Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
A/N: Hello! Thank you guys so much for the reviews, you really are awesome and motivating. This will be the last calm/fluffy chapter for awhile, the drama is going to pick back up full force next chapter. Get ready! ;) I hope you like it!
Jasper P.O.V.
2 weeks later
The sweltering June sun pounded down on my back as I walked to Alice's house.
Sweat soaked through my thin, white t-shirt, dripping exasperatingly slow down my skin. The warm, tender embrace of May had suddenly and forcefully turned into the hot, crushing embrace of June. Even here in Forks, the rainiest place in the U.S., the sun still managed to make a rebound at the start of summer.
I muttered curses at myself under my breath for the stupid idea of leaving my truck at home for the day. I pined for the cool metal of the steering wheel under my hands and the loud rumble of the engine. I sighed.
My birthday had passed by unnoticed the day before, just how I'd planned. I have no idea how I managed to keep it hidden from Alice….that was something of a miracle. The girl knew everything. I didn't feel eighteen, even though I was now legally an adult. I doubted I would until I was no longer living under my mother's roof.
The thunder of an engine roared from behind me and I sidestepped out of the way into the long wisps of grass. Mike Newton flew past in his pickup, taking special care to flip me off out the window on his way through. I chuckled. We still weren't on good terms since the incident in the cafeteria. It didn't really bother me.
I walked for a few more minutes in the oppressive heat, feeling like a turkey baking in the oven. I let out a breath of relief as the bungalow came into view out in the distance. I picked up my sluggish pace, my desire to see Alice practically tangible in the muggy air. I finally made it to the porch, climbing the steps and knocking on the edge of the screen door.
Alice came dancing out from the kitchen, grinning at me from the other side of the thin screen. She had her short hair spiked and wore a loose t-shirt and shorts. Her feet were bare, as I'd gotten used to. She'd informed me shoes were only for cold weather and being out in public. The rest of the time she ran around with nothing covering her tiny feet. It had rubbed off on me, and as I stepped through the door I automatically slipped off my boots and socks.
She stepped forward and wrapped her thin arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest. I wound my arms around her and kissed the top of her head. We walked into the living room and sprawled out on the couch in front of the only fan in the small house. It spun with a clicking noise and Alice's hair tickled my nose each time in swerved toward us.
In the last two weeks a sort of ritual had sprung up between us. I never wanted it to end.
"Are we hanging out around here today?" I asked vaguely, twirling a strand of her short hair around my finger. She nodded, snuggling further into my chest. We stayed like that the rest of the afternoon, speaking only occasionally. Alice's grandmother wandered in at a few points, joining our odd little gathering in her distant way. It was like we were separated from everyone else for the moment, just the three of us.
At around seven thirty, just as darkness began to fall, there was a soft knock at the door. Alice stretched, giving me a peck on the cheek before striding off to the front door.
"Bella? Edward? What are you guys doing here?" she asked curiously. I hauled myself off the couch and slipped down the hall to listen.
"You guys need to get out of this house for awhile. You've been cooped up in here for two weeks straight, only leaving for school. You need a break. Think of us as your personal grandma-sitters." Bella smiled.
"I don't know guys…I don't like the idea of her being 'watched' like a child. She wouldn't like that, if she was thinking clearly." Alice frowned. Bella rolled her eyes.
"Come on Al, you know I didn't mean it like that. She's my grandmother too. I know I was never close to her like you are…but still." Bella murmured, half hiding behind her long mahogany locks. Alice thawed, smiling at the other girl tenderly.
"Okay Bella. Thank you, I guess Jasper and I do need to get out of here for awhile."
Bella nodded.
"Now, shoo. I'll take care of your grandmother." she grinned, ushering us out the door. Alice grabbed our shoes quickly before Bella closed the door on us, her and Edward's laughter muffled behind the wall. I slipped on my worn boots. Alice shook her head, holding out her hand for me. I took it in mine.
"Can we go to the tower?" she asked excitedly, eagerly breathing in the fresh air. I nodded, squeezing her tiny hand lightly. We headed off toward my house. Once we got there we hopped in the truck and set off. I parked the truck on the shoulder and we walked quietly through the trees, dusk slowly settling around us. Alice smiled softly every time she heard the faint hoot of an owl from somewhere nearby.
We made it to the tower and slowly climbed the steps. The flat stones were cool against my calloused palms as I reached out. At the top Alice scampered over to the edge, looking out at the moon. She spun around and smiled at me, dancing over to the opposite side of the small space and sliding down the smooth stones until she was sitting on the floor with her legs folded neatly beneath her. She grabbed my hand and pulled me down beside her. The crickets of the summer chirped sweetly.
It was the happiest I'd remembered being in years. She leaned her slight frame against me, her head lolling onto my shoulder.
"Jasper? Can I ask you a question?" she murmured.
"Of course."
"Why are you waiting to graduation to leave? I mean, your sister left two years ago…" she trailed off, focusing her wise eyes on my face. I swallowed thickly.
"Well I made a promise a long time ago…" I mumbled, not sure how to explain it. Alice nodded.
"To who?"
"My father."
"Oh." she whispered. I nodded stiffly.
The whole town knew about my father's death. They'd all chipped in and helped us with money and food when we no longer had him to support us. But that didn't stop my mother from turning to alcohol. He'd been sick with cancer for years, but no one had told Rose or I until he was so ill they could no longer hide it. We were only seven. I'd never understood why he wouldn't take me to Texas until that moment. He was too sick. I coughed, clearing my throat.
"Yeah. He loved this town. He loved the all consuming green and the cloudy skies. And he loved my mother. More than anything. So he made me promise I would stay here at least until I graduate. In the place he loved. And watch over my mother for him. I failed terribly at that." I muttered. Alice climbed onto my lap and trailed her fingers down my face, shaking her head sadly.
"Jasper, you couldn't have stopped her from drinking. You were only seven years old! But you stayed anyway, even though she and your stepfather made your life hell. That shows you're a good person." she murmured, continuing to trail her fingers down my face softly. It was so soothing.
"Can I ask you a question in return?" I asked cautiously, sensing we might be getting into dangerous territory. She nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
"Why do you look so scared whenever you're grandfather is mentioned? Did he do something to you?"
Alice shook her head quickly.
"No, no, nothing like that. I've never even met him." she explained.
"You've never met him?" I asked, confused.
"No. He was put in a mental institution in his thirties, just after my mother was born." she murmured.
"Oh. Why?" I asked carefully.
"He saw things. Everyone thought he was schizophrenic. He said he just knew things were going to happen…and sometimes they did. At least that's what my grandma told me. She loved him, but she was scared of him. He'd always become so strange and muddled, and no on could ever tell what he was going to do next. He was unpredictable. Then he just…fell off the edge of sanity, I guess." she told me quietly, looking down at her hands.
"Oh." I mumbled. "But how does that affect you?"
She closed her eyes for a moment, sighing.
"I feel like that sometimes. Like I know what's going to happen. It's not specific, just a faint feeling in the pit of my stomach. And I don't see anything like he did, but I'm scared. What if it's just the beginning? What if I go crazy too?" she whispered. I cradled her face in my hands.
"You're not going to go crazy Alice. It's probably just good intuition. You know, sort of like a sixth sense." I tried to comfort her. She nodded, but didn't look convinced. I sighed. So did Alice.
"Stay with me?" she murmured, picking at her nails, a sure sign she was nervous.
"I am with you, Alice." I chuckled.
"Yeah. Never mind." she mumbled. Suddenly I understood. She was asking me to stay with her after graduation.
"Oh." I breathed. She shook her head.
"No, forget I said anything. I can't ask you to do something that would make you unhappy." she declared softly. I sighed again, rubbing my eyes with my knuckles.
"You make me happy Alice." I said. I realized the words were true.
My heart was screaming at me that this was an easy decision, one that didn't need thought or reason. But my mind was desperately hanging onto the desire to escape, the only thing that had kept me sane the last two years.
Finally the clasp released and I let my deadline float away in the light wind. I didn't need to leave yet. Alice was the only person on this earth that could lead me to have that thought.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be exactly on graduation. Maybe I can stay…so we can decide what we want to do. We'll have plenty of time." I grinned. She just stared at me with her wide eyes.
"Wow."
"Yeah."
"I love you Jasper.
"What?"
"You heard me."
I love you too Alice." I whispered. Suddenly the word was aligned perfectly, everything in place. I was with Alice, right where I needed to be.
A/N: Yay! I've been dying to write that scene since I started this story. But, I'm sorry to say, the drama doesn't end here. ;)