I don't own Twilight!
Just look one more time. I told myself, peeking through the blinds covering the glass. He's right there. Looking at my golden-haired neighbor through a window new apartment had become my latest hobby. He was fun to watch when he was home, which was almost never. I wasn't exactly sure where he worked but, he must sleep there a lot. Or maybe he just sleeps with his girlfriend…
Shut up, Alice. I took a deep breath and turned to my cup of orange juice and donut. Soon, I felt in need of a quick shower. After standing in the warm water for forever, I was done. I love to be in the shower because, it was like everything slipped away and nothing mattered anymore.
I dressed expeditiously into an striped cardigan, pants, and boots. I occupied myself then, by cleaning and drying dishes and placing them neatly back in the appropriate spots. I vacuumed the carpets and swept the floors, and finally did all the laundry. Then, I started work.
I walked to my studio. It was the smallest room in the house and the most crowded. I loved it. Of course, I loved to paint. But, it didn't make any money, said my parents, and so I became an art restorationist. It was easy to work out of my home, barely ever having to leave. It wasn't that I was agoraphobic, no. It was…like I wasn't supposed to leave, or allowed; like someone would stop me if I tried.
In the room was a table with my work supplies. Bella would drop by and give me the weeks paintings and then leave for the museum. Next to that was my easel and paints. Then, there was my charcoal set. I mostly used my paints and charcoals to illustrate my…visions.
I was never one to procrastinate, so I decided to go ahead and start on this weeks paintings. After I pulled on my lab coat and gloves, I grabbed a piece of art. Working was good. It kept my mind on something and almost always kept me from relapsing. Almost.
The last time I relapsed I was on my way to the store to buy some latex gloves. I started feeling closed in and I blacked out. I was taken to the hospital and when I woke up, I started screaming for them to let me go. They did when Edward-my brother, came to my rescue.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
"Hello?" I asked quickly.
"Hey, Alice."
"Oh, hey Edward. What's up?" I said, sitting down on the sofa.
"Nothing. I was on my way home, I thought I would see if you needed anything from the store. Or if maybe you would think about trying to go out tonight?"
"I don't need anything, number one. And number two, go to Bella's and ask her to dinner." I giggled, knowing that my brother had had the biggest crush on her ever since he met her at my house.
"Oh, and I think I might go out tonight so, I'll call you when I get home, okay?"
"Okay, Alice. I love you."
"Love you too." I whispered, hanging up.
I ran back to my room and got back to work, so nervous for tonight. As soon as I was satisfied with the piece of art, I covered it up and hung up my lab coat.
I put on my coat and grabbed my purse. Okay. Breathe Alice. You can do this. I locked the door behind me as I stepped into the crisp night air.
My parents weren't really involved in my life. My dad was always working and my mother just didn't like me. She loved Edward and she loved Emmett, but not me. My dad took a firm hand with Ed and Em, but he never even spoke with me. We lived in a bad home. After I was…taken, Edward and Emmett met the Cullen's. Esme took a kindness to the boys and so, they became the parents Ed and Em never had. The parents I had never had.
I was almost the bookstore, right next to the courthouse and the Starbucks, when I heard them.
"Hey baby."
"Where ya goin' girl?" They started to surround me, four of them. They were dressed like any other person on the street and I quickly scanned their faces, knowing to report to the police with Edward. As they approached me, I realized that they weren't too many years older than I was, maybe 21 or 22.
"Hey wait!" a different voice that was slurred spoke. They were drunk.
The men were getting closer to me and with each taken step closer, I took one step backwards.
"Stay away from me." I warned in a my voice trembling as I shook from fear.
They laughed.
"Don't be like that, sugar." Another spit as he grabbed my wrist in his firm hand. I tried to writhe free from his grip was too strong for me.
"Let me go!" The others guy shoved me to the wall of the alley way. A rough hand came over my mouth, muffling my cries for help.
"Shhh, baby. We won't hurt you. Well…we won't hurt you too bad." He whispered.
"Please!" I begged, tears running down my face.
"Don't move so much sweetheart, and it won't hurt so badly." His dark laughter was quiet and short. One punched me in the gut, and the breath was knock out of me.
"Please." I whispered, defeated. I was on the verge of a relapse
"Let her go," A dangerous, deep voice called from the opening of the alleyway. "Now." The boys dropped me to the ground and I allowed darkness to come over me.
The door creaked open, a small light flooded into the room. I was sobbing quietly in the corner on the group, with my knees pulled up to my chest. He came towards me and I started to scream, but he covered my mouth. He slowly took off my black dress, lust clear as day in his eyes. Then it began.
His moaning eating at my soul, while I cried silently, wishing I could stop this somehow, but knowing I couldn't.
"It's okay Mary, this will feel so good. I promise."
"Oh, right there Mary."
"Mary…"
"This might hurt a bit."
I sat up right as fast as possible. My eyes quickly flashing with memories of awful nights past. I started gasping for breath, the fear coursing through my veins. My body trembled with the overwhelming sensation of emotions going through me, tears cascade down my face, sobs dwindling from my mouth. I was panicking, starting to relapse.
"Miss, are you alright?" a frantic voiced asked. It was a male.
"Are you alright, Mary? Good girl. Like that."
I gasped for air, on the verge of hyperventilating, turning abruptly to face the stranger. We were in my home. I was safe.
I allowed a new wave of fear washed over me, who was this stranger?"
I clawed into the far corner of the couch, making myself as small as possible. I knew this voice was not the same voice, but it didn't matter.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he spoke.
I blinked repeatedly, focusing on the honey-blonde curls that I knew so well. Neighbor! How did he get in here?
He was on his knees, beside the couch where I had been.
"What happened?" I asked, wiping at my eyes with the back of my hand.
He put his hands down and sighed in relief. "I was just walking back to my car. I heard someone scream so…I ran down the alley. You passed out." I heard him mutter 'Thank God' into his hand.
"Oh," I said; the only response I could give him.
I was shocked to say the least. I was amazed that he was the one that rescued me. Appalled that it had to be him to see that.
I slowly pulled myself together, brushing off my clothes and running my tiny fingers through my hair. He stood to his full height, which looked to be about 6'3". I looked up at him, suddenly falling back into my fear. He could hold me down easily.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he said suddenly, as if he was reading my emotions. "I'm Jasper. I live next door."
"Alice." I supplied. "How did you know where I lived?"
"Your drivers license." I smiled. Good. He wasn't a creep.
"Pardon my manners, would you like something to drink." he smiled, following me to my tidy kitchen.
"Coffee, please." I nodded and began to fix him a cup.
"Is this your brother?" He asked suddenly, holding up a picture frame.
"Shoot," I muttered, running to the phone.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Ring. Ring-
"Hello?"
"Edward? I need you to come by tomorrow morning."
"Okay. I will."
"I'm home safe now." I sighed. "I made it."
"That's awesome, Alice. I'm so proud. I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
"Definitely."
I walked back into the kitchen, pouring the coffee into two cups. "Milk or sugar?"
"A bit of both, if you don't mind." he had a southern drawl that I couldn't quite place.
I sat both down in front of him and then took a sip of mine.
"You take it black?" he asked. I let out a short, almost hysterical laugh.
"Only after my relapses." I watched him as he fixed his cup. "So," I said, gulping down another sip. "I guess I have some explaining to do."
"You don't have to if you don't want to." he replied swiftly. "We could just have a normal conversation." I nodded. I liked normal. "Well, Alice. What do you do for a living?"
"I'm an art conservationist." I looked at him, hoping he would know what that was.
"Have you always wanted to work in restoring art?" I frowned.
"Not exactly. I wanted to paint. But my parents wanted me to choose something more…logical."
"So you just choose art restoration for your parents? You don't like it?" His muscular, slightly tanned, forearms rested on the table.
"No. I like being an art conservationist. The job is tedious, but its…fun."
"You still paint right? I mean, you didn't just give that up?"
"No. I paint as much as possible. Almost everyday." I took in a deep breath. "So, Jasper Whitlock. What do you do?"
"I'm a firefighter."
Not at all what I was expecting.
"Did you always want to save people from fires?" He smirked.
"No ma'am. I hated fire." His eyes flashed with something I couldn't recognize, but I didn't want to push him. "So, uh, Alice. Would you like to accompany me to dinner sometime?"
Why me?
"No," I said before I could stop myself. "I-I- mean-Its just-I can't-"
"It's okay. A no would have sufficed." He said, his head down.
"No, it's not that." Shut up Alice! "I'm agoraphobic." I told you to shut up!
"What?" He asked, facing me.
"Agoraphobia. That," I said, pointing to the couch. "That was a relapse. Edward had been…helping me try and leave the house little by little. Then something like that happens…" I trailed off.
"Should I ask why?"
"No, probably not." I frowned. "I have…trust issues. Especially with…the opposite sex." A deep sigh escaped my lips as I began to show him the door.
"Thank you, for saving me tonight. I owe you my life." I smiled sadly at him.
"No. You owe me dinner. Goodnight ma'am." He winked and shut the door behind himself.
A/N- Aww! Isn't he sweet!
Send me a review and tell me what you think!
-Corinne