No waiting in line, no standing out in the cold – we entered the theater as soon as we got there and got amazing seats. The Twilight premiere at midnight was….It left me breathless, speechless, and anything that ends with –less. Amazing, I was laughing and at the edge of my chair through the whole thing! And, I saw it again today! Oh, and I got a review telling me I reviewed their story saying REALLY a lot or something like that. (Sorry, the Twilight movie tampered with my memory :)) I'm sorry, but that wasn't me. Honestly, I don't think I've reviewed FanFics since…forever. So, again, sorry, but that Mayface wasn't me. Grr, someone else has that pen name. I thought it wasn't possible on Fan Fiction. Oh well. I hope you like this next chapter. I was looking forward to it!

Quote from friends used in this chapter:

Stick together homes, follow the passion. –Jake (Jacob, my awesomest, bestest, werewolf friend. Seriously, he hates vamps and loves wolves.)

Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Chapter 20: Alice's Story

B.P.O.V.

"Thank goodness it's Saturday." I relaxed my head against my pillow. "I don't think I could miss another day at school." I closed my eyes and tried hard to talk with a stuffy nose.

Edward's cold hand pressed over my non-heating forehead. "You're right. But you know I could always excuse you." I heard a smiled at the end of the last sentence. The boy had a big ego. "Ugh, Bella, stop doing that!"

Surprised, I opened one eye. Edward looked frustrated as he sat by my feet. "Doing what?" Curiosity covering my question.

He got up and placed the heavy covers on top of me. "Stop uncovering yourself. You do it so often in your sleep; you barely realize it when you're awake."

I willed myself to open both eyes, the brightness from the early morning sun through the huge window wasn't helping. I felt my face scrunch up and my eyes squint. The sun has been coming out when I need it the least these days. "But it's so hot." I complained.

Edward sighed. "I know, but your fever went down dramatically over night, and now you're freezing. You need to get warm."

I urged back a whine and obeyed. Edward's been with me all night and all morning, I might as well make this easier for him.

After I closed my eyes and a moment of silence suppressed the room, Edward cut through the slice of quiet. "I'm sorry. I should have covered you more last night. You were crying so hard," At this point my eyes were opened and I witnessed him recall last night. "So loud…and it was cold. So, very, cold. I should have made you go inside instead." His face hardened and he shook his head. "Absurd." Edward muttered.

I breathed in deeply his sympathy. I felt pretty crappy myself. "Edward," My voice proved how sincere I felt. "You did so much and more for me last night. Please, my headache just ended. Let's not start this again. All we've been doing lately is argue and complain; lets not anymore. Please." I begged and reviewed him with my tired eyes. Surely, I had black bruises under them from my lack of sleep.

His face softened as he stared at me. Edward showed off a small smile – not failing to look gorgeous – and nodded twice. "You're right. Sorry. Let's talk about something else, eh?"

A smiled took over my face. I was really looking forward to just talking to Edward without a fight breaking out. I felt like I needed someone to talk to, someone to make me feel better – emotionally from crying so much, physically from being tired, and healthy from being sick – and someone understanding, and fun, and utterly perfect; someone like Edward.

"Okay," I complied easily. "What do you want to talk about?"

His face seemed thoughtful as he puckered his soft lips. "Well," He started off, supporting himself on my bed with his hands. "I guess we could talk about us."

I rolled my eyes. "We already know everything about each other." I lied.

Mentioning my nightmares to Edward was something I was planning to do, but never got to. Besides, I haven't been having them…lately, and their not as severe, anyway.

He flashed out his crooked smile, making my head spin….In a good way. "I wasn't talking about us separately." While Edward spoke, his lopsided smile never faltered; as if engraved on his beautiful face for this moment. "I was referring to-"

Choosing the correct time to always interrupt, Edward's phone rang. Stupid Blackberry touch screen…it's not even that cool.

Edward groaned and reached for his pocket. "Hello?" He asked impatiently.

I reached over to my nightstand for a tissue, but Edward had already pulled one from the blue box and handed it to me. I took it from him and blew.

Edward stood up, a finger in his other ear, something you do when you need to listen better on the phone. "Are you sure?" He asked seriously, speaking into the black item intently.

I lowered my hands, which still held the tissue, to my lap. Edward closed his eyes and nodded. "Okay….Okay….Got it. And the other…?"

My eyebrows met as I tried to contemplate on what Edward was talking about. He looked and sounded so…restless. I don't know how to describe it. Like when you're at the movies and at the edge of your seat; when you're reading a book and you have to know what happens next; when you finally know that answer in class and you want the teacher to pick on you so badly; when you're Edward on the phone talking to somebody right now.

His head stopped nodding, but stayed down, as if he were giving up. Edward sighed. "Okay, thank you, we appreciate it."

He hung up and looked at me sadly.

"What's wrong?" I asked quietly, not sure if I wanted to know.

I crossed my legs Indian style under the layers of sheets. Edward took the spot where my legs were at and sat in front of me. One of his strong, sculpted hands rested on my knee as Edward gazed at my face. "Oh…Bella, how do I say this…?" He shook his head and straightened up.

I stared at his figure: statue-like still, unmoving, eyes closed and even breaths escaping his lips. What's wrong? Nervous, I distracted myself by messing with my bandana. I tied it into a hard knot again by pulling the edges, and then I pushed my long bangs behind my ears.

Edward sucked in a deep breath and let it loose slowly. His eyes were still closed as he finally unfolded the truth of his phone call. "Bella, Karina didn't make it."

I gasped. No, Karina? Of course not. "What?" She's-she's strong, she's willing, and she's….No. I shook my head slowly, trying to find the alibi to his lie. "No." My voice was so firm, and I somehow wished it would also make it true.

Edward opened his eyes, sadness – again, for me, not Karina – glowing off of his orbs. "Bells, she's dead." His hand squeezed my knee. "I'm sorry, Bella, so sorry."

I fiercely drew my knee away from his touch. "Liar!" I screamed, not noticing, nor caring, about the tears building up in my eyes.

Edward seemed hurt. Why? I'm the one he's lying to! "Bella, Karina's dead. That shot hit her exactly wrong. I'm sorry."

I shook my head fast, so fast my head would probably start hurting. "No – no, there's no way. She couldn't…she wouldn't….No! She's not dead! It's-it's not possible." But my tears wouldn't stop. No matter how much I chanted and told myself, I had already shed too many.

"Come here," Edward was by my side in a moment and wrapped his arms around me. I tried to push him away, but my arms suddenly weighed tons.

"No! Get off me!" Why does he do this? Hurt me like this! How can he lie to me and say someone who is – was – no, still is, part of my life – even though I hated her to death – has died? I felt a stunning shock go through me as I noticed what I thought. Hated her to death. Death, the finality of it. No longer living?

I punched his stupid chest. The chest I've cried on so many times, well, not today. Not when he's being an asshole and lying and-

I stopped and let out every scream, every tear built up till this point. Released whatever amount of energy I had left. There was no point. Karina's dead. I knew it would happen at one point – we all die – but knowing I saw her die, I saw her at her last moments: terrifying, twitching, explosive, angry, crazy…

I yelled into Edward's blue shirt, ruining it with the salt that is known as tears. I sobbed and cried into his embrace, for once wishing I had gotten along with my enemy. After all, she and I had a lot in common. Suffering through parent divorces, taking and trying to forget every way about your past, and trying to keep anyone away from you in general; both of us have been through it. The isolation that comes along with being unwanted. The empty place in your heart where so many people belonged in…suddenly open and vacant. I screamed, sorrow making its way over again.

Life hates me. And, I know, I need my blade now more than ever.

But I can't have that.

I can't have Edward – Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Esme, Rose…Dr. Cullen? – switch roles with me. Me being the one holding their helpless bodies as they force their hearts out. I'd never do that to them. (Although, I could use a second thought on Dr. Cullen.) I would never, ever, have any of them cry for me again.

Never.

I sucked it up. They way I did it when Renee left, when Charlie stopped loving me, when he slapped me…now, when Karina's dead. Dead.

Edward kept rubbing circles on my back, humming along to my lullaby. "Edward?" I whimpered.

"Shh," He rocked us back and forth, something we've been doing a lot lately. "I'm sorry, Bella. My father did all he could, seriously. He never gave up; he spent all night fighting for her life. He doesn't like losing either. After what happened with his dad…then with Alice…all's he ever wanted to do was save lives. Every single one of them." I took that in for a second.

A could picture it. Dr. Cullen, trying – thriving – to save lives. In the hospital all night, seeing, watching over people who might live or die…because of him. Their lives depend on him. One little mistake and… What a tough job he has….I've never thought of it that way before.

"You said Alice," I caught on to his earlier statement. "What did you mean by that? The way her parents died when she was young?"

When I felt Edward's heartbeat thunder and his breath stop, I had to look at him. His face showed no emotion, still as he was before. I placed my hand on his check, regretting I ever said anything. "I'm sorry…it's none of my business. I shouldn't have asked."

Edward instantly smiled, using his gentle hands to clear away all the dry tears from my face. "No, you have the right to know. Alice is…obviously eager – or trusts you enough – to let you know. She wants you to know…everything. It's impossible to miss the darts she's been throwing out, practically begging one of us to tell you since she isn't able to." He looked down at my praising face. "But that's for another time. I bet you're tired."

As if he were Alice himself, I yawned. He chuckled softly. I smiled sleepily. "How did you know?"

He answered right away. "You always sleep after you cry."

I grimaced. "Do I really cry so much that you've figured out my schedule?" I teased. But inside, I was truly wondering.

Edward laid me on my back, placing a light kiss on my forehead. Mmm…that feels nice. "Don't worry about it." He whispered sweetly. "I don't mind, as long as I'm the one who's there for you when you do cry."

I swam into the sea of unconsciousness quickly. But I had to fight the current that was swiftly taking me along for one more important question. My eyes were even closed and I was on my side; facing opposite from Edward.

As much as I love Alice and want to know what Edward was talking about, I also had to know something else, "What happened to Sarah?"

"She's in the hospital."

"Alive?"

"Alive." He promised.

I fell into a deep slumber, knowing Sarah was okay.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I moaned into the pillow. "Stop,"

Jump.

"Please," I begged.

Jump.

I groaned and threw the blanket off of me. "Stop jumping, damn it!"

"Good morning – well, it's three in the afternoon – star shine. The earth says hello!" He bellowed joyfully.

I fell back onto my comfortable pillow. "Emmett…how did you even get in?"

I could hear his grin as he spoke. "What do you mean? Oh!" He pretended he just figured something out, and then his voice angered. "You mean, how I got in since-Edward-is-sleeping-in-your-bed?"

I rolled my closed eyes. "Yes, Emmett, that's what I mean."

"Well," He jumped off. "I'll have you know that I stole one of his room cards. Gosh, Bella, you're so immature."

I opened one eye and raised one eyebrow at him. "I'm immature?"

Emmett nodded and placed his hands in his jean pockets. "Well you are sleeping with Edward."

Edward, who was laying next to me on my left, threw a pillow at him. "How is that immature?"

I opened both eyes to see Em's answer. "She's having a sleep over with her girlfriend."

I laughed, but that caused a pillow to be thrown at me too. "Hey," I protested tiredly. "He's the one who said it." I turned my body to look at Edward.

He was sitting up, cross legged. "I'm not Bella's girlfriend because I'm a guy; I'm Bella's boyfriend." The room froze. The only thing moving was my blood to my face.

"I mean, not boyfriend, boyfriend." Edward stuttered quickly. "Boyfriend – guy friend. A friend who's a guy – a guy pal; a pal who's a guy. A friend who just happens to be a boy."

Emmett grunted. "Uh-huh," I got up and Emmett sat in front of me. "So, what're you doing today? Other than making an ass of yourself." He dramatically swayed his head at Edward's direction.

Edward narrowed his eyes. "Nothing. I was going to tell her about Alice."

"Oh." Emmett's smirk wiped off right away.

"Yeah, I need my room card back. An extra for Bella." Edward said simply, ignoring Em's reaction.

Emmett's wicked grin came back on. "Maybe later. Bella's not gonna lose her card, are you?"

I blushed again. "Hmm…funny story…" Edward raised an eyebrow at Emmett.

He threw his head back. "You're not helping me out, Drug Addict. Stick together homes, follow the passion. You're supposed to back me up." Emmett smiled sweetly, exposing his cute dimples.

He reached into his pocket and placed the card on my nightstand, next to the picture Rose gave me of me and Edward – our flower fight.

"Emmett," Edward ran a hand through his tousled hair. "What're you doing here?"

Emmett rolled his shining eyes. "Just here to check on Bells." He looked at me. "Feeling better?"

I nodded and rubbed my eyes. "Yeah-" I yawned for a good five seconds. "-I'm better."

"Good," Emmett sounded relieved. "I was worried. It was so cold and you were crying really badly. By the way, Rose wanted me to tell you she almost has the…uh, blood stains out of your dress. She'll give it to you Monday."

My eyes looked down to my lap. The blood – Karina's blood – was on my dress. It splattered when she was…when she shot herself. I swallowed my pain. "Thanks," My gratitude was barely a whisper.

Edward rubbed my shoulder and Emmett got up. He kissed the top of my head and spoke softly into my hair. "You're welcome and…be like Alice…please."

Surprise, I looked up at him. "What?"

He and Edward exchanged a glance, and then Emmett smiled lovingly. "You'll see."

He walked out, knuckle touching Edward's fist, and closed the door behind him. Eager, I looked at Edward. "What's going on with Alice? You mentioned her earlier."

I heard Emmett's footsteps as he jogged down the stairs. "Well, it's complicated, but it explains a lot. More than you could imagine." Edward moved closer to me.

"You know how Alice seemed as if she were…predicting the future last night?" He asked carefully.

How could I miss out on that? "Yes, of course."

Edward searched for the right words. "Well, Alice usually isn't so…oblivious. She's more…kept to herself with her predictions and keeps them quiet. It's hard for her, not to tell us. Seeing the good, the bad, and the things you can change in the near future isn't easy. She knows you can't change what happens, even if it is for the better. Things happen for a reason, and Alice does her best to keep them that way."

"About two years ago, Alice started trying this new thing. She would try to keep her mind off things that might, or might not, happen. You see, she see's her…'visions'-" Edward used his fingers to quote the words visions. "-when she thinks about the future."

He lost me and my face clearly showed it. Alice can see the future? For real…? "Whoa, whoa, whoa, you're telling me Alice is like...like a physic?" Disbelief echoed my unbelievable question. "You can't be serious." I laughed breathlessly.

Edward seemed frustrated. He sighed. "Bella, please, keep an open mind about this. It's not so easy to talk about – not for any of us." I nodded.

"As I was saying, she can only see things if she thinks about them. Alice barley figured that out the first year of college. It's a long story, but let's skip it. My dad – Carlisle – and his brother, Luke – Alice's dad and my uncle – lost their dad – my grandfather – when Luke was eighteen and my dad was seventeen. My grandma had died giving birth to Dad, so they had no one to depend on but each other. My dad was always supportive of my Uncle Luke's marriage to Aunt Elizabeth. He even loved calling her by her nickname, Lizzy."

"Aunt Lizzy and Uncle Luke got married right away, my father moving in with them. They didn't mind, they loved my dad. So, when Carlisle met Mom, Esme, they supported them greatly, as well. My mom and dad married quickly after they started dating, too. It was like…love at first sight, as they told me when I was younger." Edward gazed at the cieling, imagining it happen. Then, he looked back at me. "The first year my parents were married, my uncle and aunt announced a baby on the way: Alice. After a week into Dad and Mom's honeymoon, my mom was pregnant with me." His dazzling smile radiated off of his glorious face. "Alice is only a couple of months older than me – she's the oldest of all of us, even Jasper. He doesn't mind, though. He jokes about dating an older woman."

I laughed, Edward's musical joy accompanying it. "What does that have to do with any of this?" I asked, a smile glued onto my face.

Edward's smiled stayed, but no longer hinted happiness. "Well, as Alice grew – and I'm talking as soon as she could walk and point things out – my parents and Aunt Lizzy noticed something about her. Alice would draw something, and it would happen the next day. My uncle thought it was silly, us thinking she might see the future, since she was merely two years old. But as she composed sentences, it was clear she had a gift. My mother and Carlisle accepted Alice's specialty, saying it came with her charm. Though, my uncle and aunt weren't so pleased with it."

"When Alice was six they took her to see this…I don't know – some sort of specialist to help kids tell the truth. You know, kind of like me, a psychologist. Except, this doctor was certified to cure kids from unwanted gifts. Such as, being able to levitate things, create fire with their minds…or see the future. Some parents claimed their children could even see the undead. It was crazy, but they forced her to go. No matter what they did, Alice kept predicting the future. She couldn't help it; you're curious when you're young, so she as bound to see the future. Alice was so little – physically and in years – she didn't know it wasn't normal seeing those things. She was innocent."

"But they could never get her to quit, change her. Alice tried what she could to please them, but she would make things worse by letting them know what was going to happen the next day. Alice's visions can only range from different things. I mean, she can see what's going to happen next month or next week…maybe even next year. I don't know, she doesn't want to try it. But she can only see so far into the future if she wants to. It has to be her passion to want to see something badly to actually be able to months ahead. I even remember her coming over to my house when she was going to those sessions. My mom and dad would always try to cheer her up, making her feel loved since her own parents despised her talent. They thought, since Alice had the gift – curse, as they called it – they would hate Alice, as well."

"It was cruel, really. My parents would beg and plead Aunt Liz and Uncle Luke to love Alice, but they never did. They thought having a child that can do what Alice does was the worst thing that could ever happen. Alice spent so much time at our place; I was beginning to think she was my sister. One day, my uncle and aunt got so fed up with Alice's predictions…they didn't know what to do. They started going insane, looking and searching for doctors around the world who could cure Alice from the…curse." He practically growled at the word. Edward's fist would tighten at speaking about Alice's parents.

"You know Alice is my adopted sister because her parents died. She was like my sister and a daughter to Carlisle and Esme anyway, so when her parents past on, my own parents became foster parents and adopted her. But…Alice's parent's died around when she was eight years old. She was in foster care, belonging to state, for a year before my parents could get all the paper work. Finally, she was my sister."

"When Alice was eleven, entering middle school, my parents explained the truth of her parent's death. At first, when Alice and I were too young to understand anything, they had told us her mom and dad died in a car accident. That was far from the truth. Alice's parents didn't just die, Bella, they went crazy – insane. They couldn't live with Alice being like that. They killed themselves."

"After that, Alice went through depression. All the way up until high school, where we met Jasper and Rosalie. Rose and I went on a couple of double dates with Jazz and Alice, but only to see her happy; Rose and I never had anything but friendship. Rosalie and Alice grew like sisters, going through freshmen year together. Alice trusted her and told her about her parents. Rose was happy she and her brother brought Alice out of depression, and set up more dates with Jasper. You know that vibe Jasper has, being able to make people feel something? Well, he made Alice happy. They loved each other – and still do – but what Jasper did is something none of us could've done."

"While Alice was depressed, her friends, me, my mom and dad would try to convince her it wasn't her fault – the death of her parents wasn't her fault at all. She wouldn't listen; she stayed by herself a lot, me being the only person who stuck by her side through everything. As Alice kept quiet, she stopped talking about everything – even her visions – and her friends left her while in middle school. But when she started seeing Jasper, he changed that. He made her realize there was nothing she could've done to stop herself, especially at such a young age, from seeing the future."

"Alice felt like she was the one who took away her parents life. She blamed herself for everything." Edward stopped and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Sound familiar?"

I blinked in astonishment. Then, I shook my head. No… "No, that's different. It really wasn't Alice's fault. She was so little, she couldn't have known. Besides, I don't even have the excuse of knowing things before they happen to ruin my parent's life! I just did. My mo-Renee stopped loving me and left, yelling and screaming at me. Since Charlie loved her so much, after a couple of years, he realized it was my fault she left us. I was the one who drove her away. He stopped caring and blamed everything on me after that. And he should! It was my fault, everything. I killed their lives – not the way that happened with Alice's parents, but figuratively. They could've been happy if it weren't for me. Renée wouldn't have been somewhere else – God knows where! – and Charlie could've still been a police officer, not some alcoholic!" Small tears spilled, I think it's because I've cried so much lately. "It's my fault, and I'm never going to forget that! It's different from Alice's situation. ….It just is!"

Edward placed a hand on my shoulder. "Bella, you were too young to know what you were doing, too. Alice was so unhappy about seeing the future, but Jasper made her see that the past is the past; you can't change it. He showed her how to move on and not blame yourself for something out of your control. He made her feel better about herself and see the world differently. Now, Alice can't be happier. She's accepted the past and is willing to move on. She loves caring for others, mainly little kids. That's why she helps out at the hospital. She wants to give back to innocent kids who think their parents are wasting money on medical care because of them; she wants to be their Jasper."

"Alice hates seeing you blame yourself and hurt yourself for something you didn't do. Who do you think is taking all of this – your cutting and lying – harder out of all of us?"

"Emmett." I answered, but suddenly unsure. I would think it was Emmett, I've seen him cry and suffer the most.

Edward shook his head sadly. "You haven't seen the way Alice reacts when I tell her more and more about you - about your past. And trust me, you don't want to. Bells, what Emmett said about being like Alice, means he wants to see you happy. I talked to him last night when you came to bed. He understands more, and he feels like you need your own personal Jasper." Edward looked down to his fumbling hands. "And…and he thinks you've already found him." He spoke softly.

I have? The only person I can think of who makes me feel the same was Jasper probably made Alice feel is-

"Jasper loves Alice." Edward said, looking at me again. "He changed her for the better. Because of him, Alice thinks differently. She doesn't think of her…ability as a curse, nor a gift, but more of a…extra sense. She's not excited about it – she loves being surprised and hates to think about her birthday, but she can't help it. That gives away everything – but she's not angry about it either. Alice understands she's special than the rest of us but…that's just what makes Alice, Alice. She wouldn't be herself without it: the Alice we all love."

I let everything sink in for a while.

"So," Edward continued. "I guess you can see why my dad disliked you so much. You were trying to do the same thing his brother did. My father always disapproved of my uncle's behavior, so when he met you, it re-flamed the candle of angry memories. But my dad knows you don't want that anymore, that's why he's opening up. Plus, he see's how much you mean to all of us." He smiled the half smile that I love.

Alice always seems so happy and full of life. Thinking about her being depressed – or even having Alice and the word depressed in one sentence, for that matter – was something impossible. Yet, understandable with her past.

"Bells," Edward spoke carefully. "We want you to get better. Please. You're doing such a good job, we couldn't have been any prouder." He smiled, but soon seemed as if he were thinking something hard. "Bella, I've tried to ask you something before, but I was interrupted. Can I ask you now?"

"I-…yes." My heart jumped as I waited for his question.

"Bella, will you-" His retarded phone rang!

Edward sighed, but got his cell phone. "Hello?" He asked, monotone.

He seemed surprised by whoever answered. "Uh…no, this is Edward. Bella's right here. Hold on." Shocked expressed his face. He held out the phone to me.

"Bella, its Sarah, she wants to talk to you."

End of Chapter

If you guys skipped Alice's story because of the length, go back and read it! Wow, can you believe I have a background on characters and everything? It's so cool! 'Kay, this was mainly a filler on Alice's life, but I love it. I think it's my favorite chapter. Plus, it's long! Let me know if you liked it.

Love, Mayface