Chapter 2: Impediment

Here is my second chapter of After The Twilight. Bella's point of view. I hope you enjoyed chapter 1 and I hope you all enjoy this next chapter. This is a little longer than the first part. I would very much appreciate your reviews and ideas for improvement. Nothing helps me more than having feedback. Enjoy! :D - Kell x

Eventually, Edward began to slow. I glanced around at our surroundings when he slowed to a stop. We had reached an opening of the forest trees. I slid down from Edward's back and looked out into a busy street, full of shops and restaurants and rushing people.

"How about spending the day in Seattle?" Edward put his arm around my waist as he smiled crookedly down at me. I smiled up at him warmly.

"Sure…" I agreed, before we stepped out of the opening and strolled down the street.

"But before we do anything, you need to eat."

We soon passed through Pike Place Market, where I grabbed a quick sandwich before we explored it together. As we walked hand in hand, more and more people, especially women, stared at Edward with a mix of mild astonishment and awe and then glanced at me in envy. Edward paid no attention to them whatsoever. He looked down at me frequently, smiling his beautiful crooked smile. Several strands of his bronze hair hung over his warm honey eyes.

We walked past dozens of stores and stalls. People were playing music almost everywhere I looked. There was so much going on all around that I soon relaxed and forgot about the staring eyes.

After exploring the market, it was lunchtime and Edward took me to Green Lake, where we wandered on the trail by the flowing stream. The gentle wind brushed my hair over my face.

"Edward, can I ask you something?" I was looking down now, wary of his reaction to the question I was about to ask.

"Of course," Edward replied, looking at me.

"Why do you think Alice's visions disappeared, and then returned so quickly? Has this ever happened before?" My voice was low, so no one but him could hear.

Edward hesitated before answering, his lips becoming a thin hard line. He looked forwards, eyes squinting unseeingly into the distance. "Not like this, no. Never. It was a shock to all of us."

He didn't say any more, and I got the sense he was holding something back, that he wasn't telling me the whole truth. This piqued my curiosity even more. But at the same time I didn't want to make him say something he didn't want to. His hair blew over his eyes for a moment, hiding his expression. He looked down.

"What is it?" I whispered, worried about what he may be thinking.

"It's nothing," Edward muttered, now looking straight ahead, avoiding my gaze. My hair whipped in my face and I threw it back over my head. I squinted at him, trying to work out his expression. But it was unreadable. My feet planted abruptly, and I almost got dragged forward before Edward realized I'd stopped, and let go of my hand. He looked over my shoulder, eyes still narrowed. He seemed reluctant to look at me.

I put my hand on his cold cheek. He finally moved his eyes to my concerned face.

"You can tell me. You can tell me anything, you know that." My voice was very gentle and encouraging, though I was slowly growing frantic inside.

"No. I'm fine Bella, really. Don't worry about me. Come on, let's walk." His voice was rough. He pulled me gently along by my hand, but in such a way that I couldn't protest.

I stared at him for the rest of the walk, not caring that I nearly tripped and fell several times from not looking where I was going. Edward never lost his patience with my constant stumbling. That was normal, for me at least.

We later approached a nearby restaurant, where there was a crowd of people sitting outside at the marble tables. Edward took me through the bunch of people standing around the large gold-lined double doors. They gawped but moved out of our way quickly once they saw Edward's expression.

Inside, there was an array of tables filled with people chatting and passing around food. I couldn't see a single empty table. As I glanced around the restaurant, a waitress with a blonde ponytail chatting with a friend looked at us from across the room before approaching eagerly.

"Hello! Welcome. Have you reserved a table?" She asked me with a warm smile. That surprised me – I would have thought she would only look at Edward, like the waitress in Port Angeles.

"Uh…Edward did you?" I looked up at him. He had a seemingly forced friendly smile on his face.

"Yes, we have, thank you." Edward told the waitress before looking at me intently.

The waitress led us to our table, which was right at the back of the restaurant in a private booth, much like the one in Port Angeles. It seemed somewhat secluded from the other tables. This was good.

Edward sat next to me as we settled into our seats. I ordered two cokes as we were handed the menus. I almost gasped as I looked at the menu. The meals were unbelievably expensive. I should have known Edward would spend too much money on me today. This was ridiculous. Why waste all that on one meal and a couple of drinks?

"Edward… do you have any idea how much this is going to cost?" I asked, my thoughts spilling into my words.

"Sure. This isn't even a lot of money to me. This is nothing." Edward said with a smirk. I scowled at him. I desperately tried to look for the least expensive meal on the menu. There wasn't much variation in terms of money. In the end I pushed it away and decided to leave it until the waitress asked. There were more important things to discuss. I opened my mouth to speak, but Edward cut me off.

"Bella… I'm sorry for the way I behaved earlier, that was unacceptable. I was… scared… Scared of what you would say, what you would think…" Edward trailed off, looking deep into my eyes. His words were so sincere. I stared into his eyes with adoration. He was scared… why would he be scared? As if I could possibly frighten him.

I waited for him to speak again, trying to make sense of his words. When he stayed silent, I spoke up. "Edward, you don't have to be sorry to me. What I'm scared of is that you can't tell me what's bothering you. Tell me," I pleaded.

Edward sighed, and began.

"I can't keep this from you any longer. Bella… Alice… Alice hasn't got her visions back. It was a lie. I'm so sorry." His eyes searched my face rapidly for my reaction. He looked so sad. He shouldn't get so stressed over my thoughts. I'd known something like this was coming; his face revealed so much to me now. But the confirmation still shocked me nevertheless.

I breathed in, taking in Edward's revelation. I didn't speak, I just thought over what he'd said, nodding slowly and looking away to avoid tangling my thoughts by looking into his probing golden eyes. I took a few sips of my drink. Edward started to grow anxious at my silence, eyes still searching my face. He was just about to prompt me to speak when the waitress returned to take our orders.

"What can I get you? Or would you prefer more time?" The waitress asked us politely.

Edward continued to look at me. I glanced at the menu again and picked the first meal on it as I did once before, raising my eyebrows at it but deciding to go with it anyway. The waitress asked Edward if he wanted anything. When he declined, she frowned disbelievingly but didn't ask again. Once the waitress was gone, I looked Edward full in the face, eyebrows still raised. I frowned and looked down, thinking. He was still waiting for my response, fascination mixing with the anxiety in his eyes. He tilted his head to one side, curiosity now becoming the dominant emotion on his face. Then I looked him straight in the eyes.

"You don't have to lie to prevent me from being hurt, or scared, or whatever else you think I'll feel. It's ok." I said reassuringly.

"I just wanted you to be happy without worrying about anything. I don't know what to do." Edward sighed. "But right now, there's nothing that can be done. I'll have to be patient. Even if I don't want to be."

"Yeah, I guess. It won't go on for much longer, Edward. I mean, it would be impossible for Alice to…" I trailed off, unable to finish.

"We'll talk about this later, Bella. Somewhere less public. I want you to enjoy your meal."

I nodded. Then he leaned down toward me, placed his hand gently on my neck under my ear and pressed his cold lips to mine softly. My heart immediately started thudding in my chest, threatening to burst out at any moment. His cold hand on my neck cooled me down. As Edward continued to kiss me, my head began to swim, but I ignored it and kissed him more deeply. It wouldn't be long before he pulled away. His icy lips were so gentle and soft, and they caressed my lips to the point where they became even warmer. And then he pulled a few inches away, breathing faster than normal. He smiled his crooked smile at me. I tried to stifle my gasps for air. He leaned his head against mine and I closed my eyes. Edward quietly sighed and his wonderful breath swept across my warm face.

"I love you," He whispered.

"I love you," I whispered back.

My food came shortly after and I ate it slowly. It tasted delicious. Edward was quiet while I ate, playing with a strand of my hair. His other hand was on his full coke glass, as if he was about to drink it. I took it from his hand and helped by pouring some into my glass. I slid his glass back into his unmoving hand.

"Have it. It's not as if I'm going to," Edward chuckled, sliding it back across the table to me. I laughed, but didn't take any more.

"So what's everybody thinking in here then?" I joked, glancing round the restaurant.

"Well, I wouldn't say everybody… but you'd be surprised at how predictable people are. Not a single mind has captured my interest so far, as you can probably imagine. And yet the one mind I'd give anything to hear is unattainable…" Edward mused, glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I looked down, smiling. I was, of course, very grateful that my thoughts were a mystery to him.

"Would you like anything else?" The waitress smiled, taking my plate once I'd finished.

"No, thanks." I said. The waitress looked at Edward.

"No, no thank you. Can we have the check please?" said Edward in his seductive velvet voice. The waitress looked at Edward for a little longer than necessary, then nodded quickly and went away.

"She's thinking I'm very strange for not wanting anything to eat here." Edward murmured in my ear. I giggled quietly at the silliness of it. A typical vampire would have found plenty to eat here. I shuddered away from that thought. I took his hand on the table and held it, feeling the icy smooth marble skin and marvelling at it. Edward closed his eyes for a moment before whispering, "You don't know how good that feels."

So I took his hand in both of mine instead and stroked it. It was so cold, but so perfect. I looked at his long white fingers, the fingers that had saved my life all those months ago, in the school parking lot. I'd had no idea what he was back then, yet I'd known he was beyond the ordinary. Edward was not someone you could look past and forget. He was extraordinary. More than that. He was out of this world.

"Here's your check," the waitress placed it on the table in front of us. Edward had several bills ready to hand over. I didn't even want to know how many dollars he gave her.

We got up to go, and the waitress glanced over her shoulder curiously at Edward as she walked away. As we exited the restaurant, I thanked Edward, wrapping my arms around him, despite my disbelief at the impossible amount of money he'd spent on my meal. He held me close as we walked.

I felt a vibration from Edward, and then he pulled out his silver phone, flipping it open.

Edward spoke quietly into the phone. It was Alice. He responded so quickly the conversation was over in a few seconds. He flipped the phone shut and put it back in his pocket quickly. He didn't tell me what he discussed with her.

Edward ran me back home, and he stopped on the porch. I slid down from his back and opened the door. Charlie hadn't finished work yet, so he wouldn't be back for a while.

"Edward, could you check if there's any messages on the phone?" I asked as I went upstairs to the bathroom.

"Sure." Edward agreed, disappearing in an instant.

I hurried downstairs to the living room to find Edward sitting on the couch, still as a statue. I examined his face briefly before joining him. He turned to me, frowning deeply.

"Billy's coming over later. He's going to talk to your father about you and me." He muttered.

"What? But…" I thought back, remembering what Jacob had said on the phone the other day. This must be Billy putting his words into action. Did he know Edward was going to be here with us?

"He can't do that! I have to stop him. I'll sort this out, Edward." I told him, getting angry.

"I think that's a good idea. I somehow don't think it would work if I were to deal with him," Edward said under his breath.

I sighed in frustration. What was I going to say to Billy? Or my dad, for that matter? I decided to be calm, reasonable. Then they would have no argument.

I switched on the TV and Edward lay back on the couch. When I still sat in the same position, he wrapped his cold arms round my waist and pulled me down playfully so we were lying beside each other, laughing.

I kept flicking through the channels endlessly before I gave up and threw down the remote. Edward and I talked until I heard Charlie's cruiser pull up on the driveway. Edward's back stiffened. I turned to him, frowning in confusion. He stayed silent, concentrating hard. I started to get up to greet Charlie as he came through the door.

"Bella?" He asked uncertainly as usual.

"In here, Dad," I answered, walking across the living room to the hall. I could hear something being wheeled along. Charlie had brought Billy here! I spun around to look at Edward, panicking.

Edward looked just as panicked as me, which was a surprise and a relief at the same time – I didn't want him to be angry. He was sitting up very straight, eyes focussed. I'd said I would sort this.

"Edward!" I mouthed quickly, and he whispered, "I'll be in your room." as he got up and walked toward me before he disappeared.

"Bella, can you wheel Billy through for me?" Charlie asked, still in the hall with him.

I went to do as he asked, saying hello to Billy.

"Hi, Bella," said Billy with a smile. Concern was in his eyes as he registered my still-panicked expression, which I didn't hide quickly enough. I wheeled him through to the living room while Charlie hung up his gun. I sat on the couch where Edward had been a few seconds ago. I could feel Billy's dark eyes on me as we sat in awkward silence until Charlie joined us.

"So what did you get up to today, Bell?" Charlie asked. He didn't seem to be interrogating me, I noticed with relief.

"Oh, I just hung out with Edward today," I said, knowing it wasn't what he wanted to hear, but not wanting to lie to him.

"Jacob's been asking about Bella ever since the prom. He was hanging out with some friends round the beach today." Billy's piercing black eyes were looking straight ahead, though I knew he was talking to me. I wished he would get on with it. Edward was without a doubt listening in. I wondered if he was thinking the same thing as me.

Charlie switched the TV to a baseball game and relaxed on the couch, on the other end. Billy wheeled himself to face the TV and was next to the arm of the chair, where I was sitting. I turned myself to face the direction of the TV, not wanting to see Billy's eyes. Maybe they would only talk if I left the room. I stayed there anyway. Besides, how was I going to stop Billy from talking to Charlie if I wasn't here?

I decided to offer drinks to set the wheels in motion, otherwise we would be sat here all night with nothing sorted. As I got up, the phone rang. I trudged to the kitchen, wondering who it could be.

"Hello?"

"Hi Bella, it's Jess." She spoke quickly, as if she was in a rush.

"Oh, hey Jess. What's up? Is everything ok?" I asked her. I hadn't seen her since Prom.

"Is your dad there?" She asked warily, ignoring my question.

"No, he's in the next room. Why?" I asked curiously.

"I wanted to talk to you. It's Mike. Did he act strangely to you or anything at Prom?" she demanded. I was puzzled as to why she would ask that. I hadn't really spent any time with him there. "Uh, no. I didn't really see much of him. But he was with you wasn't he?"

"Yes, but he got really distant towards the end and just left for like, no reason. And he didn't even say a proper goodbye. I wondered if you'd seen him and knew what was going on." She was impatient now.

"I think you should be asking Mike about this… um, I didn't notice anything strange. I was outside for most of the night," I said truthfully, frowning. I wanted to get back to Charlie and Billy, and I grew impatient myself. I couldn't completely hide it from my voice. Jess didn't even seem to notice.

"What, were you with Edward all night? Well, if Mike calls you or anything, let me know straight away." She didn't give me a chance to answer her question.

"Sure," I agreed reluctantly, "But I don't think he will. I've got to go, Jess--"

"Is Edward with you?" Jess suddenly cut me off. I was fed up with her interrogations, and why now? Prom was days ago. And she was asking me if Edward was here? What was that about?

"Yes he is, so… I guess I'll talk to you soon…"

I was about to take the receiver from my ear, only for Jess to almost shout down the phone, "Wait!"

I didn't hang up but I didn't respond to her.

"Would you come shopping with me tomorrow? Around three, maybe? I could really use the company." Jess was all of a sudden hopeful and sweet. I didn't buy it. But if it got Dad and Billy off my back, maybe it was worth going.

"Yeah, I'll come. I'll call you tomorrow, ok? See you, Jess."

"Bye." Jess sounded pleased with herself as she hung up. I sighed and leaned against the kitchen counter, listening out for a sign of Charlie and Billy's conversation. Straining my ears, I could make out Charlie's voice, almost drowned out by the noise of the TV.

"…Well, I'm pretty sure she has a good head on her shoulders…. Don't worry buddy. I'm taking care of her. I'll make sure she doesn't spend all her time with him, don't you worry."

I got exactly what I needed from those words. Breathing out quietly, I grabbed a few beers for Charlie and Billy from the refrigerator and brought them in to them, controlling my expression. Charlie smiled gratefully, and I thought he was trying to hide a guilty expression that lay underneath. Billy thanked me with his rumbling voice. I wondered if they'd known that I had been eavesdropping. Letting that thought go, I decided to go upstairs and see Edward.

As I quietly pushed open my door and closed it behind me, I saw him sitting cross-legged in the middle of my bed, looking at me. He smiled gently as I met his gaze and sat in front of him in the same position.

"Hello," said Edward in his quiet musical voice.

"Hi," I tried to copy his flowing velvet voice, but of course I couldn't do it anything like him.

"Billy's still talking about us now – your father doesn't seem bothered." he told me, taking a strand of my hair between his fingers.

"I wish Billy would leave it alone." I moaned, my heart beating faster as his fingers brushed my skin. I could feel my cheeks buzzing with warmth and the electricity of his touch.

"Your father trusts you. But he's definitely thinking about Billy's words. He's turning them over in his mind." He informed me. His golden eyes drifted to my lips.

"I didn't hear what he said…" I grumbled, suddenly frustrated again about Jessica's interruption. I made an effort to put it out of my mind.

"Most of it was a confirmation of what we thought he would say, Bella. Billy told Charlie to try to cut down the time I spend with you. He's genuinely concerned." Edward's voice was sad, and his lips turned down infinitesimally at the edges. And then his face abruptly relaxed.

"You don't seem too worried… surely my dad can't be considering it too much." I said under my breath, taking in Edward's expression and relaxing too.

"No, I'm not. But Bella, it's up to you how much time you spend with me, don't forget that." He said with a small smile, lips curving up slowly.

"Yeah… Jessica invited me out tomorrow, as you heard, so hopefully that will get them off my back."

"You're right. I'll tell you as soon as I hear anything else, I promise." He stroked my hair lightly once. Goosebumps rose all over my body. I held back a shiver. He had been up here all this time; I felt selfish for keeping him here.

"Are you ok up here, Edward? If you want to go…" I didn't finish, looking down.

"I'm here for you Bella, always. There's nowhere in the world I'd rather be."

He lifted my chin with a finger and surprised me with a lingering kiss, pressing his glass-smooth lips to mine. All my thoughts vanished and I put my hands on both sides of his face greedily.

We both jumped violently when we heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs. I immediately scrambled to the door to listen. I turned my head so quickly to Edward, my hair whipped into my face. He was staring at the door intently, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. His lips were parted and he was breathing rapidly. Then he took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

It went quiet for a few moments. Then Edward's back stiffened.

"Jacob's here, he's taking Billy home. Charlie's thinking about coming in. I'd better leave just in case." He muttered quickly. He was suddenly in front of me. I looked up at him as he spoke again.

"I'm going to check on Alice and the others. Would you like me to stay tonight?" He whispered. The line between his eyebrows deepened.

"Yes," I mouthed, stretching on my tiptoes to kiss him. He pressed his lips to mine for a half second and then he was gone. I sighed, staring longingly at the window.

I heard a faint shuffling outside my door. I sat down on my bed, waiting. I looked out my open window again at the darkening sky. There were no stars, and there was no moon. I got up slowly, deciding to start the dinner to distract myself. Opening the door, I heard the bathroom door close.

After putting some lamb into the oven and setting potatoes on, I sat down at the kitchen table with my shabby compilation of Jane Austen works. I called Charlie in when dinner was done, and we ate in uncomfortable silence. Charlie seemed to be eating faster than normal, as if he couldn't wait to get out of the kitchen. I watched him discreetly as I ate, looking for any signs of him bringing up the dreaded subject I'd stressed over all evening. Maybe he really had meant what he'd said to Billy, I thought, trying to reassure myself.

Then he cleared his throat. "That was great, Bell. Thanks." He smiled.

"You're welcome, Dad." I waited for him say more – he clearly was not done talking.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" he asked gruffly, looking uneasy and avoiding my eyes. I answered truthfully. I was pleased that I had the answer he wanted.

"I'm spending the afternoon with Jessica, we're going shopping." I put on a false smile, pretending to be excited about it. Charlie bought it.

"Oh, that's great Bells. Where are you going?" He relaxed a little, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"I'm going to call Jess tomorrow to arrange that," I said.

"All right. It's good to see you're making plans." Charlie obviously left out the "with friends instead of Edward Cullen" part. He didn't need to say it. I cleared the table after that and started on the dishes. But Charlie stayed where he was.

"Jacob picked up Billy. He asked about you…" Charlie blurted.

I stopped scrubbing my plate, wondering how to reply. I settled for a simple acknowledgement of his words.

"Oh, right." I continued scrubbing.

Charlie probably wanted me to ask whether he'd told Jacob where I was.

"Oh well, I told him you were busy with homework upstairs." Charlie glanced at me quickly. Why would he say that? It was almost as if he knew I'd had company up there. I wondered if he knew I'd heard him outside my door. He seemed so nervous…

"Dad, are you ok?"

"Sure… It wouldn't be so bad to spend some time with Jacob too, Bells. He likes you."

There it was. It was only a matter of time. He was only being a dad; I wasn't surprised he would say that. But I wasn't sure how to answer. I settled for a nod and a small smile to show I'd listened. I wasn't going to make any promises.

I turned in early in the hope of being refreshed in the morning. I drifted to sleep in just a few minutes. In my dream, I was standing in a dark forest, stepping over the wet leaves absentmindedly and looking into the distance at a tiny dim light ahead. I squinted, curiosity gradually seeping into my mind. The darkness didn't faze me; I was completely at ease as I advanced towards the light. The sky above was black and cloudless. The full moon glowed down at me. The dull light ahead blinked, but did not get brighter. I walked a little faster, and all I could hear was the rustle of the leaves my feet crunched over. I felt like I was travelling through a dark tunnel. The trees were tall and their finger-like branches reached in every direction. I glanced down, and gasped to find that the skin on my hand was glowing, as if it was illuminated from the inside. I held it up to the light of the moon in awe. It did not sparkle, but simply continued to glow. My skin was whiter than usual; it was like looking at the moon again. I continued forwards to the light. I started to run towards it, and the light gradually brightened. I slowed down to examine it again. It was taking shape. It seemed like a blurred standing shadow of a person, except it was light instead of dark. I stepped slowly closer and closer, and the light only became brighter. And yet the light never hurt my eyes. And then the shape changed; it seemed to turn around to face me. I stopped walking and stared.

And then I saw him.

His skin was pale white, as white as mine, and his hair was black as night, tousled and shiny with two strands hanging across his forehead. His eyes were dark, and I could decipher no particular emotion in them. He was inhumanly beautiful. He looked no older than seventeen. He took one step towards me. And then he smiled, showing his perfect white teeth. I sighed. I took a step closer at the same time as he did. He was now less than a foot away from me. His hand reached out to touch my face. His hand was cold on my cheek. I stared into his eyes, and saw a flash of crimson. His overwhelming scent choked me, and I could not break from his hypnotic gaze. His hand slid down to my neck, but I couldn't feel my heart beat. My body tingled from head to toe, and my stomach was fluttering wildly, as if I was falling from a great height. I closed my eyes, and I felt ice on the other side of my neck to the one the man had his hand on. I breathed in. A sharp stabbing pain radiated through my neck and into my body. A bloodcurdling scream erupted from my throat. And then we were falling, falling into blackness…

I jolted awake violently, sweating and gasping for air. My head was spinning. My eyes were wild, and my heart was pumping hot blood through my veins furiously as I suddenly yanked my head from the pillow. I couldn't think, couldn't see. I closed my eyes, trying to control my breathing and get my heart rate down. I took several deep breaths. My hair was making my neck so warm. I swept it over my shoulder. I continued to take deep breaths. I slowly lay back down, staring up at the ceiling. I glanced at my bedside clock after a couple of minutes. It was half past ten. I lay back in relief. And then it dawned on me. I was alone. Charlie would be long gone by now. Maybe Edward decided to stay away tonight, though I knew he had told me he would stay. I didn't want him to see me in this state anyway. As I made my bed, I saw a small note under my pillow. I pulled it out. I saw Edward's beautiful handwriting.

I will be back very soon. I am hunting with Alice close by, and I promise to see you before your day with Jessica. I love you. Edward.

Adoration swirled in my stomach. I put the note in my desk drawer, keeping it safe.

I took a shower before breakfast, and then made my way downstairs. I checked the phone for any messages. There were none. Grabbing a bowl of cereal, I sat down and munched my food slowly, gazing out at the cloudy sky. The sun was completely obscured by clouds. This would have been a good thing if I were going to school today.

I smirked humourlessly as I ate. Once I was done I went to start washing up.

As I scrubbed my bowl, I had the sudden sense that I wasn't alone. I glanced around me, frowning. No one was there. I scrubbed faster. As I finished, I saw something shift in the corner of my eye. I jumped as I saw Edward at the table, sitting back in his chair, a half-smile on his face. His eyes were a light honey shade.

"Oh!" I gasped.
"I'm sorry I scared you," Edward said, getting up slower than he usually did.

"I'm not scared of you." I said, smiling.

"You should be," He replied, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me closer. I rested my head against his chest. He put his head on top of mine. We held each other for a few moments. "How are you feeling?" Edward asked as he lifted his head from mine and eased my head from his chest so I faced him. He searched my eyes.

"I'm fine, thanks," I looked away, not wanting to tell him about my nightmare. I feared my eyes gave me away.

"Is something the matter?" He asked sympathetically. Yes, my eyes had given me away. I involuntarily met his eyes and found myself telling the truth.

"I had a nightmare." I blurted.

"You didn't talk at all while you were sleeping. That's why I figured I wouldn't miss anything if I left so I wouldn't have to leave later on. I should have stayed with you…" Edward frowned deeply.

"I'm fine." I repeated, looking at his chest to avoid his eyes.

"I'm not sure that I believe that. But I understand if you don't want to talk about it. Oh how I wish I could hear your thoughts right now…" Edward sighed heavily.

"Be careful what you wish for," I muttered.

Edward looked fascinated. I pulled away slowly.

"I have to call Jessica." I didn't want to know how she would react if I failed to call. I also wanted to change the subject and distract Edward from any further questions.

Edward nodded and sat at the table again. He was now eyeing the book of Jane Austen works I had left on the table, still open and facing the table on the page I had stopped reading.

I dialled Jessica's number quickly and waited. She answered after the third ring.

"Bella, is that you?" She asked impatiently.

"Yeah. Um… So where do you want to meet?" I got straight to the point, not bothering with small talk.

"You took your time. Anyway, why don't you come over to mine? Or I can come to yours… it's up to you…"

"I'll come to yours. I should be there around two thirty."

"Sure. See you soon, Bella."

I said goodbye and hung up. Now that was done, I picked up my book and walked past Edward to go upstairs. I was worried he would start asking me questions the second I was free. I could feel his eyes on me as I passed. I couldn't tell for sure, seeing as it was only in the corner of my eye, but I thought I saw a tiny hidden hint of guilt in his eyes.

I got changed out of my tank top and holey sweats and got ready to go out. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail even though I didn't have to leave for hours. As I walked down the stairs, I could hear Edward talking quickly on his phone. I hovered on the stairs, wondering if it was Alice again. I knew it wasn't good to eavesdrop. But I listened in anyway; it wasn't as if Edward didn't do the same. But that wasn't the reason I stayed where I was.

"Yes. Tell me later." I heard Edward say. There was a long pause before he spoke again.

"Hmm… All right. We'll talk about this at the house." Then he sighed heavily. I went back upstairs to my room as quietly as I could, suddenly feeling guilt wash over me for not giving him privacy. I made my way to my door. Suddenly, coldness snaked around my waist. Frozen, my eyes widened in surprise as I felt Edward kiss the top of my head. I turned around in his arms to face him. He looked deep into my eyes.

"Bella, I have to go home. I need to talk with the others. But you won't be here alone – I can hear Jessica down the road. It looks like she's coming over anyway." He smiled his crooked smile, and I automatically grinned back. And then I heard Jessica's car pulling into the parking lot. I'd said I would go to her; why she would come over anyway I had no idea. She was beginning to really puzzle me.

"All right, so… I guess I'll see you later," I mumbled. I heard a car door shut outside, and met Edward's intense golden gaze.

"Stay safe. I'll be thinking of you." His velvet voice was fervent with sincerity, and very deep. He kissed my forehead softly, sighed, and then disappeared just as I heard the knock on the front door. My face felt hot. I was flustered by his serious words and his kiss. I hurried downstairs to the door. Jessica smiled at me as I greeted her and invited her inside.

"I'm sorry for just coming over like this – I know you said you would come to mine. But you'll never believe what I've got for us!" she squealed with excitement as she spoke, and this made me enthusiastic and curious at the same time. I couldn't help smiling in response to her unexpected joy.

"Wait for it…" Jess giggled as her hand slid into her back pocket and pulled out two rectangular pieces of card. She waved them in front of me as I looked at them.

"In my hand are two of five tickets to LA! And I'm inviting you!" Jess exclaimed.

"Seriously?" I wasn't expecting that. I raised my eyebrows in surprise, my mouth falling open. " I know! Isn't this awesome?! Ok, here's the deal. I'm bringing Mike, and since it was my dad who got me these, he's coming along too. Choose whoever you like to come along – that's if you want to go." Jess waited in expectation for my answer. She had chatted so fast I almost didn't catch it all.

If I were to go, I definitely wanted to bring Edward. Whether my dad would allow that was another matter. And what about the situation with Alice? Would Edward leave that all behind? We were still in the hallway as I thought about this. Then I realized I still hadn't given her an answer.

"I'd like to go, but I'll have to talk to my dad about it first. When are you going?" I asked.

"August 12th, for a week. Please get your dad to let you come. I'm already packing!" She laughed. But her face was pleading. I forced a laugh, shaking my head.

"Seeing as I was given these tickets, like, two minutes ago, I figured I'd save up instead of shopping today. I'm seriously going to need the money once we're away. Can we just hang out here instead?" she asked, doubtful that I would agree.

"Sure, Jess. And thanks for the tickets. I didn't think I'd be going away this summer." She finally handed me the two tickets she had brought for me. We moved out of the hall to my room. We sat on my bed.

"So, who do you think you'll bring along with us if you come?" Jess was eager for my answer. I was pretty sure she wouldn't be too disappointed; this was probably going to be awkward, but at the same time, a good thing. I hesitated before answering.

"Uh… probably going to ask Edward. Since you're bringing Mike…you know…" I waited for the awkwardness, but she surprised me.

"Great! This is going to be so much fun, Bella! Trust me." She looked away then, still grinning. It seemed forced somewhat.

"How are things with you two… you and Mike, I mean?" I asked in order to fill a potential embarrassing silence. I hoped she really was over Edward. If I was to go away on holiday with her, I wanted to be safe in the knowledge that she wouldn't resent me the whole time.

"After I talked to you, I called Mike and asked him straight out what was wrong with him. Turns out he was "feeling ill". I didn't buy it. But you know what, I just thought: Hell, just forget about it and move on. I figured inviting him to this would make him sort himself out. I still like him…" Jess went on. She spoke slowly, and her voice was quite sad. I felt for her.

"I hope it works out for you Jess." I said sincerely.

"Thanks. God, you're so lucky having the place to yourself - both my parents have the day off today." She rolled her eyes.

Jess stayed with me until three, and then I started to clean up the house before Charlie came home from work. I wasn't occupied for long; the place was already fairly tidy. The two tickets Jess had given me were now in my desk drawer, out of sight from a prying Charlie. I would talk to him when the time was right.

Edward must have known what Jess was going to do. But he had stayed quiet about it. Was that his way of saying he wasn't going to come on the holiday? Thinking about it, he was probably just letting me enjoy the surprise. There was nobody else but him that I would want to take with me. It wasn't as if Charlie had a particular problem with Edward. He just thought – mainly because of Billy – that I spent too much time with him.

Charlie went to bed early that night, and I lay back on the couch in front of the baseball game he had left on, staring at the screen without seeing it. It was pitch black outside, a few twinkling stars sprinkled across the dark sky. After about half an hour, my eyes became sore and heavy. My lids closed over my eyes.

Ring! Ring!

I jolted to a sitting position, listening for confirmation of what I thought I'd heard.

Ring! Ring!

I jumped up and rushed to grab the phone before it woke up Charlie.

"Hello?"

"Bella?" came Edward's quiet voice from the other end. Suddenly I felt a rush of blood to my head, and I swayed slightly. I held the counter for support.

"Edward! What is it? Has something happened?" I said quickly, sudden panic washing over me, replacing the shock of the head rush.

"Bella, I need to talk to you." His voice was low.

"Ok," I said, listening intently.

"The others and I have been taking care of Alice. She's all right, but she's getting headaches from trying to retrieve her visions. She wants to see you. Do you think you could ask your father if she can visit you tomorrow? You don't have to ask him now, though." Edward said calmly. His soft voice soothed me.

"Of course. I don't think my dad would mind. He's asleep upstairs." I answered. I wanted to see Alice; I missed her and the others.

"That's good. I'll be with you within half an hour. I'll see you soon, Bella. I love you."

"I love you, Edward. Bye," I knew it was silly, but I didn't want to end the call. I wanted to keep on talking to him. The line went dead.

Feeling a little hungry, I took an apple and went to the living room to switch off the TV before heading upstairs. My room was freezing. Icy wind was breezing in from my window. But I left it open for Edward. I got changed into my pyjamas and snuggled under my blanket with my old Jane Austen compilation to keep warm. I took a bite of my apple, trying not to hear Charlie's snores from his room as I attempted to concentrate on my book. My window shuddered with the harsh wind. Then I heard tiny taps of rain dripping against the glass. I sighed. I continued to read, but the words meant nothing; my brain couldn't absorb any of it. I read the passage over again. Eventually, I chucked the book onto the floor, disgruntled. As I finished my apple, I listened to the trees rustling outside. It sounded ominous in some way. The rain spattered harder against the glass. I threw off my blanket and went up to the window. The night glared back at me.

I switched off my light and lay back down on my bed, dragging my crumpled blanket over me again. I closed my eyes against the darkness. But I didn't fall asleep. I don't know how long I lay there before I felt a sudden cold breeze sweep over my face. My eyes fluttered, but I closed them again. My ponytail was beginning to hurt my head so I reached up and tugged at the hair band, eyes still closed. I put it on my bedside table and let my hair fan out across the pillow. I just couldn't get back the tiredness I'd felt before Edward's phone call. And then I felt a movement beside me slightly shake the bed. My eyes snapped open. My heart leaped. There was Edward, lying beside me on the top of the covers, smiling softly at me.

"Hello," Edward murmured as he carefully swept a strand of hair from my face.

"Hi," I whispered, heat spreading over my cheekbones.

"How are you?" He asked politely.

"I'm good, and you?" I smiled. I was more than good, with him lying right beside me.

"Never better," he chuckled.

"How are your family?" I asked.

"Carlisle and Esme are fine; they went hunting tonight actually. Emmett and Rosalie were out together all day, so I didn't see them. Jasper was with Alice, and I stayed with them." He said calmly. I nodded.

"Did you have a nice afternoon? I heard Jessica thinking about holiday plans before I left. I didn't listen any longer." He half-smiled, stroking my hair; I found it hard to concentrate properly on what he was saying. It took me longer than normal to answer as my heart fluttered unrelentingly in my chest.

"Yeah, it was all right. I thought you'd heard that Jess was going to give me two tickets to LA…" I smiled weakly. He must have been very bored with hearing her thoughts if he'd tuned out so quickly.

"Ah, yes. She had five tickets, right?" He smirked.

"Yep. I told her I'd have to talk to my dad about it."

I waited for him to ask who I would bring with me. But he asked a different question, changing the subject.

"What were you dreaming of last night?" he fired off. His eyes roamed my face, and they appeared lit with curiosity in the darkness.

"Just me walking in a forest. Nothing particularly exciting." I mumbled in an effort to make him lose interest. He only became more curious, leaning in closer to me so that his delicious scent swept over me. "Tell me," he purred. His eyes burned, and I knew he was turning on his irresistible seductive gaze. I tried hard to keep hold of my thoughts while staring back into his eyes. It was so much of an effort my head started to spin. Suddenly, I involuntarily gasped as my lungs refused to be deprived of air any longer. I ripped my gaze from his, taking a few deep breaths. Edward leaned away instantly, his eyes pained. He stared straight ahead, frowning deeply. I could see even in the darkness that he was torturing himself inside.

"I'm sorry. The frustration I feel, not being able to hear you… it never ceases. I'm sorry." His voice was rough, and he turned his head towards me as he said the last words. But he avoided my eyes.

"Don't apologize, it's ok. You just dazzled me again, that's all." I said softly, shrugging.

I put my hand against his cold cheek, smiling reassuringly at him. He finally glanced up at me. Our eyes locked. He raised his hand to hold mine to his face. The coolness against my skin felt nice. His thumb stroked my hand slowly and very softly, barely touching my skin.

"I should leave. I'm keeping you awake." He said quietly, more to himself than to me.

He effortlessly lifted his hand from my face and rested it on my blanket. There was no point trying to keep my hand where it was; he was too strong.

"Don't go!" I whispered loudly.

"Hey, I said I should go, not that I am going. I'm much too selfish to leave." He whispered back, chuckling quietly as he moved close to me again. He lay facing me.

I took his hand and held it to my heart. It thumped furiously. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach and a tingle flashed down my spine as I shivered. Edward closed his eyes and his perfect lips twitched into a small serene smile.

"Your heart is racing," he said softly.

"I can't help it," I replied in a whisper, gazing at him.

"It's beating so fast… it's wonderful. It's like the wings of a hummingbird. Beautiful. More than beautiful…" he said slowly, his voice like honey. And then Edward started humming my lullaby. I closed my eyes to the glorious sound as I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

Sunlight was pouring through my window when I woke, and I glanced around my room to find Edward sitting back in my rocking chair, smiling his crooked smile. I sat up, returning his smile. I threw off my blanket that was tucked around me and hurried to his side, pausing shyly before Edward took my hand and pulled me onto his lap.

"Good morning. You were shivering during the night, so I put the blanket around you and sat here so you would warm up." He said, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Thanks." I hesitantly stroked his tousled bronze hair. It was softer than the finest silk in the world.

"Your father's in the kitchen. He's making you breakfast." Edward informed me.

"All right. Edward…" I didn't finish, thinking about my question.

"Bella?" He prompted, smiling kindly.

"I was just thinking that… if I were to go on this holiday with Jess, would you like to come with me?" I asked nervously. I honestly didn't know what he would say.

"Would you like that?" He smiled wider, looking flattered and surprised at my invitation.

"Edward, there's no one but you that I would want to bring with me. It's only for a week. But I still haven't spoken to my dad about this yet." I bit my lip. I suppose I could bring up the subject casually over breakfast, so there would be less chance of a negative reaction. But I really couldn't predict the outcome. It could go only one of two ways.

"Bella, I would love to come with you. When would we be going?" He was kissing the hollow of my throat softly; it tickled and a giggle slipped through my lips.

"August 12th." I managed to reply.

It was still June, so that knowledge kept me reassured as I made my way downstairs to the kitchen while Edward went home to get Alice. Charlie was frying some eggs when he saw me enter.

"Morning, Bells." Charlie smiled.

"Morning Dad." I greeted him.

"Dad, I'll take care of the food. You sit down." I suggested, looking at the eggs that were in danger of overcooking.

"I've got it, Bella. You take care of me too much." Charlie insisted, frowning at the pan and shaking the eggs about a little. So instead I got a couple of plates out the cupboard and set the table. I put some toast on, and when it was done we were soon eating at the table quietly. I decided that now was the time to talk about the trip to LA and Alice's visit today.

"Dad…" I began, hesitating.

"Hmm?" said Charlie, mouth full of food.

"Jess came over yesterday and we stayed here instead of going out. It turns out she has five tickets to LA and… she's given me two of them. So… I was just wondering if it would be ok with you if I went along too." I was staring down at my plate as I said this, unsure what he would say. He stopped munching for a fraction of a second. Then he raised his eyebrows.

"Really? You want to go to LA?" He asked sceptically. There was a smile playing on the edges of his lips.

"Well, only if that's all right with you, Dad." I smiled.

"Who else is going?" He asked in a father-like tone.

"Jessica's father is coming, and she's bringing Mike Newton from school." I answered, glancing up at him as I took another bite of my toast. Charlie nodded slowly. He appeared to be thinking about something hard as he did this. He took a bite of his food, still nodding. Then he spoke again.

"And uh, who are you planning to bring with you?" He asked, and he seemed somewhat worried that I may be thinking of bringing him.

"I'm going to decide nearer the time. Just in case it gets cancelled or something." I lied before realizing what I was saying. Why did I just say that? I bit my lip. It looked like Charlie was going to buy it.

"But you must have thought about who you might ask. Why don't you ask Jacob? I'm sure he'd like to go. I think it would be good to spend some time together."

I should have known he was going to say that, and I wished I'd just told him the truth. But I didn't have time to say anything more about it; it was time for him to set off for work.

"Got to run, Bella. See you later." He started giving me a wave, but I spoke up.

"Wait, Dad. Can Alice come over today? I haven't seen her for a while." I asked quickly.

"Alice Cullen? Why, of course. Tell her to stay for dinner." And with that he started walking away to the front door. I sighed, piling the dishes in the sink and turning on the taps. As the water poured into the sink I thought of Alice. I couldn't wait to see her. I just hoped she didn't look anything like the way she had when I saw her that night in Edward's room. The memory itself made me shudder. I swirled the brush around the dish slowly, thinking.

"Knock, knock," came Alice's trilling voice from the kitchen doorway.

"Alice! You're here!" I spun around, dropping the scrubbing brush and racing over to her as quickly as my legs would allow, ignoring my walking cast. I threw my arms around her. As I grinned over her shoulder, Edward winked at me, giving me his crooked smile. My heart skipped a beat, and my cheeks started burning. I closed my eyes, so happy.

"I missed you Bella honey. How are you?" She asked in her bell voice, pulling back to look at me.

"I'm fine thank you. But what about you? Tell me." I asked her, still grinning. Edward chuckled quietly behind us at my happiness.

"Come on, let's sit down in the living room." Alice said, taking my hand and pulling me gently to the couch. Edward followed. I sat between Edward and Alice, and waited for her to begin.

"I still haven't got my visions back, Bella." She said seriously. That was when the sadness entered her topaz eyes. My heart sank. I knew she was going to say that, but I had hoped I was wrong. I looked down from her eyes; I wanted the happiness to return. Edward's hand rested on mine, and he squeezed it gently.

"I told her, Alice. I couldn't lie to her. It hurt too much." Edward murmured.

"I understand. You were bound to find out sooner or later, Bella." Alice said to me now, nodding as she looked down.

"So what happens now?" I hesitantly asked the both of them.

"I'm scared, Bella. This has never happened before… I don't know what to do. It feels like a piece of me has gone. I know that sounds stupid, but I don't know how else to describe it. And you know what really gets me? The fact that nothing has even triggered it!" She laughed humourlessly. A deep crease set between her thin eyebrows.

"If it's gone on this long, maybe… maybe something is blocking your visions, something that hasn't been caused by us. I don't know…" I mumbled, thinking hard. Edward shifted beside me. As I looked at him his eyes were lit, and he was concentrating very hard as he looked into my eyes.

"Edward?" I asked as I turned my body around to him. He was frowning now. He smiled as he squeezed my hand again.

"You're right, Bella. I think you're onto something. We're going to get Alice's visions back. We have to. Something is blocking her sight, and we have to find out what it is, before…" he didn't finish, his lips suddenly turning into a hard line.

"You think we can fix this? You'll help me?" Alice asked in a small voice.

I turned to her again. "Of course we will, Alice. We're here for you, always. Aren't we Edward?" I looked at him. He swept my hair behind my ear, nodding.

"We will, Alice. Together we will sort this." He said in a deep voice.

Alice smiled at us gratefully, and her teeth gleamed. But the sadness was still present in her eyes. I cuddled up to her, closing my eyes. She wrapped a cool arm around me.

That was when I heard a car pull into the driveway outside. Before I could sit up, Edward answered my unspoken question.

"Jacob. He's coming to see you, Bella." He said calmly. As I pulled away from Alice and looked at him, his mouth was moving so quickly that I couldn't read his lips let alone hear what he was saying. Alice was looking straight into his eyes, taking it in.
Then the doorbell rang.

"Stay here, both of you." I insisted. I knew Edward didn't like Jacob, but I didn't want Edward or his sister to go yet.

I hurried to the door. Opening it slowly, I smiled as I saw Jacob smiling shyly at me, his long hair tied back in a neat ponytail.

"Hi, Bella." He greeted me in a friendly way, grinning.

"Hey Jacob. What brings you here?" I smiled; it was impossible not to. He seemed so pleased to see me. He had grown a few inches taller since the last time I'd seen him. It seemed almost impossible for him to grow so tall in such a small space of time.

"I just wanted to drop by and see how you are. Thought we could hang out. I couldn't get through to you on the phone…so, uh… I'm sorry if I'm bothering you." He explained nervously. He seemed really shy. I hadn't even invited him inside, and that was the least I could do.

"No, not at all. Come on in. Alice and Edward are here, that's all. Do you want something to drink or anything?" I offered as I walked towards the kitchen. As I passed through the living room to the kitchen I saw Edward and Alice looking warily at me. At least they hadn't run off. I didn't really think they would, but it was good to know they hadn't just the same. I suddenly realized that Jacob hadn't followed me as I expected.

"Jacob?" I shouted through to the hall, reaching for a couple of glasses from the cupboard.

"Alice and Edward… they're actually here? Oh…" I heard Jacob murmur.

"What is it, Jacob?" I called to him as I poured some coke into the two glasses.

Why wasn't he coming in? Was he scared? Like I should have been the moment I met the Cullens? I felt instantly sorry for him and put the glasses down on the table before heading back to him in the hall.

"Jacob, what's wrong?" I asked, worried as he just stood there stiffly, his face an expression of pure anxiety. He did indeed look afraid. He resembled a little boy who was afraid to walk through the school gates and leave his parents for the first time.

"I can't go in there. Not with them there. I can't." He voice shook slightly. His broad lips tightened into a stressed hard line.

"Why? They won't hurt us. Trust me. It's me, Bella, so clumsy I'm almost disabled and I'm still walking aren't I?" I laughed a little, trying to reassure him and calm him down.

"Jacob raised his eyebrows, glancing down at my walking cast and then back up at me. Then he smirked, holding back a laugh. I sighed in relief, thinking I'd finally persuaded him to come in.

"I know, I know, but the cast is coming off tomorrow. But please, come through. I'll have to drag you along if you won't. They won't bite." The pun wasn't intended, but Jacob smiled anyway.

"Please," I begged. I pulled a face to make him smile. It worked.

"All right. But I don't think I'll be chatting to them though."

"Come on!" I grabbed his hand and dragged him through to the kitchen. I didn't look at Edward and Alice. From the corner of my eye I could see that they were talking quietly.

I sat down at the table and Jacob sat in the other available seat. He took a few big gulps of coke.

"Thanks." He smiled sheepishly when he finished the glass.

"There's plenty more in the fridge." I told him as I raised my eyebrows at the speed he finished his drink.

"So have you got any plans for summer?" Jacob asked quickly. I got the feeling he was asking me just to fill the silence rather than having actual interest.

"I've been invited on a holiday with a friend from school. Not sure if I'm going yet, but apart from that, no plans. You?"

"No plans. I… I know that my dad came round the other day. I tried to get him to stay home but he insisted on coming. I had to come pick him up afterwards. I didn't want to disturb you. You were busy so…" He trailed off. There was an awkward moment as I remembered hearing Billy and Charlie's conversation in the living room.

"Do you think he will ever accept me being with Edward, Jacob?" I asked, looking him full in the face. I already knew my answer, but I wanted to hear it from him.

"Bella… I don't think he will. I wish he would let it go. I can see that it's annoying you." He gestured to me as he spoke. He looked anxious again, his dark eyes glancing around the kitchen.

"I'm going to check on Edward and Alice. Help yourself to anything you like. I'll be just next door." I got up and headed through to the living room.

"Hey…" I said as I sat next to Edward this time, perching on the edge of the couch.

"Hello," they said simultaneously, smiling at me as I joined them. Edward spoke first.

"Jacob's thoughts are beginning to irritate me. I might have to leave." He whispered, his eyes narrowing. He was looking straight ahead, listening. Alice was staring at him as if she was trying to tell him a silent message.

"Alice, do you want to go or stay? I don't want to keep you here if you want to leave." I said slowly, even though I didn't want either of them to leave at all. I never wanted them to leave, if I was being honest.

Then a chair scraped back loudly across the kitchen floor. In walked Jacob, taking a few quick steps into the room before his eyes drifted to Alice and he abruptly stopped. His eyes widened. They slowly got wider and wider. My mouth fell open as it got to the point where they looked like they were going to burst out of his sockets.

"J-Jacob…" I stammered in fear. My eyes darted between him and Alice. Jacob blanched as he continued to stare into Alice's eyes. And then he suddenly let out a bloodcurdling cry of pain and crumpled to the floor.