Drifting

It only took a moment for everything to change… for lives to be lost; for a treaty to be broken; for lines to be drawn; for a family, once strong, to splinter and drift apart. We never saw it coming. We never dreamed it would happen this way.

AN. This is an alternate universe story beginning in Eclipse with a few time line changes. For the purposes of this story, the newborn battle took place before graduation. This story takes place after the newborn battle but before graduation. Also, Jacob has not left. Breaking Dawn is disregarded. Further details will be explained in the story. POV will vary.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the property of Stephanie Meyer. I do not own them but am grateful for the opportunity to use them in the unleashing of my own imagination.

Rating: This story is rated T for violence and depressing situations.

POV: This chapter is written from Alice's point of view.

Chapter 1: Five Minutes

It must have been a split second decision. There was no prior warning.

I was sitting in my history class, with Edward beside me. It was our last class of the day and the one class he hadn't been able to get with Bella, which made him irritable. I was teasing him silently about his grouchy face when the vision overtook me.

Beside me, Edwards eyes widened in horror as he saw the vision pass through my mind. But there was no time to react. Just as the vision ended, we heard the shot pierce the stillness of Forks High School.

Then there was chaos.

Screams and shouts of panic erupted in every classroom. Doors slammed open. A stampede of footsteps sounded in the hallway as students and teachers poured out. Another gunshot was heard, followed by more cries and then more shots.

My mind was reeling but one thought rose above the rest, Get out.

We had to get out of here, not for our safety, but the safety of the humans in the building. There would be blood, too much blood. If either of us were to lose control…

I met Edwards eyes speaking my thoughts even though I knew he could hear them. "We have to get out of here."

But he was already shaking his head. "Not until I find Bella."

Bella. Yes, we had to make sure she got out. She was human; she could be hurt. Edward would never leave without her and neither would I. She was my friend, my sister.

Not even a minute had passed since the first shot was fired. Both Edward and I were on our feet and exiting the classroom instantly, holding our breath as a precaution, the only thing that might keep us from giving into our instincts and feeding.

We had to travel at a human pace but we ran as fast as we dared without anyone noticing. There was so little time. Bella's classroom was on the other side of the building and fortunately close to the main entrance. Unfortunately, however, we would have to pass through the place where the shooter was still firing to get there.

I glanced at Edward as we neared the place where I knew the sent of blood would be strongest. His face was set in determination; his eyes still golden. He was set on his goal – get Bella and get out. He would be fine. Taking stock of myself, I knew that I too would be fine, so long as I didn't breath. Thank goodness we had hunted just the previous night.

Just then, we rounded the corner. No! my mind screamed when I saw him. A vision of what was about to happen passed through my brain as I remembered the plans Jasper and I had made just that morning. He was here to pick me up. We were going to go up into the mountains for a weekend of hunting, just the two of us. Now I could only watch in horror as those plans changed right before my eyes.

Jasper stood stalk still in the hallway, his eyes clenched shut, not breathing. He was trying so hard, fighting against the scent, against his instincts. Edward and I both picked up our pace. If we could reach him in time, maybe…

But it was no use. A door opened and a student rushed out, crashing into Jasper as he did so, breaking my poor husband's concentration. He scented the spilt blood within the classroom and his eyes turned black with hunger as he dashed inside.

The girl was already dead. I saw that much as Edward and I pulled Jasper off of her. She'd been shot in the head. But it mattered little now. We had to get Jasper out, away from here. Edward and I each took a firm hold on one of Jasper's arms. He didn't fight us. I could feel the horror radiating from him as he realized what he'd just done. We pulled him through and open window and as soon as we were on the ground we made a beeline for the trees.

After traveling about two miles, we met up with Emmett and Rosalie. We pulled Jasper to a stop, and he sank to his knees, his head in his hands. I knelt with him, holding him too me and knowing that I could do little to comfort him right now. Emmett and Rose were bombarding Edward with questions about what was going on. But he ignored hem and turned back toward the school.

"I have to get Bella." He started to run.

"Wait!" I called, and he froze as yet another vision overtook me.

Edward running into the school building… entering Bella's classroom…seeing the shooter, lying dead after committing suicide… seeing Bella…Bella lying on the floor with a bullet in her chest… Edward flying into a rage… killing… feeding…

"NO!" Edward turned to run toward the school but I jumped on him, grabbing his arm and holding him back with all my might.

"Edward, it's too late! You can't go back. It'll only make things worse!" He struggled to break my grip, determined to go back. The look of anguish on his face just about broke my heart but I couldn't let him go "Emmett, help me!"

Emmett instantly appeared at his other side, doing a better job of holding Edward back then I was. Rose came up beside me and took my place on Edwards arm.

"You'd better go after Jasper. He ran toward the mountains. We'll get Edward home." She said.

I turned. Sure enough, my husband was gone, likely too overcome by his own emotions as well as Edward's to stay any longer. I nodded to Rosalie, knowing that she and Emmett would take care of Edward, before dashing off to follow Jasper's trail.

As I ran, my mind went over everything that had happened in the past five minutes. Had it only been that long?