The Jasper & Danielle Trilogy

by Carrot Top

When Danielle Clark moved to Forks, Washington, she hadn't really known what to expect. But she definitely hadn't planned on falling in love with Jasper Hale, and she certainly hadn't known he would turn her life completely upside down. Originally posted nearly a decade ago, now being revised and reposted for your viewing pleasure! - PART TWO IN PROGRESS -

13. Chapter Twelve

First, I want to apologize for the delay between updates. I became focused on some stories I had been neglecting for a long and just didn't have the time to dedicate to this one. I didn't mean for it to be so long, but sometimes that's just how life goes!

Second, thank you to those of you who have been patient with me, and thank you for everyone who is showing support for this story! I appreciate all your kind words more than you know!

Now, since it has been so long, I'm gonna shut up and let you get to the chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Twilight!

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Chapter Twelve

Danielle woke before her alarm the next morning, then could scarcely contain her excitement as she got ready for school as quickly as possible. She flew through her morning routine, then, when she was dressed and presentable, she went to the bedroom window to look outside and see if Jasper and Edward had arrived. They hadn't. Only Bella's truck was parked across the street.

Danielle hurried downstairs to have some breakfast while she waited, feeling just the slightest bit relieved when she discovered that Lynne had already left for work. She had thought that her mother might hang around longer than usual just to see if Jasper showed up at the house to ride with her to school, and seeing as Jasper was coming to the house, Danielle had no doubt that Lynne, who was still giddy over the fact that they were now officially a couple, would have more than likely said or done something to embarrass her in front him. But now that her mother was gone and that was no longer a concern, Danielle relaxed and went to the pantry to grab a bagel to eat.

When she was done eating, she went to collect her jacket and backpack, quickly putting on both, then headed to the window by the front door to keep an eye out for Edward's Volvo. Did she feel a bit like a stalker, staring through a gap in the blinds and waiting with rapidly disappearing patience for Jasper to turn up? Maybe a little. But did she care? Not at all.

When Edward's silver Volvo finally rolled into view and came to a halt in the driveway of the Swan house, Danielle jumped and made a sound of excitement, before quickly moving to the front door to yank it open. Not even a full second had passed since she had left her post at the window, but by the time she had the door completely open, Jasper was already standing on the welcome mat, his eyes glittering with amusement as he smirked back at her.

The moment she saw him, she felt an immediate, overwhelming urge to launch herself into his arms and kiss him until her lips fell off, but she obediently resisted, diligently reminding herself that it might be too much for Jasper to handle if she caught him off guard like that. Instead, she grinned broadly as he held his arms open in invitation, then happily stepped into his affectionate embrace. Danielle sighed contentedly as his strong arms held her tightly to his chest, her own hands clutching at his back as she rested her head on his chest. This was exactly where she had wanted to be all night long, and now that she was in his arms again, she didn't ever want to leave.

"Excited to see me?" he asked with a husky laugh.

Danielle pulled back far enough to be able to look up at him. "What gave it away?" she asked with a grin.

"I could feel it before I even saw you," Jasper stated matter-of-factly. "The squeal I heard when we parked was a pretty large hint, too," he added with a humored smirk.

Danielle's eyes went wide with surprise. "You could hear that?"

Jasper cocked his head to the side. "Did I forget to mention that vampires have incredible hearing?"

She mentally ran through conversation from the previous day, but did not recall him bringing it up. "Yeah, you left that tidbit out," Danielle confirmed.

Suddenly she thought back to times in the past when she had said things about Jasper whilst standing nowhere near him but that he had still reacted to, like, for example, when they had first met and she had told Bella he was a jerk, and how he had seemed to stiffen in response to the insult. She could remember thinking he had just been really good at reading lips – now she knew it was because he had actually been able to hear everything she had said.

"Ah, crap," Danielle said with a cringe. "You heard me call you a jerk the first day we met."

"I did," he confirmed. "And I was a jerk, so I'm not upset about it. I deserved it," he added with a firm nod.

"You heard me defend you when Jessica was talking about you, too," Danielle said next, remembering that day at lunch when she and Jasper had first gotten on good terms with each other and she had jumped to his defense when Jessica said rude things about him. He had said that he had heard about it through rumors, which was obviously not the truth.

"Yes," Jasper said with a smile. "And I'm glad that you did. Until that moment, I wasn't convinced that being friends with you would be a smart idea. I was very intrigued by you, and I wanted to get to know you better, but considering what I am and considering how badly our first meeting had gone, I was afraid that us being friends would be dangerous for you," he admitted. "Once I heard you say those things to Jessica, however, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my distance. That moment was what gave me the confidence to pursue a friendship with you."

Danielle smiled up at him and hugged him tighter. "Well, thank God for superhuman vampire hearing, then," she said.

Jasper just smiled down at her, then leaned down to so that he could press a kiss to her forehead. He let out a content sigh, his hands smoothing circles over her back. "Last night was the longest night," he murmured, his amber eyes searching her features as if trying to memorize them. "This morning couldn't come fast enough."

Danielle frowned and gave him a look of apology. As rough as it had been being away from him, at least she had been able to sleep and pass the time a bit quicker. Jasper, however, didn't have the same luxury. "I'm sorry. Was it awful, having to wait?"

Jasper smiled and reached a hand up to gently caress the side of her face. "It's nothing I can't handle," he assured her. "And if the reward for my patience is that I can have you in my arms again, it's worth the wait."

Danielle beamed up at him, then closed her eyes with a happy sigh as Jasper pressed another lingering kiss to her forehead. She couldn't help but think about her little revelation from the night before and wonder just how in the world it had taken her so long to realize the true extent of her feelings for Jasper. To feel how happy and giddy and completely over the moon she was now just to be with him again, it was all too obvious that her feelings for him had moved past just caring about him. She could practically feel herself falling in love with him more and more with each passing second.

Jasper suddenly looked surprised, his eyes going a bit wider than normal, which made Danielle give him a curious look in return because she didn't know what had caused him to react that way. "Danielle?" Jasper asked quietly, his eyes peering searchingly into her own. "What were you just thinking about?"

Danielle blinked in confusion, until realization swiftly caught up to her. Jasper could feel her every emotion, which meant that he had probably just felt all of the love for him that had just been swirling through her heart. That, of course, was a problem, because even though she most assuredly was falling in love with Jasper, she hadn't actually planned on telling him. Not now, at least. For starters, they hadn't even been an official couple for a full twenty-four hours yet – it was way too soon to start shouting her love for Jasper from the rooftops. She also hadn't planned on saying anything unless Jasper said it first, because she wasn't about to risk freaking him out by being too quick to throw the 'L' word around.

Danielle flushed as she struggled to come up with a good excuse. "I was thinking how…how excited I am for the dance tomorrow!" she finally managed out with a vigorous nod. "I'm just really looking forward to it!"

The way Jasper stared back at her led her to believe that he wasn't very convinced that she was telling him the truth, and for a second she thought he might question her further. Thankfully, he seemed to decide against it and slowly nodded acceptingly of her excuse. Danielle breathed easier, and vowed to try to keep her feelings to herself from here on out…if such a thing was even possible.

"I'm glad you're excited," Jasper said in response, his demeanor and expression perfectly normal now. "If I'm being honest, I'm actually rather looking forward to it myself."

Danielle raised her brows at him. "Really? I thought you said dances were silly," she reminded him.

Jasper shrugged. "Yes, well…that was before I had a breathtakingly beautiful girlfriend to go with," he said lowly, the corner of his mouth turning upward.

Danielle flushed for a new reason now, her lips pulling into a bashful smile. "If there's anyone who's breathtakingly beautiful, it's you, not me," she rebutted.

Jasper smiled, but shook his head. "And that is where I'm going to have to firmly disagree with you," he said.

"Agree to disagree, then," Danielle said with a shrug.

Jasper nodded, then he tilted her chin up with his knuckle before leaning down to give her a quick, soft kiss. It was a far cry from the last kiss they had shared, which had been so passionate she was surprised she hadn't spontaneously combusted as the result of it, but just the feel of is his cool lips on hers still sent her heart racing and made her entire body tingle with satisfaction.

He pulled away to smile at her, looking quite pleased with himself when he saw the undoubtedly dreamy look on her face, then nodded his head in the direction of Bella's house. "Why don't we get going?" he suggested.

Danielle nodded in agreement, then turned to lock the door to her house before intertwining her fingers with Jasper's and starting across the street. Edward was leaning casually against the driver side door of his Volvo, his eyes peering at the Swan house as he waited for Bella to come outside. He glanced over as she and Jasper approached, then smiled politely and inclined his head to her.

"Good morning, Danielle," he greeted.

"Morning, Edward," she said back.

"I hope you don't mind driving Bella's truck again today," he said, glancing toward the vehicle in question. "It's probably not very environmentally friendly, taking two cars to the same place when we could easily carpool, but it'll make the return trip home much easier for both of you in the long run."

Danielle just nodded her head. "I don't mind driving the truck," she assured him with a smile. Because driving the truck meant being alone with Jasper, and that sounded a heck of a lot better than carpooling with Bella and Edward.

Edward nodded gratefully in response, before his gaze turned a bit serious. He glanced at the Swan house, then stood a bit straighter as he looked at Danielle again. "I have a bit of a favor to ask of you, Danielle," he said, which made her tilt her head questioningly. "If it isn't too much to ask, could you possibly keep an eye on Bella for me while Jasper and I are away?"

Danielle shot an uncertain look at Jasper, who just shrugged in response, before lifting a brow at Edward. "What do you mean, keep an eye on her?" she asked. "Is she gonna be doing something crazy that none of us know about?"

"I should hope not," Edward said. "But Bella is, well…Bella. If an opportunity to get hurt presents itself, she will most certainly take advantage," he reminded her with a grim smile. "I only ask this of you because you're trustworthy, and because you're Bella's closest friend," he continued. "If, for example, she decides to go traipsing through the woods after dark, or if she suddenly expresses a desire to go onto the roof for a bit of stargazing, maybe you could just…discourage her from doing so?"

Danielle started to point out the fact that she was not Bella's parent, therefore Bella likely wouldn't be asking her permission to do anything, nor would it be Danielle's place to tell her no even if she did. But when she saw the almost pleading look in Edward's amber colored eyes, she finally just nodded her head.

"Yeah, okay," she agreed. "I'll do my best."

Edward's small smile of gratitude was immediate. "Thank you, Danielle."

"No problem," Danielle responded with a nod.

The front door of Bella's house finally opened after that, which made all three of them look in that direction. Bella stepped outside, then smiled as she caught sight of Danielle, Jasper, and Edward standing in the driveway. "Hey, guys," she greeted with a friendly smile. "Are you riding with us this morning?" she then asked as she came to stand with them.

"No," Danielle answered. "I've been informed that I need to take your truck to school if you and I want a way home this afternoon," she said.

Bella seemed confused and shot Edward an uncertain look. "Don't I already have a ride home, though?" she asked.

Edward smiled a bit. "Jasper and I are leaving school after lunch today," he revealed, which made Bella frown at once. "We're just going for a quick hunt in preparation for tomorrow," he told her with a nod. "We'll be back by the morning."

Bella still didn't seem crazy about the fact that Edward would be leaving early, but nodded in acceptance anyway. "Okay, I guess that makes sense." She looked back over at Danielle, then held up an index finger. "Here, wait just a sec. I'll go grab the key to my truck."

They waited around while Bella hurried back inside to retrieve the key, which had likely been returned to her the previous afternoon when Alice had returned Bella's truck. They didn't have to wait long – Bella returned a few short moments later, then plopped the key into Danielle's waiting hand.

"Just don't let him drive," she said, which made Danielle and Jasper both raise their brows at her. "No offence," Bella said quickly to Jasper. "But if you drive anything like he does," she said, nodding her head toward Edward, "then you'll probably kill my poor, old truck. And I kinda like my truck, so I'd rather it lived to see another day."

Danielle smirked with amusement now, while Jasper smiled a bit and nodded in understanding. "Don't worry. I won't let him put one finger on the steering wheel," she promised Bella.

Bella smiled, then went around to the passenger seat of the Volvo, where Edward was already pulling open the door for her. "See you guys at school," she said, before ducking into the car.

Danielle and Jasper turned and went to the truck, while Edward joined Bella in the Volvo. As the Volvo reversed out of the driveway and started off down the road at a speed that was probably not very acceptable for a neighborhood, Jasper opened the driver's side door to Bella's truck and helped Danielle in, never once releasing her hand. Finally he let go, shut the door, and hurried around to the passenger side.

Danielle put the key in the ignition, but did not start the truck straight away. Instead, she looked over at Jasper with a frown of uncertainty. "Why does Edward feel like Bella needs a babysitter?" she asked with confusion. "What exactly does he think is gonna happen to her in a place like this? This town is basically the size of a gnat," she pointed out. "I can't imagine there'd be that much danger lurking around."

Jasper sighed and shrugged a shoulder. "Edward just feels very protective of Bella," he answered.

Danielle quirked a brow. "Protective, or possessive?" she asked pointedly.

"Both, I suppose," Jasper admitted truthfully. "I don't know if you have noticed, but Bella seems to have a knack for attracting danger, which, as I'm certain you can now see, makes Edward nervous. He cares for her, and he worries that something bad will happen to her, that's all."

In a way, Danielle could see perhaps where Edward was coming from. But still, asking her to more or less stand guard over Bella why he was away? That was a bit much. "He seems a little over the top with it, though," she said. "I mean, you don't get that way with me."

Jasper gave her a look. "Trust me, I share the exact same fears and worries that Edward does," he assured her with a serious look. "I, on the other hand, try not to be quite so overbearing about it," he added with a smirk. "And luckily for me, the danger Bella attracts seems to be uninterested in you."

Danielle just made a sound of understanding. "I see." She looked at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, thank you for not being an obnoxiously overprotective boyfriend. Because as perfect and wonderful as you are, I would not be a fan of you acting like that," she told him honestly. "And as for the danger you're talking about," she continued, "let's just hope it decides to stay away from both me and Bella."

Jasper nodded in agreement. "Yes. Let's," he echoed.

They shared a small smile, before Danielle finally started the truck, making it roar to life. Finally, she put the truck in drive, and with that they were on their way to school.

---

They pulled into Forks High a short while later, parking in the spot that was open next to Edward's Volvo. Edward and Bella, who had undoubtedly beaten them to school by a considerable chunk of time, were nowhere in sight. Danielle cut the engine and got out of the truck, moving to the bed to grab her bag. Not so surprisingly, when the students in the parking lot saw that she and Jasper had arrived at school together again, they stared and whispered to one another. Danielle ignored the onlookers and instead smiled at Jasper once he was by her side, happily sliding her hand into his when he extended it toward her.

They walked hand in hand across the parking lot, their sights set on the school. As they made their way closer to the staircase that would lead up to the school, Danielle saw that Rosalie's red convertible was parked in the spot the Cullen's often parked in. She also saw that Emmett, Alice, and Rosalie herself were all loitering by the car, talking casually with one another. When she and Jasper were only a handful of feet away, all three turned at the same time to look at them. Emmett and Alice smiled upon seeing them, but Rosalie scowled before grabbing her book bag and turning to leave with a dramatic swish of her blonde hair, walking briskly up to the school. Emmett and Alice watched her go with small frowns before sharing a look with each other. As for Danielle, she just sighed to herself, not in any way surprised by the vampire's behavior.

"Morning, lovebirds," Emmett greeted loudly as she and Jasper finally reached them. He was grinning again, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he looked back and forth between the two of them.

Danielle smirked at him. "Morning, Big Foot," she said in return, which made Jasper snort. She looked over at him and they shared a smile, both amused by their little inside joke.

Emmett seemed confused. "Big Foot?" he echoed. "Where did that come from?"

"Nowhere," Danielle answered evasively. While Emmett scratched his head, seemingly unsure what to make of his new nickname, Danielle focused her attention on Alice. "Hi, Alice," she greeted with a friendly smile. "It's nice to see you again."

Alice grinned brightly. "Same to you. Are you looking forward to the dance tomorrow?"

Danielle nodded instantly. "Oh yes. Very much so."

Alice beamed even more, her eyes flicking back and forth between her and Jasper. "You two are going to have such a magical time! I just know it!" she all but gushed. "And I love the dress you picked out, Dani. You're going to look absolutely stunning!"

For a split second, Danielle was confused as to how Alice could possibly know what kind of dress she had picked out for the Spring Fling. But then she quickly remembered that Alice had visions of the future, which could only mean that Alice had seen a vision of her and Jasper going to the dance together. Danielle couldn't lie – it was pretty weird and a little unnerving that Alice had been able to see something about her own future that had not yet taken place, but she tried to ignore the feeling and smiled at the beautiful vampire.

"Thank you," she said with a nod.

"I tried to convince Alice to tell me what it looked like," Jasper spoke up, which made her look at him. He was giving Alice a look of slight annoyance, though Danielle could tell instantly that he wasn't really mad. "She wouldn't do it, though. The only hint she gave me was that it would, and I quote, 'knock my socks off'."

Danielle looked back at Alice, who smirked and shrugged innocently. "And that's the only hint you'll get from me," she said with finality, which just made Jasper shake his head. "Don't worry, Dani," Alice said, directing her attention back to Danielle. "I'm going to make sure Jasper wears an outfit that matches yours. And though he isn't going to look anyone near as good as you, I'll do my best to make him look as handsome as possible."

Jasper narrowed his eyes at his sister, who smiled mischievously, but Danielle just raised her brows in warning. "Careful, Alice. If you make him look anymore handsome than he already is, I might faint the moment I see him. The night will be finished before it even begins," she said.

That made Jasper look at her again, a broad smile stretching across his impossibly gorgeous face in response to those words. Danielle returned his smile, knowing they both probably looked like a couple of lovesick fools but not really caring. She thought she heard Alice sigh, as if watching a touching scene in a romantic film. Emmett, however, immediately groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Oh, gag," he said, which made everyone frown at him. "If you guys are gonna get all mushy, I'm outta here," he then announced.

With that, Emmett grabbed his backpack, gave them one last over exaggerated grossed-out look, then headed off without another look back. Alice rolled her own eyes, then gave Danielle a reassuring look.

"Don't mind him. He's just likes to give you and Jasper a hard time," Alice said.

"No worries. I'm used to Em's antics by now," Danielle said with a nod.

The bell to signal that it was time for students to begin making their way to first period rang. The teenagers that had been hanging out in the parking lot all began to head inside. As for Alice, she reached over to grab her school books, which had been resting on the trunk of Rosalie's car, then gave Danielle and Jasper another smile.

"Time for class," she said. "See you two later."

"Bye," Danielle and Jasper said.

Alice soon disappeared into the crowd of students as she made her way up to the school. Jasper and Danielle began to head that way as well, walking hand-in-hand, not feeling in too much of a rush as they moseyed along with the rest of their classmates.

"I like Alice," Danielle told him with a small smile. "She's nice."

"I knew you would," Jasper said with a nod. "Alice likes you, too," he then told her with a smile. "Now that we're together, I'm sure she'll do everything in her power to make you her new best friend."

Danielle laughed. "Hey, that might not be so bad," she said with a shrug.

Jasper gave her a sideways look. "You don't know Alice like I do," he pointed out. "She has the tendency to be a bit of a handful."

"Well, I'd rather her smother me with friendship than treat me like I'm some kind of leper, like Rosalie is so fond of doing," Danielle countered.

Jasper sighed at the mention if Rosalie. "I'm sorry about her," he told her with a small frown of apology.

Danielle just squeezed his hand. "It's alright. I'm a big girl. I can handle it," she assured him with a firm nod.

Jasper just nodded, though there was a lingering look in his eye that said he still wasn't thrilled with the way Rosalie continued to behave around her.

They had made it to Danielle's locker by now, and as she put in the combination to open the lock, Jasper leaned against the neighboring locker to wait. Danielle quickly put away her backpack and grabbed the books she needed for her first classes of the day, before shutting the locker again. They then continued on to Jasper's locker so that he could grab his books as well.

As they walked, Danielle found herself thinking about Jasper's family. It was obvious to her how his siblings felt about their relationship – Rosalie was not happy about how involved they had gotten with one another, but Emmett, Alice, and Edward seemed to be supportive of her and Jasper's relationship. Yet when it came to Carlisle and Esme, Jasper's parents, she had absolutely no idea how they felt about all of this. Were they glad that Jasper had found happiness with her? Or did they disapprove of the fact that Jasper had involved himself with a human?

Danielle stood by as they reached Jasper's locker and he opened it up, her teeth gnawing on her bottom lip as she pondered those questions that had just floated into her mind. Once Jasper finished grabbing his books, he grabbed her hand again and they started off toward first period. He seemed to notice that Danielle was distracted, though, because he gave her hand a gentle squeeze to catch her attention, then raised his brows questioningly as their gazes met.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked.

Danielle hesitated, feeling unsure whether or not she should say what was now on her mind. Finally, she decided she may as well ask Jasper, even if the answer was one she didn't want to hear. "What do Carlisle and Esme think about us being together?"

The question seemed to catch him a bit by surprise at first, but then he sighed and shrugged a shoulder. "They're not unsupportive of it," he told her in a tone that didn't exactly bode well.

Danielle frowned. "But they're not really happy about it, either, are they?"

"I wouldn't say that," Jasper said with a shake of his head. "They see how happy you've made me, and that makes them happy," he told her.

"But…?" Danielle prompted, knowing there was more to be said about this.

"But," Jasper continued, "they still worry. They know it hasn't been easy for me, living this lifestyle, and they know very well how risky it is for us to be together like this," he explained. "At the end of the day, they are happy for us. They just don't want to see things end badly," he concluded.

Danielle nodded, then gave him a determined look. "Things won't end badly," she told him firmly. "I have complete confidence in you, Jasper. I'm not worried, and someday they'll realize that there's nothing to be worried about, either."

Jasper pulled her to a stop right there in the middle of the hallway, his eyes full of both amazement and affection as he gazed down at her. "I've asked before, but I'm going to ask again – how can you possibly have so much faith in me?"

For one fleeting moment, Danielle thought about telling him the truth – she had faith in his ability to control himself because she trusted him, because she loved him. She didn't say that, though. She just smiled up at him, her hand squeezing his. "I just do," Danielle told him.

Jasper just smiled a bit and shook his head in wonderment, before stepping closer and leaning down to kiss her forehead. Danielle smiled up at him when he pulled back again, her heart feeling warm and fuzzy at his affectionate gesture.

"Come on," Jasper urged, before tugging her toward class again. "We better hurry or we'll be late."

Danielle just nodded, then went with him to their Calculus class.

---

It was a fairly typical school day after that. First and second period went by much too quickly for Danielle's taste, and before she knew it, Jasper was leaving her with a kiss on her knuckles at her third period class and telling her he would see her at lunchtime. In History, they split up into pairs to work on an assignment, so naturally Danielle paired up with Emmett. Instead of working, though, he took advantage of the fact that they could talk without getting yelled at by the teacher and proceeded to spend most of the class incessantly teasing her about her and Jasper's new status as an official couple. By the time the final bell rang, Danielle had just about reached her limit when it came to him making fun of her. Emmett redeemed himself, though, by finally dropping the act and telling her with a genuine smile that, all joking aside, he really was happy for her and Jasper. It was difficult to be annoyed with him after that.

She was reunited with Bella in Spanish, where she reassured her friend that her truck had made it to school safely – and slowly – and that it was still perfectly intact. They talked until the bell rang, then spent the rest of the class counting down the minutes until they would be able to see Jasper and Edward again.

Danielle was pleased to see that Edward was not the only Cullen hanging around outside their Spanish class when the bell for lunch finally rang. Jasper was there, too, and he greeted her with a happy, lopsided smile the moment she stepped out of class. All four of them walked to lunch together, Danielle and Jasper walking hand in hand, while Bella and Edward merely walked side by side, then made a beeline for the lunch line once they were in the cafeteria. They parted ways after they had gotten their food though, each couple preferring to spend this time alone rather than sharing a table. Once at their table, Danielle and Jasper quickly fell into casual conversation while they ate – well, while she ate, anyway. Jasper just pushed his food around and took a few obligatory bites here or there.

"So my mom is probably gonna want to take a bazillion pictures before we leave for the dance," Danielle warned him when their conversation inevitably went toward the topic of the dance. "She's probably gonna say something about us being together, too, so if she does something embarrassing or mom-ish, I apologize in advance."

Jasper smirked with amusement. "Don't worry. I'm not easily offended, or easily embarrassed," he said reassuringly.

"Good, because sometimes my mom can get a little…aggressive," Danielle said with a pointed look, before taking another bite of food.

There was a brief lull in conversation, until Jasper tilted his head. "What did she say when you told her about us?" he asked with only a hint of caution, as if he was afraid that Lynne might not approve.

"Oh, she was over the moon," Danielle revealed with a smile, which seemed to make him relax. "She knows how I feel about you, so she's glad that we're together."

"And she approves of me?" Jasper asked.

Danielle nodded. "She does so far. She think you're well-mannered and nice. She thinks you're, like, really cute, too, so there's that," she added with a playful smirk.

Jasper looked as though he wasn't sure how he should feel about that little tidbit, but eventually he shrugged. "At least she likes me," he said. "Though I have to imagine she might feel a little differently if she knew what I really was," he added, pursing his lips a bit.

Danielle thought about that for a second, then mimicked his shrug. "Honestly, I don't think she'd believe me even if I did tell her the truth," she told him. "And while we're on the topic," she continued, giving him a curious look. "I'm assuming you would prefer it if I didn't tell her, correct?"

Jasper nodded in confirmation. "It could be risky, her knowing the truth about our family," he said. "I feel horrible, asking you to keep a secret like this from your own mother, but for now, it's better if she doesn't know."

Danielle just nodded in understanding. She wasn't crazy about the thought of not telling Lynne the complete truth about Jasper, simply because she and her mother never kept any secrets from each other. But, at the end of the day, Jasper being a vampire was not her secret to tell, and she had meant it when she had told Edward that she wouldn't tell anyone what she knew. Until she was told otherwise, she wasn't going to breathe a word of anything to anyone, not even her own mother. The Cullen's secret would be safe with her.

When lunch was beginning to come to a close, Danielle and Jasper went to throw away their trash and headed outside before the rest of the students in the cafeteria did, just so they could have a few more minutes of privacy before Jasper left for the day. They headed toward the parking lot, then went over to where Edward had parked the Volvo. Danielle sighed once they were by the car, then turned to Jasper and stepped closer, so that she could slide her arms around his waist. Jasper smiled down at her and wrapped his long, strong arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

"I'll only be gone for a little while," he reminded her.

"It's still too long," Danielle said, trying not to sound too whiney. "Where are you gonna hunt tonight?"

"We won't be going far, just a little ways north of here," he said with a nod.

Danielle nodded. "Well, happy hunting, I guess?" she said, unsure if that was the appropriate thing to say in this sort of circumstance.

"I'm sure we'll have fun," Jasper said with a nod. "Edward and I have always gotten along well, but with you and Bella in the picture now, we certainly have something to bond over," he told her. "I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about tonight."

Danielle raised her brows jokingly. "Who knew you two were a couple of gossipers," she said with a small laugh.

Jasper shrugged. "It's Forks. Everyone gossips, even us," he shot back with a smirk.

Danielle just shook her head in amusement. When they heard the bell ring in the distance, Danielle sighed and held him tighter, knowing that their time was rapidly coming to an end. "When can I expect you tomorrow?" she asked.

"The dance starts at seven, so how about I come pick you up at six-thirty?" he suggested. "That way there will be plenty of time for your mother to take all the pictures she wants to."

Danielle nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

Jasper returned her nod, then lifted a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, his eyes scanning her features. He then placed his hand on her neck and leaned down to give her a soft, lingering kiss. Danielle sighed and leaned into him, holding him tighter, savoring the moment. Eventually Jasper pulled away, and when he did, she realized very quickly that it was because Edward had said his goodbyes to Bella and was now making his way toward them. He seemed to be looking anywhere but at them, as if trying not to intrude on their private moment. She looked at Edward, then sighed and glanced up at Jasper.

"Time to go," she said regretfully.

Jasper nodded and finally released her. "I'll see you tomorrow," he promised. "Have a good night tonight."

"I will," Danielle said. "And make sure you wear your dancing shoes tomorrow, because we've got a dance floor to tear up," she added.

Danielle did a little jig after that, which made Jasper chuckle. Edward, who had reached them by now, just quirked a brow at her before shaking his head in amusement and opening the driver's side door. "Don't judge me," she shot at Edward jokingly.

"I wouldn't dare," Edward assured her. "Let's go, Jasper," he then said to his brother, before sliding gracefully into the driver's seat.

Jasper nodded, flashed Danielle one more smile, then went around to the passengers seat. Danielle waved at him one last time, then watched as he finally ducked into the Volvo. She finally turned to leave, knowing that if she lingered for too much longer that she would be late for class. She glanced over her shoulder to watch as Edward's Volvo turned out of the parking lot and went racing off down the street, before finally heading back inside. She just hoped now that the rest of the day went by quickly, because she missed Jasper already, and she couldn't wait to see him again.

---

In an attempt to both keep her mind preoccupied and to hold true to the promise that she had made Edward, Danielle spent the rest of the day hanging out with Bella. They went to the diner with the lunch group after school to hang out and drink milkshakes, before they went back to Danielle's house to work on homework together. When it was close to the time that their parents would both be getting home from work, Danielle proposed that instead of their two families eating separately, they should eat dinner together. Bella agreed, and after they both called their respective parent to inform them that they'd all be eating together, she and Bella began cooking dinner together.

It turned out to be a very pleasant evening. Danielle and her mother had shared meals with Bella and her father a number of times by now, so there was no awkwardness between them. They all talked and laughed and ate, enjoying ones another's company. When they were finished eating, Charlie and Lynne said they would clean up the kitchen, so Danielle and Bella left them to it and went up to Danielle's room to hang out and listen to music. They stayed there for a long time, talking about music and books and, of course, Jasper and Edward. Eventually, though, it started to get late, and finally Bella and Charlie left to return to their own house. Danielle and Lynne showed them to the door and saw them off, watching as the father and daughter made their way back across the street. After that, Danielle and her mother went into the living room to watch a few sitcoms, until it was finally time to go to bed.

Saturday ended up being nothing but pure torture. Danielle was beyond excited to see Jasper and to go to the dance, but with her mother at work and not very much to do to pass the time, the day absolutely dragged. She moseyed around the house, taking care of a few mundane chores, watching television, and flipping through some magazines her mother bought at the store from time to time. Around lunchtime she received a call from Tom, which resulted in a nearly hour long conversation. It was still only about one o'clock in the afternoon by the time they were saying goodbye, though, and upon realizing she still had to wait five and a half grueling hours until Jasper would be coming to pick her up, Danielle groaned and retreated back to the living room to channel surf some more.

Finally, around four o'clock, Danielle hopped in the shower so that she could start getting ready. When she was finished with that, she stepped out of her bathroom to pull on some comfy clothes to wear while she got ready. To her surprise, just as she finished getting dressed there was a knock on her bedroom door.

"Hi, honey!" Lynne said, opening the door and poking her head in without waited to be invited.

Danielle looked at her with slight confusion. She had known her mother planned to come home earlier than usual to see her and Jasper off to the dance, but she hadn't thought she was you going to come home this early. "What're you doing here?" she asked. "I thought you weren't coming home until six?"

Lynne rolled her eyes dramatically. "You think I'd really stay at work and not come home to help you get ready for the dance?" she asked with disbelief. "Puh-lease! This is a special night, and I'm gonna make sure my baby girl looks perfect!" Lynne announced grandly.

Danielle grinned widely and went to hug Lynne, feeling a rush of gratitude for her mother. "Thanks, Mom! You're the best."

Lynne smirked and patted her back. "Tell me something I don't know," she teased, which made Danielle laugh. "Now," Lynne said, clapping her hands together, her eyes taking in Danielle's bare, make-up free face and wet hair. "Where to start?"

They ended up going downstairs to Lynne's bathroom, where she had several different hair styling tools and enough makeup to fill a factory. She sat Danielle down on the vanity stool and got to work on her hair, using a blow dryer and a round brush to smooth out her naturally curly locks. After that, she turned on a curling iron and curled her hair, so that it fell to her shoulders in smooth, tame waves. With that done, she began doing Danielle's makeup. They talked excitedly while Lynne worked and sang along with the radio that they had turned on, stopping about halfway through to go into the kitchen and eat some food so that Danielle wouldn't get hungry during the dance. When they finished, they went right back to the bathroom and resumed their little make-over. It was a ton of fun for Danielle, who felt like she'd time travelled back to the days where she and her mother would play dress up together and Lynne would do her hair and makeup, just like she was doing now.

Finally, just after six, Danielle hair and makeup was finished. Lynne took a step back after spraying the last round of hairspray, then grinned and nodded with satisfaction. "Alright, take a look!"

Danielle looked at herself in the mirror, then immediately grinned. She definitely had on way more makeup than she would usually wear, but her mother hadn't overdone it. Between her impeccable makeup and smooth, perfect hair, she felt glamorous and beautiful. "Thank you, Mom," she said, hugging Lynne again and kissing her cheek. "It looks amazing!"

"You're welcome," Lynne said, hugging her tightly. "Now go get your dress on! Jasper will be here soon!"

Danielle nodded and hurried upstairs. She carefully changed out of her clothes and slid into her dress, which fit her perfectly. She then went into the bathroom to put on sparkly, dangly earrings and a matching necklace, before spritzing herself with just one spray of perfume. Danielle then went back into her room to slide into a pair of silver heels, then turned to look at herself in the mirror. She looked far different than she did on a normal day, but she felt beautiful nonetheless. Now she hoped that Jasper would think so, too.

Danielle made her way downstairs, where Lynne was waiting with a camera already in hand. The moment she stepped into view, Lynne squealed and clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh. You look so beautiful!" she said complimented, which made Danielle smile bashfully. "Stop right there!" Lynne then said as Danielle reached the bottom step. "Picture time!"

A small photo shoot ensued, where Danielle patiently smiled for the camera and where Lynne moved Danielle around to various areas in the house, snapping picture after picture. Finally, the clock struck six thirty. And as Jasper, who was always prompt and arrived precisely when he said he would, rang the doorbell, Danielle's stomach swarmed with butterflies.

"Want me to get it?" Lynne offered, looking beside herself with excitement.

Danielle shook her head. "Let me," she insisted.

Lynne nodded, then stood back while Danielle hurried down the hallway. Once she was in front of the door, Danielle paused to smooth her hands over her dress and her hair to make sure everything was in place. Then, smiling widely, she pulled the door open.

The first thing she saw was a bouquet of beautiful, red roses, which Jasper held in his hand. She then looked at Jasper himself, who was wearing a black suit, shiny black shoes, and a purple, button down shirt that was a few shades lighter than her dress. She had always thought he was out of this world handsome, but right now, he was so beautiful that it literally took her breath away.

Neither of them said anything for a moment. Danielle smiled at him, while Jasper, his eyes wider and a lighter shade of amber than usual, stared at her in stunned silence. His eyes traveled the length of her body, all the way down to her silver shoes, then back up again. When their gazes met, she saw him gulp. It was the exact reaction she and been hoping for, and it made her heart flutter beneath her ribs.

"Hi," she finally said.

"Danielle…" Jasper said slowly, his eyes sweeping over her again. "There are no words to describe how stunning you look," he finally told her with a shake of his head.

Danielle blushed. "I could say the same thing," she said. "You look amazing."

Jasper finally smiled, then stepped closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He then extended the roses toward her. "For you," he said.

Danielle took them, her eyes sliding closed as she breathed in their scent. "Thank you, Jasper. These are wonderful." She then stepped aside to make room for him to pass through the doorway. "Why don't you come inside?"

Jasper nodded and stepped into the house. They shared a look as Danielle closed the door behind him, but the sound of her mother approaching quickly caught their attention. Jasper stood straighter as he caught sight of her mother, a friendly smile stretching across his face.

"Hello, Ms. Clark," he greeted.

"Hi there, Jasper," Lynne said in return she gave him a once over, then raised her brows. "You look very dapper tonight," she complimented, sharing a look with Danielle that wasn't very discreet at all.

"Thank you," Jasper said. "My sister, Alice, was the one who chose my outfit. She will be pleased to hear that it was met with approval," he added with a smooth laugh.

Lynne smiled, too, then turned her eyes down to the roses in Danielle's hands. "Oh, how lovely!" she said. "Here, give them to me," Lynne urged. "I'll put them in some water, then we can take some pictures!"

Lynne took the flowers into the kitchen, where they soon could hear rummaging around as she searched for a vase to put the flowers in. While they had a few moments alone, Jasper stepped closer and grabbed her hand, giving her a lopsided smile as he touched her smooth hair with his free hand.

"Alice was right," he murmured as he looked her over again. "I believe my socks gave been thoroughly knocked off."

Danielle laughed happily, then raised her brows at him approvingly. "I'm just glad I managed not to faint when I saw you. You look ridiculously good in this suit," she told him, reaching out to smooth her free hand over the lapel of his undoubtedly expensive suit jacket. "Where'd you get something like this anyway?"

"It's quite extraordinary the things one accumulates after existing for a century and a half," Jasper said with a smirk. "I've had this suit for many, many years."

Danielle nodded in understanding, then flashed him a smile. "You'll have to show me all the other cool stuff you've accumulated someday," she said, curious to know what else he might have back at home.

"I would be more than happy to," Jasper said with a nod.

Lynne finally returned with the flowers, which were in a pretty vase now. "Tah-dah!" she said grandly. "Come on! Let's out these on the living room and then take some pictures!" she said excitedly, motioning for them to follow her.

Danielle and Jasper followed Lynne into the living room. After she set the flowers down on the middle of the coffee table, she quickly grabbed her camera again and turned back around to face them. Another photoshoot ensued after that. They posed together in various places around the room, even sitting on the couch at one point so that her mother could get the flowers Jasper had brought in the picture. Thankfully, Jasper was polite and patient while her mother snapped at least a dozen pictures and never said or did anything to hint that he was getting annoyed or uncomfortable. Danielle looked up at him at one point and smiled gratefully, squeezing his hand and silently thanking him with her eyes for being such a good sport. Jasper seemed to understand what she was saying and just smiled back, giving her a single nod in response.

"It's six-fifty, just so you know," Jasper eventually murmured in her ear while Lynne was snapping a picture of them standing by the staircase.

Danielle nodded, then finally held a hand up. "Okay, Mom, picture time's over! Jasper and I have to go," she said firmly.

"Oh, yes! Of course, of course!" Lynne said at once. She finally set the camera down and began to usher to them toward the door. "You two have fun! Be safe! Stay away from the punch if it looks like it's been tampered with!" Lynne advised in a motherly tone.

"We will, Mom," Danielle said, sharing an amused look with Jasper as she paused at a table in the hallway to grab the clutch she had stowed her wallet and phone in. When they reached the door, she turned back to hug her mother tightly. "I'll see you later," she said.

Lynne squeezed her and kissed her on the temple. "Bye, sweetie," she said, patting her back before finally releasing her. Jasper opened the door and the two of them started to walk outside, but before they could get far, Lynne stopped Jasper with a hand on his arm. He paused, looking mildly surprised by the fact that Lynne had just touched him. "Just a second, Jasper," Lynne said. "Could we speak in private for a moment?"

Jasper shared a quick look with Danielle, then nodded. "Of course," he said. "I'll meet you at the car," he said to Danielle with a nod.

Danielle hesitated, then started making her way to Jasper's car, but not without shooting her mother a warning look first. Once Danielle was standing next to Jasper's car, she turned back and watched them talk from afar, instantly recognizing the overprotective look Lynne's face. Sighing to herself, Danielle crossed her arms, hoping her mother wasn't saying anything too horrible to Jasper. Finally, after they talked back forth for a few minutes, Jasper said something that made her mother smile. She then patted Jasper on the shoulder and sent him on his way. Danielle stood straighter as he approached, glancing briefly at her mother as she lingered in the doorway to watch them depart.

"What did she say?" Danielle hissed as he stopped beside her and pulled the passenger side door open.

Jasper just smiled. "Nothing I wasn't expecting to hear," he told her with a reassuring nod. Danielle started to ask him to elaborate, but he spoke again before she could. "We should get going," he encouraged, motioning toward the passenger seat. "We don't want to be late."

Danielle cocked an eyebrow at him, but finally slid into the car. Jasper shut the car door, waved to her mother one last time, then hurried around to the driver's side. Once he was in the car, he started the engine, making it hum with life and filling the car with the familiar music of his favorite, old country band. Danielle gave him another look, still curious to know what her mother had said, but he didn't tell her. He just smiled at her and grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Then he put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb, and they were off to Forks High.

---

There were already many students flooding into the school by the time they arrived. Jasper pulled into a parking space and cut the engine, then got out and came around to open the door for her. Danielle took the hand he offered and stepped out of the car, smoothing her skirt down with her free hand. Jasper shut the door behind her, then, walking hand-in-hand, they headed into the school and began making their way to the gymnasium.

As always, their arrival was met with a lot of staring and a lot of whispering, which she suspected was mainly due to the fact that a Cullen had actually decided to attend to the dance. Danielle noticed as they walked amongst their excited peers that she and Jasper might have been a tad bit overdressed. The other girls were wearing dresses, too, but the seemed a bit more on the casual side in comparison to the one Danielle had picked. As for the guys, most of them were just wearing slacks and button down shirts, not a full on suit like Jasper was wearing. Danielle didn't really mind that they had perhaps gone a little fancier than was needed, though, especially so considering how great Jasper looked. Tonight was a special night, their first real outing together as a couple – why not be a little fancy about it?

They finally made it into the gym, which had been transformed into a sparkly, colorful dance hall. A number of tables had been set up around the room for kids to sit and rest between songs, while a long beverage table was stationed by the doors leading into the gym. Music was already blaring through the speakers and groups of people were already dancing, but there were a lot of students just standing around and eyeing each other nervously, as if they were afraid to ask each other to dance. There were a lot of teachers walking around too, obviously there to chaperone and make sure nothing got out of hand.

Danielle could already feel the urge to dance taking over and smiled up at Jasper, who was watching some of the dancing couples doubtfully. The song that was playing was a popular, fast paced one that she had heard on the radio a lot recently, and it was definitely not Jasper's kind of music. She moved to stand in front of him anyway and grabbed both of his hands, making him look down at her.

"Whatcha say, Hale?" she said, wagging her brows. "You ready to cut a rug?"

Jasper looked at the dance floor again, then turned his eyes back to her. He had been relaxed in the car, completely at ease while it had just been the two of them. But now that they were at the school and now that they were very much not alone, he looked a bit stiff and uncomfortable. Regardless, he gave her a pinched smile and nodded. "I can try," he said.

Danielle grinned, happy that he was willing to put himself out there for her, and began to pull him onto the dance floor, eager to see just what kind of moves Jasper might have hidden his arsenal. They hadn't more than a few steps, however, before she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

"Dani! Jasper!" It was Jessica, who was currently dragging Mike by the hand as she came hurrying over to them. Angela and Eric were right behind them, grinning widely. Jessica released Mike to hug Danielle excitedly, then moved out of the way so Angela could do the same. Mike and Eric hugged her but kept the embraces much shorter than normal, which she suspected might have been because of Jasper's presence. She didn't mind and quickly stepped back to slide an arm around Jasper's waist. He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist in return, pulling her closer.

"Oh my gosh!" Jessica said after everyone was finished greeting each other. "You guys look freaking good," she complimented, giving her and Jasper a once over. "I kinda wish we had dressed up a little more now," Jessica admitted with a small pout.

"Don't be ridiculous," Danielle said, waving off her words. "All of you look great!" she said, smiling widely at her friends. Her compliment seemed to make Jessica feel better, because she smiled brightly in response. "How was dinner?" Danielle asked, knowing the group had gone out before the dance.

"Good, except that Mike spilled spaghetti sauce on his pants," Angela said with a snicker. Danielle smirked at Mike, who just shrugged in response. "Thank goodness he's wearing black pants, right?"

"Yeah, for sure," Danielle agreed with a nod.

"We missed you guys at dinner!" Jessica interjected, giving her a sad look. "It would have been great if you two had come along," she said with a nod, glancing back and forth between her and Jasper.

"I'm sorry we didn't come," Danielle told her. "We just…wanted to do our own thing, ya know?"

"No worries, Dani," Mike said reassuringly. "We get it."

Danielle just smiled and nodded, glad that her friends didn't plan to hold anything against them.

They stood around talking for a little while longer – or rather, Danielle and the lunch group did most of the talking while Jasper stood silently beside her, looking awkward and reluctant to join in on their conversation. After a while a song that Jessica and Angela liked came on and they squealed with excitement. Both girls grabbed their dates by the hand and immediately dragged them to the dance floor, where they all began to dance and sing along with the song.

"You can talk to them, you know," Danielle said, nudging Jasper with her elbow once they were alone. "They're nice people and I think they want to be friends with you."

Jasper gave her a sheepish smile. "Forgive me. I'm not used to interacting with people this much. I'm still trying to wrap my head around to the idea of having…friends."

"It's alright," Danielle reassured him, rubbing his arm gently. "You'll get used to it."

It was around that time that the others finally realized that Danielle and Jasper had not followed them. Angela and Jessica began to wave them over enthusiastically, encouraging them to come and dance. Danielle glanced up at Jasper and raised her brows questioningly. There was a moment of hesitation on his part before he finally nodded in return, and with that they went to join the others on the dance floor.

Danielle wouldn't lie – dancing with Jasper was a little awkward at first. He looked even more tense once they were in the crowd of dancing students, his spine rigid and his eyes glancing around uncertainly. It left Danielle feeling a bit cautious about dancing too close to him, simply because she didn't want to push him if he was already feeling uncomfortable. She did grab his hands though and smiled encouragingly when he focused in on her. Once their gazes were locked with one another, he seemed to relax a bit and began to move to the music, keeping her hands in his and never once looking away.

Danielle had never considered herself to be a great dancer. She could at least move in time with the music, unlike some of the people around her, but she knew her own moves weren't very much to brag about. Yet the longer they dance, the more she realized that even though she wasn't an awesome dancer, she was way better than Jasper was. Danielle had to resist the urge to laugh as she watched Jasper sway awkwardly from side to side, looking like the quintessential 'white guy' as he snapped his fingers and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. To be honest, he looked downright adorable as he watched the way people danced around them and tried to mimic what they were doing.

"You hate this, don't you?" Danielle asked over the loud music, moving in closer so that he could hear her.

Jasper gave her a look. "No," he said. "But I think our definitions of dancing are quite different from one another," he added.

Danielle tilted her head with curiosity. "So then what's your definition of dancing?" she asked.

"You might not like it," Jasper warned.

Danielle just shrugged. "You'll never know unless you show me," she pointed out.

Jasper hesitated, then finally nodded and gave her a smile that silently said, You asked for it. He stepped closer, guiding one of her hands to rest on his shoulder, then holding the other within his own. He then placed a hand on her waist and, with a smirk, began to guide around the dancefloor in a smooth, graceful waltz.

It was vastly different from the way the teenagers around them were dancing, and the moment they began to glide around the dance floor, many people stopped what they were doing to openly gawk at them. Danielle blushed in response to the attention, stumbling a bit as she tried to keep up with Jasper's graceful movements, not necessarily feeling embarrassed, but definitely aware of the fact that more and more eyes were turning in their direction by the second. After a few turns around the floor, the song came to an end, which made them come to a halt during the brief lull in songs.

Jasper continued to smirk down at her, never once releasing his hold on her waist and hand. "So?" he asked, sounding curious to know what she thought of his preferred method of dancing.

Danielle shrugged, her cheeks still a bit pink. "Well, it's certainly different," she admitted. "And it proves that you're a hell of a lot more graceful than I am."

Jasper smiled down at her. "All it takes is a bit of practice. You'll get the hang of it someday," he assured her.

Another song began playing, and without warning, Jasper began to lead her around the dance floor again. Danielle smiled this time around, ignoring the looks being directed at them and just enjoying how much happier Jasper seemed now that he was a bit more in his element. After a while, he stopped waltzing with her so that they could dance more like the students around them. He kept her hands in his the entire time, though, so that he could twirl her in circles and keep her close by.

They danced for a few more fast paced songs, until a slower one finally began to play through the speakers. Several people filtered off the dance floor so that they could sit and rest or go grab something to drink, leaving the area open for those that were coupled up. Without hesitation, Jasper pulled Danielle to his chest, holding her hand securely in his and keeping her close with a hand on her back. Danielle grinned up at him like a lovesick fool and slid an arm around his neck, content to sway in place with him as they danced to the slow love song.

"Are you having fun?" Jasper asked, his eyes locked on hers.

Danielle nodded. "Tons," she said. "How about you?"

Jasper nodded slowly. "More than I thought I would," he admitted. "Then again, I think it would be impossible not to enjoy any time I get to spend with you."

Danielle smirked and tightened the arm that she had around his neck, which brought her even closer to him and all but erased whatever space had been between them. "You don't have to keep sweet talking me, you know," she teased lightly. "You've already won me over."

Jasper smirked back and gave her a look that made her nerves zing with awareness. She was also acutely aware of the hand on her back, and the fact that his thumb had begun to draw circles over her spine. "No sweet talk. Just truth," he said without missing a beat.

Danielle grinned, then closed her eyes and sighed contentedly as Jasper pressed a kiss to her forehead. She then rested her head against his chest, now accustomed to the lack of a heartbeat beneath her ear, releasing another sigh as he held her securely to his chest and rested his chin on top of her head. The rest of the students around them melted away and the world around them faded to the backdrop. The only thing that existed in that moment, the only thing that mattered, was Jasper and his protective embrace, which she would have happily stayed in forever if it were up to her.

Eventually the song ended and changed to another fast paced one. Instead of staying to dance, however, Danielle said she wanted to take a break and get some water. Jasper nodded and led her off the dance floor, before pulling her over to the beverage table. Once she had a drink in hand, they found Angela and Eric occupying a nearby table and went to sit with them while they rested their feet. After a while, Jessica and Mike took a break from dancing and joined them at the table as well, and the six of them quickly fell into an easy conversation. Though Jasper had been reserved earlier, he seemed to have decided to step out of his shell a bit and joined in on the chatter around him. If the others were surprised that he was talking now, they didn't show it. As for Danielle, she just squeezed his hand under the table and gave him a broad smile, delighted that he was making an attempt to get to know her friends.

Before she knew it, it was past nine o'clock. They had danced a few more times, chatted with her friends quite a bit, and even gone to pose for a professional picture at the station set up in the far corner. It was as Danielle was laughing at a story that Eric was telling to the group that Jasper grabbed her hand to catch her attention and leaned close to speak into her ear.

"What would you say if I told you I had a surprise for you?" he asked quietly.

Danielle suppressed the urge to shiver in response to his lips so close to her ear and raised her eyebrows at him. "I'd have to say you've caught my interest…and ask why you didn't mention said surprise sooner," she said back.

Jasper smirked, then shrugged. "The surprise requires leaving the dance, and since we were having such a good time, I didn't want to end the night too quickly," he explained.

"I see," Danielle said with a nod of understanding. "Well, I think we've shown our faces around here long enough," she told him with a grin. "We can go now."

"You're sure?" Jasper asked with raised brows.

Danielle nodded vehemently. "I wanna know what this surprise is!"

Jasper chuckled and nodded, then stood up from the chair he'd been sitting in and extended a hand toward her. Danielle took and stood up, before announcing to her friends that she and Jasper were leaving. Though the group seemed disappointed that they weren't going to stay until the end of the dance, they stood to say their goodbyes anyway. After a round of hugs – Jasper made sure to stand back so as to avoid any possible hugs that might come toward him – Danielle slipped her hand back into Jasper's and they were soon on their way, smiling at one another as they exited the gymnasium and headed back toward the parking lot.

---

"Where are we?" Danielle asked when Jasper finally parked the car about twenty minutes later. They had driven outside of the boundaries of Forks and had taken some secret dirt road that led off the main highway and into the forest. Suffice to say, Danielle had no clue where they were, nor what Jasper had planned.

Jasper cut the engine and smiled over at her. "You'll see," he said mysteriously.

Jasper got out of the car after that, so Danielle followed suit. The moment she was out of the car, however, she looked down and frowned when she saw her silver heels sinking into the ground. Sighing, she quickly toed off the shoes, instantly shrinking about four inches as her bare feet made contact with the ground. Danielle then grabbed her shoes and went to the front of the car, where Jasper was waiting for her.

"Why did you take your shoes off?" he asked curiously when he saw the shoes in her hands.

"Heels and the forest don't exactly mix," she pointed out.

Jasper made a thoughtful sound at that, then stepped closer. "Well, I can't allow you to proceed with bare feet. You could step on something and hurt yourself," he said.

That was all the warning she got before he was locking one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back, before her effortlessly lifted her up bridal style into the air. Danielle made a sound of surprise, then smiled and blushed when she realized just how much she liked her current position. While one hand still clung to her shoes, she let her arm slide around Jasper's shoulder for stability, even though she knew he wouldn't drop her.

"I could get used to this," Danielle said. "So long as there's no running involved," she added hastily, her eyes going wide for a moment.

Jasper laughed, and she could feel the vibration of it through her body. "No running. You have my word," he promised, and because she knew he was telling her the truth, she quickly relaxed.

They began making their way through the trees after that. Danielle thoroughly enjoyed being carried by Jasper, since it allowed her to be close to him, be in his arms, and enjoy the lovely scenery all at the same time. The moon was bright that night, and there was just enough break in the tree tops to allow it to filter down and make everything ground level look pearly and ethereal. Danielle smiled as she gazed around, looking at the forest first, then up at the night sky. She then looked back to Jasper, who she was certain had been staring down at her the entire time. He did not look away when she caught him staring, merely smiled at her in a way that made butterflies start to flap around in her belly.

They finally stopped walking after about five minutes, and when Danielle looked around, she saw that they were in a clearing. Only, there was something different about this clearing. There was a large blanket stretched out right in the middle, surrounding by dozens of candles that had been placed on various-sized wooden boxes and tables that had been moved into the clearing. The candlelight gave the entire area a pretty, warm, and inviting glow. Jasper carried her to the blanket and set her on her own two feet, before walking over to waist high stand on the corner of the blanket. There was an old timey looking record player set up there, and though she had no idea how it was working out in the middle of nowhere, as he turned it on and put the needle in place, the soft singing of Ella Fitzgerald soon filled the clearing.

Danielle stood there in stunned silence, still holding her shoes, her eyes taking in her surroundings with amazement. This was not what she had been expecting, not even in the slightest. But as Jasper turned around to face her and gave her a small, almost bashful smile, she suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion.

"You set this up…for me?" she asked quietly.

Jasper nodded. "I…wasn't certain how well things would go at the dance," he began to explain as he started walking toward her. "I was afraid being in that environment would get overwhelming and that I would ruin our evening. Alice insisted that nothing was going to go wrong, but I didn't want to risk it. So, I set this up as a backup plan," he told her, coming to a halt right in front of her. He reached up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, smiling down at her with nothing but adoration. "You were going to enjoy a dance, one way or another."

Jasper suddenly went a bit blurry, and it took only a second for her to realize it was because her eyes had filled with tears. They were tears of happiness, though, happiness at how incredibly sweet and thoughtful Jasper's gesture had been. Thankfully, Jasper was able to feel her emotions, otherwise he might have mistaken her tears for something that they weren't. Instead of worrying or asking what was wrong, he smiled at her gently and wiped away a tear that escaped the corner of her eye.

"Don't cry, darlin'," he said, and to hear him call her by that term of endearment nearly did her in again.

Danielle sniffled and closed the distance between them, tossing her shoes aside so that she could slide her arms around his waist. Jasper immediately wrapped his arms around her to hold her closer. "I'm sorry for turning into a total sap," she said. "This is just…the absolute sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me," she told him. "It's beautiful and thoughtful and just…" Danielle had to take a breath before smiling up at him. "Thank you, Jasper," she said. "This is absolutely wonderful, and way better than that silly dance."

"You're most welcome," Jasper said, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

They stood there hugging for a moment, until Jasper gently pulled back far enough to be able to look at her. He smiled and moved one of her hands to rest on his shoulder, before taking her other hand in his. Much like they had done at the school, he began to lead her in another dance, slowly guiding her around the blanket that now served as their dance floor. Danielle smiled up at him adoringly, feeling a bit more in control of herself the longer they danced.

"I never pegged you as an Ella Fitzgerald type of guy," she commented as the song changed.

"Esme is a big fan. She listens to her all the time. I guess, over time, her love for the music began to wear off on the rest of us," Jasper explained with a smile.

"She has good taste," Danielle said with a nod. "While we're on the topic of mothers," she added, giving him a pointed look. "Are you finally going to tell me what my mother said to you earlier?"

Jasper hesitated for only a second before answering. "She told me how important and special you were, which I already knew, then informed me she would do me serious harm if I hurt you in any way, which I assured her I would not do," Jasper revealed. "It was exactly what I thought I would hear, and therefore did not surprise, nor offend l me."

Danielle pulled a face. "Still. I'd prefer it if my mother didn't threaten you," she said.

Jasper just smiled. "She loves you," he said simply. "I'd be more concerned if she didn't threaten me."

Jasper suddenly dipped her, which made her instantly forget her mother and let out a small giggle. "Smooth move," she said as he pulled her upright again.

"I am a decent dancer, so long as it's a dance I'm comfortable with," Jasper shot back. "And after all the many years I've had to practice, I would hope I would have some skill in this area."

Danielle made a thoughtful sound as they swayed in place to the music. "You should write a book," she suggested. "You know, about all the things you've seen and experienced. After being alive for over a hundred and fifty years, there's no doubt you've seen some pretty incredible things."

"You're right. I have seen some incredible things," he told her with a nod. "But you're wrong about something else." When Danielle frowned up at him in confusion, Jasper smiled. "I've existed for over a hundred and fifty years," he corrected. "I didn't finally come alive until I met you."

Danielle's heart jumped in her chest at those words and a blush immediately filled her cheeks. "I couldn't have made that big of a difference," she murmured modestly, unable to think of anything else to say in response.

"But you did," Jasper said, his eyes suddenly serious and intent. "You completely changed my world, Danielle. I was alone for so long that I convinced myself I would never have anyone to share my life with. I would look at Emmett and Rosalie, or at Carlisle and Esme, and I would yearn for what they had, but I truly believed it would never happen to me. I had resigned to the belief that I would have my family, but nothing more. I accepted that I would spend the rest of my days living a life of loneliness."

They stopped dancing, standing arm in arm in the middle of the blanket as they stared at one another. "Then I met you, and everything changed," Jasper continued, smiling down at her affectionately. "You befriended me. You treated me like I was normal. You made me feel, for the first time in a long time, as though I was something worth while," he admitted. "I was fascinated by you from the very beginning, and not just because of the way your blood affected me. In all my years, I have never known a woman more beautiful, both inside and out, as you. You're kind and selfless and smart. You're a strong woman, who is fiercely loyal to the ones you love and would do anything to take care of them. You may have a bit of a strange sense of humor, but that is one of the thing I adore most about you," he told her with a smirk. "Every moment I spend with you is the best moment of my existence. You make me feel calm and secure and as though I finally belong somewhere. You have made me indescribably happy, Danielle."

Danielle gulped, trying to ignore the prickle of tears in the back of her eyes as she gazed up at him in stunned silence. Jasper smiled and lifted a hand to her face, his eyes still intense and fixed on hers. "It may be too soon to say this, but I need you to know." He paused for a moment to suck in a deep breath, before saying the words she was suddenly, desperately wanting to hear. "I'm in love with you, Danielle Clark," Jasper confessed. "You are the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me, and I will love you for the rest of my days."

Danielle forgot how to breathe for a moment, forgot how to even think. She had not thought Jasper would profess his love for her so soon, and to hear those words, to feel the unmistakable wave of love that he was sending over her, made her feel completely overwhelmed. She pressed her lips together tightly as she stared up into his earnest eyes, seeing nothing but truth and love shining back at her. And suddenly, everything was thrown into sharp clarity. Even though she had just told her mother the night before that she didn't know if she loved Jasper, that she didn't even know what love felt like, right now, as she stared into Jasper's eyes, she knew. She wasn't just falling in love with him – she had already fallen in love with him. Everything Jasper had confessed was exactly how she felt about him. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she loved him.

The words were scary to say, simply because they were so serious, but Danielle had to say them. "I love you, too, Jasper," she whispered.

Jasper positively beamed at her, grinning so brightly that if the sun had been out, it would have paled in comparison to his smile. He then caressed her cheek, before leaning forward and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Danielle sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck as Jasper pulled her flush against his chest, her fingers twisting into his hair. When he finally pulled his lips from hers, he rested his forehead against hers, letting out a long content sigh. Danielle smiled, her fingers still toying with the soft hair at the nape of his neck.

"Thank you," she said to break the silence.

"For what?" Jasper asked curiously.

"Being you," Danielle answered simply.

Jasper just smiled at her, then leaned in to kiss her once more.

They stayed in the clearing for a while after that, sharing a few more dances before eventually lying down on the blanket and cuddling close together. They listened to the music and gazed up at the stars, talking about anything that came to mind and just reveling in their time together. Eventually, when Danielle shivered from a strong gust of wind, Jasper insisted that it was time to get her home before she caught a cold. Danielle resisted at first, insisting that she was fine and that they could stay a little longer, but Jasper wasn't having any of it. He shut off the music and grabbed her shoes, before gently hoisting her to her feet. Then he picked her up again and carried her to the car, which effectively ended her attempts to prolong their stay.

They drove back to her house in comfortable silence, holding hands the entire way. Every once in a while, Danielle, unable to resist herself, would raise his hand to her lips to kiss to it, which would always earn her a loving smile in return. After all that had happened that night, there were simply no words to describe how happy she felt. Right now, sitting with the vampire she loved after a wonderful night together, life had never felt more perfect.

When Jasper pulled to a stop in front of her house he quickly got out of the car and came around to open her door for her. Danielle happily took his hand an they began heading up toward the front porch. She noticed, however, that he kept shooting glances over his shoulder towards Bella's house, one brow lifted with interest.

"What is it?" she asked curiously, squeezing his hand to catch his attention.

Jasper smirked down at her. "Edward and Bella are back and appear to be having a sleep over."

Danielle blinked in surprise, then glanced back at Bella's window as they came to a halt in her porch. There were no lights on in Bella's room, nor were there any signs of movement within. "Edward is staying at Bella's house?"

"He always does," Jasper revealed. "Bella just actually knows about it now."

"Oh." Danielle said, before giving Jasper a questioning look.

Jasper easily deciphered her silent question and shook his head. "I've never stayed in your room," he told her. "I didn't trust myself to be alone with you."

Danielle nodded, then smiled up at him as she realized that the thought of Jasper staying the night sounded like the best idea anyone had ever had. "Well, you could now. I mean, we're getting pretty good at this whole closeness thing," she said persuasively.

"Not happening, darlin'," Jasper said at once. "If I go into that bedroom with you, I may not be able to behave myself," he warned. "Best to avoid temptation altogether."

Danielle sighed with defeat. "Oh, alright…" She smiled then and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Jasper Hale. Always the perfect gentleman," she teased good-naturedly.

Jasper quirked a brow and smirked. "Not always," he said.

Then he was kissing her again, his lips moving firmly against hers as he pulled her even closer. Danielle made a sound of approval and returned his kiss, her knees quickly turning into the consistency of jelly as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss. When he finally pulled away, she could only breathe heavily and cling to him tightly, feeling fairly certain she would fall down if she let him go. Jasper smirked as he gazes down at her, his eyes dark and full of desire.

"See? Not always." he said again, still holding her by the waist.

Danielle could only nod stupidly and stare at him with a huge, love struck grin across her face.

Jasper brushed his lips against hers one last time, then took a step back, though he didn't completely release her. "You should go inside now, before I have the chance to rethink my decision not to come in with you," he told her.

Danielle nodded, even though she really didn't want to leave him. "Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes. You will," he promised.

"Good." Danielle paused, then reached up to touch his cheek. "I love you," she said, her heart skipping a beat as the words left her lips for the second time that night.

Jasper smiled widely and leaned into her touch. "I love you, too."

Danielle smiled at him for one last second, then finally, reluctantly, disentangled herself from his arms and went to her front door. She opened the door and stepped inside, turning back so that she could get one more look at his handsome face. Then, as he raised a hand to wave at her, Danielle blew him a kiss and finally shut the door.

Danielle leaned against the door, sighing happily as she took a moment to reflect on everything that had happened that night. And boy, what an incredible night it had been. It had gone exactly as she had hoped. Actually, it had gone better than she had hoped. And now she was just so happy and felt so in love and absolutely could not wait to see Jasper so that she could feel his arms around her again.

She was finally pulled back to the present by the sound of her mother's voice. "Dani? Is that you?" Danielle opened her eyes just as her mother stepped into view. Lynne immediately smiled as she caught sight if Danielle. "Well, I'm glad that boyfriend of yours knows how to bring you home at a decent hour," she commented with a smirk. "How was the dance?"

"Amazing," Danielle said as she finally pushed away from the door.

Lynne quirked a brow at her. "Care to elaborate some more?"

On any other day, Danielle would have done just that. But right now, she just wanted to be alone to think about every single moment of the night and engrave it into her memory, so that she would never forget even the tiniest detail about her perfect evening with Jasper. That and she wanted to get to sleep as fast as possible, because the sooner she slept, the sooner she would see Jasper again.

"Let's talk tomorrow, okay, Mom?" she suggested.

Lynne looked a little suspicious now. "Everything okay?"

Danielle smiled and kissed her mother on the cheek. "Absolutely perfect," She said wistfully, before practically gliding past her mother and heading for the stairs. "Goodnight, Mom. Love you."

"Love you, too?" Lynne offered back, still sounding confused as to why Danielle was acting the way she was.

Danielle just ignored her though, and grinned to herself as she all but floated up to her bedroom. Before long she had washed off her make up, changed into her pajamas, and climbed into bed, where she soon fell asleep and dreamt about Jasper all night long.

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