A/N: Thank you everyone for all of the reviews, follows and faves. You are amazing. Well, it turns out that Bella has the all clear to be changed into a vampire and the date has been set. It is only a matter of time now. :D

Chapter 21 - Meeting a Stranger

Decisions had been made and although I am happy for their new found love and relationship, it hurts too. They are together now and are in a blissful period of time with each other. They both deserve it. Me? I am not sure what I deserve right now, but I would like to think that there is something or someone out there for me somewhere.

Jasper and Bella have each other right now and it appeared that the date of her conversion has been set. Not only am I now getting visions of her as a vampire, but I am also getting visions of her actual turning. Jasper will worry and fret, but she will make it through and be more beautiful than she was before.

There is still danger for them from other vampires Victoria created. She made several all over the country and slowly they are making their way to Forks in order to get their prize. I have no doubt in Jasper or the other Cullen's that they will protect her and keep her alive. Jasper has the training to handle the rogue vamps and to see Bella through her newborn transformation. I know no one else could do it.

Oh wait here is a new vision. It looks as if Bella will not be too much of a problem when she is turned. I really hope that is the case. Newborns can be a handful and very dangerous. She is strong, but she is not mad with thirst.

Another vision floats across my line of sight. It is that stranger from the woods. He is still there and he watches me. I am not sure why he has not moved on, but he seems intrigued. I know that I am going to meet him from my visions and I know it will be while I am out hunting, but I am not sure when it will happen. I have to admit that I am a bit anxious to meet him. He is skittish though and I have to stay on my guard because he could be dangerous. I know my visions are not showing him to be a threat, but every single girl has to play it safe.

I am not sure beyond meeting him what the future holds for us. It could be a brief meeting, I do not know. I don't think my visions will allow me to see beyond the meeting until we both make the decision to meet. Not even a the power to look into the future is perfect or 100%, but it is good enough for me to know that I am not supposed to die at the stranger's hand.

People may be wondering how I know that I will not be killed by the stranger. Another vision that I am putting my faith in because that is what I do, I put my trust in my visions. I know that it is not perfect, but there are times when they are exact and I cannot do anything but follow them. One example is Jasper and Bella. They will get married and be happy. I know that I will not die because I know that I will see them again.

I know that there is a chance that they will not want to see me. I would not blame them if they didn't, but by then they may understand a little bit more why I did leave. If they don't, then I feel like maybe I can explain everything to them. I think my guilt is talking right now. I don't want them to hate me and I want them to understand why I did what I did. Yes, they know it was because of a vision, but they need to understand it all.

Bella and Jasper are destined to be together. The wedding will be beautiful and she will give him a peace that even I could not instill in him. She will be able to bring something out in him that I never could. In turn he will be able to give her a love and confidence that Edward never gave her. He will also be able to show her that regardless of what happens, good or bad, he is going to be there through it all; Edward took that security away from her. They are what each other needs. He never really stopped thinking about her after we left Forks, maybe it was a sign for the future.

Edward has someone coming for him also. It is not a bad thing. This person will show him what real love is. He will want to be with her more than he ever did with Bella. He also will realize that leaving someone is not the answers. He will learn to stick with someone and stay with them. They will have their problems and a learning curve, but they will eventually make it through to the other side. He just has to be patient another year.

I concentrate on the others in the family and all I see is a joyful future. They will be moving soon again. It will probably happen right after or before Bella is turned, but they carve out their little niche in the new location. Bella will miss Charlie, but she will be safe and be with Jasper. They will find a way to communicate until it risks the secret.

Now there is me and I have no clue what is going to happen in my future. I know that I will see Jasper and Bella again. I know that I will eventually meet the stranger. I know that the Volturi will not find me, but beyond all of that, I do not know what my future holds. It seems like it is almost as blank as my past. I am ready for more than a black hole.

I turn to look out the window and look to the woods. I know he is out there watching the house for the next time I go out. He always does. He knows what I am, but has no clue who I am or what I can do.

I guess there is not hope for it. I have not hunted for a few days and it is time that I go out. I open the back door and close it, immediately running for the woods. I stop a few miles into the woods and take a deep breath. Today is my lucky day. The stranger is daring to get closer and there is a bear near.

I go for the bear first, jumping on its back and flipping it over. I am not like Emmett. I do not play with my food. I am a lady. Other than a small scratch in my clothes, I am unscathed. I wish I wasn't so dirty, but hunting is not a clean job. I drink the bear dry and as soon as I am done, I feel him behind me.

I turned quickly and am immediately in a crouch, ready to defend myself. He stops 50 feet away from me and I am able to get a good look at him. He is cleaner than most nomads I have seen. His clothes are not a designer brand, but they are fashionable. He is muscular, but not overly so, and he appears to only be a couple of inches taller than me. He has black hair that is cropped close to his head. It almost reminds me of a military haircut. His eyes are red and focused on me. He seems to be curious more than he looks like he is about to attack me. He is not in a defensive crouch; instead he is standing straight and looking right at me. It almost makes me feel like he is looking through me.

"Why are you drinking blood from animals?" He asked curiously.

"I do not drink blood from humans," I said cautiously.

"Why? The animals are not as good as humans."

"Because that is the way I choose to live. I prefer not to take a human life, to murder an innocent. Who are you?"

"I am Michael. Who are you?" he answered while he looked like he was thinking about what I had said.

"My name is Alice," I responded and then after a brief pause I said, "Alice Cullen." I watched as the surprise overtook the curious glint in his eyes. So it appears he knows the Cullen name. Interesting, I need to stay on my guard.