I'm back! Okay so this chapter is actually fairly long, so yay! I don't have a lot to say, so I'll just let the guys speak for themselves, reeeally hope you're happy with this chapter.

As usual, I am so, so incredibly grateful for everyone who follows and favourites this story, and especially to those who take the time to review.

Chapter Twelve

JPOV

Two hours, two full hours since Edward had been back at school and already he was being invited to a beach party down at the reservation. Unbelievable. It should be against some secret set of rules to be that damn likeable, yet here we were, sitting at our usual table, unusually joined by Eric Yorkie and a few members of his group of friends I liked to refer to as the People Who Are Nice. The thing about the People Who Are Nice is that they were nice in a way that didn't necessarily appeal to me, always planning big group get togethers and whatnot, usually with lots of people and emphasis on talking and making friends. Exactly the kinds of things I sucked at.

Edward on the other hand, well suffice to say he lived for this shit. Despite the fact that he spent most of his time with me, Edward was a master of social interaction. More than once I had questioned why someone who could easily have his own following in the fickle world of high school had taken any interest in the weird quiet kid who sat by himself in the cafeteria because he was shit scared of talking to anyone on his first day. Edward always joked that I had looked too much like a lost puppy to leave me sitting by myself.

I continued to eat my lunch while I tuned out Eric and his party plans. No doubt Edward would agree to go, and would most likely spend the rest of today trying to get me to do the same, despite the fact that while I don't think my presence would unwelcome, I don't think my absence would be noticed. As I said, I wasn't the life of any party. It took until Edward and I were alone again – Eric's group had left to do whatever it is they do – for Edward to ask me to go down to the reservation with him this Friday.

"What do you think, Jasper?"

"I think lots of things, care to be more vague?"

"About the party, and you know what I meant. Will you come?" He asked hopefully.

"I dunno. I don't think they really want me there, to be honest." I replied flatly, taking another bite of my sandwich.

"Were you even listening before- don't answer that. Bella Swan specifically asked me to bring you, idiot." Edward looked at me expectantly and I shrugged in response. The fact that Bella apparently wanted me there was a slight bonus I guess. She was an understatedly pretty girl, but due to the fact that neither of us was overly outgoing, we didn't talk very often.

"Fine, I'll go. Someone's going to have to drive you anyway." Since his accident, Edward had understandably avoided driving when he could, meaning that this morning he had driven the short distance between our houses and then gotten me to drive us to school.

"Good. See, I knew you'd come around."

"Yeah, whatever."

~bfoso~

EPOV

It was Friday afternoon and Jasper was looking damn fine. Not that he didn't look good any day of the week, but I had convinced him to come with me to the bonfire down at the reservation, and he had cleaned up well. I couldn't help but notice the way his dark grey jeans hugged his ass in all the right ways as we walked down the stairs to my parent's garage. Seeing as my genius self had wrecked my car, I had spent the past week waiting hand and foot on my parents in order to be allowed to take Mum's car all the way to the beach tonight. She had handed the keys straight to Jasper, apparently trusting him more than me, not that I was in any position to argue.

As we pulled out of the driveway, I allowed myself a sidelong glance at Jasper's profile. His face was set in a relaxed position and his eyes were focused on the road ahead. The deep burgundy of his button-up shirt did wonders against his complexion, and I found myself slipping into a familiar fantasy, wondering what that shirt would look like on my floor. My mind was exceptionally good at reminding me of what I couldn't have – I was a masochist at heart, apparently.

Despite just how fuckable my best friend looked tonight, I had a mission. Tonight, I was going to take my mind off Jasper and his delectable body, even just temporally. I knew that bringing him along with me on this quest to pass my affections on to someone else was a little idiotic, but idiocy was kind of my thing. Plus, it would be good for him to get out and see someone else besides me for a change. My best friend had the tendency to be what others would refer to as antisocial. In reality I knew it was mainly because, although he tried to hide it, he was pretty shy, so he tended to keep to himself unless someone – me – made the specific effort to get him to come out of his shell.

And who knows, maybe he'd meet a nice girl. Even though the thought of someone else's hands on him just about made me sick to my stomach, deep down I really did just want him to be happy. And just maybe, seeing him with someone else might be the kick I needed to finally get the idea through my head that he is straight and I need to move on. Maybe.

I was too caught up in my own thoughts to realise that we had crossed over into La Push until we were pulling into the parking lot at First Beach. The sky was shining as the sun sat on the horizon, and I could see about a dozen cars parked in the lot. As Jasper and I got out of the car, I could see that down on the beach were the beginnings of a bonfire, with thick logs circling the unlit driftwood pile that would later be used as seats. Jasper followed silently behind me as we made our way over to where majority of the people already were gathered.

"Edward! You made it!" Eric called out to me from where he and a few people from school were standing next to Tyler Crowley's open van, music playing from the van's speakers. Jasper and I walked over and exchanged greetings, before breaking off into comfortable conversations, me with Eric and Tyler, and Jasper with Bella and Angela Webber.

"So how bad was your accident? I mean, I heard about it, but you know how it is, shit gets exaggerated?"

Just as I finished giving Eric the lowdown on my accident, I heard the sound of another car pulling up, then a familiar cheerful laugh. I turned around just in time to see Jacob Black running at me, sweeping me into a bear hug.

"Eddie!" I had to force Jacob to put me down before he re-broke a rib.

"Jake! Long time no see, I didn't know you were gonna be here tonight." I was genuinely excited to see Jake and the rest of the Quileute boys. Back when I was younger, my parents used to bring Alice and I down to First Beach every other weekend, and I became fast friends with Jake and Embry who were always willing to include me in whatever games they were playing on the day. Jacob reintroduced me to a two other guys that I had briefly met years before. Paul was almost as tall as both Jacob and I, and Seth was about a foot shorter. I recognized his sister Leah's features in his face.

The sun had set and the sky was beginning to darken as I got lost catching up with my old friends, part of me aware that I was slightly neglecting Jasper. Although to be fair, it would be hard to get my mind off him if I spent the entire night with him. Nevertheless, I turned to look for my friend just to put my mind at ease and saw that he, Bella and Angela were making their way down to the beach, followed by the rest of the guys. Jake, Embry and I took the hint and made our way down to sit on the log next to the one Jasper had chosen with the girls. Part of me felt a pang at the fact that we were separated, but I soon realised how ridiculous that was, seeing as he was literally about five meters away.

Soon enough the bonfire had been lit and was glowing a brilliant greenish-blue from the salt in the driftwood and everyone had broken off into their own groups. Embry had made his way off to talk to Lauren, who had arrived just after dark. Everyone else had slowly migrated around to the other side of the fire, leaving Jake and I sitting on the sand leant back against the log. There was enough distance between the two of us and everyone else that I was pretty certain no one could hear anything we were saying, which is probably just as well, seeing as Jacob decided to bring up something I'd rather not be overheard.

"So, how long have you liked him?" Jake raised an eyebrow and gave me a smirk.

"Who?"

"Jasper. He's pretty much all you've talked about all night, and you keep looking for him." He chuckled at the look on my face, which I'm guessing probably resembled a deer in headlights. I didn't realise I was that obvious. "Relax man, it's kind of cute. So is he gay?"

Dejectedly I shook my head. Jake and I had come out to each other about a year ago at a party similar to the one. It was nice to have someone that could understand the feeling of having to figure out someone's sexual preference before letting yourself get too caught up in them. Evidently I had skipped that step, but the sentiment was the same.

"Shame. Have you asked him, or are you just assuming?" Jacob questioned.

"He's my best friend, I think I would know if he were gay, Jake."

"Don't be so sure. I mean, he may not even know. Some people don't. Sometimes people don't know to look unless something makes them." Jacob was absently drawing circles in the sand with a stick.

"That was deep. I don't know though, I mean, I want to read into some things that he does, but if I do, and it's nothing then it could ruin everything we have now." I could see Jasper's silhouette faintly through the flames, laughing at something someone had said. "I kind of just want to try to move on. I mean, I don't want to, but I think I should. I think it would be better for both of us."

"You need a rebound guy."

"Aren't those for after you break up with someone, not before you date them?"

"Well yeah, technically. But it sounds to me that you've been in a one-sided relationship with this kid for a while now. So you need someone to move you on from that. Make sense?"

"Yeah I guess."

It felt good to be able to get this out in the open with someone, especially an unbiased person. Jake and I abandoned the heavy conversation in favor of finding food, so we made our way over to a table that someone had set up stacked with potato chips and whatnot. Jacob soon made his way to catch up with someone else, leaving me to enjoy a rare moment of quiet by myself. I found a log to sit on by the fire, as I look sips from a coke can I saw someone sit down next to me. I turned to see a familiar russet coloured face smiling at me. Paul smelled slightly of booze and I wondered if he had brought it with him, I doubted Eric or anyone would've supplied any.

After a moment of awkward silence, Paul spoke, the alcohol on his breath becoming more evident. "So Ed, I heard what you and Jake were saying earlier."

"About what?"

"About needing a rebound. Someone to distract you." I let out a small sigh in relief that he wasn't referring to my feelings for Jasper. I don't know why he was bringing it up at all though.

"Yeah?"

Before I could contemplate what he was doing, Paul lent over and ungracefully forced his lip against mine. After a shocked second my brain registered that I didn't want this guy who was quite clearly drunk kissing me, and I put my hands against his chest to push him away from me.

"Aw c'mon, don't be like that Ed. This is just a little fun, it don't hafta mean nothin'. I'm just a distraction." Paul slurred his words and lent harder against me.

"Fuck off Paul, you're drunk."

Ignoring me, he put a hand around the back of my neck and pulled my face to his again, this time shoving his tongue into my mouth. Both the act and taste of booze made me feel physically sick. Just as I was about to shove him off, I felt him pull away faster than he had come at me. I felt relieved that he had stopped and I hadn't needed to make a scene. That was until I saw him being pulled backward off the log by his shirt. A dark figure had Paul by the front of the shirt and was dragging him off across the sand, it wasn't until their faces were inches apart that I realised that it was Jasper I was seeing.

A split second after recognizing my rescuer, I was witnessing Jasper's fist connecting with the side Paul's face. I stood by, as Jasper landed another blow. The rational part of me was screaming to stop him before someone got really hurt, but I couldn't make my feet move. Reality snapped back to me as I saw Paul fist pull back and swing at Jasper's face once, and then again. Jasper barely recoiled as he sent another blow Paul's way, before both guys were being pulled backwards by Embry and Jake. I ran to where Jake was holding Jasper and watched as Embry dragged a stumbling Paul away towards the parking lot.

"What the fuck happened?" Jacob was still holding Jasper by the arms and part of me registered that that probably wasn't a good idea. I put a hand on Jasper's arm and Jake let go, the situation seemingly under control now.

"Paul kissed me. Then Jasper punched him." By this stage our scene had attracted the attention of everyone else and they were stood watching from a distance.

"I'm going to kill him." Jasper's voice was scarily flat and I was worried about what he would do. I had never seen this side of him before, I'd seen him angry sure, but never violent.

'Jazz, it's okay, he was drunk." I tried to get his eyes to focus on mine, instead of staring blankly after paul as they were now.

"No, it's not fucking okay Edward, that fucker touched you!" His voice started to rise and I thought it would probably be best to get out of here before something bad happened. I looked at Jacob and he seemed to be thinking the same thing. We exchange a look that said we would talk later, and I led Jasper back towards the car.

When we were a safe distance away from prying eyes, I turned to him, "What's with you? I've never seen you like this."

"What's with me? That fucking guy was all over you!"

"It was okay Jasper, he was drunk. I could've handled it, you didn't need to punch him." Jasper's fists were clenched at his sides and his jaw was set. Even in the dark I could see marks from where Paul's fists had connected with his face beginning to form.

"Like hell I didn't! No one is allowed to fucking touch you Edward." The fact that he said that like an order pissed me off. Who was he to say who could and couldn't kiss me, regardless whether I had wanted it or not. I couldn't have him, and I apparently couldn't have anyone else either.

"And why the fuck not Jasper?" My anger was beginning to match his now, but I didn't care.

"Because! I am…" his voice faltered and his face softened slightly, "Just because."

"Because is a bullshit answer Jasper. What gives you the right to say who can and can't touch me, huh?"

"I didn't mean it like that, I just… I just meant…"

"Just meant what Jasper?"

"Never mind, just forget it. I'm sorry I hit your friend. I just wanna go home." Jasper went to walk away from me and against my better judgment I reached out and grabbed him by the arm. I needed to know what he was going to say.

"What did you mean?" All the previous anger had drained from my voice and I hoped desperately that he would answer me.

Jasper stood silently for a moment, just staring at where I had hold of his wrist, "I didn't want him to touch you. I don't want anyone to touch you…" His voice was only just above a whisper and something in me felt like screaming.

"Why not Jasper? Just tell me, please?!"

"Fine. You really want to now why?" He forcefully pulled his arm from my grip and stared me in the eye. "I don't want anyone to touch you, except me. I'm the only one that should get to touch you! I know that's fucking stupid and selfish, but I don't fucking care, okay? I don't."

For the second time that night I had the feeling of someone's lips crushed urgently against mine, only this time I didn't care one bit. Jasper's hands were on the side of my face, pulling me towards him, his mouth moving desperately against mine. For a second I was too stunned to move, but as soon as I felt his hand in my hair, my brain switched into overdrive and I was moving my mouth against his with the same desperate urgency that he was giving me. Threading my hands into his hair I tried to convey all the emotions that I had kept back for so long, all the love and raw devotion I felt for him, just in case this was the first and last time I would experience this.

Jasper was the first to break away, even though my lungs were screaming for air, I was too reluctant to give up that incredible feeling that I had dreamt about for so long. Jasper's eyes bored into mine for a split second, not long enough to be able to judge what he was thinking, before he pulled away from me and mumbled, "I think we should go home," before walking around to the drivers side of the car, leaving me standing stunned by myself.

It look me a good thirty seconds to be able to remember how to make my legs work before I got into the car. It was silent as Jasper pulled out of the parking lot, until he reached over to turn on the radio. I didn't take any notice to what was playing, I was too caught up in the burning feeling his lips left on mine, and I silently prayed to every available deity that this wasn't just some impulsive thing that he had done in the heat of the moment. I hoped he wouldn't regret it.

By the time we were nearly my house I was practically vibrating with the need to say something, anything to break the tension that had built up between us. When Jasper pulled into the garage and shut the car off, I expected him to get out and go upstairs, but instead he stayed sitting in the car staring at his hands.

"Edward I… I'm sorry, I don't know why I-"

"Please don't say you didn't mean it. Please…" I couldn't help the desperation that crept into my voice as I pleaded with him.

Jasper turned to look at me with a clouded expression in his eyes. "Edward, I meant what I said, I just don't want to do anything that will fuck up our friendship."

I couldn't help the laugh that came out of my mouth at that. Jasper furrowed his brow and looked irritated at my laughing, so I tried to explain myself, "Sorry, it's just, you don't know how long I've been telling myself exactly that. Only I was too scared to act on it. You're brave than me I guess."

"Or stupider."

"Or that." I gave him a smirk and he laughed.

"So we're okay?" His expression turned back to worried and he ran his hand through his hair, something I was itching it do again, but I restrained.

"I think we need to talk about some stuff, but it can wait until you've put some ice on your eye, its starting to look a little black. Does it hurt?"

Jasper looked immediately relieved before bring his hand up to his face, "Oh, um yeah, a little. It's not too bad. Ice would be nice though."

At that we both got out of the car and made our way upstairs towards the kitchen, and because the universe ultimately hates me, we found my entire family gathered around the kitchen bench.

"Hi boys, I didn't expect you to be back so- oh my goodness, Jasper what happened to you? Are you okay?" My parents ran towards us as my father told Alice to get an ice pack from the freezer.

Jasper looked at me and smiled, "Yeah. Yeah I'm just fine."

A/N: I'm interested to hear what you guys thought of the kiss (both), and whether or not you'd be interested in seeing this from Jasper's POV. :)