Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Nine

That morning, Bella doesn't say anything as the girls drive to school. They park and hear the bell ring, as students begin to make their way to class. Bella stands there and Adeline sees her make eye contact with Edward, who pauses. Addie watches as Bella starts making her way to the woods. Her eyes move to Edward, who watches Bella disappear into the woods, then begins to follow her. Addie turns back to the rest of the Cullens and sees them all looking a mixture of disapproval and fear (with the exception of Alice, who was just excited to have another friend).

Classes that day seemed to take forever. Bella and Edward had yet to return from their discussion, and Adeline couldn't help but worry about her sister's safety. She was friends with all the other Cullens, but he was the one she knew the least. She didn't know what his limits were or how strong he was.

What if he couldn't resist? What if he couldn't hold himself back? What if he tried to take a bite out of my sister?

She barely spoke to Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice in class, though they tried to calm her anxiety. Even Jasper's ability to control emotions had no effect on the girl. As she silently walked out of the school, Addie found Bella waiting for her by their truck.

"Where have you been," Addie asked. "You missed the whole day!"

"We need to talk," Bella said, ignoring Adeline's question.

The two girls glanced at the Cullens (who were standing by their cars), got into the truck, and began the drive home.

Addie decided to ask again, "Where did you go for so long?"

"We talked, like you said. We went into the woods and I told him I know what they are. I told him I know that they're vampires."

"What did he say? He didn't hurt you or anything, right?"

"No, Addie, he didn't hurt me. But he told me that he's a monster. That's he's killed people and that he wanted to kill me."

Adeline swallowed, thinking back to what Jasper had told her when they had talked.

"Then he told me something I didn't expect, Addie."

Adeline paused and watched her sister, who pulled into their driveway, parked, and sat there completely still.

"What did he tell you, Bella?"

"I told him that I had told you what I figured out, and how you said I should talk to him. I told him that you knew they were vampires too. And do you know what he said?"

Bella paused, finally turning her head to look at her sister.

"He said he knew. He said he knew that you knew, Addie. He said that Jasper told you. That you two took a drive and Jasper told you all about their family. Why didn't you tell me? We're supposed to tell each other everything?"

Addie looked down in shame, before saying, "It wasn't my secret to tell, Bells. I felt so guilty not telling you, but you were so close to the truth anyways. I only figured it out two days ago, and I only talked to Jasper about it yesterday! By the time I got home, you had already figured it out on your own. I thought Edward was the best person to confirm it, cause he could answer all the questions I couldn't! I'm so so so so so sorry, Bella, I really am. I promise you I'm never going to keep anything a secret from you again."

Addie looked at her sister pleadingly, begging her to believe what she had said.

"Fine," Bella began, "But I have one question, since we aren't keeping secrets."

"I'll tell you anything," Adeline confirmed.

"Do you like Jasper?"

"BELLA!"

"What?? It's an honest question. You're always looking at him like you two are the only people on Earth."

"Possibly... And he and I possibly talked about it... And he possibly likes me back..."

"Oh my god," Bella said, shaking her sister's shoulders. "That's awesome!"

"Not as awesome as the chemistry between you and Edward! You can't tell me there isn't something going on there!"

"I mean...."

"Spit it out, Bells!"

"I definitely like him. And he likes me. I think I'm falling in love with him. Actually no, I know I am."

What Bella heard after that almost shattered the poor girl's eardrums.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Isabella Swan!!!!!! In love!!!!!!! OH MY GOD I never thought the day would come -"

Addie didn't get the chance to finish what she was saying because before she could, she had a hand slapped over her mouth.

"Shut the fuck up! Someone's going to hear you."

"I just can't believe it, Bells. I mean who would've thought. The Swan girls both have boyfriends!"

"On my god, Adeline. I'm going to go finish my homework and then you're helping me clean the truck."

"Whatever you say, boss," said Adeline, knowing exactly how much that got under her sister's skin.

"Don't make me spray you with the hose!"