Ask Alice – the story of Mary Alice Brandon.

Sorry for the long wait! I was hospitalized! (No details, just using it for a decent excuse.) So here it comes! I hope you enjoy it.

"Failure is impossible." –Susan B. Anthony

Chapter 10: Expect The Unexpected

Progress was wonderful. An entire month of frolicking, weeks of practice, and now we were ready for the road test. I was probably more excited than Jasper was.

I had been jumping up and down—skipping, actually—all the way into town. Jasper nervously watched every person, keeping track of their every movement, so nothing would catch him by surprise. He wanted to be prepared. He was making me so proud!

"Are you sure you don't see me attacking someone?" Jasper hissed.

I rolled my eyes. "I've seen you attack five people already, but you haven't," I answered truthfully. "Remember that guy on the bicycle? I saw you leap at him. But that didn't happen. He rode right by us because you made the decision to look away from him. Thus, no bloodshed. Thus, you rule."

Jasper's tight smile showed he didn't really trust my logic. I wasn't worried though; I knew I could trust him. I was watching his future closely, just as I had promised him, but I didn't believe he would so much as snarl at anyone. We were halfway into town and not a single person had been chomped at. Whatever came next, the road test was already a considerable success.

I watched as the blonde girl with big blue eyes and sunshine-scented blood skipped past Jasper, her wicker basket carrying freshly baked cookies. Jasper's shoulders tensed and his eyes flashed to meet mine. I smiled at him reassuringly and watched as the panic faded from his face. The girl continued merrily on her way and we continued along ours.

"Did you see me attack her too?" Jasper asked.

"Nope," I lied convincingly—or so I thought.

"You saw me attack her," Jasper sighed. "Who else, Alice? Will I attack the old woman on the corner wobbling toward us? What about that little boy with the teddy bear clutching his mother's hand so tightly? Who else am I putting in danger?"

"No one," I swore, squeezing his hand tightly. "I'm right here Jasper; I won't let anything happen."

He sighed again and closed his eyes. He stopped walking. I felt my mood waver. It was hard to remain so positive when I knew I wasn't getting through to him. How could explain how well he was doing? How could I make him understand that he was accomplishing so much?

"The next person you see, the next person I put in danger, tell me," he requested lightly, opening his eyes and smiling pleadingly at me. "I am afraid of hurting someone, Alice. I don't want to risk it."

"Fine then," I agreed. "The next person will be our bail. But not until then." I turned sharply on my heels and began pulling Jasper forward.

"Thank you."

I nodded. "Now, the whole reason we're here—besides proving to you that your self-control has improved so very, very much—is that lovely boutique on 17th. I don't want the Cullens to think we're savages."

"I don't see how clothing is going to impress them if I feed on their neighbors," Jasper commented teasingly.

I glared at him over my shoulder. "Clothing is everything," I told him.

I pulled him faster. I could feel anticipation growing in my veins. I hadn't seen the stores in a month. Surely there was something new by this time. I wondered what fashion dos and don'ts were awaiting me.

When we had approached the store window, I was a little shocked. I stared at the flaring skirts and couldn't wrap my head around why anyone would want to wear them. But, just as my mind drew a blank to the answer, a group of girls around the age my body was came giggling wearing the atrocious fashion.

"Interesting," I commented. "I think I'll try it."

Jasper snickered and rolled his eyes. One day I would have to explain to him the importance of fashion.

I stepped into the store and, like a tornado on a rampage, spun through every design. I probably gave the store manager a fright, but his feelings mattered very little to me. He was wearing a green-and-lime polka dot bow tie with a dark suit jacket. He obviously didn't get his position in the store through his fashion taste.

I spotted a fitted pink number with a long skirt. I thought it had a certain excitement to it. It looked mature too. I wanted to impress the Cullens and finding the right look was important. I was positive they would love me anyway, but I wanted to leave no detail up to chance. My visions could change so drastically and suddenly. I needed every assurance that things would go according to my plan.

Once I had fitted myself out—and paid the disastrously dressed store clerk—I dragged Jasper across the men's store. Jasper didn't like being dressed to the nines, but I found it fun. By the end of the day, both Jasper and I looked fit enough to walk a runway. I even once caught Jasper admiring our individual outfits—staring much longer than called for when his eyes fell over my figure.

"I think we can go to the Cullens now," I announced.

"Finally," Jasper joked.

I nudged him with my elbow and smiled tightly at him. He was beaming at me in a way so startling that I couldn't help but shoot my eyes downward. I had seen girls blushing before, as I walked past them and their beaus, but I hadn't been able to identify what feeling would cause their faces to redden until I met Jasper.

I linked my arm through his and began pulling him in another direction. "Now, the only question left is if you feel ready enough to take a train."

"An enclosed space with humans on every side," Jasper described with a frown. "I'm not so sure."

"That's just fine," I assured him. "These boots were made for walking." I lifted one leg up high enough to display my travel-friendly boots. They weren't the most fashionable things, but I didn't want to wear something that wouldn't last the long trip to where the Cullens were—which I had seen in my vision. It was a small town called…called…Spoons? No, that's wasn't it. It was some sort of plural of a utensil.

Forks—the Cullens were living in Forks.

Or had they moved already? It was always hard to identify the when of visions. They had been living in Forks, but they could have moved. I had seen them leaving the town. But was that still coming or had it already happened?

I sighed and closed my eyes, letting Jasper be my eyes while I tried to focus on the Cullens' location again.

"What's wrong?" Jasper asked.

"Just vision troubles," I explained.

His body stiffened. "Did you see me—?"

"No, Jasper," I promised, "I did not see you attack someone. I'm trying to pinpoint the exact location of the Cullens."

Jasper relaxed a little. I couldn't find a way to assure him completely, but at least he trusted me—and I wasn't going to fail. If this whole trial run was a test for Jasper's resistance, it might as well be a test to how much he could trust me. I wasn't going to lead him into defeat; I was going to ensure success.

Unfortunately, ever story needs rough points before the happy ending. Just as we rounded the corner, my eyes stopped seeing where my feet were heading. I saw a boy—no older than myself—and I could almost taste his bitter-sweet fragrance. I watched in horror and fear as Jasper lunged forward and killed him, drinking his life-blood with only lust in his eyes—no remorse—that came later. Jasper's senses came to him when the boy was drunk clean and barren. Jasper looked to me with shame in his expression with hollow eyes. My vision ended with him running away from me, with Jasper's voice calling my name.

I soon realized that it was present-Jasper who was calling me and not future-Jasper. I focused my eyes on him and tried to smile. I grabbed him arm tightly, turned us around, and dragged him to the nearest exit out of town.

"Okee-dokee, it's time to go!" I said, feigning a cheerful tone.

"But we haven't been out very—"

"Doesn't matter how long we've been out," I interrupted, pulling him faster, so that a few human eyes turned to stare as our considerable speed. "All that matters is that you tried. I call this run a success."

Jasper eyed me suspiciously, but didn't say a word. I hoped it would stay that way. I didn't want to hurt his pride by revealing how close to absolute failure he had come. I knew it was a simple mistake, and that he would never hurt anyone ever again—but I wouldn't be able to convince him of that. I knew he would be hard on himself—he was already beating himself enough for all the lives he had taken in his dark past. I wanted him to have a bright future, with only good things to look forward to. I wouldn't allow even a smudge on his record.

"Alice, I think the locals are getting—"

"Yeah, yeah, they'll get over it," I growled. Where the hell was the exit? Why was it so far away? Had we really wondered so far? Or was I so panicked that I was leading us in a circle?

Oh, no. There it was. It helps to see something if one opens one's eyes.

I opened my eyes—avoiding looking into the future until I was certain I had changed it—and treaded quicker. Jasper kept pace with me, but I could tell he was surprised how fast I was. Once we were out of town, I allowed myself to use full-speed. Jasper barely kept up.

I stopped when we were a mile out. I figured the boy couldn't possibly be out so far. Jasper was safe.

"Are you going to tell me what you saw?" Jasper inquired. He had puzzled together why I had dragged him away faster than a speeding bullet.

"Nope, it doesn't matter," I explained. "You made it pretty far into town without hurting so much as a fly—and there were an unnaturally high number of annoying flies—so that counts as success. Plus, I have now proven that if a situation were to arise, I can get you out of it in a flash! Quicker than lightning on a stormy day, I am."

Jasper chuckled. "Fine, Alice. Have it your way; I won't ask any questions."

I was about to respond—as I had come up with something witty to say—when a human scent caught in my nose, followed by my eyes catching the human form. The breeze had brought the smell of rained-on flowers and grass, so the girl's scent was disguised. She walked with a wicker basket full of daisies tucked under her arm. She was holding her hat down on her head with her free hand. Her wide skirt blew in the soft wind. Her face—although more feminine—looked identical to the face of the boy in my vision—

Twins, I thought. They must be twins.

I was barely able to react in time, as I was too shocked. I had thought my visions would prepare me, but they were unreliable. They didn't come when I called for them—they weren't that stable.

Jasper jumped at the girl so quickly that she didn't see him coming—didn't even hear him. But I did. I moved faster than him. I slammed his body away and struggled to shove him toward the shade of the trees, to hide. He fought against me, not even registering that it was me he was fighting against. I knew he was lost to his senses, but it still annoyed me that he was clawing at me, not caring if he took off one of my limbs to get to his prey.

His teeth were about to bite down on my arm—the arm that was pushing back against his chest—when he suddenly stopped fighting me. He went limp. He fell to the ground silently, his eyes turning wide. I glanced over my shoulder to see that the girl was out of range—far enough that her scent wasn't so potent.

"Phew," I laughed. "You almost got past me, but I'm a fighter."

Jasper didn't respond. I felt my smile drop slightly.

"I'm more an 'avoid and conquer' than an 'attack head on' type," I mused. "But not I've got some good practice in. You definitely won't be getting past me next time."

"Next time…?" Jasper asked. His wide eyes stared up and met mine. He looked as if he would cry—except tears wouldn't come—tears couldn't come.

I leaned down, unsure what he was grasping at. I could see immeasurable sadness and pain and remorse and despair and I didn't know what to say.

"Alice, there won't be a next time," Jasper whispered hoarsely. "It's too dangerous."

"I can protect you from you," I promised, winking at him, trying to cheer him up.

He shook his head and then, shot me serious and hard look. "But who will protect you, Alice?"

"Well, me, of course," I snorted.

"Alice, I could have hurt you," he cried, standing sharply. "I could have killed you. There's no way I can risk your life."

"I'm willing to, Jasper," I reminded him. "It's my choice what I do with my life—and protecting you and helping you overcome…this obstacle, well, it's exactly what I want to do, okay? There's no arguing, hon. So, you can stop worrying."

Jasper sighed heavily and shook his head again, stepping back, away from me. "No, Alice," he argued. "That isn't enough. You were lucky today. Her scent was far away and I barely caught a whiff of it. What if her scent had been strong? What if you had been caught more off-guard? I can't endanger your life. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? It isn't your fault," I assured him.

He didn't listen though. He raced away from me as fast as his body could take him.

But I was faster. I caught up with him—the feel of the ground falling faster and faster behind me and the breeze in my hair spreading a smile across my lips—and then I hopped in front of him, holding my hand forward, stopping him hard with my hand on his chest.

He wouldn't meet my eyes. He was ashamed of himself.

"Alice…"

"Jasper, you want me safe, right?" I prompted.

He nodded. "I don't want to hurt you."

I smirked devilishly. "Then teach me to fight."

He looked up—his eyes meeting mine—and I knew I had my answer. I couldn't wait.