February
Jasper
It's been a few months since I moved in and Bella and I spend most of our time together. Actually the only time we aren't together is when she's at work or I'm hunting. I had to quit following her to work because when she found out she about lost her shit on me. I promised, but I know how long it takes her to get home and if she's not pulling into the driveway at that time I'm calling.It took about two weeks for us to fall into a routine, not like we have to work around the bathroom or anything, but neither one of us have lived with anybody for awhile so we had to work out a few kinks.Like me knocking on the bathroom door before walking into shower after hunting. I learned that after Bella couldn't sleep one night after I left and decided to take a bath. Don't tell her I said so, since she thinks I didn't see anything, but she has a pretty decent body.On days she works I'll have breakfast waiting on her when she gets up. It started out as just pop tarts, but after she showed me a few things in the kitchen I'll usually make her eggs, bacon, and toast now. When she gets home she cooks her own dinner before we do our together time.We take a lot of walks talking about pretty much anything we can think of. I still haven't told her about my past before joining the family. I know I will eventually, but right now she doesn't need to hear that. She still won't tell me what Edward said in the woods that day and I've asked a few times, but feeling the pain that comes with her thinking about it is still too much.We've also gotten into a movie kick and are slowly making our way through all the movies at the local video store. We've actually found a few that I haven't seen already.I've also learned in these months that Bella is pretty funny too. Not quite as much as Emmett since her humor is dryer, but I think I like it because it's closer to my sense of humor than anybody else I know.No other text messages have come from Alice, but I don't miss them, so I consider that a good thing and I'm doing like I'm suppose too.Something is missing though. I spent a little bit of time thinking on it and it finally dawned on me a little ways through January. Bella needs to have fun.I mean her emotions are so much easier to deal with now; she's happy and she smiles all the time and her loneliness is all but gone, but I can't help think that she needs to get out more.The night she first saw me she was having fun and I want to give her that again. She's become my best friend and if I can do that for her I will.When I first realized all of this I hunted up a piece of paper and started making a list. I spent a lot of time thinking on things we could do and I would add them. Sometimes I would end up going back and taking something off the list, but eventually I had over a hundred things.Now I just had to narrow it down.That was a lot easier said than done. I had no clue on what she had or hadn't done before and if she had I didn't know if she enjoyed it enough to it again.Sighing I glanced at the clock. Bella would be home in just over four hours and I wanted to get everything taken care of so we could start on the list soon.Tapping the pen against the coffee table I thought about who I could ask, the answer coming just as my phone began to ring.Smiling because it was the first time I actually wanted to talk to her since I'd been here I flipped my phone open."Just the person I needed." I said and heard her tinkling laugh."I know. I figured a call would be better than putting everything in a text.""Thank you.""You're welcome.""So what do I do?""Okay circle each of the numbers I give you. Also start with the number one beside the first circle and go up to ten beside each of the next ones and then do them in that order.""Alright what's the first one?""Number 12.""Really? That's the one I know she's done.""Yes, but she didn't have that much fun with it.""And she will this time?""Yes if you make it where it's a game.""Okay." I said circle the number and putting 1 beside it. "What next?""Number 37.""That will be interesting.""Yeah, but she'll love it. Next is number 89.""Cool." I said circling the number."I figured you'd enjoy that one a lot too as well as the next one. Number 102.""Hell yeah. Next?""Number 98.""Alice I really don't think that's a good idea and I can't even figure out why I even put it on the list to begin with.""Trust me. Look up their website and you'll understand.""If you say so. What else?""Number 75 and 76.""Got em.""Number 4.""Okay.""And the last two number 14 and number 107.""Alright and she'll like all of these?""Positive, plus she's only done one of them so that will make it better. It'll take a little coaxing with the second one and she'll be indecisive to begin with about the eighth one, but in the end she'll do them all. There are a few things you'll need though.""Like what?""Money.""I still have my credit card.""It expired on the first. The new one is in Carlisle's safe in the study, you'll have to activate it, plus there is tons of cash and the keys. ""Okay is the code still 326459.""Yep.""Thanks Alice.""You're welcome Jasper and take her to do number 41 when you tell her.""Why?""It's something else she's never done, plus it'll help her decide on doing the list.""Okay. Anything else I should know?""Nope. Everything is good. Just remember everything I've told you and I mean everything.""Ahh I knew the cryptic shit would come into this somehow.""Sorry.""It's fine. I've come to accept that I won't know until the time is right.""Good boy. Now go get everything done before she gets home although she'll be a little late and forget to call so don't freak out.""What is she doing?""She won't feel like cooking, so she's going to stop for dinner.""Is something wrong?""No it was a busy day so she's tired. I was going to tell you to have a bath waiting on her, but it'll raise her suspicions when you tell her I called and you'll end up blurting the list out to her.""Good to know. Thanks again.""You're welcome. I won't call again, so next time I talk to you will be face to face.""And when will that be?""Nice try. See you later.""Bye Alice.""Bye."I flipped the phone closed after she hung up and set it beside me. Grabbing another piece of paper I wrote out the new, Bella Needs To Have Some Fucking Fun, list; shortening it to just Bella's Fun list as I did so, since the other title was just a mouthful. Funny, but a mouthful all the same.Once I had it written out I left the house and ran over to the old one.Just like Alice said my new credit card that didn't expire for two more years was in the safe along with $30,000, and two sets of keys. I ran up to my old bedroom and grabbed a duffle bag to keep everything inand make it easier to hide.Once I got back to the house I grabbed Bella's laptop and spent an hour setting up an email address, getting everything done on it I could, and then deleting the history so she wouldn't know what I had been up to if she decided to go snooping. There was also a few more things I had to do in person though, but those would be taken care of tomorrow while Bella was at work, plus I would need to go to the library to print off all the confirmation emails.By the time Bella arrived home twenty minutes late I might add, I was so excited to have everything done I was channeling Alice's pixie ass and bouncing around like a fucking idiot, but it instantly died when I heard the truck door slam and felt her emotions; her heartbeat was erratic and worry and fear were sky high.Flinging the front door open I rushed out only to have Bella throw herself at me when I was close enough."What's the matter?" I asked as she clung to me."I thought you left.""Why?""I was late and didn't remember to call until I turned onto our road and then I realized you didn't call me like usual. I thought you were gone.""God Bella I'm sorry. I ran to the other house to get a book and then stopped to hunt on my way back. I wasn't thinking." I said coming up with the quick lie."Oh. I'm sorry I was freaking out. It just scared me.""It's okay. I can see how you thought that, but you have to trust that I'm not just going to leave. I don't even think I could now."She nodded, squeezing me once more before letting go."So why were you late?" I asked sliding an arm around her shoulders while turning us toward the house."It was busy today and two people called in so that made it even more so and I'm tired. I didn't want to cook so I stopped for Chinese.""Did you eat there?""No," She said then looked down. "Oh it's still in the truck.""I'll get it go on in.""Okay. Thanks Jasper."I nodded and pushed her toward the front steps. Waiting until the door closed I let out a breath and turned toward the truck, finding Bella's food and purse on the seat. Knowing that I had scared her made the list so much more important. It would bring us closer and at the end I hoped that not only did she have fun, but would trust that I wouldn't leave.BellaJasper scared the shit out of me, even though I know deep down he won't just up and leave there is still that small part that comes back full force because of the past.These last few months have been the best ever. Jasper and I had never been close before, but now I can't imagine him not being here. I'd learned a lot about him, but still not nearly enough. He'd become my best friend though and I was so much happier because of him."Hey," He called pulling me from my silent musings of all the talks we'd had so far."What?" I asked looking up from my food to find him smiling."Tomorrow I'm going to meet you at work when you get off.""Why?""We're going to go do something and I don't want you to have to drive home to just turn around and go back to Port Angeles.""What are we doing?""Can't tell you.""I don't like surprises.""Well all I can say is too bad. You'll have to get over that quickly.""Jasper?" I whined."Look you have three choices. You can either give in gracefully and trust that I only have your best interest at heart, or I can make you starting out, using my little gift, be happy about it and get you to give in, or you can kick and scream and I use my gift and you give in anyway. So which will it be?""Stupid, cocky, manipulative vampire." I huffed."That's not an answer.""So my choices are give in, give in, or give in?""Pretty much. The only difference is how you go about giving in." He said grinning."Fine. I'll play along.""Good girl. Now finish your food."I ate a few more bites before asking, "Will you tell me a story later?""What like a bedtime story?""No, what am I five?""Sorry it's just the way you asked."Rolling my eyes I continued. "No I meant one about when you were little. You've told me all about your life after you found Alice and the rest of the Cullen's and things you and Emmett have done, but nothing before your time with them. I know you aren't ready for me to hear about your change and stuff, but your childhood was good wasn't it?""It was, but only one memory really stands out anymore.""Will you tell it to me?""Yes, but only if you tell me one.""Okay."I finished eating quickly trying to think of something I haven't told him yet, finally coming up with one as I took my last bite. Once I had everything cleaned up and a cup of hot chocolate in my hands we went into the living room, settling on the sofa.Turning to face him I tucked my feet under me."You first?" He saidI knew I wouldn't win if I tried to argue so I started."You know how clumsy I am and most of the time I hurt myself on a weekly basis, but it's usually just once a week." I said and at his nod of agreeing with me I continued. "Well when I was eight there was one week where it was like I was bound and determined to hurt myself everyday and my mom ended up having to take me to the hospital everyday for something.""What did you do?""On Monday I ended up with a bloody nose. Where I went to school the playground sat at the base of two little hills and it was common for the kids to play chicken. Two of us would stand on the top of each and the run toward each other. Well it was my turn and the boy I was going against was shorter than me and neither one of us decided to move out of the way. My nose ended up connecting with his forehead. Thankfully it wasn't broken, but I had to go to the hospital because we couldn't get it to stop gushing blood everywhere."Jasper was smiling by this time and I knew it would only get bigger as I continued telling him about that whole week."On Tuesday I ended up with eight stitches in the bottom of my foot when I stepped on broken glass in the front yard. Wednesday I ended up with six stitches in my knee from running through a small gap in the doorway chasing after a friend and slicing my leg open with a screw that wasn't screwed in all the way. Thursday I fell off the jungle gym and broke my arm and then that Friday I ended up with four stitches in my eyebrow when I fell off the same jungle gym again."Jasper was laughing his ass off by the time I had finished and was projecting so I ended up laughing with him.When he finally calmed down he said, "You really are a clumsy ass.""Yes, but it's gotten better lately and I've never had a week like that again."He shook his head and asked, "So just how many broken bones have you had?""Seven. I've broken my left arm twice, my right arm once, my left ankle twice, and both my big toes."He was still smiling, but I knew he wasn't doing it to make fun of me so it didn't bother me."Your turn now." I said getting more comfortable and wanting to laugh at him a little."Okay well when I was little we didn't have TV or cars or anything that we have now for entertainment. We had to settle for whatever else we could find. I had friends in school, but it was summer and there were so many miles between our houses that it would take half a day to walk there or even a few hours to ride a horse. I had two younger sisters, but of course they were girls and a ten year old boy could not play with girls, especially sisters."Anyway we had this magnolia tree in the front yard of our house and I loved to climb it. My mom hated it of course because she was always afraid I'd fall out and kill myself, but dad would tell her I was fine. That summer I was bored worse than I'd ever been so I got the bright idea that I was going to build me a tree house. I spent all of June and July hauling boards up that tree and getting them nailed in just so."When it was done I was so excited and showed it off proudly to my mom and dad. It was up maybe two weeks when one of the boards that I had nailed up fell off. It wouldn't have been that bad if it wasn't the second to the top one and I hadn't have been on it at the time. Needless to say when I fell I landed on my arm and broke it. My mom flipped out while my dad went for the doctor. She yelled about how she knew it was dangerous all along and I was lucky I didn't die and now I would always have a crooked arm. That she hoped I had fun because dad was chopping the tree down when he got home."That was the only thing I heard. I argued that it was my favorite tree and it was an accident, but she wouldn't hear it and when my dad got back the tree came down. I cried harder I think when it fell than I did with my arm, but mom just huffed and said with a crooked arm I wouldn't be able to climb up anyway. I was so mad, especially when the splint came off months later and my arm was straight as could be."I was laughing because I could see him standing there, eyes flashing and hands on his ten year old hips.Composing myself I asked, "What color were your eyes?""Blue, but my mom said when I got mad they would turn a stormy gray color though.""How much younger were your sisters?""Three years.""So they were twins.""Yeah and looked just like me. Acted like me too as they got older." He said and then started tell me more stories.It seems like with telling the first one it opened a door to his memories. I heard about when he took them fishing for the first time and then when they found him another tree to climb, but nothing after that.The next morning I woke up in my bed. It didn't bother me that I had no recollection of coming up here since I'd fallen asleep a few times on the couch before then and Jasper had always just carried me up.After a quick shower I headed downstairs shocked to find pancakes waiting on me.They were delicious so I had to ask, "Where did you learn to make these?"Jasper turned from the sink and smiled, "Food network."Shaking my head with a laugh I finished up eating."You get off at 5 right?" Jasper asked as I took my plate over to the sink."Yeah.""Okay I'll be at your truck waiting.""Alright. Do I need to grab a change of clothes?""Not unless you just want to where something else, but you will need a jacket."I nodded and headed upstairs to grab a long sleeve shirt along with my jacket and bag.Stopping in the kitchen door I waved a goodbye before making my way out to my truck.The day passed so freaking slow. I spent most of it and my lunch with Sarah trying to figure out what we were doing, but nothing would come to me.Finally 5:00 arrived and I was punching out. Stopping off in the bathroom I changed out of my work shirt before going out to find Jasper leaning against the back of my truck."Hey," I said getting closer.He smiled and pushed off to walk over. "How was your day?""Long.""So you need to have fun.""I guess.""Good." He said holding out his hand. "I'll drive."Giving him a confused look I reaching in my bag to pull out my keys. Handing them over I walked around to slide into the passenger side.We drove just a few minutes before pulling into a mini-golf parking lot and I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my face."Putt-putt Jasper?""Yeah." He said putting the truck in park and opening his door.I slid out as well and we walked quickly into the building.Once we got inside he looked over at me and asked, "Do you want to eat before we play?"I nodded and we moved over to the snack bar, ordering a cheeseburger and fries.When it was in hand we found a table so I could eat.I took a few bites before asking "So what made you want to come play mini golf?""Well I thought we could use some fun.""Oh," I said instantly feeling bad."What's the matter?" He asked."I'm sorry I'm so boring.""No that's not what I was saying." He said shaking his head. "I love watching movies and talking to you and if that's all we did from now on that would be fine, but for three years you did nothing really. I thought you might like to get out some.""Oh. Okay. Sorry.""Don't apologize. It's just that when you went out with the people from work I could feel how much fun you had and I wanted you to have that again."I nodded in understanding as I remembered that night.He smiled and said, "Okay since you're good with that there is something else I want to talk to you about; something else I've planed.""Alright.""Well I've come up with a list.""A list? What kind of list?""Bella's Fun List. It's things that I think you'd enjoy doing.""What kind of things?""I can't tell you that specifically.""Why not?" I asked worried."Because there would be no fun in that." He said grinning."Do I have a choice?""You always have a choice Bella.""Whatever; was it not you that said you would make me give in coming here if I chose differently?""Um…um…"Laughing I asked, "Did I just leave you speechless.""Yes you did, however I will tell you a few things to help you make your decision if you want."Figuring I could say always say no if I didn't like what I heard I waved for him to get on with it."Okay, Number one, there are ten things on the list. Two, I believe you have only done one of them before. Three, no two will be done at the same time. Four, you won't find out what we're doing until the actual day. Five, I don't want to hear I can't come out of your mouth on anything we do, because you can. Six, nothing on this list is too dangerous. And last, but not least once you commit to doing the list you can't back out. You have to see it through to the end."He finished talking and sat back then, waiting for my reply.After I closed my mouth I asked, "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this list?""You will, you just have to trust me. Can you do that?""Yes," I answered without having to think about it."Good. So do you commit to doing what's on the list?""When you say not too dangerous is that by human standards or vampire standards?"He smiled again and said, "Actually it's human, so what do you say?"I thought about it a few minutes more. "Yes." I finally answered. How could I not though, I could see from looking into his eyes he was excited about it and I knew he wouldn't let me get hurt."This is going to be so much fun." He said clapping his hands in a way that reminded me of Alice.Shaking my head I finished my food I'd forgotten about since he started talking and then we made our way over to the putt-putt counter and picked out our balls and putters. I would be playing with green and when he grabbed a few more green balls, putting them in his pocket, I gave him a questioning look."It's you," He said while picking a red ball for himself. There was no arguing with that logic.As we walked out the door, he handed me the score card and said, "You keep score, I'll need my hands free to catch you when you trip.""Hey. I've gotten better." I huffed before turning and promptly tripping over a rock.Catching me he laughed, "Whatever you say Bella."Sticking my tongue out I asked, "Which course do you want to try?""Your choice."After looking over the maps for each of the three courses I chose the elephant course.I have to admit it was fun, even though I did loose my first ball on the second hole and the second ball on the sixth hole. He had jinxed me to because I tripped on the ninth and tenth hole, and almost fell into the small fish pond on the thirteenth hole.When we finally made it to the last hole-with no more trips or lost balls-Jasper was already beating me by like 20 strokes, so I just let my club fly, and I'm still no sure how it happened, got a hole in one.While he knocked his ball in, I was jumping up and down like a kid in a candy store. As his ball went in the hole I threw myself at him and asked, "Did you see what I did?""Yes Bella, I was standing right here." He said laughing.We turned in our putters then and headed out to the parking lot."I had so much fun. Thank you." I said, slipping my arm through his."I know and I hope you have just as much with everything else," He said laughing again.When we got home I was still a little keyed up so we sat on the couch to watch a movie, not much later I was awakened as he carried me up the stairs to my bedroom.Placing a kiss on my forehead he whispered, "Sweet dreams," before going back downstairs.I rolled over and finally had no doubt that I wouldn't enjoy each and everything Jasper came up with.
