So I thought I'd try something a little different this time…enjoy.

Shit just got real.

She was here. Here. Tonight of all nights, she was here.

We were at Elixir, a new club in Seattle, trying out our stuff at their open mike night. It was our usual thing: blowing off steam after a long week of classes at Washington State. I just wished she wasn't here.

I calmly sipped my beer. Bella had just gotten up to greet her friend at the door. Edward was watching her. "Edward."

"Yeah, bro?" He tore his eyes away from Bella for a second.

"What's she doing here?"

"Who?"

"Alice." Once I saw the grin on his face I knew. I freaking knew. "You knew she was coming, didn't you? You did." He just kept that clown smirk plastered on his face. "I wish they'd separated us at the adoption agency. My life would be a breeze. No, I had to get stuck with Edward freaking Cullen, golden child and amateur matchmaker. Soon to be dead matchmaker."

"Whatever you say, bro."

I considered knocking his teeth out, but Bella and Alice were on their way back. I calmly sipped my beer as Bella approached and promptly attached her lips to Edward's. She only stopped long enough to say, "Jasper, Alice. Alice, Jasper." As if I didn't remember. Crap. Now I had to talk to her.

"Hi, Jasper," her voice reached my ears and I liked it more than I liked the sound of an acoustic guitar being strummed, and that was saying a lot.

"Jasper?"

Shit just got real.

I'd been watching Alice ever since that night Edward saved Bella. He'd come rushing into our off campus apartment with a girl passed out in his arms. He was muttering about idiots in dark alleys and girls that wander there. The girl I thought was passed out was actually wide awake. She was muttering about idiotic men who thought that they needed to sweep in to save women.

"Dude, would you mind telling me why you're bringing a struggling girl into our apartment?" They both stopped muttering. "I mean, I thought since you were my brother and all I'd at least ask you before I called the police. Also, hi. I'm Jasper."

That was when he put her down. She dusted her hand on her jeans, smiled shyly and told me that her name was Bella. Edward had started to spout off some crap about how she needed to be checked out by a professional. She just ignored him and asked to use our phone. When she was talking quietly into the phone, Edward approached me.

"You do realize that you're still in your boxers, right?"

I snorted. "You do realize that you brought a girl, obviously not a date, into our apartment with no explanation, right?"

"Listen," he said. He sounded more stressed out than usual. Considering his usual level was through the roof whatever happened that night must have really freaked him out. "I was pulling out of my usual spot near the pier in Port Angeles when I saw her, and I just felt it, you know? Something was going to happen." He then finished telling me the story of how he'd trailed her for a bit to make sure she'd be safe, and then dashed behind her when these guys followed her down an alley.

Bella must have been finished her phone call because she jumped right in. "Is he telling you how he swept me away on his silver stallion, practically force fed me Italian food, and then dragged me here 'to make sure I'd be alright'?" she said wryly.

"Hardy-har-har." My brother pulled at his hair. "Do you realize how easily you could have been…been…" He pinched the bridge of his nose, apparently the thought to awful for him to finish. So I did it for him.

"Attacked?"

"Struck by lightning?" Bella jumped in. I think I approved of this girl.

"Eaten by rats?"I deadpanned.

"Dragged underground by the mole people?" I couldn't take it anymore. I let out a huge snort as my brother glared at me. When I couldn't take that anymore, I decided to be the gracious host that my mother raised me to be. "Bella, I was just getting dinner. Would you like something else to eat?"

"You? Dinner? Please." Apparently my brother had no faith.

"Bella, please ignore him." I moved to the cupboards in our tiny kitchen. "Would you like cocoa puffs or bran flakes?" See. I knew how to treat a lady.

"Let me guess: the Bran Flakes are Prince Charming's?"

"I resent that!" Like it wasn't totally obvious that he was Bran Flakes and I was cocoa puffs.

"No thanks, Jasper. I'm still full on ravioli."

"Suit yourself." I poured myself a huge bowl of cocoa puffs and milk and joined them on the couch. "Not to be rude, but if you're spending the night with Eddie over there, we might as well watch a movie."

"I'm not spending the-" Our doorbell rang, cutting her off. "That must be her."

So Bella opened the door, and boom. It hit me. Before the door opened I was totally normal. After, I was…distracted. This gorgeous girl was on the other side of the door. She was tiny, and I could feel the energy coming off her in waves. She was like a perky blonde. Except, you know, without the blonde part. Her hair was black and pretty short, and she was obviously dressed for I night out. I'd bet she still barely came up to my chest in those sparkly ankle breakers, though. I think I wanted her. Right then.

I'm sure I was frozen like a cartoon: on the couch in my boxers, cereal bowl in hand, spoon halfway to my mouth.

"Huh?" I think someone was speaking to me. Edward. Something about it being Bella's friend come to pick her up. I really wished I had put on pants.

That tiny girl, Bella's friend, just strutted up to me and stuck out her hand. "Hi. I'm Alice."

I remembered my manners. I put down the cereal bowl and stood up. Take her hand, I commanded myself. Not smell her hair. Not run my hands down her arms. Not press my lips against hers. Just take her hand. "I'm Jasper."

"Nice to meet you." She looked like she might have said more, but then there was a voice from the hallway.

"You all done, babe?" A man? When the owner of the voice stepped inside, it was most definitely a man. Crap.

Without a word to anyone, he came in, collected Alice and walked out the door. Jerk. Bella followed behind with Edward uttering his goodbyes. The door slammed. The clock ticked.

"Bye." I finally got it out.

Edward just shook his head as he walked to his room.

When I was sure he was asleep, I pulled out my guitar and quietly strummed a few bars.

"I don't wanna
Let you go away
I don't wanna
Let you go

Girl, I just wanted your love
I just need to feel your love
I just wanted your love

I don't wanna
Let you go."

Maybe, wherever she was, she could feel how I felt about her. Just maybe. I put my guitar away and went to bed.

Author's Note: 5th August, 2011

So…what did you think? There's really only going to be one more chapter. Jasper and Alice are just so sweet! Um…right. Leave me a review if you'd like, if not, put me on alert for the next chapter! I also know that it's super short...but have a little faith, please? Just put me on alert!

Lyrics are from I Just Wanted Your Love by Alexz Johnson.