I made some much-needed edits to chapter one... so you may want to go back and read it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and messaged me!

Anyone else suffering from insomnia? Just me? Well, here you all go.


Chapter Two: My Jasper

2018

(B)

When you love someone, time somehow leaves you. Seconds run into weeks and weeks run into years. I guess love has a way of making your life feel like a fever dream.

At least that's how it feels loving Jasper.

Everything, we, us—Alice and Jasper happened so fast.

After learning that I was supposed to be viewing an apartment that day, Jasper called a friend of a friend and set me up with an apartment. He told me that some people in New York were shady. He said I was lucky to have met him—and I was. I was lucky to have Jasper. He came into my life when I needed him most and gave me a life worth living.

My hero.

My knight.

My Jasper.

After seeing that I was moving into my two-bedroom apartment with just a book bag, Jasper took me to go shopping for clothes. He was very adamant that I buy whatever I liked. So, I bought everything I liked. When the cashier rang up our total as a whopping five thousand and thirty-three dollars, Jasper smiled and handed her his card.

After I told him that I didn't have enough money to buy furniture, Jasper took me to this second-hand furniture store and bought everything I needed.

He was a man of simplicity. He was a man of action. If I needed something he got it. If I told him something he believed it. Most days my mask was not needed. Most day's I was able to be myself. I was able to just be.

Sure, there were topics I avoided, and answers I slightly embellished but he was happy. Jasper was happy to have a woman in his life that looked at him like he hung the moon. I was happy to be that woman. He made me feel safe. He made me happy.

We were happy

After a month of living in my fully furnished apartment—Jasper moved in.

He didn't ask me or even tell me but rather one day I woke up and walked into the living room to see that he was sleeping on the couch.

I couldn't help but smile as I walked to the kitchen. As I finished making two vegetarian omelets, he walked into the kitchen yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"Maria found out I had another apartment. She found out about you. She kicked me out."

I nodded my head as I begin to plate his omelet.

"I told her that nothing had happened between us. I said that I just wanted to help you out because you were in a bad position."

I look up to meet his piercing blue eyes. "What did she say?"

He stands up and I can't help but follow his frame as he takes the few steps to me. "She said that it didn't matter that we hadn't done anything…because the way I spoke of you—but the way I spoke of you she could tell I was already in love with you."

His eyes. God, his eyes somehow push out the feelings of calm and serenity when I gaze into them. "And are you in love with me?"

He leans toward me slowly his lips meeting my forehead "Irrevocably."

I lean into him and wrap my arms around his waist "I love you too."

His lips drop down from my forehead, sliding down my face until his lips descend onto my own.

It's our first kiss and I take inventory of everything.

His lips are warm and soft. His hands are hot and somewhat clammy on my skin. I feel wanted. I feel powerful.

I whimper as his hand pulls my small frame to him, pulling me closer, and closer until his stubble scratches my chin and cheek.

Jasper hums, and my eyes roll back in my head as I feel his wet tongue glide across my neck. He's quick in his movements. His lips are back against mine, tongue in my mouth, and I'm now propped up on the counter with him in between my legs.

Never in my life have I been kissed like this.

My thoughts leave me and my head spins, my pulse pounding between my legs as I arch into his body, whimpering at the taste of him, my hands gripping his body closer to me. I can feel his hard cock, pushing into my stomach, and I rub myself against it, feeling a hot gush between my legs.

"Do you want to move this to your bedroom Darlin?" He asks me as our lips break.

I smile as I push him back away from my parted thighs. I stand and pull silky material from my body.

"I'll race you, Cowboy."

I say as I giggle and take off towards my bedroom. Jasper is hot on my trail.

Before I even get down the small hallway to my bedroom. He has his warm fingertips skating up my sides, goosebumps rising in their wake.

"You are fucking delectable Darlin," he murmurs in my ear, pulling me back against his slim chest.

"Then why aren't you eating me then?" I say as I turn to walk back towards the bed.

"That's a damn good question." He says as he pushes me down to the bed and removes my wet panties.

He stares at the reason for my ruined panties. He licks his lips, and, at this moment, I am the only source of water in a blazing Sahara. He is the wayward man…searching for an oasis.

I feel powerful.

So, powerful that my pleasure feels more intense as he licks and sucks my pussy clean.

I feel powerful.

So powerful, that when he roughly lines up his cock to enter where no man has ever entered— I don't tell him of the significance. I don't tell him to go slow. I don't tell him to be gentle.

I feel so powerful—that I grab ahold of his cock and roughly put him in myself.

| Present |

So that's how Jasper and Alice got their start. This man came into my life at one of the worst possible times and fed me, clothed me, and gave me a place to sleep at night. How could I not love him? How could anyone not love Jasper?

He was Jasper.

He was amazing and the world would soon see how passionate and loving he is.

"Alice, are you still cutting out early today?"

I look up from the dirty plates I'm clearing from the table.

"Yeah, I was supposed to be leaving… twenty minutes ago actually," I say as I start to take the plates to the back of the kitchen. Jasper may have gotten me my clothes and apartment, but I lucked out on this job all on my own.

Two years ago, this quaint café was on the bridge of closing its doors. When I walked in looking for any job they'd offer me, the owner Jessica, told me how much she really needed a waitress.

After telling me that she could pay me under the table, I quickly jumped to fill the position, and as they say, the rest is history.

"Okay, you can go ahead and leave."

I can't get into a taxi quick enough. I couldn't focus all day because I knew I'd be going to Jasper's photoshoot.

For months he's raved about this photographer and how they somehow can capture a person's true essence within their photos. Even this morning he was in a great mood. He was way more touchy than usual and even more vocal.

For what felt like forever he was distant and moody. Most of the time when he was at our apartment he'd always be writing his novel. If he wasn't at our apartment he was at work, at a coffee shop, bar, or library writing his novel.

In the last year, there were three people in my relationship, Me, Jasper, and his novel. So, I was so happy that this chapter was finally almost coming to an end. No pun intended.

This morning as I was headed out the door, he stopped me and told me "Alice, you are the muse of all muses. You are the love of all loves." I was speechless. I couldn't do anything but kiss him and pull him close to me. My jasper was coming back to me. The sweet and attentive man that made me feel like I was at home, was finally returning.

So, I was excited. I was excited to have the opportunity to support Jasper.

Even if that meant just standing in a room while a man snapped photos of him. I wanted to help him in any way I could. It's not very often that I am able to support him but today I am able to. I can do something for him—just by showing up. By being his muse.

His book titled "The Strange Delights" is a book that closely mirrored Alice's—my life and it was to be released in a matter of months. But before it could be mass printed for all the millions of people to consume – Jasper recently decided that he needed a headshot of himself to go on the back.

After knocking on the door, I couldn't help but feel a little underdressed in my old leather jacket, black V-neck t-shirt, and fitted dark wash jeans. I was about to meet someone who Jasper held highly. A man who had impressed Jasper so thoroughly that he couldn't help but want to use this photographers' services.

He admired this man so much that he decided to have this man showcase what millions of eyes would take in.

As the door slowly opened, I quickly realized that the photographer that Jasper couldn't stop talking about wasn't an older, mentor-type looking man but was a beautifully put-together blonde bombshell of a woman.

"Hello, you must be Alice." I couldn't help but take in her huge breasts because they were directly aligned with my eyes. She was tall, beautiful, and blonde. This was the photographer that Jasper had been raving about.

"Hi, yes and you must be…" I said trailing off as she moved to the side to let me in.

"Tanya. I'm Tanya Petrov."

I nod as I follow her up the stairs to what looks to be a fancy studio. I don't have to scan the room long before I find Jasper sitting on a stool in front of a black background.

I smile as I forget myself and my surroundings and quickly rush to him. "I missed you stranger," I say as I lean my face against his chest.

It isn't until the silence follows my admission that I realize that he didn't walk to me. I lean out of our hug and look up into his eyes. They are bright and full of emotions but for the first time in two years – I can't figure out what emotions are shining back at me.

"I'm sorry that I'm late. Traffic was more brutal than usual." I say as I step away from him and look around the studio.

"No, it's fine. We got along just fine. We actually just finished up though."

Jasper says as I start to look browse Tanya's photography equipment.

It's fine. He told me that he needed me here. I show up late...and it's just fine.

The silence that follows is somehow incredibly loud, the air is thick and my heart—my heart is racing.

Everything is just fine.

"Would you like some tea? Coffee maybe?" I hear Tanya's voice say as I pick up a framed picture of her and a handsome man smiling.

I place the photo back down on the counter and smile. "No, thanks. I've been serving it all day. Can I use your bathroom?"

She smiles her perfectly white smile at me and gestures behind her.

I can't get to the bathroom quick enough before I shut the door somewhat loudly. I attempt to slow down my breathing as I quietly and slowly crack open the door.

"She's beautiful." I hear her say. Even though I'm willing my heart to slow it continues to beat erratically and, in my ears, I can hear my pulse racing away.

"She is," Jasper says, and I swear his voice sounds as though he is in pain. I hear him clear his throat before he speaks again, "She is very beautiful, but she is also exhausting."

Jasper thinks I am exhausting.

"I don't regret kissing you. I will never regret kissing you. I will only regret not doing it sooner. I need to see you soon." I could feel the tears develop in my eyes as I listened to my Jasper say these things. I felt as though the bathroom was closing in on me.

I can't even truly process what I am hearing because all I know is that somewhere along the line's Jasper had decided that I was too much for him. He had decided that I was exhausting.

"You can't say that to me. She's beautiful Jasper. She is younger. She's—" I decide that now is a good time to make my exit. I open the bathroom door loudly and slowly walk around the small wall that separates the hallway from the mostly-open layout of her apartment.

If I hadn't been listening in to their conversation, I wouldn't be able to tell that anything occurred. Jasper is slowly putting on his coat as Tanya packs up her camera. I look over at Jasper willing him to meet my eyes and when he does I look for traces of guilt or even regret.

I find none.

All I see is contentment.

"Jasper are we leaving already?" I say as I force a pout and begin to take off my leather jacket. He smiles at me as he attempts to pull my jacket back on me. "Yeah Darlin, I think I've taken up enough of her time."

Internally, I'm shifting my mask in place. She's now secure. She's now ready to play. I'm powerful.

I nod my head as I move away from him and towards the stool that he just vacated. "Will you take my photo? I've never been photographed by a professional before. I'd really appreciate it." I say as I pull my jacket back off and place it at my feet on the floor. "I can pay you. I can pay you for your time."

I look over at Tanya to see that she looks relaxed. There aren't any signs of guilt. One would never know that she is destroying my love, destroying my life.

"No. I'd like to. Free of charge." She says as she begins to unpack the camera she just put away. I look over at Jasper to see that he is looking at her with a small frown on his face.

I will any weakness to leave me. I will all pain to register as numbness. I will the mask to stay in place.

"Only if you don't mind Jasper," I say and as he meets my eyes his expression becomes softer. "No. Of course not Darlin. Why would I mind?" I giggle and shift in my chair

"Because you'll have to go away. I'll need to focus." I pretend to stretch my arms and rotate my neck "Plus, we don't want him here while we're working, do we?" I say as I look at Tanya who has now got all of her equipment set back up.

"No, no we don't." She says smiling at me.

"Right. Well, there is a bar right on the corner. I'll hang out there—just come find me when you're done. He says as he walks over to me and places a kiss on my cheek.

"I always do," I say as I wrap my arms around him keeping him pressed against me for another moment.

"Good luck with your exhibition." He says to Tanya as he turns to face her. I can't see his face, but I can see hers and she would be an amazing poker player because she gives nothing away.

Even with her beautiful display of togetherness, I see her for who she is. The mask she wears is one without cracks. It exists as a second layer on her face. She has perfected it. Unlike mine, hers does not come off. It can't.

As he heads to the door she doesn't move from her spot.

"Good luck with your book." She says just as he gets to the door. I look over at him to see that he stops briefly before continuing out the door. I get up as soon as the door shuts and walk back over to the framed photo of her and the handsome penny hair colored man.

"So, you've got an exhibition?" The man in this photo looks familiar but I know I have never met him. He and Tanya stand side by side with his long muscular arms wrapped around her, he towers over her slim frame.

He must be at least 6'4 because Tanya has to be at least 5'10. She tall. She's beautiful. Her slim frame is the exact opposite of my curvy one. Where her breasts are full and inviting, mine are small and undeserving of a second look.

I can imagine her without her fitted white button-down shirt and brown slacks on and in my imagination, her body resembles one of Victoria's Secret models. Tall, slim, strong, but most importantly, dangerous.

My hips and full ass are the best parts of my body. They make up for my lack of breasts.

"Yeah. It's in six months. I read Jasper's book. It's very… you've had quite a life." Her voice sounds as though she is impressed but I detect the pity and humorous undertones.

"Thanks," I say as I look over her other photos of her and other people.

There is no other photo with the handsome tattoo man.

"He said you work in a cafe?" I look back at the photo in my hand and scan it to see that at first glance I was wrong. He doesn't have a long sleeve shirt on but rather both of his arms are covered in tattoos. At this moment I am even more irritated because I can't make out what they are.

"I am a waitress," I say as bring the photo closer to my face in an effort to make out what they are.

"Is that a temporary thing?" The judgment in her tone is loud. She doesn't even attempt to try to hide it.

"No," I say as I look over the two faces in the photo. Both are smiling but only one looks genuinely happy. "Why don't you come over here and sit." I nod and put the photograph down.

"You live here alone?" I say as I slowly walk over to the stool. I can't help but stare down at my raggedy leather jacket. I bet she noticed the hole in the sleeve.

"I do now." She says as I sit down onto the stool and set my feet on the floor. "Because you're single?" I say as I watch her walk slowly over to me. The woman who is stealing away my Jasper.

"No. I'm not single. I am recently divorced though. My Ex-husband used to live here with me."

Forsaking love, destroying lives, ending relationships are things that are not new to her.

As she walks directly in front of me, I can't help but be curious as to who the tattoo man is to her. Is that her ex-husband? Is he the man that exists in the same space with Tanya, as I do with jasper? Is he too interchangeable?

"Is your boyfriend the man in that photo with you?" I say gesturing to the frame on the counter.

She shakes her head slightly and moves a piece of hair out of my face" No, my fiancé. You've got a great face." She says as her hazel eyes meet my brown.

"Doesn't everyone?"

He is her fiancé. She has a fiancé. She kissed Jasper. I hate her. She kissed Jasper and she has a fiance. I hate her. She has a hot fiance. One that has a smile that doesn't just meet his eyes but rather it touches his soul. I hate her.

"Yeah…I suppose so. I just... from the book somehow, I thought you'd be... I thought you'd be older..." She says as she backs up from in front of me and picks up her camera. I have no reply to that. We both know she isn't concerned with my age but only she knows what her real concern is. Her mask while visible to me is still immaculate.

"How do you feel about him using your life?" She says as she raises the camera up to her eye. I don't have an answer to give her. I don't want to have a heart-to-heart with this woman. I don't care that she's beautiful. I don't care that she's a divorcee with a fiancé that she has already cheated on. I don't care about Tanya Petrov.

Only I do care– because Tanya Petrov kissed my Jasper. I care because my Jasper told Tanya Petrov that I was exhausting.

"When I got here, he – Jasper always greets me... as if he hasn't seen me in months... instead of hours. When I got here he didn't. He had this look." I say as I get up from the stool and walk over to the window.

As I look out of it, I can't help but notice that the bar that Jasper is currently sitting in is easily seen through her window. I wonder if he spent hours writing his novel, at that bar with her at her side. I wonder how many times he lied about needing space to write that novel. The novel about Alice... about me. I feel the tears fall onto my cheek. "I listened to your conversation," I say as I wipe the tears from my face. There is no need to explain, she knows the conversation I am referring to.

I can't look at her yet. I have to get myself together. Alice Brandon isn't weak. I am strong. This woman will not see me weak. I hate her.

"I don't know what to say. I'm not a thief, Alice." She says this bullshit to me as if she hasn't already stolen from me. As if Jasper's lips didn't belong to me. As if he wasn't mine to want, to crave.

"Do you want a drink? I have some vodka in the fridge; we could have a drink." I look over at the woman who is trying to steal my reason for being. She looks like she'd rather be anywhere but with me right now but it is not guilt that resides on her face. It's irritation. It's impatience.

"I don't want a drink. I want you to take my fucking picture." I say as another tear rolls downs my cheek.

She nods her head and raises her camera to her eye. As her camera begins to shutter with each photo taken, I know...I know that at this moment she has removed my mask.

I know that within her camera I am no longer powerful.

I know that I exist among her film now, unfiltered and completely uncovered.

It was at this moment that she uncovered my essence.

|Time Jump: Six Months |


Guess what? We get to meet the tattoo man next chapter! If I get 15 reviews I'll post the next chapter in less than twenty-four hours. xD


That was our last major time jump.