Agonizing

Alice continued to ignore Bella's presence. The thing that mattered most now, now that she had saved Bella was getting rid of the blood, getting rid of the thirst. Thankfully for her, Bella wasn't making her job harder. She sat just a few feet away, rubbing carelessly at her cuts and lost in thought. Her realization only moments prior was not lost on Alice and the petit vampire wanted to give her as much time as necessary to reflect.

Thanks to her heightened strength and speed, the carpet was now officially clear of any blood. Alice smiled proudly to herself and turned slowly around to face Bella. Even in her all of her insane absurdity, Bella was still captivating. The way her hair always seemed to fall perfectly around her cheeks never ceased to amaze Alice. However, Bella's beauty only slightly softened Alice's rage. The absolute last thing she had expected when she returned to Forks was to find Bella alive. No, strike that, the absolute last thing she had expected was to make love to a supposed dead Bella Swan.

Alice shook her head angrily as she continued to scrub on the carpet that could not get any cleaner. She wasn't particularly angry with Bella; the poor girl was famous for her melodramatics. Alice was angry at the fact that she'd fallen for it. That she'd given in to that moment of temptation. She growled as she dug her fingers into the wet cloth, tearing holes into it. She saw Bella jump at the noise from her peripheral and forced herself to relax, sitting back on her calves.

"A-Alice?" Bella's voice was extremely meek. There was an underlying tone of apology to it as well. However it wasn't enough yet. Alice continued to refrain from looking at her for fear that she would see the blood and attack. The blood. The blood was everywhere. She could smell, taste, and feel it in the air. Her stomach twisted into violent knots as her throat burned an immortal fire. Not breathing helped, while the stench of cleaner masked it a bit. Still, she wasn't sure enough to take the chance.

"Yes, Bella?" she answered, looking at the guilty glass shard in the window. She heard a light shuffling. Then Bella hissed and there was a jerking movement that Alice could only guess was a wince.

"Alice, my legs hurt really badly," Bella whimpered. She had finally succumbed to the pain. The carpet cleaner felt as if it were pumping alongside her blood, burning the insides of her into nothing but ashes. Bella considered crying in front of someone to be the ultimate embarrassment. But right now, it hurt too much for her to care. After she'd gotten that statement out, she pulled her knees to her chest and began to sob.

In that instant, Alice's thirst was forgotten. Without hesitation she darted over to Bella and picked her up in a fleeting scoop, careful to mind her scraped legs. She then carried Bella to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Ever so gently, Alice sat Bella down on the toilet seat while she turned to start the water in the tub. "Bella, take off your clothes." Bella's tears stopped momentarily as she looked up at Alice, wide-eyed. The pixie noticed her panicked expression and raised a hand to cup her cheek. "This is no time for modesty and I'll keep my eyes closed, okay? Come on, we've got to clean you up…yet again…."

Bella considered laughing but thought better of it as she watched Alice turn around. She got undressed slowly. The entire situation was extremely awkward given what had happened between the two mere hours ago. However the aching of her skin caused her not to dwell too much on the situation. With tentative fingers, Bella grasped the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. That was relatively painless, as was the removal of her bra. As she looped her thumbs into the waistband of her athletic shorts, she stole one last glance at Alice. She was still turned, standing still as stone and completely unaware of her presence. Bella sighed and pulled on the waistband, allowing the shorts to fall. They just grazed her legs which made her wince, but nothing more.

Bella's breaths were becoming ragged now. She wanted to jump up and down to distract her from the pain, but the incisions along her feet wouldn't allow it. She wanted to hurry, but couldn't allow herself to do so. She'd never felt so helpless in all her life. Her eyes darted over to the tub which was almost halfway filled. Water. She hadn't even thought about water. This would be the first time she'd gotten into a tub since her drowning. Slowly, she raised her hand and ran it through her hair. It was stiff and dry from the salt.

Her legs were now starting to twitch. The cleanser was still seeping into her from her bandages. It still burned, but she hardly noticed now. She couldn't decide a worse pain, the water or the burn. Bella saw Alice move from the corner of her eye. Ever so slowly, Alice turned her head, giving Bella a chance to see her profile as she studied the tub. "Bella, the tub's almost filled. Is something wrong?" Bella swallowed hard and leaned against the sink, easing the weight on her feet. With her free hand, she grabbed the elastic of her panties as slowly began to pull them down. Unfortunately, she had to stop when she reached the first cut. It had begun to hurt before she'd even touched it. The skin around it was so tender. Bella took her bottom lip in her mouth as she exhaled sharply.

"Alice?"

"Yes?"

"I n-need help."

Alice turned almost immediately and headed over to Bella. Bella noticed that her eyes stayed locked with hers the entire time. Alice's expression was so serious that it was borderline professional. Bella couldn't for the life of her figure out why this made her feel…inadequate. Quietly, she motioned to her underwear. "It's too tight," she whispered, studying Alice's expression. Alice paused for only a moment, taking in what Bella had said. Then she lowered her eyes to Bella's thighs.

Alice hadn't really seen the extent of Bella's injuries as they were previously obscured. But now, as she looked on at the smooth, alabaster skin that was now shredded with crimson, she wished she could sob. Just so Bella could see how much she'd hurt her. And yet instead of sobbing, Alice merely looked upwards into Bella's eyes again. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying and what little color she had was drained from her face. She was so beautiful, so helpless. She took another step. They were just a breath apart.

Alice placed a hand on Bella's waist and let it linger for just a moment before she slid it lower, noticing how Bella's breath caught. Her fingers danced over Bella's along the elastic, removing them gently. Still locked in a gaze, Alice gripped the fabric and ripped it in half. It fell limply against Bella's thigh, exposing fully her long legs. It only took Alice another half second to shred the other half and both listened as it fell softly to the floor. Bella held Alice's gaze for a few moments more before she turned and began to step towards the tub. Alice followed her, arm extended should she need balance. "What about my bandages?" Bella muttered lazily as she lowered herself into the warm water and turning it off.

"Don't worry. We'll redo them. Just soak them off," Alice replied as she sat down on the toilet seat. As she did so, she spotted a shaving razor that was resting on a corner of the tub. "Would you rather me leave?" she asked, never taking her eyes off of the blade. Bella shook her head, still fiddling with the bandages.

"I'd rather you stay, please, if you want. I…don't really trust myself," she murmured, laying her soaking bandages across the tub.

"Mm," was Alice's only reply as she stood from the toilet and gathered the bandages, along with the razor. Bella watched as she threw them into the trashcan before sitting down again. She'd seen the razor in Alice's hand and now her cheeks burned with embarrassment and frustration.

"I didn't mean like that. I meant that I was still dizzy."

"Well, I think it's safe to say that trusting yourself falls along both of those lines."

Alice then crossed her legs. There was an unbefitting glare on her usually cheerful face. Bella lowered her head and skimmed her finger along the surface of the water. "Why couldn't I hear him, Alice?" Bella asked quietly, slowly dripping water from her fingers onto her knee.

"Because he was never there. You know that, Bella." Alice's tone wasn't necessarily condescending but Bella could definitely tell that the petit vampire was talking down to her as if she were a child. However, Bella remained silent about it. Deep down within the part of her that was still sane, she knew that Alice was right; Alice had always been right. Alice had now crossed her legs and was staring out the window again. A flimsy cloud was covering the sun and every so often little glimmers of light would cascade through the window. It would hit Alice's striking face in little sections and make it gleam, reflecting along the bathroom tiles.

Bella felt a yearning within her as she stared at the Cullen. It was a longing to touch yet again; to simply be nearer to the vampire and feel her cold skin through her warm hands. Bella shivered at the thought. She'd already done that once, and nearly broke Alice in half. She wouldn't dare do that again. From the other side of the bathroom Alice closed her eyes for a moment. Then she gave a light scoff, a smile resuming her features, and shook her head.

"What is it?"

"Billy Black has finally made the decision to come over. How nice of your father to leave you in such caring hands," she answered, the glare coming back to her face. Bella bit her lower lip, almost afraid to say anything more. She what Alice had meant and she didn't really have any grounds to back up Billy on. So instead, she sighed and looked over at Alice, who had turned at the noise.

"Can you hand me the shampoo?" she asked, looking up at the small shelves on the showerhead that held her products. Under the water she wrinkled her toes and even in that small movement the gashes had burned. Bella was frightened to move. Alice stood and headed over to the tub. As she grabbed the shampoo, she looked down at Bella in the water. The water was tinted red with blood. However, the dilution of it almost made it unappetizing. And yet through the tint, she could see Bella's naked body. Her soft, round breasts just hidden underneath, slightly toned stomach that had to have been genetic considering Bella's athleticism, and her thighs, once so enticing, now just mangled. She was still gorgeous. And even with all that had happened, if Bella asked, she knew that she take her again. But, all that Bella asked for was shampoo.

She handed the item down to Bella and picked up the conditioner, staring at the label and smelling its fragrance. It was too strong for her senses and she quickly pulled her head away. She heard Bella giggle but just as she turned to look down at her, Bella submerged her head underwater and began to rinse her hair. Alice wrinkled her nose at this. Clearly, Bella hadn't seen the tint of the water. When Bella came back up, Alice pulled the drain and turned on the faucet again. "Bella, you'll have to wash your hair standing. This water is disgusting…from human standards."

"H-how will I-

"I'll hold you up."

Alice then started the shower and removed her jacket, revealing only a tank top. Bella stole a quick glance and noticed that she wasn't wearing a bra through the thin material. Not that she'd need it anyway. Casting her jacket aside, Alice leaned over the tub, resulting in her getting soaked by the shower, and wrapped an arm around Bella's midsection. The skin on skin interaction plus the coolness of Alice's hand caused Bella to shiver with anticipation. Slowly, she lifted, Bella upwards until she was standing very lightly on her feet. Bella smiled softly at her and began to wash her hair again.

Alice had also shivered at their touch, though it went unnoticed by Bella. Her hand wrapped around Bella's warm, slippery skin would have surely made her break out in a sweat if such was still possible. Bella closed her eyes and tilted her head back to rinse, further exposing her breasts to Alice. She looked down at them and noticed that she was just mere inches away. She raised her free hand and slowly began to move it towards them, lost of rational thought. At that moment, Bella pulled her head forward and Alice decided instead to run her free fingers through her own wet hair.

Alice mentally slapped herself as Bella worked on her conditioner. How could she be so naïve? Why was she allowing Bella to get to her like this after all she's done? Alice shook her head sadly. Love. Absolute love and adoration for Bella Swan caused her to be like this. She'd never known herself to be so weak, to be so blinded.

Bella had now finished and, while still holding her up, Alice grabbed a towel and handed it to her, adjusting as necessary as she dried herself off. Then, without warning, Alice grabbed the towel, wrapped it around Bella, and scooped her up, minding the legs. Without a word she set her down on the toilet seat. Bella watched as she took a step back and shook her head like a dog, splashing water everywhere. Alice then went to the medicine cabinet and grabbed some gauze and ointment before sitting on the floor before Bella's legs.

"I've just realized something," she chirped as she folded the towel upwards and got out the ointment.

"What have you noticed?"

"With your legs so battered, the only thing that will be comfortable for you to wear…is a dress." She grinned maliciously at Bella who only scoffed.

"I'll just endure the pain."

"No you won't, I've seen it."

Bella grumbled at Alice's remark which caused her laugh. Then all was quiet for a few minutes as Alice tended Bella's legs. Alice, though being gentle, applied the disinfectant to a deep wound, causing Bella to hiss. Immediately Alice drew back, looking up at her with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine, Alice," Bella started, watching as the vampire went back to work. "A-Alice, how are you not…I mean, all the blood is…?" She drifted, unable to fully grasp what she was trying to say. Alice gave a light hum and then went to the gauze.

"It's just…not so in control of me anymore. I guess I've gotten used to it. Or maybe I'm in denial, I don't really know."

"Oh…why did you come back, Alice?"

Alice sighed and leaned back against the wall. She looked pained and Bella wondered if she'd said the wrong thing. "Well, you weren't in the best of states when I first saw you. And you certainly weren't any better after I left. It would seem illogical of me to live your pain-provoking self alone after all of the angst we created together." She paused, looking down for a moment. "I didn't think you'd actually do it though, Bella. Until I had the vision I would have never thought that you would do something like that." Her tone was worried now, sincere. Bella rubbed her watering eyes and looked away.

"I didn't either. I don't know what came over me."

Alice nodded, tracing her fingers along the gauze. "You know, I was going to leave after I'd cleaned the carpet. I figured that you were still the same, that you would just keep trying." She smiled softly. "I don't think you're going to hurt yourself again."

"No, I'm won't. I promise."

"Thank you."

Bella sighed, feeling the mood of the room relaxing. Alice was now bandaging her legs and though they stung a little, she couldn't complain too much. "So, where's Jasper? How's he doing?" Bella saw Alice twitch just ever so slightly at her words. Then she closed her eyes and took a breath, opening them again to look at Bella.

"Billy's here. I'll go tell him that you're in good hands." She stood up and grabbed her jacket, only to turn around again. "Is that okay with you? I'm sorry, I didn't even ask." She smiled softly and Bella nodded. Edward would have just headed out the door, no questions asked. Alice returned the nod and kissed Bella on the forehead. "I'll be back soon." And she flitted out the door.

Bella stared after her, water from her hair dripping onto her shoulders. She heard a car door open outside and voices getting heated but she didn't really register what was going on. All she could think about was Alice's reaction and if it was towards Billy, or Jasper.