DISCLAIMER:
Unfortunately, I don't own Twilight. I never have owned it and I never will *sniff sniff.* It is entirely of Stephenie Meyer's creation, and all characters and anything Twilight-related belong to her. The only thing I own is this storyline. I also don't own a character named 'Mr. Schuester'- he belongs to Glee! :)

Alice

I hated the tension.

Things between Jasper and I had gotten a lot worse. It'd been almost a week since that fateful day, and it'd been the most agonising week of my entire life. Things had started out so well.. I was finally getting some alone time with him. And then I went and ruined it all. Thinking back to my stupid behaviour made me cringe. He had no idea how much I regretted it. I should've just let it alone.

Jasper wasn't known to be an angry person. Well, not to me. He could be violent when he wanted (in football and fights), but he'd never spoken to me like that before.

As we sped down the winding road in Emmett's Jeep, I knew that it would again be an awkward journey to school. I braced myself for the uncomfortable silence that would soon follow as soon as the Jeep had skidded to a halt outside the Hale household.

Jasper probably couldn't care less, but I knew that Bella and Rose were becoming increasingly worried about my behaviour. With Bella it was a different matter, but I could never tell Rose. 'Oh yeah, by the way Rosalie, I'm in love with your brother. I hope that's okay?' It sounded stupid. Edward knew what was wrong; as soon as Jasper and Bella left that night, I collapsed in his arms, crying. We sat on his bed for hours while I told him what happened. He understood then, but he seemed a little distant today.

Heck, mine and Jasper's friendship had become so strained that even dumb, goofy Emmett was beginning to notice. Well, that was how he used to be. It wasn't like he was normal either. Over the past week or so, he seemed to have matured by around five years. There were no one-liners over dinner, he wasn't boisterous, he wasn't.. Emmett. I suddenly felt a pang of guilt for Esme and Carlisle. Because things became so strange, we all seemed like different people. I felt sorry for them- they had no idea what was going on. I knew that Edward was having problems admitting his feelings to Bella, but there was no reason for Emmett to be different. Unless something was going on with him, too.

Jasper and Rosalie hauled themselves into the Jeep and scrambled for their seatbelts. Luckily I was next to the window, so I didn't have to touch Jasper. It would only make me tingly and feel more in love with him. And he'd never be able to reciprocate that.

In record timing, Emmett stopped outside Bella's house and honked the horn as usual, to see if she was coming to school. Bella stumbled out of her front door, and jumped into the front seat when she reached the Jeep.

"Hey guys," she said in greeting with a slight smile. Oddly, it felt like she was hiding something too. It felt like everybody was hiding something. We didn't look like best friends anymore.. things were awkward, silent. Each moment with these people felt like torture. It was as if we never knew eachother in the first place. There were too many secrets. I felt like I was stuck in a bad dream..

Emmett parked up in the lot and we all jumped out into the rain. I half expected all the students hanging around in the lot to be aliens or zombies, so that I had a conclusion for our strange behaviour. They weren't. Everybody else was normal. Jessica Stanley was sporting a skirt that looked more like a belt, and she clinging on to Mike Newton. He then spotted us and started to drool over Bella (he'd developed a huge crush on her when she arrived in Forks.) That was normal. So why weren't we?

That question lingered in my head like a bad odor all the way until lunch. After another awkward Biology lesson (which I now dreaded every day) we all made our way to the cafeteria. I'd taken a seat next to Edward before I noticed that one of us was missing. The space next to Rosalie.

"Where's Jasper?" I asked Edward in a quiet voice, so the others wouldn't hear. Edward looked up at the empty seat, and a frown distorted his face.

"I don't know.." he barely whispered back. His green eyes scanned the cafeteria, and he turned round. His eyes widened suddenly, and he turned back to me with an unrecognisable expression on his face. It had elements of sadness.. sympathy.. shock..

As soon as I turned round, I wished I hadn't.

Jasper was sitting at another table with a buxom brunette on his lap, and her mouth was joined to his. The way her arms were snaked around him implied that she wasn't going to let him go easily. She was pretty, with tanned skin and long, curly brown hair. I couldn't make out most of her other features, but her clothes were the type that hookers wore. A top with a plunging neckline and skinny jeans with stiletto heels. Who wore that kind of thing to school?

I felt my stomach plummet and tears stung at my eyes. I looked back up at Edward, and his eyes were full of sympathy.

"Alice.." he started, but I didn't let him finish.

"He's going out with Maria?" I asked in disbelief. My voice must have been louder than I thought, because it grabbed the attention of the others at our table.

"Alice, what's wrong?" Rosalie asked me, concerned. Bella looked up from the salad she had barely touched, and even Emmett looked worried.

"Alice, are you okay?"

"Alice?"

"Edward is she alright?"

I shook my head; everybody's voices merged together. My head felt like it was going to explode. I placed my head in my hands.

"I want to go home," I moaned to Edward between sobs. I looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, and he sighed before nodding.

Jasper must've seen the commotion from our table, because he suddenly appeared in front of me, his hands holding anothers. Their fingers were linked, and looking at them made me feel even worse. The spaces between his fingers were where mine fitted perfectly. Not hers..

"Alice, are you alright?" Jasper asked me hesitantly.

I nodded vigorously and looked down at the grainy wooden table. "Yes, yes I'm fine," I replied quickly. The words came out a little harsher than I expected them to, but I didn't care.

"Well, if you say so," he murmured. I couldn't tell if it was regret in his tone or because the atmosphere had suddenly turned uncomfortable and awkward. He cleared his throat and I looked up at him, my cheeks shiny because of the tear stains. I must've looked a mess; my mascara was everywhere and I'd gone all blotchy from crying so hard.

"Everybody, this is Maria," he spoke. His words didn't have an air of pride like I expected them to; he sounded almost remorseful. I'd secretly hoped that it was because he was missing me and our study sessions, but then I was hoping for too much.

Rosalie, Edward, Emmett and Bella all said half-hearted 'hello's. They weren't exactly welcoming to her, but in my opinion, that was great. Even better if my friends don't like her aswell, I thought to myself smugly.

"Maria, this is Emmett, Rosalie my twin sister, Bella, Edward and Alice," he introduced us, waving his hand in a sweeping motion as he introduced us individually. Maria's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary, and I figured that it was probably because I was glaring absent-mindedly. I must've looked quite scary with the ruined eye make-up and all that.

"It's so nice to meet you all," Maria said in her high, plummy voice. It made me feel sick; it sounded so fake. Obviously to go with her face; now I'd gotten a closer look, it was covered in cement-mix foundation, and her gray eyes were framed with clumpy and spidery black lashes. I didn't think that I was much to look at, but was I really that bad? I felt my eyes well up again at the thought.

She shook hands with Emmett, Rose, Bella and Edward, but when she got to me I ignored it. I just kept on staring her out. I figured that it might have pissed off Jasper, but I still didn't care. After all I felt for him, he was acting like this.. what had possessed him? Jasper had previously hated Maria. During one of the double sleepovers Emmett and I held (Rose and Bella in my room for girl time and Jasper and Edward in Emmett's room for barbaric computer games and playfighting) I overheard Jasper complaining to my brothers about her stalkery.

And now he wanted to be with her? It was unbelievable.

Maria took her hand back and looked as me as if I might've wanted to bite her. Too bad I didn't have sharp enough teeth.

"Alice," Jasper spoke to me in a warning tone. I could tell that I was being rude, and everybody else could tell also. Guess what? I didn't care.

"Baby, let's go, I want to get a can of soda," Maria whimpered to Jasper while clinging on to his arm with her other hand. He nodded and waved goodbye before departing with her to the dinner queue.

I'd never felt so hurt in all my life.

"Do you still wanna go home?" Edward murmured in my ear. I shook my head. I needed to get used to the fact that Jasper was now with someone else. I sighed and picked up my bag, and after fishing around for a while, I found the wet wipes and a pocket mirror. I took my make-up off while the rest of the table proceeded to be quiet. It was eerie.

After removing my make-up, I re-applied a light coat of mascara (not wanting to take a leaf out of Maria's book of make-up tips) and I set my bag back on the floor. I remembered that I had a cereal bar in there, but I didn't bother to grab it. I was going crazy with hunger, but I didn't mind. If my stomach was growling, it took my mind off my worries. Perfect.

I'd always paid attention to my diet, and I only ate junk food at sleepovers and parties. Because I was short, I needed to watch my weight. I didn't want to look out of proportion. I knew that Esme and Carlisle worried excessively about my weight (Carlisle being the doctor he was had helped plenty of anorexics and bulimics, and he knew what the signs were) but I always reassured them that I was fine, and it was just my nervous energy and fast metabolism that kept me thin as a pin.

I looked back over at Jasper, who was again joined to Maria by the mouth. It made me feel physically sick. With another pang of heartbreak, I turned away. I never wanted to look at him again.

As soon as I got in the door after school, I ran straight up to my bedroom. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. I collapsed onto my bed, and my body shook as the sobs escaped. All I wanted to do was cry and be alone to wallow in my despair and heartbreak. I heard footsteps approach, and there was a short knock on the door.

"Go away," I moaned, my voice thick and rough from crying.

"Alice, it's me," Edward's voice replied. "Please let me come in. You can talk to me."

"I want to be alone."

"You know that's not true, Alice. You hate being on your own."

I sighed. Sometimes it was a bad thing having a brother who could read you like a book.

Edward walked into my room, closing the door behind him quietly. I sat up, cuddling a pillow close to me, and looked up at my brother with sad eyes. As soon as he'd sat down and pulled me close to him, the sobs started again.

"Why is he doing this to me?" I asked in a devastated tone. "I know that he doesn't realise what he's doing, but still.. I can't believe he didn't understand the song.. I can't believe he's with her, he hates her.." My questions and comments gushed out in a long sentence. Edward rocked me against him softly, and he gently stroked my hair.

"It's okay Alice.. I'll talk to Jasper. I'll ask him what the hell he's doing. Because I'm pretty sure that this isn't like him.."

I nodded. "Don't say anything about me though, Edward."

"Of course I won't."

I sighed as I wiped away the salty water from my cheeks. "I'm sorry about all this.." I said morosely. "You have your own problems to worry about without having to do with mine."

Edward shook his head. "It's fine. Though I could say we're in a similar situation.. Bella isn't talking to me much at the moment. And I don't know why.. because I haven't done anything wrong. Well, not that I know of." He sighed also. "I was stupid to think that she might feel the same. Of course she wouldn't. She's much too good for me."

I gasped and my mouth dropped open in shock. "Edward! Don't ever say that! Of course you're good enough. Most girls are lining up to date you."

"Pfft. Doubt that," he denied. "Anyway, I don't care about other girls. There's only one I care about, and only one I want to spend the rest of my life with. And that's Bella."

Despite my feelings, I smiled. Although Edward was struggling with his feelings, at least Bella wasn't flaunting a boyfriend about, the way Jasper was flaunting Maria. In my opinion, my brother had it the easy way.

"Edward! Alice! Emmett! Dinner's ready!" Our adoptive mother called up the stairs. I dried my eyes so that Esme wouldn't notice that I'd been crying, and I stood up and gestured for Edward to come downstairs with me. I flung open my bedroom door and almost died of shock.

"EMMETT!" I screamed. "What are you doing?"

He was lost for words, and he looked like a deer caught in headlights. He was crouched next to the doorframe, obviously from where he'd been looking through the keyhole and listening to mine and Edward's conversation. "I.. uh.. errmm.."

I slapped him round the back of the head, and he winced. "Ow!" he complained, rubbing the sore spot where I'd struck him.

"That was for eavesdropping, if you hadn't noticed! Or was it too subtle for you?"

"Yikes, sorry. I only wanted to see what you guys whisper about. Don't think I haven't seen you whisper to each other and tell secrets. It makes me feel left out," Emmett replied sourly.

I sighed. "What did you hear?"

He looked at both of us. "I can't believe that you guys are in love with Bella and Jasper. What about your friendship?" he asked sarcastically. This was directed more to Edward than me, and I frowned.

"Don't be hypocritical Emmett," Edward shot back, giving Emmett a dirty glare. "You can't talk."

Emmett growled. "Way to go, Ed. That was only supposed to be a secret and everything, but you know, just go and shout it to the world-"

"Hold up," I cut in, walking in between Edward and Emmett, in case a fight broke out. I turned to Emmett and thought to myself for a moment. "..You're in love with Rose, aren't you?" I accused him, jabbing him in the chest with my index finger.

Emmett took a step back from my jabs and he scoffed. "No," he denied flatly, looking away from my steel gaze.

I couldn't help but laugh. "This just keeps getting better and better," I commented sarcastically. "So we're all idiots who're in love with somebody who doesn't love us back. Great. Aren't we just the bunch."

"Shut up Alice," Emmett snapped. "Anyway, I'm not an idiot for your information!" His expression was angry, but after he realised what he said, he backed down again.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I waited for a moment, but no answer. "Well?" I asked, my voice becoming louder by a decibel or two.

Edward exhaled a gust of air. "He's seeing Rosalie," he stated to me. He then looked back at Emmett. "But be careful what you say, Em. Your life isn't that perfect, last time I checked. People are starting to notice your behaviour too, you know."

Emmett glared back at Edward. "Don't you dare say anything," he hissed angrily. "You're supposed to keep the secrets, but obviously you've been dying to tell people just so that you can get away from your own miserable life."

That hit a nerve. Despite being less stronger than Emmett, Edward lunged for him, but I was there to stop him luckily.

"Edward, stop!" I cried as I pushed away his flailing fists. Emmett loomed over him, looking at him in a way that was almost challenging.

"Stop it, just stop it!" I screamed at them as I pushed them apart. They continued to lunge and strike at each other despite me being in the middle. It was no use; they were too strong against my tiny arms.

I heard frantic footsteps come up the stairs behind me. It was Carlisle.

"BOYS! Stop this at once!" he shouted, louder than I'd ever heard him shout before. My shock was mirrored in Edward's and Emmett's faces. "What is the meaning of this?"

Edward and Emmett looked at each other before looking up at their father figure, but none of them answered his question.

"Come on," he continued. "You can tell me over dinner. What has happened that's so bad it makes you want to fight?" After his anger had passed, it was replaced by sadness and disappointment. I peered around him down the stairs, where Esme was standing at the bottom with her hands over her mouth. There were silent tears rolling down her face.

I sighed. I'd spent so much time in my own little world that I'd forgotten that Esme and Carlisle were people who cared about me. Much more than I would ever know.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
So there's Alice's chapter.. poor Alice! :( And as for Edward and Emmett.. naughty boys! Find out about the aftermath of their fight in Emmett's chapter next..

The song used in this chapter is You Belong With Me, by Taylor Swift. One of my favourite songs! ;D But perfect for the way Alice feels!

Again, a mahoooosive thankyou to my lovely reviewers. You're amazing x