JPOV

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I shot straight up in bed, panting and sweating. I raised a trembling hand to my clock and slammed it down, silencing the annoying alarm. I pushed a hand through my matted curls and sat there shaking in bed with tears running down my face like a stream from my eyes.

Time to get up. I finally stretched out and stood from my bed. I began to pace my room, still shuddering uncontrollably.

This time it was two dreams. The first one was the usual…the roaring flames…all the children huddled together…Maria. The second was worst…for the first time. It was different. Alice. She was dying and I hadn't gotten to the alley in time.

Alice.

That's it. Just Alice. No last name.

I pulled on a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt, grabbing my wallet and cell phone, then walking out the front door to my black Jeep 4-door.

I cranked the car, praying that I would see her. Alice.

"Nick?" I called, walking into the station. I saw John leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette.

"You know better, John; take that outside." I turned into Nick's bedroom, calling his name again.

"Yeah, Jay?" He asked, his nickname for me.

"I-I need some advise. Girl advise." He gaped at me, obviously shocked.

"You mean, the famous lady's man, Jasper Whitlock, is coming to little ole' me for girl advice." He smiled and slapped the side of the bed for me to sit. "Spill."

"Her name is Alice and she is amazing. She's my neighbor."

"OoOoO. How did you meet her?" he asked, leaning over to grab his half empty beer.

"That's the problem. I was on my way home from visiting Peter, and I heard this girl crying so I ran down the alley and there were these guys holding her down." I clenched my fists, remembering what happened.

"They were talking about all the fun they were going to have with her. She was passed out, so I just punched out two of them and scared the others off. I took her home. I really want to…impress her. What should I do?"

"Take her out." He said, taking a long gulp to beer. I grimaced.

"That's the thing. She's agoraphobic. Like she has-"

"I know what that is." Nick sighed, thinking. "How about you get like a pizza and show up at her house. Be spontaneous."

APOV

"- and I didn't know what to do, Edward. He was really tall, like taller than you and he was really muscular…I was scared. But, don't worry he's really nice." I finished, taking a sip of my 11:00 coffee.

"I don't know, Alice. I think you should stay clear of him. What was his name?" I frowned, racking my brain for the blonde boy's name.

"Jasper? Yeah! Jasper Whitlock," I said, suddenly. "Really, Edward though…I need to get to work. Bella will probably be here soon. Of course, you are welcome to stay and wait for her." I gave him a smile and went onto my work.

Soon, we were getting a group of Greek masks that needed alot of restoration. I was extremely excited when Haley, an art expert, came to give me a crash course in restpration of Greek masks. She had been the nicest person and so sweet. We ended up becoming really great friends.

Ding, dong.

I ran to the front door and yanked it open seeing a very shy Bella standing by a very large Emmett.

"EM!" I scream-giggled and ran into his awaiting arms. After he let me down from his air squishing hug, I gave Bella a quick embrace and then showed her to the paintings. Edward offered to help her carry them to the museum, to which she blushed and nodded.

Emmett made himself comfortable on the couch with a bag of chips and a soda. I joined him to help catch him up on the boringness that was my life.

"So, how are Rose and the baby?" I inquired, taking a long gulp of, what I hoped was, my last coffee. It was nearing 5:00 and I shouldn't be drinking at this time.

"They are great. He's started to kick more. She couldn't sleep last night and woke me up to get her something to eat."

"Ah, the cravings. Yeah. So have you decided on a name." Emmett smiled wider and giggled.

"Yep. If it's a boy we get to name it Emmett Jr. But, if it's a girl we are gonna name her Lilliana Alice Cullen." I smiled and practically knocked him over with my hug.

I loved my brothers more than anything in my life. We all had very unique personalities.

Emmett was the first born. His name was Emmett McCarthy Brandon. He has brown curly hair and huge dimples. Sure, he's a teddy bear…but a teddy bear that could whoop your ass. His muscles are practically the size of my head. He looks very intimidating and if he had a reason, he wouldn't second guess killing you. Growing up he was always doing really bad in school, until he found his calling…poetry. It was surprising, to say the least-but I remember that he used to send me page long letters of poetry. He was really good at expressing his emotions through that. Anger management taught him to use his notebook, not his fists.

Then, he met Rosalie Lillian Hale-his dream girl. She was adopted by Carlisle and Esme…but no one really knows about her past. I knew she had entered the foster system after being neglected by both her biological parents. I also knew she had been in one home for several years. She never said what really caused her to be removed from her previous home, but I didn't ask. All I knew was that the guardian had lost his license to have foster kids, and Rosalie and the other children were dispersed amongst other foster families. Carlisle said she had horrible temper with women and didn't even speak to men, before she would freeze up. He also said she had remained loyal to her first foster father for as long as he can remember.

Edward was born 3 years after Emmett, 7 minutes before me. The doctors had been worried I wasn't going to make it. But, I did.

Edward is tall with a swimmer body. His thing is music. He can play the piano to perfection and used to send me sheet music. Of course, I had no idea how to play or even read the music. Edward was always looking out for me growing up. We were very close; I mean, we were twins. We were best friends even-attached at the hip. I don't know what Edward went through during that time. Emmett has refused to tell me anything but that he wasn't the same - he was a completely different person. Thinking that he had lost me to that place, he had almost given up all hope.

My mother and father were awful. My mother was very…nervous. She was always trying to impress my father, who's only concern was work. My father barely spoke two words to me, but was very abusive towards Edward and Emmett. The only time he every hit me was when I was four, Edward and I walked in on him sexually abusing Emmett and he turned to hit Edward when I stepped in front of him.

It was the saddest thing I had seen in my life. Little helpless Emmett sitting there with tears streaming down his face, sobbing harshly, but trying to be strong for Edward and I.

Someone knocked on the door. Emmett stood to answer it, but I told him to sit back down and that I would get it.

"Jasper?" I asked, looking at the Greek god standing before me, wearing a plain white t-shirt and low-rise dark wash jeans. I looked him over, checking for weapons. That's when I noticed his worn cowboy boots he was wearing under his jeans. He was holding a pizza in his hands, smiling.

"Hey. Is this a bad time…I can come back later?" My gaze flickered to Emmett and shook my head, taking the pizza from him and setting it in the kitchen; my invitation for him.

Emmett stood up and walked over to him. Jasper backed into me, trying to keep a distance between them. He grabbed my hand, as though I could protect him from Emmett. Jasper was staring at me from under his blonde lashes, begging me to help him get away from the giant. It puzzled me; I was too little to physically protect him and too broken to do it emotionally, and the fact that Jasper could rival Emmett's height made this more perplexing.

"Emmett, this is Jasper. Jasper, this is Emmett-my brother." Jasper didn't move even as Emmett's hand stuck out to shake hands.

"Emmett, you can go back to watching TV. Jasper and I will prepare dinner." I reached my hand to Jasper and helped him to the kitchen.

"You okay?" I asked, knowing he needed this. I put my hand on his face as he came around.

"Yeah, sorry about that." He smiled and asked what he needed to do. We started to sit the pizza on the table when I heard Emmett call.

"Alice, could I please talk to you for a moment?" I smiled outwardly-groaning inwardly, and mouthed an 'I'll be right back' to Jasper.

"Yes Emmett?" I asked once we made it to the comfort of my studio.

"Who is he?" he asked gruffly. Emmett was protective, sure. But he looked ready to kill.

"Emmett. Jasper saved me last night," I recapped, telling him of last nights 'adventure'.

"Oh God. Alice, I am so sorry." He enveloped me in a squashed hug. Emmett had always said that his worst nightmare was Edward or I having to go through what he had to go through.

Emmett gave a small goodbye to both of us and then left, wanting to get home to Rose and Lilly Alice.

"So…should I ask about what happened in there with Emmett?" I asked, taking a deep bite of my pizza. Jasper finished his and shook his head.

"No, probably not," he said, repeating my words from the night before. "So…just Alice?"

"Mary Alice Brandon. I, uh, hate the name for…various reasons. So, just call me Alice." He released his knee weakening smile on me and I thought I would faint.

"Alice, I know this is weird, me coming over without an invitation, but I hope you can forgive me." I smiled and nodded vigorously. "I was trying to be spontaneous."

So, tell me what'cha think about it and REVIEW! For my I Will Love You Forever fans check out an up and coming story by z-aliceinwonderland-z about Clair and Quil that will have alot of Laney!!!