I just wanted to put a shout out up here to AustinCowgrl:

Firstly, these are works of fiction. I'm not out to get Austin, or make it seem like anyone in Texas is homophobic or anything else—that exists everywhere. Don't forget, Jasper is pretty messed up—the things his father said to him are all he knows. Whether those things are necessarily true or not is really up to you to decide.

Secondly, while I appreciate that Austin may be an incredibly liberal community, hate crimes do happen there (look it up—a man shot his daughter's girlfriend and her mother in 2011 in what was labelled as a hate crime, a gay man was killed by a man he met in a bar earlier this year, and there are dozens of incidents of gay bashing). So, while I appreciate the sentiment, I would argue that there is enough probability that things like this do happen there for Jasper and Peter to have been beaten up in Austin.

Thirdly, thank you SO much for the review. I honestly do appreciate the feedback, and it wasn't my intention to hurt your feelings by mentioning your city—again, it's fiction, and unfortunately, it had to happen somewhere. Also, I feel you on the city pride—it's tough when you feel like someone is disrespecting your city, and I'm glad that you have the guts to stand up for yours. I hope you'll stick with the story, and I hope that I'll hear from you again! (And if you'd like to talk more about this issue, I'm more than happy to have a PM conversation as well).

A big thank you to everyone who reviewed, especially CentauRita and Mistydeb—it's great to know I have new readers and old ones alike! Let me know what you think of this one.

We're back inside Jasper's pretty blonde head for this one. Hold on kids!

….

My hands fisted in Edward's tee-shirt, pulling him close against my body.

I was on overdrive, my head tilting and swirling curiously, and I was no longer sure what I believed. Or what was right.

I didn't know how to protect this beautiful boy in front of me anymore, or my beautiful sister. I felt helpless, like all the power I'd ever possessed had been snatched away.

Edward looked at me blankly, my words seeming to not register with him. His eyes were exhausted, and he seemed dazed by my touch. My heart clenched as I realized that I had probably brought that on myself. I shifted, feeling every inch of his muscle against mine, fighting to pull away—knowing I should—but not quite able to.

Images of all the men we'd seen together—really together, openly together—here, played through my head, making my world swirl as everything I'd ever known and believed was put to the test. Edward's eyes were dark and strangely glassy as he looked at me, something between fear and desperation written there.

We were both getting soaked in the sheeting, driving rain that was pounding down on us, but somehow, I couldn't bring myself to care. All I could feel was Edward's body, his warmth pressed against mine, seeping into my body, warming me to my very core.

"Edward…"

Begging him, although for what I didn't know. In a moment that seemed to freeze in its slowness, while at the same time blurring too fast for me to really understand, his back hit the brick wall before I realized I was pushing him, our mouths crashing together of their own accord. His lips were smooth, hard against my own, his hands drifting up my body to tangle in my dripping curls, pulling me impossibly closer to him. I could feel the planes of his chest, the edges of his hipbones, the growing hardness of his erection. I could smell the cologne he always wore, the musk of his sleep, the minty tang of toothpaste that still lingered on his breath. For the first time in my entire life, this kiss felt safe, felt right, felt…normal.

I felt like I was flying.

Edward pulled back with hooded eyes, clearly able to exercise more restraint than I was.

"Jasper…Jasper…"

My name, whispered like a prayer as it fell from his lips, and I wanted nothing except his mouth back on mine. I shuddered, trying to keep the cold out, trying to suppress the shiver of pure want that surfaced at the sound of Edward's voice, husky, as he looked at me.

He misinterpreted my shiver as one of being chilled, running his hands up and down my arms in a simple gesture so caring it made my heart ache.

Putting one arm around my shoulder, Edward smiled ruefully at me, the strain of stopping the kiss apparent in his eyes.

"Let's go to the diner, okay? Talk."

There was a twenty-four hour diner just around the corner from the motel, all mustard yellow tables and stained china cups beneath flickering lights. Sitting there over coffee, with Edward's hands clasped firmly in my own, on top of the table, his thumb rubbing gentle circles over my wrist, was simultaneously the most comforting and freeing moment of my entire life.

We were both soaked through to the skin, and I tried to ignore the cling of Edward's very white, very see-through tee-shirt on his chest.

The waitress, a woman who looked to be about eighty, arrived at our table, and I jerked to pull my hands out of Edward's. Automatically.

His eyes darkened with fury, but he held my hands firm, unwilling to let them slip from his grip. The waitress surveyed our clasped hands, her knowing smile as shocking as it was comforting.

"Ah, young love. Where y'all from?"

Edward grinned as she poured us each another coffee. Her accent, so familiar to me, caught me so off-guard that I choked on the newly poured coffee. Edward smirked at me from across the table, grinning up at the woman,

"Well, I'm from Forks, Washington, and Jasper here is from—"

"I'm from Austin, ma'am."

I drawled, allowing my accent to play strongly across my words.

What happened next shocked the hell out of me.

The woman bent down, pressing a kiss to my damp curls, her smile warm. Edward was grinning like a Cheshire cat, and I was shocked, bewildered, and happiness was rising in my belly like butterflies.

"Me too, baby. I love New York, but Austin…it's home. Coffee's on me tonight, boys. You have a good one."

She bustled away, her wistful smile apparent. Edward caught my eye, drinking in my surprise.

"Jasper…"

I grinned, ducking my head,

"It's not like that here, is it."

It was more statement than question. Edward grinned, shaking his head,

"No, Jazz. It's not. You don't have to be afraid ever again."

It was all too much, too overwhelming, too wonderful all at once. It was what everyone had been trying to tell me, but I had to learn for myself. I felt as though a giant weight had been lifted off my chest. I bit my lip, unable to tear my attention from Edward's beautiful face. Unfortunately, his attention was focused solely on my mouth, his eyes dark, and I could feel my jeans tighten. Feeling my gaze, Edward glanced up, flushing at being caught staring,

"Uh, so. Rosalie got in."

I could feel my eyes cloud over. I nodded, gripping Edward's hands tighter in mine,

"They're having a showcase of the new students tomorrow night…I'd like to be there."

Edward nodded,

"Of course. We'll all be there. On one condition, though."

I looked up at him, feeling my stomach clench. He grinned at me,

"You have to go up the Statue of Liberty with me tomorrow."

I grinned at him. How was this boy so perfect?

"You bet your sweet ass I will."

Edward grinned at me like a kid in a candy shop. I could see the sunrise just peeking up, smears of pink and orange between the skyscrapers, and I held out my hand,

"Do you want to go somewhere and get some breakfast?"

Edward looked a little bewildered, but nodded,

"Okay? You don't want breakfast here?"

I shook my head, but didn't offer a reason. In all honesty, all I wanted was Edward, entirely to myself. Bella and Emmett would be awake soon (well, Emmett would be…Bella maybe not so much), but I wasn't quite ready to face them. I wanted some time with Edward to just…be.

He laced our fingers together, and the rush of electricity, of warmth and love, rushed through me.

As we stood, I pressed my lips to his ear,

"I just…want some time with you…alone."

Edward shivered at my words. Fucking shivered, his hand inadvertently gripping mine tighter, and I gave myself a mental pat on the back. Maybe I could do this after all.

...

There was a McDonald's close to the base of the Statue of Liberty, and we both ordered a far too greasy, far too delicious breakfast of egg Mcmuffins and hashbrowns. With extra large coffees.

I had been up all night, but looking at Edward as we walked up the stairs of the Statue of Liberty, our hands locked together, I couldn't even feel it. I was running on a high of adrenaline, of fearlessness, of love…

Edward grinned at me,

"What's going on, Jasper? You're strangely quiet."

We'd arrived at the top. It was still early, and we were the only ones there, excepting a tiny, withered couple who were still looking at each other like they were so in love they didn't know what to do. I wanted that.

Looking out over the early morning, I felt as if I could touch the sky. New York was spread out below us, sprawling buildings and smog buried below the great height that we were standing at.

Edward was still looking at me, waiting for my response.

I shrugged, biting my lip and looking up at Edward through my lashes,

"It just…I feel like everything is going to be okay. For the first time…well, maybe ever. Edward…I am so sorry. For everything. I just…I didn't know. All I wanted was for you to be safe."

He'd never know that he was the first boy I'd kissed since Peter.

That he was the only boy I'd ever held hands with in public.

That he was the only boy I'd ever felt this way about without fear.

Edward nodded, his eyes reflecting the pain, and a part of me hated myself for what I'd done. His words were quiet as he examined me critically across the table,

"I forgive you, Jasper. But…I need you to give this a real shot. Because I can't…"

My lips were against his, hard and gentle all at once, and I hoped that my kiss said it all. Edward paused for a single second, before his hands were against my back, running through my hair, brushing over my arms.

The kiss was not entirely innocent, but it also wasn't nearly as intense as the one we'd shared against the side of the building in the early hours of the morning.

It was right.

I knew what he was saying. We had one shot at this. I'd already done all the messing around with his heart that one person was aloud—probably more than that—and he was willing to forgive me. So I would make this work.

Because, whether he knew it or not, I was in love with Edward Cullen.

…

Bella sighed, settling into the seat next to Edward across the table from me. Edward shot a small smile my way, and Emmett immediately caught it,

"What's going on with you two?"

Bella looked up from her menu, bewildered.

It was the nicest restaurant I had been to in a long time. We'd gone out a lot as a 'family' when I was younger, Mama and Daddy liked to show off their only son, and I looked good in a suit. There were candles with real flames, and roses at the centre of each table. The only reason we were here is because it was down the road from SAB, and Rose's showcase started in an hour and a half.

Edward and I exchanged a look, before we both broke out in full scale, goofy grins. Emmett, always about as patient as a child who had just finished a mountain of candy, delivered a swift kick to my shins under the table, and I groaned,

"Em. Seriously? What are we, four?"

"Tell us, then! Tell us, and I won't have to kick you. Again."

I rolled my eyes and Edward snickered. I reached over the table for Edward's hand, our fingers lacing together, and Bella's eyes widened.

"We're…well, that is, we…"

"We're together."

Edward finished for me, winking at me, laughing just a little at my inability to articulate what had come to pass in the past twenty four hours. Emmett grinned, fist pumping,

"YES! I knew it. Go Jazz-man."

Bella smiled, placing a hand on Edward's arm,

"I'm happy for you."

She kissed the side of his head, smoothing his always-sex-hair down with her hand.

We were all dressed up, Emmett, Edward and I in suits, and Bella in a truly lovely navy coloured dress that revealed just a hint of creamy cleavage and allowed her legs to go on forever.

The waiter brought our food—creamy seafood linguine for me, salmon and glazed vegetables for Edward, a burger for Emmett, and duck for Bella, who'd surprised us all by ordering something out of the ordinary, justifying her choice by saying that she was only going to live once, and she'd never had duck. I liked that philosophy.

"So, Em, Jasper…what are you going to do about Rosalie?"

Bella asked the question that had been looming over all of us since we'd found out she'd gotten in. Emmett shrugged,

"Well, I'm going to talk to her after the show tonight…I, Jasper…."

He was suddenly looking at me with wide eyes, and a hint of fear. I looked back, bewildered, until he pulled out the navy box, setting it on the table and opening it.

A diamond and white gold ring winked at me under the light.

Bella and Edward both inhaled sharply in tandem, in a way that would have been comical if the moment hadn't been so serious.

Emmett took a deep breath, trying to steady himself,

"Can I have your permission to ask Rose to marry me? She…she's amazing. She's the love of my life, and I don't know what I'd do without her. I'm so happy for her, living her dream like this, but I want to be here for her. I have the money, and it would be nice to be able to be in New York to take care of her, you know?"

My heart was so full in that moment that I thought it might burst. I nodded, suddenly feeling very overwhelmed indeed. I had thought about what Rosalie being in New York would mean, but I had assumed that it would be me moving here, looking after her, keeping her in good health and good spirits.

Emmett had surprised me again.

"I…Emmett…of course. Of course you can ask her."

I stood, pulling him into a tight hug, and I was surprised to see tears in Bella's eyes as she watched. Even Edward looked as if he was having a hard time keeping it together.

We dug into our food.

Bella decided she did not, in fact, like duck, and swapped plates with Edward, who decided that duck was his new favourite thing, and insisted on feeding me bites from across the table.

I was too blissed out to care.

In that moment, my life was perfect.

….

We had front row seats, just below the stage.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the American School of Ballet's thirtieth annual New Students Showcase. I would like to remind you to please turn all cellular devices off, and enjoy the show. Tonight, you will be seeing the sixteen new dancers that the American School of Ballet has taken in this season. They are all incredible dancers. I would also like to formally welcome back a former student, Ms. Rosalie Hale. Thank you, and please enjoy the show."

He smiled at us, and for some reason, a wave of nervousness washed over me. I wondered vaguely if Rosie was nervous, if I was feeding off her energy. Edward's hand was clenched tightly in my own as the dancers took their places.

Emmett had a massive bouquet of roses in his lap, the ring in his jacket pocket, and a giant grin plastered on his face.

Rosalie was at centre stage, exactly like I remembered from our childhood.

"Yeah Rosie!"

Emmett just couldn't contain himself, and I could see Rosalie's lips quirk into the tiniest of smiles, even as Bella hissed,

"Emmett. This is not that kind of show."

He nodded, and his eyes were bright.

"I know. I just want everyone to know that that's my girl."

My heart ached. I wondered what Rosalie would say.

The music started, and the dancers began to float around the stage, angelic, in a strange star formation that came together and parted.

Rosalie was poised at centre stage. She looked beautiful, her hair pulled tightly back, her show smile plastered in place. She was frail, though. There were dark circles under her eyes, and she was too thin, like she always had been when she danced.

I caught her eye, and for the briefest of moments, I could feel her fear.

Connected, like we always had been.

Then her music started, and she began to move, graceful, powerful, arcing across the stage. Every other dancer up there paled in comparison, and my heart clenched.

Maybe it had been selfish of me.

Maybe I had held her back.

The lights were so bright overhead, catching every tiny jewel on her costume, and every sparkle of her makeup. The other dancers moved around Rose, blending into each other, making her the star of the show without even realizing it.

Rosalie was that good.

The music swelled, crescendoing, and Rosalie faced the audience, pulling her body up into a perfect pirouette, spotting as she turned, once, twice…

I was on my feet as her third pirouette faltered, the audience gasping collectively as she struggled to maintain the turn.

I was on the stage by the time her fourth gave out entirely and she collapsed onto the stage, a pile of boneless limbs, members of the audience calling out and gasping in a strange harmony to the music.

Emmett was close behind me, his eyes revealing every fear I was feeling.

"Cut the music!"

Someone called from backstage. I had Rosalie's frail body in my arms, feeling her sweat as it soaked into my shirt. Emmett knelt next to me, the roses he had brought cast carelessly across the stage, forgotten, as he spoke quietly into Rose's ear.

Horror was clawing at my belly as I cursed myself, wondering how in the hell I had allowed this to happen.

Again.

Her eyes were fluttering, her breath shallow, as the curtain dropped behind us, plunging the world into semi-darkness.

…..

Well, there you have it. Sorry it was kind of short!

Let me know what you think, yeah?

I love hearing what you have to say, and I hope everyone is having an absolutely wonderful day—my best friend is coming to visit today, and I'm SO EXCITED!