BELLA'S POV

One second I cut my finger opening a present, and the next thing I know, I'm laying in shattered glass. Only instead of seeing Edward in front of me, it's Jasper who's crouched in front of me protectively. He was even growling. The others all backed off. Rosalie, Emmett, and Esme all left. I guess the smell of blood was getting to them. However, Alice, Edward, and Carlisle remained. Carlisle started towards us, making Jasper growl again.

"Jasper, she's hurt. I need to help her. I promise I wont take her from you." Carlisle said. Okay, I was beyond confused by this point. Jasper stood slowly and turned to me. Instead of his eyes being black like thirsty vampires, they were still golden.

"What on earth is going on?" I asked.

"I'll explain after Carlisle patches you up, lil darlin'." Jasper replied. He allowed Carlisle to take me to the kitchen and deal with the wound.

"Carlisle, what is going on? I'm confused." I asked quietly.

"I think Edward and Jasper need to be the ones to explain it to you. This is going to need stitches; do you want me to take you to the hospital or do it here?" Carlisle asked.

"I guess here. I wouldn't want Charlie to freak out." I replied. We sat in silence and soon all of the glass was out of my arm and my arm was stitched.

"Okay, boys, she's ready for you to come explain." Carlisle said. Edward and Jasper walked in, with Alice on their heels. "I'll give you four some privacy for this." Carlisle went outside.

"What happened in there?" I asked.

"Well, Bella, it seems Jasper found his mate." Alice said, smiling at me.

"But what about you? And Edward?" I asked.

"I saw this coming. And I told Edward. We both knew it was going to happen as of a few weeks ago. We just didn't tell anyone else." Alice replied.

"And you're okay with it?" I asked.

"It's not easy, Bella, but who am I to deny Jasper his mate?" Edward said.

"And I always knew Jasper wasn't my true mate." Alice replied. I was still really confused.

"Well if I'm his mate, how come he never knew until today?" I asked. Alice and Edward looked pointedly at Jasper before leaving the room.

"I never knew until today, because you were never truely in danger until today. Mates often don't know until it comes to a point where they feel the need to protect them." Jasper replied.

"But the time with James, I was in danger." I said.

"You were never in danger of dying, just in danger of being changed." Jasper replied.

"So now what?" I asked.

"Now, it's up to you sweetheart. Obviously your feelings for Edward won't disappear suddenly, you're only human after all. So I'm assuming you need time before even considering this." Jasper replied.

"Is he really okay with this?" I asked.

"He is. I talked to him while Carlisle was patchin you up." Jasper replied. "And Alice told him she sees his mate coming in a few months, which really helped."

"Good. He deserves happiness." I said. "So about this mate thing...how's it work?"

"Well lil darlin', all I know is what I've seen with the three pairs of mates I've been around. I suppose the best way to explain it is we're emotionally tied, and being away from each other will make us uneasy. But I'll be able to sense if you're in danger, no matter how far from you I am. And if someone took you from me, or something was to ever happen to you, it would destroy me. My world revolves around you now, and whatever you need or want is yours. And I'll also be very jealous of any males near you. Once I mark you as mine, which I will NOT do until you tell me you want me to, I should calm down instead of being edgy when other males are around." he replied. I sat there thinking for a moment.

"And if I deny you?" I asked. Hurt flashed through his eyes but he quickly got his mask of calmness back.

"I'd accept it because it's what you want, but it would be torture. However, I will wait for you. I'm not gonna push you into being with me. I understand you probably need time." he replied. I got up and hugged him.

"Thanks, Jasper." I said, looking down. He put an arm around my shoulders and squeezed lightly.

"Lets get your presents loaded and I'll take you home. I'll have Alice follow in your truck, but I don't think you'll quiet be able to drive until the numbing medicine wears off." Jasper said. We went outside and joined all the others.

"I'm takin her home. Alice, can you follow in her truck? I don't think its wise to let her try driving herself." Jasper said. The others all looked at him.

"Of course." Alice replied.

"Bye, Bella." Carlisle, Esme, and Rosalie called.

"Bye, Bells. Don't trip and hurt yourself any worse." Emmett laughed. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Bella, if it's alright I'd like to get you tomorrow and talk on the way to school." Edward said, looking at Jasper the whole time. I realized that now, he had to have Jasper's permission to do anything with me.

"It's alright, I reckon. Not that I like it." Jasper said beside me. Edward nodded. We went back inside and Jasper grabbed all my presents and put them in my truck before handing me a helmet. I looked at him questioningly before he led me to their garage. I understood immediately when he stopped in front of a beautiful motorcycle.

"Charlie's gonna flip when he sees this." I muttered.

"Which is why tomorrow I'm going to go buy a truck." Jasper said, smiling down at me. He got on and I got on behind him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist to feel more secure.

Minutes later we whipped into my driveway. Alice was helping the others before coming over in my truck. Jasper followed me to the door, obviously intending on speaking to my dad. Charlie was sitting at the table when we came in, and a look of shock came over his face when he saw it was Jasper beside me instead of Edward. The instant he saw the bandage on my arm, he started freaking out.

"Bella, what happened? Why didn't you call and tell me you were hurt?" Charlie asked.

"Dad, relax. I tripped and fell into the table with the plates on it. Carlisle took care of it for me though." I replied. "Oh, and this is Jasper, Edward's adoptive brother."

"Nice to meet you sir. I thought I should bring her home, Carlisle numbed her arm before cleaning and stitching it. I didn't think she would be able to drive very well. Alice is bringing her truck by in a few minutes." Jasper said, shaking Charlie's hand.

"Thank you for bringing her home. But if you don't mind me asking, why didn't Edward bring her?" Charlie asked.

"Edward and I broke up, dad." I said.

"Did he hurt you?" Charlie asked, his face suddenly darkening.

"No, dad! It was a...mutual agreement that we needed to just be friends. We want different things in life, is all." I replied. Jasper put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently. I suddenly heard my truck pull into the driveway.

"That's Alice. I best be going so I can drive her home. It was nice meeting you sir, and Bella if you need anything you know you can call me and talk." Jasper said before leaving.

"Bells...that boy likes you." Charlie said. I blushed and followed his gaze to the door.

"What makes you think that?" I asked.

"Just the way he looked at you. Like he adores you and would do anything in the world for you. Is he why you and Edward broke up?"

"Sort of. But I'm not dating him, dad, relax. Edward could see he really liked me and said he couldn't be with someone Jasper was so crazy over. But Jasper told me that he knows I need time before I get with someone. Edward was my first boyfriend." I replied.

"I think I'm going to like him a lot better." Charlie said. I smiled.

"I think I'm going to go to bed, dad. Its been a long day." I said.

"Night Bells. Love you." Charlie said, hugging me. I went up the stairs and got ready for bed before curling up.

Now that he was gone, I knew what Jasper meant about feeling uneasy being apart from each other. I was jittery and I knew I wouldn't easily sleep.