Word Prompt: Initiate

"Hey Edward. I was just calling you to tell you Mom overnight-ed you an envelope." I flip it over and inspect the other side. Nothing special.

"She did?" Edward mumbles something and then I hear Bella's voice fade away. A door open and shuts, and if I didn't hear him breathing, I'd think we got disconnected.

"Will you open it and tell me what it is, I mean, it might not be worth my time to even come over there."

I refrain from saying what's on my mind. My brother has a way of getting under my skin, by just... just being alive! It's not like I don't live fifteen minutes away and his schedule is so demanding he can't break away...

"Ouch!" I drop the phone and the envelope, and stick my finger in my mouth.

"Shit!" I pick them both back up, "paper cut," I sigh into the phone.

With aggravation I pull out the white envelope that's inside, carefully open it, and unfold the single sheet of paper.

I read it to myself.

'Dear Mr. Cullen,

Thank you for your recent request to join our team with our next deployment. You have been chosen among a long list of applicants. As you already know it is an honor to be awarded this top secret contract to accompany the...'

I slowly slink down to catch myself on the bar stool in the kitchen so I don't fall.

He got it! Holy...

"What is it Alice?" he whines and startles me, I forgot I had him on the line.

"Wait!" I shout. I'm not sure...

I turn and look for the envelope this paper came out of. Sure enough the return address is Washington D.C. and there's a fancy stamp on it.

"Edward, you need to come and see this."

"Alice, just tell me." I hear the frustration in his voice, if he only knew.

"Listen, this once, just trust me and get over here as soon as you can. Please." I try to sound serious, because I kind of am.

He huffs, "I'll come over as soon as Bella leaves for class."

"K, bye." I lay my phone down on the counter.

I stare down at the paper and envelope in my hand.

I'm not sure how he's going to take this. Timing sure can be a mean bitch.

I fold it back up and take it into what he considers his room. I lay it on his dresser, stacking it all up just right.

He's wanted this for so long. Never in my life have I been so proud of him, he's so talented and accomplished. Yet I know what this means, and some one's going to get hurt.

Edward's world is about to get complicated, again.

...~{sYa}~...

He walks in through the back door and shrugs at me, "I put it on the dresser in the spare room."

I sip on my coffee as he brushes past me.

I already called and cancelled our appointments to see the few houses around town I had lined up for today. I have this feeling, we're not going to need them.

...~{sYa}~...

After an hour, he still hasn't emerged from the bedroom. I wanted to give him some time and space, he has so much to consider, but I'm concerned about him.

I gently knock on his door.

He doesn't answer.

I put my ear to the door and I don't hear anything. I slowly twist the knob and push it open.

My heart constricts when I see him. He's sitting on the floor with his back and his head resting on the bed. His knees are bent, and his hands buried in his hair. His eyes are closed, and worry masks his face.

"Hey," I squat down beside him on the floor.

He lifts his head and looks at me. "Can you believe this, Alice?" he says and his lips turn up with a sarcastic grin.

"Yeah, I know. Congratulations." I pat his knee.

He huffs through his nose, "Thanks."

"Have you told Bella about this?" I shake my head as I ask, I already know his answer.

"Alice, I've applied for this job every year for the past five years. I never thought I'd get it..." His voice trails off.

"You have to talk to her about this. This, it's big Edward. You have to initiate this conversation, you just have to." My heart breaks for him.

"I don't know what to do." He closes his eyes again.

"Are you thinking about not taking it?" I'm not surprised, I just think it's his first reaction.

"Either way I lose Alice. I lose. I can't have both. There is no way I'd ever want Bella to wait on me that long to return, she doesn't deserve that. But I don't think I can turn this down, it's the only job I've ever wanted."

"Just talk to her Edward, and be honest with her. Bella's a smart girl, and she loves you. She wants you to be happy, even if that means you're not together. She wants the best for you. She's tougher than you think."

"I will. Just... not yet." His voice cracks.

"I'm here if you need me, Edward. I trust you'll make the right decision." I smile and run my fingers through his hair. "Just listen to your heart. Ya' know, distance is just a test to see how far love can travel."

He just nods his head, not looking at me.