Challenge #135
"It's the possibility that when you're dead you might still go on hurting that bothers me." - Keri Hulme, The Bone People
Peeping Alice pt.7
Alice rubs at her temples, her brows creased in worry. She grabs one of the mugs from Vincent, and stares into the chocolate brown void.
"She is getting worse, is she not?" Vincent's voice is gentle, yet demanding as he looks into his own coffee.
She nods slowly, not looking up. "I feel more and more like the older sister here," she chuckles softly. "She is growing more irresponsible, and I'm not sure what to tell her that I haven't or you haven't already."
"She knows the risks. Do you think there is a bigger problem here?" He sighs and slowly sips his drink, before taking a seat on the couch next to her.
"I don't know Vincent." Alice's voice is thin, the emotional strain of the night before, and the dream riddled sleep has taken it's toll on her. "It just really isn't like her to continually make these kinds of mistakes." Our parents taught her better than that.
I am sorry Alice. "They taught you both very well."
"Thanks," she nods and she smiles slightly. "You know, I always thought growing up that those five years were so far apart. She did things and got things first, and loved to flaunt them. Those five years were an eternity to me in her shadow." She takes a few moments and slowly sips at her coffee lost in thoughts of her she and her sister as teenagers. After a few minutes she looks over at Vincent, "You know, I think she always felt a little jealous of me, because I had you."
He doesn't glance up from his drink, but watches the slow dark swirl in the mug. "I was there for her too."
"It wasn't the same Vincent, she understood that." Alice sighs and rearranges herself on the couch to sit next to him. "Now, I'd love to have those five years in front of me, they feel so far away like somehow they got erased, or given away."
"It will be good to have her here tomorrow. I would like to keep an eye on her and her Talents. There may be something there."
"You know, this does not get you off the hook about the house. I want...need to know more." She looks at him over at him and gives a small smile. "But, I understand it may take some time."
He nods, and returns her smile. She leans her head gently onto his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll figure out whatever is going on with Carol."
His eyes darken, but she cannot see them. He makes a non-commital grunt low in his throat as she closes her eyes.