While the vampires were away, the girls agreed to visit Forks Hospital to see Dr Cullen and check his features against their vampire list.
Bella had asked her father about Dr Cullen guardedly, and was shocked to hear Chief Swan speak highly of the good Doctor. It took a lot to impress her father. As per Alice, her father confirmed that the doctor lived only with his wife; whereas Jacob had said there was another couple with them. Alice couldn't sleep peacefully through the night while Jasper was away.
When Friday came, it marked the day of the school dance. Alice focused all her attention on the dance; seemingly to have forgotten about vampires and her dreams. The girls went to the dance together in Angela's car. Alice refused to ride in Bella's truck with them looking their best. They joined their lunch table group whom were mostly paired up for the dance and enjoyed themselves.
Spring break was uneventful.
Annoyed with her dreams and unanswered questions, Alice talked Bella into hiking through the woods surrounding their homes. The activity tired them and guaranteed Alice a dreamless sleep. Bella wasn't too keen - knowing her inability to keep upright on any surface, but joined.
The girls discovered a small meadow with a thick broken log in the woods; which quickly became a favourite spot. They usually sat there and talked about anything and everything. With senior year approaching, most of their conversations were about future plans. Alice wanted to study fashion design. Bella was undecided.
They discussed options for Alice's next car which she planned to get for herself as a birthday gift. She also wanted to have a joint party to celebrate their eighteenth birthday together. Bella only agreed provided Alice didn't invite the whole town.
Bella hurt her ankle while hiking on the last day before school reopened.
This gave the girls an opportunity to visit Forks Hospital.
Alice went along, complaining about Bella's truck the whole way. She was still afraid to see Dr Cullen again but stuck to the plan; which Bella's injury helped.
Carlisle knew to expect the two from Edward's call. He carefully examined Bella's ankle and wrapped it while he made casual conversation. He learnt that Bella didn't like that the whole town had known she was coming to live in Forks; including the doctor who didn't know her. She hated being the centre of attention; was inherently dangerous in gym class and hated attention from boys.
Alice sat quietly further away, with her chair by the door. She was observing Dr Cullen while Bella was engaged in conversation. On their drive from the hospital they added golden eyes, cold hard skin, beauty and melodic voice to their list. His golden eyes confirmed Jacob's story about him hunting animals instead of humans. They wished they could meet with Mrs Cullen to compare her to their list - but no one knew much about her. She rarely made an appearance in town.
Bella stayed two weeks at Alice's house to avoid walking up and down the stairs at her house, and stressing her ankle more. The last term of school was uneventful. Alice continued to have her dreams though she slept through them – with Jasper's help.
She had started warning Bella of when to skip gym to avoid injuries. These were from her dreams. It unsettled Bella sometimes but didn't frighten Alice. In fact, she liked being able to look after her friend. To Edward, however, her dreams had evolved. They took on a different tone when she saw future events, and had become more accurate. Jasper too could tell when she was in deep sleep dreaming and when she would feel emotions based on future events.
Another wave of overly hopeful boys asked the two to prom; and they declined. They intended to go to the dance together as before.
Alice grew more restless from her dreams the week before prom; even with Jasper helping her sleep. Her dreams were pushing through - forcing her to know them. In one dream, she and Bella were dancing with boys at prom. She recognized her partner as the vampire in her dreams.
"How is that possible Alice? Are you sure it's him?" Bella had asked
"I'm sure it's him Bella. He doesn't hurt me in the dream."
"But he is dancing with you at prom – in Forks high gym room with everyone looking?" Bella followed
"Yes; you will also be dancing with a boy Bella." She reminded
"I don't dance Alice"
"In my dream you do"
Bella left the topic alone. It bothered her how that dream could be possible. She also thought that maybe it was just a normal dream, one that didn't mean anything. The more pressing thing was the second dream.
In it, Alice saw Bella laying on the floor dead while she was facing a menacing man in a room of mirrors.
The dreams frightened them because they didn't know how to interfere and change them like Alice had done before. They didn't know whether they should go to prom or cancel altogether. Alice was terrified of the menacing man, Bella dying and dancing with the vampire she feared. Bella debated with telling her parents about the dreams – in case they came true. Besides Alice, they were the only other people she knew cared whether she lived or not. On the other hand, she didn't want to betray Alice's secrets. She knew her mother would definitely insist that she move back to live with her, and possibly cut all contact with her friend. It was difficult to decide what to do.
They went through the motions preparing for prom. Chief Swan was happy the two were going together. He felt unprepared to deal with a dating daughter and hormonal boys. Alice suffered a dizzy spell in the bathroom after taking a shower. She recovered shaken and frightened. She didn't tell Bella or Charlie what had happened; instead pretended to be happy while they took pictures and left Bella's home. They had borrowed Angela's car again. She insisted on driving, and alarmed her friend when she took a turn away from the school road without an explanation.