A/N: Not much to say…please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Is this really necessary?

(APOV)

I hate school. It's only the second day and I'm already bored. Plus, I have this sick feeling in my stomach, a combination of anticipation and dread. The feeling continued to grow all throughout my morning classes, so that by the time I entered the cafeteria it was threatening to swallow me whole. I sat at the same table as the day before and waited for Jasper to make an appearance. Would he join me? Would he pretend I don't exist? What did I want him to do?

When he stepped into the room, his head instantly turned in my direction. His eyes narrowed, and I just smiled. Today he waited in line, purchased a lunch, and then headed toward me. Same as yesterday girls tried to entice him to join them, but he politely declined. When he finally reached me, he stiffened, as if preparing for a battle.

"May I join you?" he asked me in that beautifully seductive voice. Did I mention he smells fantastic? Like cinnamon and burning leaves and heat, and I swear it made my whole body tingle. He raised an eyebrow, questioning, and oh lord… what the hell is wrong with me? His mere presence had dazzled me and I was just staring at him. I suddenly had a new appreciation for how Bella felt when she met Edward for the first time, and I was afraid.

"Sure," I answered, having to struggle to keep my voice perky.

He sat down, but said nothing. I surreptitiously studied him, finally focusing on the scars Esme had mentioned. I don't know why she said he could be handsome…as far as I'm concerned he is, the scars just add character. Not that I'll tell her that…it would only encourage her.
After five minutes of silence, I decided enough was enough and launched into a monologue of interesting facts about Forks. Yet again, Jasper gave me little in the way of response, although this time he did nod occasionally. I noticed that despite his occasional frowns and constant glaring, I wasn't getting as upset with him today. Huh…I must be growing as a person.

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We continued in the same vein for the rest of the week. Jasper even grunted once in response to a direct question. I felt like I was really making progress, each day I was less upset with him, and although the glaring continued, the frowning had stopped. It is a strange not-really-friends-but-we-don't-have-anyone-else relationship, which I'm going to do something about tonight.
So…I'm sitting in my room, anxiously waiting for Peter and Charlotte to arrive with Jasper. Carlisle and Esme had invited them over for "dinner." We weren't actually going to eat, but to the outside world, that is what it would seem like. I had rehearsed several different speeches in my head, but my annoying inability to see my own future clearly was making it difficult to see the outcome of our confrontation. I am certain that I don't want to have the conversation in the house, within hearing of the others. I have no idea what he says about me to Peter and Charlotte, but I may have given Carlisle and Esme the impression that we're becoming good friends. It was easier than explaining the craziness of our interactions.
I heard them arrive, but waited until they rang the doorbell to make my way downstairs.
Carlisle was ushering the three vampires in when I hit the bottom step. I studiously avoided Jasper as they introduced me to Peter and Charlotte. I was relieved to see that when I searched for it, I could see glimpses of their future. Whatever my issue, it seems to be limited to Jasper.

Carlisle led Peter and Charlotte into the living room, but I stopped Jasper when he tried to follow.

"Go on a walk with me?" I asked him sweetly, praying he would just nod and not mess with my equilibrium by talking. As if he could read my mind, Jasper nodded and turned to walk back out the door. I fell into step with him as we headed into the woods behind the house. I glanced over at his face and saw that his brow was furrowed, like he was concentrating really hard.

We walked in silence until I was satisfied we were far enough from the house, and the others' hearing. I rounded on him and put a hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks. He still felt warm to me, even through his clothes, and I snatched my hand back. I stood there, suddenly afraid to say what I'd brought him here for. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, and I knew if I didn't interrupt him now, I'd get all distracted and trembly from his voice. And that wouldn't do anyone any good.

"Why do you dislike me so much?" I blurted out, forgetting all of my rehearsed speeches.

Jasper looked at me, confused, "Why would you think that?"

"You really have to ask me that?" I sputtered. "You sit at my lunch table, glaring at me for forty minutes every day, you never say a word, what am I supposed to think?!" I was close to yelling.

Jasper stared at me, a look of pain on his face, "Alice, you have to calm down," he pleaded. It was too late. I was warming to my subject, all thoughts of civilized discussion long past.

"I mean, really, how do you think that makes me feel? I was perfectly content in my life before you came around, being all judgmental and examining me like the gum on the bottom of your shoe!" I was definitely yelling now.

"You're being ridiculous." he said shortly, "You really need to calm down!"

"Don't tell me what to do or how to feel!" I screamed at him. Somehow this had gotten out of hand quickly.

"Stop!" he roared, and I sank to the ground, boneless. My entire body was flooded with calm. I knew I was mad, but for some reason I couldn't bring it to the surface. What the hell did he just do to me?

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(JPOV)

I still wasn't sure what to do about Alice when it was time for me to go to school, but I figured I'd settle on a plan of action before lunch. I was wrong. I entered the lunchroom and my eyes sought her immediately. She was sitting at the same table as yesterday, still smiling on the outside, still boiling over with emotion internally.

I wanted to go over to her immediately, but I forced my self to go through the charade of eating lunch. I finally made it through the line and headed her way. Once again I brushed off other girls, intent on reaching Alice.

"May I join you?" I asked her, a repeat of yesterday. I could feel her, determined and angry and mutinous and I was worried she would say no. Alice just stared at me. I knew she wasn't surprised I'd asked, but for whatever reason she was thrown off guard and fearful. It sucks when you can tell what someone feels, but you can't tell why. I raised my eyebrow at her, silently waiting.

Just as I was about to turn away she answered me. "Sure," she said in that chipper voice of hers.

I settled, in trying desperately to think of something to say to her. I could feel her eyes on my face and my heart fell a little. She hadn't mentioned my scars yesterday, and I hadn't sensed any disgust from her, but now she seemed fascinated by them. What would I say if she asked me about them? I haven't spoken her name out loud in several decades. Peter and Charlotte knew better than to bring it up in conversation.

Evidently I took too long to say something cause Alice stopped examining my face and started cataloging all the interesting (I use that term loosely) things about Forks. The way her voice floated on the air, caressing my skin like a feather, was completely captivating. I took advantage of her total commitment to the topic at hand and shot little bursts of happiness at her every time she got even remotely excited about a particular detail. I was pretty sure she never noticed, at least I didn't sense any suspicious feelings. By the end of lunch her emotional upheaval had gone from hurricane force to thunderstorm level. As I watched her walk away, I allowed myself a small smile, feeling successful.

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I spent the rest of the week slowly altering Alice's emotions. Everyday she was a little happier and relaxed. I feel slightly guilty about it. But, she deserves to be happy, I rationalized in my head. Peter, Charlotte and I were en route to the Cullen house, having been invited for a social evening. I was a little nervous about how Alice and I would interact in front of the others. I hadn't brought her up and neither had Peter or Charlotte, but I knew they assumed we were becoming friends. We weren't though, I hadn't managed anything more than "May I join you?" and a grunt in her presence. I was going to change that tonight.

We stepped out of our car and headed onto the porch. They knew we were here, but we rang the bell anyway. I could hear Alice skipping down the stairs, and I could feel her resolve and anticipation as Carlisle opened the door. After Peter and Char had been introduced to Alice, Carlisle led the way into what I assume is the living room. Alice stopped me, asking softly; "Go on a walk with me?"

I nodded, unable to speak while surrounded by her scent. It was so much stronger in an enclosed space; I could almost taste it on the air.

I went back out the front door and headed toward the woods. Alice fell in beside me, having no trouble keeping up with my pace. We had walked several miles when she quickened her pace, then turned and stopped right in front of me. She put her hand on my chest, and although it didn't have the force required to stop me, it was nonetheless effective. My chest was tingling from the coolness of her fingers, and she withdrew her hand quickly, as if stung. Fear washed over her and I panicked. I opened my mouth to assure her that I would never hurt her when she finally spoke.

"Why do you hate me so much?" her words burst out of her, carrying pain and sadness and confusion.

I looked at her, mystified, "Why would you think that?"

"You really have to ask me that?" she spat at me, and I could tell all my hard work this week was about to go down the drain. "You sit at my lunch table, glaring at me for forty minutes every day, you never say a word, what am I supposed to think?!" Yeah, she was definitely angry.

"Alice, you have to calm down," I begged her. Her anger was getting strong and I wasn't sure I'd be able to control my response much longer. She ignored my request and kept going, "I mean, really, how do you think that makes me feel? I was perfectly content in my life before you came around, being all judgmental and examining me like the gum on the bottom of your shoe!" She was shouting at me now, and I was blown away at what she was revealing to me in her tirade. And then I got angry. Perfectly content my ass! Liar!

"You're being ridiculous." I snapped, "You really need to calm down!"

"Don't tell me what to do or how to feel!" she was in full out banshee mode now and I knew I had to do something.

"Stop!" I commanded, summoning all my will power to calm both myself and her. I pushed it out toward her, enveloping her with a cloud of calm and peace. I may have overdone it, because she collapsed onto the forest floor. I could still feel her anger, but now it seemed fuzzy, as if through water. I'd never affected anyone this drastically before, and I knew right away that it was wrong.