Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any recognizable aspects of it.

Just a little one-shot that's been languishing on my computer for a few weeks. Pre-Bella.

I plopped down on the floor and shuffled the deck. "Best out of five?" I asked.

Edward shook his head. "Alice, it's no use. If we want to play cards, we'll have to make up some new kind of games so that your visions or my mind-reading don't come into play." His voice was monotone.

I sighed. You're no fun. "Emmett never minds that I beat him at poker all the time."

"Poker would be no fun between the two of us," he pointed out. "We've played it before, and it's absolutely pointless."

I could've sworn he added a 'like my life' after that cheerful statement.

I dropped the cards and put my hands on my hips. "Edward Anthony Masen Cullen, what is with you these days? I'm no Jasper, but even I can feel the depression coming off of you in waves."

He picked up the cards. "So, how about that game?" He smiled, but it looked fake on his face.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't avoid the question." In other words, get to the point or I'll steal your room again. Convert it into a closet or something.

He sighed, but said nothing.

"This doesn't have anything to do with last week, does it? You know Jasper's sorry about that. He didn't mean to lose control and make everyone…uh…love-happy. He just gets overwhelmed sometimes."

"No, that's not it." He grimaced. "That was amazingly unpleasant though. Worse than usual, and having everyone in the house thinking along the same lines offered no escape." He looked down. "But, you know, that made me realize something."

Tell me, I pleaded in my thoughts.

He looked me in the eye sadly. "Alice, I'm alone."

Utter rubbish, unless you mean being alone in vegetarian mind-reading vampirism. I brought up memories of the rest of our family. They'll be back from hunting soon. Anyways, I'm still here.

"No, Alice, I don't mean like that. I mean soul mate wise."

Oh. This wasn't as bad as I thought. I was assuming a breakdown over his rebel years.

"You'll find someone," I said. Good things come to those who wait.

"What if I left the probability of love behind when I turned? There's only so many vampires in the world, and there are even less that would live this lifestyle. And maybe I was fated to have a soul mate, and she went and stayed human and died…" He trailed off.

"Did you ever consider humans?" I bet there's one out there that will love you, and I'm always right.

He snorted. "Alice, there are some things even you're wrong about. No human would love a monster like me." His voice was bitter.

"Edward, you're not a monst-" Too late, he had already darted out of the room.

I sighed and picked up the cards, listening to his footsteps on the staircase and the slamming of the door.

As soon as the cards were all back in their box, I screamed in my thoughts to make sure Edward was out of mental-earshot.

Edward! Hey, EDWARD!

Nothing. Time for more drastic measures. I wanted to be sure he wouldn't hear what was coming up next.

I pictured the night last week with Jasper, summoning up as many explicit details as I could.

I heard no outrage from Edward, so I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes, willing a vision to come.

Carlisle, patting Edward on the shoulder, both of them in tuxes. "It'll be fine Edward. The wedding will be fine. She's the luckiest woman in the world Enjoy your big day, son...

I opened my eyes, quickly resolving not to think of this around Edward. Not that he would believe me- he'd say it was a bogus vision, or that I was seeing one of Rosalie and Emmett's weddings.

I smirked- no one bets against me and wins.