Shazam! Two chapters. And since I don't have anything else planned for the day, I may right the next one as well. Just let me know what you think!

-Cass

Bella Swan—18 Years Old

When the bell rings signaling the end of the day I am, once again, filled with nerves. As I'm heading out to the parking lot, I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Emmett giving me a big thumbs up and a wink, a not pleased Rosalie next to him. I offer him the best smile I can muster in return.

I push the door open and find Alice waiting for me at the top of the steps.

"Bella! I was thinking we could just take my car to your house." I glance at the parking lot warily.

"I don't know, Alice, I don't think I should leave my car here, it's on loan from one of my dad's friends…besides, how am I supposed to get here tomorrow?"

"Well, I was hoping that if this conversation went well, that maybe we could hang out. If not, I'd have one of my siblings bring it by or I could take you to pick it up," her face falls, "but we can take both cars if you like."

"No!" I say and blush when people turn to look at me. "I mean, no, it's okay. We can take your car." The smile that graces her features makes my outburst worth it.

"Then let's go!" With that, she takes off down the steps and is halfway across the parking lot before I have a chance to get down the stairs.

"Alice," she stops and turns around, "I can't go anywhere too quickly, fractured ribs and all that." Alice looks horrified for a moment and the next she's by my side, hands hovering over me.

"Oh my God, Bella, I'm so sorry. I forgot. I was just so excited it escaped me. Are you alright, do you hurt, Emmett can carry you if you need him to." Her eyes are searching my face and I can't help but laugh, reminding me still that I'm not healed completely after the wreck.

"I'm fine, Alice, really." At her unconvinced, worried look, I gently take her hand in mine, her skin icy. "I promise, I just won't be running any marathons anytime soon." That seems to satisfy her enough to move to my side and loop her arm through my un-casted one.

"I am sorry that I forgot, though." I just shake my head and she sighs. "Bella, I don't think I ever told you how relieved I was that I was able to get to you last week. How happy you are that you're safe." We reach her car and after I get over the initial shock of seeing a canary yellow Porsche, I file that away under "Things to Ask Later".

"Yeah, well, I am, too. So, thank you, again, for helping me." I blush as she opens the door and helps me into her car. She leans over, unnecessarily helping me with my seatbelt, our faces inches apart. I can see just how golden her eyes are. Just how heartbreakingly beautiful she is. She leans in fractionally closer so that our noses brush and I can feel myself being drawn towards her, my eyes dropping down to her lips when she pulls away just enough to break the spell.

"You don't need to thank me, I'm just glad you're alright." She looks away and clears her throat. "Let's get you home," she says quietly, before gently shutting my door and climbing in on her side.

XxXxXxXxXx

We don't talk much on the way home. I spend most of the ride studying her and memorizing her features. A couple of times she would catch me looking at her and I would flush and look away, but not without seeing a tiny smile tugging at her lips.

We reach my house and she helps me out of the car. We go inside and I see a note left by Charlie saying he was going to hang out with Billy. A quick sigh of relief and a glass of water later Alice and I are perched awkwardly next to each other on the couch sitting in silence. This lasts for a solid two minutes before I groan and lean back, closing my eyes.

"Bella, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, this is just painfully awkward is all." I open one eye and look at her, "can we just… I dunno, start and get this over with?"

"That sounds easy enough, do you want to ask questions and me answer or do you want me to just begin?"

"Questions, please." At Alice's slow nod I suck in a deep breath. "I've met you before haven't I?" Again, Alice nods. "When was the first time?"

"You were six. You got lost in the woods trying to follow your friend. It got dark and I found you." She says matter-of-factly. Memories, fuzzy and disjointed, come back to me. Of hide and seek and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

"I remember. You gave me your jacket and I met your family," I laugh, "I had met them all before I had no clue. And," I pause, feeling sad over the torn jacket that had met it's end at the crash, "I'm sorry about your jacket. I kept it all these years. It was my favorite." Alice offers me a small smile.

"You were little, Bella, it's been 12 years. We didn't expect you to remember, that was kind of the point."

"But you came back and saved me again?" Alice sighs and looks away.

"Yes, I did, twice."

"Not that I'm not grateful, but why?" I ask and Alice laughs.

"Besides the fact that you were in danger and needed saving?"

"Like I said, not that I'm not grateful, but how were you there?" I ask and scoot closer to her.

"Let me ask you something. Have you not noticed how I haven't changed in the last decade?"

"I noticed, give me some credit, but I figured we'd get to that." I shrug and Alice laughs.

"Bella, I told you this was complicated. The reason behind why I don't look older is the answer as to why I saved you, why I've been there."

"So pick which one you want to answer first, if they're both relevant." Alice looks at me then, and she looks nervous and scared and worried all at the same time. "Alice, I promise, whatever it is, it's okay." She simply smirks and shakes her head.

"Fine, to put it simply, the reason I was there, the reason I will always be there, is because I am head over heels, forever in love with you."

How was it?