Chapter Thirty Seven
Bella
At the bottom of the stairs they stopped to look round and saw us as we walked over, Alice looking like a trapped mouse before recovering her poise and smiling brightly,
"Hello Jazz, Bella. So... nice of you to come, we weren't expecting you. Jessie this is …..."
He cut her off,
"Hello Major"
"Hello...Jessie"
The hesitation was momentary but everyone heard it.
"So Alice you look happy now. Finally found your mate? I'm pleased for you, I hope you have a wonderful future together"
She smiled even wider,
"We do. I've seen it. Jessie is a good man and he loves me."
What she was in effect saying was that she thought Jessie would protect her from Jasper and myself.
"I bet you have. Well we mustn't monopolize your company at your welcome home party. Good to meet you …..Jessie"
The two men shook hands and a strange look passed between them before Alice pulled him away to speak to Rose and Emmett.
Jasper
So, he was back and had latched on to the Cullens, well it was true to form. I wondered how long it would be before Alice or one of the others smelled a rat. It would be a fitting punishment for Alice although I thought Bella might disagree. If she did then Jessie and I might be meeting again and next time we wouldn't be shaking hands. I wondered what Garrett would say when he recognised Alice's "mate", not to mention Peter who had already gone head to head with this particular vampire before. I looked round to see my friend smile widely on catching sight of the happy couple and tapped Bella on the arm,
"You might want to watch the floor show"
She gazed over and saw Peters smile,
"What's going on? Peter looks like he's just won the lottery"
"Oh he has and I think Alice's smile will be short-lived. Things will heat up very quickly, I did wonder if Peter might control himself under the circumstances but seeing his face I doubt it."
Charlotte was tugging on his arm, trying to persuade him to leave well alone but that was like trying to stop a runaway express train.
Bella
I was fascinated to find out what was going on, there was obviously a history between this Jessie and Peter, Jasper, and possibly Garrett too. Carlisle had smelled trouble and came over looking worried,
"Jasper please stop Peter before he starts something, this is a party, a celebration, we don't need a scene"
"Well there's a slight problem there Carlisle. You see I don't have any influence over Peter and it doesn't look like Charlotte is having much luck either besides which I'm not inclined to help you or Alice after your little trick with Aro and the Volturi. Anyway he could be doing you a favour in the long run, how much do you know about Alice's friend...Jessie?"
Carlisle shot another worried look at Peter who was moving towards Alice and Jessie like a Great White sensing blood in the water.
"If this turns into a fight I'll hold you responsible Jasper, you brought him here"
"Carlisle, Peter is a big boy and he's responsible for his own actions so stop blustering and go try to stop him yourself."
Carlisle looked at me in shock, I didn't think he expected me to speak to him like this. I nodded,
"Yes, Bella has teeth and she's learning how to use them Carlisle. Now leave Jasper alone and stand up to Peter yourself or just shut up and go away"
Even Jasper looked taken aback by my words but I was fed up of the Cullens holier than thou attitude to Jasper and myself. I wondered where Edward had got to, would he stand his ground or hide now we were here? Seeing Carlisle walking quickly towards the blondes again I spied him standing behind them watching warily, he couldn't hear our thoughts I'd made sure of that and as a result looked nervous, well it was a good start, but it was only a start. We were winging it here but it seemed Peter had seen a good place to start the attack on those who had made my life and Jasper's a misery for so long.
Jasper
Peter walked over to where Alice and Jessie were talking to the two blonde women I'd seen earlier with Carlisle, ignoring Edward who stepped back a few paces, and tapped Jessie on the shoulder making his excuses gallantly to the ladies but turning his back towards Alice.
"Jessie is it now? Its been a long time since I ran into you, but not nearly long enough. Now where was it? Let me think...yes I remember. You were with that crazy bitch with all the money. Human wasn't she? When you met her anyway. What happened there? How did you come to meet another crazy bitch? They gravitate to you or do you sniff them out?"
Alice glared and looked around him to Jessie who shot a look at me before turning back.
"I don't remember the woman you described, maybe you have me confused with someone else. I don't think I know you but please don't insult my mate Alice Cullen."
Peter laughed loudly,
"Mate? Yeah, like a black widow. You be careful or she'll suck you dry and spit out the husk, they don't come much more venomous than this particular Cullen, you may just have met your match my boy."
"Jessie"
Alice's complaint was a hiss and Peter turned to her,
"Did you speak? Or were you just venting steam? Alice Cullen I've known you a very long time and each time we meet I despise you a little more. Not only are you a cold hard bitch but you are also a two-faced liar and a sneak, or is it snitch? I never could remember the fucking difference. Anyway as I was saying, do all your illustrious guests know the stunt you pulled on your ex and his mate, your "friend" Bella Swan?"
Everyone's attention was now on Peter and I saw Carlisle shake his head and look imploringly at me but I just shook mine in return and folded my arms. I was enjoying the entertainment too much to try halting it.
He had begged me to let him take Alice down and once I saw Jessie I knew there would be no stopping him whatever I said. Jessie had made the cardinal mistake of trying to move in on Charlotte once. He'd been a few weeks recovering from that encounter so I knew Alice wouldn't get much help from her mate this evening. Peter looked around at the assembled guests and spied Garrett at the back of the room, also watching with a smile.
"Garrett, you remember... Jessie... don't you? Do you know Alice too?"
Garrett came forward nonchalantly, hands in his pockets like a man taking an evening stroll. He looked at Jessie and nodded,
"Yes I never forget an ugly face, or a name"
His last words sounded more like a threat than anything.
"Hi there...Jessie.
Then he turned to Alice and bowed.
"The delectable Alice Cullen, yes I know you. It's because I know you that I never turn my back on a woman. I used to think you were a sweet little thing but I've seen your darker side since. Alice, do you even know the meaning of the word loyalty? This dear sweet innocent blooming girl should never be underestimated, never tell her your secrets because if the pay is good enough or the outcome in her favor there are no depths which she will not stoop to. I think you got the right man now, by the time you two have finished watching your own backs you'll be so dizzy you won't be able to see straight."