Background: Alice and Jasper have been with the Cullens for three weeks and Edward is increasingly worried that Alice is not safe around Jasper.
Italics indicate thoughts which Edward reads from Alices mind.
Edward, please don't ask me to choose. She was practically begging
"He's dangerous Alice! Its not safe around him."
Who are you to judge him? she demanded, her anger flaring
"I'm not saying its his fault." Edward began in placating tones "but after all the things he's been through, it cant help but affect him."
Like you know what he's been through? she demanded You can barely get a read on his thoughts so what makes you such an expert on his past. Which was perfectly true – Jaspers mind was so trained and regimented that he could easily control his thoughts around Edward and prevent Edward from reading his deeper thoughts, to the point where, after three weeks, it was now second nature.
"That's part of the problem, what is he hiding that he has to keep those guards up all the time?"
He's ashamed! she practically shouted in her mind not to mention scared of what your reactions would be. Can you blame him for wanting to keep his less than proud moments from the family he's trying to become a part of?
"You don't even know what he's been through!" Edward argued, having never seen even the slighted hint in her mind that Jasper had revealed his past to her.
Don't assume to know what he has or has not told me – just because I don't think about it when I'm around you does not mean I don't know his past. She snapped, before throwing up her hands in exasperation and turning to storm off. Edward grabbed her wrist to stop her. She spun around to face him, too quick for the eye to follow and hissed furiously. Edward literally flinched – he had never seen Alice this mad - but he did not loosen his grip.
"Alice, I cant let you continue to put yourself in danger. You just don't see him clearly." He said firmly
Before she could respond they both heard a furious growl echo from the nearby woods. A split second later Jasper burst through the trees and into the clearing.
"Jasper stop! I can handle this." Alice shouted hastily, shifting so that she stood between him and Edward, who was still gripping her wrist.
The sight of his beloved, unharmed, calmed Jasper enough to remember that Edward was not just any vampire and halt his attack.
He continued to glare at Edward, maintaining a defensive crouch as he waited to see what Alice would do.
Alice had turned back to Edward and yanked her arm from his grip
You're the one who doesn't see him clearly! she retorted angrily you see only the scars and soldier and ignore the man beneath. And I don't know where you got the impression that that you have any say in what I can and cannot do.
She turned to leave again. "Alice, if you go with him now…" Edward called after her, cluthching at one last straw. She turned to face him yet again and he felt a flutter of hope whist Jasper felt a flutter of fear.
"Don't ask me to choose Edward," she said quietly "because I wont choose you."
So this was different from my normal but the idea just hit me and I went with it. Ideas and suggestions are always welcome and reviews greatly appreciated.