Chapter Twenty-Four – The Week.

Part Two.

'You know my name. You know my face. You'd know my heart, if you know my place.'

-Breaking Benjamin, Follow me.

Monday.

Alice's P.O.V

I had to get out of the car.

No…

I needed to get out of the car.

I was contemplating jumping out; something I was quite willing to do right now.

Though I didn't fancy walking the rest of the way to school – which I would have to do, lest someone see me.

I wish Rose would drive faster.

And the source of my annoyance manifested itself into one word – Edward – always Edward.

We hadn't ridden into school with the Volturi sisters; and Edward in some deluded withdrawal from not being in Bella's presence took this time to enthusiastically yap on and on about her amazingness.

I felt Edwards glare at the back of my head. He was listening to my thoughts. 'Oh, shove off, Edward.' I mentally snapped.

I knew that he would be listening to my thoughts willingly, now that he knew. It was going to be terribly annoying. Though, I was glad he'd told no one else of my feelings.

I started to think of a brick wall – a very thick brick wall.

The school started to come into view; we were finally there, finally. Rose turned the car into our usual spot – the car came to a sudden halt.

I was out the door before Rose could pull on the handbrake.

I jumped out the door quickly; slamming it shut behind me and… ran straight into Bella. 'And I'm supposed to be able to see the future…'

Bella's hands instinctively moved to catch me by the shoulders, steadying me.

And as soon as her hands touched me, all coherent thought left my mind. Her touch was electric, like a volt pulsing through me.

I barely noticed I wasn't breathing.

I tilted my head up and Bella's face was inches at mine, regarding me curiously.

Not a hint of recognition showed on her face that she too had felt the same spark that I had. However, I was delighted to note she hadn't moved her hands from my shoulders.

"You alright?" She winced as soon as the words left her mouth – like she'd had no control over saying them.

I could only nod.

My brain had seemingly forgotten how to function. Did she just ask if I was all right?

Bella blinked, her hands dropping from my shoulders. I almost whimpered at the loss of contact.

"Sorry." I managed to utter.

Bella just shrugged, still regarding me curiously. Edward growled. Midnight gave me a smug smirk.

"Hate to interrupt." Jasper snickered. "But we're gonna be late."

Emmet rolled his eyes.

"Always the party pooper." Rose elbowed him. "Buzz kill." Another elbow. Emmet flinched.

I blinked. Did they know?

Bella just turned on her heel and gracefully led the way. Edward forcefully shoved past me, bounding to catch up with Bella.

Though I couldn't muster up the effort to be annoyed with him because electricity still surged through me in tingles. It was lovely.

And I couldn't help but watch as Bella walked. It was so unlike the old klutz Bella I remembered, she almost strutted at she walked.

She'd always had a nice ass though…not that I'd ever looked…

"Come on, Alice."

Midnight snickered, tugging on my arm to get me moving. I shook my head, once more letting her drag me, embarrassed she'd caught me ogling her Mother.

"Don't worry, everyone else looks too. I'd feel better if it was you."

I just grinned, sheepishly. Midnight laughed and continued to walk along side me.

Surprised, wide-eyed students tracked our movements towards school. Though we were all used to being stared at – it came with being a Vampire – today was different, today it wasn't just because of that.

Today it was because we were walking into school with the Volturi sisters.

Bella and Madeline Volturi, the two new beautifully mysterious sisters whom no one had been able to get close too – even talk too.

We walked into the cafeteria.

"Maddy."

Midnight looked up at her name being called, looked up to a waving blond. The one, I noticed she'd caught that day in the cafeteria.

She was sitting on one of the tables, legs swinging back and forth, a breathtaking smile on her face.

I grinned. "She's cute." I whispered to Midnight.

I swear I saw Midnight blush as she waved back to the girl. "Later guys. Bella," She nodded. "Alice." She smirked, giving me a pointed look.

I waved as she walked towards the blond.

Bella's eyes were on me as Midnight walked away, I tuned to look at her, shrugging. She looked away. I frowned.

My vision suddenly clouded. 3. I counted as we continued to walk. 2. Class would start soon. 1. The bell for first period rung.

A loud shrieking sound that was almost deafening for a Vampire – if we could even go deaf. It was such a horrible sound.

Bella continued walking.

"See you at lunch, Bella?" Edward called after her – she ignored it. I rolled my eyes at his pathetic try.

"See you later." I quirked, with a slight wave, before striding quickly to catch up with Bella – I fell into step beside her – Edwards glare on my back.

Math was first.

Bella made no move to strike up a conversation and nor did I. I didn't want to annoy Bella into talking with me – she'd talk to me if she wanted too.

I was just content with being in her presence. Eternally an optimist, I suppose.

"My Daughter seems to like you."

Bella suddenly deadpanned; I smiled.

"I like her too."

Bella nodded. "She's not usually not one to forge lasting relationships."

I cocked an eyebrow; surprised. "Oh?" Midnight seemed like the type that would have friends – relationships – lots of them. Because you couldn't help but love her – there was just something charming about her.

Bella hummed in answer as we turned the corner into class – most of the students already there. We fell into a comfortable silence.

The chattering of the students died down to a low murmur as we walked in together – watching as we took our usual seats.

I snorted in amusement at all the extra attention I was getting.

I saw Bella's lip twitch at the sound as we sat.

Not seconds later our teacher – Mr. King – walked in; already blabbing on about Math.

He sure did love Math and I on the other hand; didn't. It was a boring subject – I zoned his ramble out.

From the corner of my eye I saw Bella do the same. I grinned; it was good to see that some things never changed.

The rest of class settled into the lecture; listening in boredom; doodling – I could also see a few students actually paying attention – the ones that liked the subject.

I settled in for a long lesson.

But before I could relax, my vision started to blur and I fell into the familiar sensation of a vision.

'Are you?' I heard myself ask. Bella's brown eyes turned to regard me curiously. 'One to forge lasting relationships, I mean?'

'No.'

I came back to reality with a disappointed sigh. Bella really wasn't the Bella I remembered; I'd known that from the moment I'd seen those ruby red eyes.

The shy and friendly girl I remembered as Bella Swan had been replaced by a cold, confident and cynical Volturi royal and there was no use in wishing for the old Bella back, or trying to change her, she was Isabella Volturi now.

Vampire Princess.

Though, deep down she was still Bella; I could see it. And I still loved her, she'd changed and she was different, but I still loved her.

I wanted to get to know her, wanted to know her; I couldn't help it.

Bella would always be Bella.

"Are you?" I asked; a sudden urge to hear the words from her overcoming me, rather then hearing the vision say it.

Bella turned, those fake brown eyes regarding me curiously. The same look she'd given me outside.

"One to forge lasting relationships, I mean?"

"No."

I'd expected the answer; but I couldn't help the disappointment that flooded though me at hearing that one definitive word.

Bella had been watching me and cocked an eyebrow. "You knew my answer, didn't you?" She asked.

I nodded.

"Then why ask?"

I shrugged one shoulder. "The future changes, once in awhile it's nice to hear the answer rather then see it."

Bella hummed, eyes flicking back to the front of the room.

"It's always nice to know." She paused. "Definitively, of course."

I nodded. Unwillingly remembering the first few months after we'd left Bella in Forks.

Not being allowed to check in, not know if she was okay, if she was safe – what she was doing. It had been horrible.

I couldn't stand being away from her, couldn't stand not knowing, but family ties had kept me away. Away from her.

And everyday I'd hated myself a little more for not having the courage to go back – to go back to her.

And it was then that I realized what'd she said.

Bella had assumed that I'd wanted to know the answer, rather then just hear it. She'd assumed that the answer was important – and she was right.

I would have blushed and I felt the sudden urge to steer the conversation to lighter grounds.

"Unless you don't want to know."

Bella looked at me blankly and I grinned.

"If you know what I mean?" I fought the urge to waggle my eyebrows impishly.

Bella's lips twitched upwards in amusement. "I have a telepathic link with my Daughter." Bella said, too low for Human ears. "I know what you mean."

I stifled a giggle. I could only imagine, a telepathic link with a perpetually teenage Daughter.

Though Midnight had told me this, it was funny to hear the implications behind Bella's voice.

Teenage hormones maybe, I could only imagine. And it was quite funny to imagine too.

Bella – once more – let her eyes flicker to the front of the room, trained on Mr. King. Making it look like she was paying attention.

But, I could see the bored, glazed look she hid so well.

I could see the flicker of crimson red behind fake brown. "Can I ask a question?" I blurted, softly, quickly, before I could stop myself.

Seems I had no self-control today.

Bella didn't look at me, though I saw her shoulders shrug, and I knew that was a greener light as any to continue.

"Do you…" I trailed off aimlessly, realizing I was going to have this conversation or lack thereof in the middle of class.

I sighed. "Do you feel anything for the people you…" I made a wild hand gesture, not wanting to say the word out loud in the same sentence as Bella.

"No."

I let out a shaky breath, one I didn't know I was holding. Once more there was that one disheartening and definitive answer.

"It bothers you." It wasn't a question. I didn't answer. "Why?"

I blinked, slightly bemused with the question. Had I heard her right? Her eyes flicked to mine – yeah, I'd heard her right.

I opened my mouth to answer her and then promptly closed it, brows furrowing – rather taken aback by the question.

How did you answer something like that? Such a simple question, three letters, yet I couldn't even begin to fathom how I'd answer it.

I bit my lip. Mulling over an appropriate way to answer her.

Mixed feelings on the matter made it hard. I finally settled on, "They're Human beings."

"And if you were a Lion, would you tell your kin they couldn't eat the Antelope because they too were living beings? Because they had feelings?"

I was left speechless.

Once more, what could I say to that? She was right. We were Vampires, and what Bella was doing was conforming to the circle of life – the food chain.

Animals felt pain too, had families, children, just like Humans. Just like Vampires.

Vampires were carnivores and our diet was blood – Human blood. Bella was just giving into that basic need, predator and prey. Though, that didn't mean I had to like it.

"I'd regret the necessity." I said slowly. "Being a vegan makes that guilt bearable."

Bella shrugged, accepting the answer. "Suppose." Her eyes locked with mine. "Though we are what we are, Alice."

"We are who we are, also." I debated, feeling like I had to justify myself to her.

"Who we are can be changed." Bella's eyes were unreadable. "What we are usually doesn't." Her lips twitched, upwards, "And I do say usually."

I didn't know weather to feel uneasy with her answer or grin. I settled on both, turning to look at Mr. King.

Bella hummed softly.