Chapter 39 – Jasper

Alice's POV

The drive home seemed to last longer than normal.

As I navigated the road, all I could think about was Bella… and Charlie's words.

I liked Charlie. He was genuine, and he was clearly over the moon to have Bella staying with him. It was also clear he liked Jacob; and it was also obvious he wouldn't mind his daughter dating him…

This is why I now felt…

Hurt?

I knew, deep down, that Bella didn't think of Jake in a romantic way, but when Charlie had teased her about it…

For a split second, I wanted to hear him tease her about me.

Alice Cullen.

I was the one dating his daughter…

But of course, he didn't know that. And why should he? It wasn't as if Bella and I had been together for months… everything had happened so quickly… yet it felt so right.

I loved Bella; and I didn't want to lose her, not to Jake… not to anybody.

Of course, Charlie wouldn't be quite so accommodating if he knew what Jake really was…

And you're a vampire Alice; think he's going to take kindly to that?

I felt myself blink a few times, hoping the action would somehow make the thought go away.

Okay, so I was a vampire… but at least I didn't smell, or have fur… and at least I still looked human… well, to a degree…

Look at page 33 Bella….

Had she? Was she still in her room, or was she back in the kitchen, reading about Jake and what he really was?

Would her opinion of him change?

As I pulled into the drive, I saw Jasper. He seemed to be waiting for me. I jumped from the car and walked towards him, without my usual gaiety.

"Jasper"

Jasper walked towards me, and without another word his arms were around me as I lent into his welcoming embrace. My head burrowed into his chest as I sighed.

No words escaped his lips as he rocked me gently in his arms, similar to the way Esme had held me the night before.

I didn't realise how much I needed his embrace until now.

I sighed deeply as he moved back, looking down into my eyes.

"I needed that" I whispered, with a slight smile on my lips.

"I thought you might" he answered, adding "I could sense you were on your way home... and I can feel your anguish Alice. What happened?"

Had any other asked me that question, I would have shrugged off the question.

But this was Jasper.

He knew me.

And I knew him.

"Bella" I responded, looking down at my feet.

I felt his lean fingers lace through my own, "Come with me" he asked, as she gently pulled me towards the entrance to the path that led deep into the wood that surrounded three quarters of our home.

Slowly we moved deep into the wood, as the sun shone down onto us both, he turned and looked at me and smiled. His smile was breathtaking; I had always found so much comfort in it.

"Do you want to talk about it Alice?"

I smiled and sat down on the mossy ground; Jasper followed my movement and sat down beside me. That was one of the things I loved about Jasper; he never probed, always there for me when I needed him, whether it be to speak, or simply be.

"I love her" was my response, as I looked into his amber eyes.

He smiled, "Oh really? That's sure knocked me...." his Texan drawl made me laugh.

"Well, I've managed to make you smile titch, that's one task completed".

Titch. He always called me that. I elbowed him gently in the ribs, "That's Jazz" I replied.

"What are brothers for?" he answered, smiling again.

Brothers.

I always looked upon Edward and Emmet as brothers, but what I felt for Jasper was so much more. I had never been able to put my finger on it, but I loved him dearly - as a brother and a best friend.

"What would I do without you Jazz?" I asked slowly, a slight tremor appearing in my voice.

Jasper placed a protective arm around me and pulled me close.

"You will always have me, titch" he answered, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

I sat like that, for a while, as the sun continued to bath us both.

"And that, perhaps, is the problem?"

I looked up at him, a puzzled look on my face.

"Problem?" I enquired.

Jasper nodded, "You will always have me in your life Alice, and you will always have Carlisle, Esme, Edward, Rose and Emmet... but you won't always have Bella..."

His voice trailed off as he noticed the pained look that appeared on my face.

I wouldn't always have Bella...

Jasper took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze, "you won't always have Bella, Alice, unless you turn her into one of us".

My head shot up, then.

"I can't...." I answered, before burying my head in my hands.

Jasper pulled me into him again, his voice softly floating around me.

"Alice; I know this is something not to be taken lightly, but I know how you feel about her, I can feel how you feel.... Talk to her, Alice. Perhaps the same thought has run through her mind?"

I shook my head, "I can't... I want to but I can't... Jasper, I have never felt so... out of control before. I can't bear the thought of losing her, ever. Jake loves her...."

My voice trailed off then, as Jasper laughed.

I shot a pointed look at him.

"Oh titch, you're scared of losing her, to him? Trust me; she loves you... with a burning passion I have never felt before"

I smiled at Jasper, "Really?" I asked, as he smiled again.

"Really, don't doubt her feelings Alice, and don't doubt your own".

I placed my head against his shoulder.

"I do love you, you know that right?" I asked, as Jasper tousled my hair with his long fingers.

"I do" he answered, as he removed his fingers and kissed the top of my head again.

"And I love you far too much to watch you hurt like this Alice - talk to her - get everything out in the open. I have a feeling you may be shocked by Bella's response".

I turned and looked at Jasper again; his face was glistening in the sunlight.

"You think she wants... I mean, do you think she has thought about becoming one of us?"

Jasper shrugged, "I wish I could read her mind for you titch, but I can read her emotions, and when she is around you she is wired... all for you, Alice. She feels nothing but complete devotion, to you. I wish I could find someone who felt that way about me".

I hugged him close, "You will" I answered, "One day" I continued, adding "Maybe you'll fall in love with a human?"

Jasper laughed, "That's okay Alice, we'll leave that uniqueness to you, I think".

I laughed.

Jasper slowly stood, "Come on, let's get back - I promised Emmet we'd play baseball with him, you know he only likes to play when you pitch".

I smiled, "I'm pretty good at that" I answered, following Jasper back to the house.

Before we entered, Jasper turned and took both my hands in his.

"Talk to her, titch. And if she wants to become one of us... don't immediately dismiss it, okay? Bella can make her own decisions and the time may well come when you have to as well".

I lent in and kissed his cheek, "Thank you Jasper" I murmured.

"Anytime titch" he replied, as Emmet burst through the door.

"Rosalie... ROSALIE, they're here... let's play ball...."