Disclaimer: I own only the plot of the story. The names of the characters belong to S.M.

Chapter 10 – Truth come out

APOV

True to her word, Bella, along with Rosalie, came to my dorm room in the evening. Unfortunately, Jessica was in and stared at the girls questioningly. I groaned.

I had been vague about the reasons I had moved out of Bella's apartment, simply saying that our interests weren't compatible any more. But she was a clever girl and already knew that I didn't have any friends now, spending all my time in class or studying. Seeing Bella and Rosalie here, in our room, had her curiosity peaked.

I was in for the Spanish Inquisition later.

I glanced at my old friends, who were staring back at me expectantly. I nodded infinitesimally towards Jessica's lingering form, hoping they would catch my desperate plea to get out of here.

"Hey, Bella..Rose…It's been ages we have gone out for coffee, and now I am in dire need for my daily dose of caffeine. How about we go out and grab some?" I said anxiously. They caught it instantly and played along.

"Sure," Rosalie replied, "I know a nice new coffee shop a little bit out of the campus. Shall we go?"

I nodded in agreement and, after grabbing my purse and my canes, I said goodbye to my roommate and followed them slowly towards Rose's car. They silently helped me get inside and sped off the campus.

None of us said a thing, probably using the time until we would arrive at the shop to put our thoughts in order. I laid back to relax a bit, and let myself get lost in the changing scenery, finally succumbing to sleep.

I was jolted awake by a soft hand and I found myself facing Bella's kind face.

"We are here, Ali. Let me help you out of the car," she said. I blinked my eyes, trying to push the sleep away from my still heavy eyelids. Man, I haven't slept this good since…well, forever. I nodded and soon I was out of the car and standing in front of a familiar building, one that I had vowed never to come back.

I turned to them, feeling angry and betrayed.

"Why am I here? I can't be here, I just...it's not for me. How can you be so cruel? Why did you have to torture me this way? Haven't I been through enough?" I yelled, bursting in tears.

They both tried to calm me down, but I shied away from their touch, falling to the ground. "I want to leave. It was wrong to agree to this. I never expected to be deceived by the people I once considered sisters," I kept muttering through my sobs. "I can't bear being near…It hurts too much," I choked before I could finish. I was in acute pain, feeling like my chest was slashed open and my heart was left exposed to all evil.

Suddenly, I found myself engulfed by two pairs of arms. I tried shaking them off, but they wouldn't let go, and I was too damn tired, so I just stopped fighting. I was destroyed, broken beyond repair; what more could happen to me? I allowed them to hold me, too lost in my pain and grief to care, when Bella said one simple thing.

"He is not here."

I shuddered involuntary and raised my red puffy eyes at her. She sighed with so much sadness written on her face.

"We never meant to deceive you or cause you any more pain. But we do need to talk, and we thought here would be better than a noisy coffee shop. My room is quiet and comfortable, and our conversation won't be disrupted.

"I know that your last memories form my house have haunted you for so long, but…you also have many good memories. It is your house, too, remember? We are sisters." She looked at me pleadingly. "Let's talk, please?"

I kept staring at her while she was speaking, studying her face. She was Bella, my best friend, a girl who had never lied to me, her sincerity one of the qualities I always admired in her. She wouldn't lie to me now, would she? She really meant everything she had told me. This whole thing was hurting not just Jasper or me; it was causing pain to others, too.

I squeezed her hand a bit and gave her a weak smile. I wanted to hear them, I wanted to know what they had to say. Maybe they would help me get the closure I so badly needed.

Rosalie helped me stand up and ushered me to the elevator up and into Bella's room. I sat on her bed, while they plopped on the love seat next to it. It was going to be a long talk.

We stared at each other for a few minutes, trying to figure out how to proceed. Rosalie was the one to break the awkward silence.

"Oh hell, this is bullshit," she rolled her eyes. "Alice, sweetie," she went on, in a kinder tone, "you know why we are here, right?"

I nodded.

"This…thing between us has gone by for too long, and it has to stop. It has done no good to any of us. We are all in pain. Both he and you have allowed your pride and self-sacrifice to break you; you who were inseparable.

"Yes, the damn accident was a shitty situation to fall on you, but you took it too far. I know he was injured, I know he has those scars as a constant reminder, but you have to remember; it was nobody's fault!

"It wasn't Jasper's fault; he is always careful, even when speeding. It wasn't your fault; James Hunter caused the crash, not you. Do you understand me?" she finally asked me.

I understood what she was telling me, and I wanted to believe her, I did. But I couldn't take my mind of the fact that James went after Jasper deliberately, and it was all because of me. Rosalie felt my hesitation to accept what she had just told me.

"Don't start with the whole James-hurt-Jasper-because-of-me crap, I won't accept it! Jasper did what every decent man would have done in a situation like this. James was a dangerous crazy mother-fucker who, unfortunately, set his eyes on you. And because Jasper ruined his plans, he wanted revenge.

"Just know one thing; he was after you both. His buddy, Laurent, spilled the beans on him. He had called James for help after the arrest, but got bitch-slapped instead for getting beaten down. James had vowed to get you both because "he wanted his fun". He was following you around, waiting for the opportunity to strike. He thought you were in the car, too."

Bella took over. "Jasper never regretted saving you that night. He said it was one of the noblest acts of his life, and he would do it again a thousand times over. He is raised that way; help the weak, protect the innocent. The Cullen men pride themselves to be gentlemen, and no gentleman would allow a woman to be harmed in any way.

"And after he got to know you better and fell in love with you, he was even more resolved to protect you, no matter what. "I don't care about me, I can take care of myself. I want Alice to be safe. I would die for her" were his exact words. He was scared for you, afraid that James might get to you, despite all the precautions. He loves you so much, honey, he misses you…he is miserable away from you."

I took my time to process what I had just learned before answering.

"You have told me things I didn't know before, that change everything I used to believe was the truth. I know there is nothing I could have done to avoid it, that it wasn't my fault." The girls exchanged looks, but I didn't stop to think its hidden meaning.

"What I can't fathom to understand is why he pushed me away and became so cold towards me? I love him, I wanted to stand by his side, I was willing to do anything for him. He was the one for me, I was ready to fall into the fires of hell for him.

"Yet, he wouldn't let me in…he was so withdrawn, so distant. I kept feeling he was blaming me for the crash and for his scarring. I always thought he was the most handsome man in the world, and the scar hasn't changed that for me or for any other girl on campus." I chuckled darkly, as I remembered the various girls hitting on him, and my friends followed through.

"It was funny watching them throwing themselves on him," Rosalie quipped, "and him deflecting their propositions politely."

"Those girls were ruthless. When they realized he was with me, they became mean to me." I winced at the memory. "I can't tell you the vile hurtful things they would say to me, whether he was with me or not. But I didn't mind, because he loved me. The moment he stopped caring for me, I just…couldn't stay. He didn't…" I stumbled with the words, "…want me any more…I wasn't good enough for him, I guess. So…I left."

"But why did you stop talking to the rest of us?" Bella asked, choking back her tears. "Jasper might have been your boyfriend, but I thought I was a good friend to you. You were a sister to me, to Rose, to the guys. Why did you cut us off?"

This was one of the questions that pained me the most, because I knew that I was wrong. Butt at the moment, it seemed the right thing to do.

"Bella, Rosalie…" I started, "I, too, always thought of you as family, even though we haven't known each other for too long. When my relationship with…Jasper," I trembled involuntary at the mention of his name, "…collapsed, well, he is your brother," I turned to Bella, "and a long-time friend," I turned to Rosalie.

"Wouldn't it be awkward for all of us to hang out, while he and I wouldn't be in speaking terms? I just thought it would be easier to go on with your lives like it was before you met me," I finished, wiping furiously the tears from my face. The girls were in tears too, and suddenly, they were on their knees, taking hold of my hands.

"Alice," Bella said softly to me, "in a strange way, I get why you did it. But, if you both had had the courage to talk everything that bothered you, this mess could have been avoided. You would still be together, in love and bliss, enjoying your time together.

"Instead, you let everything come between you two and turn your lives miserable. He has fared no better than you, I can assure you. He has realized his mistakes, he has seen the error of his ways. He loves you," she said with so much determination, "he misses you. He just couldn't stand the fact that you were being hurt by those dim-witted girls because of him. It was his way of protecting you, though he almost destroyed both of you, didn't he?" her gentle eyes were staring, pleading with me to finally see and accept the truth.

What is the truth, anyway?

Suddenly, I was now gasping for air, I was suffocating. I was getting dizzy and my heart was beating erratically. I could hardly hear Rosalie and Bella's frantic cries. Though it was spring, I was cold, my body shaking involuntary.

What is wrong with me? Calm down, Alice, I told myself. Then, everything turned to black.

BPOV

"Alice!" I screamed at the girl I considered my sister, lying unconscious on the bed. I called her name many times, but she didn't move. She was breathing with difficulty, and her heartbeat was strong but too fast. She had an anxiety attack, and I had no idea how to help her.

We moved her to make her more comfortable; her feet were elevated by pillows to help the blood flow, while Rosalie was rubbing her hands. Nothing changed and I couldn't take it any more.

"My father is here, probably in his study. Find him and get him up here ASAP!" I said to Rose, who ran out of the room as quickly as possible.

After only a few minutes, she was back with Carlisle. He immediately took charge of the situation.

"What happened? Did you have a fight or something?" he was worried. "Please, tell me you didn't make matters worse."

"No, dad, we didn't fight. She learned of things she wasn't aware of and got overwhelmed; all of a sudden, she fainted and is still unconscious." He gasped. "I am really scared."

"Here," he ordered, "let me examine her," and sat on the bed next to her, opening his medical bag. My father turned to face us.

"I have to ask you to leave the room. She needs my full attention and your anxiety makes it hard for me." We nodded dejectedly and moved on to exit the room. His voice stopped us.

"Girls, I am sorry. I didn't mean to be so harsh. I know you love her, I love her too. Let me check upon her, I'll be out as soon as possible. I think it's nothing serious, just stress. She is a sensitive girl, her emotional state being very vulnerable due to events we are all too familiar with." He shot us a knowing look. We cared for Alice, she was family, even if my brother had screwed up royally. Hopefully, he could still undo the damage he had caused.

We closed the door behind us, and Rosalie and I sat down on the thick carpet outside the room. She put her arm around me to comfort me.

"Don't worry," she whispered above my head, "your father is looking after her."

I bit my lip. "I know, I just…" I stopped and raised my eyes at her. She stared back at me questioningly.

"I want…well…should I call…Jasper?" I cringed expecting hell from her. Nothing…silence…not a peep. I opened my eyes and she was deep in thought.

Suddenly, my phone was ringing, Jasper's name flashing on the screen. "It's him," I announced dryly. "What do I do? Do I tell him?"

Rosalie sighed. "It seems fate decided for you. It's a sign. Tell him the truth." I took a deep breath and opened my phone. Here we go.

"Jazz…Yes, I'm fine…Where are you?…I am already here…with Rose and…Alice…I invited her…No, she isn't doing well, at all…Dad is with her…she collapsed."

JPOV

My cell almost fell out of my hand. Alice was at my house? My Alice was sick? I pressed the gas pedal even more, to get home quicker. I had to see her, even from afar. She hated me, she had every right to hate my guts, she did everything she could to avoid me; I couldn't blame her. After all, I had turned her away. I broke her heart, led her to believe I didn't love her anymore. As if it was possible.

I loved her immensely, she owned my heart forever. I could never be with anybody else. But I thought she would be better off without me; I truly believed she didn't need more trouble in her life because of me. I underestimated her and her feelings for me; I disregarded her strength and her devotion to me, and I would be paying for my sins for an eternity.

"Jasper? Are you there?" my sister's frantic voice reached out to me, snapping me back to reality.

"I'm here," I said through clenched teeth, "I am on my way, Bella," I shot back before shutting the phone. I was driving like a bat out of hell towards the mansion. I needed to see her, to make sure she was alright.

BPOV

"He is coming," I said and let myself relax in my friend's shoulder. We just sat there, Rosalie on her cell, updating Emmett and Edward on the situation. They were still stuck in class, but promised to come as soon as possible.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, my father emerged from my bedroom. He was tired and exhausted from worry, but looked relieved. We all got up, waiting.

"Girls," he started, "she is awake. Physically, she is fine; she just needs to eat better and sleep more, something she hasn't been doing since…" he paused, giving us a meaningful look. "Well, exhaustion and stress were the reason for this episode. Let her rest and she will be good as new," he smiled weakly when, suddenly, his attention was drawn by something behind us and his eyes glimmered with hope.

I involuntary turned back and there was Jasper, in all his six foot glory; he was flushed from running and breathing quickly, his scar more prominent on his face; a true dark angel.

As soon as he regained his breathing, he approached us, his face paler than usual. All eyes were on him, but nobody said anything, until it became too much, and he broke the silence.

"Where is she? How is she? Is she OK" he choked.

That was the exact moment where I lost it completely. All the pent up anger from the mess our lives had become, due to his stupidity and his stubbornness, came crashing down and I let him have it raw.

"Is she OK? Seriously, Jasper? Now you care about her well-being? Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to stay away "for her own good", as you so eloquently put it? Aren't you breaking your own rules?

"Well, guess what, brother dear? This is all you darn fault! If you could come down from your self pity trip, you would have realized that you should have talked to her. If you had done just that simple thing, you would have known she didn't care! At all! She had you, she was loved by you, she could take anything and anybody. Believe me, she has taken a lot worse since the day she was born! These sluts were nothing. But you decided to be a martyr and you killed her!"

I paused to catch my breath, because I was so angry at him. He was leaning forward, his head hung low, taking each and every blow in stride. He was hurting, I knew it, but I couldn't stop, despite dad's effort. He had to hear it all.

"Did you ever consider the repercussions of your actions? She wasn't just you girlfriend. She was my best friend, living with Edward and me; she was friends to Emmett and Rose; even our parents adored her as a daughter.

"Then, you go on a whim, and decide to be all noble and mighty "to save her from the pain and the regret"! Did you really think your plan was being subtle? We all realized immediately what you intended to do, but hoped against hope that you would see the light and change your mind.

"And, to top it all, you forgot how Alice's mind worked. She tends to shoulder all the wrongs and blame of the world. Her attacker was the man that hit you on purpose. Did you stop to think what this fact would do to her? Didn't you realize what she had been thinking since that moment? She has blamed herself for everything! And you being cold and distant only fueled her guilt and fear, pushing her out of our lives, when the only person guilty here is you!"

I finally broke down and fell onto Carlisle, letting my tears fall freely, my anger completely gone by now. "Oh, Jasper….You have done so much wrong…"

JPOV

My sister was right; I was a heartless man, a coward. I was getting bitch-slapped heavily but took it all, I deserved it. There was nothing in Bella's verbal attack that wasn't true. I have done wrong, too much and to too many people. I got lost into my self-pity, and hurt all my loved ones.

How could I be so ignorant? Why on earth did I care about anyone else but Alice? I should have talked to her, when all the mess started getting out of hand, but I was too scared. I was terrified she would finally admit that everything was too much for her, that she wanted an out. That she had enough of me and the drama surrounding me. I pushed her away not for her own good, but for mine. I wouldn't be able to stand still and watch her leave me.

God, I was such and inconsiderate prick! I never gave her credit for loving me, for sticking with me through thick and thin. I wrongly thought that my feelings were stronger than hers. I rode on my high horse and tried to be the self-sacrificing fool, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge her feelings or her pain. Pain that I was bringing down on her, with my attitude and my cruelty.

Never did I realize, until now, that I wasn't the only one in pain. Alice, Bella, Edward, Esme, Carlisle, Emmett and Rosalie…all the people important to me were hurting with and for me. They loved me and wanted to stand by my side, to help anyway they could. And what did I do? I shut them out or, in Alice's case, pushed them away.

And the worst part? Bella was right. I did forget how Alice's mind worked. It never crossed my mind that she would feel guilty for the crash. I didn't connect the dots to see she was feeling guilty about it. Now she was dead wrong on that. It was not her fault, not in the slightest. But, what else could she believe since I was acting all distant and detached towards her? She loved me so much more than I did. She loved me enough to leave me, so that I wasn't in pain any more. She pulled herself out of our lives so my family wouldn't have to choose between her and me.

My silly, selfless, loving girl…how could I be so lucky to have you in my life?

How could I be so damned fool to throw her away? I loved her so much, she was my life, the reason to live. I needed her back into my arms, I couldn't go on another minute without her smile, without her sweet face laughing at me.

I stared at my sister, my resolve unfaltering now, I knew exactly what had to be done. Bella stared back, puzzled and alarmed.

"Jasper…what…?" she tried to speak but I interrupted her quickly.

"You are absolutely right, Bella…I have done so much wrong, to all of you. I have apologized to everybody but the person I have hurt the most." I turned to my father.

"Dad, may I go in and talk to her, or will it be too much?"

He hesitated a little, then gave me a tight smile.

"Look, son…She needs to rest, that's for sure. But…you need to talk. This rift between the two of you is the real reason behind this. I see no harm to ask whether or not she is up for it. Go on, but don't pressure her. If she says no, back off and let her be. You can try again later or even tomorrow, when she will have regained her strength."

I turned around and put my hand on the door knob to turn, when a hand caught on my wrist.

"This is your last chance. Don't screw up," Rosalie spat at me in a low voice.

I freed my arm from her grasp. "I won't," I replied and pushed the door open slowly. I entered quickly and closed the door behind me softly, trying not to disturb her. The room was almost dark, except from the moonlight flowing in through the windows, illuminating my Alice's small form lying on the bed. She was curled in a fetus-like position, her tiny frame shaking slightly, and I could faintly hear her sniffling and murmuring.

I couldn't understand what she was saying, except for one word that cut me to the core.

"Jasper…."