Hello lovely people!

Long time no see! But I have finally got round to writing this chapter at long last :) I know it may have been a long time since some of you have read this story, (Like nearly 3 years without an update :S - oops!) I'd like to say it was worth the wait? I don't know, obviously that's your opinion!

Anyways, it's been a while, so I won't keep you waiting much longer, here's chapter 2!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, or any of its fictional characters. Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyer. The plot however, is mine ;)

Aw shit, what have I done? She's just staring at me like I've ripped her heart out of her chest. She's welling up, I can see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Her face is turning red, like really red, she looks like she's going to explode.

I feel him pulling at my arm, taking me out of the room and sitting me down on the sofa, he's flustered and doesn't know what to do. He leaves me sitting there and tries to calm her down; I can hear her squealing, threatening to kill me, a bit drastic if you ask me...

I can see him coming back into the room, utter rage expressed all over his face. I really don't feel well today.

"Alice Brandon, you just threw up on Nicki Minaj! What the hell? That dress alone cost $12000! I don't even want to talk about the shoes..." Franco looked stressed, and really pissed off now.

"Well at least it goes with her hair..." I tried to make light of the situation, but I don't think I was helping. Franco had worked very hard to become 'Her Minajesty's' personal stylist after she decided to fire her last one.

I don't think she would be coming back after my incident this afternoon. The sick was bright blue, what on earth was I drinking for it to even turn that colour?

"This isn't funny Alice. First you turn up to work still drunk, you dropped all my paper work and designs in the office earlier, which took me an hour to fix for your information and now you've caused me to lose my biggest client of my career. What do you have to say for yourself?" His breathing was heavy and his hair was messy from pulling at it. God, I messed up big time.

Before I even knew what was happening I blurted out the first thing that came into my mind.

"I slept with Jasper Whitlock last night" I slapped my hand over my mouth.

NOOOOOOO. 'I'm Sorry' was most likely the response he was looking for, not telling him you slept with your best friend's husband. On her birthday night out no less!

Franco's jaw dropped, like his mouth literally fell open in total shock. He just stared at me in awe.
"What? Wait- What? Seriously? When? How?" Franco was speechless, his mouth opening and closing like a gasping fish. I started to laugh, it was so comical.

"Right, first off, you're going in there and apologising to Miss Minaj, second, you're going to go to the bathroom and clean yourself up and get something to eat. Then, we will have a chat about how much of a slut you are." He winked and folded his arms smiling.

I snorted. Today was getting more and more surreal as it went on. I stood up, preparing myself to face the dragon, I took a step forward to enter the adjoining room but Franco threw his arm up to stop me. I gave him a quizzical look.

"I was joking when I told you to go apologise, if you do that, I fear you may not return". I nodded my head and walked in the opposite direction to the bathroom.

I could faintly hear Franco telling me to meet him in his office in 15 minutes, my ass is going to get grilled, but right now, I'm more concerned with trying to keep the rancid blue liquid from coming back up.

After I washed my face and made myself somewhat presentable I headed to Franco's office. I sat there in his room for a short while before he eventually came in with a stressed look on his face.

"So, now that I have dealt with the 'Dragon', I can deal with you," He sat down on his chair at his desk and rested his arms on his desk hunching over the table staring at me. I started to sweat, the hangover was definitely making an ugly appearance, I really should have called in sick today.

"Jasper-fucking-Whitlock, Alice! How many years have you been pining over that ass huh? How did it even happen? Did he and Bella fall out or what?"

My stomach was churning, the thought of what I did last night with my best friend's husband no less was putting me in a serious state of depression, but the thing that was making me feel so bad the most was that if the opportunity to do it all again had arisen, I would do it again. I love Jasper Whitlock, and it's not just a school-girl crush, its real. I would give anything to be with this man. Him leave this morning, knowing that he was going back to her, it broke my heart.

"I don't even know what happened Franco. Long story short, Bella and I had way too many cosmos, Jasper took me home and then there was just this, this spark. I could feel it in the air, I had butterflies, my heart was racing and I couldn't catch a breath. His lips were on mine and, well, you know..." I trailed off giving him a shy look. I know Franco was dying for details, we had had countless conversations drunk of what I would love to do to Jasper, but those were just dirty fantasies. This was different, it was nothing like all those times I had imagined. It was special, even in my drunken state I was so sober, my body came alive with the simple touch of his gentle hands. I wanted him so bad for so many years and it was perfect. Yes, it would have been better if Jasper wasn't married, yes it could have been a little more romantic, but isn't that what everyone says about their first time? Jasper was by no means my first, but my first time with him, at that moment, it was perfect.

I sat there, with a small smile on my face, just remembering the night before. Franco was now looking on curiously, he was dying to pick my brain but I wouldn't let him. I wouldn't tell anyone what happened between Jasper and I, not because I wanted people to find out and for the shit to hit the fan, but because last night, was honestly, the best night of my life and no-one was going to taint that with any judgemental thoughts, whether they meant it or not.

Franco didn't say anything else on the subject. He knew I wasn't going to spill so he left it for today, knowing that he would probably bring it back up later at some point, but I could ignore him till then. He was nice enough to let me go after we had a chat in his office and I left him with the promise that I would never turn up for work when I was not fit for it. I guess I'm extremely lucky to be really close friends with Franco. I would have lost my job today if I were working for anyone else but him.

When I eventually got home I started to clean up the mess I had made from the night before. I washed my sheets and replaced them with new ones. As much I would never regret my night with Jasper, I wouldn't ever be able to go to sleep in the bed with those sheets ever again.

I sat on the couch and turned on the TV watching nothing. I just sat there for an hour thinking of what to next. What do I do next?

I suppose I should really be discussing this with Jasper, he was in just as much trouble as I was. I wasn't married, or have a boyfriend to break their heart, but I know damn well that because it was me that Jasper had slept with, the slap on the face for Bella would be just as twice as hard. She didn't even have her best friend to confined in; I was the one that created the problem!

Bella was the sister I never had, she's been there for all my highs and lows, she was the one solid rock I had when things all started to change over the last few years. I loved Bella just as much as I loved Jasper, was it really worth losing my best friend over a guy?

But this isn't just any guy, this is Jasper.

I was becoming some state over my musings. I could never regret my night with Jasper, but was I ever going to be able to deal with the guilt whenever I now looked at Bella's face, knowing that I had slept with her husband? This was her soul mate, her best friend, the love of her life! Well, he was supposed to be. Hearing Jasper say all those things to me, that I was the one he wanted all these years, that he 'settled for second best'... I was so wrapped up in my love drunk state that I never fully digested the meanings behind those words. I loved hearing them last night, but now? I was furious.

I couldn't understand how stupid he could be. Oh yeah, can't have the girl I love, so i'll just marry her best friend in the hopes that I can spend more time with her in the future...

Who thinks like that?!

Jasper apparently.

So what was I going to do? Nothing.

How could I do anything? I wouldn't do it again, even though last night I was the happiest I have ever been in years, I couldn't do that to my best friend and as much as it's hard to admit, Jasper was hers and always will be.

Jasper and I need to talk, like really soon.

My phone started to ring, pulling me out of my internal debate. I looked down at the screen and saw his beautiful face next to hers as his name flashed on the screen.

Apparently he was thinking the same thing. I lifted the phone and accepted the call.

"Hi Jasper, I was just thinking about you."

He sighed, "Yeah, me too, that's why I called. I can't get you out my head all day today. We need to talk about last night..." He sounded tired. When I woke up this morning he wasn't in my bed, he must have left in the middle of the night.

"Okay, but I'd rather not do it over the phone, this needs to be face to face"

"Sure, do you have a lunch break soon? I could meet you at your work and bring you lunch if you like?" I could hear the excitement in his voice, it brought a smile to my face.

"Actually I got sent home from work, I kinda threw up on a client today," I nervously laughed. "I could meet you at the cafe round the corner from my house if you'd like?"

"Do you still have your job?" He sounded a little worried, I laughed again.

"Yes! I still have my job Jasper, just that my boss thought it would be best that I was sick in my own house than in the office. That way he may actually get some work done without me 'moping' and feeling sorry for myself all day."

"Oh, that's alright then. So I'll meet you around two? I've just got a few things to finish up here then I can head over" I could hear him shuffling some papers around in the background and desk drawers closing.

"Yeah that's fine, I'll save us a table. See ya soon Jaz" I hung up the phone and put it back down beside me. Butterflies started in my stomach and my heart started racing.

Stop that! I scolded myself. We were just going to chat, nothing more.

I suddenly started getting really nervous. What am I going to wear?

Why does that matter? It's not like I'm going to lunch to impress him. I'm going to break it off!

Is that what I was doing? Did I want it to end?

Yes!

NO!

Argh! Whether I wanted it to end or not, that's what was going to happen. I got myself ready, packed my bag with my purse, phone and keys and made my way to the cafe.

I arrived ten minutes early so I just ordered myself a coffee and chose a table at the back in the corner. It was nice and snug, but far away enough so no-one could hear the impending conversation. I didn't know these people here, but I didn't want them hearing my private business, even if they didn't know who Bella, Jasper and I were.

Not five minutes later Jasper walked in the door and walked my way when I gave him a small wave. He placed his suit jacket over the back of his seat and sat down. He gave me a lazy smile and said hi, I said hello back and we just looked at each other for what seemed like forever. I picked up my mug and took a sip breaking the stare. Jasper coughed and picked up the small menu on the table not making eye contact as he finally began to talk.

"So, about last night..." I looked up to him still staring intently at the menu, never looking away from it. "Er, well I, what I want to say is, well em..." He was struggling to get whatever he needed to say out, so I decided to help him out, by forcing him to just tell me.

"Oh just spit it out Jasper!" I whisper yelled in exasperation.

"I'm sorry about last night" He blurted out looking at me.

"What?" My forehead creased in confusion.

"Well, I mean. I'm sorry I left so abruptly. I know I didn't say goodbye, but you just looked so peaceful and I really needed to get home quick cause you know... Bella" He looked to the menu, breaking the eye contact once again and continued. "I really enjoyed myself Alice, I'm not going to lie, last night was just, just wow." He smiled a small smile, still looking at that damn menu. "But what we did, it was wrong. It shouldn't have happened, no matter how much I wanted to do it. I pushed all my thoughts about Bella aside for my selfish needs and told you things that I shouldn't have said. I've been at that desk in work all day just thinking about how stupid we were, I'm so angry at myself for slipping up..." He was shaking his head, eyes closed. He ran his hand through his hair, tugging at it slightly, he looked so stressed.

He opened his eyes and looked at me pleadingly. With his free hand he grabbed mine, just staring at me gathering up the courage to continue.

"I've done so wrong Alice, I've betrayed my wife by sleeping with her best friend, my best friend! and I, I just don't know what to do. How can I look at my wife the same way ever again knowing that I have done something so sinful. It's not like we can just ignore it ever happened, can we?"

My stomach was in knots, I thought I felt bad, Jasper was like utter turmoil inside.

Could we just ignore what had happened? It wouldn't make what we did go away, but for the sake of Jasper's marriage, Bella and I's friendship and Jasper and I's friendship for that matter, could we pretend that it didn't?

Hell, I'd manage to ignore or at least tried to ignore my feelings for Jasper throughout Bella's relationship, what's to say that I still can't? I got my 'release' so to speak...

"What are you thinking?" He was still holding my hand, I had spaced out and he was desperate to know what I was thinking about the whole ordeal. I had barely said anything since he sat down.

I took a deep breath, I must be crazy.

"I was thinking..." Breathe in. Breathe out. "Maybe would could just forget it happened?" I asked more like a question rather than a statement. I wasn't too sure whether if I thought it was possible, but I had to put it out there. "I mean, it's the total coward's way out... but I've been thinking about this all day Jasper, and I don't think I can bear losing you or Bella and I know I'll lose both if she finds out. We can't tell her, it'll kill her Jasper!" It was me who was now shaking their head. I started to well up. Yes, it's my fault, I made this happen, but God damn it! I was not losing my best friends over this. I can forget about my feelings for Jasper, they don't matter, I was being selfish. I have the dream job, I have a lovely house and the car I always wanted, my wardrobe was one to kill for... All I was missing was the dream guy to share it all with, but Jasper was not the one to do that with. He was already taken.

He started to stroke his thumb along my hand, I just watched him do it. He didn't say anything, he just stroked my hand. I could feel the hysteria that was building up inside me die down and my breathing was back to normal. I started again.

"I love you Jasper, I always have and I probably always will. But you're Bella's and it's about time that I grew up and accepted that. If you're willing to forget what happened last night for the sake of saving your marriage then I am too."

I wasn't too sure if I wanted to do this, but just thinking about sitting Bella down and saying the words 'I had sex with Jasper' made me feel sick.

"I don't know Alice, I mean, could you do that?" He looked a little relieved as he questioned my proposal.

"I guess, I just can't imagine telling her what we did, it hurts too much thinking about the pain she would be in with no-one to turn to..."

"Well, if that's what you think is best, we'll do it. I just don't want us to be, you know, weird or anything" He made a funny face.

"I don't want things to become weird between us either Jasper, I'm not losing my friends over one drunken mistake"

Is that what it was Alice? A mistake? I knew I wouldn't do it again, but I didn't regret it, kinda.

"Yeah, I suppose. Thanks for coming to see me today, I didn't think you would when I called." He smiled. "I'm glad we did this, I feel a little better now I know what we're doing. I might actually be able to eat some lunch!" He chuckled and slowly stood up taking the menu in his hand. "So do you know what you're having or is your stomach a little too delicate to be eating yet?" He asked giving me a cheeky smile.

God he has got to stop smiling at me like that if this plan were to work.

"I'll have the soup of the day please Jasper, just something nice and light" I laughed as I rubbed my stomach.

"Alright Ali, I will be two minutes" He walked off to the cash register placing our order. I watched him from the corner just smiling at nothing.

Our problem was far from being solved, but at least for now we could pretend it was all okay.

I just hope that I would be able to keep my shit together when I finally got round to seeing Bella with him again.

Jasper sat back down putting his wallet in his pocket. "You alright sunshine?" He asked smiling.

Oh mother of God I'm fucked.

"Perfect"

A wee review would be greatly appreciated guys! I'll start chapter 3 at some point on Friday and try to get it out soon for you all :D

Lauren,

xx.