Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

Chapter 15: Things We Lost in the Fire

Alice POV:

I listened as Bella's heart rate rose when I whispered in her ear. Did I make her nervous? She ignored my comment and continued her work. Oh I knew she wouldn't be making this easy for me, but I'm up for a challenge. You think it was easy to get her to go shopping with me all those times? Well it wasn't. I was in this for the long haul. I let her go back to her studies while I went back to mine. The end of the period was closing in and I knew what was coming. Sometimes it really helps being able to see the future. While I still can't see Bella's, I can see the teacher's decision to assign us a project with partners. Bella would have no choice but to spend time with me.

Bella groaned as Coach Henderson assigned us as partners for the project, I win. I tried to keep my face casual and hide my excitement as we talked the details.

"We can meet twice a week after school at my house if that's ok with you? That way we won't have to work on the weekend."

"Sure." Bella shrugged. Stay cool Alice.

"Tuesdays and Thursdays work for you?" I was focusing hard on not bouncing in my seat with glee.

"Yep. See you tomorrow." Bella said getting up just as the bell rang for the end of the day. And what a victorious day it was. I skipped over to the cars and was greeted by Rosalie.

"What has you in such a chipper mood?"

"Oh nothing." I smiled coyly. "Oh, Bella's coming to our house tomorrow after school."

"What did you do?" Rosalie asked with her eyebrows raised. "How on earth did you manage that?"

"A little this and a little that. This would be my charm of course, and that would be a partner project." Rosalie rolled her eyes and Emmett gave me a pat on the back.

"Nicely done little sis. Esme is going to have a field day when you tell her." That she would. This week was looking up, tomorrow would be a good day.

Most of Tuesday was just as boring as Monday was, but I had something to look forward to. When Gym was finally over I asked if Bella would prefer to follow us, or go home quickly first and meet after. I didn't want to be overbearing on her, I still remember how to care for my human. But she said she was fine and would just follow our cars home. I kept reminding everyone to play it cool on the ride over, but I was the only one who really needed to. I could not afford to screw this up again.

At last we were parked in front of the house and I watched Bella exit her car and grab her bag from the backseat. God she was sexy. Every movement she made had me aroused. Dammit focus Alice! I led her inside to the dining room where we could work. She took out her notes and got set up soundlessly. We worked in silence for a good 15 minutes before I decided to make some light conversation.

"So… when did you get your Audi?" Yeah that was good, simple enough.

"Hm?" She looked up at me confused. "Oh when I got back to Forks." Alright, let's steer clear of that topic Alice, go another route.

"It's a good model. They run pretty fast and smooth."

"Yeah she does."

"You call it a she?" I giggled. Bella was never really into cars like that.

"Well yeah I guess." She scratched her head and went back to the project. If I didn't know any better I would say she was embarrassed. In fact I saw a little bit of a blush creeping up her neck. I went to take a deep breath to inhale her delicious scent that I had missed so much, but it had changed. It wasn't bad or anything, actually it smelled wonderfully delightful, it just didn't appeal to me in a feeding sort of way. That's strange.

"You have good taste in music." I blurted out like an idiot. Nice going Alice.

"What?" She asked confusedly.

"Um, it's just sometimes I can hear your earbuds between classes or when you get out of your car. You have really good taste in music. I like it." God this is getting creepier by the second. Now she knows you're spying on her while she's not looking.

"Uh thanks I guess."

"What's your favorite song?"

"Ok Alice I thought we were working on a project here? Not playing twenty questions."

"Right. You're right I'm sorry." I shut up and we worked the rest of the time without any side conversation. After about an hour we called it a day and she went to head home. Esme couldn't stand not seeing Bella anymore and made her way out of the living room, where she was quietly listening.

"Are you sure I can't get you anything before you leave dear?" She was such a mother.

"No thank you Mrs. Cullen. I'll see you tomorrow Alice." Bella said politely and nodded in my direction before leaving. I could feel Esme's hurt when Bella called her 'Mrs. Cullen'. She didn't think of her as a mother anymore. I guess that made sense, she left her too.

Thursday moved similarly to Tuesday. I could tell Bella was tense around me, but it was getting better. I hoped by the end of the five week project she would be comfortable enough for me to try and befriend her again. I decided to be bold on Saturday morning and go over to her house to ask her if she wanted to go shopping with me. I knew the answer would most likely be a no, but I wanted her to know I was trying. It was about 10 in the morning when I knocked on her door. The door opened up to reveal the last person I wanted to see, Jacob fucking Black.

"What are you doing here?" I growled at him. He ruined my perfectly good day. Jacob crossed his arms and leaned casually against the doorway.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" He smiled at me with swagger. Ignore him Alice, this is just what he wants.

"Is Bella here?" I tried to keep my voice as calm as possible. His stupid wolf stench was making me sick. The only thing making me feel worse was the fact that he reeked of sex.

"She just left. She'll be back by Tuesday."

"By Tuesday? Where did she go?" Bella was never one to take weekend trips. Where could she possibly go?

"Aren't we full of questions this morning?" Now he was just taunting me.

"Ugh fine I'll leave. Just tell her I called ok?"

"Sure thing short stuff." That Jacob sure knows how to push my buttons. I balled my hands into fists and ground my teeth till I made it back home. I was in too foul a mood to go shopping anymore. I could always rip another clearing of trees down like I did last weekend when I found out for myself that Bella was having sex with that stupid fucking mutt. Praying for a day that I get to kill him. Taking my Bella's innocence. She was mine. It was stirring something very primal in me, but I didn't want Bella to think of me as some monster.

I stayed in my room pretty much until Monday, only leaving to hunt. Monday was shitty without the hope of seeing Bella to brighten my day. Having a mate who doesn't like you back really sucks. On Tuesday morning Bella showed up and she look absolutely exhausted, dead on her feet.

"I can feel her!" Jasper jumped in surprise. He was finally getting used to not being able to read or manipulate Bella's emotions. "God she's fucking drained." Jasper never cursed. I saw him slump against the car with the weight of her tiredness flowing through him.

"Well stop focusing on her idiot." Rosalie scoffed at him.

"I can't." He said strained. "Her emotions are too powerful. I don't think I can be here." That's strange. No one's ever affected Jasper like that before. The rest of us shrugged and went to class as Jasper drove home. The day was uneventful for the most part. Bella was still rundown looking all through gym. She was still top of the class though, I swear that girl needs to stop hanging with Jacob and his beefy wolf friends. Although she is really fucking sexy when she's beating everyone in push-ups and sit-ups. Emmett has had to hit me a few times to stop me from drooling. The things that girl does do me.

She looked so tired that I asked her if we were still on for the day to meet after school. She replied with a yes, like I was a moron for being concerned about her. I'll always be concerned about her though. We barley talked while we worked, and I couldn't take much more of it.

"Where did you go this weekend?" Oh great Alice. You're starting off with an intrusive question? God you are an idiot.

"Out of town."

"Ok." Different subject Alice. Different subject. "So are you and Jacob Black dating or something?" I really hate myself sometimes.

"Um," she blushed slightly looking up at me, "do you really wanna talk about this? I mean, I kind of dated your brother…"

"Right. Sorry." That's right. I'll always be her ex-boyfriend's sister. I felt my anger rise at this realization and blurted "I just never saw you as the type who would have sex without being in love with someone." Oh shit.

"Excuse me?" I heard her heartbeat raise at my outburst.

"No I'm sorry! I didn't mean-"

"No I think you did. I think you meant exactly what you said." She got up and put her things back into her bag and went to leave.

"No! Wait Bella I'm sorry! I really didn't mean it! It's just my stupid vampire hatred against him. I really didn't mean to take it out on you." I was begging at this point. "I'm trying to get to know you I really am! It's just hard when you're making decisions that you would have never made before." Oh no. I'm out of control.

"Well then just stop trying Alice!" She turned to face me as I caught up with her in front of the door. Her face was red with rage and she was shaking. "It didn't seem that hard for you to stop trying before! And I don't give a shit what you think of my decisions anymore, you don't make them for me. I can do whatever the fuck I want without your stupid fucking judgement. So please stop acting like you care, cause I know you don't! If you really cared, you would have never left." She turned on her heel and stormed out.

So much for not screwing it up this time Alice.

A/N: Oh Alice. We need to work on that self control now don't we? Chapter was named after Bastille's song. Next chapter: what will Alice do to fix this? Can she? They still haven't even discussed Alice's departure yet. Hmmmmmm