Sorry it took me so long to get to this chapter, but I've been really, really into my story "Imitating Art." If you haven't checked it out, I implore you to do so!

Anywho…Here…We…Go… (Sorry, that was in honor of Heath Leger's posthumous Golden Globe win)

The day after Thanksgiving, Jasper and I borrowed his dad's car and drove up to Houston to meet his best friend, Trey. Back during their high school and college days, the two of them started a band called Slow Knife, which Trey still fronts with a new lineup.

We rolled into Houston around noon and met up with Trey at a little barbeque joint called Otto's. Trey was exactly as I'd pictured him from Jasper's stories – tall and lanky with long hair pulled back into a ponytail. He completed his look with torn jeans, multiple piercings and tattoos that covered both his arms in full sleeves. Yeah, I'm thinking there's little else this guy could do besides be in a band – well, maybe work at a tattoo parlor.

I went to shake his hand when Jasper introduced me, but instead he brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed it.

"Pleasure to meet you, Alice," he said in a sultry southern drawl.

"Easy there, Trey," Jasper scolded playfully. "The lady is spoken for."

"I know, but it doesn't mean I can't appreciate a beautiful woman," Trey replied.

I gave him a smirk and a shake of my head before following the guys into the restaurant. As we sat down to eat, Trey noticed some people he knew at the bar and called them over. Apparently, Jasper knew all of these people, too. They chatted with them for a bit as I quietly sat drinking a diet soda. It was really interesting to see Jasper amongst his old friends, it brought out a side of him I'd never seen before – it was what I'd come to know as Cool Jasper.

His old friends invited him to play a little gig with them that night, and I was excited to get to see him in action – he's yet to play a real gig with Dave's band. We spent the rest of the day hanging out with Trey. The guys showed me the sights and I had to admit I was impressed with Houston. It's huge! Other than this, the only big city I had ever been to was L.A., but I never got to see much of the city. I expected to see mostly rednecks with big trucks, but I was surprised with how diverse the city was; Denver definitely doesn't have anything on Houston.

I was actually a little tired by the time the band's gig rolled around, but I didn't want to miss it so I grabbed a couple of Red Bulls to get some energy back. The place they were playing was a little dive but it was the type of place I love to see shows – where the drinks are cheap but the music is good and loud.

I was introduced to one of the band member's girlfriends and sat at the bar with her while the band tuned up. The girl's name was Courtney, and she was nice enough. We chatted about what we both did for a living – she was a stripper and seemed very impressed when I didn't look down on her for her profession. Hey, a girl's gotta make a living somehow, right?

We decided to hang back near the bar once the band had started, since the stage would be crowded with either drunks or groupies, Courtney said.

I turned to her with a raised eyebrow, "Don't you ever worry about all those girls throwing themselves at your boyfriend?"

She shrugged and shook her head, "They can stand up there and flirt with him all they want. My man knows where he gets his lovin' from. Why? You worried about Jasper up there?"

"No," I said quietly, "He's not like that."

The music they played was a bit different from Dave's band. It was more blues oriented, where Dave's musical tastes were more rooted in punk and folk. Still, good music is good music. Courtney talked me into having a couple of beers with her and, in between the band's sets, everybody gathered round a big table in the back of the bar to do shots. I wasn't sure exactly what it was sliding down my throat, stinging the whole way, but I really didn't care at that point, either.

Jasper threw his arms around me and gave me a big kiss, "Thanks for being cool and hanging out with my friends tonight. I know they can be kind of…intense."

"It's OK," I slurred. "They're nice."

He kissed me again before the band trouped back up to the stage to play their second set. Courtney and I returned to the bar where we were both now on a first name basis with the bartender.

"Hey ladies," Dustin said as he put a couple of cocktails on the bar in front of us. "Here's something I created, I call it a pink martini – it's gin, a splash of champagne and some grenadine."

"Oooo, that sounds good," I said as I lifted the martini glass for a sip.

It was one of the tastier cocktails I've ever had; though, I'm not big on fruity drinks. Courtney and I sipped the pink martinis slowly as we watched our men in action. I set my glass down on the bar and noticed a girl to my right staring at me.

She was very pretty and short with medium length black hair and deep, dark bronze skin. And she was looking at me like I had offended her greatly.

"Do you know her?" I asked Courtney and pointed in the girl's direction.

"Nope," Courtney replied before taking another drink.

I tried to ignore her, but the girl wouldn't stop staring at me. Finally, after about twenty minutes of staring, she was at my side giving me a withering look.

"You're Jasper's girlfriend?"

I was taken aback, "Yeah…who are you?"

"My name is Maria," she said. "I'm sure he's probably mentioned me before."

I felt my blood start to boil. This was the woman who broke Jasper's heart and slept around on him. I fought back the urge to throw my drink in her face and decided to play it cool. Jasper's my man now, and Maria will just have to go cry in her beer.

"Yeah," I said nonchalantly, "He may have mentioned the name once."

She rolled her eyes at me, "Don't try to play it cool, I'm sure he's told you all sorts of stories about me."

"No, only the one," I said. "And, I must say I should really buy you a drink or something in gratitude, if you hadn't been such a raging slut, he would have never come to Boulder."

She looked like she was going to rear back and punch me, so I jumped out of my seat and got into a good fighting stance. If she wanted a piece of me, I was going to show her I'm not to be messed with. Instead, she dropped her hands and calmed herself down.

She looked up at me with sad eyes, "Can we talk, please?"

"No," I replied simply, "I don't have anything to say to you."

"Please?" She repeated a little louder. "Won't you at least hear my side of the story?"

I debated for a moment. After what Jasper told me about her, she really didn't deserve a chance to explain herself to me. But, then again, I've been in a really fucked up relationship before, so I know things aren't always how they seem. I put my hands down and nodded at her.

She led me to the patio area of the bar where only a few smokers lingered. We stood in a corner and she launched into her story quickly.

"Jasper and I were together for four years," she began, "And, as you probably already know, he seemed like the perfect guy. He's smart and he's funny and hot and he plays the guitar. That's, like, the perfect combination in a man, really. But, after about a year of dating things started to get…weird. First, he hung out more and more with his friends and less with me. And then, when I made plans that didn't include him, he would get very upset with me – he even started accusing me of cheating on him. And, I'll tell you right now, I never cheated on him! Ever! I loved him so much.

"Then came the other girls – girls at the shows he played. Just like the ones standing in front of the stage tonight. He always told me they meant nothing to him, that they're just groupies looking for a musician to sleep with and he didn't respect women like that. Well, I guess you don't really have to respect a woman to sleep with her, do you? I came home one day – we had moved in after just a few months together – and he had another girl in bed with him. I had seen her so many times at his shows; she always looked at him like she'd do anything to have him.

"And then, I just left. I packed everything up and I walked out and to this day he still tells everyone that I was the one that cheated. Even his parents still believe that. I assume you met them – they think the sun shines out his ass, don't they? And now, I'm just the whore that broke Jasper's heart, and that's all I'll ever be."

I listened patiently to this whole story with such an intense combination of emotions raging inside of me I almost wanted to throw up. Could Jasper really be capable of all the things she just said? Or, is she just the world's greatest manipulator? She seems very sincere about the whole ordeal; but, then again, James was also always so sincere – even when he was manipulating me.

"So," she continued. "I don't necessarily expect you to believe me – nobody ever does. But, I just thought I should warn you and give you my half of the story. It's only fair, right?"

I nodded silently and turned to walk back into the bar. I felt really numb as I tried to process everything she just told me. I beat back that little voice inside me that said she could have been telling the truth as I rejoined Courtney at the bar.

"Who was that girl?" She asked.

"Someone who used to know Jasper," I said.

I didn't want to have to explain any further, I just wanted another drink. As if on cue, Dustin showed up with a big smile on his face.

"Hey beautiful, want another martini?"

"Yes please," I replied.

He went about making the drink as I got lost in my thoughts again. It was just then that I noticed the live music had ceased and the jukebox was playing some damn redneck tune. Jasper and his band mates were mingling with the people in the bar and I strained to see if he was being at all flirty with any of the girls. He didn't seem to be.

I caught his eye and he gave me a sweet grin from across the bar. No way was that man capable of all the things Maria said. Not my sweet, loving Jasper. Dustin got my attention again as he set the drink in front of me and smiled. I took a sip and returned his smile.

"Thanks, Dustin, you're awesome!"

"So I've been told," he replied. "So, you don't sound like you're from around here, Alice. Where you from?"

"Boulder."

"Colorado…nice," he said. "I have an uncle who lives up in Fort Collins; I really like it up there."

"Yeah, Fort Collins is a really fun place," I said.

"So, how long are you going to be down here?" He asked.

"I fly back on Sunday."

"Really, so that means you may be available on Saturday for a date, perhaps?"

I laughed and looked down at my drink, "I don't think my boyfriend would like that."

"Ah," he said. "Boyfriend…of course you have a boyfriend. You're the prettiest girl in this bar tonight, you couldn't possibly be single."

I rolled my eyes and took another sip. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Jasper standing there behind me. But he wasn't looking at me, he was glaring at Dustin.

"Hey Dustin, why don't you go get me and the guys a round of Bud light and some whiskey, OK?"

"Sure thing, man," Dustin said, he seemed just as confused as I was.

"Are you OK?" I asked Jasper as he sat down next to me, still glaring after Dustin.

"I'm fine," he said. "I see you met Dustin."

"Well, yeah, Courtney and I have been sitting at the bar all night, we were bound to meet the bartender."

"Did he tell you we went to school together?" Jasper asked.

"No…we didn't mention you."

He shot me a shocked expression, "You…you didn't tell him you had a boyfriend."

"I did when it finally came up," I replied defensively. "Are you jealous? Really? Jasper, you know I'd never cheat on you."

He sighed, "I know…it's just Dustin's kind of a jerk and he once stole my girlfriend in high school. And, I think he did it just because he didn't like me."

"This isn't high school, Jas," I said as I held his face in my hands. "And, I'm not going anywhere – least of all with some bartender who looks like Fred Durst."

Jasper chuckled and leaned in to kiss my lips gently. "I love you, Ali-Cat."

"I love you more."

I deepened our kiss as he pulled me onto his lap easily. Dustin came back with the drinks Jasper had ordered, and the band began to down the whiskey shots and guzzle the beers quickly. I looked around at the debauchery happening around me and turned back to Jasper, "Where are we going to stay tonight?"

"That's a good question," Jasper replied. "Well, I don't think you'll want to crash with any of these guys – lord knows their apartments are not fit for any civilized human being. Plus, I kind of want you all to myself tonight."

He nuzzled the side of my neck as he told me that last part. I could feel his arousal begin to grow through his jeans.

"Well, we could always get a motel room," I said.

"That's just what I was thinkin', darlin'," he replied. "I'll just let the guys know we're turnin' in for the night."

He set me on the ground and took my hand as we walked over to Trey and the guys.

"Jas, man, have some drinks!" Trey exclaimed as we approached.

"No thanks, man," Jasper said. "Alice and I are going to find a motel for the night."

"No way, you two can stay at my place," Trey said.

"No offense, Trey, but hell no! Me and my woman are going to be alone tonight."

I felt my cheeks start to heat up as the guys howled at the implications in what Jasper had just said. He just shook his head at them in exasperation and led me outside. After flagging down a taxi, we found a Comfort Inn to stay at for the night and checked in. As we walked down the hall to our room, I smelled the faintest hint of chlorine in the air.

"Huh, that indoor pool must be down this hall," I said.

Jasper's eyes lit up, "That gives me an idea."

"What?"

Without another word, he grabbed my hand and led me in the direction the bleach smell was coming from. We stopped when we came to a long row of windows. I peered through one and saw the pool inside of the big enclosure. I gave Jasper an incredulous look.

"You know it's probably going to be locked, right?"

"Never know until we try," he said as he reached for the door handle.

He pulled the handle and, after sticking a bit, the door opened without a sound. The smell of chlorine intensified one hundred fold as we walked into the room to get closer to the smooth, flawless water. Jasper began to take his clothes off, but I stayed to the side, unsure.

"We're going to get caught," I said.

"That's part of the excitement," he replied.

I gaped at him in disbelief, "Jasper, let's just go back to our room."

"Come on, kitten…live a little."

Once he was naked, he slid silently into the pool, hissing a little at the initial shock of the water. I took one last look down the hallway before taking my clothes off quickly. When I got down to my bra and panties, I suddenly heard Jasper's voice.

"Ali-Cat," he said quietly. "Take those off nice and slow for me."

I turned to see him floating effortlessly in the water. He gave me a mischievous grin as he came closer to the edge of the pool. I bit my lip seductively as I unhooked my bra slowly and tossed it to the side. I even gave him a little extra thrill by massaging my breasts gently before moving down to slide my panties off of my hips.

I kicked my panties to the side and let him get a good look at me. He sucked in a quick breath as I stood naked before him. I trailed my hands up my sides sensuously until they reached my breasts again and pinched my nipples lightly.

"Darlin', you better get in this water before I jump out and get you," he warned in a deep, sexy voice.

I giggled playfully as I walked to the steps and slowly made my way into the pool. I tried not to make a face as the water hit my most sensitive areas and sent shivers down my spine, but it was difficult. I've always hated that first foray into a pool – who doesn't?

As soon as I was shoulder-deep, Jasper took me into his arms and captured my mouth roughly. He backed me up against the side of the pool and entered me swiftly.

"Sorry I'm not takin' my time, darlin'," he said. "But remember, we're not supposed to be doin' this."

"Shhhh," I shushed as we worked up to a good, steady rhythm. "Let's just enjoy this."

I leaned my head back over the side of the pool as his mouth attached to my breast roughly. He bit and sucked at my nipple as we both reached our climaxes together. It was amazing how synchronized our bodies seemed to be – how in tune we were with each other.

We floated around the pool for a little bit before finally stepping out. We put our clothes back on over our wet bodies and tried to hurry back to our room, but we got stopped in the hallway by the girl from the front desk.

She eyed us suspiciously, "Were…were you two just in the pool?"

"Um…yeah," I said sheepishly.

Jasper said nothing; he just threw his arm around my shoulders and pulled me away. The girl walked in the other direction muttering something about "every week, someone doin' it in the pool…"

Once we got back into our hotel room, we burst into laughter that lasted about a good fifteen minutes.

So, was Maria's story true...or just a desperate tale from a horrible manipulator? We shall see...