Silhouette
"I'll have you know, this is all your fault," Bella murmured as she set her book down. She sat cross legged on her bed, her knees fidgeting wildly of their own accord. Alice, who'd been on her knees with her arm resting on the windowsill as she stared out into the night, turned and cocked her head to the side. Bella nodded at her silent question and watched as Alice's lips curved upwards in a smile.
"What, pray tell, is my fault?" she asked softly, standing from her crouched position and heading over to sit on the edge of the bed.
"This," Bella replied matter-of-factly as she gestured towards her fidgeting legs. Alice stared at them, noticing that the swelling had gone down, but nothing more. Subconsciously, she reached out and traced one finger over Bella's ankle, the only skin that hadn't fallen victim to depression on her leg.
"I don't follow you," she said as she removed her finger, skimming it over the newly washed bed sheets. She heard Bella sigh with feigned annoyance and looked up shyly to meet her eyes. Bella was semi-glaring at her with one eyebrow precariously raised. A smile was tempting at the corners of her mouth but it had yet to break free. She motioned to her legs again, to which Alice only shrugged innocently, not giving Bella the satisfaction of looking again at them. Bella then fell backwards onto the bed giving a melodramatic groan. Alice's mouth twitched slightly in a smile but she forced herself to remain firm as she watched Bella sit up again.
"I'm referring to my fidgety legs," Bella told her smartly. "Had you not forced me to sleep for fifteen-ish hours I might be asleep right now! But you've thrown off my whole cycle!" For extra emphasis, she threw her arms in the air and fell back onto the bed again. Alice grinned, taking note of the playful gleam in Bella's eye and leaned over her, feigning anger.
"Firstly, you didn't have a cycle. You were an insomniac. Secondly, did you just happen to forget the two cans of your father's Red Bull that you drank out of sheer boredom?"
Bella frowned, knowing that she'd been caught, and allowed herself to smile. Alice rolled her eyes and offered her hand to the girl, pulling her back up into a sitting position. "I wouldn't have been so bored if you would think of something do to."
"Oh, so it's my job, is it?"
"You're the superhuman here!"
Alice laughed quietly, rubbing Bella's cold hands. She looked over at the clock and saw that it was almost four a.m. The sun would be rising in a few hours. Bella watched as a mischievous grin appeared on her lips before she turned to face her. "Today's Sunday, right?"
"Right,"
"I've an idea. But first, you have to change," Alice said as she leapt off of the bed and darted towards the closet. Bella watched her fretfully and glanced out the window. It looked dark and cold…and dark. She really hoped that they weren't heading out there. Sure, she could welcome vampires and werewolves into her home but the dark was what scared her. What a lame-o. Bella was torn from her thoughts as a sweatshirt was thrown at her face. "Come on! Don't tell me that you're tired now?" Alice half-moaned, giving Bella a pouting look.
"Where are we going?" Bella asked as she pulled the shirt over her head.
"Switzerland,"
"Haha…where are we going?"
"I'm not telling you. You can see when we get there."
"So…we're leaving?"
Alice huffed, slightly annoyed at Bella's obvious questions. "Well, Bella, do you see anything of any interest in your room right now?" While almost unnoticeable, Bella did hear the twinge of annoyance in Alice's voice and hung her head as she said a quiet 'no.' Alice, being even more perceptive than Bella picked up on Bella's sadness and any frustration she felt was cast out the window. Picking up another jacket, she made her way over to Bella and sat on the bed. Her head was still lowered and Alice placed a hand under her chin, lifting her up to meet her eyes.
"I'm sorry…I was just excited. And you're bringing me down." She smiled, hoping Bella would register the joke. Bella returned it, though it was clearly fake, and nodded. Alice glared playfully. "Bewwa, don't do this to me!" She protruded her lower lip, making her best pouting face on record. Bella's smile widened just a bit more though the dejection was still evident in her eyes.
"I just…I don't want to feel like a burden to you," she murmured as she attempted to take the jacket. However Alice's hand held it firm.
"Bella, you couldn't be a burden if you tried. If you must consider yourself something, think of yourself as a never-ending adventure that I wouldn't trade for all of the blood in China."
Bella laughed at this and Alice noticed that she really did feel better. "What a morbid take on such a racist cliché," Bella muttered as she was able to take the jacket from Alice's hand and zipped it up. Alice's laughter filled the room but before Bella could even smile to herself, she felt herself being scooped up into her arms. Alice picked her up and swung her around the room effortlessly three times, listening to Bella's muffled squeals. Then, she slowed and pulled Bella into an embrace, resting her head in the crook of Bella's neck. All Bella could do was hug her back; the actions had been so quick.
"I don't ever want to see you look like that again," Alice whispered into her ear. "Sad, unwanted…" Alice squeezed her tightly, closing her eyes as Bella began to rub her back soothingly. "I-I didn't mean to make you feel that way. I never want to make you feel that way." Alice was rambling now, she knew it. But she couldn't seem to stop herself. The look on Bella's face… the sheer, raw hurt. Alice had seen it too many times in her visions after Edward's leaving. It broke her heart every time she shut her eyes. But it wasn't supposed to be her fault. She didn't want to be like Edward. She never wanted to be like Edward.
"I won't, Alice," Bella answered softly, gripping the vampire as tightly as she could. Tears were filling her eyes and she really didn't know why. Alice was so…so caring, so compassionate. It was so different from what she knew. But she knew she liked it. Alice pulled away slowly, smiling as she wiped Bella's eyes. Then she grabbed her hand and a blanket and led her to the window. She pulled it open slowly and then casually hopped out onto the tree branch that awaited her. Once she was situated, she extended her hand to Bella.
"Come on, Bella," she urged. Tentatively, Bella reached out to Alice, relishing in slight relief at the firm grip that welcomed her. "I won't let you fall," Alice teased, smirking. Bella nodded then lifted herself out of the window. Before she could even register a fear of falling, she was gripped tightly in Alice's arms. Alice smiled down at her before jumping from the second story branch and landing on the ground. Bella instinctively gripped at the vampire's shoulders only to be pleasantly surprised when the landing felt like stepping down two steps at once. She released a huge sigh and Alice giggled as she adjusted her to a bridal position. "Hold on tight." Bella nodded and Alice took off into the woods.
Bella's first thought was that it was damn cold. The wind was whipping at her face and given the already chilled night, the speed wasn't helping. As if she'd read her thoughts, Alice placed the blanket she was holding in Bella's lap. Bella smiled gratefully up at her before wrapping it around herself. She'd gotten quite used to this whole 'running' thing, provided that she didn't look around. Just as Bella was starting to feel really comfortable, Alice slowed. She tried to look around but it was still too dark to really see anything. All she knew was that she was outside…and damn cold again.
Alice set her down wordlessly and took the blanket from her, wrapping it around Bella snugly. "Have a seat," the vampire requested to her as Bella heard her plop down on the ground. Bella followed the action, noting how awkward it was to sit with a blanket wrapped around her. As she sat down, she noted that she was sitting on rock, a boulder of some sort. She heard Alice sigh next to her and glanced that way. She could just barely make out her silhouette.
"Alice, where are we?"
"I'm afraid I'm not going to tell you."
Bella sighed, she figured as much. These vampires were so cryptic all of the time. A cool wind brushed across her cheeks and she nestled further into the blanket. Judging by the silhouette, Alice was just a few inches away. Trusting her eyes, Bella fell over to her right, making contact with Alice's shoulder. Then she sighed contentedly and snuggled just a bit closer. She heard Alice's even breathing next to her and closed her eyes. Aside from Alice, all she could hear was the sound of rushing water. Okay, outside, river, boulder…they were in the forest. That got her nowhere in Forks, Washington.
Alice shifted, moving Bella closer and wrapping her arm around her shoulders. "Are you too cold?" she asked in a voice that matched the peace. Bella shook her head against the vampire and smiled.
"You sure have some interesting ways to cure boredom."
"I can take you back if you'd like."
"No, I was complimenting you."
"Oh,"
Alice seemed strangely distant, yet not. It was as if half of her was focusing on Bella and the other half on something else. "What are you thinking about?" Bella finally asked when the silence became too much for her. She heard Alice sigh before all was quiet for a few minutes.
"Oh, you know, things," she responded lamely. Bella frowned, pulling the blanket more tightly around her. Alice instantly righted herself, removing her arm from Bella's shoulder.
"You are too cold," she said guiltily.
"Alice, I swear I'm not," Bella urged. "I was just fixing the blanket. You know your cold skin has the opposite effect on me anyway." Bella watched as Alice's head turned to face her.
"I don't follow you."
"You mean I've never told you?"
"I guess not."
"Oh well…when you…touch me, it feels warm. Is that weird?"
Alice sighed again, "Very…."
"What's wrong, Alice?"
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I'm just thinking."
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing,"
Bella groaned, shifting herself upwards so that she was facing Alice. "Is there something wrong?"
"Not that can think of?"
Alice was obviously making this difficult for her. Taking a deep breath, Bella unwrapped herself from the blanket and faced Alice. "How's Jasper?"
The silhouette jerked as a result of Alice sharply turning her head. "He's fine. He's still with Edward."
"I doubt it."
"Well, it's really not your business, is it?" Alice seethed. Bella drew back a bit at Alice's sharp words. She knew she shouldn't have gone there. And this time, she couldn't blame it on Edward. Suddenly, Alice tensed next to her. Bella's eyes widened, fearing that she'd done something that would cause her to be inconsolable. However, just a few moments later, Alice turned and Bella felt a hand on her shoulder. "But…thank you for your concern." The words were hard, forced. But Bella accepted them nonetheless. She didn't want to fight. Alice's hand slipped slowly off of her shoulders and Bella caught it in midair. When there was no resistance from the vampire, Bella cradled Alice's hand in both of hers.
Then suddenly, a bright light shone in Bella's face. She grimaced as her eyes got used to it, then focused on what was before her. They were on a boulder alright, one that overlooked a valley with a river flowing through it. To the far left, Bella could make out the infamous baseball field where the Cullens played. It was gorgeous. Bella grinned as she stared at the sunrise, which was a just moment away from disappearing behind the clouds. Then she looked over at Alice who was cascaded in the light. She felt herself gasp as she looked on at the diamond-bedded being beside her and looked down at the hand she held. So beautiful…it almost ached how beautiful she was.
"Bella, I-
Alice was quickly silenced as Bella placed a finger over her lips. Then she crawled over, embraced the vampire in a hug and fell backwards onto the rock, taking Alice with her. When they were both on the ground, Bella adjusted so that her head was resting on Alice's shoulder, her arm draped over her stomach. "I don't want to talk right now," she whispered as she nuzzled into Alice's shirt. "I think I want to take a nap." Bella felt Alice's stomach rise and fall as she chuckled, then wrapped an arm around her.
"I'll be here when you wake up."
"And then we can start the day."
"Yes,"
