A/N Well, this chapter turned out differently than what I expected. It's pretty short. I intended for it to be longer, but I wanted to break the next few parts up. This is a bit of a fluff chapter, mostly dialogue and remorse. Next chapter should be more amusing. I apologize for my excessive lateness. No real excuse aside from my lack of attention span.

Disclaimer: If I owned Twilight... The supporting characters would get way more attention. Seriously, the best characters in the book barely get any page-time. It's all Oh-look-Edward-Swoon...

"Sooo" Alice began. She and Bella had been sitting awkwardly at a table in La Belle Italia for about ten minutes. Their orders had been put in and Bella was fidgeting with her drink. Bella had given Alice an odd look when she ordered as well, but decided to not question the vampiress. They were alone in their section of the restaurant and Alice had slyly handed what Bella assumed was an extravagant tip to keep it that way. Bella didn't know why they were going to have this conversation in a public area; there were countless other possible scenarios for this.

"So." Bella replied half-heartedly. She knew where this was going; it was going to end up there at some point that night.

"You're not human." It was a statement.

"I believe the same can be said about you." Deflection.

Alice leveled Bella with a look. "You said you thought you were human?"

"Last time I checked." Alice sighed. "Never thought I'd have to keep tabs on what species I am. I'll have to check those more often. What's next? I'll turn into the freakin Lock-ness monster?" Alice shifted, obviously picking up on Bella's not so calm attitude towards the situation.

"Maybe we should start from the beginning. How do you know about vampires?" Bella fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Can we talk about that some other time?" Her eyes were glued to the table. She rubbed her arm nervously. Alice, noting this, nodded.

"Sure. Umm, have you been around any other supernaturals?" Bella blanched.

"There're more than just vampires?" Great, because god forbid there's only one type of freak supernatural race, she thought bitterly.

"Yup." Bella rested her head in her hands, her fingers spread through her hair.

"Of course there are." Bella mumbled dryly and Alice smiled sympathetically.

"I guess it's safe to say you only know about vampires. What all do you know?"

"Aside from the fact that they're bad for your health?" Bella raised an eyebrow while the vampire just waited patiently. It would be ironic for someone who literally has all the time in the world to be impatient. "I know that you're impossibly strong and fast. Your skin is rock hard and cold." Bella couldn't help but run comparisons of the vampires that attacked her and the Cullens. There was only one physical difference. "Why aren't your eyes red?"

Alice seemed taken aback by the question. "Bella," she started in near disbelief, "my family and I go to school, do you really think we eat humans?"

Shock played across Bella's face. "You mean.. this whole time… you don't harm humans?" Bella stumbled over her words as she ran a hand through her hair.

"No. My whole family, we don't want to hurt anyone, that's why we drink from animals; that's why our eyes are gold, not red. We want to maintain what's left of our humanity." Her tone was sincere and she held eye contact with Bella, trying to convey that she would never harm her. That, to her, harming Bella would be ten times worse than anything that could happen to herself.

Bella's eyes teared slightly as the words Alice said washed over her. The things she had said, the things she had thought, they were all wrong. "Alice, I'm sorry, I had no clue, I just, after the incident, I thought." She couldn't finish her rambling as she looked down and put her trembling hands on her face.

Alice gracefully slipped from her booth and next to Bella. "Bella, shhh, it's all right, you didn't know. I should have told you as soon as we knew you knew what we were. It's my fault for letting you draw those conclusions; I just assumed you already knew enough about vampires." She gently placed her arm around the non-human.

"No it's not," she shuddered out. "It's just… they-they killed them all and I-" a sob choked out, "I couldn't do anything."

At these words Alice embraced Bella tighter, protectively. Her eyes were determined. Nothing would happen to Bella. Not while she was there to prevent it. Bella took a deep breath, trying to stave off having a complete breakdown in public.

"They won't hurt you ever again." Her cold embrace was warm. Bella could almost feel Alice's emotions seeping into her, wrapping around her like a protective blanket. She briefly thought how selfish this was. That she was so concerned about her own safety when she was the one who made it out of the incident nearly unscathed while the others died. Was she so narcissistic that she didn't care about the safety of anyone but herself? Did the others in her life matter? Or maybe it wasn't so much of lack of concern as it was lack of ability to help even if she could. Then again, after the brawl with her would-be murderers, maybe she could help now. Maybe she could repay the debt she had stacked up during that camping trip.

"Why do they do what they do when they don't have to?" Bella's eyes were dry now, but red as she lifted her head to make eye contact with Alice. "Why would they drag it out?"

Alice's countenance softened even more at the broken tone Bella had. "Very few of us choose to live how my family does. Human blood is so much more tempting and satisfying than animal blood. It's like a college student living off of Ramen. It can sustain you, but it's not nearly as palatable as a gourmet meal."

"I can understand that," Bella leaned her head on Alice's shoulder. "But why would they drag something like that out?"

At this Alice sighed. "Some vampires feel that whatever they do is justified because they are at the top of the food chain. Others are simply sadistic. But you can ask the same question when it comes to certain humans, why do they have serial killers?"

Bella nodded, understanding but not condoning. She picked her head up, awkwardly realizing she was in the arms of a girl, a vampire girl no less, whom she had been utterly rude to until this point. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to put a bit of space between them without seeming like she wasn't okay with the position. In all honesty, she was more than okay with it. Alice's arms, while so similar to the ones that nearly killed her, were like home. They were safe and nothing could hurt her while she was in them.

Alice noticed Bella's shifting and begrudgingly released the girl and moved back to her side of the booth while giving a comforting smile. On cue, the food arrived; mushroom ravioli for Bella and a medium rare steak for Alice. Bella tore into her ravioli, surprised by how hungry she really was. Alice hid her smile politely behind her hand, but her mirth still shone through her eyes. When Bella finished her plate, Alice slid the empty plate in front of her and placed her steak for Bella to eat. Bella gave her a sheepish look.

"Why did you think I bothered to order?" was all Alice said. No further invitation was needed as the steak slowly disappeared as well.

"How'd you know I'd eat that much?" Bella questioned after Alice had stubbornly paid the bill and they exited the restaurant.

"I'm psychic," Alice stated playfully.

"I'm serious."

"So am I." Bella gave Alice an incredulous look. "I thought you'd have figured that out between what I said when I found you in the alley along with the fact that I found you in that alley," Alice giggled a bit.

Bella smile and rolled her eyes, "Well excuse me if I was a bit distracted by being stabbed."

"I do suppose that would be a little distraction," she smiled as she opened the passenger side door of her Porsche for Bella. "Perhaps you should learn to pay better attention though?" She was in the driver's seat before Bella had even closed her door.

"I'll get right on that."

"By the way, we still don't have a clue what you are, do we?" Alice asked pensively.

"The only thing I had after that night was a bite on my arm," she said, moving her hand to the upper part of her left arm. The bite was fading rapidly, but still easily visible.

"A bite?" Alice's tone was inquisitive. "May I see it?" Bella nodded her consent before removing her jacket. The area was raised in some parts and indented in others. While it wasn't severe, it definitely wasn't from a small animal. Alice traced the edges of the bite gently and Bella had to fight back a shiver at the sensation. "Would it be all right if you met with my family someday soon, I have a hunch on what it might be, but Carlisle may know more."

Her? Going into a house filled with vampires? Vegetarian vampires, but still vampires none the less. Three had killed four of her friends easily and nearly did the same with her. How dangerous could seven vampires be?

"And I'm sure Esme would be delighted to meet you," Alice added on.

"Esme?"

"Yes, she's Carlisle's mate and my sibling's and I's mother for all intents and purposes." Scratch that, eight vampires.

Alice sensed her apprehension, "They would never hurt you, Bella."

"I know you won't, but-" she rubbed her arm uncomfortably.

"They wouldn't, but even if they did, they'd have to get through me first." Alice's eyes blazed with the genuineness of her statement.

Bella took a deep breath, "okay."

Bella's morning wasn't that great. To begin with, she had forgotten to turn off her alarm the night before and awoke to its sadistic screeching. As if that wasn't enough to make her realize that she had a headache, Charlie had attempted to cook and the whole house currently reeked of burned bacon. After taking care of her morning routine, Bella had promptly opened all of the windows and cooked an edible breakfast for her and Charlie.

"So, any plans for the day kiddo?" Bella had to fight to keep her brow from lifting, kiddo? Really?

"Just goin' down to La Push with a few people from school."

"That's good, I'm glad you've made some friends. I know it can be hard in such a small town where everyone has known each other for years." Bella didn't bother to correct him about the f word, while the group would serve to amuse her and distract of from her inner turmoil, they weren't her friends. They may believe they were, but they weren't. So far, Angela was the only one even coming close to earning that term.

"Yeah, I guess I got lucky," she spoke as she placed her dish in the sink.

"That's good. How long do you think you'll be there?"

"Well, I'll probably leave soon; I guess it's supposed to be an all-day thing."

"Okay, well I'll be at a fish fry at Billy's if you need anything."

"Thanks dad," she smiled at her father.

"Anytime. I'll take care of the dishes if you want to go ahead and leave." Bella nodded her thanks and gave a smile before grabbing her helmet and heading out the door. "And don't make me have to ward off any boys with my shotgun!" he yelled through the still open door.

Bella rolled her eyes good naturedly, "Sorry dad, no guarantees." With that, she let the door close and walked to the driveway. Her bike was there, it had been delivered sometime the night prior, and she had to bite back a grin at the piece of machinery. "Time for some fun," she spoke to no one in particular as she mounted and cranked the bike.

It had been a while since she had driven her motorcycle, but it was like, well, it was like riding a bike. She didn't feel different on it at all. While her life had been turned upside down and then landed sideways into a pool of gasoline that only needed a spark to combust, this was one of her constants. She could always bet on her bike and the freedom it brought her. The wind tearing at her body, the roar of the small engine, the way she leaned into turns.

What she couldn't count on was the Fork's roads. Even though it was one of those rare sunny days, the roads were still damp and it was significantly different from riding in Arizona, as she realized by nearly sliding around a turn.

She noted this and continued her journey. She was nearly to the beach when a smell assaulted her senses. It smelled as if she had just entered a poorly maintained animal shelter. The air was heavy with the smell of wet dog and something she couldn't place.

The beach she arrived at was beautiful. It was somewhat chilly, but the sun was out and the forecast predicted that it would be a fairly warm day or, at least, warm by Fork's standards. She dismounted her bike and put down the kick stand. The slight breeze ruffled her hair and the smell it carried made her scrunch her nose at the smell. It was even worse without the helmet on.

Ignoring the odor, she turned her sights to the ocean. It was fairly deserted; she could only see a few silhouettes in the distance. The waves lapped at the shore almost lazily. There was drift wood scattered around, probably from one of the many storms that haunted the area.

None of her 'friends' were there yet and she figured they might take a while. She found a rock overlooking the ocean and laid down on it. She would wait there for the group and let the salty breeze coming off of the water carry away the horrible smell that lingered in La Push.

After this chapter I'm sure you guys could use some good news. Well, I have some really good ideas for this story. I almost have all of the major plot points laid out in my head (I'm one of those, I think I know where this is going... but let's just type it out, kind of writers)

All of your reviews make me smile and they are greatly appreciated. Thank you to those who Review, Follow, and Favorite, or just read this story in general.