A/N: Thanks to everyone who took the time to review. Next chapter will be in Jasper's point of view.
Disclaimer: I own a few things, but unfortunately for me Twilight is not among them.
3. Now you know
"I think we've found our leads." Mrs. Carter announces happily. From behind her Bella is giving me the thumbs up. The other students in the room don't seem very pleased with the news. All had probably hoped to have the main part.
"Jasper I'm glad you transferred to our school. You'll be a real asset for this play." So his name is Jasper. I think it suits him, it's an old fashioned name, from times when men were gentlemen. Like he seems to be.
"Thank you ma'am." Jasper says with a southern accent.
"And who knew what was right under my nose? Alice you're natural at this. For a moment there I sincerely thought that what happened on stage was real." For a moment I believed it too, I say in my mind.
"By tomorrow everyone will know their part and then we can start rehearsals. You're free till next period starts." Mrs. Carter says, already headed for the door.
"Congrats miss. In case you didn't catch my name, it's Jasper. I know yours so no other introduction is necessary 'cause I think our meeting out there was quite good." Jasper says pointing to the stage. Yes, it was good. Too good to be true. I only manage to nod in agreement, all the confidence I felt on stage now gone.
He gives me a small smile. "I guess I'll see you around." Again, all I'm able to do is nod. Then he's gone and I'm left there staring after him. Even if things didn't happen the way I thought they would I'm still hopeful. About what I'm not sure, but I feel hope.
I know some things about him from my visions like the fact that he comes from Houston, Texas and that, for no apparent reason, he sometimes seems pained. I tell myself that's why I keep searching for him in my classes and on the halls. Deep down I know that's a lie.
Everyone is talking about the new students, just like it happened when Bella transferred to Forks High. Listening to the conversations around me I gather more information about Jasper. I swear, Jessica Stanley could be a professional gossip blogger or something. By the end of the day I know that he went to military school for a year, his name is Jasper Hale, his family has a decent amount of money and he has a fraternal twin sister, named Rosalie, who also transferred to our school. Everyone says she is really gorgeous. Not that it surprises me, based on how Jasper looks.
The rest of the day is uneventful. With the new students to talk about everyone forgets about me. Which I'm grateful for. If I manage to keep a low profile maybe they would ignore me for a while.
Next day as I enter the cafeteria I see that Bella is already seated at our lunch table, a bottle of orange juice and a sandwich in front of her. I scan the room for Jasper, but he's nowhere in sight. I let out a breath I didn't realized I was holding.
I go to buy my lunch then start toward Bella with my tray full. I only make a few steps when someone bumps into me. Usually Bella is the clumsy one, but I lose my balance and I fall to the floor, spilling the content of my tray on a pair of cowboy boots. As I hear laughter around me I brace myself for insults that I'm due to receive from the boy whose boots I ruined even if technically it isn't really my fault, after all he's the one that bumped into me. Instead he crouches down in front of me. It's Jasper. Oh God. I wanted to see him but not like this.
"Are you okay?" I nod and he takes my hand and pulls me up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. I'll pay for your boots. "
"Don't worry about it." He bends down and picks my tray. "It was my fault. I'm the one who should pay for your lunch" I expected him to be mad at me, but he seems cool about it.
"Poor Alice. Her special ability failed her. Again. Must suck to be her." Jessica says in a fake sympathetic voice.
"Once more she was unable to see her future. Some psychic." Lauren snorts. I have to admit they have a point. Why do I get visions only at random times?
Bella is now by my side. I look around and see people in the cafeteria looking at me, amusement in their faces. When I look back at Jasper I see a gorgeous blond girl stand beside him. She must be Rosalie.
"What do they mean?" Jasper asks me. I'm unable to answer, instead I let my gaze fall on the floor.
"Alice here claims she is psychic. Apparently she has these visions in which she can see the future. That's obviously a lie. She is just hallucinating. She's totally crazy and a compulsive liar. Better stay away from her. She shouldn't be allowed to come to our school.." Lauren responds eagerly.
Oh, God! Now he knows. I want to drop dead on the spot. I can't bring myself to watch his face. If I've ever had the smallest chance at something with him, now it's all gone. I should leave and hide, but it's like I'm frozen in place, starring at the floor. I brace myself waiting for my heart to get crushed by his reaction. But he stays silent. His sister is the one who starts to speak.
"What's the big deal? The girl thinks she can see the future. Well, I've seen stranger things in my life. Besides people know that she has visions and yet she's not in a mental hospital. So she's crazy but harmless." I expected them to react just like the others once they knew the truth, but it still hurts.
"Rose" I hear Jasper say. I can't bring myself to watch him.
"What? I'm just stating the obvious." My eyes begin to sting. I don't know for how long I'll be able to hold back tears.
"Don't talk like that to Alice while she is standing right here. You think you can judge people because you're extremely popular and possibly perfect? You're just a vain, superficial blond beauty. People only like you because of your looks. I bet you haven't suffered a day in your life and you probably don't know what pain is. Alice has feelings and you people have no right making her feel miserable." Bella says coming to my defense. I just wish Bella would ignore all the mean comments directed toward me. I know she's sticking up for me, but she's only making things worse. If I try to defend myself they only make more fun of me. I have learned that not paying attention is better, that way they get bored sooner. It seems Bella still hasn't cached up on that.
"Bells, it's alright. I'm used to it. Let's just go." I manage to say, my voice shaking.
"You got it all wrong. And you know nothing about me. Poor little Alice, having you as her only friend. That's a punishment no one deserves. No wonder she's nuts." Rosalie snaps at my friend.
"Rose, I think that's enough." Jasper says. I slowly lift my eyes to look at him.
"Whatever. I'm losing my time here" and she storms off the cafeteria.
"I'm sorry. Rose didn't mean that." Jasper says with a look of pity on his face. And with that he goes after his sister. Knowing that he pities me makes me feel worse. I feel a jolt of anger rush through me. Now I'm really struggling to hold back tears. I can take being bullied but not people feeling pity for me. That's all I can hope to inspire in someone like him, pity…
A/N: Should Jasper be a jerk to Alice at first because of peer pressure? Or should he be tolerant, nicer than others?
