AN: Thanks so much for reviewing and reading. I'm having so much fun writing this story and I'm so happy to see some people liking it. That's an awesome feeling. Everything else I've written, it seems, I have to force out while this story just seems to flow out of my fingers and I start rambling on and on; I had to edit down this chapter a lot.
Chapter Two: part three
"I can't believe he convinced me to do this," Alice commented as she folded her green origami paper in half; the first fold on the first page.
"What? That he convinced you to live with him?" I asked slightly perplexed, Jasper and Alice were perfect together, even the first time I'd met him I'd saw the inexplicable connection.
"Yes," she exclaimed as I grabbed a blue paper from the stack Alice had brought over, "He says I'll be happier with him-"
I cut her off, "You will be."
"That's not the point."
"Okay then Alice, what is the point?"
Her head thrust up from her project, the short black hair she'd chopped only a year previously hung beautifully around her, emphasizing her light blue eyes. She looked like a parian doll*, beautiful angles and sparkling eyes; healthy and happy. "The point is," she pushed, "That if I live with him I won't be contributing enough."
I let the piece of paper I'd been holding slip from my fingers, tapping the kitchen table, "I don't understand."
"Bella," her cheeks flushed as she lashed out in embarrassment, "He's Jasper." Yet that explained nothing, "He's not going to let me take care of myself, he's going to force me to quit my job, go back to school and live off him."
"And this sounds terrible…"
She picked up the paper I'd dropped, "Do you even know how to fold a paper crane?" She asked ignoring my jibe for the moment.
"I do actually," I rolled my eyes as she handed the paper back to me.
"Then can we talk, while we work, if you insist?"
"Fine," I let my eyes wander back to the paper as I worked on folding it listening as Alice's nails clicked against the table. "You don't want to go back to school?" I guessed.
"No, that's not it. You're seeing it like him."
"So tell me how you see it."
"I'll be taking advantage of him, living off him as he works like mad trying to support me, I don't need that and I don't want that."
"It's only taking advantage if the other person doesn't really want it," I stated.
"Isabella," she breathed and the sound of my full name made me feel uncomfortable, "You're mother has taught you terribly."
"Don't let her hear that."
"Is she even home?"
"Asleep."
"It's five," Alice exclaimed in a whisper.
I laughed, "You won't wake her she sleeps like the dead."
"Fine, it's five," she repeated in a steady voice.
"She was out 'till three am with Phil."
"What!? Didn't she work this morning?"
"Of course," I finished the crane and grabbed a purple paper, "But it's Renee and she's so sweet on him* that she barely breathes when he's not around."
"That's sorta adorable."
I snorted, "Not that I don't appreciate you're attempt at distracting me but I would really like to get back to your issue."
"It's not an issue."
"Okay then why are you making these cranes?"
"Okay, fine its a little issue, it's just, advantages can be taken regardless if the other person allows them to or not. I don't want to wake up two months into our new living situation and realize he secretly wants me out."
"I really doubt that'll happen."
"Yeah, well that's the point, 'you really doubt it' but you can't say it won't happen."
"Alice, Jasper is completely here for you, what other boy would chase your crazy ex away?"
"I see what you mean but it doesn't change the fact that he wants more for me."
"Oh no, God forbid he wants more for you." I tossed another crane into the small pile giving Alice a once over as I did so. She was extremely focused on folding the paper just right and I had to smile, "Don't you want more for him?"
"Of course I do, okay let me put it this way; I don't want to ruin his life by making him feel he has to give up his ambitions to push me further. Does that make sense?"
I sighed, "I can't say for certain, it does, because I've never been there but none of that has happened yet. You're working now*, you're contributing, and he can't make you quit. Maybe you should hold off on worrying for a while."
"I can't, that's like me telling you to stop freaking out, though you'd never admit it, about this Phil character. It's hard, we protect these people in our lives and we want what's best. We've both been there, you know, our parents are our children and because of those mixed up role reversals our future relationships become muddled up."
"So maybe Jasper is getting the best out of your deal."
"I hope he is; it's too late to change his plans."
"I think it's much better for you to stay with someone stable. Jasper is secure, you need that, maybe it'll help your mixed up relationship phobia that you seem to think you have."
She laughed, "I agreed, I'm moving in with him but that doesn't mean I don't doubt myself."
"Just be sure Jasper understands you don't doubt him."
"That's what I'm trying to do now." Her hand came up and stilled on mine before I could finish folding the purple crane, I'd been working slowly thinking through my words. I looked up as my fingers stilled. "With this." Her hands came up as she emphasized the mess of paper on the table, the folded cranes juxtaposed with the stacks of pre-organized paper.
"So I guessed right, good to know I'm not completely oblivious. Tell me Alice, why on Earth, are you revisiting origami." Alice hadn't really stopped being into origami but she'd certainly let her obsession dwindle.
The paper was expensive so for the past six years she's mostly used recycled computer paper or whatever other material she could press and contort. Even now, a bracelet made of Starburst wrappers* encircled her wrist; the jagged 90 degree angles contrasting her soft features.
"I can't believe you haven't heard about the thousand crane myth."
"I've heard something about a thousand cranes but I didn't realize it was shrouded in mystery."
"So maybe myth isn't the right word," her eyebrows lowered like she wasn't up for my stupid repartee. "But folding a thousand cranes in supposed to be a 'labor of love.' It's a great present for friends and family, and I know I'm not folding all of them myself and that I won't finish this by my move in but it's the thought that counts.*"
"I'm sure Jasper will appreciate all the effort it took."
"Oh I know he will," she smiled letting her eyes trail to the clock on the microwave. She turned back, "Do you think eight is too late? If you have homework, or whatever, I can catch the bus."
I rolled my eyes. Jasper had dropped her at my high school before his shift and was planning on picking her up at my house while he finished. "I've missed you Alice, we barely see each other, and nothing is going undone so stop worrying."
"Okay," she stood up and turned on the radio that was half hidden behind the toaster, an older familiar song came on and she reset the volume so it played only in the background.
"So I was thinking pizza? What do you think?"
"Yeah cheese would be great." She sat down just as the phone rang. I twisted in my chair and reached for it. The telephone port was attached to the wall slightly behind me.
"Excuse me," I mumbled at Alice as I hit the 'talk' button. "Swan residence, Bella speaking," if there was one thing Renee had taught me, it was polite phone manners.
"Er, hi Bella, it's Edward Cullen," He hadn't needed to inform me who I was, my heart sped up as my face went red. Alice raised an eyebrow in interest and I stood up and turned my back to her so I could have the illusion of privacy.
"Hi."
"Um, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything," My cheeks actually hurt I was smiling so large, I was thankful that Alice couldn't watch me. Why did he get these reactions out of me?
"Oh, no, no, don't worry about it. What can I do you for?"
"I was thinking, since last Wednesday's session, about you," I bit my cheek not sure how to feel about that, "about how you've been walking to the library." Well that was kind of unusual.
"Oh?" I hedged.
"Yes, well, like I said before, it's not entirely safe for you to be walking around after dark."
"You did say that," I was only slightly playing with him, unsure where he was leading.
"Uh, I was thinking; only if you'd prefer and if you're comfortable with it, we could just study at your house. Or if you'd rather we stayed at the library I could pick you up and drive you home; it's just I'd really rather you didn't walk." His words sounded rushed and urgent, yet remarkably rehearsed*.
"Yeah sure."
"To which?" his voice turned from slightly confident to utterly confused.
"You can just come over, it that works with you, it's fairly quiet over here; you remember where I live, right?"
"Yes," Edward sounded relieved which was strange, it sounded like he'd spent much too long worrying about this conversation, I felt bad that I'd made him feel I was an aggressive person. Honestly, I didn't care where we studied as long as it was we.
"So Saturday morning?"
"Sure. I'll see you then." There was a sudden uncomfortable silence in which I could hear his breathing before he rushed, "bye."
"Bye," he hung up first and by the time I turned back to Alice my expression was puzzled.
"Who was that?" she asked.
"My tutor." She turned back down to her crane like this wasn't exciting news which I suppose it wasn't. "Do I seem really pushy?" I wondered.
"Why?" She returned her gaze to me and it was her turn to look thrown.
"Just, do I?"
She snorted, "You're probably the most passive person I know."
I set the phone on the table beside the finished cranes as I slumped back down into the kitchen chair. Blinking I muttered, "I'm starting to worry about the impression I give people."
Alice reached over me, "Do you care where we order pizza from?"
I shook my head, "Wherever."
"Have you ever eaten at that place on the corner of ninth? It's my favorite?"
My head rolled forward, "Yeah sounds good."
Before she pressed any buttons she gave me a once over, "I don't know why you'd suddenly worried about how other people perceive you but I'm sure your tutor's just being professional." Her shoulders raised and lowered quickly, "So… an extra large cheese?"
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Jasper arrived exactly four minutes after eight wearing black slacks and a long tan coat. I'd never known exactly where he worked other than at a desk but his clothes were always impeccable. When I'd asked, that first time we'd met, he'd said it was boring but paid well. Jasper was a man of little words but that seemed to make him and Alice fit all the better. She filled his silence and he liked her voice, or something along those lines.
It wasn't like he didn't tell her everything he felt important and it wasn't like she didn't listen when he did want to talk; the fact was they were just comfortable in how each functioned and it was something special to watch.
He rang the bell and I got up and opened it, just letting it fall back without much consideration. He smiled at me, nodding as he did, which was pretty standard for him.
"Hey," I replied, "Alice is in the kitchen, we have an extra slice of cheese pizza if you're interested."
He closed the door behind him and went about unlacing his shoes, "Thanks."
I went back to the kitchen knowing he'd follow at his own pace to find Alice storing the paper in her bag; she'd had the bag for at least four years, a gift from the mother she didn't see. It was chocolate brown leather that was one large open sack with a long shoulder strap. It doesn't sound fashionable but it was.
She was just closing the zip lock bag containing the finished cranes when Jasper came up behind her. He laid his head against her shoulder, which was absurd looking given the fact that he was much taller than her and kissed her neck. She smiled, turning just slightly to kiss him on the mouth. It was simple, chaste and pulled apart quicker than a made for Disney kiss.
Alice and Jasper weren't public people; the affection they'd just shown was one short kiss more than I'd ever seen from them. They didn't feel they had to show off or prove anything they just were.
"Missed you," he murmured moving away from her and toward the pizza box that was still open on the counter.
He picked up the last piece and bit down, "How was work?" Alice asked.
"Tedious," he said after a shallow.
"Bella and I got a lot done, I can't wait to show you," Alice laughed and Jasper leaned against the counter.
"Bella," A new voice yawned. I turned, my mother stood in her robe looking like a sleep institute patient.
"Sorry did we wake you?" Alice asked, her apprehension already exploding.
"Oh no, don't worry dear, my stomach did in fact."
"Do you want me to make you something?" I asked.
"I'm just going to grab some cereal, don't mind me."
She shuffled into the kitchen and went about making her 'meal' and I allowed her because, frankly, I was too tired to fix her anything more substantial.
"We should probably get going, actually," Alice said, throwing her bag on her shoulder. Jasper followed her as she walked to the foyer and I, like the good host I was, followed after.
"Thanks for having me Bella;" she said giving me a hug before she shrugged into her black button up coat, "I had a really good time." As she spoke Jasper tied up his shoes, shiny black ones that only added to that fancy look his other clothes already portrayed. "We should do this again, maybe watch a movie. I would really like your help on the cranes if you have the time."
"Yeah, sure, of course."
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about it."
Jasper opened the door without a word and Alice trailed out in front of him, "I'll call you." She waved as Jasper turned to give me a nod goodbye. Some people would say he was too quite or maybe think that he didn't like them just because he was… different, yeah I suppose that's the word, but the truth was he didn't talk unless he felt he had something to add. He closed the door, careful of his fingers and I watched them walk to his car through the open blind slates from the window.
I watched them until the car was out of my sight and sighed wondering if I would ever find such happiness in another.
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Renee had gone dancing with Phil Friday night and had stayed up until six am which would generally, as a rule, have annoyed me and my parental tendencies but not today. Today I figured Edward coming over would be irregular enough without my mother popping her head in and offering clothing discrepancies.
That didn't stop me from following her old advice. The sun wasn't even up as I flipped to the back of my closet and chose a long white halter top. It wasn't too dressy but it was nice, it was almost something I would normally wear, almost. I put on dark wash jeans that didn't have holes anywhere and examined the outfit together in the mirror; it was nice, nothing too intense.
The house was clean but that didn't stop me from worrying about what Edward would think when he came in so I spent the rest of the morning, before he arrived, pacing back and forth from the window by the front door and the kitchen table looking for crumbs.
I was sitting at the table focusing on my bare toes when the doorbell rang. I'd sat down minutes before he was expected to arrive to try and ease the nerves, though I really had absolutely no reason to feel so sensitive. I went to answer the door and the wind blew in with his scent. I had to recoil, it was too nice. He smiled at me and my insides liquefied.
"Hello," Edward said holding a few books at his side.
"Come in," I offered. I leaned on the wall opposite him as he closed the door and slipped his shoes off, they were simple black and white sneakers, kind of like those grandpa shoes that came into fashion five years back. His socks were white and thick and for some reason they were so cute that I had to look away. "Um, I hope the kitchen table's okay."
"Yeah, it's fine."
I sat down without preamble; he took off his coat and sat in the chair beside me. Why did he always do that when I sat down first? "So are you ready for that test?" He asked and I had to laugh, what a way to start the morning.
"Not even a little bit."
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"Ca leur plait beaucoup," Edward said waiting for me to translate. He'd been throwing short sentences at me for the past ten minutes and I was doing a surprisingly good job at converting them.
"It pleases them very much?"
"Right, how about 'L'eau est trop froide'?"
"Uh, the water is cold?"
"Almost," he smiled, "The water is too cold."
"Ah," I frowned.
"Don't worry; I think you're very prepared."
"You think?" I bit my lip as the sun continued to light half of Edward's face. Before we'd started throwing sentences back and forth I'd been avoiding truly looking at him. Now it was hard to do; when you speak directly to a person you need some eye contact.
The sun made the other half of his face fall into darkness, one eye caught the light and radiated iridescently. Half his hair picking up the light like a person wearing black in the summer, it was almost shiny enough to cause a bronze reflection to hit the opposite wall. His hair looked so soft that it was practically calling to me, like a bunny rabbit, you just wanted to know, really know, how soft it was.
I didn't move of course, I couldn't.
"I think you are extremely ready for this test. Plus it'll be a lot easier to study French after we get your test back." I smiled half-heartedly more at the fact he'd said 'we' than the idea of getting a test back and yawned.
"Thank you for coming over."
"Thank you for having me."
"I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to see what you're reading." I hadn't meant to say this exactly but I'd been thinking it for the hour and my brain was too strained to hold back such words.
He chuckled, "I'm re-reading 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' again."
"So soon?"
He shrugged his shoulders as he stood. I mimicked him as he walked back to the door. He effortlessly handled his books while getting his arms through his jacket without having to set anything down. "What can I say, I'm predictable."
I didn't think this was true in any way but this time I found the ability to hold my words.
"What about you Bella, what are you reading?"
I blushed; I didn't like it when he asked me questions. I always felt like I was under trial; what if he didn't like my preferences. Why did I care? "Ur, 'Great Expectations.'"
"Hmm," he mused and I could only stand there and wonder what he was thinking as he pried the door back. The light spilled into the small foyer.
I handed him a twenty before I could forget, always better to pay before he distracted me.
"Well, uh, I guess I'll see you Wednesday?"
"Of course." He turned to leave and I couldn't help feeling abandoned. I closed the door and walked back to the kitchen and sat in the chair he'd left, letting my head rest on the placement as I breathed deeply, wondering in a detached way, why every time he left me I felt worse and worse.
Notes:
* Parian doll: A doll made from Germany, I think they are also called Dresden dolls.
* Sweet on him: I'm so excited I finally got a chance to use this phrase. It makes me warm & fuzzy inside just hearing it.
* Alice works: Alice is a waitress.
* Starburst bracelets: I'm not sure about anyone else but these were absurdly popular at the schools I attended. They are basically the individual wrappers folded in a specific way and linked together. You can also make these bracelets out of jolly rancher wrappers.
* Origami: Oh Origami how I spent so many years folding bits of paper together to form other things… Well I spent a bit of time brainstorming what Alice and Bella would be doing while they spoke and although sewing, eating and cross stitching were all nice and good I though origami made actual sense. I knew a lot of people who folded origami, particularly in elementary school, so I thought it'd be fun to incorporate.
The 1000 crane story is interesting to me. There are many references to marriage and long relationships with the cranes so I felt it worked for Alice and Jasper.
* Phone rehearsal: Yeah, well I'm embarrassing, just, you know, on principal and I think it's weird to talk to a phone. Yeah I know it's talking on the phone but in my head I think I'm talking to the phone and I always feel like a dolt, talking to an inanimate object and all that. So generally, if I have to call someone I don't know, or don't know very well, I write out the 'conversation' on a piece of paper. So Edward was doing this and that was why he sounded confused when Bella agrees; he was expecting her to give him a more expanded answer.