Love in the Asylum
Narrator's POV
Alice has never liked fairs. They smell like animals and manure, besides every time she went something bad has happened. When she was five she ate too much and vomited after one turn on the carousel. When she was eight her parents took her there and told her they were getting a divorce. When she was thirteen she received her first kiss and in return she puked on his shoes. When she was fifteen she decided she never wanted to go to a fair again after her boyfriend at that time took her virginity behind a stable then ditched her, making her have to call her dad for a ride home.
No, Alice didn't like fairs but still she went to the state fair. At the hospital that wasn't really a hospital, patients with enough privileges were allowed to go. Although she knew a bad experience was inevitable she went for many reasons: because she needed to be around normal people for once, because it would distract her from thinking about what Jasper said, because for a few hours she could pretend that she was free.
But most importantly she was going because Jasper was going. She wandered around the fair all the while looking for him but pretending to be avoiding him when she finally found him. They made eye contact and she entered the nearest line. It was a line for a rollercoaster that she knew she shouldn't get on with her luck; she only had one other option - to go to Jasper.
Before she could decide to go or to stay, he began walking toward her. She saw him out of the corner of her eye, she knew that he knew that she was looking when he lifts his hand that's holding a huge lollipop and waves. She smiled and waved back, their fight momentarily forgotten.
"Hi" he greeted holding out the lollipop. "I brought you a peace offering."
Alice accepted his version of an Olive branch. "How did you know grape was my favorite flavor?"
Jasper shrugged and grinned.
"Lucky guess." He paused. "I'm sorry about what I said. It was none of my business."
"Don't be," she assured him. "You're right. He is better off without me. I was being selfish if I really loved him I would want what is best and what's best is for him to stay where he is."
They stared at each other, she twirled her present and he twirled a strand of her hair. Without any warning he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a simple peck and was over so fast that for a second she thought she imagined it.
But before she could question their kiss, his lips were back on hers. The first one was just a test to see if she would reject him, when he received no objections he decided to try for more.. This kiss was better then the first, it was sweet and intimate. His tongue swirled with hers, he tasted like chocolate and something else just as sweet - Jasper. He pulled away before she's really and gives her a quick peck.
"That was-" she didn't know what to say that would accurately describe it.
"Amazing?" he asked, smirking.
Before she could answer him, she could suddenly hear her name being called. The voice was so familiar that her head quickly turned to the direction of it. Her mother was standing a few feet away with a shocked expression upon her face but Alice didn't see that, what she saw was a small bundle in her mother's arms.
"I have to go," she whispered without look at Jasper before walking towards her mother.
Immediately her mother scolded her as she approached.
"Your father told me you were socializing with these people but I never believed him and now I come here to see you kissing on of them." Her voice was harsh and shocked.
"Why are you here?" Alice asked trying to distract her mother.
Alba Brandon took the bait. "Your therapist asked us to bring Joshua. She said that you weren't cooperating and that maybe if you saw your brother you would improve."
Alice glared at her mother but refrained from mentioning that he was her son not her brother instead she brought up his name.
"Who gave you permission to name him Joshua?" she asked.
"Oh sweetie it's a much better name then Jaylen"
Alice decided that it was best if she said nothing, after all her mother was nothing like her father, whereas he would stay argue with her, she would quickly give up and leave.
"Can I hold him?" Alice asked secretly thinking how she shouldn't have to ask to hold her own son.
Alba Brandon looked at Alice then at the baby as if she was deciding if it were best or not, but actually purposely making her daughter wait.
Alice rolled her eyes, knowing full well what her mother was doing.
Alba smirked and handed Alice the baby but not before whispering. "Patience is a virtue"
Alice ignored her and stared down at Joshua. What she saw made her breath catch, he was beautiful with curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes but what surprised her more then anything else was who he looked like. She looked at Jasper, who in turn waved at her.
"Take him," she said quickly and thrusted the baby in her mother arms.
"Alice, are you okay?" Alba asked just as Alice fainted.
No, Alice did not like fairs. Something bad always happened.
Every time she went she learned something life changing. When she was five she learned not to gorge herself with delicious sweets. When she was eight she learned that her parents despised each other. When she was thirteen she learned that there was no such thing as a perfect first kiss. When she was fifteen she learned that boys could be cruel. And when she was eighteen she discovered that she met Jasper before but most importantly she learned the paternity of her son.