I stood up from my seat and tried to look for her amongst the many people in the packed room. I spotted her stood at the bar, obviously flirting with a tall attractive looking guy. He was just Alice's type and I was glad she'd found something to distract her from our previous conversation, hopefully she wouldn't even remember it in the morning. I started to make my way over to her, but then my heart nearly stopped when I spotted a familiar figure across the room.

Jasper!

Oh my god, what was he doing here. It was the last place I expected to see him. I quickly hid behind the post that was next to me and tried to think what to do next. I had bumped into clients and former clients before. It was bound to happen occasionally. And I had always had no problem either just walking away if they hadn't seen me or just saying a very quick hello and then going on my way.

I peeked around the post and caught a quick glimpse of him and as always he took my breath away. He looked so sexy in smart black jeans and a button down shirt. His usually tousled locks were a little more styled than usual, indicating that he'd tried to make an effort with his appearance tonight. I felt quite proud of him actually, I could imagine him deciding to use his growing confidence to go out to a bar. He was surrounded by several other men about his age, I wondered if they were work friends.

I decided that as much as I wanted to go over to him, I needed to make my way to Alice without him seeing me and then make her move onto a different bar. But as I made my way over to Alice I got a closer look at Jasper and saw how uncomfortable he was looking and my heart suddenly ached for him. He had obviously got himself into a situation that he wasn't able to handle yet. My poor boy. Then to my horror I saw two very predatory looking women making their way over to him, with a scary glint in their eyes.

My body moved of its own accord and I shot across the bar and pushed myself in from of the two very scary looking women. The look of shock on Jasper's face was priceless, but then I saw relief flood through him.

"Jasper, I'm so pleased you could meet me here," I lied. "Let's go outside where its a bit quieter and we can talk in private."

He was just staring at me and wasn't moving, and one of the scary woman was saying something I couldn't quite hear and didn't want to hear. So I linked my arm in Jasper's and practically dragged him out of the door. Once outside I kept my arm linked with his and carried on walking a little. After we had been walking in silence for a few minutes I spotted a small park, so I led us over to a bench, let his arm go, and sat down. Jasper hesitated a moment and then sat down next to me.

"Jasper, are you alright?"

"I am now," he answered very quietly.

"Do you want to talk?" I asked him.

I saw him look over at me. "Are you cold Bella."

I was touched by his concern for me, and smiled. Then I noticed that his eyes were glued to my very short dress and the ample amount of leg I was showing. I saw his eyes trail down to my heels and then back up again, before he realised he was staring and quickly looked away. His appraisal of my body, made a pink flush spread up from my chest to my cheeks. Was I blushing? It must be the alcohol I told myself. I cleared my throat and tried to speak normally.

"No, I'm okay but thank you for thinking of me."

We were both silent for several beats, before I spoke again.

"I know this a little unorthodox and I don't usually speak to people outside of work like this, but I couldn't leave you in there like that. I really hope I didn't overstep the mark."

Looking down at his hands, he quietly said, "I'm so embarrassed, once again Bella I've shown you what a loser I am."

"No Jasper," I replied, moving closer towards him.

"Fuck," he almost shouted, before jumping up and starting to pace in front of me.

"Why can't I act like a normal human being? My friends are in there drinking and chatting up girls and I'm out here having a semi panic attack."

The thought of how sexy he looked when he was all worked up like this drifted into my mind. But it was quickly replaced by sadness. Jasper did deserve a normal life, but I was confident that Alice and I could help him achieve that goal.

"It's going to take time Jasper, but Alice and I will get you there, I promise. We'll teach you techniques to deal with social situations like this and eventually you'll just do it without thinking about it. And you'll be able to walk into a bar like that one and pick up any girl you want."

I smiled brightly at him. But the thought that one day he would be out there getting all the women he wanted, filled me with a sense of sadness, as it could never be me.

"I'm still fucking pissed off at myself," he stated and started pacing again.

"Good, then channel that emotion to make a change and become the person you want to be."

He continued his angry pacing, so I added softly. "Those guys you were with in the bar, they haven't been through what you have honey, just give yourself a break."

He stopped and turned his gaze on me, before saying. "You understand don't you. I never thought anyone would really and truly understand me, but you do."

A sad smile spread across his face, but it didn't reach his eyes, and he sat down next to me again.

"Thank you Bella."

I smiled back at him. "I'm glad you feel that way."

Just then I heard my phone ringing from inside my purse.

"That will probably be Alice. I left her inside, but she doesn't know I came out," I explained to Jasper, before adding, "she'll be wondering where I am."

"Oh okay."

"Are you going home now?" I asked him.

"Yeah but I'll walk you back inside, I don't want you out here alone. Plus I need to let my friends know that I'm leaving."

"Are you sure you're okay to go back inside," I asked with concern. But once again touched by his concern for me, he really was such a gentleman.

"Yeah, I'll have you with me this time," he beamed at me.

"Yes you will Jasper, you'll have me as long as you want me." I knew this was such a loaded answer, but it had passed my lips before I could stop it.

But I felt my heart expand a little more and begin to pound in my chest when he stood up and put his hand out to help me up. I took it lightly in my own and let him apply a slight pressure to help me rise from my seat. I presumed he would let my hand go once I was standing, but he didn't, he kept hold of it lightly as we walked back towards the bar. I felt elated as I walked along the path with him,our hand joined this way and it wasn't lost on me that we looked good together as a couple. If only I'd met him in a different life, at a different time, I thought to myself.

When we entered the bar again, I felt his grip on my hand tighten, almost like I was his anchor. I spotted Alice walking around the crowd of people obviously looking for me. I wondered what Alice would think, seeing Jasper and I together like this. For a brief second I thought about hiding from her view, but the thought was too late as she quickly spotted me and waved. As she walked towards us I saw a look of shock on her face, when she saw I was with Jasper. As she reached us she blurted out at the top of her voice.

"Jasper, holy shit, it's you, or am I just so drunk that I'm seeing things."

Then she leaned in further towards us and slurred. "I just can't believe it, as we were just talking about you, me and my Bells, but don't worry it was all gooooooood."

I looked at Jasper's stunned face and realised that I had much the same expression on my face. Oh my god, I couldn't believe that Alice had said that, she was always so professional usually, much more than me. I panicked and pulled Jasper away, quickly saying to him.

"I don't know why she said that Jasper, obviously we wouldn't be talking about you in bar," I lied.

I looked up at him and saw a flash of disappointment cross his beautiful face. I felt like shit for lying to him but I really couldn't admit the truth.

God this evening had turned out to be so fucked up.

"Lets just try and forget this evening happened, shall we?" I said to him, still feeling like shit, especially when he looked at me with an expression of utter rejection.

So I quickly added. "It has been so nice to see you though, and you really do look very handsome tonight." I hoped he knew how genuinely I meant this.

He smiled at me and shyly said thanks.

I watched him say a quick goodbye to the guys he'd come with and then I walked with him outside so he could get a cab. Once I'd waved him off I went back inside, planning to have serious words with Alice and then I really needed to go to bed and have this evening end.

A/N - Hope you enjoyed, and as always thanks for reading and click review and let me know what you think xx