A/N: I do not own Twilight.

So the last couple of chapters have been pretty heavy, so I decided to lighten this chapter up just a bit. :) I've received quite a few reviews stating that they love the dynamic between Jasper and Edward. You have no idea how happy that makes me! It's so fun writing their conversations and Edward will continue to be a fixture in Jasper's life…whether he wants it or not! LOL

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

The next couple of days went by pretty quickly and before I knew it, I was standing in a dark pool hall playing my second game of pool with Edward. I watched him take his shot and cursed under my breath as I watched another ball disappear into the pocket. The last 48 hours seemed like a daze to me. One minute I was fine and the next I was popping another Xanax into my mouth. Part of me wondered if I really needed them, or if my mind was tricking me into thinking they were necessary. Either way, I didn't give a fuck. Those little orange pills always worked their magic and effectively numbed me. I could still function, but I felt like I had a thin (albeit false) veil of protection from the bullshit of the world.

I hadn't heard anything from Alice either, not that I necessarily expected to. I figured my issues were just too much and had most likely scared her off. It's wasn't like I could have a relationship with her anyway. I suck at that sort of shit, and she'd only be in for a world full of hurt. I'm incapable of caring for another human being. There's been way too much disappointment in my life, so keeping everyone at a distance is for the best.

Edward took another shot and smirked to himself. He knew I couldn't play worth a damn, but doing this got me out of the house and out of my head…sort of.

"So, have you heard from Alice yet?" Edward asked, looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Uh...no."

I thought I heard Edward laugh to himself, but I ignored him.

"I never expected her to anyway."

"Why the hell not?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Look, man," Edward said. "I know you're not the friendliest guy out there, but I thought you two kind of…I don't know, liked each other."

"Liked each other?" I raised an eyebrow. "I've only spoken to her maybe three times."

"Yeah, but I could tell by the way you looked at her that there was something there."

I shook my head incredulously, both eyebrows raised.

"Let me get this straight, Edward, you're not only borderline in love with me, you're stalking me as well? What, are you hiding behind doors and bushes? Did you place a bug on me so that you could listen to my conversations?"

"Suck my dick, asshole. I'm trying to be serious for once."

I laid my pool cue down on the pool table and walked over to a table to sit down. I was through with this game. I couldn't win it anyway. Edward followed and sat across from me.

After a few moments of silence, I said, "Well, the other night, at that party, I told her about my childhood."

Edward frowned.

"What about your childhood?"

Now, I still didn't consider Edward a friend, but he was cool enough and was the closest thing I had to one. Obviously I hadn't said anything to him about how I grew up. He probably just thought I was a natural born asshole and left it at that.

"I didn't have the best childhood. I basically raised myself."

Edward stared at me as if silently telling me to continue.

"I don't want to get into any details, but my mom was an addict and my step-father beat me."

"Shit, man, I'm sorry. I had no idea –"

"It's no big deal," I interrupted. "I'm alright now…for the most part."

"You're not a cutter or anything, are you?" Edward asked, looking freaked out.

"Fuck no! I take Xanax every now and then, but that's all. I have panic attacks sometimes and the pills seem to help."

"So that's why you're such a prick to everyone, huh?"

I smirked at Edward's bluntness.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, if you ever need anything, man, I'm here, you know, since you're my friend and all."

Friend? Someone actually considers me to be their friend?

"Thanks."

I quickly changed the subject because I started to feel uncomfortable with all the friend-talk.

"Did you hook up with anyone the other night?" I asked.

Edward shook his head, but had a goofy grin plastered across his face.

"What the hell? I know something happened. You look like a high school girl who got fingered by the captain of the football team."

"Whatever," Edward said, chuckling to himself.

"Come on! I know you got some! Admit it!"

"I didn't! But I did meet someone."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah, she's really sweet, and kind of shy. The total opposite of all the chicks I've been with in the past."

"But you didn't hit that?"

Edward's eyes widened as if I'd suggested he fuck his great-grandmother.

"No, I didn't, 'hit that'. She's…special."

"Special."

"Yes, motherfucker, she's special. She's not like the others and I don't want to fuck this up."

"Well, friend…" I said, slapping him on the shoulder, "I hope to meet this miracle woman one day so I can tell her what a bastard you are. Someone needs to warn this poor girl."

Edward took a drink and laughed.

"Shut the fuck up!"

As the two of us were joking around with one another, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket, signaling I had a text message. I looked at my phone and my heart stopped. I stared at the screen in disbelief.

"Jasper, what is it?" Edward asked.

I turned my phone towards him to show him the message.

Hey Jasper!

I hope you're doing okay. I've been worrying about you since the other night. Your friend, Edward, gave me you cell number. I hope you don't mind. Um, if you ever want to have coffee or a drink or anything, just give me a ring.

Alice :)

"Well, well, well," Edward exclaimed.

"What?"

I know I looked like a complete dumbass because I didn't know what to do or how to react. I set my phone down on the table and backed away from it as though it had some sort of disease.

"Are you going to respond?"

"What the fuck should I say?"

"I don't know, tell her you want to hump her leg. What do you think? Ask her out for coffee and see how it goes."

I shook my head.

"No. This is so stupid. Why am I acting so damned scared?"

Edward barked with laughter. "You fucking got me! Stop acting like a pussy and just text her back."

"I will! I'll do it later."

"Alright, but you better do it."

"Fuck, I will, mom!"

Shaking his head, Edward mumbled, "You are such a pussy."

I ignored him and continued to stare at sweet Alice's message.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

When I got home, I pulled out my cell phone again and read Alice's message for the hundredth time. When did I become a thirteen-year-old girl? Alice was just a nice person I'd talked to a few times…and kissed. Shit, her lips were like nothing I had ever experienced before. I had kissed plenty of women, but with Alice it was so much better.

I sighed and plopped down on the couch. There wasn't much on TV so I settled for watching some crazy show about 1,000 Ways to Die. I don't know why I watched this shit, but it was pretty interesting. As I watched a story about a man laughing himself to death, my eyes became heavy.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Hello, Jasper," the man standing in front of me said. He held out his hand for me to shake and I just stared at him.

I don't know who you are and I don't like you.

"My name is Charlie Swan and this is my wife, Renee. We hope you'll be happy here."

I looked over at the petite woman standing next to Charlie and nodded. She smiled warmly, but I quickly looked away because I felt uncomfortable. I was fourteen-years-old and CPS swooped in and removed me from my own personal hell and set me up in a foster home. Part of me was relieved because I no longer had to deal with my step-father and poor excuse of a mother, who was now so deep into her addiction that she resembled a zombie. I heard that she OD'ed a couple times. The house was always a mess; there was never food in the refrigerator; and neither of them were home very often, which suited me just fine when it came to my step-father. I ended up staying at the homes of classmates who took pity on me. I think one of their moms reported my "parents" to CPS and that's how I ended up here with these strangers.

Charlie and Renee took me on a tour of the house and pointed out all of the necessary areas: kitchen, living room, bathroom, and my bedroom.

"Jasper, dinner will be ready around five o'clock, so you can hang out in here in your room, or you can come down to the living room, if you like. Charlie said there's going to be a football game on TV."

I looked at Renee as if she had four heads coming out of her neck. I had never been given choices. Usually someone would tell me to go somewhere and keep fucking quiet.

"Um, I guess I'll come downstairs and watch the game," I said quietly.

Renee placed her hand on my shoulder. "Good! Let's go!"

While we ate dinner, both Charlie and Renee tried to make conversation with me. I never had much to say, so I only spoke when they asked me questions. After talking about where I would be going to school, sports I enjoyed, and a possible family vacation the next summer, I spoke up.

"So why don't you two have your own children?"

Renee and Charlie looked at each other and then at me.

"Well," Charlie started, "we tried, but…"

"But for whatever reason, we couldn't have a child of our own," Renee finished. "That's why we're so glad that you've come to stay with us."

"Are you going to adopt me or something?"

"If everything goes well, we'd love to, Jasper," Charlie said with a huge smile.

I didn't want to get my hopes up, but these two were the most normal, stable people I'd ever encountered. I didn't know how I got lucky enough to be there, but I decided right then and there I wouldn't mess it up. I smiled at them for the first time and heard their sighs of relief. I could feel the relief within myself as well. For once I was going to have a normal life with normal people and do normal things. Little did I know that things were only going to get worse…

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

My eyes jolted open and I looked around, trying to get my bearings. My TV was still on and I could hear some random person telling me how essential colon cleansing was. I turned off the TV and noticed it was almost six o'clock in the morning. I didn't even bother to take the short walk to my bedroom. I just lay down on the couch and went back to sleep.

A few hours later, I was up and making some toast when I heard my cell phone vibrating once again. I picked it up and saw that Edward had texted me. I sighed and read the message.

"Morning, fucker! Did you text Alice last night?"

"Dammit! Leave me alone, Edward."

He responded almost immediately.

"You didn't do it, did you?"

I sighed and typed.

"No, not yet. Can I at least eat breakfast before I text her? She may not even be awake yet."

I thought he had given up, since I didn't receive a response right away. I was wrong.

"Um, have you looked at the clock? It's nearly 10 a.m. You're the only one who thinks it's early, dumbass."

"Fuck you. I told you I was going to text her and I will. Now get off my back."

"Alright. Alright. Just DO IT!"

I set my phone down on the table without bothering to respond. After I had eaten my breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen a bit, I finally picked my phone back up and read Alice's message once again. I had practically memorized by now. I quickly hit "reply" and looked at the blank screen.

Alice,

Yes, I'm okay. No need to worry about me. I don't have to work until 8 tonight, so if you want to have coffee or whatever, just let me know.

Jasper

Before I could change my mind, I hit send and waited. And waited. And waited. Twenty minutes came and went, so I decided to hop in the shower. After I got dressed, I saw the little red light on my phone signaling I had a message. I pulled up the screen and saw that Alice had responded. My heart raced and I rushed to open the message.

Jasper!

I'm so glad to hear from you! I have to work until 5, but how about we meet at Café Prague at 5:30. It's at 2 west 19th street right off of 5th. We can also grab something to eat there if you're hungry. Let me know!

Alice :)

I felt like I had opened the best gift ever and was practically giddy with excitement. I quickly responded.

Alice,

I'll meet you there at 5:30.

Jasper

I hit send and tried to figure out what I would do for the next six and a half hours. I didn't realize it, but I was still holding my phone and nearly jumped out of skin when it vibrated again. I held it up and read the message.

Great! See you then!

Alice :)

After I read Alice's short message three more times, I looked up and caught a sight I hadn't seen in what seemed like forever…me, in the hallway mirror, smiling.

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Next up, coffee with Jasper and Alice! :)