»—— act three. eclipse
☽⋅── THIRTEEN ──heart-to-heart ─⋅☾

Five days remained until the battle, and through Alice's constant observation, she confirmed that the date Eve had mentioned still held true.

Despite this, Alice found it increasingly exhausting to monitor Victoria's erratic behaviour. The vampire's unpredictable actions made it difficult for her to maintain a focused watch on her. Therefore, Alice decided to limit her attempts to infrequently observe, for it only caused frustration, and disorder was something Alice dreaded more than anything.

Instead, she decided to concentrate on watching Aro again. She couldn't afford to miss any opportunity to prevent any further potential damage.

Alice sat in her room, her eyes closed as she focused on the task at hand. She furrowed her brow in concentration as she delved into Aro's decisions. Her focus was unwavering, and she quickly noticed that Aro's sole fixation was his obsession with Eve. It seemed that he had no concern for the newborn army, leaving it entirely for the guard to manage.

She took a moment to breathe a sigh of relief upon realizing they didn't need to concern themselves with Aro for the time being. With that thought in mind, she embarked on exploring the house, curious to know what her family was up to.

Her attention was soon drawn to Emmett and Jasper, who were sparring outside. Rosalie sat close just inside, engrossed in a magazine but occasionally stealing glances at the sparring pair.

In a room nearby, she glimpsed Edward engaged in conversation with Carlisle. However, their discussion was somewhat unclear to Alice, as it mostly took place through Carlisle's thoughts and Edward's responses.

Alice couldn't help but notice a similarity in the way both Eve and Carlisle spoke to Edward. It seemed that they had both grown so accustomed to their thoughts being heard by Edward that they now conversed with him almost exclusively in that manner.

With nothing particularly interesting to explore for the time being, Alice decided to join Rosalie. She sat down next to her on the couch, taking a moment to glance at the magazine the blonde was reading.

They sat in companionable silence, Rosalie immersed in the magazine and Alice content to simply observe her surroundings. The peaceful atmosphere was only occasionally broken by the faint sounds of Emmett and Jasper sparring outside.

Rosalie broke the silence, her voice curious as she inquired about the conversation from the other night. "I wonder why Eleanor isn't excited about college."

Alice's expression turned thoughtful, and she slowly shook her head in response. "I'm not sure," she confessed, "El and I are close, but I'm not as close to her as she is with Edward. We mostly chat about trivial topics, and she tends to avoid discussing anything personal."

Rosalie put up the magazine onto the table in front of them and then turned to look Alice straight in the eye, wanting her undivided attention. "Do you think we should try to talk to her? It might help her to open up, maybe she is just nervous about her new adventure," Rosalie offered a suggestion, her tone gentle while maintaining her own directness.

Alice thought about Rosalie's proposition. She agreed that talking to Eleanor might be a good idea, but it also worried her that maybe they were overstepping. After a moment, she replied. "Maybe," she said slowly, "But maybe she just needs space. We don't want to make her feel pressured, especially if she just needs time to adjust and process the news."

Rosalie sighed and closed the magazine, her expression thoughtful as she moved to the large window. Her words hung heavy in the air as she shared her theory about Eleanor's silence on the topic of college. "I think I have an idea of why she hasn't brought it up," she began.

She then turned to face Alice, her eyes reflecting a mix of understanding and realization. "Eleanor is afraid to discuss things that remind everyone that she is growing older," Rosalie continued. "I appreciate that about her, you know? She values her human life."

Rosalie leaned back against the window, her eyes fixed on Alice. "I think she's afraid to talk about college because of us," she confessed, her voice soft yet firm. "We're vampires. We've got all the time in the world, and going to college seems like a piece of cake to us. We've never had any problems creating false identities, so it's easy for us. I think she's worried that talking about it might come off as insensitive to us."

Alice listened intently, her expression thoughtful as she processed Rosalie's words. "That makes sense," she admitted slowly, "She's always been very conscious of us and how it must feel for us to see her grow older. She doesn't want to hurt our feelings or make us feel left out."

"So, maybe we shouldn't push her, then? She probably just needs some time to come to terms with her decision," Alice mused aloud. "We can't force her to talk about it, but we can show her that we support her no matter what."

Rosalie nodded in agreement, her hand on her chin in thought. "You're right," she affirmed, "We don't want to push her too far or upset her." Then, she thought for a moment, considering something. "But how do we show her that we support her?"

Alice smiled warmly as she replied, "You know, Eleanor is practically our sister already, considering how everyone sees Carlisle and Eve staying together for eternity."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "So perhaps what she needs most right now is for us to be present for her. We should carry on as usual and simply wait for her to open up when she's ready to talk."

Rosalie chuckled at Alice's words, her expression gentle and amused. "You're right," she agreed, leaning back against the window frame. "We're her family, after all. And in a way, she's our sister."

"Our job, as her sisters, is to support her. But right now, the best way to support her is to just continue as we usually do and let her come to us when she's ready to talk. We can't rush her."

Alice nodded in agreement, a small smile playing on her lips. "Exactly," she affirmed. "And who knows, maybe being there for her and treating her as we always have will make her feel comfortable enough to open up when she's ready. We just have to be patient."

Rosalie chuckled softly, a rare moment of vulnerability appearing on her face. "I used to hate the idea of Edward's friendship with Eleanor," she admitted. "Having a human suddenly thrust into our lives, I always thought one day she'd want to be one of us and throw away her human life."

She paused briefly, her smile subtly growing as she continued. "But then I realized, Eleanor doesn't want that. She wants to live her life to the fullest as a human, and becoming a vampire is only something she'd consider if she was dying."

Rosalie shook her head, a look of fondness in her eyes. "Over the past year and a half, I've come to care about her more than anything," she confessed. "She and Eve are part of our family, and I wouldn't want to change that for the world."

Alice's smile brightened as she spoke, a gleam in her eyes. "And Carlisle, even though I haven't known him as long as you, Edward, or Emmett have, I've always wanted to see him happy," she said. "Ever since he met Eve, his life has become so much brighter."

Rosalie nodded in agreement, her gaze soft as she turned to look out the window. "Eve has had such a positive influence on Carlisle," she commented. "Before he met her, he was always so focused on taking care of all of us, he never thought about himself. But now, he actually allows himself to be happy."

"And not just Carlisle," Alice added, "All of us. We've all been more at peace since Eve and Eleanor have been a part of our lives. It's like they've brought a whole new level of understanding and love into our family."

Rosalie hummed in agreement, turning her attention back to Alice. "You're right," she agreed. "Even I can feel it. It's like Eve and Eleanor have filled a gap in our family, and brought a sense of comfort and love that we never even knew was missing."

Alice and Rosalie exchanged a knowing look, a hint of amusement in their eyes. At that moment, they were reminded that Eleanor and Eve had given them something to connect over.

While they always had a good relationship, their conversations were often limited to fashion and shopping trips. Heart-to-heart talks or personal topics were rarely even discussed between them.

But now, with Eleanor and Eve in their lives, there was suddenly a whole new world of conversation topics. Their dynamics had shifted, and they found themselves growing closer as they shared their thoughts and feelings with each other.

...

Despite avoiding discussing college, Eve and Eleanor still spent the day together. They left early in the morning and spent time with Charlie, checking in on his well-being since their move.

Charlie was doing well and shared that his daughter, Bella, would be visiting him for a few months in a few weeks. Eve was delighted to hear this news, as she had missed the opportunity to meet Bella when she first visited, as she and Carlisle had been away in New York.

Their day with Charlie involved assisting him in organizing his house, as he had been so busy with work that he hadn't had the time to do it himself. Eve and Eleanor felt guilty because this was a task they used to help him with when they lived with him, but they had prioritized his safety above all else by choosing to move out.

They knew that their move to live with the Cullens reduced the risk of endangering Charlie. Despite their concerns about visiting him while Victoria was on the loose, Alice reassured them that they would be safe. She promised to call if there were any changes. Fortunately, their day went smoothly without any incidents.

While they were still cautious and alert for any signs of danger, their day passed without any incident. They enjoyed spending time with Charlie and helping him organize his house, reminiscing about the memories they had shared in the past.

As the day went on, Eve and Eleanor found themselves craving a familiar environment, their minds drifting to a place they had often visited with Charlie—Sully's diner. They realized that since moving in with the Cullen's, they had not visited the diner once, which was strange because this was a frequent spot they used to go to when they lived with Charlie.

They walked into the diner, greeted by the familiar scent of comfort food and the lively chatter of the customers inside. The neon sign glowed overhead, casting a warm red hue over the wooden floors and checkered tabletops.

They settled into a booth, their eyes scanning the menu even though they already knew what they would order. It felt good to be back here, surrounded by memories and the simple charm of this small-town diner.

As they waited for their food to arrive, they couldn't help but reminisce about the times they'd shared with Charlie in this very spot. They recalled the conversations they'd had, the laughter they'd shared, and the sense of comfort this place had always provided them.

Just as they were enjoying their meal, Eleanor finally gathered the courage to ask the question that had been weighing on her mind. "I've been wondering," she began, "why haven't you asked me about the college thing?"

In the middle of taking a bite of her burger, Eve paused, lowering it and taking a moment to chew before responding. "Well," she replied after swallowing, "it hasn't even been a full day." She took a sip of her water before continuing, "And I thought I'd give you as much time as you needed to bring it up."

Eleanor leaned back in her booth seat, surprised by her mother's response. She had expected a myriad of questions or some kind of comment, but her mother's understanding left her in a state of perplexity.

"Really?" Eleanor finally said. "You're not going to ask me anything else?"

Eve chuckled softly at her daughter's confusion and replied, "Well, no," she said, "I figured you'd tell me when you were ready. You know I'm not the type of mother to pounce on you the moment I have a question, right?"

Eleanor couldn't help but smile at her mother's words. She knew that Eve wasn't one to pressure her or demand answers, but she also knew that she wasn't one to let her off the hook so easily.

Eve took a moment to wipe her mouth with a napkin before continuing, "Besides," she said, a hint of mischief in her eyes, "I have a feeling you'll tell me everything eventually, whether you like it or not." Her face fell slightly, knowing that her mother had a point. She could never keep anything from Eve for long, no matter how hard she tried.

"You know me too well," Eleanor admitted, shaking her head. "I can't hide anything from you for long."

Eleanor's eyes remained fixed on the window, her gaze distant. The words she spoke were softly whispered, barely audible over the chatter of the diner.

"I want to go to college," she confessed, her voice laced with a mixture of hope and uncertainty. "I do. But I'm not sure if I can be excited about it around...them."

Eve's expression shifted as she picked up on the implication hidden in Eleanor's hesitation. Understanding dawned on her face as she realized what her daughter was truly worried about.

"Oh..." Eve muttered, the realization sinking in. She knew exactly what Eleanor was referring to—her worry about discussing college around the Cullens, as it would highlight the stark contrast between Eleanor's mortality and their eternal youth.

Eleanor fell silent, clearly not wanting to dwell on the matter further.

Eve decided to gently offer her perspective. "I believe they would be happy for you," she gently assured her daughter. "The Cullen's are your family, and they would want you to be happy."

Eleanor mulled over her mother's words, taking a moment to consider them.

For now, they agreed to change the topic, shifting to lighter, more casual conversations.