[Jasper's POV]
Bella's emotional state wasn't good, but she was working though it without much aid from me. Her hand was warm in mine, and I tried to help her stay calm enough to think rationally. I drove one handed while waiting for her to gather her thoughts. I didn't want to talk over her. She tightened her grip on my hand.
"Thank you, Jasper." She spoke softly. "The café is over there." She pointed to a small shop on the upcoming corner. I pulled into the parking lot quickly finding a space to park. Bella slid out of the cab pulling the bag out with her. Pocketing the keys I followed her into the café.
The walls were painted sunflower yellow and the floors were a dark wood. Bella went ahead an greeting the girl at the counter by name.
"Bella! Long time no see! How are you?" The girl was genuinely happy to see her.
"I'm good, Grace. How are you?"
"I'm good! How are classes going?"
"That's why I'm here. Charlie wouldn't like coming home to me and Jasper here alone at my house, so we came here to work on a paper we have due." Grace moved around the counter, and lead Bella to a booth in the back.
"Yeah, I get that. Do you want your usual?"
"That would be great, Grace! Oh, and Jasper well take the same. He's never been here, and he just has to try it, you know?" Grace nodded writing something down in her notebook.
"For sure! I'll be right back with all that." She turned on her heel hurrying to the back.
"Do you come here a lot?"
"Since Edward and I started fighting, yeah. Everyone here is nice, and no one looks at me like I'm made of glass or something. It's nice." She started stacking books on the table, but paused. "Jasper did you put a laptop in the bag?"
"Yeah, it's easier to type a paper then edit and print it, than it is to write it, rewrite it while editing, type it, then print it." I shrugged. Less steps sounded easier and the teacher wanted it typed anyway.
"Yeah, your right. I just thought you were only helping with the rough draft not the whole paper."
"I don't mind letting your use my laptop, Bella. It's just the one I use for school anyway, so there's nothing on there." She pulled it out, and powered it up.
'Jasper, look at the T.V. on the far wall.' Major's voice rang though my mind. I looked over to see the news playing. There was a prison break. Some serial killer had broken out.
'Why do I care about that?' I could feel him shrug.
"Okay where should I start? You brought a lot of books." Bella looked at the stack of books.
"Well, if you want do to it on a Major you could just start with my notebook." She nodded grabbing it out of the pile. Curling into the corner of the booth she opened the book. Her emotions calmed as she focused on the pages. Leaning on my arm I looked around. It had a homey atmosphere. The workers joked with the guest as they all roamed about.
"She'll be lost in that book for hours. Here's your drinks, dear. Bella likes hers with three of these creamers here," she pointed to a purple creamer, "and four spoonful's of sugar. If you would be a dear and tap on her shoulder in about five minuets the coffee should be about the temperature she likes then. I wasn't sure what creamer you would like so I brought three of each of them for you. If you need more just let me know. Also here's the food she ordered for the both of you." Grace smiled at me while she placed it all down.
"Thank you, ma'am," I tipped my head at her. "I'll make sure Bella knows her drinks here." Grace walked away with a nod. I picked up the cream she sat by Bella's coffee. Chocolate caramel swirl. She likes her coffee sweet it seems, okay. I fixed the coffee the way Grace said she liked it, and placed it closer to her. I went ahead and made the second coffee the same way. The food was all things Bella could easily eat while reading. Sandwiches, fries, and fried pickle's.
"Bella the food is here, and Grace told me how to fix your coffee."
She looked up at me. Then down to the table.
"Thank you, Jasper. So, you had two little sister's."
"I don't really remember them, but I did yeah. I think I started writing after my father died. Ma thought it would help me cope." I shrugged. "The stuff I wrote while fighting in the war starts about half way though the book." She nodded taking a sip of her coffee.
She skipped ahead in the book while pulling the plate closer to her. She snacked on the fries while she skimmed the pages looking for anything of note.
"Can't you just tell me what I need to know. You were there."
"I was yes, but I don't remember it. The only thing I really remember is quickly rising though the ranks, and pieces of the day I was changed." I shrugged. "I don't see of my meeting vampires could help your paper though."
"It would would if this was for English. That would make for a great historical fiction. Think about it vampire cowboys! Teen girls would love that! It's two of our favorite things. Horses and vampires! Ugh, I'd rather be writing that." Her head fell against the wall. Rolling her eye's she grabbed a sandwich. She pulled the laptop on to her lap.
"Password's emotions embraced no space or caps." She nodded typing quickly while eating.
"Okay, so I just need to get inside your head. What make you tick? Why are you, you?" She muttered to herself while typing one-handed. My eye's wandered back to the news.
They were still talking about the escapee. He was caught six years ago when one of his victims escaped and lead the cops back to him. He killed twenty-one children, and branded each victim with a number. The authority's thought he would be hunting for the one that got away.
"What are you looking at?" Bella asked looking around.
"The news is playing over there." She nodded, but didn't look herself.
"Anything good?" She asked while getting back to her paper.
"Some killer broke out of prison, but that's all their talking about."
"Oh? Who?" Scared curiosity.
"Some guy that numbered his victims."
"Killer X?" Her heart rate spiked, and her fear was all consuming, yet none of it showed on her face.
"They haven't given a name. Are you okay, Bella?" I could tell she wasn't, but it was my place to make that choice for her.
"Yeah, Charlie talked about that case when I was younger. The guy sounds like a real mad house, you know?" She was lying. This wasn't the kind of fear that came from hearing about someone at the dinner table. Bella waved over Grace.
"Hey can I get a to-go box. Sorry, but I'm running late for something."
"Sure thing, dear! I'll be right back!" I tossed three hundred on the table before Bella could do anything. She raised an eyebrow at me.
"She could use a pick me up." I said by way of explanation. She just nodded gather up the books. Looking at my phone I saw it was only noon. We had been here for two hours already.
"Here you go, and here's the bill."
"Thank you. Keep the change." I smiled pushing a little bit of peace at her when our hands touched. Her eye's went wide when she saw how much I handed her. Bella smiled at her as she tossed the food into the box she was given.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. You work hard and never let your smile drop. It's been a long time since I've felt genuine happiness from a waitress."
"He also likes helping people." Bella stated while standing to hug Grace. "Everything was great like always. I'll see you later!" I picked up the book bag and followed Bella to the car.
Bella drove towards the Cullen house faster then I thought was normal for her. She pushed the truck to it's limits. Once we got to the driveway she pulled over.
"I don't want to see Edward." I nodded sliding out of the cab.
"That's fine. Have fun." She drove away as soon as I shut the door.