A/N: For ElleCC. Thank you so much for your donation to Alex's Lemonade Stand and for taking a chance on me. I hope you haven't been disappointed.
Much gratitude to Chele681 & MsKathy for their insight, perspective, and fantabulous editing skillz. They are amazing women I'm proud to call my friends.
Unending adoration and love go to all my readers. Each alert, review, tweet, and PM meant the world to me, especially while my RL has been messy. Thanks to those who had read previous stories and gave this one a shot, and thanks to those who enjoyed this story and decided to try some of my other tales.
Stay tuned, chickadees, I'm always writing and have quite a number of other FGBs to complete...
Apparently, love made me assertive and bold.
Before returning to Tampa, Jasper and I drove to Safeco Field, the Seattle Mariners' stadium, and I marched right into the office, résumé in hand, and had an impromptu meet and greet with a couple of the sales bosses. I informed them that I was hoping to move back to area and that I was interested in finding a position with their sales team. My extensive knowledge of Mariners baseball (thanks to Charlie), combined with my experience with the Rays, helped me make a great first impression.
By the end of my little pop-in visit, we had all exchanged business cards, and I knew that I would be hearing from them soon. It only took three days, and a round of applications and pre-interview phone calls began. They were honest that a decision probably wouldn't be made until closer to the end of the current season, but I knew I had a good shot at a position there.
That confidence diffused into other areas of my life, and Demetri must have seen it because when we met up back in Florida, the first thing he said to me was, "This isn't a reconciliation, is it?"
I was not insensitive or hurtful toward him, but I stood my ground as I explained that we were over for good and that I definitely would not be going to Miami with him. He was visibly upset by my decision, but I thought that my time away and the initial breakup had probably prepared him. In the end, our parting was on as good of terms as I could have hoped for, and I wished him the very best. At one point, I had cared for Demetri very much, and on the whole, we'd had a good relationship; we just weren't right for the long run.
As I waited for things to develop with the Mariners, I sought out other jobs in the Seattle area in case that one didn't work out. As much as I loved my mom and Phil, I wanted to go home. I knew that I wanted to be with Jasper, and I craved the comforts of the place where I'd grown up and my dad's presence in my life again.
Since it was the middle of the baseball season when I returned to Tampa, I still had a number of months that I needed to be there. It was difficult when I felt anxious to move forward with the next steps in my life, but the extended period of time also allowed me to get through everything without too much stress or major deadlines. Missing each other was probably the hardest part for Jasper and me. Once we had unlocked our feelings for one another, it was like a tidal wave of love. We didn't have to go through all the getting-to-know-you steps of a new relationship, but there was still so much to experience and feel for one another.
"So I was thinking…maybe I can come down there and see you?"
"Really?" I squealed excitedly into the phone one evening. "Are you sure you can do that right now?" Even though I had asked, I wanted him to drop everything he was working on and get his fine ass to Florida. What could I say? I missed him.
"Yeah, babe. I'm not starting any classes until the fall, and anything else can wait. Four weeks away from you has been four weeks too long."
Even though I completely agreed with that, I decided to tease him a little. "Really? You can't handle more than a month away from me? We've gone over a year without seeing each other before. I'm sure you can handle it." I grinned to myself, waiting for his response.
"Just because I've done it doesn't mean I liked it, or that I want repeat that. Plus, I noticed that the Rays have six days of road games coming up, so that should give you some free nights, right?"
"Well, well, well, I see you've been thinking about this."
"Bella, I've been thinking about this since the day you left."
We talked for a while, working out the details of his upcoming visit, and I shrieked and bounced happily when our phone call ended. We were so different from how we had ever been toward one another, but in the best kind of way.
It was on that visit that Jasper and I actually declared ourselves a couple. I think we both knew what we were prior to that, especially since he had made it clear that he wanted me to move home and I'd agreed, knowing I wanted to be with him. This was an official title, though, and it felt good to have that security of his intentions.
In some ways, spending that week with Jasper (when I wasn't working) was amazing but also made the distance more difficult to handle. There were times when we were apart that my heart and body ached for him, and I would stay up too late at night just to talk to him a little longer. I also banned the word goodbye from our vocabulary; when our conversations ended, it was always "talk to you soon" instead.
For what it was worth, the time apart allowed us to grow closer on an emotional level. All the talking filled in the gaps and little details of our lives that we'd missed out on over the past few years. As much as it sucked to go without any form of intimacy for long periods, that always made our reunions very enjoyable. And, okay, I may have sent the occasional Bella-in-lingerie text message or video chatted with him topless. In my defense, Jasper definitely wasn't innocent in the teasing department either.
That transitional time as I awaited the end of baseball season allowed Jasper to figure out what he wanted to do with his future and get his affairs in order. Thanks to Mr. Whitlock's good planning and a sizable life insurance policy, Jasper was still able to follow through on all the business and school plans he had been discussing with his father. He was enrolled in school so that he could finish his degree, and in the meantime, he had decided to go ahead with his studio.
Instead of jumping right into buying a big recording space, he opted to do it in his house, having the basement converted to a studio. It was an investment, but Jasper would be able to manage classes and slowly building a business at the same time. It would reduce his overhead in the long run, and if he was able to turn it into a lucrative venture and open a bigger studio, he would always have the recording space for his personal use. The idea of Jasper sitting down in the basement, alone with his guitar and a mic in the studio was, well, really fucking hot.
When I inquired about the future of Lost Like You, he explained that the guys still got together to practice and hang out every once in a while, but they were all taking some time off. Emmett, the former sound guy from one of the bands Jasper had toured with, had recently moved to Seattle, and he and Jasper had been discussing partnering in the business. Jasper felt confident about his decisions. If Lost Life You ever decided to tour again, I knew it would be under different circumstances than in the past, and I would support him. He deserved that from me this time around.
In the fall, as baseball season drew to a close and franchises approached playoffs, I returned to Seattle for my big interview with the Mariners. I had three individual interviews and a group meeting afterward that took nearly three hours. As exhausted as I was when it was over, I felt like I had nailed it. The following night, I received a call from the sales director asking if I was still in town. I confirmed that I was and received an invitation to dinner to celebrate the job offer they were extending to me.
"Can I bring my boyfriend?" I asked. Jasper sat beside me on the sofa, where we had been watching a movie, and he looked at me eagerly when I squeezed his knee in excitement.
"Of course. We'd love to meet him. We'll see you at seven o'clock."
"You got it?" Jasper asked, watching me with wide eyes after I ended the call.
I jumped off the couch and threw my hands up in victory. "I got it!"
He stood with me, picking me up and swinging me around in a celebratory hug.
"Finally!" he exclaimed, kissing my neck. "God, I'm so happy for you, babe."
"Me too!" I agreed. "I can come home! I guess we'll find out when I start tonight."
"What time is it?" he asked, placing me back on my feet.
I glanced at my watched then back at him. "Quarter to four. Why?"
"Well," he said, grinning conspiratorially, "I think some congratulations are in order." His lips met mine, and the message was clear.
"That sounds like an excellent idea to me. Let's go celebrate." I smiled, feeling the joy of my job offer and the excitement for Jasper's lascivious intentions all the way down to my toes. I turned toward the stairs, but he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder before I could get far. I clung to him, giggling gleefully as he carried me all the way up the steps and into his bathroom.
He wiggled his eyebrows when I questioned him. "What? I like you all wet and slippery."
I laughed at him but didn't object. I loved the way my man thought.
It turned out to be a great night all around. I was flying high on my good news and the excitement and relief of finally knowing I could make the move back, and I didn't want to let that go. Jasper helped me "celebrate" throughout the night, but by morning, I knew I needed to get back to Charlie's house to share the great news with my dad.
Dad didn't really expect me to spend the night at his house on my visits now that Jasper and I were together, but I still home-based out of my old bedroom. I loved my father, and I always relished the time we got to spend together. However, he surprised me about ten minutes into our conversation, after I'd had the opportunity to tell him about the dinner with my soon-to-be bosses.
"Pumpkin, I'm so glad you're coming home. It doesn't hurt that you'll have those perks with game tickets either." He was teasing, but I knew he was genuinely excited and looking forward to enjoying some of the special privileges my job would offer. "I just want you to know something, though. You're an adult now, and I accept that you're getting close to settling down here. Hell, I was barely twenty when your mom and I tied the knot. So if you and Jasper want to be together when you come home, I'm not going to get all old fashioned on you."
"Are you telling me it's okay to move in with Jasper?" I asked, fighting a smile.
"That I am."
"You know, he and I hadn't even talked about that yet. I guess I just knew I'd have you here, so I was too busy focusing on everything else." I stood, crossed the kitchen, and came back with the coffee pot, refilling both our mugs. Before returning it to its hotplate, I bent down and kissed the top of his head. "Thanks, Dad."
.
"Bellllllla…come on, sweet thing."
"I don't wanna," I grumbled into my pillow.
"Come on. You've been asleep for two hours. I have dinner, and it's a beautiful night. We can sit outside."
"Fiiiiine," I groaned, pulling myself up off the bed , but I was much happier when Jasper drew me into his warm arms.
"I think I got everything finished. You'll just have to tell me if you want the furniture anywhere different."
"You did?" I asked, smiling up at him.
He smiled back, kissing the tip of my nose. "I told you I'd do it while you napped."
"You're the bestest," I sighed.
"Yup, you love me for my decorating skills."
Moving had not been too bad because I did pretty much the same thing I had when I originally relocated to Florida; I sold most of my furniture and gave the rest of it to my mom before coming back to Bellevue.
The only exception this time was that I decided to keep my car. It was only a few years old, and it seemed wasteful to trade it in when I was so close to paying it off. So Jasper flew to Tampa and joined me for a cross country trip from Florida to Washington. Some days were grueling, full of nothing but driving and endless roads, but we made many stops and detours along the way, enjoying the opportunity to see many places we never would have otherwise.
Back home, Jasper and I had followed my dad's advice ‒ or blessing, whichever it was ‒ and decided to move in together. It was a good opportunity to take the rest of the house and make it his...ours...instead of his father's. He had spent so much time having the basement transformed into a recording studio that the rest of the house was left in pretty much the same state it had been since after the funeral.
Immediately after the road trip home from Tampa, we had gotten rid of the majority of Mr. Whitlock's furniture, repainted and redecorated most of the house, and bought all new living room, dining room, bedroom, and guest room sets. All my clothes and belongings were unpacked, and I had even convinced Jasper to move into the master suite. It was a difficult thing for him to accept, but I reminded him that it was his house now, and that his dad would have wanted him to enjoy it.
Earlier that day, I had practically been sleepwalking as the final furniture delivery came in and we made all the finishing touches on setting things up and completing our enormous home makeover. Jasper had sent me up to our new bedroom and into our big new bed to rest, and I fell onto the comfy, cloud-like mattress happily, closing my eyes and allowing sleep to take hold.
"What's for dinner?" I asked groggily, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes as we made our way downstairs.
He draped his arms over my shoulders when we reached the bottom of the stairs, making me shuffle forward as he remained wrapped around me .
"Mmm…" I hummed happily, dragging him behind me as I tried to get to the kitchen faster. "It smells so yummy."
After indulging in far too much food for my belly ‒ it was so good I couldn't help myself ‒ we grabbed a couple beers and headed for the back porch. I sighed happily when I saw Jasper carrying his acoustic guitar out with him. He sat down on the top step, beckoning me to sit between his legs. After wrapping his arms and his guitar around me, he held his left hand around the neck and placed his right hand over mine, guiding me to strum and create songs together. When we grew tired of our little game, his guitar was set aside, and I closed my eyes, leaning back into him. We snuggled together, exchanging small kisses and bits of conversation every so often, but mostly remaining quiet as we enjoyed the night.
After years of complicated friendship, months rearranging our lives and preparing to be together, and weeks renovating the house, I finally felt like we could be still and breathe.
I was so happy. Happy, home, and in love. Life was good.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Jasper asked softly, his warm breath tickling my ear.
"Hear what?"
"Listen."
I focused on the world around us, and I knew Jasper was smiling behind me when I finally realized what he meant and tightened my grip on his arms.
"Run! He's right behind you!"
"I got you! You're out!"
"You're it next!"
Peals of laughter filled the blue-black evening, solidifying the presence of the neighborhood children playing nearby. The sounds were so familiar, bringing a flood of memories and old feelings to the forefront of my mind.
I turned slightly, tipping my head back just enough for Jasper to lean down and kiss me sweetly. Our lips moved in time for a minute, stopping only when the thunder of little feet dashing through our yard caught our attention.
The boy froze when he realized we were on the steps.
"I…I'm sorry for comin' in your yard," he said, his voice nervous.
Jasper and I both laughed lightly; I knew he was remembering old times with me and our childhood friends.
"We don't mind. What's your name?"
"Riley," the little boy, probably nine years old, told us.
"Well, Riley, it's nice to meet you. I'm Jasper, and this is Bella. Want to know the best hiding places in the neighborhood?"
"Yeah!" Riley exclaimed, expression brightening.
I settled back into Jasper's arms, smiling at how sweet and funny he was with the boy, as he revealed all his secrets to Riley. After giving Jasper an exuberant thank you, Riley dashed off, leaving us alone again.
Jasper stood, offering me his hand, and pulled me to stand. He led me inside with a smile, leaving the sounds of children playing and all the ups and downs of our past behind us.
The end.
E/N: Yes, it's over, but the good news is that I'll be doing a JPOV outtake for FGB.
I must say I was surprised that no one caught on to the playlist/chapter titles. The songs I selected were Jasper's perspective on each chapter. The playlist is on my LiveJournal account (though currently missing several songs). Perhaps they'll give you some insight if you go back and look. Here are the songs and artists, as a reminder:
1- Gimmeakiss - The Avett Brothers
2- In This Diary - The Ataris
3- Colorblind - Counting Crows
4- Seeing Red - Unwritten Law
5- If I Fell - The Beatles
6- Here Is Gone - Goo Goo Dolls
7- Somewhere In Between - Hawthorne Heights
8- We Might As Well Be Strangers - Keane
9- I Shall Believe - Sheryl Crow
10- A Beautiful Mess - Jason Mraz
11- On Your Side - Pete Yorn
12- Cannonball - Damien Rice
13- Out Loud - Dispatch
14- Without You - Default
15- You Are Mine - Mute Math
16- To Be With You - Hoobastank
17- Inevitable - Anberlin