Alice P.O.V:
I woke up to birds singing outside near the tree. It wasn't even six, but I wouldn't have been able to go back to sleep. I grabbed my iPod off it's charger, pulled on my jogging clothes and shoes, and then silently slipped out the back door of our house. The back gate slid open silently, like always, and then I was off. The world was green. I felt safer here than I had back in Mississippi. It was too open there. I liked the trees and stuff. I liked being able to hear birds. But most of all, I liked to be able to jog in the woods and not have to worry about anything bad happening. I couldn't do that in Mississippi, mainly because we didn't really have a woods, and everything there was unsafe. It was nice to be able to do that here. I didn't have to worry about anything. I looked at my small watch, the one I never took off my wrist with the special wristband, and noticed that it was almost seven thirty. I wasn't that far from my home. I knew the forest around my house relatively well, and it took me only a few moments to get back. I took a shower very quickly. I pulled on one of my favorite t-shirts. It had pictures of the original little people, and the words, "Chillin' with my people". I went well with my, well, my smaller than average stature. Charlotte found it hilarious. Then I rooted through my drawer with bottoms, and found exactly what I had been looking for. A denim skort which looked adorable. I grabbed the bracelet Regina got me from the Philipines. I ran down the stairs again, and saw Charlotte's adorable Civic waiting for me, with her standing next to it.
"Do you want Shotgun? I'll kick Peter out to the backseat." I nodded. "I just though you should know, the Hale's are riding with us. Edward is taking Bella, Nessie, Jake, and Emmett." I just nodded again, grateful that Charlotte knew I didn't like to talk this early in the morning. Honestly, I didn't know what to make of the fact that Jasper was coming on this trip. Maybe it was that Charlotte invited him. Maybe it was that the Cullen kids were going up to Olympia, and decided it would be easier to go with Charlotte. Whatever it was, I was gonna spend, like, three hours in a car with Jasper and Rosalie.
"Okay. Did you bring the good car music?" Charlotte smiled, and held up a 40 gig Creative Zen Media Player.
"Only the best for us. I've got, like, everything you've got, plus some other stuff. It'll be a fun three and a half hours. You ready?" I nodded, and watched as Charlotte kicked Peter out to the backseat. Then we drove over to the Cullen Mansion.
Just like last night, I was astounded by the beauty of the house. It was beautiful as it had been last night, maybe even moreso. I wasn't sure, because standing there on the front porch, along with the rest of his adopted siblings, Jasper was there, and as soon as my eyes found him, everything else disappeared. Rosalie and Jasper walked down to Charlotte's car, and the rest of the family drifted off to the garage.
Jasper walked over towards me. I smiled slightly, ecstatic at the thought of Jasper in this car with me, even if we weren't the only ones in the car. It was still an exciting though. The two of them entered the backseat of the car, and I felt very calm all of a sudden.
We backed out of the Cullen's yard, and then we were off. For better or for worse, this day would end in excitement.
Jasper P.O.V:
We drove, and for a while, it was silent in Charlotte's Civic. Then Charlotte looked over at Alice, and passed her the 40 gig Creative Zen. I smiled. Let the fun begin.
"Alice. You've never gone shopping with the Cullen Family before, have you." Charlotte had a glint in her eye. Alice nodded her head warily.
"Well, they have this thing they do. See, as long as there is music, you've got to sing along with it, no matter what song. You don't have to say curse words if you don't want to, but the rest of the song, you've got to sing." She nodded, more relaxed now.
"Plug it in Alice, and then press shuffle. We'll have fun."Alice followed instructions to the letter. This would be interesting. A familiar scratchy violin poured through the speakers. Then Hailey Williams voice, quiet as it was through the violin, said "Hit that, hit that snare." Then the guitar for Misery Business floated through the car. She probably knew this one. Sure enough, she started singing with Hailey.
"I'm in the business of misery, Let's take it from the top. She's got a body like an hourglass, it's ticking like a clock. It's a matter of time before we all run out, When I thought he was mine she caught him by the mouth. I waited eight long months, She finally set him free. I told him I couldn't lie he was the only one for me. Two weeks and we've caught on fire, She's got it out for me, But I wear the biggest smile." She was amazingly happy singing this. She had this song down. Hmmm.
"Whoa, I never meant to brag But I got him where I want him now. Whoa, it was never my intention to brag To steal it all away from you now. But God does it feel so good, Cause I got him where I want him now. And if you could then you know you would. It's gonna just feel so... It just feels so good." She was smiling, I could see it in the rear-view mirror. She was enjoying the music. Perhaps it wasn't No Doubt that had saved her. Maybe it was Paramore.
"Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change. Once a whore you're nothing more, I'm sorry, that'll never change. And about forgiveness, we're both supposed to have exchanged. I'm sorry honey, but I passed it up, now look this way. Well there's a million other girls who do it just like you. Looking as innocent as possible to get to who, They want and what they like it's easy if you do it right. Well I refuse, I refuse, I refuse!" I was amazed at how much she sounded like Hailey, but it must be her years of voice training that allowed Alice to imitate her.
"Whoa, I never meant to brag But I got him where I want him now. Whoa, it was never my intention to brag To steal it all away from you now. But God does it feel so good, Cause I got him where I want him right now. And if you could then you know you would. It's gonna just feel so... It just feels so good." I wondered where she would have heard this. It wasn't a very popular song, and Paramore wasn't a very popular band.
"I watched his wildest dreams come true And not one of them involving you Just watch my wildest dreams come true Not one of them involving... Whoa, I never meant to brag I got him where I want him now. Whoa, I never meant to brag But I got him where I want him now. Whoa, it was never my intention to brag To steal it all away from you now. But God does it feel so good, Cause I got him where I want him now. And if you could then you know you would. It's gonna just feel so... It just feels so good." I loved watching her sing, and this song was a very good one for her to sing. She had a great voice, and perfect pitch recognition. It was impressive. The song ended rather abruptly. She smirked a bit at the end, but it didn't reach her eyes, which still held the glint of pain from a past life. But the game must go on. And the next song is....
Alice P.O.V:
I can't believe it was Misery Business first. It was an easy song to sing. It gave me hope from when Riley broke up with me. Sure, No Doubt had been my original solace, but I had seen what happens when people have hard breakups, and then Paramore had become my life. Hailey was an inspiration. So it was no problem to sing a Paramore song. The problem I had was what would come on next.
"And the next song is... Corner of the Sky from Pippin." Charlotte's clear voice intoned. Great song, great musical. What's not to like?
The upbeat piano music started, and I smiled. This song was one I had loved since the day I'd heard it, way back in third grade. I felt a tear in my eye. I hadn't hear this song in so long. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I was afraid my voice would crack, so I sang barely above a whisper.
"Everything has it's season, everything has it's time. Show me a reason and I'll soon show you a rhyme. Cats fit on the window sill, children fit in the snow. Why do I feel I don't fit in anywhere I go? Rivers belong where they can ramble, eagles belong where they can fly. I've got to be where my spirit can run free. Gotta find my corner of the sky." There were five of us singing, and it sounded amazing. Better than it had in third grade. I was ecstatic with this, and then the song was enriched by the deep voices of the boys. I was glad.
"Every man has his daydreams, every man has his goal. People like the way dreams have of sticking to the soul. Thunderclouds have their lightning, nightingales have their song. Don't you see I want my life to be something more than long? Rivers belong where they can ramble, eagles belong where they can fly. I've got to be where my spirit can run free. Gotta find my corner of the sky." I listened carefully for the key change I knew would happen soon. As soon as I heard it, I felt the tears return to my eyes.
"So many men seem destined to settle for something small, but I won't rest until I know I'll have it all. So don't ask where I'm going, just listen when I'm gone, and far away you'll hear me singing softly to the dawn. Rivers belong where they can ramble, eagles belong where they can fly. I've got to be where my spirit can run free. Gotta find my corner of the sky, of the sky, of the sky. Corner of the sky!" I felt a single tear run down my cheek. I loved this song. I had pasted the lyrics onto a piece of legal paper, after printing out a copy of the scan I'd made of my handwritten copy. It was sitting in a frame on the wall over my head. I also felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around, grateful I wasn't driving, and saw Jasper, a slight smile on his face. His hand was ice cold. I hadn't noticed that the night before. The smile upon his face was tentative, searching, like he was asking me permission to leave it there. Ha. He could do that. It would just tick off Jess and Lauren. It didn't matter. Jasper was the one who did this, not me. I couldn't get in trouble with them. Let the games begin.
