Author's Note: I'm going to try and follow my first reviewer's suggestion of longer chapters. I know that my last two have reached over 1000 words but I'm going to set a goal for myself to make each new chapter at least 2000 words. I would also like to apologize for the delay in updating. I will try to update frequently, but unfortunately life has a tendancy to get busy and in the way. That said, I'm in love with this story and want to do it justice. I have every intention of finshing it eventually and I promise not to leave people waiting forever. As always, I'd like to thank my readers, reviewers favourites, and followers. Now, on to the story!

Bella

Edward strolls up to the massive two doors at the entrance. It gives this unexpected and intimidating feel to what should be a cozy small town high school. "Hey Edward, how big is this school, exactly?"

He pushes through the door and waits for me. Then, after a few steps forward into the school itself, he decides to answer me.

"I don't have an exact answer to such a vague question. If you mean the amount of square feet or the exact number of students, maybe you should ask someone at the office. They might know."

Edward has a point. Why should I expect some random guy to know all these oddly specific details? Most people don't care about that sort of thing. I do, but... focus. I'm walking the hallways of an unfamiliar environment. I can't sleepwalk through these valuable directions and get lost later. I have to pay attention.

A flurry of colour on the one wall in the corner catches my eye. There are pictures I can hardly make out. Bunches upon bunches of flowers.

"What's that, over there?" I can't help it. Curiousity always gets the best of me.

Edward looks at me solemnly. "All of this is a memorial to Rachel Black. She was murdered recently, and the whole school's been greiving. Obviously, her older brother Jacob is taking this the worst. He hasn't been to school in weeks."

Rachel and Jacob Black? I felt like a truck had hit me, then and there. I know these people. And I didn't know. Why didn't I know? Dad should have told me this stuff, but he didn't. Why? I felt like crumbling to my knees. Instead, I just freeze on the spot. I can't move. I can barely think. All I can do is feel these overwhelming emotions.

"Isabella, are you okay?"

I take several deep breaths. Finally, I manage to force myself to say: "No, I'm not." I'm not okay. How could I be okay?

Edward stares at me anxiously.

"Did you know the Blacks?"

Tears run down my cheeks. I just can't keep it in anymore. I'm in the middle of a high school hallway, and I'm standing here sobbing. On my first day of school, no less. I'm absolutely embarrassed that this is happening, and then I'm mad at myself. Why do I keep thinking about myself and being so selfish? Rachel Black is dead and I didn't even know. How could I think about anything else?

Edward stares at me. He probably doesn't have any idea how to help. How could he?

"Isabella, we have a school social worker. Do you want me to go get her?"

I still can't move. I still can't speak. I don't know if anything or anyone can help fix this. Murder? How could someone take the life of such an angel? How dare they. Are they still out there? Why didn't I know?

"I'm going to go to the office. I''ll try to get help ASAP, okay?"

I didn't want him to leave, but I didn't want him to stay either. Maybe the office would just call Dad. Dad could give answers, couldn't he? He's the police chief, he has to know what happened. He wouldn't spare a moment if there was injustice surrounding us. But she's still gone. I never got to say goodbye. How could she be dead? How could she be dead? How could she be dead? I can't take it, and I fall to the floor.

I hear steps footsteps coming towards me. A young woman, probably in her mid-thirties, walking with Edward. I overhear their words. How could I not? It's not like they are even trying to hide the fact that they are talking about me.

"Miss Green, she's over there. I'm not sure why she's crying. I think she knew the Blacks somehow."

Then I see her smile and even though I hate everything about this, she seems so warm and welcoming at the same time. "Isabella Swan, I'm Miss Green. I'm the school social worker. Usually, we go through a refferal process, but I think can both agree that these are special circumstances?"

I still have tears running down my face, albeit much more slower. I feel like I'm on fire and it's painful to cry what's left. It takes forever to move even a tiny bit, but I finally force myself to nod.

"I think it would be for the best if we went to my office. That way, we can talk more privately." Miss Green stops looking at me and turns her attention to Edward. He obviously gets the message, as he leaves without the slightest hesitation.

"I... I can't move. It's like I'm frozen."

"You're probably in shock, dear. Or overwhelmed. I'm not sure, because I'm not you, but I'm hoping that maybe we''ll be able to figure out a plan, maybe work through some things together, help you cope. But right now, we need to focus on the present. I'm not saying it's easy and it might feel like one of the hardest things to do right now, but you should try your best to stand up. Take one step after another. Do you think you can do that?"

I gulped. I wanted to say no, it was impossible, but I didn't know what Miss Green would say to that. I didn't want t disapoint her, or disappoint myself. I honestly wanted to try my best. Even though it seemed like it should be easy, Miss Green was right. This was hard. This was shocking and overwhelming. And even though I'm not really the touchy-feely type, maybe Miss Green will be able to help me. Because it feels like I'm frozen in time and I can't believe that Rachel is dead and I am supposed to deal with all of this somehow. I'm not sure how.

I force myself, with all of my will-power, to just stand up. It's hard as ever to just keep standing. I feel like I'm constantly about to fall. Why is this so hard? I'm just trying to stand up. But I keep thinking of Rachel... all these unanswered questions and all this anger and sadness and pain... it makes me feel like I should just stay on the floor. This isn't Phoenix. This is Forks. How could something so tragic happen here? In a safe town in the middle of nowhere? When my Dad is the police chief and nothing goes unnoticed? How could such a sweet, innocent girl that was the only girl willing to open up to a shy and an awkward girl like me when I was only here during summers and was so lonely and desperate for a friend... how could someone who lives sunshine and warmth and positivity be gone? How could the world be that cruel of a place?

I choke back tears. I somehow manage to keep standing, even though I feel absolutely awful. Stay in the present, take one step after another. Just one step. Then another step. Another step after that. I'm doing it, even though it's hard. It's mentally exhausting, as well. I just want all of this to stop. I want to go home with Dad and find out that this is just some prank or something, even though that doesn't make any sense at all. I want answers, because Edward did not fill in all these terrible blanks in my mind and I need to know.

"You're doing great, sweetie" Miss Green says. 'Sweetie' reminds me of Mom. The text she sent this morning but seems like ages ago.

First day of school! Excited, sweetie? Let me know how everything goes when you get back, k?

All of it felt like another punch to the gut. How could I ever explain just how terrible today has been? The day isn't even over and I feel even more heartbroken than I could have ever imagined. I thought my worst obstacle would be homesickness, not my only friend from Forks dead.

Alice's P.O.V.

So many things have changed. I can feel it. Incomplete, one-sided visions overwhelm me. It's infuriating and heartbreaking at the same time. I still can't see that girl Isabella Swan, but I see something else that frightens me.

Edward and a werewolf. Violations of the treaty, but it's blurry. Unclear where it matters. Those... mutts. They make me want to scream the most unladylike harsh language known to humanity. Meanwhile, Edward does nothing.

Seriously? Even though Edward isn't the smartest guy in existence, he would not be that weak. He's not that stupid, just a bit impulsive and irrational at times. But what in the world could be a reasonable explanation for the bits and pieces of the future that I saw? There has to be a reason for Edward's inaction, but nothing jumps out at me like it should. Ugh! This whole day has just been getting worse and worse. Everything was fine until Isabella Swan showed up. Why she can't just go away and leave my head alone?

Deep breaths. I need to stay in control of myself. This hike in the middle of nowhere and cliff-diving isn't solving any problems. What I need to do is talk to Carlisle, because he understands the irrational, and he has much better self-control than I do. So I should just go home. It's not like the girl can haunt me there, anyways. I just really need to get my mind off of her. Stop thinking of her so much. Obviously, my current mindset is not just going to magically fix itself. Nothing that I have tried so far has worked, and I need to be realistic. I hate being vunerable, and I hate to admit it, but I need Carlisle's help more than ever right now. This is urgent and nessecary and a total pain in the neck.

"Alice?"

There is visible concern in his voice, and it makes me feel something that I don't experience all that often. Of course, Carlisle always cares about me, but it reminds me of long ago. When I depended on his incredible strength to get me through my urge for human blood, all those years ago. The urges are different now, but it has been so long since I have been this desperate.

"I need to talk to you. I need your help, Carlisle."

Carlisle nods. "Of course. I'm always here for you, you know."

I smile, just briefly. The pain and frustration and everything is still there, but I'm relieved that Carlisle will help me work through it. "I know that I can't remember my human life, but I would like to say that I think you are the best Dad I could ever wish for."

Carlisle just stares in silence, with a slight grin on his face. That's enough of a reaction for my words to be worthwhile. I'm not sure what he might say in return, it's a compliment of such magnitude and Carlisle is always so humble.

"Alice, I can tell that something is clearly bothering you. Did something happen? You seemed frustrated but you were still hopeful this morning. That's changed. Your feelings appear to be much more complicated at the moment. Is there anything in particular that you would like to talk about?"

I sigh. I nod. "There's a lot I could talk about, actually. I've been very frustrated ever since I met that girl. She's the new girl, and she's human. She messes up my visions. Edward can't even read her mind. Her name is Isabella Swan."

Carlisle just sits there, taking in every word. It's like we're both in a trance of some kind.

"It's intriguing that a human could hold that much power. It's a miracle that a human is able to defend themselves from such gifts. If it was anyone but my own two children who experienced such things, I probably would have concluded that it would be impossible for a human to have such an ability."

My eyes lifted in disbelief. "So, you think that Isabella Swan is a miracle?"

Carlisle nodded. "A peculiar miracle, yes. We must protect her. If another vampire could figure out the kind of power she has, she could very well be turned and used for her newborn strength."

I gasped. "I never thought about it like that. If anything, I was getting to the point where her quote-on-quote power made me think..." I gulped and stared at Carlisle, fearing his reaction. It likely wouldn't be good. "I had destructive urges that I haven't had in a long time. If we must protect her from others, I'm not sure I can do that. I think it's best that I stay as far away from her as possible. For her own good."