"Tell me what you want to hear

Something that were like those years

I'm sick of all the insecure

So I'm gonna give all my secrets away."

-Secrets, One Republic

Alice

"Shucks!" I said loudly as I caught the time on the clock and stood abruptly from my chair, nearly knocking over my bowl of cereal in the process. I grabbed my purse from the counter and headed towards the front door quickly, not exactly wishing to be late for school.

I hesitated for a moment, as always, waiting to hear a goodbye from my parents, before remembering they weren't here. No, they were at work. As always.

I sighed quietly before hurrying out to my Porsche, tripping, and wishing for a moment that I hadn't worn the shoes that I did.

But then I remembered that they went so perfectly with my outfit that it didn't matter.

"Hey, Alice," I heard Bella say as she took a seat beside me at our lunch table. It had been a few days since she'd come to Forks and I loved her already. She was quiet sure, but I could see she was warming up to us, and I found myself finding a best friend in her also.

"Bella!" I said excitedly and she chuckled. "So, I was thinking maybe we could go to Port Angeles tomorrow, you know, to shop…." I gushed happily.

"Sounds good," She said quietly and I squealed before turning to Emmett and Jasper who had just taken a seat.

"Actually, we could all go! It'll be fun!" I congratulated myself for the lovely idea.

"Um, actually-"

"Ah, I-"

I glared at them both mildly before smiling in achievement when I saw Jaspers shoulders slump in defeat and Emmett sigh reluctantly.

"Fine."

"Yay!" I said; I loved spending time with them. They were all I had after all, what with both of my parents working compulsively, not having much time for their children.

At first, Cynthia and I made do by ourselves, until she graduated two years ago. Then I was alone, so I tried to be home as little as I could and spend as much time as I could with my friends, or even just people. But I couldn't help it, the fear of being alone, or the need to be around someone.

Emmett and Jasper knew it too, they'd been my friends since Elementary school, when we'd all moved to the same neighborhood. Our parents had become friends so we did too. It was never weird either, what with me being the only girl out of the three of us. No, we'd still been friends, all the way up to now.

But they were just that; friends. Nothing more, as many people think. They're more like brothers to me now, and that's how it was going to stay.

Emmett

I could tell Bella was already making her way into our little circle, and strangely I didn't mind. I had been use to having just Jasper and Alice around, so it was odd to add one more person. I mean, sure, I have other friends, we all do, but not exactly other close friends.

Alice definitely like Bella, and it was understandable, what with having two boys as best friends for years. And you would have expected her to be more…..well not-girly? But now, she just about defined your typical girl, except a bit more…hyper. And she had already roped Bella into the mania that was Alice's world.

I'd been there and done that before. It can be overwhelming, to put it simply.

But I was not unhappy that Bella had come, even if it ignited Alice's sudden urge to shop with a female instead of us two. And yet we were still dragged into it. I just couldn't say no to Alice when all she wanted to do was spend time with us, even if it was –dare I say it- shopping. I knew why she was always seeking company, why I'd catch her sometimes sitting on a bench in the mall alone or walking aimlessly through any given crowded place. She didn't let it show, any of it, the fear of being alone or the reason behind it, her lonely home life. And it hurt me slightly to see her like this, this girl who I loved like a sister being neglected by her own parents.

Jasper and I had figured it out on our own though, she had never voiced it, never told us. But I'd known, especially when I use to see her watching enviously as my mom baked for us or my dad played games with me.

But she was a strong little pixie, and that's why we were friends.

And that's why I agreed to go with her.

Jasper

"….and we can go to this nice little boutique where they have the cutest clothes, and this other shop….." I vaguely heard Alice babbling endlessly to Bella whose eyes were starting to glaze over as she nodded her head and tried to keep up with Alice's rapid speech. I shook my head slightly, already feeling sorry for poor Bella. Being friends with Alice was something no one could be prepared for, that much I knew.

I poked at my food, not particularly hungry and turned towards the whole of the cafeteria, scanning the crowd for what, I don't know.

My eyes landed on the table on the other side of the large room, where I recognized Royce, his goons, a few overly eager girls, Edward, and Rosalie. I wondered briefly why they sat there today; they didn't often I'd noticed. But there Rosalie was, beside Royce, his arm thrown carelessly around her shoulders as he chatted lazily with some boy I didn't know. She on the other hand was looking away, out the window I realized, not speaking whatsoever from what I could see. Edward was on her other side, looking incredibly bored and occasionally speaking, to the girl next to him, I assumed to halt her constant advances towards him.

I remembered back before high school, before we all grew up, when I hated Rosalie and even Edward. I remember how they would stroll around as if they owned the place, how Rosalie would look at me condescendingly if we so happened to run into each other, or how she was sarcastic to the point of borderline bitchy. And I was no better really, always taking up her challenge and spitting out cutting remarks nearly as often as she. It had been almost a game to us, one that we both hated but both didn't want to end. No one had known or understood it, they just assumed we hated each other with a passion. Which was true. But we had made something deeper, something fun and dangerous.

And I had never particularly let Alice and Emmett in on it and I assumed she'd kept it from Edward also.

And then we all got to high school, and just sort of gave up. She started dating Royce and stopped paying attention to me completely. I also let the juvenile game slip through my fingers as we grew older and had begun to forget about it completely.

Rosalie hadn't crossed my mind terribly often until just this week when Bella had brought my attention to the blonde, therefore triggering the memories. But now that she was on my mind, I couldn't quite figure out how I felt about her. Sure, I use to dislike her and I was pretty sure I still did, or should at least, but I was starting to wonder if I was in any place to judge this girl I barely knew.

I turned back to my own friends, trying to shake the past from my head, as I joined half heartedly in their conversation.

Edward

"So, Edward, I was thinking maybe we could, you know, do something tomorrow…." I vaguely heard…..Lauren, was it?...saying to me as she scooted closer, not so subtly.

"Actually, I had plans for tomorrow." I lied smoothly as I watched her pout slightly. I rolled my eyes at her ridiculous behavior and turned away towards Rose where she and Royce were arguing about something.

"Well, what are your plans, Eddie?" It's Edward, damn it. And what happened to personal space?

"That's really none of your business but if you must know, I'm going to Port Angeles," I said and watched as she perked up again, opening her mouth to say something but I beat her to it. "With Rose."

She slumped once more, before scooting away again, and not without casting Rose a glare. I chuckled quietly before turning back to Rose who was now looking at me skeptically.

"What?" I asked her and she quirked an eyebrow.

"Port Angeles?"

"Why not?"

"I don't think….well…..Royce wouldn't like-"She started, her voice lowering as she glanced at her boyfriend timidly, almost fearfully and I felt the anger spike up.

"Does it matter what Royce likes? He doesn't own you Rose." I said to her and she cringed at my cold tone, looking away.

Why was she with that bastard? I didn't know, and I don't think she did either. But she'd have to be blind if she didn't see how he treated her. I was sure she did, and yet she was still with him.

"Okay." She said quietly as she put her hand on my wrist, her violet eyes open and unguarded. I knew what that okay meant though; she would come with me this weekend, she understood and agreed with what I said, but it still didn't change anything.

I looked away, disappointed.

She'd been dating Royce since our sophomore year. What she saw in him, I'll never know, or why she continued to take him back after all the times they'd broken up over the course of three or so years. All the times I'd thought she'd finally put her foot down and done something right in terms of their relationship. But no, he'd beg and she'd give in. Always.

And I'd ask her why. And she'd tell me the same thing, her voice quiet and her eyes averted; "Because I…I love him Edward."

She always was a horrible liar.

I'd even gone so far as to try and convince her to date someone else, anyone else. We both knew there were so many other boys out there who worshipped the ground she walked on, and yet she chose Royce.

I sighed heavily and ran my hand through my hair, before turning back to the table reluctantly. I tuned them out though, all of my mindless peers around me, even Rosalie for once.

Rosalie

"Rosalie I love your hair, are those highlights natural?" I heard one the harlots at the table ask me as she twirled a strand of her over processed hair around her finger, trying to look cute most likely.

I smiled at her, knowing it looked convincingly sweet before answering.

"Oh of course, are yours?"

"I-well-Yes-"

"Didn't think so." I said bitingly as I dropped the smile and leaned back in my chair, turning my attention away from her overly made up face.

I suddenly felt Royce's hand traveling lower down my shoulder and I pushed it away softly, before adjusting my sweater slightly.

"Come on Rose, tonight?" He begged me and I looked away from him, shaking my head, no. "Tomorrow?" He was whispering in my ear now, his breath hot against my face and I tried not to lean away.

"I said no."

He pulled away from me, looking at me disbelievingly.

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"What do you think it means? It means no!" I snapped as I pulled away from his arm, and was about to turn towards Edward again when I felt Royce roughly grab my arm under the table and I gasped sharply.

"You won't talk to me that way, bitch." He said quietly but I could hear him loud and clear as I struggled to free my arm from his grasp. "And I will get what I want Rose." And with that he let go roughly.

I turned from him, and tried hard to hide any traces of what had just happened as I pulled my sleeve over the bruise that was forming on my arm. I arranged my facial expression skillfully into one of indifference before focusing my full attention on Edward, who just so happened to be trying to wriggle his way out of a date with Lauren.

I chuckled to myself, listening to him make up excuses.

He always did attract most of the female population, even since elementary school. I personally had known Edward since before I could remember, he was just always there, a constant in my life for all those years, and even now. He was the one with me in all of the childhood photos my parents had taken. He was the one who was always there, waiting for me, when Royce and I would break up, though I never really came for comfort, just the company of someone I trusted.

And he was the only one outside of my family who I was sure I loved, and probably still was.

And it was always just us two, neither truly bothering to try and make more friends, as we didn't need them. We'd even tried dating once in eighth grade but realized our relationship was more that of siblings rather than romantic. And it wasn't until I started dating Royce that we sometimes sat with others, Royce's friends.

I was pulled from my thoughts when Edward turned and noticed me looking at him.

"What?" He asked after a moment and I quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Port Angeles?"

"Why not?" He countered and I thought for a moment. It would be nice to get away for a while, away from everything and….everyone.

"I don't think….well…..Royce wouldn't like-"I stumbled out, my usual mask slipping out of place as I glanced at Royce unsurely. I hated that I did that, but what else could I do?

"Does it matter what Royce likes? He doesn't own you Rose." Edward said, his voice low but angry and I looked away, the truth of his words cutting me.

He didn't understand though, no one did, they never had. I wasn't quite sure myself why I continued to act this way, to stay with Royce, when I knew he was far from perfect under those cerulean eyes and platinum blonde hair. But I couldn't leave him. And there were so many reasons why we should be together anyway.

My parents loved him, or the side of him they've seen at least. They even silently hoped that we would stay together, even after high school.

And he was the perfect boyfriend, on the outside. We made a good couple too…..on the outside.

He tells me he loves me. That's what mattered, right?

And I….I loved him. Yes, I did. Or at least I should, and maybe will in the future.

But Edward didn't get it.

"Okay," I murmured to him in surrender, not wanting to have this fight with him. I touched his wrist lightly and he looked at me, his green eyes searching my violet ones. I saw him nod once before turning away and I felt something in me ache.

I hated when things came between us, and for a moment I hated Royce.

But then I realized that I just wanted Edward to be my friend, I needed him to be my friend, regardless of Royce or not.