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A/n: This one's pretty fluffy, but I felt like some more regular scenes were in order after the last few chapters. Sorry if its a little alter than expected. It's also longer than the last one. I just can't do short chapters. Please review. I noticed my last chapter was way down on hits, and I want to know if you choose to stop reading, what turned you off. Or if you are still reading, what keeps you interested.

Summary: X-men Twilight crossover. Shopping part 1

[Person's thoughts]

Other character's thoughts

'Visions'

Projected thoughts from OC

[Projected or strong personal thoughts]

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RPOV

[I need to call Storm, or Logan, or, God-damn-it what do I do?] I pulled on my hair – the pain helping me reel in my mind from the brink of hysteria that I was bordering on. I was now in total freak-out mode.

Rogue calm down. Phoenix can't do anything – you're a human now, remember? (Bobby)

Besides, I am not so sure that conversation would go so well. 'Hi, just wanted to let you know that the student you kicked out for being a gene traitor is now harboring the psyche of one of the most powerful mutants ever known.' (John)

Strategically speaking, Rogue, the greater good would be to eliminate the chance that the Phoenix could return. (Erik)

[In English, Erik]

You would have to die.

[WHAT? But I'm human – it can't do any harm. Could they kill me? They wouldn't – they are good people.]

Oh come on Roguey. If Logan could kill Jean, he can kill you too. (John)

It would be better to eliminate you now, while she is dormant. (Erik)

Marie, you don't have to worry about that now. For now, you are human – and we don't have any proof that it's temporary. (Logan)

[But... but she's here. She's in me, she's with me.] I trembled in fear. What if she overcame me? Could she take over? Dominate me and push my personalities to the wayside?

I agree with Logan, dear. To use a colloquialism, you will cross that bridge when you come to it, if it comes at all. (Erik)

[But should I do it? I mean, if I am really that dangerous, then shouldn't I take care of it myself before Phoenix can stop me?] I felt guilty; I had always been a danger to everyone else, and now that danger was potentially greater than ever.

NO! multiple voices shouted at me. [Ouch] I held my head in my hands.

You will not suffer the same fate that she did – you are mentally stronger than Jean Gray ever was.

I shook my head in disagreement, still looking down. [I am so weak. Erik, I couldn't even harness my own mutation's power. The professor and I tried – we spent hours working on building mental shields. If I can't control myself, how could I possibly control her?]

You misunderstand me child. The mental fortitude you posses is astounding. Charles didn't fail to teach you control; he never wanted you to have control.

[What? The professor would never do that. He tried, he wanted me to have it!] I slammed my fist down on my desk, and winced when it made a noise, reminding me that Uncle Charlie was still in the next room, [You, you have to be lying, Erik. You're wrong. He was going to help me.]

Rogue, you would have been too powerful with the kind of control you sought. You never really knew Xavier. You need to know what truly happened to Jean.

He paused, and apparently felt my acquiescence to this topic, and continued, She was a very powerful mutant as a child, and like most children, willful. Charles insisted that she couldn't control her mutation herself and was too dangerous, so he placed mental blocks to separate and block her power. He had said at the time that he would teach her to use them slowly, but as time passed, the part of Jean that was powerful grew resentful of its cage and of him, and he never, from what I know, let it out. I ultimately left his cause because of this. I believe that those walls started to break down – thus this incident that you remember from after the Statue of Liberty incident.

[How could he have done that?] I felt like crying. I had trusted the professor completely when I was with the X-men, but now, I couldn't help but question his methods. Could the man that I knew and loved as a father have been this manipulative?

Rogue, he did what he thought was right and good. Believe me when I say that he didn't do these things out of a desire to hurt or control people, as least not consciously. But he did strongly believe that his way was the best, and would spend hours debating people until they agreed. That's why he was such a powerful mutant rights lobbyist. I never agreed with his restraints, and it eventually led to his demise, as you well know. It may have even led to mine.

[But why would he hold me back? And how could I possibly control the Phoenix?]

Rogue, there are very standard methods to helping mutants control their abilities, none of which did he try with you. The Phoenix is a very jealous and angry entity now, from being isolated and caged. But you have experience controlling new psyches, and new powers. And your personality hasn't been fractured like Jean's had.

You do have a good handle on your anger and resentment Rogue. I mean, you never even popped Bobby a good one like he deserves. (John)

Hey, I didn't mean to do it. Honestly, I never meant to hurt you. (Bobby)

I oughta gut you for that. Hell, I don't know how I never picked up on it. (Logan)

Perhaps you were engaged otherwise. Erik replied, laughing as he drew up an image of Logan flirting with Jean, and being rejected, from one of John's memories.

We all laughed, and I was grateful for the reprieve from our serious conversation.

We will be here to help you if the time comes. (Logan)

[I know. Thank you for that.]

Shouldn't you get some sleep? I'd bet shopping with Alice is no less exhausting than with Jubilee, and those girls could even wear me out. (John)

[Nahh, I think I'll just stay up. It's already 3 am anyway.]

I want ice cream. (Bobby)

I smiled. Bobby and his ice-cream rendezvous were infamous at the mansion. It was too fitting that the iceman would crave ice cream like no-body's business – the whole bad boy X-men visage totally destroyed by his favorite flavor: strawberry chocolate swirl.

Screw that. I wish I a cigar. Or a woman. (Logan)

Or a glass of bourbon. (Erik)

Or could go shopping. (Jubilee)y)

Or coffee (random trucker personality)

Or a nice shot of vodka. (Piotr)

[Or a cigarette]

I frowned, [I thought that was your addiction Johnny.]

I really just liked to light them babe. You were the one that liked to actually smoke them. Besides, if you smoke long enough, you get addicted too. You placated me for a year or so, so, yah. Join the club. (John)

[Damn it John! I didn't want to be a smoker. And I figured with the cure and all, well I guess I didn't exactly loose you so I can't be that surprised I didn't loose your habits. I wanted to quit!]

You still can. You just, you know, have to actually quit. (John)

[Heh. With you and Logan? I'll have to get some when we go shopping tomorrow I guess. That blows.]

Sorry Sheila.

I trudged downstairs to make coffee and ice cream, indulging myself, or my selves, in what I could.

EPOV

I watched as this creature I had fallen in love with seemed to be struggling with an internal debate. After the Phoenix comment, she didn't say a word but was doing that thing she does, where she mouths words silently, almost nonstop for nearly a half an hour. At one point she slammed her fist down, but then looked towards Charlie's room, where he was dreaming of fishing by the way, and at another she was in tears. I wished I could go in and comfort her – this dream seemed to be upsetting her more than it should have.

NO. It was a whisper of mental voices – lots of mental voices. My brow furrowed in confusion as I tried to figure out where it had come from, it couldn't have possibly been Marie, she's only one person after all. But maybe... could it be? Maybe she really is schizophrenic. My heart sank at the thought. I watched as she finally seemed to calm down, and headed downstairs. [I guess she isn't going back to sleep.] I sighed and took off back to my home, eager to share what I had learned with Alice. Somehow, I think she has the missing pieces to the puzzle that is Marie.

As I approached the house, I realized that Jasper and Alice weren't inside, and could smell their trail leading off into the woods, probably for a late hunting trip before being surrounded by humans tomorrow. Poor Jasper put up with so much for Alice – I know his thirst was harder to control than the rest of ours, because he was the only alcoholic among us that had actually indulged in his addiction freely, and for such a long time. Even my few years of rebellion couldn't compare to the countless lives he had taken – innocent lives. Not that I blamed him. I knew he had no choice, knew no other way, and in that, his own sacrifice to choose this life is made that much more powerful.

As I came upon them, I could smell the buried carcasses that had been left in their wake. They were obviously done hunting.

I hope she doesn't hurt Alice. If Marie is as unstable as Alice is making her out to be, she could very well kill us all and not even realize it. She sounds like a newborn.

"Jasper, stop. He's coming!"

Immediately his thoughts switched to thinking about second World War strategies on the North African front, but the damage was done. Alice, obviously, had already seen that.

Edward, please. He's keeping quiet on my request. If you have issues take them out on me.

"What are you hiding from me Alice? This has gone on long enough!" I growled to her as I reached the small clearing the two of them were in. They were sitting hand-in-hand on a fallen log, but at my sudden appearance, my blond brother sank into a crouch in front of his mate and my sister. I raised my hands in surrender – I knew I couldn't beat Jasper in a fair fight, and right now, I didn't want to.

"Please Alice. You've been blocking me, why? I need to know." I pleaded, Jasper having gotten up and instead taking a position behind her, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and letting his eyes glower at me.

"Edward, it... it isn't my story to tell. And I have only seen very little." She tried to weasel out of it, but I could tell she was going to give in, so I continued.

"Look Alice, I might, I mean, I... I'm falling in love with this girl. I have to know what's going on. You should have seen her tonight. Did you? I mean, she's... she's not right, she's not normal." I clenched my teeth unnecessarily. Alice, having been in a mental institution for what bits of her human life she was able to piece together, generally did not take well to accusations of mental instability. I tried to tread carefully, "I think she's not well, mentally."

Alice's eyes went very dark, and suddenly Jasper was holding her down to the bench. "Alice, she speaks to herself, a lot." She didn't look any less angry. "and tonight, I heard multiple voices coming from her head. It had to have been her, only her and Chief Swan were nearby." I whispered the last part, though Alice and Jasper could have heard me clearly.

Alice slowly calmed down, mostly due to Jasper's help. When she spoke, it wasn't what I was expecting, "I know she isn't normal. But I don't think it's that she's crazy. Jasper and I have both noticed some things that aren't quite right."

Jasper nodded and proceeded to explain to me her blood's smell. I hadn't been able to notice the taint, I suppose because I was too overwhelmed by its call to me, but now that he mentioned it, perhaps this was the reason why I had been able to resist her blood at all. In theory, I shouldn't have been able to hold back from draining my singer, or so Carlisle has told me.

"Edward, I saw her do something... distinctively non-human. When I asked you to not make her angry, it was because of a vision I had." I growled at her, why was she keeping information from me, from us? "I just knew I couldn't tell the whole family. We can't tell the whole family. Rosalie will argue for us to kill her, and I can't see clearly if we do that or just move. But we need to be here. I don't know why yet, but I know we do. "

"Will you show me the vision?"

She nodded, and I watched through her mind's eye as I argued with Marie, as her features changed and she became even more glorious, and finally, as I became ash before her. I was panting at the end of the vision, out of fear, out of terror, but mostly, out of shock. This woman that I loved was a goddess, powerful and more of a predator than I was.

Jasper punched my arm, "Hey man, cut it out." He gave me a stern look, I can tell what you're feeling man. I know she appeals to you, but you have to remember, based on what we have seen from her so far, she doesn't seem to know. And regardless, she isn't one of us.

I rolled my eyes, "So what do we do tomorrow? Should we confront her?"

"No. We wait. And watch. I think over time the pieces will fall into place better, but for now that's all we can do."

We mulled this over in silence, and the sky began to lighten.

"Yah! Time to go shopping."

Jasper and I groaned loudly as we chased after towards the house.

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RPOV

I was on my third cup of coffee by the time Uncle Charlie woke up. "Marie, what are you doing up so early?"

I motioned towards the coffee pot, silently asking him if he wanted a cup, and he nodded. As I poured his cup, I replied "I have shopping trip with Alice Cullen today. I think she said we're going to Seattle, and she is supposed to pick me up at 8."

He nodded and gratefully took the cup from my hands. "Well, be careful. Don't speed, wait, whose driving?"

"Alice" I smiled, at least, I was pretty sure Alice was driving. Then again, her Porshe was a two-seater, and there was supposed to be the four of us.

"Oh, well, I guess I don't have anything to worry about then. Those kids haven't put a foot out of line since they moved here."

I nodded, absent-minded. He mumbled something to me about fishing and was out the door quickly. I was still staring down my cup of coffee when I heard a loud knocking on the front door. [Shit.] I had obviously dozed off and forgotten about the shopping trip - and I was still in my freaking pajamas. "Just a minute."

I ran up the stairs two at a time and threw on blue jeans and a t-shirt. I grabbed over-the-elbow, brown leather gloves and a jacket and ran back downstairs, throwing the door open. "Sorry sorry. I lost track of time."

"It's fine, Marie. Come on, Jasper and Edward are waiting in the car. You grabbed your wallet?"

I spun back inside and nipped it from my school jacket that was hanging next to the door. "Thanks Alice. Now I'm ready." I locked the door with the spare key and tucked it into my pants pocket. A Ferrari, no, not any Ferrari, a freakin' brand new Ferrari 612 was sitting in Charlie's front lawn. My jaw dropped a little. Scott would have loved to see this car. Edward got out, letting Alice and I crawl into the backseat, and Jasper drove.

The ride to Seattle was supposed to be a 3 and a half hour drive, if we took the ferry, so I was ready for a long, boring drive. Surprisingly, though, the conversation never seemed to dull. Alice entertained us with jokes and past-time memories about the family, and when she could manage to get Edward to laugh, it was the mot beautiful sound in the world.

"One time, Emmett..."

"Oh come on Alice. Can't a guy ever live that down?" Edward said pleadingly, halfway turned around in his front seat.

"No. So one time, Emmett decided to get into a bet with Edward over guitar hero. Emmett, by the way, is fantastic at the game – he's never lost to any of us. Anyway, so Edward thought he could beat Emmett, and totally lost. I mean, Emmett whooped his..."

"Oh come on Alice, get to the point."

Alice stuck her tongue out at him, "Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted," Jasper laughed at this, cutting her off, "Edward had made a terrible bet. He agreed to do any one thing Emmett asked for, so he made him drink this awful concoction of ketchup, bacon grease, rum, melted ice cream, and syrup." I gagged – that sounded absolutely disgusting.

"I drank it didn't I?"

"Yeah man, and then you regurgitated all over Emmett and Rosalie's bed in revenge."

Edward's laugh filled the car again, and I smiled in response, feeling a twinge of happiness for the first time in a very long time. Jasper looked at me through the rear-view mirror, giving me a strange, knowing look, before continuing, "Rosie was so pissed. I think Emmett had to sleep on the couch for weeks."

For some reason, the fact that the siblings in the Cullen house were dating one another didn't bother me at all. I think it reminded me of the closeness at the institute. Everyone knew everyone, and living together wasn't exactly a choice. Besides, many of us, myself included, had been adopted by Xavier. Of the multiple ID's I had, one of them had my full name listed as Rogue D. Xavier. I hadn't used it since I left, knowing that they could probably track it, but I also couldn't bring myself to give it up. Being a part of that family meant something to me, even if they now rejected me for what I had chosen to become.

"Marie?" Alice's voice stirred me out of my musings – damn I have been doing that a lot. That's twice today. I noticed Jasper looked at me a little concerned, and I shook my head a little, "Sorry, what was that?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to take the ferry or drive through Tacoma?"

"Oh, either was is fine to me." Though truth be told, I didn't like the idea of being on a boat – no easy escape if something went wrong. I was relieved when we turned away from the ferry terminal.

"So, Marie, do you have any funny stories about your friends from back home?" The question was innocent enough – I knew Alice meant well. But how could I explain any of the funny things that had happened without revealing that I was a mutant? Bobby and John were always pulling pranks on one another, but usually it had to do more with power wars than anything else. The mansion had been rather dull since John left.

"Nah, I'm just boring. But Emmett sounds like quite the character. Sounds like someone needs to knock him off of his Guitar hero Pedestal." They looked at me bizarrely, "I am the Hero of Hero's. I've never been beat. In fact, one time, my friend who was really, really good with video games challenged me to a duel, blindfolded, and I still beat him."

I giggled to myself as I remembered how shocked Jones had been. He may have played all video games more times than I can count, and been able to manipulate the electronics in his favor, but I'd absorbed too much of other people's memories, and had somehow memorized every level and every song. I could have played deaf and blind and still beaten him. "I made him wear a maid's outfit and take over clean up duties in the girl's dormitory for the week after that – he never lived it down."

Edward shifted in his seat, "I didn't know you went to a boarding school." [Crap, I wasn't thinking about that.] I turned my attention up front, trying to think of a good explanation, when I realized that we had come really far already. I saw a sign for Tacoma and checked the dashboard. It was only 45 after 8. "Damn Jasper! I thought you guys were supposed to be model teenagers or something, not speed demons."

He immediately braked, hard, and I felt the car's speed drop drastically. I didn't even want to look at the dashboard. I sighed, "That wasn't what I meant. I mean, go whatever speed you want. I just wasn't expecting it, that's all. Just don't get me killed, alright? I kinda don't want to go home in a box." He sped up a little, but obviously me and my big mouth had put an end to the 200+ mph driving. Secretly I was a little grateful. I didn't want them to get a ticket and then Uncle Charlie give me hell about hanging out with them.

Luckily, the subject about my boarding school experience had been dropped, and we continued in silence as we pulled up to the Emerald city on I-5. I was stunned at its weird ethereal beauty. The other cities I had seen, even through other people's eyes, did not seem to have anything on this dark and depressing skyline – it was like it had been made after my own heart. I laughed to myself, and Alice gave me a look. "It's just... Seattle is a little like Gotham City. It's definitely no New York City."

Alice yelped, "You've been to New York? Oh my god did you go shopping there?"

"Umm, yeah, I've been. But I didn't really go shopping. I was... doing other things." [Like surviving the streets as a homeless person and getting killed by a crazy terrorist.]

I am not, or was not, a crazy terrorist. I was fighting for your freedom. (Erik)

[We have been over this Erik. Now I thought you all would leave me alone today.] My voices collectively sighed, and I turned my attention back to the outside world, only to be greeted by three pairs of staring golden eyes. "Uhh, guys?"

Alice was the first to recover, "Oh, you phased out there for a second. Anyway, we're here." And indeed we were. I couldn't see exactly where here was because at the moment we were in a large parking garage. Alice's excitement and enthusiasm seemed to infect us all, and we walked outside and down several stairs to the streets of downtown.

It wasn't nearly as busy as New York City, for which I was grateful, and the shopping malls were more limited. We went to the Nordstrom's first, Alice bounding around, grabbing outfits off of the racks with barely a glance, and piling them up on Jasper's arms. I laughed out loud at the sight, whispering to Edward, "Is she always like that?"

He chuckled softly, "Yes, in fact, this is fairly calm compared to usual."

I wandered the isles slowly, gently fingering their racks of scarves and gloves. I tested each fabric's softness with my cheek, instead of removing my own gloves. I jumped when a cold hand laid on my shoulder, and turned around to see a smirking Edward, "Alice is looking for you. Apparently she has found some things you should try on."

My jaw dropped in horror. [That crazy pixie had been shopping for me?] I tried to mutter my grateful but respectful decline, but he grabbed my arm, over my jacket, and hauled me towards the dressing rooms, where Alice stood cheerily with a rack's worth of clothing piled up on the bench. "Oh I can't wait to see you in a skirt with heels!"

I shook my head vehemently. "No, Alice." She pouted, but I knew myself better than that. I stepped into the dressing room and she started tossing clothes over the door to me. Her first outfit was pretty simple: a pair of nice black slacks with a short-sleeved white blouse and shiny red kitten heels. I put it on, and replaced my gloves. They didn't quite go with the outfit, but I had some black ones at home that I knew would.

I stepped out and Alice's eyes lit up. She, and Edward and Jasper, gave me a once over, the boys allowing their eyes to linger a little longer on the gloves. "So, what do you think?" I hid my hands behind my back – their stares were making me uncomfortable. Immediately all three of them looked up, and Alice squealed. "Perfect, now go back and change."

Her next few outfits were similar, and I get the feeling Alice told the guys something, because none of them even glanced at my gloves again, even though I wore them with every outfit. Then Alice tried a skirt, a short, above the knee number that flowed freely from the waist and gave an A-line shape. It actually looked pretty good on me, but I wasn't about to step out of the dressing room without something else on to cover my legs. My skin may not be dangerous anymore, but in the years that I had to keep myself covered, I had become extremely modest about my skin, and showing any leg was absolutely mortifying. "Umm, I don't know about this one Alice. It's a little short."

"Oh come on Marie."

"No Alice. It's too short." I started to take it off when the door to my dressing stall was opened. "Alice!" I shrieked, quickly reaching for my jacket to cover my legs. Edward and Jasper were no where to be seen, and Alice was smugly grinning at me. "I sent them away to grab some other things. It looks fabulous Marie!"

"Alice, I don't wear short skirts. End of story."

"But you tried it on!"

"No Alice, forget about it."

She pouted, but stepped back out of the room. There were a few longer skirts that she handed me, which all looked fabulous. Finally, I was starting to get tired, "Just one more Alice, then can we please stop? I'm getting kind of tired. And you haven't even tried anything on yet!"

She tossed a shiny, smooth material over the door, and I grabbed it, holding it up. [What the hell?]. It was a ball gown. A beautiful one, but a formal dress none the less. "Alice why did you just hand me a gown?"

"Because the school dance is in less than 3 weeks and you need a dress."

I opened the door, and was slightly startled to see both Edward and Jasper were back. I turned my attention back to the pixie in front of me, looking at me with an innocent expression. "What made you think I was going to the school dance?"

"Of course you're going, Marie. Why wouldn't you be?"

"I don't dance Alice," I said, hoping she would leave it at that.

"Oh but I can teach you to dance."

I was starting to feel exasperated. "I don't have a date Alice."

"Edward will take you."

I looked up at the brother in question, but he and Jasper had turned away again, and seemed to be oblivious to the conversation, "He doesn't like me, and I don't really like him either. Besides, I. Don't. Dance."

She pouted, "But why not?"

"Religious conviction." I replied. I may have not been a believer since I manifested, but I still knew Southern Baptist version of biblical cannon, and dancing was among the no-nos. Not that that was my real reason – in all honesty, I hadn't a thing against dancing, except that you had to touch other people to do it.

"What?" She sounded honestly confused, and I noticed we had Jasper and Edward's attention back. I sighed, "I was raised Baptist, Alice. We don't do dancing."

Edward challenged me on this, "No where does the bible say that dancing is wrong."

Now I was starting to get pissy. No one knew the bible like me – I was, emphasis on was, an evangelical. "Actually, Edward, Galatians 5:19 through 21 states clearly that actions of debauchery will preclude one from the kingdom of God."

"But dancing isn't listed among the actions condemned."

"Really? You don't think modern dancing could be construed as adultery, fornication, lasciviousness,

or revellings in the flesh? Tell me Edward, what kind of dancing do you think actually goes on nowadays?" I could feel myself getting a little too worked up, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

He looked a little shocked, but then said something I didn't expect. "You are absolutely correct Marie. Forgive me, I didn't mean to insult you or your beliefs."

Way to go! Scare off the guy you decided to give a chance. He won't even give you a second look now. (Jubilee)

"Sorry. I just got worked up. I don't..." I struggled for words to get me out of the hole I had worked myself into, "I don't even know if I believe in it all anymore anyway. But not this time Alice. Okay?" I had turned back to the shorter girl, my eyes pleading.

She looked a little out of it for a second, but then her eyes came into focus on me and nodded fiercely, "Great! There's always Winter Ball, or Prom."

I smiled, [Oh yes, Now I just have to figure out a way to be conveniently out of town during those dates.]

"Don't even think about it Marie. You are going." She said it with such finality, I couldn't bring myself to argue. Besides, I had at least a few months to think of a way out of it anyway.

We all piled out of the store, and I stopped at the threshold. Something wasn't right. [Where did all the clothes go?] "Alice, where did all the clothes I tried on go?"

"Oh, I got the boys to put them in the car while I was getting through your last few items." Edward and Jasper both looked innocent, and Alice, a little apprehensive.

"Wait, you paid for all my clothes? Alice that's so not cool."

"Oh come on Marie. Please just think of it as my gift to you for putting up with me."

I pouted, but knowing I couldn't have paid her back for all of them. [I guess I'll have to think of a way to make it up to her. What am I going to do with all those clothes though?] "Alright, but only if you let me make it up too you."

She jumped up and did a very, very happy version of the happy dance. A cool velvet voice whispered in my ear, making me jump, "You really shouldn't have said that. You have no idea what you just signed up for." I turned around to give Edward the 'what-are-you-talking-about' look, but Alice filled in the holes for me quickly. "Make over! I get to play Barbie Marie with you, soon."

I groaned, but grudgingly nodded my head. We went off to the next store, and the experience was much the same. I was a little surprised when Alice turned to me after the third store, a question in her eyes, but not in her voice.

"What is it Alice?"

"Shouldn't you be hungry? I mean, don't you want to get something to eat?" I looked around for a clock, not wanting to pull out my cellphone and risk them noticing, but she filled me in, "It's noon. We should eat."

"I'm not that hungry, but if you guys want to eat go ahead." [The food here is probably grossly under spiced and over priced.]

"You should eat, Marie." Edward was now urging me. I shook my head, "No I'm really fine. You'd be surprised how long I can go hungry. Besides, I doubt they have anything here that would appeal to me."

He gave me a curious look, but decided, thankfully, to let it go. We were now wandering closer to the waterfront – I could smell the salty ocean water coming in from the Sound. A protest of some kind was going on in the small plaza ahead.

I don't have a good feeling about this Marie.(Logan)

I looked at my companions, "Hey guys, maybe we should go another way. I don't feel like getting caught up in a protest."

The protesters started chanting, and my blood ran cold. "We don't need a cure. We don't need a cure."

I repeated my sentiments, trying to pull Alice away. "Alice, come on. Let's just go."

"But what are they protesting Marie? Aren't you the least bit curious?"

"No, I'm not. I... I don't like crowds."

Edward stepped in, "Why don't we head down to a book shop and meet you guys later, Alice?" I thanked every god in heaven right then for Edward Cullen, and gratefully took his hand and started to speed walk away.

He stopped me once we were far enough away from the crowds that we could only hear a dull roar. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, wiping the sweat off my brow with my gloved hands, and stared back up into his eyes. "Sorry, protests get me worried. And it was really crowded. I really don't like crowds of angry people."

I felt like I was rambling a bit, so I stopped there.

He looked like he was about to say something, but then a voice echoed through my ears that I hadn't heard in quite some time.

"Well if it isn't the little leech that could...."

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