Alright. I also got a strange phone call from Billy Black on my way home. He said that Jasper was dangerous."

"Dad! JW is a good guy and has done nothing…"

Holding up his hands in surrender, Charlie interrupted her, "I know that, which is why I told him that you were old enough to make your own decisions about who you dated and that Jasper has been a big help to you. He has never really liked the Cullen family for some reason, so I basically think it's his prejudice getting in the way; however, I still want you to be careful."

Unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes, she said, "I got it."

The rest of the evening moved quickly, but there was still a somewhat awkward air between the father and daughter, and Bella was relieved when she was able to go to her room and shut out the rest of the world behind her door. She was pretty sure that Jasper heard what Charlie had said about Billy, and she wanted to check on him herself because the last thing she wanted was Jasper to be hurt, offended, or irritated by something someone else said. She should have known that she needn't have worried. Finding him lying on her bed reading a book, Bella joined him and laid her head on his chest. It still seemed weird to her that she should be able to hear a heartbeat and nothing but silence greeted her.

"What's wrong darlin'?" Jasper asked as he ran his fingers through her long hair.

"Nothing. Why is Billy Black so set against you and the others? I mean Edward I get, but why everyone else?"

Chucking, he found it endearing how she was easily offended on his behalf and grabbed her hand to lace his fingers with hers, "Do you remember when you were ten and I told you I had been to Forks before?"

"Yah."

"Before Alice and I joined the coven, Carlisle and the others lived here. This was years ago when Billy Black was probably a child or maybe before he was born. The tribe found them drinking the blood from a dear and immediately knew what they were. There were apparently stories that had been passed down through the generations about vampires. It took some convincing, but Carlisle was able to persuade the tribe that they were different from other vampires and that they did not drink or bite humans. The chief of the tribe decided to give them a chance and they made a treaty. The coven is allowed to live in this area as long as they follow the treaty. Every few years we will move, but we tend to live in certain areas over and over again. We just wait several decades before moving back so that no one is suspicious. Sometimes members of the coven will break off and live with their mate for a short period of time, but eventually everyone comes back together. This is their second time living in Forks, and this is the first time Alice and I have lived here. We have passed through before, but never more than just for a few hours or so on our way to another location."

Bella allowed herself to process this information for a moment and then asked, "So just because of the tales that had been passed down, they don't like you?"

"I don't think it's a matter of likin or not likin. They're afraid because of history. Most people would fear us, especially based on some of the movies and legends out there. They should fear us. You have to understand Bella, most of our kind do drink and kill humans. Even if they wanted to turn someone into a vampire, most are unable to do it because once they bite a human and taste their blood, they want to drink as much as they can and then the human dies."

"So you can make more vampires by biting someone?"

"Yes, remember I said Maria bit me and then I woke up three days later? Our venom is powerful. Once we bite a human, it gets into their system and unless we drain them dry, the venom molecules start to multiply and will kill off the veins and internal organs. When that happens, the body is goin through a change and will eventually awake a vampire, but like I said, once we taste human blood, it sends us into a frenzy of sorts and we want to drink it all. Not everyone can control themselves, and the ones that can are fewer in number than most think."

Remembering something to that affect, she questioned, "So you could turn me?"

He had known the conversation, or one of their conversations, would eventually lead here and it had been something he thought a lot about. Could he do it? Given that it was Bella, he was sure he could. Would he? Yes, when the time was right and if she wanted it, he definitely would change her, but now was not the time and Forks was definitely not the place… at least not right now. "I could."

"Would you if I wanted you to?"

"I would, but not right now. Do you want to be turned?"

She paused for a moment to think, but already knew the answer. She wanted to spend the rest of forever with this man, "Yes."

Nodding, Jasper said, "It would probably be best if we waited until after your graduation. The first year after you wake up is kind of a bitch and you crave blood all the time. I wouldn't want you near a populated town. Goin away for college, or at least saying you are, would be better because it is easier to hide."

"Are you telling me the truth or stalling?"

That made him laugh, "No, I if you're serious, I would." He would have said more, but his pocket started to vibrate and he had to answer his phone, "Hello?"

"Howdy, major," the voice on the other side simpered.

"Peter, I heard you were comin for a visit."

"I am indeed, and I guess I will bring Charlotte with me too." He yelped and said, "Charlotte sends her regards."

Jasper chuckled at the antics of the couple over the phone and asked, "When will you be here?"

"Day after tomorrow probably."

"I'll be waitin for all ya'll to come then."

"You know, one of these days I'm gonna get the drop on Alice."

"You say that every time and you never do, but I'm glad you're comin."

"Why? Trouble in paradise?" Peter queried, his interest sparked.

Sighing, Jasper told him, "Edward has gone AWOL and attacked my mate."

Peter was not sure he heard that last statement correctly, "You're… WHAT?"

"My mate. Edward attacked her."

"Well, did she kick his ass? When the hell did you get yourself a fucking mate?"

In the background, Jasper could hear Charlotte asking the same thing and wanting know more. Peter shushed her and then Jasper said, "I'll explain everything when ya'll get here, but my mate is…" He glanced down at the woman cuddled up to him and continued, "Bella is human, and she's Edward's singer."

That floored Peter and Charlotte and they were both flabbergasted. It took a minute before Peter could talk again, "Excuse me?"

"I'll explain everything when ya'll get here."

"Fine, I get it. We will see you in about 36 hours, sooner if we can manage it."

"See all ya'll then," Jasper stated and hung up the phone, placing it back in his pocket.

Bella lifted her head and locked eyes with Jasper, "Everything ok?"

Nodding, Jasper ran a hand through his hair, "Yah, but I think all hell's about to break loose."

"They don't like you with a human?"

"Darlin', I need you to be careful around them. They… they aren't like the Cullen's."

"What do you mean?"

"They drink from humans."

A tremor of fear went through her and did not stop even when Jasper pulled her closer, "So, everyone around here…"

"No, Peter and Charlotte know where to hunt and are careful about who they pick. You don't have to worry about that, but they are a little surprised that you're human. So I need you to be careful. Alright?"

"I will."

Jasper's arms squeezed her a little more and then he leaned forward so that he could capture her lips. He wasn't joking; he really believed that all hell was about to break loose. There were three crazy nomads roaming around, Edward was missing and probably hunting for Bella, the wolves were trying to scare Bell away from him, and now Peter and Charlotte were on their way. The vampire couple were some of his oldest and closest friends, but like Alice said, there would be some issues at first. That being said, he was grateful they were on their way because they would be able to help track down the four vampires that were wreaking havoc on his life and the town of Forks. What else could possibly go wrong? He really didn't want to know, but the tingle on the back of his neck said that this was far from over.