CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
RAISING SUSPICIONS

    "THERE is something off about that girl, Alice, why else would I be so paranoid?" Thea frowns as she lets Alice braid her hair in the middle of the library.

They'd gone to the library right after school just like Alice had promised and Thea couldn't stop talking about Isabella Swan.

"Sweetheart, I love you. So I will be honest when I say that you do tend to overthink when it comes to outsiders." Alice kisses the top of her head, "For example, when Jazz and I first met the family."

Okay. She had a point.

Thea sighed, continuing to read her book while Alice finished off the braid. "Edward could've lost control. You should've seen him."

Was Thea overreacting? Thea questioned herself again, "Have you had any more visions of her?"

Alice shakes her head, "not yet...turn."

Thea did a 180, now facing her wife.

"Promise me you won't stress yourself out over the human." Alice frowns. She hated seeing her wife stressed but she felt like Thea had nothing to worry about.

"...fine. I pr—"

Alice's phone rings and she removes it from her tote bag. "It's Carlisle...hello?"

"Alice, Edward is going to go stay with The Denali's for a couple of days."

Thea immediately tossed her book down.

"What? Why?"

"Isabella. Her scent is very agonizing for him." Carlisle explains, "he should return in a couple of days."

"Oh...okay—We'll be home in a few minutes,"  Alice informs him before hanging up. Alice's eyes move towards her wife, who is giving her the "I told you so" eyes.

Thea frustratingly grabbed her backpack and placed scattering books on their shelves. "I am so going to stress about this."

✸

"Tell Carmilla and Tanya I said hello," Thea says as she closes the trunk and makes her way to Edward, who stands by the driver's side door.

Ah yes, the two mates Tanya and Carmilla, who figured out they were mates the day of Thea's very memorable wedding.

Carmilla had been staying with The Denali Coven ever since.

Edward nods, taking a moment to say, "I'm sorry."

"For?" Thea raises a brow in confusion.

"I know how on edge this entire situation has been making you." Edward claims, "And by doing this, it isn't my intention to make you feel even more worried."

Thea squints, pointing playfully at him, "Stay out of my head, Telepathy Boy." Edward and her share a grin, as well as a small hug before he gets into the car and drives to Alaska.

For the next few days, Thea did her best to distract herself from anything involving the human, Isabella Swan. She'd read, go shopping with Alice, and even writing therapy.

But it all seemed to be a waist when she was confronted by the human three days later while she was waiting on Alice in Spanish class.

"Can I help you?" Thea spoke low, her eyes burning holes into Bella, who seemed to struggle to hold eye contact.

Is your brother, um—Edward Cullen, is he like...sick or something." Bella coughs while adjusting her bag strap, "He's been gone for the past few days."

Thea responded in short and sweet answers, "He's sick."

Bella seemed as if she was about to say something else but students barged between them to leave school. Alice soon came out with a wide smile on her face. "Hi, your Isabella, right?"

Bella nods, "Yeah."

Alice tried to make conversation, which Thea disliked very much. "First year? How's Forks treating you so far?"

"Pretty good," Bella replies a little more enthusiastically.

Thea couldn't stop the next words that left her mouth. "We have to go." She pulled Alice along, who frowned.

"Thea."

"Don't Thea me." She frowns, "She doesn't even know Edward and she asked why he's been absent, that doesn't seem a little weird to you?"

"Aren't they lab partners?" Alice questions.

"That has nothing to do with it and you know it." Thea rolls her eyes as they make their way to the car.

✸

"Tell me about it." Rosalie's leg comes up, which Thea simply blocks. The two girls now found a sturdy area so the two could train, as well as talk about the human.

Rosalie wasn't thinking about it as much as Thea seemed to be but it did cross Rosalie's mind now and then.

Thea takes a second, tightening her ponytail. "Rose, be honest with me, am I overthinking this? Is this just me distrustful?"

Rosalie crossed her arms, eyebrows raising, "I think you should listen to whatever gut feeling you have, Thea."

Thea was nodding now, trying to get her thoughts in place.

"I can't blame you," Rose scoffs, "Edward having to go all the way to Alaska just because of her scent. I mean...that's pretty odd."

Thea felt something lift from her shoulders. Thea was beginning to think she was crazy or just some paranoid vampire but knowing that Rosalie also thought it was weird, put Thea's mind at ease.

That night, Thea went out hunting. She came back and took a shower, coming out in just her towel as she watched Alice put away all her jewelry.

Thea was silent as she walked into the closet to pick out something to wear. She soon heard Alice speak, "Are you upset with me?"

Thea sighs, coming out of the closet(ironic) in just her towel. "Why would you think that?"

"Because of Isabella."

Thea runs her fingers through her damp hair, sitting down on the edge of their bed. "I'm not mad at you. That human was in your vision for a reason and I'm 75% sure it's not a good reason." 

Alice sits down next to her wife, "if it's not a good reason. We'll face whatever problems we have to...together." She grabs ahold of Thea's hand.

Thea smiles as well, nodding in agreement, "Together."

Alice placed her finger under Thea's chin and landed a soft kiss on her lips. Thea only responded by deepening the kiss.

There was a heavy force between the two vampires, clearly both fighting for the upper hand in the kiss. Alice traced her fingers up Thea's thigh and that was the access she needed to get Thea laid back on the bed.

It only escalated from there.

✸

Tuesday rolled around the corner, Edward had returned from Alaska and was back in biology class.

Thea couldn't help but listen in on what seemed to be a very awkward conversation.

"You were gone." Bella was the first to say.

Edward responded carefully, "Yeah...I was out of town for a couple of days. Personal reasons."

Bella was still examining inside the microscope when she frowned, "I heard you were sick?"

Shit.

Thea leaned forward on the desk. Mike tried starting a conversation to which she simply shushed him.

Edward ever so slightly tilted his head. Shrugging. "Yeah, I was out of town for a couple of days for personal reasons and when I came back, I got sick. Maybe I should stop traveling so much." He wore a tight smile.

Thea sighs in relief, finally feeling calm enough to turn back to her biology assignment.

✸

"We should go to the library, we haven't been in a couple of days," Alice suggests to her mate, to which she smiles.

"I can never say no to that." Thea smiles ear to ear as they approach their family in the parking lot right after the last period.

Emmett pokes at Thea's cheek just to mess with her, Thea fans his hand away with the help of a middle finger afterward.

Thea searched around the parking lot, seeing kids getting in their cars and driving off campus. Her eyes found the sight of a pale teen boy with familiar green eyes who seemed to be taking pictures of the school.

Thea was distracted when a loud screech echoed across the parking lot. Her sights turned to a black van that was feet away from slamming into the body of Bella Swan, who was standing near her car.

Thea watched it all happen in slow motion, standing in her spot as the van was stopped by the strength of Edward Cullen.

Thea blinked, snapping her head over to where he previously stood. "What. The. Fuck."

ragerwrites, I love that Thea overthinks things, it just reminds me so much of myself. Lmao. 🥲

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