Disclaimer: I never have and never will own Twilight.
I have recieved some good news today and decided to celebrate by uploading a new chapter. hope you like.
Chapter 2: Attraction
Jasper's pov.
I had to admit as time passed and I developed a routine Forks wasn't looking quite as bleak as it had.
We had been here four weeks and things were good.
Even mum seemed to be in a better mood, there was a story there but I decided not to pry and just be happy she was no longer yelling all the time.
I was fitting in well with my new group of friends, my biggest problem was fighting off Laurens advances.
After three days I'd realised she was looking for more than a one night thing but she was not someone I would ever be interested in for more.
Another slight thorn in my side was Alice McCarty.
I didn't know why it bothered me so much, she was an enigma I just could not let go of.
I had been sitting next to her everyday for four weeks and I still knew nothing about her other than her name.
It was unbelievably frustrating and what frustrated me more was trying to understand why it bothered me so damn much.
She wasn't doing anything to particularly annoy me, in fact for the most part she studiously ignored me which became a slight problem when the teacher announced a joint project with your lab partner, I.e. whoever you were sat next to.
I turned to face her as the bell rang ready to discuss meeting up to plan something only to find her already packed and out of her chair.
I frowned as I watched her head to the door.
"Hey wait."
Shoving my stuff into my bag I side stepped Lauren as she tried to corner me and quickly tracked Alice down to her locker.
She jumped in surprise as I stopped next to her.
"So, what do you want to do about this project?" I asked feeling strangely nervous as she just stood there looking at me.
A look of relief crossed her face when I asked that.
"Oh don't worry I know how it goes." she gave me a half hearted smile "I have been at this school longer than you."
Closing her locker she turned to walk away again.
Seriously confused and a little pissed off I stepped forward blocking her way.
Her eyes widened as I scowled down at her and my breath caught as I took in the force of them for a second.
Big round orbs of a startling bright green with little golden flecks around the pupil.
"What do you mean?" I finally stammered out.
She sighed softly "Don't worry I'll sort it, it will be finished 4 days before hand in so you can read through it and know what's going on. Like I said I've been at this school longer than you, I know the rules."
"What?" I asked incredulously as what she said sank in "You mean any time you're meant to do a joint project you've just been left to do it yourself?"
She nodded slowly as though it was the most obvious thing but I was horrified.
"I'm not expecting you to do that." I stated angrily "I was trying to ask when you wanted to meet so we could start working on it."
I was annoyed she thought that of me and pissed off she'd been taken advantage of so much.
She raised an eyebrow "Really? Cause you know if you're caught talking to me your stock could plummet."
"We have a joint project." I stated stubbornly, I was not letting this go "I intend to pull my weight and do half the work." I gave her a grin "And how do you know talking to me wont increase your 'stock'?"
She smiled a little and shook her head "Like I said I've been at this school longer than you."
Sighing heavily she reached into her bag to pull out a notepad and pencil, turning her back on me she leant against her locker and wrote something before ripping the page out and handing it to me.
"Directions to my house, if you pull onto the drive and behind the trees no one should be able to see your car."
An uneasy feeling fell in my gut again at how easily she said things that were so self deprecating, like she's just accepted her life wasn't worth anything.
"Thanks." I folded the paper and put it in my back pocket "So I can come over….?"
She shrugged "Anytime really, in case you hadn't noticed I don't have much of a social life."
She then ducked under my arm and proceeded to skip down the hallway.
Most people stared at her like she was insane but I took the time to notice how much the movement suited her, like she wasn't built to just walk like everyone else.
I headed to the cafeteria grabbed my lunch and seated myself next to Edward.
Lauren was scowling at me from the other side of the table.
"What took you so long?" Edward asked with a frown.
I shrugged chewing on some fries "Just sorting out my Biology project."
"You're lucky." Lauren huffed "He got partnered with McCarty."
Edward clapped me on the back with a grin "Must be beginners luck mate, that's an easy A and you don't even need to do any work."
I scowled angrily "Actually I've arranged to meet her later to discuss what we're going to do."
I left out the going to her house part realising they probably knew where she lived.
Three seconds of ringing silence followed, I pretended not to notice as I took a drink of soda.
"You're actually going to willingly spend time with McCarty?" Tyler asked slowly as though his brain couldn't quite fathom this simple fact.
I shrugged refusing to see what the big deal was.
"She'd do the damn project for you." Lauren suddenly screeched "That's what she's there for."
I just shrugged again.
Everyone shuffled uncomfortably and looked over at Mike and Jess.
"Jay." Mike spoke up "No one spends time with McCarty, willingly or otherwise. I'm sorry but it's just not done."
My eyes locked with his "So what you're saying is if I actually do what I'm meant to and work with her on this project…?" I trailed of waiting for him to fill in the rest.
He just shrugged, I glanced around at the others to find them all avoiding my eye.
"Fine." I stood up suddenly picking my tray up "If you're gonna 'demote' me over this so be it."
Without waiting for a response I made my way over to an empty table on the other side of the cafeteria.
Great I was that guy!
The friendless one who sits alone at lunch.
I pushed my food around having lost my appetite, I didn't want to be this guy but at the same time I couldn't pretend I agreed with what they were saying.
A chair moved next to me and I looked up to find Lauren had come to join me.
Oh joy of great joy!
"If you want to do well in school no one can really argue with that." she shrugged.
"I wasn't looking for permission." I mumbled suddenly wishing I was alone again.
The doors to the cafeteria opened and Alice McCarty danced in, I watched her as she lined up for lunch staying quiet and just letting people push in front of her when they wanted.
Lauren's eyes narrowed and she linked her arm through mine.
"Hey Jay you busy on Friday?" she asked.
I tried not to sigh "Party at Jessica's isn't there?"
"Yeah." she mumbled "I was just wondering if you could pick me up?"
"Sure." I said without much enthusiasm "Around 8 ok?"
She smiled "My parents wont be home so you could come round earlier if you want."
Oh crap!
That's what she's after.
"I don't know." I said slowly "We'll see."
Thankfully the bell rang signalling the end of lunch and I was able to escape her clutches for the rest of the day.
At half 3 I made my way to my car, sending my mum a quick text to let her know I might be late home and followed the instructions Alice had given me to her house.
I pulled onto the driveway like she'd told me, her beat up VW bug was already there.
I took a deep breath not really sure what to expect as I looked up at the modest two storey detached house.
Would her parents be here? Did they know how she was treated at school? What would they think of me?
Shaking off my concerns I grabbed my bag from the passenger seat and headed up the porch steps to the front door.
I rang the bell and waited ten seconds before Alice herself opened the door.
She smiled and stood back to let me in.
"You found it alright then." she asked as I stepped inside.
"Yeah fine." I took a second to take in her appearance.
She had changed out of the casual jeans and sweater combo she always wore for school into what looked like designer jeans and a light shirt that fitted her perfectly complementing her petite frame.
She was like the reverse of everyone else, wearing casual stuff at school and saving the fashionable stuff for home.
"Ok, so I've planned out a pretty even split but feel free to change anything you don't like." she told me leading me through to where a large wooden dinning table stood, her bag was flung on the floor and several folders lay open on top.
My eyes instinctively wandered around the room taking in the slightly stale atmosphere which seemed to contradict the family photos smiling down at me from every surface.
Alice handed me a piece of paper, the points we needed to cover for our project on genetics had been split in two like she'd said.
I frowned as I read through it.
"Anyone would think you didn't want to spend time with me." I joked realising the way she'd done it meant we didn't actually need to work together.
She shrugged "It's better this way." she said simply.
Sighing I sat down on one of the chairs, which seemed to shock her, and reread the paper again.
"Ok, well seeing as how people know I'm meeting you tonight to discuss this can I make the most of this one opportunity and actually discus the project with my partner?"
She chewed on her bottom lip seemingly unsure.
"Ok." she said slowly "You want a drink?"
Finally I was getting somewhere.
"Thanks, a soda would be great if you have any."
She disappeared into another room and I took the time to closer inspect some of the photos.
They all held the same four people Alice, and who I presume where her parents and brother.
My eyes fell to one of Alice and her brother and I grinned.
Her brother was huge in comparison to her, his arms where wrapped around her middle lifting her off the floor a cheeky grin on his face but it was the sheer joy that danced on Alice's face as she laughed that had me entranced by that particular picture.
"It was taken last summer."
I jumped as the sound of her voice and turned to find her standing watching me two cans of Pepsi in her hands.
"We made the most of the sun by going to La Push beach." she smiled at the memory "It's one of my favourites because it's just us, I mean we didn't know Rose was taking it."
She placed one of the cans next to me and took her seat across the table from me.
"Rose?" I had to ask.
"Emmett's girlfriend. Emmett's my brother." she explained "She spent most of the summer here with us."
Alice threw the picture another fond look before pulling her biology book towards her.
"Where's your brother now?" I'm not sure why I was so interested but I wanted to make the most of being able to talk to her. To unravel a little of the mystery to who she was.
"College, in Seattle. Rose goes there as well. He comes home every weekend."
That sounded a bit weird "What student life too much for him?" I joked but Alice's face fell.
"So what did you want to discuss about the project?" she asked flipping through her book.
"Erm." I blinked taken back by the sudden subject change "Not sure, something." I cleared my throat "Like is there any possible way we could, you know, work together on it?"
She sighed playing with the ring pull on her can "Jasper it's ok, I know how people at school see me, I'm used to it. I am grateful you're willing to do your share of this project but trust me, it's for your own good that it's this way."
"And that's alright with you is it?" I asked angrily.
I didn't like bullies and I didn't like the way they'd broken Alice down until she just accepted how they treated her.
So why are you friends with them?
I bit my tongue hard realising I'd fallen into the typical teenage trap of popularity over principles.
Once again I felt my breath catch as Alice's eyes locked with mine.
"Just over a year I graduate." she said "Then I never have to see any of them again. It really isn't that big of a deal to me Jasper."
"They shouldn't treat you like that." I stated stubbornly as though that would somehow make it better.
She laughed a little, a tinkling sound that made me feel strangely warm inside.
"It's high school Jasper." she smiled at me.
I took a swig from my soda and she sighed.
"Look I have no problem with you wanting to help." her eyes had gone back to the can before her "You can come round any time but, please don't let people know."
"For my sake?" I asked.
"No for mine." she muttered quietly "I've spent the last three years learning how to go unnoticed. You're still the shiny new toy to them and if they think I'm stealing you…" she trailed off.
Her admitting that made me realise this did bother her, she was just making the best of a bad situation.
"Ok." I agreed pulling my biology folder out of my bag, content to drop the subject now she was actually letting me help. "So where do we start?"
As we worked together the enigma that was Alice McCarty slowly began to reveal itself to me.
She obviously loved studying and her enthusiasm was intoxicating, and even though I didn't particularly like Biology she helped me find a new appreciation for it.
It was only when my stomach complained loudly that I realised how long we had been working.
"God it 7o'clock." I said looking at my watch and wondering where the fuck those three hours had gone.
The table was strewn with various pieces of paper holding diagrams and notes.
"We work well together." I laughed amazed by how much we had accomplished.
Alice giggled "Yeah we do. You want to stay for dinner or do you need to get home?" she asked clearing away her folders.
I stared at her in shock as she asked that.
She looked up when I didn't respond "Sorry."
She was apologising?
"It's just I'd feel bad not offering when I've kept you here this long." she busied herself with her school bag.
"No, I just wasn't expecting the offer." I thought for a second "I guess all I'm gonna get at home is leftovers, so if you don't mind me staying."
In honesty I was thrilled by the chance to spend more time with her. I was having fun.
"Great, I hate cooking for one." she laughed beckoning me to follow her through into the kitchen.
"Your parents don't get in till late?" I asked thinking how lucky she was to have the house to herself so much.
Her shoulders slumped and she curled in on herself making me frown.
What had I said?
"No one told you?" her voice was quiet and her back was still to me so I couldn't see her face.
"Told me what?" I asked confused.
She sighed and turned to face me, a sharp pain struck my chest at the look on her face, her usually bright eyes were dulled in pain.
"My parents died two years ago Jasper."
My mouth dropped open and everything seemed to slot into place. The number of photos of her parents making up for them not being here, the slightly stale feeling because only Alice lived here, her brother coming home every weekend to look after her.
"I'm sorry I didn't know." I whispered feeling awful.
She shrugged and turned to open the fridge "You like chilli?" she asked.
Again the sudden subject change threw me "Yeah that's fine."
She grinned pulling out onions and tomatoes "Good cause I'm told it's my specialty."
She danced over to the other side and turned on an ihome so the sound of Good Charlottes Good Morning Revival drifted around us.
"Nice music choice." I nodded my approval "Wouldn't have had you down as a fan of Good Charlotte."
She grinned at me, eyes sparkling "There's a lot you don't know about me Jasper."
Unfortunately being a 17 year old boy that thought went straight to my dick I frowned.
This was Alice McCarty for fuck sake!
"Need any help?" I asked desperate for a distraction as my mind thought now would be a good time to notice just how nicely those jeans hugged her ass.
"Well are you scared of showing you're emotions?" she grinned cheekily.
I frowned in confusion, rolling her eyes she pointed to one of the sideboards where there was a chopping bored set up with onions resting by it.
I moved towards it willingly and noticed another picture of her brother stuck to the fridge.
He was wearing a tight black t-shirt and the way his arms where wrapped around the waist of a blonde girl standing in front of him showed off just how much muscle he was packing.
The guy had to have about 40 pounds on me, probably best if I don't piss him off by trying to get into his sisters panties.
Ok stop thinking about her panties!
I stepped closer to the counter in the hope of concealing the hard on currently straining against the denim of my jeans.
Calm down little Jay, if you're that desperate you can get Lauren on Friday.
I blinked in surprise.
Wow that thought killed it fast enough!
I risked a glance over at Alice who was stood at the stove frying some mince up singing along to I don't wanna be in love and swaying her hips in a way that should be illegal.
Turning away from her I started hacking at the onion as though it was the one responsible for my current predicament.
If talking to Alice was social suicide what the fuck would happen if I started dating her.
Wow slow down!
Wanting to get into her pants on hormonal fuelled lust is one thing but dating her?!
I frowned, I couldn't deny I had had more fun with Alice planning a school project than I had at any other pint since my move to Forks, and now I was actually helping her cook in a bid to spend more time with her.
I have no idea how or why but for some reason Alice just made things seem that little brighter.
I scowled in annoyance, it was fine admitting that to myself when I was here with her but was I ready to throw away the small sense of normalcy I had managed to create at school for the sake of a girl I hardly knew?
The knife I was using slipped slicing into my finger.
"Shit!" I yelled.
I looked down to see blood flowing from the wound.
That's why you shouldn't let your mind wander whilst using sharp knives kids!
"Oh god, come here."
Alice's tiny hands closed around my wrist sending a shot of electricity through my body and she dragged me to the sink.
She held my hand under cold running water.
"Keep it under there." she demanded heading into the utility room just off the kitchen.
"Yes ma'am." I smirked, she was sexy when she took charge.
It's those kinds of thoughts that nearly lost you a finger!
"What happened?" she asked coming back carrying a first aid kit.
"Knife slipped." I chocked out as she took old of my wrist again wrapping a towel tightly around the injured finger she dried off the rest of my hand and arm.
"It doesn't look too deep." she informed me pulling a couple of large band aids from the box and wrapping them around my throbbing finger.
"If it bleeds through just let me know." she smiled softly "And I think that injury means you'll have to be subbed."
She ordered me to sit at the breakfast bar in the kitchen whilst she finished off the chilli with admirable efficiency.
"So what made you move to Forks?" she asked as she cooked.
I tensed a little I hadn't really told anyone that, to be honest no one had asked me.
"Sorry I shouldn't pry." she quickly said.
I watched her for a while as she continued to cook.
She had told me about her life why couldn't I extend her the same courtesy, I knew she wasn't going to gossip about it.
"My parents got divorced."
She paused to look over at me as I spoke. I kept my eyes down.
"Mum wanted a fresh start so we moved."
"You didn't want to stay in Texas with your dad?"
I jumped a little at how close her voice was and looked up to find her standing across from me, genuine kindness and interest shone in her eyes.
I laughed bitterly "That wasn't really an option I was given. Me living with him would have messed up his new life."
Her fingers squeezed my arm lightly "His loss." she whispered before she skipped back over to the stove.
She didn't ask me anything else, not pushing for more details.
I blinked at her back several times.
"You're a natural in the kitchen." I complimented when I couldn't take the silence anymore.
She shrugged modestly "I'm just used to it."
My stomach flipped as I remembered what she'd said about her parents.
As she served the chilli and we sat down to eat my curiosity got the better of me.
"Have you been living on your own for the past two years then?"
She flinched a little but didn't avoid the question as I had expected.
"No Em was studying in NYC but moved back when…it happened, he stayed home for a few a while but I convinced him not to give up on his education so he transferred to Seattle, he used to commute on the days he had classes but now I'm older he trust me more."
I nodded amazed she was actually telling me all this.
"What about his girlfriend?"
Alice shrugged "Rosalie was annoyed when they first got together that he ditched her so often and Em got dead upset she'd break up with him so I told him to invite her down for a weekend so they could spend some time together and she got to see he was making the best out of a bad situation and because she cares about him she decided not to make it harder by being selfish. She comes with him most weekends now."
"What about you?" I asked softly.
Her eyes met mine for a second before dropping back to her bowl of chilli.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you get lonely?"
She played with her food and I realised I'd probably just pushed her too far.
"Sometimes." she whispered it so quietly I barely heard.
The shrill ringing of a phone broke the awkward silence that had fallen.
Alice's eyes flickered to the clock and a huge grin spread across her face hopping up she skipped to the phone and answered.
"You're 10 minutes early!" she teased.
I heard a muted booming laugh from the other end but couldn't tell what was being said.
"I'm fine Emmett, like always." she giggled.
And I couldn't help smiling as my eyes followed her around the room, her love for her brother shining through as she talked to him.
"I've been doing homework and I just made chilli…….yes there's enough for you to have some this weekend…….yes I made extra so you can take some back." she rolled her eyes "No I'm not going to send it to you special delivery, you'll just have to be patient."
She giggled again "You're an idiot sometimes, tell Rose to give you a smack from me."
Her nose suddenly wrinkled up in disgust causing me to chuckle.
"Gross Emmett! Ok hanging up now, that was way too much information."
She smiled patiently "Yes I know…….not sure we can decide when you get back."
She sighed in exasperation "I always lock the doors Emmett…….and set the alarm…….ok sorry I know you worry but I'm fine…….will do, see you Friday…….yeah I love you too, bye Em."
She hung up the phone and turned to find me grinning at her.
Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink "Sorry, he always calls at the same time every night."
"No worries." I checked the time it was just past 9 "I should probably be heading home."
"Right, sorry I can't believe I kept you here this late." she said walking me to the door.
"Hey don't worry about it, I enjoyed myself." I paused at the door "So how's about Monday night to work on the project again?"
She looked at the ground and shuffled her feet "You sure?" she asked slowly.
I nodded, I wasn't going to admit to her just how much I'd enjoyed spending time with her, but I was more than eager to do it again.
"Ok, if you're sure. Night Jasper." she smiled happily making my throat go dry.
"Sweet dreams Alice." I murmured fighting down the sudden urge to lean down and kiss her goodnight.
I quickly headed to my car flinging my bag onto the passenger seat.
Glancing up I saw Alice silhouetted against the light flooding out of the doorway, my heart stuttered.
As I drove home I tried to figure out why she was so unpopular at school. She was kind, sweet, helpful, funny, easy to talk to.
She may have dressed kind of frumpy at school, but the way she had looked tonight showed her to be anything but.
She was small sure but perfect. Her high cheekbones and slightly pointy chin paired with her pouty lips would have given her a haughty look had it not been for her big round eyes. Bright green with those little gold flecks, an open doorway to her soul showing off every emotion she felt, whether they were dulled with grief or sparkling with joy.
Her designer clothes had hugged her petite body perfectly showing off every delicate curves. Her collar bones had been visible above the neckline of her shirt and I thought about running my lips along them tasting her soft skin.
Little Jay decided to show his appreciation for my current line of thought by springing to attention at the thought of how it would feel to be inside her.
I groaned loudly banging my head on the steering wheel as I pulled up to my house my head still filled with images of Alice.
What the fuck was wrong with me? I had spent a grand total of 5 hours with this girl and I was already panting after her like a horny dog.
As I got ready for bed I began to wish I still knew nothing more about her than her name.
I chuckled humourlessly as I tried to get comfortable in bed with a raging boner playing havoc in my pants.
I was in such deep shit with this girl!
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