Chapter 21: Alice
I was sitting on the coach flipping through channels looking for something good when the doorbell rang.
"Got it!" I yelled jumping up. Quickly I made my way to our nicely wooden door and opened it letting out a scream.
"Alice!" I shouted and jumped into her arms.
"Hi angel." He said into my air. My arms were constricted around her neck as I pulled her close to me. Alice and I have a tight relationship. She's like my older sister but an aunt when I need her. And she's the definition of perfection. She tiny but a little taller than me. She has brown spiky hair and a flawless face. Finally I let her go and felt my father's hands on my shoulders.
"Alice," He breathed. "It's so nice to see you." He reached around me to give her a hug.
"Alice!" Bella screamed and ran into her best friends arms.
"Bella, I've missed you." Alice said and then winked at me. I smiled back. We gestured Alice into the house and made our way to the kitchen. Alice and I took a seat at the island while Bella started on the dinner.
"So how's life?" Alice asked poking me in the side. Shrugging I didn't really give her an answer. Was I going to tell her about my daily nightmares that I have about the kidnapping? Should I tell her that I make myself throw up every day? I decided not in front of Bella. I couldn't, she would freak.
"It's fine." I said finally. Alice gave me a look. I mouthed later to her hoping she would just drop it.
"And how are you Bella?" Alice asked.
"Never better." Bella turned around smiling. "How are you Alice?" Bella asked.
"I was hoping you would ask!" Alice shrieked. "I'm engaged!" She threw her arms up in the air screaming.
"What!" Bella said in shock putting down the pizza she was flipping and running over to Alice.
"Yes! Jasper finally asked me." She laughed.
"When, how?" Bella asked. I took that moment when they were both engrossed in each other to leave. I walked into the hallway watching Edward bring down bags.
"When are you leaving?" I asked. Edward turned and ruffled my hair.
"Tonight, that way we can have all day tomorrow as well." He said. I just nodded. I was going to miss them both so much. I haven't really been away from them for this long since I was kidnapped.
"You'll be fine though, were always a call away." Edward said sitting down on the stairs. I sat down next to him feeling at ease now.
"I guess I just needed the reassurance. I smiled.
"You got it kid." Edward said and ruffled my hair again.
"Stop." I laughed swatting his hand away. Edward chuckled before giving my head a kiss. "It's only a week right?" I asked.
"Only a week." Edward said.
"Good." Edward stood up and offered me a hand. Then we both walked back into the kitchen.
I held back the tears as I watched Edward put the last bag in the back of the car. I felt slim arms wrap around my waist.
"It will be like we never left." Bella said into my ear.
"Really?" I asked eyeing her. "Who am I going to talk to when I'm sad? Who am I going to go to when I need someone to talk to? Who am I going to joke around with?" I asked Bella.
"Baby, it's not like I'm leaving forever. I'll be back in a week. And plus you have Alice, you love her." Bella kissed my cheek. I just sighed. I turned in her arms and threw myself into her arms letting the silent tears fall.
"I'm going to miss you so much." I trembled. Bella pulled back and saw my tears giving me a sympathetic smile.
"Oh baby, don't cry. I'll call you every day and you can talk to me about everything ok?" She asked trying to soothe me.
"Ok." I said. I felt Edward come up behind us and kiss my head.
"We need to go angel." He said to Bella. She nodded to him and gave me another quick hug.
"Love you baby girl." She released me and I went to Edwards opened arms.
"Bye kiddo." He said.
"Bye daddy." I said.
"Love you lots." He joked using the words I used to say as a child.
"Love you lots." I replied. Then I watched from the steps until I couldn't see our little Mercedes anymore.
"They'll be back." I turned around to see Alice leaning up against the doorway to our house.
"I know." I nodded and gave her a watery smile.
"Come here goon." She laughed and opened her arms to me. I walked into them. I breathed in her sent wrapping my arms around her tightly.
"Was there something that you wanted to tell me?" Alice asked. We walked inside with our arms linked up to my room. At this time of the year it got dark out quickly. We sat down on my bed together and stared into each other's eyes for a while.
"Remember when I was kidnapped?" I asked still staring at her. She nodded her head slowly.
"One of the few things that I will never forget." She replied. I closed my eyes and when I reopened them I looked at the quilt of my bed instead of her.
"Well I get nightmares a lot from it. I remember it so vividly." I said.
"Are you still seeing a therapist?" Alice asked. Right after the incident my parents stuck me in therapy to help talk about what I went through. I knew I would never be the same but it did help.
"No we stopped that a year ago." I said.
"What are these nightmares like?" She pushed gently.
"Well…I don't know. I just see him again and I feel like he is doing those things to me again." I felt my bottom lip quiver. It was hard to talk about this. I never told anyone about these nightmares. As far as Bella and Edward were concerned I was fine and had moved on from that moment in my life. But in reality I was very much still there.
"Oh baby," Alice said. "I'm so sorry that you had to go through that." She leaned over and pulled me into a hug. "I wish that that never happened to you." She sighed.
"Join the club." I laughed whipping away the tears I didn't know had fallen.
"If you have one of those while I'm here feel free to wake me up and we can talk about it." Alice said. I gave her a weak smile.
"Thanks Alice." I said. "But I'll let you go to sleep now." She kissed me in the forehead and stood up. I watched her walk over to the door before she turned around.
"Love you." She said.
"Love you too." I said pulling the covers back. I crawled into bed and hit the lamp off. Closing my eyes I dreaded the darkness. Because I knew it was going to be a restless night.