This is the beginning of the end.

AA

Chapter 25

Death

RPOV

Death should be peaceful, easy, but I wasn't at peace. My mind was whirling as I watched helplessly. Everything was happening in slow motion, I watched as the car rolled, once, twice, three times, shattered pieces of glass were everywhere. I could only watch, unable to close my eyes, horrified by the scene in front of me. I felt like an outsider, like someone sitting in the movies at the edge of my seat, gripped by the events that were beginning to unfold. I was having an out of body experience; I could see myself clearly, my body lying on the ground pinned underneath the car. The scent of blood and gas hung heavily in the air. Alec was lying a few feet away from my body, his body looked broken and he wasn't moving. There was a blood seeping out of his head and his left arm was bent at a weird angle. His face looked peaceful, happy even. My own face though, looked haunted and dead. It was strange, seeing myself lying there, seeing Alec lying there, not being able to do anything but watch. I wanted to touch him, to tell him I loved him before it was too late.

In a flash I was back in my body, and then I started screaming.

The pain was excruciating, my chest felt like it was on fire, like something was cutting into my heart, like something was breaking all the bones in my body. I struggled to keep conscious, I needed to reach Alec. I screamed again as I tried to touch him. My shoulder was on fire and I could feel myself slipping into the darkness. It was there, beckoning me to fall into it, to just let go of all the pain. But I refused, I wanted, needed, Alec.

"Alec….please…." I managed to speak but it didn't help. I knew he was gone.

5 hours earlier

"Have I told you how beautiful you are yet?" Alec asked, smiling at me. I blushed, taking his arm as he led me into the gym, where the dance was being held.

"You could stand to mention it more," I joked and he laughed, kissing my cheek. The gym looked fantastic, Alice, Rose and Angela had been slaving away all week to make it look decent and they did a pretty good job. Small, twinkling fairy lights hung from the ceiling, giving the whole place a soft glow. The dance floor was surrounded by tables in white tablecloths with beautiful glass and white rose centerpieces. White rose bushes and floating candles lined the walls; there were already couples on the dance floor, dancing to Neutronstarcollision by Muse. I could see Bella and Jacob, sitting at one of the tables, they were talking and laughing. Edward was across the room, glaring at them. Rose and Emmett were on the dance floor, enticing everyone with their killer moves.

"Hey guys," Alice said, bouncing over to us. "What do you think?" She asked, gesturing at the gym.

"It's a bit over the top," Alec said before I could answer. I glared at him but Alice just laughed, shaking her head.

"I'm glad you like it," she smiled and bounced off again, probably to find Jasper.

"Come on, I want you to meet someone," Alec said, taking my hand a leading me across the room to one of the tables. A girl with raven black hair and bright blue eyes jumped from her seat; smiling deviously at Alec she grabbed him into a tight hug. She was wearing a skin tight black dress that left little to the imagination and killer high heels, but she was still a whole lot shorter than Alec. "Hey Jelly Bean, how have you been?" Alec asked.

"Don't call me Jelly Bean, Gummy Bear," she snapped, her eyes shining with mischief.

"Jelly Bean this is Renesmee, Renesmee, Jelly Bean," he said, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Nice to meet you Renesmee, but my name is not actually Jelly Bean, its Luce," she said, holding out her hand. I smiled at her, shaking her hand. I knew exactly who she was, her reputation preceded her. She was Luce King, daughter to the very wealthy Royce King. She was known as an all round part playgirl, drunk every other night and blowing all her dad's cash the next.

"Jelly Bean here has been my partner in crime since we were diapers," Alec grinned.

"We used to steal the other kids' cookies," she laughed. "Come on, I have to tell you about the time I forced him to eat dirt," she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the table. I immediately liked her, she was so careless and free and spunky, and she reminded me a bit of Alice. I also liked the way Alec was when he was around her. I watched them tell me stories about their childhood, Alec laughing and smiling, he seemed to relax when he was around her and forget about all his troubles for a little while.

"We made a bet, I thought boys were better than girls-" Alec said.

"-And I though girls were better than boys." Luce finished. "The loser had to eat dirt."

"I would have won, but because I was such a gentleman at that young age, I let Luce win," Alec said.

"Bullshit Alec, you know I won fair and square," Luce laughed, turning back to me. "We settled our argument by playing a game of rock, paper, scissors. I won."

"No, I let you win," Alec said. I could see that this was going to go on forever, so I came up with a very bright idea.

"How about we settle this in a more mature way?" I asked, looking at both of them.

Luce raised an eyebrow. "Eenie, meenie, miny, mo?" she asked. I laughed shaking my head, looking over at the punch bowl. It was being heavily guarded by the principle and two other staff members.

"The ultimate battle of the sexes, whoever spike's the punch bowl first, wins." Luce gave me a wicked grin and Alec stared at me, his mouth hanging open.

"I don't know who you are and what you have done with Renesmee, but I love it," he grinned at me. "The rules?"

"No rules, all bets are off, this is the ultimate showdown," Luce grinned and we high fived. "Game starts in an hour." She said before grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the gym.

"We need more players," I said. "We should recruit Bella, Alice and Rose." I said as we crouched behind a large bush.

"Excellent thinking, we also need an HQ," Luce said, covertly looking around the bush.

"Girls locker room," I said as we quickly ran to the next bush.

"Alright, get your sisters, meet you in the locker room in ten," she said, saluting me before running to the next bush. I quickly ran back into the gym, surveying the crowd. Alice, Rose and Bella were all sitting around a table; the boys were nowhere to be seen. Dammit, that means that they have already started planning.

"Alice, Rose, Bella, locker room, now," I panted. I didn't even wait for a reply, I just turned around and ran to the locker room, and thank goodness I wasn't wearing heels. I burst into the locker room a few seconds later, Bella, Alice and Rose following me.

"Welcome ladies," Luce said. She was sitting cross legged on one of the benches, a black bag in front of her.

"What's going on?" Rose asked suspiciously.

"The ultimate battle of the sexes has just begun," Luce said, unzipping her bag, revealing three small bottles of vodka. "Whoever gets one of these," she pulled one out, handing it to me. "In the punch bowl first, wins and is ultimately declared the best sex in the world." Bella and Alice grinned and Rose reached for another bottle.

"So that's where the boys ran off to," she mused. "We need a plan, and a good one. One that involves cunning seduction and abduction," she grinned evilly.

"Agreed." I said. "We need to take down their players one by one, eliminate their chances of getting to the punch bowl first."

"Right, seduce them and then lock them up in the janitor's closet near the gym," Bella said. "We work as a team; we might need a little more muscle to get them locked up."

"We also need to figure out where their HQ is, it might be easier to track their movements," Alice said.

Luce nodded. "They haven't got alcohol; I snuck this out of the boy's locker room, that is their HQ."

"Good thinking Luce," Rose grinned. "We need to infiltrate their HQ."

"I'll go alone," I said. Bella was about to protest but I cut her off. "It's better if I go alone, if they catch me, you still have a chance." I said.

"She has a point," Rose said. "We need you to find out what their plan of attack is and how and when they are going to get alcohol. Can you do that?" I nodded, handing Bella my bottle.

"I shouldn't have that on me, in case the find me."

"If you don't report back in half an hour we will assume the worst and carry on without you," Luce said.

"I understand," I said. I walked out of the locker room, putting my game face on. The boys locker room was just down the hall, it was dark and scary and I kept imagining that they were lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. I crept closer to the door, opening it slowly so that it wouldn't make any noise. The lights were off in the locker room. I fumbled around in my purse for my phone, pulling it out and using it as a flashlight. I opened the door a little further and snuck in, closing it behind me. A row of lockers blocked my view of the benches; it was also the perfect hiding spot. I carefully looked around the lockers; Edward, Emmett, Alec, Jacob and Jasper were all gathered there, their backs to me. They were talking in low hushed tones. My heart was beating so fast I was worried that they might hear it. I quickly darted to the next set of lockers so that they wouldn't find me when they walked out. I crouched low, holding my breath and listening.

"…we can't go buy alcohol now; we will have to steal it back." Alec whispered.

"Edward you and Jasper are stationed near the gym entrance, which is the only way into the gym. The girls have to enter from there. We have to assume that they are just as smart, cunning and witty as we are-" I rolled my eyes "-and that they won't go in all at once. Once you see them, grab them and drag them back here, keep them prisoner until they tell you where the alcohol is." Emmett said. Who knew he was that smart?

"Jacob and Alec and I will wait for them by the girls locker room, we grab Renesmee and Rosalie when they exit." I quickly typed a text to Luce.

Boys will be waiting outside out HQ, get out now. Parking lot.

I hope that they receive it and get out, that would keep they boys busy for a while if they didn't know where our HQ was.

"That leaves Luce, Alice and Bella, the smallest players. Once Jacob, Alec and I have Rose and Renesmee under control we will join Edward and Jasper by the gym entrance and help them take down the rest. We bring them here, take the alcohol and then we spike the punch bowl." All of them laughed in evil glee and I could hear them exchanging high fives. A moment later their footsteps got closer, I tensed, holding my breath. The gym door opened and closed and I could hear their footsteps disappearing down the hall. I let out a sigh of relief and stood up. I was just about to make a break for the door when a voice emerged from the darkness.

"Hello Renesmee." I almost screamed, but Alec's hand clamped down on my mouth. He stared at me, his black eyes full of mischief as he gently pressed me against the wall, his body against my mine. He removed his hand from my mouth and placed it on my hip. He leaned closer, his mouth by my ear. "Your cell phone light gave you away," he whispered. I couldn't move, couldn't speak. I was paralyzed in his arms. "Where is the alcohol Nez?" He asked, biting my earlobe. I almost let out a small moan of pleasure, but I bit my lip.

He sighed. "If you aren't going to tell me, I'm going have to look for it myself," he said huskily. He put his hand on my thigh, his fingers playing with the hem of my dress. I almost fainted from the pleasure. He chuckled darkly, kissing my neck as his other arm wound around my waist, pulling me closer to him. He pulled away looking me in the eye before gently brushing his lips over mine. "Tell me where it is Nez," he said.

"Nice try Alec," I said, stepping on his toe, hard. He immediately let go of me and I ran out of the locker room, locking the door behind me.

"That bloody hurt! Let me out Renesmee!" He yelled, banging on the door.

I quickly took out my phone, calling Luce. "Where are you?" I asked when she picked up.

"Got your message, parking lot, get over here." I hung up, making my way to the parking lot. I found them sitting in the Volvo, the bag of alcohol safely tucked under one of the chairs. I quickly got in, telling them about the boys' plan and how Alec almost caught me.

"I locked him in the locker room. One down, four to go."

"Alright, first we need to take down Jacob and Emmett, since they are the biggest and strongest of the boys," Rose said. "We need to somehow lure them into the girls locker room."

"Use me as bait," Alice said. "I'll run past them, luring them into the locker room and you lock the door behind us." Luce nodded.

"Bella you stay behind lay down so that no one can see you and guard the loot. We'll come back after we took down Em and Jake and then we'll take down Eddie and Jasper," Rose said and Bella nodded as we all got out of the car. We made our way back to the locker room; we hid behind one of the bushes. Jacob and Emmett were nowhere to be seen. Then it clicked. Alec said that my phone light gave me away; they must have given me false information.

"It's a trap!" I yelled as Emmett, Alec, Jacob and Jasper jumped out from behind a bush, running toward us. Before I even knew what was happening Alec grabbed me around my waist, swinging me over his shoulder and carrying me back into the gym. "Let me go Alec!" I yelled but he just laughed and carried me to the middle of the dance floor, where he set me down, but he didn't let me go. His arms circled my waist, keeping me locked in his iron grip.

"It's up to Bella and Edward now," he said. I sighed, putting my arms around his neck as we began dancing to Flightless Bird from Iron and Wine. We danced for a little while before I finally managed to pluck up the courage to ask him the question I've wanted to ask him all night.

I was a quick, wet, boy, diving to deep for coins

All of your street light eyes wide on my plastic toys

Then when the cops closed the fair, I cut my long baby hair

Stole me a dog-eared map and called for you everywhere

"Should I be worried about you and Luce?" I asked. Alec looked at me a moment before he burst out laughing.

"Oh Renesmee you beautiful, smart, sexy, insecure girl, if I wanted Luce, if I even had a little bit of feelings for her, you wouldn't be the one in my arms right now," he said. "In fact I think I might be in love with you."

Have I found you

Flightless bird, jealous, weeping or lost you, American mouth

Big pill looming

"You think?" I asked. My breathing sped up as I looked into his brilliant dark eyes.

Now I'm a fat house cat

Nursing my sore, blunt tongue

Watching the warm poison rats curl through the wide fence cracks

Pissing on magazine photos

Those fishing lures thrown in the cold

And clean blood of Christ mountain stream

"I know. I am in love with you, Renesmee Cullen," he said and then he kissed me. It was the best kiss I ever had. His lips were soft against mine, the kiss wasn't rushed, and it was so soft and tender and full of love that I wanted to cry. He deepened the kiss, pulling me closer to him. I gently bit his bottom lip and he moaned, eliminating the space left between us. He slid his tongue across my bottom lip, begging for entrance, which I gladly granted. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, exploring every inch. I willingly let him, loving the feeling with every fiber of my being. He slowly pulled away, panting.

Have I found you

Flightless bird.

"Can we get out of here?" He asked. I nodded, taking his hand as he pulled me off the dance floor. He put his arm around my shoulders as he led me towards his car, opening the door for me and kissing my cheek before he got into the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"I was thinking about a romantic stroll underneath the moonlight on the beach." He winked at me and I laughed as we pulled out of the lot.

"That sounds like an excellent plan." He looked at me and smiled, leaning in to kiss me again. I smiled against his lips, quickly pulling away, but not quick enough. The headlights hit the deer in the road first, illuminating its wild and frantic eyes. Everything happened in slow motion, before I could even shout 'Alec watch out' the car made impact with the deer. The last thing I heard before blacking out was Alec, screaming my name.

Don't hate me; it's been a busy few weeks. This is the penultimate chapter. I honestly didn't plan for the story to end, it just sort of happened. When I sat down to write this chapter I wasn't thinking, 'This is the end', but then I started writing and it just happened. Rest assured, there will be an epilogue and I am planning a sequel. Let me know what you think about the sequel idea.

rynoG – If you don't like it, don't read it.

Lily – I loved reading your reviews on All the chapters! Please share your thoughts on this one. Mr. Andrew is a friend of mine in real life, don't bother with his reviews, he was just messing with me! I can't believe you tried the ketchup and knife thing! It's hilarious, I love your reviews!