Author's Note: You may want to find the song 'With You' by Chris Brown if you like to listen to music while reading. I couldn't resist using it for Ali and Jas to dance to at the party. I don't usually do that, but it just fit.

36.

Two Steps Forward, Ten Steps Back

Jasper stood by the wall watching Alice dance with her numerous partners. He knew that most of the guys realized that she was pretty young, but some of the assholes had actually hit on her. One guy almost made him lose it by trying to put his hands on her butt, but he held it together and Alice got rid of the guy after their one dance was over. He was trying really hard to control his temper and trust her to be able to take care of herself.

Jasper noticed Tony moving through the crowd and tensed. "Yep! He's headed towards Ali!" he thought. "Damn!" He started walking over to Alice to ask her to dance before Tony got there. But he got stopped for a minute by a guy carrying a tray of drinks and Tony beat him there. Why did he feel so threatened by Tony? Maybe it was because he knew Tony was a much nicer guy than he was. He knew it wouldn't work out between them, though. Tony was way too old for Ali, but they would both grow up some day and he planned to make sure Ali was totally unavailable by then.

"Hi, Ali! You sure look pretty. Would you like to dance?" Tony smiled at her sweetly and she accepted.

He led her out to where everyone was dancing. A slow song started to play, "Of course! The first slow song of the frickin' night." and Jasper rolled his eyes. Ali was a really good dancer, but she wasn't sure what to do for a slow dance. Tony showed her where to put her hands and guided her in the dance. He looked her in the eyes and talked to her like no one else existed in the room. She smiled up at him the whole time and, Jasper hated to admit it, they did look good together. It still didn't stop him from standing there with his arms crossed over his chest and a killer scowl coloring his face. The song ended and they walked off the dance floor, arm in arm. Tony took her over to the snack table and they stood talking for a few minutes.

Jasper felt a tap on his arm, he looked over to see two girls smiling tentatively at him. One took a step back, seeing the scowl on his face. "Oh! Sorry." He said, sheepishly, winning them over with his charming grin.

They both smiled at him and the bolder of the two, said, "Hi! What team do you play for?"

Turning on the charm, Jasper said, "I'm straight, and you?"

The girls twittered and Jasper mentally rolled his eyes. That was probably the corniest bit he had ever used. The other girl, a tall, curvy red-head with soft amber eyes, and even softer looking lips, said, "You know we mean which baseball team." She giggled softly.

He grinned, "Oh! Baseball team! Uh... I'm with the William's Bay team." "Not actually a lie", he thought.

The first girl, a shorter, skinny, blonde with pale blue eyes, gushed, "You guys were so awesome today! What do you guys put in your Wheaties? You're all so good!"

"Thank you, darlin'. We practice hard, eat well and get plenty of rest." he deadpanned with a twinkle in his eye.

The redhead burst out in genuine laughter, not the canned giggles they had used previously. "You are so funny!" She extended her hand, "I'm Shannon, this is Gabby. We're from Eau Claire."

Jasper shook hands with both of them, "Very nice to meet you both. How did you get the chance to say 'hi' to me? If you were from William's Bay, we'd never have given you time to meet anyone from another school. We'd be lined up for a chance to dance with you ourselves. Your boys must all be gay, or married."

The girls giggled and the blonde batted her lashes at him. "God!" he thought, "she reminds me of Lauren. Ugh!"

"Well, since I am partnerless at the moment, may I request the honor of this dance, Shannon?" He held out his hand to the redheaded girl and she gave him a brilliant smile and placed her hand in his.

He really enjoyed dancing with Shannon. When she was away from Gabby's brassiness, she was easy to talk to and very charming. She was also very pretty and had a gorgeous figure. They talked through the whole dance and, when the music was over, he took her back to where her friend had been.

"Hmmmm, I guess Gabby got tired of waiting." Shannon observed when she didn't spot her friend.

"She's over there." Jasper pointed out, as Shannon followed his direction and saw her friend dancing with Junior.

"Oh! Good, someone asked her to dance. She comes across as kind of brazen, sometimes," Shannon admitted. "but she usually doesn't lack for partners." She smiled up at Jasper. "What position do you play? In baseball, that is." He noticed a dimple in her cheek.

"Uh, I play either second base, or I pitch, depends on the day." He answered.

"Ooo! A pitcher, huh? And second base? You must have a good arm." She flirted with him.

"Not bad, I guess. I just do what the coach tells me to." He said, modestly.

"Modest, too. Wow! You must have all of the girls at your school in a tizzy. How come you're alone? Your girlfriend couldn't come up with you?" She wondered.

"Well, I'm in between girlfriends right now. Besides, William's Bay is a pretty small town, there's not much to pick from." He told her, truthfully.

"Yeah, it's a pretty nice area, though. I've been through there, and Lake Geneva, too. A lot of pricey homes and cars and boats and stuff." She pointed out.

"True, but having money doesn't mean you're automatically good-looking or nice." He countered.

She laughed, "Too true! You don't have that problem, though."

He caught sight of Ali dancing with Tony again and missed Shannon's meaning. "Uh, sorry, what do you mean?"

"You know, good-looking and nice." She blushed and looked down towards his chin.

He grinned, "Thanks, you're not so bad yourself."

She met his eyes again. "Wanna' go for a walk, or something?" she asked him.

He hesitated. He knew she really meant, go somewhere private and make out. He looked over at Alice and Tony dancing. "Um, I'd love to, but I really can't. I'm here with my sister and some friends." He looked back at her with genuine regret. "Sorry." He couldn't believe he was turning her down. "I'd love to dance with you again, though."

Her disappointed eyes turned bright again and she agreed. Jasper led her a few feet from where Tony and Alice were dancing. He could hear Ali laughing and his heart twisted a little. He tried to concentrate on Shannon, but his attention kept returning to his dark haired angel.

Suddenly, Shannon gasped. He looked over to see where she was looking and spotted Rose. "Oh my God! She is so beautiful! I wonder if she's a model."

Jasper laughed. "Naw! She's a mechanic."

Shannon looked up at him. "Yeah, right! And I'm Santa Claus."

He threw his head back and laughed. Looking back at her, he said, "Nice to meet you, Santa!"

"Seriously? She is a mechanic? Like, as in working on cars?" Her eyes showed her disbelief.

He nodded. "She also just happens to be my sister."

"Okay, I can see that." She looked back and forth between them for a minute. "And I suppose your parents are a garbage man and a waitress?"

"Well, no, actually, my dad is a doctor and my mom is an architect." He laughed at her expression.

"Then, why the heck is your sister a mechanic?" she wondered.

"I didn't say she did that for a living. She's still in high school. She bought an old Camaro and redid the whole thing herself. Well, except for the paint job. Her boyfriend, that's him over there," he pointed towards Emmett, "swears she loves that car more than him."

Shannon laughed. "For coming from such a fancy area, you guys sure are down to earth. I never would've thought that."

"Thank you, M'am." Jasper drawled, twirling her around. "We still do teach manners there in them fancy houses."

Shannon cracked up. "I thought I heard a little southern drawl in there somewhere."

His eyes twinkled, she was pretty sharp. "My dad was born in Texas, but moved here when he was about eight or nine. He still has a little bit of a twang when he wants it, but mostly my grandpa's is even gone now."

"Well, I think it's charming." She giggled. "You're a really nice guy, Jasper. Too bad we live so far apart. I'd like to get to know you better."

"I feel the same way about you, Shannon. It's nice to meet someone you can talk to." He glanced over at Ali as the music ended and caught her looking at him. She blushed and looked away, but not before he saw a sad yearning in her eyes. "Well, want to grab a drink? I'm pretty thirsty."

"Sure." Shannon said, and they walked over and got a Coke.

Jasper saw Tony and Ali walking in their direction, and he took a deep, steadying breath. He saw worry flash across Alice's face and felt a little flash of irritation.

"Hi Tony!" he said, extending his hand.

Tony shook his hand and smiled, "Hi, Jas! Long time, no see! What's up?"

"Well," he said glancing at Ali. "Not much! Just hanging out and enjoying the party." He looked at Shannon. "Tony, Alice, this is Shannon. I met her a little while ago. She's here with the Eau Claire team. Shannon, this is Tony and this is Alice. I've known them both my whole life."

"It's very nice to meet you." Shannon said, shaking first Tony, and than Ali's hands. "Are you brother and sister?" She asked them.

Tony laughed. "No. She's actually his sister." he said, pointing to Jasper. Alice looked at Tony in alarm.

Jasper shook his head and laughed, "Tony!" He looked back at Shannon. "She's not my sister. Ali is my next door neighbor. Her brother, Emmett, my sister's boyfriend, is on the team. When we were little, I used to tell everyone that Alice was my baby sister."

Shannon giggled. "That's so cute! Was he an awfully bossy, big brother, Alice?"

"He still is! Bossy, I mean." Alice laughed. She looked up at Jasper and winked. He grinned back at her.

Jasper heard the DJ announce the next few songs he was playing, "Shannon, would you mind if I left you in Tony's company for a little bit? Ali promised me a dance, so I thought I'd steal her away for a few minutes."

He grinned and Tony looked a little put out, but smiled at Ali and said, "Well, Ali, I guess I'll talk to you later." He cast a knowing look at Jasper and grinned, "Have fun, Jas."

Jasper looked down at Alice as he led her toward the dance floor. "You're not mad, are you?" He asked, grinning at her.

"No. Do you really want to dance with me, or were you just scaring the big bad boy away?" She asked him, trying to keep from smiling.

"Well, honestly?" At her nod, he grinned again and said, "A little of both."

She shook her head and laughed. "Okay. I'll dance with you if a good song comes on."

He frowned at her, "Who picks if it's good, or not?"

She just looked at him slyly, and didn't answer.

The song, 'With You' by Chris Brown came on. Jasper quirked his eyebrow at her and, at her nod, led her out to dance. Jasper looked down into her eyes and enfolded her in his arms, his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent. They started swaying to the music and Jasper began softly singing the words to her as they danced.

"… I'm so glad to be yours, you're a class all your own.

And, ooh, little cutie, when you talk to me, I swear the whole world stops, you're my sweetheart, and I'm so glad that you're mine, you are one of a kind.

And, you mean to me, what I mean to you, and, together baby, there is nothing we won't do.

'Cuz if I got you, I don't need money, I don't need cars, Girl, you're my all.

And, oh, I'm into you, and Girl, no, one else will do, 'cuz with every kiss and every hug, you make me, fall in love, and now I, know I can't be the only one, I bet his heart's all over the world tonight, with the love of they're life who feel, what I feel when I'm with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, Girl.

With you, with you, with you, with you, with you...

Oh, Girl, I don't want nobody else, without you there's no one left, and, you're like Jordans on Saturday, I gotta' have you and I cannot wait, now, hey, little shawty, say you care for me, you know I care for you, you know that I'll be true, you know that I won't lie, you know that I will try, to be your everything.

Yeah, 'cuz if I got you, I don't need money, I don't need cars, Girl, you're my all.

Yeah, oh, I'm into you, and, Girl, no one else will do, 'cuz with every kiss and every hug, you make me, fall in love, and now I, know I can't be the only one, I bet his heart's all over the world tonight, with the love of they're life who feel, what I feel when I'm with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, oh, oh, oh. With you, with you, with you, with you, with you...

Hey, and I, will never try to deny, that you are my whole life, 'cuz if you, ever let me go, I would die, so I won't run.

I don't need another woman, I just need, your all or nothin', 'cuz if I got that, then I'll be straight.

Baby, you're the best part of my day.

I need ya', Boo. I gotta' see ya', Boo. And the heart's all over the world tonight, said the heart's all over the world tonight.

They need they're boo. They gotta' see they're boo. And the heart's all over the world tonight. Heart's all over the world tonight.

Oh, I'm into you, and, Girl, no one else will do, 'cuz with every kiss and every hug, you make me, fall in love, and now I, know I can't be the only one, I bet his heart's all over the world tonight, with the love of they're life who feel, what I feel when I'm with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, Girl.

With you, with you, with you, with you, with you, oh, oh, oh.

With you, with you, with you, with you, with you. With you. Only with you.

With you, with you, with you, with you..."

The song ended and she looked up at him adoringly and smiled. He hugged her back to him and whispered in her hair, "Thanks for dancing with me, Ali." He looked up and noticed Tony dancing with Shannon and grinned when he caught his eye. Tony grinned back and gave him a thumb's up.

Alice sighed and snuggled into his chest, but a fast song started playing. "Uh, Ali? Wanna' dance again, or get something to drink?"

She looked up, her eyes shining, and giggled. "Something to drink sounds good."

He led her off the dance floor and back towards the snack tables. Getting them each a Coke, he handed her one and led her over to a table. He pulled out the chair for her and then sat next to her. "Are you having fun?" he asked her. At her nod he grinned. "I loved your cheers today." He laughed, "The rhyming was pretty, uh... interesting."

She grinned. "Yeah, I think we did pretty good considering some of the names we had to work with." She giggled again. "It's a good thing we didn't have to rhyme your name, huh?"

He looked surprised, "Oh, wow! That would be a hard one, wouldn't it? What does rhyme with Jasper?" He asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"I wouldn't know!" she giggled. "Casper?"

"Oh! I'm a ghost?" he grinned. "At least I'm a friendly one, huh?"

Alice giggled at him again, he was so silly.

"How would that cheer go, any how?" he wondered. "Jasper, be like Casper, and fly to home?"

Alice dissolved into giggles. "I could just picture you, too, all bald and white."

"Hey! Maybe when I'm eighty!" he laughed. "You're so funny, Ali! Let me guess, you came up with most of the rhymes, right?"

"We all took turns, really!" she told him, still letting an occasional giggle escape. "It was fun to see what each of us could come up with."

"I bet it was! We were all laughing and we only heard the ones that you girls hollered out."

"Well, they won, so maybe our cheers helped them!" she said.

"I bet they did! The guys were loving them. I think the other team was annoyed, though." he chuckled.

"That's only because they lost!" Alice giggled.

They talked and laughed for a little while and then one of Emmett's buddies came over to claim Ali for a dance. She looked at Jasper fearfully when Matt asked her to dance, but he just smiled and told them to have fun. Seeing her safely dancing with Matt, he stepped outside for some fresh air.

Esme pulled into the parking lot a few minutes before 9:00 and saw Jasper leaning against the wall right outside the door. She walked up to him, "Hey, Jas! You okay?"

He smiled, "Sure! It just got hot in there, so I came out for some air."

He held the door open for her and followed her inside. Everything was winding down, it had been a long day, and all the players and their families were breaking into groups and leaving. Jasper spotted Emmett and Rosalie in a group of their friends.

"There's Em and Rose." He told Esme, "I'll see if I can find Ali and Ed."

"Thanks, Jasper." Esme walked over toward Emmett and Rose, while Jasper went in the other direction.

He found Edward sitting at a table with some guys they knew from school. "Hey, Edward. Your mom's here. You seen Ali?"

Edward shook his head, "We better go find her." He stood up and they went in search of Alice.

After checking everywhere, they still couldn't find her. Jasper was feeling frantic. He kept running his hand through his hair, his stomach a churning mess. "She's gotta' be here somewhere." he told Edward.

"Yeah, where, though?" Edward was feeling pretty worried himself. Alice never took off by herself. She always told someone where she was going, or stayed within sight of one of them. "We gotta' tell Mom, Jas. She could be in trouble."

"You go tell her, I'm gonna' look around some more." Jasper took off without waiting for Edward to answer. He looked everywhere again and found himself back by the food service rooms. Even though they hadn't had food service, the light was on. He pushed the door open and heard someone laugh. He walked in and let the door close behind him. "Ali?" he called. He heard some whispering and then Alice say, "Yeah?" He felt relief, anger and apprehension all at once. As soon as he saw her, he grabbed her by the arm. "Damn it, Ali! Where have you been? We've been worried sick! And who's in here with you? Huh? Some guy?" His anger had taken over and Ali cringed as he jerked her toward him.

"Jas! You're hurting me!" Alice cried.

He loosened his grip, looking horrified, and hugged her, "I'm sorry, Ali. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just... so worried. Edward and I have been looking everywhere for you. Your mom must be frantic by now."

He let her go and looked at her. "Please, don't be mad. I'm really sorry." He looked up as Tony walked out. Before he could say anything, Jasper barked, "What the hell are you doin' in here?" He looked down accusingly at Alice. "God damn it, Ali!" He turned and stalked toward the door.

"Jasper! Wait! Don't jump to conclusions!" Tony said, holding up his hands.

Jasper turned and ground out. "Fuck you, Tony! I can't believe you'd screw around with Alice!"

"He wasn't, Jasper. He was screwing around with me." a feminine voice said, as Shannon walked out from the other room. Jasper deflated right in front of their eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't come out sooner. I was in the bathroom."

Jasper looked at Ali, his eyes dismayed. "I am such an asshole. Sorry, Ali."

He looked at Tony. Tony put his hands up, again. "Jas, it's cool. I totally understand. Don't worry about it."

"We came in here to hide 'cuz one of the jerks from another team was hittin' on Alice and wouldn't leave her alone. We thought we'd hide in here for a while and we got to talking. Sorry we made you worry." Shannon looked at him with regret.

"It's okay, Shannon. Thanks. I over-reacted, like I do a lot where Ali is concerned." He glanced at Alice again to see her looking at the floor. "Well, we better find your mom, Ali. She's probably called the police by now." His face was sad, his shoulders were slumped and his voice sounded defeated. He turned and held the door for Alice and glanced back at Tony with a nod, before following behind her.

"Ali! Oh my God! Where have you been?" Esme exclaimed as she and Jasper walked toward her. "You had us worried sick! I've never been so scared in my life." She hugged Alice and looked up at Jasper. "Thank you for finding her, Jasper!"

"It's okay. She was just talking with a couple friends and didn't realize how late it was." He gave her a little smile and slumped in a chair.

Jasper didn't say anything on the way back to their hotel and went to his room as soon as they got there. Edward came in a few minutes later. "What's with you, Jas?" he said, flopping on his bed.

Jasper just lay in his bed with his eyes shut.

"I know you ain't sleepin', Man. What's wrong with you?" Edward pressed him.

"Nothin's wrong, Edward." Jasper sighed. "I'm just tired."

"Bullshit! You look like someone let the air out of you." Edward scoffed, pointing to himself. "Edward, remember?"

Jasper opened one eye and looked at him. "Edward, please, just leave it alone, okay?"

Edward looked at him as he closed his eye again. "Okay. For now."

Jasper sighed again and rolled over away from him.