I woke up. But not in my own bed. So far for this being a dream. What was that actual dream about though? That was weird. I saw I was still holding the diary on my chest, I must’ve fallen asleep immediately after writing in it. I opened it again and crossed out one theory.
1. Explanation: This is a dream and I will wake up in my own bed soon. Counterargument: this experience didn’t feel like any other dream. I had too much control over my thoughts and body. My physical reactions, sensations and emotions felt real, so did the other people I’ve met.
I sighed and put away the diary again. I got up to get ready for school. I went to the bathroom, taking a hot shower which I didn’t realise I needed this much. I then got clothed and threw my- Bella’s backpack over my shoulder. I looked at myself in the mirror. I still had some dark circles under my eye bags despite getting more sleep last night. I wasn’t just mentally tired then. I now realised that I looked a lot different, younger. I still had the same medium length black curly hair with bangs, the same white skin and dark brown eyes that I got from my mother but there was something different. Exhaustion probably played a part in this as well.
I walked out and got downstairs, like yesterday Charlie was waiting for me. We got to school and said our goodbyes then I closed my eyes and sighed. Well time for another school day.
I walked reluctant into the building, I did not like the repetitive cycle that was high school. To my luck the first class was biology, one of my favourite subjects. I wanted to be a doctor when I was in high school, I think that’s part of why I admired Carlisle. Later I wanted to work in a laboratory, it turned out that life doesn’t always goes the way you planned and I ended up following a different route. I did like my job so it turned out great in the end. Psychoanalysing people and helping them was kind of my thing. Unfortunately though class wasn’t that exciting, having to sit through a lecture of things you already knew is a drag. I don’t know how Edward did this repeatedly every few years.
Next class was English Literature. I sat at a table and to my surprise a petite girl with a short black pixie haircut came hopping into the classroom before she took a seat next to me. I estimated her to be 4’11, or 5’1 at most. She had small features and a round face. She shared the same skin tone and eye colour of the rest of her family. I thought she looked cute, not really my type though. But definitely someone I could see myself becoming friends with.
“Hi I’m Alice” she said enthusiastic reaching out her hand and smiling. She had a high pitched voice.
“Hi Alice nice to meet you I’m-“
I shook her hand and she cut me off before I could introduce my name.
“Adam, I know. “
She turned to look in front of her as the teacher entered the classroom. I was intrigued, how much did she know about me and was it due to Edward or her own visions? She didn’t hesitate to shake hands so that means she trusted me, at least somewhat.
“So Alice.. I wondered if we could talk”
“Shh” she said bringing her index finger to her mouth then pointed to the teacher implying we have to pay attention.
“Right” I said.
Class ended and Alice stood up.
“It’s nice to finally meet you Adam. I will see you soon” she said and then walked out of the classroom. Well, at least someone was optimistic.
At lunch time I walked into the cafeteria hoping to see Alice, she was sitting at her usual spot along with her siblings. Hesitant I walked towards them, they turned to look at me. All of them except for Edward.
”Hey Alice. Can we talk?”
Jasper was staring at me, it was kind of creepy and unsettling. Edward was just ignoring my presence, pretending to eat and biting into an apple while looking out of the windows. Emmett stood at the table, his arm around Rosalie who looked at me as if she was disgusted. I didn’t seem to be popular with most of them at this point, it felt kind of unfortunate because I always loved the Cullen family in the books. From all of them I noticed Rosalie was the prettiest, she had sleek blond hair that fell over her shoulders and a perfect body. She reminded me of an influencer or magazine model.
“Sure” Alice said before saying something inaudible, I assumed directed to her siblings.
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She stood up and walked with me.
“Maybe we should sit there” I said pointing towards an empty table.
We sat down and suddenly I didn’t really know how to start.
“I know what you want to talk about. It’s about how I know, right?” She asked.
I nodded.
“You might not understand now but we’ll be great friends in the future Adam, siblings actually”
Siblings? Is this why Carlisle gave me his last name when he talked to the school. Was it because of Alice?
“Can you explain what you mean with that, when you say we’ll become siblings?”
She shook her head. “I can’t really say. It might not come true that way”
“I mean your visions are subjective right? They are always subject to change and dependant on the choices people make. So we might not really become siblings”
Alice nodded excitably, she looked content with what I said.
“Yes. But some are more clear than others”
“So how clear is it, this vision?”
“Hmm” she said pressing her lips together. “I’d say about 75%”
That was a high estimation, but still there was a 25% chance that we didn’t become siblings in the future. That’s 1/4, not a likely probability but there was a pathway.
Did I wanted to? To become part of their family. I thought about it and most of them didn’t really seem to be willing to accept me at this moment, Edward and Rosalie especially I couldn’t see to be willing to accept me anytime soon. It did seem like the best choice overall because I could only stay with Charlie until next week and then I needed to find another place to stay.
I glanced at their table, Edward was staring into our direction.
“Your family doesn’t seem to like me very much” I said.
“Give them some time” she said. “They will come to terms with it eventually”
“I mean Edward especially, he kind of creeps me out”
She giggled. “He’s not so bad once you get to know him”
I laughed “It’s kind of ironic, he used to be my favourite character in the books. Actually I liked everyone in your family”
“The books?” She asked curiously while raising her eyebrows.
“You don’t know?” I asked. She shook her head.
I looked at Edward and back at her. I thought he would’ve told them about our conversation by now, perhaps he was mostly concerned about Bella. I hope he would drop it because he was starting to get on my nerves. There would be enough time for him to be angsty when he finally met her.
“So. I’m from another world and where I’m from the people here are characters in a book named twilight” I said “I know, it sounds stupid”
She looked at me for a moment and then shrugged “I believe you”
“You do?”
“Yeah”
I smiled at her, I was glad and relieved that at least someone believed me. And of course it was Alice, she was the most eccentric one of the Cullens.
“But I was wondering something”
“What were you wondering?” I asked
“Are you like me? Edward mentioned that you know things, like about the future”
She was probably referring to her visions. If I thought about it more deeply she was right, we were kinda alike in the way that we could predict things that would happen. Unlike her though I only knew what was written by Stephanie Meyer and any small change and it was possible it wouldn’t, or nothing would. Her visions were instant and ever changing and they would always hold some truth, or at least a possibility.
“Kind of. I mean I only know what is set in stone and written in the book so a small divergence and it might not all come true.”
“Oh” she said in a low voice while looking down. She was disappointed. I empathised with her, it must’ve been hard being different and not knowing your past. And having a gift that not really anyone could understand besides herself, not really understand at least. Edward would probably come closest with his mind reading abilities which I guess is why they were so close.
“Your visions are much cooler though, I wish I could predict the future at all times and see what’s coming”
She lightened up and smiled.
"But I don't understand. How can the future be both set in stone and ever changing?"
"it's an interesting paradox for sure" I answered "My theory is that while some things are outside of our control we still have the free will to act and make our own choices"
"Hmm.." She said "Anyway thank you for the talk Adam. It was lovely to meet you but I should go now. We’ll meet again soon” she continued after a moment, and started walking away.
“It was nice talking with you Alice”
“Oh, one more thing” she said as she stopped and turned around.
“There’s this girl. You’ll like her. I look forward to meeting her soon” she said, waved and walked away.
I stared after her. Which girl was she talking about, was it Bella and what did she mean with I would like her. I looked at Edward and he locked eyes with me one last time before getting ready to leave with his family.
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After school I got into my regularity of getting into Charlie’s car and going to what I now considered to be my temporary home. I told Charlie I had homework and got to my room at once, laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Alice couldn’t have been talking about Bella, I was planning to avoid her as much as possible. I was planning to avoid her, period. She would meet Edward soon and if everything went according to plan they would fall in love and go through the same events of the books. That would mean Bella was safe and happy, there was no reason to interfere in that. A small divergence and things might not happen as they should is what I told Alice and it was true. I didn’t know if any of my actions would cause a butterfly effect in which it has consequences for her safety. This was the only way to know for certain.
I suddenly thought about what I asked Charlie earlier, if Edward wasn’t there to watch Bella sleep did that mean I already changed too much? I didn’t like the thought of having to let it happen, at all. But I knew he wouldn’t hurt her.
I was glad to have had that conversation with Alice, I always wanted to have a sister- being born as the oldest of 3 younger brothers. Right now I still had more questions than answers and Alice’s words danced around in my head.