A/N: FINALLY I've updated! Soooo sorry for the long wait, I've been tres busy this weekend, plus I made a HUGE mistake writing it and had to correct that (thank GOD for my betas!) Soooo, here it is! Chapter three!
Love you all!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight or New Moon, as much as I'd like to!
"Bella, please-"
"Alice. I'm married. I have kids."
She and Rosalie gasped in shock.
"You're WHAT?" Rosalie exclaimed, finally breaking her cool disposition. She looked livid. I winced from the hostility of her glare.
I reluctantly turned to look at Alice. I wouldn't be able to handle Alice hating me as well…but her expression shocked me. She didn't look angry. Not at all. She was staring into space, concentrating hard on something I couldn't see. Frustration flashed across her features.
"Alice?" I asked timidly, and it looked as if she was broken out of whatever trance she was in.
"I… didn't… see that," she said cautiously, her topaz eyes on mine.
"I didn't see any of this…" she frowned. Rosalie's expression changed from resentment to concern as she turned to look at her sister.
I was confused. Why wouldn't Alice see me getting married to Jacob?
Wait…was it possible that… Alice couldn't see Jacob at all? Because he was a werewolf? It made sense in a way… werewolves were the mortal enemy of vampires. But Edward could hear Jacob's mind…
"Bella?"
Alice's musical voice zapped me out of my thoughts.
"Alice…what do you know about werewolves?"
Alice's eyes flashed with recognition. She stared at me, her bright eyes boring into my own dark ones.
"Well, that explains it….but Bella … to a werewolf? And you have children? Do you know how dangerous that is?"
I mustered up as much bravery as I could, and tried to make myself sound angry. Maybe if Edward thought I didn't love him anymore, he'd leave me alone. Exactly what he had done to me so many years ago. A clean break.
"Funny that you talk about being dangerous, AliceAnd I am aware of that. Our children are girls, so that isn't an issue. I love Jake, I really do. And I will not let your family's sudden arrival tear my family apart. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got diapers to purchase."
I stormed passed Alice, and continued walking down the aisle. Tears spilled out of my eyes and blurred my vision. I hated that I had stooped to this; I hated being so cruel to Alice.
"Bella, wait!" Alice was suddenly next to me. I stopped, knowing it was useless trying to avoid her.
"Edward is going to find out, you know. Even if I don't tell him." She tapped her temple with her finger.
"But you can block your thoughts, can't you?" My back was still to her, and I desperately willed my voice not to crack. I couldn't let Alice know I was crying.
Alice gripped my shoulders and turned me around to face her. Taking in my red eyes and tearstained cheeks, she wiped under my eyes with her cold thumbs and pushed my hair back. She carefully enveloped me in her hard, cold arms. I sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder as she stroked my hair.
"Oh, Bella," she sighed, "Even if I block my thoughts, Rosalie won't," She said softly, trying not to upset me in my fragile state.
I lifted my head up from her shoulder and looked into her eyes.
"I know he…he'll find out eventually…but…oh, Alice, I can't face him now, I really can't."
"You need to talk to him, Bella," she said firmly.
"It's not fair, Alice, it's not fair," I mumble pathetically, more tears spilling over my eyelids. I quickly smoothed my hair with my hands and tried to compose my face. Alice looked confused.
"He left me, Alice; I don't care how noble his intentions were. He. Left. Me. I've finally managed to somewhat get over him, and he shows up? Talk about bad timing."
Alice sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"Bella, please, just talk to him. You don't need to take him back or anything, but… please, talk to him."
Her expression was almost desperate with grief.
"You don't understand, Alice, if I see him, I won't be able to not take him back. And I can't to that to Jake, or Alice, or Esme." I said determinedly, every word slowly breaking my heart that I had thought was finally healed. Alice looked puzzled.
"Oh. I named the twins after you and Esme," I said quietly, wiping the tears that threatened to fall down my cheeks. Alice's expression softened considerably.
"Oh, Bella," She said again, smiling a sad smile. And for the first time since I'd bumped into Alice and Rosalie that day, I smiled, too.
"Alice… do you have a pen?"
Alice looked confused but grabbed a pen from the pocket of her slacks and handed it to me. I grabbed her hand and scrawled my cell phone number onto it.
"Call me, Alice… I've missed you, no matter how much I resent your brother at the moment." And on that note, I kissed her on the cheek and walked away. This time, she didn't follow me.
