Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Behind Steel Bars

By Midnight Dreamer

Chapter 24: Lock the door and Throw away the Key.

Isabella was concerned when Charlotte called and canceled their plans for drinks. So she called her the following day to make sure things were okay, Charlotte quickly confirmed that everything was fine and invited her out for dinner on Saturday night. Isabella was hesitant at first until Charlotte mentioned that Jasper was going to be there also. Her feelings for Jasper we still unclear at times; sure they had hung out on occasion since that first meeting, they got along great so she couldn’t deny they had chemistry but still, Isabella was unsure of herself – she had only ever been on one date and that had turned out disastrous.

The week passed slowly – or at least that’s how it felt to Isabella. As Friday approached, she couldn’t decide if she was anxious or nervous. Dinner was set for Saturday night at eight o’clock at Roman’s. Now Roman’s wasn’t high class but it wasn’t McDonald’s either. After digging through her closet for hours, Isabella decided she needed to go shopping, and she would need the perfect shopping partner to go with her: Charlotte.

Charlotte met Isabella at a strip mall in downtown Dallas. This being the first time either of the woman had shopped there, meant that they were less likely to be noticed.

*****skipping the boring shopping part*****

After finally deciding on what they were each going to wear, they exited the mall and exchanged goodbyes. Isabella returned home and hung her outfit on the back of her bedroom door, before settling in. After making and eating dinner, she finally headed off to bed.

Seven o’clock the following night, Isabella found herself standing in front of her vanity, freshly showered and dressed. Her problem was that she was unsure how she should apply make-up and do her hair. Just then her cell phone chimed, signaling that she had a new text from Charlotte.

Go Natural!

That was all it said… Now how in the world would she know what her dilemma was? Again, the phone chimed.

Because I know you!

Okay, now Isabella was officially creeped out! Laughing to herself, she decided Charlotte was right. She brushed out her long, red hair before leaving it to hang naturally. Then she added some clear lip gloss to keep her lips from chapping in the Texas heat. With one final look in the mirror, she deemed herself ready and grabbed her clutch and keys. Locking the door behind her, she left for the restaurant.

It was five minutes to eight when she pulled into the parking lot of Ramon’s. She could easily make our Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte waiting by the doors. She parked as close as she could to them. She had just turned off the car when her door was opened.

“Please allow me?” Jasper said while holding out his hand for her. She placed her hand in his, smiling.

“Thank you, Jasper.”

“Not a problem, ma’am.”

“Jasper, please don’t call me ma’am! It makes me feel old – call me Bella.”

“Sure, Bella.” he said while lacing her arm through his. She turned and clicked the alarm button on her key chain as they walked away. A low chirping sound signified that it had set.

Once they joined the others Charlotte hugged her while Peter kissed her cheek and told her she looked lovely, causing Isabella to blush slightly. They all entered the restaurant together. After being seated they talked happily together during dinner. The waitress brought the bill over as Charlotte excused herself to the ladies room. Peter decided it was a good time to go pay the bill, leaving Jasper and Isabella alone at the table.

“So, how is everything going?” Isabella asked.

“Okay. Alice and Edward are pissed I’m not behind bars for the fight, however I do have to pay for his medical bills and whatever other bills he got while in the hospital. Other than that, Ma has kept me busy on the Ranch.”

“So, that civil suit went through, huh?”

“Yeah but I’m not gonna complain – my house did almost kill the guy.” Jasper chuckled.

“Well, at least it’s all over with now.”

“I wouldn’t say that – I know them both well and neither will let this go that easily.”

“Just be careful…” Isabella said, giving him a pleading look.

“I will.” he answered, placing a comforting hand on her arm.

After a few seconds of staring at each other, Jasper broke the silence.

“Isabella, would you like to have dinner with me?”

“Didn’t we just do that?”

“Yes, but I mean just the two of us… like a date?” Jasper’s eyes dropped to the floor, he was nervous that she would say no.

“I would love to.” she replied as she lifted his face with her fingers under his chin.

“Really?”

“Yes, really!”

“Well then – how about Tuesday night?”

“I don’t have any other plans so I don’t see why not.” Isabella smiled.

“Then I’ll call you with the details?”

“Sure thing! Where’s your phone?” Isabella said.

Jasper and Isabella exchanged numbers. Almost as soon as they returned each others phone, Peter was back; followed closely by Charlotte.

“All set!” Peter said.

“We’re ready.” Jasper said, looking at Isabella who nodded.

“Let’s go then!”

They all left together. Jasper walked Isabella back to her car. Helping her in and closing the door, she rolled down her window.

“Jasper.”

“Yeah?” he turned.

“Tell Peter and Char that I had a great time.”

“Will do.” He started walking away again, only to stop when he heard her speak.

“Oh, and Jasper?” he turned to look at her.

“Yeah?”

“I’m looking forward to Tuesday.” then she rolled up her window and drove off, leaving him standing there with a goofy smirk on his face.

Seconds later, the sound of a car horn brought him back to reality.

“You just gonna stand there or are ya gonna get in?” Peter asked smiling.

Jasper just nodded and got in the backseat.

“So, did ya ask her?” Charlotte asked, turning around in her seat.

Jasper nodded.

“What did she say?”

Again, Jasper just nodded.

“Why does this seem like a one sided conversation?” Charlotte asked turning back to Peter.

“’Cause whatever she said to him before she drove off stunned him stupid!” Peter chuckled.

“Well apparently he asked her out and she said yes… She did say yes right?” she said, looking back at Jasper who once again nodded. Sighing in frustration, she turned back toward the front. The rest of the ride to the Ranch was silent.

Once they got back to the Whitlock Ranch, Jasper climbed out and went straight inside the house. He smiled at his Ma while picking her up and spinning her around. That was when Charlotte and Peter walked in. She laughed and told him to put her down and he did as told, kissing her on the forehead before heading upstairs to his room. Peter and Charlotte shook their heads at his antics.

“What in the Sam hill was that all about?” Ma asked.

“Jasper finally asked Isabella out.” Peter said.

“And it would seem she said yes.” Charlotte finished.

“What? He didn’t tell you her answer?”

“Not really, all he did was nod.” Charlotte said.

“He was stunned stupid, Ma!” Peter chuckled.

“I see… well at least he asked her.”

“Yeah, now maybe he’ll stop his mopin!” Charlotte added.

“I hope so…” Ma said.

~BSB~

Alice was unhappy that she couldn’t get any of Jasper’s money, but figured the hell with it and would just find another way to get it. Edward on the other hand was livid, feeling cheated. He wanted a settlement, but since Jasper was found not guilty at the criminal trial, the court only made Jasper pay for his hospital bills and anything that occurred while he was in the hospital. So Edward spent the next couple of days following Jasper around trying to come up with a way to get the money he wanted out of him. It was a hard task, seeing that Jasper never really went anywhere.

It wasn’t until that Saturday night that Edward got an idea: He overheard Jasper’s conversation with the lady in the car – the same lady, he noted, from the court room – making a date for Tuesday night. Jasper would have to drive alone to either pick her up or to meet her there… Going home with a smile on his face, he crawled into bed and dreamed of what his plan could mean.

It was finally Tuesday and Edward had sent Alice away for a couple days to the spa. He knew she wouldn’t approve of his plan but he didn’t really care – one way or another, he was going to get his hands on some of that Whitlock money.

Waiting just around the bend from the driveway of the Whitlock Ranch, it was just after seven when he saw Jasper’s truck pull out onto the main road leading into the city. Edward pulled out and followed behind him. The back-roads to the Ranch were dangerous if you didn’t know them – even more so at night. As soon as they came to a straight away, Edward pulled up along side Jasper and rammed his car in to the side of Jasper’s truck. Edward knew that Jasper wouldn’t be able to tell it was him since the windows were tinted. Edward laughed as Jasper tried to pull ahead of him. Edward simply hit the gas a little more to come up along side him again. They sped around a bend in the road; seeing a car coming up ahead, Edward stayed right next to Jasper. Edward watched as Jasper tried looking for a way to get off the road and let the other person get by but couldn’t. Since Edward refused to give, the other driver was forced to swerve off the side of the road. Coming to a stop the other, driver got out and called the police. Meanwhile, Edward was once again ramming into Jasper’s side. It wasn’t much longer before flashing lights could be seen up ahead and Edward decided that it was now time to finish this. He rammed Jasper one last time – only this time Jasper’s truck ricocheted off the guard rail and came careening back at Edward, forcing them both off the side of the road and down the embankment. The last thing Edward remembered seeing was the trees right in front of him.

~BSB~

Jasper was all dressed and ready to go on his date with Isabella. He’d been as antsy as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

“Boy, would ya settle yourself! Your gonna have me all jumpy soon!” Ma yelled at him.

“Yes, Ma! Sorry.”

“Well Jasper, it’s time for ya ta go anyway. Ya have fun and treat her right, ya hear?”

“Yes, Ma.”

Jasper left and headed out to the main road. He was bout two miles out when a car he didn’t recognize pulled up beside him. Then it rammed into him. Not knowing what else to do he sped up, trying to get away. The other car sped up too, and again rammed into him. He could see another car’s headlights up ahead. He couldn’t swerve to the side, and the other driver wasn’t moving. The on-coming car swerved and stopped on the side of the road. The twisted game of bumper cars continued but soon the flashing lights of the police could be seen. The other driver must have called the cops. Once again, the other driver slammed into the side of Jasper’s truck. The truck bounced off the guard rail and careened back out into traffic causing the other car to go off the road as well. As Jasper’s truck went over the embankment it flipped. The last thing Jasper thought was that he wasn’t going to make it to his date with Isabella.