Alright guys, here it is.... Chapter 22!

Chapter 22 – Say Goodbye (Alice's POV)

One week later….

Jasper and I stood across from each other in the willow grove. We stared straight into each other's eyes, never moving. Cautiously, I took a step forward, never breaking eye contact. He didn't respond. I took another step forward. And another. And another. One more. Suddenly, he started walking towards me. In five long strides he had closed the distance between us. He took me in his arms and pulled me close. I gasped, shocked, but wound my arms around his neck. "Alice," he whispered, his breathing ragged. Slowly, he leaned in towards me. My breath caught in my throat and my heart started to race. His lips were only an inch from mine and I could feel his breath on my face…

Knock, knock. I sat up, disoriented, in my room, sunlight streaming through the window. Another knock rang through the room. "Come in," I called.

My maid, Annalisa, poked her head around the door. "I'm sorry, Miss Brandon, did I wake you?" she asked, concerned.

I glanced at my clock. "No, Annalisa, I overslept."

"Do you need me to help you get dressed?"

"I think I can manage, but I'll call you if I need help."

"Very well, Miss Brandon. Also, your parents would like me to remind you that Mr. Black and his father will be here soon, to continue discussing wedding plans."

"Thank you, Annalisa." She nodded and closed the door behind her. I fell backwards onto the pillows and sighed. It was just a dream, I told myself. Oh, but how I wish it wasn't. I sighed. This dream, or dreams of similar varieties, had been plaguing me for a week now, ever since the masquerade ball. These dreams only served to confirm what I already knew: that I love Jasper and needed to find a way to be with him. But what about Jacob? I was betrothed to him, and I couldn't just back out of the engagement. There had to be a way to make everything work….

An hour later, I sat in the sitting room with my parents, waiting for Jacob and Billy. Augustus appeared, Jacob and Billy behind him. They came in and sat down. To my surprise, Jacob didn't come over to me and kiss me on the cheek as he usually did. I sat contemplating this change in behavior when Jacob spoke. "Father, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon," he said, "do you mind if Alice and I go talk about something for a moment?"

"Go right ahead, dears," my mother said. Jacob stood and walked out of the room, towards the drawing room. I followed him. When we reached the drawing room, he sat down in one of the armchairs and I settled into the chair opposite.

For a long while, we simply sat there in silence, staring at each other. Finally, Jacob said, "So who was that man at the masquerade ball?"

I started. "Wh-what?" I asked.

"You know, blond, silver suit and mask," he said. "You were dancing with him…"

I realized who he was talking about with a jolt of pain. "Oh, do you mean Jasper?"

"Yes."

"Jasper is a…. a friend."

"It looked like something deeper then friendship, Alice."

I blanched. "Look, Jacob, I can explain. Before you came back, Jasper and I… well, you see, he was courting me… there were some feelings involved… it really isn't how it looks, anything that was between us is over…"

"Alice, wait," he said. "I'm not mad at you."

I stopped talking, shocked. "You're not?"

"No," he said.

"Why not?"

"Do you love him?"

Jacob's question caught me off-guard. "Do I love him?" I repeated.

"Yes." I hesitated. "Don't be afraid to tell me the truth, Alice. I'm simply curious."

"Yes," I whispered. "I do love him."

"That's what I thought," he said. "It's quite obvious, you know."

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Don't be," he told me. "You can't control your emotions, Alice. Your parents may be able to tell you who to marry, but they can't tell you who to love."

"It doesn't bother you?" I asked. "You're not uncomfortable with the fact that you're marrying a woman who loves another man?"

"It doesn't have to be that way."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if we both agree that we don't want to marry, our parents won't force us. Then you'll be free to marry Jasper and be with someone who loves you and who you love."

"I couldn't."

"Why not, Alice?"

"Well, where does that leave you? I already have a whole alternate future within my reach, but you…. you don't."

"Alice, I'll be okay. To be completely honest, I met someone at the masquerade ball, who I feel attracted to, and I think she's attracted to me. Maybe I can marry her."

"What's her name?"

"She knows you. Her name is Lizzie."

"Lizzie's a wonderful girl. You two will be happy together."

"So, are we in agreement? Shall we tell our parents?"

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"I want you to be happy, Alice. If it means letting you go so you can marry another, I'll do that, gladly."

"If you're sure about this. Let's go tell our parents." Side by side, Jacob and I walked back to the sitting room. Our parents ceased their discussion when we walked into the room.

"So what were you two talking about?" Billy asked.

"I wanted to discuss with Alice how she felt about ending our engagement."

"How come?" my father asked.

"We both feel like it just wasn't what we wanted."

"Is this true, Alice?" my mother asked.

"Yes, mother, it's true. We talked it through, and we both feel that it's better for us to go our separate ways in life," I said.

"Well, then, we better go take care of getting the betrothal annulled," my father said. The rest of us agreed and we proceeded to town.

By midday, I was free. The betrothal was annulled and Jacob and I had gone our separate ways with a promise to remain friends. When I arrived home, I felt light and free. Then I remember why we had ended the marriage and my good mood shattered. I still had one more task ahead: getting Jasper to forgive me and convincing him that I love him and wanted to be with him. I tried to think how best to do this. Finally, I decided on a face to face confrontation. I decided that I would ask him to meet me in the willow grove this afternoon, to talk. I knew it was a risk, but it was one I was willing to take.

I went upstairs to my room, and got out a piece of paper and a pen. Slowly, I put the pen on the paper and began to write the words that would either bring me happiness or tear my world to shreds.

There you have it people. Alice and Jasper are on the road to reuniting, but will they? That's for me to know and you to find out.

On another note, only two people responded to my crucial question last chapter: boys version of A Different Kind of World: yes or no? I need to know people, so tell me what you think!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo, TwilightTeen212