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I love your reactions to Alice meeting Jasper in the end. Now let's see what he's up to :)

Disclaimer: I'm just a struggling college student, obviously not making any money off this story.


Chapter 7- Nighttime Meetings

Like most nights, I couldn't sleep. It was too quiet. It had me jumpy at every crunched twig and groan of an animal. Having been urbanized, I was always used to sleeping with just one eye open. Undercover for as long as I was, I had to in order to survive. I never knew whether my cover was blown. I had to be prepared to whatever happened.

So just like most nights since I've been here, I walked. Walking around the town, I almost forgot how early this place sleeps. The town settled down when the sun did.

Maybe I've just been in the city to long.

I cleaned up that mess in the background. I was still trying to figure out how it happened, but didn't really care. I was just relieved that nothing more costly was damaged of broken.

I was twirling a cigarette in my hand, contemplating whether I should light it up or not. I wasn't really a smoker, only picking up the habit this past year. I really should quit before it gets too bad. Rosie would have my head if she knew of this.

I put the cigarette behind my ear, saving it for later. Shoving my fists in my pockets, I continued to walk in no particular direction enjoying the light summer air.

I was counting down the days until I returned to the force. This quiet town was just not doing it for me. All my old buddies have moved away. The only one in close proximity was Edward, and he was in Port Angeles.

I looked up at the clear sky and the almost full moon that was lighting up the street.

Thinking about Edward reminded me of Alice in a roundabout way. I haven't been to the diner for awhile, and haven't seen her. Thinking back, for some reason I wish I had.

I only caught a glimpse of her once when I was driving to Port Angeles to pick up some supplies to finish the attic. She was outside in front of her mom's diner talking to someone, laughing. Her smile, much like before, illuminated her features. Her hair was down those waves framing her face. She was wearing denim capris and a loose fitting top.

But I still couldn't get past her lavender eyes.

Alice was the first woman to draw my attentions in a long time.

I guess that's why I didn't ask too many questions when she came to the Robinson house that day. The analytical part of me overridden by something else. I was fascinated by Alice and there's something about her I couldn't quite place.

She did, however, have this quiet sensuality about herself. Working undercover in the pits of Vegas, I was surrounded by women who would constantly put themselves on display for men. Selling themselves with sex for money to get by, on the corners with their miniskirts, barely there tank tops, and thigh high leather boots. Their caked on makeup hiding the bruises caused by their pimps or boyfriends.

And don't forget the women who were too strung out to even care about how their appearances.

Not Alice. Everything about her was subtle. From her natural makeup to her understated clothes. I could only imagine all of the curves hidden under her clothing.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts of the intriguing college grad, walking down the quiet street.

I rounded another corner and saw someone across the street. Alice. What was she doing out this late at night walking around by herself. Didn't she know the dangers for a young woman like herself? A weird feeling sunk to my stomach.

I hope she was never this reckless in school.

Maybe she was coming from Bella's? I considered. No, she would have just stayed there. And she didn't look like she was dressed to visit someone. Wearing pj shorts and a one those baby tee. That feeling in my gut travelled lower as I assessed her legs on display.

You shouldn't have thoughts like these, Jasper.

Alice stopped and looked at her cell. Turning around and heading, hopefully, back home. I wanted- no needed- to make sure she made it safely. Knowing what could happen to a woman like her.

I crossed the street and followed her, keeping my distance. I would have ran up to her, but that might scare her shitless. She was already hesitant around me for some reason and I didn't want her to think I was a crazed stalker.

In a third person perspective- that's exactly what it looked like.

She got closer to her home; but with my strides being much longer than hers, I caught up to her in no time.

I mind as well make my presence known.

When I was close enough, I placed my hand on her arm, but grabbed her when she whipped around to me, scared.

"Whoa, easy. I didn't mean to scare you, Alice." I said, letting go of her arm. I took a step back. Maybe the distance will make her feel better.

She recognized me and lowered her arm.

I smirked. Rather impressed she thought to use the cup as a weapon against a possible assailment. She wrapped her arms across her body. She seemed uneasy and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Jasper…" she started. "What are you doing out here?"

What was I doing? Taking a midnight stroll through town? Trying to find a way to sleep soundlessly? Making sure a pretty girl got home safely?

"Same reason you're out here, I'm sure. Just taking a walk around town to clear my head."

She pinched her brows together, clearly not satisfied with my answer. "Ok, then why were you following me?"

"I…I saw you a ways back. And wanted to make sure you got home safely."

"Oh. So that's the only reason why you're here?"

"Yeah," I said, confused. What other reasons could there be? "I couldn't sleep, so I thought some fresh air would do me good."

She breathed- what appeared to be- a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Now the better question is: why are you out this late?"

She avoided my eyes and mumbled under her breath, "I couldn't sleep either, I suppose."

I understood that and could relate. "Lots on your mind?" I asked.

She kept looking in her mug. "You can say that." She kicked at the dirt. She was being hesitant around me again. I knew it was because I scared her half to death and probably didn't feel comfortable around me in this circumstance, but I didn't want to leave yet.

So I took the advice of my captain and tried to be engaging and social. I was good at interrogating people. Maybe she needed a listening ear.

"Is it anything you'd like to share?"

Alice glanced at me with a questioning look, but it soon turned to a confused one.

After a few seconds she asked, "You smoke?"

It took me a moment, until I realized she was talking about the cigarette still behind my ear. I took it and held it between my fingers.

"I just started. I'm thinking about quitting though." I dropped the cigarette.

Alice giggled softly, "You don't have to on my account."

"It's my sister I'm worried about. She would have my head if she found out."

We didn't say anything for a minute. This was not being social, pockets of silence. So I tried again to be engaging. "So, why is it you can't sleep? What's on your mind?"

"Uh- I… It's nothing, too important. I…" She closed her eyes, shaking her head. Her dark waves bouncing in the process.

"Sometimes, you have to let it out in order to feel better."

She looked past me and was silent for a moment. Until she finally said, "I guess." Her gaze shifted back to me. "My advisor called me this evening. Telling me about this show she wants me to try out for. Well, first she told me about how they still need extras for this summer's production of Guys and Dolls.

"Then she told me about how her friend is looking for people to do Midsummer's Night Dream this fall. And she wants me to audition."

"That sounds…exciting." I assured her. She told me about how she got into theater at her school and I couldn't see why she wouldn't jump at this.

She turned and started. "I know it's a wonderful opportunity…and I'm grateful to be given the chance." She stopped and bit her lip. "I don't know. I know I'm my only hindrance, but…" she trailed off and started pacing again.

"Is it here in Washington?"

"Nope. Chicago."

I was beginning to understand why she was so hesitant to go. She probably never has been that far from her mom. And Chicago was a big city for a small town girl like herself.

I shrugged, "What do you have to do?"

She stopped and looked at me. "For what?"

"To…I don't know. Get in," I snapped my fingers. "At the audition. Do you have to say a couple of lines? A- uh, God, what are they called? You know those long paragraphs a person recites."

"A monologue?"

"That's it. Do you have to do one of those?"

She smiled at my failed attempt of finding the right word. "Yeah, I have to do one of those. Two in fact. One from a Shakespeare play and the other can be from a modern one."

Alice went to sit on the metal stairway. "As long as they're each about four minutes long."

"How about I help you?" The thought flew out of my mouth before I could process it.

"What?"

"With your audition. I could help you with it. Help you memorize your lines and such."

I sat down next to her. She just looked at me. She was nervous, biting her lips was her tell tale sign. She shook her head, trying to laugh it off. "No, that's okay, really. I can do it myself."

I don't know why, but I was slightly disappointed. I should have known she would say no. She didn't really know me. I was still a stranger to her. And in a couple months time, I would be back in Nevada most likely gone forever.

She continued, "Besides. I haven't decided if I'm going to do it yet."

I frowned at her. "Well, you should. Chicago's a great city. I even considered moving there awhile back."

She placed her hair behind her ear, smiling to herself, and I noticed a red mark on her hand. Without thinking, I grabbed her hand to inspect the wound. "What happened?" I asked looking for any sign of infection.

She tried to pull her hand out of my grasp, but I wouldn't budge.

"I…I cut myself." She muttered. "I was slicing up…and my hand slipped."

She was lying, but I didn't press the matter. I was just rather thankful that she didn't slice her thumb off.

I kept looking at her hand, my thumb lightly grazing across her skin. Her hand was incredibly soft. In the close proximity I could smell her soap. Peppermint.

"You should take care of this." I looked up to find her staring back at me.

I was once again trapped in her violet eyes, just like the day she came to the house. They shone in the moonlight.

My eyes slid down to her slightly pouty lips. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her and see if her mouth was as soft as they looked.

I saw that her gaze has shifted also. We sat like that few a few seconds just looking at each other. Then, slowly I leaned towards her. I couldn't stop myself, like a moth to a flame. Two magnets attracting each other.

She closed her eyes and I followed suit. I could feel her breathe on my skin.

But then she gasped and bolted off the steps.

"I- I better get to bed." She said, nervously. "It's late and I have to work in the morning."

I stood up as well and looked down at her. "Yeah, I should be getting back as well."

For a minute she didn't move. She just looked at the stairs thinking, and then she started up the fire escape.

"I'll see you later," I called up to her. She stopped and turned around, nodding her head and saying goodnight.

I waited until she was inside and heard the lock of the door.

I went back to my trailer and for the first time in a long time I had a peaceful night's sleep. Not plagued with dreams of possible people after me, but of the pretty violet-eyed waitress.


Hey, don't look at me like that. What did you expect, for them to make out and then wind up in Alice's bed? Give me some credit. Even though that's what I wanted them to do too ;)

Well, the next chapter Alice will execute her bulletproof and final attempt at the diary. Just to let you know the chapter will start out in Jasper's POV then end with Alice's.

So to my new readers and the readers I haven't heard from, I know who you are. Review and let me know what you think so far.

And be sure to check out the blog for the teaser later