This chapter's really short. Sorry? I stretched this idea to its limit, and didn't want to muddle anything else in there.
Oh, also to that hilarious guest review by 'wow', I just want to say thanks. I don't need your permission to write my story the way I want, but I'm amazed the idea of it annoyed you so much you had to leave a review then run away. Also, black people existed in 1915, especially in the South. Trust me. Being born in the early 20th century in the South does not belong to white people and Emmett literally has nothing else to his backstory.
One note: I chose to make Alice Chinese specifically because Chinese Americans have a long and overlooked history in America since the first wave immigration of the 19th century. Honestly, Alice being born Chinese-American or half-Chinese-American is more unbelievable than Emmett being black because the conditions for the early Chinese-American population were really terrible. But I kind of shrugged and did it anyway because I thought it'd be fun, also because in the movies, Catherine Hardwicke wanted to make Alice Japanese but was shut down by Meyer, so that inspired me to make her Asian. God hasn't struck me down for daring to racebend, so I think I'll continue.
I'm also not even going to address the stupidity of 'but there are natives, so why are you complaining', argument. I am not educated enough to evaluate the merits of Meyers portrayal of indigenous people, but there isn't a magical quota you reach with people of colour that once hit.
Sorry for the little rant, to the lovely people who have been so nice to me and so supportive. It just grates on me a little when people try to talk down to me about race and stuff, when it's one of my academic interests. People of colour have always been around, we've just been continuously erased from cultural memory because it's inconvenient. I'm not claiming to do anything groundbreaking here, this is Twilight fanfiction being written in 2020, lol, which is why I find it so silly that its outrageous for some that I dare do such a thing.
Um, also I don't want anyone to think that I don't want anyone to engage with my work critically. I love discussion, and don't want to come across as spiteful. I just stated from the beginning that this is a 'for fun' thing for me, and not something that I expect anyone to take super seriously.
If you made it through that, wow. Good job. Now enjoy some fanfiction. I'll try to release more tomorrow or the next day.
Enjoy!
...
Alia supposed she shouldn't have been surprised that Edward found her. This was her favorite spot, after all, the low and sturdy branch of a solitary oak. "Hey." she said lamely.
"I heard what happened." She snorted. Of course. It was a small town and news spread fast. She wouldn't be surprised if Avantika had gone by and told every household herself before she left.
Edward climbed up beside her and she scooted over for him. "Are you doing okay?" he asked gently.
"Fine, I guess. Just kind of annoyed." he waited and she let out a long sigh before ranting. "She wants to be a model, for fuck's sake. She couldn't have at least finished high school? She had a few months left. What a moron. A greasy sleazeball in Port Angeles tells her she's pretty and she packs up and leaves?"
Edward listened to her patiently and sympathetically as she spilled her guts. The worst part wasn't waking up and finding her older sister, her last sibling, gone with an impersonal note. The worst part was her parents, who made a show of being angry, but were truly just impassive and more disappointed in the shame of what Avantika did instead of the fact that they'd lost a child. They didn't even want her back, quick to write her off as a lost cause. "Fine by me!" Her mother had raged. "We can use her college fund for more productive means since she's going to waste her life!"
"She always joked about it, but I never thought she'd actually do it." Alia said quietly.
"Maybe she'll come back." Edward suggested softly.
"No." Alia couldn't help the few tears that came to her eyes. "She hated Forks. She's going to get somewhere hot and sunny and forget all about us. I just wish she would've told me, you know. We weren't close, but she could have warned me a little."
Moments like these, Alia hated change. She hated that this was forcing her to confront her own future and what she would do once Forks became too small for even her nature loving self. There were no colleges in Forks. She had to leave if she wanted to grow, and that was terrifying. If it were up to her, she'd stay a child forever.
Edward could only stare at her sadly as she contemplated these things. She would never understand, but it was that very change that made her and other humans so beautiful and worthwhile. Alia was almost sixteen now. Still maintaining that childish look to her, but growing every day. She would leave eventually too, go to college, excel in her field of literature, probably write a novel or two. She'd settle down in an apartment overlooking whatever city she chose with a human partner who would change along with her regardless of what life threw their way.
Then, even later, she'd have children, forming a relationship with them that her own parents had neglected to form with her. She'd age, a proud parent, and even later a grandparent. He knew that she'd still maintain that childlike wonder and passion that he so admired in her, but age and wisdom would temper it.
Meanwhile, he would stay the same. The same seventeen year old boy while Alia grew and forgot about him and their friendship when her life brought about more important things and people. The thought hurt him in a way he hadn't been hurt in a long time.
"Hey," Alia was looking at him contemplatively. His sadness must have been written on his face. "You don't need to feel too bad for me. It'll all blow over and we'll go back to normal. I'm done ranting." she smiled. "But I might need to crash at your place tonight. My parents are going to be so annoying for a while."
Alia's mood truly was lighter after talking, so Edward let himself be directed elsewhere in conversation. They went back to their usual selves, two teenagers just hanging out, ignoring the spectre of time looming over them. Their thoughts were similar as they left the woods that afternoon.
Even if things change, I'll enjoy life as I go.
Even when she goes out of my reach, I'll treasure each moment spent together.
