The Learning Curve: Chapter 93

Forks Community Hospital

When we got to our room, Alice curled up in one of the single beds with Jasper. I made Edward stay in a separate bed. Even though I doubted Dr. Cullen would suspect us of untoward behavior at a time like this, I still didn't want to risk it. The last thing I needed either of Edward's parents knowing was what I'd gotten up to with their son.

Jasper fell asleep fairly quickly, as did Edward. I lay awake, exhausted but unable to sleep in the hospital. It was too unfamiliar, too full of foreign sounds and smells. For a long time, I thought Alice had gone to sleep too, until she rolled over and saw that I was awake.

Her eyes were wet. She'd been crying again.

Without a word, Alice came and curled up beside me on my bed. I put my arm around her and remained silent. There was nothing I could say that would make her feel better right now.

"I'm scared," she admitted in a whisper.

"I know," I said, and I tightened my arm around her in a half-hug.

"I don't know what's going to happen now and I hate it. I'm afraid to sleep. What if something happens? They say my dad is stable, but I've seen House. People can be stable one minute and dying the next. And my mom…what if the surgery goes wrong? What if I never get the chance to see them again?"

"Alice," I soothed, "real life isn't like House. Your dad doesn't have some weird exotic disease. He's going to be fine. You'll be able to see him soon. And you can't think the worst right now. You just can't. You'll drive yourself crazy."

She nodded, but her face showed no relief. "Sometimes I wonder…sometimes I wonder if my dreams are really showing the future. What if…they actually make bad things happen? What if it really is my fault?"

"Oh, Alice," I said. My eyes were tight with tears for her. "That's not true. You know it's not true. Look at me and Edward. You saw something horrible happen to me, and I listened to you, and we just

ended up with some bruises and a bump on Edward's head. You saved me. Alice, your dreams aren't bad. They're not."

Alice was crying again. "How can you be sure?"

"Because I know you, Alice. Nothing about you could be bad. I promise you, none of this was your fault."

Alice was quiet, resting her head against my shoulder. Some minutes passed before she spoke again.

"If my parents don't make it, they'll send me to live with my aunt."

"Maybe not," I argued. "Maybe they'll let you choose to stay here. You could stay with me. I'm sure Charlie would agree to act as your guardian. Or maybe your aunt will just let you decide. You'll be eighteen in a couple months anyway."

"Do you really think so? I don't know my aunt that well. I don't know what she'll do."

"Alice, I'm serious. Don't worry about that now."

"Okay," she said meekly.

"Try to get some sleep. You'll be able to see your dad soon."

She closed her eyes, but I doubted she'd be resting.