Chapter Two

Alice smiled. "Do you like Forks?" she questioned, plopping down on top of the kitchen counter, her legs over the edge of the counter.

"Stop it, Alice." Brooke said after a moment. "You're making me nervous."

The pixie giggled. "Oh, Brooke." She retorted with a cheeky grin. "I'm just so happy you're here."

"Does that mean that you have to stare me down all the time?" Brooke asked, raising an eyebrow. "Esme doesn't even hover as much as you do."

Alice shrugged, swinging her legs. "Esme doesn't know you as I do."

Brooke sighed, rubbing her temple with her fingers as she lowered her gaze on to the plate in front of her. "Just stop it for a moment," she murmured softly, playing with her fork in the pasta. She looked at Alice. "Please?"

"Fine." Alice replied gently. "But only because you asked so nicely."

"Edward!" an unfamiliar voice sounded from outside and Alice slipped from the counter in a swift move, standing beside Brooke on the floor.

Brooke glanced at the girl beside her. "Alice?" she said and rose from her seat. "Everything ok?"

"Edward and Bella are here." Alice told her in a whisper, her eyes meeting Brooke's.

The sound of footsteps out in the hallway broke Brooke from her retrieve. She ran a hand through her long locks, nibbling her lower lip. It had been three years since she had seen him last and now . . . A feeling of comfort enclosed around her as she felt Alice's small hand slip into hers.

"Hey, Alice." The girl with brown hair looked surprised as she stopped short in the doorway, her eyes landing on Brooke's face. She glanced at Alice. "Um . . ." she paused, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "Edward didn't tell me you had visitors."

Alice smiled weakly. "That's because he doesn't know," she answered softly and tugged Brooke forward slightly. "Bella, this is Brooke."

"Hi." Bella replied, giving a small awkward wave with her hand. "Are you . . ." she glanced Alice again.

The pixie-looking girl shook her head. "No," she replied shortly. "She's not a vampire."

"Oh." Bella said after a moment.

Brooke cringed at the awkward silence that lingered between the three of them. For a brief moment she wished she had never agreed to come to Forks with Alice. Wished that everything was just the way it used to be in Tree Hill where she had finally forgotten about vampires and the Cullens.

"Brooke."

Edward.

Her entire body tensed at the sound of his voice. He stood a few feet away in front of Bella, his gaze flickering between hers and Alice's. She could feel her resolve sinking as she stared at him, at his beautiful face that she knew so well. "Edward," she whispered, her fingers itching to touch him again.

A smile spread across Edward's face as he met her gaze and he took a few steps forward. "I never thought I'd see you again." He murmured, ignoring the pointed glance from Alice.

Brooke held his gaze, but the presence of the girl – Bella, she told herself bitterly – unnerved her. Alice's hand squeezed hers once in warning. Edward's stare was intense, almost painful. She knew she had to get out of there, away from Edward, away from the naïve girl that seemed to have stolen his heart, away from Alice's overbearing nature. Still, she found herself unable to move.

"Edward," Alice's voice said from beside her and she turned to gaze at the pixie. "Maybe you should take Bella upstairs?"

Bella shifted awkwardly on her feet and glanced at Alice, a grateful look on her face. "I think Alice might be right, Edward. We should study for the test."

Edward looked at Brooke for a moment before glancing at the girl beside him. "Of course." He replied softly, his hand pressed against Bella's small back as he led her out of the kitchen.

"Brooke," Alice said softly. "Are you okay?"

Nodding slightly, Brooke forced a smile as she glanced into Alice's eyes.

"Come here." The pixie replied, pulling her into her arms and holding her tight.

Brooke could barely keep the tears at bay as she wrapped her arms around Alice's waist.

His skin was cooling, his body pressed against hers. She breathed out, her head lolling backward against the pillows as he moved forward, his fingers catching her wrist and pressing it down against the mattress beneath their bodies.

"Edward." She gasped, her eyes seeking his as her other hand slipped down his naked back.

A smirk spread across his lips as he stared down at her. "Brooke." He mocked softly, his forehead pressed against hers. "What do you want?"

"I want . . ." a moan emerged from her throat, her leg wrapped around his. She looked at him. "You know what I want."

Edward laughed gently, his hands trailing over her skin, stopping by her neck. "Then say it."

Despite herself, she found herself responding in a throaty gasp, "Harder."

"B!" Emmett laughed, as he hoisted her up in his strong arms. Brooke found herself laughing as he spun them around. "I've missed you."

Once settled on the ground, she looked at him and smiled – her first genuine smile since she had arrived in Forks. "I've missed you, too, Em."

"You'll be all right here," Emmett responded softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I'll take care of you."

She didn't doubt that for a second.

Baseball.

Of course the Cullens would play baseball. For a moment, Brooke wondered why she had been surprised when Alice had told her of their family ritual. It made perfect sense.

Bella looked slightly frightened as she stood by Esme's side in the wet grass, her eyes seeking out Edward's moving frame across the large field. She could understand Bella's hesitation, being around vampires was frightening but the attitude that the naïve girl was projecting when she was with Edward was entirely different. How Bella managed to convince Edward that she wasn't afraid of who they were was beyond Brooke.

"Brooke, darling," Esme's voice broke her from her thoughts, her cool hand brushing against her hand. "Come stand with Bella and I."

Glancing over her shoulder at Bella, who stood awkwardly in the grass a few feet from them, Brooke knew she couldn't hate the girl even if she wanted to. Hadn't she, herself, been in Bella's position only three years ago? Hadn't she been hopelessly in love with Edward, his imperfections and his flaws?

No, she couldn't hate Bella. But it didn't stop her from disliking the girl.

"Of course, Esme." She spoke, allowing Esme to lead her back to Bella. Brooke looked at Bella briefly.

Bella shifted awkwardly. "Hi." She said, giving a small wave with her hand before turning her attention back to the game.

Edward and Emmett crashed together in the air over the ball before slamming down to the ground. Emmett was the first to rise from the fall, a grin on his face as he pushed Edward back to the ground with a shove. Edward looked at him, looking frustrated and annoyed, but there was still a smile tugging on the corners of his lips as he rose to his feet.

Suddenly Alice stopped abruptly. It was as if the entire world stopped along with her; the Cullens moved to her side instinctively. Bella seemed lost and for a moment Brooke wanted to wrap her arms around the girl and hold her close. 'Not that I will', she thought, glancing over at Alice who was now talking silently with the rest of the Cullens.

". . . you should take Bella and leave as soon as possible, Edward." Alice was saying and Brooke frowned, glancing at Bella for a moment. 'What's going on?' She thought, her eyes finding Edward's.

Edward stopped in front of her, his eyes meeting Bella's briefly. "You should return to the house, Brooke," he told her softly. "Emmett will come with you. I'm going to take Bella home."

"Why?" Brooke questioned, narrowing her eyes at him. She knew Edward, better than Bella did. She could see the look of concern and something else that she couldn't quite place in his eyes. 'You can't lie to me, Edward. I know you as you know me.'

For a split second it looked as if he cringed but then it was gone. "Just do as I say."

"No." She replied, standing her ground. Edward looked at her, a smile on his face as he took a step forward. In the corner of her eye, she could see Jasper and Rosalie move closer to them but then Edward's face was in front of her again. Those intense eyes of his staring back at her.

His hand grasped hers in one swift movement, pulling her to him. "Go with Emmett, Brooke." He murmured in to her ear, his nose buried in her hair. "I can't do this if I'm going to have to worry about you too."

"Edward." Rosalie's voice rang out softly and Edward moved away, but didn't release his grasp. Rosalie stood beside him, her eyes finding his. "Go to Bella. I'll take care of Brooke."

Edward held Rosalie's gaze for a moment before nodding his head. Turning around, Edward leaned forward, his lips close to Rosalie's ear. "You look after her, Rose. If she's harmed in any way, I will personally hold you responsible." Then he was gone.

Rosalie didn't falter as she looked at Brooke, her eyes cold and hard. "Brooke." She greeted coldly, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Rosalie." Brooke responded, a smile on her face. "I take it that you didn't miss me then?"

There was no response from Rosalie as she began to make her way through the forest.

Brooke could only follow.