In the dark- An Alice and Jasper story

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There was a dark room, constricting me with its oppressive brick walls. I couldn't feel my arms or legs, and I most certainly couldn't see them, making me doubt whether I had control of them or not.

Oh God, maybe I was back in the cell. But what had happened? Jasper and I had left his house and were on his way to his parent's. I fell asleep...and then I was here. Then where was Jasper?

I called out, hoping he was somehow close enough to hear my voice and save me. I needed to be rescued, but as I far as I could tell, my saviour wasn't near. I was alone. In the dark. Trapped.

"Alice?"

My eyes snapped open and the first thing I focused on was the landscape that was moving at an alarming pace. I rotated my head and with an easing glance I spotted my Jasper, behind the wheel of the car, dividing his attention between the road and me.

"Hi," I said quietly, resting my hand in his to reassure me of his presence. It had been just a dream, I thought with relief. Or was it more than a dream? What if it was a vision...

"Are you alright?" He asked with concern.

"Just a bad dream," I assured him, watching as the 'Welcome to Texas' sign flew by. I shuddered with anticipation; I would be meeting Jasper's parents. I prayed to whatever God was up there that I would make a good impression.

,

I must have dozed off again, because when Jasper shook my shoulder gently and told me to wake; I was greeted by a large, intimidating brown house with a large porch and a tree with a tire swing in the front yard. I swallowed hard and a stone landed in my stomach. This is where Jasper grew up. This was where I would meet his parents.

"Time to go, love." Jasper said softly, and I ran my fingers through my hair, which was still too short by social standards. I would be known as an inmate the moment they saw me.

"You know what, I'll wait here. You go tell them about Zelner." I said, shrinking against the hard seat. The house seemed to glare at me with its covered windows, daring me to step onto its lawn, ready to devour me. It was so much bigger then Jasper's quaint little house, or my families small, suburban, white-picket house. No wonder Jasper could pay for mine and Hailey's new clothes - his parents had money.

Jasper took my hand in his and squeezed lightly, applying just enough pressure to assure me that everything would be alright, but the nerves in my stomach about my hair were running rampant. I couldn't pretend to be the normal girl that Jasper deserved.

"They'll love you." Jasper assured me, as though he were reading my thoughts.

I shook my head, "They'll know what I am."

"My father won't mind."

I turned to look into his warm brown eyes, "And your mother?"

"She'll mind, but I don't care. I love you, no matter what anybody says, I always will."

And before I knew what was happening, he was opening my door and helping me out of the safety of his car.

Damn, but that man knew how to dazzle me senseless.

I walked lightly over the grass, trying not to disturb it with my steps. I looked up, and the house blocked out the hot Texas sun, casting me into shade - into darkness. The tire swing in the tree creaked menacingly and the screen door cracked like a whip - or a well aimed blow from a skilled doctor - as it crashed against the doorframe, blown by the wind.

My nerves - which were already on end - were ready to explode by the time Jasper helped me up the porch steps, opened the screen door and knocked on the solid wood door. I was ready to faint when an older man greeted us with a smile.