Barn-Raising: Jasper POV
Little Alice Brandon tugged at my arm with a strength hidden by her petite stature.
"Jazz," she said excitedly—normally I would've loathed any intimate shortening of my name, but Alice saying it was cute and comfortable—"I want to go look at the calf!"
I smiled down at her and let her drag me over to the small bovine. Her short dark hair was a little curly around the edges, and stuck up around her pretty face. She was breathtakingly gorgeous.
The little animal stuck out a pale, pink tongue and lapped at her hands. She squealed and scratched it behind the ears.
It let out a playful little moo and stood up on shaky legs. Alice tugged on my arm, "Pet her, Jazz, I think she likes you."
I leaned down and whispered in Alice's ear, "I like her, too—but I think I like you more."
Alice turned and smiled at me, her nose scrunched up in thought and she pressed her warm, pert lips to my cheek. My stomach flip-flopped.
I tugged Alice over to one of the small picnic tables and pulled her to my side. She pursed her lips and tried to think of something to say, but then relaxed as she stared at me.
I was so content, just staring into her eyes, it felt like home.
The pastor holding the barn-raising stood up on one of the other tables and called "Alright, everyone, as you all know, we're here to raise this barn for my daughter Angie and her new husband Ben," I clapped along with everyone else, even though I didn't know the happy couple, "but first we want to have some dancing, so boys pick your partner and line up."
Alice looked at me conspiratorially. I didn't much enjoy dancing ever since the whole debacle where Esme taught us to dance, but if Alice wanted to I would.
"Come on, we have to dance," she whined.
I shrugged, resigned and let her drag me over to the other couples.
I blissfully danced with Alice for a while, her tiny hands finding themselves tucked easily in my own.
Suddenly someone was jerking me back by the collar of my shirt and I fell against the hard-packed dirt.
All of my others brothers were on the ground next to me; scowls on their faces as someone else danced with our girls.
"Something needs to be done about this," Edward seethed.
I growled and started to prowl forward. "That man has his hands on her," I said through his teeth.
"They all have their hands on the girls, and so did we," Eleazar commented, "but if you want to start something, I would not be opposed."
Emmett cracked his knuckles, kneading them under his massive fingers, "Then let's start something."
I stalked forward and yanked Eric Yorkie away from Alice as he had once pulled me away. His face was priceless as I threw him to the ground and then prepared myself to pound him into the ground.
"Hey!" Carlisle yelled. "Stop it."
I nodded to my eldest brother and pulled Alice to me, jumping back into the dance and timing my steps to the tempo of the music.
I spared a glare over my shoulder at Eric Yorkie. Alice made a clicking noise with her tongue, "Don't worry, I do not like either of those preposterous young men. You have no need to be jealous."
She pursed her lips at me and challenged me with her eyes to contest her statement. I smiled at the feisty little thing and kept dancing.
Pastor Webber stood back up on his table and got everyone's attention.
"Alright ladies, if you will all clear away from the barn, I do believe it is time that the men get into teams and start the barn raising! There will need to be four teams, whoever gets their wall raised the fastest will win this little heifer." He indicated to the small cow tethered to the table that Alice and I had played with before.
An excited murmur ran through the crowd as the men started to congregate into teams.
We gathered into a loose circle around Carlisle and Esme, already having formed enough of a team with our family alone.
Esme was gossiping about everyone and how much competition they would be. "Oh, Aro got Felix and Demetri, look out for them, they play dirty."
"Alright, Felix and Demetri, steer clear of them." Carlisle asserted, "What else, my love?"
"Carlisle, this is no time for endearments, we have to kick these guy's sorry a—"
"Emmett!" Carlisle chastised, "There are ladies within earshot, stop talking like you do when it's just us."
Esme laughed, "I admire your enthusiasm, Emmett."
"Thank you, Esme." He said pleasantly, he then turned to Carlisle, "See? At least she loves me."
"That makes one of us," Edward muttered.
"I heard that pretty boy," Emmett said, jabbing one meaty finger in Edward's direction.
"Oh whatever, Emmett, let's just figure out how to beat these guys," Garrett said, crossing his thick arms across his chest.
"Don't worry about Michael Newton's team, they're all pansies."
"Esme!" Carlisle exclaimed. He did not think his wife had it in her to insult anyone. She smiled sweetly at him.
"Oh Carlisle, but it's true."
He shook his head and chuckled, "Just continue, my dear."
I laughed, I was glad Carlisle married her.
"I think the team you will have to look out for the most is Jacob Black's team. You've made quite the enemy with him, Edward," she cautioned.
Edward ducked his head, "It can't be helped," he shrugged. "I do not begrudge him his jealousy, if I were in his position I would be angry, too."
"Oh, my brother, you have it bad," Emmett laughed, patting Edward on the back.
"I could say the very same for you," Edward said shrewdly, narrowing his beryl eyes as he glared at Emmett.
Emmett boomed a laugh and then turned to us. We kept strategizing and glared at everyone else's backs as they probably said some sordid things about us.
We separated a little as the preparations for the barn-raising were made. Emmett started to talk to Rosalie and when she got up and left he looked as if she had slapped him in the face.
Benjamin meandered over to him and they spoke quietly.
I'd never seen my bear of a brother look as if he were about to cry—but he did.
"Brother, I can feel your sadness halfway across the yard, what's the matter?" I asked, loping over to where Benjamin and Emmett stood.
"Rosalie is engaged," Benjamin said for Emmett.
"I really thought she liked me, too," he said, trying not to sound too disappointed. I knew it was all a lie. He was disappointed—it was almost tangible.
"Well, Esme did say that she was being set up by her father—maybe she had no say in the matter," I tried.
"That's even worse than if she did choose him!" Emmett said, crestfallen, "Because then there really is no chance that she can get out of the arrangement."
"I'm so sorry, Emmett," Benjamin said awkwardly.
Emmett nodded gruffly and stalked off to think. I exchanged a look with Benjamin before going back and sitting with Alice. I put my arms around her shoulders, happy that she was promised to someone else as Rosalie was.
She noticed my wariness but didn't say anything about it, she just let me snuggle her and smell the sweet scent of her hair.
I was oblivious to anything else besides Alice until Benjamin hopped up and declared it was the beginning of the barn-raising.
The hair on my neck stood one end and I had this strange feeling in my stomach—like fear or dread or something close to it. I suddenly had a rush of adrenaline spike my blood.
"Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like we're being plotted against?" I asked, lowering my voice so only my brothers heard.
"Yes," Edward replied, his voice tight. I nodded once, glad that I wasn't the only one.
"Somehow I'm thinking this isn't a good idea," Carlisle muttered.
"No, it's a very good idea because it gives me a chance to hit that Royce King with a hammer," Emmett spat through his teeth.
"What did he do to you anyway," Garrett murmured.
"Rosie," Emmett grumbled.
"I suppose that should explain it," Eleazar said softly.
"Don't start a fight unless it's absolutely necessary," Carlisle cautioned, "If it's necessary, then I'll help you."
"Oh man Carlisle, and here I thought you had gone soft," Garrett chuckled; Carlisle reached out and slapped him on the back of the head playfully.
"Hey now," Eleazar said with a quiet chuckle, "save it for the men who think they are better than we are."
"Was that supposed to be an insult, Eleazar? Because that was lame if that be the case," Carlisle chuckled, "and here I thought I'd taught you boys better than that."
"Oh, the old Carlisle is back!" Benjamin exclaimed, rubbing his hands together with glee.
Carlisle merely laughed. I hadn't heard that laugh in a while. It was exhilarating. We nodded to each other and our other brothers and then loosened our shirts so that we would be able to move easier.
Pastor Webber clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention, "Alright, so we have Jacob Black's team," cheers erupted from the crowd, "we also have Mike Newton's team. Aro Volturi's team, and finally the Cullen brothers."
The girls whooped and hollered for us. Rosalie even whistled loudly and Emmett blushed.
"I truly hope this does not turn into a brawl," Carlisle said as Pastor Webber raised his gun over head to give the starting shot, "but if it does—do not count me a hypocrite for making you promise not to fight this morning. But truthfully, that Aro said some very unpleasant things to my Esme while you were all off pining away for those girls," he gritted his teeth, "no one tries to make lewd advances on my wife—and gets away with it."
His assertion was punctuated by the starting shot bursting from the barrel and we all pounced on our work.
We jumped over the wooden framework and Emmett, Garrett and I hoisted the large frame up high.
Mike Newton, tired of being laughed at by my burly brother, threw a hammer at him. I half expected Emmett to lunge at the little jerk but he didn't he simply went back to nailing siding to the framework. He banged his hammer too forcefully against the wood
"Emmett, don't break it," I scolded, putting another board up.
"I'm just pissed," Emmett muttered.
"Yeah I saw that Newton chuck a hammer at you," I smirked, "I'm surprised he wasn't ground into dust between those two meaty paws of yours."
"Yeah well, Benjamin told me to save my energy," Emmett said, and then threw a glance over his shoulder at Rosalie. "I didn't want her to see me half-crazy beating the tar out of some guy, either."
"I know what you mean," I agreed, thinking only of Alice.
Emmett nodded and kept hammering.
And then suddenly all heck broke loose. I didn't see how it started all I know was that Benjamin was on James Whalen's back and Edward was fighting against one of Jacob Black's cronies. Emmett tossed his hammer over his shoulder and went in search of Royce King.
I shrugged, not exactly caring if Alice saw me fighting or not. It was a good full-on brawl and I needed a work out. Not really having any specific target, I went through the crowd helter-skelter.
Somehow we ended up back to back in the middle of the floor and then the walls collapsed around us.
Emmett sighed, "Oh God, we're so screwed." He said as we all assessed the damage.
I leapt from the damage and went to Alice's arms.
"I'm sorry, Ali, I didn't mean to do this—I hope you're not upset!" I whispered into her soft hair.
She smiled against the side of my neck, "I thought it was rather manly, actually. I was quite impressed."
I chuckled, such an amazing little girl.
Two Hours' Traffic asked for the barn-raising from one of the boys' point of view, and so I did Jasper.
Just a reminder: Requests for outtakes are closed, I want to focus more of my time on the sequel!! Thanks!
PLEASE REVIEW! We broke 400 reviews for this story on the last outtake! How awesome is that?!