Eclipsed Secrets

Ripples in the Glass

The rain continued its relentless descent, blurring the view from the Cullen house windows. Althea sat in her usual armchair, one leg draped over the side, absently tracing patterns on the armrest. The memory of the accident replayed in her mind, sharper with each pass. Edward's impulsive actions, Bella's shaken expression, and the collective silence of the students in the parking lot—they were threads in a fabric of chaos that could unravel at any moment.

The sound of a light step made her glance toward the door. Jasper leaned casually against the frame, his arms crossed. 

"You've been pacing in your head all day," he said, his drawl carrying a faint teasing note. "It's loud, even for me."

Althea smiled faintly. "You didn't have to come find me." Jasper raised a brow, his expression softening. "Didn't I?" The corners of her lips tugged upward despite the tension knotting her thoughts. "Fine. Maybe I needed someone to pull me out of my spiral." He stepped into the room, his presence as grounding as it was calming. He settled into the chair across from her, his fingers drumming idly on the armrest. "It was reckless," Althea said finally. "Edward's got a knack for that," Jasper replied, his tone mild but edged with disapproval. "He put us all at risk. For a human," she murmured, the words leaving her lips heavier than she'd intended. Jasper studied her for a moment, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I get it. But it's more than just about her, isn't it?" Althea met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "What do you mean?" "You're worried about more than exposure," he said quietly. "You're worried about what this could mean for him. For us. For you." His insight struck a chord, and she let out a sigh, her fingers curling against the fabric of the armchair. "I don't know, Jasper. Everything feels... fragile right now." He nodded, his expression pensive. "Then we handle it, together. Like we always do." ---The next day at the hospital, the tension in the air was almost palpable. Carlisle stood with Edward near the nurses' station, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm brewing beneath the surface. Althea stayed on the fringes of the waiting area, watching as Bella arrived with her father. She could feel the eyes of other students on Edward, murmuring their disbelief about how Bella had escaped unharmed. "Think they'll piece it together?" Rosalie's voice was low, her tone clipped as she stood beside Althea. "They saw what they wanted to see," Althea replied, her gaze fixed on Bella. "Edward's fast, but humans cling to what makes sense. Most of them, anyway." Rosalie scoffed but didn't argue. Althea turned her attention back to Edward, who was now walking toward Bella. She followed at a distance, slipping unnoticed into the hallway. "I heard the chief's daughter was nearly flattened," Jasper said as he appeared beside her, his voice light but his expression sharp. "She's already suspicious," Althea muttered. "And Edward's about to make it worse," Jasper added, his golden eyes narrowing as they both watched the interaction unfold. ---In the hospital hallway, Bella confronted Edward, her voice low but urgent. "You were there," she said, her eyes locked on his. "You stopped that van." Edward glanced around, his posture tense. "I was standing next to you," he replied smoothly, though his tone held a subtle edge of frustration. "No, you weren't," Bella insisted, stepping closer. "You were across the lot. You got to me—" "Bella," Edward interrupted, his voice sterner now. "You hit your head. You don't know what you're talking about." The exchange carried on, tension mounting with every word. Althea stayed hidden around the corner, her hands gripping the edge of the wall. She could feel Jasper beside her, his presence steady but his gaze focused on Edward. "He's going to slip," she whispered. "He's walking a fine line," Jasper agreed. "But he's stubborn. He won't let it crack." When the conversation ended with Edward stalking off, Bella stood frozen for a moment before turning back toward the waiting room. Althea watched her, her expression unreadable. "You're worried about her," Jasper said softly. "She's more fragile than she realizes," Althea replied, her voice quieter now. "And Edward... he's playing with fire." ---Later that evening, back at the house, the family gathered in the living room. Edward was silent, his posture stiff as he sat by the window. "You shouldn't have done it," Rosalie snapped, breaking the heavy silence. "We agreed—no risks." "Bella was going to die," Edward said sharply, turning to face her. "Would you rather I let that happen?" "Yes," Rosalie retorted, her tone icy. "For the sake of this family, yes." "That's enough," Carlisle said, his calm voice cutting through the argument. Althea watched as the conversation ebbed and flowed, tension bubbling beneath the surface. Jasper stood beside her, his hand brushing hers for a brief moment, grounding her in the chaos. As the night deepened, Althea found herself back in the same armchair, staring out at the darkened forest. Jasper appeared once more, silent as he sat across from her. "You've had a day," he said simply. She let out a quiet laugh. "You could say that." Jasper leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You did good today. Keeping your head. Supporting Carlisle." Althea met his gaze, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're not so bad at it yourself." The warmth in his eyes lingered as he stood, offering her a rare smile before disappearing into the shadows of the house. As Althea turned back to the window, the rain began to ease, but the storm brewing within her thoughts remained. The threads were unraveling, and she could only hope they could hold together long enough to face what was coming next.

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AN: Helloooo, back with another chapter, sorry i didn't update, i had a lot of exams 😔

Does this story even make sense?? idkk

Please comment and vote if you like, stay safe, bye love u guys <3