Alice's POV – Age 15

It was midway through the night, and so far, things were going amazingly. Practically our entire school had shown up, which made me thankful that we had a large backyard.

Mostly everyone was glad to see Rosalie again—everyone except Maria, who snuck in along with her sisters. I wasn't going to kick her out, and neither was Bella. We were trying to be the bigger people here, and as long as she didn't give us any grief, she was… well, not welcome, but we wouldn't have Emmett haul her out as long as she kept her distance.

"Happy birthday, Alice," said the voice of someone who was unmistakably Jessica. She squeezed through the crowd and popped up in front of me. I pursed my lips.

"Thanks, Jess," I muttered. Her face reddened. Obviously she knew I hadn't exactly forgotten the mess she'd gotten me into when she'd decided to aid Maria in convincing me that Jasper hated me.

There was an awkward silence, during which Jessica just kind of stared at me, as if trying to guess what I was thinking. I stood there airily, waving to several quests that'd just arrived and smiling at others who made eye contact with me.

"I'm sorry," she blurted out. "I'm sorry, okay! Alice, please don't look at me like that."

I furrowed my eyebrows. I hadn't realized I'd been looking at her in any odd way. "Look at you like what?"

"Like I'm some revolting piece of crap!" Jessica cried. Several people turned to look, but I waved them away with a reassuring glance. "Even though I totally deserve it," she added as an afterthought. "I hope Jasper doesn't hate me for it."

"He doesn't," I said automatically, even though I really didn't know Jasper's feelings on the whole situation.

"I—I brought you something to make up for it," she said.

"Jess, you didn't have to do that," I said. "I forgive you, I truly do."

As if she hadn't heard me, she grabbed my wrist and unclenched my fist. In my hand she placed a note. It was crumpled and yellowed, but when I opened it, I found I could read it.

"Maria said she took it from Jasper at Seth's party," said Jessica. "She left it in her science book one day, and I took it. I figured it would be for you. Sorry if it's not."

And with those words, she swept herself away, leaving me alone again, with my eyes skimming the words on the paper.

Why am I writing this? Even I don't know. I won't send it, and I'll do anything to make sure you don't see it, but I guess I just have to get it out of my system. Well, here it goes.

I love you. I've always loved you. Since the first time I laid eyes on you, I loved you. You're beautiful. I've lied to you for so long—I've lied to myself for so long. 'You don't love her like that, Jasper.' Yeah, right.

We're young, yeah, I know, but, as someone once told me, love doesn't discriminate against age.

"Aw, I told him that," I said to myself, smiling.

So… yeah. That's it. Maybe one day I really will declare my love to you. Or maybe not.

"With love, from Jasper," I finished reading. My smile was wide.

Oh, Jasper was in love with someone! And obviously she was here in Forks, or else he wouldn't have had the note here! Who was she? I couldn't help but feel a bit hurt that he didn't tell me, but that didn't matter. I ran into the house, squealing as if Christmas had come early. I turned on the light to the kitchen, where I wasn't surprised to find Emmett and Rose all over each other.

"Out!" I giggled, too giddy to even pretend to be upset. Rose hopped off the counter.

"Who got you drunk?" she joked as she took Emmett by the hand. No doubt they'd continue what they started in a different room. I didn't care. I picked up the phone and dialed Jasper's number with shaking fingers.

"Hello?" I said the second I heard him pick up, not even giving him time to formulate a proper greeting.

"Alice?" he said, sounding rather tired. I looked at the clock; it was about two in the morning his time. Oopsie.

I didn't waste time. I read the note to him, trying to keep the smile out of my voice.

"Where did you find that?" he asked when I was done.

"So it's yours?" I said hopefully.

"Yes, it's mine," he muttered. "Where'd you find it?"

I told him about what Jessica said; about how Maria had taken it from him before he'd moved. He sounded absolutely dumbstruck.

"That demon," he muttered. "I'm going to kill her!"

I ignored him. "So who is she?"

"Who is who?" I couldn't help but notice he sounded extremely anxious.

"The girl, of course!" I said. "Do I know her?"

"Alice, this really isn't the time…"

"Is she pretty? Oh, it doesn't matter, does it? Is she nice to you?"

"Alice, I—"

"Does she like you back? Oh, of course she does! Who wouldn't like you?"

"ALICE!"

I stopped dead. I could hear him grinding his teeth together.

"This isn't the time," he said. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"But you'll tell me eventually, won't you?"

Jasper sighed. "One day. Maybe."

And with those three words, he hung up.

I sat, shocked, with the phone still at my ear. Jasper had never done that before. I mean, sure, we'd had our little tiffs, but he'd never really gotten angry with me. Maybe I was too forward…

"Alice," said Bella, rushing into the kitchen.

"Sup, Bells," I said, finally putting down the phone.

"Some older guys came," she said.

"Are they causing any trouble?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No," she said. "But one of them wants to meet you."

I giggled. "How old?"

Bella smiled. "Not much older than we are. Emmett's age."

"He cute?"

"Definitely."
"Lead me to him, then."

Bella laughed, and I joined in. It wasn't like I was a whore or anything, but I enjoyed some harmless flirting. He was sixteen—big deal. One year older than me. Big deal.

Bells led me outside and pointed him out for me. He looked like a really sweet guy, and he pretty handsome. Black hair, blue eyes, lightly suntanned skin—not exactly extraordinary, but he looked nice. I walked over to him. He was at least half a foot taller than me—curse my shortness—but overall average height for his age.

"Hey," I said, hopping up and sitting on the table he was next to.

"You must be Alice," he noted.

"Indeed I am."

"I was talking to you sister—what's her name—"

"Bella," I said for him.

"Yeah, Bella," he said. "And she told me about you. I wanted to meet you."

"That's nice," I said.

"So happy birthday," he continued, pouring orange soda into two cups. He passed one to me. "A toast to you."

I laughed as we clinked our plastic cups together. He watched intently as I took a sip of the drink. It tasted a bit off, but what could I expect? It had been out here all day. The sun probably warmed it up…

I took another large gulp of it. "So, you know my name," I said. "What's yours?"

"Fred," he said, shaking my hand and taking a sip of his drink. "Fred Albus."

"Fred," I said again. "Nice name."

He smiled. "Thanks. I was named after my granddad. Never liked it much."

"Well, I think it suits you," I said, taking another sip of the drink in my hands.

And the night went on. Hours ticked by, and the party was still alive. I didn't leave Fred's side for more than a moment.

I kept feeling thirstier and thirstier, so I kept going back for more soda to drink. Fred was such a gentleman—he poured me each of them. At around midnight, I was feeling pretty dizzy, but I assumed it was because of all the dancing I'd been doing.

"Can you show me your room?" Fred asked during a break in our ongoing conversation. "I'd love to see it."

I hiccupped. "Sure," I said, taking him by the hand and running to the house. I felt unusually giddy and carefree. I was older now. Maybe it was part of the experience.

I knew I wasn't supposed to have guys who I hadn't known since I was three—Jasper, Emmett, Edward—in my room, but I felt reckless. I wanted to break rules. I wanted to laugh and spend the rest of the night on top of the world, but for now, my room was okay.

I sat on my bed, and Fred sat next to me. Before I could speak, he'd pinned me to the bed, and his lips were on mine. My head spun from the sudden movement, and when I opened my eyes, everything was spinning. I weakly tried hitting him, and telling him to get off, but all my strength had left me.

"Off," I muttered.

"You don't want that," he said, his hands trailing down my stomach. I slapped him with as much force as I could smother.

"Oh yes I do," I said, trying to push him off. Ugh—why was he so big? Well, big compared to me, anyway.

"Dammit, no, stop…"

But he didn't stop. He was taking advantage of me. But how—? How was I letting him? I hadn't totally lost my mind, I was sure.

I took a deep breath in one of the moments when he'd taken his horrible lips off me…

And screamed.

It wasn't long before Bella, Rosalie, Emmett, and Edward burst through the door of my room.

"Get your hands off of her!" Emmett yelled, lunging for him. Though they were the same age, Emmett was a lot bigger. He had Fred in a headlock in no time, and then it all happened really fast.

I was shaking, afraid, and Bella had her arm around me, leading me down the stairs.

"Edward, please, tell everyone to go home, and get Alice some water," she said, rubbing my arms with her hands and whispering "It'll be okay" in my ear.

"But…," Edward sighed. "Alright. Fine."

Bella sat me in a chair next to our heater and got me a blanket. I knew it wasn't cold, but I was shivering. Edward returned minutes later with water and saltine crackers. He put them next to me.

"Her breath smelled like alcohol," he explained to Bella, who gave him an odd look. "When Mom has a bit too much to drink, she eats some of these. It makes the hangover a bit more bearable."

"Alice, you were drinking?" Bella asked, shocked, as I nibbled on one of the crackers.

"Just soda," I said.

"Breathe on me," she said. I blew air in her face.

"Holy crap, Alice!" she said, waving away the smell. "Whatever you were drinking was so not soda."

I was too dazed to argue with her. I felt like I was permanently cross eyed, but the weird view of the room probably just came because of my killer headache.

"Bella," Jessica's voice said, and I heard her coming into the room. My head fell on Bella's lap, and she stoked my hair absentmindedly.

"Jess, I told you, party's over," Edward said coldly, pushing the water into my hands.

"I know," she said. "But I saw Fred give this to her. It's orange soda, but I think he spiked it."

Bella smelled the contents of the drink and wrinkled her nose.

"Thanks, Jessica," she said. Jess nodded and walked off. I saw her dump the drink into the bushes outside.

It was quiet, except for the noise from upstairs. I vaguely heard Rosalie scream "YOU ASSHOLE!" followed by what sounded like a smack. I smiled weakly and gagged.

"Uh-oh," Bella muttered. "Edward, you can go home… just bring the trashcan first, okay?"

Edward nodded and ran for the trashcan from the bathroom and put it right next to me just in time for me to throw up. Bella pulled my hair up from my face—not that I had much of it, but still.

"Yikes," she said. "I didn't think I'd have to be doing this till our twenty-first birthday."

Edward laughed and I coughed.

"You sure you don't need my help?" he asked, backing away from me a bit.

"No, I think Emmett and Rose have it covered," she said, smiling. "We're good. You can tell Esme Emmett will be home soon."

"Okay," he said, giving her a hug. He patted my head. "Feel better, Pixie. Happy birthday, to both of you."

I managed a low "Thanks" before I threw up again. After that, it wasn't long before Fred came tumbling down the stairs, with Emmett gripping his arm.

"Apologize," Rosalie said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. I noticed his nose was bleeding. Ha, thanks, Emmett…

"And how'd you hurt your nose?" Rose asked sweetly, her arms crossed. I knew she was enjoying herself.

"I fell," Fred muttered.

"Good," Rosalie said. "Alright, Emmett, let him go."

The second Emmett loosened his grip, Fred ran, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Thanks, you two," I said, wiping off my mouth.

"Well, I'm gonna go," Emmett said, giving Rose a peck on the cheek. "Happy birthday, guys."

He waved and left. I stood, holding onto Bella's shoulder for support.

"Cleaning can wait till tomorrow, right?" Rose said, helping me. "Let's get you to bed."

"Yeah," Bella said. "A couple of ice cubes on your eyes in the morning, and you'll look perfectly fine."

We were going up the stairs now. I smiled gratefully. I couldn't have asked for a better pair of friends.

"Oh, and can I ask you guys a small favor?" Rose said.

Bella and I nodded.

"Please let me move my sleeping bag to Bella's room. No offense, Alice, but I'm not going to like be woken up by puke."

A/N: Sorry I took foreverrrrrr. School was crazy, and I'm finally out for the summer! w00t w00t. Aha.

And yes, Fred is an ass who will never be mentioned again… or will he? Dun, dun, dun! Lmfao xD

Reviews are love!