Author's Note: So I had an idea that this story would only be about twenty or so chapters but after drafting it out and researching I can already tell that this story will be quite a bit longer than I had originally anticipated. I have no idea how many words each chapter will contain but this second chapter contains almost 7.5K words so I hope people don't mind reading long chapters. Also, I realized that Twilight came out in 2005 so I am relying on my memory of the book from almost eleven years ago. I have had to research (read: pester my baby sister who is still obsessed with Twilight) many of the minor characters so please bear with me and correct me if I spell any of the names wrong in the upcoming chapters. Once again, thank you for reading. Until next time. -B
Chapter Two
"Solitude has soft, silky hands, but with strong fingers it grasps the heart and makes it ache with sorrow."
― Kahlil Gibran
I opened and closed my mouth a few times, lost for words. Alice would be my guardian? I didn't even have a choice? I was going to have to live with Alice? The one person in this entire world that I couldn't stand and I would be stuck with her for the next two years until my 18th birthday? Karma was seriously a bitch sometimes. I looked around the room but it seemed that most of my family was just as shocked as I was.
"Do you really think this is a good idea, Carlisle?" Rosalie said from her seat on the couch. Carlisle pinched the bridge of his nose between his fore-finger and thumb. It was obviously a distinct, family mannerism.
"It doesn't matter what I or anyone else thinks. This is what Edward chose and we need to respect his wishes." His voice was calm but firm. I simply scoffed and began to lightly kick the end table with the heel of my shoe.
"Something you would like to contribute?" Rose asked, raising one eyebrow. I scowled at her.
"So it was bad enough that my family is already broken but now Dad wants Mason and me living in different places? He just completely splintered it." I said, running my hands through my hair. I heard Esme gasp and knew I struck a nerve. If Rosalie's eyes could shoot lightning bolts, I would already be fried to a crisp at this point.
"Your brother needs to have as much of his daily routine and home life to stay as unchanged as possible. He needs that stability and structure. You, on the other hand, need a fresh start. And to get the hell out of Seattle before you end up doing something stupid." I crossed my arms and glared at her.
"What could I possibly do that would be so stupid?" I wondered out loud as she smirked.
"Are you forgetting what happened two years ago so soon?" I uncrossed my arms and clenched my fists.
"Shut up!" I shouted at her and watched her eyes widen in surprise.
"Do not speak to your Aunt like that again, Scarlett." Carlisle warned.
"Rosie, that was uncalled for. Edward said she has been doing well." Emmett tried to interject but Rosalie and I were already glaring daggers at each other and we both ignored him.
"She has been doing much better, Rosalie. And she completed her community service. You can't keep holding it over her head. That isn't fair." Esme spoke softly but everyone turned to her to listen.
"Besides. It was two years ago. If you seriously think I am the same person I was at fourteen than maybe you should be the one seeing a therapist twice a week. Not me." I interjected. I always did have to have the last word. Rosalie growled something unintelligible and took a step towards me. Esme hurried from around the desk and placed herself in between us.
"That is enough! I am not listening to any more bickering or drama tonight. Rose, control your temper. And Scarlett, control your tongue!" I resisted the urge to stick it out but just barely. Peering around my grandmother, I noticed that Alice was still in a daze, staring at the floor. I doubted she had even been listening to Rose and I snap back and forth at one another.
"How soon would this guardianship become official, Grandpa?" It was something I was generally curious about. Carlisle cleared his throat.
"The funeral is in two days. I would say everything should be in order by next Wednesday which is when Alice would officially become your guardian." He said thoughtfully.
"Great," I muttered, "I get a week to change my entire life."
"Actually, we have to be back in New York City on Monday so you have about five days." Jasper spoke up from his position against the far wall and I jumped at the sound of his voice. I had forgotten he was even in the room. I rolled my eyes at him.
"What do you mean by 'we'?" I asked him slowly. Jasper simply leveled me with a look.
"Well seeing as how Alice would be your guardian, I am assuming you would have to live with her. Alice and I live in New York City so you would be joining us there." He drawled in that Southern accent of his. My mouth dropped open again.
"You can't be serious? I am a Seattle girl! I love storms, and coffee, and the Seahawks and Nirvana! I've lived here my entire life and now you want me to suddenly move across the country? This sucks!" I was practically yelling at this point. Jasper simply shrugged one shoulder but I did see Alice flinch in her seat. She hadn't moved otherwise except to graduate from looking at the floor to looking out the rain-streaked windows.
"So I have to give up my friends, my family, my school and my sports just because you guys are too selfish to stay in Seattle?" I was fuming now. Esme put a hand on my arm.
"Scarlett, I know that there has been a lot that has happened the past week but you need to calm down. It will upset Mason if he hears yelling." She gave me a pointed look and I managed to somehow take in deep breaths of air and calm myself.
"I am not moving to New York City." I warned but Jasper simply stared at me, silently calling my bluff and I was unable to hold his gaze. Rose picked up her cell phone that lay discarded on the couch besides her and gave me an Ice-Queen glare.
"If we have covered everything that was needed to be discussed, then Emmett and I are going to go check on the boys. They have been alone for far too long. I trust that you four can handle the acting-out teenager." And with another pointed look at me she tossed her long, blonde hair over her shoulder and stalked from the room as I fumed in my seat. Emmett stood as well and gave me one of his famous bear hugs.
"Everything will be okay, Red. Your Aunt Rosie is hurting too." He whispered into my ear. I pushed him off and scowled at the nick-name as he left the room as well. Esme tentatively hugged me as well before crossing the room and bending down to hug her daughter, who had been the only one to remain quiet the entire time. Slowly, Alice moved her arms mechanically and hugged her mother back. She was soon clinging to her as Esme began whispering in her ear. Carlisle walked around his desk and put a hand on Alice's shoulder. Jasper stood behind his fiancée and watched intently. No one noticed as I lightly jumped off the end table and the left the room. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked my messages.
What's your poison at my party, Princess? –Tristan
I smirked to myself and typed out Cherry-flavored Dr. McGillicuddys before sending it and thrusting my phone back into my pocket. Tristan was one of the richest boys at my school and his parents doted on their only child. They tended to act more like his friends than his parents and his parties were always a hit with plenty of alcohol and minimal adult-supervision. I had grown up a lot over the past two years but I had also had two years of practice sneaking out my house and hiding my hangovers. My father had assumed that weekly therapy and my efforts in school had "cured" me of all my freshmen year mishaps and habits I had picked up but it only taught me how to get away with more teenage antics than ever before. Tristan's party was just the send-off I would need seeing as how it was looking to be my last party in Seattle for a while.
I wandered into the family room and found my Uncle Emmett and Mason sprawled out on the floor playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II. I watched for a bit as my brother easily killed our Uncle's character no less than five times. Mason loved this game but few people were willing to play it with him for hours at a time. Uncle Emmett loved video games and this was usually how they both ended up spending time together. After watching my Uncle die a third time from a head-shot with a sniper rifle, I finally spoke up.
"Hey, Uncle Em. Since everyone is done with the meeting, do you mind driving me to Seattle? I need to pick up some more of mine and Mason's clothes and you did promise to take me for a few hours." He shot me a guilty look.
"I almost forgot about that. Give me ten minutes and you and I can head out." I nodded and sat on the couch, pulling my phone back out.
Sounds good. Can't wait to see you -Tristan
I sighed. Tristan was an attractive senior and member of our school's lacrosse and baseball team. I knew he had a crush on me but I didn't know how to tell him that I only showed up to his parties for the free booze. With everything going on in my personal life, I was not about to add a boyfriend to the mix. I noticed I had a text from my best friend, Piper Lopez, and decided to answer that one first. I was so lost in thought while she and I texted that I didn't pay attention to the entryway into the family room. When I finally glanced up, I noticed that Alice was leaning against the doorframe, giving me a sad smile. I was trapped.
"Hey Scarlett. I was wondering if you wanted to talk to me about this whole guardianship thing. I know it's stressful for you but I truly think you will love New York City." She took a hesitant step into the room and I saw Mason reach for his headphones on the ground next to him to place them on his head. Mason's sensitivity to noises could be directly correlated to my outbursts and even he knew that having Alice and I in the same room would lead to yelling. I took a breath and slowly released it.
"No, I'm good. Uncle Emmett and I were just about to head out, actually." I said with a fake smile.
"Oh? Where are you going?" she asked curiously.
"Just around Seattle. I have a couple errands to run." I tried to answer vaguely but I should have known that even my Uncle would call me out on purposely trying to avoid her.
"I promised to take her home for a few hours." He said bluntly, never turning his gaze away from the flickering screen. Alice nodded and clasped her hands in front of her.
"Maybe I could come with? I haven't seen your new house yet." she asked hopefully. I stifled a groan. It figures that she would want to see the house now that we would be selling it and I would be forced to move to New York City with her.
"Sure, Alice. You can come with." Emmett answered for me when it became obvious that I wasn't going to reply.
"It's lasagna night." My brother said clearly. He rarely spoke but when he did I made sure to listen. I stood from my seat and crouched down next to him.
"Grandma Esme is making lasagna? That sounds good." I answered and he nodded enthusiastically.
"Do you want to stay here for dinner then?" I asked and once again I got a head nod.
"I want to play with Uncle Emmett." He said firmly. Uh oh. When my brother got that tone, he had to have his way or a tantrum was inevitable. I tried to appease him.
"Uncle Emmett promised to take me home so I can grab some more of our stuff. Don't you want some more PSP games and your charger?" He shook his head.
"No. Uncle Emmett said he would play with me for an hour. It's only been ten minutes." I mentally cursed myself for teaching him how to tell time all those years ago. If Uncle Emmett said he would play for an hour then you could count on my brother to know exactly how long it took and not one minute less.
"But if we don't leave now then it will be dark by the time we even get to Seattle. Please, can Uncle Emmett and I leave now?" I tried pleading with him even though it very rarely worked.
"No!" Mason exclaimed. He began to frown and I could almost see a time bomb clock counting down to his outburst. Alice kneeled down next to Mason's other side.
"Why don't I take Scarlett and you can stay here and play with Uncle Emmett? I will text him when we get to the house and ask you what you want me to grab. Then, you get to eat lasagna for dinner tonight along with homemade garlic bread." Mason thought about it while I gritted my teeth.
"Okay." Both my Aunt and I released our breath at appeasing Mason's temper. He had been taking the changes to his schedule the past week extremely hard and had resorted to tantrums if he felt his schedule was slipping out of his grasp. Emmett looked at me sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, Scarlett." He said, "I'll make sure to save you some lasagna though. I know it is your favorite." I gave him a quick smile before I left the room but we both knew it was fake.
"Let me grab my boots and the house keys. I'll be right back." I said to Alice as I left the room. I jogged into the kitchen and grabbed my rain jacket and boots that were still dripping water from the earlier shower I had walked out in. As an afterthought, I grabbed an umbrella from the front hall closet as well. I ran up the steps and into the guest bedroom on the second floor. My wallet, house keys, and phone charger were stuffed into my pockets as well as a pair of earbuds. I checked my boot to make sure my BIC lighter was still inside before making my way down the stairs and to the entryway. Alice was waiting near the front door, already wearing her own jacket and mindlessly twirling her car keys around her fingers.
"Alice and I will be back later!" I yelled into the house before opening the door and stepping out onto the porch. I quickly pulled on my jacket before racing towards her rental car. I was happy to see that she had left her Porsche 911 in New York City. With how fast she likes to drive combined with the bad weather and slippery roads, I really did not want to have to re-enact my father's accident any more than what I already pictured in my head and nightmares.
The rental car was a sensible Chrysler 300 with tinted windows, built-in Bluetooth, and a back-up camera but the only thing that mattered to me was how fast I could get the hot air to blast out of the vents and onto my already shivering body. The drive was quiet as we left Forks behind. Alice flipped between a few stations on the radio and gave me couple glances but I was content to say nothing at all. I didn't feel like continuing what we had started at the house and I knew being trapped in a small space with Alice was not the best way for us to communicate right now. I was still furious with her and didn't understand why she was trying so hard when we both knew she was only doing it because she felt guilty about my father. Once we entered Seattle, I gave her clipped directions on how to get to my house. She parked alongside the curb and I almost mentioned she needed to pull up farther so that my dad's car could fit as well before I remembered. Swallowing the painful lump in my throat, I bit my lip and got out of the car. I didn't wait for Alice to follow but made my way up the walk-way and to the front door of the two-story brownstone.
"I always thought your dad would move you guys to Chicago into one of the brownstones he had lived in as a child. He always did love that city." I almost snorted at her choice of small talk but managed to keep it together.
"Dad liked Seattle a lot but mostly because it was close to Forks. He didn't want to abandon our family." I saw Alice wince as if I had hit her and a small kernel of guilt wedged itself into my heart. I unlocked the doors and entered the place I had called home for the past two years. Our house had been built during the roaring twenties and both Dad and I had a soft spot for the old-fashioned molding, hand-crafted wooden banisters, and slightly slanted floors. They didn't make houses like ours anymore.
I placed the keys in the glass bowl next to the front door and walked into the living room. Alice followed me and I recalled that she had never seen our house before. I gave her a quick tour of the lower level before I climbed the stairs and showed her the rest of the house. I pointedly did not open the first door on the left and I think she understood that it had been my father's room. I showed her Mason's room first and opened his closet to grab a few outfits. Even at thirteen years old, he was better organized than I was. I inhaled sharply as I picked out the tuxedo hidden near the back of his closet. He had worn it exactly once when Dad had taken us to the Opera in the Spring. He spent the whole night complaining that his tie was choking him until the music started and he stared in awe at the orchestra for the rest of the show. Alice looked at me with sympathy in her eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat and threw the tux on the bed along with three more outfits. I didn't need her pity. I didn't want her to see me bawl my eyes out. Ever since our yelling match earlier, I felt like I was balancing on a cliff and would break down at any moment. Alice opened her mouth to say something but I left the room before she could. I heard her sigh behind me and she followed me down the hall to a door that was slightly ajar.
"And this is my room." I mumbled, half-wishing I had remembered to make the bed and clean up the bits of random mess scattered throughout my room before remembering that I didn't care what Alice thought. Alice stepped from behind me for a better look and I moved out of the way and opened my closet. Rifling through my hangers, I ignored Alice wandering my room and instead began making a small pile of clothes on the edge of my bed that I would be taking back with me to my grandparent's house.
She stared at the trophies I had accumulated on my dresser for volleyball and softball and the medals I had earned in track. Bits of charcoal and colored pencils littered my desk and my sketchpad had been carelessly tossed on top. I saw her fingers twitch out of the corner of my eye and knew she wanted to see my sketches. When I was younger, she had joked I had gotten my artistic talent from her genetics even though she had been adopted by my grandparents before I had even been born. Instead, she moved to the wall where I had numerous photographs hanging that were mostly done in black and white with random red frames scattered throughout. In fact, my entire room was in shades of red, black, and white. From my glossy black wood-frame bed, my white throw pillows, and my red shag rug. I had two plain white walls and had painted a red wall at the far end of the room and a black wall behind my bed. My dad hadn't said a word when I had decided on the make-over shortly after moving in but I loved it. It fit my personality well.
"It's not pink and princess themed anymore." Alice finally said after examining my room quietly. I twisted a part of my hair around my finger as I recalled that she had been the one to help me pick out my pink, ruffled canopy bedset and matching furniture years ago.
"I'm not really a pink kind of girl. I've grown up a lot." I said with a shrug. Alice stared at me for a long moment.
"I noticed." She murmured. She smoothed her skirt down and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Will you please talk to me?" she pleaded. I feigned disinterest and crossed my arms in front of my chest.
"We are talking." I mumbled. Alice rolled her eyes.
"No, talk to me about everything that is going on. I know you are not happy about having me as a guardian and I want to know why." She spoke softly but clearly, locking her gaze with my own. I shrugged a shoulder.
"Grandpa said it didn't matter because Dad already made his choice…even if it was the wrong one." I told her and watched her eyes dim.
"You would rather have Rosalie and Emmett as your guardians?" she asked in disbelief. I hesitated. Aunt Rose and I were hardly on the best of terms and they already had their hands full with their own two kids in addition to my little brother.
"I could always stay with Grandpa Carlisle and Grandma Esme too." I said nonchalantly as I began to pack away my clothes into a small suitcase I had found under my bed. She shook her head gently.
"I am sure that they would love to have you but I don't believe that they could handle a teenager. They've already raised three children and have four grandchildren. Do you really think that is fair?" she asked.
"What would you know about raising a teenager? You haven't been around in years." I retorted back, zipping up my suitcase and wheeling it near the door. Alice stood from her spot at the edge of the bed and she looked at me sternly.
"That's not fair, Scarlett. I have come out to visit but you avoid me when I do so."
"I'm busy. Between school, sports, art club, and my friends I am barely home as it is. Besides, you are barely here for a weekend and then you are gone again." I protested with my hands on my hips.
"My job is in New York City. I can't exactly take off for extended vacations but you know damn well anytime I had business in Seattle that I would either visit your father or drive to Forks to visit the rest of the family." I raised an eyebrow at her as I grabbed some toiletries and put them in a backpack.
"So now you're assuming that I have been avoiding you?" I asked. She shook her head in the negative.
"No, I know that you have been." She answered firmly. "And my talk with Rose confirms it." I scoffed.
"Rose is just pissed off at me. She'll get over it when she needs someone to babysit the twins." I found a few more items that I wanted to take with along with two pairs of my heels and my favorite pair of knee-high boots.
"Well you might want to make up with your Aunt Rose soon because we have to leave for New York on Monday morning no matter what. However, I do want to retain as much as your normal schedule as possible so I need you to work with me, Scarlett."
"So you are going to find me a new school, a new therapist, have me take all the same classes, get me signed up for volleyball and placed in an art club all by Monday?" I asked incredulously. Alice sighed, running a hand through her ruffled hair.
"I won't promise you anything but I will do my best to try. You have to work with me too, Scarlett." She said. I huffed and resumed packing.
"Whatever." I mumbled, refusing to look at her glare.
"Scarlett…" she warned but luckily my phone went off and began to play Umbrella by Rihanna. I answered it as Alice continued to stare at me.
"What's up?' I asked.
"Dude! You told Tristan you were going to his party? Do you not remember what happened the last time?" I winced and pulled the phone away from my ear. My best friend, Piper, continued to rant away, unaware I no longer had the phone against my ear.
"Sorry, got to take this." I muttered to my Aunt.
"Scarlett, we weren't done talking." She protested but I had already slipped from the room and headed back downstairs, shutting the door behind me. I waited for Piper to finish her raving before I put the phone near my ear again.
"You know I missed most of that because you made me half-deaf, right" I answered drily. I could feel her scowling at me through the phone.
"I thought we weren't going to his parties anymore." She whined, refusing to apologize for blasting my ear drum.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to but seeing as it is my last one before I move, I didn't want to miss it." I explained, sitting at my dad's piano bench. I hesitantly stroked the keys while the line was quiet.
"You're seriously moving?" I heard her whispered reply.
"Yep." I popped the "p" glumly and hit the "C" note on the piano viciously.
"My Aunt wants me to move with her to New York City on Monday." I said quickly before Piper could reply.
"Let me get this straight. The Aunt that you don't talk to and can't stand wants you to move in with her all the way to the Big Apple in just five days?" she answered quietly.
"Apparently it was my dad's idea." I laughed hollowly but Piper head the pain in my voice.
"Why don't you come over and hang out here for a bit?" she finally answered.
"Can't. I have to get ready for the funeral on Thursday." I answered and winced as my voice cracked. Piper hummed in sympathy.
"Oh, hon, it's going to be okay. I'll be there for you every step of the way on Thursday and you can spend the weekend at my house before you leave. Your grandparents love me so I don't think it will be a problem." I smiled softly. Piper and I had been friends since elementary school and I was pretty sure she was the only one who knew how close I was to coming unglued.
"Thank Pipes." I croaked out.
"It's what friends are for. Good times and bad. Sickness and health. That kind of thing."
"Those are wedding vows, Piper." I said with a shake of my head and a small grin.
"I know. I got you to smile though, didn't I?" she said proudly. I nodded.
"Hey, I have to go. I'm grabbing a few more things before we head back out to Forks. I'll see you Thursday though, right?" I questioned, even though I knew she had already responded that she would be there, I needed that reassurance right now.
"I promise, Scar. I will see you in two days. And then I will be glued to your side until Monday. I promise on our friendship. Love you, girl." She quickly answered.
"I love you too, Pipes. Bye." I hung up the phone and sat it on top of the piano. Bowing my head, I allowed my fingers to drift over the keys and played a simply melody my father had taught me one rainy afternoon. Lost in thought and swirling with grief inside, I didn't notice the hand on my shoulder until I finished the song.
"When did your father teach you that song, Scarlett?" Alice whispered, as if a loud noise would break the eerie silence. I shrugged my shoulders, unintentionally shrugging her hand off.
"Last year." I mumbled. Alice made a small noise but before I could question it, she changed the subject.
"Scarlett…I really feel like we should have that talk. I don't want you avoiding me all week." She said softly, I felt her breath ruffle my hair and I hunched up my shoulders. My Aunt was a touchy-feely person and I knew it killed her that I refused to let her get close. I wanted her to feel some of the pain she had made me feel. It still felt like sharp razor blades under my skin even after all this time. I abruptly stood from the bench.
"Do we have to do it tonight?" I whined. "I want to shower and I'm starving. I can't remember the last time I ate and my hair is so greasy I want to just cut it all off." Alice looked at me sorrowfully with hurt in her dark blue eyes.
"No… it can wait, Scarlett. Why don't you go shower and I will load up the car, okay?" she whispered. I nodded once and folded my arms, brushing past her. Once I made it to the bathroom, I promptly locked the door and turned the water as hot as I could manage. I emptied my pockets onto the counter with a clatter. When steam had enveloped the bathroom, I pulled out my BIC lighter from the pile and grabbed a cigarette I had hidden in my make-up bag under the sink. Puffing quickly, I stripped and felt the water temperature. It burned my fingers and I gritted my teeth determinedly. Flicking the spent cigarette into the toilet, I stepped into the shower and allowed the hot water to scald my back in numerous, tiny stings. I lathered my head in shampoo and rinsed it out before adding conditioner and allowing my body to get used to the scalding-hot water. Rinsing my hair out, I watched the suds swirl down the drain and slowly sank to my knees and took a deep breath. Finally, I could feel my emotions building up inside and I choked on the huge lump in my throat.
Gasping for air, I felt the tears make their way unhurriedly down my cheeks and the pain on my back matched the pain in my heart. I sobbed everything out while kneeling in the bathtub, half-wishing the water would not go down the drain and drown me instead. I cried about everything. The pain of losing my dad. The heartache of knowing he was never coming back. The guilt I felt at leaving my little brother all alone in Forks while I had to fly across the States. The resentment I had used to cover up my hurt and lash out at everyone around me with over the past week. The anger I still had at Alice. The depression that I knew was enveloping me like a heavy blanket. I was such a wreck, emotionally, that I could no longer accurately pick out anymore individual emotions. They all swirled together and I screamed out my frustration while furiously wiping my face free of tears that would not stop falling. I gasped like a fish on land and began to cry harder as my whole body shook in grief. I heard pounding on the bathroom door but I ignored it and cranked the faucet harder to the left. I hissed at the contact of the boiling-hot water on my skin and knew I would have burn marks to show for it if I ever left the comfort of the bathtub. I bowed my head and simply let it all out.
Abruptly, the water turned ice-cold and I gasped and shivered at the sudden change in water temperature before it shut off and the only noise in the bathroom came from me. I opened my swollen eyes and saw my Aunt Alice gazing at me, tears filling her own blue eyes. Wordlessly, she held a towel out and I slowly climbed to my feet. I allowed her to wrap the towel around me and I didn't move as she hugged me fiercely.
"I'm so sorry, baby doll. So so sorry that you are hurting." She whispered into my ear. I didn't move away and she slowly led me back to my bedroom and sat me gently down on the edge of my bed. Randomly opening up my dresser drawers, she found a pair of black sweats, a pair of long black socks, my favorite bra, a purple long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of underwear. Alice sat the clothes next to me and then hunted around my vanity for my hairbrush. I hadn't moved from my spot once she returned and she sighed heavily before kneeling in front of me.
"You need to get dressed, baby doll. I'll brush your hair afterwards and then we will head back to Forks." I nodded after opening my mouth to speak and only a croak came out. She tucked my sopping wet hair behind my ear and gave me a small, pained smile.
"I'll be right back. Please get dressed while I'm gone." Alice left the room and carefully shut the door behind her. Mechanically, I dropped the towel and changed into the clothes she had put out for me. I noticed the sweats she had grabbed were from American Eagle and the shirt came from Old Navy. It seemed in her hurry to grab something for me to wear, my Aunt had managed to pick out clothes for me that she would never consider buying in the first place as she believed the best clothes only came from designer wear or her own brand. Once I had finished getting dressed, I opened the door and found her leaning against the wall opposite of my door, furiously texting away on my Iphone. She eyed me up and down and nodded once, worrying at her bottom lip with her teeth as she pocketed her cell phone and re-entered my bedroom.
"Here, let me help you." She said softly and led me back to the edge of my bed. Sitting in the middle of it, she gestured for me to sit in front of her and with a heavy sigh I did as Alice requested. She picked up the discarded brush and ran it carefully through my hair as I picked at a stray thread in my blanket. Once my hair was free of tangles and knots, she paused and carefully wrapped me in a hug from behind.
"You may not believe me and that's okay but I love you so much and I will always be here for you, Scarlett." I hummed a response but allowed the contact to continue. I hadn't realized my body had been craving comfort this whole week and even though I was still so angry at her, I wanted to feel loved. We sat that way for a while before her phone buzzed in her pocket. Slowly extracting her hands from around me she pulled the phone out of her pocket and read the text.
"Your brother wants us to grab an extra game controller, his green headphones, and a bag of almond M&M's." she read it out loud and showed me the text as well.
"His controller is next to his Xbox and the headphones are on his bedside table in his room. The candy we can get at the gas station at the corner." I replied hoarsely. Alice texted back and slipped the phone back into her coat pocket. She slipped out from behind me and stood next to the bed.
"We need to get going, baby doll." She murmured, staring down at me with sympathy. I frowned but clambered much less gracefully from the bed. I pulled my rain boots back on and grabbed my jacket before I went into the bathroom to grab my stuff as Alice went into my brother's room. My charger, phone, wallet, and earbuds were sitting in a neat pile next to the double sink but my lighter was missing. Pausing momentarily, I stuffed everything into my sweats' pockets and followed my Aunt. She was just leaving Mason's room with the items he requested and we both quietly walked downstairs, switching off lights as we did so.
"Everything is already in the car, Scarlett, and it finally stopped raining." Alice told me as I grabbed my keys from the bowl and locked the front door behind me. I crawled into the front seat and thrust my hands in front of the heater vents again, rubbing them swiftly. Alice put my brother's things in the center console and pulled out of the driveway. I gave her directions to the gas station and offered to go inside to buy the candy but Alice politely refused my offer. She was gone only a few minutes and returned with the candy as well as a bottle of water which she offered to me and I accepted gratefully. I hadn't realized how parched I was from my crying fit earlier but I managed to drain half the bottle without trying. I helped navigate out of Seattle and once we hit the highway, I fell back into companionable silence as Alice allowed Stevie Nicks to softly play on the car's stereo.
I must have dozed off because when I opened my eyes we were back at my grandparent's house in Forks. I went to open my door but Alice called me softly. Slowly, I turned towards her, one hand still on the door handle. She reached into her pocket, pulled out my lighter, and twirled it between her fingers.
"This is mine now. I will give you one last warning. Go find all the cigarettes you stashed around this house and destroy them. If I or Jasper catch you with another lighter or cigarette I can promise you now, that you won't like the consequences." I scowled back at her but she simply raised an eyebrow back at me.
"You're not my guardian yet, Aunt Alice." I ground out. She stared back at me with hurt in her cerulean eyes that I watched instantaneously harden in anger.
"Maybe not, but I could always go inside and tell Esme that I caught you smoking twice today and that you have cigarettes stashed around her house. I am sure your grandmother would love to know what exactly your hobbies entail." She said it matter-of-factly but we both knew she had called my bluff. Esme would be disappointed in me and I would have to withstand a lecture from her on the dangers of smoking as well as from my grandfather. Not to mention, Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett would be pissed as well.
"Fine!" I exclaimed and pushed myself out of the car, slamming the door in my anger. I stomped up the steps and opened the front door making sure to slam that one as well. I avoided the rest of my family and stomped up the stairs to the guest bedroom that I used whenever I spent the night. I could hear Alice enter the house and begin speaking to someone but I couldn't make out anything besides the tone. I locked the door and kicked it for good measure. I glared around the room and began searching my favorite hiding places. Once I had managed to find six cigs scattered around the room as well as half a pack I had placed inside my VCR/DVD combo the last time I had spent the weekend here, I heard a sharp knock on my door.
"Who is it?" I asked gruffly.
"Your favorite Aunt. Now open up." Rosalie called out impatiently from the hallway. I scowled and shoved the cigs into my pocket before opening the door. She was holding a tray of food that including a plate of lasagna, a small bowl of salad, a slice of garlic bread, and a can of Dr. Pepper. She brushed past me and sat the tray down on the bedside table.
"Your Aunt Alice said that you wanted to be alone for a while but you hadn't eaten yet. I don't care if you eat up here or not but you can bring the tray down when you're done." She said it quickly as if it pained her before staring into my face.
"Were you crying earlier?" she asked. I clenched my jaw, knowing she would see through a lie.
"Yes." I said shortly, hoping she would drop it. Rosalie stared at me for a long moment but I couldn't read her face.
"At least your Aunt Alice was there to comfort you when you finally broke down." Was all that she said before she quickly left the room. I glared at her retreating back and then shut the door behind her. I turned the T.V. on and Big Bang Theory's opening theme song began to play. Leaving it on simply for background noise, I took a step towards my delicious smelling dinner.
As hungry as I was, I only managed a handful of bites before feeling like I was going to get sick. Not eating regularly the past week had screwed up my stomach and I tended to simply snack instead of eating heavy meals. Once I had managed as much as I could, I picked up the tray and left my room. Skirting around the living room where I could hear most of my family congregated at, I entered the empty kitchen and scraped the rest of my food into the trash before loading the dishes into the dishwasher. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck raise up and I looked out of the corner of my eye towards the doorway to see Jasper leaning against it. Once he realized I had caught him, he entered the kitchen and sat on one of the barstools. We stared at each other but said nothing and I was unable to hold his gaze.
"I spoke with Alice." He simply said, finally breaking the silence.
"Okay." I muttered. He raised both eyebrows and placed a hand onto the counter, palm side up and open. I noticed he had a few scars on his hands and some ran up his arms where he had rolled up the sleeves of his button-up shirt.
"Something you would like to give me?" He asked. I scowled before reaching into my pocket and pulling out the cigarettes, practically throwing them into his waiting hand.
"You sure that is all of them?" he said sternly. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
"Yes." I said, already wishing this conversation was over.
"Alright then. Remember what your Aunt said. If she or I catch you with them or a lighter again then I am certain you will not like the punishment." I rolled my eyes and his own eyes narrowed at my response but he said nothing further.
"Can I go now?" I asked quickly and when he inclined his head, I rushed from the kitchen and back to the safety of my bedroom. Collapsing on the bed, I hugged a pillow to my chest and willed my body to finally relax after the long, stressful day. I was so emotionally drained and exhausted that I barely noticed when someone entered my room and turned off the T.V. They grabbed a throw blanket from the edge of the bed and covered me with it before bending down and kissing my temple.
"Goodnight, baby doll. Sweet dreams." The voice said softly before it was a gone and my room became shrouded in darkness once the door was carefully shut. I released a deep breath that I hadn't realized I had been holding and allowed my body to finally drift off into a dreamless sleep.