Rain: And I am back with a brand new chapter! As I mentioned, this chapter will deal with Alice and Bella so sit back, relax and enjoy!

Mario: Here we go!

The Crimson Eyed Drifter: Distance between Hearts
Chapter Seven

Cullen House
Alice Cullen

It's funny how life works sometimes.

One minute, you think you hate someone then that one minute you click, the two of you become best friends.

This was the relationship between me and Peter Whitlock.

When Jasper and I first met in that diner so long ago, he told me about how Peter and Charlotte had saved him from the darkness of all that Maria forced him into, and when I met the two of them, Charlotte and I were very close but Peter and I were at odds.

He couldn't stand me and I couldn't stand him and anytime we met up, the two of us would bicker constantly.

Whether from clothing styles to our abilities to even Jasper himself, we almost came to blows many times but then during one night, we both strangely bonded over our relationship with Jasper and then we became best friends.

We talked quite often and even though Jasper and I are no longer together, I doubt I could leave Peter and Charlotte alone.

So the moment I heard "Life is a highway" ringing on my phone, I quickly picked it up and his voice immediately asked, "So how is she?"

"What? I don't deserve a "Hello" anymore?" I asked cheekily, causing a laugh to leave his lips.

"Well sorry Pixie Stick. Hi, how are you?" He responded with an exaggerated southern drawl, which made me roll my eyes.

It was this that made me realize, once again, that Jasper and Peter were definitely brothers and it made me adore them more.

"I'm fine Peter," I responded curtly but then the two of us dissolved into a small bout of laughter before I said "It seems Edward finally went through with breaking up with her. I saw a vision of Esme holding Bella an hour ago and I just saw him drive off with a suitcase."

"I see...She'll need your help when she gets there…" Peter said, his voice drifting off.

I hummed in response then added "Of course. I will say that you've yet to tell me how you're going to get Jasper to realize who his mate is. Do you enjoy keeping me in the dark?"

Peter laughed softly and said "That is going to deal with a lot of patience and maybe a fight between him and I but I'll figure out. Or I will try to."

I laughed at this and said, "Understood..." It was then I heard the door open and heard Esme and Bella talking but it didn't sound like a good conversation. It sounded that Bella was really upset. "Looks like she's here so I should go but…Before I go…How is he?"

I won't lie but despite the fact I knew Jasper and I weren't mates, I do miss his presence. He is my best friend and we've been together for so long…I didn't realize how much I relied on him being by my side until he was gone.

My emotions are usually all over the place and he was the one to keep me ground, with and without his abilities and just knowing he was there to listen to me when I was stressed out or upset with something stupid, he would just listen and give me advice, whether I liked it or not…

He's going to make Bella very happy when they both realize it.

"He's happy that he's with us but that sadness is there. He misses you all but I do see that there is a bit of confusion on his face. Seems he doesn't get why but we both know…Hehehe," Peter responded with a hint of a cackle.

I rolled my eyes and replied "Take care of him…And let him know…I miss him and that I will take care of her until he returns."

Peter could tell I was a bit upset because he suddenly said "I will…All the jokes I can tell and the annoying things I can do aren't going to stop the pain…But know that Char and I will be here for you. Ok?"

I smiled genuinely at his words and said "I know Peter…Thank you…I know there is a mate for me out there. Who knows, maybe he'll be right in this very town."

Peter hummed in agreement and said "Go take care of her. Tell her to check her phone too…See you later Pixie."

"Later Peter…" I whispered gently before hanging up.

But if my true mate is out there…I wish I could see him in my visions…

Enough of that for now…I need to go see Bella.

Cullen Household
Bella Swan

This has been the worst month I have ever experienced.

I mean, what else can I say about it?

My heart has been broken in rapid succession and for two different reasons.

Jasper had sacrificed his family for me to have them after a birthday party I didn't even want.

Then, Edward breaks up with me and reveals that he had a more insidious way to leave me after hinting that Jasper and I were cheating behind his and Alice's back and it made me sick to my stomach.

But the thing I realize after Esme drove me back here was that I wasn't upset about Edward breaking up with me. I was upset that he ruined a friendship that could have come after he broke up with me.

Because deep down, I knew that if we were to ever break up, I'd still want him in my life because he was a great guy.

He was my first boyfriend and he gave me his family that loves me and that I love as well but he was so immature and hurtful about the way he was going to break up with me that caused me to distrust him and kind of hate him.

What could have been an easy breakup and a way to keep him in my life as a friend has now ended up with me never wanting to see him again because I can't have someone willing to hurt me that way stick around in my life.

But now what do I do?

Edward, the person I thought was my mate, broke up with me and with Edward breaking up with me, my chance at being a vampire is gone.

I don't know what else to do…I don't want to part with my family but with my only link to being part of their world gone…I don't know what to do…Am I going to get to be with them?

"Bella sweetheart, are you ok?"

My eyes looked up into Esme's golden-colored ones and I tried to offer up a smile but it quickly crumbled into a frown. "Not really…" I responded softly as I lowered my head, keeping my eyes away from glancing at the concerned look of Esme.

Just then, I saw Alice coming down the steps and when she got down to see us, I tried to offer up a smile but Alice frowned.

She must see how much of a mess I am.

"Hi mom, Hi Bella," Alice chirped out, a small smile on her face. "I saw what happened between you and Edward. I tried to call you to tell you but you didn't answer," she told me.

I quickly looked into my pocket and saw two missed calls along with a text message from a number that I had never seen before.

I put my phone away and looked at her and said "It's ok…It was bound to happen honestly, considering his plan…Where is the a...I mean jerkwad anyways?"

I saw Esme smile in approval at my lack of swearing while Alice giggled at it before she responded with "He left. Just a little while ago."

I blinked in surprise and asked, "Will he be back?"

Alice shook her head and replied "He packed a bag and left. I don't know when he'll be back…"

Stunned…

I…

What the hell is wrong with me?

This is the second person in my life that left…

Am I really worth them losing any more of their family?

"…They know, as well as I do, that I am not worth it…You are…"

Jasper…

"Damn it," I hissed out as tears welled up in my eyes. "Ever since Jasper left, more people just keep walking away…Him…Edward…Who else?!" I shouted before I lowered my head into my arms and cried out, "Jasper said I was worth it, and yet…Your family is getting smaller…Am I truly worth all of this?"

I could feel a pair of arms wrap around me and that was when I heard Alice's voice in my ear. "You are my sister…You are more worth it than anything else in this world…"

My eyes widened and more tears began to fall when Alice said those words but then I realized something…Something that I had forgotten in my week or so out of it.

Jasper was her mate…

Her mate was gone because of me…And here I was clinging to his words as if they were the gospel and wishing for him to come back to me.

"You shouldn't say that to me, Alice…Not you…" I said softly while I leaned my head up to look at her surprised face. "Your mate is gone because of me…He left and here I am mourning him as if he was mine…You should hate me…All of you should for ruining this family."

It was then that I noticed that Esme had left the room, figuring that this was a private convo for me and Alice.

Alice stared at me for one moment before she moved away and began to undo the buttons on her shirt.

"Alice …" I started but Alice shook her head.

"You need to see this," Alice continued as she shrugged off her shirt to reveal her bra-covered chest. I blushed a bit at the sight of my friend without her shirt but then she turned her around so her back was to me and said "Bella, come here," with a tone I have never heard before from her.

I obeyed her command and walked up to her until I was standing in front of her back and that was when she said "Look at the left side of the crook in my neck."

I looked and noticed that it was bare.

Confused at what I was looking at, I asked "What am I doing?"

Just then, Rosalie came walking into the room with a peaceful expression on her face and that was when she saw Alice sans the shirt.

"Um…Ali," Rosalie started. "What are you doing?"

"I'm showing Bella something," Alice replied before I noticed a small grin on her face before she asked, "Mind taking off your shirt?"

If Rosalie could have blushed, she would have because she instantly looked away from us and asked "W-Why would I do that?"

Alice rolled her eyes and answered, "To show Bella something very important."

Rosalie looked very unsure about this before her eyes flashed to me then back at Alice and that was when she said "V-very well…It must be important if you're asking me to do something like this…"

Alice beamed at Rosalie and quickly pulled Rosalie to stand right beside her. Rosalie unbuttoned her shirt as well and slide it down just so her bare shoulders were showing, which made me realize why she was a bit hesitant.

She wasn't wearing a bra.

My face flushed further when Alice said "Now look at the exact spot I told you to look at on me." Rosalie turned to Alice with a confused, yet alarmed look but Alice shot her a look.

"The crook of her neck, the left side," Alice told me, in case I forgot, and truthfully, I did. It's not often you're standing in front of two beautiful vampires, one shirtless and the other bra-less.

I did as Alice told me to and when I did, I saw what looked like a bit mark on the crook of her neck.

I then looked back at Alice and saw the bare neck.

"You see Bella…When mates find each other as vampires, we mark one another when we share our bed for the first time," Alice explained softly. "Sometimes, vampires do this with their human mates as well but that comes with a small risk…"

Slowly, the dots were coming together but I still had to ask "When did you and Jasper meet?"

"When we were vampires," Alice responded softly.

Rosalie seemed to realize what was going on as well because she smirked at me and said "I see…You're starting to realize that Jasper and Alice aren't mates."

I turned to Alice and saw a sad grin on her face as she said "There were times I wished we were but in the end, we aren't mates. We both knew it from the moment we met but we were companions…best friends until the end of our existence…So it's ok for you to long for him Bella…"

I took a step back and leaned against the table and said "But why do I long for him? That is the question…"

"And it is one you will find out," Rosalie stated before she said, "And when you, you and I need to talk, ok?" I nodded at this and Rosalie then turned to Alice and said "And you need to find a more tactful way of asking someone to take their shirt off," before she walked off.

But funny enough, despite the weirdness, I felt better knowing that Alice wasn't Jasper's mate…But it didn't change the fact that he was still gone and the family that I love has lost two sons because of me.

As if she read my mind, Alice wrapped her arms around my shoulders and placed her chin against my right shoulder, and said, "You need to know something, the two of them didn't have to leave but it was something that needed to be done."

I turned around to face her but remained in her arms as she placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and murmured "You can't blame yourself for them leaving. The best thing you can do for them both is just to be happy. They will be back and while one of them you can't wait to see, the other has a lot of growing up to do before he returns."

I nodded at this and leaned my head against her chest and slipped my arms around her waist as I whispered "Thanks, Ali…"

Alice smiled and replied, "Anytime."

I then heard a small sound come from behind us and there was Emmett, trying her best not to be super perverted about what he saw but he failed when he asked "So…You finally seduced her, eh Bella?"

Rain: Now I was going to have a Jasper chapter but for what I got planned, he needed his very own chapter so that is all there is. Until next time!

Mario: See you next time!