Disclaimer: All characters belong to the wonderful Ms. Stephenie Meyer. I'm very appreciative that she lets me use Alice!
A/N: Again…thanks to "mad-beta-skilz" Tnuccio for doing a fantastical job of cleaning up my errors that were filthying Alice's story plus helping me over the rough patches!
Marked
Of all the ungrateful, reckless, idiotic…arrugh!! I couldn't even form coherent thoughts as I battled vision after vision out of my mind. I barely heard the furious clicking of my heels on the industrial tile of the hallway through the red anger buzzing in my head. Edward, you had better be listening to me. Leave her alone…you promised! I fought with Jasper over your situation, I told him we could trust you… how can you do this to me? I know it was futile. I swept into French and plopped miserably into my desk succumbing to the visions that fought to get into my mind. I see her sitting in class, before Edward for once, and her shock when he addresses her as if last Monday never happened. As the scene swirled away, another tried to take its place, but I blocked it out. Matthews had decided to start class with a speaking activity which, while good for me because of my fluency, was bad for me because we had to work with partners. No one liked working with scary little Alice Cullen. I smirked a bit at my solitary pity party. Stifling a giggle I had to admit though, no one could throw a party like I could. Perhaps I could weasel my way out of the pair work today.
"Mademoiselle Cullen, I see you haven't chosen a partner yet. Since everyone else is paired up, you're going to have to converse with me, compris?"
So much for weaseling, I fought the urge to roll my eyes as Matthews pulled a chair over to sit down by my desk. He was about to start something that he might not get to finish, especially with me in my present mood. Another vision threatened to take over, but I stuffed it to the back of my mind. I needed to give this man a reason to check on the rest of the class and leave me the hell alone.
I flashed him a rather enthusiastic toothy grin, and almost laughed out loud as he visibly recoiled. He unconsciously scooted his chair back away from my desk, as I rested my chin in my palms, both elbows on the desk's pencil-engraved surface. I needed to make this quick.
"Alors, ça va tézigue?" His brow furrowed as I used the most vulgar greeting I could think of without actually cursing.
"Je préfèrerais si tu vuvoyerais quand tu me parles."
His disdainful insistence that I be formal when talking to him stirred up my carefully suppressed anger. The biting retort died on my lips as the vision I had been persistently dodging took over my sight. It burned a single image in my mind: the Swan girl's tiny, frail, human body lays still and cold. The location is blandly generic, and there is no weather or signs of time, only that she is dead. The shock of seeing so clearly for this human girl softened the image at the corners. I struggled mightily to keep it in my mind. Despite my focus, the vision melted away and my eyes refocused to a frantic Mr. Matthews.
"Alice! Alice Cullen! Are you alright?" Matthews was hovering above me unsure, I'm sure, of what to do. "Does anyone know if she's a diabetic?"
I composed myself mentally as quickly as I could, but left the stricken look on my face. I needed out of this classroom right now.
"Monsieur, puis-j'aller aux toilettes?" I said weakly, hoping that since I'd asked to go in French he would acquiesce
"Actually no Alice, you need to go to the nurse's. I'll send someone with you."
Great, just great. I got ready to turn on the charm. If there was anyplace in this school where I didn't belong (besides Emmett and Rosalie's closet) it was the nurse's office. Medical professionals tend to get a bit concerned if one is room temperature with no pulse. Please let him pick Angela Webber. The girl seemed agreeable enough to be convinced to let me skip the nurse and cut class in the car. My strategy required a bit of suggestion.
"Angela Webber, sir, could Angela come with me?" I practically whispered. The tall girl covered her surprise almost immediately, and I knew my confidence in her was well placed. Her face showed concern, but her eyes were thoughtful as she came and took my books. I rose slowly out of my seat and pretended to steady myself. We walked at a humanly pace to the door.
"I'll post tonight's homework on the website Mesdemoiselles. Make sure you have it for tomorrow."
Out in the hall I rolled my eyes at Angela and winked. She smiled hesitantly.
"Angela, I really don't want to go to the nurse. Nothing is wrong with me; I just have a bit of a headache. Sometimes I get them so bad they make me zone out." I was careful to keep my tone honest and my smile soft and unthreatening. Scaring the girl into submission wasn't my objective. I reached out for my books and handed her the hall pass.
"Sure, no problem Alice. I'll tell Mr. Matthews I left you with the nurse."
I closed my eyes briefly to see if Matthews would check up with the nurse to see if I had been there. Luckily, he forgets all about my little spell after the double entendres in one of the performed dialogues knock me right out of his mind. Immediately the vision dissolved into another showing Edward in Biology. He's talking to the Swan girl. She looks confused, but responds to whatever questions he asks. When I opened my eyes, Angela is looking apprehensively in my direction. I reassure her before she had a chance to express her concerns.
"It's just my head Angela, really. I'm going to go sit in Edward's car. I just need some fresh air."
She nodded, gave me a tentative wave, and headed back to class. Did you hear that, Edward? I'm going to get some fresh air in your CAR. I hoped he was paying attention when I saw that little girl's corpse. Walking through the institutional doors I noticed the rain had already washed the snow away leaving the ground soggy. Tomorrow a pure white blanket would cover the wet muck. Forks was beautiful when it snowed, but, then again, wasn't everyplace? No! I refused to let myself be distracted by the coming weather. Enough was enough; I was going to have to lay down the law. Edward hadn't killed her, but she was dead anyways. Hopefully this path can be rerouted.
I reached the car and slid in, using the spare key to turn on the auxiliary power and play the radio. I still had some time to kill before class was over. I know Edward wouldn't leave in the middle of class, especially now that he had the Swan girl talking to him. Sighing to myself, I leaned back into the seat and closed my eyes to do a little mental inventory. The snow fight tonight remained blurry: it would happen, and Rosalie looks elated. That means she'll win, but I wasn't getting much else. At least I was assured that victory. Emmett is going to place an order for new canopy silks as a surprise. I guess I'll humor him and act the part. The bed will be fixed by Wednesday. It's a good thing that Rose arc welds like a professional because the weight of that bed frame would have required a dozen humans to move it to a shop. The ringing school bell yanked me from my trance. Edward, get out here now! He had better be listening.
I wasn't disappointed. The driver's side door popped open and Edward slid gracefully into the leather seat. He turned to me expectantly.
"Did you see what you've done, Edward? Or were you so busy defying the family that you missed the little show in my head. I almost got sent to the nurse because of your fiasco!"
"Slow down Alice. She's fine. I didn't touch her. I just asked her a few questions to prove to her that I'm civil, and she answered. That's it. I had a few questionable moments of insanity, but I held them in check."
"Yeah, you didn't touch her; but something did Edward… she's marked now. I have a feeling you tempted fate, and it didn't like it."
"What are you talking about Alice?"
Watch. And with that thought I pulled up the vivid image of the Swan girl's lifeless body, still and pale. Edward's sharp intake of breath brought an uneasy told-you-so frown to my face. I told you not to do it, but no, you had to talk to her. Now what?
"Well, that's it then. I won't talk to her. Problem solved." His smug look frustrated me. He just wasn't getting it.
No Edward. Problem not solved. See? The Swan girl, cold and still, lying in the same nondescript place her thick mahogany hair fanned out behind her. I'm telling you Edward, you set something in motion. I don't think you can stop it. He was already shaking his head, obviously in denial.
"That's ridiculous Alice, since when have you been a fatalist?" My mouth dropped open in shock but he continued, oblivious, "Her path could change at any moment."
Edward, I swear if I didn't love you, I'd kill you. Her path hasn't changed in the last hour and a half. I'm betting her path isn't going to change. Care to take me up on that? I flashed him a grim smile and held out my hand. This time I do want the moon.
I thought I saw worry cross his eyes as he clasped my tiny hand in his. He shook my hand gravely, and then with the same solemn look, beeped my nose. Astonished by the subtle laughter I saw in his eyes, I jerked my hand out of his.
"You're going to lose this time Alice. It's simple enough to keep a human alive; you didn't say I couldn't protect her. It's a good thing you asked for the moon this time. I was worried that you would have asked for that on a bet you were going to win."
Incredulous, I stared at his brazenly confident face. My thoughts stuttered and his smirk grew. I can't…you're actually…What the hell, Edward? I mean seriously…what the hell? You can't play with her life like that. Whatever you've started you cannot stop. You can't be with her all the time. What has gotten into you? What if she has a heart attack or an embolism? You couldn't protect her from that.
"Sure, I could just get her to the hospital to see Carlisle. You're forgetting my medical knowledge Alice. Those things usually only kill you if you don't seek medical attention right away."
I honestly thought my jaw was going to fall off my face. It's not often that I was taken by surprise, but I didn't foresee this reaction at all. "Who are you and what have you done with my brother, you imposter?" The laughter in his eyes increased, but his face stayed stoic. I can't believe you're doing this. I'm done standing up for you Edward. If Jasper and Emmett want to tear you apart, they can have you.
"Bah, I'll take them on tonight. We'll see who beats who." He opened the door and stood up to watch for Emmett, Rose, and Jasper, then leaned down, palms resting on the roof of the car. "Who does beat who, by the way?"
"I'm done talking to you. Right now you're way below Emmett on my favorite people list. Stay out of my head, or you're going to get a mindful of me kissing Jasper."
"Aw, I love you Alice. Nothing is going to happen to Bella." Bella? He looked at me squarely, "It's what she likes to be called…anyway, I told you, if she's marked because of me, then I'll just make sure she's safe. How much trouble can one little human girl get into anyways? You just need to tell me if something concrete comes up."
While keeping eye contact with him I let my mind flash back to this morning's attempted tryst in the maintenance closet. I got a slight bit of satisfaction at the grimace on his face before he pulled his head out of the car. And stay out! I maintained my train of thought until a deafeningly loud roar pulled me from my pleasant daydream. It had to be that ancient truck the Swan girl drives to school. I hoped, for her sake, it had all the necessary safety equipment. Just as I was about to tell Edward that perhaps he should have Rosalie go over the girl's truck two things happened simultaneously. Edward laughed at something in the parking lot, and I was struck by a vision so clear I gasped: The scene was unusual, as if viewed from a keyhole. I focused harder, trying to expand the narrow circle of sight, but it stayed limited. Edward sits relaxed at his piano, eyes closed with a contented smile curving his lips. The song drifting from the open lid crescendos, breathtakingly sweet and soothing. The piece is new, and very un-Edward like…it was moving. I could still hear the melody in my mind as the scene drifted away.
When I came back to the moment, Edward had leaned down again and was looking at me strangely. I shrugged, as puzzled as he, and opened my door to get out and slip into the back. Jasper would be here in a second. I wanted to be near him before he and Emmett killed Edward. Once they found out what he did, and what I saw, they were going to be furious. Although I was angry with Edward, it would still upset me if he was to meet an untimely demise and in accordance with mourning I would have to give Jasper the silent treatment. Edward snorted both at my movement and intentions. Get out of my head Edward, I swear. I'm angry with you.
"But you won't be for long, Alice. What would I do without you?" He was leaning down again, whispering so our approaching siblings couldn't hear. "Can we at least enjoy the snow tonight before you throw me to the wolves?" His voice was barely a murmur, but his eyes were pleading. I sighed. Fine. I'm done with your little game after tonight though, Edward. When Carlisle finds out you've put this girl in danger and broken your promises to us he won't be happy.
He nodded, jaw clenched as raucous Emmett crammed his bulk through the driver's side door to sit on my left. Jasper eased in from the right and shot me a concerned look. He could feel the tension between Edward and me. I just shook my head and leaned against his side. Rosalie and Edward slammed the doors in unison, Edward revved the engine and Rose was already primping in the vanity mirror. We rode all the way home in a comfortable silence that only Edward wasn't privy to. We were all lost in our own thoughts, and by the look on Edward's face, he was trying desperately to give everyone privacy. I felt a twinge of sympathy. I'm sorry Edward. I'll help you however I can. His fingers loosened on the steering wheel, and his jaw relaxed… It's too bad we couldn't be the twins; we share much more than Rose and Jasper. His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror and I caught the grateful smile in them. I settled back against Jasper, contented, although part of me still worried.