CHAPTER THREE

Note: Chapter three! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! Anyway, the excitement is coming, I promise :D

Edward's POV

I burst out of the room, thundering down the stairs. I shot out of the door like a bullet, and I knew that no one would follow. I sprinted as fast as I could, with no destination in mind, my only thought to find someplace solitary where I could mull over what I had just heard. Out of habit, I sent my mind out to Bella, and sensed that she was still asleep. Charlie was dreaming about Bella's mother. I wished I could read Bella's dreams, to know where her mind went every night. I stopped listening, and blocked out all thought except my own. I concentrated on the almost-silent sound of my feet thudding rhythmically against the ground.

I ran and ran, until I found myself in a forest. I slowed to a fast walk, moving through the trees like a shadow. A few startled birds erupted from their nest hidden in some bushes as I paced beside them, and I leapt back, startled. I was sweating, and I started at the slightest whisper of the trees.

"Calm down, Edward. Stop this foolish behaviour!" I ordered myself, my voice sounding loud and out of place in the dark and silent forest. I found a large and relatively dry boulder, and sat on it, resting my head in my hands.

"I guess it's up to you to choose which one." Alice's words repeated themselves again and again in my mind. Both of the futures stirred violent emotions in me. The thoughts of Bella in pain, becoming a vampire, being unhappy, all made me growl with anger. I would under no circumstances all that future to come to pass. But the alternative…

When I first became a vampire, I had asked many questions about marriage, death, love, and admittedly procreation. Apparently, a human and a vampire could have a child together, but for some reason it was impossible for two vampires. But the questions had always been purely hypothetical; I couldn't imagine ever wanting to have children. But now, with Bella, maybe things were different.

I sat there for hours, as morning light filtered through the trees, although it was quickly obscured by dark clouds, prophesying rain. Suddenly, I remembered that today we were supposed to be leaving for a camping trip to Elinstone Forest. I had planned to pack my bags tonight, after Bella was asleep. I wondered if the trip was still on. It all seemed inconsequential in the face of the news I had just been given.

"Of course it is!" I said decisively. "Bella wants to go, so we'll go. Nothing Alice sees or says is going to change it." I strode back purposely through the forest, back to my house.

Carlisle was about to leave just as I entered. I noticed that he was in his work clothes for the hospital.

"Where are you going? What about the trip?" I demanded, none too politely. Carlisle looked at me in surprise. Esme emerged from the living room, looking at me worriedly.

"We assumed that, under recent circumstances…" Carlisle began.

"Don't assume anything!" I said rudely. Carlisle raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. "We're still going. And if anyone dares to tell Bella what Alice saw, it'll be the last thing they do!" I shouted as I stormed upstairs to pack my bags.