Getting drunk the night before a wedding had likely been a poor choice, particularly when he was the best man. Yet, despite the mild hangover and lack of sleep, it was a choice Jasper couldn't bring himself to regret. Not when he'd fallen asleep the previous evening unable to stop thinking about the past few days, particularly the woman who'd stormed into his life once again and overturned everything. Especially not when he'd awoken that morning, finally seeing everything with crystal clarity.
Everything finally made sense, his friends and family all calling him an idiot, his mother's off behavior, even Emmett's anger directed his way recently. It was Alice, of course it was Alice. Jasper had done so much to bury her memory, convinced himself that there was no way she would ever return. It had never occurred to him that Alice could be the mystery girl. He had never felt so stupid in his life. Everyone was right; he was an idiot.
As he rushed through getting up that morning in a hurry to drive himself, Alice, and Charlotte out to the church to set up, Jasper mulled over this recent revelation. He may have been a fool, but this time he wouldn't let her leave without putting everything on the table. This time he had a plan.
The morning was spent carrying chairs and tables into the church and reception hall. Helping put up the decor meant to sit higher on the walls, he being the obvious choice to help with the task after all given his height. And consoling a nervous Emmett who, at some point throughout the morning, had convinced himself Rosalie would change her mind at the last minute.
He couldn't help himself from glancing at Alice anytime they were in the same room, torn between wanting to cut to the chase then and there and his plans for later on in the evening. It was only the thought that the woman likely had enough on her plate dealing with his cousin that kept him from spilling then and there.
The ceremony had gone off flawlessly; Rosalie had in fact, not 'seen better sense' at the last moment, as Emmett had phrased his worries. Alice, however, had his attention captivated from the moment she'd walked down the aisle arm in arm with Riley. Hid breath had hitched in his throat upon seeing her as memories of their youth overflowed him, and he was able to pinpoint the exact moment he knew he was head over heels in love with Alice Brandon. The moment he knew even as a teenager, she was the one.
It was at a bonfire, one of many they had every summer. Jasper had been chatting with some friends from school when he'd looked across the yard at Alice laughing with Charlotte. He'd been crushing on her for quite a while, but something about that moment. The ethereal way she looked in the firelight, her wide smile and flushed cheeks from the laughter. Everything changed. It was the same gut feeling he had now watching the woman make her way down the aisle, stumbling slightly towards the end of the journey. Jasper had been so caught up in all things Alice he'd been only half present during the ceremony that Riley had needed to elbow him when it was time to hand over the ring to Emmett.
Once the ceremony had ended the wedding party had been lead outside, his heart went out to the girls. Posing for all the required photos Emmett had wanted was time-consuming enough. All the extra shots Rosalie wanted with her bridesmaids had to be too much for the woman who he knew hadn't yet had a chance to eat.
Once the photos had finally ended, the bridal party had made their grand entrance. Over dinner, Jasper made his best man speech, and as soon as the dances started he ventured outside for some fresh air. He, followed by Riley, joined a waiting Maria who stood outside with a smuggled-in bottle of Jack. Being at a winery near the church, the reception didn't allow outside alcohol to be brought in. Of course, those rules would never stop someone like Maria.
As they passed the bottle between them, he could hear the DJ announcing various required dances, albeit faintly. Once he overheard the announcement of the mother son-dance where his own mother would be dancing with Emmett as a stand-in for the late Mrs. Brandon, he wasn't surprised in the least to see Alice step outside with a mournful expression.
"Hey, girlie!" Maria called out to Alice just a bit too loudly, already a bit tipsy. The woman hadn't needed to spend the morning preparing the event space. Jasper wouldn't be surprised if she had engaged in a bit of pre-gaming. "We're doing pulls; want one?"
"I'm not feeling alcohol at the moment, so I'll pass on this one." Alice smiled, turning to walk away.
"Aww, come on Ali, you gone all boring city girl on us?" Maria was treading dangerous waters. Maria may not be as aware of Alice's movements and expressions as Jasper was, and yes, it had been years since he'd last seen her. But Alice never backed down from a challenge; he wasn't interested in seeing the two women go into friendly competition mode.
Alice narrowed her eyes, crossing the short distance between the two of them in confident strides as a half-smile formed on her lips. "Give it here."
"I was kidding, babe; you don't have to."
"Nope, don't you dare doubt me, Maria Moreno. Give me the bottle." Maria hesitated before she tentatively handed over the bottle with a slight shake of the head. While everyone was anticipating a swig, Alice defied expectations chugging a good quarter of the bottle before lowering it was a slight grimace and shake of the head.
"That's my girl." Jasper let slip before he could think the statement through, unable to help being proud of the girl for never failing to hold her own.
"Your girl, huh? I like the sound of that." She teased, eyeing him with a flirty smirk, brushing his arm lightly as she returned to the reception hall. He almost thought it might have been on purpose. "But you'll have to answer my question before you can claim that title."
"Can I at least dance with you?" He'd asked following her inside. He needed her to dance with him; it was part of the plan. When she remained silent in contemplation, he held out a hand. "Please?"
Alice took his outstretched hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor just as the song changed from something upbeat to 'In Case You Didn't Know' started to play. Suddenly nervous, Jasper held her close, silently swaying, badly, along with to the music. His intentions were to take Alice back outside after they shared a dance and sit down with her outside on the bench overlooking the river. Then, alone in the romantic spot, he would tell her everything. That he remembered who she was, that he missed having her in his life, and he'd been in love with her since high school.
However, when the song ended, he couldn't bring himself to let go. For her part, Alice didn't seem far too anxious to move either, so they stayed that way for the next five songs.
As the sixth song began to play, Alice shifted in his arms, slightly lifting her head as she spoke, "Hey Jas?"
Despite his earlier plans, this moment felt right. So with a surge of confidence, he responded. "Yes, Alice?" Putting emphasis on her name, finally spoken for the first time in years.
"You remember." She spoke almost silently, pulling away from him just enough to look up at him fully. Any lingering questions he had about if she would return her feeling dissipated as soon as he saw the pure joy shining in her eyes. "How long?"
"This morning."
"Why didn't you say anything!"
"You," He spun her out, causing her to giggle, "have been playing with me all week Alice. Maybe I wanted some revenge."
"Fair enough," she giggled, and he felt as though everything was going to be alright. To Jasper's shock, though, as he twirled her back in, the woman froze in his arms in a way he was unfortunately all too familiar with. Something had happened judging by the way she stared wide-eyed at the spot just over his shoulder.
The air in the room quickly became tense as the guests who joined them on the dance floor turned to tensely stare at whatever was behind him that had Alice so terrified that she was shaking in his arms. He'd just opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong when it all became obvious.
He spun around, holding Alice's hand tightly in order to make a run for it if necessary, to see the very much unwelcome voice of Edgar Brandon shouting and shoving his way over to the head table where Emmett and Rosalie sat. He was screaming about how his only son hadn't invited him to the wedding. Jasper felt his chest tighten in rage as Jasper made mental calculations while keeping Alice protectively hidden behind him. Jasper wanted, as he had for years, to stalk over there and clock the pathetic excuse for a man in the jaw. Memories of every night Alice had called crying, looking for a place to stay. Of every time he'd dropped what he was doing to help her sneak out and bring her back to the ranch where his family would keep her safe.
Alice, though had to be the priority. Edgar could not know she was there. She would not endure a confrontation with her father if he could help it. So wordlessly, he turned back to face her, carefully guiding the woman through the crowd to the back exit as quietly as possible. Just as they were within feet of the door, the very drunken Edgar had chosen that moment to glance over in their direction, catching sight of the duo. The man rushed through the crowd pushing past anyone in his way with determination to reach the pair.
Jasper tucked Alice behind him once again, grateful to see Maria making her way through the crowd. Other than Emmett and Jasper, Maria being Alice's best friend, knew better than anyone in the room just what was potentially about to go down.
"Back off," Maria called out, standing next to Jasper just as Edger stopped in front of the trio.
"Jus' wanna speak to my daughter."
"Yeah, well, I think you know that's not happening on our watch." Jasper glared down, narrowing his eyes as his lips curled in disgust.
It happened quickly, the drunk man shouted out, "Come here, Mary-Alice." As he lunged forward, the woman in question made a break for the door, and an enraged Maria stood between the scene and the exit as though daring the man to come closer.
Unable to reach Alice, Edgar switched courses grabbing at Jasper instead, who quickly shoved the man off of him onto the floor just as the police someone had the sense to call had arrived.
Once Edgar had been arrested, Jasper and Maria had given statements that included the events of so long ago, and both friends were dismissed; they ventured outside to find Alice sitting stiffly on a decorative rock breathing deeply in and out. She'd jumped when the door opened but relaxed upon seeing that it wasn't her father.
As though it was routine, and unfortunately it was, Maria took a seat on the rock next to her friend, wrapping a comforting arm around the girl. Jasper stood in front of them, allowing himself to breathe deeply as the rage and adrenaline wore down.
Finally, once he was confident Alice was calmed down enough, he crouched down in front of her squeezing her hand gently as he asked, "Wanna go home?"