~*~*~*~*~*~
JPOV
We wound up spending the night in each other's arms. I slept better than I normally do, but not as good as I usually could with Alice. I guess I had too much on my mind.
I was a little perplexed about why she wanted to have sex earlier. I knew she was horny, and let's face it, I wanted nothing more than to fuck her senseless, but she was going to be married to another man. Had I broken her so much so that she was afraid to commit to him?
I had no room to talk though. I was barely able to sustain a relationship with any of the girls I had dated, to no one’s fault but my own. I just couldn't get everything I left behind out of my head and I compared everyone and everything to Alice.
As much as I wanted to bring Alice pleasure last night, I was thankful that we didn't do anything. I knew it would just hurt her more in the end and honestly, I didn't want her to think it was the only reason I came over.
I needed to show her that I'm here for her. That, despite my actions in the past, I'm not going to leave her. And fucking her every chance I got sure as hell wouldn't help the situation any.
I looked over at her sleeping figure only to see her looking at me. "Jesus," I laughed. "Trying to scare me?"
"No," she chuckled, "you just looked lost in thought... what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing much.” I shrugged. “You know how I get... my mind was just wandering." I smiled at her and pulled her closer. "Did I wake you?"
"No," She shook her head. "It's nice to wake up with someone again."
I nodded and glanced at the bedside clock. "What time do you need to start getting ready for work?"
"I usually get up at seven."
I shook my head and kissed her forehead. "Go back to sleep Ali Cat, you've still got two hours."
"I wanna hang with you," she said with a smile.
"Well I'm not going anywhere. I promise, I’ll be here when you wake up." I moved onto my side to face her.
She yawned and giggled. "Okay,” she said, before closing her eyes.
I smiled and watched her as she fell back to sleep. The fluttering under her eyes lids and slight parting of her lips told me she was fast asleep. I gently kissed her before attempting to go back to sleep myself.
~*~oOo~*~
I closed the centrifuge lid, waiting for the click and the whirring sound before taking my glasses off to rub my eyes. One draw-back to not sleeping is burning out really fast, especially when you're straining your eyes on computer screens, light tables and microscopes.
"Hey Whitlock, do you have the samples for the Murphy case?" I put my glasses back on to see one of the detectives standing in the doorway of the lab.
"Murphy? Oh yeah!" I rolled my chair over and pulled out the file. "Three samples were found. The victim’s, one that shares common traits, and an unknown," I informed him as I handed over the file.
"Thanks," he said gruffly as he left the lab.
"Dickhead," I muttered under my breath. Most of the staff didn't like me being here and I felt like I was in the middle of a damn turf war at times, but that's what happens when you get called in from another jurisdiction.
"Didn't you have somewhere to be at four?" I looked up again to see Grant looking at me.
This was technically his lab and while I was doing work for Charlie I also helped Grant out.
"Yeah, why?" I asked.
He laughed and shook his head. "Man… it's a quarter after five."
Shit! "Fuck Ali is gonna kill me," I groaned trying to clean up as quickly as I could.
Grant laughed and shook his head. "Ali huh? Got yourself a girlfriend and didn't tell me?" He teased as he pulled the samples I started out of the centrifuge.
I scoffed. "I wish. I just promised her I'd meet with her and the caterer at four."
"Caterer? You getting married?" he asked.
I shook my head as I stood up. "No, she is. I'm just helping her out."
"Ah... you're in the ‘friends zone’. Good luck with that."
I just rolled my eyes and said my goodbyes before hurrying to get my coat and helmet.
I hit the number for Bella's cell and waited for her to pick up.
She giggled as she answered. "Still haven't learned to read a watch I see," she teased.
"Ha ha Bells. Is Ali Cat still there?"
"Yeah, we’re just talking and she's had some wine..." she trailed off.
"Please tell her I'm sorry and I'm on my way right now."
I could hear Bella pull the phone away and say something to Alice. "Alright, I told her. Just drive safe."
"Are you guys at your office or the house?" I asked to make sure.
"The office," Bella said, giving me the directions before hanging up the phone.
When I arrived at the address Bella gave me, I looked at it skeptically. I knew she had a private catering business, and after she did some gig for a movie shoot she’d made enough to buy a place that was all kitchen and office. This building looked more like a warehouse.
I walked into the building and could hear the girls talking and the smells of whatever Bella was cooking filled the air, making me realize I hadn’t eaten yet today.
I approached Ali Cat from behind, kissing her on the cheek. "Sorry I'm late beautiful," I whispered before sitting down next to her.
She smiled, blushed and took a long sip from her drink. "It's okay."
Bella smiled at us, a knowing look in her eyes before she left us to stir something.
"No, I told you I was going to be here. I just lost track of time. So what did I miss?"
"Nothin' really, we just talked about the cake."
"Since when could Bells bake?" I teased, earning a resounding 'hey' from her.
Alice laughed, "Bells ain't makin' it, her partner Jake is."
"Oh good," I laughed as Bella sat back down. "I'm pretty sure you want your guests to be able to eat the cake."
"Ohmygod! I make brownies wrong one time," Bella said, shaking her head at me as she slid a Mountain Dew towards me.
"They were bricks and Emmett was so pissed that you used his ‘special butter’ for them," I snorted.
"They were groovy," Alice winked at Bella.
Bella laughed and shook her head. "What the hell was he thinking putting 'weed butter' in the fridge? Our dad is a cop for fucks sake!"
"Oh I don't know... We are all guilty of thinking we could get away with things when were younger." I laughed.
"Like the 'tutoring'," Alice used finger quotes, "sessions, alone in your dorm room, all weekend?"
I raised my eyebrow at her. "Or someone purposely failing their classes so they would need it."
~*~*~October 18th, 2002~*~*~
I had just finished organizing my desk so that two people could work at it, when there was a soft knock at the door. "Come in," I called out knowing who it was.
Last weekend Esme had asked for me to help Ali Cat out. Apparently she was failing her history and science classes and Esme thought I would be the best candidate to tutor her. The plan was for Esme to pay me twenty dollars a week until Alice's grades went back up.
I tried to tell her that there was no charge for it, after all I'd do anything to help Ali Cat, but Esme wouldn’t hear of it.
I heard the door click shut and I looked over to see Alice with her overnight bag and book bag. I smiled at her. "Well, make yourself at home silly."
She smiled shyly and put the bags over by Edward's bed. "So, mom said you're gonna tutor me?"
I nodded. "That's the plan. So tell me something, do you find history and science boring or are you too busy drooling over some guy?" I teased.
She gaped at me for a minute, "I might find it a bit boring."
I laughed at her expression. "You can tell me if there's someone that's got your eye Ali," I shook my head. "Do you want something to drink?"
"Yes please," She smiled at me and sat on my bed.
I went over to the fridge that Ed and I had in our dorm room and grabbed two bottles of water. "So, I was thinking… we could get some pizza or Chinese then tackle whichever one you want to tonight," I suggested as I handed her a bottle.
"Okay... um can we get Chinese? It's something Ed hates, so I don't get it too often you know?"
I nodded. "Of course."
"I've missed you," she chirped as I grabbed my phone.
"I missed you too," I admitted. College life was definitely hectic and made it damn near impossible to spend time with anyone but my books.
"So... you... uh... have a girlfriend or whatever?"
I laughed and shook my head. "Nope. Nerds, contrary to someone's personal opinion, are not considered hot," I teased as I dialed the number for the Chinese takeout place.
"Not all nerds are hot, just you," she countered.
I smiled and shook my head at her as I ordered our food. "Apparently you're the only one who thinks so," I told her after I hung up the phone.
"Why do you say that?" she asked, tilting her head to study me.
"Nothing," I told her with a small smile while sitting on my bed. "So... how's high school life?"
"Boring," she sighed. "I got asked to homecoming by this guy named Chuck."
"Oh..." I looked down at my phone trying to seem like I wasn't that interested. "You gonna go with him?"
"I dunno, he's not really my type..." She looked at me expectantly.
"Oh well, if he's not your type then there's nothing to worry about huh? I mean not that I was worried, I just mean... Shit, so you want to work on history or science tonight?" Yeah that was smooth.
She gave a small laugh, "I guess science."
Shortly after we started working on her physics homework the food arrived, giving us what she called a 'study break'.
We got situated on the floor where we ate while we watched TV. It was nice just having her here to hang out with, even if we were supposed to be studying. I missed being able to hang out with her every day.
But it also made me acutely aware of her. Periodically my eyes would wander along her toned legs, watch her pert breasts bounce as she laughed at the show. Even the faint smell of her shampoo seemed to call to me, more so than usual.
I wanted to be respectful of her and her personal space, even if other parts of my anatomy wanted me to pin her down and hump her senseless. And it's not like our friendship was strictly platonic. It was anything but platonic. Or at least it had been.
Since I moved into the dorm, I hardly had time to go back to Forks anymore. Sure I had a standing invitation to the Cullen's family dinners on Sunday with Edward, but I was working my ass off to keep my scholarship. And the lack of seeing Alice made me wonder if she even had any interest in me still.
"Hey Ali..." I started, poking my dumpling with a chopstick. "Besides this Chuck guy not being your type... is there another reason why you don't want to go to homecoming with him?"
She blushed a little, "Isn't it obvious?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I mean people change, feelings change, right?"
"Sure," she said sounding doubtful, her eyes cast down on her food.
I sighed. "I always hurt you, you know? I don't mean to, but I can feel it."
"You don't," she argued, staring at me wide eyed.
"Ali Cat..." I gave her a sad smile. "You don't have to admit it, just know that I don't mean to hurt you. I just never know the right things to say sometimes."
"I know..." She smiled.
I leaned closer to her. "So you still like me? Even though I'm a huge nerd and can't stop staring at your legs in those shorts?" I felt my ears warm up, the tell tale sign that I was blushing for admitting that to her, but I wanted a genuine smile from her.
She squeezed her thighs together and smiled, "Yes, so much that I failed my classes ‘cause I knew they'd ask you to tutor me."
I laughed at that. "Why you little faker... I knew something was up because you were excited about being in AP Physics and then your mom tells me your failing." I rolled my eyes at her. "And to think, I was going to kiss you," I teased.
Her head snapped up, "You aren't now?"
I shook my head, "Nope, ‘cause you've been bad."
"Come on Nerdy Boy..." She pouted.
I sighed, "I don't know Ali Cat..." I bit my cheek to keep from smiling.
"I'll be really good," She bit back a grin.
I quirked my eyebrow up at her. "How good?"
"As good as you want me to be?"
I laughed and put the white take out box next to me before pulling her into my lap. "But what if I want you to be bad?"
"How bad do you want me, Mr. Whitlock?" She damn-near purred.
I cupped her face with my hands. "We'll see," I said with a smirk before pressing my lips to hers.
~*~oOo~*~
The soft clink of porcelain and the smell of chicken brought me out of my memory. "Chicken Cordon Bleu," Bella said with a wink at me.
I smiled back at her and listened as she explained to Ali Cat that the idea behind it was to be the guilty pleasure dish, since it was more than chicken.
Alice looked at me and smiled. I wondered what that look was for but decided not to ask.
After Ali's meeting with Bella, I took the very tipsy bride-to-be back to her house. She was giggling about something the whole ride back and again I decided not to ask and ruin her fun.
"You know, you're a cute drunk," I teased as I set her on the couch and started to pull her shoes off for her.
"You think so?" she asked, still giggling.
"I do," I told her, placing the shoes by the couch before sitting next to her. "What's so funny buddy?" I finally asked in reference to her giggling.
"You looked funny driving my car, I think you're too big for it." She set off on another round of giggles.
I just shook my head and smiled. "Do you want me to start a bath for you or will you just worry about in the morning?"
"You can start a bath for me," She winked at me.
I nodded, pretending I didn't notice her flirting. "Tylenol in the medicine cabinet?"
"Yes," She leaned close to me.
"Baby, you're drunk," I warned her. I didn't want her to do something she'd regret later.
"I want you..." She tilted her head and wrapped her arms loosely around my neck.
I brushed the hair off the side of her face and smiled tenderly at her. "I want you too Ali Cat, but you know we shouldn't."
She pouted, "I know."
I kissed her softly on the forehead. "Come on, let me get you a nice hot bath ready with some pain pills and you'll be fine in the morning."
"Okay..." she agreed, letting me pick her up.
~*~oOO~*~
Over the next few days, I spent more time sleeping in Alice’s bed, with her, than I ever dreamed possible.
Besides trying to be respectful of her relationship with him, it was difficult to keep my hands to myself. Add in the fact that the case I was here for was near a close, my mind was constantly overwhelmed with thoughts.
I was almost done with the case Charlie wanted me to help out with and while I told Alice I wasn't leaving, I knew Chief Star, back in Knoxville, was expecting me back.
I was stuck. Do I finish up what I had to do here and leave Alice or do I quit my job and stay?
Alice would be pissed if I quit to stay here... but yet it would hurt her if I left.
I'm screwed.
I was just getting ready to head out the door when Paul, the department chief called me into his office.
Paul was a middle aged divorcé, balding with red hair and quite honestly, reminded me somewhat of a leprechaun. Though he was a pretty nice guy and seemed to genuinely care for his staff.
I sat down across from him and wondered what this impromptu meeting was all about.
"First let me say thank you. You've done an excellent job helping out Chief Swan as well as my department," he said in his thick New York accent. Brooklyn, I think.
"No problem at all, sir. I'm just grateful that y'all let me take up some space in your lab."
He smiled and nodded tossing a stack of paper work at me. "It turns out we need another tech on graves, and your Department Chief had nothing but high praises, emphasizing your skills in technical analyzing." I nodded my head, silently letting him know he could continue.
"We don't have anyone on our team with your knowledge and after speaking with Chief Star, both Chief Swan and I were hoping to convince her of possibly letting you stay here permanently, if you choose to do so."
"Are you offering me a job?" I asked after a few moments of silence.
Paul laughed. "Yes sir, I believe I am."
~*~*~
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