Alright guys, this is the 2nd last chapter, another short one to come. Hopefully it wont take so long to upload as the rest of the chapters did. Hope you all enjoy it!
Alice's POV
I sat outside with a cup of coffee warming my hands as I watched the sunrise. It was early, too early to be up really. But I'd woken in a cold sweat at 1am and had been unable to get back to sleep. The nightmare played over and over again in my mind, I thought about it again and more tears spilled over, warming my freezing cheeks. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't shake the feeling that the dream meant something.
I thought I'd gotten over this, an entire year of therapy had finally gotten rid of this nightmare and now suddenly it was back? I shivered again as I wiped away my tears and tried to convince myself I was still safe. I couldn't remember much about that night, just what he had said to me. I can't remember the following weeks either. Not knowing kept me feeling safe, but somehow not knowing also made me feel worse.
I wondered why it affected me so much, yet Rosalie hardly ever thought about it? Why was it that I had nightmares and she didn't? Why couldn't I ever forget him? Maybe it was the promise I'd made, but I still had no idea who it was meant for. Who was I meant to tell?
More tears spilled over as I heard the door slide open.
"Alice?" Jasper whispered, "What's wrong?"
Of course he'd notice straight away.
"Nothing." I murmured, wiping my eyes.
He sat next to me, draping a jacket over my shoulders. A feeling of dread washed over me, I couldn't place the source of my fear, but my breath came out in short, shallow gasps and fear flooded through my body. Jasper's arm wrapped around my shoulders as he waited silently for me to calm down. Eventually he helped me up and held my hand as I followed him inside. Opening the door he turned back to look at me, smiling as he did so. The rising sun played on his features, highlighting his messy hair, his eyes turned bright blue as he glared into the sunlight, his eyes flickered down to meet mine.
Then, just like that, he was gone, vanished into thin air. I stared ahead, uncomprehending.
"Alice! Oh there you are. Alice what are you doing? Alice?" I couldn't answer her, I collapsed into her arms, weeping.
Somehow I ended up alone in bed. My body shaking violently, even with the blankets wrapped around my body. Jasper was gone, forever? Would he ever come looking for me? Ever even remember that I existed? Or had it all been some sort of fling for him? Something with no commitment needed.
Bella came back into the room, minutes, or maybe hours, later. I'd lost the meaning of time. She asked something, but I was too far gone to even consider making out the words. She laid down next to me, pulling me close and trying to offer what ever comfort she could. I allowed my mind to pull me under, into a dreamless, terrifying slumber.
When I was awake Bella would offer me food, drinks, ask me an endless list of questions. None of which I listened to. Some time later Rose came home, but I ignored her just the same as I had Bella.
Instead my mind focused on the way Jasper had looked the last time I saw him, the sunlight marking his features. The soft smile playing on his lips. I focused on the way he had looked that day in the park, so carefree. I tried to remember exactly what his laugh sounded like. Exactly what he had looked like that first time we kissed, and the many times after that.
I fell asleep again.
I collapsed next to him.
"Tell her." he begged.
"Who?" I questioned, "Who do I need to tell?"
"You, honey, it's always been you."
I saw him, for the first time really saw him. His golden locks, those blue eyes, darkened by the dim light. His mouth was pulled into a tight smile. No, no, no, no, no. It wasn't him, couldn't ever be him. Please...please.
I jolted awake. Rose and Bella were sitting on my bed, worried looks on their faces.
"Honey, what happened?" Rose asked, "Can you tell us please? You're safe now. Shh, shh. You're OK."
I realized I was shaking again.
"His name..?" I gasped.
"What?" Bella questioned.
"What was his name?...That guy, the one who was...Who was..."
Rosalie cut me off, "Oh honey, is that where you went?"
"His name?" I demanded.
"Jasper..." Rosalie whispered, "Jasper Whitlock."
I went numb, no. It couldn't be true. He couldn't be gone. No, no, no, no.
I stayed in bed for that following week, seeing no need to get up. Bella or Rose would constantly check up on me, bring me food, try to get me to talk about it, but I had nothing to say. Jasper was gone. Neither knew what he meant to me now and I didn't feel the need to tell them.
I woke up on the seventh day with a renewed hope.
That voice, I'd know that voice anywhere. His voice. Called out to me.
He opened my door, poking his head in.
"Alice." he breathed, as if in relief.
So he did come to find me, maybe he'd just forgotten the address, but here he was. Standing right before me, and I studied his face, making sure it was him, that it wasn't something my mind had conjured up. That's when I noticed it. Jasper had cuts lining his face, and arms. Bruises marked whatever skin I could see, probably more.
"Jasper, what happened to you?" I demanded.
He smiled sadly, "I got into a bit of trouble again."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I just ran into some of my old...friends."
I looked at him expectantly, he stared back at me. Probably trying to find a way to explain or to try and make it better. After a moment or two he reached up to brush a strand of hair back, letting his fingers linger on my cheek. He trailed his fingers along my jaw and down to my chin tilting my head up. As he bent down to kiss my lips I pulled away from him.
"Don't you dare think this will make it better Jasper." Despite my resolve tears began to run down my cheeks. Something burned at the back of my mind, something horrible, but I couldn't remember what. Not with him here.
"I'm sorry Alice. I just missed you so much. I don't know how long it was for you, but it was 5 months for me." He apologized, which only made it worse, I started sobbing. "Alice? Baby its OK, oh sweetie don't cry."
And suddenly I remembered why Jasper couldn't come for me. Why it was impossible for him to be here, in my time, with me.
"No, you're not here. It's not you!" I screamed.
"Alice, ALICE! Stop it."
Jasper managed to pin my hands up above my head, my legs trapped under the blanket, rendering me defenseless.
"You can't be here." I sobbed.
"Why?" he breathed, face oh so close to mine.
"I watched, I watched you."
I couldn't bring myself to tell him, what was I meant to say I've seen you die? No. I couldn't do that to him. Regardless of what it was doing to me.
"Do you still love me, or is there someone else?" Jasper questioned, doubt transforming his features.
"There's no one else. I'm just, oh Jasper." I managed to break his hold and throw my arms around him, "I missed you. I missed you so much! I didn't think you'd come for me. How did you come for me?"
"Time morphed again." he stated simply, my hope fell, "Oh Alice, don't worry. When you know about me in my time, I promise to come and find you."
I shook my head, "No Jasper, find me when you get back. I'll believe you I know I will. Promise me Jazz, promise you will look for me?"
Jasper shook his head, "I'm 8 years older than you Alice-"
"I. Don't. Care. I love you."
He pulled back to look me in the eyes, "I do. Alice, you are amazing, more so than any woman I have ever known. I love you more than anything and I know you love me here and now, but you're a woman now. You've had the time and space to become who you want to be. You need those years Alice."
"I need you." I cried,.
"I'll come for you, in 2015. It won't be much longer Alice. Not so long honey, and now you're an adult the 8 years won't mean much. But Alice, I won't take your youth from you...I can't." he said softly, a faint plea evident in his voice.
