(14) Spectacle
I gasped in delight. The walls stopped their vibrating and remained astonishingly intact. Alice filtered down directly in front of us. She had dropped through the roof alarmingly fast without warning except the earthquake like shaking. I controlled myself from running into her arms. I was thrilled until I noticed she was smugly glancing at Rosalie. Rosalie rolled her eyes and turned to examine her fingernails.
Alice squealed and hugged Jasper. "I did it all on my own." Alice proclaimed and Edward snorted at her candid observation.
Rosalie was standing too calm like a warning before mass destruction commenced. Emmett raised his eyebrows without concern anticipating a fight. He didn't seem too concerned about the welfare of his lover or his sister. He was giddy with the chance to see Rosalie and Alice fight to the death.
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you insinuating that I am helpless? I can take care of myself." Rosalie sneered and waited for Alice to backtrack her previous comment. Rosalie expected an apology but Alice was one not to back down, which I considered an admirable trait. She would rather dance in the sun naked (sparkling) then be intimidated by the arctic princess.
Alice as I knew her to be set her face into a determined mask. "Oh you know perfectly well what I mean. Rose. I thought you were being so naïve with the men guarding you. But you figured it out didn't you. Then you let them take me away without thinking about the consequences. It hurt me. Your lack of uncaring, selfish motives." She moved away from Jasper and settled unmoving beside me. Alice looked once at Edward and they disagreed about something. Alice cut her eyes and Edward shook his head.
"Are you referring to my incapacitation?" Rosalie outrageously put both hands up in the air. "Really Alice, you may have psychic capabilities but common courtesy is something you are lacking. What do you think I did exactly? Throw you into a lion's den! I didn't know we were being kidnapped because I wasn't myself."
"What else would I be talking about? I'm not referring to the beginning of this debacle. I am talking about what you did in the room. Did you know I was in room right next to you? Obviously I can see what you are plotting. Maybe that will help clear a few things up in your scattered brain." Alice sarcastically sputtered. Edward put his hands to his lips to stifle a smile.
"You are so stupid." Rosalie mocked and Emmett had his eyes wide open awaiting the brink. The glint dancing in his eyes made their conversation that much more predictable. One of them was going to make a body shaped hole in the untouched wall behind us. I had my money on Alice. Although Rosalie has surprised me from time to time. Edward tensed beside me and looked from one sister to the next.
I wonder whom Edward would save? I mean if it became necessary and he had one choice. I wanted to believe it would be Alice. I was ninety-six percent sure it would be. But that nagging four percent told me it could be Rosalie getting rescued.
"Call me stupid again and see what happens." Alice paused for effect. "You were sitting in the room all cutesy with the men. Then I knew at one point you were yourself. I could see the future shift to the inconsequential nothings that occupy your mind. Why did you pass out?" Alice's voice was turning accusatory.
"I don't know what she's talking about. That isn't making sense to me." Rosalie scoffed but something about the high tone at the end of her sentence made me look at Rosalie. I guess the rest of us deciphered the phoniness as well. We were all staring at her.
"What gives?" Alice angrily prompted and Emmett stared helpless at Rosalie. I didn't know why this was important to Alice. Was it a matter of principle? You don't leave your family behind. Think of others before yourself. I didn't get it. There was some higher morality scale that the Cullen's held I couldn't even begin to understand.
"I would like to know also." Jasper spoke up joining the argument. He moved closer to Rosalie and she moved her eyes between each family member. Edward was the only one who wasn't meeting her gaze. Why? Did she commit some slanderous offense while she was in the room? Edward would never tell her thoughts. He knew it was already an invasion in privacy to read her mind. Besides, it wasn't his secret to say.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Rosalie's eyes became molten doused with pity. She brushed her glossy hair over her shoulder. She also brought her hands in front of her fidgeting her fingers. She reminded me of a child with the innocence of her stance yet wielding a guilty conscience. Yes, she did lie. It was written all over Rosalie's face.
I was peeking from behind Edward's shoulder because he was in front of me blocking most of the action. I saw Rosalie looking down calculating her next move. I felt sorry for her in a way. (Don't tell anyone I ever said that) I bet that whatever happened in that room was not good. I didn't really think Alice should have brought it up in front of everyone. She should have spoken privately to Rosalie. This was their issue. We didn't need to witness their argument.
"Tell me why." Alice demanded apparently she was done with Rosalie's deflection of the topic. Alice's eyes blazed with a fire that I have only seen when she feels adamant about a cause or situations with a threat to her family. The furious narrowed stare was intense to anyone standing within five feet of her presence. I was wrapped up in the stare down just like an old Western film. Who would take the first move?
"Think it through before you start any trouble, Alice. I will defend myself to the highest degree. Consider your humanity and what price you are going to pay for it." Rosalie shifted positions to move forward reminding me of a gazelle. Long and graceful except an unlikely villain.
Alice crouched down to meet Rosalie's stance. Jasper moved forward to stop Alice. This has gone too far. Edward looked at Rosalie and Alice weighing the options as both sisters were on the verge of tearing each other apart. Emmett was standing behind Rosalie waiting eagerly for the duel to start. Carlisle stood in front of Rosalie and put his hand to stop their advancing steps.
"Rosalie this is not going to happen. Alice is your family. You do not treat your family this way." Carlisle moved to Alice. "Alice, do not be so hasty." Carlisle began to play the guilt card. Milking the "we are family" chorus for all it's worth. Rosalie was too stubborn to be reasoned with and Alice was intent on brawling.
"Let them Carlisle." Edward murmured. Everyone turned to Edward shocked at his candor. "They will never be happy unless they duke it out. This has been repressed for so long eventually it had to come out. They have never been close as sisters anyhow." I tiptoed next to Edward and he sadly looked down.
Jasper looked at Edward and for a minute I thought he was going to punch him in the face. Edward raised his eyebrows allowing his face to go through five stages of agony and Jasper's expression changed. Realization dawned on Jasper's striking face.
"I agree with Edward. They have our permission to fight to the death. This is after all what they have always wanted to do." Jasper admitted his solidarity with Edward and they exchanged brief looks. Jasper crossed his arms in front of him and resigned to Alice.
"It's about time!" Emmett boasted and everyone groaned.
"Go ahead, kill each other. If that's what you really want." Edward motioned to Alice and Rosalie. He backed away and Rosalie gave him a quizzical expression. Alice glanced at Jasper a couple of times but didn't move. They were at a stand still. I could tell they were not sure that fighting really was the answer. Ah, so time was the answer. Let Rosalie and Alice think everybody was okay with this spectacle.
Rosalie needed attention for her hasty actions except attention is now for the wrong reason. Nobody wanted this fight to happen but ultimately they would rather Rosalie and Alice settle their issues instead of dancing around them for the rest of eternity.
Time moved slow. I couldn't tell what they were going to decide. Seconds dragged by when Rosalie broke the tension.
"You can thank your favorite brother for saving you." Rosalie huffed apparently getting one last dig before she walked away.
Alice snapped. Plain and simple. I didn't know if Alice was planning on giving up and going back to quarreling with Rosalie. Edward had once told me that Alice had compared arguing with Rosalie as an Olympic sport. They got heated and buttons were definitely pushed. Would Alice have brushed aside the issues she had with Rosalie for her family and her sanity? I would never know. In this instant Alice's control shattered. Alice transformed completely and the look in her eyes told me one thing.
Rosalie…was…obsolete.