Taking Two Hearts

Ch 2:

Alice and I made it to Spanish class just as the bell was ringing. We quickly took our seats as the teacher brought the class to order. Today we were being paired in groups to practice conjugating. Alice and I were put with Jessica and Lauren, a pair I preferred not to talk to. So Spanish passed at a sloth like pace. Finally the bell rang and Alice and I gathered our stuff and left, discussing our Spanish assignment. History, our next class, started off pretty boring also with a small movie on the Depression. When Alice froze completely still, eyes wide and unseeing, I peeked around to make sure everyone was either sleeping or watching the movie. I watched Alice for what seemed like forever, but was probably less then a minute before she came to and started writing on the paper she'd been doodling on, quickly. Then she passed it to me.

The new guy and you are going to hit it right off. In fact I think Edward would be jealous if he were here.

I stared at the note for a minute. So we'll be good friends is what I guessed. I mean obviously I loved Edward so if he was here he'd have nothing to worry about.

No he wouldn't, I love him, there is nothing I would do with a guy that he would be jealous of.

I shoved the note under her. She snorted and then wrote back.

I'm not sure about that. My vision showed otherwise. You were getting pretty friendly.

It was my turn to snort.

You're joking... you pushed it too far... so really am I gonna hate the guy or something?

After she read what I wrote her face got serious as she wrote and she hesitated before handing me the note.

Actually you really were pretty cozy... I know your going to think this is a mean trick and may not talk to me but you were sitting on his lap... and you weren't wearing your ring.

I reread her note three times. I was stunned. Could she be serious? Alice never would let a joke go this far. I looked up at her. Her face was serious and her eyes penetrating. Oh God she was being truthful.

NO! You always tell me it depends on decisions. I'm deciding that will NOT happen. I love Edward. Nothing will come between us.

Before handing her the note I looked at her, expecting her to see something new but she just continued to stare at me until her eyebrows lifted at the fact I still had not handed her the note. Finally I handed it over with a sigh.

Sorry Bella. I wish I could control it as well as see it. I thought you should know though. You know I couldn't hide something this big from you.

When she handed the note back I felt unease creep in. It looked like I couldn't control what happened just by my decision.

That night

Alice and I had over the past few years worked out a routine for house work. It was no different when I was quietly consumed with my thoughts so making dinner was something we did without much talking. Tonight was pasta night so I started the water boiling and browned some Italian sausage as Alice got the makings of a salad out and washed, chopped, sliced, and diced. We worked flawlessly without speaking until Alice suddenly, or so it felt, broke the silence.

" You know, just because something might happen between you two doesn't diminish how you feel about Edward. Maybe it's just a temporary bout of insanity your going to have." I couldn't help it I went into a laughter fit, I'd been wound so tight that this seemed hilarious, even though Alice just stood and stared at me. Finally gasping in breath so I could speak I spoke.

"So I'm going to be temporarily insane... and that is better then me and Edward breaking up?" I gasped out through my laughter. She suddenly was over come by body racking laughter as well, which only made me only more hysterical with laughter which made her laugh harder and eventually we were both on the floor of the kitchen clutching our sides as we laughed.

This is how Charlie found us when he came in, we didn't even here him enter. I looked up at him from where I lay on Alice's stomach my head bouncing as she laughed as I cried from laughing so hard for so long.

"What are you girls doing?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Laughing." Alice replied simply her laughs finally slowing. I suddenly was aware of the smell of burning meat and suddenly became serious and quickly got to my feet. Almost falling back over on top of Alice in my haste.

"Oh shit, and burning dinner, sorry dad." I said quickly pulling the skillet of meat off the hot burner and placing it on a cool one.

"It's alright Bells, still be better then anything I could cook." He said with another chuckle before exiting the kitchen and making his way to the living room. He had a point. After mom died it didn't take long for Emmett to ask Grandma Swan for cooking lessons and from the time he was ten until I was thirteen he did the cooking, and then I took over.

Dinner was peaceful as the three of us chatted aimlessly. Despite the meat being burned the meal wasn't half bad.

"So what are you girls doing this weekend?" He asked as I served the cheesecake I'd bought yesterday for dessert.

"I'm going shopping with Tanya tomorrow and then hitting the books Sunday." said Alice. Tanya was a friend from school, she often went shopping with Alice because Alice had long since given the idea of me shopping up.

"I plan to do homework and laundry and then just lounge around tomorrow and Sunday I'm supposed to see a movie with Angela, she has a date with Ben Saturday so we had to make it for Sunday afternoon. I'll probably eat dinner with her in Port Angeles if that's OK with the two of you." I said as I polished off my serving.

"That's fine with me. I can cook that night. Dad and I can have some salmon that night." Alice said using her usual name for Charlie. Alice and Charlie were both a fan of salmon, I on the other hand wasn't a big fan.

"Sounds good to me." Said Charlie as he stretched. He was always a man of few words.

Alice and I cleared the table working side by side to put away the left overs and wash the dishes. Over time we had become so close and so coordinated I often felt like we choreographed our actions. We hardly ever fight and so living together and being best friends felt sometimes like we were closer then sisters like we shared a mind. Other times however our differences were very apparent. For example the fact that I liked doing school work and Alice did it only to attain high grades, and the fact that she'd rather shop then eat and I'd rather go days without eating then shop.

After dinner we both told Charlie goodnight and went up to our bedrooms. When she first moved in Emmett was still in high school so she had bunked in my room but when he got ready to move out he offered his room as long as he got to stay in it when he came home on visits. She gladly agreed and took over the room with in a week. I wonder if he regretted giving her the room now that he had to come home to sleep in a room decorated in silver and pink. I grabbed my toiletries bag and my robe and made my way to the bathroom. Alice always did yoga before getting ready for bed, allowing me time to shower and prepare for bed before she did the same.

The hot shower felt good on my skin. I had been tenser then I realized. I wasn't too surprised though, considering the events of today. I thought about Edward's trip and our possible imminent break up. Since our first kiss I had never considered dating anyone else, from that point on it had been as if I was blind to other guys. I wanted to be with Edward for the rest of my life... didn't I? Now that a seed of doubt had been imbedded in my mind I felt like it was allowing more doubt to spread inward. I often felt like Edward was over protective and I had considered if I would continue to be OK with waiting for sex until we were married once all my close friends were enjoying it. Also he was in a hurry to get married and start a family while I wanted to wait. Maybe he wasn't so perfect for me after all. I tried to clear my head from these frustrating thoughts and I finished up my shower. I then brushed my teeth and hair and slipped on my robe to go to my room before dressing for bed. Alice walked out of her room with her stuff for a shower just as I walked out of the bathroom.

"G'night Bella, don't drool on your book" She often teased me about falling asleep reading in good nature. I didn't mind, after growing up with Emmett her little teasing pokes bounced off of me.

"Night Alice... sweet premonitions." I giggled as I shut my bedroom door.

I laid in bed for what felt like hours trying to avoid thinking too much about mine and Edward's relationship. Eventually I fell in to a sleep and when I did I dreamed of a sexy grin, green eyes, and blonde hair that belonged to a mystery man.

AN: Thanks for reading! I'm so happy with the response I've gotten so far. Please review and I will try and get the next chapter up soon.