The Inauspicious Beginnings Of A Prince
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 15
Smoothing her hair back, he answered her finally. "I'm Jasper Volturi. I'm seventeen and I live in Italy. I'll be going back at the end of the school year."
She tilted her head to look at him then before nodding. "I'm Isabella Swan, but everyone calls me Bella as I prefer it. I just moved here to live with my father for the rest of high school but before that, I lived with my mother in Arizona. My dad is the chief of Police here in Forks by the way." She grinned at him. "Just a heads up."
He chuckled. "Yeah thanks for that. I'll be sure to stay off his radar."
She tweaked his nipple and he hissed, laughing. "Yes, and sexing up his only daughter is a good way to do that is it?"
"Well, once you get to know me you'll see that I relish a challenge. And besides, I had no idea that you were the chiefs daughter. So my being with you has nothing to do with who your father is or isn't. But you won't scare me Miss Swan. I don't frighten easily."
She kissed his chest. "Good, I'm happy to hear it. Not that I have any experience with these types of situations, but it seems the natural thing for a seventeen year old boy to avoid the hassles of dating the chiefs daughter."
Then she considered what she had just said and blushed. "I mean, that is if you even want anything to do with me after today. I don't normally behave this way. I've never even had a boyfriend and here you and I have had two such encounters."
Insecurities filled her and she began to pull away from him but he rolled and pinned her, staring into her eyes.
"Stop it. I know you don't know me, but I'm telling you now that this was more than just sex for me. I'm aware that's more than likely a standard line for a boy to say in this situation, but you'll see in time Miss Swan."
He kissed her then slowly and tenderly, until she was breathless. Breaking the kiss he caressed her face, brushing lightly over the ever darkening bruise before looking back into her eyes. "I'd better get you home before it gets too late and your dad starts looking for you."
Her eyes widened. "Oh shit. What time is it?"
He grinned and glanced at the bedside clock. "It's 7:00."
She jumped up and began dressing. "Crap. He's home by now for sure." She eyed him as he watched her scramble to dress, smirk firmly in place. "Don't just lay there! I have to go!"
He chuckled. "Okay baby doll, don't get yourself worked up. We'll simply explain what happened with your friend in the parking lot and he'll forget all about you being late."
She gave him a flat look. "You think so, do you?"
He nodded as he slid his shirt on. "Of course. He'll be busy being pissed off at what's his name. And why wouldn't he? What father in his right mind wouldn't focus on making sure the little punk gets what's coming to him for roughing up his only daughter? All you have to say is that I threatened to kick the kids ass if he looked at you again, and then helped you calm down afterwards." He grinned wolfishly at her as he tied his shoes. "Of course, you may want to leave out the sex part. That might take priority over a bruised cheek."
She smirked at him. "You've thought of everything have you?" Upon his absent nod, she asked the question she was dreading the answer to. "So how many times have you found yourself in situations such as this one?"
He glanced up from fastening his watch, a serious look now on his face. "Really? We're gonna have this discussion so soon?" She nodded. "Alright then." He sat in the chair next to his desk. "I'm very experienced Bella. I've never had a shortage of girls and women in my life. I started having sex at the age of thirteen and haven't stopped since then."
He stopped there and took in the slightly shell shocked expression on her face. He stayed silent though, just letting her process. She'd find a voice soon enough, he was sure.
"Thirteen?" She looked at him then and blew out a breath. "Wow. What about your parents? Did they know?"
He smiled at her patiently. "Bella, you have to understand that I was raised in a very different environment than what you see here. My father and mother trust me implicitly and always have, really. I've always upheld their expectations of me and busted my ass with any training they required of me, which was quite a lot, but in exchange, they always loved me unconditionally and trusted me completely. I like to think that we never failed each other. I can never remember a time when they expressed disappointment in me, and yes, they knew of all of my activities."
She looked a bit perplexed then and he waited on what she would ask next.
"What I don't get is that you seemed so shy the first time we met. Not at all how you are now, but I've seen you act that way since being back here. It's like you have two very different personalities. Why is that Jasper?"
He took in a big breath and looked up at her from where he'd been staring at the floor as she posed her question.
"Because I am an identical twin. You met my brother in the woods. His name is Peter."
Bella's eye's widened at that, until the information sunk in and then her eyes narrowed. "You knew that I thought you were the same person, yet you let me believe it. Why didn't you tell me? I feel like a complete ass and that kinda pisses me off!" She stood and began to pace.
He got a bit defensive. "And just when was I supposed to bring up the subject? We've hardly had what anyone could term 'polite conversation'. Was it while I had my head between your lovely legs my dear? Because I remember you leaving after that rather abruptly." He crossed his arms over his chest and sat back watching her pace.
She rounded on him with a hot blush on her face. "Could you try not to be so crude please? And no, obviously not then. But how about today, in the car on the way here?"
He held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. You got me there sweetheart. My one opportunity and I didn't take it. But in my defense, I wasn't exactly thinking of my brother at the time. It just didn't register as that big a deal to me. It's not as though you've fucked both of us thinking we're one in the same is it? Jesus, what's the big deal?"
She froze and turned to him then, her mouth open in shock. "Did you just say that to me? Is that what we just did? Fuck? Is that what it was to you?" Her eyes were tearing up now and that served to make her even more angry than she was. She took a deep breath and he started to speak but she held up a hand to stop him. "No. I don't want to talk to you any more right now. Take me home please."
She walked out and Jasper grabbed a glass that was sitting on his desk and hurled it at the wall. "Fuck!" Running a hand through his hair he rose and followed her out to his car. She was already sitting in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead, stony silence surrounding her.
He got in and turned to her. "I'm sorry alright? I don't know how this evening went to hell so quickly, but I really didn't mean to offend you." He started the car and backed out.
She remained silent the entire way, only breaking her silence to give directions to her fathers house. When he pulled over she made to get out and muttered, "Thanks for the ride." but was stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Look Bella, I really am sorry. I can be a little abrupt at times. I just do it without thinking most times and I guess because of who and what I am, no one has ever called me on it. At least no one I've cared about. So, at least take my number. Put it in your phone and if you decide that you still want anything to do with me, then give me a call, okay?"
She nodded and pulled out her cell, handing it to him. "Put in your info." He took the phone, adding himself to the contacts and giving it back just as she was getting out of the car. Taking the phone she muttered, "I'll see you around." Shutting the door, she turned and jogged into the house.
Sighing heavily, he pulled out and made his way home, mulling over the day all the way there. He got out of his car shaking his head. He'd be damned if he knew just where he'd gone so wrong.
He paced around a bit and found himself feeling caged. He needed the freedom and outlet of a hunt.
Resolved to his plans for the evening, he thought of his brother. Perhaps he'd like to go along? After all, it had been a while since he'd fed too and Jasper was sure that Carlisle and Esme weren't about to take his brother out to Seattle for a decent meal.
Grabbing his keys, he began the short walk to the main house.
Knocking at the front door, he waited as he heard two sets of steps approaching. The door swung open then to Carlisle and Esme, the latter smiling in welcome.
"Jasper! I'm happy to see you! Come in please, and in future, you don't need to knock."
She took his arm as she led him past a silent Carlisle who closed the door and followed them into the living room where the rest of them were assembled.
"Esme, I'm not really here to visit. I came to see if my brother wanted to join me on a trip to Seattle this evening."
At that, Peter looked up from the book he was reading and smiled. "I'd love to Jasper! Let me just go put my book away. I'll be right back." He took off up the stairs and Jasper flopped into a chair to wait.
Carlisle spoke up then from where he sat next to Esme.
"Are you going for the reasons I think you are? Because if so, then I think it may be best for Peter to stay here."
He looked at Esme.
"He agreed to switch to our diet after all my dear. It wouldn't do for him to be around when Jasper hunts."
Jasper sat forward. "You're shitting me. You talked him into the bambi diet? He's been on human blood his whole life! Why would you subject him to that shit now? Did you even give him the option? Or did you use your subtle bully tactics?"
Carlisle's jaw clenched. He was trying his best not to be sucked into an argument and it wasn't working. He pinned Jasper with a cold stare.
"You may not wish to be a part of our family Jasper, but your brother has chosen to be. As such, he will adhere to our diet. He agreed to it without any fight or argument, might I add. You may be twins, but he is without guile, unlike you."
Esme had a hand on Carlisle's arm, trying desperately to get him to temper his words.
Jasper smirked. "You haven't seen guile yet Daddy." Jasper was almost snarling and the naked hatred in his eyes was startling to the many observers in the room.
"My brother will be going to Seattle with me this night for a decent meal, and every trip after this should he so choose."
Carlisle shot from his seat then and had Jasper by the front of his shirt when Peter came down the stairs.
"What's going on? Papa? Why are you treating my brother like that?"
Peter looked at Esme, who had both hands held over her mouth and tears in her eyes at what was taking place.
In one smoothly practiced move, Jasper had Carlisle pinned face down on the floor with his arm twisted behind him in a rather painful looking hold.
"I have told you not to touch me. You're very fortunate that my brother gives two shits about you otherwise you'd be decorating the sky as a cloud of purple smoke right now. Don't think I wouldn't do it either Daddy." He sneered out. "There's almost nothing in this world that would give me more pleasure."
He let go of Carlisle with a small shove and cracks appeared in the twisted arm, causing Carlisle to gasp and clench his eyes shut.
Both Edward and Emmett moved to help Carlisle rise and Peter moved to his brother.
"Jasper, I think we need to talk brother. We should go now and we can talk in your car."
His words broke Jasper's concentrated stare from Carlisle's pained form and the disapproving looks both Edward and Emmett were giving him.
He glanced at Esme and she gave him a watery smile.
"Yeah okay Pete. Let's go."
Peter turned to go when Carlisle's voice stopped him.
"Peter son, I don't want you going with him. I think you should stay here. You'll have to be up early tomorrow for your shopping, and school starts Monday."
Peter now looked at Jasper with uncertainty.
"Maybe I should stay here Jasper. I do have a lot to do tomorrow to get ready for school, and I did promise our father that I would do my best to stick to their diet." He dropped his head. "I'm sorry brother. But if father wants me to stay, then I must stay."
Jasper didn't miss the triumphant look that Carlisle shot him and smirked even as he shook his head. "That's okay Pete. Someday, you'll tire of having every little detail of your life dictated to you and then we'll talk. I can wait. I'm pretty patient when it comes to such things. Until then, I'll see you around."
At that, he turned and left. It had turned out to be one hell of a day once again and he just wanted to hunt, feed and get some sleep.
Sliding in behind the wheel, he started the car and sped down the drive, hoping beyond hope that drama would not find him again this day.
Bella had gone into the house to discover that her father had left her a note on the counter along with money for pizza. It seemed that he was over at Billy's place watching a game.
Sighing in relief, she went up to her room to shower and change. She wanted to get comfortable before she even thought about food or anything else.
Stepping out of the shower, she got dressed in sweats and a tank, thinking about Jasper as she dried her hair.
Yes, he was an ass at times, but as she thought about what they had done that afternoon, heat suffused her and a longing filled her. She missed him and the feeling puzzled her. She barely knew him, after all.
Shrugging it off, she made her way downstairs and to the phone to order the pizza.
With that done, she sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Time for some mindless entertainment, she thought.
Speaking of entertainment, she spotted her phone laying on the lamp table and picked it up, contemplating sending a text to Jasper. Should she let him off the hook so soon? She felt slightly sick inside being upset with him and she didn't like it at all. She was feeling compelled to accept his apology. He had seemed sincere after all.
A knock on the door had her grabbing the money for the pizza before answering it but when she swung the door open, and Jacob shoved his way in, terror filled her and she did the only thing she could think of. She hit the send button and hoped that Jasper would figure things out.
Jasper was tired. Too tired to go all the way to Seattle. He smirked as he decided to simply eat some dirt bag from a little closer to home. He would stop in Port Angeles.
Making quick work of finding a suitable meal that was about to stab some other guy in an alley, he had his fill and stashed the body in the woods before making his way back to his car.
He was just about to start the car and pull away when he was pleasantly surprised to see Bella's name come up in his caller ID.
When he answered though, it was another emotion that filled him.
Rage, white and hot as he listened to her struggle and scream out.
Tearing out of the side street he was parked on, he down shifted and gave it all the car had. He would pull over and take the rest of the trip on foot once he reached Forks. He'd be much faster running through the woods and make better time that way.
When he finally arrived, it was to a shaken and sobbing Isabella and a terrified looking pizza delivery boy.
He went to her and took her into his arms and she clutched to him.
"What happened Bella?"
He could barely understand as she mumbled against his chest. "It was him again. I thought it was the pizza I had ordered, but when I opened the door, he shoved his way in and started to rough me up and kiss me. I hit send because I was already planning on calling you. I guess the Pizza delivery getting here scared him off and he ran out the back."
He looked at the pizza delivery boy. "Did you see anything or hear anything of significance?"
The boy shook his head vigorously. "No sir. She was the only one present by the time she opened the door to me.
I just decided to stay to keep her company until someone showed up because she seemed so upset." He shrugged. "Sorry."
Jasper took out a hundred and handed it to the kid. "No, you did the right thing and I thank you, but you can go now. I'm sure the chief will contact you at work if he needs to."
The kid nodded with a relieved look on his face as he left hastily.
Leading Bella to the couch, Jasper sat her down and handed her the phone. "Call your dad and get him here now. He needs to know what this asshole is like and do something about it because if he won't, I will."
Nodding, she called Charlie and filled him in on the basics. She'd save the details for later when they were face to face.
When she disconnected the call, she went straight back to Jaspers strong arms, finding immeasurable comfort there as he stroked her hair and kissed her gently.
"I'm sorry I got so mad at you earlier. Something inside me doesn't like being upset with you at all. I couldn't stand it. That's why I was going to call you to begin with. I needed to see you and make things right."
"Shh, it's alright beautiful girl." He smirked down at her. "I knew you'd call soon. Who can resist this?" He gestured to himself and she rolled her eyes.
"You are one conceited ass Jasper, but I guess you're my conceited ass, right?"
She looked up at him and he felt his stomach tighten up a bit in apprehension. He'd never committed to anyone before and it wasn't an entirely comfortable feeling now. He decided to hedge a bit.
"How about we see how things go for a while? We just officially met after all."
He smiled and she sighed. In disappointment? Yes, that was definitely disappointment she was feeling. At least he didn't dump her on the couch and take off.
"Yeah, we'll see."
Smoothing her hair back, he answered her finally. "I'm Jasper Volturi. I'm seventeen and I live in Italy. I'll be going back at the end of the school year."
She tilted her head to look at him then before nodding. "I'm Isabella Swan, but everyone calls me Bella as I prefer it. I just moved here to live with my father for the rest of high school but before that, I lived with my mother in Arizona. My dad is the chief of Police here in Forks by the way." She grinned at him. "Just a heads up."
He chuckled. "Yeah thanks for that. I'll be sure to stay off his radar."
She tweaked his nipple and he hissed, laughing. "Yes, and sexing up his only daughter is a good way to do that is it?"
"Well, once you get to know me you'll see that I relish a challenge. And besides, I had no idea that you were the chiefs daughter. So my being with you has nothing to do with who your father is or isn't. But you won't scare me Miss Swan. I don't frighten easily."
She kissed his chest. "Good, I'm happy to hear it. Not that I have any experience with these types of situations, but it seems the natural thing for a seventeen year old boy to avoid the hassles of dating the chiefs daughter."
Then she considered what she had just said and blushed. "I mean, that is if you even want anything to do with me after today. I don't normally behave this way. I've never even had a boyfriend and here you and I have had two such encounters."
Insecurities filled her and she began to pull away from him but he rolled and pinned her, staring into her eyes.
"Stop it. I know you don't know me, but I'm telling you now that this was more than just sex for me. I'm aware that's more than likely a standard line for a boy to say in this situation, but you'll see in time Miss Swan."
He kissed her then slowly and tenderly, until she was breathless. Breaking the kiss he caressed her face, brushing lightly over the ever darkening bruise before looking back into her eyes. "I'd better get you home before it gets too late and your dad starts looking for you."
Her eyes widened. "Oh shit. What time is it?"
He grinned and glanced at the bedside clock. "It's 7:00."
She jumped up and began dressing. "Crap. He's home by now for sure." She eyed him as he watched her scramble to dress, smirk firmly in place. "Don't just lay there! I have to go!"
He chuckled. "Okay baby doll, don't get yourself worked up. We'll simply explain what happened with your friend in the parking lot and he'll forget all about you being late."
She gave him a flat look. "You think so, do you?"
He nodded as he slid his shirt on. "Of course. He'll be busy being pissed off at what's his name. And why wouldn't he? What father in his right mind wouldn't focus on making sure the little punk gets what's coming to him for roughing up his only daughter? All you have to say is that I threatened to kick the kids ass if he looked at you again, and then helped you calm down afterwards." He grinned wolfishly at her as he tied his shoes. "Of course, you may want to leave out the sex part. That might take priority over a bruised cheek."
She smirked at him. "You've thought of everything have you?" Upon his absent nod, she asked the question she was dreading the answer to. "So how many times have you found yourself in situations such as this one?"
He glanced up from fastening his watch, a serious look now on his face. "Really? We're gonna have this discussion so soon?" She nodded. "Alright then." He sat in the chair next to his desk. "I'm very experienced Bella. I've never had a shortage of girls and women in my life. I started having sex at the age of thirteen and haven't stopped since then."
He stopped there and took in the slightly shell shocked expression on her face. He stayed silent though, just letting her process. She'd find a voice soon enough, he was sure.
"Thirteen?" She looked at him then and blew out a breath. "Wow. What about your parents? Did they know?"
He smiled at her patiently. "Bella, you have to understand that I was raised in a very different environment than what you see here. My father and mother trust me implicitly and always have, really. I've always upheld their expectations of me and busted my ass with any training they required of me, which was quite a lot, but in exchange, they always loved me unconditionally and trusted me completely. I like to think that we never failed each other. I can never remember a time when they expressed disappointment in me, and yes, they knew of all of my activities."
She looked a bit perplexed then and he waited on what she would ask next.
"What I don't get is that you seemed so shy the first time we met. Not at all how you are now, but I've seen you act that way since being back here. It's like you have two very different personalities. Why is that Jasper?"
He took in a big breath and looked up at her from where he'd been staring at the floor as she posed her question.
"Because I am an identical twin. You met my brother in the woods. His name is Peter."
Bella's eye's widened at that, until the information sunk in and then her eyes narrowed. "You knew that I thought you were the same person, yet you let me believe it. Why didn't you tell me? I feel like a complete ass and that kinda pisses me off!" She stood and began to pace.
He got a bit defensive. "And just when was I supposed to bring up the subject? We've hardly had what anyone could term 'polite conversation'. Was it while I had my head between your lovely legs my dear? Because I remember you leaving after that rather abruptly." He crossed his arms over his chest and sat back watching her pace.
She rounded on him with a hot blush on her face. "Could you try not to be so crude please? And no, obviously not then. But how about today, in the car on the way here?"
He held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. You got me there sweetheart. My one opportunity and I didn't take it. But in my defense, I wasn't exactly thinking of my brother at the time. It just didn't register as that big a deal to me. It's not as though you've fucked both of us thinking we're one in the same is it? Jesus, what's the big deal?"
She froze and turned to him then, her mouth open in shock. "Did you just say that to me? Is that what we just did? Fuck? Is that what it was to you?" Her eyes were tearing up now and that served to make her even more angry than she was. She took a deep breath and he started to speak but she held up a hand to stop him. "No. I don't want to talk to you any more right now. Take me home please."
She walked out and Jasper grabbed a glass that was sitting on his desk and hurled it at the wall. "Fuck!" Running a hand through his hair he rose and followed her out to his car. She was already sitting in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead, stony silence surrounding her.
He got in and turned to her. "I'm sorry alright? I don't know how this evening went to hell so quickly, but I really didn't mean to offend you." He started the car and backed out.
She remained silent the entire way, only breaking her silence to give directions to her fathers house. When he pulled over she made to get out and muttered, "Thanks for the ride." but was stopped by a hand on her arm.
"Look Bella, I really am sorry. I can be a little abrupt at times. I just do it without thinking most times and I guess because of who and what I am, no one has ever called me on it. At least no one I've cared about. So, at least take my number. Put it in your phone and if you decide that you still want anything to do with me, then give me a call, okay?"
She nodded and pulled out her cell, handing it to him. "Put in your info." He took the phone, adding himself to the contacts and giving it back just as she was getting out of the car. Taking the phone she muttered, "I'll see you around." Shutting the door, she turned and jogged into the house.
Sighing heavily, he pulled out and made his way home, mulling over the day all the way there. He got out of his car shaking his head. He'd be damned if he knew just where he'd gone so wrong.
He paced around a bit and found himself feeling caged. He needed the freedom and outlet of a hunt.
Resolved to his plans for the evening, he thought of his brother. Perhaps he'd like to go along? After all, it had been a while since he'd fed too and Jasper was sure that Carlisle and Esme weren't about to take his brother out to Seattle for a decent meal.
Grabbing his keys, he began the short walk to the main house.
Knocking at the front door, he waited as he heard two sets of steps approaching. The door swung open then to Carlisle and Esme, the latter smiling in welcome.
"Jasper! I'm happy to see you! Come in please, and in future, you don't need to knock."
She took his arm as she led him past a silent Carlisle who closed the door and followed them into the living room where the rest of them were assembled.
"Esme, I'm not really here to visit. I came to see if my brother wanted to join me on a trip to Seattle this evening."
At that, Peter looked up from the book he was reading and smiled. "I'd love to Jasper! Let me just go put my book away. I'll be right back." He took off up the stairs and Jasper flopped into a chair to wait.
Carlisle spoke up then from where he sat next to Esme.
"Are you going for the reasons I think you are? Because if so, then I think it may be best for Peter to stay here."
He looked at Esme.
"He agreed to switch to our diet after all my dear. It wouldn't do for him to be around when Jasper hunts."
Jasper sat forward. "You're shitting me. You talked him into the bambi diet? He's been on human blood his whole life! Why would you subject him to that shit now? Did you even give him the option? Or did you use your subtle bully tactics?"
Carlisle's jaw clenched. He was trying his best not to be sucked into an argument and it wasn't working. He pinned Jasper with a cold stare.
"You may not wish to be a part of our family Jasper, but your brother has chosen to be. As such, he will adhere to our diet. He agreed to it without any fight or argument, might I add. You may be twins, but he is without guile, unlike you."
Esme had a hand on Carlisle's arm, trying desperately to get him to temper his words.
Jasper smirked. "You haven't seen guile yet Daddy." Jasper was almost snarling and the naked hatred in his eyes was startling to the many observers in the room.
"My brother will be going to Seattle with me this night for a decent meal, and every trip after this should he so choose."
Carlisle shot from his seat then and had Jasper by the front of his shirt when Peter came down the stairs.
"What's going on? Papa? Why are you treating my brother like that?"
Peter looked at Esme, who had both hands held over her mouth and tears in her eyes at what was taking place.
In one smoothly practiced move, Jasper had Carlisle pinned face down on the floor with his arm twisted behind him in a rather painful looking hold.
"I have told you not to touch me. You're very fortunate that my brother gives two shits about you otherwise you'd be decorating the sky as a cloud of purple smoke right now. Don't think I wouldn't do it either Daddy." He sneered out. "There's almost nothing in this world that would give me more pleasure."
He let go of Carlisle with a small shove and cracks appeared in the twisted arm, causing Carlisle to gasp and clench his eyes shut.
Both Edward and Emmett moved to help Carlisle rise and Peter moved to his brother.
"Jasper, I think we need to talk brother. We should go now and we can talk in your car."
His words broke Jasper's concentrated stare from Carlisle's pained form and the disapproving looks both Edward and Emmett were giving him.
He glanced at Esme and she gave him a watery smile.
"Yeah okay Pete. Let's go."
Peter turned to go when Carlisle's voice stopped him.
"Peter son, I don't want you going with him. I think you should stay here. You'll have to be up early tomorrow for your shopping, and school starts Monday."
Peter now looked at Jasper with uncertainty.
"Maybe I should stay here Jasper. I do have a lot to do tomorrow to get ready for school, and I did promise our father that I would do my best to stick to their diet." He dropped his head. "I'm sorry brother. But if father wants me to stay, then I must stay."
Jasper didn't miss the triumphant look that Carlisle shot him and smirked even as he shook his head. "That's okay Pete. Someday, you'll tire of having every little detail of your life dictated to you and then we'll talk. I can wait. I'm pretty patient when it comes to such things. Until then, I'll see you around."
At that, he turned and left. It had turned out to be one hell of a day once again and he just wanted to hunt, feed and get some sleep.
Sliding in behind the wheel, he started the car and sped down the drive, hoping beyond hope that drama would not find him again this day.
Bella had gone into the house to discover that her father had left her a note on the counter along with money for pizza. It seemed that he was over at Billy's place watching a game.
Sighing in relief, she went up to her room to shower and change. She wanted to get comfortable before she even thought about food or anything else.
Stepping out of the shower, she got dressed in sweats and a tank, thinking about Jasper as she dried her hair.
Yes, he was an ass at times, but as she thought about what they had done that afternoon, heat suffused her and a longing filled her. She missed him and the feeling puzzled her. She barely knew him, after all.
Shrugging it off, she made her way downstairs and to the phone to order the pizza.
With that done, she sat on the couch and turned on the TV. Time for some mindless entertainment, she thought.
Speaking of entertainment, she spotted her phone laying on the lamp table and picked it up, contemplating sending a text to Jasper. Should she let him off the hook so soon? She felt slightly sick inside being upset with him and she didn't like it at all. She was feeling compelled to accept his apology. He had seemed sincere after all.
A knock on the door had her grabbing the money for the pizza before answering it but when she swung the door open, and Jacob shoved his way in, terror filled her and she did the only thing she could think of. She hit the send button and hoped that Jasper would figure things out.
Jasper was tired. Too tired to go all the way to Seattle. He smirked as he decided to simply eat some dirt bag from a little closer to home. He would stop in Port Angeles.
Making quick work of finding a suitable meal that was about to stab some other guy in an alley, he had his fill and stashed the body in the woods before making his way back to his car.
He was just about to start the car and pull away when he was pleasantly surprised to see Bella's name come up in his caller ID.
When he answered though, it was another emotion that filled him.
Rage, white and hot as he listened to her struggle and scream out.
Tearing out of the side street he was parked on, he down shifted and gave it all the car had. He would pull over and take the rest of the trip on foot once he reached Forks. He'd be much faster running through the woods and make better time that way.
When he finally arrived, it was to a shaken and sobbing Isabella and a terrified looking pizza delivery boy.
He went to her and took her into his arms and she clutched to him.
"What happened Bella?"
He could barely understand as she mumbled against his chest. "It was him again. I thought it was the pizza I had ordered, but when I opened the door, he shoved his way in and started to rough me up and kiss me. I hit send because I was already planning on calling you. I guess the Pizza delivery getting here scared him off and he ran out the back."
He looked at the pizza delivery boy. "Did you see anything or hear anything of significance?"
The boy shook his head vigorously. "No sir. She was the only one present by the time she opened the door to me.
I just decided to stay to keep her company until someone showed up because she seemed so upset." He shrugged. "Sorry."
Jasper took out a hundred and handed it to the kid. "No, you did the right thing and I thank you, but you can go now. I'm sure the chief will contact you at work if he needs to."
The kid nodded with a relieved look on his face as he left hastily.
Leading Bella to the couch, Jasper sat her down and handed her the phone. "Call your dad and get him here now. He needs to know what this asshole is like and do something about it because if he won't, I will."
Nodding, she called Charlie and filled him in on the basics. She'd save the details for later when they were face to face.
When she disconnected the call, she went straight back to Jaspers strong arms, finding immeasurable comfort there as he stroked her hair and kissed her gently.
"I'm sorry I got so mad at you earlier. Something inside me doesn't like being upset with you at all. I couldn't stand it. That's why I was going to call you to begin with. I needed to see you and make things right."
"Shh, it's alright beautiful girl." He smirked down at her. "I knew you'd call soon. Who can resist this?" He gestured to himself and she rolled her eyes.
"You are one conceited ass Jasper, but I guess you're my conceited ass, right?"
She looked up at him and he felt his stomach tighten up a bit in apprehension. He'd never committed to anyone before and it wasn't an entirely comfortable feeling now. He decided to hedge a bit.
"How about we see how things go for a while? We just officially met after all."
He smiled and she sighed. In disappointment? Yes, that was definitely disappointment she was feeling. At least he didn't dump her on the couch and take off.
"Yeah, we'll see."
DISCLAIMER: Twilight and its inclusive material is copyright to Stephenie Meyer. Original creation, including but not limited to plot and characters, is copyright to the respective authors of each story. No copyright infringement is intended.