Love to Hate You, Hate to Love You

Jasper POV

Lunch is over and its back to our dull classes. I meander through the crowded hallways, trying to avoid getting too close to anyone. It's their smell. It's the burn in my throat which I know will never completely go away. Best to avoid temptation. Temptation. That's exactly the feeling I experienced when I looked over at Bella Swan. That simple blush in her cheeks. But I didn't want to hurt her, did I? I don't think so. If I did, Alice would have foreseen it and stopped me. No, I must not want to hurt her. What then? Perhaps I was just feeding off the emotions of all the other students. Their want and curiosity. That must be it. That has to be it. Before I know it, i feel something soft and warm collide with my ice hard chest and papers and books went tumbling to the ground. I look down and there she is. This girl must be somewhat accident prone, more than the average human. She was frozen, looking up at me from her sprawled position on the floor amongst her papers.

"I'm so sorry. Where are my manners?" I slowly and hesitantly reach down to give her a hand up. As I pull her up next to me, I wait for the searing burn in my throat but it doesn't come. She is human isn't she? That's a dumb question, of course she is. Yes, I can feel how warm she is and I can hear her heartbeat, which is quite rapid at the moment. I don't yearn for her blood, even though she is standing so close to me. It must have occurred to her how close we were standing too, because she stammered and quickly took a few steps back. Maybe she is frightened.

"No..I uh...I'm sorry. Wasn't watching...I..well.." She is mumbling an apology so quietly that if I wasn't a vampire, I am sure I would not be able to hear her. I smile, trying to put her at ease.

"No harm done." I said, helping her gather her books and things. After we have gotten it all I extend my hand and say, "I'm Jasper Hale. You must be the new girl."

"Bella. Bella Swan." she reaches to shake my hand and I see her take notice of how cold I am, but she just looks surprised, not alarmed in any way. Maybe she just thinks I have bad circulation. Little does she know, I don't have any circulation at all.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you, although this is not how I planned to do so." I say, flashing her another smile. She doesn't say anything, just keeps looking at me so I decide to continue. "What class do you have next, Bella?"

"Er.." she says as she searches through her now crumpled papers. "Biology with Mr. Fitzpatrick."

"Wonderful, that's on my way. I'll walk you there, if you would like to walk with me, that is."

"Sure."

"How long have you been in Forks now?"

"Just about a week. Took some time to get settled, moved in with my Dad."

"And?"

She looked confused at my prompting. "And what?" she said.

"How do you like it so far?"

I expected a quick, "its ok" or "fine" like I would from others humans I have had conversations with, but Bella actually seemed to be thinking in order to give me a real response.

"I miss the sun."

That is something she and I have in common. I cannot walk about in the sun freely as I could in my human life. Here, I would expose what I am. Everyone would know I am...well, quite different. I look back at Bella and she looks sad, so I attempt to cheer her up.

"It appears as though the sun has missed you for a while now."

"Huh..?"

I gesture to her pale skin, and she finally gets my lame attempt at a joke. She at least does me the favor of not fake laughing but just smiles a very small, shy smile. This causes that rosy blush to creep into her cheeks again and I wait for her scent to finally hit me, but it doesn't. What's the matter with me? What's the matter with her? We arrive at the biology lab, which is good. Don't want to press my luck. For all I know, her scent could attack me out of nowhere, like a ninja.

"Well Miss Swan, here we are. Biology. I believe my brother, Edward is in this class. Perhaps he will get a chance to meet you as well." Maybe Edward can get to the bottom of why he can't hear her thoughts in closer proximity. Or maybe its something about her that throws off our vampire senses and abilities."It was lovely to meet you. I'll be seeing you around, I am sure." I nod briefly, a habit from my old life and turn to walk to my own class, which was actually on the other side of the school. I will see her around though, I will make sure of that.


******Please rate or review. This is the first fanfic I have written, ever and I would like to hear your thoughts. Questions, comments, criticisms, all welcome and encouraged. :) Thanks!******