Here I was again. Standing outside my 4th floor dorm room wondering if I wanted to enter into the rabbit's hole again. My name may be Alice but I lacked the long blond hair, head band, blue dress, Mary Jane shoes, white pinafore, and opaque white hose. Instead of a white rabbit, I was following the amorphous promise of…
Of what?
True love? No, that had never been promised to me. A wonderful life? Nope. A happy ending. Nah.
A mate, I guess, is that best I can come with. The promise that Jasper is my other half.
What does it say about me that my other half is a soul sucking monster?
I looked behind me and had to laugh at my posse, who I had dragged along for support.
Ang, Rose, and Bella were standing behind me. A witch, a succubus, and my best friend. The latter who looked like she wanted to hurl all over the place.
Unfortunately, she wasn't so-nervous-that-she-was-making-herself-sick on my behalf. Instead, she was loony because of a certain vampire who was lying in wait for us in the room within.
I'm sure you're loving this, sucker! I thought, trying to project the words at him.
I head a laugh in response from within the room. I guess the message was received.
The door opened without my having to decide whether to knock or not and Carlisle greeted us and beckoned us inside.
Pop quiz, asshole: Are you going to enter into a room full of monsters or you gonna high tail it out of town, away from this fantastical shit? What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do?
I entered.
Jasper still lay on my bed, still dressed and still wearing the same freakin' goofy smile. At his side was Carlisle. Edward sat at the foot of my bed and Emmett lounged on my desk chair. A huge grin spread across his cheeks at our (or was it Rose's?) arrival.
There were a couple of moments of confusion as we girls tried to figure out where to go and whether we should sit, stand, or dance the turkey polka. Rose led the way and sat on Emmett's lap. Bella scurried over to her desk chair, Edward tracking her every move with hungry eyes.
This left me, gripping Ang's hand tightly, to sit on Bella's bed across from sleeping beauty or the comatose good looking loony toons stalker guy; however you prefer to think of him. I sat down and my knees just about bumped up against Edward's. He shifted to his left to get away from any physical contact between the two of us. Carlisle was boxed in between the beds and he stood there, awkwardly hovering over us.
Ok, a dorm room might not be the right place to hold a group meeting. I was feeling claustrophobic. But, hell, where could I take this bunch? It's not like we could mosey down to the campus Starbuck's for our conversation.
Inspiration struck. And, yes, you should be afraid.
I heard Edward groaning at my thoughts. The killjoy. If you get handle the heat, vamp, get out of the damn kitchen.
"Bella?" I asked. "Isn't James away at a baseball game this weekend?"
Bella shot me a look that could kill.
I glanced away from her glare to Edward, and he too did not look pleased. He looked like he was in pain and I wondered if fake blood made vamps constipated. Or maybe his shoes are just too tight. I almost giggled when I heard him growl at my thoughts.
"Yes," Bella responded through clenched teeth to my question. The girl was so not happy with me right now.
"Well, he lives alone, right? And you do have a key to his place," I pointed out, shooting her my puppy dog eyes. Note: your best friend is pretty much immune to your hang dog look but it never hurts to try. "We're super cramped here. And if we went to James's you could be physically father away from Edward."
Yeah, I said it. Edward slumped, Bella buried her face in her hands, Rose snorted, and Emmett howled with laughter. I didn't dare turn to look at Carlisle. Ang thankfully did not turn me into a frog but she sure can pinch. My side. Hard.
Owwwww!
"Please, please, please," I begged, rubbing my side. I would be bruised tomorrow.
"Look, Bella obviously doesn't like the idea," stated Edward, standing. "We can go to my place inste…"
"I'll do it," shouted Bella. She jumped up off the bed. "Let's go, I've got the key to James' apartment in my pocket."
I wish I could say there was a sign or something to notify us weirdness was going to happen. But without any warning AT ALL we were suddenly in James' apartment and I was feeling really queasy from being transported instantaneously through space and time to another location.
"Jeez Ang," I complained. "Give a girl a warning before you pull that kind of shit!"
My complaint was seconded by pretty much everyone around.
"Sorry you all," Ang said sheepishly. "I forget that you all don't normally travel that way. I just don't want another delay—the suspense is killing me. Let's get this over already, okay?"
We all grumbled as we got ourselves acquainted to and then situated in James' apartment.
He had a fairly upscale place, and his dining room, living room, and kitchen formed one great room. Bella darted to the kitchen and placed herself behind the kitchen island on a bar stool.
Edward moved to follow her but Carlisle intervened and ordered Edward to sit on the black leather lazy chair in the living room, at the opposite end of the apartment. On a matching black leather couch by Edward's chair lay my comatose soul sucking other half with his goofy grin. Ang, Carlisle, Emmett, Rose, and I sat around the five person dining room table, also black. I was seeing at theme in the décor.
"Edward, I thought you said that this James guy was human?" asked Carlisle, sniffing the air.
Oh shit.
"What?" shrieked Bella from the kitchen. "James is a human. It all smells human. Except for you guys… I mean Others. Maybe you're just smelling yourselves."
"No," replied Carlisle calmly. "I smell the very strong, distinct odor of werewolf."
"It has to be someone else," Bella said desperately. "Maybe a guest or a cleaning lady or something was in here."
"No, Bella," replied Rose with a fairly sympathetic expression. "I smell it as well and it is too pervasive to be someone who doesn't live here permanently."
"Maybe James is living with someone you don't know about!" I exclaimed.
"You mean like another girl?" Bella practically shrieked.
Yeah, Bella wasn't thrilled about that possibility either. Another instance of me thinking before I speak.
"No, it's a male scent," replied Carlisle.
"You know, I don't recognize the scent," grumbled Emmett. "He is definitely not in the Sigma Ka's. This is an unknown Other."
"Maybe this Other is just here to get a college education," suggested Angela. "It's just a coincidence that this university was chosen for the Happenings. If he's just getting a college education then he doesn't have to enroll in the Happenings."
"Yeah, I bet he's here to sow his wild oats before he settles down and looks for his mate," Emmett wagged his eyebrows.
Bella shrieked and I ran over to calm her down.
Rosalie punched Emmett in the shoulder.
"Damn," was all Emmett said and he rubbed the spot she'd hit.
"Quiet," Carlisle ordered and we all shut up. "We need to be calm around Jasper right now and I need to discuss his prognosis with Alice, who wants all of you in the room. However, if any of you can't control your emotions I will be forced to expel you from this apartment."
I felt Bella start to say something and I stomped on her foot. She was so not leaving me. I wrapped my arms around and squeezed an apology. I needed her with me. I guess she understood because she wrapped her arms around me. She took a deep breath and I knew that meant she would try to keep in control for me.
"Ok," I sighed. "I'm ready. What is wrong with Jasper?"
"Nothing's wrong with Jasper, per se," Carlisle replied. He ran a hand through his hair—I guess I knew where Edward had picked up that habit.
"Shouldn't he be awake by now?" asked Rose worriedly.
"Jasper is not conscious but on some level, probably subconsciously, he has chosen to remain in his current state."
"Why?" I asked.
"Has anyone explained to you what incubi face before they are mated?" Carlisle asked me.
"Yeah, Rose told me about the hunger and how an incubus is filled when he is mated to his Chosen One."
"Jasper has been miserable for the last millennium," stated Carlisle gravely. "He has survived without a mate longer than pretty much any other incubi I know. And he has refused to completely consume a human for almost that entire time."
Anyone else here uncomfortable with that almost?
"My brother is incredible," said Rose. "So why is he in a coma when he's finally found his mate and he can be completely satisfied?"
Yep, that's me: a lip smacking big mac, large fries, and chocolate milkshake. Jeez, I have no idea why I keep having these inappropriate thoughts.
No comment necessary, Edward.
"I have consulted with Edward, who has been scanning Jasper's dreams, and with some of the incubi elders," Carlisle continued. "We believe that Jasper reached such a high level of happiness, a climax if you will, when he coupled with Alice that he is perfectly content and he doesn't want to wake up and risk losing this feeling."
Emmett burst out laughing. "Dude, we all feel a high level of enjoyment when we climax!" We all ignored him. Even Rose didn't bother to wop him one this time. He huffed, folded his arms across his chest, and sulked.
"Jasper hasn't been happy the entire time I've known him." added Edward. "He's kept going because he felt his purpose was to keep mankind from imploding on itself. He's been involved in so many battles and seen some really horrific stuff."
"Can he survive this way?" asked a visibly worried Rose. "Is he going to starve to death if he's not awake?"
"I don't believe so," replied Carlisle. "As long as he has close contact with his mate, I believe he can survive in this state pretty much indefinitely."
"So I get to use him as paper weight?" I asked incredulously. "I just get to travel around with this corpse for the rest of my life?"
I ran over to Jasper and started shaking him. "Wake up, you fool! I am not going to be stuck in a one-sided relationship for the rest of my life." I felt tears welling up in the side of my eyes.
Jasper didn't flinch. He was still smiling.
I leaned down and gave him a big smooch, prying open his mouth and thrusting my tongue around. Nothing. Disney happing endings could kiss my ass.
Fuck.
"We've tried all that, sprite," Edward said, running his hands through his hair.
Really? I sat up straighter and looked at Edward with wide eyes.
"No, you weirdo." said a clearly exasperated Edward, "I did not try to awaken him with a kiss."
That's a relief… Hmmmm…. Edward started banging his head with his hand. Woops. Sorry.
"I want my brother," cried Rose. "It is unacceptable that he's never going to wake up."
"Shhh…Calm the adolescent dramatics down," said a clearly exasperated Carlisle. "I never said he'd be in this state forever. We just have to figure out what will wake him."
"What about something really sad or violent?" asked Ang, flexing her hand as if she was ready to order up both emotions at any second. "You know, something to sadden him and make him unhappy."
"I don't believe that will work," said Carlisle. "Those are exactly the emotions that Jasper has formed a cocoon of positive feelings to ward against."
"Has he moved at all or reacted to any sort of stimuli since he went into this coma?" asked Rose.
Carlisle shook his head no.
"Yes," I admitted to the group, "He moved when he thought I was going to leave and not return. And then he moved again when he was jealous of Edward and me."
Thud.
I looked down at the bowl of fruit that had been on the kitchen counter by Bella's elbow and was now on the floor. Should we pick it up? There rolls a grape under the refrigerator.
Suddenly, just like in Bewitched, the fruit and bowl flew back through the air and landed back on the counter. Ok, I am chaining Ang to me and taking her EVERYWHERE.
"Ok, I am going to leave," I threatened. "Jasper if you don't wake up then I am never coming back."
We all looked at the loony toon. Nothing.
"He doesn't believe you," announced Edward. "He can feel your emotions and knows you are bluffing."
"I am not!"
"Apparently, he thinks so. He believes that you have committed to him"
"Delusional freak."
"Children," Carlisle interrupted again. "That leaves us with jealousy as an option."
"Well, he didn't wake up or anything when I had some inappropriate thoughts about Edward feeling me up," I smiled sweetly as I told this to Edward's father.
"But he reacted, correct?" asked Carlisle, appearing undisturbed about me having fantasies about his son.
"Yeah, he moved around like crazy—it was almost like he was having a seizure," I replied.
"Excellent, it sounds as if he was trying to wake up!" said Carlisle enthusiastically.
"But he didn't wake up," I ground out through clenched teeth.
"Wait, how could Alice be attracted to Edward if she is Jasper's mate?" asked Rose.
"Maybe Alice is not his mate," added Ang and I cringed. Although this was something she and I discussed, I hated having my doubts aired to everyone.
"She is absolutely Jasper's mate," Edward said emphatically.
"How the hell do you know?" asked Bella.
"Because Jasper knew that Alice was his mate six months ago and has been trying to figure things out ever since."
"What things?" I asked.
"Jasper was concerned he might hurt you," confessed Edward. "He followed you around to see if he could take your energy without hurting you. Experimenting with how much he could take. Never before has any incubi successfully... mated with a human."
"You mean sex, right?" I asked.
"Partly," he replied. "You and he shouldn't have been able to… do that. But an incubus drinks deeply from his mate once they are joined and Jasper was really concerned that it would be too much for a human. So he kept trying out bigger and bigger energy draws from you."
"I never realized that," I said, amazed at what my stalker had been doing. I looked around the apartment and realized everyone else was paying great attention to our conversation. Ang had proofed in a bowl of popcorn and she was absent mindedly eating it as she watched events unfold.
"Exactly," said Edward in response to my statement. "You never suffered fatigue or showed any signs of being drained. It was amazing and it gave Jasper the confidence to meet you in person."
"Hey, guys," interrupted Emmett. "Are we gonna try to make Jasper wake or not? I haven't had my second breakfast yet and I am starting to get really hungry."
"I really can't take him anywhere," Rose said with an apologetic shrug at Emmett's actions.
Ang waived her hand and suddenly there was a breakfast to rival an Embassy Suite's breakfast buffet on the dinner table. Emmett happily dug in.
Funny, I wasn't hungry.
"I feel like I am repeating myself yet again. Read my lips: Jasper did NOT wake up when he was jealous." I stated succinctly.
"What were you doing to make him jealous?" asked Bella.
"I was imagining Edward nibbling my neck and about to grab my boobs."
"Alice!" exclaimed Edward.
"What?" I asked. "You know exactly what I was thinking. You were reading my mind."
Bella's eye brows lifted.
"Sprite, you and I were both feeling the affects of all the… uh… happiness that Jasper was feeling at the moment," stammered Edward. "I just didn't expect you to announce the details to everyone."
By everyone, I am sure he meant his father and Bella.
"So Alice isn't really attracted to Edward?" asked Ang before stuffing another handful of popcorn into her mouth.
I looked at the fake blood sucker and realized that although I could appreciate the aesthetics, I didn't want to jump his bones or anything.
"No, I am not." I was stunned.
"Here is my suggestion." said Carlisle as he gathered his things up. "I would suggest you do more to make Jasper jealous. He needs to be really jealous. And since I suspect my presence will hamper your efforts so I am off. I will check in again later this afternoon. Just remember, no fighting or any angst allowed in this room." I love how he looked at first Edward and then Bella when he said the last part.
Carlisle said his adieus and left.
"So, Alice," asked Rose, "How are you going to make my big brother jealous?"
Hmmmm…..