Chapter Five

Alice

Once back home in civilised company I tried to talk to him but he went straight up to our room and shut the door, God I was fed up with him! The others could see something was wrong quite apart from the fact we were back weeks early. I told Esme and Rose a little but with a spin that made me out better than I actually was. If they'd known how I acted neither of them would ever have spoken to me again. Even then they were critical of me, no one was on my side even after I told them how I'd been treated. I was retelling the tale to Carlisle who'd just got in when Jazz came back down the stairs, dressed in his faded jeans and wearing an old leather jacket and boots, carrying a rucksack over his shoulder.
"Where are you going dressed like that? I knew it would rub off on you going to that place"
He looked at me coldly,
"I'm leaving Alice. I can't take it any more. You go off without a word, you ignore me when you get back, you insulted my friends and embarrassed me. I'm sure you'll be happier with someone who has the same expectations as you. Goodbye."

He hugged Esme and shook hands with Carlisle and he was gone, out into the dark. I heard his motorbike rev up and the sound of the engine slowly faded as he turned off the track onto the highway.

I ran upstairs to see what he'd taken, I was sure he'd be back in a couple of days when he realized I wasn't going chasing after him Nearly all his clothes were still here, only his old gear was gone along with a few books a couple of CD's and his toiletries. All the good clothes were still here along with his music and guitar so I was sure he was making a grand gesture, that was all. There was a knock on the door and Carlisle popped his head round the door,
"May I come in Alice?"
I nodded so he came in and shut the door behind him.
"Alice what happened? Why did Jasper go?"
"He won't be gone long Carlisle, he left almost everything here. He's just making a point because he thinks I was rude to his friends."
"And were you?"
I hesitated,
"Well maybe a little but they were so Clampett like it was embarrassing and they treated me so rudely. I'll apologise when he gets back and send them some flowers, it'll be OK."
"Alice, I'm sorry to tell you this but Jasper isn't coming back"
"Of course he is Carlisle, where else has he got to go? He'll be living like a Hobo. Oh, do you think he'll go back to them?"
"No Alice. He's too embarrassed to go back there. But he has left for good"
"What about his stuff?"
He asked me to dispose of it and to liquidate his accounts and shares and put the money into his Whitlock account"
"He asked you? When?"
"As he was leaving. If you get divorce papers he'll sign them and that's it. He's gone for good."

I slumped onto the bed in shock, Jazz leave me? How dare he, as if it was my fault. He wouldn't make it on his own. He'd soon be back, tail between his legs begging me to take him back. Well I'd make him beg, that was for sure, then tell him to get the hell out of my life. I closed my eyes trying to see his future, our future, but he'd vanished, there was just me, all alone without him. Carlisle saw my expression,
"He isn't coming back is he Alice? I thought he meant what he said."
"How could he? He never even discussed it with me"

Playing up to Carlisle as the wounded little girl was always a winner!
"Alice I think he tried but you were too wrapped up in your own life"
"It was more than just the visit to his Hill Billy friends?"

"I think he's been unhappy for a while Alice but whenever he tried to talk to you he found you more interested in yourself."

I thought back, there had been a few times I got the feeling he wanted to talk but I was always too busy with other things and now he'd left. My blood started to boil, how dare he leave me like this? Trying to show me up in front of my family, that was way out of line. Did he really think I wouldn't get my own back in the future? I'd find him when the time was right but for now I needed to put a new spin on his leaving. The family always listened to me before him, after all I was the sweet bouncy little kitten of the family. Who wouldn't believe my account of his leaving over his own story?

Everything had settled down nicely once the family saw how devastated I was by Jasper leaving me for the girl he met at his friends. Well it was a good story and much more believable than his tale of my behaviour. Even Emmett's heart had melted when my shoulders started to shake with dry sobs the day our divorce became final. I was a free woman with money and beautiful things around me while my ex was a tramp and I'd burned all his things, even his precious books on the civil war, the ones with his picture in them and his damn guitar. Make music now Jasper Whitlock! I did try to see his future but my anger blurred my visions so I gave up in the end, I found I didn't even really care any more.

The last few weeks of School were a drag but at least I could rely on Bella to stay friends. She and Edward were finally really over although I knew he would always be fascinated by her blood if nothing else. She asked about Jasper and when I told her what had happened at his friend's house she was shocked,

"Jasper and another woman? It doesn't seem possibly Alice, you two seemed so much in love."

"Yes well, looks can be deceiving Bella. He wasn't really the shy retiring guy he portrayed himself as, you saw a glimpse of the real man at your party."

Bella

I thought about that, I still didn't altogether blame him for that but it wouldn't be a good thing to say with Alice in her present frame of mind.

"So what will you do? Do you know where he went?"

"To hell with a bit of luck. As for me, there's someone out there worth giving my love too and I'll find him. What about you?"

I shrugged,

"College and who knows after that. Have you seen my future Alice?"

She started to shake her head then her face went blank. Mike called my name and I turned my attention to him for a few minutes,

"You still grounded Arizona? We're having an end of year party on the beach at La Push if not."

"I'll see Mike, Charlie might relent as it's the end of the year. I'll ring you later."

As I turned back to Alice I saw Edward look from Mike to me as if sizing us up before shaking his head scornfully. He was very bitter that I'd ended things with him but I wouldn't be seeing him after the end of term so I didn't let it bother me too much. I had no idea where he planned on going to college and I really didn't care.