Chapter Six
Late May, 2000
"What the fuck was that, Edward?" Emmett asked him as soon as Edward stepped into the room. He had been gone a week, off with his 'fiancée' and had just arrived in LA for the filming of their second video, "As Long As You Love Me".
"What was what, Emmett?" Edward asked, his chin jutting out in defiance.
"I believe, what Emmett is trying to ask is how in the hell you could be fucking around with groupies when you are affianced." Carlisle put in, looking somewhat disgusted with Edward himself.
Edward blew out a breath. "Look, it's none of your business, okay?"
"Like hell it isn't!" Emmett bellowed. "You are out there laying everything in a skirt and you're fucking engaged?"
Edward shot him a look. "I seem to remember you having a girlfriend back home, and I also seem to remember you having a piece of ass in that bus, same as me."
"Jamie and I broke up." Emmett said. "So I've got a free pass. You, however, don't. You disgust me, man."
"I don't want Tanya." Edward told them.
Emmett snorted. "So, what? You ain't got the balls to tell her? You knock her up?"
"God, no." Edward said, shaking his head at the suggestion. "No, of course not. She's a good girl. She's from one of the wealthiest families in Chicago. Her father and mine…insisted on the marriage."
"So, stand up to the prick!" Emmett roared. "End it fucking now, Edward. You're stringing her along! You don't want her." Then, a thought occurred to Emmett. "Did you ever even love her?"
Edward shook his head. "No, I don't love her."
That was all it took to set Emmett off. He let out a roar and went toward Edward. Jasper stepped in at the last minute and said, "Emmett! Enough! He's not you. He's not your brother. And, even though he acts like it, he's not Alexis."
"Who's Alexis?" Edward asked.
Jasper looked at Edward. "Emmett's brother's girlfriend. She cheated and broke his brother's heart. He's in the army."
"Fucking bitch. And you're no better!" Emmett said, moving forward again. "You're nothing but a whore bag, Edward!"
Edward's eyes narrowed. "At least I'm not pining away after a girl that doesn't even exist!"
"Hey!" Jake spoke up defensively. "I'm not even in your argument, Edward! That's unfair."
"I see you. You're pathetic, Jake. Mooning after some girl from your dreams or shit. True love is just a fucking joke." Edward said with a snort.
Jake opened his mouth and shut it quickly. It was true. He believed in true love, believed there was this one girl out there for him. He had written songs about her…as a matter of fact, their next one was one he'd written. He didn't know who she was, or when he would meet her, but he knew she existed.
"Well, at least I'm not a rat bastard son of a bitch." Jake said finally.
That was all it took for Edward to jump at Jake. Carlisle stepped in, but Jake was all the more eager to rip Edward's throat out. That caused Emmett to want to join in the fray again, keeping Jasper's hands full of the bear-like man.
So busy in their arguing, they didn't hear the door open until a feminine voice said, "And what the hell have you five gotten yourselves into now?"
They all stopped. "Alice?" Carlisle said.
She smiled. "You know, I came to get you guys in shape for your new video, not baby sit a bunch of toddlers. If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed at home in Hotlanta and had me about a million babies by now."
They all smiled at her, and for now, at least, their argument was forgotten as she quickly began directing them and their movements.
Hours later, they were holed up in the house Phil had rented for them, holding ice bags to their sore muscles once more.
"Ya know, one would think we'd get used to this." Emmett said as he popped the top on a Root Beer.
Jasper snorted as he fell down next to him. "Nope, I think the little demon spawn is just trying to whip us into submission. She'd make one hell of a dominatrix."
Emmett grinned. "All that leather over that tiny little body…fucking whip in her hand…"
"Five inch heeled boots…" Jasper continued.
They both sighed. "Flip ya for her?" Emmett asked, holding out a coin.
Jasper shook his head. "She's too high-strung for me. She's all yours."
Emmett frowned internally. That wasn't the answer he wanted. There was something about Alice…it made Emmett want to protect her, like a sister. He wasn't interested in her like that. Though, the thoughts of her in leather and a whip did make not-so-little Emmett lift his weary head in interest. No, he just had this feeling like maybe Alice could be something for Jasper…but… "It's still bothering you, about Miya, isn't it?"
Jasper sighed. "Dude, just…drop it, okay?"
Emmett nodded. "You hear from your mom?"
"Other than her demanding money? Nope. Not a thing."
"Man, I'm sorry…"
Jasper shook his head. "Look…I'm going to bed, okay? I'll talk to ya in the morning, alright?"
Emmett looked at his friend, could easily see the hurt on his face, in his eyes. "Okay, see you then."
Jasper nodded and stood. He dropped his bag of ice in the kitchen sink and made his way to his bedroom. Once there, he flopped onto the bed. Life sucks, he thought. Mom is...no, don't, Jasper, don't think about her. It's only when you have to be home…
Why someone hadn't taken him from her when he was younger, he'd never know. But…she was good at hiding the abuse, and Jasper had been more than a little ashamed of it. How do you admit, going through school that you weren't a virgin at ten years old? That your mother had made you…
He swallowed hard. Nope, not going there, Jazzy boy. Just suck it up, deal with it…let it go. It's over now. She and her hordes of boyfriends used you…it's all but over.
Except…it wasn't over. And the last visit home had proven that.
Flashback
Emmett dropped Jasper off at his house and Jasper sighed. Time to face the music. He stepped inside and said, "Mama?"
"Jasper? 'Bout damned time you brought your sorry ass home." She said from her chair. The room smelled of stale cigarette smoke and cheap whiskey.
"Sorry, Mama." Jasper said as he hung his head.
"It's alright, baby boy. Come, give Mommy a kiss…"
Jasper swallowed hard. It's okay, Jasper…everything will be fine… He leaned down and kissed her cheek. She pouted that overly-injected lip at him. "Is that all I get? After all I've done for you?"
He kissed her lips and her hands tightened in his hair as she pulled him closer. "You have always been such a pretty boy." She purred as she pulled away. "You always know how to please Mama."
Jasper swallowed the bile that rose in his throat as he put on his charm smile, already unfastening his belt. He knew what came next. "Well, Mama did teach me well…"
End Flashback
He woke with a start, jumping up and running to the bathroom to vomit. He sank onto the floor and sobbed. Yes, he had sex with his mother, had been, from the time he was ten. It was awful, degrading, wrong, he knew that, but he was powerless to stop it. In the ten years since, he'd never known how to end it. He stayed away, sent her money, but every time he would come home, she would demand it. And if he didn't comply…she would get one of her boyfriends over. And that was always worse. The pain and humiliation of those brutes was tenfold compared to what she would inflict upon him.
He managed to crawl out to his duffle bag, hating himself for what he was about to do. But he needed it. Just to get him past this…just one little high…
He had just found the bag when the lights flipped on, Emmett said, "Jasper, no!" And all but fell onto him.
Jasper started sobbing then. "Em! I need it!"
"No, you don't. Remember? We've gotten through this before."
"No…no more memories! Not tonight!"
Emmett grabbed him, hugging him to him tightly. He'd been Jasper's anti-drug since they were fourteen. "Man, you know you've kicked this before…let's get you some of that pain medicine with the sleeping stuff in it, okay? I'll stay here, keep the nightmares at bay…" Emmett had never known what demons tortured his best friend, it had been an unwritten rule not to ask, not after that first time. "Dude, what did she do to you this time?" Though, he had always suspected Jasper's mother was behind all of this sorrow.
"N-n-nothing, man," Jasper said, now that the cold sweats were starting. He'd been good, he'd stayed away from the cocaine most of the time, and the heroin was only a handful of times anyway. But there were times he just needed the break from reality, needed the high that came with the drugs…to forget…everything.
Emmett sighed. "I asked you to stay with me and my family. Dude, why do you go back?"
"Sh-sh-she's my mom." Jasper answered, sounding more like a child than a twenty year old man.
Emmett pulled him closer. "I'm here, man, I'm never leavin' your side, you know that, right?"
"Y-y-yeah, Em, I know. Thanks."
They both fell asleep an hour later, once the medicine had kicked in for Jasper. Most people might find it strange that Emmett would hold Jasper when he was in the worst of his nightmares, but they didn't know how close their bond was. No, they didn't love one another, not as lovers, but they did love one another as much as they could. And Emmett knew that he was the only one really there for Jasper. Miya had proven that.
PAGE BREAK
A few days later, they were ready for their video. They were in an abandoned warehouse…or at least, that was what it was supposed to look like.
"What the fuck?! Shit! We're short a damned actress!" The director yelled.
"Ali can do it." Jake spoke up from where he was standing talking to Emmett.
Alice's head popped up. She was amid the other girls, giving them their cues for the slight bit of choreography they'd need. "I…what?"
Jake grinned. "You can do it. You're the bomb. You're cute, you already know the moves…please?"
She shot him a look. "Only because you're the sweet, innocent one."
"Innocent until the day he dies." Edward growled.
Jake's eyes narrowed, but Alice surprised them both when she popped Edward on the back of the head. "Don't be a dick, Edward. Just because you give out your shit for free doesn't mean everyone does. I'm still a virgin and damned proud of the fact."
Edward snorted. "Whatever, Ali."
As he walked off, Alice yelled after him, "I'm only Ali to my friends! You keep acting like a dick and you'll be calling me Miss Brandon!"
Jake snickered and Alice gave him a high-five. Just then they noticed Emmett looking like he had been hit up side of his head. "Emmett?"
He blinked. "Who is that?"
Alice looked at the girl he was ogling. "Rosalie Hale. She's one of the actresses. You'd do well to stay away from her though, Em."
"Why?" He asked, still not moving his eyes from her beautiful frame.
"That's why." Alice said as a man walked in. You could smell the pompous rolling off of him as he grasped Rosalie's wrist roughly. They could hear him arguing at her from where they stood.
"Rose! I told you to wait for me!" He screamed at her. "Now you've wasted money on cab fair from the hotel…"
"I'm sorry, Royce," She said softly, a trace of tears in her voice. "I didn't want to be late for my first music video, and I just thought…"
"You don't get paid to think, Rosalie. I am your agent. I was on a rather important call. They need you for a fashion shoot in New York tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? But Royce…"
"No buts. As soon as you finish this, we'll be off. If you do well at this, you may be the next face of Calvin Kline for women."
Emmett's eyes finally left the woman when she squealed and threw her arms around the man, kissing him quite intimately.
"See what I mean?" Alice asked softly. "Sorry, Emmett."
He shook it off. "Hey, it's all good. I can just flirt with you, right?"
Alice rolled her eyes just as the director said, "Okay, everyone! Places!"
The five boys got into position. "ACTION!" The director yelled.
It took a handful of takes, but they were really happy with the final product. "Alright, guys, we'll get this edited. Go on, blow out of here!" Phil said eagerly as soon as they finished the last shot. It was late in the evening now.
"Wanna go blow off some steam?" Jasper asked Emmett, eyeing the petite brunette across the room. Her name was…Gina? Gianna? Something like that…
"Man, are you sure?" Emmett asks.
"I'm not a pansy, Emmett." Jasper growled.
"I know, I just…I don't wanna see you hurt…"
"You want me to stay off the drugs? Then I need pussy. Pronto."
Emmett couldn't quite help the grin. "Well, if you're sure…" He shot another glance at Rosalie, who was talking with her boyfriend/agent and followed Jasper to the girls, where Edward and Carlisle was also standing. "So, ladies…you want to go out and have some fun?"
PAGE BREAK
"Ready to see it?" Phil asked as they all piled into the editing booth the next day.
The five band mates eagerly nodded and waited.
VIDEO:
The five guys are standing around. Carlisle is on a cell phone, Edward is dribbling a basketball. You see some men coming in, setting up something, then, in slow motion, a group of women walk in…and all the guys take notice.
All:
As long as you love me…
Rosalie, who is now sitting in an office chair behind the desk, motions over for one of the boys. The camera pans to Jake, who gives her a look that clearly says, "Who? Me?" She nods. Edward adjusts Jake's jacket, and he walks up to the microphone and begins to sing, occasionally switching wardrobes as the camera moves before coming back to him sing.
Jake:
Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine
I'm leaving my life in your hands
People say I'm crazy and that I am blind
Risking it all in a glance
And how you got me blind is still a mystery
Edward comes up to the microphone and sings with him;
I can't get you out of my head
Edward walks away, leaving just Jake singing.
Don't care what is written in your history
Emmett comes up to him, along with Edward and together, they sing,
As long as you're here with me
Chorus: All. As they sing, Rosalie starts flipping buttons on a remote control, morphing each boy into the other while they dance.
I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me
Edward: (wearing a green shirt that brings out the color of his eyes, making them pop)
Every little thing that you have said and done
Emmett comes up and lends his voice
Feels like it's deep within me
Edward takes back over for only a moment, you hear the voice-over as it shows him in an array of different costumes and clothing, goofing off.
Doesn't really matter if you're on the run
Jake and Emmett assist him once more
It seems like we're meant to be
Chorus:
I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me
During the instrumental portion of the song, the video changes to the boys walking over, grabbing the remote from Rosalie and the girls, including Alice, begin to morph into funny outfits and sexy little numbers as the guys sit behind the desk, watching.
Bridge:
I've tried to hide it so that no one knows
But I guess it shows
When you look into my eyes
What you did and where you are comin' from
I don't care, as long as you love me, baby.
Chorus:
I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me
Rosalie comes up to them then and takes the remote back, changing them all back to how they were before, so that the boys are once more on display.
Who you are
Where you're from
Don't care what you did
As long as you love me
When the song finishes, the boys leave out the front door. The girls all walk out of the warehouse, morphing once more into fun-loving girls, screaming after the guys…
"That was great." Jake said.
"So, you guys ready to tour outside of the US?" Phil asked them.
They all nodded eagerly.
"Good. You get a few weeks to rest up. We need to get you working on new songs. I know we just released that first album, but it won't be long and we'll need another one. I bought you five a house in Nashville. I expect you to all be together at least most of the time. No buts. Feel free to party, but keep it to a minimum. We want the tweeners to be all excited about you and do not want their mother's flipping out, alright?"
They all nodded.
"Good. I'm sending a songwriter to work with you as well, she's one of the best."
"A girl?" Jake asked, surprised.
Phil nodded. "I'm a bit biased though."
"Oh? Why is that?" Edward asked offhandedly as he looked at one of the secretaries as they walked out of the sound room.
"Because, she's also my step-daughter."
AN2: YES! Bella makes an appearance. Oh my…Edward's a man whore, he's engaged to Tanya…what will happen with Bella?
And don't worry, Ness will be making an appearance very soon. She's still QUITE young, you know. She can't be thinking about happily ever after! Even if Jake already is!
