It had been six days since Lucas's impromptu meeting with Alice. He'd spent that time honing his magic, alongside an increased proficiency in controlling his body.
The first thing he did upon returning home was repairing the coffee table and wooden flooring with a simple 'Repairo' spell. Casting an area-wide 'Unbreakable Charm' eased his worries regarding most supernatural entities.
Unless they came barreling full speed into his home with all their strength and power, it would remain unscathed.
A couple of additional spells were cast throughout the home, simply to increase the comfort of his furniture or to modify them to be more aesthetically pleasing.
The area surrounding his home was layered with additional wards, each serving a specific purpose. The 'Anti-Supernatural' ward, for instance, was altered to allow Alice's signature to bypass its security.
'Magic is so intricate,' Lucas mused as he sat on the couch, his legs splayed across the coffee table, a small flame dancing around his flicking finger.
'Alice has her own unique magical signature even though she doesn't display any obvious magical manipulation.'
Pausing his thought, Lucas straightened his posture, a sudden, broad leap in logic striking him.
'What if certain people held a degree of magical aptitude, but it was so minuscule it would be comparable to a squib in the Harry Potter world? It would make some sense... the powers vampires hold could just be the manifestation or mutation of their unique personal magic that wasn't strong enough as a human.'
Lucas's brows furrowed at the theory. Though he had no concrete evidence, it was certainly something he could explore later.
Stretching, Lucas heard the faint pops and cracks of his bones. 'I should start a workout routine, or maybe some martial arts. Who knows when it could come in handy.'
KnockKnock
Taking a deep breath, Lucas smiled as he stood and walked to the front door. Slowly opening it, he was greeted by a beautiful, smiling Alice.
"Hi Lucas! I hope you don't mind me stopping by? Mum needs some groceries and I was on my way, so I thought I'd accept your invitation."
Alice's amber eyes were wide and excited as she peered past Lucas's shoulder into his home.
Taking a split second to really see her, Lucas couldn't help but internally let out a low whistle at her outfit. A floral sundress hung from her shoulders, hugging her upper body like a second skin before it flared outwards at her hips and down to just above her knees.
"Alice! It's nice to see you, please come in." Stepping aside, Lucas opened the doorway wider as Alice walked inside, her head swiveling around like an owl.
Guiding her to the living room, he offered her a seat before settling into the single armchair across from her. Alice continued her visual investigation, sometimes nodding, sometimes shaking her head, her eyebrows furrowing as she seemingly found something she disapproved of.
"This won't do!" She huffed, looking Lucas directly in the eyes. "I can tell you're a male, you shouldn't have your home screaming it too. Oh, there's so much you can do!"
Lucas stared at Alice as she somehow pulled a notebook from what appeared to be thin air, her hand flying across the paper as she scribbled notes. 'Uh... since when did I hire her as an interior decorator?' Scrunching up his face, Lucas coughed lightly.
"Alice, what're you doing?"
"Oh, and the carpet needs to be changed. I haven't seen that style since the 80's catalogues."
"The blinds need to be a more neutral color…"
"Alice."
…
"Staining the wood could be an option."
"Alice."
…
"I wonder if the bedroom is in the same state?"
"Alice!" Lucas clapped his hands loudly.
Alice jolted in surprise, her eyes snapping to Lucas. Her shoulders drooped slightly, and a sheepish look appeared on her face, as if she'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"Sorry!" She said, closing the notebook. "I always get lost in my own world when it comes to fashion and home design."
Lucas paused, then chuckled aloud. Alice, hearing his laughter, scowled in a playfully cute way, her nose scrunching together.
"Sorry, sorry!" Lucas raised his hands in defense. "You're the first person who has seen my home, and your reaction was hilarious. I've never had my own personal interior decorator."
Alice leaned back and snorted, her eyes twinkling in amusement. "Personal interior decorator? I'd bankrupt you just with my notes." Her smile widened as she brushed back a stray lock of hair.
Lucas smirked, acknowledging the truth in her words.
"Anyway, I had a question for the only person I know in Forks. Mind helping me?" He asked.
Alice nodded, adjusting her arms in her lap as she looked at Lucas.
———
Lucas was currently slumped in the passenger seat of Alice's car as they drove back from Seattle. His eyes were closed in mental exhaustion as he questioned his sanity.
'Why the hell did I ask if she could give me an opinion on clothing?'
When he had uttered those words, a sound that shouldn't be possible escaped her lips, and she'd practically flown into his room before almost instantaneously wailing at the state of his wardrobe. Along with the house, a closet full of his previous clothes had been left for him in this new life. Unfortunately, Lucas was known to have an abysmal fashion sense.
"How…" Lucas murmured.
"Hmm? What was that?" Alice asked, expertly weaving her car between vehicles on the highway.
"How the hell can you shop like that? I swear I've never moved that hard or fast in my life. Oh God… the changing rooms… I think I have PTSD." Lucas moaned.
Alice giggled lightly, before it turned into a full-blown laugh. Her eyes sparkled with mirth as she glanced at Lucas.
"Oh, sweetie. That was small-time! Wait until you see me at a high-end boutique." She smiled, her eyes turning glassy for a moment as she replayed the memories.
———
The drive from Seattle to Forks was around four hours in total.
The duo spent the majority of the time in idle small talk, as Lucas tried to glean more about the local Forks situation from Alice. Unfortunately, Alice was poorly informed about most of the town gossip, so they shifted direction to her family instead.
"So you've got Edward, who you'd class as 'eternally brooding,' then there's Rosalie who doesn't like making friends. Emmett is your jock brother who is equivalent to a big teddy bear." Lucas summarized, going through the detailed descriptions of her 'siblings.'
"Yep, then there's Jasper. He's the closest to me, apart from Edward. Jasper and Rosalie are twins; they're both a bit antisocial sometimes." Alice confirmed, humming along to the radio.
Lucas sat up slightly, having progressively slouched down throughout the ride.
"And Dr. Cullen and Esme are fine with Rosalie and Emmett dating?" He inquired.
"Well, it's not like they're actually related. Our parents are pretty happy letting us make our own decisions."
Lucas carefully noted Alice's wording when she mentioned her family dynamics. It seemed as though she and Jasper were not a couple, or at least she didn't feel the need to mention their relationship status.
'Hmm, is this more of an AU version? I wonder what else could be different.'
———
Author's Note: Here is your second one for today! Now there was a time-skip as there is only so much he can do before canon begins, and he destroys it. I really wanted to show a 'growing' friendship between MC and Alice, but the next chapter will move away from that.
How are their interactions? Let me know! Keep pumping those Power Stones!
Much love <3 (2/4 Chapters Uploaded today!)