Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight!

I spend most of Sunday cleaning. I desperately want to go to the Cullens', to see Alice, but I'd rather not make Charlie suspicious. Edward helps, and I don't admit to him that I'd much rather spend some time alone. I definitely don't want to make him suspicious, either.

He can still tell my mind is somewhere else. I can't stop thinking about Alice's cool, smooth fingers brushing across me in the changing rooms, Alice with shiny wet black hair falling around her face in the bathtub, Alice in bed next to me, Alice's body moving closer to mine…

"Bella?" Edward looks worried. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, fine. I just remembered some math homework I forgot to take care of." I'm a terrible liar, but he doesn't question me, instead simply offering to help.

When night finally comes, it take me hours to fall asleep. My mind wanders wildly, projecting infinite futures in which I end up spending my life, or longer, with Alice. I feel a strange thrill at the thought of her venom coursing through my veins and stopping my heart. I want to be beautiful like she is. I want the connection between us to be unbreakable. Finally, I fall into a fitful sleep, praying Edward won't hear me talking about her.

Morning comes much too fast. I'm looking forward to school, because I'm dying to see her again, dying for her to give me some sort of sign that what happened between us was more than just a dream. After breakfast with Charlie (and more of his complaints about my eating habits) I take a long, hot shower. Now that I've started acknowledging my attraction to Alice, I can't stop thinking about her. I'm almost tempted to look inside the trunk whose key is hidden the one place Edward and Charlie will never look- in my box of tampons.

Of course, I don't want to be late, so I ignore the aching need I feel and get dressed in some of my new clothes. Alice greets me the same way she does every morning- she throws her arms around me and I try not to lose myself in the sensation of her flawlessly graceful touch. I wonder if it's just my imagination when her fingertips seem to linger on my body for just an instant more than they normally do.

I struggle to pay attention in class, and Edward keeps shooting me these long, worried glances. I don't think he suspects anything is going on with Alice yet, but I can't help but worry. Does he notices the way my heart pounds when she touches me? It occurs to me that my body has probably done that all along, and he hasn't noticed anymore than I used to. It's amazing how much can change in a single night.

Finally, it's time for Spanish. I'm not extraordinarily fond of foreign languages, but it's the only class I have with Alice that none of the other Cullens take. She sits next to me, closer than usual, because this is the only time no one will notice. It's not exactly hot outside, but she's wearing shorts today, and I can feel the exquisite curves of her leg as it brushes against mine under the table. We pass notes, confident that her abilities can protect us from detection.

This weekend was weird. I write, passing the paper to her. I steal a glance at her, noticing the tiny frown that crosses her delicate features as she writes her response before sliding the paper back across the desk.

Did I do something wrong?

Not with you, with Edward…

How so?

It feels strange being with him now, like everything that happens between us is a lie.

She sighs. I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to make things harder for you, even though I guess on some level, I knew I would.

I'd rather have a problem being with Edward than spend my life thinking there's something wrong with me. I wouldn't take back what happened on Friday for anything.

Try to look sick.

What?

Start acting like you don't feel well. In about five minutes, get up and leave the room. Try to look unsteady on your feet, like you feel light-headed.

Why?

I'll be sent to check on you after a few minutes. Just wait for me in the hall. If you miss anything, I certainly wouldn't mind tutoring you.

I glance over at Alice. She's staring straight ahead, looking very convincingly attentive, but I can see the grin fighting to break out in the dimples that have appeared in her cheeks, and the way the corners of her mouth twitch upward, just a tiny bit. I slump over in my chair and think about everything that bothers me, about Edward and Charlie and whether what's happening with Alice will last, about whether she'll want to be with me forever, or if this is just a fling to her. Then I think about the way she touched me, about the strange softness of her body, the way she devoured me with kisses, the look of utter bliss on her face while it all happened… and I can feel my face growing red.

Good. Now walk out of the room and wait for me on the bench just outside the door. We should be able to get a minute alone. Be patient, I won't come out right away.

I push back from my chair, watching the sheet of paper that was on the table in front of me vanish into her pocket, and walk quickly out of the room, not walking in a perfectly straight line, but careful not to knock anything over. It's not that hard. I actually do feel a bit light-headed from not being able to eat much at breakfast. It's a good thing lunch comes after this class.

I sit on the bench in the hall, and try not to think too much about why she might have wanted me out here, or the millions of other questions swirling through my head. I've almost forgotten why I'm waiting by the time the door opens, and my eyes meet hers. I stand, and she crosses the hallway at an unnatural speed, not willing to waste an instant of the time we have. She leans close, and I inhale her scent, savoring the unbelievable sweetness. My eyes drift shut as her lips meet mine, making them tingle, barely touching. I press forward and deepen the kiss. My body is flooded with sensations as her cool fingers slip into my hair and her lips part instantly. It's barely been two days, and already I've forgotten how unbelievably good she tastes. We explore each other's mouths, drinking in the flavors and sensations. My hands slide over her body, and she pulls away, much too soon.

"Bella," she gasps, and I imagine that if her heart were still alive, it would be racing like mine is now, "we have to go back to class before they miss us." I realize suddenly that I'm not sure how much time has passed while we were kissing, but assume the deep flush that has crept over my body is a good indication that it's been a few minutes.

I sigh, and her arm slides across my shoulders before she leads me back into the room. She passes the teacher a slip of paper, which she must have written on before we left the room. I glance down at her delicate handwriting.

Girl problems.

I'm glad the teacher is a man. He doesn't question us, and his ears grow distinctly red as we take our seats.