Title: Mind Secrets
Pairing: E/A
Summary: When Alice comes to realize her true feelings, she feels she needs to run. But where can she turn to when it's her family she needs to hide from, and her brother can read her mind?
Setting: After Bella's birthday party in new moon.
Run Away
Dear Edward,
I like it here in Danali, but I miss home very much. I know I will come back when the time is right, but I hope everyone understands that I needed to figure some things out on my own. I'm writing to you because I knew I could trust you to keep everyone rational. Please tell Carlisle and Esme that I am alright. I miss them both and think of them often. Let Rose know her silver shoes are in the hallway closet. I had taken them for the party and forgot to return them. I'm sure that is the only thing she is worried about right now. Of course, hugs to Emmett. And please, please, Edward, you must tell Jazz that I am sorry I haven't called. Don't let him come out here yet. I'm not ready to see anyone.
I guess the best way to put it is, I have been feeling trapped. There are just so many things I have been hiding for years, decades even. It was easy to suppress until this past year. And then that night, after the abrupt ending to the party, everything threatened to spill out of me. You see, I had to take off. There are things I can't even tell you. Things I especially can't tell you, actually. And I couldn't risk letting you hear them. This is something Jazz can't ever know. Even Carlisle would be disappointed in me, Edward. How can I stop what's in my head, though?
I took off yesterday in search for a mall. I was starting to get bored without any good shopping. Oh my god, Edward, it was huge! I picked you up a new jacket, honestly you're old one is getting a bit out of style. I even happened to find a couple cute skirts for Bella. Lord knows that girl has far too many pairs of jeans and sweatpants. Anyway, I will put everything in the mail tomorrow when I can get to a packaging store.
Did you work things out with Jazz? You know he didn't mean to desire Bella. We all desire things that are out of our control. But I don't have to tell you that now, do I? Her blood has tempted us all. He's just young. I shouldn't have thrown the party to begin with, I guess. But I am glad she enjoyed her presents.
I will let you go now, my dear brother.
Love to everyone.
The Other Freak,
Alice
I refolded the letter and put it back in its envelope. We hadn't heard from Alice in over a week. Not since Bella's unsuccessful birthday party. She hadn't told us where she was going, or even why at the time. There was too much going on that day for anyone to really notice right away. I closed my eyes and tried to remember as much as I could about the last time I had seen my freakishly pixie-like sister...
"Why are you so masochistic?" Bella had asked.
Carlisle decided to intercede. "Edward, you may as well go find Jasper before he gets too far. I'm sure he's upset with himself, and I doubt he'll listen to anyone but you right now."
"Yes", Bella was agreeing, "Go find Jasper."
"You might as well do something useful" Alice added.
They were ganging up on me. I nodded once and sprinted smoothly through the kitchen's back door. I hadn't taken a breath since she sliced her finger.
While still on the search for my brother, I kept Alice's thoughts in my head. I needed to know what was going on in that house. How Bella was doing. But all I could hear was my sister once again reciting the battle hym of the republic in as many different languages as she could think of. I had decided this was her way of keeping her mind off of the temptation. It hadn't occurred to me then that she was hiding something.
So I switched to read Carlisle. Now I could see the entire set up. Bella was sitting there in the chair as Carlisle tugged at her arm with the stitching. Her face was steady, no hint of pain. It was then that an apologetic smile accented Alice's lips and she disappeared out the kitchen doorway.
That was the last time any of had seen her.
