Disclaimer: I don't own Twilights or its characters


Bella

The next morning as I was getting ready for the day, Alice came rushing into our bedroom, bouncing with excitement.

"Izzy! You will not believe who is outside right now!"

"Who?" I asked.

"Jasper!" She squealed, clapping her hands together. "Some of the Air Corp men are going to breakfast and he came to invite us along. We have to go!"

"How did he know where we live?" I asked instead, a little alarmed.

"Oh, one of his pals is actually dating Lauren. He told him where he could find me!"

I bit the inside of my cheek. Being how everyone knew everyone here apparently, that left me a little uneasy. Who else could randomly show up at our door?

"You can go, Alice. I'm not going." I finished brushing my hair and set my brush down, running my fingers through my hair to make sure I didn't have any knots.

"Oh, come on, Izzy, don't be like that. Edward is probably not even going to be there."

"This isn't about him. I don't care if he is there or not. I'm not going. I didn't want to go to that stupid party last night and you forced me to go, and at the end of the night, I was insulted. So no, Alice. I'm not going. You can go. Jasper is here for you, not me."

"Izzy…"

"Alice."

She came and sat down on my bed, taking my hand in hers.

"Izzy, this is supposed to be our time. We're finally free of our father, free to do as we please. I would've thought we'd spend this time actually experiencing life together, not be locked up in a different house."

"I'm not going to be locked up in here all day, Alice. You go and enjoy your breakfast with Jasper, get to know him, flirt, whatever you want to do. I'll go explore the town. It's what I want to do and it has nothing to do with Jasper's friend. Please, just go and do not worry about me."

Part of it was true. I really wanted to explore my new home, perhaps stop by a local bookstore and at a cafe to get some breakfast on my own. I wanted to get to know the town, go to the beach, and then come home and curl up on the porch swing with my new book. To hell with Mr. Cullen and his insults. I wasn't giving him another chance to take a shot at me.

Although she didn't push it further, I knew Alice was disappointed I wouldn't have breakfast with them, but I stood my ground. Alice could be very persistent when she wanted to and now that we were out of our father's watchful eye, I had a sneaking suspicion she was going to push a little harder than she would before. Now it was my turn to learn how not to let her push so hard on my boundaries.

I left the house not long after Alice and the girls left with Jasper. I stayed in my room until I could no longer hear their voices outside, so if Mr. Cullen was with them or not, I was blissfully unaware of the fact.

True to my word, I walked around on the beach first and frankly La Push had nothing on this beach. The clear blue sky made a stark contrast against the dark blue of the ocean as the waves came crashing on the shore. I took off my shoes and wiggled my toes against the warm sand before walking in the water deep enough it reached my knees, just barely soaking the hem of my dress. The cool water, the saltiness in the air and the feeling of the warm summer sun against my skin were new and welcoming. We rarely saw the sun back home. Forks was notorious for its rainy weather and greenery, and while I loved it, I had to admit this was ten times better.

After my visit to the beach, I took a walk around town, not even bothering to go back home and change my dress even after I noticed how soaked my dress was from the bottom. I didn't let it bother me. I managed to find a small bookstore not too far from where the house was. After purchasing what looked to be a very promising book, I walked to one of the cafe's nearby and ordered myself some breakfast.

I would've liked to have done all of it with my sister, but it'd been abundantly clear that we each had different goals in mind when it came to our time here.

I was in the middle of reading my brand new book when someone stumbled as they were trying to walk by my table. Their tumble sent them flying forward and they caught themselves by falling hands first on my table, ratting it. I gasped, pulling my book to my chest as my coffee spilled over.

"Shit!" The man cursed, his hands now soaked with my spilled coffee. He straightened himself up, chuckling as he shook the liquid from his hands. I let my eyes slowly drift up and take in the man who was now hovering over my table. He was tall, his black hair cropped short to his head, much like Emmett's. I noticed his eyes were the same shade of black as his hair when he looked at me and gave me an apologetic smile. "Well, that's one way to say good morning," he said. "I'm so sorry about the coffee, please let me get you another one."

"It's fine," I assured him as I reached over and pulled some napkins from the dispenser. I draped them over the spilled liquid and let it soak before trying to wipe it away. "I hadn't touched it in a while so it was already cold."

I handed him a couple napkins so he could wipe his hands.

"Thank you." He took them and started cleaning himself up. "I'm Jacob Black. I don't believe I've seen you before."

"I-Isabella Swan." I tentatively took the hand that he offered and shook it. "I'm new in town. I arrived yesterday with some of the nurses who've been working at Tripler General Hospital."

"No way! Well, it seems like we'll be seeing more of each then."

"Y-you're in the Navy?"

Jacob tipped his imaginary hat at me and gave me a grin. "At your service, madam." He pointed to the empty seat across from me. "May I?"

"Go ahead." I sat up straighter, trying to calm my nerves. While I knew I was going to be interacting with a whole new quantity of people, I was somewhat surprised that the vast majority of the new people I had been interacting with were mostly men.

Yet, again, what else did I expect given my new home?

He pulled the chair back and fell into it. "Since you arrived yesterday, my best guess is that you attended that party at Marty's Bar? It's Pearl Harbor's right of passage for new nurses."

"You guessed right." I clutched my book tighter. "But, I was forced to go. If it was up to me, I wouldn't have gone." I took a quick look at him, trying to pinpoint if I'd seen him at the party. "Were you there?"

"Oh no, I wasn't." Jacob shook his head. "That's the Air Corp's party. Let's just say I'm not well received there."

"How come? If-if you don't mind me asking."

"Of course not." He leaned back on his chair and gave a shrug. "There's a certain gentleman who is part of the Air Corp who does not like me. I believe he might've been there last night if his friends were. Edward Cullen?"

I had to fight back the urge to roll my eyes.

"Of course." I set my book on my lap and chewed on the inside of my cheek. "I've had the pleasure."

"I take he didn't give off the best impression, now did he?"

"Not if being arrogant and insulting is the new way to impress a woman."

"Yes, well, Edward doesn't have the best track record when it comes to making friends. I've known him long enough to know that his character is never tolerated anywhere he is. He never had many friends back when we were children. I still find it hard to believe Jasper and Emmett are his best friends."

He wasn't the only one. Though I've only seen them together once, it was obvious how different they were from each other. And whatever made Jasper and Emmett like Mr. Cullen enough to be around him willingly, I'll never understand.

"You said back when you were children? You've known him that long?" I asked.

"Almost twenty years. We used to get along when we were just silly children tormenting our governess. Our fathers were very good friends and after mine passed, his father took care of me and my mother."

Hmm, sounds familiar, I thought.

"That is a very long time to know someone and not get along with him anymore."

"Yes, we'll, time will do that to you. Growing up will do that. Trust me, you don't have to hide your dislike of him from me, I've known him long enough to know no one finds him amiable,"Jacob said. "The only person who actually gets his affection is his sister."

"Has he always been like that?"

"Not really. He was fine growing up, but then his father died when he was in his early teens. He was Edward Sr's only son, and with that came responsibilities like being in charge of the family and then joining the army. Since then, he's become… Well, that. Of course, that could also be attributed to the fact that his mother only cares about the family fortune and social status. She's not exactly the nurturing type."

I hummed to myself, unsure of what to say. A part of me couldn't help but feel a little sad for him. I couldn't imagine how it must've been to lose a parent at such a young age. I don't think I would've been able to survive the loss of my father and then gain all those adult responsibilities. However, the other side of me also reared its head in and reminded me that as much sympathy I felt for him, that still didn't take away from the fact that he was extremely rude last night.

Jacob changed the subject soon enough, asking about me and where I came from. He seemed really interested in learning about Forks and about my family. And I was amazed at how easy it was to talk to him. It was like a breath of fresh air to meet someone… well, normal. He is charming and agreeable. He knew how to keep a conversation going, complimenting me on my job and even made me laugh. I liked him. His manners, his friendliness and behavior were oddly comforting.

We left the cafe about an hour later and Jacob offered to go for a walk.

"Tell me, Jacob, what made you want to join the Navy?" I asked him.

"That's a very good question," he said, hands buried in his pockets. "My father used to be in the military. He actually fought during the Great War along with the late Mr. Cullen. It was expected of me and Edward to join the army and I have to say, I'm actually excited."

"Excited about the war?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, no, don't get me wrong, I hate this war as much as anyone else in this world. But I still want to be part of something big, something that means a great deal to many people and can make a difference."

"That's very admirable of you," I admitted, unable to hold back the blush that crept back up my cheeks when he smiled at me.

"What about you? What made you want to be a nurse?" He asked.

"I like helping those in need. My mother was a nurse as well and everything I know is because of her. If there's a chance that something I do can help save someone's life, then I'm more than willing to do it."

"That's very admirable," he said. "Many don't see it the way I do, but we wouldn't be anything without you women."

I laughed.

"Many men aren't as wise as you are," I replied.

We came to a stop at the end of the street and Jacob turned to me. From here, the walk back to the house was only ten minutes away. I was about to ask him where he was heading before he beat me to the punch.

"Well, as much as it pains me to say this, I believe this is where we must part ways," he said, checking his watch. "I have somewhere I need to be in about fifteen minutes."

"Oh…" I bit back some of the disappointment I felt. "Well, thank you for the conversation. It was… oddly refreshing."

Jacob chuckled. "It was, wasn't it? Regardless, please, let me thank you for spending the morning with me. Time flies by when you're in good company." He took my hand, bringing it up to his lips and pressed a quick kiss on my knuckles. "I hope to see you soon, Izzy."

"I hope so, too."

With a final nod, Jacob turned and walked in the opposite direction, never turning back. I started on the path back home, relieved that I finally had an interaction with someone that didn't leave me with a sour taste in my mouth.

However, my good humor did not last long because just as I turned the corner to the neighborhood we lived in, I came face to face with these last people I wanted to see. Jasper Withlock and Edward Cullen. I stopped cold in my tracks at the sight of them and both gentlemen seemed startled when they saw me.

They were both in casual clothing. Mr. Cullen wore a gray, buttoned down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Said sleeved tightened around his biceps as his hands were buried in his front pockets of his brown, nicely pressed pants paired with a black leather belt. His hair looked a bit more copper in the sunlight and his eyes were a deeper shade of green…

I shook those thoughts away, but when I looked back at him, I saw as his eyes trailed me from head to toe. I shifted on my feet, suddenly too aware of myself. Did he still see that tolerable girl from last night? However now she had unruly hair from all the wind and the bottom of her dress was wrinkled from having been soaked in the ocean water and then air dried.

"Izzy, there you are," Jasper said, oddly happy to see me. "We just came from dropping off your sister and roommates at home. I'm really sad you couldn't join us for breakfast, I know Alice said you weren't up for company today."

Not with the company my sister was keeping.

I forced a smile. "Yes, well, I wanted to take the day and get some rest before starting work tomorrow."

"Of course. Of course," Jasper said, nodding.

Silence fell between all three of us. Jasper shot his friend a look, and his friend simply shrugged and continued to say nothing. If I hadn't known better, I would've thought he was mute. Either way, I wasn't going to stand there and wait for the day he decided to finally speak.

"Excuse me," I said, sidestepping around Jasper and continued walking home.

I could see it in the far distance and I was almost sure I had managed to get away from them before I heard Jasper calling out my name. I groaned, clenching my teeth for a second before turning back to him. He was running toward me. His friend, however, stayed where I left them.

Jasper stopped a couple steps from me, winded from his run.

"Izzy, listen I know what Edward said last night was rude and I'm very sorry for that. Trust me, it was nothing personal."

"Did he send you to apologize on his behalf?" I asked, somehow feeling more insulted by the fact that he couldn't even apologize himself.

"No, no. He's far too proud for that," Jasper said. Seeing as what he said wasn't helping his case and only fueling my anger, Jasper straightened himself up and looked me in the eyes. "Izzy, I really am sorry for last night, both for what was said and what I didn't say in your defense. Such things should have never been said about you and I really hope you can give us a chance to prove that we are not assholes. I really like your sister and I would like to spend more time with her, but I also want to do right by you."

I watched him carefully, almost willing him to cave and show his true colors if he was trying to be deceitful. But I couldn't find a bit of malice in his eyes. He did look remorseful and if he really intended on spending more time with my sister, then it would make sense that he would try to also get on my good side.

I was willing to give him a chance.

Only him.

"If you are to apologize, Jasper, let it be on your behalf and not on the behalf of someone who is clearly not sorry," I said.

"O-of course. That makes sense." He nodded and gave me a slight shrug. "Does that mean you forgive me?"

"As long as you treat my sister with the respect that she deserves and you do not hurt her, then yes, I forgive you. It might also be wise to suggest that you teach your friend that it is not appropriate to talk about someone they hardly know in the same way he talked about me last night. Someone should start teaching him some manners."

Jasper laughed.

"Trust me, Izzy, when I tell you it wasn't personal, it wasn't. Edward is an idiot at times, but he's one of my oldest friends. I wouldn't still be friends with him if he went around disrespecting women. If you allow yourself to get to know him, you'll come to understand why he acts that way."

"I highly doubt it," I replied. "As far as I'm concerned, he is only your friend and that has nothing to do with me."

Jasper smirked and that smirked made me raise a brow.

"Oh, it's nothing," he said with a shrug. "I just can't wait to see you give him hell, that's all. Have a good day, Izzy."

He turned around and ran back to his friend before I had a chance to say anything else. I watched them as Jasper reached Mr. Cullen, whose back was turnt to him, and clapped him on the shoulder. Mr. Cullen turned to his friend, looking rather unimpressed as Jasper spoke to him. He started shaking his head and whatever he was about to say stopped when his eyes found mine in the distance.

Jasper turned to look at me when he noticed that his friend was watching me, but I didn't tear away my eyes from Edward Cullen's gaze. Neither one of us backed down. Our staring match was defiant, willing the other to act out. Almost as if he wanted to get a reaction out of me and I wanted to get a reaction out of him.

I slowly turned, keeping my eyes on him until he was out of my view and walked away. If Jasper wanted me to give his friend hell, then I would.

Game on, Mr. Cullen.

Game on.


Chapter Four Preview -

"Don't you think that's a bit harsh, Miss Swan? Like you said, we will be seeing each other regularly since my best friend is now dating your sister."