A/N: So this story is finally coming close to an end. Just a few more chapters to go.
Tonight is Prom Night. This year it's held a few weeks before the end of the school year so there will also be a graduation party later for the seniors. More occasions to dress up the better.
So here I am all dolled up for prom. I know I said I wasn't going to attend, but I changed my mind due to my newfound confidence and all that. I'm going alone since despite my improved social standing nobody actually asked me to be their partner. Which isn't surprising although I have to admit until today I held a tiny hope Jasper might ask me to go with him. It was wishful thinking, fueled by the fact that he apparently didn't ask anybody to prom. According to Rosalie he was probably not going.
I'm decided to not let the fact that I don't have a partner deter me from having a good time. At least I'll have some friends there. Emmett has already gone to pick up Rose and now that my parents are done taking pictures Edward and Bella are also prepared to go. Judging by Bella's look she seems relieved that the photo session is over.
"Are you ready to go?" Edward asks me.
"Oh, I'm not going with you." No way will I be the third wheel tonight. "I wanna take this chance and drive in my car." I have a car now. My parents bought me a yellow Porsche that I absolutely love.
"You and that car." Edward mutters under his breath.
"You two go ahead. I'll see you there". I tell them.
"You're not trying to worm your way out of this, are you?" Bella asks.
"Of course not. I'm just going to check my hair and makeup once more and I'll be right behind you."
"Ok" Bella says, unsure and Edward just shakes his head as they head out the door.
After checking that my hair and makeup are still perfectly done I grab my keys from the table, open the door and I step outside.
Prom. Jasper and Maria standing beside each other when all of a sudden Maria grabs Jaspers neck and reaches up to kiss him.
I drop my keys on the ground and I slouch dejectedly on the porch. I knew he would probably ask some girl to prom, but seeing that vision of them kissing hurts a lot. Truth is my feelings for him are deeper than just a simple crush. Foolishly I let myself believe that maybe there was something all those times when we looked at each other, like a connection that didn't need words. I guess I should be happy for him, but I don't feel brave enough to go there and see him with her all the while pretending I don't care. I'll stay home after all.
I don't know how much time I spent brooding on the porch, but I was so lost in my thoughts I ignored the sound of an engine coming to a stop close by until I heard footsteps approaching.
"You?" I wasn't expecting anyone, much less him. "What are you doing here?"
He seems taken aback by my cold greeting. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Shouldn't you be at prom with Maria right about now? I clearly saw you with …" I shut my mouth, berating myself for almost giving away the fact that I had a vision about them together.
"Maria? What are you talking about?" Jasper asks confused. "I never asked Maria to prom."
Silence. I stare at him like a dumbfounded fool. He's not going with Maria? Maybe he changed his mind.
While I mull over why he's here and not at the dance he glances over me, taking in my attire.
" I should've known you already have a date for prom. I'm sorry for botherin' you, you're clearly waiting for someone else." He sounds disappointed. " I don't know what I was thinking. Have fun." He says and begins to walk away.
"Wait." I shout after him and he turns around, facing me. I smile at him " I know it might be hard to believe considering how amazing I look in this dress, but actually I don't have a date for tonight." At this his face seems to light up.
"What about you?" I ask "Since you're not taking Maria are you going alone?"
"I was hoping you'd go with me. As my date to prom." He says looking intently at me.
"And I was hoping you'd say that."
" Is that a yes?" he asks while taking out a purple corsage from his pocket. I nod, grinning at him and he takes my hand, gently slipping the corsage on.
"How did you know to take a purple corsage?"
"I didn't. I just had an inkling. You seem to like the color and I though it suits you." He tells me. "Now shall we?" He offers me his hand and I happily take it, turning to head for his car.
" Not so fast you two." I stop in my tracks as I hear Carlisle shout after us. He can't have anything against me going with Jasper, can he? What if now that I have a date he wont let me go? I think about ignoring Carlisle and making an escape for the car, but Jasper being the gentleman that he is turns around taking me with him.
"Where do you think you're going?" Carlisle has a stern look on his face.
"Where do you think you're going without taking pictures?" Esme says appearing behind Carlisle with a camera in hand. They both break into a smile.
After another "photo session" that Jasper suffered through without protest we were finally on our way to prom.
"What made you change your mind about going together with Maria?" I suddenly ask, the image of them kissing still lingering in my mind.
"Why do you keep mentioning Maria? I never even thought about inviting her to prom with me." He glances at me before turning his attention back on the road. " You're the only one I thought about asking."
"Oh" A smile is tugging at my lips. For once I'm glad that my ability to see the future failed me.
As we enter the hall some of the people there stare at us with a surprised look on their faces. Angela smiles at me while Lauren and Maria are scowling as we pass them.
Jasper leads me outside towards the gazebo. I'm glad to discover the majority of the students are inside and the place is mostly empty for the moment. The gazebo is nicely decorated, totally decked out with lights that clash beautifully with the twilight sky and the music is audible even from outside. When we reach the gazebo a slow song is currently playing.
"Would you offer me this dance ma'am?" Jasper extends his hand in an old fashioned way. I put my hand in his in a way reminiscent of our first meeting and we begin to slowly sway to the music.
"Why me?" I ask him. "Why did you invite me and not other girls from our school? I mean, it couldn't have been the weird factor surrounding me, that usually scares people away."
"You shouldn't worry about some people thinking you're weird. Some would say I'm a little weird myself. To quote from a movie We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all. "
"The Breakfast Club. Good movie .But really, why me?"
"Aside from the obvious reasons, that first day when I met you at the audition was the first time I felt hope in a long time. You see, I struggled with depression, but when I'm around you, you kind of influence my mood in a good way. I'm more perceptive to other's feelings than most people." He must mistake my surprised look for something else." Oh God, please don't look at me that way. Like I'm crazy. I did warn you I'm kind of weird myself."By now we stopped dancing.
" I was just a little surprised that's all. So you're an empath?" I inquire.
He chuckles. "No, more like just really perceptive."
"That's kinda cool. Why did you wait until the last moment to ask me to prom?"
"I wasn't sure you would want to come with me, not after everything I told you about my past at your party."
"I would never hold your past against you. You have to let go of that guilt. What happened to Rose wasn't your fault. Sometimes bad things just happen." I touch his arm reassuringly.
"You really are great miss Alice" he says touching my cheek, looking at me with an intense gaze in his eyes. Then he leans in and I instinctively close my eyes. His lips lightly touch mine for a second and I can't do justice with words to all the feelings running through me in that moment.
"Alice! You could've just told us why you didn't want to come in the car with me and Edw…Oh" We both jump apart at hearing Bella call my name. " I'm sorry for interrupting. I'll just go back inside." She says apologetic and embarrassed.
"It's ok. We should also head inside anyway." Jasper tells her to my disappointment. I was hoping we'd pick up where we left when Bella interrupted us.
Once inside Bella goes back to Edward after she apologizes a million times for ruining my moment and I explain that I didn't plan all along coming here with Jasper while lying to them about not having a date for tonight.
"Sorry about that Jazz." I say walking up to Jasper.
"She seems like a good friend."
"She is." I respond.
"So Jazz, huh? Is that your official nickname for me?"
"Does it bother you?" I ask biting my lower lip.
"No. In fact I quite like it." he smiles at me and we just look at each other for a moment.
"Oh crazy Alice, always so naïve." Maria says coming close to us with Lauren in toy. We both look at her with surprise. She moves beside Jasper, a smirk on her face.
"Did you really believe this was real? Are you that big of a fool that you thought he would be interested in someone like you?" she laughed, almost maniacally. "I can't believe you fell for our plan." Everybody was watching us now and dread started to fill my body at her words. It couldn't be…
"Are you mad?" Jasper asked, seeming confused." What in the world are you talkin' abo..?" but he doesn't get to finish his sentence cause Maria grabs his neck and reaches up to kiss him, confirming my worst fears.
After a moment he pushes her away. " Just what do you think you're doing?" he angrily shouts at her.
"I'm sorry Jasper, I know you wanted to have more fun with her, but I kind of pity Alice and I can't let you string her along. Besides you were supposed to be my prom date."
"God, you are truly mad. Alice don't listen to her." He tries to touch me but I slap his hand away. Tears well and my face cracks with heartbreak.
"You two really deserve each other." I tell them as I turn to go. I spot my brother and my friends heading towards us, having heard the commotion. I quickly head for the exit, fighting back tears, but them the fact that my friends are here coupled with the empowering song blazing through the speakers makes me want to stay. I'm not the one in the wrong, they should be ashamed. So I stay, if only to show Jasper that his charade did not affect me, even if, in fact, he ripped my heart.
I go to the other side of the hall and Bella, Edward, Rose and Emmett stay close to me, like some protectors, blocking Jaspers attempts to talk to me.
"Rose just let me talk to her. It's not what it seems." I hear him say.
"You're my brother, but I swear if you even as much as glance in Alice's direction , you'll be in the hospital for at least a month. You know I can do that" Rose spits back at him and he finally goes away.
My night wasn't that terrible after that. I got drunk and even danced with James, Forks High's resident bad boy. I didn't see Jasper again. Maybe he went somewhere more private with Maria. That thought makes me sick to the stomach. I can't help the pang I feel when I think about him.
A/N:Was this chapter to corny? Cause I don't even like stuff that's to corny but it's like 4 a.m. here so who knows what kind of things spluttered out of my brain.