"If you wake up at a different time in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?"
-Fight Club.
APOV
I loved living with Jasper. I loved dating Jasper. I loved Jasper. I loved my life. He was my life. I was happy. When I took a step back and viewed the larger picture I realised just how much I'd changed as a person. Jasper looked at me as if I was the centre of the universe. He made me feel beautiful and warm and wanted. Every time we were even in the same room I had the goofiest little smile on my face. Before Jasper, I couldn't remember the last time I'd smiled.
We were sat on the sofa; Jasper was absently flipping through TV channels with his arms wrapped around my waist, his fingers trailing lazy patterns over my thigh through my jeans. I was basking in my utter contentment and I glanced around the apartment. I snuggled closer into Jasper's side and he automatically pressed a kiss to my head.
"Jazz?" I murmured. He hummed under his breath to let me know he'd heard me.
"Uhmm…I was wondering if, maybe, you could…uh…help me with something?" I stammered.
I surprised myself, I'd never had difficulty talking to Jasper since we'd become official, and he just got me. I could say anything and he'd need little or no explanation. I was nervous about how he'd react because I didn't want him to think I didn't appreciate all he had done and continued to do for me.
"Sure, baby, what's up?" he asked, there was an edge in his voice that I assumed was due to my hesitance.
"I…was hoping to…maybe get a job somewhere…" I murmured.
Jasper tensed slightly and I peered up to find him watching me. He studied me carefully for a moment before answering.
"Are you sure that's what you want? 'Cause I can take care of you, baby." He murmured in reply. I heard the hint of aching in his voice. I knew he wanted to look after me. Jasper needed someone to care for. He was so protective over me and it was something that I loved about him but I didn't want him providing everything for me. It made me feel worthless.
"Please, Jazzy? I don't wanna mooch off you forever. We're supposed to be a team. I wanna contribute to this relationship." I insisted.
"Okay, baby. We'll sort something out." He smiled down at me and I returned it.
When it began to get dark at around five in the afternoon we started to get ready for the New Year's party that Peter and Charlotte were throwing. I was nervous about meeting so many people at once, Peter and Charlotte were the only friends of Jasper's I'd met. I knew that Jasper had had a large social circle but he'd stopped spending time with his friends when Maria had gotten worse, though he'd always been on good terms with them. He told me that he was excited to see them again and he'd heard from many of them to inquire about whether he'd be at the party. I was ridiculously self-conscious about the entire thing. I had so much confidence around Jasper but around strangers I still felt like a smelly street kid. Jasper kept telling me I was worrying unnecessarily but I couldn't shake it. I knew that I couldn't be stuck to Jasper all night because he deserved to catch up with his friends, but I didn't know what I'd do if I couldn't have him beside me. I wanted to go; it would be nice to ring in the New Year with Jasper by my side. I wanted to kiss him at midnight as we made a million silent promises for the year ahead, our first year together.
"Ugh!" I groaned as I threw yet another dress into the pile of others I'd rejected. I briefly wondered when my wardrobe had become so vast and was again hit with just how much Jasper had done for me.
Jasper sauntered in then and raised an eyebrow at me as I stood glaring at my reflection in the full-length mirror. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my middle. He rested his chin on my shoulder and smiled at me through the mirror until my face softened.
"I hope you're not planning on wearing that." He teased, referring to my matching bra and panties.
"I can't find something to wear!" I grumbled.
"You look beautiful in anything, baby. But you better put something on because I don't want people droolin' at you." He placed a sloppy kiss to my neck and I giggled.
"I want to make a good impression." I whispered.
"Don't start this again." He complained, softly.
"I want to look sophisticated; I don't want to embarrass you." I murmured, wringing my hands together.
"Don't be silly, baby. You're the best thing that ever happened to me." He told me quietly and I blushed red and bit my lip to hide my huge smile.
I broke free of his arms and he left me to get ready. I pulled on a form-fitting LBD with thin straps that came to mid-thigh.
I slipped on some black suede pumps and sat down to my fluff my fair slightly.
When I was somewhat satisfied with the result, I went to find Jasper. His eyes got considerably wider as he looked me over and I blushed again.
He stepped forward to grab my hips and tug me towards him. His met mine in a heated, all-consuming kiss, I'm not sure how long we were lost to each other but when we pulled away he pressed his forehead against me.
"We should get going." He said breathlessly.
We pulled up outside Peter and Charlotte's small two story house on a few minutes later, Jasper was still beaming at the fact he had a car again. When we got inside the main room was already filling up with numerous groups of people involved in different conversations. I squeezed Jasper's hand tightly in apprehension.
"Don't worry about anything, baby. Every one's going to love you." He whispered in my ear before placing a kiss to my temple.
"Jasper!" Someone called, I looked up to see a tall man coming over, his hair was dark and slicked back into a short ponytail, he was dressed in a button-up and some faded jeans.
"Garrett!" Jasper greeted enthusiastically, dropping my hand to give Garrett a manly-hug.
They were instantly involved in a catch-up conversation and I grabbed hold of Jasper's arm to steady myself after somebody drunkenly stumbled into me.
"Who's this?" Garrett smiled down at me, as if only just realising I was present.
Jasper smiled down at me, that sparkle of amazement in his eyes that always baffled me.
"This is Alice. She's the best thing that ever happened to me." He introduced me.
I blushed brilliantly and gave Garrett a shy smile.
"Nice to meet you." I offered.
"Like wise." He told me with a smirk and winked at me.
"Keep off, Garrett, she's mine." Jasper teased with just the hint of a real warning lacing his words.
I took an instinctive step toward Jasper and he possessively wrapped an arm around my waist. Jasper and Garrett chatted a while longer before Garrett excused himself to find the bathroom.
"Don't worry about him, he's harmless but he likes to flirt. He used to get all the girls back in school. He's never really grown-up." Jasper whispered to me in explanation. I nodded slightly.
We made our way further into the house and eventually found Peter and Charlotte. They were sat at a high counter in their kitchen with a few other people that I didn't know. Charlotte hopped up when she saw us and hugged us both in turn. She introduced me to the huddle of people. They each smiled at me and I blushed when Charlotte explained I was Jasper's girlfriend, which the problem gathered already by the way Jasper was holding me.
I didn't talk, I just listened as Jasper caught up with people who had obviously meant a lot to him at one time, it was obvious they'd miss him, and he had missed them in return.
I sat beside Charlotte who was also just listening in and I began to actually relax. After a few minutes Jasper pressed a kiss to my temple.
"Will you be alright with Charlotte if I go off with the guys?" he whispered.
I knew he would stay with me if I wanted him to, and I did want him to, and that was selfish.
"I'll be fine. Go have fun." I told him.
"I love you." He murmured before he pressed a chaste kiss to my lips and headed outside with the rest of the men he'd been talking to. I turned back to the remaining people at the counter.
"So, you're Jasper's new girl." One of them addressed me; I think her name might have been Lucy.
I nodded, a small smile gracing my face.
"You're not what I imagined." A second girl spoke up, standing beside Lucy.
I saw Charlotte glare at them in my peripheral, the two girls seemed oblivious to her as the stared me down.
"Lucy, Nettie. That's enough, leave her alone." Charlotte told them firmly.
With a huff they were gone, hair waving side to side with the sashaying hips as they walked away.
"Ignore them. They used to be friends with Maria until she got Jasper. They've wanted him for, like, ever." Charlotte explained, rolling her eyes.
Charlotte and I continued our conversation and I felt a lot better, my anxiety was melting away every second. I zoned out slightly as I watched Jasper through the glass of the patio door, he was out on the back porch having a cigarette with Peter, Garrett and a few others. They were laughing and the sound, though muffled, reached us even over the music of the party. I watched as Jasper's bright smile caused his eyes to twinkle, his hair had fallen into his face when he'd shaken his head in amusement. A cigarette was held between two fingers as his hand was wrapped around the neck of glass bottle.
"You're really good for him, y'know." Charlotte said suddenly.
"Huh?" I asked, looking at her again.
She inclined her head to Jasper.
"See that? He's laughing with his friends, and having a couple of beers. I haven't seen him that relaxed in way too long. He stopped drinking when Maria got addicted, and he stopped returning calls in exchange of looking after her. He gave up everything for her, and with you, he's happy. He can have his life back." She explained with a small smile.
At that moment Jasper looked up, as if knowing that we were talking about him. He waved at me with a painfully cute half smile. I waved back with a blush and I swear he was chuckling.
"You're so cute together." Charlotte breathed and then blushed, as if she hadn't meant to say it aloud.
The rest of the party was carefree, I danced and had a few drinks, and I spoke with a few people. There were triplets whose names were Kate, Tanya and Irina. They were beautiful and bubbly, so full of life and flirting with every guy in sight but they were fun, and genuinely nice to me. It was a few hours before Jasper found me.
"I've been looking for you." He murmured in my ear as his arms wound around my waist.
I giggled and leant into him. I turned to face him and gave him a rather sloppy kiss. He chuckled.
"Baby, are you drunk?" He asked, clearly amused.
"A little bit, but its New Year's." I answered and I was a little mortified by just how much my speech slurred.
Jasper tugged me impossibly closer. He smiled brilliantly down at me.
"I know, in just under 3 minutes." He inclined his head toward the clock and I beamed up at him.
We swayed slightly, much too slow to be with the music but it was nice; I rested my head on his shoulder as he squeezed me.
"Happy New Year, baby." He whispered as everyone else called out the count-down in drunken yells and laughter.
He took my face between his hands and captured my lips with his. I wound my arms around his neck tight and put everything I had into that kiss. It was a new year and I was entering it happy. I was loved and cared for and everything was perfect and I wanted us to have many more New Year's together. And while my tongued duelled with his, I told him my every thought and as the party goers embraced and cheered, there was just us, oblivious to our surroundings, surrounded by each other.
Review please! And check out my new story! Choking smoke and shattered mirrors!
