Shout out to my friend J for letting me interview him on cowboy stuff.

Shout out to my small farm town full of cowboys for giving me so much experience with those types and, more importantly, for all the years of pent up thoughts on the subject. I hope I painted you southern cryptids in something of positive light.

This one is dedicated to Lilia because I 100% would have slept on this prompt if I wasn't worried about her killing me. Please enjoy the fluffy yeehaw, ma'am.

Wednesday

"I'm so fucking late." Alice thought to herself as she hunched over the hood of the car one-handed. Her height made this task difficult enough on its own, nevermind having to do it with one hand as the other held her phone as a torch. When the car pulled over behind her, she was tentatively hopeful, either someone would be able to help her get the piece of garbage car up and running, or she was about to be murdered.

"What seems to be the problem, little lady?" A voice called out in a thick Texan accent, one that she only kind of missed. Only on those days when she thought of him, she'd have to deal with that soon enough. For now, she really did need to get off the highway. She was flooded with relief as she turned around, though soon enough was apparently right now; a friendly face was more than she could hope for. "Jasper, thank GOD. I have no idea what's wrong with this thing. Think I could hitch a ride to town?"

Rather than look at him, she pulled out her phone, quickly ordering a tow truck to get the now useless car off the road. She hoped to high heaven that the phone screen didn't illuminate the blush she could feel setting into her cheeks. Turns out, being away for five years did not reduce the impact your high school crush had on you.

"My apologies, ma'am," She looked up at that, glad to know he was still polite as always. That man didn't have a mean bone in his body, one of the many things she found exceptionally attractive. "But I can't seem to recall having met you."

That caused her to roll her eyes, less happy to know he was still a jokester. "Hahaha, very funny, Jas. Seriously though, we're both super late, and the toe truck is already on its... way..." She looked up to a bashful apologetic smile; realization hit her, causing her to double over in laughter. "Holy shit, you really don't remember me, do you? That's too fucking funny."

"I'm sorry I don't, but if you'd let me buy you a drink, I'd love to catch up."

"Are... are you trying to flirt with me now?" It was too much; this was quite possibly the most hilarious thing to have ever happened to her. A devious grin spread across her face; she always had like playing games with him; why stop now. "Tell you what, when you can remember who I am, if you still want to ask me out, I'll go on a date with you."

"Do I get any hints?" As expected, he responded positively to the idea.

"Oh no, you have to figure it out on your own. Now help me into your ridiculously oversized truck... like you used to."

"Ma'am," He chuckled as he lifted her up, "I reckon that's a hint of sorts."

"It's whatever you want it to be, cowboy." She buckled up and pulled out her cell once again, tapping out a message to her soon to be sister in law. She explained the situation and begged her to inform all their friends to not tell Jasper her name. He had to figure this one out on his own.

Jasper tried questioning her the entire ride to the restaurant. She had quickly given him a set of ground rules; he couldn't ask her about her life before age twenty, her family, or how she knew anyone in town. So he asked about her line of work, hobbies, etc.

She responded by giving out as little information as possible, thinking that things would click as soon as they got to the restaurant. She was wrong.

Walking into the restaurant, the first person to greet them was Jasper's little sister Charlotte.

"It's great to see you again!" The woman wrapped her up in a hug before turning to Jasper. "You're an absolute idiot. How could you not remember her? And after what you did..."

"What exactly did I do?" He looked at his sister with pleading eyes hoping she would bail him out like she usually did when he got in trouble.

"No, I'm not helping you this time, bro. You deserve it." With a flip of her hair, she left him standing there.

"What did you do?" He leaned down to whisper. "How does my sister already know about our deal?"

"I may or may not have asked the bride to inform her guests of our little arrangement. Or did you think I'd let you off that easy? You may not remember, but I am a formidable opponent, Mr. Whitlock."

"Game on, little lady." He smirked at her fondly, causing her heart to race, God she'd missed that look.

He looked as though he wanted to say something when Emmett came bounding up to the pair picking up Alice into a giant bear hug. He set her down before turning to Jasper. "Thanks for giving this one a ride, man. I keep telling her to replace that old car and get a truck."

"I'll die before anyone catches me driving one of those monstrosities you country boys think are so cool. By the way, your lift kit makes you look like a douchebag. Besides, that cars got sentimental value."

"You bought it off a farm for $300 five years ago. What sort of sentimental value could it possibly have child?"

"Okay, not a child. I'm twenty-five, so get that straight. You don't know the whole story behind how I got that car, so you can just move right along." Emmett laughed as he walked away, obliging the request to greet more of his guests. Meanwhile, Alice reflected on a memory.

"I think you've got it, Al." Jasper nodded approvingly from the passenger's seat. They had been cruising along backroads for weeks now. After she'd informed him, she didn't dive because she didn't know how; his immediate response had been to teach her. "Could probably go take the test tomorrow. I got time in the afternoon."

"I don't have anything to take it in, but at least now I can drive in an emergency. Like next time you or Emmet hurt yourselves actin' like idiots."

"I'll sell ya this one. $300, never use it anyway since I got the truck now. Just sits around collectin dust."

"Daddy's gonna kill me for gettin a license; I don't even wanna know how he'd react to my gettin a car."

"Keep it at my place then," He'd shrugged.

"Why are you so adamant about selling me this car." She questioned him.

"Don't worry about it." He looked away from her flustered, "It's yours whether you pay me or not, so get over it. Now drive us back to my place so I can take you home. It's gettin' late."

"You alright, Ma'am?" Jasper's voice in the present brought her back to reality.

"Yeah, just remembering something."

The rest of the dinner had gone off without a hitch; Jasper followed her around, waiting for someone to slip and give up her name. Alice greeted numerous friends from her childhood, and thankfully no one spoiled her game, many of them actually insulting Jasper's intelligence. She'd been a bit concerned Maria would give her away. Her former best friend had been so excited to introduce Alice to her fiance, a man from Washington named Riley, that she'd let out the first syllable of her name.

"So it starts with an A then." He'd smirked, thinking he was onto something.

As the night went on, Rosalie pulled her to the side, shooting Jasper one of her famous glares silently communicating, 'If you follow us, I will kill you.' She gave Alice a hug, informed her of what dates she needed to be where for bridesmaid duties, told her she thought the thing with Jasper was hilarious, and broke the bad news. The only hotel in town had been fully booked by friends and family on both sides; Bethany Whitlock had stepped up and offered some rooms out at her ranch. Alice would be rooming with Charlotte.