Alice's Point of View

Bella was avoiding me. I was absolutely sure of it. And she knew how to do it too. As long as she kept her decisions last minute I couldn't get a decent vision on her. What on Earth was that girl's problem? I was ten seconds away from blowing a gasket. Luckily I only needed four steps. That was how many it took to see Bella outside at a picnic table. She looked miserable. I had to remind myself to move at human speed as I ran to her. I had her in my arms the moment I reached her. "Oh, Bella. I'm so very sorry. I should have found you sooner. Are you okay? Can you forgive me?"

She yanked herself back. "Wha…Why are you apologizing to me?"

"My brother of course. I knew I should have called, but you seemed fine in all of my visions. Edward is dumb. He doesn't know what he gave up." What else would I apologize for? Silly girl.

Bella's face contorted as she started to cry. "Alice, please don't. I don't deserve it. I should be saying sorry to you. I'm an awful person."

"And how is that? Bella, you are my dearest friend. What could you have done wrong? I'm sure it was nothing to bad."

She stood up at that and stared at me with wide eyes. "But I did, Alice. I did the worst thing to you. I'm so sorry."

"You are being ridiculous. Now –"

"I slept with your husband!"

I felt the sadness creep up in me a little. Mine and Jasper's new arrangement was something I wasn't completely used to yet. Therefore, it still hurt. But I'd been seeing them together inside my head and what I saw made it hard to be upset about losing him. And even if it didn't, that couldn't stop me from consoling my friend. I gently grabbed her hand and pulled her on to the bench next to me. "Bella, you need to calm down."

She seemed to notice that people were starting to stare in our direction. Taking a breath, Bella continued, "I did. I slept with Jasper. I mean, we didn't...you know…I wouldn't have. And he wouldn't have. Even if he didn't love you so much he is far too much of a gentleman. But we did sleep together. Well, I slept. He just held me. I promise it wasn't sexual. Jasper was just trying to comfort me. I was being irrational and clingy, making him stay all night. Please don't be mad at him. Everything is my fault. I should be shot. Worse than that. Alice you've been around long enough, use your imagination. I won't struggle. I deserve everything I have coming to me…"

When she stopped her rambling to take a much needed dose of oxygen I smiled at her. "Are you done now?"

"What? Why aren't you mad at me? You should be mad at me, furious even. Go on and let me have it."

I rolled my eyes at her and sighed before I calmly told her, "Jasper is not now and has never been my husband."

Bella looked confused. "I don't understand."

My grin startled her more. "He did propose to me once, in 1962. I was so sweet. He planned everything for months. Of course the second he'd made the decision I started having visions of it. I think we were both surprised when I said no. It didn't feel right. Every time I would say yes in my vision things would end up worse than if I refused. Poor boy, he was crushed."

"But you and Jasper are so perfect for each other…and that doesn't change anything, Alice! Even if he is just your boyfriend, what I did was wrong."

I'd pulled her to her feet and started maneuvering her toward the parking lot. Bella seemed to have too much on her mind to argue or even notice what I was doing. In fact, I opened the door to the car and she got in without one protest. Maybe I could talk her into a shopping trip if she was going to stay this agreeable.

We were a couple of miles away from the school when I spoke again. "Jasper and I aren't together anymore."

"But you were last Thursday." She said cautiously.

"And as of Saturday night we are both single again."

"No!" I glanced over at the outburst. Bella was on the verge of tears again. "Please, don't do this. Don't leave him because of me, Alice. I told you it was all my fault."

I stroked her face, wiping away the wetness. "Bella, this is not your fault.

She didn't believe me because she kept shaking her head and she cried harder. "Yes, it is. I'm so sorry…sorry…sor…"

This was getting out of hand. I pulled the car off the side of the road. She didn't notice through all of her apologizing. I put it in park and forced her to look at me. "Stop it, Bell."

Her eyes snapped into focus at my harsh tone. I had to talk her out of this unnecessary guilt. "This has been coming for quite a while, before we even came to Forks. You are not the reason."

Bella nodded slowly. "Then why?"

"We aren't in love anymore." I sighed dramatically. "Do you have any idea how long it has been since I've had sex?"

Her cheeks turned red as she mumbled, "No."

"Nearly five years. The desire is gone. We're really just friends at this point. You aren't responsible."

More nodding while Bella grasped what I was saying. I started to drive the car again but she remained quiet. It was a few minutes before I grinned at her and asked, "Do you think Jasper is good looking?"

"Alice!" Her blush reappeared and I laughed.

"I'll take that as a yes. It's perfectly alright if you do."

"But I don't!" I gave her a skeptical look and Bella gave in, defeated. "Okay, you win. Yes, Jasper is attractive. You all look as if you should be on the covers of magazines."

"Oh, that's cute Bella." I gave her a hard look. "That isn't what I meant and you know it. Be honest or I'll resort to force. Now, what I'm asking is do you find him sexually desirable?"

She groaned and shifted uncomfortably in the leather seat. "Fine! Fine. I lust after Jasper. Are you happy?"

"Of course." Then I gave her a sly glance. "More so than Edward?"

Bella only seemed a little sad when she begrudgingly replied, "Maybe."

Normally, I wouldn't have been so insensitive, but Bella was being so strong about everything that I simply couldn't resist. I knew I had crossed the line by a tiny bit so, trying to be a good friend, I asked, "Do you want to talk about him?"

"Not yet." She answered, looking out the window.

"Okay." I turned onto the hidden drive leading to the house. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Don't you know?"

I had so smile. I did know. "I was asking to be polite."

And then Bella came out of her daze and caught on to where we were. I'd just pulled the car into view of the house. "Alice, take me back!"

"I grinned at her. "Nope."

"Right now, Alice!" I laughed when she stomped her foot in a childish manner.

"Bella, you are already skipping class. It would look suspicious if I took you back now. I'll take you to get your truck in a few hours." I reasoned.

She looked at her lap. "They don't want to see me."

"And why not?" Sometimes I didn't understand this girl and her silly thoughts.

Bella was crying again as she whispered, "He left because of me."

"Isabella Marie Swan! I don't ever want to hear that again!" I wrapped my friend in a hug. "You are part of this family. Whatever stupid things he does won't change that. Trust me, I know. I'm afraid to tell you there is no escaping us now. We are like the mafia. Once you're in, you are in for life."

She gave a small laugh. "Thanks, Alice."

"Not a problem. Now get in that house before they all come out and drag you in."

Bella was barely out of the car when the visions blinded me. It was over in less than a minute and I didn't know whether to cry or be happy for them. I tried to compose myself before I followed her inside. Things were changing quickly.