Yay, I got another chapter written!
Thank you so much for the support and kind reviews. I'm so happy you guys like Alia. She's such a sweet character for me to write. I actually wasn't super happy with the last chapter for pacing reasons, but this one, I like a lot. So I hope ya'll do too. I'm going to start writing the next one tomorrow, (I hope).
Enjoy!
...
Alia was humming to herself as she swung her legs from the branch of the tree she was situated on. Even if her creativity was coming up blank and not filling the page she had open on her lap, the green around her put her at such ease that she hardly minded. The summer air was warm even if there was no sun to accompany it.
It was embarrassing, but as of late, she was obsessed with writing stories based off of Greek mythology. She didn't get very far with words on the page, but her mind was preoccupied with versions of those myths applicable in modern days. She had a few comedic pages of Hera as a marriage counselor, that she kept putting off, but that was it.
But it was Persephone that fascinated her the most, an idea so sacred she wouldn't dare attempt to write it until she was actually a good writer. Something about the tale, and how Persephone was denied a narrative made her empathise with the goddess.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she noticed someone was standing by the tree she was situated on. "Hey Edward!" She perked up, not expecting him. "I thought you were camping with your family?"
Edward had his arms crossed over his sweater. "I just got back. Why are you in the woods by yourself?"
Alia smiled and put her book to the side. "I always come here. It helps me think."
Edward only stared at her incredulously. "What do you— you frequently come here?"
Her smile fell at how upset he seemed. "Well not specifically here. I like exploring the forest. There's so much to see and I might as well take advantage of the only good thing about Forks."
"How did I not know about this?"
"I never mentioned it." Alia shrugged. "Why are you mad?"
Edward inhaled sharply. "I'm not mad. I— There are bear attacks around here, Alia. It's really irresponsible to wander about as if these woods were a park."
"I've never met a bear." Alia joked. If she did, she'd probably hug it. They were pretty cute. Besides, she could always play dead, or make herself big. She forgot which one was effective.
Edward threw his hands in the air. "You're insane."
How was this a dealbreaker? "You're kind of being a jerk." Alia blurted out. "I can do what I want. It's not like I'm on drugs or anything." She needed the freedom of these woods. There wasn't anywhere else for her to escape.
Edward froze for some reason. He was disturbingly still before he moved toward her and climbed up on the branch beside her easily. "I'm sorry."
"No, I mean that was kind of rude of me. I'm—"
"Don't you dare apologize." Edward warned her. To her relief, he looked more at ease than before. "It was rude of me to tell you what to do. You're your own person."
Well, obviously. She shook her head. She didn't want to be fighting with him on such a beautiful day. "How was camping?"
He seemed to relax slightly as he told her about the family camping trip. It was a shock to her that all the Cullens were willing to trek out to the woods. Her family would never get along well enough to do that. At first she thought Rosalie was like her sister, but the more she was around her, the more complex Rosalie proved to be. Alia was still terrified to talk to her though.
While Alia relaxed in his company, Edward's head was circulating with plans. She had for who knows how long, been utterly careless in traversing the woods all by herself. Of course, the wolves usually minded their own territory, but one could never be too careful.
He would have to watch her. For her own safety, of course.
It was just his luck that thoughts travelled a mile per hour through his friend's head. She was completely spontaneous and didn't plan out her excursions to the woods. But whenever things were too loud for her and triggered her anxiety, he could usually track her scent to the forest.
The first few times he watched her, nothing happened despite his alertness. Despite his good intentions, he couldn't help the guilt that rose in him as he listened to her singing to herself, something she was only doing because she was secure in her privacy.
One day, when he was perched a distance away out of her sight, close enough to react, he heard Alice in the distance. He looked to her as she landed in front of him. "What is it, Alice?"
His sister gave him a reproachful look. "Don't you think this is too much?"
"It's for her own good." Edward said defensively. "It's not safe for her out here."
"It's not safe for humans anywhere." He stiffened. "You're only breaking her trust this way."
At that Alice revealed to him the vision she was concealing in her mind. It was Alia. She stumbled and fell out of the tree, and he was there in an instant to catch her before she hit the ground without thinking. The fall wouldn't have hurt her, but in his vigilance, he just moved. She looked to him in confusion before realising… not that there was anything unnatural about him, but that he had been watching her. She recoiled in betrayal and shame and ran off leaving him reaching a hand out in her direction.
Alice crossed her arms as Edward stared at the ground in silence. "I think she'd eventually forgive you. But…"
"She'd never trust me again." he said sullenly.
Alice sighed. I always forget that you're a kid at heart. Edward glowered at that and she smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, but it's true. It's your choice. Now that I've warned you, you can avoid that vision and not get caught."
"You make it sound like I'm stalking her."
Well. "She needs privacy Edward. It's bad enough that you're already in her head."
"It's not like I can help that!" he hissed, mindful still of his volume.
"I know, I know. But you can help this."
Edward frowned as he looked to Alia, swinging her legs on the tree and basking in the forest atmosphere. He hated when Alice was right.
Just then, Alice had another vision that they both read at the same time. It was him and Alia, sitting in the same spot in the woods on a picnic blanket. She looked about a year or two older with shorter hair and was talking in an animated way about something while he smiled fondly down at her.
"Come on, Edward." Alice was grinning smugly. "It looks like you made your choice."
He sighed in resignation and followed Alice.
"Hey Edward!" A week later, he had rushed out to greet Alia who was outside his house with a bundle of mismatched wild roses and twigs in her long hair. "Before you ask, I rode my bike here. I picked these for Esme. Is she home?"
Edward could only sigh in exasperation and let her in. While he wouldn't risk her life over it, he found the thought of losing her trust would be far too unbearable.
He really hated it when Alice was right.
