Author's Note: I'm sorry I didn't update earlier, but I had to deal with family things...Happy 2012! This chapter is long and I hope it sets the year off right. ;) Thanks soooo much for all the reviews. They mean sooo much to me 3
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight...again...*sigh*
Chapter 5: Choices
Alice's P.O.V
"Alice? Alice! What's wrong? I'm right here!" I heard a deep voice say. I opened my eyes to see Henry's gold eyes staring down at me in worry. "What's wrong?" he asked again, wiping away a tear that had fallen down my cheek.
I wrapped my arms around him and cried. I expected him to pull away, but he just sat at the edge of my bed and held me, rocking me back and forth, whispering sweet things into my ear.
When I felt like I had cried myself out, I just stayed in his arms, not wanting the moment to end when he has to go away. We stayed silent for a while, until he asked. "Did you have a bad dream?"
I leaned back on the bed and stared up at him. Henry sat at the edge of my bed, not looking at all like the man that had killed my best friend in my dream. He looked like a dream, himself. I nodded, covering my face. "Would you tell me about it?" he asked. When I shake my head, he whispers, "please" and I felt like I had to, whether he'll end up thinking I'm crazy or not. I need to tell someone about my dream, and he's the only one I trust.
"Sometimes," I begin, "I have dreams that sort of, foresee the future. That's why I was out running last night; I had had a dream that my mother was going to send me here. I knew everything that was going to happen, the time, the day…everything." I glanced up at him and he was staring at me intently.
"And tonight?" he asked like he truly, one hundred percent believed me. "I…uh…dreamt of you." I say, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. He places a finger underneath my chin and forces me to look at him. "You dream about me?"
I roll my eyes. "Out of all that, THAT is what you deem important?" I say, which makes him laugh. "Yes, I do. Now, tell me what I was doing in this dream of yours."
I sigh, seeing now that there is no way around telling him. "Well, we were on a bench, outside, and the sun was setting, making you glow." I blush a deep scarlet as I tell him this, but when I look at his face, he's smiling widely at me, so I continued my story. "Then Tim came out and began to talk to me. I told him that we couldn't be together anymore and he blamed you. He hit you, but you seemed to be made of stone and it broke his hand."
"Ha" he laughs, "Serves him right. You should never underestimate your opponent. It was his rash and impulsive tactics that lost you, so that I, would win." He smiled down at me.
"You would fight for me?" I asked. He nods, taking both sides of my face in his cool hands. "I would fight for you until my last breath, Alice." Then he kissed me.
It was a soft kiss, but it had force behind it. It awoke a fire in me and made me hungry for more, but I could tell he was holding back. He didn't push me, and his cool lips seemed to melt into mine.
When he finally pulled away, it left me breathless, making us both gasp for air. I had never felt like that when Tim kissed me. Of course, I had liked Tim, and he made me happy, but, there was something about the way Henry looks at me…Like he sees past the crazy girl and to the woman inside me.
"You make me feel something I've never felt before, Alice." He says. I can feel my heart beat quickening and he smiles. He stands up, kissing my hand and makes his way to the door. I want badly to tell him to not leave me, but I'm to breathless to find the words.
He turns back and says, "Don't worry, about anything, my dear. I'll make sure no one hurts you." He opens the already opened door and walks out. As I lay back down, I have a strange feeling in my stomach that when he said he would make sure nothing hurts me; I think that he was talking about himself.
xXx
The next morning, Henry came in holding a tray of what I suppose was my breakfast. He sat in the desk chair while I ate, watching me in fascination. When I had finished he took the tray and walked out of the room. When he returned, he had a smile on his face.
"I was just talking to Margaret, and she says she has a surprise for you." I smiled, because I really would like to stretch my legs and explore the building, ad whatever Margaret has in store surely wouldn't be in my room, right?
"I must first say goodbye to Tim and Ella, Henry. I don't want them coming around anymore. They deserve better." The corners of his mouth fall, and he looked like he was about to protest, when he suddenly recomposes himself and says quietly, "Well, Miss Alice, they are here. Please make it fast. Margaret is really anxious for you and shouldn't be kept waiting."
I nodded as he left the room. Only a few minutes later, Tim and Ella enter the room. They hug me in joy, and I find myself having to force myself to laugh at there jokes. When they finally noticed something wrong with me, all attention is on me.
I sigh. "Guys, you know I love the two of you more than anything, right?" When they agree I feel myself forcing back the tears. "You can't come here anymore. It's not good for you to spend everyday here, and I don't want to hold the two of you back. You deserve better." When Ella tries to counter me, I hold up a finger to interrupt her. "You two have been by my side since forever and I only want what's best for you. This is goodbye." The tears are coming now, and I stood by the door, trying to look forceful.
Ella comes by me first and hugs me tight, red faced and eyes wet. "Tim was made for you" I whispered. When she looks at me funny, I continue by saying, "its okay. I know you love him. He loves you two. I want you to be happy." She smiled widely and kisses my cheek.
Tim comes next saying, "Don't do this, Mary." I shake my head and hug him. Then he kisses me. It's a desperate kiss and I push him back. I couldn't help but compare him to Henry.
Henry's kiss had been sweet, and soft, not like this. I had felt like I was flying when Henry kissed me, not when Tim kissed me. Though there were mysteries about Henry that I didn't know about, he seemed more open than Tim, who I had known for so long.
"Tim, you love Ella, not me. You'll be a good husband for her, I know it," I say, getting a sad look from him. "I'll never give up on you Mary," was all he said as he left the room, followed by Ella. I leaned against the wall and cried, my heart screaming out to chase after them, but my feet planted on the floor in front of me.
xXx
Though it was only noon, I felt like staying in bed. I didn't care what surprise Margaret had in store for me. My heart ached and my face was tearstained.
How could I have just let them go? If they really cared about me, why would they have left? What's wrong with me? These questions among others danced through my mind and I didn't even hear the knock on the door.
I looked, wishing for the dark hair and gold eyes that was Henry, but instead a smiling Margaret stood, arms open wide.
"Oh, Honey, I know it hurts now, but you'll see. That boy was just a silly romance, and you can do better." I let her comfort me, though for the wrong reason. I hadn't really thought of Tim specifically since he'd left. Or tried not too.
I wasn't sure how I felt about him. Sure, I like him, but did that mean I loved him? No, it doesn't. My mother had told me numerous times that she hadn't loved my father when they first married.
As Margaret held me I came to a conclusion. Yes, I loved Tim, but I wasn't in love with him.
When Margaret decided I had had enough, she pushed me back, but kept her hands on my shoulders. "Now, Miss Brandon, I don't wanting you moping around over this boy, alright?" when I nodded she grinned and let me go. "I am going to be taking over Henry's place as your body guard this week. Meaning…Girl Time!" She squeals.
As she rambles on about all she plans to do, I take the moment to really look at her. Her fiery red hair and tall frame makes her appear much older on first look, but now looking closer, I could tell that she couldn't have been much older than me. Five years at most. She still had the child like rebelliousness in her eye and I thought that maybe I could really be friends with this girl.
"Where is Henry going?" I ask, and for a moment, a scared expression crosses her face.
"He's uh… dealing with things. Family stuff. Don't try to pry it out of him either."
I nod, though I don't understand. It must have shown on my face because Margaret sighed.
"You really like him, don't you?" she asks. I look away as the heat rushes to my cheeks, but she just laughs.
"Don't worry, hon, you're not the only one. We ALL do. He's just so…" she trails off, breathing in and out like she was smelled something divine.
"Mysterious" I finish for her. She laughs and nods her head. "And absolutely gorgeous! I mean, he is too perfect. I have known him for a long time, and never once have I seen him do anything ungraceful or stupid, unlike me."
I smile back at her as she pulls her feet up under her on the bed, like she could talk about Henry forever.
"You've known him a long time?" I ask and she nods. "Long enough to form a healthy obsession, I might add."
"Has he ever been with someone?" I ask quietly. I had been curious about this but was too scared to ask Henry.
"Yes, he's been with girls, Alice," she says, looking at me as if to ask me if she could call me that. When I nod, she continued. "But not in a long time. And if you're thinking about pulling a move on him, it won't work. He's a big flirt, but usually won't do anything to you. Do what the rest of us do; admire him from afar. "
She laughs at some joke that I don't get, making the bed shake. I was contemplating telling her about my experiences with Henry with a wave of jealousy washed over me and I knew I had to. "He kissed me." That shut her up.
"He…kissed you? He made the move, not you?" I nod and suddenly she was on me. "What? When? How was it? Tell me everything!" I hadn't expected this reaction.
"Well, it was last night, after my dream…about him. He said that I make him feel something that he's never felt before." Margaret is smiling widely as I go through a summary of last night.
"Praise the Lord!" she exclaims. "All he usually does is quote love poems in French that leaves your heart melting, but if he actually kissed you, then he must feel something for you. Oh, Alice!" she says as she wraps her arms around me.
I'm glad that I can talk about this with someone. I couldn't imagine myself trying to keep my feeling tucked up inside. I night as well go insane. Margaret starts to pull away, but I grip her tight, because my vision starts changing.
I'm standing in the middle of an antique looking office, with floor to ceiling bookshelves full of leather bound books. "What did you say to her?" I hear a harsh voice say, catching my attention. I turn my head and see Henry; lips pulled back, teeth barred at someone to my right.
"Nothing, I swear! I could never betray you!" Margaret whimpers. I had a strange feeling that they were talking about me.
"Really? Where did you tell her I was last night? Hmm?"
"The forest." Margaret replies softly and I can hear the edge to her voice, like she is about to cry.
"Exactly," Henry says, taking a step toward the flame headed girl. "There are no forests around here. She's catching on, my dear, and I can't bear to have her find out the monster I am. She can see into the future, just as I have intuition. It's her gift and I am in love with her. I have sworn to protect her from myself and all others like me. You will not ruin this for me." He growls, walking slowly toward the frightened girl.
He grips her shoulder, and she winces, but doesn't say anything. "You will not ruin this for me, do you understood. You will receive your reward, if all goes well. And if not…" he trails off as he opens to expose white teeth sharpened to a point.
Henry grins at Margaret and flings her onto the floor, causing her to scream out in pain. "Alice must never know what I am," Henry says, as he begins walking away. "She must never know."
I'm brought back to the real world by Margaret shaking me, a concerned look on her face. "Alice, are you okay?"
I nod, but my mind is reeling. What had I just witnessed? Through all of this, I know I must find out the truth. Something is different about Henry, and Margaret knew it.
"Margaret," I begin, knowing how to start my research. "Where did Henry go?"
I'm not shocked when she says, "He's gone to the forest."