Recommence ° Edward Cullen[Rewriting]

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Chapter Three | Under the Microscope

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Rain slid down the chilled glass in fine, silvery threads, blurring the outside world. Alex squinted past the foggy pane for a moment, then turned away. She padded down the stairs, wrapped in warmth and loose clothes, fingers curled around a mug of tea whose steam drifted up to meet her face. Stepping into the living room, she paused at the sight that greeted her. Her father was fast asleep where he lay sprawled on the couch, his boots still laced on his feet and his legs in disarray with an arm thrown over his face.

The muted glow of a fishing program flickered across the dimly lit room. Alex lingered a beat, her expression unreadable. Then, she set her mug down on the table before him and crouched down. Deft fingers made quick work of his boots, the man barely twitching as she tugged them off. He didn't stir as she moved around the couch to cover him with the ugly throw blanket Sue had gifted him as a gag gift, nor did he stir when she smoothed it down over his body, ensuring he was fully covered.

Her mind was artfully blank as she mirrored a time he had done this for her, the motions coming to her more easily than the constriction of emotions. A cool weight shifted against her wrist as Ember stirred from her hiding place inside Alex's sleeve, scales whispering faintly on fabric. The little serpent flicked out a tongue, sampling the air, then curled back down to doze. Alex blinked, coming back to herself before she turned and made her way to the kitchen. She found the coffee pot was still hot and humming faintly when footsteps padded behind her.

She peeked over her shoulder as she poured her sister a cup, finding the brunette there, hair damp and eyes still heavy with sleep. Wordlessly, Alex slid the cup toward her. Bella accepted it with a quiet 'thank you', her fingers wrapping around the warm ceramic with a pleased hum. The brunette had noticed this habit of Alex's. How she mirrored the things people did for her, pleasant and unpleasant. There was no ceremony or show to her actions, or much emotion in her face, but her actions were there, present and woven into the little spaces between them.

Alex was oblivious to Bella's softening expression as the girl watched her over the rim of her mug. She was already turning back to the counter, tucking a stray hair behind her ear as she quietly contemplated what would make for a nice, quick breakfast.

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It had been a few days of the same quiet routine. Of Edward Cullen drifting into Alex's orbit between classes, asking questions that sounded casual but felt deliberate. He never pushed and never lingered long enough for anyone else to notice, but he always managed to find her when she was alone, as if the one class they shared wasn't enough. Alex tried her best to play disinterested, but aside from her faint amusement that trickled in whenever she saw Jessica's pinched expression, she was intrigued by Edward's sudden interest.

It felt purposeful, in a way, as if he believed she had the answers to his unasked questions. It seemed today was no different from the rest as the bell rang, signalling the end of lunch. Alex had slinked outside, content to stand alone under her umbrella in the rain, propped against her truck as she watched the world turn misty and gray around her. A cool hand plucked her umbrella from her, the ghost of his touch leaving a trail of cold more intense than the heavy, wet air around her.