Work of Art

Chapter 32

By some miracle, the sun was out once again as Nick headed to school the next day. It was deceivingly warm out. If it wasn't actually the second week into December, Nick would almost have thought it to be the coming of spring. She wished she could take more advantage of the beautiful day, but school awaited. Not to mention, she practically froze as soon as she stepped out the front door of her house. The sun truly was as deceiving as it was beautiful. So, Nick went about her day as usual.

School was school, but at least very little remained until winter break; however, that meant midterms were looming closer by the day. Nick cared, she really did, but when it came down to it, her art was more important than precalculus would ever be. So, she studied, but definitely not as much as she should have, and not nearly as much as some of her more academically inclined friends.

Alice was once again missing from ceramics, so Nick made a point to pull out her phone and send her a quick text: Hey, it read, is everything good? 

Nick didn't wait for an immediate reply and instead got to work on the bowl she was throwing. She couldn't help but think it would make a lovely Christmas gift for her mom.

The last class of the day was spent writing her capstone paper once more. The only thing getting Nick through that dreadful project was the thought that it was only a semester-long class and next semester she'd have a free period to do with as she pleased.

After classes ended for the day and Nick made her way to the hospital, she once again found that Alice wasn't the only Cullen missing. By chance, she happened to overhear Mark discussing a certain blond doctor's absence with another female doctor-- Dr. Matt she believed was her name. 

Nick slowed her walk with the ladder to better hear the doctors' conversation.

"Yeah," Mark was saying, "Carlisle called in a few days ago to take off a couple of days to go camping with his family." 

That was all Nick caught before she was once again out of earshot. The news of the still absent tugging sensation would have to wait another day. Climbing the ladder, Nick got to work.

...

The next morning, Nick sighed as she awoke. No sunlight was streaming through her thin curtains. Her sad suspicions were confirmed when she stepped out her front door like usual. She pulled her coat a little tighter around her and walked to her car, trying to block out the cold which had returned with a vengeance. The day was uneventful, filled with teachers repeating over and over how Monday and Tuesday were the last two days of class and that all students should check the exam schedule to know when and where to go for their midterms Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Later at lunch, an excited gasp from the corner of the cafeteria accidentally pulled the room's attention. It was a couple of younger students Nick didn't know well outside of class; they were all pointing out the large cafeteria window and chattering excitedly. It was snowing. What a cruel joke the snow had played. But as Nick looked out the window, she noticed another group of students, this one that she recognized. She caught Alice's eye, glad to see she had returned. When she smiled at the pixie, Alice stood up.

"I'll be right back," Alice told the other vampires who looked after her with various levels of disdain, all except Jasper.

He mumbled under his breath, only loud enough for the other vampires at the table to hear. "Let her be happy," he hissed.

"But they're humans," Rosalie put an emphasis on the last word, her tone dripping with venom.

"Rosalie is right," Edward murmured in agreeance. "We all know better than to mess with humans."

Jasper just chose to ignore his siblings and instead look toward his mate who was happily making her way across the cafeteria at a human speed.

"Hi!" she chirped once she got close to the group.

The group all responded with a hello back.

"Is everything alright?" Nick asked concerned.

Alice looked at her confused, prompting Nick to continue.

"Oh, just that you weren't in ceramics the past few days," Nick replied.

Alice tried to hide her shock that the human girl had noticed. She truly wasn't used to connecting with others outside of her coven and there was something about being missed that startled her. If she had a heart, it would have warmed, and her appreciation for the girl grew. Jasper could feel as much from where he sat observing across the room. The rest of the family was trying hard not to pay attention. So it was only Jasper that noticed the way Alice suddenly froze as she sat down at the table. He would know that glazed-eye expression anywhere.

Even as uninterested as he was, Edward picked up on Jasper's concerning thoughts, his attention also shifting over to Alice who was sitting stiffly. Luckily none of the humans at the table seemed to notice, all immersed in a conversation about the snow.

Alice snapped out of it when someone repeated her name.

"Alice. Alice, have you seen snow before?" The short girl shook her head, to clear it, but they interpreted it as a no.

"Really!" Maggie exclaimed.

Alice probably would have blushed if her face was capable of being reddened by blood. "Oh no," she corrected. "I have. We actually moved from Alaska." She gestured over toward the other Cullens.

"Alaska?" Nick asked in shock.

Alice could tell they were all brimming with questions, but she was hesitant to answer any. "I'll tell you all about it sometime," she smiled instead, "but for now I have to return to Rosalie before she decides to kill me for leaving her mid-conversation." Alice laughed at the idea, but as Nick glanced over to the beautiful blond, she couldn't help but wonder if the blond really was about to kill her sister from the way which her golden eyes burned with displeasure.

Alice stood up, but before she walked away, she turned to Nick. "Be careful," she half warned half pleaded. "It's icy out today."

Nick took mock offence. "Hey, I may be clumsy but I think these buffoons need the warning as much as I do," she joked looking at her friends.

Alice smiled sadly. "Of course." Then she walked away.

Before Nick could think too closely about Alice's targeted warning or her unusual demeanor, her friends drew her into conversation once more.