Me: So I've demonstrated the work of myself as well as the work of "Alice." This time I will let you guess...who do you think wrote this chapter:)

Chapter 4:

I entered the Stockyards the next day with Alice on my arm, and Lila on my mind. Since the cowgirl museum, I had walked in a daze, not focused on any aspect of our trip in particular. The stockyards did cheer me up slightly, as most people were enjoying the warm Texas weather. Lucky for us, it was cloudy. I was having a bit more fun than I'd had so far, but my mind kept drifting back to her.

What was wrong with me? I was in love with Alice1 She was my wife! I'd do anything for her...wouldn't I?

Oh, why was I even thinking about Lila? She had been dead for at least half a century. Unless the girl in the visions Alice had had was her.

I smiled as I remembered her pretty face, her slender body. I couldn't picture her any more beautiful than she had been then, but if she was now a vampire, she would be.

Lila had been perfection. She had made my life so happy, so worthwhile. She had been seductive, powerfully so. She almost always got her way. I wondered if that had increased since she had been changed. If she had been changed.

I snapped out of my thoughts as someone tugged on my sleeve. I looked down at Alice, who was standing with her hands on her hips.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to sound happy. I only managed confusion.

"I need twenty dollars for that hat," Alice replied, bouncing up and down impatiently. Her emotions amused me. Who knew someone could get that excited over a hat?

"Another hat? Don't you have fifty already?"

She scowled but I knew she wasn't angry. "I only have thirty- six hats actually. This one makes thirty-seven. But I don't own a cowboy hat, and I want one, so I'm going to buy one. Are you coming?" she smiled, already turning toward the store.

"Nah. I'll wait here," I said, running a hand over her short black hair. "Just don't go crazy. I'd hate to lose you to the jewelry section."

She smiled again, then practically skipped into the store. I watched until she disappeared behind a rack of shirts, then headed over to the maze across the street, away from all of the others.

I stood on the observation deck, seeing all the dead ends and locating the correct route in seconds. I leaned over the railing, looking down at all the clueless humans trying to figure it out.

I sat down and started thinking about my past. It had been so hard. So lonely. So...painful. I sighed as my mind drifted back to when I was able to take love for granted. Back to the days when I had Lila.

"Jasper! Jasper!"

"Lila? I thought your father was keeping you at home! How did you get here?"

"He thinks he is keeping me at home. But I came anyway. I promised the stable boy extra dinner if he'd bring me my horse and not tell father. I don't understand why he doesn't want me to be here! You're wonderful!"

I smiled at her, kissing her forehead.

"I guess sometimes people just don't understand. I'm sure he'll come around eventually. You're his only daughter! I'm sure he wants to see you happy and married," I replied as she kissed me back, holding me close. She looked up at me and frowned.

"I know he does, but not to you. I don't care. If we have to, I won't ask for his permission. I love you, Jasper, and I know you love me. That's all the matters here," she sighed, resting her head against my chest. I smiled, loving every moment.

"Yes, Lila. I love you. Thats what really matters."

"Jasper! Jazz!"

I snapped out of my memories as Alice called to me. She was across the street, waving with one hand, holding her shopping bag in the other. I stood slowly and began making my way down the stairs toward the street.

That was when it came.

A rush of sudden emptiness surrounded me, and as Alice stepped off the curb, I realized with horror that she wouldn't reach me in time. Her vision was coming back, she just didn't know it yet.

I always got that strange, hollow feeling just before Alice froze. I'd never told her that. I wasn't sure why. It gave me an advantage, a forewarning, and I took it for granted.

Alice was still moving toward me, crossing the street.

"Alice, hurry!' I called out, dashing down the stairs as fast as I could while still appearing human, "Hurry! Please!"

Alice stared at me.

"What are you---" Then I felt her shock register as the vision was upon her. Her eyes went blank and she began to fall. Right into the center of the road.

A wave of emotion went through me again, but this time, it was my own. It was fear. What if I didn't reach her before someone else did?

I didn't have to worry for long. Emmett had opened the door of a shop just in time to spot Alice headed toward the street. He let go of the door darted into the road, scoped Alice up and crossed to me. He handed her over to me, and we exchanged a silent thanks. He turned back for Rosalie, who was clearly frustrated that he hadn't held the door for her.

I sat on the bench closest to me and gazed down at the petite vampire girl in my arms. She always looked so fragile but now even more than usual. Her eyes were open, but unseeing to the present world around her.

It was times like this when she truly depended on me. She was vulnerable wen she had her visions. She couldn't move. She couldn't react. I was her shield.

She was the one I truly loved. She had to be. I convinced myself that as I held her closer. I'd promised myself that I'd protect her, and I had. Nothing had ever hurt Alice when I was with her. Nothing ever would.

Suddenly, the hollow feeling pulled away and Alice's bubbly persona returned with a snap. She sat up quickly, looking confused. I laughed, as she turned to me.

"What----what happened? How did I get here? Who got me?" she asked, looking around for the others.

"Emmett caught you and brought you to e," I replied, wrapping my arms around her slender waist, "What did you see?"

Almost immediately, I sensed her apprehension.

"Alice?"

She was silent for a moment, then turned to fix me with a searching stare that I almost shrank away from her with the intensity of her eyes watching my face.

"Jasper..." her voice trailed off and she bit her bottom lip nervously. "I think it was...well, I mean... maybe I'm just crazy, but I thought it was..."

She was so unsure of herself. That frightened me a bit.

"Just spit it out, Allie! What's wrong? What did you see?"

Alice hesitated before saying, "Jasper...I thought it was...or will be..." she paused again before saying the word she dreaded to say.

Me: REVIEW!!!!

"I think it was Maria."