Author's note: I'd like to thank everyone who has followed and favourited the story since the last chapter. Each notification makes me smile. This chapter is even longer than the previous one, so I am making longer chapters like I promised. I also tried out something new with the formatting. Please let me know if you like/dislike it, as I don't want to be annoying! Anyways, on with the story!

Alice's P.O.V.

I could barely think. I couldn't let the monster in me win. I couldn't blow our cover. What happened? Why was it so hard to run away to the mountains?

How fast did I run? She must have seen me running away. Running away impossibly fast. And...

"Welcome back. It's okay, Alice. Everything has been taken care of. Only two humans saw: Charlie and Isabella Swan. Something is peculiar about the girl... but she's human. Charlie dismissed it all as a figment of his imagination, so we shouldn't need to relocate. Not yet, at least. Why did you run away?"

That's what Carlisle is planning to say to me. But... Carlisle had changed his mind. The future had changed.

No, I won't ask her that. It could be that...but there could be any number of reasons that lead her to run off. I must not be too harsh on her. Since when did she ever disappoint us? I should trust that she'll share when she's ready to.

Ugh, why did this have to be now? Why did I have to see this? I just need to be alone. I need to think. I need to understand what makes Isabella Swan so peculiar because even the thought of that girl makes it almost impossible to think. It was almost impossible to control myself, and that shouldn't have ever happened.

"I'm going to go look for Alice."

"Are you sure that's a wise idea, Edward?"

"Of course it is, Jasper! I can read her mind. We can talk about it. We come back home. Problem solved!"

"Even a mind-reader doesn't always know what's best. You know that. You need my help."

"Yeah, yeah. You're the strategist, I get it. But do you have to brag about how awesome you are in your thoughts?"

"Yes, I do. Because I know you hear me, and I know it's effective."

"You also know how I feel about this, so please just cut it out."

Edward sighs in exasperation. "Okay, you win!"

Jasper smiles in triumph. "I rarely surrender. Do your best to remember that."

It was a warning that felt out of place.

So that means Edward and Jasper are going to come looking for me. I just have to take a deep breath and remind myself I'm in control. Because I am in control. I'm not in denial. Even if I am in denial, I'll be fine. Someone will snap me out of it. Someone is going to explain to me what makes Isabella Swan so peculiar. Someone is going to explain why I can't get that girl out of my head.

Bella's P.O.V.

But she really is gone. Was she ever realy there? Maybe she was just an illusion. A daydream. That's less heartbreaking than knowing she's real and she'll never feel the same way.

Dad blinked his eyes a few times. He rolled down the window and squinted.

"Um...Bells? Are my eyes playing tricks on me? I thought I saw a girl standing over there when we were driving up here."

I force myself to keep a neutral expression. I shake my head. Dad nods back.

"I should probably get my eyes tested soon. My eyesight isn't what it used to be. Maybe I need glasses, or something."

We were still parked. I still had my seatbelt on. I should be running into the school, but my curiousity got the best of me instead. Forks was a small town. Did we even have doctors? Or specialists? Or anything like that?

"Um, Dad? Forgive me if my question sounds kind of silly, but..."

"You're going to ask who I would see, aren't you?""

I nod, slowly. Was this a stupid question to ask?

"We aren't in the middle of nowhere, Bella. I mean, we kind of are, but we have stuff. We have a hospital. We have a few grocery stores and diners. Forks also has the most awesome police chief there is!" Dad winks at me.

A bit better than the middle of nowhere, I guess. But it still wasn't the most exciting place on Earth to live.

"I almost forgot that you have a life here."

It was all I could think of. It was all I could say. I was starting to feel the loneliness of Forks. The pouring rain around me felt fitting. This place wasn't like Phoenix. This place didn't have Mom. But I had to suck it up. It has too late to go back now. I couldn't stand to break Dad's heart either, even if we weren't that close.

"You''ll find one here, Bella. I'm sure you will. You just have to open that car door and try. I'm not the greatest at motivational speeches, but I'm here for you. I'm your Dad, and I'm going to do my best to support you."

A slight smile formed on my lips, I couldn't help it. What a sweet thing to say. "I love you, Dad!" and I reached across to give him a hug. The seatbelt stretched and came back at me. It hurt.

"I love you too, Bells. Now, go on. Make me proud, and have a good day at school."

I unbuckle my seatbelt. I grab my backpack on the floor. I open the car door.

I almost hit this guy, who is standing there awkwardly. He didn't even flinch, which is peculiar. If I was standing there I would have flinched, at the very least. Even thinking about being hit with a car door is painful. Why didn't he flinch?

He's also the guy that whispered to the daydream girl. He matters to her, somehow. It's the people we like that make us run away as fast as we can go. Unless he's just a jerk. Running away from creepy guys who invade your persnal space is also a possibility. Afterall, he's awfully close to Dad's car. So close I almost hit him with the car door.

He's staring at me. He's smiling at me. Maybe I should just run into the school and try to ignore this guy for the rest of my life.

"I'm Edward Cullen. You must be Isabella Swan. It's nice to meet you, Bella."

How does he know my name? Why is this guy standing outside my car door?

I take a deep breath, but I try to be as subtle as possible. Don't show the fear that I feel. Don't punch him. It would be a bad first impression. I can't get suspended on my first day. Remember, Forks is a small town. Gossip spreads like wildfire.

Why isn't Dad doing anything? He just made that speech about being there for me...

"Edward, what a surprise. You really shouldn't stand around in parking lots. You could get seriously injured, you know. And I have a feeling it's a bit off-putting for my daughter to almost slam the car door into you."

Not what I expected, but at least it's something. Thanks, Dad.

Now I'm going to ask the question that I'm hesitant to know the answer to. I have to know, though, so I have to ask.

"How do you know my name?"