A/N: Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyer. Anya Simms is all mine.

Chapter 31: Safety Lecture

APOV

Fri March 4/05

I had barely made it into the library, flipping on the bank of lights and throwing open the doors for the horde of teenagers about to descend. The disaster zone that had greeted me nearly two months ago when I first arrived was a thing of the past. Forks High School now had a functioning library, all thanks to brilliant me.

But just as I was about to settle into my morning routine, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Vampire. I turned on my heel, fully expecting to see Tex, my Jasper, maybe sneaking in for a quick hello before the school day began.

But colour me not amused when it was Heathcliff.

"For the love of God, Edward, what do you want?" I didn't bother to hide my annoyance, my voice sharp as I glared at him.

Edward stood there, brooding as ever, his golden eyes scanning the library as if it held some deep secret that only he could uncover. He didn't immediately answer, and that only served to irritate me more. There were no deep secrets. I'd scoured this library to within an inch of its life.

"I'm busy, Edward," I continued, crossing my arms and tapping my foot as I waited for him to explain why he had decided to grace my library with his presence. "So, if this is just another one of your dramatic interventions, I suggest you make it quick."

His gaze finally settled on me, and I could see the tension in his expression, the way his jaw was clenched. "I'm not here for drama, Anya," he said, his tone clipped but controlled. "I'm here because I'm concerned."

Really, because you literally made a dramatic entrance into the library you idiot man-child. Keeping that thought to myself, I raised an eyebrow, my annoyance not fading. "Concerned about what, exactly? Because if this is about Jasper, we've been over this. Repeatedly."

"It is about Jasper," Edward replied, his voice lowering as if he was sharing some grave secret. "But it's also about you. You need to understand the risks you're taking."

He took a step closer, his expression serious. "You need to understand how dangerous he is. Jasper... he struggles with control, more than any of us. You're tempting him, Anya. Leading him on. It's wrong. He's not safe for you."

I couldn't believe it—I was getting lectured by a 17-year-old about risks. Sure, he might have been around the block a little longer than me, but I was the adult here. I had more human experience and, most importantly, a fully developed frontal cortex. I doubted this man-child vampire in front of me had that. I didn't care how special vampire venom was; it didn't change the fact that he was mentally frozen at seventeen, stuck in that adolescent mindset forever.

So, I said nothing and stopped tapping my foot. Instead, I just glared at him, knowing he couldn't hear my thoughts, how I was mentally screaming for him to just go away and leave the adult business to the adults. The silence between us stretched, heavy with unspoken frustration, but I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of a response.

Edward's eyes narrowed, clearly picking up on my defiance, but he didn't press the issue. Maybe he finally realized that no amount of lecturing was going to change my mind. Or maybe he just didn't know how to handle someone who wasn't dazzled by his broody intensity.

Either way, I wasn't backing down.

But, like any 17-year-old with stunted brain development, he just had to have the last word. And oh, Sacrament! He was actually going all predator mode on me—yeah, the eyes darkened, and everything as he began to hiss.

Are you kidding me? I screamed internally, willing myself not to flinch under his glare. I kept my composure, even as the seriousness of the situation threatened to overwhelm me. This is what I get for daring to defy the almighty Edward Cullen?

But before I could even begin to formulate a response, the shit really hit the fan.

Vampire—mine.

Jasper appeared in an instant, a blur of motion as he placed himself between Edward and me, his presence a solid, immovable force. His eyes locked onto Edward's with a deadly calm that sent a frisson of delight down my spine. Damn that's hot!

"Back off, Edward," Jasper said, his voice low and even, but there was no mistaking the underlying threat. "This isn't your territory."

Edward didn't move at first, his eyes still locked on me as if he couldn't quite process the shift in power dynamics. But Jasper didn't waver, his stance firm and protective, making it clear that this wasn't up for debate.

Slowly, Edward's expression softened, the predatory edge fading as he took a step back. His eyes flicked from Jasper to me, and for a moment, he looked like he might say something, but then he just turned on his heel and left, his retreating form tense and silent. Yeah, that's it, asshole get the fuck out of here.

The tension in the room lingered, the air heavy with the remnants of whatever twisted power play Edward had been trying to pull. But I could feel it dissipating as Jasper turned to face me, his gaze softening as he searched my face for any sign of distress.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice still carrying that protective edge, though I could see the concern in his eyes.

"Osti de câlice de tabarnak," I muttered under my breath, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My hands were trembling now, but not from fear. No, I definitely wasn't afraid of the man-child who had just stormed out of my library.

Nope, it was rage—pure, unadulterated rage. And it wasn't directed at Edward, not really. It was at the author, the one who had created this melodramatic mess.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and marched into my office, leaving Jasper to follow in my wake. I could feel him close behind me, not pressing, just... there, a steady presence as I tried to calm myself down. I yanked my iced coffee out of my bag and gulped it down, the cold liquid doing little to cool the anger still burning inside me.

I didn't say anything, and neither did Jasper. He just stood there, watching me with that quiet curiosity, not trying to alter my emotions, not trying to soothe me. Just letting me feel what I needed to feel. And oh, Lord, how that made me thankful.

I slammed the empty bottle down on my desk, taking a deep breath as I tried to collect my thoughts. "I can't believe this," I finally muttered, mostly to myself. "The gall of that—" I cut myself off, shaking my head as the anger flared up again.

Jasper still didn't say anything, just moved a little closer, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. It was enough to ground me, to keep me from spiraling further.

"Sorry," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face as I tried to get a grip. "I'm just... I can't believe he actually went there."

"You have every right to be angry," Jasper said quietly, his voice low and even. "He crossed a line."

"Oh, Tex, you have no idea," I snapped, the frustration bubbling over again. "And the fucking tweens lap that alpha dog shit up! It's disgusting. Like, how? How could your—ugh, that damn creator—what the hell were they thinking? Osti de câlice de tabarnak," I muttered again, feeling the anger flare up as I started gathering my belongings. "Maudit—I'm out. Nope, I am outta here."

But as I stuffed my things into my bag, the reality of the situation hit me. I froze, halfway through tossing my notebook into my bag. I had no vehicle.

I let out a frustrated sigh, the absurdity of it all crashing down on me. I wasn't driving American Anya's car because, well, I didn't drive. And Forks wasn't Montreal with a convenient metro system. Or bicycles on every street corner. It was a backwoods town where you needed a car to get anywhere.

"Of course," I muttered to myself, dropping my bag back onto the desk with a thud. "Of course, I can't even make a dramatic exit without something going wrong."

Jasper, who had been watching me with that same calm curiosity, stepped forward. "Where were you planning on going?"

"Anywhere but here," I grumbled, crossing my arms and leaning against the desk in defeat. "But unless I magically learn to drive in the next five minutes, I'm stuck."

He chuckled softly, the sound warm and surprisingly comforting. "I can give you a ride if you need one. But are you sure you want to leave?"

I thought about it, trying to weigh my options. I was supposed to be a responsible adult with a job. I shouldn't be contemplating playing hooky with my boyfriend. Yeah, Jasper was my boyfriend. And then came the other thought—Ugh, he's a 17-year-old.

No, he isn't, I reminded myself, trying to push through the Gordian knot of thoughts warring in my head.He was turned at twenty, I think. Jasper was so much more than that, but it was still a lot to process. Before I could come to any kind of decision, the buzz of Jasper's phone broke my reverie. I glanced up at him, and I didn't need to read the text. The pure joy and mischief radiating off him told me all I needed to know.

"Alice found a way to bust us out of this jail known as high school?" I asked, a grin already tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Jasper's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with that familiar glint of excitement. "She's always got a plan," he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket. "And it looks like she's just given us an out for the day."

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension from earlier finally starting to lift. "Well, who am I to argue with Alice?"

"Exactly," Jasper replied, his grin turning almost wicked. "So, what do you say, Darlin'? Ready to make a run for it?"

I paused for a moment, glancing around my office, the responsibilities that had felt so heavy just minutes ago suddenly seeming a lot less important. Maybe it wasn't the most responsible choice, but right now, I didn't care. I needed a break, and if Alice was giving us the green light, who was I to say no?

"Hell to the ya!" I said, my excitement building as I grabbed my bag again. "Lead the way, Tex."

Jasper's smile grew as he took my hand, and together, we made our way out of the library, the weight of the day finally lifting as we slipped out of the school and into the freedom that awaited us. For once, the world beyond Forks High School was ours, and I was more than ready to embrace it.

I had to hand it to Alice—she had really outdone herself this time. We were taking Edward's precious Volvo out for a joyride, and the irony was not lost on either of us. The thought of Edward's face when he found out made me grin, and I could tell Jasper was enjoying the idea just as much.

Pulling out of the school parking lot, tires squealing, Jasper glanced over at me, a playful smile on his lips. "So, where do you want to go?"

I fiddled with the radio settings, rolling my eyes as I cycled through the stations. Classical, classical, more classical. Ugh, of course Edward only had classical presets. "Where's some rock when you need it?" I muttered, finally giving up and turning the dial off.

"Seattle," I said suddenly, the idea sparking in my mind. "Let's go to Seattle. God, I am dying for a proper latte and to be in a city."

Jasper's smile turned into a full grin, clearly pleased with my choice. "Seattle it is," he said, hitting the gas and guiding the Volvo onto the street.

Speeding down the road, the miles quickly passing by, I could feel the excitement building inside me. The dreariness of Forks was already fading into the background, replaced by the anticipation of the city—the hustle and bustle, the noise, the energy. I needed this, more than I'd realized until now.

Jasper glanced over at me, his excitement bubbling over. "A proper latte and the city life, huh? I think we can make that happen."

I grinned, leaning back in the seat as the landscape blurred by outside. "You have no idea how much I've missed it. Forks is nice and all, but I need to breathe city air, even if it's just for a few hours."

"Well, consider today a breath of fresh air," he said, his tone full of promise. "We've got all the time in the world."

I loved that he was willing to do this for me, to give me this escape, but I also knew who—what—he was. I had seen his eyes earlier when he'd stopped Edward, how they had darkened, and I knew they weren't completely back to their normal golden hue. The thirst was still there, just beneath the surface, and it was something I couldn't ignore. When we found ourselves on a quiet, deserted stretch of road, I quietly asked Jasper to pull over.

He glanced at me, a hint of surprise in his eyes, but he didn't question it. He slowed the car and pulled over to the side of the road, the engine idling as the silence of the forest pressed in around us.

I didn't say anything right away, just looked at him, hoping he'd understand what I was getting at without me having to spell it out. The rules were clear, and I knew better than to push boundaries that could put us both at risk.

Jasper met my gaze, his eyes searching mine, and then I saw the moment he understood. His expression softened, and he gave a small nod, acknowledging the unspoken concern between us.

"You're right," he said quietly, the tension easing from his shoulders. "I need to... take care of this first."

I nodded, grateful that he didn't try to brush it off or pretend it wasn't an issue. "I'll wait," I said, offering him a reassuring smile. "Take all the time you need."

He gave me a grateful look, then glanced out at the dense forest surrounding us. "I won't be long," he promised, his voice calm and steady. Then, in a flash, he was out of the car and gone, disappearing into the trees with that effortless grace only a vampire could manage.

I leaned back in the seat, exhaling slowly as I let the tension ease out of my body. This was the reality of being with Jasper— he was at the end of the day, an apex predator who survived off of blood. And better for him to drain a few deer than be tempted by any of the nameless faces in the city. It was just a boundary we had to have in our relationship that couldn't be ignored. But the fact that he respected those boundaries, that he understood without me having to say much, made all the difference.

I watched the forest, the trees swaying gently in the breeze, and let my thoughts drift. Eddie boy would probably get all huffy if I suggested he needed to hunt. Does Bella ever have to remind him to hunt? I can't remember.

A few minutes later, Jasper reappeared, his movements quiet and controlled as he slipped back into the driver's seat. His eyes were back to their usual golden hue, the earlier darkness gone, replaced by a calm clarity.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice soft but steady, the same quiet confidence I'd come to appreciate.

"Ready," I replied, feeling a renewed sense of ease as I smiled at him. "Let's go get that latte."

Settling into a semi-comfortable silence, I remembered that I had my MP3 player in my bag. After a bit of fiddling, I managed to hook it up to Edward's precious sound system. Finally, some Supertramp was pulsing through the car, the familiar tunes filling the space with a welcome sense of normalcy.

The music put me at ease, but a stray thought kept nagging at the back of my mind. I was curious—more than curious—but I wasn't sure how polite it was to ask the questions swirling around in my head. Jasper was always so open, but there were still things I didn't fully understand about his world, about him.

Driving along Highway 101, I found myself idly playing with his right hand, tracing patterns over his cool skin. He only needed one hand on the wheel—supernatural reflexes were kind of hot when you thought about it.

"So, Tex..." I began, glancing over at him with a hint of hesitation. "Can I ask you some questions?"

He turned his head slightly, giving me a sideways glance, his expression open and curious. "Of course," he said easily. "You can ask me anything."

"So, this vegetarian diet..." I started, hesitating for a moment as I tried to find the right words. "Do you ever, uh, suffer from indigestion?"

Jasper's expression shifted to one of mild confusion, his quizzical look telling me he wasn't quite following. I realized I needed to approach this a bit differently.

"I mean," I continued, trying to clarify, "if I, as a lowly librarian, rushed through my lunch and then hopped into a car going faster than the posted speed limit—no judgment—I'd be feeling a little green around the gills."

Jasper's puzzled expression slowly turned into an amused smile as he caught on to what I was trying to ask. "You're wondering if I ever get, what, carsick? From, uh…?"

"Vegetables, Jasper. It's vegetables," I supplied him with a grin, leaning into our shared euphemism.

He chuckled, the sound light and warm. "Right, vegetables. Well, no, they don't make me carsick. No upset stomachs from all that... vegetarianism."

"That's good to know," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual, but I couldn't help the curiosity that lingered in the back of my mind. "So, no issues with, like, digestion? Or, I don't know, side effects?"

Jasper shook his head, clearly amused by my line of questioning. "Nope, no side effects. It's not really like meat. It's more about how much control I have in certain situations. The real challenge isn't in the diet itself—it's in making sure I don't push myself too far."

I nodded, understanding a little better now. "Like being able to centre yourself?"

"Something like that," Jasper agreed, his voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. "It's about making sure I stay in the golden zone if you like, especially when I'm around lowly librarians. I can't let myself get too thirsty, or it gets harder to stay in control."

"That makes sense," I said, my fingers still tracing patterns on his hand as I mulled over his words. "But you handled it today, right? With the niaiseux?"

Jasper's eyebrows shot up, a mixture of confusion and amusement flashing in his golden eyes. "Niaiseux? What's that?" he asked, trying out the unfamiliar word with a thick, clumsy accent.

I couldn't help but laugh, a sound that bubbled up from deep in my chest and filled the car. "It's Québécois," I explained, grinning up at him. "It means... well, it's not exactly a compliment. Basically, someone who's being dumb or annoying." I shot him a sidelong glance, testing the waters. "Like Edward was earlier."

He chuckled, the sound low and rich, vibrating through the car's interior. "Ah, I see. Niaiseux fits him perfectly then." Jasper's expression shifted, turning slightly more serious. "Yeah, I handled it. It was close, but I didn't let it get out of hand. And I won't, Anya. I want to be around you, and that means staying in control."

I smiled, reassured by his words. "I'm glad to hear that. And if you ever need to, you know, step away to take care of things, I'll understand. We're a team, after all."

But I still had more questions. What can I say? Once a researcher, always a researcher.

"Okay, so no indigestion from vegetables," I began, the curiosity bubbling up again. "But, here's the thing—lowly librarian here—if I ate an entire 24-ounce steak in less than 10 minutes, I'd be wearing more of it than actually eating it. Unlike you, looking like you stepped off a runway, not a deer path in the Pacific Northwest."

Jasper chuckled, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he glanced over at me. "You do have a point there," he admitted, his tone light. "But it's a bit different for us. Our bodies handle things in a way that's... let's just say, more efficient. No need for digestion in the librarian sense. It's more like... instant energy. It doesn't linger or cause any mess."

"So, no food comas or meat sweats?" I asked, feigning a disappointed pout.

"None of that," he confirmed with a grin. "We're designed for efficiency. What we take in is used immediately. No need for our bodies to process it the way yours would."

I nodded, absorbing that bit of information. It made sense in a way, considering everything else I'd learned about vampires, but it still felt strange—almost too perfect. "Must be nice," I said with a smirk. "No post-meal sluggishness or food stains to worry about."

There was a lull in the conversation, but then I could feel it—the sheer amusement rolling off Jasper. Now it was my turn to be perplexed.

"What, Tex? Spill the beans."

That just set him off even more. His laughter filled the car, rich and genuine. "Oh, sweet Anya," he said between chuckles, "I believe it's my turn to ask if you're a special kind of stupid."

I blinked, taken aback. Clearly, I had missed something glaringly obvious. As I glanced around, wondering if this was some bizarre game of I Spy, it finally dawned on me.

Merde. Here we were, cruising in Edward's prized Volvo—his car that we had taken for a joyride—talking about the eating habits of vegetarian vampires as if it were no different than discussing the weather.

"Huh," I muttered, finally cluing in. "Poor Edward and his Edwardian sensibilities. I must truly be a harlot in his eyes," I added, dripping with sarcasm.

Jasper's laughter finally subsided to a quiet chuckle, his eyes still dancing with amusement. He leaned back against the seat, his expression turning thoughtful for a moment. "You know, Anya," he drawled, letting the Texas twang roll out thick and slow, "Edward might think you're a Jezebel, leadin' me astray in his precious car. But you and I both know somethin' he don't."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what's that, Tex?"

He grinned, the corners of his mouth lifting in that charming, slightly crooked smile that always made my heart skip a beat. "Blondes have more fun," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, echoing the words I'd thrown at him the first time we'd been alone in the woods.

I felt a rush of warmth flood my cheeks at the memory. It had been a bold statement, more so because it was true, at least when it came to us. Being with Jasper was my wildest fantasies come alive and I couldn't get enough of being with him alone. "You're right about that," I said, my voice soft but sure. "Blondes do have more fun."

Jasper's smile widened, his eyes holding mine for a heartbeat longer before he turned his attention back to the road. "Then let's keep it that way," he said, giving the gas pedal another nudge. The Volvo surged forward, the engine purring like a satisfied cat.

I leaned back in my seat, a grin spreading across my face. "Edward's gonna have a fit, you know. When he finds out."

Jasper shrugged; his expression unconcerned. "Let him. We're just takin' a page outta his own playbook, rememberin' what it's like to be young and reckless. Not to mention, you know what they say—what's life without a little bit of danger?"

I laughed, a thrill of excitement running through me. "Right, a little danger never hurt anybody." I turned my head to look at him, catching the way the passing lights cast shadows across his face. "Besides," I added, my voice dropping to a teasing lilt, "if he's gonna accuse me of being a Jezebel, I might as well live up to the name."

Jasper laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "You're a breath of fresh air, Anya. Don't ever change."

A/N: next update on Friday! Will Jasper steal a base? Will the Latte turn into lemonade?