Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or it's characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

BPOV

I will survive this, I thought to myself as I made my way to class the next morning. I was tired. Last night had been the worst night of sleep I had had since I had awoken from my coma. Instead of the usual blissful dreams, I had been visited by a nightmare. I shrugged off those unpleasant memories. I was determined to get through this. I had accepted this. I was going to live my life. Alone.

I made it through my morning classes. Angela and Jessica had both tried to talk me again into coming to the beach with them but I politely declined telling them that I already had plans. Which was true, I was going to Alice's, I thought as we made our way to the cafeteria. I had agreed to her request because I had remembered that Edward would not be there this weekend.

But of course, things are not the same as they were before, I thought as I entered the room and spotted Edward sitting at his usual table with the others. I glanced at Alice as I took my seat beside Angela. She had a puzzled look on her face. I wondered all through lunch what that look meant.

I was still trying to figure out what would puzzle Alice like that as I made my way to biology. I settled into my seat and was shortly joined by Edward. My heart started racing. I had hoped that I would have had until Wednesday to face him again. I closed my eyes and started humming my lullaby softly to calm myself down. I can survive this, I repeated to myself. Edward did not give me a chance to completely calm down.

"Hello, Bella. How are you today?"

I stopped humming and opened my eyes. So he really is going to try to be my friend? "Hello. Edward. I'm fine. How are you?"

He chuckled lightly. "I've had better days."

I turned to look at him and caught the trace of amusement in his eyes. "What's so funny?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

I was curious but did not ask. "If you say so."

Class started then so we did not get to say anything else to each other. Out of the corner of my eye I caught him several times staring at me with a strange expression on his face. I spent the entire class wondering what he was thinking. I don't think I really heard anything the teacher had said. I was relieved when the bell rang. I gathered my books and rose to leave. Edward was right by my side as I walked out the door to head to gym.

After a few silent minutes of walking he said, "So I hear you're coming over to our house tomorrow."

"Yes, that was the plan."

"Was? Are you backing out?"

"I didn't think you would be here. I don't want to cause problems."

"Bella, you won't be causing problems by coming over. You'd be creating them if you didn't. Alice would be upset at me. Alice isn't fun to be around when she's upset."

We had arrived at my building. I laughed. "You're right. I'll come. I wouldn't want Alice to get mad at you again."

He smiled. "Thank you. You don't know what that means to me. I'd offer to give you a tour of the house but you probably know it as well as I do.

I couldn't help but smile back. "Probably."

The bell rang. "Well, I guess I'd better get to class. Before I go, Alice told me to tell you that she couldn't come over this evening. We're all going hunting. See you tomorrow."

He gave me one more crooked smile and walked away. I entered the gym with a feeling of relief. This wasn't going to be as bad as I expected. The beginning of friendship with Edward was pleasant. As long as I kept my true feelings for him buried deep inside, this could work.

I got up the next morning well rested. It was a beautiful day out. The sun was already shining. Seeing the sun did get me to wondering how Alice would be coming to get me. I quickly got ready and ate my breakfast. Charlie had already left to go fishing. He had not objected to me spending the day with Alice and her family. I heard a car pull up outside and honk once. I rushed out the door. Carlisle's Mercedes was sitting in my drive. I got in the car as quickly as I could. I did not want anyone to accidentally see Alice in the sunlight. I had buckled my seatbelt before I'd realized that Alice was not behind the wheel.

"Good morning, Bella."

"Good morning, Edward. This is a surprise. I thought Alice was picking me up."

He chuckled as he pulled quickly out of my driveway. "She was going to but I talked her into letting me do the honors."

"Why would you do that? Isn't it a little dangerous for us to be in confined spaces like this?"

"Because I wanted to. No, I have better control of that problem now."

"Why would you want to? You don't even like me."

"I never said I didn't like you."

What did he mean by that? He's made it very clear to me that he didn't like me, hasn't he? "I'm confused." I finally said.

"Not as confused as I am."

"What are you confused about?"

"You."

"Me? What have I done to confuse you?" I had answered most of his questions. I had promised to quit bothering him. I had accepted his friendship. What was there to be confused about?

"Nothing. Everything. I don't think you'd understand."

"Try me."

He smiled. "Not yet. Maybe later. Everyone will wonder why we're sitting in the car and not going in."

I looked around and was amazed to find that we were already parked in front of his house. I had been so engrossed in our conversation that his fast driving had not bothered me.

I turned to look back at him. "You're right. They might worry."

He was staring at me strangely again. He very slowly reached toward me and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, brushing his fingertips along my cheek before he spoke. "Yes, they would worry. Especially Alice. But they would be worrying about the wrong thing."

Before I could even think about a reply, he was out his door and opening up mine. I got out of the car in a daze. His touch still had an effect on me. I looked up at him with a question in my eyes.

"I will explain later."

I nodded as Alice danced out of the front door and after giving Edward a curious glance, she turned to me.

"Bella, you made it. I'm glad you're here. Everyone's waiting to meet you."

She did not even give me the chance to speak. She took me by the hand and eagerly drug me toward the house. I had no choice but to follow. I ignored the chuckle from behind me.

As we entered the door, Alice announced, "Everyone, this is Bella."

They were all assembled in the living room. They were staring at me curiously with the exception of Rosalie. She took one look at me and then left the room. Nothing had changed in that department. She still didn't like me. It seemed like everyone got uncomfortable at her departure except me. I decided then to start the greetings.

"Hello Carlisle. Hello Esme. Hello Jasper. Hello Emmett. It's nice to finally meet all of you in person."

That was the icebreaker. They all greeted me cheerfully after that. Jasper was the first to greet me and give me a handshake, which surprised me.

He caught my emotion and grinned at me. "Alice has been preparing me for our introduction. She made it very clear that I must stay in control or I would regret it later."

I laughed. "Alice is a good teacher. You're doing fine."

Emmett was next in line to shake my hand. He could not hold back his laugh. "So you're the human Alice would tackle mountain lions for. Nice to finally meet you."

I laughed with him. He was the same jokester I remembered.

Carlisle was next to step forward. " It is a pleasure to finally meet you Bella. Alice has told us a lot about you."

Esme quickly followed. "It really is a pleasure. I hope you enjoy your stay today and come back anytime you want to."

I thanked all of them for their warm welcome. We all chatted for a few minutes before Carlisle and Esme excused themselves to go work on projects they had started. Emmett followed not long after to go look for Rosalie. The only ones left in the room were Alice, Jasper, Edward, and me.

I turned to Alice. "So, what are we going to do today?"

She smiled. "I have this outfit I wanted you to try on. I could give you a complete makeover. Makeup, hair, nails. The works."

I grimaced. "Okay, Alice. If that's what you want to do. I'm all yours."

She laughed. "That's why I love you. You let me do what I want and hardly ever complain."

"I'll keep my complaining to a minimum today. I promise."

"After I get done making you beautiful, we'll do whatever you want." she said as she headed for the stairs.

I turned to Jasper and Edward. "I'll see you later, I guess. After Alice gets done torturing me."

They both laughed heartily.

"I heard that," Alice said from the top of the stairs.

I sighed and followed her up to her room. She ushered me in and closed the door.

She went over to the stereo and turned the volume up. "We still won't be totally private but they will have a little trouble hearing what we say over this."

I was curious. "What are we going to be saying that needs to be private?"

She whispered. "Oh, I don't know. Like how I'm going to be making you beautiful to knock Edward's socks off."

"Alice. You promised to back off."

"You didn't really mean that."

"Yes I did. He doesn't think of me that way. We're just friends."

The puzzled look I had saw yesterday returned to her face. "Are you sure?"

"You tell me. What do you see in the future?"

"I don't know. I can't clearly see Edward's future anymore. He keeps changing his mind continuously. It's like he's trying to block me or something."

I laughed. "Maybe he is. Blocking you, I mean. He could be paying you back for keeping my secrets."

"I never thought of that. You could be right. But what would he be hiding?"

I shook my head. "Don't ask me. I never could understand him half the time before. Was this what you were puzzled about at lunch yesterday?"

"Yes, it was. I'm surprised you noticed. I was trying to determine whether or not you would be safe with Edward at class yesterday but I couldn't see clearly."

"I was safe. I'm here. I don't think Edward will hurt me like that."

"You're right. That's why I agreed to let him pick you up this morning. He's changed somehow after reading your letter."

She did not give me a chance to comment on her last statement. She quickly produced the new outfit for me to change into. After I finished changing, she went to work on my hair and nails. She chattered non-stop about how good I would look after she was finished. I hardly got to say a word. I did not complain at all during the whole process. When she put the mirror in front of me when she was done, I was impressed. I did look pretty. What was she doing this for? What secret plan was she working on now?

I followed Alice down the stairs. Jasper and Edward were watching TV.

Edward looked up at me and grinned as we entered the room. "I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to come save you. She's had you up there for hours."

I grinned back. "I survived. Thanks for the thought though."

Alice walked over to Jasper. "I need your help in the kitchen Jasper. We've got to fix Bella some lunch."

I objected. "Alice, don't go to any trouble. I'm not that hungry."

Alice did not pay any attention to my objection. She pulled Jasper up off the couch and they headed out the door. "Humans need to eat. Edward will keep you entertained."

So this was Alice's big plan? To leave me alone with Edward? What would that accomplish?

Edward was standing beside me seconds after they left. "I get the honor of being alone with you once again. I hope you don't mind."

"I don't mind."

"Good. There is something I want to do now that we're alone. If you'll agree."

I did not hesitate. "Anything."

Edward took me by the hand and escorted me to his piano. "I want to learn the lullaby that I wrote for you in your dream. Please. I want that memory too."

Thanks for reading. Sorry it took me so long to update. This story is not going to end like I had originally intended it too and it is taking me awhile to adjust to the change.