Jasper Hale was the big tough guy in their small town. He has been abused by his step dad for his whole life. After being hurt for so long, he turned to stone. He blocks anything and everyone from him. He turns to a gang for acceptance. What happens when the loving, chipper, happy Alice Cullen comes to town? Will she be able to save him before he is too far gone? Will Jasper be able to love her like she deserves to be loved? ALL HUMAN.

UPDATE (October 19, 2017): My beta and I are currently editing the Hope series, as it was written many years ago. Now, we are older and wiser (and better at grammar). We are working one chapter at a time. Therefore, you may notice a quality difference as you read past the first few chapters. As of now, chapters 1 to 3 have been rewritten. The following chapters will be edited as well. Hang in there!

Chapter one- I felt Hope

JPOV

I stretched my arms and legs with a soft groan, getting my one and only jumping jack – minus the jump – of the day out of the way.

Slowly, I let my eyes open to the morning sun.

It buuurns! I thought as I glared at the light. The window of the small room had no curtains, letting every inch of Mr. Sun shine in all his brilliance through my window every morning. I grabbed my pillow and shoved it against my eyes, hoping for some relief from the big yellow bastard.

I jumped out of bed, glancing at the clock as I changed my clothes. It was 7:00 am. Good, I had a half an hour to get out of here.

My socked feet jogged silently down the carpeted stairs, strategically dodging all of the creaky spots. A perfectly rehearsed dance I had practiced too many times before. I grabbed an apple off of the kitchen counter – by far the healthiest thing that could be found in this house. Also, fortunately, it was also quick to eat. Speed was everything in the mornings.

Unfortunately, this morning, I was too slow. My teeth cracked open the skin of the apple too loudly. A snort from the couch across the room made me whirl around. The creak of the old couch springs gave my stomach a tight feeling and I froze in mid-step. I knew too well it was the sound of a beast awakening…

"So, what, you don't come home 'til the middle of the morning, you eat my food, and then you run out before I wake up? Why should you get any of this?" He waved around the room for emphasis. His volume gradually increased as he spoke. His thick greased hair stood inches above his hair like the mane of a dishevelled lion awoken from a long slumber after an intense hunt. Bones cracked loudly as he sat up from the worn out couch.

"You don't do anything here. Y—" He hiccupped. "You don't deserve all I give you! The least you could do is a little work around here! Come here, kid."

He stumbled toward me, obviously having a hangover.

My feet shifted backwards, moving quickly. "I was just about to go to school. I'll do stuff when I get home, I swear," I mumbled quietly, attempting to leave.

He grabbed my wrist.

"You swear, huh? What a polite kid I've raised. Your mom would be proud," he snorted and gripped my wrist, leaving white imprints around his fingers. "No no no... that's not how it works, kid. You know the rules pretty damn well! You haven't been listening and you know the punishment PRETTY DAMN WELL, too!" He got louder.

I opened my mouth to say something – to apologize, maybe, for whatever he thought I was doing wrong, but his look was enough to stop me from risking it.

"Time for you to learn some respect. Maybe next time you'll be a man about it. Not that you are one, boy. But you gotta learn someday, right?" He snarled at me, his words slurring, not making complete sense.

He raised his fist up and again I tried to get away from him. My body pulled but his pulled back harder. His grip tightened on my wrist and he twisted me around and welcomed me back with his fist. Searing pain shot through my face and I felt my lip bust open. Warm blood ran down my chin in a warm stream. I gave another failed attempt to get away and he shoved me to the ground.

He laughed. That same laugh that I had learned from when I was a little boy. "Pathetic. You are such a weak little boy. I'm glad you aren't my actual son or I would be too ashamed to walk out in public."

With that said, his foot connected with my stomach. The world went black for a second as all the oxygen left my body in one hard kick. I gasped for air loudly, pathetically.

Right then, the doorbell rang. Saved by the bell!

He gave me one last disgusted look and walked past me to answer the door.

After he opened it and grunted loudly. I knew that could only mean one thing. My body sighed in relief. He walked away without saying anything to the person standing outside of the door.

"We'll finish our conversation when you get home, got it?" He hollered at me as he headed to the bathroom.

I jumped off of the floor as quickly as possible. After grabbing my gang jacket, I raced to the door.

Yeah...gang jacket. Even though we were in Forks, WA, probably the smallest town ever, I had landed a place in the one gang in the town. We were called the Punishers. Don't ask me why we were called that; I thought it was lame. But I wasn't going to be the one to tell the leader, Greg, that I thought that. Who were we punishing, other than maybe ourselves? That's why we all landed up in it, anyways. A bunch of sorry losers who had nobody else…

Standing at the door was my best friend, Nick. It wasn't the first time he had rescued me.

Nick gave me a once over with his steady brown eyes. He rubbed his chin with a wince as if he could feel my pain and turned on his heels.

"What's up, man?" I said as I slammed the door. He just gave me a nod and opened the door of his car.

Nick's fingers flicked at his keychain in the ignition, watching me get in the car. "You got some blood on your face, Jazz. You might want to clean that up..." he grumbled. His voice was deep and tired, making it obvious that he had also just woken up.

I reached my hand up and wiped my lip. I stared at the red that smeared across my fingers; much more than I expected.

Nick twisted half through the opening between our seats and then threw me an old rag that he had found. I held it against my chin. I flicked the old car visor down and gave myself a good look in its grungy mirror.

"We gotta meet the gang. Then we are actually going to head for school today. Greg said something about needing us to get some good grades because, who knows, maybe we are destined to be undergrads one day. World famous doctors. Scientists who will cure cancer. The first men on Mars," Nick chuckled, giving my shoulder a nudge.

He cleared his throat when I remained silent, "I think he just wants an excuse to look at the girls or something."

Those were the last words spoken during the ride. After I nodded and leaned my head against the window, Nick turned the music up and drove silently. We were heading for the town diner. It had become the gang's little hang out spot – when we weren't at the cabin. I think Greg had an in with the owner and that is why we got away with being there so often.

So far, it was the typical start to a day in my life. Nothing new. Nothing special. My stepfather's drunken violence and Greg's gang "meetings." I sighed.

When we arrived at the diner, there were already five people there: Greg, of course, and then Paul, Chris, Connor, and Mack. There were four other randoms from the gang, too, but they were newer and I hadn't looked at them long enough to know who was who.

Greg was the leader of the pack. Nick had become his unofficial right hand man. I was apparently moving up to third in command. His left hand, I guess. There were about fifteen of us all together.

"Hey! Chel! Get these guys some breakfast!" Greg shouted, winking at the waitress. She swished her blonde hair over her shoulder and smiled, eyeing him seductively.

Nick made a face and steered us toward a booth.

"This is going to be short and sweet. The plan is we eat some food, head out to school, and then tonight there's a party at Jessica's!" Greg announced at the front of the diner as Chel plated up breakfast. The few people in the diner who were not part of the gang began to eat their food faster.

A bunch of the guys let out wolf howls. Nick and I rolled our eyes at each other. The parties were always the same: girls, booze, drugs. Those were three things that I couldn't care less about right now. Girls were fake, booze was stupid, and drugs were stupider. I had seen what alcohol could do to Steve, my stepfather. I wasn't about to touch the stuff. Sure, Nick and I went to the parties because Greg wanted us to. In case another gang showed up, we had to be there, ready to fight. It sounds dramatic and even cinematic, but it was actually what happened. Rival gangs from other small towns trying to pick a fight by showing up at parties, stealing girls, or selling drugs to our customers.

The waitress handed me a plate full of eggs, bacon and toast. She smiled at me with the same flirty smile she had offered Greg. I nodded stiffly in reply. My usual response. None of the girls in town made me want a relationship or even night time company. I wasn't the kind of guy to use them – like most of the gang, and I definitely did not want a relationship with any of them.

Greg caught my eye and paused for a moment. His cheerful demeanor faded momentarily and then it switched back on.

"Jasper, man! You missed a great fight last night. Where were you? We went up to Port A and got in a sweet fight with the Leeches. Kicked their asses!" Greg yelled to me as he walked over to my stool. He dropped his hand onto my shoulder roughly and then squeezed, hard.

"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, ducking my head. My eyes focussed on the rubbery scrambled eggs piled on my plate. "I got stuck working and then basically passed right out."

Greg shook his head dismissively. "Jasper, you know you don't gotta work man. I can take care of you. You help me, I help you," His gravelly voice assured me. His voice always had a deep tone. It was rough as if he had to clear his throat. Greg sat down beside Nick. A whooshing sound came out of the old vinyl cushioned backing as he leaned back in his seat and eyed me carefully. He was an analyzer. Greg liked to know everything – or liked to think he knew everything. I noticed his eyes lingered on my swollen lip and then smoothly moved on as if he had not seen anything.

I stabbed the eggs and said, "Yeah, but I sort of like to work... keeps my mind off things."

Greg dropped his hands to the shiny, varnished diner table heavily. "All right, whatever, but don't work too much. You got work to do for me too." He reminded me, "You know where the priorities lie." Greg did not let anyone forget who the boss was, but he would not give you trouble if you did not give him any.

His fingers drummed against the wood. "Anyway, eat up and we'll leave. You don't wanna be late for school and get a bad rep, do you?" he chuckled at his own little joke.

I continued eating in silence, cherishing the free breakfast. I listened with half-interest to the conversations around me. The rest of the gang was hyped around the big fight from last night. They were enthusiastically re-enacting their "war" stories. Fists were being thrown and people were shouting.

I did not really care. Fighting was just another thing I did not enjoy doing. I just do it. I guess I keep doing it to stay in the gang or something. They are really all I have. Plus, they scare the crap out of Steve, which works out well. I hadn't really been hit or anything too much lately. Whenever he did, Greg would land up showing up outside my house or at the Joe's Bar, where Steve likes to visit every night. Greg never did anything. He would just linger a little too long in Steve's space or stare a little long at him from across the bar. "Accidentally" bump shoulders with him in passing. After those encounters, Steve would leave me alone for weeks. No matter how much I did not enjoy fighting or drugs, I did not enjoy being beaten more.

We finished eating and headed for the school. We were early, so not many people were there yet.

I watched as the teachers' pets and the band kids headed in early. We just chilled outside on one of the picnic tables.

The teachers glared at us as they walked by, but we all just smirked at them. They knew they were going to have a bad day today; the Punishers had decided to show up.

Slowly, the rest of the students arrived. We all snorted as the Cullens pulled in. They are the rich, spoiled kids. All of the teachers love them. Teachers refer to them as the "golden family." Smart, polite and absolutely plastic.

I watched them walked out of their cars. I held back a smirk from their dramatic exits from the vehicles. Edward and Emmett swung playfully out of their seats of the jeep. Their adoptive sister Rosalie followed similarly. Her long blonde hair blew gently in the wind as she turned her head, carrying her head high. They looked as if they were filming an ad for "back to school" clothing.

They started walking past us.

Nick stood up and leaned against a tree, eyeing them playfully. "Hey Edward, my main man," he skipped closer to Edward. "So I was thinking that I might ask your little girlfriend out. What was her name? You know, the hot one? Brown hair... and mmm those chocolate brown eyes!" Nick snickered at him with a greedy look on his face. His eyes twinkled devilishly.

I knew Nick well enough to know that he wasn't interested in Edward's girl. He'd hang out with girls at the parties sometimes, but he didn't use them the way that Greg and some of the others did. Nick was just taunting Edward to get a rise out of him; it was something to do.

"You Won't Touch Her, Nick," he growled out every single word slowly. His golden eyes darkened suddenly to almost a charcoal black.

I smirked. Here we go.

Nick bounced from foot to foot, dodging the air and putting his fists up. "Oh really? You are going to stop me, pretty boy?" Nick challenged.

"You won't touch her. You do, and you'll lose your hand kid," Edward said calmly, but there was venom in every word.

Emmett stepped behind him. He was a huge guy. Nick lost some of the twinkle in his eyes and stepped back a bit. He could probably take five of us at a time and win.

"What, all chicken now, tough guy?" Emmett grinned, playfully raising an eyebrow.

Nick's laugh was shaky. "I ain't a chicken! You want to fight? Let's go!" Nick pulled his jacket off and threw it to me.

"Two on two? Me and you and Edward and...hmm... that guy. Jasper, is it?" Emmett suggested nodding at me.

I raised my eyebrow curiously at him and he nodded.

"We beat the crap out of you, you leave school. Deal?" Edward smirked.

"And if we win...?" Nick growled at them.

Emmett's laugh boomed through the school yard. "That isn't going to happen!"

Greg rolled his eyes at Nick's antics and pushed me forward. I sighed and shrugged my jacket off, showing all of the scars down my arms and neck. The bright morning sun glared at the pale shapes on my skin.

Edward and Emmett looked at me with wide eyes. An eerie silence settled over them. I smirked.

"You sure you still wanna fight me?" I chuckled darkly at Edward.

I didn't really even have a problem with these guys. If people said they would touch my girlfriend, if I had one, I would beat the crap out of them, too. I wasn't blaming Edward or Emmett. It actually made me almost respect them. I liked that Edward wanted to stand up for his girl.

Edward ran his hand through his bronze hair, tugging on it as he nodded like nothing had happened. But before any of us could throw a punch, I heard a small voice calling Edward.

All of us turned, unfamiliar with the voice.

A girl about the height of my lower chest came bouncing across the field. Her short pixie cut bobbing and her eyes gleaming with something too bright to belong in Forks. My body straightened immediately. Her eyes scanned us all enthusiastically.

For a moment my stomach tightened. It reminded me of when I was young and I had to show my mom my report card. My palms were sweaty. She was beautiful and damn, I was nervous.

The pixie-like girl jumped up and hugged Edward tightly. Her white teeth flashed us all.

"Hey Edward! Hey Em!" she greeted. Her eyes twinkled.

She was beautiful. I rubbed my split lip self-consciously. I had never seen anyone like her. Her voice made my stomach continue to twist nervously.

She looked around, taking in the situation. I swallowed hard when her eyes finally met mine. She turned to me and her smile returned in its former glory.

"Hi, I'm Alice! You are?" she asked, stepping toward me. Edward grabbed her arm and pulled her back gently.

"Alice—" She glared at him and then tilted her head curiously at me.

I cleared my throat. I didn't know why I was feeling so sick with nerves. I saw girls every day, every night, but she somehow was different. I didn't know why. For some reason, something about this girl...I wanted her to... well... like me.

"He-ey," My voice gave out half way through the word. Again, I cleared my throat, feeling overwhelming embarrassed. "Alice. Jasper...that's my name," I struggled to get out.

The guys roared in laughter at me, but I barely heard them. Alice's eye grew wide and warmed as her smile stretched. Her whole face lit up like the sun. She was so pure...so innocent... I don't think I had ever seen someone look that way. It reminded me of the paintings of angels on the Church walls at my mom's funeral.

Edward crept closer to her, hovering over her. He started to pull her back again.

"He won't hurt me," she hissed at Edward.

The guys laughed again, mimicking her to bother Edward. I ignored them, perplexed by her statement. How did she know that? My scars were out in all glory, ready to fight for no reason. But somehow, I knew what she said was true too. I wouldn't hurt her. I couldn't hurt her. I looked at her eyes. Who would try to take the light of those shining stars?

As if to confirm the belief in her statement, Alice stepped right in front of me and offered me her hand. She tilted her head, looking into my eyes with her piercing green ones.

I hesitantly enveloped my hand around hers softly, making sure I didn't break her. The warmth from her palm travelled like a warm tingle up through my arm. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The warmth traveled across my body. It felt like a warm blanket had been laid across my chest.

I felt like an idiot, standing where staring at our hands as if a miracle was happening before my eyes, but I didn't know what this was or what was happening. The tingling feeling was overwhelming.

Alice watched our hands with a different look. While my eyes stared in shock, hers were ecstatic and held some secret of knowledge behind them, as if she knew something I didn't. She grinned happily and suddenly threw her arms around my neck.

I flinched at the touch and then froze. I couldn't remember the last time someone had hugged me like this. My mind told me to hold still, to protect myself while my body told me to melt into her embrace. She felt so soft and warm... part of me wanted to hug her, to smell her hair, feel her smooth skin. But I wasn't sure why I felt this way, and it really caught me off guard. I stood dumbfounded.

My trance was broken. Emmett cracked up laughing at Alice's openness. The gang gave wolf howls. Edward just watched protectively.

"We're going to be great. I know it," Alice whispered softly into my ear.

I just stood there, confused at what had just happened. We're going to be great at what?!

I opened my mouth to ask her, but nothing came out. I tried again, to no avail.

She laughed quietly.

"You'll see. Don't worry." Her hand fell back into mine.

She was holding my hand? Why? But I didn't pull away. Something in me couldn't pull away. With her hand in mine, something happened. I felt something that I hadn't felt my whole life. I wasn't sure what the warmth inside of me was, but I had an idea.

I felt hope.

(A/N) Did you like the first chapter? I hope the characters matched up okay. If you like it review it so I know to keep writing! :)
THANKS FOR READING!