A/N: YAY! THEY FINALLY KISSED!
Can I just tell y'all that you restore my faith in humanity some days? I've been doing a bunch of editing to post on AO3 and man do I overuse italics and commas. And yet not a single person left me a mean review telling me to quit it. Nor did any of y'all leave mean reviews to complain that it took TWENTY-NINE CHAPTERS for Jasper and Bella to kiss!
You're all seriously wonderful human beings. If any of you are like me and deal with depression or anxiety or just general low self-worth or self-esteem, know that there's someone in New York right this very minute who's grateful for your kindness:)
Freaks Among Freaks?
Jasper got a call from Bella a little past noon on Monday asking if he could pick her up from school at the end of the day.
"Sitting in these stupid wooden chairs and carrying my backpack around really hurt," she sniffled.
Jasper frowned listening to her. Bella sometimes cried angry tears but she rarely cried otherwise. "Did you take those meds?" he asked.
"Yeah, about twenty minutes ago. They helped a little but I'm still miserable."
"I'll come pick you up later if you want to stay, but would you like me to call your dad to see if he'll sign you out early?" he asked.
Bella took a few moments to answer. "Maybe that would be better. But I never told him I got hurt."
"Leave it to me," Jasper smiled. "Get your stuff together and make your way to the office. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Jasper grabbed his wallet and keys, and on his way downstairs he popped his head in Alice's room. "Feel like giving me a hand? I'm gonna pick Bella up from school but she'll need her truck to be driven back to her house."
"Of course," she nodded and hopped up to follow him.
Jasper called the police station on his way down the stairs.
"Forks Police Department. Is this an emergency?"
"No, ma'am. I'm trying to reach Police Chief Swan. Is he in?"
"May I ask who's calling?" the woman replied.
"Jasper Whitlock. I'm a friend of his daughter."
"One moment, please."
Charlie's voice came on the line almost immediately. "Jasper? Is everything alright?"
"Hey Charlie," he said as he and Alice hopped in his truck. "Did Bella tell you she slipped down a few stairs at our house over the weekend?"
"She didn't, but I'm not surprised to hear that. She was moving a little slower the last two nights and probably thought I didn't notice."
Jasper smiled. "She does hate admitting she's in pain. Anyway, Carlisle checked her over and it's mostly just bumps and bruises but her hip took the brunt of her fall. She just called me from school and sitting in those hard chairs is aggravating it."
"She called you?" Charlie cut in. "It must be worse than I realized. The girl is allergic to asking for help."
"True," Jasper laughed. "But yes, she did. And she actually sounded near tears. Do you think you could call the school and excuse her for the rest of the day?"
"Of course," Charlie agreed immediately. "I probably can't cut out of here to pick her up for another hour, though."
Alice tapped his hand and whispered too low for Charlie to hear. "Drive to the station first. The school's going to ask for a handwritten note."
Jasper nodded at her in thanks. "Alice and I are already on our way to get her. Alice is going to follow us back to your house in Bella's truck so it's not sitting in the parking lot overnight. Can we swing by there first? Bella said the school needs a note from you."
"Sure, I'll do that while I call them."
"Thanks, Charlie. We'll see you in a couple minutes."
"Alright, Jasper. And thank you," he said before hanging up.
"You don't see us having any trouble?" Jasper asked Alice.
"Nope. With Charlie calling and a note, it'll be fine. Just pull up by the door of the station and I'll run in to grab it."
When Jasper pulled into the parking lot, Alice hopped out and went inside. While he waited, he shot Bella a quick text.
I'll be there in about five minutes. I'll meet you in the office, I have to bring them a note from your dad.
Alice came back with an envelope in her hand and passed it to Jasper as he pulled back on the road. "Do you think we should ask Carlisle to check her over again?" she asked.
"That's up to Bella, I suppose," he shrugged. "We can ask her."
The two drove the rest of the way in silence and Jasper parked next to Bella's truck, Alice saying she would wait for him there. He made his way to the main office and pulled the door open to see Bella sitting in a chair against the wall, eyes closed and dried tear marks on her cheeks.
"Hey," he whispered as he dropped a kiss on her head. "Let me give this to her and we'll get you out of here."
Bella nodded and Jasper approached the woman at the front desk. "Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Jasper Whitlock. I have the note from Chief Swan to excuse Bella."
She looked up at him with a smile and took the envelope. "I just got off the phone him," she said and opened it to scan the letter inside. "Perfect. Just sign her out here and you can get her home."
Jasper quickly filled out the sign-out sheet and nodded at her. "Thank you."
"Of course. Feel better, Bella," she said to Bella with a smile."
Jasper helped his mate get to her feet and she waved to the woman on her way out the door. "Thanks, Mrs. Cope. See you tomorrow."
Jasper took Bella's backpack and put his arm around her shoulders so she could lean on him.
"Thanks for coming," she said quietly.
"If it's within my power, I'll always come when you call."
The two had just made it to the parking lot when a girl popped up in front of them, seemingly out of nowhere. She gave Bella what was probably supposed to be a genuine smile but it fell a little short.
"Who's the hottie, Bella?"
Jasper internally rolled his eyes at the girl's jealousy as she looked back and forth from Jasper to Bella. When his mate hesitated and he felt her uncertainty, he jumped in.
"I'm Bella's boyfriend."
Bella smiled as she tipped her head back to look at him and he shot her a wink.
She laughed as she turned back to the girl blocking their path. "Jess, this is my boyfriend, Jasper Whitlock. Jasper, this is my friend Jessica Stanley."
"Nice to meet you, Jessica," Jasper said as he nodded and started trying to gently nudge Bella around the girl.
"You're quite the dark horse, Bella," she said with a fake laugh. "First Edward Cullen and now… Jasper, was it?"
Jasper didn't at all like the emotions coming from the girl and had to force a smile. "Dark horse? Is it so unlikely that Bella would have a boyfriend or two?" he asked as if genuinely confused by what she meant and Bella had to hold back a laugh at the look on Jessica's face.
"No! Of course not! That's not… I didn't mean it like that," she stuttered.
Jasper cocked his head to the side. "Then I don't get it. How did you mean it?"
"I just—"
Jessica was cut off when Angela walked over and gently hip-checked her. "Putting your foot in your mouth again, Jess?" she asked before turning to Bella and her vamp soulmate. "Hey Jasper. Come to rescue your girl from another day of drudgery?" she smiled.
Jasper gave her a genuine smile. "Hi Angela. It's nice to see you again."
Jessica looked between the two. "You guys know each other?"
Before anyone could answer, Alice came skipping over and pulled Angela into a hug. "Angela!"
The taller girl smiled as she hugged the pixie wrapped around her middle. "Hi Alice."
Jessica sputtered for a second. "And who are you?" she asked rudely.
Alice turned to the girl with a too-bright smile. "Hi, I'm Alice Cullen," she said in a faux-friendly voice. "Did I hear you mention my brother?"
"Cullen? You're Edward Cullen's sister?" Jessica asked suspiciously. "Why didn't you go to school with him here?"
"I'm actually Emmett's biological sister. You know we're all adopted, right? I'm sure Edward mentioned he'd heard you talking about it. Anyway, I'm the brains in our little outfit and I tested out of high school early so I could travel. I met Jasper here in Philadelphia about… Oh gosh, how long ago was that, Jas?"
"Oh, it's been ages now," he answered, squeezing Bella's shoulder when he felt her amusement.
"It does feel like a long time, doesn't it? Fifty years, at least. Anyway, Jessica, imagine my surprise and delight when I brought Jasper to meet the family and he and Bella hit it off! My two best friends! Isn't love sweet?" she sighed dreamily.
"Uh. Sure. Sweet," Jessica nodded, her jaw nearly clenched. There was nothing sweet about the girl's emotions.
"Come on, Jess. Let's let the superhero whisk his girl away," Angela laughed while she tugged on Jessica's arm, pulling her towards the school. "Bye, Jasper. Bye, Alice."
"Bye, Angela," the two vamps answered together.
"Bye, Ange," Bella smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Nice to meet you, Jessica!" Alice called in a too-sweet voice.
Jessica looked back over her shoulder and gave a half-hearted wave and then stomped into the building muttering under her breath, too low for the humans but not the vampires. "Stupid Cullens. Stupid Bella Swan. Stupid ridiculously gorgeous boys."
As soon as the door closed behind her and Angela, the trio in the parking lot looked at each other and started laughing.
"She seems real sweet," Jasper said as he gently nudged Bella towards the truck again.
Bella nodded. "She is. As long as by 'sweet' you mean jealous, catty, and gossipy."
"Yeah, that's definitely what I meant," he laughed.
"Nicely done, Ali," Bella smiled.
"I've never even met the girl and I dislike her. I recognized her name as the one Edward said used to gossip about our family in a mean way," Alice shrugged, entirely unrepentant for having a laugh at the girl's expense. "Keys?" she asked as she held out her hand with a smile.
Bella handed them over. "Thanks, Alice."
"Of course. I'll see you in a few minutes," she answered and skipped back across the parking lot to Bella's truck.
"I think that's the most fun five minutes I've spent at Forks High," Bella sighed.
Jasper laughed as he opened her door and helped her get settled. "You're almost done. Six more weeks?" he asked.
"Something like that," she answered before Jasper closed her door and walked around to his side. As he was starting the truck, her cell phone rang. She spent the ride home talking to her dad, thanking him for letting her leave school early and assuring him she was mostly fine, just a bit sore.
"I'll be home in about an hour. Is there anything you want me to pick up on my way?" he asked.
"I wouldn't mind some of that mushroom bisque from the diner if you don't mind stopping there," she answered after thinking on it. "I wouldn't say no to french fries, either," she added.
"Sounds like a perfect dinner," he answered, the smile clear in her voice. "I'll see you in a bit, kiddo. Love you."
"Love you, too," Bella smiled and hung up just as Jasper parked his truck, hers already sitting in the driveway. "Where's Alice?" she asked, looking around.
"Inside," Jasper answered. "Come on, let's get you comfortable."
By the time Bella limped into the living room, Alice had the least bright lamp lit, her pillow and duvet waiting for her to snuggle into on the couch, the heating pad plugged in, and a mug of hot chocolate waiting for her on the coffee table.
"You're an angel," Bella sighed as she eased herself onto the couch, Jasper lifting her feet to swing them up for her.
"I know," Jasper smiled.
Bella smiled and nudged him with her foot. "I meant Alice."
"I know that, too," he laughed as he gently wrapped the heating pad around her hip and tucked her duvet around her, Alice's laughter joining his.
Bella let out a sigh as her eyes closed. "Much better."
"Do you want Carlisle to take a look at you, Bella?" Alice asked as she sat on the floor near Bella's head and propped her chin on the edge of the couch.
"I'm not sure there's anything else he can do. Nothing's broken, even I know that, and he prescribed medication that's helping some. I'm just going to be sore for a few days. It's not the end of the world."
"I know it's not, but I hate seeing you in pain," Alice sighed. "And I especially hate seeing you in pain when it's because of a former family member of mine."
Bella opened her eyes and turned her head to look at her best friend and then flinched back at finding the pixie's face so close to hers. "Jesus, Ali."
Jasper tried to stifle a laugh but Alice didn't even bother. Nor did she move. She just gave Bella a sunny little smile from less than six inches away. Jasper's laughter escaped as he watched Bella try to scootch back in the couch a bit. "Alice."
"Oh fine," she huffed and moved to sit at the end of the couch, lifting Bella's duvet-covered feet into her lap.
"What do you mean 'former family member'?" Bella asked. "Did I miss something?"
"Carlisle didn't kick him out of the coven, if that's what you mean. Although he won't be welcomed back anytime soon. Especially not after we tell the family everything. I've disowned him as my brother, though," she shrugged.
"Alice," Bella sighed. "You've been brother and sister for decades. He's the one you're closest to. Don't…" she trailed off when Alice and Jasper both started laughing. "What?"
"Where did you get that idea?" Jasper asked. "You're an observant girl, Bella. Surely you've noticed who Alice has the closest relationship with."
Bella looked between the two of them. "Um, from Edward. He told me he and Alice were the closest in the family."
"Seriously?" Alice laughed.
Bella nodded slowly. "Yeah. Something about being freaks among freaks."
Jasper laughed, short and sharp, but feeling Alice's hurt, he got up and sat on the arm of the couch beside her. Jasper wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in for a hug, rubbing her back. Alice leaned against him, smiling a little when he let her feel his love. Bella, seeing that Alice was truly upset, threw the duvet off and scooted down to sit on her best friend's other side.
She took her hand and apologized. "I'm sorry, Ali. I shouldn't have said—"
Alice quickly cut her off. "You did nothing wrong, Bella. If I hadn't disowned him before, I certainly do now. Who the hell says something like that about the person he's supposedly so close to? Which, by the way, is bullshit. Edward and I have never been especially close. I loved him, sure. He was my brother. But Edward's never been particularly close with any of us 'siblings'. He thinks we're all far too immature and nowhere near as smart as he is. He seems to be under the impression that having a sense of humor means you're not intelligent," she scoffed.
"Not to mention he's arrogant and judgmental," Jasper added. "And condescending."
"Those too," Alice nodded and started laughing, making Bella and Jasper smile. "Thanks, guys."
Jasper got Bella resettled and sat back down in the chair. Bella nudged Alice's leg with her toe. "Just so you know, Ali, I never thought you were a freak. Not for being a vampire, not for being a psychic."
Alice gave her a soft smile. "I know you didn't. Thank you."
"So you really don't think of Edward as your brother anymore?" Bella asked curiously.
"Having the gift I do…" Alice started and then sighed. "You're sitting here alive and mostly well, but I have seen him kill you more times than I can count. You. The girl who I knew was not only going to become my best friend, but who was the soulmate of the person I love most in this world. So, some of that brotherly love… I don't know. Maybe I am a freak. You're alive, he didn't kill you, but part of me feels like he did because I've seen it so many times."
Bella scooted herself as far back on the couch as she could and lifted the edge of the duvet. "Come here," she said softly and patted the space beside her. Alice took her shoes off and laid down beside her best friend with a small smile, and Bella tucked the duvet back around them both.
Jasper watched the two of them with a bittersweet smile. It made him thankful beyond belief that Alice and Bella were as close as they were. Having a mate who didn't understand Alice's place in his life would've been difficult. Fortunately, Bella loved Alice and was never anything but grateful and happy that she'd waited for him to walk out of the rain into that diner. So watching the two of them whispering under the covers like sisters filled his soul with light.
But he'd underestimated the cost of Alice's visions. With his gift, he knew better than anyone how difficult it was for her when they were in Texas. It was the lowest she'd ever been since 1948. But once they arrived in Forks and met Bella, she was back to her usual self. Or so he thought. He hadn't realized she was still holding on to some of the pain she'd seen. And he had no doubt that a large portion of that was pain on his behalf.
Jasper knew what he meant to Alice because she meant exactly the same to him. So watching someone kill Jasper's soulmate over and over again was likely nearly as painful as watching her own soulmate die.
As Jasper sat in the Swan's living room, watching his past, present, and future laughing quietly together, he regretted that he hadn't killed Edward after Alice had her very first vision of him and Bella. That was Jasper's first instinct - and he would've taken him out if it was the only way to keep Bella alive - but once they found a future where both lived, they'd spared him in order to spare their family.
But Alice would always mean more to Jasper than any of the other Cullens. Not that he didn't love them, because he did. Unquestionably. But Alice would always come first.
The amount of pain Edward Cullen had caused her was beyond what Jasper could forgive. And the next time he laid eyes on the boy, he'd send him to his final death without a moment's hesitation.
A/N: Sorry, tacking on a quick-ish reply to a review I just saw because I don't know how to do it any other way. jeoliverio, could the repeat notifications be because I've been editing a bunch? Before I started I actually googled 'does editing send update notifications on ff?' because technology is weird, but all the reply thingies said no. Chapters also seem to disappear into the ether and then pop back up, so maybe that's it? Or if I post chapters back to back? I'm honestly not sure why it's doing that but I'm really sorry because I bet it's annoying as hell. I'll rein in my need to edit and see if that clears it up. Thank you for letting me know!
Take care, M. x