"I suppose it's a good thing that you can hold your breath," I commented as I hurriedly tried to finish the Chinese fast food he had gotten me to eat as neatly as possible. "I can't imagine how unappetizing human food must smell with such enhanced senses," I wrinkled my nose as I finished my box and threw the trash in the paper bag. "Half the time, food smells too strongly, or horribly for me so I don't know how you'd deal with it..." Jasper rolled down his window and threw the bag into a garbage bin before driving off again.

"More than a century of practice, darlin'," Jasper replied easily, making me smile in amusement. "What's your favorite color?" He asked suddenly, not that I was all that surprised. I was used to sudden changes in subject as I was the one who employed them the most.

"Black, but I'm partial to other warm or cool, dark colors. Dark red, dark violet, dark blues, coal grays and the like," I replied, happy that he was asking about my interests.

"Music?" He questioned.

"Any genre as long as I like the music and lyrics," I responded.

"Flower?"

"The stereotypical rose. Any color as long as it's a rose and it has a nice aroma."

"Is that your favorite scent?" He asked.

"One of the few. I also like lavender, jasmine, eucalyptus, and honey."

"What was the last Halloween costume you wore?" I actually had to think about that one. I remembered my mother's initial insistence that they wear matching costumes like Tweedledee and Tweedledum or Siamese cats or some other matching costume pair, but I didn't stand for that for very long.

"A witch. I made my own costume last time and I was very proud of it," I answered eventually. Jasper seemed interested in this before he fired another question.

"Do you practice a religion?" For the first time, I hesitated to answer.

"I...I don't practice a specific or popular faith, but I'd like to think I'm a spiritual person. I believe in things that cannot be seen, in the supernatural, even before I knew of the existence of vampires," I added the last jokingly, but continued more seriously. "I've never been one to consign myself to a specific set of rules or practices necessary for me to be part of a religion, but that didn't mean I didn't believe in the existence of anything beyond what I can see and touch. I'm not atheist, rather I'm spiritual," I finished slowly as I thought my answer out. He looked thoughtful at my answer before nodding and asking another question.

"Favorite sweets?" I blinked at the sudden shift in question but wasn't really surprised.

"Euh, loaded question...I have a few favorites; flan with whipped cream, strawberries with chocolate or whipped cream, chocolate cake with whipped cream. dark chocolate, chocolate with almonds or peanuts, brownies with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream and chocolate syrup, chocolate, vanilla, chocolate chip, and coffee ice cream with chocolate syrup and whipped cream...that's all I can think of off the top of my head," I hummed.

"Whipped cream and chocolate, I noticed, are recurring themes," Jasper commented. I only grinned and shrugged unrepentant.

"Well, they happen to taste good with a lot of things," I defended jokingly, grinning when I made him smile.

"What places have you gone to?" I shrugged again, thinking back.

"Not many places, most in the country and on the west coast...oh! Well, we did go to vacation somewhere in Mexico once, but it was a tourist hot-spot during the summer so it was way too hot and crowded," I sighed wistfully.

"Where would you like to go?" Jasper asked instead, my eyes brightening at the question.

"Everywhere!" I said excitedly. "I've always wanted to travel all over the world! Exploring ruins, national monuments, and natural wonders and taking pictures of everything! I want rooms dedicated to things I've gotten from all over, from the most well known places to the most obscure!" Even in my previous life (and isn't that a strange thought) it had been my dream to go all around the world, but I had never gotten the chance and some of the places I wanted to visit, and still do, are too dangerous for a small girl to travel alone. Of course being small and a girl would be a moot point if you added 'vampire' to that list.

"Hmm," I turned to see Jasper smiling at me warmly, a contemplative look in his eye that had me tilting my head curiously.

"What?" His smile only widened a bit as he shook his head in dismissal.

"Nothing. So, what's your favorite gemstone?"

"Opals," I responded instantly, no hesitation. This time it was Jasper who tilted his head curiously.

"Not sapphire?" I shook my head.

"Sapphire is second because it's my birthstone, but I like all other gems pretty equally."

"Why is opal your favorite?" I grinned at the question.

"Because the smooth oval shaped ones look like little dragon eggs, don't you think?" I grinned at him, making him laugh outright at my reason. "Well that and the color variety is amazing. I could stare at opals for hours," I sighed dreamily, thinking on the mystical little gems.

"Interesting," Jasper murmured, bringing my attention back to him. I smiled at him.

"What? No more twenty questions?" He hummed.

"Not really, we've talked about everything else since that first day I drove you to school," Jasper murmured as he pulled in front of my house. I pulled out my cell to check the time and was pleasantly surprised that it was barely seven thirty.

"Oh, good, Bella shouldn't get home until half an hour or so," I nibbled at my lower lip as I wondered what I would tell my dad about getting back so early before her. I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized Jasper was looming over me, his arm on the seat behind my head as he leaned down to press our foreheads together lightly.

"You should tell your daddy we're dating, darlin'," he whispered after giving my lips a short peck. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I nuzzled our noses a bit, Jasper chuckling at the action.

"Mn, I think I'll want to stay awake for most of our next date," I murmured. He chuckled again and raised his other arm to brush his thumb against my cheek.

"Darlin', our first date will be better than a foreseen rescue and Chinese take-out," he paused then and blinked thoughtfully. "At least I hope so." I laughed and kissed him a bit more firmly on the lips, feeling his smile like he no doubt felt mine.

"See you tomorrow?" I breathed as we both pulled back.

"Nice and early," Jasper promised.

"How about tonight?" Jasper paused at the words, seeming for all the world like he froze though that was probably just a vampire thing.

"Tonight?" I rolled my eyes.

"Just to sleep, Jazz. I already know Edward stalks Bella and watches her sleep, which is a creepy thought when it's not you and you're not in love with your stalker, so I doubt anyone would put up much fuss if I just left my window unlocked at night. I have to warn you though, I am a cuddler," I teased.

"Edward will be none too happy if I join him on his nightly excursions. He won't like me being around your sister with how protective he's gotten of her." I scowled and rolled my eyes at that.

"You're joking," I scoffed. "As if him constantly being around his singer is less dangerous than you laying in bed with me. Tell him to shove his concerns where the sun don't shine, the hypocritical asshat," I grumbled, "trying to wedge between our budding relationship because he's gotten nowhere with his."

"Asshat?" Jasper repeated in amusement. I only stuck my tongue out at him in response, unable to help the small smile when he chuckled and kissed the tip of my nose.

"I never said that his disapproval would stop me," Jasper whispered with a rakish grin, the sight making my heart skip a beat. I hummed in approval and grinned as I gave him a quick hug goodbye before getting out of the car and skipping up to my door, easily unlocking the door and stepping inside.

"I'm home!" I practically sang as I noticed Jasper speeding off when I closed the door.

"Maddy? I should have guessed you'd be home early. Who'd you get a ride from?" Of course my dad wasn't surprised that I came home early, I usually do whenever I go out with friends since I burn energy fast in company and recuperate it by being alone or in silence, a true introvert though a rather cheery one. Of course, Charlie was usually the one to pick me up from said outings so his question was a good one.

"Ah, yeah about that, you know that friend that's been driving me to school lately?" I asked as I took off my coat and folded it over my arm, walking into the living room where Dad was watching a baseball game.

"Yeah?" He asked suspiciously.

"Yeah, well I met up with him and his brother when Bella and I split from the group and he was happy to take me home after buying me some take-out," I answered.

"Him?" Charlie repeated.

"Ah, yeah, we're officially dating now, I believe," I mused.

"And who is 'him' exactly?" Charlie pressed.

"Jasper Cullen, or Hale," or Whitlock, "whichever," I waved my hand carelessly.

"Cullen? Isn't he a little old for you?" Charlie asked. I rolled my eyes at him.

"No, Daddy, he's only a year above me and he's the tall lanky one with honey brown hair. The bulky one is already dating someone and the youngest is too broody for my tastes." I grinned and slung my arm around his shoulder. "You should be lucky I didn't go for someone older like a businessman in his early thirties since my preference is mature older guys." I kissed his cheeks and glided up the stairs laughing as he spluttered at my words. "Goodnight Daddy!"

After that, I went to my room, grabbed my necessities and went straight to the bathroom for a quick shower, humming happily on my way back to my room in a long sleeve wide collar wool black shirt that slipped off my slim shoulders and low riding soft cotton plaid grey sleep pants as I dried off my hair with a white fluffy towel. I didn't even react to seeing Jasper leaning casually against the headboard of my bed, reading the book I'd left on my bedside(The Art of War by Sun Tzu), instead throwing my towel on my desk chair and throwing myself onto the bed next to where he sat, curling up and cuddling against the large fluffy comforters and soft pillows, looking up to see Jasper watching my actions in amusement.

"You curl up like a kitten," he teased. I only grinned and proceeded to wrap myself up in my sheets and comforters before squirming and rolling over to his side until I was snug against him.

"And I wrap myself like a burrito," I added cheerfully. Jasper chuckled and put the book aside, scooting down to lay fully on the bed and wrap his arms around me, layers and all.

"My cute burrito," he breathed affectionately.

"Yours," I agreed, yawning and snuggling closer as I allowed myself to be lulled to sleep by the soft rumbling of Jasper's chest as he hummed.

"Maddy, wake up!" I woke with a start, shooting straight into a sitting position, eyes wide and disoriented until my eyes focused on Bella in the dim room, a glance to the side enough to see that my bed was empty save for the two of us. Jasper must have heard her coming.

"What? What is it?" I asked through a yawn, slumping tiredly from where I was still wrapped in blankets.

"How much do you know?" Bella asked. I yawned again, unable to stop it.

"About what?"

"The Cullens," she urged, making my eyes sharpen and back straighten a bit.

"So you finally figured it out?" I asked curiously, thinking about that whole 'three things' she was absolutely sure about.

"That the Cullens are vampires and we're both interested in the two currently available right now? Is that what you mean?" Bella asked rhetorically.

"Yeah," I replied easily.

"Then yes! I have!" Bella all but hissed at me, making me raise my hands in a placating manner.

"Alright, alright, don't get your panties in a bunch. Yeah, I knew since Jasper told me the day after the car accident when he first drove me to school."

"And why didn't you tell me," Bella demanded. I frowned at her and crossed my arms.

"It wasn't my secret to tell, Bella," I answered firmly. She glared at me for another few moments before relenting with a heavy sigh and slumping.

"You're right, I'm sorry. It's just...a lot to take in," she mumbled tiredly, rubbing her temples with eyes closed. I snorted and leaned back on my headboard.

"Yeah, we're both dating vampires who happen to be adoptive brothers, go figure." I grinned when Bella groaned at my response and smacked her forehead.

"You know what? I think I'll better use my time to sleep than try to pull answers out of you. It's like trying to pull teeth, I swear," she muttered as she crawled out of my bed. I snickered on the inside as I tilted my head curiously at her, eyes wide and innocent.

"What do my teeth have to do with anything?" I asked, acting bewildered. Bella only huffed and raised her hands in exasperation as she stomped(quietly) out the door, allowing me to snicker openly after the door shut and Jasper to once more crawl through the window and into bed next to me.

"That was a bit mean, darlin'," Jasper whispered in amusement as he snuggled back up to me.

"Yeah, but that doesn't make it any less funny," I replied, grinning softly as my eyes began to droop once more.

"True." Jasper held my tighter in his embrace as another yawn escaped my. "Sleep, darlin', I've got you." I nodded once.

"Mn, good night Jazz."

"Sweet dreams," he purred into my ear as I slipped easily back to sleep, lulled by the sense of peace and safety I always felt around Jasper.