I hardly had time to register her spikey hair and sly smile before she had her arms wrapped around me. I was shocked, to say the least. I expected a lot of things about this trip, but Alice throwing her arms around me like she had just seen me last week was not one of them. I mean, I was married to her ex-husband for crow's sake! "Alice…" I trailed off.
"Bella. It is so good to see you. You're just beautiful! I knew you would be." Alice winked, sauntering off. Of course she knew. I wondered briefly how long she had known about Jasper and I, but didn't have much time before Jasper appeared at my side, a shaggy-haired vampire trailing behind him.
"Sugar, this is Peter. He's a very good friend of mine." I stuck my hand out to shake Peter's, having heard plenty of stories about their life before Jasper joined the Cullens.
"It is nice to meet you, Peter. I have heard so much about you. Bad things only." I giggled, knowing that his sense of humor was bound to be similar to my mate's.
As it seemed, I was right. Peter let out a loud chuckle and knocked Jasper with his shoulder, causing him to shove his best friend back. I smiled at their roughhousing and glanced around, catching an image that set me at ease so much that I almost thought Jasper was helping out. Alice had her tiny hand placed on Garrett's cheek, staring at him with so much love and affection that I had to look away to keep from intruding. I knew then that everything would be okay, but I also knew that I needed to get her alone as soon as possible to get some solid answers.
The day dragged on, vegetarian and traditional vampires mingling and practicing as we waited for any kind of clue as to what we would be dealing with and when. I had struck up a conversation with a kind, heart shape-faced vampire named Maggie when I felt a hand on my elbow. I knew who it was without needing to look, and politely excused myself to follow Alice out the back door of the Denali home. We ran together until Alice stopped at a large pine tree, leaning against it.
"I feel like there is so much to say, but we don't have much time before Jasper comes to look for us." She smiled, her gaze locking onto mine as if she was trying to pull some kind of information out of my gold irises. "Bella, I want you to know that I am not angry with either of you. In fact, I could think of no one better for my first love or my best friend than the other." Her small hand reached out to me. I took it and settled by her side.
"I really don't think I deserve you, Alice." I let my head rest on her shoulder. "However, I do want an explanation as to why you had to leave me, too. I can't even begin to explain the hurt I felt for so many years." I was never angry with Alice. The hurt I felt ran deep, but I always told myself not to bet against her. I knew that if she could stay friends with me and have a good outcome, she would.
"In due time, I would love to explain it to you, but I'm afraid that will have to happen after the confrontation with the Volturi. I'm truly sorry that you were hurting for so long, and I hope to make it up to you by being the best friend I can be now." She said firmly.
I quickly turned to stare at her, "Does that mean that we are going to survive this? Have you seen it?" I asked, desperately.
"I have seen you and Jasper spending time with all of us at our house in Maine, which has not happened yet, so I do hope that it means we will all come out of this alive." This reassured me more than it probably should have.
"When did you have this vision? Was it while you were away with Peter? Why were you away with Peter anyway?" I spat out the questions, hyper-aware of the short amount of time Alice and I had.
A twinkling giggle came from her as she rested her hand on my arm, "Slow down, Bella. Yes, it was while we were away. Peter has a similar gift to me, so the two of us left to go contact some other vampires while you two made your entrance. I didn't want Edward leaving before you had your chance to speak with him." She looked at me meaningfully, "You both needed it."
I nodded, understanding. "Zenna and Safrina. Thank you, Alice." At that moment, Jasper appeared, taking in our position. His smile reflected relief, joy, and satisfaction at seeing the two of us acting as if nothing had changed.
I pulled Alice in for a hug, and then moved to Jasper, leaving a small kiss on his cheek. I took off toward the house, knowing the two of them deserved a moment alone just as I had been granted with Edward. When I walked into the house, I found Esme, Carlisle, Edward, and Carmen sitting in the living room talking about what would most likely transpire when the Volturi arrived. I sat down next to Edward on one of the couches, eager to hear what everyone was thinking. When I was immediately welcomed into the discussion, Edward not seeming to mind my proximity in the slightest, I knew that fate had a hand in bringing Jasper and I here. I had found my family again, and there was not a doubt in my mind that we would not be separated for a long time to come.