Chapter 2.
Jasper froze where he stood in the middle of the Cullen household. He couldn't believe that Alice Brandon was standing at the door. She had to have known her invitation was revoked that night 2 years ago. But then again, Alice was never one to take no for an answer.
2 years before:
"Alice, you can't just do that!" Jasper burst out when they were alone.
"So what? It was bound to come out sooner or later." Then she laughed at the irony of her statement. Jasper balled his fists in frustration.
"It's not funny. Edward is my friend. I thought he was yours, too." Jasper turned his head so as not to look at Alice anymore. He didn't know what to do with her.
"Well, you've been wrong before," Alice muttered. Jasper's head turned slowly back to look at his girlfriend, the one he thought he loved.
"What?" He asked his teeth gritted.
"You've been wrong before," she said louder.
"When exactly was that?" Jasper knew he wasn't perfect, but who was Alice to think she was better than him?
"No specific time, exactly. But don't tell me you've never screwed up before," Alice said defiantly with one fine eyebrow arched.
Jasper couldn't say that. Many times in his childhood before his father died he had messed up. But he was a child then, and he had grown up. Something Alice obviously hadn't done yet.
"At least I've never done what you just did; completely ruined someone's life." Jasper's cold reproach didn't seem to have much of an effect on Alice. Although, she did know he was mad at her and that he wouldn't do anything about it because she was sweet, little Alice; no one would hurt her. So she softened her angular face and widened her dark brown eyes. Her unimposing body slightly caved in to relay vulnerability.
"Everybody makes mistakes, Jazzy," she said sweetly. Jasper looked at her, the petite woman he had been dating for almost a year. He knew her well. All too well. He could see the malicious glint in her big brown eyes and he knew what he had to do. No more lies from Alice.
"Ali, honey," he said in a voice similar to Alice's, only a bit more condescending, "get the hell out of my life." And then turned and walked away. But Alice couldn't let this happen. He wasn't supposed to break up with her, but only comply with everything she said. He was hers.
"No, Jazzy, wait!" She yelled out. Jasper stopped but didn't turn around.
"I don't wanna hear it. I'm tired of this. We're through. Goodnight." And Jasper walked away, hoping to never see Alice again.
Present
The only thing Jasper regretted about that night was how harsh he'd been, even if Alice deserved it. It just wasn't like him. But, he was past that now, and he thought he was past Alice.
Bella thought she was, too. Alice had ruined her brother's life and Bella never forgave her for it, and neither did Edward. How dare she show up at her engagement party? When Jasper, Edward, and the Cullen's were there? In the Cullen's house?
Alice and Bella stood in the doorway. "Alice," Bella said, no emotion showing on her face, even though she much wanted to rip Alice's pixie hair out.
"Yeah, that's me," said Alice, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She'd always been full of herself, even as a child. The Brandon's were all like that, since they were high up in politics. They didn't seem to notice no one really liked them. Alice squeezed in past Bella uninvited, like she owned the place. The party-goers stared as she passed them to the drink table, all knowing what she'd done to Edward. They glared, she was oblivious, as always.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Emmett growled from beside Jasper. Jasper hadn't realized Emmett was next to him and started. He calmed himself, despite the situation.
"That's a fantastic question," Jasper muttered. He would have asked her that himself, but he couldn't decide if he wanted her to seem him. Although, she probably knew he was there, and that's why she'd went. And it was true. Alice made her drink and set her eyes out for Jasper, or Jazzy, as she used to call him. She couldn't wait to tell him the big news, the plan she'd been cooking up for two years ever since the night Jasper broke up with her. Now, where is Jazzy?
Edward was stuck still on the steps where he'd been hiding all night; after all, Bella had only asked him to show his face, and he was technically doing that. When the door opened and Alice stepped in, he was sure his heart had stopped beating. He hated to admit it, but he was scared of Alice, terrified of her. She was the one who ruined his life. And there was nothing he could've done about it.
Edward watched as Alice waltzed in and got her drink, his body refusing to move from the stairs. He was in plain sight, even though he regularly tried to disguise himself in public by wearing black, no matter how hot it was. He tried to sink into himself, but Alice had a sharp eye. She spotted him and winked. Anger boiled inside of Edward and he found it hard to breathe.
Alice thought she was funny. No one else did, but did she know that? Of course not. So when she spotted Edward, she winked at him, a little inside thing they shared. She laughed when his face turned red and his chest rose heavier and fell faster. Then she continued her search for Jasper without a look back. The blond curls were unmistakable, along with his height. She made her way to him while not making eye contact with the accusing glares of the guests.
Jasper couldn't move. Alice was on the hunt, and everyone knew you couldn't stop Alice when she wanted something. After all, she'd gotten Jasper before. He stood his ground, not sure if he could face her and win, but he was going to try.
"Jasper," she purred. "Long time, no see."
"Get out of my house," Emmett said, still growling. Alice slowly turned her head to look at Emmett. Jasper could tell she was about to say something bad, something that would make the situation impossibly worse.
"Go, Emmett," he said quietly to his friend. "Go talk to Edward," he added in a whisper so that Alice wouldn't hear. Emmett nodded and left the ex-couple. Alice smiled, thinking Jasper had done it for her. As if.
"Thanks, Jazzy," she said, reminding Jasper of a snake. Had he mentioned he hated that nickname? She called him that even before they started dating, and Jasper bared through it because he thought them being together would be good for their names, both being in politics. That didn't matter anymore, but Jasper wasn't going to say anything about it, fearing her wrath. She was scary for such a little person.
"It wasn't for you," he muttered. Her face fell a bit, but it didn't affect her. "What are you doing here, Alice? You shouldn't have come."
"Why?" she asked, completely oblivious, yet again. Was she stupid?
"You know why," Jasper said, looking around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation.
Alice understood and laughed. "Because of Edward? It's not my fault he likes –"
"Shut up!" Jasper exploded. Alice brought out that worst in him, and he hated it. He also hated what Alice had done to Edward. Edward hated it the most. When he saw Emmett approaching him, he tried to leave up the stairs, but Emmett caught up.
"I don't want to talk about it," Edward said before disappearing up the stairs. Emmett stood there, looking after his friend, wishing they could be close again. They hadn't really talked since last year, and Emmett regretted how he'd treated Edward after his secret came out. He sighed and walked back to Alice and Jasper to protect Jasper against Alice's pixie mind tricks.
Alice was taken aback at Jasper's reaction. She'd forgotten his temper.
"I'm sorry." Jasper didn't like what she made him. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Alice couldn't deny how damn sexy he was, even after two years. She checked him out while he wasn't looking before starting a new conversation.
"How's your campaign going?"
"Good," Jasper replied, surprised at the change in topic and the fact that Alice seemed to care.
"I hope mine will be good, too." Alice started, nonchalant. "I mean—"
"What?" Jasper interrupted. What was she talking about?
"My campaign, silly," she swatted her hand at Jasper.
"Campaign for what?" Jasper seethed.
"I'm running for president." And she smiled like nothing was wrong. Nothing at all.
AN: Darn Alice.
So uh here are some songs for this chapter: Do ya think I'm sexy? – Glee version, Rolling in the Deep – Glee or Adele version, and Skinny Love by Birdy or Bon Iver, whichever. Thank you for reading!
P.S. I see you guys! Yeah, you! I see the favorites and follows! Where are you? Talk to me. I WANT to talk to you. Pwetty pwease?
