A/N:

Hiii! OMG. I'm sorry. I never say that. But for this month (only this month!) there have been 1,331 views and 375 visitors to this story! Can you believe it?! I mean, that's 17 days! That's amazing for me. Sooo...there's my nerdy happy dance over with. And yes, that's the reason I decided to update early. Because I was excited. Soo..hope you don't mind. xD

Rosalie seemed to all but forget about yesterday when I arrived at her home today, armed with Cynthia on one side. Rosalie's face just about lit up as she opened the door. "Oh, what a sweetie!" She'd gushed, picking Cynthia up with ease and spinning her around. Cynthia giggled and Renesmee pouted. I smiled at her and took her hand, swinging it. She frowned upon seeing my bandaged arm, but she didn't comment, sensing it wasn't the time.

Just then, Dr Cullen came striding into the room, smiling broadly with Mrs Cullen at his side.

"Hi, Mrs Cullen!" Cynthia giggles, and Mrs Cullen smiles widely. Renesmee frowns, giggling, too.

"That's not Mrs Cullen! That's Grandma!" She snorts, throwing her head back and laughing.

"You're such a lady, Nessie," a tanned boy from the corner of the room chuckled, and Renesmee flew to him.

"Jake!" Renesmee cries, hugging him. "Jacob, meet Alice!" The way she said my name made me feel that Jacob had heard of me. His mouth dropped open and his jaw worked hard, quite obviously grappling for the right words to say. I smiled uncertainly at him.

"You're Alice?" He finally says, confusion plastered all over his face. I laugh and shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you, too!" He seems embarrassed for a moment and then laughs, too.

"It's just..you're Alice! You saved Nessie's life." I smile shyly, shaking my head. "You did!" And then he looks incredulous. "But your size! You should've been squished to the windscreen like a bug."

"Jacob!" Mrs Cullen whispers, horrified. "Don't say that!"

But I just laugh.


After awhile we all disperse. I wave goodbye to Renesmee and Cynthia, as Mrs Cullen would walk them to school, and it's time to face the Jeep again. I groan and laugh, and no-one comments. I think they all know what I'm talking about. Edward is going with Bella in her fancy car, one that I don't know the name of because it's not plastered on the front, and of course I'm going with Rosalie and Emmett, and Jasper. He didn't come last time so I'm a bit confused, but I give him a smile anyway, and say hi. Rosalie doesn't comment as we get into the car, but she does give me a slightly..guilty looking smile?

Hmm.

Emmett sings the whole way there, though Rosalie gives him a smack on the back of his head and Jasper glares at him. I sing along quietly and stare out of the window, and it was a peaceful time. I didn't have to speak, I didn't have to explain myself, and I had no-one fussing over me. Until we stopped the car, and my sore arm prevents me from getting out like I got out yesterday. Then a fight broke out between a certain two blonde siblings, with Emmett watching, almost wetting himself with laughter. I couldn't help but laugh myself.

"Move out of the way, Blondies," Emmett says, his booming voice now sounding bored. "Us brunettes stay together, right, Shortie?" He asks me, and I giggle, nodding. He gently lifts me out of the ridiculously big car and sets me on the ground.

"Thanks!" I say, smiling at him. He grins.

"I was the one who told Esme I'd take care of her," Rosalie grumbles, taking my bag for me. I smile at her gratefully and hobble towards the school entrance. I know she doesn't like me but I wish she'd tell me why. I mean, I haven't done anything wrong and it hurts when she glares at me. I sigh and concentrate on getting into school.

"Nessie doesn't stop talking about you, you know," Emmett chuckles, and I blush. "It's getting real annoying,"

I shrug, struggling for words. "Tell her to knock it off, then," I say, confused. "Cindy is obsessed with Mrs Cullen - always telling us how kind and lovely she is. I think she fell a bit behind with her school work back at home, and she's getting caught up, all thanks to her."

Rosalie smiles, a genuine smile I don't think I've seen before. It is gone before it is really there, but she nods at me. "Esme has been very kind to us, and we're grateful," she says softly, sighing a little. She flips her blonde hair and the softness is replaced by a hard glare. Emmett wraps his arm around her shoulder and rubs her arm. He whispers something to her and she giggles, and I roll my eyes. I hear a scoff behind me, and Jasper is also rolling his beautiful amber eyes. Wait, what?

I-I...mean...they're all beautiful, The Cullens. Damn it, brain, don't confuse yourself like this. You do not think Jasper Hale is beautiful!

Okay. Maybe a little..


The day was uneventful, and at lunch I sat with my friends. Rosalie didn't seem too pleased, but she explained herself, at least, this time.

"If you slip over, or choke on something, or whatever accident you're bound to have sometime or later, Esme will just about wrap you up in bubble wrap. She's always been a worrier - but now she's ten times worse!"

"I won't slip, or choke..or whatever. I'll be careful. You can see me; I'm over by the tall blonde girl, over there, Elle, and Angela next to her. I'll come back when the bell's about to go," I promised, and then I smiled brightly. I felt as if I hadn't seen my friends in a lifetime!

I hobble over and sit down, smiling at them. They all hug me and Elle squeals. "I haven't seen you, in like, forever! So, Pixie, how are you? Hey, I got you a get well present! Well, not a present, just a hello, you know? I didn't wrap it cause like I said, it's not a present, just a hello-"

"Ellie? You're using up all the oxygen," Angela laughs. "You'll see why, Alice, just wait and see the present she got you. Only I think she's helped herself to some." Elle digs around in her bag, a pink sparkly thing that you could spot from miles away, and produces a pack of Pixy Stix.

"They reminded me of you! Because you're bubbly and sweet and well, a pixie! So, here ya go. I had a few, mainly because I'm not allowed them at home. My Momma tells me that I get too hyper and my older sister has just turned into a health junkie, so here you go!" Elle throws the box into my hands and I smile gratefully at her. I'd loved Pixie Stix a long time ago, but I hadn't had them in forever. I ripped open one of the straws and poured the sugar onto my tongue. It was bittersweet in both taste and memory.

I smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "Thanks," I smile, and I slip the packet back into my bag...away from Elle.

The rest of lunch passes smoothly - we talk about school work, family and then a vision hits me. I cringe away from the girls and try and suppress the image hitting me.

It doesn't work, and I excuse myself. I know I'm being watched by, oh, the whole cafeteria, but I lean against a wall next to the cash machine.

Laughing.

Like bells ringing out, so clear and clean cut that you wouldn't believe it was real.

A little girl sprints past, and she's the source of the laughter. Cynthia.

She's not so little now.

Then she's terrified.

Her face is a picture of pure terror, and I'm being held back, restrained by a pair of strong arms. I fight but it's no use. The arms have an iron grip, fingers curled around my forearm like a vice.

She's looking for an escape. I call out and she looks my way.

My baby sister, whom I have always protected, loved, been amazed by, the one I raised from the age of 11, looks at me, and her face contorts into one of horror. My heart aches to try and protect her, to comfort her - but I am not allowed.

My sister disappears into a forest of darkness, a forest of lost hopes and forgotten dreams, and there's something in me that is sure she won't come back on her own.

I take a deep breath and I'm back in school, but now my head pounds, desperate to escape its confinement to my skull. I nod to myself and take my seat again. Ellie and Angela exchange quizzical looks over my head but let the matter drop.

Good.

I'm not ready to tell anyone about this, about what happened - and I never will. For now, I'll push it out of my mind and try and have a good day. I only have one lesson left after lunch so it shouldn't be too bad. Math sucks, but at least I'll be sitting in a quiet place. I mean, there's no colder place than next to Blondie.


Rosalie rose (haha, no pun intended) five minutes before the bell, and made her way to my lunch table, where I waited for her. She didn't bother to force out a smile for Elle or Angela; she never seemed to do anything that she didn't want to do, and I admired her for that. I just have a need to please people, including Blondie. I sighed and she took my bag for me.

"Thanks," I said, and smiled at Elle and Angela. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" They both nodded and I gave a small wave as I swing on my crutches to my math class.

"How are you feeling?" Rosalie asks, seeming actually interested.

"I'm okay," I said, with a little sigh again. My life had been going so out of control before I moved to Forks, and then I had two weeks of peace, where I felt safe, and then my accident..well, I just feel so frustrated. Rosalie shakes her head.

"No, you're not. We're not the best of friends but I do care about you, even if you don't think so," she says, flipping her hair.

I raise an eyebrow and she shakes her head. "If only you knew..." She trails off, and then snaps out of her mini trance, smiling brightly. She winks at me, "You, young lady, are ditching class with me. You haven't even gone shopping!" The thought seems to horrify her as much as it does me. "My god, that's awful. We're going shopping. Have you got money?"

I fumble for my wallet in my purse and find that I have a hundred dollars and my card with me. It should be fine.

Wait...shouldn't I say no? I mean...just a little. Not so much that she'd say "okay, let's go back to class" but enough for me to know I protested..?

"Will they call home?" I ask, anxious of Auntie Lilly worrying.

"Nope," she says, popping the P. "Well, they would, but Bella's got it covered. I sent a text to Bella telling her to cover for us, and she of course said yes," she rolls her gorgeous eyes and once again flips her blonde hair.

She's not even trying to look cute, and she manages it. I can look cute, only I don't look cute cute, I look little girl cute.

"So, are you up for it?" I smile and nod, trying to look convincing. I can tell I'm failing. "Hey, don't give up on me now. We can go to this amazing spa place first, for some relaxation, because I'll be damned if I can get that at home, and you need a rest, too. Look at those panda eyes." She tuts and I laugh. "Then we can hit the shops, get some hot new clothes...maybe bag yourself a date, eh, Alice? Anyone catching your eye at Fork's High?"

I turn my head away and look to the ground but I can feel the heat spreading across my cheeks and I know Rosalie can, too.

"You do!" Rosalie laughs, swatting at me gently. "You'll have to tell me all about him."


Sitting in those little deck chairs that they give you at spas, Rosalie and I both sighed as we got a head massage. Blondie was right - I did need relaxation! It was lovely having an afternoon to myself, just letting somebody else worry for a change. After that we had a manicure and a pedicure. My nails were painted a bright pink and Rosalie opted for a shimmery blue. Then they restyled our hair, combing out Rosalie's long blonde hair and twirling mine around this way and that trying to make it seem cuter. That half hour went by far too quickly and we started shopping. I ummed and ahhed and eventually bought two pairs of shoes (that I couldn't use for aaaaagggess, because of this broken leg) a really cute skirt, a pair of pink skinny jeans, and three quirky bras. Why were they quirky? Well...they had owls on them. I couldn't resist them!

And then I came to a problem.

"Uh oh," I said, dropping a pair of shoes back onto the rack. Rosalie glanced over at me and motioned for me to continue. "It's ten to three,"

"You're stating the obvious, my dear." Rosalie says sarcastically.

"And when I get home, how am I supposed to explain all these bags?"

"Oh, don't worry about that. Leave them at my place."

"What about your parents?"

"What about them? Oh, they won't mind. Esme will want to know what you bought, and she'll pretend to be mad, but she won't really mind. Carlisle won't need to know, now will he?" She winks.

"Thanks, Rosalie," I say, and I feel as if we could really be friends one day, if she'd only let us be.