Chapter Three: The Rose Begins to Bud
"So Alice," a sultry voice said, tongue clicking on the end of her name. "How do you find Alaska?"
Alice looked away from where she had been staring off into the distance, feet hanging off of the cliff she was sitting on. Tanya was approaching her, hips swaying from side to side in a slow walk, purposely seductive. Alice smiled at her. The Denali coven were close friends of the Cullen's-well as close as vampires could get with being friendly-and they had made sure to provide Alice with all the necessities for her stay with them. They were respectful and hadn't pried into the reasons for Alice's sudden departure. Alice appreciated that, because right now she didn't need a friend trying to understand what was happening in her mind, but peace and quiet.
"Enjoying the view," Alice replied as Tanya sat down besides her on the cliff. Alice turned her gaze back to the view before her, a sweeping landscape that stretched for miles and that was bordered by a beautiful mountain range. Alice really enjoyed the nature in Alaska. It was more open and free, more varied than the one in Forks, Washington. Plus she didn't have to hide her ability as much. She could run for hours without having to worry about bumping into some human and risk getting caught using her vampiric abilities. And the animal blood was divine, as there were more choices too.
It had been a month already but Alice didn't know if she wouldn't stay longer. The location really agreed with her, and best of all no Rosalie to clutter her brain up, to muddle her feelings. She felt free, as light as the birds that soared above them. Smiling to herself Alice lifted her arms up from where they had been placed on the ground behind her as support, and raised them to the sky, imagining that she was a bird, flying meters above the world.
"Enjoying yourself?" Tanya asked, amused by Alice's actions.
"Like you wouldn't believe it," Alice responded and let her hands drop back down. Dusk was approaching and soon night would claim this view, hiding its beauty with the dark. "I really like the nature here."
"Just the nature?" Tanya asked, feigning sounding hurt.
"Yep."
"Are you sure?"
"I am." There was a playful punch to her shoulder which Alice fake grimaced at.
"Seems I may have to jog your memory." Tanya huffed and grasping Alice's chin in one hand, pulled her face closer to her own.
Alice let herself be drawn into the kiss, electricity coursing through her veins. When they parted Alice smiled and put a hand to her chin as if her memory had been jogged. "Hmm, well now that I think about it, I really like this one vampire."
Tanya raised her brows. She reached for Alice by the waist and pulled her close before propping up her chin on the smaller girls shoulder. "And what is this vampire's name?"
Alice shrugged as she fiddled with the the fingers of Tanya's hands that were clasped around her tiny waist. "I don't know. Her name has slipped my mind."
"Really?" Tanya growled low in Alice's ear, making the smaller girl shiver. Alice knew she should probably drop the game and just do as Tanya wanted but it was too much fun. Tanya was easier to read, less of a hassle like Rosalie was and Alice wanted to play around with Denali sister, tease her like she couldn't with the other blonde.
"Yes, I think I may need something to refresh my mind..." Alice trailed off gleefully before she found herself on her back, Tanya hovering over her, angry scowl on her face. Her fangs glinted in the growing dusk and she whispered, "Then I guess I'll have to make you scream out my name until it's all that's on your mind." She lowered her lips to Alice's to seal the promise, when a loud cough interrupted them.
The two vampires broke apart to see that it was Irina who had stopped them. "Sorry to interrupt," she started, not looking sorry at all but annoyed. "The Cullen's called and wanted to talk with Alice."
"Tell them to wait," Tanya insisted, kissing a trail down Alice's neck, but Alice was no longer in the mood to continue, the atmosphere soured by the presence of someone watching them and by the trepidation of talking to the Cullen's.
"They said they want to talk to her now," Irina tapped her foot in irritation as Tanya did not pay her any heed, her hands moving down to the hem of Alice's shirt.
"Tanya, I think I'm gonna take the call." Alice said pushing the blonde away. Tanya glared at her, but after a moment of deliberation she sighed and leaned back to let Alice get up from the floor. The pixie then followed Irina as she zoomed back to the house, an irritated Tanya following them. What were the Cullen's going to say to her? Were they mad she hadn't come back yet? Was maybe Rosalie on the line-no bad Alice, don't think about it.
Alice took the phone and placed it to her ear, trying to force her whirling thoughts away. "Hello," she began, tone uncertain.
"Alice thank goodness you picked up. Something bad's happened and we need you back here." Jasper's voice was urgent on the other end and he sounded almost breathless.
Alice visibly tensed up at this, her breath catching in her throat. "What happened?" There was a long pause on the other end.
"It's Bella-she's been attacked by vampires!"
Alice felt the ground tilt under her feet. She clutched the phone harder in her hand. "Oh god, it wasn't Edward was it? He didn't hurt her, did he?"
"No, it wasn't him. But we need you back here because we haven't caught them yet and only your gift can help us now."
Alice nodded her head. As much as she didn't want to face Rosalie again, she had to go back for the sake of her family, and for Bella. "I'll be there in three hours. Keep a close eye on her." Then she put the receiver down and turned to face the Denali sisters, who out of courtesy had left the house during the phone call but were now back.
"Thank you for your hospitality during this month. I really enjoyed my stay here." And Alice had, because of the serenity contained in the woods around here. "But I have to go back." Alice bowed her head in hasty thanks and made to leave to her room to get her stuff. The Denali sisters looked at her with confused glances but only Tanya made a move.
"Wait," Tanya grabbed Alice by the elbow as the pixie headed towards the door. "Where are you going? What happened?"
"I don't really have time to explain."
"Yes, you do. Especially since we," at this Tanya tugged Alice against her harshly, "are involved."
Alice sighed and ran a hand through her short choppy hair with her free hand. "Something happened to Bella and they need me back there to help watch over her. And it's urgent. I have to leave immediately."
"So the pet finally got bit," Kate chuckled. "About time, I say."
Alice couldn't help but let out a growl at this. "She's not our pet. She's our friend."
"Sure. I bet that's the only reason you keep her around." Kate rolled her eyes and twirled a blonde lock around her finger. Alice moved to go to her, but Tanya who still had a grip on her pulled her back. Out of all the sisters Alice liked Kate the least because of her attitude.
"I don't have time for this right now." Alice hissed and wrenched her arm away from Tanya before stomping into her room. Tanya followed after her. "Alice. Before you go can we talk about something?"
"What?" Alice asked irritated, as she threw all her belongings hastily into her suitcase.
"Um, it's about us." Tanya said, sounding uncharacteristically uncertain. She leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms over her chest. The stance was so Rosalie, that Alice felt her heart squeeze painfully. Damn it, even dating someone else she could see nuances of Rosalie's behavior in them. And what had Alice even thought dating a blonde. Especially Tanya of all of them. She was the one that was the most confident, the most beautiful of them all, the one that was most Rosalie like of them all. God, why had Alice subconsciously done this? But no, it hadn't been subconscious. Even when not thinking about the blonde she had been. She thought of her when she brushed hands with Tanya, when she exchanged kisses or loving embraces. She had tried to fool herself into believing she didn't. Maybe she should just end it with Tanya right now, end it before it got worse and she slipped up. But the thought of ending a relationship with a pseudo-Rosalie made her sick. This was the closest she'd get to the real thing, and no matter how sad it sounded Alice still wanted the blonde despite all the pain she had caused her, all the decades of restless thoughts.
"Well?" Alice questioned as she zipped up her bag, angry at the delay in being able to travel, angry at her inability to give up on Rosalie, angry at Tanya for not being able to wipe the other blonde out of her mind. But mainly Alice was just mad at herself for failing when she thought she had succeeded.
"Are you..." Tanya trailed off and bit her lip, but Alice wasn't seeing Tanya do it, but Rosalie. Shaking her head in annoyance she tried to get a grip on herself. What was wrong with her? It had never been so bad before. How was she going to deal with Rosalie when she got back? It was like the leave had made it worse without her knowing it.
"Tanya, I will come back. I promise. I just don't know when. But I will keep in contact with you, okay?" Alice said softly, trying to focus on Tanya, on her hair that was a different shade from Rosalie's but almost similar, on her body shape, slightly less curvy than the other woman's, on her nails which weren't painted a blood red but a soft baby blue. She approached the blonde slowly, trailing a hand up to her chin. Then smiling gently she kissed her, trying to lose herself in the others lips. But even though her body lit up at the exchange it was all wrong. She felt empty inside, because now after thinking about it, she had realized that it was always Rosalie's lips she had imagined. Still she couldn't let go of Tanya just yet.
"We'll figure things out when I get back." Alice said, rubbing her thumb on Tanya's cheek. Tanya nodded, her expression sad. "Promise," and then Alice kissed her again before she grabbed her bag and left out into the cold night.
When she arrived at the hospital room that Bella was in, her heart broke. The already fragile human looked damaged, her pallor, except for a deep dark around her eyes that made it look like she was wearing goth eyeshadow, matching the white sheets she rested under. Tubes snaked from under the blankets to machines that monitored her heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs.
"Alice," her brother, Edward, whispered as he got up from the chair he had been sitting in and watching Bella from. He looked haggard, face unshaven, and shoulders sloping down in grief.
"Oh, Eddy, I'm so sorry." Alice said as she threw herself around her brother and hugged him. "It's all my fault, if I had just stayed, I could have predicted-"
"Stop it," Edward urged, holding his sister tight. "I don't blame you. It doesn't take the power of premonition to know that this would occur."
"What happened?" she asked as they finally parted.
"Carlisle has her stabilized for now, but Alice...they almost changed her," he whispered his eyes glimmering with sadness; he would have cried if he could've. Alice would have cried with him too, but could only feel the burn on her tear ducts. Bella becoming a vampire was Edwards' biggest fear and it had almost happened.
"Edward, I promise I will help you find those sons of bitches. I swear it upon my gift." Alice said vehemently. How dare anyone hurt her Bella. She would rip them limb from limb. The poor girl was drawn into the world of vampires by accident; an accident that did not deserve death.
Edward gave a watery smile. "Thank you Alice."
Alice returned back to her house, settling in her suitcase in her room. She hadn't been here in a month but nothing had been changed or touched. She opened the window to let some fresh air in, the room smelling dusty. But on her way back from it, she noted a specific scent. Inhaling deeply, the incoming breeze from the window bringing the scent closer to her, her eyes bulged open in surprise. The room still smelled of Alice and Esme, who was often up in Alice's room to clean it up, or to talk with the younger girl about interior design but there was now another smell in it too. A smell that Alice wished she could forget, a smell that she wished didn't make her react the way she did. She smiled as the familiar scent of fresh roses and spice filled her nose. Rosalie had been in her room a couple of days ago and judging from it, she had sat on her bed. Alice approached the bed closer, sniffing loudly like a dog on a hunt. Her nose pinpointed the exact spot that Rosalie had touched and she buried her face in her own pillow, her own smell of cranberries and white vanilla mixing in with Rosalie's. Happiness bubbled in her veins. So Rosalie had missed her, she had to. Why else would her scent be all over Alice's pillow. Alice's memories flitted to another image of Rosalie, the one of the blonde in bed caught in the throes of passion-
"Are you trying to suffocate by pillow?" Alice immediately reeled her head out of the pillow and turned to face Rosalie, who had entered the room.
Shit.
"What are you doing? You do know there are better ways to kill yourself right?"
Alice frowned as she tried to calm her libido which had reared its head. "I was just, um, rolling around my bed."
Rosalie arched a brow, her arms crossed over her chest in her trademark pose. Oh how Alice had missed her pose, her face, her body, her voice. How could Alice have even left in the first place? She tried to calm the storm of feelings that wrestled inside her.
"I don't think burying your face deep into a pillow and squealing gleefully counts as rolling on your bed." Rosalie took a step into the room, but hesitated and took a step back. Alice felt the urge to cry out happily, to run up to Rosalie to hug her, to yell at her for making her feel this way, to pound her arms against her chest in frustration. But instead she stayed put and asked, "Why is your scent on my pillow?"
Rosalie seemed taken a back by this, momentarily speechless. But she covered it up with anger, like she always did. "I wanted to know what a coward smells like," she hissed striding forward to Alice this time, with big powerful steps. Alice shrunk back against her headboard, raising the pillow to her face in an attempt to hide herself from the blondes wrath.
"And guess what. She smells like cranberries and white vanilla." Rosalie dropped to the bed and crawled up on all fours to Alice predatory like, the pillow the only thing separating them.
"Are you mad about me leaving?" Alice asked tentatively. "Is this about the picnic? Or the unfinished drawing?"
Rosalie let out an indignant huff as if she herself didn't know what she was mad about. She looked to the side of Alice, her eyes narrowed as she tried to find an answer. The silence stretched out and Alice felt irritation fill her veins, her body overwrought with all the emotions that were seesawing through her body.
She didn't wait for any more of a response, tired by Rosalie's behavior, tired by her own emotions. "I'm tired of being yanked around by you Rosalie. You've been doing it to me for the better part of the century. You've known about my feelings for you, I haven't held back how I felt and I respected you when you said no, although it crushed me. But after my confession you've acted differently with me. When no one is looking you'll touch me in a specific manner, or you'll say something flirty. Your driving me crazy. And frankly if you want me to stop liking you, your going about it the wrong way. I'm finished with all this. So you can go and pretend to be hurt all you like, but I know your playing games. And if you don't stop I will tell Carlisle about this."
Alice finished her rant, her emotions pouring out of her. She was panting with the exertion, her eyes black with anger, the pillow dropped from her face. Rosalie hadn't looked at her once during all this, just remained silent. But now she dropped her head softly to the pillow that Alice was holding up. She kept it like that for a while.
Alice looked down at her confused, this certainly not the response she expected. She expected denial, anger, running away, but not a soft gesture.
"Alice, you have not a single clue what is going on, do you?" Rosalie said softly at last, peering up at Alice with half lidded eyes. The look sent a bolt of excitement through Alice but she tried to ignore it.
"Then enlighten me," she hissed.
Rosalie drew herself even closer to Alice, cupping Alice's cheek in one hand. Her touch sent tingles running up and down the course of Alice's spine and she tried to hide the shivers they caused. Rosalie's face drew closer to her own, her lips hovering mere inches away from Alice's own.
A/N: Dun, dun, Dunnnn!
