Author's Notes: So sorry I couldn't reply to as many reviews last chapter! My first year of college is coming to an end, so I've been studying like CRAZY to end the semester with a bang. Next week is finally the start of summer for me! Yay! And even though I go back for summer classes in June, it'll still be less stressful and I'll still have Fridays off! Anyway, I can't even believe you guys! 100+ reviews last chapter? That's pretty exciting for me, and I promise I read them all even if I pretty much fail at replying :( Yay for 400!

Lots of Edward lovin' to IcelandGirl812 for getting this done unbelievably quick. Loooove her! She keeps me writing, fixes all my errors, still has time to be a friend, and is the main reason why this story was even posted in the first place. So, thank you, Erica!

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all. I just own the plot.

A Little Less Than Before

Chapter Seven;

Useless

Edward Cullen

Alice and Jasper were dating for a year?

A year. One whole year!

That came even as a surprise to me. She had never told me this. Or any of us, for that matter. She wrote me all the time, sent e-mails and texts, and never once did she mention ever dating him. And apparently, they never told Bella either.

Which was pretty messed up, if you ask me, because not only is she their best friend, but...

Bella was in love with Jasper. I knew it. I was right all along. As soon as I saw that look on my sister's face, I knew something was up. Alice had always been a good liar, but when she was caught, she could never work her way out of it. I knew that look all too well. The look she wore when Dad confronted her about whether or not she invited one too many friends over when they left for a weekend when we were in high school. The look she wore when I let her borrow my car the time she graduated college and came back with it dented on the side and with vomit on my floors.

Alice was guilty and had gotten caught.

And fuck, I wanted to yell at her. Wanted to ask how in the hell she slept at night knowing she was keeping something so huge from someone so important to her. Wanted to ask who in the fuck she was because the Alice I knew and loved would never do something like this.

Later, I told myself as I pushed the door open. Later!

And because I knew Bella was going to be crying, I ran after her. I could see her faintly from where I was and knew right away that she had no destination. She was just running. Running away to lessen the pain even just a little. Running away to have some sort of an escape from it all.

I caught up faster than I thought I would. The sight of her crying on that park bench, looking even more broken than she was the day of the engagement party... damn.

For once, I didn't know what to do. What was I supposed to say to her? There were no words that could make her feel okay. Not only had they kept the secret from her for so long, but she was in love with him for Christ's sake.

She loved Jasper, and he loved my sister, and she's Bella's best friend. It was one complicated ass circle, but I actually understood it all. Everything made sense now. Her breakdown at the party, her reaction towards the Fairmont, her shock at finding out they had been dating - it all made sense.

I didn't want to ask any questions about how, when, why, or whatever other bullshit there was to ask. All I knew was that if I were in her shoes, all I'd want would be the comfort of knowing someone was there for me. So instead of berating her, I simply sat down and rubbed circles into her back, willing her to get all the pain out while she had someone there. "You're... in love with Jasper."

Without a word, and without turning to me, she nodded.

And I knew.

We didn't speak for a while. I waited until her sobs calmed to silent tears, and finally, she was at the point where I could walk back with her to my car so I could take her home. The ride back to her place was just as silent, which I didn't mind. If she wasn't ready to talk, then she wasn't ready to talk. I followed her up the stairs and watched as she tossed her purse to the floor and slid down the wall with her back pressed against it.

"How... Why... I just don't get it," Bella murmured as she shook her head. "Why? Why would they keep something like that?"

I wish I could have given her an answer. I wish I knew why my sister lied or why Jasper didn't bother to say anything, but I was just as clueless as she was.

"Don't say anything," she whispered. "Please, Edward, don't say anything."

It was obvious that everyone was oblivious to her feelings. I was angry all over again at Alice for calling herself Bella's best friend when she couldn't see in years what I saw in hours. It was fucking ridiculous, to say the very least. "It's not my story to tell."

She understood. "Thank you."

In an attempt to try and get her mind off things, I sat down next to her. She didn't look at me as I leaned back against the wall and made myself comfortable. "There was this one time in Chicago..."

Bella raised a brow at me, but I ignored it and continued on.

"Where I was on the train, and there was this strange woman eyeing me, right? I mean, she was really strange. I tried to ignore her and focused on anything else except her." I chuckled at the memory. "So, I got off at my stop, and that same lady is following me. I ducked in and out of corners, rushed down streets, and hid whenever I could. By the time I made it back to my building, she was still on my tail."

"Even after all that?" she asked, looking even more confused. "Did you call the cops?"

I shook my head and laughed. "Apparently, one of my coworkers thought it'd be so hilarious to slap a note on my back that said 'I make dreams in bed come true. Follow me tonight for a lifetime remembrance of bliss'. You know how awkward it was for me to try to politely decline that woman and tell her it was all a misunderstanding? Some friends, right?"

Bella laughed quietly and wiped underneath her eyes as I nudged her softly. "Hey, see, there you go. I got you to laugh." I reached out a hand to her and helped her up from the floor, handing her the keys she dropped beside me. "I'm glad I got you to smile even just a little bit, but you have a right to feel hurt. You deserve the time to cry and the time to get it all out. Don't try to be strong and hold it in, Bella. It'll just hurt you more."

She looked up at me with glossy eyes and a sad smile, and I knew the hurt was back. She was going to shut the door and fall to her knees and cry because I knew it was probably hurting her like hell. I tentatively reached a hand up to her shoulder and patted it softly. "Things will get better soon, Bella."

"I hope so."

I nodded and gave her one last smile before I headed back down the stairs to my car. It suddenly hit me at how much more difficult the whole circle had become. I wanted Bella who was in love with Jasper who was getting married to Alice, who was my sister and Bella's best friend. A groan escaped my mouth as I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to focus on the road and stoplights in front of me.

My mind was clouded with too many thoughts of too many things as I pulled into the driveway of my parents' house. Alice's car was parked on the side, so I knew I was right when I had guessed she would come here, knowing she would probably be in need of Mom's warm, comforting hugs and Dad's wise words.

"Don't say anything. Please, Edward, don't say anything."

Bella's voice echoed in my head as I stepped inside. Sure enough, Alice was sitting on the corner of the sofa in the living room, looking as if she was a child on time out. I tossed my keys onto the table in front of her and sighed while running my fingers once again through my already messed up hair. "What a way to end my first non-date with Bella. Thanks. You have anything to say for keeping this from all of us for how long, Mary Alice Cullen?"

Alice Cullen

I cringed when Edward used my whole name. He was never around enough to ever get mad at me for anything the past few years, so I knew him using that against me meant bad news. Edward and I were only a year apart, but he always acted so much more mature than he actually was.

"Where's Jasper?" he asked, looking around.

"He went to Bella's to try and talk to her."

Edward forced out a laugh. "I just finished talking to her, and honestly, I think Jasper is the last person she wants to talk to right now. You're probably next in line, but can you really blame her?"

My head fell as I avoided his piercing eyes, doing my best to keep my emotions under control. "Bella won't answer my phone calls."

"Oh, I wonder why," Edward sarcastically remarked, crossing his arms. "Could it possibly be because her two best friends kept this a secret from her for an entire year? I just don't get it. Why in the world would you keep something so huge from her? You should've known she'd be fucking upset once it came out!"

I cringed again. I hated it when Edward cursed at me because he didn't do it often. He was mad, really mad, and about to make me break down into tears if he didn't stop yelling. "Sorry."

He raised a brow at me. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Ali. Though, I do have to admit, I am pissed and kind of wondering who you are and what the hell you've done with my sister. Because the Alice I know would never do that type of a thing to someone so close to her."

A tear rolled down my cheek and I didn't even care to wipe it away. Why bother? Edward was absolutely right. What the hell was I thinking, keeping it from Bella like that for an entire year? How did I ever let it get this far? To my surprise, I felt strong arms wrap around me before any more tears managed to fall.

"Since I'm your brother, I'm pretty much forced to love you no matter how annoyed I am at you. But Bella on the other hand, she chooses to love you. And she chose to take you into her life as her best friend. And if you and Jasper don't find a way to make this better, you just might lose that from her."

I closed my eyes against his shoulder and sniffled. "Thanks, Edward. Love you."

"I love you too, Alice. You know that. Even though it's hard for me to admit sometimes. Be sure to get some rest tonight, kiddo." He ruffled the top of my head and if it were any other time, I'd punch him in the gut. But, I wanted and needed the comfort, and if that were the form it would come in, I'd take it.

Ugh. What is wrong with me though?

I watched my best friend run out on me because I slipped up and told her something I should've told her months ago. Something I should have come out and said the very same day it happened.

My head dropped into my hands as I cried for all those days I lied straight through my teeth, for all those times I could have told her, and for all those times I could have told her but didn't. I wouldn't blame her if she never forgave me. I wouldn't blame her if she didn't speak to me ever again.

I deserved it.

I thought back to the first day I had met Bella. We were in Political Science and sat next to each other in the back because we both came in late and nothing else was free. I remember I was late because I just had to spend that extra twenty minutes straightening my then long hair, thinking I'd possibly have some cuties in class. Bella had a much more valid excuse - she got lost.

It was amazing how fast we clicked. I couldn't believe it when she told me she was totally into the idea of cheating so we could both pass. I knew right then and there that she would be a lifelong friend of mine and that she would be in my line of closest women beside me whenever I decided to get married.

And now, four years later, she's going to stand beside me as my maid of honor. As my number one best friend and as the sister I've never had.

If she even chose to still be after today.

God, I hate myself right now.

I grabbed my phone and held down Bella's speed dial, putting it to my ear as soon as the screen indicated the call was going through.

"Hey, you've reached Bella. Sorry I can't answer your call right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you!"

I sighed at hearing her voicemail for the fiftieth or sixtieth time and waited for the beep. "Bells, it's Alice. I know you probably hate me now, shit, I even hate me right now. But, I wanted to apologize. The right way. I know tomorrow isn't Friday, but if you're willing to hear me out, come to the usual at seven. I refuse to have another woman stand as my maid of honor, but if you choose to step down, I'll more than understand. I love you, Bells, and for the record... I'm so sorry."

I hung up and hugged my knees to my chest because it was the only thing I was capable of doing. I remember how often Bella would jabber on and on about some guy named Jasper before. It was interesting, and I had an idea he must have been someone special.

When she finally introduced him and I to each other, I can honestly remember almost fainting at how intense the feeling was. Never in my life had I ever thought that I would be one to succumb to that whole "love at first sight" thing. But there I was, staring at him and knowing that somehow, someway, he was the one.

And I felt terrible.

Because this was the guy Bella would go on and on about for hours at a time. I knew her feelings ran deeper than she claimed, regardless of how often she denied it and asked how I could ever think that in the first place.

The years went by and the feelings never left, no matter how hard I tried to pin them down. Bella was my best friend and I promised myself that the day she came out and told me about how she felt towards Jasper, I'd completely rid myself of mine. It would be the hardest thing in the world I would have to do, but I'd do it.

So, I waited.

And waited.

But, Bella never said anything.

Then, Jasper told me how he felt. About me. For me. He told me he wanted me to be his girlfriend, and I was elated. Absolutely ecstatic because he felt about me how I felt about him since we first met.

It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

Because I still wasn't solidly sure about whether or not Bella loved him the way I was thinking she did. So, I did the only thing I could.

I told Jasper he'd have to wait for my answer because I wasn't ready to give him one yet. I had to make sure Bella would be okay with me dating Jasper first.

And then he said because he had known Bella for so long, he knew it would hurt her, and that that was the last thing he wanted. So, he asked if we could keep it to ourselves for a while. "A week won't hurt", he told me.

So, I believed him.

A week went by. Then, a month. Then more months. And we still hadn't told Bella.

He thought it was best that way.

And I knew that if we kept it a secret, it'd hurt her even more when the truth came out.

I was right. I was always right.

What was I even thinking?

What had I done?

I was faced with the decision of choosing between Jasper and Bella. It was hard. Harder than anyone would ever be able to imagine because I loved them both.

But because I was a lovesick fool, I went along with the idea that if we kept our relationship a secret from the world, Bella would never get hurt. I kept telling myself she'd find out eventually. Sooner or later, we would have to tell her. I don't even know how we got so far without a word to anyone.

Both of us had gotten so used to being secretive, that it eventually just became second nature to us. But, I hated that we couldn't be public about our love for each other. I hated that every time we left the usual, I'd go to Jasper's and hang out with him until the early hours of the morning.

I felt more guilt now than I ever did before, and I hated myself for that. To this day, I'm still not sure about whether or not Bella was ever really in love with Jasper like I thought. Maybe she was, maybe she wasn't. The only way to know would be to come clean and ask. And I honestly wouldn't even know what to do if she ever told me she was. If she let me know my suspicions were correct and damned me for knowing but refusing to do anything about it... I just, I don't know.

I wouldn't be mad. How could I be when it's something I've had a gut feeling about all along? Damn it all, I sighed to myself.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing quietly from its position on the couch. I hoped to dear god that it was Bella, but it was only Jasper. If it were any other time, I would have been all smiles and would have answered the phone like I always did.

But, I was regretting listening to him and wasn't ready to forget all about it just yet. My phone continued to ring softly as I stayed where I was with my knees to my chest and my head faced down.

I reached over and hit "ignore".

It was a beautiful, winter night without rain and just the right amount of a chill in the air. I tapped my heeled boots on the floor nervously as I took a sip from my usual cocktail and stared at Bella's, sitting untouched across from me. I wouldn't blame her if she decided not to come. Jasper insisted he come along as well to get his side of the story out, but I refused. This was my chance to tell Bella I was sorry. Jasper would just have to snag her some other time and tell her afterwards.

I sighed, then uncrossed and crossed my legs for the umpteenth time because it was a habit of mine whenever I got extremely anxious about things. I wished I was just one of those people who bit their nails or stuttered, but instead, I cross and uncross my legs like crazy and make people think I'm in constant need of using the restroom.

It was thirty minutes past seven, and I was beginning to get really worried. I knew Bella had to have heard my message. I wouldn't blame her if she decided to stand me up, but the thought of it twisted my stomach and made me want to curl into a ball and cry. As much as I love and respect Jasper, I really wish that I had come clean because Bella deserved that much at least.

"Hey, long time no see, pixie!" A voice came from beside me and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Waiting on someone?"

It was Rosalie Hale, one of the waitresses at the Zig Zag café. She knew the three of us very well and always gave us free drinks whenever she was the one to serve our table. I hadn't seen her in a while though since she had to make an urgent trip to Rochester due to a family emergency. I stood up and gave her a hug because it really had felt like it had been too long. "Goodness, Rose, it feels like it's been forever! How have you been? How was New York?"

"It was lovely. I got to see my family I haven't gotten to see in years. My father was really sick for a while, but he's okay now." Her ice blue eyes eyed the untouched cocktail beside my own as she raised a perfectly sculpted brow at me. "Wait a minute. Today's not Friday. Who are you meeting here?"

"Bella. I just need to talk to her about a few things."

"I see," Rosalie mused. "Oh my god!" Her mouth dropped as soon as my engagement ring threw off sparkles in the dim glow of the outdoor lighting. "Don't tell me that's an engagement ring?!"

I nodded and held out my hand so she could examine the band. "Jesus, your lover sure has good taste in diamonds. This must have cost him a hell of a lot," she whistled and released my hand. "So, who's the lucky bastard?"

"Jasper and I are getting married in June. I would have invited you to the engagement party, but I didn't know when you'd be back."

She grinned at me and gave me another hug. "Wow, you and Jasper? I really have been missing out, haven't I? Congratulations to the both of you."

"Thanks, Rose." I smiled once we pulled away. "Do me a huge favor?"

"Hm?"

"Be one of my bridesmaids?"

Rosalie pretended to think about it for a minute, but laughed once I pouted and smiled her gorgeous thousand-watt smile. Why she was a waitress instead of a model on the catwalk always baffled me. "I'd love to be, Alice. I'll talk details with you some other time though, yeah? I've got to go deal with drunken bastards until happy hour's over."

"Good luck," I giggled as she waved me off.

"They tip pretty fucking nicely though. Tell Bella and Jasper I say hello when you get the chance, would you?"

I sat back down once she left with her tray and held my hand out in front of me to examine the ring once again. I couldn't even begin to explain how very scared I was when Jasper handed Bella that small velvet box. Sure, we had been dating, but he could have very well pulled a fast one on me and realized he was in love with her all along. I wanted to be happy that maybe he was going to propose to her, but I couldn't help the tears that were fighting to make their way down my cheeks as I held my breath and watched her carefully.

And when she opened that box and pulled the necklace out instead, I have to admit I was quite relieved. Then, he handed me a velvet box of my own, and I pretty much died and went to Heaven. The proposal was beautiful, the ring was breathtaking, and I was blown away. Everything else completely flew out of my mind and all that remained in the world was him and I in that moment.

After my emotions finally settled back down to earth, I remember asking why he would propose to me in front of Bella like that. If he wanted to hide our relationship for so long, why would he, out of the blue, just come out and ask me to marry him? Because that's how it would've looked to Bella since she was completely unaware of my and Jasper's status.

"Bella is my absolute best friend, Alice," he told me. "She has been there for me ever since I can remember. She's always been by my side for every important event that's ever happened. I wanted her to be there when I popped the question because it's a big thing. And she's a huge part of my life, you know that."

I understood him completely and realized just how much he really did value their friendship when he admitted it to me. It made sense that he didn't want to hurt her or make her feel like a tag-along, third-wheel type of best friend, but I still think it would have been best if we had told her ourselves. I heard someone clear their throat, and I didn't even realize I was staring at the ring so fixedly. My eyes looked up to whoever it was, and I almost leaped across the table.

It was Bella.

End of Chapter Seven

Author's Notes: I'm prepared this time! I know everyone will be really, really mad at Jasper, but like Erica said, it's inevitable. I give you permission to be mad at him. Just remember that he WILL be fixing his mistakes as the story progresses. For now, yes, he was a jerk for asking Alice to keep it a secret. I'm not anti-Jasper, I promise. I actually love him quite a bit, so I'll make damn sure he gains Bella's respect back. Until then, how about some more of that Edward comfort for her? Yes?

A whole chapter of Bella is coming up next, and it's already in the works, so keep an eye out for it! If anyone has questions or just wants to chat it up, come hang out at the thread for this story! The link is on my profile :)

Nervous about the APOV because I've never done it before. Help me out and tell me your thoughts?

-BB