Biology was the last class Maya and Jasper had that day and they shared it with Edward. He sat just in front of them by himself in the class, although as Bella walked in following Mike, Maya realized that would no longer be the case.
She was leaning against Jasper as his hand stroked her thigh when both he and Edward tensed up. "What's wrong?" she began to glance around the room any sign of what could have caused this.
"Its Edward. His bloodlust just spiked" Jasper gritted out. Maya glance forward then and noticed that Edward was sitting as far way from Bella as he could with his hand over his nose.
Glancing around for a way to help, Maya spotted the window next to the pair. "Hey Edward, can you open the window for me? I'd like a little fresh air." Edward immediately stood up to open it, flashing her a grateful look where Bella couldn't see. Bella herself shooting Maya a glare.
The breeze coming through the window helped Edward keep better control, which in turn helped Jasper, who thanks to his gift was feeling the bloodlust as well. Maya's presence further helped to calm Jasper and both boys were able to make it through the class without losing control. Something Maya was infinitely grateful for.
As soon as the bell rang though, Edward was out of his seat like a shot. Bella staring after him looking distressed. Maya and Jasper were slower to exist the class, Jasper waiting for Maya to finish so he could hook his arm around her waist. As they left, they could both feel Bella glaring at them, as if the way that Edward was acting was their fault.
They made their way out to the parking lot, where Alice, Rosalie and Emmet were already waiting for them. "Did everything go alright?" Alice questioned the moment they were close enough. "I saw what almost happened in Biology."
"Yeah, we're good Alice. Maya got Edward to open a window and that helped," Jasper reassured her.
"What caused him to almost loose it?" Rosalie asked.
"We don't know. But I think it may have been my sister. He was fine until she showed up" Maya said thinking back to what had happened.
Before anyone could respond, Edward stormed up them, "lets go" he growled, hoping into his car and pulling out.
They all watched him leave with worry in their eyes before hoping into their own cars and following after him. Jasper detouring to drop her off at the Diner so she could have dinner with her dad and Bella. As she got out, he promised to come by later and fill her in on what was going on with Edward.
When Maya entered the Diner, she immediately headed towards her dad and sat down beside him. They ordered their food and chatted as they waited for Bella to arrive.
"I just can't get over how grown up you are. And so gorgeous." Cora, their waitress, commented as she set their meals down in front of them when Bella finally arrived. Maya immediately beginning to dig in.
"Hey Bella, you remember me? I played Santa one year" Waylon asked as he approached.
"Yeah, Waylon. She hasn't had a Christmas here since she was four," Charlie reminded him.
"I bet I made an impression though, didn't I?" He joked.
"You always do," Charlie rolled his eyes at him.
"Butt-crack Santa?" Cora teased. Maya practically choked on her meal at that as she laughed.
"Hey, kids love those little bottles though" Waylon defended.
"Alright, let the girl eat her garden Burger, Waylon" Cora said shooing him off, before turning back to them. "As soon as you are done, I will bring you your favourite. Berry cobbler, remember? Your dad still has it. Every Thursday."
"Thank you. That'd be great" Bella said politely.
Bella and Charlie awkwardly reach for the ketchup at the same time and he gives it to Bella.
"Hey Char – Dad, do you know anything about the Cullens?" Bella asked breaking the silence.
"Are people talking about them again?" Charlie asked, irritated. Thanks to Maya, he knew that the Cullens were not normal and people probably picked up on it, which is why they focused on them so much, but he still did not understand it. Nor did he really like it. Through Maya he had gotten the chance to get to know them better and he thought that they were all perfectly nice people. He even liked Jasper, his daughter's boyfriend, who he was supposed to hate.
"No, well a little" Bella admitted.
"That's because people have no lives of their own Dad. They have to talk about other people's lives to fill the void that is their own." Maya cut in, speaking for the first time since the food arrived. "People will always gossip, but the Cullens don't let it bother them."
"Right. You're dating one of them, right? The one who looks like they're always in pain. What was his name again?" Bella asked rudely.
Maya grit her teeth at that, silently reminding herself that Bella did not mean to insult her mate. "Jasper."
"Right yeah. So how did you manage to get him. Some girls said that until you, he scared off anyone that tried to get close." Bella had hated it when she found out that Maya had managed to catch such a good-looking guy, but now she figured she could use the same method she did to catch Edward. Who was, in her opinion, the better choice. And if Maya had, as she thought, used her body to seduce him, then she could at least use her connection to the family to get closer.
"I dunno," Maya said with a shrug, "We got to talking in class as we sat next each other and it went from there."
Maya turned to their dad then and attempted to change the subject, "so, how's work?"
Bella let out a small huff at not getting the chance to get more information out of her, but figure that she could always wait until they got home. That way Charlie would not be in the way and she could be more direct in her questions.
When they got home, their dad had settled down to watch the game, while Maya moved around the kitchen preparing meals that could be easily frozen and kept. She always had a few in the freezer for days when she did not feel like cooking, ones she could simply stick it in the oven without much prep. She usually found it relaxing putting them together. However, today Bella followed her into the kitchen and began to ask her endless questions about Edward and the other Cullens. Eventually Maya had had to cut her prep short and retreat to her room on the pretext of homework, just to get away form her endless questions.
She got ready for bed before curling up under the covers with her copy of Macbeth to read for class. She had already read it as her uncle Aro was very fond of Shakespeare's works, but given that she had to write an essay on it, she figured it would be a good idea to reread it. She had just reached the beginning of Act three when Jasper climbed in her window.
"You're in bed early" He commented coming over to sit on the edge of her bed.
"I'm hiding. Bella has been questioning me non-stop about you guys, Edward in particular" she groaned.
"Hm, that could make things even more problematic then."
"Why? What happened?" She sat up then, worried that something serious had happened.
"Edward had decided to go away for a while. To visit our cousins in Alaska. Apparently, your sister is his bloodsinger" Jasper explained as he pulled back the covers and slid into bed with her.
"Oh that's just perfect," Maya groaned into his chest, "She is already semi obsessed with him if tonight is anything to go by. Him vanishing won't help."
"I know Darlin'. We tried to talk him out of it, but he refused to see reason."
Maya let out a sigh, "well, it's not like we can change anything now. We'll just have to deal with it as best we can."
"Yes, but I don't want you worrying about it. You need sleep." Jasper pulled the blankets up to tuck them in as he said that, pulling her closer so she was partially draped over his chest.
"Mm, admit it, you just like to snuggle" she teased.
Jasper let out a small laugh, "I can't deny that, but you do need sleep." He sent her a wave of drowsiness then, watching as her eyes immediately began to grow heavy.
"No fair" was all she muttered before she dropped off into sleep.
That night as Maya lay sleeping in Jasper's arms, he spent the time holding her close and worrying about what the future would bring. If Edward kept acting irrationally and Bella kept obsessing over them, there was no doubt that something would go wrong. Jasper's biggest fear was that Maya would somehow be caught in the middle and get hurt, which caused him to growl at the mere thought. He would have to be prepared and keep an eye out for any sign of danger to her so that he could ensure that she would be safe.He had been waiting almost 60 years for her, ever since Alice had first told him of her, and he was not going to risk losing her because of Edward or Bella.