~Author's Note ~

So this is my very first fanfic on my own! I hope you all like it, please review and of course I'll keep updating it as soon as possible. Enjoy!


Setting the South on Fire

"Now hold still Miss Mary Alice…I's gonna end up pinchin' ya…."

"You're already pinching me Massie…"

The late morning sun fell in slants across the floor of the room, little motes of dust floating into light and then into shadow as it fell toward the ground. It was a typical summer morning in Marietta and the heat was already starting to rise. Alice could feel her skin developing that horrible stickiness from the humid Georgia air. She let out a sigh and winced again. These new corsets were being made to go narrower and narrower and she just wasn't sure how anyone was going to get a narrower waist than her, even without a corset. To say that she saw them as pointless was quite the understatement. Alice had always been petite more so than her sisters were or her mother had been. She was just shy of five feet tall and had been for a few years now. Her frame was very small though not unhealthy looking, just dainty. Her skin was warm milk and honey tone, which lended to an ease of blushing when she was angry or embarrassed. Alice was by no means shy however…at least not by Southern lady standards. Her hair was as black as pitch, a stark contrast to her fair features like her honey brown eyes and rosey lips and cheeks. She was beautiful, something she and her sisters had inherited from their mother, and something she was quite proud of. It also didn't hurt that her beauty got her a lot of attention, especially from the eligible bachelors of Marietta.

"Ouch!"

"Sorry Miss Mary Alice…I told ya's though…"

"I know…and Massie, please just call me Alice…Mary Alice is too…formal."

"O'course its formal Miss Mary Alice, you's a lady…"

Alice just rolled her eyes. "I'm also my own person and I want to be called Alice…"

The woman just chuckled and shook her head. "Alright Miss Alice…"

This wasn't exactly a new process. Summers in Marietta meant barbeques, picnics, balls, and galas. This was the world Alice and her sisters had been raised in, the world they had grown to love. Today was no different than the days of previous summers. It was another party at another plantation and they were all getting ready to go. It was imperative that those young belles that were invited to these gatherings wore their very best dresses. Luckily Alice's father had just recently brought his daughters some new dresses for this summer's festivities. Since it was still early yet in the season, Alice had chosen one in a pastel shade of yellow with white embroidered detail in tiny vine-like patterns over the entire dress. Once her corset was tied and her petticoats and crinoline were in place, Massie moved to help her get her dress over her head. The fabric fell around her and the skirt billowed out around her and of course narrowed at her waist now a good seventeen inches…probably the smallest of most any woman at the time. The sweetheart neckline fell in just the right place to reveal her collarbones and nothing else and her small shoulders glowed in compliment to the soft, sunny tone of the dress. It was a wonderful dress for her. Alice turned to look at herself in her vanity mirror and smiled slightly.

"Papa has such good taste…" she muttered, turning from side to side slightly to watch the skirt swirl around her. "Though I'm still not sure why we're going to [I]this[/I] particular barbeque…Papa isn't completely fond of the Whitlocks…"

"Oh Alice…are you complaining already?" came the voice of her sister Rosalie as she and their other sister Isabella followed.

"Oh hush Rose, I'm not complaining…"

"Well that's good…of all of us you should be the last complaining…"

"And why is that?" Alice asked incredulously.

"Because it's the Whitlocks…you're the one who always had a fancy for Jasper when we were younger…" Bella answered with a soft smile.

"I did not!" Alice proclaimed, a faint blush betraying hr lie. "Besides…Jasper isn't even going to be there…he went off to Westpoint remember?"

"Oh, that's right…well don't be too sad Alice," Rose teased. "There will plenty of other beaus to give you attention…"

"Oh…" Alice grumbled blushing a bit more.

It had been true that when they were small she and Jasper had been all but inseparable. They had been the very best of friends spending their summers together along with his cousins Edward and Emmett, who ironically enough were Bella and Rosalie's beaus now. But things had changed dramatically a few years ago. You see, Jasper's father was the town's doctor and had been the person Alice's father had called when her mother had fallen ill. He'd also been the one person who her father believed didn't arrive soon enough. Alice's mother had been stricken with Scarlett Fever and Dr. Whitlock had done what he could for her, but she was much too ill already. The woman had slipped away and with her went Mr. Brandon's trust in Dr. Carlisle Whitlock. From that day forward the Brandon's visits to the Whitlock's parties were stilted and Alice and Jasper's relationship had suffered from it to an extent. Of course they continued to consider each other their closest friends but it just never was the same. And then of course he had decided to follow his passion go to Westpoint.

Jasper had always had a drive for the military. He was drawn to it from the earliest anyone could remember and Alice had known it would have been a matter of time before he followed that dream. That was where life found him now, so it was only logical that Alice had no deep interest in going to the Whitlock's plantation. Of course Rosalie and Isabella didn't mind going, their beaus would e there, the Cullens were the Whitlock's cousins after all. But it was true there would be plenty of other people there for Alice to stay entertained. And as if on cue came their father's voice, calling them to go. There was quite the rustle of skirts as the three girls hurried to their mirrors to be sure they still looked at their best before bustling to the carriage that would take them to the barbeque. It wasn't a long ride of course, but with three girls in large dresses that was a great bonus, things got a little cramped on even short trips. Needless to say, it was quite the relief when the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the familiar entrance of the Whitlock homestead and each girl scrambled out of the carriage as gracefully as possible. Once all feet were planted firmly on the ground, the girls made their way into the house. The Whitlock's plantation home was gorgeous and the epitome of Southern architecture and grandeur. There was a sweeping staircase and fabric covered walls and gleaming floors. The definition of old Southern money, but the Whitlocks were a very kind and hospitable family and warm to everyone. Alice really did like them and missed being able to spend more time there because of her dad's grudge.

The time to admire the house was something that got replaced over time, after frequent visits it just didn't seem as important, so instead Alice and her sisters began to make their way to the lawns where the rest of the guests were congregating. If the house itself was beautiful then the grounds were absolutely breathtaking. Wide spans of green grass and oak trees dripping with Spanish moss lined gravel walking paths and fountains; it was an oasis in the middle of the Georgia summer. Alice smiled to herself; this place had always been one of her favorite places in all of Marietta. She felt so peaceful here and now was no different.

"Emmett!" Rosalie said excitedly, drawing Alice from her reverie.

She looked around and soon saw the young man whom Rose claimed as her beau. He was undoubtedly handsome of course, as if Rose would have accepted less. Emmett was and always had been muscular. He stood over six feet tall and put most men to shame in the way of physical build. However, it wasn't so much his physique that had been Rose's favorite for so very long. She'd told Alice and Bella for years that what melted her heart with Emmett were his warm brown eyes and dimples when he smiled. When he was happy his face held such a boyish quality and vibrance that Rosalie hadn't been able to resist his charms. So of course when time permitted the Brandons and the Cullens coming together Rosalie and Bella were always ecstatic. This was no different. Though Rose had been more vocal in her excitement at seeing her beau, one glance at Bella showed a matching joy in her eyes as she watched the man at Emmett's side. Edward, Emmett's brother was of course Bella's beau as well. Going with what seemed to be a Cullen family trait; Edward was extremely handsome as well. He was tall, like his brother, standing at over six feet but his muscle build was much more understated. He too had a warm smile that appeared most when he was with Bella and that made his emerald eyes sparkle and dance for her. The two brothers were completely smitten by their Brandon girls, basically the only similarity of the two. Besides their height and last name, there really was no true similarity of appearance between them. Emmett's hair was in short dark curls, Edwards was copper and fell in disheveled pieces. Emmett was brawny and Edward was lean, both strong and obviously in great physical condition, but neither what most would conclude as the other's brother. But their bond was strong and that alone identified their sibling relationship to the rest of the world.

Summer was always something Alice's sisters looked forward to because it meant being able to see Edward and Emmett almost every day, and looking at them both now, Alice could tell that Rose and Bella's Summer had officially begun when they had seen the boy's faces. And those boys were casually making their way over now and soon stood before the three ladies.

"Hello there Miss Rosalie…" Emmett grinned, bowing to kiss her hand politely causing her to smile in return and move to link her arm in his.

"And hello to you Miss Bella…" Edward said softly doing the same with Bella.

Each gentleman nodded his greeting to Alice as well and she smiled. She'd always liked them and already considered them both as good as brothers at this point.

"Good afternoon boys." She smiled as they began to walk down the path, her sister's arms linked with the boys and Alice walking along with the couples.

"How are the lovely Brandon ladies this afternoon?" Emmett boomed cheerfully.

"We're well of course, even better with such good company. Alice seems to be rather disappointed though…" Rosalie said giving her sister a smirk.

Alice felt her cheeks flame slightly at the remark.

"Disappointed, whatever for?" Edward asked looking at Alice with sincere concern.

"Oh, because young Mister Whitlock won't be joining us this afternoon…being in Westpoint after all…" Rosalie giggled.

"Rose, don't be callous…" Bella chided softly, leaning into Edward slightly. "Jasper is her friend and I can imagine it's different to be here without him…"

"You all act as if I'm completely heartsick. I'm fine with him being away. He's always wanted to be a soldier and he can follow his wishes as he would like…" Alice said airily.

"But…aren't you intent on him becoming your beau someday?"

Alice stopped for a split second, unsure how to really answer that question. She hadn't exactly expected Jasper to be her beau, but then again she'd never met anyone she [I]had[/I] wanted to be her beau.

"Not really…and even if I was it doesn't matter, there are so many beautiful girls up there, he's probably found himself a wonderful soldier's wife type. I'm not that…" Alice let out a little laugh. "I'm definitely not that…so yes I hope he's happy with his life as a soldier and any soft-spoken soldier's bride he finds…"

The others laughed slightly too at her comments. It was true Alice was not the typical 'soldier's wife', and she wasn't sure how well that would have played out in any future with Jasper.

"Thinking on it now, I'm slightly glad he isn't here, more time for his drills and the Westpoint ladies…"

"Now Miss Brandon…I certainly hope you think I'd choose drills over seeing you for the Summer…no Westpoint lady can compare to a Brandon…" came a honey-smooth drawl from behind them.

Alice froze, her eyes growing wide. That voice, she knew that voice and would know it anywhere. Spinning on her heel, Alice turned to see the possessor of the voice, the weight of her spinning skirts almost knocking her off balance. But none of that mattered cause all she could see now was those warm, steel grey eyes shining out behind the few pieces of dark blonde hair that the wind was blowing into his handsome face.

"Jasper…." She breathed, her voice failing slightly.

He was here. Jasper Whitlock had managed to make his way home for the summer and now he was standing within feet of Alice, smiling at her as she stood frozen in disbelief, locked in his eyes.


~Author's Note~

So that's chapter one! I thought ending it with a bit of a cliff-hanger was fun, but let me know what you all think! I hope you guys want to keep reading, it should get pretty exciting! Thanks for reading!!