DISCLAIMER: I now own 1/7 of a really cool log fort/cabin/playhouse, but i do not own any fraction of Twilight :(

A/N: Yeah, I know i'm posting twice in one day. But oh well. I couldn't help myself. Hope you like! I don't have a song for this one either, so review and tell me what song i should use!

Also, reviews = teasers. Thanks to Embry's Babe11, my beta!!


BPOV

Sleep was hard to come by that night. I just kept thinking about how suddenly screwed up things had gotten. Jasper was gone, Alice had been nearly hysterical for hours now, and things were so great, yet so weird with Edward. I mean, I liked the new feelings, seeing Edward in a different light was wonderful, but I didn't want things to change for the worst…I couldn't bare life without him…ever.

I woke up at 2am Tuesday morning to the sound of my phone going off, signaling me that I had a text.

Bella, I need to talk. –J

Oh man. He better have a dang good reason for taking off, or this conversation is not going to go well, it was freaking two in the morning for one thing, and two he had done nothing but hurt my best friend so he better talk quick.

Well then talk. –B

It took him five whole minutes to text back.

I don't think I can come back. -J

What the HECK does he mean, can't come back?!

What the HECK do you mean, can't come back?!? You better have a REAL good reason for this crap, Jasper. I mean it. Alice hasn't stopped crying since you left. Emmett had to hold her for like, 3 hours so she didn't completely fall apart! –B

Ten minutes went by, and I just assumed I had ticked him off. Right as I was drifting back off to sleep, he replied.

Call me. Please. –J

I sighed as I hit speed dial number 4. He is my friend almost just as much as Alice is, I can't just not help him when he needs it. He picked up on the first ring.

"Jasper, I swear –"

"Look Bella, before you say anything, I'm sorry. And I'm gonna get off my chest what I need to say before you get to say anything, so just shut up for a minute."

Okay, I guess he can talk first.

He sighed and then started.

"I swear I didn't do this because I was drunk, or because I'm just having another episode or something stupid like that. I just can't take it anymore. Everything about our group is so freakin perfect. As soon as you and Edward get in on – "

"Jasper, watch it."

"Sorry. Anyways, we are all just grouped off, living together in our perfect little bubble worlds, and you know how much I can't handle that crap. I've never been able to. But I've been trying so hard for her. And I thought I was doing so well. I was even gonna ask her to marry me. I've been carrying around the ring for two weeks now. Man, it's huge. I wish you could see it. But when I brought up marriage and Alice shot it down so abruptly, I had to get outta there. For so long, I've thought that was exactly what she wanted. I've tried day and night the past couple of years to make everything perfect for her. But then finding out that's not what she wants just changed everything I thought I knew. You know what I mean?"

I thought about it.

"Um, no. Not exactly." I felt bad. I really was trying to follow him, but he was borderline hysterical, and I'm pretty sure he'd still been drinking.

"I just feel like…..like everything I thought I knew about her was wrong. By the way she stays so caught up in our little family; I figured she couldn't wait to start her own. So I've been going along with it, pretending like that's what I want too. But now it feels like the past couple of years have just been a lie. Maybe we don't really know anything about each other. I feel suffocated, Bella. I don't know what to do."

Wow. That's deep. I didn't realize he felt that way. I sighed. Alice is so gonna hate my guts for this…

"Are you asking for advice?"

He sighed with relief. "Yes. That is exactly what I want. You're about the most level-headed person I know. Besides my parents, but lets not get mommy and daddy involved, shall we?"

"Deal," I said, laughing lightly.

"Jasper, I hope you don't take my advice as the right or wrong thing to do. That's for you to decide on your own. But if I were in your situation, I would stay off by myself for a while; think things through. It seems to me like you and Alice will be fine. It looks like you both have the same views after all, you just didn't realize it. But if you're feeling suffocated around us, maybe you need a break. Whether you ask Alice to come with you or not, I think you need some down-time away from the rest of us. Not to say we won't miss you, because we definitely will. And we'll be here with open arms whenever you decide to come back."

"I think that's a good idea. I don't think Alice will be coming with me though. I need some serious alone time, just me and my music to heal me and help me figure things out. Thanks, Bella. I'll let you go now."

"Alright. But Jasper, do me a favor. At least stay in touch with her. Let her know you're alive every once in a while. You'll kill her if you don't."

"I will. I definitely couldn't go more than a day or two without hearing her voice, no matter how high pitched and squealy she gets. But I think, besides talking to her, I'll be turning my phone off."

"Okay. Love you. See you when you get back," I said quietly, trying to mask my disappointment. I was kind of hoping he wouldn't take my advice.

"Love you, Bella," He said quietly, and then the line went dead.

I sighed and threw my head back on the pillow.

What have I just done? My family is going to be broken up for no telling how long. How can I hurt Alice like that? Plus, why did Jazz have to try to grow us all up so quickly. Maybe Alice didn't want to be married in college. Why did we have to fast-forward…all I wanted was to live now, and hold onto the present for as long as I could.

I had to remind myself that Jasper was the one that made the decision, and as his friend, I was just standing by his him.

I fell back into a dreamless sleep, dreading waking up and facing my now bleak-looking day.

A few hours later I felt my bed shift and a lot of sniffling. I pulled my best friend to me, wishing I could take away the pain I caused.

"He's not coming back," she said shakily, and then she collapsed into me, sobbing.


The next few days went by in much the same way. Alice would get up and trudge through the day, a shell of her former self. Jasper would call once a day and she would get up, run to the nearest bedroom and lock the door. Fifteen minutes later she would come back out, cuddle up to whoever was around at the time, and cry some more. We drug her to all her classes, made her eat, and tried to get her to participate in our once a week movie night and other activities.

For some reason, though, Jasper said something different than the normal I love you and miss you to Alice Friday afternoon. She came walking calmly out of her room, grabbed her jacket, and turned to face us.

"Yall need to get up and stop moping around. We're going to a party tonight at one of the frat houses. Girls, we're going shopping in ten minutes. Boys, you best do something to make yourselves look better, or you're not coming with us and we'll spend the evening dancing with sexy frat boys."

The queen is back, I see.

"Well, they will dance with sexy frat boys," she said, pointing to where Rose and I were sitting together on the couch in Jazz and Edward's apartment. "I'm going to anyways."

And with that, she strutted her stuff right out the door.

Edward shot me a look. I sighed and stood up.

"Well isn't she just chipper and back to her normal self," Emmett said sarcastically. I think he was actually disappointed that she didn't come and cuddle with him. He's such a softie.

I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing, considering the sudden shift in her mood.

"Good luck," Edward yelled as Rose and I walked outside. Emmett's booming laughter was the last thing I heard before I slammed the door and we ran to catch up with Alice.


"Alice, I feel ridiculous. Actually, I feel like a stupid little skanky high school girl," I said, dreading this evening with everything in me.

"Hey, I used to wear things just like this in high school, and I'm not a skank," Rose said, turning around to make a pouty face at us in the tightest, reddest, and most provocative…thing I have ever seen in my life. Alice and I busted out laughing.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're absolutely right. You weren't just a skank in high school," I said between laughs.

Rose picked up the pillows off my bed and threw them at us. We had been in here for the better part of an hour trying to get into our…things Alice made us buy. Of course I was the only one that was uncomfortable, since Rose was apparently used to it and Alice was on the warpath for some reason.

"Girls! Stop goofing off. This is game time. Now remember, we want to stay away from our boys as much as we can. This is revenge. You hear me?" Alice was barking out orders like a drill sergeant. She was usually bossy, but I'd never seen her like this.

Rosalie shot me a look that said WTF?!, which is exactly what I was thinking.

"Alice, you do realize that we have nothing to get revenge for, and if you're looking to get revenge, Jasper's not gonna be there to see it. SO what exactly do you want us to do," Rosalie asked. I could tell she was trying to be sincere, and I think Alice knew that too. Tears started welling in her eyes.

"I don't know. I just…I just need to go to this party. I need to have a good time, and I need to drink," Alice said. I felt so bad for her. We had been trying to get her to tell us what was going on the whole time we were shopping, but she was putting up a front, pretending like she was okay.

With that, she straightened herself out, grabbed her keys, and barked out orders for us to follow her to pick up the boys.

Rosalie looked like a rock star walking down the hall. I don't know where she gets the confidence to wear dresses like this, if it can even be called a dress, more like a…loincloth, but the confidence is definitely something I am lacking.

My dress was dark blue, covered just below my butt, and was strapless. It clung tightly to my body, and didn't leave much to the imagination. Alice had straightened my hair until it was straighter than a board, and I had a ton of makeup on. On top of that, I had on the highest heels I think I've ever worn. This was going to be a difficult night.

I kept telling myself I just needed to let her get it out of her system, but now I was seriously regretting that. Rosalie and Alice were wearing matching red and black dresses, and they both looked great in them. I don't get how the same dress can look horrific on me, but stunning on them.

We got to the boys' apartment, and Alice knocked loudly. We could hear Edward's smooth voice and Emmett's laughter as they approached. When the door swung open though, the laughing abruptly stopped. Both of them were standing there with their mouths open. What pigs.

Emmett immediately picked Rosalie up and started making out with her. It took Edward a little bit longer to get himself together, but when he did he started right in to the big brother get up.

"Nope. We aren't going to any party," He said, walking back inside. Alice and I followed him, waiting for the drama to start.

"Not until all of you put some clothes on. Nope, no party. Dirty frat guys. Stupid party. Need a jacket." He was mumbling things to himself as he looked all over his room for one of my jackets. I kept one at his house since I was over here all the time. Alice sighed and then walked into Jasper's room; I suppose to find herself one.

"Ah! Found it," He said, throwing a white pea coat over my shoulders happily. Except it wasn't my white pea coat. Mine had pockets.

"Edward, whose coat is this?" I asked immediately.

He glanced back over at me, seemingly distracted. "What do you mean? It's yours." But as he said this, his head shot up and his face turned pale.

Just then Alice came out of Jasper's room, looking at Edward with a look I couldn't decipher.

"It's mine," she said walking over to me. "Oh wow, I haven't seen that thing in forever! How'd it get in there?" She said to herself, laughing it off.

But that was not her jacket. Or at least I've never seen it on her.

So whose jacket was it? My mind started reeling. Is he seeing somebody? Why the heck hadn't he told me? This is weird. I don't think I can be around him all night. I finally looked at him for the first time tonight.

He was standing up against the wall in the living room, glancing around nervously and raking his hand through his hair repeatedly like someone was watching him or something. That aside, though, he actually looked nice. More than nice. He looked…good. Of course he looked good about 99% of the time. But he looked really good tonight, with his hair perfectly out of place, his new button down shirt, and his khakis.

But now that I know about his little girl friend, I'm going to ignore him tonight just like Alice wants me to. How could he not tell me that? It just seems like something you would tell your best friend. And why was Alice covering for him? I felt betrayed.

Fine. If they want to keep their little secrets from me, I'll let them. But two can play this game.

"Whatever." I threw the jacket in his room and shut the door loudly before walking straight out the door, not even paying Edward the time of day. The others were already standing there waiting for us. Edward was of course right behind me, and when he came out, Emmett shot him a death glare.

Does everyone but me know?!

I abruptly started walking toward my truck.

"Bella, come on. You're not taking your truck. Ride with me. Please?" Edward said, chasing me. I ignored him, picking up my pace. Of course, picking up my pace made me trip over my heels, and I started going head-first straight for the pavement.

Right before I hit, I felt two familiar arms wrap around me. For a second, I wanted to forgive and forget – just go back to how we were earlier. But I couldn't if he was keeping things from me. We've never kept things from each other, not since ninth grade. I knew about every bad date, fight, grounding, speeding ticket, and doctor's appointment he'd had in the last six years. Or at least I thought I did until five minutes ago.

I realized he still hadn't let go of me.

"You don't have your truck keys, Isabella," He said quietly.

Dang. The others were already gone, and my keys were locked in my apartment. Looks like I'll have to ride with the liar.

He set me down on my feet and then walked beside me to his car. I had my arms crossed, and didn't look at him at all. Conversation on the way there was sparse, but I felt like I couldn't go all night without bringing it up.

"Who is she," I said in a monotone.

"Who is who?" He asked, glancing over at me. By the way he shifted in his seat, I could tell he knew exactly who I was talking about.

"You know what? I don't even care. I just don't get why you didn't tell me. We tell each other everything. Or at least I do," I was getting emotional. Why is this affecting me so much?

"I didn't tell you because it wasn't important. You didn't need to know," He said, raking his hand through his hair again.

That didn't even make sense.

"How could I not need to know, Edward? I need to know everything about you! I always have! Or at least I thought I did. I tell you everything! I don't get why I'm not important enough to you for you to tell! You obviously told everybody else." I was crying now. Good thing Alice only uses waterproof makeup.

He sighed. He still didn't even attempt to deny anything, nor did he attempt to explain himself. That just hurt me even more. What if it was bad? What if he had like, a whole other secret life? What if he was like, a father or something, and this skank was his baby daddy?

Bella, stop jumping to conclusions.

"I want you to stay close to me tonight. These frat guys don't have any respect or decency," Edward said as he cut off the engine.

I wiped away my tears and looked straight at him.

"No. You should have thought about that. Tonight I am having fun, and you can't father me and keep me from it," I said. I knew it sounded totally immature, but oh well. I didn't care. With that, I got out of the car, raked my hand through my hair, and walked toward the frat house.

"You have got to be kidding me," I said to myself as we approached. For a college fraternity party, this was impressive. The massive house was decorated rather sophisticatedly.

I walked inside and there were people everywhere. I felt very exposed in my dress, considering that several guys were, in Edward's words, blatantly staring, but after a moment I decided that I didn't care. Tonight, I was going to let loose a little bit.

After doing a shot and talking to a few people I knew from my classes, I decided I wanted to dance. The only problem was I had nobody to dance with. That's when I saw Alice. She was all the way across the room, already on the dance floor. I walked straight over to her.

"Hey, Bella, this is James," She said, referring to the guy she was dancing with. "Aren't you gonna dance?"

"Um, yeah. I don't know where Edward went, though," I yelled over the music. I really felt kind of bad for stomping off like I did. I'm sure there's probably a perfectly good reason why he didn't tell me.

"Bella. He was being a jerk. Have some fun! You look incredible, I'm sure any guy will want to dance with you!" With that, she was gone, lost in the music, trying to tune out her problems by dancing with a stranger. I would honestly prefer to dance with Edward. I'm not big on hanging out with strangers.

I wondered back over to where drinks were being served, doing another shot and looking around at the party.

My phone went off, and I was surprised to see it was a text from Jasper.

Where the HECK are you guys?

Oh, he's gonna flip.

At a party, Jasper. What do you want?

What happened to turning your phone off, is what I really wanted to say. Last time I checked I'm not Alice, I don't have a pixie-type hair cut and I don't have uncanny shopping abilities. Whatever he did to make Alice act like this, I'm pretty sure I don't want to talk to him right now.

Make Alice leave. Now. Who is she with??

Some dude named James. They're dancing. What did you do to her? She's been weird all day. She made us come 2 this stupid party.

That was gonna tick him off.

She's WHAT?! I'll be there in half an hour. I can't do this anymore.

I turned my phone off. I didn't need this drama

"It's a shame such a gorgeous girl isn't out there dancing," a smooth, deep voice said from beside me in my ear.

"Is that an invitation?" Where did that boost of confidence come from?

He grabbed my hand, and I got a shiver as I stood up and turned around. A very tall, beautiful guy with russet colored skin and dark, glossy hair. He smiled a wide, reassuring smile at me, giving me the once-over and leading my to the dance floor.

"I'm Jacob," he yelled over the music as we began to move.

"Bella," I said smiling. Then we got lost in the music. I don't usually do this, but I was having so much fun. Maybe it was the two shots, or maybe I'd just never realized how much fun dancing could be. Jacob was a great dancer, and he was extremely hot. We were dancing very close now, our bodies meshed together, and I was loving the attention. I wasn't used to getting this kind of attention from guys. His hands were all over me, and for once I didn't care. I just gave in to the feeling and let him take control. Just as he was leaning down to kiss me, which I had decided I wanted very badly. His hot breath was on my face, closer, closer…

And then I felt myself being yanked around, untangled from Jacob, and thrown over someone's shoulder.

Has this guy lost his mind?

"What the –"

"Bella just shut up. You are being so immature. I expected this from Alice. She's going through a lot. But I definitely didn't expect this from you."

This was definitely not Jacob.

"EDWARD! PUT ME DOWN!" I was infuriated. How dare he?

"What did I tell you about the frat guys?! He was trying to get in your pants! Or I guess in your case, your extremely short, revealing piece of fabric! This is absurd!"

"You're right, Edward! It is absurd! It's absurd that you won't let me do anything! It's none of your business! I just wanted to have a good time, but you can't let me! What is your problem?" By now we were outside, and I started punching his back until he put me down.

"You know you didn't like that guy! You were just looking for a good time and so was he, and it was wrong." He said, fuming. I don't get why he is so extremely mad about this.

"Yes, Edward. Yes, I was just looking for a good time. It's a PARTY!" I yelled at him. We never fight like this. It was making my stomach knot up.

"You're drunk. We're going home," he said before picking me up again.

"I'm hardly drunk, and I am perfectly capable of walking!" with that, I kicked him, right where it counts.

He immediately dropped me and started screaming obscenities. I adjusted my dress; the thing wasn't made for this type of movement, and paraded off to go find Alice. When I walked back in the room, I saw two things almost simultaneously. First, I saw Jacob making out with some random little freshman. This didn't really bother me; it just proved Edward right, which sort of ticked me off.

The second thing I saw was Jasper in all his fuming glory punching James in the face as hard as he could, and then smiling at Alice before about four other guys, I'm guessing James' fraternity brothers, jumped on Jasper. Of course, Emmett jumped in on the action, causing Rosalie to start screaming at him.

By the time the whole ordeal was over, Jasper was beaten to a pulp, Emmett had cleared everyone off of him, Rosalie was repeatedly hitting Emmett, and Alice was all over Jasper. Edward walked in right at the end and, looking totally puzzled, just turned around and walked back out.

I sighed, and then turned around and followed him. He was sitting in his car down the street. As much as I hated to do it, the fight had in some totally weird way calmed me down, and I knew I needed to apologize.

I got in his car, and as soon as I was seated he threw it in drive and drove off. It was utterly silent for the whole two minutes we were riding, but when he parked and turned off the car, he made no move to get out. Instead he sighed and ran his hands threw his hair, leaning his chair back and opening his sunroof. We often did this when we needed to get away. It was like our hideout, even though we were out in the open.

I didn't know whether he wanted me to stay or not, but I figured it was probably a no. I reached to open my door.

"It was Tanya." He said quietly. I pulled my hand back, and turned around to look at him. That didn't add up. Tanya was the one steady girlfriend he'd had in high school, and she was a witch. As far as I had known, none of us had seen her since graduation.

He sighed again. "Can you please lay back? You're making me feel uncomfortable."

I slowly let my chair back, situating my dress so that I could lie back comfortably. I crossed my arms on my stomach, and looked out the sunroof.

There was something so calming about it. It was like a window to another world. No matter where you are, you can just lock your car doors and look at the stars. It had become a place where we talked, thought, listened to music, and on occasion, just sat and were there for each other.

There was something so raw and comforting about being able to just sit in the silence and be close to someone. Most people don't ever experience that, but I was so glad I could. I honestly don't know what I would do without Edward.

He put his hands behind his head, and then finally began to talk.

"She showed up that weekend you went back to visit your dad back in March. I don't know how she found where I live, or got in, for that matter, but when I came home that day, she was in my room. Naked."

I busted out laughing. I felt bad, because I knew he was being completely serious, but still. It was pretty hilarious. I would never be able to do something like that. If Edward thought I was being absurd before, I'd hate to know what he thought of that girl.

"This isn't a laughing matter, Bella. I knew there was a reason why I didn't tell you."

"No, no. I'm sorry. Please continue." I said, making myself calm down. Maybe those two shots did more damage than I thought.

"Okay, so naturally, I freaked out. But she attacked me, and I tried to resist, but – "

"Edward, you did not sleep with her!"

"No. I didn't. Stop interrupting or get out of my car."

"Sorry," I said.

"Anyways, so she attacked me, and it was hard to resist, but I did. I told her to eff off and never come back. But then she told me she was pregnant. And tried to claim it was mine."

"Um, that doesn't add up, compadre." As far as I knew, they had only gotten together once, too many years ago for that to work out, and my math skills weren't that rusty.

"I know. That's that I said. She and I dated in 11th grade for a couple months and I only slept with her once. No way she was gonna pin that on me. But anyways, that's when Alice walked in, when I was like, putting clothes on the girl and pushing her out. But, being Alice, she totally freaked and called Emmett and Jasper to come whoop my butt for it. So everyone got involved, and Emmett actually did hit me, though I think he was just being mean. But eventually we got her to leave, and I made everybody swear not to tell you about it. Apparently she hung her coat up in my closet when she got there, and I've just always thought it was yours," He sighed again, but this one sounded more like relief.

"I still don't get why you didn't want me to know." I said. I was trying to understand, but it just didn't make that much sense.

"I know. It seems really stupid now, but I did have a valid reason. You know I used to be kind of…promiscuous, I guess, in high school. But I'm not that way at all anymore, and I don't want you or any of our friends to think that. I'm such a different person from that immature little boy I used to be.

"Edward, I know that. And I'm your best friend. I need you to know that you can tell me anything. I mean that every time I say it. It's not just some cliché best friend thing with you. It's the truth. So no more secrets, okay?" I felt good about all that being resolved.

"Deal," he said, reaching for my hand. I closed mine around his, and then I knew it was my turn.

"I'm sorry I kicked you where I did. It was wrong," I said sincerely. His roaring laugh filled the car.

"Hey! If I can't laugh at you, then you can't laugh at me!" I said, smiling. Then I thought of something. "And what are you sorry for?"

"What do you mean?" He said, smiling.

"I mean, you ripped me away from a totally sexy Indian dude who was about to freaking kiss me. You suck," I said playfully.

"He wasn't good enough for you anyways," Edward said quickly, seriously.

I didn't know what to say to that. He didn't open his eyes or anything; he just sat calmly in his seat. I decided to let it go and just close my eyes and hold his hand and enjoy the rest of our night.

"Oh, my GOD, Bella! Pull your dress down. I can see everything!" I could hear Emmett's booming voice crystal clear through the sunroof. I quickly sat up and adjusted my dress. Edward sat up too, opening his door.

"Ha-ha, psych!" I heard Emmett announce, getting farther and farther away.

"Emmett, you're drunk. Go away," He said, annoyed. He then came around to my side and opened my door for me, as usual.

He walked me to my apartment, hugged me tight to him, and then kissed my forehead before telling me goodnight and walking two doors down to his apartment.

I lay in bed that night feeling completely content. I couldn't believe how well my day had ended, in spite of how horribly wrong it had been a few hours ago. Jasper was back, Alice was happy, Emmett was drunk, Rosalie was mad, and Edward and I were still best friends. Everything was completely back to normal. If only it would last that way…


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