It'd been two weeks since Alice came back. Jasper was, in one word, different. The first few days he wouldn't really give her the time of day, leaving the room when she entered, ignoring her when she tried to talk to him, much like Rosalie was doing. It was funny, to me, really. But then as the first week came to a close I'd see him whispering to her, sometimes inside, sometimes outside. Then as the middle of the second week approached he would get out of my bed at night, quietly, he thought, but I knew. I wasn't sure how long he'd go, but one day I woke up and he still wasn't back. He never really explained what he was doing, just kind of brushed it off.

I was stuck. With her back, I wasn't sure where that left me. Maybe he'd realize he just used me to occupy a space and now that the rightful owner was back I'd be kicked to the curb. I'd done my own whispering in the last few days, to Edward. I wanted to understand, figure out.

"I just feel like I'm being pushed away." I'd whined, rubbing my face with my hands. I'd caught him alone in the yard, reading a book, and leaned down over him, my face inches from his.

"I know, Leah, but I'm telling you, you're not," He groaned quietly, eyes moving away from me. I smacked the arm of his chair.

"Please don't lie to me,"

He sighed, "You would be mad if Jasper disrespected your privacy by coming to me and asking me to give out your private thoughts." He shut his book, placing it on his lap and looking at me.

"I'm just afraid," I sighed.

Edward was a champ, he wasn't budging. I respected that, I guess. He tried to assure me that even if I was right and Jasper decided that he didn't want me around it didn't mean that nobody did.

"I think that you're a kind person, Leah, I do," He smiled, "Rosalie feels that she's connected with you, even Bella doesn't completely hate seeing your face."

But I'd gotten into a funk I couldn't worm my way out of. I hated this feeling like I was old angry Leah again.

Jasper had noticed, of course, he was worried, but unsure what to do. I wouldn't admit that I was worried that he'd decide he had no use for me anymore, I didn't want to upset him anymore, but it's hard to hide your feelings from someone who could feel them.

"Leah," Nessie's soft voice broke me out of my trance, "Can you help me with something?" She looked at the floor. It was freaky out big she was. She looked like a twelve-year-old.

"What's up, kid?" I pushed myself up on the couch. She pulled her hands around from behind her back, holding a box in her hand.

"I've broken Aunt Rosalie's box" She separated the lid from the box in a demonstration, "She uses it for makeup,"

I chuckled, "How'd you do that?"

"I pulled it too hard," She pouted, her eyes lowering again. I swung my legs over and put myself in a sitting position.

"Alright, let's see the damage," I patted the spot next to me. She came over and sat down, handing me the box. It was light pink, the inside was velvet. It was nice, "It looks like it's just old and was held together by glue that came apart, so we should just be able to put some glue on."

She nodded, hopping off the couch and disappearing for a moment before coming back with a tube of super glue. I pulled the coffee table closer, putting the box down on it and opening the glue. Nessie studied me as I applied the glue, her eyes curious.

"So," I pushed the lid in the groove, "Am I the only one home?"

"No,"

"How come you're getting my help?" I questioned, turning my head towards her.

"You're the only one home that won't be upset with me," She bit her bottom lip. I laughed and nodded.

"Yeah, that might be true," I put the box down, "Well, as long as nobody opens it for a little bit, it'll be good soon," I smiled down at her.

"Thank you," She grinned back, carefully picking the box up to return it to its place, I assumed.

"How nice of you," Alice's voice came from behind us, I didn't bother turning my head.

"Shocking, I know," I rolled my eyes. Nessie made her way out of the room quietly. Alice walked in front of me.

"Leah, I'd enjoy a little chat with you," She gestured towards the spot next to me, "May I?"

"I'd rather you didn't," I answered honestly, pointing at the chair behind her, "That's a good spot, don't you think?"

She pursed her lips but sat there anyway. I sat silently, looking her over. I'd been right that night, she left her stuff in the car. She'd brought bags from the car, mostly clothes, because really, what's a vampire need? I wondered how she felt about Jasper staying in my room at night. Part of me felt I was about to get an answer to that.

"I feel that you have something to do with Jasper's attitude recently," She spoke softly, her hands in her lap.

"Ah, what attitude is that?" I questioned, raising my eyebrow.

"This," She hummed thoughtfully, "Unsure attitude,"

"Ever think he's unsure cause you ditched out on him for months?" I kicked my feet up on the table, crossing my arms. I wanted no part in this. There was no point to a conversation with her.

"I think that, of course, he's upset about that, but I think that most of his cautiousness comes from you," She sighed, "I'm not trying to attack you, Leah, just clear the air."

"For what purpose? We don't have a relationship, we don't have a history, I don't care about you and you don't care about me. It doesn't affect anyone,"

"It affects us. I'm beginning to understand that you've been welcomed into the family," She paused, "I feel that if you're going to continue to be here we may as well get along, don't you think?"

"I don't," I stated, shaking my head. She stared blankly at me, her mouth slightly open. I pulled my feet off the table and leaned forward, putting my elbows on my knees, "Look, Alice, I'm not just going to open my arms to you. I'm here for Jasper, and somehow that ended with me being here for a few other people, but I'm not trying to make friends here and I'm definitely not trying to make friends with someone that can't even bother to feel sorry for hurting everyone that cares about her."

Her eyes narrowed, "He won't keep you here if I tell him you need to go," She warned, her voice low and even.

"If that's true then why are you even bothering with me?" I chuckled, "Go on, tell him I need to go. See what he says."

"I see," She nodded, standing up stiffly, "You'll regret it, Leah, that I promise,"

"Eh," I shrugged, "I'll add it to the list," She huffed, quickly leaving the room. I leaned back, wondering if she was right. Would he toss me aside for her? I mean, she has been his forever, I've barely been anything. I know he says I'm important, but I don't know that I compare to her. I sighed. I wanted to run, just pack up and go. I wished that I could be sure about one thing, anything.

I felt like I was suddenly falling apart very quickly. I was paranoid, I knew that much, Edward had said so, too. But you're only paranoid until it happens, then you're just stupid. I pushed myself onto my feet, making my way to my room. I swung the door open to find Jasper on my bed, his back to me.

"Hey," I mumbled, shutting the door behind me.

"I need to know what's wrong with you," He kept his back to me.

"I don't want to go there," I sat behind him, crossing my legs.

"That's rough, cause you're going to," He turned to me fully, "No arguing,"

I sighed, "This isn't going to last, is it?" I questioned, meeting his eyes. He was frowning, it hurt to know that he was concerned about me. I didn't want to be the one causing him any kind of pain.

"What?"

"This," I waved my hand between us, "I feel like this isn't going to last,"

"Why wouldn't it?"

"Because of her," I looked to the floor, "Because you'll give me up for her,"

He scoffed, "That's ridiculous,"

"Get real, Jasper, for a second," I shook my head, "She's not going to let us be close when she gets her claws back in you, I know that you know that, we can cut the act any day,"

"She doesn't' control me,"

"Oh, she doesn't?" I scoffed, "She's your everything, always has been, you'd do anything for her. I don't expect you to give up love for me, I could never ask you to do that,"

"I don't understand why you're being this way," He mumbled, "I wouldn't give you up," He reached out.

I moved away, "This wouldn't be a thing had she never left. You needed a hole to be filled and that's what I was here for, but I was always just a knock-off, she's back and you're going to toss me aside the second it becomes an issue,"

"That's not true, Leah, I-"

"Yes, it is!" I raised my voice, cutting him off. I got up off the bed, moving towards the window and staring out. It was dark, sprinkling lightly.

"No, it isn't," He said sternly, "You know, I wanted to know you before. You cut yourself off, you were angry and you were mean. I wanted to dig into that, I wanted to know what made you tick, how you thought. You were too busy cutting yourself off from the world to realize that I could feel you, I could see you. I didn't come to you in the kitchen that night by accident, I wanted to see you."

"It's all just a big joke," I sighed, "It's a waste of time, it's a disappointment, it's," I felt his hands on my shoulders, spinning me around.

"You're important. You're something. I see you here, I feel you, and I'm listening to you. That's all I want to do, Leah," He put his hands on my cheeks, staring intently into my eyes.

Tears pricked my eyes as I swallowed thickly, "But she's more important," I fought to keep the tears from falling. He stared at me silently, his hands dropping to his sides, "You don't have to say it. I knew it the whole time, really I did, I don't know why I'm letting it upset me now." I pushed my face into his chest as I started to cry. He hugged me tightly.

"I'm sorry, Leah," He mumbled against my head.

"I'm coming apart." I sobbed, grasping his shoulders tightly. He pulled my hands away, putting his hand on my back and pushing me softly towards the bed. I laid down, putting my face in the pillow. He got next to me, pulling the blankets up over us both.

"I'm right here," He assured me, pulling me closer to him and wrapping his arm around me. He kissed my head softly before he began singing softly, Hey Jude. I found sleep shortly after.