Alice followed me down the stairs and I reached the bottom just as Charlie walked through the door.
"Dad! Look who's back in town!"
My dad spun around and Glared at Alice, then his gaze softened when he saw who it was.
"Did the rest of your family come for a visit too?" He asked. Of course I knew who he was really asking about and remembering that our last conversation this morning was about me leaving and wanting to stay because I thought HE might come back.
Alice just smiled and replied "No just me, I am going to finish school in forks here, I missed my friends, and since I almost have enough credits to graduate and am now 18 too, My parents agreed to let me come back to finish school here before I go off to college."
Charlie's posture softened, and he saw the change in me too I realized that with Alice back my best friend that maybe I really would be better. "Oh, that's nice it was kinda sudden how you folks picked up and left."
"Yeah, it is like that for us sometimes, Carlisle is offered something that is a professional challenge and he uproots us all. But he and Esme may return as well, don't say I said anything but Esme hates LA, and wants to return to her cool garden in forks." Alice whispered conspiratorially. "But Edward is off at a boarding school in South America to finish his primary education, and Rosalie and Emmett are off honeymooning, and will begin their college back east they are both going to Dartmouth in the fall. Jasper has gone off to work in Alaska, he and I broke up" She looked down and let a little sorrow into her voice. Boy did she know how to play Charlie, I should take notes.
"Oh, that's too bad sweetie, he seemed like a fine young man" My dad replied not sure what to say.
"Can she stay with us Dad?" I asked, then imagining what Alice would say to play into Charlie's sensibilities "I mean it would be lonely for her all alone in that big house with nobody else there?"
He thought about it for a second then said "Well, I suppose if she doesn't mind, I have a cot in the garage that should fit in your room, unless you want the couch Alice?"
Alice looked like she was about to float away with joy "No the cot would be perfect! It is very kind of you to offer, if Bella doesn't mind sharing her space?"
"No not at all it will be fun having a room mate, prepare me for dorm life in college next fall?" then quietly so only her vampire hearing could pick up my comment "You little minx, you saw this didn't you?" I felt her finger make a smiley face on the small of my back where my dad couldn't see her hand move.
"Well, I will run out to the garage and see if I can find that cot." Charlie said.
Alice looked up and said "Well if I am going to stay here I am going to need some things. I am going to run home and pack my stuff, I will be back this evening."
Charlie asked "Do you need a ride honey?"
Alice smiled, "No my car is across the street."
My Dad and I both looked out the window across the street to see the canary yellow sports car across the street. In unison we said "Of course, that car just screams Alice"
We laughed at that then Alice gave me a hug and walked to her car and my dad went to dig around the garage for the cot. I went and sat on the couch to think.
What next. Alice liked me. As in liked me liked me. I had some thinking to do. Did I feel the same way? I have never been a homophobic person, but I never thought of girls in that way either. I do love Alice, and she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, although I would never tell Rosalie that, but I always felt Alice was the prettiest. Wait, Alice is the prettiest? Whoa, since when did I start thinking of Alice like that. I guess as they say De-nile is not just a river in Egypt...
Well, I would need to tread carefully. No mater what was going to happen one thing I WAS certain about that is Alice is important to me. I need her in my life. Once I got past Edward leaving me like a jerk, I realized I missed Alice more than anything. So I was going to take it slow and see where my feelings took us. I knew now that I had Alice back, I would pay any price to keep her in my life.