Disclaimer: I only own Alina.
The windshield wipers worked methodically in a steady, soothing rhythm, keeping the rain away. Charlie had long since grown used to the rain; unlike his daughter, he liked it. Another uneventful shift, another quiet ride home. Another quiet night, he thought as he remembered that Bella was over at the Cullen's to sleep over with Alice. Alice his ass. Why did she lie to him when he knew she was spending the night with Edward? He sighed. He couldn't tell her "no" based on suspicion, though. He just had to trust that they wouldn't do anything stupid or crazy. To not follow in her parent's. He backed up into the driveway.
A shape caught his eye, too small to be a car. He peered through the rain. Motorcycle, he confirmed. A bit dangerous to be riding in the rain, but motorcycle riders had a tendency towards recklessness. Jake? He wondered. The motorcycle approached. No, the rider was too small. They pulled into the driveway across the street. The house had been on the market for awhile now.
They dismounted in the blink of an eye and glanced around. They kicked the stand down and went towards the back. A large box and a bag were strapped to the back securely. He realized by their form that it was a woman. She fumbled with the chains and locks, and then with the bulk of the box. Charlie stepped out of the car and crossed the street.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" She wheeled towards him, as though he had startled her, "Can I help you?"
"Yes, please," her soft voice said gratefully from behind her helmet. He took the box from her and grunted, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine," he muttered, waddling towards the porch. She took her bag and followed.
He set it down for a moment.
"Thank you so very much," she said.
"No problem," he glanced at the door, "Are you moving in?"
"Yes."
"Where from?"
"Portland," she fished the key out of her pocket.
"Need anymore help?" He offered.
"No thank you. I've already wasted enough of your time. Oh!" She exclaimed and went back out into the rain.
Charlie waited on the porch. He didn't want to leave the woman, though she had declined further help. He was curious about her, riding through the rain on a motorcycle to move in with few possessions. The door opening caused him to jump.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. Charlie's breath caught in his chest as he saw her for the first time.
Her hair wasn't the platinum blonde that was almost white; it was the warm gold of wheat fields or honey. Her skin was pale, looking as smooth and flawless as porcelain. She was slight in frame and weight, with a graceful air. Her eyes were beautiful, fire truck red. She shifted uncomfortably.
"I didn't catch your name," she murmured.
"Charlie," he said gruffly. She smiled sweetly.
"I'm Alina," she moved towards the box and the bag, "Thank you again for your help. If there's anything I could do for you, anything at all, be sure to let me know."
"Let me help you unpack," he picked up the box.
"No, really, it's all right," Charlie smirked.
"You gonna keep arguing or are you going to move?" Alina laughed, as heartwarming as a child's, and stepped aside.
He set the box in the center of the living room.
"Furniture coming?" He asked.
"I'll have to buy some. As you can imagine, riding cross-country would be a bit difficult with a couch."
"Cross-country?"
"I...can't stay in one place too long," he waited for her to elaborate. She didn't.
The box was full of thousands of photographs; some from when photography was first invented, but most were printed off computers from digital cameras. She explained that she collected photographs, whether by buying them or taking them herself. There was a case of tacks amongst the photographs and they began the tedious task of decorating her walls with them. The house filled with easy talk; she told him about some of the places she had been and her time as a police officer to get the money to pay for her doctor's degree. He talked mostly about Bella, life in Forks, Billy and his son Jacob. He talked about his job and fishing some, but was afraid of boring her.
Charlie was drawn to her more than a moth to a light. He remembered being drawn to Renee, but this strength was so much stronger. He felt like being around her was like breathing and to walk out now unable to breathe without her… He felt ridiculous. But the feeling was real, no matter how strange. He was crushed.
At first, Alina was jumpy, as nervous as a rat in a snake pit. She flinched away, apologizing constantly. But as time wore on, she became more comfortable with him. She was aware, Charlie realized. Aware of her power over him. But she was careful with this.
Charlie's stomach growled. Alina smiled.
"You should eat," she stated. Charlie guffawed.
"Hope Bella left me something to warm up," he murmured. Alina perked up.
"Perhaps I could whip something up for you?" If you don't mind a stranger in your kitchen."
"Sure, that'd be great."
They hurried across the street as it was still raining. They dried off in the hallway, where Alina went rigid.
"Something wrong?" Charlie asked. She shook her head.
"Not anything. What would you like to eat?"
Alina made a quick meal of spaghetti with sauce, garlic bread, and salad. Charlie was mesmerized by her graceful movements. Every time she caught him, she looked away self-consciously.
"Why are you doing that?" She asked.
"Doing what?" He asked innocently.
"Staring at me."
"I don't mean to." You're just so beautiful, he added in his head. She opened a cupboard to hide her face. He laughed. She laughed, too, and closed it.
"Dish up," she said.
"Aren't you going to have something?" Charlie asked. She shook her head.
"I had a large lunch," she explained.
The dinner was filled with easy talk. Alina seemed nervous about something, though, but she wouldn't say what. Charlie found it hard to even blink, afraid that she might vanish before his very eyes. God, he was being stupid, acting like he had never been in love before.
"Do you have many visitors come by?" Alina asked, her jaw tense. Charlie shrugged.
"Every now and then, Billy will come by to watch a game, and Jacob if he wants to see Bella. Alice sometimes comes to visit, and then there's Edward…"
"You haven't mentioned Edward. Who's he?"
"Bella's…boyfriend. We're not exactly each other's biggest fan," Charlie sighs, "There's something about him… The way he looks at Bella… It's unhuman," Alina tensed and then took his plate back to the sink.
"Thank you again, for everything."
"No problem. And thank you for that spaghetti," The woman was a better cook than Bella, he had to admit. She rinsed the plate and his utensils, setting them into the dishwasher.
"I really should be getting back. It's getting late," Charlie glanced at the clock. It was going on twelve at night.
"Time flies," he murmured. He felt a pang in his chest as he saw her beginning to walk towards the door, "Wait," she pauses, looking questioningly at him, "You don't have any furniture yet," she smiled.
"One night on the floor won't kill me, Charlie," His heart fluttered as she said his name, gentle, the "r" almost silent in her pronunciation.
"Please, Alina. Bella won't be here; she's over at the Cullens'. I don't want to think of you sleeping on the ground when there's a perfectly good bed upstairs," Alina's eyes widened, "Bella's," he insisted quickly, but that didn't seem to ease her. She glanced at the door and then back at Charlie, this time with a half-hearted smile.
"You are just too kind," she said sweetly.
&&&
"No, no, no, no, bad girl. You stay. You stay there. Yes, that's- No!" Bella watched Alice's frozen stare as Alice willed the future to go her way.
Emmett passed by Alice's bedroom and peered in.
"Hey, Bells. Anything good on the Psychic Network?"
"Seems like someone's being indecisive," she grumbled.
"Good girl. Stay," Alice commanded, her eyes blinking back into focus, "Everything's going according to the plan," Emmett cupped his hands over his mouth.
"This week on "Small Medium, Big World", the sinister psychic is up to her tricks, manipulating those around her to fit the future she sees happening before her eyes."
"Emmett, go eat a squirrel or something," Alice said light-heartedly, dancing to her feet. Bella stumbled up, "We have the weekend. I need to talk to Carlisle-"
"Glad I came over to spend the weekend with you," Bella muttered. Alice wrapped her arms around her, squeezing her gently.
"Oh, Bella, I wish I could tell you without you freaking out and blowing it out of proportion."
"A party?" Alice gave her wind-chime laugh.
"No. It's going to change everything for the better," Bella followed her eager friend, confused as to what she had seen.
They went down into the living room, where Carlisle and Esme were conversing. They turned to them, looking just as curious about Alice's even-more-than-usual hyperness.
"Carlisle, I need to ask you a few favors," she began. Carlisle arched a perfect eyebrow.
"What is it, Alice?"
"Be nice to the new girl on Monday. She's a bit shy and timid. I think you'll understand more once you meet her," Carlisle slowly nodded.
"Alright…"
"Oh, and keep your thoughts to yourself, if you know what I mean. Again, you'll understand better once you meet her."
"Sure, I'll try."
Bella exchanged glances with Carlisle and Esme as Alice skipped off. They were just as clueless to her plan as she was. What was Alice scheming so secretively about?
&&&&&
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