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This chapter is dedicated to CharliDenae! I am IN LOVE with her story 'My Everything'. Check it out! She also is the F*Bomb (an out dated phrase, I know) at PMs. We have the greatest time, lol!

And can everyone just say 'whoa'? A Wednesday update? Really? I know last chapter I said a Friday update wouldn't be typical, and here I am even earlier! Kudos to all who reviewed to make me write faster and kudos to me for actually managing to write on my vacation!

"I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero
'Til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life."
Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler

Jasper POV

I felt like I was floating on air my whole walk back to Andrew's store. Alice had agreed to come to dinner with me. Alice had agreed to come to dinner with me. I still couldn't fully wrap my mind around it.

I was saying "hello" to everyone on the sidewalks and shaking hands with all the people I knew in town. I couldn't possibly have been in a better mood. You probably could've given me the moon and I wouldn't have been as happy.

I was whistling a happy tune as I opened the door to Andrew's store. He glanced up at me, leaning against a push-broom he was using to sweep the entrance. He noticed the bolt of cloth still in my hands and gave me a questioning look.

"I'm tempted to say, by the way you're carrying on that tune, that Miss Alice said 'yes'. But, you're holding that cloth, so I'm wondering if she said 'no' and by some twist of fate you're, dare I say, happy about it?" He commented, watching me with an amused expression.

"She said 'yes'," I beamed, feeling my jaw stretch with the huge smile on my face. "I wanted you to wrap up this cloth and while you're at it, I need a few more yards of it," I said, heading towards the counter and placing the cloth on it. He nodded, joining me at the counter.

"Why wouldn't you let me wrap it up earlier, Jasper?" He asked, grabbing a box off of a shelf and placing the cloth gingerly inside of it.

"Because, wrapping it would've made it seem like I was making too much of an effort." I shrugged, "Besides, knowing Alice, she'd probably get upset with me for spending the money on wrapping it nicely."

Andrew laughed and I joined him. "Well, I suppose you're right. You're going to have your hands full with that girl, I can tell you that."

"I am fully aware," I said truthfully. "And I plan on embracing ever second of it." Andrew looked at me with an unreadable expression.

"You sound like you are really involved with Alice already, Jasper," he said, tying string around the box. I nodded.

"I think since I first saw her last night, at the saloon. I could tell, I knew, there was something different about her. I've never had this much emotion for someone in my whole life. It's actually a little bit frightening, but it's thrilling all at the same time," I confessed. "It's like I couldn't get her out of my head all last night, and this morning, and I like it."

"There's a lot about Alice," Andrew looked at me, "And her sister that is different. They're not some pair of saloon girls looking to give good times for good tips. Both of them have very level heads on their shoulders despite how their parents were-"

"Can you explain? How their parents were?" I asked, breaking him off in the middle of him speaking. It was rude, and I knew that, but I had to get answers. I was curious.

"I can't explain anything. You want to know something, you go ask straight from the source," he gave me a pointed look. "Just trust me when I tell you that they know what they're doing, what they've done, and know that I've told you they aren't your average saloon girls."

"Okay, Andrew. I guess I can deal with that explanation," I relented, knowing that getting information from Alice would be damned near impossible with the way she was always shutting me out on certain things.

"Good, I'm glad. Now, is there anything else I can help you with?" He smiled, gesturing not so subtly around his store. I returned the smile and nodded.

"I need a couple of things ready by tomorrow. Do you think you could help me with some requests?"

"Tomorrow? I don't know, Jasper, we're kind of busy with special requests…." He trailed off, but I could see the sly smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

"Aw, come on, Andrew. You know I hardly ever ask for special requests." I smirked, adding an offer he could not refuse, "I'll pay double. Please, just let me request a few things."

"Double you say? Well, I think we could work with that offer," he smiled at me.

"Why is it that you said you wouldn't cheat Alice earlier today, but you have no problem receiving double pay from me?" I laughed, but my question was serious.

Andrew answered quickly, "Because, Alice can't afford double price. And besides, I don't even charge her or her sister regular price. They get a cheaper tag because I know they can't afford to pay what I make others pay. Someone has to pick up the slack after my generous offer, and you my boy, are just the person to do it."

I guess I've been helping Alice out all along then, I smiled as I that thought crossed my mind.

"So, anyway, what did you need? Special request, aye? Do tell me what you need and I'll be sure to have it ready by tomorrow," he said.

I started listing off everything I thought I'd need for the dinner tomorrow. I was such a smart guy….

Alice POV

I was halfway back to the saloon when I remembered my cloth. I forgot to get it from Jasper! I groaned, realizing that there was no way I could get it back now. I'd just have to wait until Sunday when I had dinner with him. I smiled but still could not wrap my mind around the fact that Jasper wanted to have dinner with me.

I was so relieved when he agreed to meet me at Mr. Olson's. I knew he acted like he was okay with me, but in reality, he didn't know anything at all. He had no idea where I called home, no idea about my past, and until a few minutes ago, he had no idea Rose was my sister. I had to admit it, the man was pretty clueless. But, it was my fault. I'd kept him at bay so far. I didn't even have the guts to confess to him that I lived in the back of the saloon.

I smiled as I opened the palm of my left hand. The small candy heart was still in my possession. I traced around its edges the rest of the way back to the saloon.

My own heart was swelled with, dare I say it, love? Did I love Jasper Whitlock? The thought was almost too much to process, but I did have to admit that there was a part of me that couldn't help but smile when he smiled, feel giddy when he did things like give me the candy heart, or swoon when he made contact with any part of my skin. Did I love Jasper? I never thought it possible to feel so much emotion for someone in as little of the time as I'd known Jasper Whitlock, but still that part of me couldn't deny these feelings, my feelings, for him.

When I reached Bull's Head, I didn't see James's horse outside. I was relieved I had made it back before he noticed my absence.

James was very controlling. He didn't like us to go anywhere without him knowing. Every now and then some of the girls could get away with it, but I was one of the 'special ones' he didn't like to leave. Most of the time, I could sneak out and not get caught. I was just that good.

I pushed open the front door and walked inside. None of the candles where lit, which meant that no one had arrived. Rose and the other girls were probably relaxing before our busy night.

I closed the door quietly behind me and heard a low, "Hello, Darlin'". I jumped and wheeled around. James was leaning against the wall right by the door.

"I was wondering when you'd get back," he said, walking towards me. I tightened my hand holding the candy heart into a fist. "Think of how worried I was when I showed up here and realized one of my favorite girls was missing. I was just devastated, Alice." He stopped in front of me, his face unreadable.

"James-"

"Where were you, Alice," he growled his question menacingly. "You know you're not supposed to leave the saloon!" He slapped me, his hand colliding forcefully with my cheek. I gasped, crumpling to the floor. My cheek stung. I raised my free hand to it and touched it lightly, gasping again when the pain intensified. It was almost too much to handle.

"Get up!" He yelled, yanking my arm and pulling me to my feet. "You don't get to get off easy just because you're one of my favorites. I have rules, Alice, and I don't like them broken. I need to trust you and you need to trust me, understand?" I didn't say anything. The word 'trust' sounded weird coming from James. Trust and honesty were two things James didn't know the full meaning of.

"Answer me when I'm speaking to you!" He swung his arm hard into my side. I gasped feeling all of my breath leave my lungs in one whoosh. I tried to keep a steady standing position, but I was barely able to breathe at the moment. "Answer me!" He yelled again, repeating the action; his arm collided with my ribcage.

"Get off of me!" I choked, using all of my strength to try and push his hands off of me. He grabbed onto both of my wrists and pushed me backwards. I fell to the floor and felt my candy heart fly out of my hand. My head was ringing with the force of the impact and I couldn't fathom anything happening around me for a few moments.

When I regained consciousness, James was looking at me inquisitively. He bent down to retrieve the piece of candy that had flown from my grasp and landed mere inches away. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at him.

"Be mine?" He asked, reading the candy. "Where in the hell did you get this?" I reached a limp hand up and brushed my tears off of my cheeks, but my sobbing did not stop. "Answer me, Alice!" James yelled, "Where did you get this piece of candy?" He was bent over, yelling in my face; I cringed.

I shook my head, refusing to put Jasper's good name into this. James slapped me again, on the other side of my face this time.

"Well I guess if you can't even tell me the person's name, they're not that important," he smirked at me and dropped the candy heart right near my eyes. I watched in horror as he took the tip of his dirty, pointed boot and ground the piece of candy into tiny smidgens of dust. He grinned back at me, daring me to say or do anything.

"I'm going to make sure you don't sneak out without my permission ever again," he said, pulling on my arm. I was yanked up and off the floor again by his strength.

He dragged me back to a spare room behind the scenes at the saloon. After pushing me into the darkness, he slammed the door shut. I heard him laugh as he locked me in from the outside.

"Good luck trying to escape now, Alice," James laughed. I walked backwards until I found the wall and sunk to the floor. There was no cot to lie down on and the floor was as hard as a rock.

I took a deep breath and let my sobs over take my body for the second night in a row. I couldn't believe how naïve I had been. I couldn't believe I had let myself get so involved with something that couldn't happen. Just look at the consequences! There was no way I would allow myself to interfere and hurt Jasper in that way. I couldn't live with myself if something terrible happened to him because of me.

I sat in the dark of the room and tried to think of a way to distract myself. My mind was on one track, and the train running on it? Well, it was going non-stop to depression town. If I had my cloth I could make a bed… I thought, but that idea was quickly smashed. James had taken my candy heart and destroyed it, what would stop him from ruining a bolt of fabric?

I heard movement outside of the door and scrambled to my feet. Running to the door, I nearly stumbled across something that seemed to be moving out of my way. Great, rats… I thought, shuddering slightly.

I made it the rest of the way to the door and pressed my ear against it. I could hear someone talking and started banging on the door.

"Help!" I screamed, "Rose! Anybody! Help me!" I pounded on the door, not caring if James heard me or not. I wanted to get out. I needed to get out. I pounded harder on the frayed wood, each time bringing my fist down harder and sending shocks of pain through my hand.

"Alice? It's Lauren," I heard Lauren laugh. "What did you do to get yourself locked in the dungeon?" She said the name so ominous I was actually frightened. And I knew not to let any of those other girls get to me, but Lauren was scary.

"I, uhm," I paused. "It's none of your business! Unlock the door! I know the lock is out there!" I was panicking. I felt another rat, or possibly the same one, crawl across the top of my shoes. I squealed, jumping and attempting to climb the flat door.

"Hmm, I think not. You must've done something for James to put you in there," she chuckled. "I'm not going to risk my good standing with James to help you. Enjoy the show!" She laughed. I heard her heels clicking on the floor as she left.

I slid down the length of the door and let tears of sadness, frustration, and anger flow freely down my cheeks again.

I heard the music start up as my sobs slowly subsided. I was curled up in a corner of the room, feeling more pathetic than I ever could've imagined. If I had found the high points to this job yesterday, I needed to start a list of the cons. There was no way this was healthy.

I heard the shouting and cheering for the girls on stage. For once I wished I was up there. It was so much better than being in this room with these… these… rats. I shuddered hearing one of them squeak and squeal as it, or possibly another, ran with its tiny claws over the wood floor.

I'd never been in this kind of punishment before. I had no clue what to expect. Would James just leave me in here to rot for the rest of my life? Surely that was a little extreme, even for him. Would he come back later tonight and take more of his anger out on me? That one was a little bit more plausible, though still not ideal. All I wanted was to get out.

I could feel the lump in my throat tighten again, but I was pretty positive I was out of tears. I'd cried more in the past two days then I'd cried when… well, when our parents sold me and Rosalie to James, leaving us scared and alone without any other family members to help us or comfort us.

I heard the soft sound of someone walking down the hall. I rushed to the door and pressed my ear against the cracked and splintered wood. I heard muffled voices and tried to catch the words I could.

"Really… sweet…I'd would've…but… didn't want to come…had something to do…thought he had liked that…yeah…" I could hear a male voice as the owner talked slowly, quietly.

"I don't know… upset… didn't like the… wish she would've listened… I know… exactly…" The accompanying female voice wasn't any clearer than her partners.

I heard my name and hoped to God I knew the people out there. I started pounding on the door calling out frantically for help. The muffled voices stopped and I heard their footsteps walk down the hall towards me. It was amazing how much your other senses seemed to enhance in their ability when one (my eyesight in this situation) wasn't up to par.

"Help me! I know someone's out there! Please," I cried tearlessly.

"Alice?" Rose's voice called clearly through the door now that she was standing so close. "Is that you? Alice?"

"Rose!" I cried, happy that I'd taken the chance and reached the one person that could probably help me.

"Alice! I've been worried about you! What happened?" She asked; her voice was panicked. I smiled because I was so much closer to home with Rose on the other side of the door.

"I'll explain later, Rose, I promise. Can you get me out?" I asked, hopeful that Jessica was just teasing and the lock could be opened without a key. I prayed that it could be opened without a key.

I heard the sound of her fumbling with the lock. No matter how much I wanted to have hope, no matter how much I wanted to believe, I knew it was impossible.

"Uhm, it's a pretty tough lock…. I can't-"

"Stand back, Alice," I heard Emmett say. My eyes grew huge as I backed away from the door. I found myself plastered against the wall as a loud bang sounded and reverberated through the tiny room. "I am goin' to try again, Alice. Stay back now, ya hear me?" I nodded and then realized he couldn't see that action.

"Yes, Emmett," I said, "I understand." I clutched to the wall as best as I could as another core shaking smack hit the door.

"Damn it," I heard him groan. "Alice, I can't get it. The door is a piece of shit but the lock… the lock is… is… well somethin' that ain't shit." I heard the slightest giggle from Rosalie and no matter how much I wanted to join in with her giggling, I couldn't.

I swallowed the lump in my throat; the one growing from panic and not sadness this time. "I-It's okay, Emmett. I'll get out somehow."

"Okay Alice, so now tell me what in the hell happened to get you stuck in there?" I heard Emmett ask. I took a deep breath and instantly regretted it. My ribs hurt and the deep breath sent a shocking pain through me.

"Ow," I whispered, quiet enough that they didn't hear me. "Um, I just went on an errand and he didn't know I'd left so he, uh, got mad and put me in here to make sure I w-wouldn't leave a-again," I could feel my sobs start to form again and with each shuddery breath the pain got worse.

"Are you okay, Alice?" Rose asked. I felt tears, tears I had thought I'd cried out already, prickle like cactus needles behind my eyes. Rosalie was worried about me. She cared whether or not I was okay. Of course, I should expect this, she is my sister after all, but after the horrible encounter I'd had with James just a few hours- at the most- earlier, I was still a little battered in more ways than just physically.

"Y-yeah," I gasped. A thought crossed my mind and I had to ask, "J-Jasper didn't come here tonight, did he?"

There was silence on the other side of the door; a kind of silence that was unnerving for some reason. I swallowed the bitter bile that had just collected in my mouth before attempting to speak.

"Did he?" There was no answer. "Rosalie? Emmett? Jasper didn't come here by any chance, did he?" Again, silence. "Rose? You didn't leave me did you?"

"So, Jasper Whitlock, is it?" I heard James say. I closed my eyes tight, whishing I could just take it all back. My chest heaved with an indescribable pain. "And you thought I wouldn't figure it out? Just what kind of a fool do you take me for, you little whore?"

"Whoa, buddy, back off," I heard Emmett intervene. Why hadn't he spoken earlier?

"I ain't your buddy. You shut your bazzo or I'll clean your plow like I did Alice's. Ya hear me?" I gasped, imagining the horrible fight about to commence between Emmett and James.

"What did you do to her?" I heard Rosalie screech hysterically.

I could practically hear James' evil grin influence his sentence as he spoke, "Well, ain't we a feisty one t'night? What I did to Alice is for me to know, her to feel, and you to, well, I can't think that far ahead. She might not even make it tomorrow for the damn stunt she pulled." I gasped and felt a sickening crack in my ribcage. James couldn't be serious, could he?

"What did you do, James," Emmett growled.

"I did enough to make her realize that if she ever crosses me again, there will be hell to pay," I heard James retort. "But then again, I ain't too positive she'll make it to tomorrow."

"Alice, can you hear me?" Emmett asked me. I nodded and then realized he couldn't see the motion.

"Yes, Emmett, I can hear you," I managed to speak past the lump in my throat that was growing from worry.

"Do you need medical attention? How hurt are you?" He asked these questions slowly, but even his pace couldn't hide the worry in his voice.

"I-I, uh, I c-can't," I struggled, my breathing ragged. I couldn't see anything in the room, but I knew my eyes were losing focus.

"Alice?"

I barely registered my name being called before my body slumped against the door and I fell to the ground. I could feel my legs screaming out in protest as they were bent beneath me in the most awkward of positions.

"Alice?"

My name was called again, frantically this time. I tried to respond, but I couldn't. My mouth did not seem connected to my brain anymore. I could not will myself to utter a response, no matter how much I wanted to.

My eyelids fluttered closed and my brain seemed to slowly shut down. If I was dying, I hated the fact that I knew James was right. He'd said I wouldn't make it into tomorrow.

I hated the fact that if I was dying, he got the last laugh.

I hated the fact that if I was dying, he was the one to push me to the brink.

I hated the fact that if I was dying, I was leaving Rosalie alone in this hell with James.

I hated the fact that if I was dying, I was dying alone….

So, I know, y'all are going to hate me for ending it there, but I promise, the next chapter is done and will not take long to be posted.

Please review and tell me what you think! I'd like to know your thoughts. It does help me improve…

Sammie'sgirl