Still Mooing

The drive back to the bar was short, but it felt like an eternity. It wasn't until I had pushed my way through the crowded entrance and laid eyes on her wild curls that I identified the source of my anxiety. I was worried. Pushing the foreign emotion down I surveyed the bar. A light buzz floated through the room as its happy occupants chattered away. It was still early in the evening, but there was a considerable Friday night crowd. Bella was sitting at the far end of the bar and unsurprisingly, she wasn't alone.

"I said I'm not interested. I'm waiting for someone."

"You've been sitting here waiting for like twenty minutes, I think you got stood up doll." Her suitor was burly and above average in height, which he used to his advantage. One arm rested on the bar while the other held the back of her stool, effectively trapping Bella between him and the eager crowd lining up to get a drink.

"Then let me drink away my sorrows in peace."

"Oh come on don't be like that-"

"Be like what? I'm not interested. Get over it." He looked like he wanted to argue, but I had already pushed my way through the throng of people. His retort trailed off when he looked up and noticed my eyes were boring a hole into the top of his skull. His emotions quickly switched from lust and frustration to anger, but when his eyes snapped to mine his brain recognized the predator glaring back.

"Whatever." He left in search of his next conquest mumbling angrily. I moved to fill the now vacant spot beside Bella. She had lost her cheerful demeanor, staring somberly into the amber liquid that filled her glass. Reaching into her pocket she retrieved some crumpled bills which she slid my way.

"The food should be done soon. Here's the change."

"Find something you like?"

"They have one thing I like." I watched carefully as she threw back the remaining contents of her glass, showing off the curve of her neck. She had let her hair down, perhaps in an effort to look older. With the male attention she drew to the bar I had a feeling Bella wasn't getting carded any time soon. Putting the glass down neatly she turned to face me. The bar stool gave her a little boost, but I still towered over her.

"Did you think I left you here?"

"People do shitty things all the time. The thought crossed my mind." Her words were blunt, but her smirk softened them. She was teasing me.

The volume at the bar was steadily increasing as thirsty patrons filed in. I used this to my advantage and leaned in close, invading her personal space. Bella's heartbeat fluttered wildly though she remained still as a statue. "You are so… helpless and innocent. I could never do such a thing."

"I think we both know that's not true." She had tilted her head to whisper those words in my ear, her full lips brushing against my jaw in the process. I had to physically swallow back the growl of satisfaction that was threatening to escape. The image of her knelt on the forest floor was permanently ingrained in my skull, along with a million fantasies I had come up with since then.

The food arriving was a welcomed distraction. The plastic bag was tied tightly, but whatever was inside smelled… meaty. Luckily for me, Bella wasn't interested in eating now. My experience with human food is limited and I doubt my acting would convince anyone, let alone her.

"We should probably leave." She reached for the food as she spoke, but I beat her to it. Offering her the other arm in a very gentlemanly fashion reminiscent of my younger days, I watched as she eyed me with an apprehensive look I was beginning to recognize.

Her tiny hand slipped into the crook of my arm and with grace she hopped down from her perch. Even with the light jacket I wore I could feel how warm she was. It was very distracting. So distracting in fact that I didn't notice the tipsy patron on a collision course with us until it was too late. Shoulders bumped, beer spilled, and tempers flew. I looked down at Bella to see an almost comical look of shock on her face.

"Bitch! Watch where you're going." The offending human sounded like she wanted to start a fight until she looked up at me. She quickly slurred out an apology and scurried off.

Bella turned her eyes to me, hand still tucked in my arm. I couldn't help but chuckle at her look of disbelief. Her front was soaked with beer, shirt clinging deliciously to her skin.

"You're dry as a bone." This of course only made me laugh harder, and Bella responded by half dragging me to the exit grumbling the whole way.

"Just lucky I guess." I earned an eye roll with that one.

"Nothing about this is funny. If we get pulled over the whole truck is going to smell like a brewery."

"Then I guess we'll be spending the night in the drunk tank." Though she tried not to laugh, a small giggle escaped her lips. I extended my free arm out to hold the door for us, and we made our way to the truck.

"If I'm gonna get arrested I'm taking her down with me." I slowed us to a stop in front of my truck. The air had cooled considerably, and Bella shivered lightly. I reached out and tugged at her damp shirt.

"Will there be more beer? I'd pay to see that." She shoved lightly at my arm, but a smile tugged at her lips.

"And here I thought you were a gentleman."

"I have my limits." My voice had dipped, accent slipping through slightly and something flashed in Bella's eyes.

As tempting as she was, this was not the time nor the place. I tossed the food in the back and started up the truck. Pulling off my jacket I yanked my shirt over my head and tossed it out the window at a rather surprised looking Bella.

"You're a sticky mess. Go change." She rolled her eyes but thanked me with a huff and quickly obliged. Less than a minute later she tossed her ruined shirt in the back and came to join me. I wasted no time and made haste back to Forks.

The way she looked in my shirt was doing things to me. Even with the jeans she was equal parts innocent and tempting, sneaking peeks at me through those long lashes. I cranked the heat not just for her sake but to keep up appearances, as the tank top I had on would to little to keep a human warm.

It was unlikely the nomads would attack so soon, however I still scanned the tree line methodically as we drove. Trackers practically got off on the hunt. He will take his time, watching and waiting. Learning all he can about her. Then a deadly game of cat and mouse will ensue, one that will leave Bella broken inside and out. I glanced towards the passenger seat and green eyes met mine with an almost shy smile. Her cheeks were rosy pink from the warmth of the truck and she gave a little yawn.

This tracker was already dead. He just doesn't know it yet.

Quiet music filled the cabin as I lazily scrolled through different radio stations, stopping now and then when Bella would give a little smile at one she liked. I was getting better at reading her facial expressions, not that I had much choice. She didn't make it easy on me either, but in the relaxing ambiance of the truck she was less reserved and more relaxed.

I used this to my advantage and decided to run some 'tests'. Did she actually have a shield or is she just immune to vampire gifts? That seemed unlikely as she was able to project my gift back to me in her sleep. Nothing of that magnitude has ever been heard of, let alone recorded. If the Volturi got wind of her…death would probably be preferable.

I sent her a small dose of joy; just enough that a normal human would break out in a seemingly natural grin. Nothing. I sent her a bit more for good measure but still nothing. I could almost feel the energy of my gift wafting through the truck cabin. Frustrated, I cycled through a few more emotions before finally settling on lust. I sent her a slow wave, something that should have made her squirm in her seat. This time it practically bounced off of her and onto me. She gave me on odd look as I uncomfortably shifted my weight due to my suddenly too-tight pants. Could she sense that I was trying to manipulate her emotions?

My experiment would have to be put on hold as we were nearing Bella's house. I parked a few houses down as per her earlier request and shifted slightly to face her. She looked tired but content as she slowly undid her seatbelt, turning to face me as well. I waited for her to say something bland and generic like 'that was fun" or 'let's do that again sometime' but it never came.

"Thank you, Jasper." I was unused to hearing those words so often but the sound of my name on her lips distracted from the unfamiliarity of it. I gave her a simple nod in response, unsure how else to accept her gratitude.

"Good luck Bella." It was her time to nod. She hopped out of the truck and gathered her belongings from the bed, placing 'my' portion of food in the cabin with me. She met my eyes with a small smile and a simple 'Enjoy', and then she was off. Curiosity got the better of me so I picked up the meaty smelling container. As I opened the styrofoam clamshell I narrowly avoided spilling the copious amounts of reddish fluid that had pooled at the bottom. A sad looking steak sat marinating in it's own bloody juices, so raw I wondered if it even touched a pan. The damn thing was practically still mooing.