Everyday Moments Of Perfection
Lonely, Even In Company
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, everyone. Love you all. Sorry this has taken longer than usual; as you may or may not know, I have exaaaams on. :( I think I might have mentioned that last time, but it is even more true now... so, I apologise for the lateness. But hopefully you guys will forgive me and review still. xD
Anyway, this one is about Alice and Jasper's relationship with Edward. Simple, really. :)
The first time she met him, Alice would have thought he would have been a little more hostile.
After all, she had just evicted him from his bedroom and moved all his things into the garage. But he merely gave a bewildered look and set about moving his things to another room of the overly large house. Alice helped him, of course. A simple enough apology, but one that set the foundation for their relationship.
Alice had also told Edward that she would become his favourite sister. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wished them unspoken. How would he react? Jasper was used to her abrupt, brash yet well-meaning nature, but Edward was not. He knew she had visions, but Alice expected him to be wary of them.
Edward looked up at her, his tawny eyes creasing a little in surprise.
"Oops... did I say that out loud?" Alice whispered, her eyes wide with more than a little embarrassment.
Edward heard her thoughts; she was absolutely mortified, yet he knew she spoke the truth. He gave a reassuring, crooked smile. "Well, you have only got Rosalie to compete with, after all."
Alice realised he spoke in jest; it was not a deliberate slur against the stunning, blonde vampiress, and smiled in return, her discomfort fading fast.
True to her vision, Alice soon formed a strong sibling bond with the reserved, stoic yet gentlemanly Edward Cullen. Plain old Alice disappeared, and in her place came the bubbly, outgoing, irrepressible Alice Cullen.
Edward cared for his family as he cared for no one else, but Alice still noticed how lonely he seemed. He would sit listlessly at his piano, day after day, creating wistful melodies that seemed to call out for something... for someone. She noticed the flicker of jealousy that crossed his face -- for the briefest second, but it was there -- whenever he absorbed the passionate thoughts of the couples constantly surrounding him, though throughout his everyday life, he seemed content enough.
Alice felt sad for him. She pitied the fact that he had no one to share his life, his most intimate desires and passions, with. He had his family, true, but there was still an empty hole in his heart; one that could only be filled with the presence of a soulmate. Alice tried to imagine how she would feel, had she never met Jasper, but it was inconceivable. She could not remember a time he had not been with her. Even in her visions, she had always known where her life was heading.
Everything she did, she did for Jasper.
Being alone would be the most terrifying thing she could imagine.
But he was, and Alice had to admire him for it. Edward seemed to accept his solidarity with grace and a refined manner that would put any aristocrat to shame. Edward was the seventh wheel, but he acknowledged that without putting up a fight. A part of Alice wanted him to, wanted him to search far and wide for the one he was meant to be with. She longed to see him happy, partly for selfish reasons, those being that she didn't want to feel that little pang of guilt every time she held hands with Jasper in Edward's company. She couldn't help feeling it... and the worst thing was that Jasper knew she felt it.
Alice did everything she could to try and hide it, but Jasper noticed the slight bit of distance she tended to put between them whenever Edward was close by.
So did Edward.
At first, he thought they were maybe having a rough patch, but he quickly dispelled that notion. Alice and Jasper were the most dedicated and moving couple he had ever encountered. But what was going on? It was only through the coming months that Edward came to realise that if Alice did not know he was there, she was as loving as ever with her mate. They kissed, they held hands, they embraced. It was only around him that these tender caresses disappeared.
A passing strand of thought betrayed Alice's motives.
He looks so lonely...
She thought she was hurting him, reminding him of what he didn't have. Edward felt a rush of affection for his sister -- he had come to think of her as such now -- but also sadness. He knew that Jasper had been quite cold with him of late. This must be the reason. Not only did Edward occupy a special space in Alice's heart, but their powers also entwined them in a way Jasper could never understand.
But Jasper did not realise. No one could replace him, could even come close to reaching the place in Alice's heart that Jasper alone held. Alice's passions all revolved around him; every passing thought, every decision, every step she took... she thought about him. She loved him with a ferocity that Edward did not believe he could ever truly comprehend.
Edward decided to straighten this misunderstanding out.
Firstly, he confronted Alice, who would have flushed bright red if she could. So Edward had noticed her actions.
"Alice..." Edward said, a little awkwardly. He wasn't too sure how to broach the subject, but Alice, as upfront as ever, decided to spare him.
"I just... I feel like we're... oh, I don't know. Rubbing it in your face a little bit. I just want you to be happy, Edward."
Edward smiled, a little bitterly, but also with gratitude. "I know, Alice. And I thank you for that." He fixed her with a stare. "But Jasper is suffering for it. And it is only causing resentment to build up between he and I."
Alice's eyes widened as she realised what Edward was trying to say. "Oh... well, I..."
Edward stepped closer to his sister, taking one of her hands in his, speaking softly, "Be happy, Alice. You have found your mate. Love him," Edward said simply. Then he smirked. "Because trust me, when I find mine, you'll be begging us to stop the public displays of affection."
Alice couldn't help laughing, and Edward's eyes twinkled.
It was only then that Edward realised that he could pick up Jasper's stream of thought -- and it wasn't far away, either. Surreptitiously, Edward turned his gaze to the corridor. He could see the faint shadow of Jasper's form, silhouetting against the floor. He was standing just around the corner, and Edward knew he could hear every word they were saying.
"Don't worry about me, Alice. Worry about Jasper. Show him just how much you care for him."
Alice nodded, throwing her arms around Edward. "Sorry for making you feel awkward, Edward."
Edward shook his head in his sister's embrace. "You didn't. I appreciate your actions, Alice. But they aren't required."
He smiled, looking pointedly in Jasper's direction. Alice noticed Jasper's shadow too, and her eyebrow rose. She winked in a conspiratorial fashion at Edward, who smirked.
"Jasper?" Alice called, as Edward let out a small laugh, and began to walk away. Jasper looked a little embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, but that soon disappeared as Alice kissed him with fervent passion, wrapping her arms around his waist, and drawing him closer to her, his scent filling her lungs, disarming her. Their foreheads met as she licked his lower lip with her tongue and lust flared up in Jasper, unbridled and utterly overpowering.
Edward rolled his eyes good-naturedly, a playful smile dancing over his lips.
Before desire completely consumed his every thought, Jasper managed to send one tendril of conscious thought Edward's way. Thank you, Edward.
Edward smiled, turning to walk down the stairs. "No problem, brother," he whispered, though Jasper heard.
The lively, vivacious, extroverted pixie and the reserved, shy, polite soldier.
To the outside world, possibly the strangest couple one could think of.
To Edward Cullen, the most perfect.
A/N: Aw, Edward's so cute. (I am completely ignoring New Moon and Breaking Dawn here, clearly.) ;D
Ah well. Please let me know what you thought. :)
Raven. x