I held back a growl as I looked at them from a distance. Bella was clearly uncomfortable while the male was entertained and feeling sly. I composed myself before walking into the café. Her face lit up when she spotted me before the anger and embarrassment came back. I was twenty minutes late. I can understand why she'd be angry, but the embarrassment was hopefully not due to my presence.
"Sorry I'm late." I smiled in hopes of dulling her anger. It didn't work. Fine, I'll deal with that problem later. I looked over at the man, more of an adolescent now that I see him closer. "You're in my seat." I looked down at him with a sneer. He was at a loss for words and quickly turned to look at Bella, his sly feeling overcoming his emotional discomfort.
"Jessica said you were visiting your mother for the weekend. He doesn't look like your mother." He pointed a thumb at me while smiling.
"Mike, please don't tell anyone about this." Bella whispered fear and concern making her voice weak.
How dare he make Bella feel this way?! If there was no one else around I'd destroy him completely. I quickly memorized his scent, in case I decided to hunt him down.
I put my hand on his shoulder and gripped it tightly, tightly for a human at least. He flinched.
"What's your angle? If you're trying to get something from Bella I assure you the consequences will be at a level of pain that you have never experienced before."
"Jasper, he's not going to tell anyone. He's just teasing me. He's my friend." I looked at Bella, trying to read her expression. She seemed to be telling the truth.
"That doesn't change the fact that he's in my seat. This is a date for two and he's disrupting that." I still had my hand on his shoulder, giving me a direct line to his emotions. I fed him anxious emotions.
"Err, I have to go. It was nice seeing you Bella. I won't tell anyone about this. I promise." Mike mumbled and I let go of him. He rolled his shoulder back and forth as he left, making me chuckle. Bella slumped in her chair. I sat in the vacated seat and put down my two bags. Bella's emotions swirled around.
"You're late. I thought you weren't coming." She was angry.
"I ran into a problem. I already rented a room though and I bought some pastries for you as an apology." I put the bag that didn't have a head in it on the table. Bella eyed me while frowning. She sighed and opened the bag. I smiled victoriously.
"Don't assume this means I forgive you. I thought you had played some sort of trick on me, that this was a game to you." She pulled out one of the items I chose randomly at the bakery.
"I don't need to play games with you. I am what I am and I've done nothing to hide my personality from you." I have gone to great lengths to hide my lack of humanity, but that was a different thing entirely. Bella took a big bite of the muffin. I could tell she was still indecisive. I reached across the table and took her hand. "Feel free to be angry. Just know I'm going to make it up to you tonight, and I plan to do so repeatedly."
What do you think of how Jasper handled Mike? Of Jasper's last line?