Chapter 2

It'd been a week since they'd returned to the sleepy town of Forks. Bella had seen a little of Edward and Alice - although not as much as she used to. Charlie had been furious that Bella had up and left the country so suddenly to go after the awful boy who had broken her heart months before. Bella was well and truly grounded. Edward had been visiting Bella during the night when Charlie was sleeping, but he was worried about his human girl who had seemed very detached from him since they returned. She'd not once bugged him about the date that she was going to end her human life and enter into that of the un-dead. Edward had been dreading the conversation with her. He still felt the same way - he did not want to kill Bella. He was afraid that she would forever regret her decision and in the long run pull away from him. He also remembered the pain of his transformation. He could not bare the thought of his fragile human suffering the agony at his hands.

He was frustrated at his sister, Alice. She constantly fought him when it came to Bella. He argued that although she'd seen in her visions that Bella was to join their world, her visions were subjective and could change at any time. He honestly thought that he could change her mind.

Little did he know, was that she was going to change her mind. Not entirely but the logistics were certainly going to differ.

Bella was sitting beside Alice in English class. Thankfully the Cullen's had no issues in getting back into their classes at Forks High. They'd even managed to claim back their seats. That was one of the pros of living in a small town: new kids were few and far between.

"Bella, I know you are wanting to talk with me...but you keep changing your mind...I know you're worried about what he'd think...but we can hide it from him...if you wish" Alice tinkered quietly to Bella as that sat side by side. Bella visibly relaxed, her head remained hidden, curtained by her long hair. She nodded, glancing up at their English Teacher who was kneeling beside Jessica at the front of the class. She turned to the back of her notepad and began to scrawl a note down.

How much have you seen? What do you know?

Alice smiled at Bella's note taking. Edward was only a few classrooms down, it was entirely possible that he was checking up on them, his super hearing zoned onto the dulcet tones of his girlfriend's voice. Alice didn't have too much of a problem hiding her thoughts from her brother. She liked to bug him by reciting sonnets in Latin. Edward despised Latin.

Quick as a flash, Alice silently tore the page from Bella's pad and before she could even blink, her friend pushed it back towards her.

I know you have questions. There's many things you need to know. I've seen that you don't want Edward to be the one to help you along in your transformation. I promised you that I'd do it if he wouldn't and you know I'm good for my word. You're going to join our world even if he's not the one to do it...but let me, please. Not them.

Bella paled and her blood ran cold for a moment. Yes; the thought had crossed her mind for a millisecond...but obviously enough for Alice, ever the assertive to catch on.

You're allowed to be curious, Bella. You're the only one I've ever met to crave this life. It was forced upon all of us. But I know that whatever path you choose, you'll embrace it.

Bella reached across to side the paper back, but Alice caught her hand gently and shook her head before she continued scribbling

Your decisions and future keeps changing slightly. Every day it differs. It's although you know what outcome you want...but what you desire is consuming you.

Alice wasn't wrong.

Bella was glad that she didn't have any classes with Edward for the rest of the school day. He didn't leave her side over lunch. He didn't question it, but his eyes were on her as she picked at her meal. He knew that something was up. His eyes caught hers when she exhaled sharply has his hand came into contact with her denim clad thigh.

She knew that he'd come to her after dark when Charlie was sleeping. Because of her epic grounding, Bella would return home straight from school. Charlie would be watching the clock and awaiting her phone call. Initially Bella had felt like a prisoner. She was eighteen for goodness sake, but she was glad of it. She'd have more time.

I'm off to work, the rest will be posted this evening.

Thanks for reading.