This is sort of a short chapter--sorry. But hey--new POV! It's a lil' lady i think you all know and love. And uhh--i dunno what happened, you reader out there--do you think i don't like reviews? ;D Pleasepleaseplease review! When i get reviews i go right to my word doc and type it up! they get cranked out powered by your reviews! I eat them up! Please review this chappie or any others! Thanx and Team Jalice! 3

JESSICA

I only half-knew that a gift was dropped off at my computer desk--I was staring over at Emmett and Rosalie. Rosalie held some shiny satin colored wrapping paper, and some body spray in the other hand. I watched their silent conversation; she spritzed her neck and Emmett inhaled, closing his eyes and laughing. My crummy gift was still wrapped his hands.

Emmett pulled away, grinning and motioning goofily at his crude gift. He tore it open with a popping thrust that made my heart sneeze or cough--something unusual. He pulled them out--the blue contrasting against his cream skin. He was like a masculine porcelain doll.

He put them on, pulling the mitten flaps off to tickle Rose's nose and chin. He liked them. So what? I tore my gaze away, irritated.

I grabbed my gift, and pulled it apart violently.

Lotion. I nearly laughed hysterically.

ALICE

I watched Angela hug her arms to herself nervously. She was a very nice girl--and Edward said that she never thought unkind thoughts; unusual for a human.

I tugged at a piece of hair. Coach Clapp would announce dodge ball today--perhaps I could arrange me, Jasper, and Em to be on her team. I'd like to be her friend, but that was way too dangerous. No humans.

I felt Jasper's presence. I turned to look up at his face. Serious, as always. It evened out, though. I leaned myself against him, limply slipping my arms beneath his like a rag doll. I smelled his scent--my favorite smell in the entire world. Even better than blood, if possible. Like fresh cut grass, baby cherry blossoms, moist air after rain--calming, soothing smells.

I felt him softly wrap his arms around me; place his chin on my head. "What's wrong?" his low, beautiful voice said. Sometimes it seemed he knew my emotions better than I did. What was bothering me? I shrugged in his embrace.

"Just envying those who can live normal lives and have normal friends…" I whispered, and I knew it was the truth. He didn't do his calm-happy thing to me, what I was feeling was close to constant these days, and everyone felt it in our family.

His lips met my cheek for a warm moment, then he was leading me to the rest of the class, hovering around Coach Clapp.

She said to just split the class up evenly for dodge ball and craziness to be either friends ensued. I grabbed Jasper and Emmett and darted to Angela's side of the gym.

I risked limited communication: "Hey, Angela!" I smiled my best innocent grin, but I felt Emmett's goofy grin follow mine. Don't overwhelm the poor girl…!

Gym was actually very fun--and I managed more human interaction. Emmett muttered under his breath how annoying humans' fragility was--and turned to us: his team mates, with a mischievous grin. I shrieked and squealed as Emmett's fires pelted me--not painfully though they would probably knock a human unconscious. No one noticed. After a while, some humans did glance at our behavior as I ducked and scooted around on my butt behind Jasper, using him as a shield. Jasper laughed and warded our hulking brother off with the rubber balls I supplied. Emmett roared (in an unthreatening way to human eardrums…) and lunged at us--several balls cradled in his melon-like arms. Jasper swooped me up, our loud laughs lost in the dodge ball game fury. My bright white sneakers trailed behind me as I bounced in Jasper's secure arms; I watched human girls look at us with longing.

With my arms flung over Jasper's shoulders, I pulled close as I listened to balls hit the floor, rubber on wood. A hollow sound. I didn't feel as hollow as I'd been at the beginning of class…

Emmett tripped on a ball as he made his way over to us, our palms raised in merry surrender. It saddened me that he was unable to sidestep the ball quickly--inhumanly quick. His palms hit the floor and his shoulders shook in laughter.

Every day was like the one before…

In literature class, I felt drowsy, almost. I moaned so quiet that no one heard and leaned against Jasper. What would I do without him?

Instinctively, his hand went to stroke my hair, subtly so no one but maybe Edward would notice.

We were reading a story I knew by heart, so I just closed my eyes.

Finally, the bell rang. Edward went to his next class, but Jasper had to shake me back to life. No pun intended.

"Alice? Are you sure you're alright? You've been acting odd." His golden eyes pooled with worry. Yet, in this moment of sadness, I was taken aback by his concerned angelic face. I looked away, painfully.

"Can we skip next hour?"

"Of course." His welcoming arms took me and led me from class.