Recommence ° Edward Cullen[Rewriting]

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Chapter Three | Under the Microscope

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Rain slid down the fogged glass in fine, silvery threads. Alex squinted at the pane as she passed, then turned away. She padded down the stairs, wrapped in warm, loose clothes with her fingers curled around a mug of tea, the plume of steam drifting up to warm her face. Stepping into the living room, she paused at the sight that greeted her.

Sprawled on the couch, her father was fast asleep with his boots still laced and his legs in disarray, an arm thrown over his eyes. The muted TV glow of a fishing program flickered across the dimly lit room. Alex lingered a beat, her expression unreadable, before 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 the same 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 adjusted herself, curling tighter as she dozed off again.

Alex blinked, coming back to herself. She stood and made her way to the kitchen, where she found the coffee pot was still hot and humming faintly. Footsteps echoed 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, she slid the cup toward her.

Bella accepted it with a murmured 'thank you', her fingers wrapping around the warm ceramic with a pleased hum. She peeked at her sister with a thoughtful expression. She noticed Alex's habit—the one where she mirrored what people did for her, whether pleasant or unpleasant. She never drew attention to it or expressed much when she did it, 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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Days passed with the same routine.

Edward Cullen drifted into Alex's orbit between classes, always asking questions that sounded casual but felt deliberate. He never pushed and never lingered long enough for it to be too much, 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 genuinely intrigued by Edward's targeted interest.