Our study group reassembled early in the new semester. We had new topics and a few new faces. Now that we had a dedicated room in the library, we were able to accomodate a larger group. Debbie seemed to be absent more this term than last. Not from class, just from the study group. I looked to Jasper's future and was not surprised to find she was spending more evenings shadowing him.
Our group was as lively as ever, and we got the occasional rap on the door by passers by when we got too loud. Barry seemed to sit closer to Lisa each time we met. I noticed him throw more gentle affection her way, complimenting her rebuttal and then asking her opinion on his latest paper topic. She didn't bite. I walked with her from the Library. "So," I said with a sly smile. "Barry?"
She smiled. "He's a sweetie, isn't he?"
"He likes you," I informed her, just in case she was simply being dense.
"You think so?" she asked.
"I know so," I said sticking my nose a little higher in the air.
"Well, then perhaps I'll have to ask him to coffee — to discuss my latest paper," she said with another smile.
"Perhaps?" I asked.
She giggled. "Unless you think he'll get up the courage to ask me."
"Hmmm, maybe with the right nudge." I winked at her and picked up my pace, walking beside Barry now. "I heard you asking Lisa about your latest paper. She was looking for someone to review hers with. You might want to talk to her outside our group. It's large and loud, don't you find?"
He coughed suddenly and dropped one of his books. I scooped it up, but in the time we had stopped, Lisa had caught up with us again. I looked at Barry, not holding out his book. "Um... Lisa," he asked nervously. "Would you like to go for coffee tomorrow night, talk about that paper some more?"
"I would like that very much, Barry." She smiled at him and walked away.
I handed him his book. "Was that so very hard?" I asked before turning and leaving myself.
A few nights later, I decided it was time to have a talk with Jasper about Debbie. "Jasper?" I asked. "How are you adapting to Debbie? Do you think you might be able to have an interview with her soon?"
He froze in the process of putting down his latest selections from the library. "Maybe." He didn't trust himself, that much was obvious.
"When did you hunt last?" I asked him next, stroking his hair.
"Yesterday." He hunted every two or three days when on campus. It helped his resistance.
"Did you want to hunt with me?" I asked. I wanted to help him anyway I could. I wasn't sure how, but I wanted it very badly.
We set off into one of the parks. There was little more than deer and racoons to be had. I knew it was some of the least appetizing prey, but to hunt so often Jasper had been relying these to sustain him. I found a doe and drained her quickly. I looked up when Jasper hadn't moved to join me. "What is it?"
"I can't let go. Someone is here."
There was? I hadn't smelled anyone. Then the wind shifted slightly, allowing me tp pick up a human scent. "Do you run into people here often?" I asked.
He nodded. "It makes it difficult, but more effective. I can't let go to hunt, but these animals are so tame I hardly need to chase them. If I drink a deer while smelling a man, I can almost fool myself."
It sounded more difficult to me. "And you don't need to hunt the human?" I asked, astonished.
"I do, but I don't let go of my prey until they leave." There was so much I was missing. What an interesting strategy. Of course, with his teeth in his prey he wouldn't run after the human.
"You are stronger than you think," I told him.
He smiled at me. "No, but perhaps I can be strong enough."
The next day, Wednesday, he walked me to class. I sat listening, as usual, when a vision seized me. It had been a while since one had gripped me so completely. Jasper in a jail cell, surrounded by humans. Holding his breath, curled in on himself on the small bench. How had he gotten there? How was he managing with so many, so close? I practically ran from the building when the lecture ended.
Lisa tried to follow me, "Alice! Wait up!" I almost ran right into Jasper. Lisa moved to his side and passed him a small box. He smiled at her and knelt in front of me.
What was this? I hadn't seen this. How had I not seen this? "Alice Cullen. Would you do me the honor of being my wife? Again," he said with a grin. He opened the box to reveal a diamond solitare. He took my left hand, already bearing the wedding band, and slipped the engagement ring to reside above it.
"Yes, Jasper. Of course!" I hugged him and didn't have to bend much, even with him kneeling.
Lisa laughed and clapped her hands. "I'm so glad I could help, Jasper. She really was surprised, wasn't she?"
I looked to him now and he grinned even wider. "I told you it can be difficult. Thank you, Lisa," he said to her.
"You?" I asked Lisa. She was still smling wildly.
"I picked out the ring with Edward. Jasper said you'd know if he bought it, and Edward said he didn't know what to pick. Then Edward asked me to hold onto it and give it to Jasper after class one day. I thought, with you looking so worried, today was the perfect day for a surprise."
I smiled, too. "It was. Thank you."
Edward approached us then, hugging me. "Ah, so today was the day. I thought you wouldn't spy a human," he whispered quietly enough Lisa wouldn't hear.
"Thank you," I murmured in reply. "And thank you!" I said, hugging Lisa.
"Alice, you should wear a sweater in class. You're freezing!" she said as I let go. I laughed.
Then I jumped up to wrap my legs around Jasper and hug him, now that he was standing again. "And the biggest thanks go to you!" I kissed him and lingered with my lips on his.
I heard Edward clear his throat and noticed Lisa blushing almost to the color of her hair.
"Sorry," I murmured, swinging my legs to the ground.
"No problem. I wonder where Debbie is? She was going to meet me after class." Lisa said, scanning the quad.
Jasper looked over his shoulder too, frowning. "Odd. We just had coffee and she was headed this way."
I smiled even more broadly. "You did?" I asked excitedly.
He smirked and nodded. "It went very well. She was looking forward to getting home and writing it all down."
I hugged him again. "Maybe that's where she went then," I suggested to Lisa.
"Yeah, probably. I'll see you tomorrow," she said with a wave.
"And I want to get you home," I said with a growl in my throat. "Edward, go be elsewhere." I waved him off, kissing my husband again.
"Yes'm," he said with a chuckle.
I don't know what Edward found to do with himself, but we didn't see him until the next morning when he came to change before heading to class.
"Thank you!" I called as he ran back out the door. I didn't even bother getting off the bed. "Where were we?" I murmured instead.
I finally had to leave my wonderful, handsome, thoughtful, amazing husband when it came time to go to Philosophy class. I still moaned the whole time. He laughed at me. I had just locked the door behind us when the vision from the night before returned. Jasper in a jail cell. That would not be a good situation. "Do me a favor?" I asked him as he walked me to campus.
"Anything," he agreed with a smile.
"Hunt tonight?"
He cocked an eyebrow. "Something up?"
"No, just a concern. I don't want you, uncomforable..." I tried to think of a reason that wouldn't give away my worries. "Debbie might want to talk to you again after class," I suggested.
"Oh, right," he smiled and kissed me outside the building before leaving me on my own. I entered the hall and took a seat next to Lisa. "Where's Debbie?" I asked.
"I was hoping you would tell me," she said in a harsh voice. "I didn't see her last night."
I frowned. I tried to look into Debbie's future. As usual, it was difficult with a human, but I knew Debbie better now. She was in a dark room, a basement, I thought. She was tied and gagged. I gasped. Lisa looked to me. I shook my head but left class in the middle of the lecture. Edward, I called loudly with my mind. We have a problem. I reviewed the vision of Jasper and the lastest of Debbie as I followed Jasper's scent toward the park. That was where I saw the lights. I ran and was instantly at his side. Two police officers stood in front of him. One was short and round with dark hair and a bush of a moustache. The other was tall, lean and had brown eyes that seemed to look right through me.
"Hello," the taller one said. "Where did you come from?"
"What are you doing with my husband?" I demanded.
"Your husband? You are married to Jasper Cullen?" he verified.
"Yes. What seems to be the problem, officer?" I demanded. I saw Edward approaching from the other side of the park, walking, as I should have.
"Do you know Debbie Forsythe, Mrs. Cullen?" the short one asked.
"Yes, I have classes with her at the university. One today in fact."
"And was she in class?" the same officer asked.
"No," I admitted truthfully, looking down.
"Her parents reported her missing," the tall one said crossly. "We understand Mr. Cullen was seen with her last night. We just want to take him to the station to ask some questions. Set up a timeline for her disappearance."
"I understand. May I have a moment with him?" I asked them.
"Only a moment," the shorter one agreed.
I put my hands to Jasper cheeks and made him look at me. "You can do this. I have seen you do this. You are going to be fine. Just keep looking to me." I kissed him then.
"If you'll come with us, Mr. Cullen." The tall one took his arm and led him to the cruiser. I watched him go, and Edward finally met me.
"You're just letting them take him?" he asked. "They have no intention of releasing him after questioning. They're sure he's guilty." He was still watching the cruiser.
"I know. He's going to be fine. We need to find Debbie. Now." I met his eyes before running again.