A/N Hey everybody sorry for the wait, I hope your all enjoying the story so far. Thank you for all the nice reviews and to Beetlebum101 for always helping me with my writing and listening to all my story ideas and for the shout out on 'When Everything Else Is Gone' :]

"Captain," everyone in the room seemed to gasp in disbelief, including me.

The coach gave me a pat on the back but he was so strong, it propelled me a few steps forward. Most people's faces seemed to turn quickly from amazement to anger.

"Coach, that's not fair," the strawberry blonde called out.

I flinched at her words. I didn't want this anymore than she did.

"Yeah, shouldn't we at least have a shot?" The girl I knew as Kate called out, less defensively.

The coach nodded, taking in the girls' ideas. "Okay, you're right. Why don't you guys pick your best two and we'll have a little race. The winner gets to be captain." He smiled, as the girls huddled into a small group.

There was some chatter as coached leaned over, whispering in my ear, "remember what we talked about."

I was about to argue, but bit my tongue instead. I hadn't even been in a pool for months and he expected me to win? I wasn't too sure.

We walked up to the starting blocks, as the girls stood back and Alice and Kate came forward. Great, just my luck. I knew it would be her anyway. I tried to look into her eyes and get her to understand the situation, but she wouldn't look at me. She just stared out at the water. I took a second to stretch and snatched a pair of goggles and a cap from the hands of the coach. I rolled my shoulders and cracked my neck to each side.

"Right, take your places. It's going to be fifty meters freestyle. Shortest time wins," Coach Damon bellowed, stopwatch in hand.

My bare feet slapped against the wet tile and I had almost forgotten the sound. I took my place on the starting block, looking at Alice. She looked so small on the block next to me, with Kate next to her. I hope she would forgive me for this. I placed my goggles over my eyes, as the world turned that familiar tint of blue and I leaned over, brushing my fingertips against the tops of my feet.

The silence was tense and we seemed to wait a lifetime for the whistle to sound. As soon as it hit my ears, I was in the water, going into a freestyle crawl. I thought it would be harder; that my body wouldn't remember how to move through the water, but I had been doing this most of my life and it was easier than I cared to admit. I took a sharp breath, going under the water into a spin turn and heading back. I could hear the muffled cry of voices as people cheered on from the poolside, but none for me. My mind went blank as I came to a halt, hitting the wall with my arm, my feet coming to a stop. It took a second for my brain to realize the race was over, as I wiped the water from my face and picked up my goggles. As I did, Alice hit the wall, followed by Kate and they mirrored my actions. Alice looked to Kate then to me. It was just a second, but I hoped in that second she could see how sorry I was.

"Well, good try girls. Really, Kate, I think that's your best time so far, but Bella beat you by two seconds and some change. Imagine how much she would have beaten you by if she wasn't rusty."

His compliments felt like a slap in the face to me and everyone else, as I picked myself out the pool. Grabbing a towel, I hit the bench and began to dry my wet skin. Alice moved to do the same and I tried to head her off, as everyone else was distracted.

"Alice," I spoke. The taste of pool water still lingered in my mouth, on my lips, and all I could think about was that kiss.

She turned, throwing the towel over her shoulder. She had an eyebrow raised and her mouth was pressed into a tight line. "Congratulations, captain," Alice shot, sarcastically.

"You have to believe me, I knew nothing about the whole captain thing. I was as surprised as you are. I didn't want this any of this…"

"But you just thought you'd come in and take it anyway?"

My words seemed to get confused and jumbled in my head and I thought about telling her the truth. If only I could be sure she would believe me... "No…no…"

"So, you didn't want to be captain but you just had to? Bella, honestly, this is getting so confusing. Sometimes I just wish we could start over."

"Why don't we then… start over?" I seemed to jump on the idea too quickly.

Alice bit her lip and I knew she was thinking it over. I tried to beg her with my eyes. If it meant I could start over, I would take it.

"Hi," I ran my hand nervously through my hair. "I'm Isabella Swan, but you can call me Bella." I held out my hand, seeing if she would take it.

Alice sighed, but took my hand anyway. It wasn't exactly the reaction I wanted but it was a step forward. "If I could let you be Captain, I would. I'm not a good leader."

"I could be your vice captain, if you want?" Alice asked with a straight face, as we took a seat on the bench next to some of the other girls.

"That sounds like a great idea. When's the next meet?" I asked, hoping it wasn't soon.

"There's a big one coming up next month. There should be a few schools there."

There was a tension between us, as everything that went unsaid just seemed to linger in the air.

"Okay."

I couldn't think of anything else to say but it didn't matter. Just then, coach shouted my name and I left the bench to head off against someone else this time, using backstroke, which I had always hated. There were only a few more timed laps before Coach let us leave.

I sat in the parking lot on my bike, waiting for Alice. She seemed to take her time, talking to other people on the team. There were very few cars and I wondered if she would have a ride.

She appeared out of the doors, talking to Kate and another girl with long, black hair; I think her name was Emily, but I wasn't sure. They parted ways as Alice headed in my direction. She kept her eyes to the ground, her bag slung over one shoulder as she checked her cell phone.

"Alice," I yelled over the short distance, catching her attention.

She seemed to look up like a deer caught in headlights, before she crossed the short distance. "Do you need a ride?"

"I… um… I'm not sure if that's the best idea," she stuttered.

"Why not? It's just a ride." I held out the extra helmet I had bought, just in case of this occasion. "See, I bought another," I smiled.

She bit her lip again, over thinking the situation. "Sure." She threw one leg over the bike, steadying herself, as I gave her the helmet.

"Hold on tight," I said, as I started the bike with a kick and the engine thrummed loudly.

Alice seemed to scoot forward, maybe afraid I was about to take off. She twisted her arms around my waist, holding on lightly.

I craned my neck around to look at her. She still had that look of doubt marking her face. "You're gonna have to hold tighter, I don't want you to fall off." Her arms squeezed tighter and I couldn't help the smile that pulled on my lips.

"Do you have to go home right away?" I asked, not turning, so she couldn't see the obvious grin on my face.

"No… why?"

"Just wondering."

I wasn't even sure what I was doing but it felt like I should make use of this new start. I stopped when I got to my house, bringing the bike slowly to a rolling stop.

"What are we doing here?" Alice asked, confused.

"I thought maybe you'd like to hang out for a while. Maybe have dinner? Charlie's working late tonight… and I really just don't want to be alone." I played with the helmet in my hands, hoping I hadn't said too much.

"Okay," She said solemnly.

I opened the door, flicking on the lights as Alice followed quietly. Alice looked around the room, passing the large TV and moving over to the fireplace. She picked up an old photo of Charlie and Renee, but then but it back down.

"That's my mom." I walked up behind her, picking up the picture again.

"She's really pretty."

"Yeah, too bad I get my looks from Charlie, eh?" I laughed and she finally smiled.

"You're not doing too bad." Alice turned, caught in the small space between the fireplace and me, her eyes lingering on my lips and dragging down my body.

I felt a familiar blush creep up my cheeks, as I turned to hide it with my hair.

"This is actually a really old picture," I noted, placing the picture back.

"Do you have any newer ones?"

I did, but I was drawing from it. "Uh… yeah, sure." I motioned for Alice to follow me.

I stood outside the door to my room and nerves seemed to take over. I couldn't remember if I had cleaned it or made my bed or picked up my socks from last night. I pushed the door open and relaxed when it looked relatively clean. The purple comforter looked neat and tidily made up over the bed. I had a shirt hanging over the mirror and my desk was covered in paper, but the floor was clean.

"This is, uh…. my room."

"Yes, Bella, I can see that," she giggled at my obvious nerves.

I took out a black, bound sketchbook from a pile of cardboard storage boxes I had piled next to my desk. They were filled to the top with sketchbooks, old notepads and stuff that I just didn't have the heart to throw away. I turned to see that Alice had sat herself on the edge of the bed. I sat beside her, putting the book on to her knee.

She picked it up, gently examining it before opening the first page. She looked at the drawing of my mother quietly, before flicking the page to other sketches I had done: one of the tree from the window and one of Charlie watching TV.

"I don't really show a lot of people these." I tapped my fingers nervously, wondering what she was thinking. I would give anything to know what she was thinking.

"Why not? They're amazing," Alice spoke, never taking her eyes off the slowly turning pages.

"I don't know."

She was getting close to the end and I didn't even know what was in there, but as she turned the page I remembered it was a sketch I had done in English class of Alice. It was only the side of her face but you could tell it was her.

"When did you do this?"

I felt myself get hot and all the air seemed to escape the room, "I… uh… it was a little while ago, sorry I should have asked."

"It's fine. It's beautiful…"

"It's easier when the thing you're drawing is already beautiful."

I moved my hand, placing it over hers. I brushed my thumb against the back of her hand as she closed her eyes, letting out a ragged breath.

"Do you really regret kissing me?" Alice spoke softly, taking her hand away from mine.

I stared down at my empty hands, as the warm tingling feeling seemed to disappear. "Yes and no."

"Which is it: yes or no?" Alice's voice held a wavering calm.

"It's both. I shouldn't have done it because you have Jasper, and I feel awful about that. But that kiss… I think that's the most I've ever felt about anything and I don't regret that. I can't."

"I don't love Jasper," Alice said calmly, as her eyes squeezed tight and she grabbed the edges of her jeans, balling them into fists. It may have been the first time she had admitted that out loud.

If she cries, I have absolutely no idea what to do… I'm not prepared for this. I slid closer, so our sides were touching. I thought about putting my arm around her, but I was too scared in case she didn't want me to.

"If you don't love him you shouldn't be with him," I whispered. I didn't want to tell her what to do, but then again, I wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know.

"I know… I know… but I want to, so badly. He's liked me since we were kids. He's so good and he deserves so much better, but I don't want to let him go. He makes me feel safe, but he's not the one I think about at night… when I'm alone." Her eyes met mine and I didn't know what to do. I wouldn't make the first move this time.

I put my arm around her back, pulling her into my side as we relaxed, just sitting in silence. After a moment, Alice rested her head on my shoulder, wiping away a few tears. Time seemed to stand still, as we sat in a mutual silence. I didn't know if Alice planned to break up with Jasper or if she wanted to try and make it work. I think she was going to break up with him. It was starting to feel like we couldn't get together without one of us yelling or crying. "Why does it seem like we can never talk without one of us yelling or crying?"

Alice picked up her head, her eyes marked with redness and she wiped them again. "Sorry."

"Ah, it's not your fault. It's just the way it is." I stood up off the bed, grabbing her hand and trailing her after me.

I wanted to do something to cheer her up, but I didn't know what. "What do you want to eat?" I asked, letting go of her hands as we entered the small kitchen and she seemed to pout slightly.

"What can you cook?"

I started opening cupboards and the fridge, looking for anything we had. "Anything… my mom was not the best cook. I mean, she gave it her best but…" a shiver ran down my spine at the memory of eating some of her concoctions. "She just didn't have a gift for cooking, so I picked up stuff pretty fast." I stopped, turning to face her for a moment. "You're not a vegetarian, are you?" I raised an eyebrow as she shook her head. "Good, 'cause we're having steak. Living with Charlie it's mostly a steak and fish diet, with the occasional pizza."

Alice shook her head at my words. "How did you beat me today?" She questioned, amazement coloring her tone.

I froze for a moment. I didn't really want to think about it. I did it because I had to. Maybe I should just tell her the truth. "Alice… I…" What would she do if I told her the truth? Would she quit? Possibly… I couldn't let her do that. "I don't know, just lucky I guess."

"Yeah, luck," She huffed.

A/N thanks for reading