Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. All hale the magnificent Stephenie Meyers.
8. Alexander
Epov:
I walked into Spanish class dragging my feet. My Spanish was so good I could have given the class. Mrs. Garcia usually ignored me and didn't mind if I did something else during her class. I was thankful for this but not today. I was pretty sure I was going to remember the night Alexander died. I could usually suppress the memories but I used most of my strength in Biology to keep the images at bay, not wanting to brake down in front of Bella.
Thinking about the last few minutes of Biology with Bella, I took my seat in the back row. As I told Bella that I had a brother I waited for the flashes to hit me but they never did. As I stared into her eyes it was as if she anchored me, it felt like she was shielding me from the penetrating memories. But she wasn't here now to act as my shield. I took out my big Spanish book making it stand in front of me. It was big enough to hide behind so nobody saw me when my body went rigid as the first memory hit.
Flashback:
It was a sunny day in Chicago. We lived in the new development area. Mom was busy setting the table outside while dad was busy grilling burgers on the griller. For a five year old this was as good as it gets. Alexander was teaching me how to play baseball.
"Come on Edward. Keep your eye on the ball." He pitched the ball and I missed it just like all the other times.
"Alex I'm never gonna hit it, I suck at this." I said as I fetched the ball.
"You don't suck. I'm your big bro and I say that we're going to stand here all day until you hit the ball. Now keep your bat up and keep your eye on the ball."
I gripped the bat tighter, he pitched, I swung and the ball soared through the air hitting our mailbox.
"It's a homerun!" Alex shouted as he messed with my too long hair making it stand in all directions.
"Come on guy's, foods ready!" Mom called us.
Present time:
I smiled to myself; he taught me how to play baseball so well we ended in the same team at school. We became known as the unstoppable Masons. The year we played together our team won the play-offs for the first time in a decade. I didn't get time to remember anything else as another memory hit me.
Flashback:
It was spring break, I was twelve years old and riding my bicycle in the park. As I rounded the corner by the big oak I saw that the pathway was blocked of by three boys. They looked about the same age as me.
"Hey kid, I'm Aro and this is Marcus and Caius."
Aro was the palest person I have ever seen, with jet black hair. Marcus looked bored as if he longed to be some place else and Caius just stared at me.
"Hello, I'm Edward."
Aro smiled. "Do you want to race? Down to the lake and back, let's say loser pays the winner ten dollars." I looked at him, he was no bigger than me and we had the same bikes. This was going to be an easy ten dollars.
"Ok but only one on one. Three against one is unfair."
Aro smiled again. "Of course."
We lined our bikes up next to the big oak, Caius counted to three and the race began. It was about three miles to the lake and back, it was clear after the first two miles that I was the stronger rider. I passed Aro on my way back to the Oak tree.
I was just passed the Oak tree when out of nowhere Caius pushed his bike in front of me. I pulled my brakes causing my front wheel to lock up. It sent me flying over the front bars. Just as I got up Marcus grabbed my arms pinning them against my back. Caius grinned at me just as Aro reached the big oak.
"Look kid just give us your money, nobody beats Aro in a race."
I struggled against Marcus but it was no use his arms were like steel bars. Caius suddenly punched me in my stomach causing the air in my lungs out with a whooshing sound.
Suddenly I heard a bone crushing blow to someone's head and I felt the pressure on my arms lift up. I fell on the ground still gasping for air when another devastating blow was delivered to someone.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll disappear." I looked up. I would know that voice anywhere. Alex stood next to his best friend Garret
"Edward you ok bro? I think we should leave baseball coaching and instead I should teach you how to fight."
Present time:
He did, he taught me how to throw a decent punch without hurting your hand or wrist. He even taught me how to escape certain holds. He told me that it was stupid to fight and that fighting doesn't prove how tuff you are. It's the things you fight for that matter and because he wouldn't always be there to have my back, I should remember that if we fight for the right reasons we would always win. A single tear rolled down my face, nobody even noticed when I swiped it away. I have just placed my hand back on the desk when another memory hit me.
Flashback:
It was Tanya's funeral. My parents and I was helping her parents serve all the guests. Tanya was my friend since kindergarten. She was Alex's girlfriend. They were going steady for almost a year. He worshipped the ground she walked on and would do almost anything for her. Her death hit him pretty hard so he left right after the funeral. My and Tanya's friendship came to an abrupt end after sixteen years.
After we helped Tanya's parents clean up, we headed home. I helped my father carry all the left over food to the kitchen while mom went to check on Alex. We were in the kitchen when we heard mom's ear piercing scream. We ran to Alex's room, dad was the first one to the door and I almost ran into him when he froze in the frame. I had to push to get past him. Mom was still screaming were she sat on the floor next to something. It took me a while to process that the something was Alex.
He lay on the floor only wearing a pair of white boxers. There was blood everywhere and some tiny bits of something in the blood. Next to him lay a shotgun and that's when I realized he had only half a head. The bits of something in the blood were the rest of his head. I turned and vomited in the bin next to his desk while my mother's screams still rang in my ears. When I finally stopped vomiting I noticed three white envelopes on his desk.
Present time:
The bell suddenly rang making me jump. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks, I wiped at them hoping nobody noticed. I looked up seeing that the class was halfway empty no one even bothered to look at me. I packed away my book and walked out of the class, entering the nearest bathroom to rinse my face. I crossed the lot without noticing much and was just about to get into my car when I noticed Bella next to the yellow Porsche. She was jumping up and down clearly exited about something.
She was so happy that it instantly made me feel better as if I was stealing some of her happiness. She climbed into the Porsche just when a blonde girl walked up to me.
"Hi I'm Lauren, I was wondering if I could have your phone number? I would like to call you sometime." She looked at me from under her eye lashes, pushing her over exposed breasts at me. It disgusted me and I had to suppress a shudder.
"It's in the phonebook." I said and she looked putdown for a second before she smiled again.
"But I don't know your name."
I got into my car. "That's in the phonebook too." That did it. She walked toward gum popping Jessica Stanley. I waited to join the traffic line that was leaving school when Alice drove passed me. Bella saw me and waved, I raised my hand automatically to wave back but Alice drove to fast for her to see.
Nobody was home so I started to prepare dinner. When the potatoes and salad was finished, I placed the steaks in marinade and headed towards my room to do my homework. When I finished my homework I started on the steaks. Esme arrived home placing some blue prints on the island table and kissed my cheek.
"How's the new architect job coming along?" I asked as she began setting the dining table.
"Good, the firm loved my idea for the new lodge outside of town." Carlisle arrived just as I finished serving the steaks.
"Hmm just in time, I'm starving." He said rubbing his stomach as he went to kiss Esme on the cheek.
We were halfway through our dinner when Carlisle cleared his throat, "I forgot to tell you yesterday that the Swan's invited us for dinner Saturday night." He informed us.
"Sounds great, I was wondering who was going to break the ice first. The chief of police doesn't let grass grow under his feet. Edward would you be joining us or are you sitting this one out?" Esme asked me.
Swan's? As in, Isabella Swan? She was the chief of police's daughter? I thought to my self, this could be interesting. "I'll join you, nothing to do at home anyway." They looked surprised but said nothing. Carlisle was smiling about something to himself.
I lay on my bed after dinner when suddenly I heard Bella's words echoing in my head.
"There's always something, if you're willing to find it."
Shit, I sat up. Was she right was there something for me left to find? Shit, only one way to find out. I got up and opened my cupboard, at the back half hidden was a shoe box. In it was photos of my family and then there was the one dreaded object. I ignored the pictures and took out the unopened white envelope. I went back to my bed and sat Indian style in the middle. I didn't want to read all the accusations in it but it was time to open the envelope with my name on for the first time.
Edward
You knew me better than anyone. We played, cried, fought and loved together. I want you to remember me like that and not the week, pathetic person I've become in the last week.
I can not exist in a world she does not. It's as if my air supply has been cut of. I don't have the strength to try and survive anymore because a life without her is not a life at all.
I need you to know that I do not blame you for what happened to my beloved Tanya. You could not have changed anything and I know you loved her too.
I need you to promise me you'll fight, fight for our family. Fight to stay the way you are and most of all fight for love.
Always remember what I told you, "If you fight for the right reasons you would always win".
I love you
Your bro
That night for the first time I cried about Alex. As the tears rolled down my face I felt the walls of steel around my hart crack. The tears brought heeling and as I fell asleep I heard an echo of Bella's words again.
"It's not how you fall Edward, its how you get back up again"
I woke the next morning feeling lighter than normal. I showered, made cereal and a fresh pot of coffee. Just before I headed out a notepad caught my eye. I took a pen from my school bag and wrote a note for Esme.
Tell Carlisle I feel like pizza tonight. Not takeaway but pizza at a restaurant. Enjoy your day. Love you, Edward.
I stuck it to the fridge. I think it was the first time I told Esme I loved her and made a silent vow to do it more often. I drove to school with a warm feeling inside of me.
Once again there was no bike or yellow Porsche. Did Spiky sleep in again? I went to my first class and when we changed for second period I noticed the Porsche. Well at least they made it to school I thought. I didn't think about her again until lunch. I sat in my car when I noticed her walking towards the cafeteria. A well built, black haired boy walked up to her sliding his arm around her waist. He said something to her, making her blush.
I wanted to get out of my car and run over to her. I wanted to rip his arm of his body and chop it into million of pieces so that he could never touch her again. I couldn't do that because I simply didn't have any claim on her, so instead I turned the music up and balled my hands into fists trying to place this new emotion. I walked to Biology again ten minutes before class started.
I was staring out of the window when she arrived.
"Hello Edward, can I ask you a question? It's kind of personal." She was dressed in jeans and a blue jersey that fit beautifully with her pale skin.
"I'm probably going to regret this but as long as I have the option to answer ask away." She looked ashamed but also determined.
"Didyoucomefromajuvenilecenter?" She asked so fast I could make no sense of it.
"What? I'm afraid I don't speak gibberish."
This time she took a big breath before she asked again. "Did you come from a juvenile center?"
I laughed so hard it made my stomach hurt so I held it while tears streamed down my face and I slightly noticed that students was staring at me. "I'm glad I amuse you" This brought on a new wave of laughter.
"Bella, I was never in a Juvenile center. Where did you get that idea?" I asked when I finally calmed down enough to form a proper sentence. She looked away and I wanted to reach out and turn her face towards me.
"Alice overheard Skankley tell one of her friends." Now who was Skankley? It amazed me how she was able to take me by surprise.
"Skankley?" I asked just as our teacher entered the class.
"Sorry. Jessica Stanley has strawberry blonde hair, always wears mini skirts and is always popping gum." I nodded to show her I knew who she was talking about so she irritated Bella as well.
We started with microscopic work leaving us almost no time to talk. We finished early and had five more minutes before class ended. "Did you believe Alice when she told you I was from a juvenile center?" I asked curiously but there was actually something else I wanted too know.
"No, I defended you. That's why I asked, I don't like to lie so if I do it, it better be for a good reason."
She defended me, she doesn't even know me. I wonder whose fault that is. That annoying voice inside of my head said. "May I ask you a question? It's kind of personal too?" Come on you can't deny my question when I granted yours I thought to myself while I looked at her.
"It seems only fair."
Good girl. "Who was that guy that walked with you to the cafeteria and why did you defend me?" I finally placed the foreign emotion as it showed in my voice and facial expression, it was jealousy.
"That's two questions, his name is Jacob Black. He is my best friend and I defended you because you are my friend and weren't there to do it yourself." I saw that she wanted to leave the class so I stood up and walked her to the door.
"I'm your friend?" I asked as I held the door open for her.
"Thanks and yes... you are." She winked at me when she walked out the door. I smiled to myself.
I was her friend that means I have a claim to her.
A/N Great it's one Am again, just what my heavy flu body needs LOL. This chapter is by far the longest yet, sorry blame it on Edward he made me do it.