A/N: This is a break to the short chapters and a huge Jasper POV, holla! Tell me what you think, it's a lot different than than the rest of the chapters. ALLONS-Y!

"I think we both know the answer to that." I stated it as if it was truth, but to be honest, I hadn't a clue what we were supposed to do. As soon as the words rolled off of my tongue, she ran to the house full speed. What she was supposed to do seemed obvious to her. She was going to confront her husband, but I wasn't ready to do that quite yet. My wife had touched me just as Bella always had. She had seen me worship her best friend's body as if it were a gift from god. Guilt surged through me as I thought back to the events that had just occurred. I had never felt so powerless over my emotions, let alone another's. Instead of manipulating them as I always had, I was letting them manipulate me.

Her mouth had never tasted sweeter, her touch had never been more inviting. I realized then how much I had let myself get involved with her and anger seeped through me onto her, but she paid it no mind. She knew it was only placed on the situation and myself, never ever her. I knew I could never touch her again, not the way I was at that moment. The only emotion that she had that left me a little shocked was her resolve. It was strong and sure. The stronger it became the more the emotion became mine. I knew I didn't need her in the way I had before. Want? That was beyond debatable. But I knew I needed Alice, above all.

I watched the burnt colored leaves fall down from the tree above, showered with shades of red, orange, and gold. I never realized how fast the fall had come until then. Speckles of sunlight that made it through the tree warmed my face with a little less intensity it would have the month before, as if to mock me for not noticing the change. The fall had come, and it disturbed me, because more than the season had changed. I was falling as well. I wanted to run from it's beauty, I needed to run from hers.

I had been running from every problem I had along with Bella. And now I was running away literally from the very sight of her, of my wife. I had no idea to where I was running, I just knew that I couldn't stop. After a few hours, the sun was starting to pick up and I could tell it was going to be a bright day. Even though I was pretty deep into the forest, I didn't want to risk a hiker that got off trail seeing a sparkling Jasper running at a leisurely sixty miles an hour. Yeah, didn't sound like a good idea, but neither did stopping. It kept me from thinking, only processing images that passed.

Logic won over and I soon stopped once I found a small cave. It was then that I started to wonder where I actually was, somewhere north west, for sure. I took an unnecessary breath in and relished in the aroma of the forest. Pine, oak, and dead leaves. I could hear water babble over small rocks, the wind rustling fallen leaves, and animals crushing said leaves as they lazily passed over them.

Suddenly, the fall didn't seem so scary or horrible anymore. The darkness of the cave didn't seem so gloomy. For two days, I sat in that cave. Trying to figure out how everything happened. My daydreams fighting between Alice and Bella's face. I couldn't figure out where to place them. I tried to remember how this all started. I met Bella, I wanted her dead. I wanted her dead for almost revealing our secrets because of my brother's sick love for her. I learned to admire her from a distance and exchanged pleasantries with her. But, still I knew nothing of her then. We weren't friends, just extended awkward family. And then, I even tried to drain her. I attacked her and had never felt so pathetic in my life. I heard her in the house talking to Alice, Carlisle bandaging her up, asking how I was. She told her she wasn't mad at me, to make sure I knew it. That it wasn't my fault.. I laughed bitterly at that moment, but when Alice came down to reiterate it, not quite sure if I had heard her, I realized the sincerity in Bella's words.

I never even got to see her after that and that is when I fell in love with her for the first time. When we came back, I loved her even more for saving my brother from himself. And when she gave up everything she knew for her expecting child and for her husband, I fell in love with her all over again. And when she toughed out being in the same room as her dad as a new born, I fell in love with her strength. And when she was radiating in happiness at her perfect life, that is when she became my best friend, and I fell in love with her aura. And when she began to fall apart, when she began to break. That is when I fell in love with her so deeply that words and simple gestures could no longer express it. Only touches I should have never shared. But watching the most beautiful, strong woman break down is hard, especially when you know you're the only that can even see it.

After playing back these memories and trying to decide how to work it all back, I was interrupted by heartbeats that definitely did not belong to an animal. They belonged to humans, two to be exact. They were approaching the cave and I was getting nervous as my throat started to burn and venom pooled in my mouth. Apprehension flowed through me as I tried to decide what to do. The animal inside told me just to kill them and drain them dry. The sane part told me to hide deeper in the cave and just wait for them leave. But, as I heard their voices and felt their emotions another idea rang in my mind.

Giddiness, euphoria, slight confusion, disorientation, mania, and some lethargy filled the two approaching.

"Derrick, come on, let's chill in that cave and relax, I can't walk anymore."

"Shut up, man. There could be a bear in there or something."

I chuckled lightly at the statement. Surely, I was scarier than any bear they would meet. The intake of air scorched my throat and it stopped my laughter immediately. But, I let the confusion and giddiness envelop me, and I almost felt as drunk as the two teens obviously were. Where had youth gone? Drunk at noon? Whatever the case, the light feelings they were omitting relaxed me from the sorrow I was engulfed in. The fire in my throat turned into a dull ache, just a sore throat.

"I seriously doubt there's a bear in there, you're just paranoid."

"Fine, Chail. You go in first."

I held my breath and pretended to sleep on the side of a rock as I heard the kid called Chail come in. Shock rocked through him as he took me in and I could feel a flashlight on my face.

"Dude, there's a hobo in here or something." My mouth pulled up into a slight smile. I heard feet shuffle over to me and then another set, whom I could only guess to be Derrick's.

"Hey, man. Wake up." Derrick pushed against my arm and I lazily opened up my eyes, pretending to rub some sleep off of me. They were both fairly skinny and pale, even by vampire standards. One had long blond, curly hair with a flannel and tight jeans, and a 40 in his hand. While the other had cropped black hair and gauges with a cigarette behind his ear and a flask under his arm. They didn't say anything to me, but they sat down in front of me and we all just kind of stared at each other. I realized then that I probably looked a bit crazy. I put my hands through my hair and a few leaves fell out and I realized that my clothes were kind of dirty. That's when Chail, the blond one, spoke up for the first time.

"You okay, man?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I realized that their feelings of disorientation were starting to hit me hard, and I could barely remember why I was there in the first place. But, then I remembered full well and I groaned outwardly.

Derrick whispered to Chail, "He must be fucked up." After that, Derrick spoke up, "What's your name?"

Without thinking, I spat out my name like an expletive, "Jasper." They introduced themselves after that, and then silence took over as they stared at me for a few more minutes.

"Want some?" Chail asked me, handing me a forty. I just smiled and decided to take it and pretend to take a swig. When I handed it back he just finished it off, not even noticing that I didn't even take anything out of it. After some more pleasantries, I found myself listening to their life stories, and actually caring. I had never even had a real, honest conversation with a human other than Bella, and she wasn't even one anymore. I had no clue as to why I felt comfortable around these obvious screw ups that were easily 140 years younger than me. And yet, their stories seemed interesting. Maybe it was only the fact that I was depressed and lonely and feeling all the things that come with being wasted, but I ooohed and ahhhd at all the right parts and even asked a few questions.

Chail was a 19 year old high school drop out who hated his father because, "he is a cheater who likes to tell war stories," and hated his mom because, "she is a passive aggressive bitch who doesn't respect my privacy." His older sister died at the age of 18, he was only 10. She overdosed on heroin, which was his drug of choice. He complained how his mother thought that he was going to mess up just like his sister had. He said that he wasn't as dumb as his sister, and that she was just a stupid bitch. But, as he talked about her, his emotions clearly reflected that he missed his sister and hated himself for being just like her and not learning from her mistake. He worked at a grocery store across town and lived with his girlfriend. He spent the days he had off doing everything he was doing now, getting messed up.

Derrick was 17 and just skipped school a lot. He wished he had parents to hate, but they were long gone. He knew nothing about his father, and his mother left town when he was 12 and left him with his grandmother. He talked about how upset he was for treating his grandma the way he did, always making her worried about where he was and who he was with and if he was going to come home this time. But, he also talked about how he just couldn't help it, and something about the apple not falling far from the tree. His ex girlfriend was pregnant with his kid, but she got an abortion. That freaked him out and he broke up with her. He teared up a little talking about his unborn child. He talked about how he would have quit drugs and everything just to hold the baby, that he would have taken care of it if she didn't want it.

After awhile I just didn't know what to say, and I stared. I had completely forgotten about how ruined human lives could be. I forgot that people have problems that actually are a little bit bigger than mine at the moment. So, when Chail asked me my life story, I just laughed a little. To which he responded, "Come on, lets hear it."

I took a breath in and as fast as the burn came, I took in more of their euphoria and it went away. I decided I would edit my life story pretty down, but keep it pretty truthful. "A few years back, I got into a, um, pretty bad crowd of people when I met this girl Maria. She took me away from everything I had ever known from life and taught me what greed was and that friendships didn't exist, only alliances. After awhile of it, I forgot there was another way of life other than the…hustling I had been doing for so long. Eventually, I left the gang I was affiliated with and just kind of walked the country like a plague."

"Gang? Seriously, you don't look like a kid in a gang," Derrick laughed.

"I can be pretty dangerous," I retorted, and then continued into my story. "Well, I some how ended up in Philadelphia. And I didn't have a place to go to, so I was just walking around the streets until it started raining. I didn't really mind the rain, and I didn't have any money, but for some reason, I just walked into this bar. And all of a sudden, this beautiful girl strolls up to me and smiles all big. And you know what she said to me?" I paused for a minute and smiled. "She said, 'You've kept me waiting a long time.' and I just, like a dumb ass, say that I'm sorry. I had never felt perfect before that moment. And Alice tried her damned hardest to fix me, told me about these people that took in troubled teens and that we could go live there. And I followed her to the magical house she spoke of. And it was exactly how she said it would be. There were three other kids living there, too. Two of them were dating, just like we were. Rosalie and Emmett. (why was I telling them my family's names?) But there was also, Edward. And we were just one big happy family. My adoptive parents, Carlisle and Esme, were patient with all of our problems. Rosalie was pretty upset about the way her life had turned out, Emmett was just a hard ass, and Edward was the broody type, Alice….well, most people thought that she was insane because she had an uncanny way of um, seeing the future-"

"You're saying your girl is a psychic?" Derrick cut me off.

"Um, yeah. She's been in a psych ward for the first part of her life, but she doesn't really remember it."

"You're serious. She can see the future?" I just nodded and then Chail interjected.

"That's cool as shit."

I smiled some more, "Yeah, so Alice was probably the easiest to deal with because she didn't really do anything horrible. But, me? I was the biggest job to deal with in that house. And they always had to make sure that I wouldn't…relapse more than anyone and Alice always looked out for me. And if it got too hard for me, they let me just sit it out and not really have to be a part of life. Well, then Edward starts dating this girl, Bella. And he's absolutely in love with her. But, my family kind of freaks out for the most part. Because, we kind of stick to the family. We don't really hang out with others. Carlisle was happy for him, so was Esme. But me and Rosalie worried about Edward getting hurt." I laughed at that, and the two teens kind of looked at me funny, but didn't interrupt. "But, over time she proved to be worth his time and we got used to having her around a lot. Until her 18th birthday. Some stuff happened and I ruined her party by almost relapsing, and Edward got upset about it and we moved to restart, leaving Bella. Romeo and Juliet style, he thinks she killed herself, but really she just cliff dived, not dive unto her death. So, he goes and tries to kill himself but Bella finds him before he gets the chance. And they're all perfect, and life is perfect and they get married right after they graduate and she moves in with the whole big lot of our family and she has a baby and we become best friends. We hung out a lot and shared jokes and passed times until she started changing. No one noticed it but me, but she was really depressed and so I kind of ignored her. Because, I didn't want to see it and accidentally say something to Edward. Because, she was acting like life was still great around everyone, you know? And then one day she tells me how depressed she is, and I realize I am too. And out of nowhere, I go from consoling her to having sex with her. Every chance after that, we were running away with each other. And I wanted to stop, so I decided I was going to tell Alice all of the problems I think we have in our relationship, and we get into a fight. And then she tells me she knows about me and Bella. And so does Edward. She didn't even say it like she was mad, she just said it like it was just a fact, a little sad, but not upset. I just left the house and when I was outside, Bella came to me and I told her that they know and somehow we just have sex outside right then and there and she leaves to go confront her husband, and I leave. And here I am."

Silence took over, and I absorbed their emotions, which were mostly shock. Chail coughed.

"Dude, that's shit."

Derrick replied, "Yeah."

"How long have you been out here?"

"Two days, what state am I in anyways?"

"Um, North Dakota…Where are you from?"

"We're in West Virginia right now. I just kind of hitchhiked here with out really asking where I was heading."

More silence, I realized I probably sounded completely crazy, until Chail started laughing at his own joke. "What?" I asked.

"You take running away from your problems pretty seriously don't you?" Derrick started laughing with him, and soon I found myself too. My throat, though was starting to burn , even if I absorbed their emotions. I realized then that sun was starting to go down, it was probably five thirty. Their highs were coming down, and as a result so was mine. So, I stopped laughing, but kept the smile on my face. I couldn't help but to be how proud I felt in that moment, of myself. Not only had I sat in a closed space with two humans for hours on end, I had talked to them and opened up to them, and listened to their stories.

Derrick pulled me out of my reverie, "So, what are you going to do?" I tried not to inhale more air than necessary and shook my head.

"I have no idea."

"Do you love Alice?" Chail asked me the question, but I had a feeling he knew the answer.

"More than anything."

"More than Bella?" He added.

I answered in a low whisper, almost too low for them to hear, "Yes."

"Then, I think you have your answer. You need to go back to your girl and work things out. She definitely seems like she's not going to leave you especially if she knew the whole time."

"But, when I go back. I'll have to face Bella…and Edward. My feelings for Bella haven't changed and yet I'll still be living with her. Just a hall away. She probably will just ignore me, completely forget that we were best friends before all of this mess. And Edward, he has been my brother, I can't imagine what I have done to him."

Silence took over again, Derrick was calculating and reasoning for a few minutes, and then he spoke up. "Jasper, how old are you?"

I decided saying 17 would seem a bit ridiculous, being that I had just told them all of that. So I opted for the age I left Forks being, "Twenty Four."

Derrick nodded and continued, "I think that after all you have been through, all the times you've shared with your family, they have already forgiven you. I have a feeling the only person left to forgive you is yourself. " Conviction ran through him and Chail as he said those words, and I hoped that maybe it would effect me just as strong as it had them.

"I guess, that just seems easier said than done. But, I know it has to be."

Chail interjected, "What do you think she's doing right now, Alice, I mean?"

"Don't laugh-she really is a psychic. She's probably trying to see my future, and if I'm coming home."

Slight laughter still filled the cave, and I couldn't help the twitch my lips, pulling my mouth at the corners into a bright smile. "Shut up," I jokingly spat.

"Okay, so seeing the future or not, she is still worried about where you are. With all rights, too. How the hell did you end up all the way out here, I'll never know. But, I bet you're starving, exhausted, and need a bath. So, I think you should go home."

"Exhausted? Not really. But, Starving.." I laughed a bit at that. "I should probably get going." As I sat up, Derrick and Chail did too. I went to shake Chail's hand, but he wouldn't have any of it. He pulled me into a tight, for him, hug and I hugged him back, but held my breath. My throat was scorching, and I hoped they didn't notice that the color of my eyes had changed and that I was swallowing the ridiculous amounts of venom that were pooling in my mouth. I hugged Derrick the same before we all walked out of the cave. As soon as they were out of view, I ran and ran and ran back in the direction of my home. The smell of a few deer came by and I gratefully gorged myself on all four of them, feeling the burn in my throat cool down.

Once I came into West Virginia, I decided that Alice probably wouldn't want to see me looking as disheveled as I did. And then I realized the date. Homecoming dance would be that night. I went into a men's boutique and couldn't help but chuckle at the salesmen's shock at seeing my appearance in this store. But, when I asked to look at their Armani and YSL suits, he quickly became overly helpful and told me to stick with Armani. After buying the suit, I excused myself into the bathroom and threw my other clothes into the trash, and washed the dirt off of my face and hands. Luckily, my hair wasn't matted or anything and a few finger brushes made it look presentable, maybe even to Alice's standards. I walked around the streets until I came across a taxi, and I decided to take it home. As the cab driver got closer and closer to my house, I couldn't help but feel all of my nerves exploding in my chest, and I wondered if I was going to actually barf. I knew Alice saw me coming, but would I be welcomed or told to go back to where ever I came from? I knew the answer to that, but I still couldn't stop worrying. I told the cab driver to stop right when he entered the woods to the entrance of my home and payed him plus a good tip. When I got out, I just stared at the walk that felt like it was to my execution. I sighed deeply, putting my hands in my pockets as I started my walk. When I registered Alice's sweet scent, I couldn't help but feel a little bit better. I walked at a leisurely pace, in no need of hurrying. When I reached the front porch steps, my sweet Alice opened the door smiling, radiantly. She had on the most beautiful red dress with a sweetheart neck line that ended at her knees, it wasn't the one that she had picked out when she went shopping with Bella. I saw it in the bag in the middle of our argument.

"I had to buy a new dress to match you, because I knew you would be getting a red tie." I simply smiled and pulled out the corsage I had picked up. She held out her hand so delicately, and it fit perfectly in mine. I put it around her wrist and kissed her knuckles. She was looking up at me, as if I were something out of her dreams. I realized that I once was, and I hoped I still could be.

"Welcome home," she whispered through her smile onto my neck as she wrapped her arms around me, I bent down lower to grant her request, and her lips had never felt so pure against mine. She was shaking in silent sobs, her emotions told me of joy. She was shaking so forcefully that it shook me, and soon became my own happy sobs.

"I love you, Alice. So much," I whispered.

"I know, Jaz. I love you too." Her lips were still planted on mine, so our words came out a little bit jumbled.

"I'm sorry. So, so sorry."

"Shh. I forgive you. It's okay. For everything, even running away from me," she laughed it against my lips as if it were nothing. I realized to her, it probably was, for sure she could already see our future, she obviously was happy with it. "And I'm so proud of you."

"For what?"

"Derrick and Chail. You amaze me sometimes. I knew you could do it." She parted away from me and grabbed my hand, while her other hand was occupied cupping my cheek, "Come on inside, everyone's missed you dearly."

I gave her a look that said, "please don't make me do this," and she gave me a look that said, "you're definitely going to do this." As I went for the door, she squeezed my hand in reassurance, our secret code since we met that meant "I love you." I squeezed her hand twice, our secret code for "I love you too." I took one step inside, and the emotions of the house hit me like a wrecking ball.