A/N: Just a reminder guys. This is Pride & Prejudice, changed around a bit to fit our Twilight cast in the Twenty-first century. I have no control over how they'll react (except for some minor subplots and dialogue). If you've read P&P, then you basically know what's coming. It's one of the most romantic stories of all time, so I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: Most characters belong to Stephenie Meyer; major plot and story line belong to Jane Austen.

A&A Chapter 4

He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense.- (In regards to Mr. Darcy) - Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen

When Alice and Bella were alone in Bella's bedroom that night, Alice, who'd been careful not to show exactly how much she liked Jasper, admitted to her sister how much she really did.

"He's exactly what I've always wanted in a guy," Alice said, "sensible, funny, exciting; and I never met any guy with such good manners! It must be the southerner in him!"

"He's also really cute," Bella replied, "which a guy should be, if it's entirely possible for him. His character is thereby complete."

"I was actually really surprised that he asked me to dance twice. I wasn't expecting it."

"And why not?" Bella asked sincerely. "I did. But that's the difference between you and I. Compliments always take you by surprise, but not me. Of course he'd ask you to dance again. Look at you, you were the prettiest girl there by far! I wouldn't owe it to his manners that he asked you twice. But he really is a nice guy, I'll admit that, and you have my permission to like him," she joked. "You've liked many a stupider man," Bella teased her sister.

"Bella!"

"Oh come on! You're always ready to like everybody! You never see a fault in anyone. Everyone in the world is nice and kind in your eyes. I've never heard you say a mean thing about another human being in my life!"

"I just don't like rushing to premature judgments on anyone, but I always say what I think."

"I know you do, and that's what kills me. With your good sense, you're honestly blind to the stupidity of others! Honesty and openness are common enough – one sees them everywhere. But to be honest without any flashiness or hidden agenda – to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad – well, that's something that belongs to you alone."

Alice smirked but said nothing. It was true and she knew it. But she didn't consider it a fault to be willing to give people the benefit of the doubt.

"So I guess you like Jasper's cousins too, don't you?" Bella accused with a smirk. "Their manners aren't equal to his."

"Well, that may be true at first. But when you speak to them and get to know them, you find that they're really cool to talk to. Tanya Denali is going to stay at Netherfield Estate with Jasper for the summer, and I think she'll be fun to hang out with."

"Mmm," Bella said, but wasn't as convinced. They hadn't been as friendly at the ball as Alice gave them credit for. The fact was, Bella was just more observant in these cases than Alice; her temper was less flexible, and, unclouded by any attention to herself, she found that she wasn't too crazy about the cousins. They were obviously very fine ladies, friendly enough when they were having a good time, nice when they wanted to be, but obviously stuck-up and conceited. They were beautiful, that was for sure, and Bella had heard them mention they'd attended Dartmouth in New Hampshire, and brag about how rich they were, as well as all the cars they owned, and the yachts and jewels, etc. It had become obvious to her that they thought very highly of themselves, and thought everyone else inferior. They came from a respectable family in the South, but they acted like dumb debutantes who believed themselves to be from 'old money,' conveniently forgetting that their fortune and good name, as well as their cousin Jasper's, had been built by smuggling booze during the Prohibition Era.

Jasper had inherited a crap-load of money from his father. He was now looking to buy his own estate, but hadn't decided exactly where yet, and those who knew how easy-going he could be could easily see him remaining comfortably in the as-of-now-only-rented Netherfield Estate in the woods of Forks indefinitely.

His cousins were very anxious for him to have an estate of his own, for the prestige it would bring to the family. Nevertheless, his cousin Tanya had no problem sponging off of him, nor did his cousin Irina - who'd married James Hurst, a useless man with looks and style, but no money to back it up – have a problem with considering his house her home when it suited her. Jasper had just come into his trust fund a couple of years before, and needing a summer getaway before he took the bar exam in September, had looked into Netherfield Estate. The town of Forks and its surrounding area had come highly recommended for its quiet beauty, nestled between the majestic Olympic Mountain Range. He'd toured the mansion's grounds and it's inner rooms quickly and had fallen in love with it.

Between Jasper and Edward, there was a very strong friendship, even though they were polar opposites in character. Edward was drawn to Jasper by his easy, open temper, and the flexibility of his character, traits which were totally at odds with his own, although with his own he never appeared to have a problem. Jasper had a very high regard for Edward's opinion, and for his judgment. There was an unspoken understanding that Edward was the superior in the friendship. Not that Jasper was slow, but Edward was extremely clever. But at the same time, he was egotistical, unsociable, critical, and his manners, though well-bred, were cold. In that respect, Jasper had all the advantage. Jasper was sure of being liked wherever he went; Edward was forever offending people.

The manner in which they spoke of the Founder's Day Ball was sufficiently characteristic of their differing personalities. Jasper insisted he'd never met with nicer people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been kind and attentive, there had been no formality, no stiffness; he'd soon felt like he'd known everyone there for years; and as for Alice, he couldn't conceive of a more beautiful angel. Edward, on the other hand, had found everyone there to be lacking in beauty and fashion, all dull, uninteresting people, and had had a horrible, boring time. He admitted that Alice had been pretty, but he felt she smiled too much, and was too bouncy and short.

Jasper's cousins agreed with Edward, but they still thought Alice had been a sweet girl, and one they wouldn't mind hanging out with while in Forks.

And since everyone agreed that Alice was, in fact, a sweet girl, Jasper felt completely at ease to think of her as he chose.

A/N: Edward may need a good serving of humble pie in the near future, and I'm sure we can all guess who should be the one to feed it to him. Don't worry. For those of you who've read P&P, you know we've got more E&B interaction coming up.

And anyway, who of us can really resist a conceited Darcyward?