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Truth and Lies

APOV

The answer was so simple, hardly in grasp of the tips of my fingers, so close I could taste it on the back of my tongue.

I was just yet to discover it.

Edward had already assumed the worst, jumping to all the wrong conclusions in his cynical, pessimistic way of his. But we could solve this, we've been through worse… and there is absolutely NO WAY that this wedding is being cancelled.

I spent too many precious, irreplaceable hours planning. Everything was perfect, all the preparations finalized…it's too late to cancel; it is simply not an option. There will be a wedding whether they like it or not.

I sighed, trying to push the pout out of my lips.

This is so like Edward, to steal all my hopes and dreams a mere week from the big day, because he insists on changing her, under the justification that she may… possibly, die if he doesn't.

Sadness swirled over me as I watched a vision build in my head. Bella's wedding dress shoved to the back of the closet, never to be worn, but forgotten. Watched as all the long white candle sticks, (simple yet elegant) flutter into a heap of trash. The blush silk tablecloths never being used, the gifts never being open, and all the food never being eaten. But worst of all, knowing how much they wanted this.

I've seen Bella trying to dance, preparing for their first, hoping beyond hope that Edward wouldn't catch her. How she'd blush every time me and Rosalie teased her about the wedding night. I watched her face the first time she tried on her dress. Watched the tiny flick of a flame grow in her eyes, seeping through her skin in undeniable pleasure. How could she be denied her wedding day? How could she be denied her right to say a proper goodbye?

A sad smile skittered over my lips as new images burned in my head. I was probably the only one who knew how badly Edward wanted this. I'd seen him practicing his vows. Reciting lines of poetry, blowing through countless classic romances, trying to discover the right words to describe his love to Bella. He was old fashioned, wanting his claim on Bella done the proper conventional way. But it wasn't just traditional principle driving his desire, but real conviction. He wanted everything for her, to vow his love to her forever, and now he's forced into taking it all away.

"What the hell are we supposed to do about this little problem I have suddenly developed, which inconveniently causes my girlfriend to bear vast physical agony?" Edward's words kept repeating in my mind. Echoed in the small monotone, seemingly carless, tone.

It all seamed so inopportune. How could anyone have such wretchedly bad luck.

xxx

It was all set, even before the words lifted out of his mouth. Even before he had begun to think over the consequences. He would change Bella. He would change her before it was too late.

I knew what was spinning through his head. The dull light that played in the depths of his dark eyes. I could see the irrational human display of hopelessness, mixed with apprehension and fear, worst of all guilt.

He couldn't chance it, couldn't let anything harm Bella, let alone that harm be himself. He would leave, if it were a choice, but he knew that that particular decision was in poor light, that it would kill him before it had a chance to tear Bella apart, again. It wasn't an option and it didn't even linger in the darkest part of his mind for more then a slight tenor of a bleak wish.

Hopelessness is all that existed and only one choice remained. The decision that Bella had always wanted. She never wanted to marry him; she never wanted to walk down the isle. She had made it perfectly clear how much she resented the idea. That's all that he could think. He thought that the problem would dispense as quickly as it was let on, he could live without marrying her, he only needed her.

It seamed like a perfectly reasonable action to solve this hopeless problem, to cancel the wedding and change her before things had a chance of becoming worse.

But he was forgetting one hard and very prominent factor of this entire exchange.

The vision swirled through my eyes in small dark light, blurred and very flawed. Nothing set in stone, even though Edward was determined and unwilling to change his mind.

His jaw twisted, as impatience crept over his eyes and darkened his features.

I tried to keep my thoughts blank and unperturbed, trying to keep him and his sardonic brainwaves out. I could feel his dark eyes boring two holes in the side of my head as I refused to meet his eyes.

I brought my fingertips over my temple, concentrating harder. Trying to dose the vision in light. Flashes only existed and the pictures were obscured, as if the popping, painful, spike of your eyes vision, trying to adjust to too much light after being blanketed with darkness.

Dull light in each flash of a picture was pointed from a faraway unimportant direction, offering no reassurance that this was the right decision.

Sparks and spinning choices interrupted my point in reason. The vision of Bella dead flickered for a fraction of a second over my glazed eyelids. I blinked quickly spinning to see Edward noticeably flinch. I bit my lip sending my mind spiraling as I looked farther, using Edward's newly rectified decision as a scatter point.

The earlier vision, when Bella existed as a vampire melted, turning into a memory that would never come to be. Edward had decided to leave, to give Bella a proper chance to say goodbye without him by her side. She would have no one's hand to hold, no one's shoulder to lean on as she would say goodbye to everyone she loved, without the slightest reassurance or explanation at such a dramatic display of emotion.

But too many things offered as a distraction. Too many obstacles were still there to overcome. And one obstacle in particular was profusely being ignored.

The visions darkened considerably as I thought this.

"Alice," Edward hissed. Not liking where my thoughts were heading. His patience was less to be desired.

"What Edward?! You asked me to look and see what the outcome is, of this stupid impromptu choice! It's not my fault that it's unclear." I raised my eyebrows noticeably, sending the peak of my lips in a sly twisted smile. "Now who's the only person who could defy Edward's choice in inevitability, Carlisle?" I asked sarcastically, ignoring the hard grimace that took over Edwards face.

Carlisle's face twisted with pity, "Edward you know Bella will not go for this…" he trailed.

Edward's face was less then impressed as he paced back and forth, ripping his fingers in and out of his hair. "Bella…Bella won't have a choice." He said, struggling for words.

I laughed, sending a wave of dry petulance in the air. "And how do you think you'll manage that? Do you plan on physically dominating her Edward? To hold her down while sinking your teeth into her flesh without her permission? Do you really want to become the monster you're trying to hide her from?" My words were laced in sarcasm, but I painted a very vivid picture in my mind. I knew without a doubt that Edward would never do this, but I was tired of playing this guessing game.

Edward sucked in an indignant breath, a loud growl cracking through his clenched teeth. "No Alice that is exactly the opposite of my 'plan.'" his words were controlled and matched my sarcasm, but his defensive pose and darkened eyes were still bared.

"Edward, Bella wants this marriage now. You've convinced her it's the right thing to do." I sighed dropping the sarcasm and allowing my voice to wallow in sympathy. "She's not going to back-out, and I have the feeling that she'll still try to go through with it even if you continue to attack her mind."

"No. She. Won't." Edward stated. His fists hard and his tone dosed in determination. I was just about to open my lips to object, but he cut me off. "Not if I ask her." he said. His entire façade melted until only vulnerability was left. He seamed physically agonized at his own words meaning.

And I knew he was right. If he asked her, if he said to just trust his decision and to trust in him, she would no longer be an obstacle. Bella would jump off a cliff if Edward said the word. She wouldn't put a second's hesitation, in any decision if she knew that's what he wanted. She loved him too much. It was pure manipulation and Edward was playing the dirtiest game if he were going to subject and sink lower then dirt to drive anyone to such an infraction.

I shook my head, just as a new vision danced apathetically in bright light on the backs of my eyelids. Edward's choices flowing to the future, switching the bleak unanswered plots and setting the future in unavoidable inevitability.

Exactly what he wanted. Exactly the wrong answer. The wedding swirling in an abyss of nothingness, goodbyes a brink and unobtrusive affair, and Bella's unavoidable change.

Edward smiled a sad smile as he watched the vision blur and sink back into the layers of my mind.

"Edward…" I said in defeat.

He cut me off, not even offering an apologetic glance. "Carlisle, will you tell Bella I went hunting and that I'll be back soon. Don't tell her anything else. And wait for my call." He added threateningly.

"Alice," he pointed me a dark look. "Make sure she'll be able to say goodbye."

"Edward," I sighed already knowing that arguing was pointless.

He closed his eyes, "Tell her I'm sorry I broke my promise."

Before we both could react, he left. His choice led him to Jasper and Emmett. He planned on hunting big game to slake his appetite, already preparing for her inevitable change.

Carlisle slowly got up, his face pallid and twisted in tired lines. "I'll tell her." I whispered. Not waiting for him to reply I fled from the room.

xxx

I remain faithful to my decision. Because fate wasn't cruel enough to play on them any longer. They deserved this. And I would bend every right of reason to my will, enabling it to make them see reason. There would be a wedding whether they liked it or not.

All I needed was a plan. And I knew exactly who could help me. I smiled slightly as I twisted Bella's doorknob.

"Hey," I sighed, seeing Bella already up. She looked notably better, but her eyes were narrowed into fine slits as she glared at me.

I slowly came to her side, sliding onto the edge of the bed, trying not to disturb any part of her fragile body.

I knew Edward would kill me later, in fact I knew Bella would kill me later as well. And I knew I was playing just as unfair as Edward, but I also knew that they'd thank me in the end.

If Edward wasn't going to tell Bella the truth then I would. I just wouldn't tell her the entire extent of Edward's stupid plan. I would build my own plan and have Bella think it was her own.

The only flaw was I still needed to find the right answer.

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