Thanks for the reviews, I really do appreciate them.
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CHAPTER TEN
Alice was still sitting on the bed with Jasper when she had another vision. This time she saw Carlisle drugging the man who had instigated the attack on Bella and dumping him across state lines where he would be apprehended by the police for other crimes he had committed. Alice smiled in satisfaction and turned her attention back to her magazine.
When Alice saw that Edward was on his way home she leaned over and kissed Jasper and then slipped off the bed and walked downstairs. She stopped once she had walked out the front door and sat down on the steps and moments later Edward's car headlights illuminated the forest near the house.
"Carlisle is in his study," she murmured as he approached her.
"Thanks," Edward nodded and leaned over and ruffled her hair.
"Thank you for returning my call," she added in her head.
"Oh, sorry," Edward apologised. "I didn't even check to see who it was, I was busy."
"Yeah I know, I'm sorry too," Alice sighed. "By the time I saw what was going to happen you were on your way."
"It was close," Edward admitted.
"Sorry," Alice thought again.
"Don't be, I know you can't catch everything," Edward smiled. "No one expects you to be omniscient Alice."
"Thanks," Alice nodded but she knew with the exception of Edward, and possibly Jasper, most of them did expect exactly that.
"I almost asked you out to dinner tonight," Edward added. "Did you catch that before I changed my mind?"
"No, I missed that one too," Alice smiled. "Wish I'd known, I would have come."
"What were you concentrating on that you missed so much?" Edward asked in amusement.
"Jasper's thinking about our anniversary," Alice smirked. "He's trying not to make a decision on my gift but I think I have a pretty good idea."
"You're shameless," Edward laughed.
"Yep," Alice giggled.
"I paid better attention later," she added in her head. "Are you going to tell them that she knows?"
"Yes, later," Edward nodded.
"I won't say anything," Alice thought. "Do me a favour and tell Rosalie when I'm not around?"
"Sure," Edward agreed.
"Bella took it pretty well," Alice observed.
"Too well," Edward nodded.
"Don't underestimate Bella," Alice chided in her thoughts and then glanced at a quick vision of her and Bella as friends.
"Alice?" Edward whispered.
"She'll be fine tonight," Alice thought, already seeing what he was going to ask. "I'm keeping a better watch now. She kind of needs twenty four hour supervision, doesn't she?"
"At least," Edward agreed.
"Anyway, you'll be with her soon enough," Alice shrugged. "Go on, get this done so you can be where you want to be."
After Edward had disappeared inside Alice stood up and wandered back upstairs and flopped gracefully back onto the bed beside Jasper.
"Do you want to go for a run?" Jasper grinned at her as he snapped his book shut.
"Not at the moment Jazz," Alice murmured as she leaned back and her eyes glazed over and she began to flip through her visions.
"What are you looking for?" Jasper frowned.
"I promised Edward I'd keep an eye on Bella's future tonight while he took care of something with Carlisle," Alice whispered, still concentrating on what she was seeing.
"Bella," Jasper sighed in frustration and slid easily off the bed.
"Where are you going?" Alice asked, feeling rather than seeing the slight movement.
"For a run," Jasper murmured.
"I'll come with you as soon as Edward gets back to Bella's," Alice offered.
"I'm going now," Jasper said firmly, feeling a little guilty about the jealousy flowing through him. He loved Alice and wanted to spend time with her and he knew he was being unfair but he was getting sick of her constantly watching Edward and Bella's future. "Come find me when you're finished."
Before she could reply he jumped from the window and disappeared into the forest and even though she knew what he was feeling she stayed on the bed watching her visions, not wanting to break her promise to Edward.
XXX
When Alice saw Edward had arrived at Bella's and she was safe she pulled herself from her visions and got up off the bed. She was about to launch herself out the window to go looking for Jasper when she heard his voice drift up from downstairs. She changed her path and walked downstairs and smiled when she saw Jasper and Emmett playing their complicated chess game again.
"Jazz, you want to go for that run now?" she murmured as she walked up to them and knelt down behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"No," Jasper said bluntly. "I wanted to do that two hours ago, now I want to play chess."
Emmett looked up at them and frowned, not sure he had ever heard Jasper say no to something Alice had wanted.
"We can pick the game up later?" he offered.
"No," Jasper shook his head again. "It's your turn, are you going or what?"
"Yeah, keep your Armani shirt on," Emmett smirked and turned his attention back to the board.
Alice kept her head resting on Jasper's shoulder as she watched Emmett's move and then Jasper leaned forward to survey the board. Alice sighed at him blatantly ignoring her and her eyes locked with Emmett's. He just shrugged, not knowing what to say to his brother's strange mood and Alice let out another sigh and got up and walked away from them.
She wandered into the kitchen and when she saw the crystal vases lined up and freshly picked flowers lying beside them she stepped up and began to arrange them for Esme.
"What is your problem bro?" she heard Emmett whisper in the other room.
"She can't always have her own way," Jasper shrugged and his attitude stung Alice as she eavesdropped.
"Says who?" Emmett smirked. "You always let her have her own way. You give her everything she wants and it makes you happy to do it. What did she do that was so bad?"
"I'm just sick of all the focus on this Bella chick," Jasper admitted. "I get that she wants another female friend. I know she's close with Rosalie but that's the only friendship she has ever had, that she remembers anyway. I know she wants another friend but I'm just sick of Bella's name right now, know what I mean?"
"Kind of," Emmett answered. "I am too, in a different way. It's all Rose talks about. Not being her friend but you know what I mean. She's got jealousy issues with the human."
"Really?" Jasper smirked. "I wouldn't have noticed."
"Don't be smart," Emmett laughed. "At least Alice is pure and honest about what she wants. She isn't doing it to hurt you bro. You should have just seen the look in her eyes when you brushed her off. She's shattered."
"It hurt her pretty bad didn't it?" Jasper sighed although he didn't really need to ask. He had felt Alice's rejection and hurt as soon as he had done it.
"Yeah," Emmett nodded. "You should go talk to her."
"Thanks Emmett," Jasper answered and Alice heard him getting up and turned her attention quickly to the flowers in front of her.
"Alice?" Jasper murmured as he walked into the room, not realising she had been quite so close. "You heard that didn't you?"
"Yes Jazz," she sighed, still focusing on the flowers.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," he said softly.
"I know," Alice nodded and set the flowers in her hand down and turned to face him. "I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to ignore you. You are more important to me than anything else and I kind of take you for granted sometimes."
"No you don't," Jasper said quickly and raced over to her. "I didn't mean it like that."
"I just want Edward to be happy, like us," Alice tried to explain. "And you were right about Bella. I do want her as a friend. I love Rose but she's my sister. I don't know if I've ever had a friend before but I think I'll kind of like it. And it would give me someone to shop with and do all the girly stuff with that you will do with me even though I know damn well that you hate it."
"I hadn't thought of that," Jasper grinned.
"See?" Alice smirked. "Me making a friend would have its advantages. But it doesn't mean you will be any less important. I love you Jazz, more than I could possibly tell you."
"I know," Jasper assured her. "I love you too."
She felt the wave of love he sent her with his words and she smiled softly up at him.
"The sun is coming up but we still have a few hours before we need to go to school," she smiled. "Do you still want to go for that run?"
"I'd love to sweetheart," Jasper grinned and he took her hand in his as they slipped from the house and headed into the forest.
XXX
After they returned to the house Alice had a shower and got dressed for school and then while Jasper disappeared into their bathroom to shower she laid out his clothes.
"Jazz?" she called out. "I'll meet you downstairs."
"Okay baby," his voice drifted out of the steamy bathroom.
Alice walked downstairs and stopped in the living room when she saw Edward standing watching the news on the large flat screen television. She stood silently as she watched the report about the man who had attacked Bella being found by police unconscious in an alley and then she glanced over at Edward.
"The coverage here in town will be light," she informed him. "It's too far away to be considered local interest. It was a good call to have Carlisle take him out of state."
"Alice, do you mind.." Edward started but she saw what he was going to ask and cut him off.
"Rosalie will drive," Alice smirked. "She'll act pissed but you know she'll enjoy the excuse to show off her car."
"See you at school," Edward replied and Alice sighed, not needing to say anymore and he frowned at her.
"I know, I know, not yet," she thought. "I'll wait until you're ready for Bella to know me. You should know though, this isn't just me being selfish. Bella's going to like me too."
Edward turned and walked out of the house and Alice sighed as she leaned over and flicked off the television. She heard Jasper coming downstairs and walked over to meet him at the bottom of the stairs.
"Is that Edward's car going?" he frowned as he tilted his head.
"Yeah, Rose can drive us today," Alice nodded.
"Bella?" Jasper smirked.
"Yup," Alice grinned at him. Emmett and Rosalie appeared behind them and Rosalie frowned at them, obviously having heard their conversation.
"Who said I wanted to drive?" Rosalie demanded.
"Well I suppose we could take Emmett's Jeep," Alice shrugged. "Or run."
"Oh whatever," Rosalie mumbled. "Come on."
She led them into the garage and over to her car and Jasper and Emmett climbed into the back as Alice slipped into the front and Rosalie got behind the wheel. Rosalie pulled out of the garage and drove angrily towards the school and when they arrived she quickly slipped into a park, ignoring all the looks they were getting. Rosalie jumped out and stomped off to class without a backwards glance and Emmett rolled his eyes.
"It's going to be a long day," Emmett sighed and jumped out of the car and chased after Rosalie. Alice just laughed as she got out of the car and Jasper jumped out beside her.
"What's your first class?" Jasper asked softly.
"English," Alice replied. "You have Math right?"
"Yeah, I'll walk you," Jasper smiled and she linked her arm through his as they disappeared into the building.