We went through Bella's upstairs window, Alice having already checked that no one would see us.

Once we were inside we resumed our conversation.

"You couldn't have reined Rosalie in?" I asked, frustrated at my sister's attitude during lunch.

Have you ever tried to reign Rosalie in? Alice snapped back. I'll look up here you go downstairs.

I headed for the stairs. "How's Jasper dealing with it?"

Like you don't know.

Rosalie and Jasper were certainly the most concerned about Bella. She knew too much about us. Only Alice's visions of Bella had managed to stop them from acting on their fears that Bella would expose us.

Rosalie was still furious. Jasper...confused. Alice knew Bella would become her friend, that she would love her. It was a relationship Alice was more than excited to start. Of course those feelings held Jasper back from his original plans. Certainly over lunch I could hear him as he sampled the emotions between Bella and I. He already knew I cared deeply enough that I would protect her even if it meant going against my family. Bella's feelings for me however had taken him by surprise. Taken me by surprise.

I went into the laundry room and caught a smell of metal. Bending down I fished the keys to Bella's truck out the pocket of her jeans.

"Alice I have them." I said.

She flitted to my side in a second. "You know," Alice started. "I know I'm going to love Bella but her wardrobe will need serious work."

"Alice." I reprimanded. "We didn't come here to spy."

You do it, why can't I?

I chose to ignore the remark, always scared to question my actions around Bella. "Let's get her truck back to school then we can leave."

I'll take the truck. Alice thought, snatching the keys from my hand. You can follow behind.

I could hear Alice's thoughts in the truck ahead and chose to tune her out as she began mentally planning what to buy for Bella. I guess I would have to explain sooner or later that my...Bella is not a doll for her to play with. Instead I chose to focus on what I had learned from Jasper over the course of lunch.

Bella, Jasper theorised, was starting to fall in love with me. And while that gave me an immense feeling of hope it also terrified me. It was becoming impossible not to think of Alice's visions. How could I encourage her feelings when it would apparently lead to her death?

Edward. Alice called. Stop worrying about it. Besides if she loves you don't you think it will hurt her if you leave now?

Is that where my thoughts were heading? Even though I had felt her feelings through Jasper I found it hard to believe that Bella could feel one hundredth of the love I now held for her. If I left she would survive. But would I?

How does Bella drive this thing, it's so slow! Alice complained. We'll have to get her a new car too.

"Somehow I don't see Bella agreeing to that." I responded. Our cars weren't far apart, even speaking normally Alice would be able to hear me.

Why? If she's going to be a Cullen she'll have to get used to the lifestyle.

"Alice..."

Oh save it. She reprimanded. I know you don't want her to be turned, though why I have no idea. But you can't leave her now. Which means that she'll be spending more time with you, and therefore with the rest of the family. You should invite her over, you know Esme is just dying to meet her.

"I know." I chuckled, then sighed. Even though I didn't want to accept it, I had no doubts anymore that leaving would be painful beyond my imagination. In such a short space of time she had become everything to me.

Bella must be curious about us too. Alice thought. Maybe she'd like to meet us? Especially me.

I saw Alice smile in the rear-view mirror.

Give it up Edward. You know I always get what I want.

And what Alice wanted was to begin her friendship with Bella. She thought again of her vision of the two of them, arm in arm. Firstly with Bella as a human smiling widely, again with Bella as one of us her face expressionless.

Would she be happy as one of us? Like Emmett or Alice were? Or would she mourn the loss of her humanity as Rosalie did?

I thought to our plans for the following day. Bella would finally be able to see me in the sun, the very sight of which may send her running and screaming. Or the more horrifying possibility - that in our seclusion the monster within me could get loose, and I could hurt her myself.

The idea brought me to Rosalie and Emmett. When Rose had found Emmett, dying, she had carried him to Carlisle already seeing something in him that made her know he was her mate. If Bella was injured - dying - could I ever be so selfish as to ask my father to curse Bella to this existence?

You won't kill Bella, Edward. Alice mentally yelled. Or at least you better not or I'm coming after you.

We pulled into the school lot, Alice pulling into the spot my car had previously been in, before she danced to the passenger door and got in.

"Hang on." I said quickly, as an idea sprung to mind.

"Here." Alice responded, passing me a slip of paper and a pen from her gag. I took them gratefully and opened the door to Bella's truck. Quickly scrawling two words I put the note on her seat before heading back to the car.

Be safe.