AN: As a request from Jasperinmyroom herself, here is a second Chapter to Southern Hostility:
I let out a roar as Alice fell to the ground, a roar that was followed by snarls and growls from every member of my family. Maria seemed to pale even further and looked around frantically, searching for a way out, I assumed. I cold feel her fear radiating throughout the room and some part of me was grimly satisfied with this. Still, Maria showing fear was a surprising sight indeed, all things considered. Maria certainly had been in worse situations than this and gotten out without a scratch on her. Were we, my family and I, really that fearsome, or did Maria realize the mistake she had made by posing a threat to my mate?
The thought rang a dim alarm in my head, but before I could figure out why, Maria ran from the house, finding her escape. For a moment, I stood immobile, watching her small form streak out of the room, her hair crackling from behind her. Once she was out of the door though, my mind regained it's functions and I began to follow her, only to have Carlisle hold me back as Rose and Emmett shot past me. I struggled a little, wanting my own personal revenge on the woman who had once again brought chaos into my life.
Carlisle only looked at me, his eyes unreadable. I could feel his emotions though, but even those were a complex string as mixed as they were. He was apprehensive and nervous about something, but also filled with sorrow. Instantly my eyes flicked to my brother, searching for some sort of clue within his face. He only stood there, a mask taking the place of his face.
"Jasper...." Carlisle began, his eyes drifting to Alice and then back to mine. "I think it's time we talked about something..."
My dead heart seemed to start racing again as Carlisle motioned me into another room. Esme and Edward followed him while Bella remained behind, her eyes locked on Alice. I tore myself away from them despite every fiber in my being telling me to stay by Alice's side. I dreaded the conversation that was looming in my future, but I knew that it was unavoidable.
"Yes?" I asked Carlisle when I managed to make it into the dining room, the place where Carlisle decided to hold his 'meeting.'
"Jasper... perhaps it is time that we left Forks... After all, we're growing older...drawing suspicion..." He began hesitantly, beating around the bush. It wasn't working; I knew exactly what he wanted to say. Perhaps it's time you stopped endangering the family and the human. I knew he would never say it like though, even if those words were the ones that needed to be screamed in my face. I knew what he was (Or wasn't) saying was true. I'd been putting Alice and her family in danger for a long time, not to mention my own. If I were to slip up, which honestly seemed very likely now, then my family would be the first people to be blamed. It would take a lot of covering up...
But could I do that to Alice?
I had to weigh the two groups within my mind, Alice on one side and my family on the other. I'd all but promised my life to Alice now and that promise wasn't all that easily taken away. On the other hand, my family had stood by me through every mistake I had made; through every slip up that had occurred in my life. I certainly owed the more than abandoning them.
So whom did I choose? My love or my family?
"How can you ask this of me?" I finally choked out, looking at Carlisle in desperation. "I can't choose between my family and Alice. It's impossible!"
"You know we're not asking that of you..." Esme put in, but they were just words to me. None of them, aside from Bella and Edward perhaps, knew how I was feeling at this moment.
"Son, I'm only putting that out there, for both Alice and your sakes. I know you love Alice and that leaving her here alone seems impossible, but you must consider the possibilities of what could happen."
Carlisle stared at me as if he really thought that I didn't ever consider the consequences of the love that Alice and I shared? How could he not know that that was what I thought about every day when I stared at Alice's vulnerable body?
"I just can't.... leave her alone... " I whispered, walking toward the doorframe and peering out at my angels sleeping form. She looked so small and breakable... so...human. There was no possible way that she could survive without me there.
But maybe...
I looked at Carlisle as Edward straightened up, hearing the desicion within my mind. I could leave Alice, yes, and see how she fared. If she was utterly alone and showed that she couldn't survive without me, I would return and see if she would take me back. I was sure that that would entail much begging, but if things went right, everything would go back to being normal. But if she, in time, was able to open up again and find her niche in life without me there, then I would leave.
I glanced at my family as I realized that that was exactly what I was going to do, before resting my eyes back on Alice. I knew the path that I would take, it was the only thing that I could think about as I strode across the room, heading for Alice. I just had to steel myself for cutting the strings that attached the two of us.
From my spot beside Alice, I could hear Edward debriefing Carlisle as I knelt beside Alice, shaking her shoulders slightly and exchanging a look with Bella. It only lasted a second, but I saw understanding in her eyes just as Carlisle reached me, scolding me.
"No, Jasper, don't try and wake her up…her mind is trying to protect her from the shock. Waking her might do untold damage…"
Right... I told myself, clenching my fists. No more damage by my hands after tonight... Just think of something else.... focus on it.... Think about why Maria was here and why she was so angry...
AN: Hope you enjoyed, and I hope none of you minded the slight expansion on what Carlisle says to Jasper after he tries to wake her. I figured that Jasper would have heard everything that Alice hadn't, but I tried to stick as close as possible.