"You know what's the most fascinating thing about The Lord of the Rings?"

We're sitting in Mr. Statham's English Lit class, lights off, television aglow before us. Edward Cullen's asking the question to one of his friends. They're seated just behind Alice and I, just as she's planned.

Alice answers what was probably one of Edward's many rhetorical questions. "Hot Elves who can handle a sword?" I can hear the petulant laughter bubbling behind her words. It must be her life's mission to annoy her brother at every opportunity. That wouldn't be such a bad thing if he wasn't already a perpetual sourpuss.

"Shut up, Alice." Edward's whisper is harsh, caught somewhere between a hiss and a growl, all contempt aimed at the back of her head. I snort a little, trying to hold back a laugh of my own. Out the corner of my eye, I can see him shooting me an irritated glare.

"Just saying," Alice shrugs, "He's pretty hot with those pointy ears and blond hair...and the way he rides that horse, like some kind of Elvin cowboy."

I snort again, and Edward kicks my chair...hard. That only makes me want to laugh more.

I turn to tell him stop but when I see he's really in a mood, I don't. Instead, I look over at his best friend, real-life cowboy Jasper Hale, who's chuckling and hiding a smile behind his hand. His laugh is this low, raspy sound that's maybe too deep for a freshman. It's a sound Alice has already told me she loves. In fact, she's made it her life's mission to make that golden haired angel laugh every chance she gets. She usually succeeds. His humor's much better than Edward's.

He never gets to finish his thought -Edward- 'cause soon Mr. Statham's standing in the aisle next to us, giving us a dirty look. Clearly, he's saying, Shut up. Not just Alice. All of you.

Later, Alice and I are late to lunch, so when we get to our table, Jasper and Edward are already sitting. I take the seat across from them, the end of the bench, my feet moving awkwardly around Jasper's, which just seems to be everywhere under the table. Alice squeezes between Edward and Jasper, elbow catching the side of Edward's face and making him scowl. She's sending a message, broadcasting to all the girls within a five table radius. She's saying, Dibs and I saw him first and maybe even Jasper's mine, even if that's a little premature. And he doesn't seem to mind. He just looks up at me and winks, one crystal blue eye disappearing for hardly a moment.

I don't know why but my cheeks burn.

Edward doesn't stay seated for long. He's looking at me again, all pinched eyebrows and deep scowls. He's saying, What's Alice doing? and You're responsible. Control her. I almost laugh. He might as well be asking me to control how the sun shines. Alice has made it her life's mission to get that boy.

Alice has made life missions her life's mission.

I tilt my head to the side. She's your sister, I say. S'not a big deal anyway.

Then he's standing up and moving around the table to sit at my side. This is stupid, he's saying, Things should be even, equal. He means, Why's Alice fucking shit up?

I just shrug and pluck a fry from his tray. What I'm saying is, It's just lunch. Who cares?

By the look he gives me, he cares.

Definitely surprised by (and very thankful for) all the subscribers. Thanks for reading.

The story will spend some time going back and forth between the present and the past, so it'll be a bit of a journey.

Please let me know what you think. All crit will be appreciated. Seriously, I'll be very gracious.