You guys make me laugh hardcore on your opinions of the characters...especially Angela. lolol.

Her

Jasper clutches onto me too tightly. His fingers dig into my waist so hard that I'm sure I'll be left with crescent marks in my skin. He leans down, kissing my neck, before taking a long swig of his beer. I pick at the tips of his fingers, willingly them to lighten up, but when that doesn't work and the jackass refuses to take the hint, I settle for slapping his arm instead.

"What's up?" he asks.

"You think you're holding on tight enough?"

He smiles, the one that usually has me melting in my panties, but this time it does nothing to turn me on. "I thought you liked it rough…" he says against my ear, but his voice still echoes by the way Mike smiles over at me all douchebaggery like.

"Not tonight." I wiggle around until his fingers loosen and fall away.

He grasps me again, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. "All right. All right. I get it. Lighten up. Point taken."

He leans down to kiss me, and standing here with his arms holding me so tenderly, it almost feels like he's my boyfriend. I have about point two five seconds before those talented lips of his make contact, and it's like a test. A test of my resolve and overall beliefs.

I turn my head before he touches. "What's with you tonight?"

He's silent, his breath warm on my neck as his entire body freezes right against mine, those strong muscles tense. "Edward is watching us."

I'm able to shift my head just enough, turning toward where I last saw my boy, and sure enough, he is. Angela is hanging onto his arm, sipping some fruity little drink, talking in his ear, her arm rubbing his stomach, just above his belt line, and he's looking over here, at us, at me.

I ignore him. "What does Edward have to do with anything?"

Jasper pulls away, his blue eyes staring so deeply, so accusingly into mine. "Are you blind?"

Probably but that isn't something I like to think about, so I pull away. "I need another drink. You want anything?"

He turns toward the party, his eyes wandering the crowd as finishes off the last of his beer. "Sure."

I don't wait for him to saying anything else. Him, the crowds, the laughter and gossip and sex acts taking place on the dance floor and in the shadows is stifling. The night air is colder now. It has a bit of nip to it, and I instantly regret coming outside. But the silence that engulfs me as soon as the door shuts is enough to make it worth it, so I cherish these few moments of solitude.

It's beautiful. The early winter frost in the air, sparkling against the porch's wood in the full moon light. It's like I haven't ever seen winter before. More like after having endured, lived, loved, the superficial life of parties, boys, and sex, something as simple as a sheen of ice is…alluring.

That is until my world of hush is ruined by the slam of wood on wood. Light shines from one of the bedrooms, and I see Edward pushed in backwards. Angela soon follows, this seductive little smile on her lips as she slowly unbuttons her blouse. Boy says something, putting his hands on her shoulders, stopping her forward walk, and then he's falling, covered by olive skin, sun-kissed highlights, and perfectly plump peachy lips.

I've never felt so alone in my solitude before.