Chapter one.
The telephone was already at my ear before it buzzed.
"Edward?" I asked.
"As if you didn't already know that," he teased.
"Hm," I merely answered.
"Then you probably know why I'm calling too?"
I pretended to be innocent. "No. What's up?"
I heard Edward sighing on the other side of the connection.
"Alice," Edward began, "can I have Carlisle, please?"
"Why?" I asked.
"That's really none of your business."
"Didn't need to get so pissed," I told him, but quickly ran out of the room and knocked on Carlisle's office door.
"Come in." Carlisle's warm voice said. I opened the door and walked into the expensive furnished room. I gave the phone to Carlisle.
I stayed in the door opening, trying to hear something of the conversation. I couldn't help it that I was such a nosy person. Of course I had known what this conversation would be about a month ago, but it was still nice to hear.
"Congratulations!," Carlisle said, "Say that to Bella too for me!… Do you think so? … Yes, and I'm sure Esmé will love it too… Charlie is okay with that? I can surely take the day off…. I'll ask Alice."
He hung up and watched me. He didn't say something, he probably already knew that I knew.
"Bella said yes!" I sang, jumping up and down on the doorstep, "And I'm allowed to do the wedding!"
Carlisle laughed. He was very fond of Bella, just like the rest of the family. We all loved her. Well, not all of us, because Rose still had a problem with Bella. But I knew (I had seen it the day that Rosalie had talked to Bella when she was staying here) that Rose would get over it and that one day she would really actually like Bella. I tried to tell Bella that once, but she had doubted my vision and only made a sarcastic remark.
I ran out of Carlisle's room and ran to the garden where Jasper and Emmett were having another wrestling match. I was too enthusiastic to use the stairs and the door, so I jumped out of the window in the hall and landed lithely in the soft green grass.
"What's up with you, Alice?" Emmett asked, while pausing for a moment trying to push Jasper to the ground.
Jasper took advantage of the short pause and threw Emmett of him. They eyed each other suspiciously for a moment but then seemed to decide that whatever I had to tell was more important than their little fight. Their heads turned to me.
"It's Bella!" I said.
Jasper's eyes turned big. "Is she alright?"
I chuckled. "That depends on if you mean it mentally or physically. Physically, she's alright. As alright as Bella physically can ever be. Mentally, she's not." I grinned.
Emmett growled. Obviously, he wanted to know the big news. I decided to let the guys wait just a few more seconds. If they both thought a little bit, they knew what I was talking about.
"Skip to the point, Alice," Emmett said. I sighed theatrically, pretending to be irritated.
"Edward proposed to Bella half a year ago, remember?" I started.
"She said yes? Finally?" Jasper said, smiling. It was good to know that my Jasper was still a lot smarter than Emmett. "Good for her! And good for Edward!"
Emmett took over my enthusiastic mood. He didn't jump up and down as I had done, but he stretched ands strained his fingers as if he was preparing for a fight.
"Relax, guys," Jasper said. He was happy too, but not as enthusiastic as we were. He was happy in a serene kind of way. He loved Bella as a sister, and he was looking forward to her becoming family just as I was.
Suddenly, I felt calmer. Emmett reflected my look of bewilderment, before we both eyed Jasper suspiciously. Jasper merely laughed.
"I'm getting out of here," Emmett said, and he ran into the woods, so fast that he was out of my view in one short second. In my head, I suddenly saw an image of Edward and Bella together, while Emmett ran in.
"Emmett, come back here! They need some privacy!" I shouted after him. All I heard was Emmett's teasing laughter, but the image in my head changed, and Edward and Bella were alone again. Emmett went hunting instead.
I turned around and saw Esmé standing just a couple of feet away from Jasper and me. She was smiling a warm smile that was typical for Esmé. She looked happy and proud. I knew she was happy because Bella would soon have the Cullen last name. But she was proud that Edward finally got married for the first time.
I couldn't disagree with her. Edward had been alone for too long before Bella had come into his life. Of course, he was my dear brother. He was even my dearest brother. The one with whom I shared practically everything. We had both been the outsiders of the family: he knowing everything around him, I knowing everything that was going to be around me. Then I had found Jasper, and I was less and outsider… Edward claimed to be happy the way he was, but we all knew he missed something. And then he had met Bella. His life turned. His mood turned. He was happy.
Jasper interrupted my thoughts while he grabbed my hand. I looked up and saw his face had a questioning look.
"The wedding's in a month," I answered Jasper's unspoken question. Jasper and I didn't have to say many things to each other. We understood each other so well, that our conversations usually contained few words. "Edward promised to change her after the wedding, remember, and Bella wants to be changed before her birthday."
Jasper nodded. He pushed me gently at my small inside the house, and Esmé followed us.
The phone rang.
"They've told Charlie. He was very disappointed and threw a Charlie-esque fit, and after that told them he wants to talk to Carlisle. He wants to have dinner here tonight," I explained, my words coming out rapidly so they were said before Esmé had time to pick up the phone.
Esmé picked up the phone and smiled when she heard Charlie's brusque voice on the other side. The poor man still had his own short wedding in his head. He surely was afraid that this one would last as long as his. He didn't realize that Bella's and Edward's would not just fade away, and that even if Bella would like to run away from Edward in a year, she still wouldn't be able to come home because she would probably kill and eat Charlie then.
"Hi, Charlie…. Really?... Oh that's great!" Esmé spoke through the phone, pretending not to know about the wedding. Surely Charlie would be hurt if he found out that Bella and Edward had called us first. "congratulations! We're going to be family! … You don't agree? … I can see your point, Charlie, but-…. Let's talk about his over dinner, shall we? … Yes, see you in an hour!... Bye"
Esmé sighed. "Charlie is not happy." She explained unnecessarily, "He and Bella are going to be here in an hour. Edward's coming here now. Jasper, can you go to the supermarket to buy some food?"
Jasper looked at her incredulously. "Mum. I have no idea what humans eat. How am I supposed to know what to buy?"
Esmé thought about that for a moment, and then her face cleared. "Then you buy a book about cooking first and then you buy the food that's in the recipe."
"Isn't it easier to order some food from Port Angeles?" I asked.
"Honey, you can't expect me to order food for our guests?" Esmé answered.
"Can you cook?" Carlisle asked, who appeared on top of the stairs. He had heard our conversation, for he had already changed into a tux.
The phone ran again. I knew it was Bella and I knew why she was calling, so I picked up.
"Hey, Bells!" I said.
"Alice!" Bella's voice sounded very nervous. I imagined she now had red blushes on her cheeks and a frantic look in her eyes.
"Congratulations!" I dared to say. I smiled, for I knew this was exactly what she didn't want to talk about.
"Thanks," Bella said, though she didn't sound grateful at all. She sounded like she was able to hit someone right. If only her native dog was around right now. "Charlie's coming for dinner at you place, though you probably already know that."
"Hm?" I answered.
"What are you going to serve him?"
"Uhm. Food?" I asked innocently.
"I'm sorry Alice. Humans don't eat other humans."
"We don't eat humans either." I answered, still pretending to be oblivious to what she wanted to say.
"You know what I mean!" Bella answered impatiently, "You can't cook!"
"You're right!" I said, and I truly sounded shocked. It was faked, of course. "What should we do?"
"Shall I come over?" she offered, "I can go to the supermarket first."
"Jasper's getting food now. Edward knows how to cook and he'll be here in a minute. Just stay calm, Bella. Breathe. Relax."
Yeah sure. Like Bella was able to relax for even a moment in the next month.
"You know, Bells?" I asked her.
"What?" her voice sounded hoarse. She probable already knew what I was going to say.
"You're going to get married in a month!" I said, sounding happy.
"Ugh!" Bella groaned, and hung up without another word. I snickered.
The rest of the hour, Esmé and I were working on setting the table. I knew it would look like a party where the president would come over, but I didn't care. I loved to do this.
Our dining room was getting a complete make-over. In the garage, Emmett and Carlisle were working on creating a new table. (Rose had told them that the old one looked old-fashioned.)
Jasper had returned with the food and was now trying to help Edward with cooking. Edward was in the best mood ever. I hadn't seen him like this since that day that he'd showed Bella the house for the first time.
He was singing songs, so loudly that we could here it everywhere in the house. He was almost dancing around, and he looked as if he would hug even Jane or Felix if they would walk in now. (Of which I hoped they wouldn't.)
Five minutes before I knew that Charlie and Bella were arriving, I ran to my room, and changed into blue jeans (very expensive, designed by an Italian designer) and a beautiful red top, of which I knew that Bella loved it. I heard Rose pacing in the hallway next to my door and I walked towards her.
"Everything alright?" I asked her, sounding concerned.
Rose's beautiful face had a guilty-looking expression.
"I'm trying so hard to be glad for them…" she said, not able to finish her sentence. But I knew what she meant. She wasn't glad about the marriage. But not because she didn't like Bella.
"You still don't want Bella to be changed, do you?" I asked.
Rosalie shook her head. "It's not that I don't want her to be part of our family. I want Edward to be happy. But I just can't… be happy for her to be eternally damned."
"I understand, Rose," I said, and it was true. I didn't feel that way too, but at least I understood Rose's motives. I squeezed her shoulder to comfort her, but then said: "They're at the porch. It's time."
Rosalie sighed one last time and walked off the stairs. I saw that while Esmé walked to the front door to open it, Carlisle and Emmett quickly set the new table again. Rose had been right. The room looked better now.
Charlie and Bella came in, followed by Esmé. Charlie gazed into the room, his mouth half open with awe. He had never been here before. Bella was looking around the room too, but not because it looked so big. No, she was looking for Edward. He came out of the kitchen, and walked towards Bella's side.
I noticed that he squeezed her hand shortly. Bella's frantic look didn't leave her eyes.
"Good evening, Charlie," Carlisle said, and he turned around and showed Charlie the dining room.
I sat at the table next to Bella. On her other side, Charlie sat. Edward sat on the other side of the table, still almost shining with joy. Bella was slightly happy too, but mostly she was just nervous. I knew that it was difficult for her to have Charlie for dinner with us. Not because we were dangerous, but because she was afraid Charlie would make a fool of himself.
"How're you feeling?" I asked Bella, whispering in her ear.
"nervous," she answered, whispering too. Like I didn't already see that.
"It's going to be alright." I patted her back, and she smiled slightly. Edward winked at her.
Carlisle and Charlie were talking about the pros and contras of the wedding.
"Bella's too young!" Charlie half-shouted, "Don't you think Edward is, too?"
"Edward is old enough to be able to make his own decision. Whatever that may be, we agree, for it's what he thinks it's right." Carlisle answered in a calm voice.
"Uhm, dad?" Bella said, "Can't you discuss this later? I mean, when Edward and I are, like, not around?"
Charlie was obviously still angry with her. He looked at her for a short moment, but then turned his head towards Carlisle again as if she hadn't spoken. Bella put her head in her hands. Charlie was hurting her. I could see this was more difficult for her than she was showing. I wanted to comfort her, to show her that it was going to be alright, but I hadn't seen it yet. Charlie was changing his mind every minute, so I couldn't see what his final opinion about the marriage was going to be.
I saw that Edward had to keep himself from walking to Bella's side. I called his name in my head.
Edward
He looked up, meeting my eyes, with a questioning look on his face.
She'll be alright. Just stay there and let Charlie have some moments to think things over
Edward sighed, then nodded so slightly that only I could see it. I knew how much he wanted to be alone with Bella right now.
"I still think that eighteen is too young," Charlie said, "Such marriages always end after a week."
Emmett chuckled. Rose raised her perfect eyebrows. Jasper sent a calming wave towards Charlie.
Carlisle sighed. "Charlie, whatever happens, you can't stop the two of them. They're old enough to decide for themselves. They don't need parental supervision anymore." With these words, he ended the discussion. For now, at least. I knew they would continue after dinner, in private, and that, without Charlie knowing, everyone would be able to hear. I hoped that Edward would take Bella out of the house then.
Charlie held his mouth. He looked less angry than before. I shot Jasper a thankful smile. He winked.
The dinner continued and the less formal conversations started.
"So, Bella, why did you suddenly say yes to Edward?" I whispered in her ear.
"Mind your own business," Edward hissed. Bella seemed to agree with him. When she spoke, her voice was louder than she had intended because of her nervousness.
"Yeah, Alice, don't you have a wedding to arrange?"
If I would have been able to, I would have flushed now.
"You're kidding me!" Bella nearly shrieked, everyone was looking at us now, "you're already done?"
I quickly composed my face, but I was sure I didn't fool Bella. So I shrugged.
"I've known this for some months already…" I whispered, so Charlie wouldn't be able to hear. Bella looked at me incredulously, and was about to make an angry reply, I'm sure, when suddenly the table fade away in front of my eyes.
I saw two people. They were of our kind. I recognized them immediately. Felix. Jane.
Stupid Alice! I thought to myself. Why did I have to bring them up just before dinner?
They were running through Forks, and I knew where they were heading. The lonely road, with forest on both sides. Then the garden with the red truck in it. The green porch.
They were heading for Charlie's.
"Her smell is all over the place," Jane said, "She's very recently been here in her human form."
Felix chuckled. "Now we don't have a choice but to kill her." Jane nodded.
"Alice?" I heard Bella's voice, coming from very far away. She was whispering in my ear. I felt Jasper's hand on mine. But I couldn't turn back to the present. The vision was too strong. It had been what I'd been waiting for. "You alright?" Bella's voice again.
Demetri emerged from the shadows on the other side of the road.
"I can't track her," he said. He looked angry. Jane nodded. She had already expected something like that.
"Let's wait for nightfall," Jane ordered, but Felix shook his head.
"Then the others will find out about this, and will hide her," he said.
"Hm," Jane said, "none of our powers work on Bella. We must wait for Alec and the others. Then we can go to the Cullen's house and force them to talk and tell them where she is."
"Aro said we weren't supposed to use violence on them."
"Not when not necessary." Jane said, and an angelic smile appeared on her face.
The vision was over. Six pair of vampire eyes were looking at me questioningly. Bella's eyes were a mixture of concern and eagerness to know what I saw.
"Are you alright, Alice?" Charlie asked, surely concerned. I quickly nodded, composing my face, and pretending nothing had happened.
"Yeah, everything is alright," I said, while shoving some more of my dinner on my lap, "It's just that I just remembered an appointment. Our friends from Italy are coming over next week."