Wide awake

Chapter Seventeen Bye Bye Brandy Snaps

B.P.O.V.

We woke up again without the alarm clock. The sun wasn’t out today like yesterday, but it was still far brighter in the room than I was used to. I opened my eyes and peeked up at Edward, remembering how he looked yesterday. His face was mashed in all my curls, covering his nose and mouth as he breathed. It made me smile brightly.

He liked the hair. I don’t only say that because he told me it was nice. I could notice him looking at me differently. In a good way. I hope. I shifted my head slightly, but found that it was being held still by Edward’s fist, tangled into the back of all the curls. He definitely liked the hair.

I laid there for a long while with my head on Edward’s chest, rising and falling, just enjoying feeling him asleep and so peaceful beside me, buried in my shiny hair. After what seemed like an hour, he finally began to stir, nuzzling his head deeper into my curls. I smiled into his chest yet again. I wondered briefly if he even noticed how much he liked my hair.

He stiffened infinitesimally, then groaned, and pulled away from my hair. Just like always. I rolled out of bed without another glance at him. I wanted the last thing I saw of him this morning to be his face nuzzled in my hair.

When I caught a look at my hair in the mirror, I grimaced and smiled all at the same time. I grimaced because it was everywhere. All the curls knotted up. But I smiled because it was Edward’s hands and face that did it.

I packed up hastily; worrying that Alice might catch me coming in the door if I didn’t make it home before she woke up. I set Edward’s oatmeal cookies on the bed side table, and left through the balcony, doing another sweep of the yard to be positive the coast was clear.

Alice was still asleep when I got home at seven. I walked to her room to see if Jasper stayed again, but found her door wide opened like it always was. I showered and changed, kind of glum about having to wash out all the curls, but remembered she made me promise her she could do it again. I’d take her up on that. It was such a small difference, but felt like it made such a big impact. I spent the rest of the morning waiting for Alice to wake up, wondering what I would do next.

I made her breakfast as a thank you for the hair. At eight, she bounced into the kitchen, doing a little happy spin that made me chuckle at her. Her face was alight with excitement.

“Good morning!” She chirped, sliding into a stool and swinging her legs back and forth with vigor. I loved excited Alice. Much better than hung over Alice. I fixed her the plate of breakfast that had been waiting for her and sat down to eat with her.

She told me her and Jasper had plans next weekend, which didn’t surprise me in the least. We were sitting and chatting and giggling like two normal teenage girls. And I was rather shocked when Esme stepped in the door. She wasn’t supposed to be home until later that evening.

She walked into the kitchen in her pant suit, glancing at our all our giggling, and smiled at us. Her smile looked strangely bittersweet.

“Hey girls, any room for an old woman in here?” She asked sweetly, slipping into a stool next to Alice. I nodded enthusiastically and made Esme a big plate of the food we were eating.

“Fancy seeing you here mom.” Alice squeaked, still swinging her legs and arching a delicate black eyebrow at her mother. Esme smiled at her and began picking at her food, not answering the unspoken question as to why she had arrived home so early.

I warily took my seat and resumed eating, though all the giggling over Jasper had come to a screeching halt. We ate in a tense silence, Alice and I stealing curious glances at one another while Esme ate her breakfast. Finally, Esme set her fork down and daintily wiped her mouth with a napkin, finally meeting my gaze.