CHAPTER 36

JASPER

"Alice!" I shouted back to back with Emmett.

We're around the Cathedral, looking everywhere for her.

"This is my fault." I hissed under my breath as I wiped away a strand of hair plastered on my forehead. I was soaking wet with rain, but I didn't care.

"Excuse me, sir!" I ran after a pedestrian who was coming down from the steps. "Have you seen a girl about my age around here? She has short hair, strange green eyes…"

The man stopped on his tracks, then turned to me. "Is this girl really short and pixie like?"

"Yeah, yes sir, that's her!" I felt hope. Emmett was beside me in a split second. "Did you see her?"

"Of course young man." He chuckled. "She's inside the chapel. She passed out on the steps, so I brought her there a while ago. Just ask the caretaker."

Emmett slapped my shoulder. "Thank you sir." He called out before leading me to the chapel.

"Hello?" Emmett's voice echoed back as we entered the huge church.

A woman in her mid 40s approached us, looking us up and down.

"What can I do for you at this time?" She smiled, peering through her glasses.

"We're looking for the caretaker." I said dumbly.

"You got her." She chuckled.

"Oh, sorry." I smiled sheepishly. "A man said you have my girlfriend here."

"You must be Jazzy!" Her eyes lit up with understanding. "Come on in."

"It's Jasper." I explained, following her behind. Emmett couldn't hide his chuckle.

The woman led us to a little room, lit only by a torch. Alice was unconscious on the bed, shivering as she called out my name.

"Here are her things. Her phone's soaked, I'm afraid." She handed me a duffel bag, a tin can, and her cellphone, which was definitely ruined.

"I'll get a cab, and I'll call Bella and Edward." Emmett went out, dialing on his phone.

"I'm sorry Alice. I'm so sorry. It's my fault." I knelt down to touch her forehead. It was burning. "I'll take care of you, okay?"

I held her hand throughout the car ride, kissing her knuckles every once in a while.

She continued shivering, her lips were almost white, and I started panicking.

"Em, I think we should just bring her to the hospital."

"No, Jasper, I've talked to Bella. Her mom can handle this. Alice's Dad will know if we brought her to the hospital, and believe me, we wouldn't want him to know."

I sighed. "I'm sorry baby…" That was all I could say. Guilt was eating me up slowly, I wished I was the one who was shivering with cold, not her.

I laid Alice in bed that night, never leaving her side. Bella's mother made home remedies, instructing me to wipe her body with warm towels every now and then, which I did.

I barely slept, Alice kept tossing and turning, mumbling my name. Her temperature went down when morning came, much to my relief.

I rushed to the kitchen to get her breakfast. Bella was cooking something when I got there.

"Happy Birthday." I pecked her on the cheek, she hugged me lightly.

"Thanks Jazz. How's Alice?"

"She's better, I guess. She's awake." I said. "Wanna see her?"

"Later. I'm cooking, see?" She smiled, stirring whatever was on the pot.

"I was just getting her breakfast. Do we have soup here?"

"Yeah, Mom prepared something for her. It's on the table. Careful Jasper. That's hot." She chuckled. "I'll wake our friends up soon."

"Okay. Just please ask them to be quiet, okay? My baby needs some rest." I grinned, carrying the tray back to the room.

"Good morning baby…" I put the tray down the bedside table, then kissed her on the forehead.

"Jazzy…" She sobbed, hugging me tighter than ever. "I'm so sorry Jazz… I'm sorry…"

"Shh… Don't stress yourself. You need some rest. And it's my fault. Please forgive me, Alice?"

"Of course Jazz. I love you." She knelt on the bed, putting her arms around me as we showed how we miss each other through a kiss. We were gasping for air when it ended. I smiled against her lips, suddenly, life was beautiful again.

"Guys, we're going to Burnham! Are you joining us?" Emmett was suddenly standing on the doorway.

"How long have you been there?" I was startled.

"Long enough to see your little reconciliation." He laughed. "So, are you coming with us?"

"No, Alice needs to rest some more. We'll tour the city later."

"Okay! Enjoy your alone time!" He said, making Alice blush deeply as she looked down, smiling.

I heard our friends singing "Happy Birthday" to Bella as they piled out of the house for their little tour. Bella poked her head in the room before going, saying goodbye to Alice.

We spent the whole day in bed, cuddling and watching a movie. Alice was almost well when nighttime began, and she asked me to take her out strolling, so I obliged.

"Where are you going?" Rosalie asked as we passed by the couch where she and Emmett were cuddling.

"We're going to Burnham!" Alice happily announced, her arm wrapped around my waist. I squeezed her gently, showing how much I've missed her.

"If you want, you could go to the Bistro later. Emmett's playing there." Rosalie beamed with pride, Emmett kissed her cheek.

"Okay, if Alice doesn't get too tired." I said, waving goodbye. "We better get going, baby." I put my arms protectively at the small of her back as I lead her out on the street.

"Hi guys." Jessica greeted as we skidded down the street. She and Maria were eating outside.

"Have fun!" She called as Alice and I walked hand in hand, all smiles.

I placed a picnic mat on the grass, motioning for Alice to sit on my lap as I sat down on it. She smiled widely, putting her hands around my neck as I cradled her gently.

"I've missed you." She rubbed her nose against mine, her hearty laughter filled the romantic silence in the park.

"You don't know how I've suffered baby. I miss you more than you could imagine." I smiled, then tickled her sides as she laughed again, rolling on the mat.

I lay down beside her, we stayed silent for a moment. Her arms were still around me in a hug. She was always affectionate and sweet, and I love her.

"Jazz?"

"Yes baby?" I kissed the tip of her nose. She closed her eyes, and God… I've just seen the most beautiful angel I'll ever see.

"I love astronomy. Just look at these stars, Jazz. Point out to me your favorite star." She turned her head to me, looking expectantly.

Gently, I raised one finger and caressed her soft cheek. "Here." I said, my finger lingering on her face. "You are my favorite star. Nothing can outshine you."

She kissed my lips softly, the sensation made me shiver. There was an edge to her kiss, I just couldn't tell what, but I loved it.

"Jazzy, look there." She pointed at the sky. "Can you see that star right there? The biggest one that stands out?"

"Yes. It's beautiful, but not as much as you are." I answered with a smile.

"Be serious!" She chuckled, slapping my arm playfully. I rolled over her so she was lying beneath me, my face just centimeters away from hers.

"I'm serious, Miss Brandon." I breathed in her ear. I felt her shiver under me. I leaned in to close the distance between our lips, and once again, I felt loved. I felt complete.

"I love you so much Alice." I rolled off to lie beside her again, taking her hand and putting her palm against my chest. "So what's that you're saying about that star again?"

"That's my favorite star. I call her Goodbye, personally."

"Goodbye? Why is that?" I was just curious. This girl's so unique, naming a star, and naming it 'Goodbye'.

"Because I hate goodbyes. They always break my heart. That's why when I was little, I picked the brightest star on the horizon, and named it Goodbye. I told myself that when someone goes, I'd just look up in the sky, look for Goodbye, and I'd be sad no more, because the people I miss are just like stars. They may be far away, but somewhere here in my heart, they'll always shine. And I used to tell my little self, 'they're just there, just look up in the sky, they're looking down at you'." She paused to squeeze my hand. "It really helped, thinking we're just sleeping underneath the same big sky, no matter how far apart we might be."

"Why are you saying these to me?" For a moment, I was scared. Thoughts filled my mind. Was she leaving me?

"Jazz, I just wanted you to know more about me. When I was alone on that chapel, it was very cold and dark, and it was raining… I didn't see my star, but the skies were still there, so I thought I should not be scared, for wherever you were, I knew you're not too far. You're still somewhere underneath the same sky."

"Alice, will you promise me something?" I looked at her seriously.

"Depends." She teased, smiling and wrinkling her cute nose.

"Promise me you wouldn't do that again. You worried me to death." I held my pinky finger up.

Alice didn't speak. She just intertwined her pinky finger with mine, and I knew exactly that moment, I won.

"I'm sorry…" I did not know what to say, so I just hugged her close to me. "I'm sorry I was not there when you needed me most."

"You're wrong." She looked up at me. "You're here." She pointed a finger to where her heart was beating. "Always."

**

Eep! Fluffy! I hope this makes up for my earlier shortcomings? Review? Please!!!

LOVE FOR JAZZY ALWAYS, this was written for you. Thank you for your nice reviews, even though sometimes I don't deserve them. ;)

MUSIC: If You're Not The One by Daniel Beddingfield

You could also try listening to Nikki Gil's version. It's also good.

And yeah, Happy Valentines Day!