Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters. Thanks a million to my beta, CrystalRaindrop!

Age Chart

Alice: 10, Jazzy: 13, Em: 16, Rose: 15

I'm a house of cards
In a hurricane
A reckless ride
In the pouring rain
She cuts me and the pain
Is all I wanna feel
She'll dance away just like a child
She drives me crazy
Drives me wild
But I'm helpless when she smiles

~ Helpless When She Smiles - The Backstreet Boys

When She Smiles — Chapter Nine

Previously ...

"So ... " I began, and I smiled as I curled the fabric of Jazzy's shirt in my pale fist. "About this dance ... "

He smiled, and dropped down on one knee. His head bowed, and he held his hand forward, palm up and pale and soft. "Dance with me, my lady?"

I giggled, and clasped his hand tightly in mine.

A prince and his princess.

I love you, Jazzy.

January 5th, Thursday, 2012 - 7:10 AM — Alice POV

I sighed, and pushed the brightly colored fruit loops randomly around in the white, porcelain bowl. I reached up and brushed a lock of black hair from my eyes, smiling as I realized that after today, it would be too short to get in my way anymore.

But thinking of my hair quickly lead to thoughts of a certain blue-eyed boy, and the way he would run his pale fingers through it.

"Daddy?" I asked quietly, and I dropped my gaze to my lap, where my motionless hands now lay.

"Hmmm?"

He was distracted. I couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not, though, because I wanted to as him a question that had been weighing on my mind for the past several days — months even — since Jazzy had told me that, if we ever told anyone our secret, he would be taken away.

"If something ever happened to Jazzy's Mom and Dad, what do you think would happen to him and Rosie?"

Daddy dropped his newspaper a little, staring at me over the top of it. His eyebrow was raised in curiosity; he took a deep breath in as he carefully folded the paper and placed it down on the table in front of him. I hurriedly took another bite of my cereal, trying very hard to look casual.

"Well ... " he began, and I could feel my heart racing. "I suppose first their relatives would be contacted. If Jasper's mother or father didn't have any close relatives still alive, then he and Rose would be placed in a foster home until they were adopted. Why ... do you ask, sweetie?"

I didn't answer his question; instead, I asked another of my own. "Could we adopt them?"

My father pressed his lips together tightly, and smiled the smallest bit. He reached over and ruffled my hair playfully, successfully coaxing a smile out of me. I giggled and tried to push his hand away.

"Go get ready for school, baby. You don't need to worry, all right? Jasper's mother and father aren't going anywhere."

I wish they would, I thought, but didn't add. Instead, I nodded and jumped up from my spot at the table. Before leaving the kitchen, though, I grabbed my lunchbox and an extra apple. I stuffed both inside my backpack, and threw it over my shoulder before bouncing upstairs where I shrugged off my pajamas and jumped into a pair of worn jeans and a bright pink sweater.

I was smiling as I joined Emmett at the end of the driveway, where the bus would be by to pick us up soon. But that smile slowly fell as the bright yellow bus rolled to a stop. Jazzy wasn't sitting where he usually was — he always sat near the front, in the window seat, waiting for me to take my spot beside him.

It's nothing, I reassured myself silently as I stumbled along behind Emmett. He's sitting somewhere else today, because our spot was taken.

But even as I climbed into the bus and looked around, I couldn't see him. Had his Momma taken him to school? I knew his father hadn't — his Daddy never took him anywhere. Was he sick?

I bit my lip as the last thought crossed my mind, because I knew that when Jazzy said he was sick, he was always lying. Instead, he was hurt too badly to leave the house, or the cuts were too obvious. Whenever he didn't want anyone seeing him, he would claim he was sick, and his Momma and Daddy never noticed enough to make him go to school or even care.

I sighed, and dropped down into the seat beside Emmett. He glared at me, but I could see the playful twinkle in his eye.

"Whatcha doing, squirt? Where will Rosie sit?"

I swallowed hard. "I don't think Rosie will be coming today."

Em just blinked, and said quietly, "Oh. Because Jasper isn't here?"

I nodded, and thankfully he let it go.

"So can I sit beside you today?" I asked, and secretly I was hoping he would say yes. I needed my big brother right now, to encourage me and make me feel like everything would be fine even when I knew it wouldn't be.

"Sure, squirt. Why not?"

I just smiled, and leaned into his side. He didn't put his arm around me like Jazzy sometimes did, but that was okay, because whereas Jazzy always held me and stroked my hair to calm me down and encourage me, Em usually just ruffled my hair or poked my side.

But that was enough.

Please, Jazzy ... I begged him silently, letting my eyes fall closed. Please be safe ...

7:59 AM — Jazzy POV

"Where were you?" Rose whispered, and I glanced up at her, our eyes meeting. I just smiled sadly as she reached out to touch the barely concealed bruises that danced around my eye. She swallowed hard, and tugged on my hand.

"Some of the foundation is wearing off. Let me fix it," she whispered, and I nodded, my smile falling as I remembered Alice's gentle kiss this morning — the cause of my current problem. She had pressed her soft lips against the bruises when I had winced, declaring that she would kiss it better.

If only it were that simple.

"What happened last night?" Rose asked, quickly and carefully hiding the bruises. I noted absently how much faster and better she was at it than Alice, but decided I liked it better when my baby girl would touch me. I liked it when her fingers brushed my cheek, and when she would hold me.

"The same," I said, and I sighed. "We're going to be late for school."

"We have time. Tell me what happened, Jazz."

Her voice was firm, hard.

"Dad had too much to drink. I broke a plate while doing the dishes. He got mad. End of story."

Rose didn't speak for several moments. Her eyes met mine in the mirror a few times, but each time, she quickly looked away.

Finally, though, she spoke.

"This is wrong, Jazz. We have to tell someone! We have to — "

"No," I said firmly, cutting her off. I could hear the tears in her voice, and it made my heart ache. But I couldn't let her ruin the only happiness I had. "Don't. Just ... don't, please."

She stared at me, and her eyes were swimming with tears. I smiled sadly, and reached up to touch her cheek. "Why are you crying?"

She choked on a sob, and buried her head in her hands. "I'm so scared! I'm scared that Dad is going to hurt you again. I'm scared that one night, you'll sneak out and never come back. I'm afraid that you'll leave me here all alone, and I don't know if I could survive that."

"Oh, Rose ... "

I tried to speak, but I couldn't. I couldn't force the words out. When had she started feeling this way? When had she started believing that I cared so little for her? How could she possibly believe that I would leave her, and never come back?

"I love you, Rosie," I finally whispered. She didn't respond with, "I love you, too," like she always did, though. Instead, she whispered, her voice small and scared, "I'm afraid that one day he'll hurt me, too."

I stiffened, and I felt anger ripple through every fiber of my body. I clenched my fists, and my teeth snapped together noisily.

"I will never ... I ... "

I paused, and took a deep breath in. I pulled away from Rose just a little, until our eyes met. I stared into her gaze, willing her to see and believe my words.

"If he ever touches you ... I will killhim," I breathed, and the tears fell once more. I smiled sadly, and brushed them from Rose's pale cheeks. "C'mon," I said quietly, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen. "Let's get out of here. Skip school today. Let's do something fun, just the two of us."

"O-Ok," she stuttered, and I grabbed her hand in mine before pulling her to her feet.

I smiled, and finally, she did, too.

1:00 PM — Alice POV

I sighed, and dropped my head into my hands as I stared sadly at the apple in front of me. It lay innocently in front of the chair opposite to me — the one that Jazzy always sat in.

Except ... this time, Jazzy wasn't here. I was alone. And I couldn't help but wonder ... if something had happened.

I quickly shook my head to dispel those thoughts.

Because what could have happened? Jazzy had gone home early this morning, like always. He always climbed in through his own window — he was never caught. So what could have changed? Maybe he was too sleepy to come to school — he hadn't gotten much sleep last night, after all. The nightmares had been worse than usual.

Convinced, I nodded to myself — Jazzy had simply fallen asleep when he'd gone home.

Smiling now, I jumped up, grabbing both my tray and the bright, red apple in front of me. I dumped my trash, and was about to throw away Jazzy's apple, too, but thought better of it. What if he was hungry when he came over tonight?

I shoved the apple into my backpack, and hurried to class.

Love you, Jazzy.

2:45 PM — Jazzy POV

I was smiling as Rose and I walked hand in hand toward our house. Our day had been filled with laughter and happiness — something I couldn't honestly say that we'd shared in a long, long time. We'd gone to the park first and fooled around like we always used to — we played on the slide, and the swings. The sandbox had been filled with eager, messy children, and together, we had all built a sand castle worthy of kings. Afterwards, we had simply laid in the sun for hours, holding hands and smiling in innocent bliss.

But as soon as we turned into the driveway, my smile fell and my heart fell.

"Oh, God. He's home early. Rose," I whispered, and I dropped her hand. "Run. Go around back; sneak inside, and go to your room. Lock the door, and don't come out for any reason."

She turned to me, and her innocent eyes were wide and filled with terror. "Jazz — "

"Go," I whispered roughly. "And don't come out. No matter what. Promise me. Please, Rose ... promise me."

Her eyes met mine, and for one long moment, I was afraid she would say no. But then she leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. Her eyes were filled with tears as she met my gaze once more; finally, with one last glance behind her, she ran.

My eyes slipped closed, and I took one deep breath in. I moved quickly toward the front door. I was hoping to slip past him; maybe he was already drunk, passed out on the couch.

But ... it was never that easy, was it?

( - Rose POV - )

I tried to fight the tears as I ran into my room; I slammed the door, locked it, and pressed my ear against the hard pine. I choked on a sob as I heard the front door open — Jazz was inside now. Maybe —

"Where have you been?"

The tears fell then; I couldn't hold them back. They coursed hot and fast down my pale cheeks. I dropped to the floor, gripping fist fulls of hair in my hands. I sobbed loudly, wishing more than anything that — just once — Gavin wouldn't hurt Jazz. But I knew that wouldn't happen.

"S-school," I heard Jasper stutter, and I could hear the fear that he tried to hide.

How was it fair?

He was so young.

So innocent.

"Don't lie to me, dammit!"

And yet he carried the weight of the world on his little shoulders.

"I-I'm not lying! W-we were at school. I had to come home early — Rosie was sick."

I was sick — but only because I could do nothing. Because all I could do was sit here, and cry, as I listened to the anger I was helpless to deflect. The pain I couldn't stop.

"The school called, and asked why you both were absent. I told them you were so sick that you could barely move. And know what? When I'm through with you, you won't be able to move for at least a week."

I cried out once more, and gripped tighter onto the strands of messy blond hair that hung haphazardly in my anguished eyes. I felt my stomach churn, and it was all I could do to not throw up. Why? Why?

Why?

"No, Daddy, DON'T!"

With a final sob of anguish, I fell forward onto my hands; the splintered wood dug painfully into my hands as I threw up. My vision was hazy, and I knew I had only seconds before I passed out.

I'm so sorry, Jazz ...

Sorry it took me so long to update. Honestly, though, this is how it's going to be. This story is harder than any I've ever written before — for obvious reasons. So the udpates will be about 7-10 days apart. Sorry! But I hope that this story is worth waiting for. ^_^

NOTE: So you probably noticed that this chapter's sneak peak is the same as last chapters — sorry about that. But this chapter raged out of control, and I couldn't fit that particular scene in this chapter. It'll be in the next chapter.

See You SOON!

Please Review! ( I accept Anon. reviews, too! So you don't need an account to review. However, Anon. reviewers will NOT receive a sneak peak! )

NEXT CHAPTER:

"Jazzy?" she whispered, and her tiny hand caressed my cheek. I flinched, and choked on a cry of pain. "What ... what happened to you?"

REMEMBER TO REVIEW! IF YOU DO, I WILL SEND YOU AN EXTENDED SNEAK PEAK OF CH. 11!