The whole night's events were a blur for Bella, Jasper, and Alice, as they followed Bella and Carlisle's plans. The three of them took the black tinted Mercedes so Jasper and Alice would not be shimmering in the sunlight as they drove. Alice sat in the back with Bella while Jasper took the wheel. Alice and Jasper locked eyes as Bella got her seatbelt on and he knew in his heart that Alice's feelings were changing. Jasper cared for Alice and even if it was not clear to both women, their bond was deepening beyond platonic. Bella's eyes were getting dim and she needed to sleep as the sky got darker outside. She rested her head against Alice's neck and wrapped her arms around Alice's arm. Alice felt Bella's embrace and made her smile in comfort. She moved Bella's loose hair out of her face so Bella would sleep better. Alice soon focused on the window outside and her thoughts wandered. When Bella was asleep, Jasper and her had a small talk.
"Bella is sleeping, or at least trying. With everything that she had to do I thought it would be more of a struggle." Jasper commented.
A smile came across Alice's face and she asked,
"You do have a calming effect Jasper so this has to be your doing."
Jasper chuckled and shook his head.
"Nope not this time. I do feel sadness in her heart about leaving Charlie and Edward, but she has some peace to aid in her sleeping. Good thing we all agreed to have you go with her."
"Much to Edward's refusal. Bella would be right if Edward wasn't in town after her stunt to want to go home. Last thing Bella wants is Charlie reporting Bella missing and Edward being marked a kidnapper. Still, I wonder what is helping Bella to sleep and what her dreams are." Alice spoke softly.
Jasper glanced back to see just how close and tender Bella was sleeping on Alice. He found their bond cute on the surface, but he knew that his time with Alice being his was counting done. Still, with the time they had together as kindred spirits, he would treasure since above all else, Alice's happiness mattered.
Many hours had passed and Bella's eyes fluttered open as she noticed how far they had come. She recognized that they were in Phoenix and Jasper must have driven at a fast speed to make a three-day trip take only one. He didn't need to sleep or eat so that added to the time they gained with a vampire driving. The palm trees were a comfort to Bella, but she knew she needed to remain indoors since Jasper and Alice couldn't be out in the open in the daylight. The sun was setting and she wondered how long she had been asleep, though at the same time she still felt drained. The sleep Bella got wasn't so deep and still felt in a fog. Alice noticed this and checked over Bella's face with her cool and dainty hands.
"You can sleep more Bella. We know you're still in a haze from the events with the nomads. Jasper and I will be able to take you into the hotel room we will be staying."
Bella didn't argue with Alice and went back to sleep. She had vague memories when the car stopped. Alice took her arm and held Bella firmly around her wrist as she helped Bella into the room. She stole a glance at the sleeping Bella and Alice understood why Edward called Bella an angel. Soft, gentle, beautiful even if of course Bella didn't see it in herself. Jasper and Alice went into the hotel and got Bella in their room without anyone noticing. She gently placed Bella on the bed and made sure once again that there wasn't hair in her face. Alice was about to leave Bella to join Jasper in the living room, when she heard,
"Alice."
Alice thought she was hearing things and looked to Bella, who was tossing a bit in her sleep.
"Don't go Alice. Stay." Bella talked in her sleep.
Alice cracked a slight smile and shifted Bella on the bed so she could lay down next to her. Jasper entered the room and he raised an eyebrow at her. Alice shrugged and commented,
"She wants me here."
"I know, I heard her from the other room calling for you. Strange, you think it would be Edward she would be calling for…I won't tell him or think about it if you won't." Jasper expressed.
Alice nodded and Jasper had a book in his hands. He tossed it to Alice and smiled.
"Something for you to read while you babysit Bella."
"That's demeaning Jasper. This is sort of like a sleep over, although not the one I had in mind or envisioned but it will have to do for now." Alice smiled.
Jasper saw Alice lacing her hand in Bella's as Bella turned her body in her sleep. He wouldn't question it since Bella did feel safe with Alice here.
"I will order some food for when she gets up. Edward did tell her she has to eat more than we do."
Alice nodded and Jasper gave them some time alone. Alice made quick work of the book and soon had her thoughts drift as Bella slept. Such a lovely little human Edward found, a dear best friend for me Alice thought. She felt a slight pull in her heart as she watched Bella sleep, something she hadn't felt in a long time. At around three in the morning Bella started to stir and Alice could hear Bella's stomach growl softly.
"A-Alice." Bella yawned.
"I'm here Bella. It sounds like you're hungry. Jasper ordered some food for you." She responded.
"What about you, do you need to feed?" she asked.
"Jasper and I are fine Bella. You would be able to tell if we were starving. Our eyes would be black and it would be hard for us to be around you." Alice explained.
Bella nodded but when she got out of the bed, she was a bit weak and nearly tripped. Alice caught her and decided to bring her to the living room since she was clumsier when she was sleepy. Alice helped Bella out of her bedroom and into the living room where Jasper was. On the table there was a platter of French fries, a light salad, and a juicy cheeseburger. Bella's stomach growled more and got to work on the meal. Bella felt her energy return to her as she ate while Alice smiled as she joined Jasper for a bit to watch some T.V.
"Good thing I got the burger for her. She looked like she could use the red meat. Her color is returning to her face." Jasper expressed.
"Yes, and French fries are a favorite of Bella's."
Jasper chuckled and nodded.
"I know, you told me when I made the order. It's still nice she trusts us. She's calmer than I thought she would be." Jasper commented.
Alice smiled and cuddled a bit close to Jasper.
"Why wouldn't she, her best friend is here." Alice expressed with a smile.
"Yes, her best girlfriend." Jasper replied with a smile.
At first Alice didn't think much of it until he saw a slight frown on Jasper's face and it clicked to her what context he meant.
"Jas it's not like that." Alice whispered so Bella couldn't hear
"Not now but I can't deny the fact your feelings are heightened when you're both together."
Alice rolled her eyes but she did have to admit that Bella did have an effect on her. She hadn't really felt this deep a connection with anyone, let alone a human and she was going to have a future with her. It might have been odd for Edward to hold her back, but now that she and Bella were friends, nothing was going to keep them apart; not even a rogue vampire after Bella's blood.
"We're in a stressful situation Jasper and in some ways, I am feeding off a bit of Bella's emotions. It's like we are connected and as her friend, I take it as a badge of honor." Alice expressed.
"Good to hear that Edward left her in good hands even if he was stubborn about this. No matter what happens Alice, just know we will always be on good terms." Jasper told her.
Alice was confused and she wondered what he meant. Jasper took her hand and kissed it gently.
"Sometimes the best moments in our lives are what we can't see coming, Alice. Trust me, when the time comes to you in the now, you will know." Jasper advised.
Alice just nodded and just watched the T.V. mindlessly until Bella finished her meal.
"I think I'm going to lie down. You want to come and talk with me Alice. I do have a question I really want to ask."
Alice smiled and nodded. Jasper pecked her cheek before she got up to follow Bella to the room. While walking behind Bella, she did catch a glance and wondered why Bella hid her body in layers. She needed more confidence Alice thought and her eyes slowly went to Bella's ass. It was cute, perky, soft, and round...Alice realized what she was thinking and tried getting those thoughts out. No Alice she thought, what the hell am I doing she mentally cursed. Bella was Edward's she thought but she couldn't deny that Bella had just had a desirable and cute butt. She was with Jasper though and they are happy... but Bella made her feel alive.
"Alice? Are you okay?"
Alice snapped out of her thoughts and smiled.
"Y-Yes, all is fine Bella. Was there something you wanted to ask me?"
Bella bit her lip and nodded. She got onto the bed while Alice sat at the edge. She looked at the bruised wrist Edward left her and really didn't know what to think. He was protective, yes, but she had to fight him tooth and nail to go with her plan. Alice had a plan to end the hunt early to which Edward refused, she wanted to know why.
"Do you see me as a vampire someday?" Bella asked.
Alice nodded.
"I do, many futures of you as a vampire. Edward is trying to fight what will be and it annoys him."
Bella was confused. She wouldn't live forever and she for sure didn't want to age so much before Edward finally would be okay with turning her. It didn't make sense and why would it be so horrible for her to just be a vampire. Alice even suggested it and it did make sense why she should be turned and not just to get James to stop hunting her.
"How do you become a vampire?" Bella questioned.
This caught Alice off guard. Edward threatened Alice not to tell Bella about that, but Alice didn't care. It would be Bella's choice on how she wanted her life to be and she should know what the process would entitle. Besides, it would upset Alice if Bella and her were separated because of Bella's mortality.
"You have the right to know this despite Edward telling me not to tell you. You don't just get involved with a vampire and not have questions on how to become one. Plus, hearing you say that you would let me turn you made me happy, perhaps more than it should."
Bella chuckled and nodded.
"Because you want your personal Barbie for all eternity. But I'm serious, how do I become a vampire."
"Just so you know, I can tell you the theory. I don't remember my turning or have done it myself. Would you still like to hear it?"
Bella nodded.
"Okay well... vampires have venom in their fangs. It doesn't kill but it does leave prey incapacitated. If the venom is left to spread throughout the body, the transformation will take days for a human to become a vampire depending on the amount of venom in the bloodstream. The pain is immense and you would be wishing for death until your heart stops beating. The venom will heal you as it changes you from a human to a vampire. You also have to keep in mind that vampires will taste blood when we inject venom so we will be in a frenzy, especially if the blood is heavenly to us. So, you deal with vampire frenzy worrying if we will stop and immense pain from the venom during transformations." Alice explained.
Bella shuddered ever so slightly. It did sound painful, but a lifetime with Edward and Alice did seem to be worth the risk.
"Why doesn't Edward want me to be a vampire?"
Alice scoffed and expressed,
"He sees us all as monsters without souls. But if we didn't have souls, we couldn't love, could we?"
Bella smiled and nodded. Alice took Bella's hand and both women smiled at each other. Their eyes lingered on each other and Bella playfully bit her lip. It was hard to imagine but Bella felt a bit free and hadn't noticed much before, but Alice was so breathtaking, maybe more than Edward could ever be. Alice's eyes widened as she saw that James was changing course.
"Something's changed." she stated in horror.
She sped out of the room and got some papers and pens to start drawing a room in her visions. Jasper noticed Alice's erratic drawing and asked,
"Alice talk to me."
Alice continued to draw what looked to be a ballet studio. Bella recognized it as one she went to as a child in Phoenix at Fifty-Eight Street and Cactus. She informed Jasper and Alice that she couldn't understand why Alice was drawing that place.
"James is planning something, but I can't see his whole plan. He hasn't decided something important yet. You sure there's no reason you would go there Bella?" Alice asked.
Bella shook her head and continued to watch as Alice drew. Bella hoped Edward and Carlisle had a plan since she didn't want to die by James' hand. Bella couldn't bear to leave Edward or Alice to mourn for her, or perhaps even kill themselves to join her. It was strange that Edward wasn't calling but maybe he was trying hard on his plan. She missed him, but felt safe knowing at this moment, she had Alice.