Alone. My friends had turned on me. Even my own brother was disgusted with me. The weight of the hit and run hung heavy in my heart. I became withdrawn and Naomi's accusations that I slept with Liam did not help in the friends department, neither did my turning in Naomi for throwing an after prom party.

I was an island with no connections, floating freely. The silence was not welcome, it was eery and turned my head inside out until my thoughts ate away at me. I longed for the jokes and easiness that came with the support of friends, but the murder and Naomi's constant efforts to alienate me chased away the possibility of ever having my close circle of friends. Even Liam left me alone after I falsely confessed to Naomi that the two of us had sex on prom night. Now I was truly alone and the idea was terrifying. Facing high school by yourself was impossible. Especially when everyone was out to get you.

I didn't know Jasper before he was linked to Joe Herman, but something about his creativity and the mysterious air about him drew me in. He seemed genuine and he accepted me when my friends were busy rejecting me. He was no Liam with his bad boy image and killer body or an all around good jock like Ethan, but his love of filmmaking was something that I could relate to.

My attraction to Jasper was subtle. First, I was drawn to him because he was Joe Herman's nephew. I was hoping to erase some of the guilt I carried around after the accident. I guess I believed that getting close to Jasper would somehow make things right. Then, the attraction deepened because he accepted me when no one else did. Finally, I loved his passion for filmmaking and his loner attitude. For someone who was constantly surrounded by friends, the idea that you could live exclusively and answer to no one was thrilling.

Then I found myself falling in love with him. I loved his smile, his green eyes, the way he idolized me and showered me with gifts. There was an indescribable passion burning between us, but now I know that it was simply puppy love. It was the epitome of teenage infatuation.

There is a moment that points to the change in our relationship. I can look back with regret and know that after that nothing was the same.

It was a Tuesday. The school bell had just rung, dismissing class for the day. The halls were alive with a flurry of after school activities. I was walking down the hall, surrounded by the sound of slamming lockers and excited chatter when there was a tug on my elbow. Navid was standing behind me, towering over me with his tall frame.

"Annie," He whispered, sweeping the hall with his eyes as if he was an undercover cop, checking for informants. "We need to talk."

I shook off his touch and kept walking, keeping my gaze fixed on the doors ahead. "Why? You didn't want to talk when you believed I slept with Liam," I snapped, referring to that dreadful prom night.

Navid quickened his pace until his was walking beside me. "This is serious," He said, his voice lowering over the last word as if to emphasis it. "It's about Jasper."

The mention of his name had my attention piqued. I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at the familiar guy before me. I had once known him well, but now he was like a stranger that pushed me away when I needed friends most. "What about him?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

Navid grabs my elbow again and tugs me into the Blaze headquarters. The couches and excess of TV monitors and video equipment surround me. I cross my arms over my chest and let out a breath from between my lips, trying to display my annoyance. Navid's dark brown eyes narrow and he bends lower so he is closer to me. "Okay, don't get upset," He begins and automatically, I know whatever he has to say is going to be upsetting. "But a good friend of mine told me that her friend buys drugs from Jasper."

For a moment I am stunned, but then I get my bearings. I shake my head slowly in disbelief. "So, you're going to believe a friend of a friend?" I ask, incredulously. "That sounds reliable," I gesture to the room around me, stuffed full of video equipment. "Aren't you supposed to be a journalist? Don't they check their sources?"

Navid recoils like I have physically slapped him. He looks like he is debating whether or not he should keep up the argument. "This friend is very trustworthy," He adds.

I roll my eyes and begin to turn toward the door. "I can't believe you of all people have stooped to spreading rumors."

"It's not a rumor," Navid calls after me as I make my way to the exit. The confidence in his voice stops me in my tracks. I turn slowly on my heel and look at him, silently asking him to continue. "It's not a rumor," He repeats. "I saw him. Selling drugs to Ade."

My stomach drops because I know that Navid does not joke about Adrianna. He would never spread rumors about her. I try not to show that he has gotten through to me. I continue to hold my chin high and shake my head defiantly. "I'm done here," I say, lacking a better comeback. With my words hanging in the air I turn and head out the door, leaving Navid alone with his videocameras.

Jasper is waiting outside of the school, sitting in the driver's seat of his old fashioned Cadillac. I slip into the passenger seat and lean across the console to peck him quickly on the lips. "I missed you," I murmur against his mouth and feel his lips spread into a smile.

"I've missed you, too," He chuckles. When I pull away his green eyes have darkened a shade. Then he turns his head, fixing his gaze on something directly in front of him. "What were you doing with Navid?"

I am stunned for a moment, wondering how he had seen me with Navid if he had been waiting in the car. "Nothing, he just had to talk to me about something," I placate, hoping my vague answer will be enough to hold off his probing questions.

"About what?" He prods, reaching over to take my hand. The feel of his touch ignites a spark in me. I feel the electricity run from my fingertips to my toes.

I want to tell him nothing and climb across the seat onto his lap. Instead, I swallow my desire. The rumor that Navid had shared is eating away at me. I know it was probably inspired by Jasper's loner attitude and multiple piercings, but I need to know the truth. "He said you deal drugs…"

Jasper's green eyes harden. His grip on my hand tightens until it is almost painful. I squirm slightly, trying to wiggle my fingers free. "You believe that stupid rumor?" Jasper questions, his leg starts to bounce and his voice takes on a manic quality.

I shake my head slowly, although yes, there is a part of me that believes he sells drugs. Jasper reads through my facade, easily. He pulls his hand away and tightens it around the steering wheel. "Yes, you do."

I shake my had more viciously this time. "No, I don't."

Jasper clenches and unclenches his jaw, then repeats the gesture. In seconds he has the car in drive and flies out of the parking lot. I grip the door handle and brace my heeled shoes against the ground, trying to hold myself still in the seat. "Jasper, stop," I plead, but it only seems to make him go faster. "Seriously," I beg. I cringe as he weaves in and out of LA traffic.

"No, I'm going to teach you that you don't believe rumors," He hisses, never taking his eyes off the road.

His house is empty when we walked through the threshold. He calls out, his voice wary like he is unsure of whether or not a servant was going to pop out offering iced tea. When no one answers he seems to visibly relax.

We enter his room, a place I've become familiar with over the last month or so. It's very modern, and covered with movie posters. His computer is surrounded by videocameras and sound booms, the typical room of an aspiring filmmaker. I walk through the door and take a seat on the edge of the bed. Jasper's mood seems to have improved, so I clasp my hands in my lap and look up at him. "I'm sorry, Jasper," I begin. "It's just that Navid got inside my head. I don't know what I was thinking. I shouldn't have believed him."

Jasper nods, like he is listening, but not believing a word I say. "You know, Annie. I didn't believe the rumors. People said you were a whore. They said you sent out nude pictures, but I still accepted you. Then you hear one rumor about me and you're questioning my character?" His voice is incredulous and laced with pain. I immediately feel guilty for ever questioning him. I know what it's like to have people you care about hate you.

"I'm sorry," I say standing to close the distance between us. "I shouldn't have done that."

Without warning Jasper's hand comes up and smacks across my cheek. The sound echoes throughout the room. Pain instantly spreads through my face and my hand comes up to cradle my sore cheek. I narrow my eyes at him, wondering who is the monster that is standing before me. Where is my sweet Jasper?

"Yeah, you shouldn't have," He growls, landing a fist in my shoulder. I am blown back by the hit, smacking against the mattress. My mind is a mess, I cannot reconcile this terrifying human before me with the one that held me while I cried and told me I was talented. The physical pain is nothing compared to the mental hits I take. "And you never will again," Another punch to my gut. Then he falls silent, using only his fists. Jasper is smart. He never hits a place that cannot be covered by clothes. Shoulders, arms, legs, stomach…then when he's done he looks down at me like he's just seeing me for the first time.

HIs eyes well with tears. "I'm so sorry, Annie. I didn't mean to," His voice lowers to a whisper and he backs away from me, His head is shaking slowly and his green eyes look haunted. "I didn't mean to," He repeats, but it is more to himself this time.

My body is sore and my mind is racing with terrified thoughts, but my heart breaks for Jasper in that moment. He made a mistake, but I still love him. I made a mistake, but he still loves me. So, against my better judgment I reach out and wrap him in my arms, ignoring the searing pain that shoots through my body from the simple movement. "It's okay," I whisper, tucking his head against my chest. "It's okay."

A tear slides down Jasper's cheek and I wipe it away quickly with my thumb. "it will never happen again," He promises. "I was just scared. You didn't believe me."

I nod, even though a part of me knows this will not be the last time. I cradle his face between my hands and lean forward to kiss him. "I know," I whisper, not truly believing my words, but afraid that if I turn away from Jasper I will truly have no one.

Jasper pulls me into his arms and backs up on the mattress until my head is pillowed on his chest. For a moment, I am exhausted. I let my body sink into his, but then it feels wrong. I cringe remembering his hands on me and the pain I still feel. I push away and promise him that I just have to get home for dinner, then disappear, leaving his house. I stand outside before I realize that I don't have a ride home.

"Hello?" I say into my phone when a familiar, deep voice booms through the speaker. "Liam? I know you hate me," Remembering his crushed expression on the yacht after I lied to Naomi. "But I need a ride…"

There is a pause before he speaks again. "Where are you?" He sighs and my whole body relaxes. I tell him Jasper's address and then lean against the concrete wall that surrounds the Herman's front lawn, waiting for my knight in shining armor.

HEY! This is my first 90210 fic. I know the show ended in May, but I was rewatching a few episodes and this idea came to me! I hope you like it. Don't worry, there will be more Liam and Annie. This is just background information.