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A/N - I am posting this with a few additions, changed, etc. 
Birth Name: Lupeta Swan-BlackAdoptive Name: Lupeta O'RyanNickname: Lupe (Most) Little Wolf, Baby (Ashlee) Lu/Loo (Logan) Birthday: October 31stHeight: 5 ft 6 in or 168 cmHair Color: Dark BrownEye Color: BluePortrayed by: Kaya Scodelario

Place of Birth: London, EnglandNationality: Dual English and AmericanSpecies: Shifter (True Alpha)

Occupation:
High School Student (Currently)Waitress (Eventually) 
Family:
Ashlee O'Ryan (nee Swan) (Mother)- Lauren Graham- Occupation: Illustrator /Waitress

Oliver 'Pop' O'Ryan (Adoptive Father/Step-father)- Colin Farrell- Occupation: Owner of Pop's Chock'lit Shoppe/Chef- Druid

Noah O'Ryan (Adoptive/Step-brother)- Matthew Daddario- Lives with his mother in Seattle, for now anyway- Druid- Bisexual- Logan Cheny pairing

Billy Black (Biological father)- This will make her the True Alpha and not Jacob.

Jacob Black (Paternal younger half brother)

Rachel Black (Paternal older half sister)Rebecca Black (Paternal older half sister)Ephraim Black (paternal great-grandfather)Geoffrey Swan (maternal grandfather) ♰Helen Swan (maternal grandmother) ♰Charlie Swan (Maternal Uncle)

Isabella Swan (maternal cousin)

Dogs:

Froggie (Corgi)

Eisenhower (German Shepard)

Chico (Chihuahua)

Other Characters:

Logan Cheny- Dylan O'Brien- Will be Lupe's best friend- Gay- Noah O'Ryan pairing

Mira Cullen- Madelaine Petsch- Was with Jasper in Maria's army. Escaped with him, Charlotte, and Peter.- Considers herself Jasper's best friend. -  Relationship Identification and Manipulation:"She can see the relationships or connections people have to one another, and one day will have to one another.....For example, in a group situation, she can easily pick out the leader, or sense the strength of the bond between mates or friends. She can also see where those bonds are weak" - Jasper to Lupe about Mira's giftMira has the ability to sense the relationships of those around her (lovers, friends, family, etc.), along with the intensity of the ties that bind them, allowing her to see each individual's level of devotion to one another, and determine who would willingly die for another or turn traitor, given incentive.- Mira can also see relationships that will be. Such as Jasper and Lupe. As she noticed that something was different with Jasper as soon as he had seen Lupe. This seems to happen most often with soul mates- She sees these relationships as an aura line between two individuals in different colours. These colours represent various levels of devotion that Mira has learned to translate over the years. The stronger the relationship, the darker and less transparent the colour."Mira's gift is actually quite valuable in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. For example, imagine her on the battlefield. She sees the binding ties between the enemy. She can tell who the leader is just by watching the way the others are tied to them. She can see how to destroy the resistance simply by picking off a few key people. She doesn't just see romantic relationships, but also ties of family and friends, loyalty and devotion. She can tell if any given person would die for another. Can you see the potential now? Mira wasn't Maria's favourite because of some fluff skill." - Jasper about Mira's gift.Mira can also both increase and decrease the emotional ties between people. She can make partners turn away from one another, disband covens and friendships, but also can strengthen the bonds between people and potentially create new ones.- Edward will state that he believes Mira to be more powerful than Chelsea because her powers come from a better place, implying that because Mira is aligned good, her powers are stronger."Mira sees relationships. She's surprised by the intensity of theirs" - Edward to Bella regarding Jasper and Lupe's relationship in Eclipse
- Limitations:
Mira cannot as easily influence the emotional ties of people when those ties are stronger than just friendship or acquaintance. For example, she can not change the way Jasper and Lupe feel about each other, or the way Edward and Bella feel for one another.- Alice Cullen pairing

Note:
- I do have a plan for Leah, but as that won't happen until book two, I won't add the information in now, but will do when I get to that book.  
Bio:
Lupe is the product of an affair between Ashlee Swan and Billy Black. Whilst Ashlee was excited to become a mother, Billy wasn't and told Ashlee that he couldn't be a father to their child as he already had his own family. Ashlee decided it would be best to leave Forks. At the airport, Ashlee met Oliver, initially, the two of them struck up a strong friendship that eventually became romantic and they married.Lupe's childhood was rather normal. Raised by Ashlee and Oliver in Ireland and then England with her step-brother Noah, who visited once a month to spend a weekend with Oliver. Lupe and Noah proved to be fast friends and siblings.Lupe and Noah spent the summer before returning to Forks travelling around in Lupe's camper.  
Personality:
Lupe is mysterious and rebellious. Not only is she rebellious and mysterious, but simultaneously she is a "fuck it" kind of person. Yet she can see people clearly. She can see people's weaknesses, strengths, and also can get into people's heads better than most. (This may or may not be something more then just personality but an aspect of her shifter blood)Lupe is a thrill seeker. She loves the chase, she loves games, she loves talking in riddles, and loves to party. This is the only way in which Lupe can successfully relate to people in the world. Though she may able to observe and analyse emotions she definitely does not know how to handle them, because they offer her no sense of control or comfort.Lupe self medicates by smoking weed and drinking. 
Trivia:
- Lupe plays the guitar- Lupe is an amazing artist- Lupe loves nature- Lupe loves horror movies- Lupe smokes both original and weed 
Wardrobe:
Lupe signature characteristics include her 'ripped clothing' look (Lupe's style is all about the destruction of clothing to reflect her rebellious and destructive behaviour. She would even take a piece of clothing and rip it to shreds so that it's different and she won't be wearing the same thing as anyone else) Lupe also likes to wear mainly black with gold jewellery.

Make-up:
Lupe's signature looks is the smokey eye and the cat eyeliner look. This look best complement her blue eyes. 
Pairing:
Jasper Hale- In this version vampires can have tattoos. (Jasper has at least three from his human life)- He rides a motorbike- Enjoys poetry and calligraphy- Has a 'bucket list', a list of things he wants to learn or do - His bedroom reflects his Southern routes. Dark wood furniture. Records. Books (Journals and history books). Folded American flag.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe loves napping in the sun as it flows in through the window of her camper van, warming but not over heating. She sighs softly and then pulls off her sunglasses as her step-brother Noah knocks on the window from outside of the camper, Lupe groans and looks to him, he smirks at her and sets his own sunglasses over his eyes before leaning in through the open side door.“Morning” he greets overly happily, she hates that about him, he's always happy. Much like his father. Lupe's step-father. It's the Irish in them. Happy little leprechauns. And she loves them for it at the same time.“Why the fuck are you awake?” she complains.“The sky's awake, so I'm awake” he answers sing-songy and dramatically, she groans.“No, don't quote Frozen you berk” she counters sitting up. “Seriously? Which of us is the bloody girl?” she climbs out of the camper her feet hitting the warm sand of the Mexican beach, she takes a deep breath and then turns back to the camper and pulls her bag closer and pulls out a shirt. “So what's say we hit up Los Mochis?” she asks changing her shirt, Noah shakes his head.“You said you'd pick up your cousin” Noah reminds her, Lupe looks to him. “Bella” he adds, she makes a face and nods.“Yeah” she stretches her neck and her hands out in front of her before bending down to touch her toes.“We should be heading back anyway” he adds as he grabs his toiletry bag from the camper and pulls out his toothbrush and paste before he climbs into the camper. “It'll take about....9 maybe 10 hours to get to Phoenix” he points out looking over the map on the counter. “Depends how we get on at the border” Lupe sighs and throws her head back to look up at the sky.“I'm going to miss Mexico” she admits sitting in the open side door pulling her boot up to retie the laces.“We could always come back” he offers around his toothbrush, he leans over the sink and spits before turning to her. “Hey, maybe next time we can bring Bella, maybe she'll end up being really cool” she looks to him and shoots him a look.“Last time I saw Bella” Lupe starts. “I was seven...and I was bored”“You were seven” Noah argues.“Well my Uncle Charlie has never moved, and the only place he's been on holiday is Phoenix....”“Okay, if we're doing the apple thing, should we look at you” he teases nudging her back with his boot. “You and Ash are nothing a like....”“Well neither are you and Pop” she argues standing and climbing into the camper.“Nice defence” he counters with a smirk, she shoots him a look as he slides the door shut and they both climb into the front. Lupe rolls down the driver's side window and then starts the camper. “Know what I'm going to miss?” Noah asks grabbing a smokers tin from the dash, she looks to him. “Freedom” he answers, she shakes her head and starts to drive away.“Your mom's not that bad” she counters as he rolls a joint with the weed in the tin. “She let you come to Mexico”“Yeah, wearing this” he holds up the tracking pendant around his neck, Lupe looks to it and fights a laugh, it's hilarious really. “Not like yours” he mumbles. “Yours let you move out” she scoffs. “I love Ash” he tells her. “Ash is awesome” he adds and then licks along the paper to act as glue.“Into the back garden” she argues back. “She let me move into the back garden”“Yard” Noah corrects. “It's back yard. Damn English woman” he grumbles with a smirk.“I can pull over and leave you in Guaymas” she threatens, he laughs and lights up. “I swear to whichever God is real I will do it” he laughs harder lighting the joint between his lips. She holds out her hand for it when it's lit.“No” he argues. “You're driving....” he smirks at her as she shoots him a look.“Since when does that matter?” she argues setting her hand back on the steering wheel. “Put the tape in” she tells him, Noah smirks and pushes the tape hanging out of the tape deck into the player. They both relax into their seats to enjoy the drive to Phoenix.….....................9 hours later, Phoenix, Arizona: Noah leans against the camper as Lupe knocks on the door of the house in front of her, her sort of Aunt Renee's, she actually rather likes the woman, completely out of Charlie's league. The door opens and suddenly Lupe is engulfed in arms. Renee's arms. Bella sighs behind her mother completely embarrassed by this display, Bella is more like Charlie is every way, not that Lupe is that different from them, none of them are people people, they prefer their own company and being alone, which seems to be a Swan trait. Renee pulls back from Lupe.“Look at you all grown up” Renee coos pinching Lupe's cheek, Lupe smiles slightly as Noah chuckles away watching. “And so beautiful” Renee cups Lupe's cheeks and smiles. “I can't believe it's been nine years”“Mom” Bella complains. “Leave Lupe alone” Though the last time they met was when they were 7, the cousins have been in contact over the years, swapping news and updates, and the likes. Bella actually likes hearing about Lupe's adventures, Ashlee is more free with her daughter, has been since she turned 15, since then Lupe's been travelling all over the place in what was her mother's camper, England is a small country after all, compared to America anyway, and the last 4 weeks in the states have been spent with Noah catching up and travelling whilst her mother and his father set up in Forks. And unfortunately it is now time to go back to reality.“All packed?” Renee asks turning to Bella.“Yes” Bella answers and then turns back into the house to grab her bag, Renee turns to Lupe.“It must be weird for you, being in the states?” Renee asks, Lupe shrugs.“Not really, I mean, not any more, at first it was...” Lupe admits. “Mostly because people kept staring when I talk, Americans have this weird thing about the British accent” Renee laughs and nods.“We do” she agrees. “I don't know why” Renee admits, Lupe shrugs back in agreement. “Who's the young man by the camper?” Renee asks eyeing Noah over Lupe's shoulder.“Noah” Lupe answers. “Pop's boy”“Wow” Renee whispers. “I mean, the Irish must have something in them....” Lupe smirks a little and nods.“Must be the Irish” she agrees as Bella returns with her things. “I'll let you both....have a moment” Lupe offers and heads towards the camper, Noah opens his arms and Lupe sets herself in them, resting her head over his heart as he wraps his arms around her. “I'm already exhausted....why do I have to fake nice?”“Because you're human” he answers. “And that, dear not-sister, is what we do” she sighs against his chest and flexes her jaw, it hurts from fake smiling at Renee, it's not that she hates the woman, she's just not comfortable with niceties, or interactions, or physical interactions. She's fine with Noah, cause they've been family and friends since they were both 4 years old, twelve years of friendship and honestly it's only the last few years in which Lupe was comfortable with him enough to let her barriers down around him, and not even he knows the real her. Not deep down. She takes a breath and closes her eyes, Noah strokes her arm watching Renee and Bella say goodbye. Bella, clutching a cactus from Renee, turns to the Noah and Lupe. Noah nudges Lupe and she looks up and to Bella as she walks towards them, nervous, awkward, so much like Charlie.“Bella, this is Noah” Lupe introduces. “The step-brother. Noah, this is Bella...cousin”“Oh, nice to meet you” Bella offers, Noah smiles back at her and nods.“Same” Noah counters. “We should get on the road, it's two days to Forks”“Two days?” Bella asks.“We can't drive for 24hrs” Lupe offers. “Me and Noah will switch in LA, and then stop in Sacramento, switch again in Portland and then home for tea” she tells Bella. “It'll be fun”“Fun?” Bella asks.“You told me you wanted to travel more” Lupe reminds Bella.“I do” Bella agrees and then nods. “Two days” looks between them. “Fun” she agrees. Lupe shoots Noah a look before sighing, she has a feeling this will be the longs two days of her life. She turns back to Bella and smiles.“Let's find a space for you bag” Lupe moves to the camper. “There should be some....somewhere” she mumbles and pulls a few things out from under the chair in the camper. Bella looks around the inside of the camper. “Sorry about the mess” Lupe offers. “We've been living in it for the last 4 weeks” She manages to slide Bella's case into the camper. Lupe smiles at the cactus. “And there is plenty of space for him” she teases taking the plant and setting him in the sink. Bella takes a deep breath. “Don't look so worried, it's safe, there's a seat belt here” Lupe tugs on the seat belt on the small sofa. “Legally required” Bella looks to Lupe.“It wasn't...I wasn't...”“It's fine” Lupe assures her as Noah climbs into the passenger side. Lupe sighs and turns to the drivers side as Bella climbs in closing the side door behind her, Lupe shoots Noah another look, he shrugs and tucks their little pot stash under his seat, they both already have the feeling Bella's a....rule follower, everything has to be done by the book, there's not going to much about them that they have in common. Which means that all their 'extra-curricular' activities will have to be put on hold for the next two days.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Bella leans on the back on the seats as Noah now drives, Lupe relaxes in the passenger side, sunglasses over her eyes. Bella smiles little. It's like a scene from a really mellow music video in the camper, a little cliché but oddly relaxing.“Is this what you two do?” she asks, Lupe looks to her and pulls off her sunglasses. “You two travel around in a camper....”“This trip is my first” Noah admits. “It's more Lupe's thing”“And Aunt Ash doesn't mind?” Bella asks, Lupe snorts.“It was her idea” Lupe answers. “My 16th birthday she gave me this camper and told me to make memories” she shrugs. “So me and some friends from school took off to Paris that weekend”“Just like that?” Bella asks, Lupe leans on the back of the seat next to Bella.“Why not?” Lupe asks.“Lupe has a, what Pop's calls, a fuck it attitude” Noah offers with a smirk. “She sees something, or wants to do something, or whatever....and she just says....fuck it, and goes and takes it or does it.....”“You can take anything if you want it enough” Lupe agrees.“And you never get in trouble?” Bella asks.“There's always trouble” Lupe answers. “But life's boring without a little trouble” Lupe raises an eyebrow at Bella. “Have you ever been in trouble?” Bella shakes her head. “And how's life?” Bella looks down a little.“Kind of boring” she admits and looks up at Lupe.“Stick with me, hun, I'll get you into trouble before you know it” Lupe teases.“I'm not sure that's a good thing” Bella offers back with a smile, Lupe shrugs.“Perhaps” she counters.“At least it won't be boring” Noah offers looking back at Bella. “Give it a week, you'll see what I mean” he looks back to the road, Lupe returns her sunglasses to her face and leans against the door, Bella smiles a little and looks around the camper, hints of Lupe's trips everywhere, a small Eiffel tower charm hanging from the curtain rail, a Spanish handheld fan pinned to the side of the camper, a photo of Lupe and her friends on a beach in Portugal, a tin of Swiss chocolate, a book on learning German, a Scottish fiddle, and a tin of Turkish coffee, and that's just the things she can see are from other countries, how many of the things in this camper are actually from Lupe's travels she doesn't know. And Bella's never been anywhere other then the places she lives. Which to be fair she only remembers Phoenix, and she's travelled to see Charlie in Forks, and that's it, when Ashlee and Oliver visited with Lupe, they came over from England to Arizona. Bella wasn't old enough to argue with her mother, if she had of been she might have tried persuading Renee to take her to England. That would have been awesome..................Lupe is driving by the time they reach Forks, Noah sits in the back with Bella, two days on the road with the two of them and Bella feels...different already, lighter, freer, they're so easy going and Noah is....like a wise sage.“Check it out, hun” Lupe points out a sign on the side of the road. “Welcome home” she teases Bella who looks out the window to read the sigh: 'The City Of Forks Welcomes You - Pop. 3246'.…..........As the camper drives through Forks, Lupe takes in this logging town every store front has a wood carving. The Timber Museum's sign is two loggers sawing a stump. The police station is a small wooden building across from City Hall.“It's like a lumberjack threw up an entire town” Noah remarks, Bella and Lupe are silent for a moment, processing what he just said, before they are both laughing. Noah chuckles along with them.…...........The camper pulls up to the old two-story house. A woodshed full of firewood. There's a small boat in the garage, fishing gear, an old buoy. In the drive Charlie's police cruiser, and parked at the side of the road Oliver's black truck and Ashlee's bright yellow and green vw bug. Lupe shuts off the engine as the front door opens and her mother hurries out. Noah opens the side door of the camper as Lupe climbs out of the van, Noah and Bella joining her. Ashlee engulfs Noah and Lupe into a hug as she reaches them. Oliver chuckles walking towards them slower letting his wife get it out of her system, she's like this every time Lupe goes away. Ashlee pulls back and looks over the two teens, checking for injury or tattoos or piercings, before she steps back and looks to Bella.“Bella” Ashlee greets moving to her.“Aunt Ash” Bella greets back.“Look at you” Ashlee coos and pulls her into a hug. “I hope they looked after you” she whispers.“They did” Bella assures her.“Good” Ashlee whispers pulling back. “They didn't try to get you to smoke pot, did they?”“Mom” Lupe scolds. “No, we didn't”“Just checking” Ashlee counters giving Bella a small wink. “I'll let you see your dad” she tells her warmly as Charlie leaves the house behind them, Bella smiles despite the fact she didn't really want to move, but felt like she had to for Renee and Phil, her new step-father she guesses. But she does love her father. He looks over Bella and then offers a small smile.“Your hair's longer” Charlie points out, Bella touches her hair.“I cut it since last time I saw you” she corrects.“Guess it grew out again” She just nods. Silence. “How's your mom?” Charlie asks Bella.“Good”“Okay, this is awkward” Ashlee states taking Charlie's arm. “You're so awkward” she tells her brother. “Let her get settled” she whispers to him, he nods a little, Bella offers Ashlee a grateful look. Noah moves to Bella as Charlie and Ashlee walk away.“Give me your cell phone” Noah tells Bella who frowns but does as he asks. “Here's my number” Noah offers Bella typing his number into her phone. “If you have any Lupe questions” Bella smiles and nods. “I'll be your instruction manual, but, don't be afraid to talk to Ash either, this family maybe be batshit crazy but they're good people”“I'm starting to see that” Bella admits. “I mean I've only met my own Aunt and cousin once before but....”“It's easy to see” he offers, she nods. “Yeah, Ash she just....radiates love and affection, like you can smell it on her” Bella nods.“Yeah, she reminds me of my mom actually, Ash and Charlie are so different, but I know Charlie kind of raised Ash cause....their parents were quite old when they had Charlie so....” Noah nods a little.“Plus” Ashlee states now behind them, Noah and Bella turn to her. “They got sick when I was little, and Charlie practically raised me whilst taking care of them....another reason for us to move here” she looks to Charlie who is talking with Oliver, she looks back to the two teens. “Charlie's been alone for a long time, I'm here to kick his ass into gear” she looks to Bella and smiles. “And hearing you were coming back, kind of pushed me into coming home sooner, It's been a long time.....and I'm no longer scared” she offers softly and looks to Noah. “Are you staying, sweetheart?”“Just tonight” he answers. “Lupe's gonna drive me home in the morning”“Alright, don't forget to say goodbye” she coos and walks away.“And one little bit of advice” Noah whispers to Bella. “Don't fight the O'Ryan current” he teases. “Just enjoy the crazy ride” Bella laughs a little. “And maybe wear a seat belt” they share a look, he nods to her and then heads to Lupe, hugging her from behind. “Not-sister” he greets, she smiles a little and pats his arm. Bella looks to them sadly, Lupe is her biological family and she has no relationship with her, not like she has with her step-brother, her fake brother,

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits in the open doorway of her camper with Noah as she rolls herself a joint, he has his headphones around his neck as he texts away to his mother, she's very protective, mostly because she doesn't approve of Lupe and Ashlee.“So are we doing anything tonight?” Noah asks looking to Lupe, she shrugs lighting the joint. “Technically this is the last day of our trip...” Lupe takes the joint from her lips and blows out smoke.“Beach?” she asks. “We're close to the coast, there has to be one near by, bonfire, music, weed, drink....a mini party” Noah leans against her and smiles.“Actually, that sounds perfect” he leans back into the camper reaching for his jacket. “Almost forgot how cold it gets here” he grumbles pulling the jacket on.“You live in Seattle” she points out.“Yeah and we spent the last week in Mexico” he argues and then stands lifting his jacket to sniff at himself “I need to change, you think Charlie'll let me use his bathroom”“I don't see why not” Lupe answers. “Let me finish this and we'll go inside” he sighs and sits at her side again.“I'll look up beaches” he points out as he pulls his phone out.…...............Bella and Charlie carry her bags into the house. The house isn't stylish (the only new thing here is a Flat Screen T.V.), but it's comfortable, lived-in. Lots of fishing memorabilia; photos of Charlie fishing with Quileute Indian Billy Black, this is also Lupe's biological father. Photos of young Charlie and teenage Ashlee, smiling with one another. Handmade cards to “Daddy” and photos of Bella. She winces at herself, age 7, in a tutu, sitting stubbornly on the ground.“I put Grandpa's old desk in your room. And I cleared some shelves in the bathroom” Charlie tells Bella who then grimaces.“That's right. One bathroom” Bella's eye lands on a photo of a much younger Charlie and Renee, on vacation, beaming with love.“I'll just put these up in your room” Charlie motions to her bags.“I can do it” They both reach for the bags, bumping one another awkwardly. Bella backs off, letting Charlie carry the bags upstairs.….................Bella doesn't unpack yet, she wants to spend some more time with Lupe and Noah, they seem like nice people and she wants to at least make one friend here. She reaches the bottom of the stairs as Lupe walks in, they share a look before heading into the living room together. Bella smiles seeing the corgi chasing his tail, like a moron, Lupe moves straight tot he dog and smiles.“Froggie” she greets crouching to pet the canine.“Froggie?” Bella teases, Lupe looks to her.“Okay, yeah, I named him, I was 12, he was a puppy and he looked like a frog” Lupe offers as Froggie rolls onto his back, she rubs his chest just as Eisenhower and Chico joins them, Bella crouches to greet the chihuahua as Eisenhower rubs against Lupe. “And then there is Chico” she motions to the chihuahua. “And Eisenhower” she motions to the German Shepard. “Mom's other babies” she teases, Bella chuckles standing.“They're adorable” Bella offers. “How long have you had them?”“Urm Froggie for 4 years, Chico for 3 and Eisenhower is the newest, but the oldest, we got him 18 months ago, he's a retired security dog. Mom has a weakness for the lost ones” Lupe teases. “Cause even Froggie was the runt” Lupe stands. “Hey, me and Noah are heading to the coast if you want to come, one last hurrah before he goes home”“He doesn't live with you?” Lupe shakes her head.“He lives with his mother in Seattle, Pop only gets him on weekends. Another reason for the move. It just all added up in the end”“Well beach sounds fun but I've got some unpacking”“Really?” Lupe teases. “First night and you're going to unpack, no exploring? Never mind, they'll be other nights” Lupe walks past Bella, the three dogs following after her.…...............Lupe pulls on a pair of ripped denim shorts as Noah changes his shirt, Ashlee walks into the bathroom behind them.“If you're changing you should lock the door” Ashlee scolds slightly handing Lupe a fresh shirt.“Thanks” Lupe tells her.“Where exactly are you going?” Ashlee asks as Lupe changes.“I did a quick internet search and there's a beach, a reservation down the road....” Noah answers.“The Quileute reservation?” Ashlee asks, her features turning slightly panicked.“Yeah” Lupe answers.“I'd rather you didn't” Ashlee argues, Noah and Lupe look confused, Ashlee never says no, to anything, it's why they loved her.“What? Why? It's just the Reservation down the road” Lupe argues.“I don't want you going there” Ashlee counter argues. “And I don't need to explain myself to you, I'm your mother and you will do as I say”“Since when?” Lupe asks. “What happened to freedom and memories and doing what makes me happy?”“Not this” Ashlee tells her. “Okay, go anywhere else, do anything else, but the reservation is off limits” Ashlee gives them both a look and then leaves the bathroom, Noah leans closer to Lupe.“We're still going, right?” he asks, Lupe looks to him.“Of course we are” she answers. “It's not like she can actually stop us” Noah hugs her and smirks into her hair.“This is why you're my favourite not-sister”“I am your only not-sister” she argues shaking him off of her, he chuckles and shrugs.…..............The camper is parked in a car park on the reservation.…..............Noah holds down his hand to Lupe who grabs onto his wrist, he pulls her up onto the roof of the camper with him where he's laid down blankets. They both look out over the beach and the sea, it's beautiful Lupe'll give it that, but it's not England.“Well it's not so bad here” Lupe offers opening her bottle of vodka. “I guess” she sighs. “It's not London”“Yeah, it's better” he argues. “Look at the wide open spaces, the trees, the CLEAN air” he teases. She shoots him a look.“No shops...no west end, no Soho, no...”“Okay, did you really care for any of those things before?” he asks her, she smirks and shakes her head.“Well no, but I liked having the option there” he laughs and takes the bottle from her to drink. “Plus you know, second term in....”“You know that's cause of the house” he reminds her.“Yeah, but still....” she complains and lays back to look at the sky. “Now we've slowed down, I miss England. I miss the smell, and the feel.....and the rain” she finishes just as the sky above them opens and it starts to rain, Noah laughs and looks to Lupe who sighs. “I wasn't asking for it, bastard sky!!” she shouts at the sky. They both jump up grabbing the blankets and then climbing down from the roof get into the camper, shielding themselves from the rain. Lupe shakes out her hair as Noah still laughs.“Mother nature has the best punch lines” Noah tells her as she digs out a towel to dry her hair. Noah still chuckles as he turns to push the back seats down into the bed.“Guess we're stuck in here” Lupe grumbles looking out at the rain.“Not so bad” he sets his phone in the speaker deck and turns on the music. “We got vodka, we got weed, we got music. Great way to end our trip” he sits on the bed and grabs their smokers tin. Lupe smiles at him a little.“You always do that” she tells him moving to sit across from him.“My cheery personality?” he asks rolling them each a joint. She hums in agreement. “One of us has to be, we can't all be doom and gloom like you”“I'm not all doom and gloom” she argues.“Really?” He asks, she looks down and takes one of the joints from him. He watches her as she stares down at it. “Lupe” he whispers. “I didn't mean” she looks to him and fakes a smile, a one sided half lift smile.“It's fine” she tells him. “The world would be an awfully bright place if there was no doom and gloom” she argues. “Someone has to even it out” they share a look.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe climbs out of the camper, returning from Seattle, alone, having dropped Noah back at home, with his overbearing mother who did nothing but shoot her disapproving looks. She takes a breath pulling a joint from her pocket, Oliver approaches her as she sets the joint between her lips.“We're going to check out the diner, why don't you come?” Oliver offers Lupe as she sparks up.“Because that sounds fucking boring” she answers blowing smoke in his face, he gives her a look and she smirks.“I think you should” he pushes, she raises an eyebrow at him. “Just...” Ashlee leaves the house behind Oliver, a scowl on her face, Ashlee never scowls, she sees Lupe and smiles brightly, but this one is so fake.“What's going on?” Lupe asks Oliver.“Just..one of Charlie's friends, your mother doesn't like him very much” Oliver whispers. “And she just...doesn't want you to...”“Hey, little wolf” Ashlee greets reaching them. “Did Ollie tell you? The diner's almost ready, so you wanna see?”“Not really” Lupe offers. “I was gonna see if Bella wanted to chill out”“I really think you should come see the diner” Ashlee argues, fidgeting with her hands. “I just....”“Mom?” Lupe asks. “What...” she pauses as a faded a red truck, circa 1960 pulls up. Ashlee groans and closes her eyes, Oliver moves to her and touches her arm, they share a look. Charlie leaves the house and looks to his sister.“I thought you were leaving” he grumbles like a pissed off teenager. Ashlee shoots him a look and tries to usher Lupe away from the house and the new truck.“Mom” she scolds, Ashlee looks down and sighs. “What the fuck?” Lupe asks her, Oliver rubs Ashlee's arm. Charlie greeting the driver, Jacob, and then help Jacob's father, Billy, into a wheelchair.“Ash, you remember Billy Black” Charlie states, Ashlee nods.“Yep” she states. “Hard not to” she whispers trying to hide Lupe behind her, Oliver hovering between them. “Hello, Billy” she greets.“Ash” he greets back, they share a look. Lupe looks between them and raises an eyebrow before looking to Oliver who shrugs back at her.“This is Oliver...my husband” Ashlee introduces pulling Oliver closer to her and looks to Lupe who raises an eyebrow at the scene which is beyond awkward. Charlie looks to her and motions her closer, Lupe steps closer, Ashlee shoots her a look that stops her.“Lupe, this is...Billy Black, he grew up with me and your mother” he introduces. “Billy this is...Ash's daughter, Lupe” Lupe waves a little with her fingers. “And his son, Jacob”“Hey” Lupe greets.“Hey” Jacob greets back.“We were just heading off anyway” Ashlee states tugging on Oliver's hand, she wants to get as far away from Billy as she can.“Were we?” Lupe asks looking to her mother.“Yes” Ashlee grits out through her teeth. “Now” Lupe stares at her mother.“Forks makes you weird” Lupe counters shoving her hands in her pockets and then heads to the car where she then climbs in, Ashlee takes a breath and turns to Billy.“Nice seeing you again” she tells him trying to sound as pleasant as possible, Oliver nods to Billy and the couple head to the car Lupe had climbed in. Oliver pulls Ashlee closer and kisses her cheek softly.“We both knew you coming back here would be hard” he whispers, that soft Irish accent calming her. “Your brother's best friend is also the secret father of your daughter....”“He doesn't deserve her” Ashlee argues. “He doesn't even deserve to know she exists, but now he does....I'm just....” Oliver cups her cheeks and kisses her softly, Ashlee smiles against his lips.“Lupe is a force of nature, Ash” Oliver points out. “And has a wild mind of her own...stop worrying, you're her mother....that's not going to change, and I like to think I did okay” Ashlee smiles at him.“You are her father, Ollie” Ashlee reminds him as they reach their car. Bella leaves the house and heads towards Charlie and Billy.“Bella, you remember Billy Black.” Charlie tells her as Oliver and Ashlee climb into the car.....................Lupe sits in the only finished booth seat in the new diner, red and white 50's theme, her mother loves the 50's and Oliver would do anything for Ashlee. But Lupe is bored, Ashlee and Oliver are talking shades of reds for tile and it's like watching paint dry, actually watching paint dry. Lupe rolls her eyes and lays across the booth seat setting her sunglasses over her eyes. With Noah around she didn't realise how lonely this move was going to be, she's alone now and she feels it. She sighs and closes her eyes trying to block out those feelings.“Hey, kiddo” Oliver greets slipping into the other side of the booth. “Everything okay down there?”“Sure” Lupe answers. “I love being bored” she snarks, Oliver smirks a little.“It's okay if you want to go” he assures her. “We're gonna be here a while you know how she gets” she nods. “I'll drop you back at Charlie's if you want to pick up the camper....” Lupe sits up.“What happened between mom and Billy?” she asks, Oliver smiles softly.“Always so observant” he teases lightly. “It's not my place to tell that story, Little wolf” he reluctantly tells her. “Just know that he hurt her and she's still uncomfortable with it, but she can be civil”“Looked it” she counters and stands. “I'm not stupid” she points out. “I know I was the reason she had to leave Forks.....” Oliver looks to her sadly. “I've always known” she whispers. “But now I'm thinking I wasn't the only reason” Oliver sighs and stands to join her placing his hands on her shoulders.“It doesn't matter now” he whispers. “We're here, she's here and this is where she wants to be” he pokes her cheek and she nods.....................

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Lupe wakes to the sun rising, the birds singing,a crisp morning breeze though the camper window, dogs barking and her mother knocking on the window trying to wake her.“Lupe!!” Lupe groans and sits up pushing open the little curtains over her window. Ashlee taps her watch and shoots her a look. “If you want a shower, get a move on...” Lupe nods and slides open the door before stepping out and stretching, her vest top rising slightly, showing off the Mexican day of the dead skull belly ring she wears. She smirks looking over her mother in her Pingu dressing gown and fluffy unicorn slippers.“Sometimes I wonder which of us is the child” Lupe comments.“I'm young at heart” Ashlee argues adjusting her dressing gown belt. “Hurry up or you're going to be late for your first day” Ashlee cups Lupe's cheek and smiles. “And I'm sorry, about yesterday, I just....”“It's okay” Lupe assures her. “Families are like chocolates...” Lupe starts. “Mostly sweet with a few nuts” she smirks and shrugs. “You and me, Mom” she offers. “We're the fucking nuts” Ashlee smiles and kisses her forehead.“Get ready for school” Ashlee tells her softly and heads back into the house with the dogs who bark and run around her. Lupe stretches again and then spin around to her camper.….................Lupe sits in her camper finishing her make up in the school parking lot, rubbing more eyeliner onto her eyes to give herself that smokey look. When done she throws the eyeliner into her make up bag and then throws that onto the back seats. She takes a breath looking out over the parking lot. This is it. First day in an American school full of American high schoolers, who have probably never seen a Brit before and here she is about to walk among them, that's what this is, an expedition into unknown territory. She'll be just like Jane Goodall and the apes. She smirks to herself. She climbs out of the camper setting a regular old cigarette between her lips, shuts the car door with her backside as she flicks her lighter, her eyes flickering around, eyes are turning to her already. Boring into her like drills. She wonders is Jane felt this way with the apes. And then she silently thanks whoever it was that made the 1963 Chevy Pickup that rolls into the parking lot, the same truck that had pulled up at Charlie's the day before, the same one she'd seen outside the house when she'd driven away. It makes so much noise and splutters so much that no one is longer looking at Lupe. Well almost no one.…................Jasper holds his helmet to his chest as he watches Lupe, the way her eyes are watching everything without looking at anything. She tugs her bag up her shoulder and raises her head up slightly and then walks towards the school entrance. Jasper's eyes follow her trying to pinpoint her emotions in the crowd, it's difficult outside, with this many people all feeling things around him. It's hard with her moving past people. They glances to her, trying not to stare, but she's new and shiny and they're suckers for new and shiny. Or pretty. And she is pretty, he supposes, for a human. Mira, Jasper's 'twin sister' appears at his side, red hair bouncing away.“Hey” she greets and then looks over him. “Something is...diff...Oh” Mira states cocking her head, Jasper looks to her taking his eyes off of Lupe.“What?” he asks her, feeling worry change to surprise and then relief from her. “What changed?”“You did” she answers. “Well....my sight of you did” she hooks her arm around his. “Who were you looking at, just then?” Jasper looks back out at the parking lot for Lupe but she's gone, disappeared in tot he crowds of people, his eyes actively flicker around seeking her out but he can't.....he can't find her now.“She's gone” he answers, Mira shrugs and leans into his arm. “What did you see?” he asks, she smiles and looks up at him.“Something good” she answers.“You and Alice” he complains shaking his head. “It's like dealing with the Riddler from Batman” he grumbles as he sets his bike keys into his jacket pocket. “Except there's two of you and that just sucks more” he grumbles, Mira smiles against his arm.“Ah...you are such a grumpy pants” Mira teases with a smile. “All brooding and pouty”“Come on” he grumbles. “We're going to be late” he pauses. “Where's Alice?” he asks.“She and Emmett are trying to talk Rose out the bathroom” Jasper frowns at her. “She got gum in her hair” Mira explains. “The really sticky stuff that just spreads.....” she explains as they walk towards the school.…................Lupe shuffles through her paper as she leaves the reception, all the same classes as back home just the times is all screwy firstly started school at 7:55 am, what the hell? Back in England at her school nothing starts before 9 am. What is wrong with these people? She rolls her neck and looks at the timetable, the usual English, maths, science, and then her chosen ones, AP history, art, music, AP literature and film studies, the artistic ones and then history, her guilty pleasure. She sets another sheet on the top, the location of her locker along with the lock code.…...................Lupe sets her bag into the new locker along with her jacket before closing the locker again pulling the cardigan around her shoulders, she wasn't sure how Forks compared to London on the weather front so she'd worn a coat and packed a hoodie and cardigan in her bag just in case but it's turned out that London is colder and wetter then Forks, so there is is that. Behind her, at her own locker, Alice watches Lupe with a frown, Bella she'd seen coming, Lupe she hasn't. She doesn't know how to feel about this. This has never happened before. She relies on her visions to keep herself and her family safe, but this girl is an anomaly, how can she protect her family from an anomaly. Lupe passes Alice and offers the vampire a pleasant smile. Alice offers one back, she can be polite, clearly Lupe hasn't heard any of the rumours about Alice and her family yet. But she will. Everyone has issues with the Cullen family, too quiet, too pretty, keeps to themselves, it's the same story over and over again, not that they help themselves, they do keep to themselves, just get through high school with no issues, leaving the humans alone. Alice looks around before walking away.…............Jasper and Mira look to Alice as she walks towards them waiting outside their calculus classroom, Mira bouncing at Jasper's side with excitement, Mira never gets excited about school, Jasper rolls his eyes, Alice smiles a little looking at her 'brother', then blinks slightly as flashes of red eyes flicker through her mind, not red vampire eyes through, these eyes are attached to a pure white wolf. Just a flash and just for a second, so fast that she could cross it off as her imagination, except she knows better. It's so fast that her vampire siblings don't see her slip into a vision and then out again. She doesn't know what to make of it. There is nothing in it to tell her anything. No time frame, no location, no identity. She pushes it from her mind, for now, she'll think on it later.“Why are you so excited?” Alice asks Mira as the redhead takes Alice's hand.“Just....Jasper” she answers, Jasper huffs out a annoyed sound and walks into class, Mira watches him go before turning to Alice and setting her hand over where Alice's heart should be beating, it's their code, when Mira doesn't want to voice what she's seen, Alice raises an eyebrow and looks to Jasper who takes his seat, she then smiles. He's going to fall in love, that is what Mira has sensed. They've been waiting for this for decades.“Who?” Alice whispers, Mira shrugs.“I didn't see her” she whispers back, loud enough that they can hear it but not so loud that Jasper can pick it up. “Have you seen anything?” Alice shakes her head and kisses Mira softly.“Come on” Alice tells her 'wife', they've never actually been able to get married legally, not yet anyway, it's in the planning, but there is no rush for them, they want it to be perfect and it will be, one day, but to each other they are wife and wife, just like the others are married, they are spiritually bound together. Mira smiles and tugs Alice into the class room.

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Jasper likes to sit at the back of the class, it means no one gets to stare at him like he knows they do Alice and Mira who sit three rows in front of him, it also means he gets to people watch himself, at least that that's what he'd usually do, watch all the other gossip and talk among themselves about nothing and everything. And if he was listening right now, he'd hear them talking about Bella. It's been less then half an hour since the Swan girl turned up on site and yet she's stirred up all this attention. He'd wonder why they were talking about her and not the other one, they're both new, and yet it seems only one is gathering the attention. But his mind is away from the present and this place. Well he is until 'she' walks into the room with Mr. Varner, and his eyes move to her. Lupe.“Everyone this is....Lupeta O'Ryan” Mr. Varner introduces whilst handing Lupe a text book. “She's joining us from London” and he says that in the most condescending way possible, Lupe rolls her eyes a little. Mr. Varner turns to Lupe and smiles at her. “We're pretty tight on space” he states. “But there is one seat free.....” Yep. There is only one empty seat. Right next to Jasper. He looks to the seat and then to Lupe. She's going to have to sit next to him. And there is no way out of it. Mira and Alice glance back at Jasper who is sitting straight in his seat, his entire frame tight and on edge as Lupe takes the seat at his side. He holds his breath before he can be overpowered by the scent of blood in the warm body sitting next to him. Warm. He can feel it, her body heat pressing into the right side of his body. Grazing against him. And he can't help it, he inhales. But it's not like all the other times. He glances to her. She smells like the earth, like the wild outdoors....like pine, cedar, juniper, cypress. sandalwood and cinnamon. Then she shifts in her seat, brushing her hair over her shoulder and there's a whole new level to her scent. A whole new cacophony of bluebonnets, sweet tea, the ocean, whiskey and pecan pie, like it all, all of it, seeps out of her pores. But there is one thing he doesn't smell from her, not even a little bit, blood. And he smells that on everyone. He has no idea what the hell is going on.…........................Jasper relaxes when the bell rings and Lupe stands gathering her things before leaving, he closes his eyes and then opens them again as he stands with his own book. That felt like the longest 40 minutes of his entire life. He pauses slightly, his eyes landing on the back of Lupe's chair. She's left her cardigan over the back of her chair. He looks up for her but the classroom is emptying, and she is long gone. Alice and Mira wait for him at the door. He debates taking the cardigan. He debates taking it and giving it back. He debates taking it and keeping it. He even debates leaving it but that is quickly dismissed, he is still a gentlemen at heart, even an undead one. He picks up the cardigan and heads towards his sisters who share a look.…........................Mira spots Lupe first and nudges Jasper, he looks to her and then to Lupe at her locker, he looks to his sisters who give him a look.“I'm just going to return it” he holds up the cardigan. “I'll see you both in physics” Alice and Mira share a look before Mira takes Alice's arm and they walk away, Jasper walks towards Lupe.“Lupeta” Jasper states, Lupe closes her locker door and looks to him.“Lupe” she corrects. “Just Lupe” he nods a little.“You accidentally left this behind” he holds out the cardigan to her, Lupe raises an eyebrow at him.“Maybe I left it there on purpose” Lupe tells him, Jasper lifts his eyes to hers. “So you'd actually have to talk to me. Instead of trying to ignore my existence like I had the plaque” she points out. “You either did that because you are a giant bag of dicks or.....because you're actually afraid of girls, which I doubt, or......” she blows a slight raspberry. “I can't think of a third reason, which means that you are...”“I'm not a...” he rolls his eyes slightly. “Giant bag of...”“Dicks?” she asks, he nods.“I'm not” he argues.“It doesn't matter now” she bites her lip slightly. “You'll come round”“Why do you sound so sure of that?” he asks frowning at her.“Because everybody loves me” she tells him with a smirk taking her cardigan from him. “You should try it” she offers and then walks away, he watches her go, she glances back over her shoulder. “Thanks for returning it, Luv” she pulls on the cardigan and smiles turning forward. Jasper still watching her go, he just can't take his eyes off of her.…..........Lupe finds a quiet space around the back of the school, she's not alone there are three other people there but they are in their own little worlds and for the most part ignore her, they still have a cheeky look but....so has everyone. She sits with her knees up at her chest her smokers tin open on the top of them as she rolls herself a spliff. A body drops down beside her and smiles.“Hi, I'm Logan” he introduces holding out his hand to her, she smiles and takes it.“Lupe” she offers, he raises an eyebrow at her, she knows she has a weird name. “Yeah, my mom was going through a phase” he nods a little.“Well at least I won't be able to forget it” he offers with a smirk, she motions to the spliff in her hand and he shrugs. “If you're offering” he draws out sweetly, she smiles and motions to his headphone, he chuckles and a headphone in her ear as she hands him the spliff, he takes it and smiles. She looks around the other stoners, usually you can tell a stoner from another click but here they look like they belong somewhere else, Logan notices and smirks. “There aren't many of us” he admits. “So we filter into other clicks too” he teases and motions to the pair of stoners further down. “She's a straight A dork” he points out, Lupe smirks. “And he is an orchestra nut” he points down the other way. “Second in command....cheerleader” he points to the blonde who offers them a smile. “She's actually really nice” he adds and looks back to Lupe.“And you?” she asks, he puffs up his chest slightly and clears his throat.“King of the nerds” he answers, she laughs. “I'm pretty good at computers and video games and stuff so...” he shrugs. “What about you?” he asks. “Where would you fit?”“No idea” she answers. “Back in England my friends and I were.....all sorts really”“We'll see then” he nudges her and lights his spliff. “You can stick with me till you figure it out anyway, no one likes being the new kid” she nods in thanks. “And no one likes being alone” he adds, she smiles a little.

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Lupe and Logan walk into the school cafeteria laughing with one another and instantly most eyes are on them, Logan nods a little and glances to Lupe who shrugs back at him. The attention is nothing new for her, they were usually getting the stares back home, for being too loud, too rude, too crude. It's nothing she can't handle.“Well that's new” Logan comments, he's the sort of person that disappears in an empty room, no one sees him. He just drifts through life, a loner stoner. He smirks at himself, that was pretty clever.“Oo burgers” Lupe states and then heads off to the cafeteria line. Logan follows after her. “You're not used to the attention, are you?” she asks grabbing a tray, Logan shakes his head.“Nope” he answers.“I'm sure it'll pass in a few days” Lupe offers him. “Once they get bored” she grabs a carton of fries and sets them on the tray before sliding along to the next station.“I don't know” Logan corrects. “You're pretty shiny” he jokes implying the whole shiny new toy aspect of her and Bella. The last new students were the Cullens and that was two years ago. Lupe grabs a burger and sets that next to her fries before she turns to Logan.“Are you worried I'll make new friends?” she asks him.“No” he whispers, she raises an eyebrow.“Logan” she starts. “I already like you” she assures him. “And I've always been a sucker for the underdog” he chuckles a little and smiles at her.“Thanks” he whispers back, she nods and winks at him before grabbing a pasta salad bowl from the counter, Logan bites his lip and smirks. She's got the munchies he thinks as she grabs a few bags of chips.“Why do you guys call these chips?” she asks him. “We call them crisps in England. And fries are chips” she explains. “What the fuck's up with that shit?”“Cause you're weird” Logan argues, she chuckles a little and snorts.“Yeah, well.....” she counters and then frowns trying to think of a comeback. “Fuck you” she settles on, they share a laugh. She pays for her food and they find a quiet table near the window over looking the cafeteria, Lupe sets her feet up a spare chair and opens her soda, Logan sits beside her and leans on the table. He then leans back looking to her.“Hey, gimme your timetable” he offers, she pulls it from her pocket and he takes it, unfolding it on the table. “Okay, so we have biology, English language, art and psychics together”“We could, of course, do our own biology” she coos, he looks to her.“You know....” he clears his throat. “I'm gay, right?” he asks her, she looks to him.“Yeah, I know” she assures him. “It was a joke”“You knew?” he asks.“You're wearing an I heart rooster shirt” she points out. “So I took a wild guess that you were a sausage jockey” Logan stares at her, his lip twitching before he bursts into laughter.“Oh god, Lupe” he scolds lightly. “I've never heard that before....” he nudges her. “You really are something else” he teases stealing a fry. Lupe spots Bella who looks over, the cousins share a look, Bella shrugging slightly and then raising an eyebrow, Lupe shrugs back and then waves. “You two know one another?” Logan asks, Lupe nods.“She's my cousin” Lupe answers, Logan raises an eyebrow. “Chief Swan is my uncle”“And you smoke pot?” Logan asks, Lupe smirks.“Yeah” she answers. “There are a lot of things I do that he would turn his nose up at” she teases and unwraps her burger. “Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll” she offers. Logan smirks and nods then pauses slightly.“Oh Eric coming your way, no doubt he wants a feature for the paper”“What?” Lupe asks with a mouthful of burger. Logan smirks as Eric sits at their table.“You're Lupeta O'Ryan, the new girl. Hi. I'm Eric. The eyes and ears of this place. Anything you need. Tour guide, lunch date, shoulder to cry on...” he flirts, Lupe stares at him swallowing her food.“Urm....well no thanks” she offers. “And no offence....you're not really my type, so if you're here to check out the real estate then you can go away” Eric blinks at her. “I'm not interested” Logan bites his lip trying not to smile. “I'm not into little boys” Eric then smiles at her.“Good headline for your feature. I'm on the paper, and you're news, baby, front page”“She said go away” Logan points out. “Shoo worm” Eric stands and looks between them before walking away, Lupe and Logan watch him go with mock seriousness before laughing. Logan nudges her lightly and then nods across the cafeteria. “And here they come....” he whispers.“Who?” Lupe asks following his eyes as the doors swing open and four students, four insanely hot students, like super model hot, enter. One guy, three girls, all chalky pale, purplish shadows under their eyes.“The Cullens” Logan answers. They move through the room with effortless grace, and take a seat at a table down from them.“What's their story?” Lupe asks, Logan raises an eyebrow. “Everyone else is watching them” she whispers. “So...what? Serial killers? Cult?” Logan smirks and shakes his head.“No, nothing like that, they just keep to themselves” he takes another fry. “They're Doctor and Mrs. Cullen's foster kids. They all moved down here from Alaska two years ago” he offers.“So...who's who?” Lupe asks.“Okay the blonde girl, that's Rosalie, the big dark-haired guy's Emmett....the little dark haired girl is Alice, and the redhead that's Mira....” Logan looks to Lupe. “They're together...” he uses his fingers to motion. “Rosalie and Emmett....Alice and Mira”“So what?” Lupe asks. “They're not actually related, right?”“Well no” Logan answers.“So they can bang each other if they want, not any of my business” Lupe points out, Alice and Mira share a smile. Then the last of the Cullens enter. Two more guys. Lupe's eyes find Jasper, walking next to his 'brother' Edward. “Who's he?” Lupe asks, Logan smirks.“That's Edward” Logan answers.“The blonde?” Lupe asks, Logan raises an eyebrow.“No, no....that's Jasper” Logan leans on the table. “Weird”“What is?” Lupe asks.“No one ever notices him” Logan answers. “Not in the way they do the others. Really?” Logan asks.“I sit next to him in history” Lupe offers disinterested. “He seems like a giant bag of dicks” she states looking back to Jasper, Emmett's laugh booms through the cafeteria drawing eyes. Suddenly, Jasper looks over, as if he heard her from across the room. His eyes meet Lupe's, she smirks a little and then turns to Logan. “Are they?” she asks giving him a look, Logan laughs.“No” he offers. “No, no, they're not....” Lupe nods a little. “But they're totally gorgeous, obviously” Logan adds. “And I wish” he looks to Lupe and winks, she smiles a little. “Unfortunately I have to settle for drooling all over them from a distance” Lupe looks back at Jasper now sat with his siblings, he looks to her, they share a look, and he almost smiles.

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Lupe closes her locker and jumps a little, Jasper leans against the row on the other side of her door, he'd paused in talking to her to smell her, and not in the weird way, okay in a very weird way, her scent is comforting, and cuts off the blood from everyone else, it takes away the...hunger.“Fuck” she complains. “Really?” she asks “Do I have add stalker to the list now?”“Stop telling people I'm a bag of....” he stops and clenches his jaw.“Dicks?” she offers, he nods. “I only told one person, and I said seems like...not that you are actually one....” she tells him fighting a smirk. He watches her slightly. What is it about this human that has he wanting to be around her? What is it that makes her feel like home? And he doesn't know her, at all and yet. He concentrates on her slightly, feeling for her emotions. They're there, just duller then everyone else's. More like they've mixed with her scent rather then an individual thing. “You're just going to have to persuade me otherwise” she whispers looking at him through her eye lashes.“What if I can't” he offers. “What if...I am not....good”“No one is purely good” Lupe argues. “Not really, there is always something, always some little thing that people have or do or done that's....bad. Everyone has a skeleton in their closest” he fights a smile. “Some people might actually have skeletons in their closest but” she teases, he does finally smile at her.“What's your skeleton?” he asks her.“What? And spoil the mystery?” she asks back. “Not just yet”“Why me?” he asks.“Why not?” she counters with a shrug and then walks away, Jasper watches her go and wrinkles his nose slightly as all other smells fold in on him, overlapping her scent, taking it away from him, and all he wants to do is follow her. To be wrapped in it all over again. Mira bounces to his side and inhales trying to catch Lupe's scent.“I can smell it” Mira offers. “Earthy” Jasper shoots her a look, Mira smiles back at him.“Can we just go?” he asks, she looks to him.“I'm going to meet Alice from her class, meet you in the parking lot” she offers and walks away, he looks to Lupe's locker and then walks the other way.…................Jasper's eyes track Lupe as she and Logan cross the parking lot talking and laughing about nothing in particular. Edward climbs into his car and shuts the door with a slam, which actually for them is lightly, Alice looks to Edward as Mira joins Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie whispering to one another behind them. But Jasper's ignoring all of them, he's listening to Lupe laugh. It's ridiculous and filthy and like chime bells. She turns a little and smiles, her eyes catching his, he stares back at her, she winks and then climbs into the camper van. Jasper turns away and blinks a little.…..........Jasper sits with his family as they talk above him, Edward wants to leave, he can't stay and not kill the Swan girl so no he wants to run, and he's suggesting Jasper goes with him now. To get away from Lupe.“He can run if he wants” Jasper states knowing Edward can hear him. “I'm staying here”“What exactly do you see happening here?” Rosalie growls.“I can talk to her” Jasper argues. “We can be friends”“No, you can't” Rosalie argues back. “Vampires and humans cannot be friends, all it takes is something small, she trips, or she breaks a glass, or....she pricks her finger....”“'Cause Lupe seems the clumsy type” Jasper tells Rosalie dryly. “I'm doing better” Jasper reminds them.“You are” Carlisle agrees.“I don't want to eat her” Jasper admits. “Okay, she has this smell, and....it's unlike anything I have ever smelt before”“That's what he says about the other one” Emmett points out motioning to Edward.“Except all he wants to do is....” Mira starts and then snaps her teeth together a little. “Jasper doesn't want to do that....it's different. You can't look at this like it's one situation, it's not....” Jasper looks down and fiddles with his Cullen crest bracelet. Mira points to Edward. “Grumpy over there wants to eat the Swan girl” Mira points to Jasper. “He wants to be around the O'Ryan girl, why do you want to punish Jasper for wanting something good?”“Mira” Jasper whispers pulling his sister and best friend closer, she looks to him.“You deserve a chance” she tells him. “And we'll be there if something happens. And we'll still be here after as well” Carlisle smiles, proud of Mira. “And you're right, Jaz, Edward can...run if he wants, if that's what he needs, but what you need isn't the same, now what do you need?” she asks of him, Jasper looks up at her.…..................Carlisle catches Mira's arm as she goes to leave the room, she looks to him. Carlisle kisses Mira's cheek and smiles pulling back, Mira looks to him.“Always knew you were going to be a good fit for this family” he tell her warmly and quietly. “You knew just what to tell Jasper, just what he needed to hear....and you were completely right about everything, Jasper is not Edward, and it is not the same. We do need to look at this separately. So tell me everything you know about the two girls” he asks of her, she nods a little.…....................Lupe pulls her camper up in the parking lot of the diner and climbs out. Oliver stands from where he's sanding some wood in the lot and wipes his hands on his jeans turning to her.“She's picking out straw holders” Oliver warns as Lupe walks towards the diner entrance.“How many straw holder choices can there be?” Lupe asks, he chuckles and smirks as she heads inside.….....................Turns out, a lot, Lupe's eyes are swimming with the many different straw holder choices there are, it's just for straws who cares.“Mom, seriously” Lupe complains. “They all look the fucking same” she growls and stands climbing over the back of the seats. Ashlee sighs a little and looks to her.“I just want this to be a family venture” Ashlee tells her. “Which means that all of you get an input, Noah will be here on Friday, I have things picked out for him too. Just pick one” Lupe sighs and turns back.“The...5th one” she tells her mother. “Can I go? I have some things to get for the bus”“Yeah, go” Ashlee tells her. “Behave” Ashlee warns as Lupe disappears out the door. “Why do I bother?” Ashlee asks turning to the straw holders.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe opens the side of her camper and climbs in, leaving the door open for her to sit and look out over the beach, she sighs a little and closes her eyes. Something about the outdoor has always drawn her in, even when they lived in London, she loved going off on her own and finding a forest or a beach to explore. She pulls her packet of cigarettes from her pocket and pulls one out before setting it to her lips. She lights it. Leaving it between her lips Lupe pulls her sketch pad out from under the van seat and reaches up to grab a pencil form the pot on the counter, flipping open the sketch book she looks back out at the view before she starts to sketch. It's one of her finest talents, her art, something she's just always been good at.…..................Lupe's camper van pulls up outside of Charlie's, she shuts off the engine and glances out the window, cigarette hanging from her lips, she frowns. Her mother and Billy Black are talking on the lawn, animatedly, heatedly.“I said no” Ashlee snaps at Billy as Lupe climbs out of her van. Ashlee looks to her as Billy does, Lupe raises an eyebrow at her mother who takes a deep breath and turns back to Billy. “Just leave it” she presses. “Please” Billy sighs and nods.“For now” he adds. “We're not finished talking about this, Ash” he warns and then wheels himself away, Lupe watches him go before turning to her mother who smiles at her, but completely fake and forced, which does not make Lupe feel better. Why is she starting to think coming to this town was a mistake?“What's going on?” Lupe asks her mother who takes a deep breath before shaking her head.“Nothing, just some...old business” Ashlee kisses her cheek. “Great news, builders called, the house is ready, so we can move in” Lupe raises an eyebrow. “Charlie is great” Ashee veers slightly. “But living with him is like living with him when we were teenagers and it's exhausting, so you'll get to sleep in an actual bed tonight” she offers warmly.“I don't hate the van” Lupe assures her.“I know but you worked hard on designing the bus” Ashlee smiles proudly. “You should see it, Little Wolf” Lupe smiles.“Now?” She asks, Ashlee nods. “Okay, yeah, that'll be good”“Will you give me a lift?” Lupe raises an eyebrow at her mother. “Ollie took the car” Ashlee offers, Lupe nods and climbs into her van, her mother climbing into the other side.…...............Lupe smiles at the bus, surrounded in a selection of flowers and bushes, her mother making sure that Lupe's love of nature is ever present. Oliver had really out done himself with it. Ashlee smiles behind her daughter and bites her lip.“Sooo?” Ashlee asks.“It's fuckin' perfect” Lupe admits and then heads inside to have a look, Ashlee leaves her be to make sure the rest of the house is up to scratch, she lets her daughter have her freedom, it's who she is, Lupe is wild and untamed and loves to roam. And Billy. She sighs heading inside. She knows she's being unfair keeping her father from her but he never wanted her, he wanted her to get rid of the baby before she had even begun to form. She loves her daughter, and she's trying to protect her. She doesn't want Lupe's heart to break when her father doesn't turn out to be all that great.…................Lupe touches the top of one of the boxes on the bed in the bus, they'd left her things for her to unpack, she likes things a certain way, in the right place, so she can find them again. She looks around counting the boxes, down side of moving, too much shit to unpack herself. She then smirks and grabs her cell phone before dialling a number, she presses her phone to her ear.“Hey, it's Lupe” she greets.“Hey, what's up?” Logan offers back.“Want to come over and help me unpack?” she asks. “Pizza, beer and pot in it for you?”“You had me at pizza” Logan answers with a chuckle. “Text me the address”“Right, see you soon” Lupe hangs up and sends out the text and instructions to go around the back. She then starts to unpack her things. Unaware of the gold eyes watching her from the forest behind the land.…..............Jasper lingers in the shadows of the tree line watching Lupe, she seems so much more relaxed outside of school, almost a new girl. He shakes his head a little as she pulls her hair up onto the top of her hair and sets a cigarette between her lips. It's something that masks her earthy tone scent and he doesn't like that, her scent is what marks her as unique, which she is. His eyes linger on the way she moves, the way she smiles to herself finding something nostalgic in her belongings. Jasper presses his back against a tree and sinks down to the floor to stay.…..............Logan runs around the side of the house, out of breath and actually terrified, behind him Eisenhower chases him barking. Logan screams like a girl and Lupe laughs a little from the deck chair on the grass.“Lupe! Help me!” Logan yells, Lupe lowers her sunglasses.“Eisenhower, aufhoren!!” she commands, Eisenhower stops in his tracks, tail wagging, no longer looking anything like the aggressive security dog he had before. “Sitzen!” she adds, Eisenhower drops into a sit and Lupe smirks at Logan who tries to catch his breath. “Mom, Eisenhower went into sentry mode!!!” she shouts towards the house, Lupe looks to Logan as he steals her spliff from her. “Sorry, he's ex-security....he gets a little defensive on the home front” Logan takes a deep drag from the spliff and then lets it out with a groan. Ashlee leaves the house and looks to Eisenhower.“Again?” she asks the dog who barks. “Innerhalb” she commands and the dog runs inside. Ashlee turns to her daughter and Logan. “I'm Ashlee, Lupe's mother....”“Logan Cheny” Logan offers out of breath. “Cute dog” he tells her dryly with a small smirk.“He's harmless really....” Ashlee offers. “Can I get you kids anything? Sodas? Cookies?”“Mom” Lupe scolds and shakes her head. Ashlee chuckles and heads inside.“Harmless?” Logan asks Lupe who chuckles.“Oh, fuck, you should have seen your face”“Your dog is fucking scary” Logan scolds and sits in the spare deck chair on the other side of the table next to her.“Eisenhower really is harmless, it's Chico you have to watch out for”“Chico?” Logan asks, Lupe smirks and nods looking to his left, where Chico is watching them, Logan follows her line of sight. “Oh please, look at the size of him....” Chico then starts barking and Logan screams again, Lupe laughs harder. “You're so mean!!” Logan scolds as Chico runs inside.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe walks to her camper van as Billy Black wheels towards the front of the house, she glances to him as she opens her van door. He glances back to her, she smiles politely at him, he smiles back, something in his eyes that goes beyond politeness. Lupe sets her bag into her van and climbs in closing the door behind her. She flicks the wolf hanging from the mirror and smiles before turning on the engine and driving away.…........Lupe throws her bad over her shoulder and moves to where Bella is standing, just away from her group of friends, reading but her eyes are flickering around.“Hey” Lupe greets. Bella smiles seeing her.“Hey” she lowers her book.“We didn't see much of one another yesterday” Lupe starts. “I mean, pretty crazy, but how was it for you?” Bella nods a little and pulls a face. “That bad huh?” Bella shrugs.“Just....people” Lupe snorts at her cousin.“People” she repeats, Bella smiles.“Certain, rude people” Bella elaborates.“Was it a Cullen?” Lupe asks, Bella looks to her surprised. “I had...a moment with Jasper, in class, I took a wild guess” Lupe leans next to Bella and pulls a cigarette from her pocket. “So talk to Auntie Lupe” she teases, Bella looks to her.“Edward” she offers. “He...do I stink?” she asks, Lupe looks to her weirdly. “I know it sound weird”“'Cause it is fucking weird” Lupe agrees but then sniffs her cousin. “No” she answers her. “You smell nice...like coconuts...like sun cream”“Sun cream?” Bella asks.“Urm...what do you call it here?” Lupe frowns a little and then nods. “Sunscreen. Sun block....”“Oh right...it's my shampoo” Bella offers smelling her own hair. “I miss the beach so....it's called Summer sun”“It's nice” Lupe offers. “Definitely reminds me of the beach” she lights her cigarette and waves to Logan as he climbs out of his car, he playfully glares at back as he walks over. “So did you confront him?” Lupe asks turning back to Bella. “This Edward, you have to get on top of it....I did with Jasper....we actually talked a bit after.”“I can confront him” Bella tells herself as Logan joins them.“We're going to have words, you and me” Logan tells Lupe. “I was having dog nightmares last night” Bella raises an eyebrow. “And no, not the big dog, not the actual big, scary dog....no, that would have been understandable. But that little yappy thing”“Chico?” Bella asks.“Yes!” Logan answers nodding. “That thing haunted my dreams....I woke up in a cold sweat thinking he was coming for me” Bella and Lupe share an amused look. “It's not funny, Lupe, you scared me for life” Logan side hugs her.“I'll introduce you to my bisexual step-brother” Lupe offers, Logan looks to her.“Forgiven” he kisses her cheek and smirks. Bella chuckles as Lupe winks at her. Lupe's eyes catch something over Bella's shoulder.“Hey, you might be about to get your moment” Lupe offers. “The Cullens have pulled up” Bella turns to watch.…..............Jasper climbs off his bike, pulling off his helmet, though unneeded he still has to wear it. He sets it on the back of his bike and glances across the parking lot, Lupe, instantly he is seeking her out, her eyes lift and look straight at him, she smiles, and he can't help but smile back at her. How can one girl have such an affect on him? One smile. One look. One whiff of her scent. And it's like he's a teenager. A human teenager all over again. He wants to be around her all the time, to talk to her, to know everything about her, to read her soul.“Are you listening to me?” Mira asks, Jasper blinks and looks to her, she smirks at him.“What?” he asks turning back into his broody and grumpy self.“Are you coming or are you going to stare at Miss O'Ryan a little longer?” she teases, he shoots her a look. Alice chuckles at her side.“You know, some days I wonder why you two are my friends” He argues. “And for the record I wasn't staring at her” neither woman looks convinced by this.“He's right” Emmett offers walking past.“Thank you, Emmett” Jasper tells him.“He was leering” Emmett corrects, Jasper hangs his head and groans as his 'siblings' laugh at him, well, all but Rosalie who is scowling.“How can you all laugh?” she asks. “Those human girls are going to ruin everything, the Swan girl has already driven Edward away from us”“Unclench, Rose” Mira argues. “Que sera sera” Rosalie rolls her eyes and walks away, Emmett looks to his family apologetically.“I'll talk to her” he offers and follows Rosalie.“Maybe Rose is right” Jasper starts. “Maybe Edward has the right idea” Mira takes Jasper's hand.“Jazz....” she starts. “We talked about this, you are not Edward, you are two different people, you need two different things, you don't think we know that, you do what you want, you want to talk to Lupeta, you go and talk to her” she kisses his cheek, Jasper smiles softly at her and nods.…............Lupe grabs her sketch book and her art supplies from her locker, she places her bag into the locker along with her jacket.“Good morning” Jasper greets as Lupe closes her locker, she smiles and turns to him.“Jasper” she greets back. “This is surprising” she offers, he raises an eyebrow. “I actually think you are being sincere”“I am” he assures her. “I know we got off on the wrong foot, I was...rude and it was unwarranted”“Is this an apology?” she asks him smirking leaning against her locker.“If you'll accept it” he answers. “I would very much like for us to start over” She steps closer and he breaths in harshly, breathing her scent in.“Are you saying you want to be friends?” she asks him tilting her head slightly.“I am saying I would like to try” he admits. “If you'll let me” they share a look, blue eyes clashing with gold. Each trying to read the other.“Okay” she offers and shrugs. “I suppose there is no harm in trying” he gives her a small smile.“What is your next class?” he asks. “I'll walk with you”“Art” she answers motioning to the sketch pad in her arms. He nods and then they walk away together, Alice and Mira watching from down the corridor, the two woman share a smirk.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper watches Lupe work from his seat across the room, in their art class they are sat away from one another and he hates it, it's ridiculous that he is this attached to a human already, and the way she sticks her tongue out as she concentrates, or the way her eyes sparkle slightly with interest. There is just something about her that draws him in, and unlike Edward, Jasper can't stay away. It's not the same. Jasper doesn't want to feed from her, he doesn't want to hurt her like Edward does Bella, Jasper wants to be constantly near Lupe. With their assignments they have pretty much free pasture over the room so he stands and walks over to where she sits, looking over her shoulder to look at her sketch of a puppy with a ball.“You are actually talented” he comments.“And you sound surprised” she teases slightly turning to him.“No, I just...” he pauses to look at her. “I didn't mean it to sound that way.....” he assures her. “You seem more the...musical artistic then the art artistic...”“I do both” she offers looking back to her drawing.“So an all around artistic type?” he asks, she smirks a little.“Are you trying to make conversation?” she asks him teasingly.“I'm not very good at it” he admits, she nods in agreement.“No, you are not” she agrees, he snorts a little and looks to her. She smirks and nods to the chair next to her. “Sit” she tells him. He joins her as she sets her sketch book down. “Are you musical or arty?” she asks turning to him.“Both” he admits, she raises an eyebrow.“What else do you like?” she asks. “Colour? Film? Music? Food?”“Urm...deep blues....westerns....anything soulful...” he lists off. “Your turn” she snorts and smirks nodding.“Okay....I guess...red, rather into period films at the minute, music depends on my mood and the situation but rock....” she answers, he watches her, the thought that went into answering three simple questions. She then motions to his sketch book. “Can I?” she asks, he nods handing it over, it's his school sketch pad rather then his personal one and he only ever draws to be good enough for school. He now wishes she was looking through his personal one, to brag a little at his skill. “So where are you from exactly?” she asks. “Your accent doesn't match Forks”“Texas” he admits. “I live with my adopted family now” he tells her.“I know” she offers. “Logan told me” she admits. “Seems you're some what of a novelty, you and your family”“Who've just been knocked off the favourite spot by two newcomers” he offers, she scoffs.“Fuck, I hate the attention” she admits softly. “Just want to disappear” Jasper looks to her softly. Lupe jumps a little as the bell rings, she laughs at herself and shakes her head. “I should...” she stands handing his sketch book back. “You're not without talent” she comments teasingly. He smiles and watches as she gathers her things and leaves, he touches his sketch book and smiles, a little dopey, to himself. This girl. She just leaves him feeling better about himself.…................Lupe sits with Logan at lunch, he smirks staring at her over the table, she raises an eyebrow at him as she reaches for her food.“What?” she asks him.“So what's up with you and Hale?” Logan asks as Lupe opens her burger.“What?” Lupe repeats. Logan smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.“You know what” he teases. “I heard through the weed vine that you and he have been” He pauses and then offers and lechy smirk. “....talking” he purrs suggestively.“Okay, firstly” she starts. “Don't ever use that tone again” she teases, he smirk. “Secondly....we talk, that's it”“Yeah” Logan scoffs. “Cause he talks to everyone” he sarcastically points out. “You're the first person outside of his family he's spoke to....so what gives? Why you?” Lupe shrugs and leans forward a little.“I like to think it's because of my perky nipples” she answers, Logan laughs and leans back.“Sweetheart.....why do you think we're friends?” he teases back, she chuckles and takes a bite of her burger. “But seriously...have you even seen the way he looks at you? Like you're the most delicious being in the universe”“And? That doesn't mean anything” Lupe argues.“He likes you” Logan tells her. “Likes” he coos.“Don't be fucking stupid” Lupe argues. “It's just cause I'm new...a novelty, it'll wear off” Logan raises an eyebrow at her as she goes back to eating her food, he glances to Jasper sat with his siblings, Jasper's eyes are firmly on Lupe, eyes soft and longing. Logan looks to Lupe and shakes his head.“Novelty” he repeats teasingly.…..................Lupe closes the door on her truck and turns towards the house, she is immediately greeted by barking. She smiles.“Hey, my favourite boys” Lupe teases greeting the dogs who rush towards her for cuddles. Ashlee sits on the porch working on a canvas, she glances to her daughter and smiles.“How was school?” she asks, Lupe nods and smiles.“Was fine” she answers heading towards the back of the house, the dogs following her. Ashlee smiles softly and shakes her head.…...........A little later: Bella's truck pulls up outside the house, Ashlee waves from the porch.“Lupe in?” Bella asks, Ashlee points around the side of the house.“Can't miss her” Ashlee comments.“Thank you” Bella tells her and then heads around the back. Lupe, Chico, Eisenhower and Frog are sat on the grass, Lupe smoking, a guitar across her lap, she smiles seeing Bella who waves walking towards her.“Hey” Lupe greets. “What's up?”“We haven't really hung out cause of school and stuff, soooo” Bella offers.“I would love to” Lupe tells her patting the grass, Bella joins her and smiles as Frog climbs into her lap.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe lays back, high as a kite, looking at the stars above her. The cool air on her skin, she'd crashed in the grass about an hour ago in her tank top and shorts. She'd gotten too hot on the bus. She smiles a little staring at the moon. She's always been drawn to the moon, to the night, to the dark vast emptiness of space. She starts to hum and spreads her arms up over her head.“Stars shining bright above me” she sings quietly. “Night breezes seem to whisper, I love you. Birds singin' in the sycamore trees. Dream a little dream of me” she hums a little, that is the only line from that song she can currently remember. Jasper leans over her, face permeating her view. She screams a little sitting up, he leans out of the way as she struggles to get to her feet. “You scared the shit out of me” Lupe complains clutching her heart, Jasper watches her slightly amused as she closes her eyes. “Do you sneak up on everyone?” she asks looking to him.“Just you” he answers teasingly, she rolls her eyes a little.“Lucky me” she comments. “What are you doing here?” she asks adjusting her shirt a little.“I was passing, saw you...on the lawn”“I was just...” she starts and then shrugs. “You know what, my lawn, I can do what I want”“At 2 in the morning?” he asks cocking his head.“Yeah, then why are you wandering around at 2 am?” she counter asks.“Couldn't sleep” he admits, lies.“There you go, same here” she tells him. “Well..seen as you're here” she starts. “Wanna watch a movie or something?” she asks. “I'm kinda hungry so...” she heads towards her bus, Jasper frowns following her.“You live in a bus?” he asks, she glances to him.“Mom got sick of the smell of pot” she answers. “It was a old red double decker back in England but they wouldn't let us bring it over, too much rust or something soo” she shrugs and heads onto the bus. Jasper is pleasantly surprised by how warm and homey it feels. Lived in. There are trinkets and postcards, photos, from all over the country, all over the world. She's well travelled.“They don't mind that you're out here, alone?” he asks, she grabs a bag of chips from the cupboard and turns to him.“Bothered mom a bit in the beginning, but....it gives her more space in the house, it's not like I'm that far away, and I scream really loudly” he smiles a little watching as she heads to the bed where her laptop sits. “Come, sit” she demands slightly patting the bed, Jasper nods a little. This is making him nervous, he's alone with a girl, for the first time in a very, very long time. He can do this. He's just rusty. He moves to join her on the bed as she works on setting up a film. She clicks play and sits back opening her bag of chips. Jasper sits crossed legged and stiff at her side. He's so awkward but cautious.“Are you always this broody?” she asks watching him, Jasper frowns at her.“I'm not...broody” he comments, she raises an eyebrow back at him.“Really? You just always seem brooding” she comments. “Like” she pulls a brooding face and looks to him.“That implies you look at me a lot” he points out, she pauses and then starts to blush looking away.“Not a lot” she corrects. “Just....some times” she mumbles brushing her hair behind her ear, she pulls her knees to her chest.“Do you watch everyone?” he asks, she nods a little.“It's how you figure out their deepest, darkest secrets” she answers. “If you watch someone long enough, it slips out” Jasper watches her as she stares at the screen in front of her. “And secrets are power” she whispers. He hums a little in agreement and then looks around.“You've travelled a lot” he points out, she nods.“Yep, it's something my mother pushed for” he raises an eyebrow. “She never went anywhere” she offers. “Forks was her home and she never left it until she had to. Then she never left London. She has literally been two places in her entire life....she didn't want that for me, so she pushed me to travel, to see....everything” Lupe smiles. “I'm glad she did, I've seen some amazing things” he nods and smiles.“I can imagine” he comments motioning to a photo of Lupe in a giant sombrero on the back of a Spanish waiters shoulders, Lupe chuckles and nods.“That was fun” she offers. “It was my last night there, and the waiters of the hotel bought me the hat to remember them by” she smiles fondly.“Who's this?” Jasper asks picking up the framed photo of Lupe and Noah, and trying very hard not to get jealous, she's beautiful of course she has someone, maybe back in England, maybe waiting for her on the other side.“Noah” she answers. “He's my brother....urm Pop's son” she answers, Jasper internally relaxes, okay, brother not lover that's better. “He lives in Seattle with his mother...”“You call your step-father; Pop?” Jasper asks.“No” she shakes her head smiling. “It's his nickname” she offers. “Back in England, he ran a diner, and the entire neighbourhood would just...gather and eat and drink and talk and laugh, and the diner was just this....beacon, and Oliver, he became known as Pop....” Jasper raises an eyebrow.“How'd they meet?” He asks her. “Your mother and Pop?” he smiles a little.“Oliver met my mother when she was leaving Forks, 4 months pregnant....and they never looked back”“It's rather romantic” he offers. “And incredible, to take on another man's child...” Lupe nods.“Yeah, he's amazing” she agrees and looks down getting upset.“Lupe, I'm sorry, I didn't mean...”“No, it's not...it's just talking about Dads...” she shakes her head. “Oliver is pretty much my father, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise” she offers. “But...it just reminds me that my own never wanted me....” she shrugs. Jasper watches her a moment, knowing the human response is to comfort her, to touch her, to hug her and tell her it's alright because she does have a father that wants her. But he can't bring himself to touch her. To touch this fragile beautiful thing, he's afraid he'll shatter it. “Anyway” she starts trying to hide that she was almost in tears. “Hormones, am I right?” she asks smiling softly. He nods a little.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe yawns as she leans against her camper in the school car park, she coughs a little and tightens the scarf around her neck. She's exhausted, mainly cause she and Jasper ended up staying up until the sun was rising and by then she only had enough time to shower and change before heading off to school, she probably shouldn't have driven given how tired she is but, whatever, she got there in one piece. Logan climbs out of his car next to hers and moves towards her.“I got your text and I got you this” Logan holds out a travel mug. Lupe smiles and takes it from him.“Thanks” she mumbles and takes a sip from it.“Sooo” Logan draws off giving her a look.“What?” Lupe asks him, he wiggles his eyebrows. “Oh grow up” she teases lightly. “We just....talked” Logan doesn't look convinced“So Jasper Hale who doesn't talk to anyone except his family, spent the night just....talking to you?” Logan asks, Lupe shrugs.“I'm just as baffled as you” Lupe comments, Logan stares at her, trying to figure it out. Something else has to be going on. “Seriously, I don't know” Lupe adds. “I was...stargazing and he....appeared” Logan raises an eyebrow, Lupe nods. “Yeah, I know, it's a little weird, but...it was nice too”“You know it's starting to sound like we're getting into the stalker territory now” Logan offers. “He shows up...in the middle of the night, where you live and you....you don't think it's weird? Like creepy weird?” Lupe shrugs. Logan peers into her eyes. “You high already?” he asks, she smacks his chest and shakes her head.“No” she tells him. “Come on we're going to be late” she walks away, Logan follows her.“Huh?” he asks slightly, she glances to him. “You're weird” he points out. “That's what it is” he teases, she sticks her tongue out at him. “I don't know what you Brits get up to but in the States, that's not right, we don't do that” Lupe glances across the parking lot, Jasper is talking with Alice and Mira. Jasper glances to Lupe, she offers a small smile, he gives her one back. Mira and Alice share a look at his side.“Cause you're not smitten” Mira teases Jasper who rolls his eyes turning to her. “Mr. I snuck out to see my girlfriend last night” Alice chuckles, Jasper shoots them both a dirty look.“She's not my girlfriend” Jasper grumbles. “And I didn't sneak, you're all vampires” he points out.“She's not your girlfriend” Alice agrees. “Yet” She sing songs with a smirk. “This is a good sign, Jazz” she offers. “You spent all night with her and not once did you bite her” Jasper sighs and closes his eyes. “I mean...you can barely get through the school day without wanting to...” Jasper turns and walks away from his sisters and best friends, they share a look and smile softly. This is good for Jasper, Lupe is good for Jasper.................Lupe finds Bella at lunch, sat alone outside on a bench, and she takes pity, she knows her cousin doesn't have the best social skills in the world and hates to see her alone.“What's wrong?” Lupe asks Bella sitting next to her, Bella shrugs.“Just this Edward thing” she mumbles. “I just feel...”“It's not your fault” Lupe offers peeling her orange. “It's not your fault he's a dick” Bella smiles a little. “I mean some people are just....” Lupe shrugs and looks to Bella. “You know?” she asks, Bella nods. “If he doesn't want to even be in the same room as you, screw him” Bella nudges her cousin softly and smiles.“Thank you” Bella whispers, Lupe holds out half of her orange, Bella takes it.“Wanna come over for take out and really bad horror films?” Lupe asks, Bella nods.“Sounds great actually” Bella admits.“We'll get to know one another, and you know...connect, be family” Lupe offers softly, they've both missed out on a lot with Ashlee living half way across the world, but now they get to be cousins, they get to be family. And Lupe isn't going to waste that. She's never really known any of her real family before, not beyond her mother, Ashlee was very keen on keeping Lupe away from everything Forks. She assumes it has to do with her father but Lupe doesn't care about her father, she had done for a lot of her younger years but now she's more; he didn't want her she doesn't want him.…................Lupe climbs out of her camper and pauses slightly seeing Billy Black on the porch, her mother must be out otherwise she'd be yelling at him. Lupe pulls her bag over her shoulder and heads towards the house. Billy turns to her and offers a small smile.“Lupe” he greets, eyes scanning over her face like he's noticing all the little things about her features.“Mr Black” she offers back. “Mum not in?” she asks.“Urm no..” He answers. “I was actually looking to talk to you” she shifts a little uncomfortable.“I don't think my mum wants that” she offers. “So...” she shrugs.“Do you know why your mum doesn't want you to talk to me?” he asks her watching her reaction, gauging how much she knows. Lupe shakes her head.“No” she answers quietly. “And I don't think you should tell me either” she adds looking to him. “She'll tell me when she wants, when she thinks I'm ready” he nods a little.“Okay” he offers. “That's reasonable” she nods and looks away awkwardly. “Well..I'll be going then” he tells her wheeling himself passed her. “Have a nice night”“And you” she whispers slightly as he leaves, she releases a breath and shakes her head a little. She's only nervous around him because her mother doesn't like him, or doesn't want her to be near him, or both.…...............Lupe sleeps curled up in her bed, her hair pulled up onto the top of her head messily, she shifts slightly curling up tighter, subconsciously aware perhaps, that she's not alone. Jasper touches the figurine of a wolf on the side and smiles a little, it's an old figurine, the ear is missing and there is a huge chip in the wolf's flank, but she's kept it. He leaves it alone and looks to Lupe. Okay, he knows how this looks. Logan was almost right on it with the stalker thing, and he doesn't mean to be a 'stalker', he just likes watching over her. She's not exactly the most aware of people, the night before she was high and laying in grass at 2am in the morning, she was lucky it was just him that had found her. He glances to the photo of her and Noah and then to another of her and her mother, younger, smiling, happy. What is it about this girl that he's drawn to? Why her? Why doesn't he want to....eat her? He sits on the edge of the bed and brushes loose hair from her face to watch her scrunch up her nose in her sleep. She's beautiful.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper leans against his bike watching for Lupe who pulls up in her camper, it's been days of the same routine now, and he can't say it bothers him, he waits for her, they walk to the lockers together and then he walks her to class, or with her to class, then at the end of the day he walks her back to her camper and they say farewell, most nights he ends up at the bus watching her, some nights she's awake and they talk for hours before she falls asleep. They talk about anything and everything all the time. It can be something utterly ridiculous, one of Lupe's pot addled thoughts that makes it's way out her mouth, and whilst he doesn't necessarily understand why she does it he accepts that it's her choice, and that maybe she does have her reasons. Most people do. Lupe tries to fight the smile working it's way onto her face as she crosses the parking lot to Jasper who leans up from his bike to join her.“Mornin'” she greets, he glances to her and then away, fighting his own smile, he won't let her know how much she affects him. Not with the way she smell, or the way she talks to him, or the heat that radiates off of her. He can't let a human hold that much power over him.“Good morning” he greets back as they both start walking to the school, officially they don't walk together, they just so happened to be walking on their own next to one another, it's nothing personal about why neither says anything, but that's how it accidentally started, and that's their excuse and they'll stick to it. Mostly cause his family **Rosalie** aren't that happy about him hanging around and being nice to a human, they would prefer it if he took up Edward's method of dealing with this. Running away. But Jasper's not a coward. And he really likes Lupe.…...............Jasper moves to his locker as Lupe stops at hers, her fingers working on the dial lock before it opens, she glances to him, peering around the locker door to find him smirking. He knows she's watching him. She looks away as he looks up and across at her. Alice and Mira watch them from down the hall and share a smug look, they've been waiting for the day Jasper found his other half, and though she's human, they believe Lupe to be something special for him. That she could be his epic love story. If they can both get over their own insecurities and their one phobias. Jasper pulls his needed books from the locker and closes it. He ends up clutches to his book a little as he goes to walk passed Lupe, she glances to him and smiles softly, he nods a little back.“I'll see you later?” he offers but it comes out as more of a question, she smirks a little.“We go to the same school and live in the same town, pretty much a certainty there” she teases a little, he looks down and smiles before nodding, he walks away without another word. Lupe watches him go. Lupe smiles to herself and turns back to her locker, only now Logan is standing next to her locker smirking away, she groans a little, Logan holds his hands to his chest, clasped together over his heart, he flutters his eyelashes teasingly. Lupe pushes him along the hall towards their first class.“Man, every time I see him smiling, I think I've lost my damn mind” Logan teases, Lupe links arms with his and snorts. “I mean...they've been here two years, two years, Lu, and not once has he spoken, let alone smiled, at any one outside of his family”“British charm, darling” she teases back enhancing her accent slightly, Logan laughs and nudges her back.….............Jasper doesn't get to see her again till the end of the day, which is normal, but he missed her, he actually missed her presence. Having her next to him makes him feel like he can do anything, her scent overpowers everyone else and he doesn't feel as on edge. He doesn't feel....hungry. Lupe practically skips to Jasper's side as he opens the school doors to the parking lot. She's high that much he can tell, can smell it on her. She takes a deep breath of the outside air before turning to him.“I see Edward is back” she comments, he nods a little. His brother had arrived back the night before with his tail between his legs. Edward had then taken Jasper aside and actually asked for his advice, he'd been around Lupe and Edward wanted to know if it was easy getting that close to a human. Jasper responded with; Lupe's not exactly an ordinary human. And Jasper feels he's only just scratching the surface with Lupe, that with each layer he gets to, something new will surprise him. “Does your brother have a social problem?” Lupe asks Jasper, he frowns and then glances to her.“Why do you ask that?” he counter asks, she shrugs.“Just....how he was with Bella earlier” she explains pulling her bag higher up her arm. “Like he was finding it really hard to physically talk to her” Jasper smirks a little. “He's not afraid of girls, is he, cause that would be embarrassing?” she teases a little. Jasper snorts a laugh and then tries to cover it up, hiding that 'that' noise came out of him. “Like you?” she asks him. “I mean you're afraid of girls, right?” he shoots her a look and she touches her teeth with her tongue smirking.“You know what” he counters stepping away from her. “I thought we could be friends” he teases slightly, she grabs his arm, like it's nothing and pulls him back, he's stiff, rigid, afraid she's going to run, she doesn't. She just pulls him closer and sets her chin on his shoulder, staring at him with those huge blue eyes. Blue like the deepest oceans and crystalline almost.“Forgive me” she pouts at him. “You just...brooding, right?” she asks with a smile lifting her head from his arm, he nods a little.“And Edward...has his issues” Jasper offers in way of explanation, she keeps a hold of his hand as they cross the parking lot, eliciting looks from those around them, Jasper lowers his eyes to their joint hands, she probably has no idea what she's doing to him, the way he feels when he's around her, she has no idea that she's making him fall in love with her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits in the diner doing her homework, her headphones on her head, she taps her pen on her workbook along to the beat. Ashlee walk past and flicks at her ear, Lupe looks to her, Ashlee points to her homework and gives her a look.“I'm doing it” Lupe argues turning back to work, whilst her grades are good, a little above average she's always had an issue with homework, back in England she more often then not didn't do it. So this time around Ashlee is making sure her daughter does it before she gets that call from the school. Ashlee walks away and towards the counter where the latest delivery of table lamps sit waiting for her, Oliver stands behind the counter setting up the milkshake machine, they share a look before Oliver smirks and leans across to kiss her, Ashlee smiles against his lips. Lupe rolls her eyes and glances outside as Charlie's police cruiser pulls up and he and Bella climb out, Bella waves at Lupe who smiles and waves back through the window. The chime over the door rings as Charlie walks in first. He shrugs out of his jacket hanging it up as Bella enters the diner behind him, Charlie smiles.“This place looks great” Charlie comments as Ashlee unpacks a box of table lamps, she smiles at him as he moves towards her. Bella joins Lupe in the booth. “When you were little you used to want to work in a 50's style diner” Charlie comments warmly. “Your art on the walls” he takes a seat at the counter as Oliver starts up the coffee machine, Ashlee smiles at Charlie.“I can't believe you remember that”“You used to make me sit at your little play table and order from you” Charlie adds, Ashlee laughs a little and touches his arm, Oliver watches them warmly. Bella and Lupe share an amused look before Bella pulls out her homework to join Lupe.….............Lupe walks around the house towards her bus, only to smile, Jasper is sat reading at the small table outside waiting for her, her heart swells a little. He's waiting for her. She's not sure whether or not to like that, or the way it makes her feel, the way he makes her feel. She takes a breath and pushes those feelings away. He's her friend. Nothing more.“Hey” she greets softly, he smiles and looks up at her.“Good evening” he greets closing his book.“You been sat here long?” she asks, he shakes his head.“Not long” he answers, he's actually been sat there for a few hours but she doesn't need to know that. She unlocks the bus and heads on in, Jasper following behind her. She sets her bag on the side and turns to him with a smile.“So what is it to be tonight?” she asks, he shrugs a little.“You pick” he offers, she snorts.“I pick every time” she argues. “Now it's your turn” she pulls off her jacket and turns to him giving him a look.“You spoke of a film the other day” he offers as she shakes out her hair and Jasper lets himself inhale her scent as it wafts towards him.“We spoke of many films the other day” she argues with a smirk turning to grab a soda from her fridge. He shoots her a look back and then moves to her DVD collection.“It was a horror film” he comments.“Oh” she turns to him opening her drink. “Freaks of nature” she remembers. “You really want to watch a horror film?” she asks. “I mean, if you're afraid of girls....you might actually wet yourself with this”“Hahaha” he laughs mockingly pulling the film from the pile and moving to set up her laptop. Lupe watches him, raising an eyebrow at him. “You mind?” he finally asks lifting his eyes from her laptop with a smirk.“No, make yourself at home” she comments dryly setting her soda down on the counter before kicking off her boots. “You want a drink?” she asks. “Snacks?”“No, thank you” he answers setting the laptop on the top of the fireplace adjusting the wires slightly.“You never do” she comments to herself pushing her jeans down her legs, Jasper glances to her out of the corner of his eye as he gets comfy on her bed, she picks up her trousers and sets them aside before walking towards the bed, lucky her shirt is long enough to cover her underwear, she grabs her soda as she passes before climbing onto the bed with him. “Okay” she states. “Freaks of nature” she looks to him. “Got your big boy panties on?” she teases, he rolls his eyes with a smirk and leans forward to press play on the laptop. She grabs something from the floor just under her bed before sitting up again. “You mind?” she asks setting a cigarette between her lips, Jasper does mind, but it's part of her, so he nods allowing it. She lights it and they both settle in to watch the film.…................With the film over and the night sky darkening the bus, Lupe lays next to Jasper who pulls her blankets around her as she half sleeps. She shifts slightly and grabs a hold of his wrist to stop him.“You know” she starts sleepily. “You're not such a scaredy cat after all” Jasper strokes his fingers down her arm as he smiles a little.“There are plenty of things I am scared of” he admits, she hums a little in question, opening her eyes slightly to look up at him.“Like what?” she asks, he smiles sadly down at her.“Why would I give away my weaknesses?” he teases a little, she smirks a little back at him.“Will you stay?” she asks closing her eyes again.“Do you want me to?” he counters, she snorts a little and shrugs.“Always” she mumbles, he watches her, studies her before laying at her side, she turns towards him, shuffling closer to him. She hums a little and snuggles into his chest, Jasper's arms held out slightly not sure what he's supposed to do here. He should stop her, he should leave and let her sleep alone. But he's going to be selfish, he pulls her closer and lets her sleep against him. Despite how cold his skin is. Despite how hard he may feel against her. She doesn't seem to care about any of that.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The next week follows the same routine. School. Nights spent with Jasper. Talking. Bonding. And then that weekend is approaching. The weekend of the diner's grand opening. And a weekend that Noah will be staying with them for the whole weekend rather then just a Sunday afternoon. She's unable to sit still all day, her excitement bursting at the seems, and Jasper feeds off of it, lets it infect him. And he watches her, all day, the way she'll smile when she thinks no one is looking. It makes her look.....beautiful. More so then she already is. Her smiling, pure, unadulterated smiling is something stunning on her. And it just makes him realise how much he's come to care for her. Every time she smiles, it flutters something inside of him. Stirrings.…..........Noah is leaning against her camper when she crosses the parking lot with Logan and Bella, she instantly brightens even more and hurries to him, Bella smiles watching as Lupe reaches her brother.“Noah” Lupe greets throwing her arms around her 'brother' he hugs her back lifting her off her feet slightly, Logan smirks watching them as Bella smiles. Lupe pulls back and nudges Noah lightly before she turns to her cousin and her friend. “Bella already knows Noah, so...This is Logan” Lupe motions to her friend and then back to Noah. “Logan, this is my brother...Noah”“Step-brother” Noah corrects. “But what does it matter”“How long you here for this time?” Bella asks.“Well I'm in town for the grand opening” Noah answers. “Pops wants it to be a big family thing...so probably till Sunday night”“You two will be there, right?” Lupe asks Bella and Logan.“Wouldn't miss it” Bella assures her.“Yeah, we know how hard they've both worked on this” Logan adds. “Plus your dad keeps boasting about how his milkshakes are the best in the world....” Lupe and Noah smirk.“They are amazing” Noah agrees. Lupe sees Jasper walking to his bike, he glances across at them, and she smiles back before turning to Noah.“Give me five minutes and then we can go” Noah raises an eyebrow as she dashes off towards the Hale boy.“Who is that?” Noah asks, Bella and Logan glance to Jasper and Lupe.“Jasper” Bella answers. “They're....friends?” she asks looking to Logan who shrugs.“Who can say” he comments. “I don't even think she knows” Logan glances to Noah who narrows his eyes back at Lupe and Jasper.….........Lupe sits in her mother's living room redoing her eye liner, she's wearing a light blue 50's style waitress uniform with white tennis shoes, it's as far from what she'd normally wear as she can get, but it's for the family business, so she has to. Ashlee hurries into the room adjusting the bow in her hair. Her uniform is a darker blue, to show seniority.“You're not high, right?” Ashlee asks.“No” Lupe argues. “I wouldn't. Not for this” she assures her mother standing and straightening the bottom of her uniform. Noah appears behind them and wrinkles his nose, he's lucky, his uniform consists of a pair of black slacks, a pale blue shirt and a waiters belt. Oliver appears in his chef's uniform and looks over the three of them, a smile stretching across his lips, it's better then he'd hoped. He just had this image in his head, and his family is perfect.…...........“Pop” Noah starts entering the kitchen of the diner, Oliver glances to him and then back to the cooker.“What's wrong?” Oliver asks.“Did you know about the....” Noah pauses and then cocks his head. “Cold ones?” Oliver sighs and nods.“I did....but Ashlee was determined to come back here....” Oliver answers.“Did you know that Lupe is friendly with one?” Noah counter asks, Oliver turns to him, showing that he clearly does not know. “And I think...more then a little friendly”“Since when?” Oliver asks.“I don't know” Noah answers. “I saw them talking at the school and they're....very close” Oliver sighs. “Should we warn her?”“No” Oliver argues. “I'll keep an eye on her”“Pop” Noah scolds, Oliver looks away.“She's a teenage girl, and she's Lupe” Oliver argues. “Tell her not to do something and she's gonna do it anyway” He turns to Noah with a tray of mini-burgers. “Here, take these out” Noah gives him a look. “We'll talk about this later” Oliver tells him, Noah sighs and leaves the kitchen with the tray.…......................Lupe sets a milkshake down in front of Logan who smiles up at her.“Thanks” he offers pulling it closer as she sets a coffee in front of his mother.“Is this Lupe?” the woman asks smiling up at Lupe, Logan sighs a little.“Yes, mom” he mumbles.“He never lets me meet his friends” she complains a little, Lupe smiles seeing her friend turning red with embarrassment.“Mom” Logan complains sinking into his seat. Lupe chuckles softly.“It's nice to meet you too” Lupe tells Logan's mother who smiles back at her. “If there is anything else you need, just shout” Lupe offers warmly and then walks away. She can hear Logan scolding his mother behind her. The diner doors opens and Lupe smiles wider seeing Jasper walk in with Alice and Mira. “You made it” she tells them, way more excited then she should be seeing him. Jasper smiles and bites his lip slightly looking over her uniform.“Wouldn't miss it” Jasper assures her, she brushes her hand over her uniform self-consciously. Alice and Mira share a look. Lupe grabs three menus from the side and smiles.“I'll show you to a booth” she offers, and then walks through the crowds, Mira, Jasper and Alice following her. “Full menu isn't available until Monday but we are offering a taster” she tells them motioning to the booth, the three of them slip in and take a menu as she offers them. “The mini-burgers are going down well” she offers. Noah walks towards her as people start drifting to the bar counters.“What's going on over there?” Noah asks from Lupe's shoulder, she looks up to follow his eyes. Jasper turns over the back of the booth to watch too.“I don't know” Lupe answers. Oliver catches their eyes and motions to Ashlee, in the middle of whatever is going on. Lupe sighs. “Mom's in the middle of it” Lupe grumbles and then shakes her head. “Of course she is....” Lupe then heads through the crowd towards her mother. Billy is in front of her mother, and they are mid argument.“You made that choice for me” Ashlee snaps. “Remember?”“You cannot hold that against me now, Ashlee, times have changed”“You're wife isn't around for you to upset” Ashlee points out. “Well tough, she didn't need you then and she doesn't need you now” Lupe pushes to the front of the crowd.“Damn it, Ashlee, she's my daughter, you have no right to keep her away from me” Ashlee looks up threading her fingers through her hair, her eyes landing on Lupe, who's eyes are wide.“Lupe” Ashlee states regret filling her. Billy looks back over his shoulder to find Lupe stood behind him. She'd heard the confession. Lupe looks between them, her parents before pushing through the crowd and away from them. “Lupe!” Ashlee shouts after her, but Lupe is gone.…............Lupe walks along the road, the rain pelting down onto her, she shivers and rubs her arms, regretting the decision to run off without her coat. Behind her the sound of a fast approaching motorbike. Lupe keeps her head down, huddled in on herself. The bike skids to a stop beside her. Jasper's bike. He looks to her and she sniffles a little.“Get on” Jasper tells her, she looks to him and then back down the street the way she'd come. “Lupe” he states and she turns back to him, she nods and climbs onto the bike behind him, wrapping her arms around him, once she's settled, he drives away with her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper drapes his jacket around Lupe's shoulders as she sits on a bench, his bike behind them, she looks up at him and touches the jacket softly as he sits beside her. The drive to....wherever they've ended up, she's not sure where they are. The ride had given her time to think, to steam, to get upset, what happened was.....embarrassing. In front of all those strangers. In front of Charlie. In front of her. She glances to Jasper.“My mother's brother's best friend is my father” she states, Jasper nods. “Billy Black” she blows out a breath.“I heard” he tells her, she nods.“Pretty sure everyone did” she counters pulling his jacket closer to her. “God” she complains covering her face with her hands. “Fuck” she rocks herself slightly. Jasper watches her sadly. “In front of everyone” she pulls her hands back to look at him. “Who does that?” she asks as if he somehow had all the answers.“I'm sorry” he tells her, he honestly doesn't know what else to tell her. When Ashlee and Billy did, it shouldn't have been done in public, not with those people around them and not in front of Lupe. But it did happen and now she has to live with it. With the truth. And knowing everyone else knows now too. What can he say to make that better? She shifts closer to him and sets her head on his shoulder, Jasper takes a shaky, nervous inhale, she sniffles and he wraps his arm around her, drawing his fingers down her arm, comforting her.….............They both sit there for ages, the sky turning cold and dark. Lupe and Jasper just sit in silence, comfortable, safe. He glances to her as she starts to fall asleep against him. He should get her home before it's too late.“Hey” he nudges her slightly to wake her up, she hums a little and looks to him. “We should think about going back” he offers, she shakes her head. “You have to face your mother eventually” he argues as she sighs. “I know it hurts, I know you're upset” he brushes her hair back. “But we can't stay out here forever”“What am I supposed to say to her?” she asks looking to him.“Let her explain” he answers. “Start there” she sighs heavily and nods.“Can we stay here a little longer?” she asks as she she settles back into his side, he's unable to deny her so he nods and curls his arm around her. “It's nice here” she offers.“Beautiful” he agrees watching her, the light from the street light above them illuminating her skin. She really is beautiful. He strokes her cheek and she looks up at him. Eyes still a little damp from her crying, her cheeks red with the cold air. “It's cold” he comments. “Let's get you back” he stands holding out his hand to her, she takes a breath and nods sliding her hand into his.“Thank you” she whispers as she stands. “For.....coming to find me” she gives him a small smile. “For...bringing me out here”“I didn't want you wandering on your own in the rain” he counters playing with her fingers at their side. “And I didn't think you would want to be alone” she hugs him, Jasper's hands left at his side for a moment before he wraps them around her, letting her snuggle slightly into his chest...............It's the early hours by the time Jasper's bike pulls up outside of the O'Ryan house, the lights are all off, but she knows they're waiting for her. She clutches to Jasper not wanting to get off, he smiles a little.“Lupe” he offers, she sighs.“I know” she whispers back pressing her head to his shoulder before pulling back. “I'll see you Monday I guess” she climbs off of the bike and starts to take his jacket off.“Keep it” he offers stopping her. “It's a long walk to your bus” she smiles a little and nods.“Thank you” she whispers and then leans closer kissing his cheek before walking away, Jasper smiles watching her go before he drives away.…..............Noah attacks Lupe with a hug the second she walks onto her bus, he clutches to her and sighs, relaxing. He'd seen Jasper slip out and go after Lupe. And he was worried. All he wants to do is tell her the truth, to keep her away from the filthy bloodsucking monster. But he can't.“I was worry sicked” he scolds pulling back, acting more like her mother then her step-brother.“I'm fine” she argues stepping away from him and heading deeper onto the bus.“Have you spoken to Ash yet?” Noah asks following her. “She was going out of her mind”“No, I haven't” Lupe answers kicking off her shoes. “I'll talk to her in the morning” she offers with a sigh, reaching up and pulling her ponytail out, her hair still damp. “Look, all I want to do is sleep and forget about....” she looks down swallowing the lump in her throat. “I just want to forget that she did that to me, in front of all those people....”“She didn't mean to” Noah argues. “And Billy is the one that pushed it....he just turned up..”“What?” she asks. “Turned up and tried to undo the last 16 plus years....he told her to get rid of me, Noah” she lets out a shaky breath. “I just want to sleep” she whispers. “Please let me sleep” he nods and moves to her, pulling her into another hug. But unlike Jasper's, this does nothing to sooth her.…................Jasper sits on his couch watching some old western movie but he can't pay attention to it, instead his mind is on that kiss. It was a simple cheek kiss but it feels like more to him. His cheek still feels warm. His fingers tracing the hardness of his skin. He closes his eyes and leans into his hand. He's falling more and more in love with this girl every time he spends time with her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Noah drops Lupe off at the diner on the Sunday morning so she can pick up her camper. She'd waited until Ashlee left the house to work so she didn't have to talk to her but Ashlee is now at the diner and sees Lupe crossing the parking lot. Lupe looks up as her mother leaves the diner, and Lupe wants to escape, she just wanted to get in quick, grab her camper and leave, not talk to her mother, she's not ready to talk to her. About this. About any of this.“Lupe” Ashlee shouts chasing her down, Lupe rolls her eyes and grabs the handle of the driver's side door.“Later” she argues back.“No, come on, we need to talk about what happened” Ashlee argues. “Where did you go? What time did you get back?” Lupe takes a breath and turns to her.“I needed space and time to think about how embarrassed I was at the fact my family's dirty secrets had been spilled to people I go to school with”“I never wanted you to find out that way” Ashlee assures her. “I was going to tell you, at some point, I just....I didn't know how to and I told Billy to stay away until I told you...He refused to listen to me” Ashlee admits and reaches for Lupe, her daughter pulls away causing Ashlee to drop her hands. “I just...” Ashlee sighs. “I love you more then anything, and knowing what he asked of me, why would I want you to meet him, when he clearly had no interest at the time?”“I thought we told each other everything” Lupe whispers sadly. “That was our thing....” she adds ready to cry. “And you could have told me before we moved here, you could have told me after we saw Billy at Charlie's...you've had chances to tell me and you didn't” she sighs. “I just need some time to wrap my mind around all of this...” she motions with her hands, she just wants to get in her camper and drive and not look back. Just to clear her head. To escape. “Please, just let me do this” Lupe whispers. “Let me figure this out myself” Ashlee nods and steps back from her daughter, letting Lupe climb into her camper and drive away, despite how much she wants to hold her and comfort her and tell her everything will be okay.…................Ashlee keeps to her word and the rest of Sunday Lupe spends alone in her camper smoking and drinking and listening to music. She takes time to herself but it doesn't help. She is still upset. She understands her mother's side, she does, but they have always prided themselves on telling each other everything and she didn't, it's a break in their trust. Jasper knocks on the window of her camper and she jumps letting out a scream, he smiles apologetically as she realises that it's only him.“You scared the fucking shit out of me” she complains opening the camper door to let him in.“Sorry” he offers climbing in letting her shut the door behind him. “I did try to get your attention before I knocked....you seemed a little.....away” she nods and sits next to him.“Yeah, guess I am a little.....away” she admits and sighs pulling her cardigan around her tighter.“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks patiently, she takes a deep breath and looks to him, her eyes tearful, she's right there on the verge of crying.“My life is unravelling around me” she tells him. “And I can't do anything about it, I can't stop it” Jasper takes her hand threading his fingers with hers. “I just feel like there is this weight on my chest and I can't breath” she touches her chest and looks to him.“I don't know what to tell you to make this better” Jasper admits.“Can I have a hug?” she whispers, he smiles and nods.“That I can do” he assures her. Then she hugs him, Jasper's hands tight at his side, unsure for only a moment before he is hugging him back, holding her in his arms as she fights her tears. He waits till she stops shaking before he pulls back a little and she gives him a smile.“Thanks” she whispers. “You always seem to be around, you know, when I need someone” she smirks a little. “Like a little stalker” she teases, he smiles and brushes her hair back.“Maybe the universe is trying to tell you something” he counters.“Hmmm...yeah, it's trying to tell me I have a stalker” he chuckles stroking her cheek, she smiles, more real then any other before that day.“That's better” he whispers and then she starts to blush. His eyes search hers as she watches him softly.“Thank you” she offers warmly, voice full of emotion, letting him know just how much him being here means to her. He strokes her hair a little before leaning closer. He's feeling brave. The setting sun, the fairy lights, the soft music, Lupe. Yeah, he's feeling it. He brushes his lips over hers. Lupe reaches up to grab onto his shirt and for a second he fears the rejection before she is kissing him back. They're kissing. This is actually happening. And he started it. And it soon morphs. From soft, sweet to hungry and needy, Lupe's arm around his neck holding him close as his hand linger on her back, his thumb brushing over skin, and she does not seem remotely bothered by the temperature of his skin. He wants her, he knows this, and he really wants this to happen, holding her waist he moves with her, laying her back on the seat, resting over her, it's something else, like no kiss he's ever enjoyed before, because this is Lupe and he doesn't want to stop. But something in the back of his mind is telling him to do just that. Responsibility. Respect. Morality.“Wait” he stops her, pulling back, Lupe's cheeks are flushed, her pupils blown with need and lust. Jasper looks down at her. “I can't” he whispers pulling right back, Lupe leans up on her elbows to watch him, rejection flashing across her features, a sadness to her eyes.“If you're worried about my...” she rolls her eyes slightly. “Virginity” she whispers dramatically. “I lost that a while ago” she admits, Jasper shakes his head.“No, no....I mean...I hadn't thought about that”“Oh” she whispers.“I need to....talk to someone first” she raises an eyebrow at him.“Wait, are you sex addict?” she asks, he pauses slightly to look at her.“No” he assures her.“Are you a virgin?” she counter asks.“No” he is quick to answer. “It's just....been a while and I need...I need to talk it out with...” he huffs. “I just need to go” she hangs her head and closes her eyes.“Okay” she whispers. Jasper lifts her chin and strokes her jaw.“It's okay” he tells her softly. “I just.....give me an hour and I will be back” he offers, she nods a little, he brushes his nose over hers and has to force himself back from her, he doesn't want to leave her, but he needs to talk to Carlisle. He will not be with Lupe based on lies. He wants to tell her the truth, and he knows that there is a chance she'll never want to talk to him again, but he'd rather her know then their entire relationship be built on lies. Not after what's just gone on with her and her mother. He slips out of the camper and walks away. Lupe watches him, takes a deep breath and touches her chest, feels the racing of her pulse under her hand. What is he doing to her? Lust, it's got to be, he's attractive, sweet, smart....she just fancies him. But something inside of her is telling her it's more then that. Love. Love makes people weak. It makes them shut out people too wrapped up in themselves. Closes them off. It makes them selfish. It scares her. Lupe is afraid of love. She's watched Ashlee and Oliver fall in love and love each other all these years. How dependent they are on one another. She doesn't want that. She can't be falling in love. She just can't. She starts to actually freak out. Her heart is pounding in her chest, and not the good way Jasper had her heart thumping. She scrambles up and into the front seat of her camper. Her hands shake as she starts the engine. Just has to drive, has to drive away. The engine rumbles to life and she drives.…...........Lupe looks to her phone as it rings, Jasper's name flashing on her screen. She considers, only for a second, letting it ring out, but she picks it up.“What happened?” he asks her softly.“Something came up” she answers, she lies. “I'll just see you at school tomorrow”“Are you sure you're okay?” he asks her.“Of course” she answers, hoping he cannot hear the lie in her voice, she is not okay. But she needs to do this by herself. She needs to deal with this herself.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits in her camper staring out at the school, her heart is still pounding in her chest from the night before, she hasn't been able to make it stop. Everything is just pushing at her. Billy. Her mom. And now her own feelings for Jasper. She can feel her nerves being frayed. Her sanity shifting slightly. She's had episodes before, just small things, which usually ended with her crying in her mother's arms. Broken friendships. Bad relationships. Mean and cruel girls at school. She doesn't deal with her own emotions very well. And Jasper is invoking emotions she's unused to.“What's wrong with you?” she asks herself threading her fingers through her hair. Jasper is good looking. Smart. Kind. Sweet. He makes her smile and laugh. And she feels safer with him then anyone else in this entire world, which is ridiculous, considering she barely knows him. But she does like him. Likes him more then she's ever liked anyone. Lupe pushes her sunglasses over her eyes as she climbs out of the camper shutting the driver's door behind her. Her eyes subconsciously seek out Jasper and she finds him easily even among the crowds. He's waiting for her, stood next to his bike like usual. But this time she can't bring herself to approach him, she feels embarrassed and scared. She's feeling things she's never felt before, he's invoking them in her and she doesn't know how to process this. She's most embarrassed at the moment as she fled from him, fled knowing that they were going to have sex. She looks to Jasper again, he raises an eyebrow at her, she shrugs and then hurries into the school ignoring Jasper's eyes on hers.….......Lupe manages to ignore Jasper for most of the morning, she's lucky her classes are the ones that she doesn't share with him. But walking through the hall towards her locker she can feel him behind her, his eyes on her cause a tingling in her spine. She closes her eyes. Now she feels bad for ignoring him like this. It's not fair on him. She goes to turn around but he grabs her arm and steers her into the nearest supply closest. She glances to him as he turns on the light and turns to her.“Lupe” he starts, she looks down quickly.“I'm sorry” she is quick to tell him, Jasper shakes his head and lifts her chin.“Why are you sorry?” he asks her.“Because I left..” she starts with a frown. “Because we would probably have...” she whistles a little and he smirks. “And I freaked out....”“Oh, Lupe” he starts. “I wasn't going to make you” Jasper tells her. “If you'd changed your mind then you changed your mind; I wouldn't have been upset or angry with you; I'm not upset of angry with you” she looks away from him. Jasper looks to her softly. “You were emotional and vulnerable and you'd been drinking and were possibly high” he adds. “I would never have taken advantage of you like that” he strokes her cheek. “You could have told me” he strokes her jaw.“I was worried you'd....” she whispers. “You'd go off me” he smiles softly. “That you'd stop being my friend” he shakes his head.“Lupe, why would I do that?” he asks her quietly, she shrugs.“Cause you're a guy...” she draws off and then looks down. He cocks his head watching her before he carefully pushes her back against the shelf behind her, she looks up at him eyes wide as he steps closer to her, his hands finding the shelf behind her.“My Mama would be turning in her grave if she thought me capable of such behaviour” he tells her, she risks a glance to his face. “I'm Southern, darlin'” he reminds her. “I like to think I was raised to be a gentlemen to whatever woman I came across” she smiles a little as he strokes her cheek. “I thought the British were similarly raised”“Perhaps, once upon a time....” she offers. “It's not really a thing any more....not with this generation anyway”“Shame” he offers still touching her face. The warmth of her skin a balm against the chill of his own. “I apologise if I made it seem that I would...”“You didn't” she is quick to assure him. “It's me; I shouldn't have thought that about you” she admits. “Other then our first interaction you have been nothing but kind to me.....” she draws off into a whisper as her fingers fumble with the zip of his coat. “I'm not very good at the whole....feelings thing” She starts and takes a breath. “But I like you; I really like you” she admits quietly fearing his rejection. Like he hasn't given her enough reason to believe that he likes her too. The late night movies. Sleeping together. The laughing and the smiling. The almost night. He caresses her jaw before he swoops in and kisses her, conveying all his feelings through his lips, making sure she knows he likes her too. Lupe actually full on whimpers into his mouth before wrapping her arms around his neck pulling herself closer to him. He wraps his arms around her, lifting her up to press her against the shelf again, she wraps her legs around his waist, her fingers drawing through his hair as their lips move against one another. Nothing else matters in this moment. He can't hear the other students in the hall outside. They're not at school. It's just them in their own little bubble. Jasper's never felt the need to just take someone before. That's never been part of his personality. But being around Lupe, kissing her, scenting her, feeling her pressed against him like this; he wants to be the sort of man that can just....devour the woman he wants. Like in the movies. Those moments where they have to take their woman where they stand. Lupe is his woman. He knows this. She is his mate. She is his. “Jasper” she moans; his name on her lips like that goes deep, rattles him, urges him on. He pulls back though, slowly setting her back on her feet, she raises an eyebrow. He kisses her, hand gently cupping her cheek as he does.“Not here” he whispers against her lips. “Not some quick fumble in a closet” he searches her eyes, she nods a little. “When we finally....have sex” he strokes her cheek. “And we will” he promises. “It will be somewhere more thoughtful then this”“So I am guessing this means you like me too?” she asks, Jasper smirks and nods.“Yes” he assures her warmly. “I like you too” he cups her cheeks and smiles warmly at her. “How can I not?” he asks rhetorically, he strokes her arm and then threads his fingers with hers. "We'll take it slow" he offers, she bits her lip. "There's no rush" he assures her and kisses the back of her hand.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper sits across from Carlisle's desk, his 'father' stands behind him for now. It's been a week since he and Lupe talked, but they've seen one another every single day, at school, even after school, at night. Night after night spent watching her sleep. But he still feels distant from her and he thinks he knows why. Because he is holding back. Holding back the truth from her and it affects their relationship. He goes to respond to something she says, an anecdote from his travels, something that happened to him, and he can't tell her because it gives too much away. And it's not fair on her, to keep this from her when he claims she means so much to him. And she does. Carlisle moves to stand in front of Jasper who looks up at him.“I want to tell Lupe the truth” Jasper admits, Carlisle leans on his desk.“Jasper” he starts. “Bringing her into this....”“I don't like lying to her” he argues. “I feel like...” he looks away. “It makes me feel like every moment I spend with her is a lie because I'm keeping this from her; I can't give her all of me because I am hiding this”“It's not about truth or lies” Carlisle explains. “It's about danger; Lupe is human, if....Aro and the others were to discover you've brought a human into this” Jasper hangs his head. “The danger this puts on her....”“She's meant to be mine, she's meant to be with me” Jasper offers. “I know she is....I can feel it; she's the woman I am meant to spend my life with” Carlisle looks to him sadly.“I just want you to understand the risk before you get to far into this.....” Carlisle counters. “There are certain things that cannot be undone, or unsaid, or unseen....” Jasper nods.“I know” he agrees. “But if I walk away I know I will regret it more” he scratches slightly at his fingers. “I know I will” he repeats more for himself.“Then it is up to you” Carlisle leans up a little. “And we will support you in whatever you decide.....”….......................Lupe smiles seeing the red rose stuck under the windscreen wipers of her camper, biting her lip she pulls it free and holds it to her nose whilst her free hand takes the envelope from the same place. She'd told him not to bother with this holiday, Valentine's day, they've only known one another just over a month now, they're not technically together despite their talk in the storage closet the week before neither of them have talked more about it. She unfolds the paper from the envelope. Handwritten, neat and curling swirls, he's taken the time to hand write her a poem. Her eyes track each swirl and curve of the letters as she reads the words on the paper, and it's not cheap paper either, she can feel it's good stuff, well made, and scented.
'When I look into your eyes,

I feel the calmness you bring.

I feel as free as the deep blue waves in the sea,

Free as can be, no destination desired.

I glide across the ocean like a bird soars in the sky.

I hear the smooth and rhythmic beat of your heart.

It takes me to a place called Paradise,

A place of calmness and serenity.

A place I will stay forever,

A place in your eyes'
Lupe smiles warmly at the poem, her fingers touching the corners, it's beautiful. She's never met anyone that makes her feel like Jasper does, no one that makes her heart thump louder, no one that makes her smile more, no one that makes her feel special and she actually likes Jasper. Her phone pings in her pocket reminding her that she still has to get to school. She sniffs at the flower as she climbs into the camper, then leans over the back of the bench to sticks the poem onto her small fridge with a magnet, pride of place, she smiles; like it's going anywhere now. She turns and starts the engine before pulling away from home.…...............Jasper smiles watching Lupe approach him across the parking lot, her little camper behind her, her hands held behind her back, he raises an eyebrow at the teasing smirk on her lips.“Morning” he greets, she smiles.“Morning” she counters.“Happy Valentine's day” he adds, she hums a little and then chuckles.“What happened to 'it's a silly tradition'?” she asks, mocking him slightly reminding him of their conversation three days ago, Jasper smiles sheepishly seeing the rose in her hand as she holds it up and smiles. He reaches out and takes it from her, soft eyes meeting hers.“I could take it back” he offers teasingly. “If you don't want it” she grabs his wrist as he pulls away.“I never said that” she argues, he tugs her closer leaning down as if to kiss her. “People are watching” she warns, he shrugs.“Don't care” he mumbles and then he does kiss her, his hand wrapping around her waist to hold her closer to him. She wraps her arms around his neck threading her fingers into his hair as she kisses him back. She can feel everyone watching them. She knows it. Logan has told her time and time again now that Jasper doesn't socialise outside of his family and yet now, right now he's making out with one of the new girl in the parking lot, his hands on her; openly being affectionate. She pulls back and smiles at him.“When I look into your eyes, I feel the calmness you bring” she starts to recite the poem, he smirks. “It was beautiful” she comments.“It was honest” he promises her, she nods.“I have no doubt” she whispers running her fingers through his hair, he sighs content.“Lupe?” he starts, she hums a little. “Do you think that we can talk; after school?” she nods.“Of course” she answers with a smile. “Don't we always anyway” she teases, he smiles a little and then presses his forehead to hers.“This is important” he corrects. “To me....It's something we really need to talk about” she nods again this time looking more worried.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe pulls her jacket around herself as she waits for Jasper, her hands shake so she keeps them busy, she shouldn't have been but she has been worrying about this 'talk' all day. She looks up to see Jasper and Edward stood together by Edward's car, the two brothers talking quietly to one another, Jasper's jaw set in a worried line. It doesn't help Lupe's mood. Jasper and Edward share a look, Edward squeezing his shoulder before Jasper moves towards Lupe, a soft smile on his face, his eyes nervous but warm. Jasper offers her a warmer smile reaching her, his fingers brushing over her cheek before moving to her side.“Let's take a walk” he offers threading his fingers with hers, she nods a little her eyes on his face, trying to figure out what he wants to talk about. Given their greeting that morning she finds it hard to believe that he wants to end this already but she's still feeling that twinge in her chest, she's afraid of her feelings, and she's afraid of his too, because she can't control his.…..........Jasper brushes his thumb over the back of Lupe's hand as they walk together, he's worried that this is going to change everything. That telling her the truth will change everything, he already knows deep down that they will, but he can't lie to her, he can't keep this from her. Not if they want a real relationship. He pulls her hand up and kisses the back of it before he pulls back and takes a steadying moment. Readying himself.“Sit with me” he pulls her onto the grass and towards the huge tree ahead of him, he needs to make it peaceful, he needs to calm himself down first because he's so nervous. Lupe frowns at him but keeps quiet, almost as if she can feel his nerves. It wouldn't surprise him actually. She always seem so good at knowing what people are feeling or thinking, so more observant then she lets on. He releases her hand to shrug out of his jacket setting it down on the grass for her before sitting with her. He fumbles a little with his hands and then turns to her, grateful that she's being patient. She bites her lip a little waiting. He nods and looks away again. “Me and my family” Jasper starts staring ahead watching the traffic pass by. “We're....different” he cringes slightly at how little that explains what he wants to say to her.“Different?” Lupe asks him slowly. “Like...religiously?”“No” he answers quietly. He doesn't want to do this. He doesn't want to ruin this by admitting what he is, but he can't keep it from her, not if he wants a real relationship with her. He has to tell her. “Not religiously....” he adds trying to draw it out, trying to put it off. He turns to her again. “You know I care a great deal about you, right?” he asks her, she frowns at him.“Jasper” she whispers because she knows he's nervous. He nods a little.“Me and my family; we're vampires” he admits. “I was born in Texas in 1844....” he adds. “I grew up on my mama's chilli, and I joined the confederacy when I was 17....” She laughs a little and looks away.“I thought this was going to be serious” she comments leaning into his side.“It is serious” Jasper points out. “I'm telling the truth”“Come on” she scoffs. “Vampires aren't real”“Yes, they are” he argues, she looks to him, pulling away, she narrows her eyes studying his face, she then scoffs and stands shaking her head.“You know what?” she asks turning to him. “If you just wanted to break up with me you could have just told me” she snaps at him and then walks away wrapping her arms around herself. Jasper closes his eyes before he groans, stands and follows after her.“Lupe” he calls out. She ignores him. He looks around, seeking out eyes before he vamp-speeds to stand in her way, she stumbles back a little eyes wide staring at him. “I'm not breaking up with you” he tells her. “I'm being honest with you” she is still staring at him. He takes a step towards her and her instinct kicks in, she takes a step, just one, away from him. He stops, hurt flickering across his face, but understanding is there too. “Lupe” he whispers warmly, regret lacing each letter.“You're not supposed to be real” she whispers back.“I know” he offers. “But we are.....”“Is that why you wanted to be friends with me?” she asks him looking up. “Because you want to eat me?”“No” he is quick to assure her. “No, no I would never.....” he shakes his head. “I would never hurt you” he reaches towards her hand, limp at her side. She pulls her hand out of his reach and he hangs his head closing his eyes.“I just...” she starts and then sighs. “Need some time” she takes a step away from him. “To...process” he nods and look to her.“I wanted to be honest” he assures her. “I didn't tell you to scare you...” she nods a little still backing away, she reaches up and runs her fingers through her hair before turning and basically fleeing, Jasper just watches her go.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Oliver pauses as he sets a bag on his bed, there is a noise out of place. He cocks his head and then peers under the bed. Lupe lays curled up. He sighs a little and kneels on the floor next to the bed.“What are you doing under there?” Oliver asks laying down. His eyes shifting to her, she sniffles and curls tighter around herself.“Thinking” Lupe mumbles not looking at him.“About?” he asks, she sighs a little.“Jasper” she answers. “He...told me something, and I'm not sure how I feel about it” she admits, he watches her a moment before closing his eyes and sighing.“He told you” Oliver figures out, she raises an eyebrow shifting her eyes to his as he opens his eyes again. She shuffles out from under the bed to scowl at him, he leans back of her way.“You knew?” she asks him as she sits up. Oliver nods but does appear regretful.“I knew” he admits softly, she stares at him.“People keep lying to me, keeping secrets” she comments. “And Jasper was the only one who was actually honest with me”“Your mother doesn't know” Oliver assures her. “She doesn't know about that...” she shoots him a look.“So how do you?” she asks him. “How do you know about them?”“Noah told me” he answers, she takes a breath and sits on the bed, her eyes dulling again.“Why didn't he tell me?” she asks. “We're supposed to be friends, he's supposed to be my brother....”“He is” Oliver argues, she shakes her head.“No” she looks down. “No....he should have told me...” she points out. “He should have told me....” she mumbles, repeating it again. Because he should have told her. They're best friends. Brother and sister. And he knew she was dating a vampire. A fucking vampire and he said nothing. That is not a friend. He is not her friend.“Don't hate him” Oliver argues. “He wanted to tell you, I told him not to” she looks to him.“What? Why?” He sighs and clasps her face in his hands.“Because I was trying to protect you” he admits quietly. “You've been through so much already I didn't want to throw that at you as well and I didn't know how serious it was, or would become” he sighs. “Look, I just didn't want to see you get hurt, and if I thought you in danger, I would have told you, you are my daughter, and I would never have kept this from you if I thought you would get hurt” she sighs and looks away.“Okay,” she whispers.“How do you feel?” he asks her, she frowns turning back to face him. “In yourself”“I'm a little tired, I guess, but...I feel fine” she answers. “Why?”“Just checking” he answers. “Now shouldn't you be going to see Jasper?” he asks, she shakes her head.“No” she answers. “I can't face him yet...I just need some more time” she then leaves before he can ask her more questions. She does need time. Because her feelings for Jasper confuse the hell out of her. And now with all the vampire stuff. How is she supposed to be able to make heads or tails of it all? How is she supposed to decide whether she can trust him or not? Trust that he's not going to eat her in the middle of the night?…...............Lupe lays in her bed, a couple of bottles of beer empty on the side, her ashtray filled with the ember of her last splif. Jasper looms over her and sighs softly seeing her, the tear tracks on her cheeks. He hates that he's the reason she's upset. He hates it. Even if he was honest with her. He hates that his honesty has hurt her. He reaches down and brushes her hair from her face. She jerks awake and he pulls back.“What are you doing here?” she asks him as she sits up to rub at her eyes.“I was...I was just checking on you” he admits, she squints her eyes up at him a little. She reaches for him and lets her fingers tighten in his shirt. She tugs slightly and he moves with her allowing her to pull her onto the bed. He lays at her side and she shuffles closer to him. He threads his fingers through her hair as she sighs softly. “If you want me to go” he starts, she shakes her head, her fingers clutching to his shirt.“Don't” she begs softly. “Please stay” he curls an arm around her waist and pulls her closer to him, she nuzzles into his neck. “Will you hurt me?” she asks him, he closes his eyes and shakes his head.“Not intentionally” he promises her. “Never intentionally” she reaches up to touches his face. “Lupe” he smiles at her, his eyebrow raising slightly as she pushes at his lips. “What are you doing?” he asks.“Looking for fangs” she mumbles he smirks and laughs lightly as he pulls her hands back from his face.“No fangs” he answers her, she hums a little staring at him. “What?” he asks her.“Why don't you want to eat me?” she asks, he snorts a little and kisses her forehead, then her cheek, then softer on her lips.“Because I like you too much” he answers pulling back to look at her warmly. “I'm crazy about you” She looks down a moment before looking back at him.“I'm high and a little drunk” she admits. “Might be mad at you again in the morning” he kisses her head.    “I know” he breathes her in and then pulls away. “I'll stay till you fall asleep...then I'll go just in case” she nods against his chest, his arm tightening around her as she hums content against his side.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe is mad again at Jasper the next day, she can't explain it fully but it's this fire in her heart that makes it hard to think about him without wanting to punch him in his perfect little face. She knows it's just how she processes, anger is part of it. Lupe shuts the door on her van as she shoulders her bag, her sunglasses hiding her bloodshot eyes, between drinking, getting high and crying they've really taken a beating, best to keep those from view, plus part of her doesn't want Jasper to feel bad that she's been crying, and that's ridiculous, considering it's all his fault that she stood in the shower and cried for ten minutes about how screwed up her life is now. She glances across the parking lot at where he stands at his bike, sisters on either side of him. Jasper raises an eyebrow at her, silently asking if she's still mad at him, she nods a little and then shrugs. He nods back, he understands. He'll wait. However long it takes for her to okay with this. She's worth it. He'd wait until the sun burned through the sky and the earth crumbled to dust if he had to. She's worth the wait.“She still upset?” Alice asks at his side, Jasper hums and looks to her.“I can't blame her” he answers. “It's...I don't know, it's complicated”“It's not like you cheated on her” Mira points out. “Or kicked her puppy....” Jasper turns to her.“It's a big secret and a big reality check, to learn that something impossible is not only plausible but you know....walking around”“Don't you have classes with her today?” Alice asks. “Where you sit together”“I'll ask if I can't change seats” Jasper mumbles.“Don't” Mira argues, Jasper raises an eyebrow. “Act normal, her knowing this secret has to seem like nothing changes, if you start treating her differently or acting differently, it'll freak her out, just be normal”“Scarily” Alice starts shooting her partner a look. “That makes sense” she agrees. “She needs to see that this secret, changes nothing between you, you still like her, you still want to spend time with her.....” Jasper nods in agreement. “Then make sure she knows it” Rosalie glares at the three of them as she and Emmett walk past them.“And Rose is still mad” Jasper mumbles.“Ignore her...” Mira counters. “This is between you and Lupe, and Edward and Bella. Whatever happens, we will deal with it....together” Jasper and Mira share a warm look, she gives him a reassuring smile. He knows that even if everyone else abandoned him, she would be here at his side, they've been through too much for their bond to be easily broken.…............Lupe sets her notebook on the desk in front of her trying to ignore Jasper who is moving towards their shared table. She never even though about them having to share a table today. She looks up at him as he lingers at the corner of the desk, she sighs because she knows there is no way around it. She can do this. She can sit through one lesson with him. She shifts slightly and he takes his seat, keeping a respectful distance from her, where he would normally hover close to her, but he'll keep his distance.“Miss O'Ryan” the teacher states getting her attention. “Lose the shades” she motions to her own face and Lupe sighs pulling her sunglasses from her eyes. Her eyes are red again, worse this time. Because, yeah, she wept like a baby in the girl's toilets after seeing Jasper. Jasper's heart breaks seeing the remnants of tears.“Lupe” he whispers.“I'm sorry” she is quick to tell him, he frowns.“Why the hell are you sorry?” he asks her, she turns to him. “I am” he offers. “I didn't tell you to upset you”“I know” she assures him. “And I'm not upset about that” she admits and then frowns. “Not....it's not just about that” she shakes her head. “I'm struggling with the truth” she offers. “But....it's not all about this” she motions between them. He understands. A lot of things have come to light recently. Lots of truths.“Have you spoken to your mother yet?” he asks, she looks away and sighs.“No” she answers opening her notebook. “I don't want to deal with that” she adds and then snorts. “I'd rather deal with the vampire thing” she grumbles grabbing her pen.“You can't ignore it forever” he argues. “Your father...”“Wanted me dead” she interrupts, reminding him, he looks down. “He told my mother to get rid of me....he didn't want me, why the hell should I want him now?” she asks a little harsher then she wanted but her father has always been a sore subject for her. Now it's even worse because she has a face to put to it, a name, a backstory. This man is her uncle's best friend, someone that is close to the family, has always been close to the family. And it hurts more. Jasper watches this flicker across her face, her emotions tightening around her. He wants to comfort her, he regrets bringing it up.“I'm sorry” he offers, she sniffles and nods, she knows he didn't bring it up to upset her, but her emotions are all over the place because of all of this. She hunches over her workbook and tries to ignore him. She just needs to get through the day. Just get through the day and then she can curl up and cry in her bed. Jasper closes his eyes and sighs. Idiot. He's an idiot. He is actually an idiot.…...........Logan pats the chair next to him in the cafeteria and Lupe smiles softly sitting into it, her bag at her side as she picks at her food. Logan watches her moment, wanting to bring up Jasper, he's noticed that they've been off with one another all day, he's observant, plus she's his best friend and he already hates seeing her upset. Like a crying wet puppy. It tugs on his heartstrings.“You and Jasper seem tense” he offers side eyeing her, she nods a little in agreement because they are tense. “You want me to attempt to beat him up?” Logan asks her, knowing full well he would never win a fight, and he has a feeling Jasper is the sort that is sneakily strong. Lupe rests her head on Logan's shoulder and lets him wrap an arm around her.“No, it's nothing” she assures him. “Just perhaps we're too different”“Nonsense” he argues nudging her. “I've never seen anyone look at someone the way he looks at you” she looks up at Logan. “He utterly adores you” he offers. “It's sickening really” he teases, she smiles at him.“Thank you” she offers, he frowns. “That's all I needed” she plants a wet kiss on his cheek.“Urgh!” he complains fighting it, she chuckles and shares a look with him.“I mean it” she offers. He smiles at her and nods.“Go get him” he pushes at her, giving her backside a slap for motivation, she grabs her bag and hurries away from Logan.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper sets his books in his locker, it's been a tense day, trying to fight all his instincts when it comes to Lupe. He never realized how easy it was to be around her, to talk to her, to watch her. How easy of a presence she is in his life. How much he needs her. He touches the locker door before closing it. It's then he smells her approaching him, Lupe's scent hitting him like a freight train, he turns just in time as she reaches him. He catches her, wrapping his arms around her as she presses her lips to his, he's surprised but he does kiss her back. Because it's been too long, even if only days ago. It's too long. He pulls back and searches her eyes before he takes her hand and pulls her into the nearest empty classroom, she moves deeper and sets her bag on the desk as he closes the door before crossing the room. She turns to him, letting him pull her into his arms. Lupe wraps her arms around his neck and leans up to kiss him. His lips moving back against hers as he wraps his arms around her back pulling her closer to him. When they separate she smiles at him.“What happened to you being mad at me?” Jasper asks her, she sniffles a little, emotional and shakes her head.“I panicked” she whispers, he nods and nudges her nose with his. “It's....a lot to take in”“I know” he agrees. “But I would never have told you if I didn't trust you with this....if I didn't think there was something good here” he strokes her back, holding her closer to him. “I hated keeping it from you” he admits. “I felt like I was....lying to you all the time” he shakes his head and then lets out a breath through his nose. “You remember the night we almost?” he asks her, she nods, his fingers brush over her cheek. “I didn't want to be with you like that without being 100% honest with you, but I had to talk to Carlisle about it first.....this secret affects my entire family”“I won't tell anyone” she whispers.“I know” he assures her. “I told you” he brushes her hair back from her face. “I trust you with this” he tilts her face up slightly as he smiles at her. She smirks a little.“So.....you're not a sex addict?” she teases, he laughs a little and shakes his head. “And you think I'm....nice to look at?”“You're beautiful to look at” he corrects, she hums a little, her lips grazing over his jawline, he closes his eyes.“So this is like....serious now?” she asks pulling back, he opens his eyes and looks down at her. “Like real people serious” he chuckles and nods. “I know your skeleton” he nods.“You do” he agrees. “Just need to figure out yours” he adds.“I don't have any” she admits, he raises an eyebrow.“None?” he asks. “No dirty little secrets?” he pulls her closer, sliding his hand up under the back of her shirt. She shakes her head. “I don't believe you” he whispers fondly kissing the corner of her lips. “Everyone has something....” he coos, she shakes her head. “Nothing?” he asks. “At all?”“I don't think so” she answers. “Honest” he nods and kisses her softly and then pulls away.“I believe you” he assures her. “For now” he adds poking her nose lightly, she smiles.“Might it also be a good time to tell you that Noah and Pops already knew about you and your vampire family” he looks to her surprised. “Yeah, I don't know how...I haven't spoken to Noah yet about it”“I don't understand” he whispers. “How could....”“I don't know” she repeats. “I'll ask him this weekend” she pulls him closer. “Should I not have said anything?” she asks seeing his distant expression, he looks to her and softens.“I'm glad you did”“You're not going to hurt them, right?” she whispers, he shakes his head and nudges closer to her, pressing his lips to hers.“Of course not” he assures her. “Can I be there; when you talk to him?” she nods and grabs her bag from the desk.“Will you come over tonight?” she whispers, he nods and leans closer to her.“Don't I every night?” he asks her back warmly, she smiles at him. He kisses her softly and tangles his fingers with hers at her side. “We're going to be late for English” he states pulling back.…................Lupe blows her hair out of her face as she enters her little bus, the rain pouring down outside which has drenched her through, even just from her van to the bus. She flicks her wrist a little, droplets of rain flicking from her. She groans slightly and turns to face the interior of her bus, her heart jumping slightly seeing that Jasper sits on her bed, she smiles softly, her heart evening out into a happy beat, approaching the bed kicking her boots off.“You're early” she comments. “Usually I'm half asleep when you pop in” he shrugs a little as she shrugs out of her jacket.“I urm...I wanted to do something nice” he admits, she raises an eyebrow at him. “I ordered a pizza and” he holds up a DVD, she chuckles and smiles at him. “Got us Freaks of nature 2” he looks to the case. “Had to get it sent from Russia....” she chuckles. “Hopefully it at least has English subtitles, I haven't gotten around to learning Russian yet” she peels her wet jeans down her legs and does not miss the way his eyes linger.“Haven't gotten around, implying you plan on” she points out.“It's on a list” he admits watching her walk towards him.“You have a list? Is it a bucket list? Does it count if you're immortal?” she kneels on the bed and smirks at him. He grabs her shirt and pulls her closer, she giggles letting him.“It's just a list of things I want to do that I haven't yet” he explains. “And I do have the time....” she snuggles into his neck, her lips grazing over the flesh.“What's on it?” she asks him as his arm curls around her waist.“Russian” he answers teasingly. “Skydiving....” she raises a disbelieving eyebrow at him. “Travelling...”“Are there things on there you want to do but can't?” she asks lifting her head. “Like food things, drink things?”“I've never had Tequila” he answers. “Would have liked to have tried it” she raises an eyebrow. “I miss chocolate” he admits.“Overrated” she comments brushing her fingers over his cheek. “Plus there's probably like less actual chocolate in the stuff now” he smiles up at her, her eyes sparkling down at him. “You really got Freaks of nature 2?” she asks, he nods and holds up the DVD.“I really did” he answers, she leans closer and kisses him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Things had shifted during the movie, instead of watching what they should have been watching, Jasper and Lupe are lip locked instead, sitting together wrapped in each other's arms. Lupe is sat in his lap facing him, her arms around his neck, his own around her waist as their lips move against one another. He runs his hand along her thigh pulling her closer to him, lips moving against one another, her fingers in his hair at the back of his head. Tongues brush against each other, breaths tangling, moans erupting between them. Despite the chill of his skin, she feels warm all over, like every inch of her is heated and flush. He lays her back on her bed, barely releasing her as he moves to lay over her, pressing her to her mattress. She tugs him closer till by his shirt. It's heading there again. They can both feel it. But there is no secret between them this time, nothing stopping them and both of them know it. Lupe draws her fingers under his shirt to touch his skin, he closes his eyes and sighs contentedly feeling the warmth of her skin.“Lupe” he whispers kissing her jaw, she closes her eyes and rests her head back, his lips find her throat. Her scent, her warmth, how she feels under him, his mind is hazy with lust. His hand slides across her stomach and up towards her bra underwire.“Fuck, fuck, fuck” she chants causing him to chuckle into her neck.“I love how eloquent you are” he teases lifting his head. “Such pretty words” she scoffs and rolls her eyes but she can't stop smiling. He seems so light-hearted, so soft and fluffy, so unrestrained.“Oh yeah, and you could recite poetry right now?” she asks him.“I could” he teases with a smirk. She raises an eyebrow and reaches for his belt.“You're telling me that if I had my lips wrapped around your dick, you could recite Robert Frost to me?” he leans back surprised.“You know Frost?” he asks her, she shoots him a look.“I do read” she argues. “Just because I swear and drink and smoke pot doesn't mean I can't love the words of some of the greats”“I think I love you more” he admits, she stares at him.“You love me?” she asks him leaning up onto her elbows, Jasper clears his throat realizing what he's just admitted to her.“Yes” he whispers his admission, he lifts his eyes to hers. “I wouldn't have told you about my family if I wasn't sure about us....about you” she grabs at his jacket and yanks him closer to her, her lips crashing to his. He doesn't need her to tell him back, not yet anyway, he knows it's early and he's sure because there is more at risk for him, he had to come to that conclusion of love sooner, to be sure he trusts her with this, he has to love her. The bus door opens and they both pull away to seek out the intrusion. Oliver. He raises an eyebrow at the pair.“Oh my god” Lupe whispers horrified, Jasper bites his lip looking down. Oliver crossed his arms over his chest and looks between the two 'teenagers'. Jasper leans away from her sitting up, she joins him. “Pops” she scolds.“Lupe, you are a teenager and I kind of expected this from you, this isn't the first time you've been caught with a boy in your bus....” Lupe clears her throat. “But you, Mr. Hale” Oliver sighs and shakes his head. “I assume you have some age to you so I expected a little more tradition and restraint from you”“I apologize, Mr. O'Ryan” Jasper stands straightening his shirt, Lupe watches him. “I should be returning home” he adds, glances to Lupe who gives him an apologetic smile. He gives her a reassuring one back touching her shoulder before he slips past Oliver rigid frame before leaving, Lupe adjusts her shirt and swallows waiting for it.“I know your mother has been lenient on your behavior in the past”“You're not my father” Lupe snaps, Oliver looks surprised. “You don't get to tell me what to do” She knows it's harsh, because she has always thought of Oliver as her father, but he has never tried to put down rules and regulations for her, he always left it to her mother, and she respected that, this sudden need for him to set boundaries annoys her.“Lupeta” he starts and she looks down clenching her jaw, knows that the use of her full name is supposed to warn her. “I am trying to keep you safe” he admits and she knows this, she knows he is only trying to protect her. “Involving yourself with that family.....”“Why is it such a big deal to you?” she asks him.“Because they are vampires, and you are my daughter” he answers. She clenches her jaw and gives him a look knowing there is more behind this. “My family's history is complicated, much is yours, and I think you need to hear this from Noah and not from me.....” she looks down. “Please, just think about what you are doing before you take it further with him, the risk you are putting yourself in” he takes a deep breath. “If anything happened to you, your mother would never survive it, you mean absolutely everything to her...”“I know” Lupe whispers and sniffles.“I'm not trying to upset you” Oliver whispers, she nods, she knows this too, he's just telling her the facts, he just wants her to be okay, he wants her to be happy and protected and her dating a vampire could mean the opposite. “Lupe” he whispers stepping closer to her.“Hey, no” she stops him. “I get it” she assures him brushing away her tears. “Life choices being brought into question, yet again.....” she whispers, Oliver watches her sadly knowing that her mother has scolded her choices in the past, even if it was Ashlee that told her to go out and make mistakes. It's a double-edged blade. “I'm just gonna go to sleep now” she whispers, Oliver watches her a moment, worried but he nods and leaves her alone. The bus doors close and Lupe closes her eyes and takes a breath. She does feel strongly for Jasper but has she really thought about the risk here? Has she thought about how hurt she could get? What if Jasper ever lost control around her? What if one of the others did? What if she died? Her mother would be left heartbroken.....Lupe loves her mother and she would never forgive herself for upsetting her mother. She falls back on the bed and groans. Why is everything so complicated? Can't it just be easy? Boy loves girl, girl likes boy. Why does it need to be more than that?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sniffles and glances to the bus doors as Jasper knocks. She debates going to him. What Pop's said to her earlier buried deep in her, lingering, festering. She's starting to doubt everything. She leans up when he knocks again. She sighs and stands with her blanket before moving to the door.“Open up,” Jasper tells her, she pulls her blanket tighter around her and shakes her head. He frowns at her. “Lupe” he states.“I don't think that's a good idea” she points out.“Please” he begs of her. “Just open the door so we can talk” she closes her eyes and takes a breath. “Lupe” he pushes. She unlocks the door. “What did he say?” he asks when she opens the bus doors.“Nothing that wasn't true,” she tells him, his fingers tangle with hers at her side.“Tell me” he whispers, pleading with her. “What did he say to you?” he asks her.“That I should be careful” she admits. “Because if I die, it would kill my mother” He stiffens and looks away, jaw ticking. He knows Oliver is right. There is a risk. There will always be a risk to their relationship. He knows this. He went through it all in his head. And he deemed them worth it. “That I should be careful around you” she adds, he turns back to her.“I don't want to hurt you” he assures her. “I don't plan on hurting you” he adds softer. She runs her fingers through her hair as she moves towards her bed. Jasper lingers behind her, watching her.“I am terrified” she admits sitting on her bed. “What if this doesn't work?” she asks him, he crouches in front of her, his hands on her knees. “What if they're right? What if....?” he cups her cheek and kisses her, her fingers gripping at his shirt.“I love you” he assures her. “That should be enough” he whispers. “Whatever else is thrown at us....we will deal with, together” she lifts her eyes to his. “I can walk away,” he tells her. “If that's what you want” he brushes her hair back, his features shift slightly to pained. “Is that what you want?” he asks her quietly, she almost misses it.“No” she whispers. “No, that's not what I want” her fingers brush over his cheek as she sighs. He leans into her hand. “Jasper...” he nods and moves to sit at her side.“You're scared” he points out. “I understand....” he looks down threading his fingers with hers on her knee gently brushing his thumb over the back of it. “This whole thing is scary” he adds.“Love is scary” she counters, he looks to her. “Love is....a lack of control, love is messy....” he touches her face, she takes a breath and looks at him. “Love is whatever you want it to be” he counters, she cocks her head. “You want control, you have it” he assures her. She takes a deep breath and turns to him, she smiles and nods.“Fuck it” she states, Jasper raises an eyebrow. She lurches forward and kisses him, he smiles and catches her, wrapping his arms around her to kiss her back. She pulls back and presses her forehead to his. “Just....don't hurt me” she whispers. “Please” he cups her cheeks, brushing his thumbs over her flesh.“I won't intentionally hurt you” he promises. “But I can't promise that I won't do it by accident” she takes a breath and then nods. Understands this. Some times things happen. “You are my life now” he whispers.“Stay with me” she pulls him with her as she lays back on her bed. He nods and snuggles down with her. Legs tangled together.…..............Jasper opens the bus door to find Oliver stood on the other side waiting for him. They share a look. Oliver nods for Jasper to join him outside.“We need to talk,” Oliver tells Jasper who nods closing the bus door behind him as he leaves. Oliver takes a seat at Lupe's porch set, Jasper closes his eyes and nods. He knew this was coming. Granted he thought it would be Ashlee that gave him the speech but Oliver is as good as her father. Jasper joins him taking the seat beside him. He waits for Oliver to start. “Okay,” he states and turns to face Jasper. “This has to be serious” Oliver warns. “Lupe isn't...” he sighs. “She can be sensitive and emotional, despite how confident and put together she can seem” he takes a deep breath. “She has more depth than she will ever show...”“I know this” Jasper assures him. “I know there is so much more to her than the foul-mouthed stoner she shows everyone” he glances back into the bus to see Lupe still asleep in her bed. “I know she loves classic literature, I know she can draw, and she plays guitar and she loves Mexican culture” Oliver nods a little. “I know she loves her mother, and I know you're worried about her” he turns back to Oliver.“Ashlee loves Lupe more than anything else in this world,” Oliver tells him, agrees with him. “Anything” he adds firmly. “And Ashlee swore after the last time she wouldn't let this happen again”“Last time?” Jasper adds, Oliver sighs.“Last time Lupe fell in love” He explains. “She gave her heart away freely and he crushed it and she was a mess...She was so heartbroken it made her afraid of love....you have to be sure about this”“I am” Jasper assures him. “I am sure about her.....I have never been more sure of anything, I promise you” Jasper places his hand on the table. “You know what I am” Jasper adds. “You know that we don't get involved with humans unless we are sure about their place in our lives” he nods a little. “I love her, I do....and I feel like I've waited so very long for someone that fits with me the way she does, for someone that makes me smile the way she does” he softens. “For someone that makes me feel human” Oliver smiles a little. “If I hurt her” Jasper starts. “Believe me, it will be because I don't mean to or I have no other choice” Oliver studies him a moment. “If I hurt her on purpose, know that I do it to protect her” Jasper adds.“Well....” Oliver starts and then nods. “Good, that's...good”“You're not entirely human, are you?” Jasper asks, Oliver shrugs and smirks a little.“Druid” he answers. “As is Noah....we protect magic, and those of magical status....”“The wolves” Jasper points out.“It was why I was drawn here to begin with” Oliver admits. “The conception of one with the old blood” Jasper looks down and nods.“Lupe” he states. “She's a Black, she has the old blood”“Yes, and protect her we intend to do” Oliver stands and nods. “Make sure you do the same” Jasper nods surely. “G'night” Oliver adds and then walks back to the house, Jasper stays where he is a moment, his fingers drawing on the table. He is sure about Lupe. He is. She is his mate. His soulmate.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper closes the bus doors behind him as he returns. Lupe is still in her bed, curled up where he left her. He smiles. She looks so peaceful and warm. He climbs back into her bed, pulling blankets around her. She hums happily and settles again before turning over to face him. Awake now. She yawns a little and snuggles into his chest, he wraps his arms around her.“What did Pops say?” she asks him, Jasper looks down at her and then gives her a smile before kissing the top of her head.“Oh, just....protective father stuff” he answers letting her cuddle up against him.“Well, he's not my dad” she mumbles.“Yes, he is” Jasper argues stroking her hair. “He cares about you, teaches you, protects you.....that's a father” she lifts her head to look up at him, “I know you've just found out about Billy but...Lupe, he wasn't there for you growing up, he wasn't there for your first steps or your first words, the first day of school...Oliver was” he touches her cheek brushing away a tear. “If you want a relationship with Billy, that's up to you, but don't push your real father away” Lupe sits up thoughtful, Jasper waits, knows she needs a moment.“I'll be right back” she states climbing out of her bed, Jasper smiles proud of her.“I'll be here” Jasper assures her, she leans down and kisses him before jumping off the bed and pulling on her boots.…..............Oliver sits watching an old black and white movie, he's still thinking over his conversation with Jasper. He glances up as Lupe walks into the room, he raises an eyebrow.“Everything okay?” he asks her softly, she nods and drops next to him before she curls into his side. Oliver watches her a moment before wrapping his arm around her shoulder to hold her closer to him.“I'm sorry” she whispers.“Yeah, I know” he assures her rubbing her arm. “I was only trying to protect you,” he tells her. “By making sure you understand what could happen, I'm not saying that it will happen, I don't want it to happen” she nods. “And I don't want you going into this blind, Lupe, you are my daughter, and I love you, it's not just your mother that will suffer if you get hurt...”“This feels different” she admits. “Different from the last time” she smiles a little. “Jasper makes me feel....comfortable, and he's different from the last one” Oliver nods a little.“I know,” he tells her. Ashlee steps into the room and sees the two of them together.“You two okay?” Ashlee asks rubbing at her eyes, the dogs running around her feet. Oliver smiles and nods.“Yeah, we're okay” he answers her, Ashlee looks to Lupe. They've yet to talk about her father and Lupe still doesn't want to. She doesn't want to talk to her mother about it either. She's not ready to talk about it.“Little Wolf?” Ashlee asks, Lupe sighs and stands.“Fine” she answers and heads past her mother, Ashlee grabs her arm.“Are we going to talk about your father?” Ashlee asks her, Lupe shrugs.“It's not really about that” Lupe whispers. “You lied to me” she looks up at her mother. “Kept this from me.....we were supposed to tell each other everything.....and Billy...he kept trying to talk to me and I didn't know why, I just thought he was....weird. And he was just trying to tell me the truth....when even my own mother didn't”“Just because he is your father doesn't mean he's your dad” Ashlee offers. “He never wanted you. And I don't know what he wants now...I don't trust him around you”“That's not your decision to make” Lupe argues. “You've allowed me to make my own choices since I was 15 years old....and I know not all of them have been epic, I know some of them sucked, but they were my decisions and my mistakes.....” Ashlee nods and looks down. “You should have told me the truth....and not in front of the whole town”“I know” Ashlee whispers. “I know I should have, and I'm sorry that I didn't” Lupe nods and sighs. “It's late” Ashlee adds. “You should get some sleep” Lupe nods and then leaves, Oliver pats the sofa next to him and Ashlee joins him.“Give her time” He whispers, Ashlee leans against him.…..........Jasper watches as Lupe kicks off her boots again and then climbs back into bed with him, he opens his arms for her, she smiles and shifts closer to him.“Better?” Jasper asks as she curls into him, she nods and smiles.“Thank you” she whispers.“You're welcome” she lifts her head and kisses him, he kisses her back holding her close to him, his fingers clutching to the back of her shirt. She hums against his lips before pulling back. He lifts a hand to her face, his fingers brushing her hair back from her cheek, ghosting along her jaw and then to her neck. “Jasper” she whispers, he hums and lifts his eyes from her neck. He kisses her again, a little firmer than before, she clutches to his shirt and moans against his lips her arms wrapping around his neck.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper and Lupe are still curled up together in bed. Still kissing. It's leading somewhere. He can feel it heading further this time. And he wants it to. He wants her. He wants to cross that line and be intimate with her. That's never been in doubt. But he is scared. And worried. Because of who he is. What he is. He knows how easy it would be for him to hurt her. And that's the last thing he wants to do.“Wait” Jasper starts pulling away from her lips slightly. “Wait” he lets out a breath.“What's wrong?” she asks him as she shifts slightly to get comfy.“I could hurt you” he admits her, she raises an eyebrow. “I could,” he tells her. “I don't want to but I could” he strokes her cheek. “And it's not because I don't want to be with you like that....” he is quick to assure her, his eyes looking over her. “It's really....really not” she smiles a little. She pushes him back straddles his waist. Eyes locked with his. Something passes between them. She nods a little, reassuring him that she'll be okay, that she trusts him. She waits, watches his expression. He relaxes and nods back at her. He'll try. For her. For this. He wants her. “Okay,” he whispers. “Okay” he repeats a little louder, surer in his words. He raises an eyebrow as she touches him, her fingers nimbly undoes the buttons of his shirt, one by one. He sits up so she can push the fabric over his shoulders and throws it aside, her eyes on his chest now as he lays back down. Flickering between his scars, his fingers follow her eyes, tracing over them. He knows what they look like. He knows how bad they look. He looks away from her when she meets his eyes.“Jasper” she whispers. He hums in answer. “You're really pretty,” she tells him, he turns his head back to her to stare at her.“Pretty?” he asks her, she nods still touching a scar, he shakes his head a little, she nods again. “Scars are hideous” he mumbles.“Scars mean you fought,” she tells him. “And the fact you're still here means you won” he smiles softly at her, his hand touches her waist where her shirt has risen slightly. “You're a survivor” she adds warmly. “That's hot” he chuckles a little, then turns them around, laying her back on the bed beneath him. He leans back and looks down at her. He can't believe how lucky he is. She's so beautiful.“If...” he starts and takes a deep breath. “If we do this...” she watches him, waits for him. “Ground rule,” he tells her, she cocks her head slightly. “If I hurt you...you have to tell me” he points out rubbing her knee. “I can't...” he shakes his head.“Okay, I promise” she assures him. He nods a little and then leans down to kiss her. She hums against his lips wrapping her arms around his neck. His fingers draw along her thigh and tugging at it slightly, pulling it up around his waist. His fingers graze over the top of her socks and he pulls back to look down at them. He releases her leg and scoots down the bed so he's between her legs. He's decided he loves these socks, knee-high and warm they are more comfortable than fashionable but he still loves them on her. He kisses her knee as he pulls the fabric down her leg. She chuckles a little leaning up on her elbows to watch him, he drops the sock to the floor before removing the other. Jasper crawls over her, her legs moving to make room for him between them, his lips meet hers. He grabs the top of her shirt, ripping it clear off her body, and throwing the shreds of it into a corner. She gasps and looks down before looking to him, he smiles shyly and shrugs a little as his fingers brush her hair away from her neck, his eyes flickering to the movement. He licks his lips and descends onto her neck, his tongue stroking her sensitive skin. She moans. He pulls on her hair a little, softly, forcing her head to fall backward and his lips meet hers, kissing her with a passion that leaves her breathless. She's quick to turn them around completely, straddling his lap, he could easily overpower her but he won't. Jasper laughs quietly, and she loves hearing him laugh, it doesn't happen very often, more often than not he shows his amusement with a smile rather than a laugh. Lupe threads her hands into his curly blonde locks before kissing him again, wasting no time in deepening it, their tongues twining together. Lupe grinds against his already hardened member. He turns them back, pinning her onto her back, breaking the kiss in order to focus on her neck again. He nips her lightly, making sure his teeth never break the skin, even though he secretly longs to, instead, he raises a hand to her breasts, kneading each one in turn before sliding down her body to take a hard nipple into his mouth. Lupe arches, pleasure coursing through her as his tongue works over her fevered skin, swirling his tongue around in small circles before suckling them. Her hands tighten in his hair as he moves at human speed down her body, his lips lingering on her stomach, taking the time to place open-mouth kisses on every inch of skin he can reach. His hands slide up her legs and up to grasp the top of her shorts. In less than a breath, the fabric is torn away from her, then flung over his shoulder, he doesn't care where they land. He growls as Lupe spread her legs further, revealing herself to him. Jasper runs a finger between her moist folds, smirking as Lupe arches and moans under his touch. He can't help but be proud and pleased with how wet she is, for him, and only getting wetter as his finger ghosts from her opening to her clit and back. He reveals in the sounds she's making for him, because of him, because of the way he's touching her. A particularly loud moan erupts from Lupe and Jasper is no longer able to keep his slow pace. Two fingers swiftly enter her and he lays flat on the bed, his lips hungrily wrap around her clit. Lupe's hips buck against his mouth as Jasper pumps his fingers in and out of her, his tongue raking over her clit.“Oh, God, Jasper,” she cries as his teeth graze her clit, his fingers twisting and curving within her, pleasure rushes through her entire body, her hands tearing at his hair. It's all too much for her to take. Jasper moans against her. She arches as that ball of desire explodes inside her of, her orgasms flooding through her, her walls constricting tightly around his never-ceasing fingers. Jasper closes his eyes as she cums, the taste of her release and the power of her orgasm causes his body to shudder his own pleasure threatening to consume him. Lupe is still shaking as he lays atop her again and kisses her, she moans tasting herself on his lips. They continue kissing for a few moments as Lupe calms slightly, her breathing steadies, her heart slows. She shivers as his fingers ghost over her body brushing sweat from her body. She wraps her legs around his waist and turns them over, smiling down at him as she pins him there, her hands capturing his wrists and placing them above his head. He reaches manages to free a hand and reaches up to her face brushing his fingers under her eyes.“You are so beautiful,” he tells her warmly. A loving genuine truthful look crossing his features as she takes his hand from her face returning it to beside his head, instead of replying, Lupe leans down, kissing him and grinding against his obvious erection through his trousers. He moans against her lips, the slow pace is driving him mad. He clenches his fists, wanting more, needs more. She rocks her hips back and forth, her tongue plundering his mouth and her hands tighten their hold around his wrists. He groans, the friction between their bodies causing him to shudder, his skin crawling. He bites her lip, not enough to bleed but just hard enough to warrant a gasp for her. She lifts back from him and stares down at him. She smirks and suddenly, is yanking Jasper’s pants off, her eyes widening as his impressive length springs free, twitching slightly beneath her heated gaze. Before he can utter a single word to her, her lips are wrapping around him, plunging down his shaft and back before he even realizes what is going on. He gasps and splutters, the feel of her mouth around him causes so much pleasure that his eyes roll to the back of his head. A deep moan leaves his lips, his hand seeks out her head, fingers threading into her hair grabbing a fistful. Her eyes flicker up to meet his, a smile tilting the corners of her mouth as she continues to work up and down his arousal, occasionally a soft whimper vibrating from her when he pulls her hair harder than necessary. Lupe's fingers press into his thighs, loving the way he shudders beneath her touch. Jasper feels a lurch within his stomach and he hisses, blocks out his own lust, not wanting it to end so soon. As if she knows, Lupe pulls back, releasing his member with a small ‘pop’. Jasper sits up and grabs her by the hips, easily lifting her to straddle his hips again. She laughs at his eagerness but moans as he moves her hips back and forth along his length. She lifts herself so he can position himself at her entrance. She meets his eyes, which are trained upon her face as he lowers her down onto him. Their simultaneous moans fill her bus as she slides down his length, inch by blissful inch. Jasper’s hands tighten almost painfully on her hips as he slips further within her, her walls enveloping him so tightly his head spins. Unable to take such slow speed, the slow, slow torture of her movements, he pulls her hips down at the same time that he thrust up into her, smiling triumphantly as she throws her head back and let out a strangled, choked moan. He controls her movements, raising her up before meeting her halfway again, filling her again and again and again. Over and over and over.“Lupe” He moans out her name reverently as she drapes her torso purposefully over his, letting her firm breasts rub against his chest and she takes over her own movements, riding his cock faster as she presses her lips against his. The feel of him sliding in and out of her quickly builds up and, just as his tongue meets hers, a jolt run through her body, settling in her stomach, and she rides him harder. He meets her thrust for thrust, knowing she is getting closer. He slides a hand up her side, inserting it between their bodies and roughly pinches her hard nipple, throwing her into another mind-numbing orgasm. Her walls tighten around him as she chokes out a moan. Without giving her time to recuperate, Jasper manoeuvrers her until he has her beneath him again, her legs apart and his prize right there for the taking and he can't help himself, he leans down and runs his tongue from her clit to her slit. She moans and he pulls back kissing her stomach as he runs one hand up her side to her neck. He gathers her hair in his hand, closing his fingers around the strands before pulling it back tightly, making sure even the slightest movement will be felt against her scalp. Lupe waits, her breathing erratic as he teases her entrance with his tip. She cries out as he plunges into her at the same moment he yanks her hair backward, the mixture of pain and pleasure making it only oh so much better.“Harder,” she cries out.“Lupe” he scolds, concerned that any harder and he'll hurt her, she pulls him down to her so she can kiss him.“I can take it” she whispers against his lips. “Jasper, it's okay....harder” she moans and he closes his eyes before nodding.“Yes ma’am,” he says through clenched teeth, that southern drawl calling out to her, washing over her, flooding through her. Jasper does as she asked of him, pounding into her willing body with abandon, spurred on by her cries of pleasure. Only when he feels that familiar tightening does he stop, his eyes closing and his hips slowing to a stop.“You okay?” she asks him, he smiles and leans forward kissing her neck and then her cheek.“Hmmm...Too soon” he mumbles against her skin and she smiles and turns her head to capture his lips, his hips starting their movements again. He moves to sit back and pulls her into his lap, she presses her forehead to his as his open hand comes down to clutch her backside, she smiles as he leans his head up to kiss her lips. His hands grasp her hips and he guides her sopping entrance to his throbbing manhood, unable to stop the moan that leaves him as she slides completely down his length once again.“Jasper,” she whispers in his ear, then takes his ear lobe into her mouth before releasing it. With a loud moan, he uses the last bit of control he has, putting his hands to her hips, guiding her up and down his shaft, they become a blur of movement, Lupe's hands raking into his hair as he thrusts into her at a speed. Jasper’s fingers purposefully dig into her hips. He can feel her spiraling towards completion but he knows he’s about to get there first. With a slight smile, he reaches between them and rubs her clit with vampire speed, knowing it was the only way. “Oh, fuck, J-J-Jasper,” she cries out.“That’s right, Lupe, come for me,” he growls, upping the ante and hitting her with the full force of his hips. Lupe stiffens for only a second before her entire body begins to shudder.“Too much, too much!” she screams as an orgasm hits her body and soul so hard she actually thinks she is going to explode at the seams. “Oh, fuck, Jasper! Jasper!” He ignores her pleas, her drenched walls clamping around him so tight he won't be able to stop even if he wanted to. Lupe's hands leave his hair and scramble to his shoulders, her nails digging in desperately, the loss of any control frightening but oh so sweet. Her slight frame is still convulsing as Jasper makes one last, rough thrust into her before spilling his own release deeply within her. “Holy shit,” Lupe mumbles, her head still spinning. “We have to do that again” she states with a smile. Jasper chuckles.“Agreed,” he says, putting his forehead against hers as she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls his bottom lip into her mouth, briefly running her tongue over it before breaking away. “I love you, Lupe” she gently caresses the back of his neck. He knows she won't say it back. She's not ready for that. But he knows. He can feel it from her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe wakes to Jasper reading next to her, he doesn't sleep so he had to do something else whilst she does. He smiles sensing her alertness and then turns to her as she sits up, pulling the blankets with her, keeping it close to her chest to cover her modesty, though it pulls the blanket from her legs slightly, his eyes flicker down to see the purple and blue of a bruise on her thigh that does resemble his fingers, and whilst he does instantly feel bad that he hurt her enough to bruise, he does actually feel rather proud as well. He marked his lover. Marks that show that she is his. Her phone pings and she sighs turning to grab it, finds a new message flashing on her screen, she lets out a breath through her nose and opens it.“It's Noah” she answers sitting up. “He's apologising” she mumbles setting her phone aside before falling back against his side, he glances to her.“Are you still mad at him?” he asks her, she nods a little pulling the blankets around them both. “Lupe” he starts leaning up to look down at her. “He's your brother”“And he kept the truth from me” she argues. “He lied to me....” she shakes her head. “People keep lying to me” she whispers, he brushes her hair back and smiles at her. “You were the only one that told me the truth” she admits sadly.“Your mother kept her secret to protect you” Jasper offers. “As did Noah and Oliver”“It doesn't feel like that though” she counters, he nods.“I know” he brushes his fingers over her cheek.“I have to talk to Billy, don't I?” she asks him, he nods. Despite knowing that Billy is going to be against them as a couple, given his connection to the tribe and Jasper's entire species, but Lupe needs closer and answers as to why Billy was the way he was towards Ashlee and her pregnancy. “And my mother” she adds looking to a small photo of her and Ashlee stuck to the wall of the bus.“Noah first” he offers. “That gives you a little more time to deal with the whole paternity thing” she nods in agreement.“Yeah” she agrees. “Vampires are easier to deal with” she teases, he smirks and shrugs.“You seem to be dealing with it fairly well” he points out, she lets out a breath and looks back to him.“I don't know why” she admits. “It bothers me, a little, I mean...It just does, but...not as much as the other stuff”“Family is important to you, so of course, that's going to upset you more” he points out softly. She smiles at him and nods.….............Noah climbs out of Oliver's car as it stops outside the house. Honestly he is dreading this. Facing Lupe knowing that she knows he kept a big thing from her. And now he has to tell her everything. Oliver places his hand on his son's shoulder causing Noah to look up at him.“It'll be fine” Oliver assures her.“How can it be, Pops?” Noah asks. “She's my sister...my best friend and I kept this from her, I'd be mad, but for her it'll be worse, because everyone’s lied to her” Oliver nods a little.“She'll forgive you”“How?”“Like you said” Oliver smiles. “She's your sister” he nods towards where Lupe's bus is parked around back. “It'll be fine” he repeats, Noah nods a little but he is less inclined to believe that, given that he knows Lupe, and he knows she can hold a grudge.…..............Noah takes a deep breath and knocks on the bus door before stepping back and fiddling with his necklace. The door opens and Lupe stands in the doorway looking at him. He gives her a small smile, she takes a deep breath and nods a little.“Okay” she states. “Let's get this over with” she steps back and heads into the bus, Noah follows her closing the door behind him. He frowns seeing Jasper sat on her bed, he turns to Lupe.“What is he doing here?” Noah asks as Jasper glances between them.“I want him here” Lupe answers pulling on a jacket.“You're still friends?” Noah asks, Lupe shoots him a look.“More than friends” Lupe argues.“But” he frowns confused. “But you know what he is...how can you be okay with that?”“Because at least he told me the truth” she snaps. “Even if he knew it would upset me, he still told me. Unlike literally everyone else in my life” Noah swallows and looks down. “So forgive me if right now, he is the only person I trust”“Okay” Noah whispers. “I deserve that”“How do you know?” Jasper asks, Noah holds out his hand blocking out Jasper's face.“I don't want to talk to him” Noah tells Lupe who sighs.“How old are you?” she asks. “Grow the fuck up, Noah” he sighs and lowers his hand.“I don't really want to have this conversation with him” he admits. “Look, I just...I want to talk to you” Lupe glances to Jasper who nods softly.“If that's what he needs” Jasper states and then stands. “Just text me later”“I will” Lupe assures him and then watches as he leaves, then turns back to Noah. “Talk” she demands, he nods and takes a breath.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe watches as Noah paces the length of her bus, his hands trembling at his side. She knows he's trying to work up the courage to tell her what he wants to. She's already mad at him, knowing he lied to her and kept a secret, when he could have just told her about the vampires. If he was that worried about her safety he would have told her. Noah takes a breath and turns to Lupe.“I'm a druid” Noah admits, blurts out really. Lupe cocks her head watching him. He stops and turns to face her. “That's how I knew....about Jasper, we get these...feelings around supernatural entities, like a supernatural EMF....or sonar or something....” he stops himself from rambling. Lupe blinks a little and then cocks her head.“Oh,” she whispers. “Does Mom know?” she asks.“About vampires? Or the...druidry?”“Either...both” she answers, he sighs a little.“She knows Pops is a druid, she doesn't know about the vampires, she just thinks that Pops is...eccentric and likes nature and stuff.”“So she doesn't believe....” Lupe offers, he nods and sits beside her.“Lupe” he whispers. “I'm sorry” she looks at him. “I've always wanted to tell you but Pops wanted to make sure you were ready...and then all this stuff with Jasper happened....” he sighs a little and plays with the rope bracelet around his wrist.“People like to decide what's best for me without fucking asking me” she scolds. “You...Pops, Mom...secrets after secrets....lies and then more lies....how is that fair? When they come out, and they always do, I am the one that gets hurt....not any of you”“You don't think this hurts me?” he asks her. “Knowing that I lied to you, that I kept this from you....knowing that you're the one that is hurt by all this...” she looks down and runs her hands over her legs. She takes a breath, the two of them sitting in silence as she processes everything. Lupe breaks the silence first.“So you have magic?” she asks him.“Me? No” he admits. “Not yet anyway....and even when I do, it's strictly healing and support spells, nothing impressive. It's more about our connection to nature and....stuff. Pops is properly trained and everything” he looks at Lupe. “He likes to use charms and things”“Wait” she starts. “Does he use magic to make food?” she asks him, Noah smirks and then laughs a little. “That's cheating” she accuses. The two of them share a look, a little less hostile. He nudges her softly and she leans against his side. “Jasper won't hurt me” she whispers, Noah sighs and hangs his head.“I don't believe that” he admits looking up at her. “I really don't....he's a vampire, whatever your future is....you will get hurt, maybe not now, maybe not in a year, but he will hurt you eventually”“Can you at least try to be nice to him?” she asks. “For me?” he sighs and closes his eyes before nodding.“Okay,” he whispers. “I'll try” he looks back at her. “But...I can't promise that we'll be the best of friends” she nods a little, at least he can give her something. “We're going to be okay, right?” he asks her quietly. Scared that she's going to say no. Scared that this is the end of their friendship.“I don't know” she admits. “I really don't” she repeats his words back to him, this time it cuts him deep because she is the sister he always wanted, his best friend...and this lie could have destroyed them.….............Lupe pulls her jeans on, her cell phone pressed to her ear as she talks to Jasper. She'd called him as soon as Noah had left, she just needed to talk to Jasper after all that.“How did it go?” Jasper asks, Lupe blows a raspberry and shrugs slightly.“I don't know, okay I guess....” she answers. “It's just a lot...a lot of secrets, a lot of lies...and now they're all coming out at the same time”“Do you want me to come over?”“No, it's okay, I'm actually going to talk to my mother and then...Billy” she answers. “Just get it all over with”“Are you sure?” he asks her softly.“Yeah, I mean....it's going to fucking suck but...I have to do it at some point, might as well be now” she slips her feet into her boots and then sighs softly. “Maybe you could come round later though, after....everything,” she asks of him.“Of course” he assures her. “Whatever you need”“Thank you,” she tells him warmly. “It means a lot...”“I know” he counters. “Now go face your mother, the sooner you do it, the sooner it will all be over”“I will...just...” Lupe glances out the window of her bus as Ashlee's car pulls in. “When I do this, everything will be out in the open, everything will...change”“Yes,” he agrees. “But it's not always a bad thing” she hums a little.“I'll go, she's just pulled in”“I'll be there later” he assures her before hanging up. Lupe does the same and sets her phone on the counter and then leaves to face her mother.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits on the couch waiting for Ashlee to join her, she just wants to get this over with. Get it all out in the open. Rip off the band-aid so to speak. She takes a breath as Ashlee joins her, setting two mugs of coffee down on the table.“Why?” Lupe asks, she held it in as long as she could but it just tumbles free. “Why didn't you tell me? Why did you keep it a secret all these years? And when you could have told me, why didn't you?” Ashlee closes her eyes and nods. Understand why her daughter is just so angry about this. It was their thing. Never lying to one another. And Ashlee broke it, many, many years ago, and kept breaking it.“When Billy and I began what we had” Ashlee starts. “He was engaged” she sits next to Lupe and takes a deep breath. “And I was just some stupid teenager that believed it when he told me that he loved me” Lupe looks at her. “I did, I believed every word he fed me about wanting to run away and live some apple pie life together” Lupe sniffles and looks down. “And then I found out I was pregnant, and only now he was married” Ashlee clears her throat. “I...told him and he...reacted, harshly, told me that he didn't want to be a father, not with me or with my child, told me” Ashlee takes a deep breath and looks at Lupe, her hand coming up to cup her cheek. “To get rid of you” Ashlee's lip quivers remembering. “I was heartbroken, not because he didn't really love me, but because he wanted me to get rid of this life inside of me.....I was already so in love with the idea of being a mother. I know I was young, but...I wanted to keep you so much” Ashlee gives her a small smile. “When my parents found out, they yelled, so I left...the only person that supported me through any of it, was Charlie” she admits. “And it killed me to leave him” She whispers. “But I had to. I didn't want to raise you in a place where you could run into a man that wanted you dead” Lupe looks down as she cries. “I never told you because...I never wanted to admit that to you, that there was someone out there that wished you....” Ashlee covers her mouth and takes a deep breath to control her emotions. “Who would want to tell their daughter that?” She asks looking at Lupe, her fingers brushing through her daughter's hair. “When we moved back here, I thought it would be okay, that I would find the time to tell you everything before Billy....before he found out that you were here, that you are who you are to him, but I kept....chickening out. I just wanted you to be ignorant to it all just a little longer, but he was insistent, once he figured it out, he wanted to know, he wanted you to know who he was, and I fought against that toxicity in your life, my little wolf, because you incredible and you deserve love not...not whatever him being in your life would bring. I just wanted to protect you, to surround you with people who love you, who wanted you to live. He broke my heart, and I just didn't want him to break yours too” Ashlee tells her sadly. “You have a dad who loves you. Oliver is the one that has been there for you for everything” Lupe nods. “And....we agreed that if you decide that you want a relationship with Billy” Ashlee brushes Lupe's hair back. “Then we'll support you, but it will be your choice, okay?” Lupe nods a little.“I don't really know what to say” Lupe admits and then clears her throat. “I mean, I knew that he didn't want you to go ahead with the pregnancy, but the rest...I just need some time to process it” Ashlee nods in agreement. The two of them sit there a moment. Listening to the silence of the house. Only the sound of the dogs in the kitchen padding around, playing together.“Do you want to talk about Jasper?” Ashlee asks, changing the subject from Billy, she knows Lupe really likes this boy, she is just glad that there is someone there for her to talk to, with everything that's been happening Lupe needs a friend to talk to.“I'm not ready to talk about him with you” Lupe argues.“Well...are you at least being careful?”“Mom” Lupe scolds. “We went through this when I was 15” Ashlee gives her a small smile.“I just don't want you to get hurt, like I did”“Jasper cares about me” Lupe offers, Ashlee nods, she believed Billy loved her too. Lupe takes a breath and stands before she tugs her jacket closer around her, like a protective cocoon. She needs a break from all this emotional stuff. And she needs to think about all of it before talking with Billy, she thought she could do it all at the same time, but she's exhausted already. She takes another breath before walking away from her mother. She pauses at the door and closes her eyes, her fingers grasping onto the doorframe before she turns back. “Do you ever regret....?”“No” Ashlee stops her, instantly knowing where that question is going. “No, I have never and will never regret keeping you. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me....and I love you” Lupe looks down and nods, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.“Okay,” Lupe whispers and nods before leaving.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper lets himself into Lupe's bus, it's unlocked and he knows she asked him to be there so he's not invading her space. He pulls his arms through the sleeves of his jacket as he begins to remove it. His eyes find Lupe sat on her bed. He can already tell by her frame that it didn't go entirely to plan with her mother. The tense lines of Lupe's shoulders a dead give away. He looks to her sadly, he hates seeing her upset over all of this.“Hey” Jasper sets his coat down and moves straight to her, Lupe glances up at him, her eyes all red and puffy. He wraps his arms around her as she cries into his chest. “It's okay” she clings back to him. “Guessing it went well with your mother” he comments, she laughs dryly and pulls back.“I don't know how it went” she admits. “I can't decide if it was good or bad” she looks down. “Maybe both” Jasper threads his fingers with hers. “And I didn't even go to see Billy” she sniffles and leans against his side as he sits beside her. “I know I will have to eventually but I just can't face him yet. Before we moved here, everything was fine, everything was simple, there was no....paternity drama, no vampires, no....lies”“There were still lies, Lupe” he argues. “You just weren't aware of them” she sighs and nods, sees what he means. And he's right. The lies have always been there. Always been a part of her life, she just had no idea. “Do you regret that I told you about the vampires?” he asks her, she clears her throat and shakes her head.“No” she answers. “You were the only person that was honest with me.....and yes, it's...fucking batshit crazy” he smirks a little and nods. “But I feel like I know you better” he kisses the back of her hand. “That barrier is gone”“I agree” he admits. “I feel closer to you since I told you, like I can be myself” she scoots closer to him, he kisses her head and smiles as he wraps an arm around her.…...........Jasper and Lupe lay in bed together, she's wrapped up in a blanket, her laptop open on the bed. Jasper plays with her fingers as she watches the film, he is more interested in her than whatever movie it is. She's been quiet. Which he understands. For her, these last few months have been an utter whirlwind of drama. And all he can do is be there for her, hold her, tell her everything is going to be alright. He can do that. Be a supportive boyfriend. He presses his lips to her arm and she smiles softly, taking comfort from him at her side. He adores her. And she loves him. She does. More than she ever has loved anyone ever before, and that both excites and terrifies her. He shifts closer to her and rests his chin on her shoulder to watch the laptop screen, his arms tight around her, holding her close against his chest. Logan walks into the bus and hums happily, his eyes seeing Jasper and Lupe. He chuckles a little, he finds them adorable.“Hey” Logan greets with a smirk as his eyes linger on Jasper who clears his throat and glances at Lupe who smirks herself.“What are you doing here?” Lupe asks, Logan motions to Jasper.“You're....friend called me, said you could do with some cheering up” Lupe looks at Jasper and smiles, grateful.“I thought some time with your friends would be welcome” Jasper offers. Logan smiles and nods in agreement and then holds up a bag of spliffs in one hand and a bottle of vodka in his other.“I'll leave you both to it” Jasper offers before he kisses Lupe's cheek and stands. “Text me later” she nods. He starts to leave as Logan flops onto the bed next to Lupe.“Stay,” Logan tells Jasper. “All her friends should be here” Jasper and Logan share a look, Jasper nods and walks back towards them.…................Lupe sits on the hood of her car, Jasper at her side, they've stopped at the treaty line before Lupe goes further. She gave it a few days after her heart to heart with her mother before she decided that she has to talk to Billy, she doesn't want to, but she has to. She needs to get it all out of the way and then decide how to move on from all of this.“Thank you for coming with me,” she tells Jasper warmly, he nods and gives her a small smile.“You're more than welcome” he assures her. “What did Ashlee say about this?” Jasper asks her.“She said she doesn't agree but understands why I need to do this”“She loves you and she just doesn't want to see you be hurt” Jasper points out, Lupe lets out a breath.“I know” Lupe glances at him. “He hurt her, broke her heart and...she just doesn't want him to break mine” Jasper leans closer and kisses her cheek. She takes a deep breath and then slides off the hood of her car. She needs to do this. No more sitting around. No more putting it off. She needs answers. She needs to face her father for what he did.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Billy watches as Lupe drinks from the glass in her hand, she's putting off talking by drinking all the water in the glass. Her hands shake as she sets it on the coffee table. She's nervous, rightly so. She's dreading this talk. She takes a breath and then nods."I wasn't sure you'd come and see me" Billy admits, she sets the glass down and shrugs."I didn't want to" she whispers. "But it has to be done" she adds, he nods a little."I know what you must think of me," Billy tells her sadly. "For what I told your mother at the time" Lupe nods in agreement. "I am sorry for the way I handled that situation" She shoots him a look. "For the way I handled the news of your mother's pregnancy...I was young, married...I already had two daughters...I panicked""Panicked?" Lupe asks him. "You..." she takes a breath. "You continued to sleep with my mother, you knew the consequences of that...you were old enough to understand, hell, I am old enough to understand that love isn't jumping between two beds and crossing your fingers.""Lupita" He warns."You lead my mother on, told her you loved her, that you run away together and live happily ever after....""I know" He states."You broke her heart and told her to kill your child..." He nods a little and she takes a deep breath. "Do you really think I will ever forgive you for that?" he looks at her. "You wanted me dead, you forced my mother into leaving town, leaving her family behind, and I bet you never told your wife what you did, do your children even know who I am to them?""Not yet," He tells her. "But I will tell them" He assures her. "They have a sister, they should know that""Yeah, but it should never have been kept a secret, like I was some dirty stain on your life""That's not what it was" He argues, she raises an eyebrow at him to elaborate. "I was scared" Billy admits. "I was scared about how they would take the truth. But I can tell them now, and hope for the best""No" She stops him. "No, I don't think that's a good idea""Lupita" he starts. "I think it is a good idea that all of the truth comes out, to everyone""Yeah, except it's not going to change anything" she offers with a sad laugh. "You should never have forced my mother's hand, you shouldn't have said anything, you ruined my life by forcing her to tell me the truth""That's not what I wanted" he is quick to tell her. "I wanted a relationship""Yes, you want..." she points out. "You thought of only yourself, did you even consider what this would do to me? To her?" she stands. "Thanks for the water" she comments. "But I would like to leave now""I am your father, Lupita," he tells her, she turns to look at him."No" she argues. "Oliver is my father," Lupe tells him. "He is the only father I want or need, you may have changed your mind but what is stopping you from changing it back" Billy shakes his head. "You told my mother to kill me" She reminds him. "Before I had even taken my first breath" She wipes the tears from her face. "You are not the type of man I want in my life....the sort of man that wants to kill a baby simply for being conceived...I didn't have a choice about being made" She scolds him. "And I only here because my mother chose to let me live in spite of you and because she found a real man to stand with her, Oliver loved me, he has always loved me....he is my father" she nods to herself. "I don't want anything to do with you," she tells Billy. "I am not your daughter, you don't have to worry about me or my life..." She scoffs and then shakes her head "Fuck you" She tells him before leaving.................Lupe shivers standing on the side of the road, she's pretty sure that part of this is shock, now the adrenaline of talking to Billy is waring off she is starting to shut down a little."Kiddo?" She looks up at the voice, Oliver smiles softly at her as he climbs out of his car. "You okay?" she moves towards him, ignoring his worried and confused face, she knows she didn't really tell him anything in the text, just asked him to come and get her. She falls into Oliver's arms, letting him wrap her up as she cries, he strokes her hair trying to comfort her. "You're freezing" he scolds when he pulls back. "Let's go to the diner, and I'll call Jasper for you" she sniffles and nods letting him lead her to the car."Thanks, Dad," She tells him, he looks to her surprised but smiles and nods as he rubs her arm................Jasper finds Lupe curled up in a booth at the back of the diner, her fingers wrapped around a hot chocolate. He slips into the seat across from her and waits for her to start."Thank you" she offers not looking at him, Jasper frowns at her. "For being here" he nods a little. "For...supporting me""Of course" he reaches across the table and takes her free hand in his. "Do you want to talk about it?""No" she answers and shakes her head. "No, it's over and that's all that matters. I just want to move on from it and go back to being ignorant of it all" she looks at him, her eyes then moving past him to Oliver who kisses Ashlee as she enters the diner. "I have a dad" She adds, Jasper looks back at Oliver and nods. "I don't need another one" Jasper looks back at her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe lays in her bed staring at her newest photo on the wall, she smiles, she'd taken a new one of her and Oliver, both smiling, both happy, she was right about him and Billy, she was right to tell Billy where to go. Oliver is her father, and he always has been, he was the one there for the night time feeds, he was the one there when she learned to walk, her first words, her first day at school, her first bad boy cry, he was the one there for every important moment of her childhood even though she was never his biological daughter he never once treated her that way. She is his daughter. And he is her dad. She takes a breath and snuggles into her blankets.…......Lupe pulls her hair back into a ponytail as she stands in front of her mirror. She leans back and checks her hair before nodding, happy with it. Logan knocks on the bus doors before letting himself in. Lupe sits on her bed to pull on her boots.“Hey” she greets as he waves at her. “What are you doing here?”“I brought coffee” he admits as he bounces down on the bed next to her, he holds out a coffee to her. “Seen as we don't have any classes till after lunch I thought we could get started on our art project” She takes the travel cup from him.“Right” she agrees and then takes a sip from the coffee. “What was the topic?” Logan pulls his bag closer and pulls out the project packet, each pair were given their own topic to research and put together something, Lupe was lucky she got Logan cause despite him being a pothead he is a straight-A in art, specifically graphic art and digital art, which always makes projects look amazing. He glances at the topic on the cover and snorts.“Charming” he mumbles and then holds out the information packet to her.“Death?” she asks. “That's our subject matter?” he nods. “Fan-fucking-tastic” she grumbles. Of course, that would be her luck, her life the way it is, with the people in it, death was always going to be for her.“I figure we can at least get some notes done...” Logan comments as he pulls a note pad from his bag. Lupe smiles at him. “What?” Logan asks her.“Just...I know it's work but I'm glad you are here today” he cocks his head. “Long story” she offers and lets out a breath. “Okay,” she grabs her laptop and opens it up. “Death in art...” Logan looks through the packet and nods in agreement.…........Later:Logan lays on his stomach staring blankly at his notebook, Lupe has her laptop on her lap but her mood is no better. The bus doors open and Jasper walks in carrying a pizza and a tray of coffee. He looks over them both, it's only just lunchtime and they both appear exhausted.“I brought supplies” Jasper teases setting the pizza on the kitchen counter. “You two look about ready to kill someone” Logan rolls onto his back and groans.“Our art project” Lupe offers as she sets her laptop aside and stands to greet him, Jasper smiles against her lips as he kisses her. “Hey” she whispers.“Hey, darlin'” he kisses her again and then holds up a coffee cup.“Thank you” she takes it from him.“What is your topic?” Jasper asks them.“Death” Lupe answers, Jasper looks at her, she nods and grabs a slice of pizza.“What did you get?” Logan asks.“The weather” Jasper answers as he looks over the notes they've already made.“How is that fair?” Logan complains. “Weather would have been so much easier...instead we have spent hours researching the most depressing shit in the universe”“It can't be that bad” Jasper offers, he looks to Lupe who nods.“Yeah, I'm about ready to kill myself” she states. “Who knew art could be so utterly depressing” she sits on the bed next to Jasper as Logan helps himself to food. “I love art, I really do but...” Jasper pulls her closer. “Maybe we should ask for another topic”“What? And have everyone think we're big babies” Logan points out. “No, we can do this....” he sets his slice of pizza down. “We're going to do this and it will get an A and it will be awesome” Lupe smiles as he gets excited and motivated again. “We just need to go at it at a different angle” Lupe cocks her head, her eyes catching a photo on her wall, one of her and Noah during the Mexican festival for the Day of the Dead.“Yeah” she breaths in agreement. “Not all death art is sad” she jumps up and grabs the photo before turning it to Logan. “Día de Muertos” she states with a smile. “It can be colorful and loud” Logan smiles back at her. “And full of life” she adds as Logan takes the picture.“Sugar skulls” he offers. “We could make sugar skulls, little ones with all different types of art, or one giant sugar skull....ooohhh, I like that better”“No” Lupe states seeing that his mind is settling on the giant sugar skull. “No, come on, how would we carry it? It would be so heavy”“One big skull with various different representations of death in art painted all over it” Lupe looks to Jasper for help, he shrugs back at her.“It's not a terrible idea” he counters, Lupe sucks in a breath.“Traitor” she hisses at him but smiles, she has to admit that it is something that has never been done before, and it is a good idea. Logan raises an eyebrow at Lupe who sighs and nods. “Okay, okay, but...it has to be reasonable, or made out of something light so we can carry it” Logan clasps her face in his hands and smiles at her before kissing her, Lupe squeaks a little. Logan laughs pulling back and then looks at Jasper.“Please don't kiss me,” Jasper asks of him.“Worried you'll like it?” Logan teases. Jasper chuckles and shakes his head.“Worried my girlfriend will get jealous” Jasper offers back, Logan laughs and pulls Lupe closer to him. She rolls her eyes fondly.“You're so much more fun than I thought you would be” Logan offers, Jasper raises an eyebrow. “You just brood a lot” Logan adds, Lupe nods in agreement. Jasper looks at her.“You do brood” she offers. “It's kind of adorable” Logan snorts and grabs his pizza slice again.“Makes all the girls go crazy” Logan adds, Jasper glances between them. “Which is why you should probably be cautious when showing off your relationship” Logan offers. “People will talk, gossip....teenage girls can be vicious”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper likes moments like this. When it is just him and Lupe and they're curled up together in her bed, his arms around her, his lips moving with hers as they kiss. It's simplicity. There is nothing outside of them. No vampires. No family drama. No pain. No suffering. Just them. And their little bubble of affection and love. He realizes that it is probably the most romantic thing he has ever thought in his entire life. Any moment with her, and he feels changed. He feels...incredibly human. He shifts slightly and pulls her closer to him. Bodies pressed together. It is definitely going somewhere, as much as he would like to go there, she has a pile of homework to get through and he doesn't want to stop her from getting good grades. He should be encouraging her to excel. He should be helping her. He pulls back from her lips and smiles softly.“I should go” he offers, she cocks her head in question. “I would love to stay, believe me, I do, but....” she pouts at him. “You have homework. And I don't want your mother to see me as a bad influence on you” she chuckles and straddles his waist, his hands instantly find her waist.“Yes, because between the two of us, you are the bad influence” she teases, he smirks up at her and then flops her down beside him, she huffs a little and watches as he climbs out of bed, because he knows that if he stays they will have sex, and none of her homework will be done, and she will get in trouble for it and Ashlee might just stop him from coming over. He reaches for the thick wool blanket she keeps under her bed, she watches him as he moves.“It's going to snow tonight” he offers as he holds out the blanket. She can't help but smile softly at that. At him taking care of her. She takes the blanket from him and smooths it out over her bed.“You could stay” she whispers, he touches her cheek, curling his palm to pull her closer to him.“That won't help the cold” he counters, she shrugs a little.“Then stay to protect me from the monster under my bed” she teases.“Darlin', I am the monster under your bed” he counters and then kisses her softly.“You don't really see yourself that way, do you?” she asks when he pulls back, he shrugs a little and keeps his eyes from her. “Jasper” she kneels in front of him, her fingers finding his jacket. “You touch me with such warmth and carefulness, you look at me like.....I don't even know. But in none of that do I ever feel like you are a monster” he softens and pulls her closer. “And you shouldn't feel like that either”“I love you,” he tells her firmly. Of that, he is sure of. Even if he can't agree with her on his monster status, he knows what he is, but the longer he can keep her from seeing him that way the better. She smiles at him and fists her hand into his jacket. “No” he scolds with no meaning, she pouts at him and tugs him closer, he goes willingly and nudges her nose with his own.“Stay” she whispers against his lips, he groans, his restraint and argument dying in his mind.“Fine” he caves, she chuckles against his lips. He lifts his hand to her face. “But you do your homework before we do anything else” he adds drawing his thumb over her bottom lip, his eyes darkening slightly with lust. He stops himself, though, he is trying to be firm. She pulls back from him when he releases her face.“I kinda like it when you take control like that” she admits as she grabs her homework from the counter next to the bed. He looks at her, watches her as she gets comfy. She glances at him from under her eyelashes and he knows what she is trying to do.“Homework” he pushes and leans back against the window behind him.…..........Lupe and Bella walk together as they cross the school parking lot and approach their vehicles. Bella is frowning at the painted golden onion in her hands. It's weird but apparently some science thing.“I tried talking to him but...” Bella admits to Lupe, then sighs, Lupe gives her a small smile. “It's like everything I say to him is wrong and it just upsets him” Bella glances across at Edward stood with Jasper, Jasper talking to his brother softly. “How do you and Jasper.....talk?”“With words” Lupe teases, Bella turns and shoots her a look. “I don't know we just do...” Lupe hugs her books closer. “Just find some common ground, movies, or music, or books....steer away from personal stuff, for now, go for the trivial...you know...” Lupe shifts closer to Bella. “Jasper's a huge baby when it comes to horror movies” Lupe whispers, her eyes on Jasper across the parking lot, he watches her amused, Edward even smirks at his side. They both know she's trying to cheer up Bella. Bella smiles a little. “But it was a start...”“Yeah” Bella whispers and nods. She understands that maybe she is trying too hard to talk to Edward, and that starting small, starting trivial might be the best way to begin. “Yeah” she states louder. “Thanks” Lupe nods and smiles.“Yeah, no problem, hun”“See you at the diner for dinner later?” Bella asks her.“You know it” Lupe answers and watches as Bella walks away from her. Lupe digs around in her pocket for her camper keys as Bella heads for her truck. Lupe lifts her eyes and looks straight at Jasper. He winks at her, Lupe smiles and shakes her head. Since he told her about being a vampire she's noticed a difference in him, he's less restrained, less held back, and yeah, she thinks she is in love with him, she's just not ready to admit it to anyone, especially herself, yet. Lupe snaps her head around at the sound of a high pitched screech. A van skids on the ice, out of control, and heading directly for Bella. Lupe's eyes widen.“Bella!” She shouts, Bella looks up at the van. It is about to hit Bella's truck, with her standing in between, when suddenly, something knocks Bella down, pinning her to the ground. The van smashes into the back of Bella's truck and Lupe makes to move towards her cousin. Jasper is at her side and grabbing her arm to stop her from running into this situation, she instantly leans into him. His lips near her ear.“She's okay” he assures her softly. “She's okay...Edward has her” he promises her as he wraps his arm around her waist to hold her. She shivers slightly as she continues to stare at the truck and the van. Jasper looks across at his siblings, see them all staring at Edward. He knows this will change everything. That Edward has shown himself. “I have to go,” Jasper tells Lupe, she nods. Her brain understanding why he needs to go. “I love you” he assures her, she turns her head to him. He nods softly and brushes her hair back from her face. She notes something in his eyes. Fear. She frowns at him. “I'll find you later” he promises and kisses her softly before he pulls away and walks to his family. Lupe swallows a little, his fear sinking into her. She blinks and looks back at Bella before she is then moving towards her.“Bella” Lupe states, Bella turns to her before instantly falling into Lupe's chest, Lupe hugs her tightly, feels her cousin shaking with fear and adrenaline against her. “I got you, Luv” Lupe whispers to her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits on one of those plastic hospital chairs as she waits for news on Bella. Her knee jiggling away, her thumbnail in her mouth as she chews nervously. Of all the things. In a town with vampires. Bella gets hit with by a truck. Only her. That can only happen to her. Lupe looks up and sees Jasper approaching her. She smiles a little and then stands to meet him. Jasper pulls her into a hug, his fingers threading into her hair.“How mad were they?” She whispers against his ear, he shrugs and pulls back.“More so than when I told them I was going to tell you” He admits and brushes her hair back from her face. “He showed himself in front of the entire school” He whispers and gives her a sad smile. “Anyone could have seen him....”“Why is it such a big deal?” She asks him. “I doubt anyone could actually hurt you guys”“There are reasons” He answers and shrugs a little, she raises an eyebrow. “Trust me, darling, it is not something you wish to know about” he adds, she cocks her head.“If someone can hurt you, then yeah, I fucking do” She corrects. He gives her a warm smile.“One day” He offers. “I will tell you one day” he leans closer and kisses her again. She hums against his lips and pulls herself closer to him by his belt loop. He moans slightly and wraps his arms around her back to hold her to him.“You know, I've never had sex in a hospital before” She whispers against his lips, he sighs a little and then kisses her again. He is going to cave, because he is sure he would give her absolutely anything. Even sex in a semi-public place. Yeah, he is going to say yes.“Okay” He caves and smiles at her, she chuckles and leans up to kiss his neck. Jasper nudges her backwards a little and she pulls back so they can walk away.…...Jasper chuckles a little as Lupe bounces along at his side, her hand holding onto his. Despite the situation. Despite Bella being in the hospital. And Jasper aware that there is blood all around him. He is happy. And so is she. They both stop when Bella leaves the wards and sees them. Lupe smirks a little.“How are you feeling?” Jasper asks as he wraps an arm around Lupe, Bella nods a little.“I'm okay, just a small bump” Bella answers and then holds up her cell phone. “I have to call my mom” She looks at Lupe. “You know what she's like” Lupe nods in agreement and Bella walks away to call Renee. Lupe then turns to Jasper and wiggles her eyebrows. He groans slightly and leans closer to her.“You're going to get us into trouble” he whispers before kissing her and then pulling her along through the hall. Lupe giggles and struggles to keep up with him.….....Jasper and Lupe give it a good try, the whole sex in a hospital closet. They try. Except they get interrupted half-way through. When the doors are opened and they find Carlisle on the other side. Jasper has literally been caught with his pants down. Lupe bites her lip. Carlisle gives them both a look, Jasper looks down a little as he sets Lupe back on her feet. She quickly pulls her underwear back up her legs, Jasper pulls his trousers back up.“It was Jasper's idea” Lupe points out, Jasper shoots her a look and she smirks a little. Carlisle smiles at the two of them.“I am sure it was” Carlisle counters, Jasper makes a noise and turns a look on Carlisle, Lupe chuckles and hugs Jasper's arm. “Now if you two are....” Carlisle clears his throat. “Finished....” Lupe smirks. “Family meeting” Carlisle adds. Jasper looks down at Lupe and kisses her softly.“I'll see you later,” He tells her.“She can come” Carlisle argues, Jasper looks at him surprised. “Lupe is part of this now...you've made that clear” Jasper nods a little. Carlisle walks away and Lupe frowns.“What the fuck does that mean?” She asks Jasper, he smiles.“It means that I love you” He answers. “And you're not going anywhere from my life....makes you family” she smiles a little, he pulls her closer and brushes his nose over hers. "Come on" He threads his fingers with hers and they leave the closest together.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper keeps hold of Lupe's hand as they approach where Edward, Rosalie, and Carlisle are gathered. Rosalie's eyes instantly harden seeing Lupe with Jasper. Jasper pulls Lupe closer to him, protective of her, and he will defend her, even from his own 'sister', Lupe is his mate, he knows that. He is meant to be with her, he is meant to spend her life with her, and nothing, and no one, is going to get between them. Not even Rosalie.“What is she doing here?” Rosalie asks, Carlisle and Jasper both shoot a look at her.“She is Jasper's partner and part of this” Carlisle answers.“And a human” Rosalie counters.“She is staying” Jasper argues firmly, leaving no room for arguments, only it's Rosalie, and she does argue.“It's bad enough you told her the truth without talking with us” Rosalie points out.“He spoke with me,” Carlisle tells her. “I told him that we would support him....”“We didn't get a say in that” Rosalie complains. Jasper shoots her a glare.“Don't start” He warns her, his arm pulling Lupe closer to him.“Telling Lupita...” Carlisle starts.“Lupe” Lupe corrects Carlisle who looks at her.“Lupe” He agrees. “Telling her was Jasper's choice” Carlisle stops Rosalie from arguing. “Just as it is Edward's choice to not tell Bella.”“I get it...you don't like me all that much,” Lupe tells Rosalie.“It's not that I don't like you” Rosalie argues.“You just don't like that I am dating your brother, that's fine” Lupe offers, Rosalie looks at her confused. “Look, come on, he's your 'brother'.” She offers with air quotes. “You are all very protective of one another, and I'm some human....that could get you in trouble...or worse, I don't want that, of course, I don't....I'm not going to tell anyone”“And your step-father, Oliver?” Carlisle asks her. “How did he know?”“Oh, well...I figured Jasper would have told you” She looks at Jasper who shrugs back at her. “Urm..” She looks at Carlisle. “Oliver and Noah....they're druids”“Druids?” Carlisle asks. “It's been a long time since I've come across one, let alone two...”“I don't think Noah is like a full druid, but Oliver is...that's how they both knew about you guys....something about being able to feel it like....radar”“Druids are supernaturally attuned to the world, they see things humans don't....” Carlisle offers, Lupe shrugs and glances at Jasper. She doesn't like that this conversation is on her.“Carlisle” Rosalie warns, wanting to get back on track.“Rosalie” Carlisle counters. “This is Jasper's choice. Lupe is part of this family now....”“You should think about telling Bella,” Lupe tells Edward who glances at her. “And I get why you don't want to, you want to 'protect' her and all that shit, but the longer you are with her, the higher the chances are that she is going to find out....she's not stupid and you guys are weird....she is going to figure it out”“She's right” Jasper adds.“If the Volturi were to find out that Lupe knows and that Bella is on the cusp of finding out...” Rosalie warns as she turns to Carlisle.“This Volturi...” Lupe starts as she looks at Jasper. “This the bad guys you didn't want to tell me about?” He nods and rubs her back a little. “I guess if they really have you guys this worried they must be something fucking terrible, right?.....So...I promise I won't tell anyone” Lupe crosses her fingers over her chest.“What about Bella?” Carlisle asks her.“Well...I don't like secrets....” Lupe argues. “But...” She looks at Jasper. “This isn't mine to tell...” he gives her a thankful smile. “And I understand it's dangerous....for all of you....for all of us....soooo” She shrugs a little. Jasper kisses her head, his arm around her waist.“I trust her,” Jasper tells Rosalie.“This isn't just about you, it's about all of us...” Rosalie argues, Carlisle notes Bella at the end of the hall.“Let's take this in my office.” He stops them. Lupe follows his look to Bella who gives her a smile, Lupe waves back. Rosalie glares at Edward as she goes off with Carlisle. Jasper looks at Lupe who sighs.“Smoke?” he asks her, she looks up at him and smiles.“Please” She answers as she leans into his side, he chuckles and walks away with her. Edward watches them go before he approaches Bella.….......Jasper nuzzles into Lupe's neck, sat on the wall behind where she stands, his hands on her waist as she smokes. Whilst he doesn't particularly care for it, he knows she does. And he is not going to make her change who she is to be with him. That's not how love works. He loves her as she is, imperfections and all. Smoking is one of those imperfections. She lets out a breath and sighs with it. Jasper pulls back.“What?” he asks, she shakes her head. “No, come on, talk to me” She turns in his arms to face him.“Maybe Rosalie is right” She comments, he scoffs and shakes his head.“She's not” he argues, she gives him a look.“These Volturi people have you all fucking scared, Jasper....that's a big deal, you should have told me what it meant when you told me about the vampire thing, that it wasn't just a secret, but a secret that could get you and your family killed....” he places his hands on her cheeks and she closes her eyes.“Nothing is going to happen” he whispers to her. “Nothing is going to tear us apart...” She smiles a little and opens her eyes to look at him. There is a severe level of conviction on his face. He means it. Or at least believes it. He lowers his hands to her shoulders and then to her arms. “I didn't wait this long to find you only to lose you again, Lupe” he adds softly. “I know now, that everything I went through....everything....was to bring me here....to you” She leans closer to him and kisses him, he smiles against her lips.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits on the porch of her home, her eyes on her mother's dogs who run around the yard with one another, happily oblivious to the world around them. Lupe can't help but smile at them. It feels like forever since she just spent time with them. Behind her, Ashlee leans in the doorway watching her daughter. There is something lighter about her. Something calmer.“How are things with Jasper?” Ashlee asks, Lupe nods and pulls her knees closer to her.“Good” She answers. “Great...” She corrects herself, because good doesn't feel like the right word for how she and Jasper are doing. She's never been in a relationship like this, granted she has never been in a relationship with a vampire before but still.“Do you think I will be introduced to him any time soon?” Lupe looks at her mother and raises an eyebrow.“You want to meet him?” She asks, Ashlee nods.“As your mother....” She explains. “I think I should meet him as your boyfriend...if this is serious”“I think it is” Lupe admits softly. Ashlee smiles and nods in agreement, she sees that. Can see how much this boy means to her.“So we'll do dinner” Ashlee offers. “It will be nice and civil....” Lupe groans knowing the tone her mother is using.“Mom” She complains. “Please can we not play 20 questions with this one?” She asks, Ashlee hums a little and then sits next to her.“I just want to be sure,” Ashlee tells her. “You're my baby...” She touches Lupe's cheek. “I just want you to be happy and loved” Lupe smiles at her.“I am happy” Lupe assures her softly.“And at least you are talking to me again” Ashlee states as she stands.“I'm sorry” Lupe offers. “It just...I just needed some time...”“I know” Ashlee stops her. “It's okay, baby, it's okay” She then heads inside. Lupe lets out a breath and turns back to watch the dogs.….......“Hey” Bella greets watching Lupe rummage around in her bus, Lupe hums and waves over her shoulder. “You busy?”“Got homework” Lupe admits as she looks around her bed for something. Bella frowns at her.“What are you looking for?” She asks, Lupe turns to her.“My blue watercolour pencil” Lupe answers, Bella smirks and motions to her own ear, Lupe frowns.“Your ear” Bella points out. Lupe reaches up and pulls a pencil from behind her ear.“This is yellow” Lupe argues as she holds up the pencil.“The other ear” Bella adds, Lupe chuckles and pulls the blue from behind her other ear.“I get super spaced out sometimes when I draw and Logan and his stupid giant skull idea has me....” Lupe motions with her hands. Bella glances around the bus, there are notes and books everywhere.“Alright, so let's take a break” Bella offers. “I brought you some Chinese food” Lupe raises an eyebrow at her.“And this has nothing to do with you wanting to ask me about Edward?” Lupe counters, Bella shrugs a little and blushes caught out. Lupe takes the food bag from her and smirks. Bella smiles back at her. “Sit, if you can find somewhere” Lupe offers. “You know...” Lupe states as she opens one of the containers and hums happily. “Weirdly enough, we don't talk about Edward all that much” Lupe offers, Bella raises an eyebrow at her.“What do you talk about?” Bella asks.“Hmm poetry” Lupe offers as she eats. “Movies. Music.” Lupe then smirks. “Sex...” Bella gives her a look. “Why; what do you and Edward talk about?”“Not a lot” Bella admits. Lupe looks at her.“Not a lot?” Lupe repeats slowly. “What's that?”“Well, he doesn't seem to like talking to me,” Bella tells her, Lupe stabs a spring roll and lifts it to her lips.“Maybe that's a sign” Lupe offers as she drops onto her bed, Bella takes a seat on the benches and thinks on that.“You mean like maybe I shouldn't talk to him?” Bella asks, Lupe nods.“Yeah, maybe....” She answers. “Or maybe he's gay” Bella stares at her. Lupe gives her a look. “He might be” Bella hums a little and looks at her food. Lupe smirks around her spring roll. That's going to be fun to watch.….......Jasper wraps his arms around a sleeping Lupe, she hums and leans back into his hold. He kisses her neck and lets her sleep against him, he doesn't have the heart to wake her just to see him. He likes watching her sleep. When she's all cute and adorable. He frowns a little and then smirks, she's got chalk all over her cheeks. He chuckles and brushes his fingers over her skin to remove the chalk. She hums and turns slightly into his hand. Her eyes flutter as she wakes and stares up at him.“What are you doing?” she whispers to him.“You have chalk” he answers and pokes her cheek softly, she smirks and starts to fall asleep again. He leans down and kisses her cheek. That she feels comfortable enough to fall asleep with him around, it's amazing, that she trusts him this much.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Logan sits on the grass just off the school parking lot with Lupe, both of them have gotten there a little earlier than they need to be. They are aware today is field trip day and both of them want to medicate before they have to deal with that.“What about prom?” Logan asks her, Lupe gives him a look. “I assume you and Jasper will be going together....”“He hasn't asked yet” She counters.“He hasn't asked you yet?” Logan asks her, Lupe hums and shrugs before turning to lay on her front.“I'm not really bothered” Lupe admits. “It's not really something we do in England” She plucks at the grass under her. “Not the way you Americans do it...we have one dance, and it tends to be at the end of school...”“That sounds divine” Logan sighs out, Lupe chuckles. “I hate school dances”“No one to take as your date?” Lupe asks.“Being the only gay in the village” Logan teases, Lupe chuckles.“You watched Little Britain” She points out, he nods.“I did” He admits and hands the spliff to her. “You Brits have some weird humour” He counters, Lupe chuckles and nods.“Yes, we do” She agrees.“Do you miss it?” He asks, she hums a little and shrugs.“A little” She admits. “Less now...”“Because you're in love?!” Logan teases, Lupe rolls her eyes and smacks his shoulder but chuckles.“Yeah, maybe” Logan gasps and looks at her.“You admitted to it” Logan teases and pokes her nose.“Oh” Lupe whispers, she hasn't admitted it, she hasn't told herself, she hasn't told Jasper. But it just came out then. Like it was nothing. “I love him” She admits, Logan nods and smiles at her.“Yeah, you do” Logan agrees, they share a look, she shrugs and looks down.“You know if you want something different, you should try Spitting Image....” Lupe offers, changing the subject, she's not ready to linger on the whole....love thing right now. Not when she is getting high. Logan frowns at her. “Satirical puppets” She motions with her hand and pulls faces. Logan starts giggling and Lupe can't help but join in.“What are you two giggling about?” Jasper asks as he sits on the grass with them. Lupe looks at him.“Just....puppets” She answers, he raises an eyebrow at her and then smirks, realising.“Oh, I see how it is...” Jasper teases. “You two are high” Logan chuckles and lays back on the grass.“We're going to a greenhouse” He points out. “We have to be high to deal with that...” Jasper smirks and looks at Lupe who is smiling at him.“Hi” She greets, he chuckles and leans closer to kiss her, she hums against his lips.“Hello” He offers when he pulls back. “I have a question” He starts, Lupe raises an eyebrow at him. “When is your birthday?” He asks her, Lupe pulls a face and shrugs. “You haven't told me” he admits.“Me either” Logan adds. “What's up with that?” He asks as he sits up.“Logan doesn't even know?” Jasper counters. Lupe shrugs. “You don't like your birthday or something?”“No, it's not that” Lupe answers. “I've just...” She sighs. “I dunno...when's your birthday?” She counters.“December 24th” He answers.“You're a Christmas baby” Lupe teases. “Better than mine” She admits, both of them look at her, waiting for her to give them something. She sighs. “October 31st”“Why is that so bad?” Logan asks her. “You can have a costume birthday party and it not be weird” Jasper nods in agreement. “I have to get a drink....” Logan adds. “My mouth's as dry as a camel who-who” Jasper raises an eyebrow at that analogy as Lupe chuckle. Logan stands and heads towards his car. Jasper shuffles closer to Lupe.“So what is it with your birthday?” He asks her, she looks at him.“Nothing” She answers. “I just don't think it's a big deal” She pulls her knees up and leans closer to him. “I don't hate it....but I don't love it either” He nods a little and touches her chin, she smiles at him. “It's just another day” She draws off when he leans closer to her, brushes his lips over hers, she closes her eyes and hums softly, her arms coming up to wrap around his neck. She leans against him, Jasper's hands on her waist as he falls back into the grass, bringing Lupe down with him, she chuckles against his lips.“Everyone else is going to arrive any minute” he warns her, she just smirks back down at him before she kisses him. And it's not a little peck. It's deep and hot. And neither wants to stop, despite the fact they probably should.“Alright, you two...do I need to fetch a hose?” Logan asks them, Lupe chuckles and lens up from Jasper, his arm around her as she shifts from his lap. Jasper watches her warmly. He may or may not have heard her and Logan discussing her feelings for him, and whilst he is aware she likes him, he is aware she cares about him, and is attracted to him, but hearing her admit that she loves him, even if it is to Logan first, makes him feel good. He leans closer and kisses her head as she settles into his side. They still have some time before the day begins, and he is going to enjoy it with Lupe and Logan, who Jasper is actually growing to like.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The parking lot is filled now, people coming and going, from their cars to the school, except those that would be attending the field trip. Those from Mr Molina's biology class. Bella waves at Lupe who stands with Logan now, Jasper with his siblings close by. Lupe waves her fingers back at Bella.“She doing okay?” Logan asks her, Lupe hums and nods.“Yeah, I think so...” Lupe answers. “It's hard to tell with Bella” Logan glances at Lupe who shrugs.“Make sure I get your permission slips.” Mr Molina tells the group. “Looking at you, Logan!” Logan pulls a face and pats at his pockets to look for his permission slip.“Logan” Lupe scolds with a smirk.“I got it” He argues and unzips his pocket to pull out a slip of paper. “I got it!” He shouts at Molina who gives him a look back. Molina waves him over and Logan moves towards him. Lupe tucks her hands into her pockets and lets out a breath.….........Mr Molina and a Tour Guide lead several dozen kids through the greenhouse. Bella keeps an eye on Edward who's up ahead with Alice and Mira. Behind them, Jasper walks with Lupe, hands held together between them. Mr Molina demonstrates the compost “C'mon, Eric, stuff that compost down deep... that's it..” Molina encourages. The machine gurgles and spins. “... now Logan, take a big steaming cup of 'compost tea'. This is recycling at its most basic level....hey, don't drink that!” Lupe looks behind her to see Logan almost drinking the compost tea, Molina takes it from him and gives him a look. Lupe smirks and shakes her head, Jasper following her eyes, he smiles as she leans into his side. He kisses her head and walks with her, her arm curling around his back.…............Jasper smirks amused as he watches Lupe and Logan together. Logan pushes a sort of trolley with Lupe sat on the front. They speed down the aisles causing students to jump out the way of them.“She's something else” Mira teases at his side, looping her arm through his, Jasper nods. “She's good for you” Jasper looks at her. “You're happy”“I am” Jasper agrees, Mira leans against his arm and smiles. They both glance across at Edward and Bella talking together.“I wish he'd make up his mind” Mira mumbles. “My head hurts trying to read their auras” Jasper curls his arm around her shoulders. “You and Lupe can do it...why can't they?”“I know” Jasper agrees as she rubs her head. “He just needs more time, that's all...” She looks up at him.“Why was it easier for you?” She asks him, Jasper shrugs a little. She has a fair point. Out of all of them, Jasper has been far more closed off with his emotions, until Lupe anyway. He kept to himself. Now he's laughing. Smiling. Partaking in public displays of affection. He's a whole new person almost.“Because....” Jasper starts and smiles. “It's her” Mira smiles back at him. “And I know my life is better with her at my side...” He glances at Lupe who laughs with Logan and Eric. “Because...she's mine” Mira chuckles a little.“Sounding a little possessive there, Jasper” She scolds him lightly, Jasper looks at her.“I'm not being possessive” He counters. “Just...I meant that she...I feel like she was made for me” He corrects, Mira nods.“I know what you meant” She assures him. “I think it's nice...that you've finally found her” Jasper smiles at her. Mira is the only one that has supported him unconditionally through all for this, encouraging him to go for it if that is what he wants. And Jasper is grateful, without her support, he is not sure he and Lupe would be together.“Thank you, Mira” He states, she frowns at him. “For being my sister”“Don't be such a sap” She pokes his nose and smirks back at him.…............Jasper and Lupe linger outside of the greenhouse, his arms around her waist as she snuggles into his chest. Emmett and Rosalie linger close by, talking among themselves. Edward heads towards Lupe and Jasper as Jasper nudges her nose with a smile.“Lupe” Edward states, she hums and pulls back from Jasper to look at him. “You told Bella I was gay?” Edward asks her, Lupe nods. Jasper raises an eyebrow at her.“Yeah” She agrees, Edward kind of just stares at her, waiting for an explanation. “You wanted her to back off...so...”“So you told her I was gay?” Edward counters, she smirks and nods.“I said you might be” She corrects. Emmett smirks from Rosalie's side as they pause their own conversation to listen in. “Are you not?” Lupe teases. Edward gives her a look. She chuckles. “Relax, Edward...I was trying to help”“I get that, Lupe” Edward offers, softening slightly. “And I appreciate the thought...”“No, you don't” She argues. “People only say that when they're talking to a fucking idiot. I'm not an idiot”“Really?” Edward asks. Jasper steps forward to defend but Lupe holds up her hand to him to stop him. “I saw you attempting to eat a cactus” Edward reminds her.“Logan dared me...” She argues and then shakes her head. “Not the point” She adds. “Make up your fucking mind, Ed-Weirdo” She scolds him. “You either want her around or you don't....you guys don't want her to know about the whole...'vampire' thing, but you don't want her to back off? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Pick a lane....”“Oddly enough” Rosalie starts. “She makes sense” Edward gives Rosalie a look.“You don't want Bella to know about us but you want her in your life....we're confused, how do you think she feels?” Emmett adds. Lupe nods. Edward looks at Lupe.“It's not going to work without some give. Either way.” Lupe offers, Jasper moves to Lupe's side, she looks at him and smiles, her fingers touching the back of his neck as he wraps an arm around her. Edward softens watching the two of them together. It's hope. That if it can work with Jasper. Someone that has been away from a human blood diet less than almost all of them, Mira being the only one that has been at it less than Jasper. That he can be in love and make love and be with a human, then why can't Edward. But Lupe isn't Jasper's blood singer. Lupe then turns back to Edward. “Come on, you can tell me” She starts. “You never thought about it?” He frowns at her. “You know...” She winks at him.“No” He argues a little, understanding her question.“You've never considered trying....not once?” She counters.“Have you?” Edward counters.“Yeah” She answers. “Have you seen your sisters?” She points out, Jasper smirks at her side.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe and Logan leave Pop's diner, both of them having had dinner together, a sort of friend thing they have started doing every Friday night. Both of them actually need it. Before meeting one another they didn't exactly have big groups of friends, or even a small group of friends. Or friends in general. Lupe had one or two in London, but she never really needed anyone outside of Noah.“You want to what?” Lupe asks Logan who shrugs a little as he pulls on his jacket.“Double date” He answers, she raises an eyebrow.“Didn't realise you and Noah had progressed that far” She offers, he nods. "You've only seen each other like once..." “We've been texting and talking....” He admits. “So?” He pushes. “You, me, Noah, and Jasper....” He offers as they walk towards her camper.“I don't know” She counters. She knows Noah is never going to go for anything that involves him spending time with Jasper or being around Jasper at all. She's not even sure she forgives Noah yet. Everything that happened has scarred their relationship. And yes, spending time together will fix that but as long as she is with Jasper, she's not sure that they can be what they were before the vampire came into her life.“Come on, I want us all to hang out,” Logan tells her. “To do something together....I've never had this many friends before” He teases slightly, Lupe snorts and looks at him.“They don't like each other” Lupe argues as she leans against her camper. "Noah has a real issue with Jasper..." “Oh come on, I know Noah loves you, so he'll do this if you ask” Logan counters. “Look, I really like him, Lu” She looks at him softly. “And I would like the four of us to go out, see a movie, have dinner...because you are my friend and his sister and...yeah, even Jasper is my friend, which is so weird but...” He shrugs. Lupe looks at him and he turns some decent puppy dog eyes on her.“Fuck...fine” Lupe caves. “I will ask them...” She tugs on her jacket. “But I am making no promises....” Logan chuckles and hugs her tightly as she leans up.…...........Lupe paces her bus floor as she turns her phone around in her hand. She hasn't spoken to Noah since he told her about the druid thing, but this is for Logan, her friend and someone she cares about, and someone who cares about Noah.“Okay,” She tells herself and then dials, pressing the phone to her ear.“Hey” Noah greets. “This is a surprise”“I know” She agrees. “I just...Logan told me about the whole double date thing” Noah groans.“Not you too” He argues. “I told him I don't....” He pauses and scoffs. “So you'll talk to me about Logan....” He complains.“Logan hasn't done anything wrong” She argues. “And actually is actively trying to get to know my boyfriend”“I'm not going to do that, Lupe” He points out.“I love Jasper, that's not going to change because you are throwing a tantrum, you don't have to like him....but you have to accept that we are together....now man up and come to dinner with your boyfriend....”“He's not my boyfriend...” Noah counters.“Yet” Lupe adds, Noah huffs a little. “Please, Noah...I love you, and I hate that we're fighting...I know you don't like Jasper, or what he is....but I am still your sister and I am willing to sit through dinner with you, even though I am still mad at you for keeping all those secrets” Noah sighs softly. “It's just dinner and a movie....”“Okay,” Noah whispers. “Fine, I can manage a few hours...as long as he doesn't attempt to eat me”“Jasper's a vegetarian” She argues. “He doesn't bite humans”“We'll see” Noah counters. “He's a predator, Lupe, that instinct is always going to be there.....that means you are always going to be in danger” Lupe closes her eyes and shakes her head. She doesn't see it that way. She trusts Jasper. With everything she has. Which is probably stupid considering what he is, but she does.“Just tell Logan you'll do dinner” She scolds and then hangs up. “Ass” She grumbles and drops onto her bed to kick off her boots. She redials her phone and sets it against her ear. “Hey, it's me...” She offers, her voice softer when the line picks up.“Hello, I was just about to head over, everything okay?” Jasper asks.“Yeah, I just wanted to ask you something and I would rather just do it over the phone” She admits, she can hear him pause slightly, nervous about whatever this is going to be. “So Logan asked if we would like to go out to dinner and a movie with him”“Okay” He starts, slowly. “That sounds fine, I like Logan”“Right...but...with Noah too” She adds. There is silence as Jasper processes that. “Jasper?” She asks.“Yes...that's fine,” He tells her.“It is?” She counters.“He's your brother and I love you, so yes, of course, I will” Jasper assures her, she relaxes and flops back on her bed. “You were really worried about asking me?”“I know he doesn't like you,” She tells him. “And I know you are not entirely sold on him either” He hums in agreement.“But this isn't about me and him” Jasper offers. “This sounds like it's for Logan, and as his friend, which is weird, I would like to support him...” Lupe chuckles.“You know, he said the same thing about being friends with you” She counters.“I guess being around you has made me realise that it is okay to have human friends, that maybe I have been missing out all these years....” The bus doors open and Jasper walks in. He hangs up and smiles at her as she leans up to look at him, mild faux annoyance on her face.“Did you just hang up on me?” She asks him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits in Jasper's car as he drives, he'd borrowed a car for the whole double date thing. She's been rather quiet since he picked her up. She is nervous. Jasper and Noah together. Around Logan. She's really hoping Noah doesn't say something he shouldn't. The Cullens are already freaking out about her knowing about vampires and Bella potentially knowing about it.“Why are you so nervous?” Jasper asks as he threads his fingers with hers on her knee.“You and Noah, in the same room” She answers.“I'll behave” he assures her.“It's not you that I am worried about” She grumbles as she turns in the seat to face him. “I know you know how to be civil...Noah is...”“Protective of you” He stops her. “Loves you...he just wants you to be safe” He releases her hand to take the wheel instead.“And I'm not safe with you?” She counters staring at him. He gives her a small shrug.“In his eyes....no” He offers. “Druids, they are raised to protect their families, the people around them, to defend them from dangers and threats.....to him, I am the threat, my family is the threat....”“But Pop...” She starts.“Has been around longer, seen more, sees things differently, Noah is still young...” He finishes, she sighs. She doesn't know what she will do if Noah can't accept her relationship with Jasper. She doesn't want to lose Jasper, but to put this sort of strain on her relationship with her brother. She loves Noah, but she loves Jasper too. And the thought of losing either hurts her. Jasper glances at her as she sighs heavily. He reaches for her knee and squeezes softly. “I don't want to come between you and your brother, Darlin'” He admits, his southern drawl soothing her, or maybe he is just using his abilities on her. He doesn't want her worrying any more than she has to.“You are not” She stops him. “Noah is..” She counters. “If he cares about me, at all, then he will accept that this is my choice....not his...” He smiles a little and releases her knee. “If this does turn out to be a mistake” He glances at her. “If” She assures him. “Then it was my mistake to make, me lesson to learn....” he nods. “You're lucky you don't have this problem” She mumbles, Jasper laughs slightly.“Rosalie” He points out, she snorts and then nods in agreement.“Yeah, but she has every right to be worried, you know...If something happens then all of you will die....”“You don't have to worry about that” He assures her. “This isn't a mistake....”“I hope you're right” She whispers as she pulls her jacket closer to herself.“Can I ask you something?” He starts, she hums and straightens her skirt a little. “It's about something Oliver said to me” She looks at him.“What?” She asks him.“He said you were in love before” He looks at her and then back at the road.“I was” She admits, he nods a little. “His name was Georgie,” She tells him, Jasper waits as she works through her emotions talking about this, talking about him. “I was fifteen and he was seventeen....” She sighs a little and shrugs. “Smart, funny, handsome....”“What happened?”“He turned eighteen and joined the army” She answers. “Didn't tell me”“Wow” He whispers, even he knows that's not something that should be done by someone that's supposed to be in love, he gets it, he understands why she was so hurt by that.“I got a voicemail a week after he left for Catterick telling me he was gone....” She looks at him. “Thought we had something special but he broke my heart”“I'm sorry, Darlin'” He offers her, she nods.“I kind of had a breakdown after that” She looks at him. “It's part of why my mom gave me the camper, yes, she wanted me to travel, but...she thought it would cheer me up. It did...well, it wasn't the travelling” He raises an eyebrow. “The acrobat in Vegas helped” He snorts a little. “And the waiter in Mexico”“Alright” He stops her. “Glad you feel better about Freddie but...please can we not talk about your former....conquests” She chuckles and nods before she leans closer to him.“Past doesn't matter,” She tells him. “The last does though” He smiles to himself as she drops back into her seat. It's hard not to read into that statement. That she intends on him being her last. And he's okay with that. He's very okay with that.….....Noah and Logan are already waiting outside of the cinema when Jasper pulls the car into the parking space in the lot. Lupe's nerves have just increased as they've gotten closer. Jasper curls his arm around Lupe as they walk towards the two boys.“Calm down” Jasper whispers to her. “It's going to be fine” She looks at him and takes a steadying breath. “You look beautiful by the way,” he tells her warmly, she looks down and smiles.“Thank you” She whispers and swishes the bottom of her dress a little, he pulls his arm from her waist and holds it up between them, Lupe smiles and threads her fingers with his.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The film is easy to sit through. With Lupe and Logan sat between Noah and Jasper, and there being no time for the two of them to say anything to one another, or for Noah to say anything to or about Jasper, though Noah does actively seem to be trying to enjoy this date with Logan. They really do seem to like one another. Lupe pulls on her jacket as they leave the theatre and head out into the night. The restaurant a little further down the street. Which they are just going to walk to. It's not that far. Jasper slips his hand into Lupe's and she smiles leaning against his arm. Noah glares Jasper and tucks his own hands into his pocket to dig his nails into his palm. He's trying really hard. And with Logan around he doesn't want to involve him in the whole vampire/druid feud he's got going on with Jasper Logan is their buffer right now. The only thing stopping Noah from saying stuff about the vampires. It feels tense and a little awkward as they walk down the street. An energy to Noah, Jasper, and Lupe. Jasper glances at Noah who is listening to Logan who talks to him. Noah smiles briefly before he notes Jasper's gaze and turns it into a glare. Jasper turns away and pulls Lupe closer to him. She sighs softly and leans up as they reach the restaurant."Noah" Jasper starts, Lupe sends him a panicked look as Noah stops. "It's okay, Lupe, why don't you and Logan go get us a table?" Jasper assures her, she gives him a look back. Logan loops his arm with Lupe's and leads her into the restaurant. Noah turns to face Jasper, folding his arms over his chest. "I get that you don't like me," Jasper tells Noah who scoffs. "But I love your sister" Noah clenches his jaw. "And I know you do too, and that you want her to be happy...""Of course I do" Noah snaps a little."Well, you two fighting isn't making her happy" Jasper points out."She knows how to fix that" Noah counters. "Dump your ass" Jasper clenches his own jaw, trying not to get caught up in Noah's hostility."Look" Jasper starts. "I am going to tell you exactly what I told your father" Noah raises an eyebrow. "With Lupe...I have never been more sure of anything, I promise you. You know what I am. You know that we don't get involved with humans unless we are sure about their place in our lives" Noah nods a little. "I love her, I do....and I feel like I've waited so very long for someone that fits with me the way she does, for someone that makes me smile the way she does" Jasper softens as he talks about Lupe. "For someone that makes me feel human" Jasper looks down a little. "If I hurt her" He continues. "Believe me, it will be because I don't mean to or I have no other choice" Noah studies him a moment. "If I hurt her on purpose, know that I do it to protect her""We're never going to be best friends," Noah tells him, Jasper nods."I know that" He agrees, Noah sighs."But I can be civil for Lupe" He offers. "You do...make her happy, I can see that...""Thank you," Jasper tells him, Noah nods a little."And...if you do hurt her...I know druids that can start fires with their minds....fire is like kryptonite to you guys, right?""It is" Jasper answers. Understands the threat. But he never wants to be the reason Lupe is hurt, he doesn't want to put her in a situation where she could be hurt. He knows that if it happens, he will take any punishment Noah gives, and he will never think it is enough.............Lupe looks straight at Jasper, her eyebrows shifted in question, as he and Noah walk towards the table that she and Logan are sat at. Jasper nor Noah seem any worse for wear. Jasper touches her back and leans closer to her, her hand finding his cheek. Noah sits beside Logan who smiles at him, Noah smiles warmly back at him."What happened?" Lupe asks Jasper who shakes his head and rubs her back a little."Nothing" He answers softly. "We're okay" he kisses her head and then pulls back, she raises an eyebrow. "We're okay" he repeats, firmer. She lets out a breath and nods."I heard this place has great pasta" Logan offers as he picks up the menu. Lupe frowns a little and then looks back at Jasper. A sudden thought occurring to her. Jasper doesn't eat human 'food'. He winks at her and shrugs.…............Lupe kicks off her shoes in Jasper's bedroom. Which she is only just realising she has never been in. He's always around at her bus. Not that she minds considering there is no bed in here. Jasper is around. In the bathroom. Retching from the sounds of it. It's not a pretty sound. She swings her arms at her side and lets out a breath.“Are you sure I'm allowed to be here?” She asks as she drops onto his couch.“It's my home too” He answers as he leaves the bathroom.“You okay?” She asks him, he nods.“We can't digest human food” He admits. “So we have to...” He motions with his hand.“That's fucking disgusting” She teases, he chuckles and moves to sit with her. “So your room...it's not what I pictured” She admits as she looks around.“What did you picture?” He asks as he brushes her hair over her shoulder.“Coffins” She teases, he smirks at her.“We keep those in the basement” He counters, she snorts and climbs into his lap, straddling his legs.“So what actually happened with Noah?” She asks of him, he shrugs and leans into her hand when she runs her fingers through his hair.“We kind of came to a stalemate” He answers wrapping his arms around her waist. “We're going to be civil...”"What?" She counters. "Look, we both love you, and want you to be safe and happy....it's common ground, we can work with that" He offers. "We're probably never going to be friends, but...neither of us wants to lose you" She smiles at him. "So if that means we have to be nice to one another, then it will be the easiest thing I will ever have to do..." She leans closer and kisses him.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The doors to the cafeteria open and Lupe and Logan walk through them together. Lupe readjusts her bag on her shoulder, her eyes searching the cafeteria for Jasper but he's nowhere in sight. Despite them only having seen one another that morning she really misses him, which is ridiculous. She lets out a breath and looks at Noah.“How are things with Noah?” Lupe asks Logan who nods and then smiles dumbly to himself. He really likes Noah. And it helps that he is hot too. Like crazy hot. And Irish. Sort of.“Good” Logan answers. “He's great, Lu” She nods. “Just hate that he lives so far away”“He lives in Seattle, that's not that far” She argues.“Far enough” Logan counters as they move towards an empty table. Lupe drops into a seat and sets her bag by her feet as Logan sits across from her. “Okay so...seen as diner and stuff went well” Logan offers.“No” She stops him before he can ask. “I am not doing that again....”“Why don't like they like each other?” He inquires. “Did I miss something?”“Let's see.....Noah is my big brother and Jasper is fucking me” She answers, giving him a look, he snorts and nods. That's fair enough. They both look up as Jasper reaches the table with his tray of food, he and Lupe both know that she is going to eat it for him.“Can I join you?” Jasper asks them, though they all know his question is aimed at Logan, he wouldn't ask if it was just Lupe.“You want to sit with us?” Logan counters, Jasper nods. “Sure” Logan offers. Jasper takes the empty seat at Lupe's side, she smirks a little and looks at him.“Hello” He greets softly.“Hey” She whispers. Jasper turns a glare on Mike Newton as he sits on Lupe's other side, his arm dropping over her shoulders. Lupe sets her soda down and turns her head to him. “Can I help you?” She asks.“La Push beach, down on the Quileute rez. We're all going after school. Big swell coming in.” Mike answers. “You in?”“No” Lupe answers and shrugs off his arm. “I'm good” She leans closer to Jasper who sets his arm over the back of her chair.“You love the beach” Logan points out.“I do” Lupe agrees. “Just not this one”“Come on, Bella is even going” Mike argues. “There's whale watching....surfing, it'll be fun”“I said no” Lupe snaps at Mike. “Just back the fuck off....” Mike holds up his hands and then walks away. Jasper touches Lupe's shoulder and she lets out a breath as she calms down.“This to do with the old guy in the wheelchair that blurted out to everyone that he was your dad?” Logan asks. Lupe shoots him a look.“Yeah, he lives down there....” She answers. “Has kids down there...I don't want to deal with any of that”“He was a dick” Logan offers, Lupe softens slightly. “Did you know...?”“Before that moment? That he was my dad?” She asks, Logan nods. “Nope,” She whispers and pulls her soda to her lips. Logan pulls a face and shares a look with Jasper who shrugs back at him.…........“I know how much you love the beach” Jasper offers as he and Lupe walk through the trees of the forest. His hand holding hers. She cocks her head a little in question. She had been surprised by the invitation out but this is not exactly what she expected. “And well, I can't take you to the beach because of....reasons” She hums a little. She's not going to ask, because she likely won't like the answer, as she discovered with the whole Volturi thing. “But I hope this might be an acceptable substitute” He motions ahead of them and Lupe follows his aim. She lets out a soft breath. He's set up a picnic for them, with fairy lights and pillows.“Jasper” She whispers warmly as she moves closer. She can make out a little basket and flowers. This is beyond romantic, and something no one has ever done for her. She cocks her head. There is a black dress box on the blanket, waiting for her, her name written in silver pen across the top. “What is that?” She asks.“Open it” He offers. She kneels on the blanket and draws her hand over the top of the box. Jasper watches her as she opens the box to find a beautiful black dress folded inside and a note on the top. She picks up the note and opens it. Her eyes scanning over the handwritten words on it.“This is...She Walks In Beauty” She states as she looks up from the poem on the note and over her shoulder to Jasper.“Byron is one of your favourites,” He tells her, she nods.“He is” She whispers and looks down at the poem. “This...” She frowns a little trying to figure it out. Which she does. She looks back at Jasper as she pushes herself to her feet “You're asking me to prom?” She asks him, he nods. “You're not just doing this because you heard me and Logan talking the other day, right? Because I wasn't hinting at anything....”“I know” he stops her, he moves closer to her. “It's not because of that” he assures her. “I've been thinking about it for a while” he admits as he pulls her closer. “Alice and Mira....they picked out the dress” he adds and nudges her nose with his. “So if it doesn't fit or you don't like it” She chuckles.“Don't blame you?” She teases, he smirks and nods, his hand on her back as he kisses her. She hums and wraps her arms around his neck. “I can't believe you did all this” She admits.“Well...I love you” He offers fondly.“I love you too,” She tells him, he smiles back at her and nods. He knows. But it is nice that she's told him. He knows how hard this is for her. How hard real affection is for her. Oliver has warned him that she's been through a bad break up, whilst Jasper doesn't know the details, he can tell that it hurt her. Marked her. But he is proud of her too. For letting him try and prove all of that wrong. To prove that love can be good. That she is capable of it. That not every man is going to be like Georgie.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe lays back on the grass as she soaks up the sun. It is the most sun this stupid town has seen since she arrived so she is going to enjoy it. So lunch, on the lawn, in her shorts and vest. Headphones in her ears. Whilst it is also a day when she cannot spend it with Jasper because of the sun but she can text him, and he can text her. A shadow falls over her and Lupe peers up at Bella who waves a little. Lupe reaches up and pulls out her headphones.“Hey, Bella, what's up?” Lupe asks.“Jessica and Angela are talking about going to Port Angeles for prom dresses,” Bella tells her, Lupe lowers her sunglasses. “I know it's probably not your thing but....”“You would like a buffer?” Lupe teases, Bella nods.“Jessica is a little much to deal with by myself” Bella answers, Lupe smirks. “And I don't know what you're doing for prom but maybe getting a dress, you and Logan could go together as friend-dates”“Well, I already have a dress” Lupe admits, Bella raises an eyebrow at her. “And...Jasper asked me to prom...I think Noah is going with Logan, but I haven't asked...”“That's great” Bella whispers, Lupe leans up.“Things still stagnant with Eddie-Boy?” She asks, Bella nods and sits on the grass with her.“Yeah” Bella offers and looks at her cousin. “I can't figure him out, Lupe, one minute he's talking to me, and being all nice....and yeah, maybe I did read a bit of flirting and then the next he's...”“Pushing you away and being a bit of a giant dick?” Lupe asks, Bella nods. “I'm not going to defend him, Bella, but maybe he has issues, Jasper does, it just took him some time to work through them before he could tell me, maybe it is just taking Ed-Weirdo some time too....” Bella hums a little. “I'm sure it's all going to work out”“You think so?” Bella asks, Lupe nods.“And hey, if things don't work out before prom, I'll ditch Jasper and we can go together” Lupe offers, Bella smiles warmly at her.“But you'll come to Port Angeles?” Bella asks, Lupe nods.“Yeah, I'll go...but if I actually strangle Jessica, you're taking the fall” Lupe teases.“Deal” Bella agrees and shuffles closer. “What are you listening to?”“Music” Lupe answers with a smirk and holds out a headphone before laying back on the grass. Bella lays beside Lupe and sets the headphone into her ear. The two of them laying together in silence as they soak up the sun. They haven't really spent a lot of time together, but Lupe has seen a different Bella to the one she knew when they were little kiddos. She's still kind of boring but she's not as obvious about it.“How's Aunt Ash doing with the boyfriend thing?” Bella asks, Lupe turns her head to look at her.“Well, she wants to meet him, but I think she's okay with it, they're both a little worried....you know....” Lupe answers, Bella nods a little. Whilst she doesn't know the specifics around Georgie and Lupe's relationship, she knows that something happened. “I've been putting it off actually, you know my mother is a free spirit” Bella nods. “But not with boys...” Lupe snorts slightly. “She likes to play 20 questions with them, and they get more personal as she goes on....not many last the full 20”“You think Jasper won't?” Bella asks her.“No, I think he will” Lupe argues, she is sure about Jasper, he'll stick it out. “Just think that he won't like my mother afterwards” Lupe teases, she and Bella share a smile. “I love her, but she can be a bit full-on...”“Only because she loves you too” Bella counters. “And she wants you to be safe and happy and with someone who deserves you”“You sound just like her” Lupe teases. “And I get it, just means she's a fucking nightmare” Lupe lets out a breath and shrugs.“Hey” Logan offers as he joins them, Lupe leans up. “I got us these,” Logan holds out an iced lolly towards Lupe who hums happily and takes it from her. “Sorry, Bella, I didn't know you were here”“It's okay” Bella assures him. “I should be in the library anyway, English paper” Bella stands. “I'll see you after school,” She tells Lupe who waves as Bella walks away.“What was that about?” Logan asks.“Prom dresses” Lupe answers as she unwraps her sweet treat. “Port Angeles” She adds. “You could come if you want...”“Nah, got a date” Logan teases, she chuckles. “Noah's meeting me in Carlsborg, halfway....” he motions with his fingers. “We're going to have dinner” Lupe smiles warmly at him. He looks happy when he talks about Noah, like really happy, like how she feels when she thinks about Jasper.…........Jasper sits on Lupe's bed as she turns to face him. He smiles at her. Has missed her. Even for less than a day. He's a little surprised by how attached he is to her already, that he can barely go one day without having to see her.“How was today?” He asks her softly.“It was weird” She admits as she stretches out on her bed. “Got so used to you being around...”“It's just something that couldn't be helped” He offers as he runs his fingers through her hair. “The sun is a sort of weakness for us”“Why?” She asks him. “Burn and sizzle?” She teases, he chuckles and nuzzles into her neck, he mumbles something into her skin and she frowns. “What was that?” She inquires, Jasper leans up and looks down at her.“Our skin....it....sparkles in the sun” He admits, she stares at him. He knows what is coming. She bursts into laughter, shaking with it against him.“Fuck” She manages through her laughter. “Oh my god, my stomach hurts” She curls an arm around herself, unable to stop laughing. Jasper watches her, amused, a smile on his face.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper lays in Lupe's bed, a blanket around his waist, hands tucked behind his head, his eyes on Lupe who stands getting dressed. He likes moments like this, mostly like this anyway. Post-intimacy. When they are both warm and happy. She's getting dressed though. Which he doesn't like. He wants her back in bed with him. He shifts slightly, laying on his side, propping himself up with an elbow.“Where do you think you are going?” He asks her with a smirk, she hums and brushes her hair back from her face, her cheeks still a little flushed but fading. She looks beautiful. His eyes soften watching her.“Port Angeles” She answers as she pulls on her jacket. “Bella is going with the girls to look for a prom dress or something, she asked me to go with her to be a buffer between her and Jess....” Jasper hums a little. Dealing with Jessica feels like a full-time job, at a job that they did not want to do.“You could come back to bed” He teases, she gives him a look.“Stop it” She scolds with a smirk. “I promised...” He smiles and shakes his head. She leans down and kisses him. “You can stay if you want” She offers against his lips. “I'll be back later”“I have a history paper to write but I will be back” He counters, his hand sliding through her hair to pull her closer, his other arm snaking around her waist.“Stop it” She whispers, not at all serious and not at all attempting to pull away from him. “I really have to go” She adds when Bella's truck horn sounds outside. He pouts at her and then pulls back, letting her go. Reluctantly.…........Bella's truck is parked on the side of the road waiting for Lupe as she heads across the yard. Lupe climbs into the truck and pulls on her seatbelt. Bella raises an eyebrow at Lupe who is smirking away to herself.“Nice afternoon?” Bella teases, Lupe snorts and nods.“Jasper says hi” Lupe offers, the two of them share an amused look. Bella then shakes her head with a smile..............Lupe is bored already. It's been one hour, and four dresses, and she is bored. She sets her head back against the store's window where she sits beside Bella waiting on Angela and Jessica to try on yet another dress. Jessica flounces out of the changing room, posing provocatively.“I think this halter makes my boobs look big. What do you think, Bella?” Outside the window, a group of rowdy frat boys head toward a bar. Two of them stare at Jessica in her low-cut dress. Lupe hammers on the window.“This ain't no peep show you pervs, move the fuck on!” She snaps at them. Embarrassed, Jessica turns back to Bella.“Bella?” Jessica asks Bella.“It looks great.” Bella answers absent-mindedly, she's not really into the whole clothing thing, much like Lupe.“You said that about the last five dresses.” Jessica counters.“You’re not very good at this, are you?” Angela asks softer, more understanding.“Maybe I should just go check out the book store and meet you at the restaurant later.”“You sure?” Angela asks, Bella nods, then stands from the window seat, pulling her bag strap over her head.“Don't leave me with them” Lupe begs.“You'll be bored at the bookstore too, Lupe” Bella points out.“Yeah, but I don't want to kill you” Lupe offers, Bella chuckles and shakes her head.“I'll be an hour tops” Bella adds as she leaves. Lupe blows a raspberry and leans back against the window again. Jessica’s looks in the mirror again.“She was right about this halter, though. It does look great.” She comments, Lupe rolls her eyes and pulls out her cell phone to text Jasper. Right about now, she really wishes she had taken up his offer to stay in bed.….....“Thought you'd be with Lupe,” Mira asks as Jasper sets his head in her lap, her fingers threading into his hair. The tv across from them playing a black and white romantic movie that Mira likes to watch over and over and over again. Only Alice seems to enjoy watching them with her, once they've seen it once, they have no real reason to watch it again.“She's gone out with Bella and the other girls, dress shopping” He answers, she frowns at him.“But Alice and I already got her a dress...” She points out.“Not for her, for them” He argues as he closes his eyes. Mira smiles watching him. He's not as tense as he used to be. Like there is this weight that has been lifted from his entire body, from his soul. She knows. She can see it when she looks at him and Lupe. There is something powerful there. It's intense and it's only getting stronger. Jasper cell phone pings away in his pocket and he fumbles down for it. A smirk working onto his face as he reads a message from Lupe. A rather dirty text from Lupe at that.“Ewww” Mira offers and looks away. “I did not need to read that”“No one asked you to read it” Jasper counters as he replies to the text, he bites his lip a little before sitting up. Mira rolls her eyes but is smiling. She likes seeing Jasper like this. Without too many cares in the world. He's not even all that worried about his bloodlust, he doesn't get that way with Lupe. He is just....happy with her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe lounges on her bed, the morning sun streaming in through the bus windows and onto Jasper. Whilst not bright enough to 'sparkle', it still does make him look beautiful. Her fingers brush through his hair as he reads. They don't need to talk to be comfortable with one another. She just likes being around him. It's a feeling....acceptance, she supposes. A sort of peace. She's at peace around him. Calm. Soothed. Whatever it is. She just feels better with him around. Safe. Protected. Despite what he is.“We should get up” He points out, but lacks conviction, he does not want to get up, he wants to lay in bed with her all day. Forget the world outside.“Five more minutes” She complains as she runs her hand through his hair, he smiles and glances up at her before leaning up to kiss her. She chuckles against his lips, knowing that she's won.“Five more minutes” He agrees as he presses her back into the bed, his hands in hers beside her head.“We don't have time for that though” She teases against his lips, he smirks and kisses her.….....A little over five minutes later and Jasper and Lupe are getting dressed for the day. Lupe has just pulled on her boot when the door to the bus opens and Bella pokes her head in. Wanting to make sure she's not walking in on anything.“Is it safe to come in?” She asks, Lupe hums in agreement as she stands.“Yeah, we're decent” She assures her, Bella steps further in, worrying her hands together. “What's up?”“Can we talk?” Bella asks Lupe who raises an eyebrow but nods.“Sure...”“I'll see you at school” Jasper offers Lupe who gives him a thankful smile. Jasper kisses her cheek and then leaves the two of them to it. Lupe pulls her hair back once the bus door closes and Bella paces in the small space, as much as she can.“What's going on?” Lupe asks her, Bella lets out a breath and turns to her cousin.“Have you noticed anything weird about Jasper?” Bella counters, Lupe cocks her head.“Weird how? Because that's a very loaded question...”“I don't know” Bella whispers. “Just...weird...cold skin? Eyes changing colour?” Lupe frowns at Bella. “Speed.....strength....” Lupe is not stupid, she gets it now, what Bella is getting at. She's figured it out. Or she thinks she has it figured out. Now she's asking for Lupe to reaffirm it. To tell her that she's right. That she's not reading too much into it.“Why would you ask me that?” Lupe asks, her fingers toying with her sleeve as worry now sinks in. Bella can't know. She can't know about this. Edward was trying to protect her from it all. And it's not her place to confirm what Bella has figured out. It's not her secret. She needs to tell Jasper that Bella knows. He is going to need to sort this out with his family. Lupe can't say anything. She has no idea how to get out of this.“I just...” Bella starts, Lupe shakes her head, grabs her bag and jacket.“Look, we're going to be late for school...” Lupe rushes out. “I don't know what's going on” She adds. “Can we just go?” Bella sighs and then nods. Lupe lets out a relieved breath.“Right, I just....I'll see you at school” Bella offers and then leaves. Lupe reaches into her bag and pulls out her cell phone as she follows after Bella, watching her cross the lawn to her truck and climbing in. Lupe dials Jasper's number on her phone before she sets it against her ear. She waits for it to pick up.“Bella was just asking me some weird questions” She admits as she heads towards her camper.“What sort of questions?” Jasper asks her.“Urm...whether you were cold. Whether your eyes change colour. Whether you're fast and strong.....she knows, Jasper...” She admits. “I didn't say anything to confirm is but she definitely knows something is going on” There is silence on the other end of the phone and she frowns. “Jasper?”“Tell me everything” It's Edward that answers instead.“I just told Jasper” She argues. “I was just trying to get her to leave so I didn't have to say anything.....but she had this look in her eyes” Lupe opens her camper and climbs in. “You fucked up” She scolds Edward a little. “Showed too much weird....”“I know” He agrees. “But it's not as easy for me as it is for Jasper....” Jasper snorts in the background. Lupe knows it's not easy for Jasper, even though he doesn't have the bloodlust with her, there are other issues. Strength. Power. The cold. It's still dangerous for them. “You know what I mean. I...”“Look, it's simple” Lupe argues. “You have to decide and you have to decide now. Walk away or tell her the truth....she's not a toy for you to play with. She's my family. If you don't want her to know about vampires, you have to put a stop to it now before she knows for sure....”“Yeah” Edward agrees.“Right, I'm hanging up, tell Jasper I'll see him soon” Edward hums and Lupe hangs up, setting her bag and phone on the car bench before letting out an annoyed sigh. Edward is infuriating, this whole thing is ridiculous for someone his age. She's been lucky compared to Bella. Jasper saw more worth to their relationship, trusted her with their secret. It means a lot. But it still sucks for Bella.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper finds Lupe at lunch. He and his family having trouble dealing with Edward and the fallout that came with him walking after Bella into the woods. Rosalie has been the most vocal about it all and it did take Emmett some time to calm her down. Jasper managed to slip away to find Lupe, to see how she is dealing with all of this. He sits next to where she is sat on the grass under a tree with her biology homework. She smiles a little and drops her pen into her open book, letting him take her hand into his, his lips pressing to her head before pulling back."No Logan?" He asks, she shrugs and shakes her head."Detention" She answers. Jasper raises an eyebrow at her in question. "Urm...he got caught with his pants down..." Jasper turns a bigger surprised look on her. "He was video chatting with Noah...." Jasper smirks a little as she gets comfy at his side, both of them falling silent. It is her that breaks it. Considering that both of them are aware of what Edward and Bella are up to right now. Talking about the vampire thing. And likely talking about his history. It makes Lupe realise that she doesn't know Jasper's history.  "We haven't really talked about your history" She comments as Jasper plays with the woven bracelet around her wrist."No" He agrees. "You never asked" He adds."I thought it might upset you" She defends slightly. She didn't want to upset him. She figured he would offer when he was ready. And to be fair, she didn't ask because she was scared too. She didn't want to hear how much he suffered. She didn't want to get upset. Which is stupid really. He threads his fingers with hers and pulls her closer to him, so she is resting against his chest, his free arm around her waist. He kisses her head and smiles a little. "Do you wanna?" She asks. "Talk about it?" She leans up a little so she can look at his face. "We don't have to..." He shrugs."I want to" He assures her. "You're important to me. And this is a big part of my life..." She turns to sit upright now. He nods, more to himself than her, just to ready himself. He's never spoken about this to anyone that wasn't his 'family', telling it to a girl he's madly in love with is a big step. She touches his cheek and he closes his eyes, leaning into her touch."We don't have to talk about it" She promises him but he just shakes his head. He needs to tell her now, if this is going to scare her off, which he honestly does fear will happen with something in his life, he'd rather it happen now, and not later. He opens his eyes and places his hand over hers on his face."I have scars" He starts. "I'll assume you've seen them...""I've seen you naked" She reminds him. "So yes, I know you are covered in them" He gives her a soft smile."And you never wondered what they are?" He asks, she shrugs."They look like bite marks so...they're bites...vampire bites?" He nods."That's right..." He assures her. "Our venom is the only thing that leaves a scar...." She draws her fingers over the bite on his wrist. "I didn't have quite the same . . . upbringing as my adopted siblings did. My beginning was something else entirely." There is a hard tone to his voice by the end. He doesn't like talking about his past. She shuffles closer to him. He brushes his fingers through her hair. "I told you that I was born in Texas" She nods in agreement. "When I joined the Confederate Army, I lied to the recruiters and told them I was twenty. I was tall enough to get away with it. My military career was short-lived, but very promising. People always . . . liked me, listened to what I had to say. My father said it was charisma. Of course, now I know it was probably something more. But, whatever the reason, I was promoted quickly through the ranks, over older, more experienced men. The Confederate Army was new and scrambling to organize itself, so that provided opportunities, as well. By the first battle of Galveston, well, it was more of a skirmish, really, I was the youngest major in Texas, not even acknowledging my real age. I was placed in charge of evacuating the women and children from the city when the Union's mortar boats reached the harbor." He kisses her head and closes his eyes. "I remember that one night very clearly" He whispers softly. "We reached the city after dark. I stayed only long enough to make sure the entire party was safely situated. As soon as that was done, I got myself a fresh horse, and I headed back to Galveston. Just a mile outside the city, I found three women on foot. I assumed they were stragglers and dismounted at once to offer them my aid. But, when I could see their faces in the dim light of the moon, I was stunned into silence. They were, without question, the three most beautiful women I had ever seen. They had such pale skin, I remember marveling at it. They seemed young, all of them, still young enough to be called girls. I knew they were not lost members of our party. I would have remembered seeing these three. I'd always had a good sense of how people related to each other, and it was immediately clear that the brunette was somehow in charge of the others. My hair was standing up on the back of my neck, though I didn't understand the meaning of anything the beautiful creatures were saying. My instincts told me that there was danger, but my judgment overruled my instincts. I had not been taught to fear women, but to protect them. They were so graceful when they ran. They seemed to almost take flight, they were so fast. I blinked in amazement, and they were gone" He admits, Lupe turns to look up at him. "I turned to Maria, who was watching me curiously. I'd never been superstitious in my life. Until that second, I'd never believed in ghosts or any other such nonsense. Suddenly, I was unsure. She took a step closer, and inclined her head as if she were going to kiss me.....and I stood frozen in place, though my instincts were screaming at me to run" Jasper pauses, his face thoughtful, his fingers still running through Lupe's hair. "A few days later," He finally whispers. "I was introduced to my new life." His eyes flicker down to meet hers. "Their names were Maria, Nettie, and Lucy. They hadn't been together long - Maria had rounded up the other two - all three were survivors of recently lost battles. Theirs was a partnership of convenience. Maria wanted revenge, and she wanted her territories back. The others were eager to increase their...herd lands, I suppose you could say. They were putting together an army, and going about it more carefully than was usual. It was Maria's idea. She wanted a superior army, so she sought out specific humans who had potential. Then she gave us much more attention, more training than anyone else had bothered with. She taught us to fight, and she taught us to be invisible to the humans. When we did well, we were rewarded...." He looks away from her, pausing again. "She was in a hurry, though. Maria knew that the massive strength of the newborn began to wane around the year mark, and she wanted to act while we were strong. There were six of us when I joined Maria's band including Mira" Lupe raises an eyebrow then, she wasn't aware his history with her went this far back. "She added four more within a fortnight. Maria wanted soldiers and that made it slightly more difficult to keep from fighting amongst ourselves. I fought my first battles against my new comrades in arms. I was quicker than the others, better at combat. Maria was pleased with me, though put out that she had to keep replacing the ones I destroyed. I was rewarded often, and that made me stronger. Maria was a good judge of character. She decided to put me in charge of the others, as if I were being promoted. It suited my nature exactly. The casualties went down dramatically, and our numbers swelled to hover around twenty. This was considerable for the cautious times we lived in. My ability, as yet undefined, to control the emotional atmosphere around me was vitally effective. We soon began to work together in a way that newborn vampires had never cooperated before. Even Maria, Nettie, and Lucy were able to work together more easily. Maria grew quite fond of me...and Mira - she began to depend upon us. And, in some ways, I worshipped the ground she walked on. I had no idea that any other life was possible. Maria told us this was the way things were, and we believed. She asked me to tell her when my brothers and I were ready to fight, and I was eager to prove myself. I pulled together an army of twenty-three in the end - twenty-three unbelievably strong new vampires, organized and skilled as no others before. Maria was ecstatic. We crept down toward Monterrey, her former home, and she unleashed us on her enemies. They had only nine newborns at the time, and a pair of older vampires controlling them. We took them down more easily than Maria could believe, losing only four in the process. It was an unheard-of margin of victory. And we were well trained. We did it without attracting notice. The city changed hands without any human being aware. But success made Maria greedy. It wasn't long before she began to eye other cities. That first year, she extended her control to cover most of Texas and northern Mexico. Then the others came from the South to dislodge her." He brushes his fingers over Lupe's cheek, mostly to distract himself from falling into his memories. "The fighting was intense. Many began to worry that the Volturi would arrive. Of the original twenty-three, Mira and I were the only ones to survive the first eighteen months. We both won and lost. Nettie and Lucy turned on Maria eventually - but that one we won. Maria, Mira, and I were able to hold on to Monterrey. It quieted a little, though the wars continued. The idea of conquest was dying out; it was mostly vengeance and feuding now. So many had lost their partners, and that is something our kind does not forgive. . . ." He looks at her. "Maria always kept a dozen or so newborns ready. They meant little to us - they were pawns, they were disposable. When they outgrew their usefulness, we did dispose of them. My life continued in the same violent pattern and the years passed. I was sick of it all for a very long time before anything changed...Decades later, I developed a friendship with a newborn who'd remained useful and survived his first three years, against the odds. His name was Peter. I liked Peter; he was . . . civilized.....I suppose that's the right word. He didn't enjoy the fight, though he was good at it. He was assigned to deal with the newborns, babysit them, you could say. It was a full-time job. And then it was time to purge again. The newborns were outgrowing their strength; they were due to be replaced. Peter was supposed to help me dispose of them. We took them aside individually, you see, one by one...It was always a very long night. This time, he tried to convince me that a few had potential, but Maria had instructed that we get rid of them all. I told him no. We were about halfway through, and I could feel that it was taking a great toll on Peter. I was trying to decide whether or not I should send him away and finish up myself as I called out the next victim. To my surprise, he was suddenly angry, furious. I braced for whatever his mood might foreshadow - he was a good fighter, but he was never a match for me. The newborn I'd summoned was a female, just past her year mark. Her name was Charlotte. His feelings changed when she came into view; they gave him away. He yelled for her to run, and he bolted after her. I could have pursued them, but I didn't. I felt...averse to destroying him. Maria was irritated with me for that....Five years later, Peter snuck back for us. He picked a good day to arrive. Maria was mystified by my ever-deteriorating frame of mind. She'd never felt a moment's depression, and I wondered why I was different. I began to notice a change in her emotions when she was near me - sometimes there was fear...and malice, the same feelings that had given me advance warning when Nettie and Lucy struck. I was preparing myself to destroy one of my only allies, the core of my existence, when Peter returned. Peter told me about us about his new life with Charlotte, told me about options I'd never dreamed I had. In five years, they'd never had a fight, though they'd met many others in the north. Others who could co-exist without the constant mayhem. Mira begged me to consider going" He looks across at where Mira and Alice are talking with one another. "That she was going with him with or without me...." Mira glances over and gives Jasper a small smile. "In one conversation, she had me convinced. I was ready to go, and somewhat relieved I wouldn't have to kill Maria. When you live for the fight, for the blood, the relationships you form are tenuous and easily broken. I walked away without a backward glance. I travelled with Mira, Peter and Charlotte for a few years, getting the feel of this new, more peaceful world. But the depression didn't fade. I didn't understand what was wrong with me, until Peter noticed that it was always worse after I'd hunted. I contemplated that. In so many years of slaughter and carnage, I'd lost nearly all of my humanity. I was undeniably a nightmare, a monster of the grisliest kind. Yet each time I found another human victim, I would feel a faint prick of remembrance for that other life. Watching their eyes widen in wonder at my beauty, I could see Maria and the others in my head, what they had looked like to me the last night that I was Jasper Whitlock. It was stronger for me, this borrowed memory, than it was for anyone else, because I could feel everything my prey was feeling. And I lived their emotions as I killed them. You know that I can manipulate the emotions around myself, but I wonder if you realize how the feelings in a room affect me. I live every day in a climate of emotion. For the first century of my life, I lived in a world of bloodthirsty vengeance. Hate was my constant companion. It eased some when I left Maria, but I still had to feel the horror and fear of my prey. It began to be too much. The depression got worse, and I wandered away from Peter and Charlotte. Civilized as they were, they didn't feel the same aversion I was beginning to feel. They only wanted peace from the fight. I was so wearied by killing....killing anyone, even mere humans. Yet I had to keep killing. What choice did I have? I tried to kill less often, but I would get too thirsty and I would give in. After a century of instant gratification, I found self-discipline. . . challenging. I still haven't perfected that......Mira and I were in Philadelphia" He tells her. "There was a storm, and Mira convinced me to go out with her. It was out during the day, something I was not completely comfortable with yet. I knew standing in the rain would attract attention, so we ducked into a little half-empty diner. My eyes were dark enough that no one would notice them, though this meant I was thirsty, and that worried me a little" He smiles a little and glances back at Mira and Alice. "Alice was there, expecting us, naturally." Lupe smiles a little, following his eyes to where Mira and Alice are together, hands held tightly as they smile at one another. "She hopped down from the high stool at the counter as soon as we walked in and came directly toward us. It shocked me. I was not sure if she meant to attack. That's the only interpretation of her behavior my past had to offer. But she was smiling. And the emotions that were emanating from her were like nothing I'd ever felt before" He kisses Lupe's head. "She looked straight at Mira and told her that she'd kept her waiting long enough. Mira was instantly smitten. But it scared me" He admits. "I thought it meant that she would leave me. I'd spent so many years with Mira as my friend....But Alice stopped me from fleeing with a hand on my arm. Smiled at me. Told me my time would come....." He snorts and pulls Lupe closer to him. "Alice told us what she'd seen of Carlisle and his family. I could hardly believe that such an existence was possible. But Alice made me optimistic. So we went to find them.....And years later....Here you are" he lifts her chin and she smiles at him. "'My time'" He teases a little and then kisses her softly. "I thought what Maria and I had was love. But I was her puppet, she pulled the strings. I didn't know there was another way, till you, till...this, us...." He whispers against her lips. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you..." He touches her cheek softly with a smile. He honestly can't imagine his life without her in it.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper likes doing homework with Lupe. Legs tangled. Books scattered around them. It's peaceful. Quiet. There is no pressure to talk. No pressure to do anything other than homework. But he has news. And he is waiting for the right moment to talk to her about it. Dropping it during their homework hour is a good time because they're chilled out. When her attention is on whatever she is working on. He hums a little and glances up from his book.“My mother is pushing to meet you and Bella” Jasper admits, Lupe glances at him from her homework, he pulls a face and looks down at his own work. She cocks her head.“You can't just drop that and then go back to calculus” She teases, he holds up his book to show her the cover. “Chemistry, whatever...”“You knew that she wants to meet you” He points out. “She's just more determined now that Bella knows about us....” She hums a little and shrugs. She has met the others, all of them, except for Esme. Jasper's spoken really highly of his mother. It means a lot, meeting her. “She wants to do a whole lunch thing....”“Yeah, well, my mom hasn't exactly been quiet about wanting to formally meet you, either” She adds as she closes her book and leans back. He watches her face a moment and then leans closer to kiss her before pulling back.“What if we just got it out of the way” He offers, she raises an eyebrow. “We spend lunch with my family, dinner with yours....all done in one day...”“That's going to be a very stressful day” She points out, he nods in agreement. He knows how protective of Lupe her mother is, and Oliver too. And it's going to be an afternoon of them pretending the supernatural doesn't exist. Of Jasper and Oliver and probably Noah pretending to be human in front of Ashlee. He also knows how much Ashlee means to Lupe. How close they are....or were before Forks. Her approval or disapproval is going to mean everything to her. If she doesn't like him, he knows Lupe is going to take that into consideration.“Okay,” She agrees. It is a good idea. Just bang it all out in one day. Like ripping the band-aid off. He nods a little and goes back to his homework, she glances out the window of the little bus and watches the dogs running around a moment. Worried about what Ashlee is going to say about him. She loves Jasper. She knows she does. But her mother's opinion is very important to her. She doesn't know what's going to happen if Ashlee doesn't like him. Jasper shuffles closer to her and kisses her head, she turns to look at him.“Stop worrying” He whispers. “I can be rather charming when I want to be” She smirks a little. “Won you over” He teases, she leans closer and kisses him. Starting soft, sweet, but soon turns rather heated. He brushes her book from her lap and tugs her flat beneath him. Homework is now forgotten.…........Lupe's nervous. She's so nervous. Jasper loves Esme. Talks highly of her. And now Lupe has to prove that she is worthy of dating him. She wants to make a good impression. She wants today to be perfect. Perfect in that his family likes her and her family likes him. She knows that Noah doesn't like him, and that likely won't change, but her mother might like him. Might.“You ready to go?” Jasper asks as he leans in the doorway of the bus, Lupe lets out a breath and moves closer to him. Her finger nervously touching her dress. She's not really a dress person. But she wanted to make an effort here.“This okay?” She asks as she motions to her outfit. She was nervous about picking out something wrong, something too revealing, something too formal. Jasper smiles and nods.“You look beautiful” He assures her as he takes her hand and pulls her closer to him, lips brushing over hers. “She's going to love you....just” He pauses a little. “Just maybe...mind the language.....just for this....”“I can do that” She promises. “It's only going to be a couple of hours, right?” He nods and brushes his thumb along her jaw and then leans closer to kiss her. She can keep her bad language to herself for the sake of her relationship with Jasper. She'd do anything to make sure she kept him. She knows she is young, so she gets that this might not be happily ever after, but being with him is pretty damn close to it.“Don't be so nervous” He whispers softly. “They just want me to be happy, and I am with you” She nods a little. She knows that deep down, but it still makes her nervous. His family means everything to him. “Oh” He then looks at her, worry in his eyes. “Rosalie is likely to say something....” She raises an eyebrow. “She's not okay with you and Bella being privy to the whole vampire thing” He admits. “So she might say something, but ignore her, okay?” He asks, she gives him a look. “Believe me” He starts. “I, and Edward, have been back and forth on this, we have weighed the pros and the cons, and well, I told you despite that.....we know the risks, we know what we are doing. That we invited you into our lives, shows how important you are to us. Rosalie needs to get over herself”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper is a nervous person. Usually. It's been getting better with Lupe, but there is still that little level of fear that is constantly inside of him. That fear of hurting someone. Of his bloodlust getting the better of him. It never goes away. But there is something else to his nerves today. He was fine at Lupe's, absolutely fine, but now they're heading to his home. Her arms wrapped around him on his bike. It is getting worse. The closer to his home, to his parents, to his family that he gets with her. It's not something he thought he was. Nervous about her meeting them. He wasn't. But the more he thinks, the more he overthinks their reactions to her, Rosalie's reaction. Rosalie is probably the only one that might upset Lupe, and he is nervous about that. His family, for the most part, has been very, very supportive of Jasper's relationship with Lupe, they do just want him to be happy, and after so many years, he finally is. But Rosalie has opinions. Lupe's hands shift on his chest and he lets out a breath he had no idea he was hiding, not that he needs to breathe. But feeling her, remembering that she is right here with him, calms him down. Rosalie's opinion doesn't matter to him. He knows he's made the right choice in Lupe. She's the right one for him. The one. His one.….....It's just Esme and Carlisle in the kitchen when Lupe and Jasper enter, Lupe clutching at Jasper's hand to keep herself grounded and relaxed. Parents are a very big deal. But they are the only ones here. Jasper gives Lupe a small smile before he shits closer to her, leaning closer.“I think they learnt their lesson from when Bella came around yesterday” Jasper whispers to Lupe who raises an eyebrow. She didn't know that Bella had already been and gone and done this. Lupe was kind of hoping to disappear a little and not be the centre of attention. She hates attention. She likes being on the sideline away from attention. Jasper slides his hand into hers and gives her a warm look, reassuring her that it's okay. It's just his family. But it is like she can sense his own nerves and it isn't helping her. “Toned down the first impressions” Jasper adds. With it just being Carlisle and Esme greeting them, it does take some of the pressure off. Just his parents. Just them. Esme sees Lupe and stops working on lunch, emanating maternal warmth as she turns to the girl.“Lupe” Esme greets warmly as she moves towards her. Lupe plasters on a smile, trying her very hardest to mean it. this is Jasper's family. And she knows how important they are to him. This has to go well. “It's so nice to finally meet you....” Jasper leans closer to Lupe.“This is Esme, my mother” Jasper informs her softly.“It's nice to meet you” Lupe offers.“Jasper told us that you were having dinner with your family, so we went with an English Tea sort of lunch” Carlisle offers.“And you know Carlisle” Jasper adds.“That sounds amazing” Lupe assures him. “I know you guys don't eat...but that you did this....thank you”“Of course,” Carlisle tells her. “You mean a lot to Jasper....” Jasper squeezes Lupe's waist and smiles at her.….....It easier dealing with just his parents. Lupe feels comfortable around the two vampires. With Jasper at her side, nothing seems as difficult. She drinks the tea and eats the tiny sandwiches and the scones. They've really gone to a lot of trouble for her, for this. And for people that don't eat anymore, they can cook. But then they leave the couple alone, sharing a look with Jasper, which implies he knows what is going on. They are working on a cycle. Two at a time. Ease Lupe into the family. They overwhelmed Bella throwing everyone at her at once. They thought this would be easier on Lupe. Jasper plays with Lupe's fingers as they sit together. Sharing soft looks and small kisses. Adding a little bit of familiarity, trying to help her relax. It's not long though until Alice and Mira join them, chuckling among themselves as they walk into the room, both brightening and smiling when they see Jasper and Lupe together. Jasper leans closer to Lupe.“Alice and Mira” Jasper offers but she already knows who they are. Very, very important to Jasper. His best friends and sisters. He and Mira have been through a lot together. Her opinion means everything to him. Mira holds out her arms, fully intending on giving Lupe a hug.“Oh, I'm not really a hugger” Lupe argues but Mira hugs her anyway. “Okay,” Lupe whispers. Jasper smiles, amused, watching the two of them. Alice loops her arm with his and chuckles. Mira then pulls back.“I know we've seen one another around school, but...” Mira offers, Lupe nods.“Yeah, nothing...official” Lupe agrees. Mira hums a little and takes a second to study Lupe, Jasper gives her a look, knowing just what she's looking at. She's testing the bond between them. Something happens though. Mira seems surprised but schools it well. Jasper sees it though, so does Alice. Mira smiles at Lupe to hide that whatever she just saw spooked her. Alice moves to Lupe and leads her away to talk to her, knowing that Jasper is going to want to know what just happened.“What was that?” Jasper asks Mira as Alice and Lupe talk.“Nothing” Mira argues and moves away from him, Jasper makes a noise in his throat and follows her.“Mira” He coos a little, drawing it out. She groans and shoots him a dirty look.“I tested your bond” Mira answers, trying to ignore this whole thing. Jasper gives her a look. “I couldn't break it” She whispers and looks at her brother. “I did the same test with Edward and Bella, and it broke, just as it did with Esme and Carlise, Emmett and Rosalie. It's about how much it takes the break it....but I couldn't break your bond” She shrugs a little. “I've never seen that before” She admits. Jasper glances across at Lupe who smiles a little at his sister. “I don't know what it means”“Maybe it's just strong...” He offers, Mira gives him a look. She knows it is more than that. It's not that simple. Esme and Carlisle are madly in love, but their bond could still be broken. Whatever this bond between Jasper and Lupe is, it's different, it's new.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe paces outside of the O'Ryan house. She's trying to work through her nerves but she's never felt this nervous before. Jasper meeting Ashlee is incredibly important to her and she knows it has to go right. Ashlee can be a little overbearing when she wants to be and Jasper might actually be scared off by her. Jasper watches her, leant against his bike. They won't go in until she is ready. She lets out a breath and nods, closing her eyes as she threads her fingers through her hair. Jasper leans up from his bike and shifts closer to her, touching the small of her back to stop her. She looks at him and he nods. Assuring her that everything is going to be okay. That they are together. That he is here at her side no matter what.….....Lupe opens the front door to the house and walks in. The smell of her mother's cooking reaching her. Ashlee's not a great cook and usually leaves it to Oliver, but this is a special occasion and it seems her mother is going to force them to eat her special dish of chicken surprise. It never goes down very well.“Mom?!” Lupe shouts as Jasper closes the door behind them.“In the kitchen” Ashlee shouts back and Lupe takes a deep breath, her hand clutching to Jasper's own to help with her nerves. Jasper looks around as Lupe leads him through. He's not been in here yet, always seeing Lupe in her bus. But it's one of those homes that is just warm. Nothing matches but everything looks like it belongs. There are bright colours mixed with pastels and darks. Influences from Ireland and Mexico and Africa, even Native America. He doesn't get much of a chance to enjoy it though because Lupe is a woman on a mission, determined to get this over and done with. Ashlee and Oliver are both in the kitchen together, though it is Ashlee stood at the stove. Ashlee smiles at the two of them when she notices them.“Jasper...” Lupe offers. “Ashlee O'Ryan...my mother”“It's so nice to finally meet you,” Ashlee tells Jasper as she hugs to Oliver's arm. She's only caught glimpses of Jasper but seeing him full on she can see why Lupe is so interested in the boy. He's very dashing like an old fashioned gentleman.“Ma'am” Jasper greets back with a warm smile. Ashlee gives Lupe a look, mother and daughter sharing a look.“And you kind of met Pops already” Lupe adds. Jasper looks at Oliver who is trying to remain neutral about this. His druid and father natures fighting against one another. He loves Lupe as if she was his own daughter. Wants her to be happy, and it doesn't take a genius to see that Jasper makes her incredibly happy, but being a druid means he knows how dangerous Jasper is.“Sir” Jasper greets, Oliver raises an amused eyebrow. Jasper is older than them and this must feel rather derogative for him.“Have a seat” Ashlee tells them. “Dinner will be a little while yet but Pops made some lemonade, figured we could get to know one another” Jasper nods a little, understanding. He joins the woman at the dining table when she sits, along with Lupe and Oliver who brings with him a tray of lemonade. “So, tell me about yourself, Jasper,” Ashlee tells Jasper who looks at Lupe, they've talked about this, Lupe knew her mother would ask personal questions, he knows how to answer them. To be truthful but vague on dates and 'big' events. “Where are you from? How did you end up with Dr Cullen?”“Mom” Lupe warns a little, giving her mother a look to go easy on him. Or at least slow it down a little.“It's alright, Lupe” Jasper assures her, touching her arm on the table. She gives him an apologetic look but it really is fine, she warned him this would happen. “I was born in Houston, Texas,” Jasper tells Ashlee. “Meeting Carlisle, that's a long story....” He starts, drawing his fingers over Lupe's arm as he delves into a story about meeting Carlisle. “It was a few years ago now....” Lupe honestly has no idea if that's true or not but he is very believable and has Ashlee hanging on his every word.….....Later: Jasper stands with Lupe back outside the house. Dinner was fine. He really was grilled by her mother. She even tried to delve into his sexual history which Oliver and Lupe both shut down for being way too much information. Jasper hasn't even talked to Lupe about that yet. It's never occurred to him to bring it up.He kisses the backs of her hands before leaning closer to kiss her lips, she smiles and leans into it before he pulls back. They are both aware that her mother is watching them, wanting to unload her opinion on her daughter. Which is why Jasper is 'leaving'. He will be back later on but he knows Lupe wants to know what her mother thinks of him.“It will be alright” He whispers softly, she nods and smiles at him before she releases him. Watching as he climbs onto his bike. She pulls her jacket closer to her body and then has to watch as he rides away. She knows he'll come back, but it feels weird when he leaves. She rolls her eyes at how whipped she sounds. It's never been like this before. Never felt this deep. This firmly rooted in her heart. She touches her lips and then turns heading back towards the house and her mother. It's not going to matter to her what Ashlee has to say about Jasper. Lupe loves him and nothing is changing that.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Jasper is waiting for Lupe in her bed when she walks into the bus, having spent some time talking with her mother about Jasper and a little about Billy too. They both took the time to talk about her father and what that means for her. Lupe is pretty sure, that right now, she wants nothing more to do with Billy. Right now, she is happy with her home life. With her mother and Pops. With Noah and Jasper. That's all that matters. She is happy. And she doesn't think that Billy being in her life will keep it that way. She kicks off her boots and moves to the bed to join Jasper who instantly holds out his arm for her, she smiles and settles at his side, his arm wrapping around her.“What did she say?” He asks her as she nuzzles into his chest, getting comfy up against him. She lets out a soft breath and seems to just sink into him. He takes that as a good thing. That her mother was approving of him and their relationship. His fingers brush through her hair and she hums, closing her eyes. She was worried about her mother not liking Jasper, she really did think that she might not approve. But he won her over. That charming southern gentleman thing won.“She likes you” She voices as she leans up to look down at him. “A lot more approving of you than she was of Georgie”“She didn't like him?” She hums and shakes her head before snorting.“Ironically she didn't like the age difference” She points out, Jasper smirks up at her. He does make him wonder though. If Ashlee knew the truth. How would she feel about her daughter dating a vampire? A man his actual age? Lupe runs her fingers through his curls and lets out a soft breath. He closes his eyes, leaning into her touch. He has never really been a fan of his curls but he likes when she plays with them like this. She leans down and kisses him, his hand coming up to brush over her arm, trailing up to her shoulder and then across her back. He smirks against her lips before she pulls away.“Well if that's what good news means” He teases as she nuzzles into his neck. There is intent in her movements. With lunch and dinner having gone well, she's in a good mood, a very good mood. Jasper's phone beeps with the arrival of a new message, he kisses Lupe's head before turning to reach for it. Lupe leans up and pulls her jumper over her head, getting more comfortable in her bed as Jasper opens the message. “There's going to be a thunderstorm tomorrow” Jasper reads from the phone. “My family are going to play baseball”“You guys play baseball?” She teases a little.“It's an American past time” He sets his phone aside. “Esme was asking if we wanted to join them”“I'm not really a sports fan, but if you want to go, you don't have to miss it because of me” He grabs her ankle and pulls her down the bed, settling over her, she smirks up at him.“Play sport with my siblings or stay in a nice warm bed with you” He muses as he leans closer to kiss her, she hums against his lips and wraps her arms around his neck, drawing her fingers up into his hair. To be honest, staying in bed does sound a lot better than playing sports. “I'll even call out for pizza” He teases against her lips. “Or Chinese....or both” She chuckles a little and nods.…..........The next afternoon, Lupe moves around her bus as she goes through her things, she's got her phone on speaker as Bella talks to her about the baseball game. Jasper is not around, but has gone out to buy snacks and food for the night, possibly a few extra movies for them. Bella is trying to persuade Lupe to change her mind about going and playing baseball. But to be honest, staying in and watching movies and eating food with Jasper, sounds a hell of a lot better.“No, we're going to stay in” Lupe argues a little as she goes through her movies. “I'm not really a sports person...and no offence, but...urm here...Jasper gets to have fun....and sex...” Bella chuckles a little, but there is a tinge to it. Lupe knows that Bella is feeling a little jealous of Lupe and Jasper. The way their relationship came about compared to her and Edward's. Bella doesn't hold it against either of them, but she still feels it. She just wishes she had it as easy as they seem to.“Well, how can baseball compete with that?” Bella asks, Lupe snorts and nods.“Indeed” She agrees and finds the movie she is looking for. “We can hang out tomorrow though, if you want” She offers. “Go into town, grabs some burgers...”“That sounds great” Bella assures her. “We haven't really talked much”“I know you must be dying to gush about Edweirdo and everything going on with you” Lupe teases, Bella chuckles. “You can tell me everything over lunch” She glances at the door as Ashlee lets herself in. Lupe raises an eyebrow, surprised by her mother's appearance. “Bella, Mom's here, I'll text you later, see how the game went” Lupe offers before she hangs up. “What's up?”“Can we talk about something?” Ashlee asks, Lupe hums and nods with a small frown. “This is probably coming a bit late, but I feel like I should do it...” Ashlee starts and then folds her arms over her chest. “You and Jasper appear to be a lot closer than you and Georgie were...and because of that....”“We're fine, Mom” Lupe stops her. “You had this talk with me years ago....”“I know I did, but you are older now, and in a serious relationship”“Mom” Lupe starts and shakes her head.“I don't regret having you, Lupe, I never have, but I wouldn't want the same for you” Lupe looks at her sadly. “Not yet, wait a few years, finish school, go to college, figure out your place in the world...” Ashlee moves to Lupe and cups her cheeks in her hands. “You haven't really said anything about what you would like to do and I haven't pushed you on it....”“Because I don't know” Lupe admits. Even before moving here, she hadn't give it much thought, she was living in the moment, travelling and having fun. She knows she'll have to come up with something , to figure out what it is she wants to do but until then, she is happy to go about her life as it is. No use rocking the boat. There is no rush. Not yet.

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How did this happen? Lupe ponders as she leans back against one of the counters in the Cullen garage. How did the night turn into this? Jasper rubs the small of her back, trying to comfort her but this is beyond crazy even for them. She and Jasper were supposed to be spending it in bed, curled up together watching some crappy horror movie. Instead, Bella's life's been threatened, and Charlie could possibly be in danger, all because she decided to play sport. Nothing good comes from playing sport, Lupe is sure of that now. Her eyes track the rest of the Cullen family, save Rosalie and Jasper, as they open cupboards for supplies - cell phones, extra batteries, maps, portable GPS units, changes of clothes, cans of gasoline, etc. They are really taking this seriously. So Lupe gets that if they're worried, then it's something.“I’ve had to fight our kind before. We’re hard to kill” Jasper points out, his hand tightening around the fabric of Lupe's jacket. The others begin to load up the cars. Bella stands with Edward, worry very clear on her face, but so too is fear.“But not impossible” Edward counters. “We’ll tear him up...”“We’ll rip him apart with our hands, then burn the pieces...” Emmett adds enthusiastically.“I don’t relish killing another creature. Even a sadistic one like James” Carlisle complains a little.“If he doesn’t get to one of us first” Rosalie points out, with a tone to her voice that makes it very clear she is not on board with saving Bella. That's also part of why Jasper didn't want Rosalie around when Lupe came to the house to meet the others. Though to be fair, Lupe hasn't caused that much trouble for them. Bella appears horrified at the thought that one of them might get hurt for her.“This is insane. You can’t put yourselves in danger like this - for me”“Too late” Edward shoots Rosalie a look, but he grabs two sets of keys off a hook, throwing one set, lightning-fast, to Carlisle.“I’ll run Bella south, while you lead the tracker away...”“No, Edward” Carlisle scolds him. “The tracker thinks you won’t leave Bella. He’ll follow you”“I’ll go with Bella. Mira and I will drive her south” Alice offers as she turns to face Edward. “I’ll keep her safe, Edward” Edward agonizes. Frustrated. Alice steps forward.“Can you keep your thoughts to yourself?” He asks her. She nods. An unspoken agreement. Edward finally surrenders his keys to Alice. Then he opens one of Bella’s suitcases, pulling out clothes, tossing them to Esme and Rosalie. “Esme, Rosalie, put these on so the tracker will pick up Bella’s scent” Rosalie drops the clothes instead.“Why should I? What is she to me? Just a danger you’ve inflicted on us...” Carlisle spins on her, clearly disappointed in her.“Rosalie. Bella is with Edward. She’s a part of this family now. And we protect our family” Carlisle scolds her. Rosalie glowers but picks up the clothes. Carlisle hits the door opener and the massive metal garage doors roll up and open. “Jasper” Carlisle offers as he walks past him. Jasper nods and turns to Lupe. The two of them share a look.“I need you to stay here,” Jasper tells her, she sighs and looks at him. “Please” He whispers, his fingers soft on her arm. She can see how worried he is. She can see how he's linked this to coming back on her. Ashlee's scent will be all over Charlie's house, they spend a lot of time together, which could lead this James person to her home and Jasper's scent will be all over her bus. It's a stretch, but she can understand why he's worried. She nods and he leans closer and kisses her, his arm wrapping around her waist to pull her closer to him. He pulls back and touches her cheek. “You'll be safe here” He assures her, she nods and touches his chest.“Be careful” She begs of him. He takes her hand and kisses the back of it before he follows Carlisle and Esme. Lupe watches as they climb into the SUV. Lupe lets out a breath. She is worried because they so clearly are worried. Emmett touches her shoulder as he passes with Rosalie, his attempt at trying to reassure her everything is going to be fine. Bella climbs into a car with Alice and Mira, Edward close by as they say goodbye to one another. She and Edward share a look as he passes her.“I'm sorry,” He tells her. “That you've been dragged into this”“Well, guess this makes us family now, right?” She asks. “Can't say I like that” He gives her a small smile, knowing she's trying to be humorous more to keep herself from full-on freaking out but it kind of helps him too. “Not that I hate you” She adds. “I just find you really annoying” They share a look and she shrugs, he nods and moves on to join Emmett and Rosalie as the other cars pull out of the garage.…....Lupe doesn't know what to do with herself so she wanders around the house until she finds Jasper's bedroom, which she actually finds easy enough. It is the most organised. And there are pieces of him all over it. The history books on the shelves. The records from country artists. Plus it smells a lot like him. She grabs a blanket from the side and sits on his couch with a book. She's probably not going to be able to read, too worried for everyone else. She hates that she's stuck behind as some human. She gets it. She's weaker than them, a liability. It is better for them and her if she keeps out of their way. So she'll stay here until they come back.....if they come back.

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Cold hands touch Lupe's face softly and she hums waking up from her slumber, leaning into the touch before she opens her eyes to find Jasper looking at her softly. She had no idea when she fell asleep but very clearly she did. She leans up and looks around, still in Jasper's bedroom, but it's dark outside now. He's also lit a few candles around the room. She runs her fingers through her hair as he crouches in front of her, a worried line to his face.“Bella?” She asks. He looks at her and pulls a face, she just assumes the worst, but whatever that face was meant to say it certainly did not tell her that. “What?”“She's not dead” He is quick to assure her, she gives him a look. “Poor facial expression” He adds and she lets out a relieved breath. “As far as we know...she's okay” She narrows her eyes in question. “James figured out we were tricking him and Bella took off” He sits next to her. “Slipped away from Mira and Alice”“They're vampires and Alice can see the future, how the fuck did that happen?” She asks him. Jasper opens his mouth but literally doesn't have an answer or an explanation. She gives him a look and stands with a shake of her head begins to pace the length of the floor as she worries.“The others have flown out to look for her” Jasper assures her, watching as she moves along the length of his floor. “I wanted to be here for you”“I'm fine” She argues. “She's clearly not....what the fuck is she thinking?” She runs her fingers through her hair, but it is very clear that she's worried about her cousin. That she's scared and trying to hide it behind anger. Jasper touchers her wrist to stop her pacing, she lets out a breath and looks at him.“You worrying isn't going to help her....or you” He offers and nods for her to sit with him again, she lets out a breath and drops onto the couch at his side. “Esme and Rosalie are watching over Charlie” He adds and strokes her hair. “And I called Oliver” She gives him a weird look, unaware that the two of them had shared numbers. “He's keeping an eye on your mother, just in case”“You and Pops talk?” She asks him, he hums and nods.“We both care about your safety, so yes” He touches her cheek. “Despite Noah hating me, Oliver seems to understand a lot better.....about the way I feel about you” She hums a little and leans into his side, his lips finding her head.“She's going to be okay, right?” She asks him, he hums an affirmation into her head and then pulls back. He doesn't know but right now, she needs him to tell her that Bella will be fine.“I am sure of it” He assures her, brushing her hair back to clutch at her face. Her worried eyes watching her. He knows how much family means to her. Bella is family and in trouble. He kisses her forehead and she closes her eyes. “Do you want something to eat?” He asks when he pulls back.“I'm a little hungry” She whispers, she hadn't even realised until he said. She's been so worried about Bella. “Can I take a shower first?” She motions over her shoulder towards his little bathroom. “I feel like I need to wash this all off of me” He nods and brushes his thumbs over her cheek.“Of course” He assures her and then pulls his hands back. “Use whatever you need” She smiles at him and sniffles slightly, rubbing at her eyes.….........Lupe pulls her hair up, still damp from her shower, as she heads into the kitchen, following her stomach basically as she takes in the smell of pastry and chicken. Jasper is at the kitchen counter plating up a chicken pie with greens. She smiles softly. Touched that he actually made her a full meal, she would have been happy with a sandwich or snack thing.“You made chicken pot pie?” She teases a little sitting at the counter. “How long was I in the shower?” Jasper smirks at her.“I think you believe cooking is a lot harder than it is” He counters as he sits across from her. “It's actually my mother's recipe” He admits, she looks at him as she picks up the fork on the counter. “I used to love this one” He smiles softly, wistfully as he thinks about his mother. “With the wilted greens and mashed potatoes”“Did you ever see her again?” She asks. “After you became a vampire?” He nods.“Once” He answers. “I heard she was dying...and Maria allowed me to go home, with her....” He draws his finger around the countertop. “I hadn't realised how long it had been until then” Lupe looks at him sadly. “I stayed for a few days, long enough to say goodbye before she died...I kept her recipe book and these” Jasper pulls the chain out from under his shirt, she's seen it on him and had questions, but figured he would get to it when he was ready. He pulls the necklace off to show Lupe the three rings. “Her engagement and wedding rings....” They are more classic and traditionally beautiful rings. “And her mourning ring” He adds touching the last ring. Darker in nature. “She had it made after my father died...” He turns it around and smiles a little. “She used to tell me that she preferred it, because she got to choose it...” Lupe smiles with him. “She never liked green” He looks at the engagement ring with a nice sized green stone in the centre. “Thee recipe book” He adds and looks down. “There were little handwritten notes in it from her, things I had no idea about, about....the future, things she wanted for me....” Lupe stands and moves around the counter. She touches his arm and he looks at her. He kisses her cheek and wraps his arms around her, resting his head in the crook of her neck. She strokes her fingers through his hair to comfort him. He might not be able to cry, but he sure as hell still feels emotions. And talking about his mother again. He feels that. Thinking about what she wanted for him. For his future.

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Bella wakes, groggy in a hospital bed. Flickers of events passing through her mind. The attack at the ballet studio. Edward and the others coming to save her. A bite. Her leg. All of it just tumbling at her full speed. She doesn't really remember much of it in specific details but he knows it was bad. Given how much she hurts all over.“You awake?” A voice whispers close by and Bella turns her head, to seek out the source. Lupe. “Surprise” Lupe teases softly, Bella looks at her, confused as to why Lupe is here with her before she smiles, just grateful that she is. “We wanted to be here for you when you woke up” Lupe offers warmly, Bella frowns.“We?” She asks, Lupe nods away from them and Bella looks up, finds Logan standing at the end of the bed, he waves, as best as he can with the brown paper bag in his arms. Bella also understands what Logan being here means. That they have to keep stum on the whole vampire thing. Normality. For Logan.“I brought candy” Logan offers. “And soda...I don't know if you're allowed that stuff but...” He shrugs a little. “We can always chow down in front of you and describe how great it taste” Bella offers him a thankful smile and nods. This is actually really nice of them. Logan moves to a chair next to the bed and goes through what he has for them. Bella and Lupe share a look and Bella thanks her with a nod. Lupe winks back as she sits a second chair at her side. Logan hands a can of soda over to Lupe who takes it. Logan talking away about nonsense. To distract Bella from her injuries. Jasper leans in the doorway watching the three of them together. This is just what Lupe needed, and Bella, of course, but Lupe is his focus. Seeing Bella awake and okay, being here with her and Logan. The three of them hanging out, even in a hospital. It's good for each of them. Lupe's stress just fading away. Everything worked out. Bella is safe and alive and human. And for now, they can relax.…...Jasper threads his fingers with Lupe's as they walk through the hospital. Bella had needed some more rest and Logan has run off to get more snacks for them, he's more likely finding somewhere close by to smoke. It's all quiet now. No threats on the horizon. Everything falling back into its normal pace. They just need to get Bella home and everything will be perfect. Lupe lets out a breath and then“Does this means it's over?” She asks him, Jasper shakes his head.“No” He answers. “Edward thinks that the woman...she'll try again” She pulls a face in annoyance and looks away. “If it was you that got hurt.....I'd be the same” He admits. “I'd never stop...” She turns to face him, grabbing his jacket to pull him to a stop. “She was his mate, Lupe” He explains. “She loved him...what they did was to protect and save Bella, but they still killed him...so she'll try again” He reaches up and cups her cheek. “I wouldn't stop if someone hurt you” She reaches up and grabs his wrist softly.“We don't have to worry about that” She argues. “I don't think I can piss someone off enough that they'd want to kill me”“I think you underestimate yourself, darling” He teases back, pulling her closer to him. She hums a little and draws her hand up to his neck. “Don't worry about Victoria” He whispers. “She won't get close to Bella” He nudges her nose before he kisses her softly. “Or you” He whispers against her lips. As if she didn't already know that. He'd never let anyone even think about hurting her let alone actually doing it.…......Lupe sleeps against Logan who sleeps himself, his head pressed to the top of hers. It's been a long couple of days for Lupe and Logan is just exhausted as he was pulled out of his bed to Lupe telling him about Bella's accident. He was the one to tell her that he'd come with them. That he'd leave his warm bed to fly out to Phoenix to check on Bella. Lupe doesn't deserve him as a friend. Jasper drives them back, Bella in the back against the window, dozing slightly as she recovers still. It's going to take her a while before she is back on her feet the way she was before but she's alive. Edward sits in the passenger front seat. The car is quiet, mostly so as not to disturb Logan and Lupe. And because they can't really talk about vampire problems with an oblivious human in the car with them. Bella looks at her cousin and her sort of friend. She never really thought of Logan as her friend, but he came all this way, and yes, she knows it was Lupe more than her, but still. She should really consider him her friend too after this. She smiles a little and nods.“Are we there yet?” Lupe mumbles slightly. Jasper smirks and glances back at her and then to the road.“No” He answers. “We just left” She groans but it's muffled when Logan covers her mouth with his hand.“Shhhh...sleepy time” He scolds her. Lupe smirks and nods in agreement.“I'll wake you when we're close” Jasper assures them. Lupe hums and nods already falling back to sleep.

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Lupe is a nervous wreck. The whole dress and heels thing is a whole new thing to her. She even did her hair all fancy. Clean and sharp make up. She's never felt this fancy. And it's just prom. She lets out a deep breath, staring at her reflection. Her mother had helped with the hair and the make up. Things are still awkward between them. And likely will be for a very long time but they're both trying.“Okay” She whispers to herself. Not thinking about that today. Today is about prom. Just focus on prom. Focus on Jasper. She nods and moves away from the mirror.…...Jasper sits on the couch in Lupe's living room, a pink rose corsage held in his hand. He's nervous too. Prom is a reminder of the old debutante balls. He never got to be part of it. he wasn't upper class. Though likely if he had survived his military career he would have been. Oliver and Ashlee stand close by with Logan and Noah, fussing over the two of them. To Noah's annoyance. Because of the duality of their relationship, Noah and Logan will be attending a second prom tomorrow at Noah's school so they won't be staying too long tonight before they have to leave, to drive to Seattle.“Wow” Oliver whispers as Lupe steps into the room. Ashlee smiles softly at her daughter. Stood there in her prom dress. Lupe smiles nervously at the two of them, shifting the dress slightly.“So?” She asks. “Is this okay?” She whispers. Jasper stands from the couch, staring at her. She looks incredible.“You look beautiful” Jasper offers from behind her parents. Lupe blushes a little and looks down. She's not used to being this dressed up. She's not sure how she feels about it. He's in a tux, all dressed up with her. A black velvet tie to match her dress tied around his neck. “I have this for you” He holds out a wrist corsage towards her and she smiles softly as she moves closer to him. Logan smirks a little, amused watching him. Noah is less amused. Still a sort of glare on his face. He's trying to be civil here. It is a special occasion. Jasper slides the corsage onto her wrist before he takes her hand in his. The two of them sharing a look.“A minute, Lupe” Ashlee grabs her hand and pulls her away from Jasper. Lupe frowns a little as her mother pulls her to the other side of the room.“What's wrong?” Lupe asks her, Ashlee shakes her head but looks to be on the verge of tears. Not bad tears. No, it's wistful tears. Ashlee never went to her prom. Never got her moment like this. She was a pregnant high school drop out.“Nothing” Ashlee assures her and brushes her hand over her cheek. “Just..” She looks at Jasper who waits at the door for Lupe. "I think that boy really is in love with you," She tells Lupe who smiles softly and nods.“I think so, too,” Lupe agrees.“And how do you feel about him?” Ashlee probes. She can guess. She knows her daughter pretty well. Lupe shrugs a little and smooths her hand over her dress.“I'm pretty crazy about him.” Lupe admits. Ashlee looks at her with concern, because they've been here before. “He's not Georgie” Lupe defends. She knows Jasper. He's different. He's not Georgie. “Mom...Jasper is different...”“I just don't want you to get hurt again, Little Wolf” Ashlee whispers as she tucks a strand of Lupe's hair back into place. She doesn't want Lupe to go through what she did.….......It's not Jasper's bike that awaits Lupe outside, and she is a little disappointed but the more she thinks about it. The more it makes sense for him to use an actual car tonight. She looks at Jasper's side, curling her hand around his bicep, his lips twitching into a soft smile.“Not your bike?” She teases, Jasper smirks and looks at her, dragging his eyes down to her dress.“Whilst I am sure it would have been extremely humorous to watch you attempt to get on my bike in that dress....no, no bike, not for this” He leads her towards the sleek black sports car. “I borrowed one of Rosalie's” He reaches out and opens the side passenger door as Noah and Logan move across the lawn to Logan's sedan. Jasper leans on the open door as she moves to climb into the car, only to pause and turns to him. “What?” He notices her look. She gives him a soft smile.“I love you” She assures him, he nods. A little taken aback. He's not sure where it came from. Though he knows it's a step. She's never said it first. It's a big step for her.  “I know you do” He touches her arm and smiles back at her. “I love you too” He leans closer as if to kiss her. “I would kiss you” He stops short of her lips. “But that lipstick looks messy” He teases a little, she chuckles and nods.“It is” She agrees, he settles on kissing her cheek instead before he pulls back and she climbs into the car. Jasper glances across at Noah as he opens the passenger door on Logan's car. The two of them sharing a look. Jasper knows that Noah is never going to be okay with him having a presence in Lupe's life.

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Because it's Forks, the school is hosting the prom itself, in its gym. The town's not big enough to have any bigger venues that could work. Which means it has to do. It's the only thing they have. Jasper holds out his hand for Lupe as she climbs out of the car. The two of them sharing a warm look. He's still can't get over how stunning she looks in that dress. They follow the throng of paired teenagers who lead the way into the school.…..Inside is all rather pretty cliché. Balloon arches. Garlands of crepe paper. Fairy lights. All in pastels. And teenagers in brightly coloured dresses. Jasper touches Lupe's back, she looks at him and smirks.“This looks like a horror movie waiting to happen,” Lupe comments, Jasper smirks at her side.“Well....there are more than enough vampires present” He agrees, she hums and glances around.“Do you want me to bolt the doors so you can massacre the unsuspecting townsfolk?” She teases, Jasper looks down at her and she smirks wider.“And where do you fit into that scheme?” He pulls her closer, she turns to holds to the lapels of his jacket. She hums and peers up at him."Oh, I'm with the vampires, of course."“Of course” He agrees and then leans closer to kiss her, his hand sliding around to her waist to hold her closer to him. She hums against his lips and clutches to his jacket.“Maybe we can find a supply closet” She whispers against his lips, he hums and then pulls back, rolling his eyes before he looks across the room at Alice and Mira.“Might have to put that off, my sisters....” He looks back at Lupe. “Are feeling like we're ignoring them” Lupe looks across at Alice and Mira who are smirking back.“Can't have that” Lupe comments, he hums in agreement. The two of them sharing an amused look. With his hand on the small of her back, Jasper leads Lupe towards Alice and Mira. The two of them dressed spectacularly in shades of red. Matching dresses. Mira waves her fingers in greeting as Alice moves to hug Lupe. “Oh...” Lupe whispers and shoots a panicked look at Jasper but he just shrugs back. Alice is the hugger of the family and there is nothing anyone can do to stop her. They've tried.“You look amazing,” Mira tells Lupe who nods a little. Slightly awkward with the attention from them. Well, from anyone that's not Jasper. “That dress is a great fit” She turns to Alice who nods in agreement.“I knew it would be” Alice comments.“Of course you did” Jasper agrees and gives the two of them a look.“It's great, thanks” Lupe assures them, touching the skirt of her dress.“Where are the others?” Jasper asks.“Edward's picking up Bella....” Mira answers as she touches the small of Alice's back. “Rosalie and Emmett are around somewhere...” Mira motions with her hand. “You know how she gets”…..........Edward and Bella do finally join them, though Bella looks utterly forced into coming here. It's not really her sort of thing. Neither is the dress she's wearing. Lupe and Bella share a look and Bella shrugs and rolls her eyes. She doesn't want to be here, and it is very clear from the look on her face. But she is here and she is alive. And the whole evil vampire out to kill her is behind her. For now, anyway. Jasper seems certain that Victoria will come back for revenge. One day. Maybe vampires, with immortality, plot revenge really really slowly. Lupe secretly hopes with her fingers crossed. She lets out a breath and looks at where Edward and Jasper are talking, just as Bella moves to join her. Lupe's not got the best hearing, not vampire levels, but she can tell something is going on. She pulls a face thinking that she might be wrong about vampire revenge. Jasper and Edward move towards where Lupe and Bella are stood.“What is it?” Lupe asks, noting the tense frown between Jasper's brows. Bella looks at Edward for an answer too. Jasper doesn't look as happy as they did a moment ago. Something's happened.“Jacob Black's here” Jasper answers, his hand finding the small of Lupe's back, she looks at him. “Well, outside” He corrects himself.“Black” Lupe whispers. “As in....”“Billy's son” Bella finishes giving her cousin a sad look. Everyone in town knows now. Everyone. She supposes that means even Billy's own family.“So...my brother” Lupe comments and folds her arms over her chest. “What does he want?”“To talk to you,” Edward tells her. Lupe scoffs and rolls her eyes.“Yeah, well, Billy told my mom to get rid of me” She reminds them. “Because he cheated on his wife and knocked up a teenager”“Billy told him the truth” Edward informs Lupe. “He just wants to meet you”“And he chooses my prom to do that?” Lupe counters. “He couldn't wait till tomorrow?” Edward shrugs a little and looks at her. She sighs and rolls her eyes.….....Outside, Lupe lingers at the entrance to the school. Jasper at her side. The two of them watching Jacob Black as he paces a little, clearly upset. Lupe never really thought about Billy's other kids. She probably should have. But she didn't even consider them. They were just as much in the dark about everything as she was. Jasper sets his tux jacket over her shoulders and she looks up at him.“You know you don't have to talk to him” He offers as he brings his hand to her cheek.“Not his fault, right?” She asks him. “He's younger than me...he had no idea. Now he does....” Jasper nods in agreement.“I'll be inside, but if you need me, I'll hear you” He assures her and then heads inside. Letting her do this alone. Lupe lets out a breath and moves towards where Jacob is pacing. He stops when he notices her. The two of them just staring at one another. He swallows a little. Suddenly extremely nervous about meeting her. He gives her a small unsure smile.“Hey” He greets. “Lupeta, right?”“Lupe” She stops him. “Just Lupe will do...”“My...” He stops. “Our dad...he said that....”“That I'm your sister?” She asks, he hums and nods.“Yeah” He breaths and looks at his feet as he scuffs his boots on the ground. “I didn't know if you'd....want to talk to me” She folds her arms over her chest.“Why wouldn't I want to talk to you?” She asks him.“Because...he...ignored you” He looks at her. “For all these years”“It's not that simple, Jacob” She argues. “He didn't know I was alive because he thought my mom had...It's just complicated” Jacob looks at her for an explanation. She sighs. “He didn't ignore me...he never wanted me....” His eyes sadden as he realises. “Mom left town so he wouldn't find out that she kept me...but he asked her....demanded that she get rid of me.....” She steps closer to him. “He never wanted me to live, let alone be a part of his life”“I'm sorry,” Jacob tells her.“Hmm” She looks down. “Why did you come here?” She asks him.“Rebecca and Rachel are pretty upset” He explains. “I just...I don't know” He scratches at his arm. “Wanted to talk to you...I guess” He lets out a breath and shrugs. She softens slightly. It's not his fault. It's not. She can't take this out on him. He is at least attempting something here. She touches his shoulder. Patting awkwardly.

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Months Later (4):
A summer of love always sounds so cliché. Until it happens. Lupe and Jasper spent the time wrapped up in one another. Spending time together. With Noah. With Logan. With Edward and Bella. Jasper spends the time proving how affectionate and romantic he can be. He shows her what it can be like, being in a truly loving and committed relationship. And it's so different from the relationship she had with Georgie. What she has with Jasper, is something so much more powerful. And mornings like this prove it. When they can both say nothing and it still be perfect and comfortable. Jasper brushes his fingers down along the length of Lupe's spine as she lays away on her stomach. It's quiet. But they both know that they have to get up soon. The unforgiving siren call of high school beckons them. She lets out a soft breath, trying to focus on the words in the book in front of her. Shakespeare requires her full attention and Jasper is not helping her. She doesn't want her grades to fall behind because her boyfriend can't keep his hands to himself. Ashlee would have something to say about that. Jasper lets out a soft breath, peering over her shoulder before he lowers his head.“These violent delights have violent ends” He quotes against her back, breathing her in as he kisses her skin. “And in their triumph die, like fire and powder. Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness and in the taste confounds the appetite. Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.”“I get it” She counters. “You know all of this by heart....it's not my fault I wasn't alive when it was written” Jasper pokes her side and she jerks a little.“Just how old do you think I am?” He scolds teasingly as he curls an arm around her waist. “Would you prefer something else?” He teases into her shoulder. “Wilde?”“Don't you dare” She warns, because when he quotes Oscar Wilde, they do no homework and end up tangled in sheets. He's learnt this. He knows this. He nuzzles into her back.“Beautiful star with the crimson lips” She whimpers a little as he starts. This is unfair. He does this on purpose. It is why she is having to read Shakespeare at 5 am instead of having done the reading over the last week. It's why all summer they've barely left the bed. “And flagrant daffodil hair” He moves his lips to her shoulder. “Come back, come back, in the shaking ships....” She turns over to face him. Jasper slotting against her body with a satisfied smirk. “I've never met anyone that gets turned on by literature” He teases.“It's not so much the words” She argues. “It's you and your voice and that accent....when you talk, all the panties in the immediate vicinity just completely disintegrate” He barks out a laugh as she touches his face with a smirk.“Is that so?” He asks, she hums and nods.“Why do you think I stopped wearing them?” His eyes darken a little and she bites her lip.“If we didn't have to get up” He warns as he nudges her nose. Fully interested in continuing this, but alas, they do actually have to go to school. And more than just because it's school, but because it's Bella's birthday and Lupe wants to be there, knowing that Bella is dreading the amount of attention this is going to bring her. “But we do” He adds and kisses her softly before letting her wiggle free. “Did you manage to find a gift?” Jasper asks her as she stands from her bed, she blows a raspberry and shrugs.“Urm I had no idea what to get her” She argues as she grabs her clothes for the day. “So I went with a collection of Sherlock Holmes books” Jasper nods a little. “To be honest, I don't know what she likes to do other than reading, it's one thing we share but other than that....” She shrugs and turns to him. “What about you?”“A leather-bound journal” He answers. “Alice” He offers with a smirk. “She did all the shopping”“Hmm of course she did” Lupe teases as she dresses for the day. “Bella is going to hate this no matter how Alice spins it” She points out.“I know” He agrees as she lets out a breath. "You know how Alice is....” She narrows her eyes a little and looks at him.“You haven't told her when my birthday is, have you?” He shakes his head and chuckles.“No, I promise....we'll do something, just you and me....” She nods in agreement, she doesn't want this much of a fuss for her birthday next month, she's fine with something quiet just her and Jasper and something with her family. That's all she needs. That's all she wants. He's suddenly standing behind her. He touches the small of her back and she turns to face him. She raises a questioning eyebrow at him. He kisses her, tenderly, adoringly. Putting every ounce of emotion into it. She kisses him back... despite their restraint, the passion mounts...until he pulls away. The two of them catching their breath. All summer it would have progressed to the bed, but they have school now. They can't just ignore the world and curl up together. He brushes his thumb over her cheek and smirks at her. She rolls her eyes fondly knowing he's kissed her like that on purpose. To have her wound up and tightly coiled all day. He kisses her again, quickly, fleeting before he moves to get dressed himself. Lupe closes her eyes and takes a deep breath to calm herself down.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Noah and Logan are also invited to Bella's birthday party which does mean that they will all have to keep the vampire talk to the bare minimum. Things are better. But not perfect between them all. Noah is never going to be okay with Jasper being in Lupe's life, but he does love his sister enough to deal with them. And Bella is part of the family. Not by blood but still. Logan asked, Noah came. Noah closes his car door and straightens his jacket before he walks to where Logan and Lupe are waiting for him. He is a little surprised by how ordinary and modern the Cullen house looks. He was expecting some gothic architecture. The typical vampire stuff. But it's fresh. Clean. Open. He doesn't like it. It would be easier for him to hate them if they acted and looked like actual vampires."Sorry, traffic was terrible" Noah offers as he leans closer to kiss Logan who blushes but does kiss him back."Bella's not even here yet, you're fine" Logan assures him."She'll be dragging her feet" Lupe offers as she moves closer to them. Noah glances at her and gives a small smile in greeting."Lupe" Noah greets. Lupe waves and then lets out a breath. Him being here, means a lot. That he's walking into a vampire coven, means a lot. He hugs Lupe and she closes her eyes, hugging him back. It's been a while for both of them. But this is a good step. They have spent some time together over the summer, but mostly it was her alone with him. He made it clear that he didn't really want to share her with Jasper. Which Jasper was understanding of. It is taking Noah longer than the others to come to terms with their relationship. When he pulls back, Noah notices that Jasper is waiting in the doorway for them. Noah pulls a face and Logan squeezes his arm."Be nice" He whispers, Noah looks at him softly and then nods. Logan doesn't understand why Noah feels the way he does about Jasper and his family, but he understands that Noah doesn't like them. "Bella's birthday not your pissing match" Noah smirks a little and takes Logan's hand with a sly wink. Lupe moves towards the house followed by Logan and Noah. Jasper touches the small of Lupe's back and then greets Logan and Noah politely. Logan pulls a weird face because he's seen Jasper let his guard down more over the summer than ever before and this polite Jasper is such a mask that it's now humorous.......Alice really has outdone herself with decorations and cake. Cake for four people. It's massive. Not to mention how much pink she's invested in for this. The hundreds of pink candles and rose-filled crystal bowls are a little excessive. Lupe really hopes Alice doesn't know when her birthday is. She doesn't want anything like this. She doesn't want anything even remotely close to this. But right now, she is more than happy to swipe frosting from the cake in peace. Though she is aware that the vampires probably are fully aware of what she is doing."What are you doing?" Logan asks, Lupe lifts her head and then shakes it."Nothing" She answers, he hums and smirks amused."You've got frosting on your face" He motions to her lips and she licks them with a smirk. "I thought Charlie would be here," Logan tells her."He has to work, they're doing dinner tomorrow" Lupe answers "With Mom and Pops" Logan nods a little and then smirks."Hey, look, our boyfriends are bonding" Logan teases and motions across the room to where Jasper and Noah are stood together, but it certainly doesn't look like they are bonding. Noah looks about ready to hit Jasper actually."I know you won't ever like me, Noah" Jasper comments to the druid who turns to look at him. "But thank you for coming, I know it means a lot to Lupe""Logan asked me" Noah reminds him. "And he doesn't know how insanely dangerous this family is, someone had to be here to protect him""You seem so sure that wherever we go, something will go wrong?" Jasper asks him."Yes," Noah answers. "Because you're vampires" He points out. "And it's in your nature to destroy" He then walks away, heading towards Logan. Jasper takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. It's hard to try with him. But Lupe loves him so he will continue to do so."Don't listen to him" Lupe whispers softly as she appears at his side, reaching around to touch his chest. "It's just the way the druids are raised" She glances at Noah. She's learnt a lot about the druid from Oliver over the summer. He thought it would help her understand why Noah is the way he is with Jasper, and it does explain it but doesn't excuse it. "You and your family are different" She whispers softly. Jasper nods a little and curls his arm around her waist to pull her closer just as Alice skips down the stairs with a smile, joining the rest of her family. Behind her, Edward and Bella follow. Esme and Carlisle hug Bella warmly when she reaches the bottom."Sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in" Carlisle offers warmly."Like that's even possible" Esme teases as she pulls back from the hug. "Happy birthday, Bella" Suddenly there is a flash as Alice takes a photo of the three of them together. Bella turns and gives Alice a look."Found it in your bag" Alice points out with a sly smile. "Mind?" Emmett moves to Edward's side. Nudges him."Dating an older woman. Hot" Bella caught that. Edward elbows him sharply to shut up. "What?" Emmett asks innocently. Rosalie steps up towards Bella and shoves a silver package at Bella."It's a necklace" Rosalie points out flatly. "Alice picked it out" She then walks away, bored. Bella has to smile. She sees Jasper and Lupe across the room together with Logan and Noah. They've all already done gifts, minus Noah, so they are letting the others get it out of the way. Noah waves his fingers at Bella who smiles and waves back. Alice aims the camera at Bella again."Show me the love!" She offers with a wide smile. Edward pulls Bella into an embrace, they look deeply into one another's eyes as Alice takes another photo. "For your scrapbook. Now open your presents!" Alice drags Bella over to a table piled with elaborately wrapped gifts, a huge cake and a tall stack of china plates."Alice, that thing could feed fifty" Bella points out of the cake."Hope you guys are hungry then" Alice teases. "Here, this one's from Emmett." She shows Bella a gift as the others all move closer to crowd around her. Mira lingers at the edge and side of the group with a soft but worried smile. Alice gives her a look but Mira just shakes her head, they are all aware that Mira has days when being around humans, let alone four of them, is a bad idea, she's trying though, and if her siblings can do it, then so can she. Bella opens the gift to find an empty car radio box."Um... thanks?" Bella offers, confused."Already installed it in your truck" Emmett blurts out with excitement."Finally, a decent sound system in that piece of...." Edward starts but a look from Bella stops him with a smirk."No hating on the truck" Bella scolds him and then turns a softer look on Emmett. "Thank you, Emmett""Open mine and Mira's...." Alice hands her a box. Bella starts to open it but gets a paper cut."Ouch, paper cut" A single drop of deep red blood appears on the tip of her finger. Bella thinks little of it, but then hears a disturbing, grisly snarl that vibrates through the entire room. Mira. She lunges towards Bella, teeth bared, eyes beyond reason. Edward flings Bella behind his own body, causing her to crash into the table, plates shattering"Scildan" Noah casts a protection shield spell that covers himself and Logan who is already freaking out about this. Because he has every reason to freak out about this and what he is now witnessing. Jasper pushes Lupe behind him, holding her there, her fingers tight in his jacket and he's trying really hard to not let the smell get to him, not with Lupe in the room with him, not when she requires protecting, so he focuses on her emotions but they've always been duller than everyone else's and it doesn't help. But her scent does. It envelops him, washes over him. Entirely covers the smell of blood and he is instantly calmed. Mira slams into Edward, he tries to hold her back, pushing her away from him. She sails backwards away from him, hitting the far way which cracks under the impact. But she is quick to get back to her feet. Lupe pushes at Jasper, trying to assure him that he can help his sister here. He looks at her and she nods. Holding out her hand backwards towards Noah who takes it. Jasper and Noah share a look. There is blame in Noah's eyes but reassurance too, that his spell can cover her as well. That she will be safe. Jasper and Emmett both move at the same time, grabbing Mira from either side. Noah yanks Lupe back, safely placing her behind the barrier. Emmett and Jasper drag Mira down to the ground as she thrashes against them. It's been a long time since she's reacted like this. Alice is suddenly straddling her wife, grasping at her face."Mir" She whispers softly, cooing to calm her down. "Shh" But Alice stops, her head suddenly jerking toward Bella where she is laying amid the shards of broken china. She looks at her arm, seeing now that it's been slashed by plate shards; bright red blood pulses out of her, pooling. She looks up at the vampires all staring at her. Carlisle suddenly jumps to Bella's side. Edward, though white as a bone, snaps out of it and stands between her and the others. Jasper turns his head to look at Lupe, to check on her but she nods softly. She's okay."Emmett, get Mira out of here" Carlisle orders but no one moves. "Emmett" Carlisle pushes, firmer this time which gets through to him. Emmett reins himself in, elbows Rosalie. They drag the snarling Mira out. Esme holds her nose, politely exits with the others. Alice looks at Bella, apologetic."I'm sorry, I... can't..." Alice slips out the door. Edward's still on guard as Carlisle examines Bella's arm. Jasper moves to Lupe but can't get past Noah's shield."What the hell is going on?!" Logan snaps a little. Lupe and Noah look at him as he sits on the floor, rocking slightly, arms wrapped around his legs. Noah looks at him sadly, aware of what this means. Lupe touches Noah's arm but he shakes it off angrily and Lupe looks down as he moves to Logan, helping him to his feet. The shield disappears and Jasper instantly moves to Lupe's side but can see she's upset that Logan's now in this. Noah moves to leave with Logan as Logan struggles to understand."Bella" Lupe starts. "I have to make sure he's...." Bella nods, understands. She has Carlisle to look after her. Lupe needs to see to Logan who is probably going out of his mind."Go, go, it's okay" Bella assures her, Lupe nods and lets out a breath as she follows Noah and Logan. Jasper glances at Edward who stands stoic and still, hands clenched at his side.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lupe sits outside of her bus, a cigarette between her fingers. Logan and Noah are inside talking through what happened. They have to tell Logan the truth now. There is no hiding what he saw. She knows that Noah had their backs. That he did what he could to protect them. It doesn't make her feel better about it all though. Logan's a sarcastic little shit, but he doesn't deserve to be darkened by this. She closes her eyes and lets out a breath. Something vice-like grips at her heart. And it hurts..............Jasper sits on the steps out the back of the Cullen house. Letting the cold night breeze wash over him as he deals with the sinking feeling in his chest. The fear that is gripping him. He knows that his family are going to talk about this. He also thinks he knows how it is going to do. What they will decide. But he's worked hard to become the person he is now. Lupe is a big part of that and the thought of leaving her feels like he'll be going backwards. That he will go back to being that person that he was before he met her. Withdrawn. Hungry. Alone."Jasper" Carlisle calls of him, stood behind him in the open door. Jasper closes his eyes and then nods before he pushes himself to his feet. Time to face the music as they say. He knows how this ends though. He knows that they'll all think it is best to leave. Even if he wants to stay and work through this. To stay with Lupe. It's not going to happen..........
Later: 
Lupe and Jasper sit on a bench just outside of town. His bike propped up close by and her camper parked up beyond that. If these are going to be their last moments together, then he wants to enjoy them. He wants it to just be the two of them. He watches his thumb draw patterns into the back of her hand. Her skin is soft and warm beneath his touch. He can't give her up. He can't lose her. Even for his family, he can't bring himself to do this. He can't leave her. He can't say goodbye. It feels unfair to him. On them. After everything that he went through to get to this point in his life."I love my family, but I can't lose you" He admits. "I don't know what to do" He whispers and runs his fingers through his hair. He doesn't know what to do here. To abandon his family. To keep her. To leave her. But he knows he can't lose her. He's waited so long to find a person he can see himself spending his immortality with or her mortality with. He loves her. But enough to stay alone without his family? Lupe wrings her hands together. Something has to give. Because he's struggling to make a choice. And there are only two options that come to mind that she can live with. He stays or she goes with him. But there is something about the latter that strikes an unknown fear in her. "I'm scared" She admits, Jasper looks at her sadly as he threads his fingers with hers."Of what?" He asks her, she shrugs and looks away from him. "Lupe" he whispers, she sighs and kicks at the ground a little before she looks at him."What scares me the most, is that if you asked me to run away with you, right now, no packing, no goodbyes.....then I would" Lupe admits. Jasper searches her eyes, searching for the truth, when he realises, he smiles and nods. That could work. Neither staying nor leaving her. But doing something for themselves. Him and her together."So let's run away, just you and me," he tells her warmly and with complete seriousness. He means this. She snorts a little. Assumes he is joking. She just said what she said to be dramatic, but wasn't entirely lying, though not completely serious either."What?""Let's run away" he repeats. Absolutely firm in his question. She's got the right idea. He wants this. He doesn't want to leave with his family. He doesn't want to leave her behind. His place is with her. No matter where they are."To where?" She asks him. He is thoughtful before he smirks."Russia" He offers. She smirks a little and gives him a look as she lets a chuckle out. "What's in Russia?" She asks."No clue..." He shrugs a little and smiles warmly at her. "Find out with me" There is something about the idea of running away that makes her smile. Something that makes her want to say yes and just run with him. To travel. To just go. To leave everything behind. For it just to be the two of them. No drama. Nothing but the two of them together."Okay," She whispers in agreement."What?" he asks her, she nods."Okay, let's go to Russia...." She states with more conviction."Yeah?" He asks, she moves closer to him, his arm wrapping around her, she nods and touches his face. She's sure about this now."Yeah" she agrees."Right now?" he looks at his bike, she grabs his keys from his hand and backs up towards the bike."Right now" She repeats, he looks at her and then smiles before he shakes his head. He honestly didn't think she had it in her to be this rebellious. Smoking. Swearing. Sex. Drugs. Yes. But running away like clandestine lovers, disappearing into the night. No. He never thought that here. But here she is, fully intending on running away with him. To show how much she loves him. To show how much she wants to be with him. She is willing to leave everyone behind. "You're crazy" he counters as he follows her."It was your idea" she teases as she stops, letting him catch up to her, she raises an eyebrow at him and he appears thoughtful. Thinking about what this would mean for them. The leap this is. The stance it makes. The line in the sand that them leaving draws. That they weren't willing to abandon one another. That their places are at each other's side. He takes his keys back from her."Get on the bike," He tells her, she chuckles and then does just what he asked of her. Excitement flooding through her. She's never thought about running away with a boy before. But Jasper isn't just any other boy. And she doesn't feel like it is running away. She feels as though she's running forward, towards something instead of away. Jasper climbs onto the bike, Lupe's arms wrapping around his middle. She nuzzles into his back and lets out a breath as he starts the bike. Nothing about this feels wrong. Nothing about this feels like she is making a mistake. This is the right thing for them. For her. For him. For their future.

'Jasper and Lupe will return in Wolf & I'