A/N: Yeah, I know this was short but good chapters coming up soon! Promise! Sorry this took so long to get up, I had like 5 major tests in the past 2 weeks. Sucks! Enjoy this semi-short chapter!

Chapter Twenty-Five:

It's time

I Can Barely Say by: The Fray

I woke up like every other morning for the past few weeks, groggily trying to figure out where I was, but then remembering I was in my room. I rubbed my sleep-crusted eyes and let my arms fall to my side, my eyes wandering up to the ceiling. Turning onto my side towards the wall, I pulled the blanket all the way up, protecting my body from the cold air. Why the hell wasn't the heater on? I wasn't even out of bed yet and I knew this morning would be the same as all the others. I would go down to the kitchen to find the guys eating a huge breakfast, because their 'practice' had been going on for x amount of hours. Normal people would hear the word practice and think of football or soccer. But no, my boyfriend was training to fight vampires. Was it so wrong with me being bothered by it? I didn't think so, but how was Emily so calm with this? Taking me out of my thoughts, my phone began ringing on my bedside table. Debating whether to grab it or not, I rolled over and sat up, staring at the object.

"Hello?" Reluctantly, I picked it up, forgetting to check the caller ID.

"And how are you today?" Rikki asked.

"Fine." I lied, raking my fingers through my hair.

"Oh gosh, did I wake you up? What time is it there? I'm always bad with this."

"No, it's fine, I um, I was up."

"You don't sound so sure…uh oh, oh Ari, were you over thinking this again?"

"Possibly." I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"I thought we talked about this." Rikki said. She knew, I told her, Emma, and Cleo about what Jacob and my brother were hiding from me.

"We did. I know." I stopped, closing my eyes. "It has to be done." My breaths were shaky.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked quietly. Rikki wasn't the best with trying to cheer someone, even a friend, up. She didn't know how to, and she knew I knew that she didn't. If anything, I'd go to Cleo for help with it.

"No."

"Don't take this the wrong way or anything, because you're my best friend, but I think you need to talk to someone. And that someone should be this girl whose dating this vampire guy at your school."

"Bella?"

"Ah, that's the one." She realized.

"Rikki, I don't think so."

"Hey, I'm just trying to help. I hate hearing you this upset."

"Thanks Rikki, it's just—"

"Complicated, I get it." She sighed.

"Speaking of complicated, any sign of Charlotte yet?" I asked, playing with the fabric of my shirt.

"If there was I would have called you."

"I figured. I guess she just went off somewhere, I thought she'd be home by now."

"I at least thought she'd be harassing Lewis! I'm quite surprised."

"Me too."

"Hey, I think my dad's coming. He's gonna kill me for still being up. Call you later, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, go to sleep. We'll talk later."

"Bye." She whispered, and hung up. I sat there a good minute, staring at the blank phone screen.

Downstairs, I held a piping hot ceramic mug in my hand. It was filled with Emily's delicious homemade hot chocolate. Outside, the guys were fighting each other. I watched as Jacob threw a punch at Sam, who blocked it and flipped Jacob over. He landed on the ground with a loud thump, his friends laughed at him. Anger filling his emotions, he got up and pushed Jared to the ground. Though I couldn't hear a word any of them were saying, I could tell they were all fighting. And Jacob was agitated. He stormed away from the guys and towards the house. I shook my head and looked down to my drink, heating it up a little bit.

"Oh, you're up. I came upstairs earlier and you were asleep. I figured I shouldn't have woken you up."

"That was very smart of you to do." A fake smile tugged at my lips. He smiled a little bit and walked over to me.

"But, morning." I added right before he kissed me.

"When did you get up?" He walked over to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of Gatorade from the top shelf.

"Not to long ago. I got a call from Rikki, so we talked."

"Oh, what'd she want?" He asked, taking a sip of the red liquid. I hadn't told Jacob how depressed I was over this war. I couldn't be a liability—him worrying too much about how I was feeling and not thinking for himself.

"Oh, nothing, just checking in. How was practice?" I took a sip of my drink.

"Sam's killing us, but that's besides the point." He shook his head, letting out a deep breath. Giving him a quick sympathetic smile, I walked over to the sink and gently put my mug in it.

"Well, I doubt he'll lighten up any time soon."

"Where are you going?" Jacob asked, noticing that I was slowly backing out of the room.

"Bath. Good luck with Sam." I nodded my head and walked up to my room.

"Hey, Ariana." He stopped me. I turned on my heel, looking at him with a straight face.

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" He crossed his muscular arms over his chest.

"Just as okay as I'll ever be." My lips formed a line, and I finally walked out. I didn't want to talk with him about this.

The entire time I was in the bath, I had been thinking about what Rikki said. How I should talk to Bella about this. Rikki thought that it would help me get out of this black hole called depression. Bella was going through the same thing as me; she would feel exactly what I was feeling. Rikki was right; I had to go see her. Walking down the stairs and into the living room, I quietly made my way to the door. At the end of the hall, I could spot the keys to Sam's car. Maybe, since Sam was out back and Emily was upstairs sleeping, I could take the car and neither of them would find out. I didn't have my license yet, but I did know how to drive. Sam had given me lessons multiple times. He figured I couldn't go walking or swimming everywhere, so I had to get my license eventually.

"And where do you think you're going?" Sam asked, coming out of nowhere. I jumped, gasping quietly.

"I was going to my friend Jessica's house." I lied. My real destination was the Cullen's.

"Okay…" He skeptically answered.

"I was thinking, Jessica's house is a pretty far walk. Would you mind if I took your car?"

"Ariana…" His thick brows rose.

"It's not to far from here. And besides, it looks like it's going to rain. And we both know I can't walk with a tail. We're just hanging out at her house, I won't kill anyone."

"Are you going to speed?"

"I don't plan on dying today if that's what you mean."

"Promise you won't get caught?"

"Swear."

"Fine." He dug into his pocket and threw the spare key into my hands.

"Thanks Sam."

Driving by myself for the first time was scary and lonely. But, I had the radio to keep my company. I directed Sam's truck into the Cullen's drive way. I knew I wasn't supposed to be here, but Bella's father, Chief Swan, said that she would be here. She was always here. Outside the modern look house, complete with multiple sets of glass walls, there were multiple cars: a silver Volvo, a black jeep, and Bella's old orange Chevy. The large garage was left open, revealing a black S55 series Mercedes, a bright yellow Porsche, and a fire truck red Mercedes convertible. Wow, these people had a lot of money. Of course they did, they've been alive for hundreds of years. They had more than enough time to earn it. I shut the door to the car and reluctantly walked to the front door and knocked on it. Moments later, it was open, by the short pixie like girl named Alice. As always, she was dressed fashionably, even for just staying at home.

"Ariana? Hi!" She happily greeted. Was she ever not happy?

"Hi," I sounded depressed I needed to change my tone, "Is Bella here?"

"Yeah…come in." She became serious.

"Alice, who's here?" The blonde vampire walked in and stopped when she saw me.

"Okay, who let the dog's chew toy in?" She put her perfectly manicured hands on her hips. If I wasn't so upset right now, I'd make a come back.

"Bella's upstairs in Edwards room. I can show you if you want." She ignored her sister's comment.

"Yeah, that'd be helpful." Alice led me up the stairs and onto the second floor.

"I think I know why you're here." Alice piped up, breaking the silence between us. I didn't answer, I looked up to her. "It's about this war that's going on, isn't it?"

"Is that some vampire power? How'd you know?" She giggled and shook her head.

"No, that's Edward's power." She chuckled, "I can see into the future. It's quite impressive actually," she flashed me a smile, but it faded, "but I knew because it's obvious. Even if you're acting similar to Bella, I'm sure anyone in your situation would be freaking out. I know I am." Alice shrugged.

"You?"

"Yes me. You know, even if we're vampires, we still have human emotions. I'm scared probably just as much as you are. If anyone in my family was to get hurt, I don't know what I would do. And if Jasper would happen to get hurt, I think I'd die right then and there. I love him to much to let him get hurt."

"So what are you doing about it?"

"Nothing. I trust Jasper, I know—I hope he'll be okay. Here, I'm taking up your time with Bella, I should get going." She took a step backwards in her five inch high Valentino heels.

"Wait—Alice." I stopped her, "do you want to stay and talk with Bella and I? We're all going through the same thing, so it might make sense if we go through it together."

"That'd be perfect." Alice's happy smile made the room brighter.

Awkwardly walking over to Edward's room, I could hear the sound of piano music and Bella's light talking. I stopped right in front of the door and found them both cuddling up against each other on the chaise lounge. Edward laughed, and then both their eyes met mine.

"Hi…" I pursed my lips, awkwardly not knowing what to say, "can I talk to you?" I referred to Bella. The pale brunette nodded her head, and Edward left the room. I made my way into the room first then Alice followed.

"What's going on?" She began nervously playing with her plaid shirt. Her eyes shifted from Alice to me, then back again.

"I wanted to talk about this war that's been going on between my brothers pack and you guys."

"Did Jacob put you up to this?"

"Jake didn't put me up to anything. They don't even know I'm here right now, I'm supposedly watching movies at Jessica's."

"Then what is this about?"

"I don't get how you're dealing with this. Aren't you upset about knowing what's going to happen?"

"Yes." She murmured.

"Bella, I know we have our differences, and we're dating two supernatural creatures that are sworn enemies to each other, but, god I can't believe I'm saying this, I need to talk to someone. This is killing me inside."

"You're not alone."

"Same here." Alice smiled.

"Do you guys know how a werewolf could get killed?"

"They have to be bitten by a vampire." Bella answered.

"How do you know that?"

"Jake told me."

"What else did he say?"

"Not much. Barely anything in fact."

"How are you dealing knowing Edward's going into this war, whatever this thing is, and could possibly get hurt?"

"That's the thing, Edward's not going. He's staying with me in the mountains."

"The mountains? What are you talking about?"

"Bella's not allowed to stay here or her house because they can easily get her outside and in a blink of an eye, Victoria will have her. We have to keep her in a hidden spot where Victoria and her baby army can't find her." Alice answered.

"You mean there's ways they can lure you outside so they can kill you?"

"Yes." Alice's golden eyes trailed down to the fabric of the seat.

"This is all to much." I sighed.

"We can keep you and Emily safe, but you have to tell us something first."

"Like?" I looked curiously at Alice.

"Tell us everything that happened when you ran in with Victoria." She practically begged. I closed my eyes and let out a breath I was holding. My eyes flickered back open and they altered over to Bella.

"I'm assuming they told you."

"Part fish?"

"Yet another to add to the list." I rolled my eyes.

"Did you fight Victoria off or not?" Alice asked, growing inpatient.

"Kind of. I stalled her and I ran."
"That's all we need."

"For what?" I cocked my head.

"Victoria is after both of you, am I right? So there's got to be some way to protect both of you." Alice began. Bella and I looked at each other nervously.

"So you really don't remember anything at all?" I asked Alice, who had just finished telling us about her family's history as vampires. She ended with her story, which was short since she didn't remember anything of her past life.

"Nothing. It's weird too. Sometimes I can get these weird flash backs but they make no sense. I don't even look like myself, my hair was light brown and down to my waist." She smiled, looking out the window and into the forest.

"What about you? How was life in Australia? Of all the places I've gone in my life, Australia was never one of them."

"How are you even allowed into the sunlight? I thought vampires burned up or something like that."

"Not without this adorable yet completely crucial accessory." She smiled, waving her fingers in my face. A lapis lazuli crystal sat on top of decorative silver.

"That's awesome. I wish we had one of those that protected us from water."

"Their quite helpful, I don't know what I'd d—" Alice stopped mid sentence. Her eyes were focused on the outside, but she kept still.

"Alice?" Bella put her hand on Alice's knee. She didn't move. Her lips were parted, as if she was frozen.

"Alice!" Bella shook her leg.

"What's going on?" I alerted.

"She's having a vision." Bella's eyes never left Alice's face. Moments later, she gasped and her eyes blinked a few times.

"Alice, what's going on?" Bella asked.

"Oh my God." She whispered.

"What?" I looked at Bella, beginning to freak out.

"Carlisle!" She yelled. In seconds, the whole family was upstairs.

"What's going on?" The young doctor, the father of the group, walked in and walked beside Alice.

"It's time." She replied quietly.