(Twilight theme by Stephanie Meyer)

(For access to more locations I have moved cities in WA closer than they actually are. For example, Port Angeles is 30 mins away from Forks and Seattle is like an hour and a half)

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I was so excited to see Alice. I haven't spent any one on one time with her in so long. She came over and we drove to a thrift store in Port Angeles. She of course wanted to go to some boutique in Seattle or Olympia, but I wasn't going to spend a fortune on a costume.

"Have you finally picked a costume? You keep changing your mind! It is maddening Bella." Alice really does hate being blind.

"Well I was watching a movie last night and I think . . ."

"Oh Yes, you would be a perfect Juliet." Alice interrupted "I assume we are going with the white dress and white wings from the beginning of the movie."

"Why ask if you already know?" I rolled my eyes and smiled as I grabbed her into a big hug. "Thanks Alice. You know I am no good at the shopping thing."

"You're very welcome Bella"

We found a dress that was almost identical just a little shorter. I had found some wings that looked exactly like the ones in the movie. It was perfect.

(A/N: Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet BTW)

When I was finished paying I saw Alice had her costume in a bag as well. I asked who she was going as and she just giggled "You'll see". Knowing Alice it would be something over the top and memorable.

"So is Edward back yet?"

"Not yet, I haven't heard from him in a week" Alice's voice was steady and nonchalant

"Well he said you guys tend to get distracted . . ."

"Let's get you home and changed Bella. I want to get started on your hair before the party"

"Nice subject change" I said bluntly

"I'm a natural" She smiled and stuck out her tongue.

I tried to sit still as Alice brushed and tied my hair into place. As I got dressed she changed into her costume and grabbed her camera from her house. When I walked downstairs I was assaulted by flashes from her little camera.

"Holy crow Alice, are you trying to blind me?"

"Bella don't whine. I want to make sure my work is documented before you trip and wreck it."

"Well a quick FYI I haven't tripped in days, gravity and I are becoming fast friends. Please, don't jinx me."

As I adjusted my eyes I took in Alice's costume. She was wearing knee high black boots and fishnets with a black leather mini skirt and red velvet top.

"Wow! You look great! What are you Alice?"

She flashed me a huge smile and I saw the fake fang caps on her perfect teeth.

"Isn't this what you think vampires look like? I could go put on something a little more "interview with . . ." if you think that will be better . . . "

"No! Alice you look exactly like a teenage girl dressed like a vampire for Halloween should look"

"Great . . . oh it's 9 already we should get going"

Alice and I picked up Angela on the way to Ben's. Angela was dressed as a witch, very cute.

When we pulled up to the party, it was already in full swing. There were so many people I did not recognize. We followed Angela through the crowd towards our usual lunch crowd. Right before we reached them though a flash of silver jumped in front of me. Tristan.

"My lady." He kissed my hand. He was wearing black jeans and a perfect match to Romeo's costume from the movie. A top the looked like the under armor of a knight. A knight, it could not have been more perfect if we planned it.

"My lord"

"I guess you were watching Romeo and Juliet last night too?" He winked up at me and I blushed.

"Great minds think alike I guess."

"You look great Iz!" He pulled me in and gave me a big hug. I felt eyes on us and I turned to introduce him to my friends. They all did the shaking hands thing and we began discussing our costumes. Alice was oddly quite the whole time. After a while I excused myself and took Alice around so we could see more costumes. It was no time before Alice spilled her thoughts.

"Bella who was that?"

"He's an old friend from Phoenix. He just transferred to Seattle, why?"

"When we are near him I can't see anything . . ." She whispered

"What do you mean Alice?"

"I have not been checking up on you, I swear, but lately all your decisions and future, have been foggy when I get them. Like with the costume. I thought it might have been the time away from one another. Then today was clear as usual which calmed me a bit, until we got near him."

"Has this ever happened before?"

"No, I can see everyone!" Alice looked truly upset.

"I don't know what to tell you Alice. He is every bit as human as I am. I've known him for years and I think I would have noticed if he was, you know, different"

"oh, I forgot to call jasper,I am going to make a quick call home. Go enjoy the party Bella." She smiled at me and walked off towards the car.

I walked around the party and ended up where a small stage was set up and saw Angela and Ben helping his brother set up.

"Need any help guys?"

"Sure Bella, we are just hooking up the amps." Ben handed me a cord

After hooking up one cord my job was pretty much done since the band took over. Tristan grabbed his guitar and Angela and I stepped to the side while the men worked.

"You didn't tell me you know Tristan!"

"it never came up Ange. We grew up together."

"He is very cute, and is so sweet with you."

I just smiled thinking about what she said. Ben picked up his bass and blew Angela a kiss. She turned beet red. Then the band started. Tristan sang a few songs, he always was attracted to the spotlight. Angela and I sang along with the crowd and were having a lot of fun. After a while the party switched to a DJ and practically everyone was dancing. I took my chance to duck out and I went outside to a patio area. When I got there I saw Alice and Edward?!? He had thrown together a black suit with red shirt. He looked so handsome, my heart lifted when I saw him then I saw his expression and realized that he was not my Edward anymore.

"I didn't think you were coming." I said trying to hide my sadness.

"me either . . ." He glared at Alice.

If that was not tense enough Tristan came out. He put his arm around me. With his free hand he extended it to Edward.

"Hi, i'm Tristan"

Edward looked a little confused, but shook his hand. Tristan was calm cool and collected. He didn't even react to Edward's cool touch.

"It's nice to meet a friend of Bella's. I'm Edward, Alice's brother"

Tristan gave me a look that said is this the guy? And I gave him a look that confirmed it. We were able to get a lot from each other in these little mental conversations. I got enough for him to understand to be nice. Even though the pause was very short Edward looked annoyed.

"Well if you two don't mind I am going to steal Izzy for a dance."

Tristan led me towards the dance floor and I went very willingly. I couldn't even look Alice in the eye.

EPOV

"Edward I left a costume for you on your couch. I need you to come here as quick as you can. There is something weird about one of Bella's friends. I need to know if she is in danger."

She knew those words were the only thing that would get me to that party. She better not be making this up.

"I'll be there in a while, I am hunting pretty far away."

I ran to the house and saw she laid out a vampire costume on the bed. I decided on a suit and slicked back hair instead. It was formal enough to look like a costume. I shook my head the costume she has laid out in disapproval and wondered how far she was going to push our cover. I ran to just outside the house where the party was. I saw Alice watching Bella from the back of the room.

He is dressed like a knight playing the guitar.

I looked over to the stage and filtered through all the voices and thoughts. His thoughts were not very impressive mainly notes and lyrics.

Whenever he and Bella are together I cannot see her future. Oh and don't you even think about yelling at me for checking on her. You know it just happens sometimes.

I ignored this and tried to hear for something, anything else.

"He is just thinking about the song he is playing, nothing sinister her Alice."

"Okay well just wait till he is done then." She sounded desperate.

"Fine, let's wait outside."

We walked outside and I watched Bella through the window. She was singing along and she actually sounded pretty good. She always claimed she could not sing. She was even dancing a little. After a couple songs the music changed to a DJ and I saw Bella start towards where we were. She was so pretty in her costume. She came outside and her eyes opened so wide when she saw me.

"I didn't think you were coming."She said quietly

"me either . . ." I glared at Alice. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. Then I heard him:

Where did she go? She loves this song. There she is, with that strange girl again. I wonder what is making her look at me like that? Who is this guy?

Then he put his arm around Bella and his mind fell as silent as hers. What was going on?

"Hi, i'm Tristan" he reached over with his free hand to shake mine. I struggled to hear, but kept my composure. I shook his hand and introduced myself. He didn't flinch when he touched my cold skin.

"It's nice to meet a friend of Bella's. I'm Edward, Alice's brother" and that's my girl you have your arm around.

He looked over at Bella and it was like a whole conversation took place in a matter of a second. That just pissed me off. I can't hear her thoughts or his but he was reading hers like they were written on her iris'. He smiled at me then, "Well if you two don't mind I am going to steal Izzy for a dance."

Izzy? Who is this guy Edward? What are you hearing?

I waited for them to get out of earshot and answered,"nothing Alice, absolutely nothing!"

"What?"

"I heard him approach, then, as soon as he touched her, his mind disappeared." I tried to think what all this meant and Alice still looked very confused and frustrated so I tried to ease her." He smells like a human. How much trouble could he really be?"

"Did you notice that he and Bella have a similar scent?"

I watched as he led her into the house and they began to dance. She usually avoided the dance floor like the plague, but she seemed comfortable and very confident. That is what was different about her when she was near him! She was confident, I thought about her photos and the times I have seen her with him.

"Alice, have you noticed anything different about Bella?"

"You mean like the fact that she is wearing heels and hasn't fallen? She told me she hasn't been as clumsy lately."

"You think she is absorbing it from him? It is the only thing that makes sense at this point. He appears to be absorbing her ability to block thoughts."

"Well that is possible, but then what about my visions? I can't see her when she is with him."

"Have you tried seeing him by himself?"

"Well they would have to separate for me to do that."Alice said, looking disapprovingly towards the dance floor.

I looked over to where he and Bella danced and he had his hand on her waist and was pulling her closer. I couldn't stand to see her that close to anyone else. "I can arrange that . . ."I growled through my teeth.

"Edward, you need to calm down. I can get Bella away from him. Just relax and monitor his thoughts when you are able to." Alice pushed me back to a bench. "Stay!" She wagged her finger at me.

I continued to torture myself as they danced to "kissing you" .She had her head on his chest and he looked down at her. I have seen this move a million times and I could see where this was going. He was going to kiss my angel; my Bella. His fingers found her chin and as their eyes met . . .

(A/N: Totally could not resist ending the chapter there, sorry)