Authors Note- Okay, so this is my first story. It's very slow at the beginning- so slow you might even call it boring. I would love anyone's opinions as to how to make it better. But really folks, keep reading- and I bet you'll be addicted. :). Anyways, this story is called Return to the Past, and I enjoy writing it very much. It's told through the eyes of Emmett and Alice, who get the chance to see and exist with the human Jasper and Rosalie in their different worlds. They both tell the story of what happened to them, so when you see Emmett Cullen that means it's being told from Emmett's point of view. If you see Alice Cullen it's being told from Alice's. And obviously, it's also bold when Alice is having a vision. REVIEW, PEOPLE! -MadameXOX
Disclaimer- Thanks to Stephenie Meyer for letting me play in her world. I don't own anything.
Emmett Cullen
"Emmett, I don't see why she matters. I don't see why you would even care to save her," Rosalie snapped.
I sighed. Rose was my everything, but man, can't you do anything without her getting mad or jealous?
Edward better not tell her I thought that. I'm already in it deep.
And for the stupidest reason pretty much ever.
This morning had started innocent enough. Rose chucked a hairbrush at my head for something I don't remember, and Edward got all prissy because I left my jacket on his piano, but all in all, it was a good morning. Until Alice had a vision.
We were all in the Volvo on our way to Forks High School. We loved Forks. It was a great cover, and because we'd only been here six months, we could stay here for at least a good couple more years.
But anyway, Alice totally flipped. Whatever she saw, it scared the crap out of her. Edward saw it inside of her head, and pulled to the side of the road in a maniac manner. I didn't appreciate all of that after my good morning. Edward slammed out of the car, and quietly explained that there was another vampire passing through Forks. She wasn't a vegetarian, and we were just a little paranoid.
I suggested we go and fight her, only to get hissed at by Rose.
Well, that started an elephant-sized fight, when I suggested that. We were all perched on the Volvo, arguing.
It was an odd argument-Alice and I wanted to find her. We thought it would be better if we explained that this territory was taken and she couldn't just strut about killing people. Jasper, Edward and Rosalie wanted to leave her alone.
Alice was pretty miffed that Jasper and Edward, her hubby and best friend, were siding against her. Rosalie was pretty miffed that I didn't agree with her.
But honestly, all we had to do was go find the vampire and explain!
It's always so boring, and finally the opportunity for a fight happens, and then nobody listens to me.
We could have a ton of fun even we didn't fight.
So we were sitting there on our butts, wasting time, when Alice got another vision. She said the vampire was dying of thirst, and writhing about on the ground. It must have looked pretty bad, because Alice took off, even though Jasper called after her to wait.
I was bored. And if Alice got to go, so did I. Edward gave me a dirty look, reading my thoughts, and I took off after Alice. Rose started yelling at me annoyed from the Volvo, but no one followed me. I followed Alice's scent.
We found the vampire wriggling and shrieking on the forest floor. I pretended I was Batman and threw the practically disabled vampire over my shoulder. Alice and I ran to the hospital through the woods, where Carlisle would have a blood bag or something for this chick.
A little while later, after the vampire had chokedly told us her name was Electra and was sucking down blood bags like she was an alcoholic in a bar, the others showed up. Rosalie went straight up to me and hit me in the arm, telling me we'd talk about it later. Oh brilliant. Now I got to get a four-hour chewing for saving someone's life. While Alice, on the other hand, was immediately forgiven by Jasper and she was animatedly giving him and Edward the low-down, playing out how I had sung the Batman theme song the whole way there. Lucky little psychic.
After the vampire was done drinking was the first time we got a look at her. She walked immediately straight to me and Alice, and thanked us for saving her. Her voice had shaken with gratitude.
To me, Electra looked exactly like someone with her name should look- like an electric current. she had thick bangs, with a bob to her chin of straight blonde hair that flew through the air like electricity. She was curvy, like Rosalie, but while Rosalie had a beautiful face, Electra didn't. Well, I can't say it wasn't beautiful- like any vampire, it was excruciatingly beautiful- but more terrifying. Her expression was cold, even while she was thanking us for her life. I remember how her eyes had moved around, examining us all. It was like she could see right through us. Through any mask of manners we had. Like she knew who had wanted to leave her to die, and who had wanted to save her. She nudged her body towards Alice and I, as though she felt more comfortable around us.
It had been really awkward, cause Rosalie is a little bit of a jealous person. So she was basically giving Electra her 'scary look' for gravitating towards me. It didn't bother bold Electra at all. Rosalie recoiled. I realized Electra scared Rose a little, but you know, she sort of deserved it. She had spent the past thirty minutes explaining to the rest of us why we should leave Electra to die.
Electra really liked Alice, you could tell. She just favored me over the others, not necessarily liked me better. Alice insisted that Electra come to our house for the day, and play some chess with us. Electra warmly agreed to Alice's face, but Edward shook his head at me, telling me she didn't really want to.
A little while later when we were at home and Alice was giving Electra a tour, Edward pulled me aside. He told me he couldn't figure out Electra's thoughts. All he could get from her is she really, really hated him, Jasper, and Rosalie and really, really loved me and Alice. He also told me laughing that Rosalie was jealous as anything, and to sort of ignore Electra because Rose was seriously worried that when I'd saved Electra, I'd fallen for her and Alice had seen us together.
Rose pulled me outside to 'go for a walk'. I thought it was probably my death sentence, so I quickly told her I loved her, and would never leave her for Electra. I said a whole lot of other stuff too, but that's all I was keeping track of. Rosalie calmed down enough after that she could finally be mad at me.
"What was I supposed to do, Rosalie, let her die?" I said, miserably.
Then Electra came out of the shadows with Alice, who looked very confused.
"Emmett? Could I speak with you and Alice alone?" Electra said tentatively, quietly. Like she didn't want to stir Rose any more than she'd already been stirred.
Alice Cullen
"Sure," said Emmett agreeably. He was always so easy to get along with. But he probably just wanted to free himself from Rosalie's glare. Rosalie didn't like it when Emmett ignored what she wanted.
We went out far into the woods, and Electra stopped. The anger Electra was showing off before vanished. Like Emmett and I were old friends.
"I need to...talk to you two," she said, struggling for the right words.
I was excited before. I liked Electra. She just seemed really scared before. Now I was the one who was scared. My instincts told me Electra was bad. Dangerous, even. But I shoved out those thoughts- more than likely, she just wanted to depart quickly without seeming rude, and felt most comfortable with Emmett and me.
But still, she scared me. Everything about her was scary. The way she moved, the way she craned her neck at you, all did not seem friendly, and warning signals were buzzing.
Emmett didn't seem scared, but then again, Emmett is thoughtless. I tried to see what she would do, but I couldn't. It was like the decision hadn't been made yet.
"Totally," Emmett said in an easy manner.
"My coven is different than most." she said warily, still looking as though lost for words.
"So is ours," I said, putting on a fake smile. Curiosity burned through me. I wanted to know, who cared what my instincts were saying!
Electra looked tense. "Do you have contact with the Volturi?" she asked.
"Nope," I whispered.
She smiled, and relaxed. This struck me as odd. I didn't like the way she looked when she spoke of the Volturi.
"In my coven, we all have gifts. All eight of us," she said, and Emmett gasped at the number.
She smiled wider this time, more friendly. "You see why it's necessary the Volturi do not learn of us. One reason, anyway. They would want to destroy us, or make us one of them. Our gifts are all...odd. And very..." she struggled again with her words, as though she was afraid of telling us too much. "...different. Powerful."
I felt pity. The poor girl wasn't dangerous, she just didn't want us to be afraid of her! I knew the feeling, as did Edward. We had powerful gifts, too.
"Oh, don't worry about that! I can see the future! That's how I knew where you were," I said bubbling.
Electra gave me a lopsided, sad smile, like she thought I was confused. "That is a powerful gift, but it doesn't compare to ours." She craned her head apologetically at me.
"Oh," I said, confused. I had one of the most powerful gifts Carlisle had ever heard of. What gift was stronger, better than mine? You could practically see the wheels spinning in Emmett's head. He looked as confused as I felt.
"The others in my coven would not agree to what I want to do for you. But they do not know. You have done great for me, saved my life. The others of your coven wanted to let me die. Do not spare my feelings, I understand." she said, seeing Emmett's face fall, ashamed of Rosalie's sullen behavior.
"I know they will be angry with you for saving me. That's why I want to do this so badly. To show you that you did not do it for nothing!" Electra shouted the last bit, but I don't think she was talking to me or Emmett anymore, but to herself. Arguing with herself.
Emmett walked over, and put a huge arm around my shoulder. I guess I looked as frail and small as I felt. I didn't understand why I couldn't see what she was planning. I hated the blindness, the weakness!
Electra looked back at us. "Don't be afraid, small one." she said. I think I choked a response.
Emmett just stood there, like he didn't know what to think.
Electra looked at the trees surrounding us, and began to talk to herself.
"But wait, you could do it for thirty days...just thirty...yes, that might work. Of course, they couldn't change anything, just learn more...go back...say what they forgot to say to their mother, or whomever they choose." she muttered.
My fear was exchanged for curiosity. "Electra?" I called, stepping away from Emmett's arm.
She turned to us. "Oh, I'm so sorry, I know I've been a tad frightening, but honestly, I'm just..."she trailed off, into her thoughts. "Okay. This is what I am going to do for you. That is, if you choose to accept. It's not risky, but it could scare you. You would be able to communicate, but only to each other. Through cell phone. Each other will be your only contact, the only one you can call." She looked off again.
"Electra, I'm sorry, but I don't have a clue what you're talking about. Maybe I'm a little slow up here, but you're not making much sense to me right now." Emmett said, touching his temple, his voice shaking with wonder.
Electra sighed. "My gift is time travel. I can send people places for a period of time. I can send vampires back to being human for a little while. There is no one like me. I am an original. You can choose when and where you want to be, and I will send you there for a designated time. Then you will show up right back where you left, nothing changed." she said.
Emmett's eyes shone with excitement, and my heart raced. To go back to being human? To finally remember what it's like? All the stuff I missed? And then be able to go back to Jasper, like nothing happened? That's practically priceless!
"Right now? You can send us right now?" Emmett said in disbelief.
"Yes," she said.
Emmett did a little dance. I joined in, this was just too great!
"And I'll be able to call Alice on the phone? Whenever I want?" Emmett gasped.
"Yes, but," Electra's voice turned steely." If you are in an age where cell phones have not been invented yet, you MUST NOT use it in front of others. No one must know. This is merely a thank-you from me. My coven will be angry, but I see it necessary to thank you in a lasting way. Do not misuse your knowledge, and if you're unsure about something, simply do not risk it."
"Absolutely," Emmett said nodding. I got a little worried as to what would happen if we broke the rules. Emmett was sort of prone to rule breaking.
"All you have to do is live like you are a human, or whatever age you choose." she said.
"Wait," I said, regaining my voice back. "Where will we sleep, and who will give us food?" I asked.
"The same place and way you did when you were human." said Electra.
"I was in an asylum," I whispered.
Electra stared at me. "Don't worry, Alice. Just be specific with where you want to go. You don't have to go to the asylum. But that is where you will sleep at night, and get your food. Trust me, it all works out," she said.
I must have still looked confused, because she said, "Think of it as a search engine. I put in where you want to go, when, and if there's a specific thing you want to do, that makes it easier too."
"Well, awesome!" Emmett bounced. "I wanna go to when Rosalie was eighteen! I want to be eighteen, too. I want to meet her. And I want to meet her right before she meets Royce. I want to protect her, like I couldn't before," Emmett said, his voice filling with pain.
"Rosalie?" Electra said, confused.
"The blonde girl," Emmett explained. "She's my mate. I didn't know her as a human, and how cool would it be for me to save her, instead of the other way around!"
Seven of Emmett's words hit me. 'I didn't know her as a human' he'd said. I realized I knew NOTHING about Jasper when he was a human. Nothing at all! When I asked him about his past, he told me war stories, not stories of his real, human life. I discovered how interested I was.
Excitement brewed in my heart. I couldn't contain my excitement.
"Changing the past is dangerous, Emmett. You have to be careful. As long as you make sure everything works out, I see no problem with what you want." Electra said thoughtfully.
"And I," I said, clearing my voice to make it stronger, "want to be when Jasper's seventeen, just before he joins the war. I want to learn about his human life. And I don't want to be stuck in that asylum!"
Electra smiled and pulled two cell phones out of her pocket. She gave one to Emmett, and one to me.
"Look in the contacts," she said. We did. I found only one number. It was a very odd cell phone, very large and obnoxious.
Emmett gave a disgusted look when he saw it. "And that is the cell phone?" he asked.
"Yes," said Electra. "I know it's not easy to keep up with, but it's able to go through the different worlds, so no matter what century you're in, you'll be able to talk to each other."
Oh. I hadn't realized I would be in a different century than Emmett. This scared me a little. It scared Emmett too, he looked a little less comfortable now.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"Wait, do you know enough of where to send us?" I asked.
"Yes, you've given me all I need to know." said Electra.
"You're not...like...playing a trick on us, are you?" asked Emmett warily.
Electra gave him a dirty look, and it silenced him.
"Take my hand." she instructed.
Emmett and I each took one of her hands. Terror rippled through me, but there was no going back now. Plus, I was a little excited about seeing Jasper as a human. Jasper, who could sleep, eat, cry, bleed. I was intrigued, and surprised at how little I knew about his human life.
The last thing I saw was a blinding flash of light, as I murmured 'Jasper, I love you'.
When I woke up, I was cold. And in darkness. Terror burned in my heart as I heard someone screaming. The fear was so deep, it hurt. I felt something square in my hand, and flipped it open. My mouth formed the words 'cell phone'. I went to the contacts and dialed the singular number as quickly as I could, but discovered as quickly as I could wasn't as quick as I remembered being. I didn't understand. I couldn't see, and I was scared. I felt something on my cheeks as the number rang. I was shocked. I couldn't believe it, I was crying. I'd never felt that before. I felt the lump in my throat- that had happened when I first found the Cullens, and they told Jasper and me we could stay. But no tears had come with it! I wished I could remember being human. Then maybe all this wouldn't seem so foreign to me!
"Hullo?" a terrified, deep voice that I knew so well answered. I am not ashamed to admit that the tears started coming faster, and the lump grew bigger.
"Emmett," I gasped.
"Alice," he whispered. "Alice, I hear my parents fighting downstairs. My REAL parents, not Carlisle and Esme!"
I could hear the pure horror in his voice.
"It's all dark here!" I sobbed. "I want hoooo-oooome! And Jasssper!"
A voice from outside the empty dark space I was in, someone screamed SHUT UP! at me.
"And I want Rosalie! This isn't what I signed up for!" he said painfully.
*"No, today. Sir, really. She's ready." A pale-faced man, who I immediately knew was not human, was saying to a man a huge, plushy red chair.
"I don't know, Nicholas. I mean, I know you have a special spot for Alice, but she's MENTALLY UNSTABLE. That's why she's here. She's sees the future, for crying out loud! I can't let her interact with other humans unless I'm positive she's ready." the man said.
"Sir, you have to trust me. Give her a chance. She's come a long way, and I sort of promised her that if she was good, she would be able to go to school with normal people." the vampire said.*
"Alice? Alice, are you there? Are you cutting out? ALICE!" Emmett's voice was frantic as I came back into reality.
"Emmett. I'm in the asylum. I'm in a cell," I whispered, realizing. Someone a ways down from my cell screamed.
After I got done talking to Emmett, I calmed down. I knew where I was. I knew Electra's power had worked. Only thirty days-surely I could handle thirty days. Emmett was calmer when we got done talking, too. He said his parents called up to him to come downstairs a minute. Emmett had put the phone down, and went. He was giddy when he got back. He said the year for him was 1933, and Rosalie should be eighteen, and that he was eighteen, too, just like Electra had promised. He also said his family had apparently just moved to South Carolina. Rosalie's hometown. Emmett was confident that Electra had fulfilled his wishes in the time travel, and he would meet Rosalie when he started school later that day. He told me it was midnight where he was. Emmett got tired, which he said freaked him out a little, and he went to bed, but would call me as soon as he woke up. I'd done a little bit of sleeping too, which was a an extremely odd experience, but I didn't get to enjoy it for long at a time, because someone outside my cell would scream every once and a while.
No wonder I had no memory of being human. There was nothing to remember. There were things I wasn't used to, and if I hadn't gone to high school with the other Cullens and been around humans, it would have been an extremely bad experience for me. I had to blink. I was tired, and felt worn. My skin was cold, and I felt it this time. And now, the most recent, my stomach beginning to rumble. A little sharp pain told me I was hungry, though I didn't want blood. I scoffed. I bet things were so much easier for Emmett! He remembered all the things he had to do- I didn't. I didn't even know some of the stuff. I felt an odd sensation in my stomach, and warm fluid gush out of me. I had no idea what it was, but it smelled strange, and I didn't touch it. I sat there.
I wasn't enjoying myself. I wasn't freaking anymore- I knew where I was, and that was enough for me. I knew how to contact Emmett. That didn't erase all the screaming down the hall, or the darkness that surrounded me. I didn't know how to get warm, and was uncomfortable with all the things that my body was doing. I had an idea, but that wasn't much. How I wished I'd asked Jasper to explain humanity. Or maybe Edward, if Jasper really didn't want to. That's what perhaps my interest was. What was it about being human that Jasper wouldn't talk about? All he'd explained to me is that he'd lied to the Confederate Army recruiters when he was sixteen, and became the youngest major in Texas. But why hadn't he explained anything else? Was it simply that he couldn't remember, or was there something else? Something...he didn't want me to know. If it was bad enough, Jasper wouldn't let Edward tell me, if Edward knew. Edward wouldn't tell me the details of Jasper's torture when he was with Maria, either. The heat from my anger at just thinking Maria's name got to me. I tried to think of what to do, and decided to try for some more sleep. If this dark place is what my next thirty days are going to be like, I...well, I had no idea.
Emmett Cullen
Beep, Beep. Beep, Beep. Be- CRASH!
My fist slammed the alarm clock against the wall, and it broke easily. I sighed, and yawning I started reaching for the little rectangle that was my cell phone. I needed to call Alice, it was my first thought. I was so frickin' tired. I wasn't used to this crap, I can assure you. I looked down defeatedly at my arm. It was no where near as big as it been when I was a vampire. Blech. I decided that was something I wouldn't share with Alice. I couldn't get used to the humanity in me. Alice had freaked a little more than I did. For a while there, she couldn't stop crying, and couldn't understand the feeling of crying, or anything. It right freaked me out, if you want to know the truth. I couldn't help but picture little Alice being hooked up to shock machine. That's why I felt the need to call her so bad.
"Emmett?" Alice chirped.
"Hey, Al, you sound better. Have you seen anything?" I asked, feeling immediate relief. If she'd been shocked, she would have sounded much worse.
"Yes. I keep seeing someone. A man. Well, a vampire. He's trying to convince a man to...let me out." she finished.
"Hmm. And you don't know who it is? At all? Maybe a friend of Carlisle's? Do you think things back home are really frozen in time?" I asked, throwing questions at her like bullets. I was still worried, even after our talk last night.
"EMMETT! DOWNSTAIRS! NOW!"
Uh oh. I knew that sound. I was in trouble...but what could I have possibly done?
Alice laughed.
"What?" I asked.
"You're in trouble for something you didn't do- apparently something the human you did do, but the vampire you, taking the human you's place, didn't."
I groaned. "Can you see what I did?" I asked.
"Yes," she snorted.
"Alice! Come on, what is it." I said, agitated.
"EMMETT, I'M NOT PLAYING!" My mother yelled again.
"Sounds like you have to go. Talk to you later!" Alice called cheerfully.
"Wai-" I began, but she was already gone. That little psychic brat. I grinned to myself, and dragged myself downstairs.
My younger brother Peter was crying...and he had no clothes but his underwear on...What on earth did I do? This was going to be bad, Peter was their favorite.
My father glared at me. He was big, like me, but unlike me, he hated fights. He was about to go off to work. He worked on the railroad-the fact came to me like a flash, I'd forgotten. My mother was stroking Peter's hair. My mother was sort of fat, but really pretty. Her blonde waves came down to her chin, and blue eyes were very easygoing. Both of my parents were, but usually not with me, I regrettably remembered.
The second I landed downstairs my mother was next to me, and smacked me hard across the face. It shouldn't have hurt, but it did. My head snapped back, and for a second I was blinded with pain. A simple smack shouldn't have hurt me like that. For a second I was confused. Then I felt something on my cheek. My first thought was, for the love of everything good in this country, am I really crying over a slap? I reached up to touch it, and brought my hand back down. I knew the red on my fingers only too well.
I wasn't crying, I was bleeding. ACTUAL BLOOD WAS COMING OUT OF ME. Well, that was enough for me. I actually screamed, and flew up the steps back to my room as quickly as I possibly could. And that was pretty darn quick, even if it wasn't near as fast I was when I was a vampire. I sank against the wall, breathing hard. I bleed. I BLEED. The cell phone rang- Alice. She must have seen me.
I snapped it open. "What?" I said, in a voice that I didn't recognize.
"I wasn't laughing about you getting smacked, you know," said Alice. "I didn't know that was going to happen, she just decided it randomly."
"Yeah, well, that's not really a big deal. But the fact that I'm bleeding is! Alice, I bleed...And I feel pain from simple things. I'm so...weak now..." I was whispered the last part.
"I know," she soothed. "Do you want to hear a funny story?" she said, her voice getting fakely cheery.
"Sure," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Well, I don't know much about humanity. And I especially don't know much..." She stopped, sighed, then resumed. "About the bathroom. So, for about three hours now, I've been sitting in wet, and not realizing what it is until just now. I can't believe I peed myself. Actually peed myself." Alice was giggling now.
I couldn't help it- I laughed. It was just too funny. Plus, there was no need to be upset. It was morning, and I started school today like my parents had told me last night. I would see Rosalie today. The real, human version, and nothing, not even blood, was going to take that joy away from me.
Alice Cullen
Emmett's freak out about the blood made me think. Maybe I could bleed too? Maybe the vampire I keep seeing in my visions will come, and I will get to watch him resist MY blood, instead of the other way around.
A snap on the door of my cell sent terror through my spine, and subconsciously grabbed the phone to call Emmett, though we'd just got done talking ten minutes ago. Another snap, but I couldn't force myself to dial the number. I'd heard about the shock treatments. I wasn't dense, and I knew from records that I received them. Routinely. Every ten days. My heart was beating loudly, I was sure the person opening the locks on my cell would hear it. The thick, thick, concrete door swung open, and there he was. Nicholas. The vampire in my visions. Why hadn't I seen him open the door?
"Oh, Alice. What is wrong? I told you that when you had to use the restroom to hold it until I checked on you." He looked embarrassed through his old, beautiful face, looking down at the wet on my gown.
He was old, and that's something you don't see often. I mean, old for a vampire, not necessarily old. Probably thirty-five. He had black hair parted on the side, and his red eyes glowed. How could he remain inconspicuous to the humans? It made no sense.
He sighed. "Now we will have to clean you up. I'm sorry I didn't think about you sooner. I should've known you would have visions of me talking to Mr. Vernon, and it would scare you." he said, misinterpreting the reasoning for the puddle I embarrassedly sat in. I couldn't bring myself to speak.
"This isn't the normal time for me to be checking you, I just randomly decided," he said gently, like he knew I didn't understand why I didn't see him checking on me.
All I could force out was a whimper.
"Come now, love. Are you afraid of school? Surely not. I convinced Mr. Vernon to let you go, but if you are uncomfortable with it-" he began, but I cut him off, speaking for the first time.
"What town are we in?" I said, voice sounding more frail than it was when I was a vampire.
He frowned. "Don't you remember our relocation last year, Alice? How I told you where we were even though I wasn't supposed to?"
I stared up at him, and shook my head.
"Oh. Well." Nicholas shut the heavy cell door. "You have a right to know, but the other workers don't agree with me. Of course they haven't agreed with a word I said ever since they realized I played favorites." he grinned knowingly at me.
I calmed. I was his favorite. Shock hit me. This was the vampire. The vampire who took me away when James smelled me and wanted to kill me. This was the vampire who changed me. The asylum worker.
He looked at me concerned.
"Alice, it's quite all right if you aren't ready to interact with humans. I just..." he looked sheepish. "I just want you to be able to get out of here. It's the law, they have to let you have as much schooling as possible, and if you're calm enough to go, you can attend the schoolroom. With supervision, of course." he said, pointing to himself.
"I want to know where we are, Nicholas," I said. His red eyes softened at the sound of his name on my voice.
"Alright, Alice. We're in Houston, Texas." he said.
My emotions changed at the sound of Texas. Excitement replaced worry. Joy replaced fear.
"Nicholas," I said, trying out my new weapon, and giving him the same heartbreaking look I'd used on Jasper many times. It never failed. "What year is it?"
He was disconcerted by my expression. "1861, dear. Now what is wrong, you must tell me." He said gently.
The excitement grew. I couldn't hold it in my voice. "And how old am I?" I asked.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "You're sixteen. But I thought you already knew all of this," he said, confused.
"Oh, I do. I do." I said, not meeting his eyes. "Oh yes, I'm most defidently ready for school. All I'm worried about is this dreadful white nightgown you have on me."
He smiled. "Good! I knew you were. And not to worry about the gown, my Alice. I've got a good one all ready for you. It was Mr. Vernon's daughter's, so you know it's in excellent fashion. Her name is Violet, and she's waiting for you in Mr. Vernon's office. She volunteered to help you get ready this morning, and escort you to school. She's been going there a year, so hopefully she will be able to help you where I cannot. Like, who to be friends with, and how to behave." He was brimming with excitement, but not nearly as much as I.