Chapter 14

Guess what? This chapter is in LACEY'S point of view! Yes! We FINALLY get to find out what she thinks about Edward! But, this is the ONLY chapter I'm doing in her point of view...so treasure it.

Lacey's POV

I awoke to the sound of birds chirping. It was a beautiful sound. Their songs seemed to fill every inch of me. I smiled and turned my head to see him. He wasn't there. Was I too forward? Did I do something wrong? Maybe my blood was too tempting...

A familiar scent filled the room. I made my way off the couch and over to the door. I opened it, and the smell of pancakes filled my nostrils. I breathed them in and closed my eyes. Was he down in the kitchen? I decided to venture out into the house.

I found the stairs and walked down them, admiring the color of the walls. The sea foam green. It was beautiful. When I reached the foot of the stairs, I followed my nose, and the cold sensation to the kitchen. He wasn't in there. I knew before I even reached the doorway.

Edward was special. The feeling I got when I was around him, or within twenty feet of him, was bigger than the cold feeling I got around the other vampires. Bigger than the vibrations I got when I was near a werewolf. Instead of those feelings, I had an aching. It wasn't so much painful physically, as it was emotionally. I was pretty sure the first time I met him, it was because I lusted for him. This handsome stranger. But whenever he was out of my range, even if I thought about him, I didn't feel that aching. It was only when he was near me.

During the moments when he touched me, the aching would subside. I felt complete. The depression I couldn't even feel. I only wanted to smile around him. It was like he held some sort of power over me.

"Hello," Esme and Alice's loving faces came into view.

"Good morning," I greeted as I made my way into the kitchen.

"We're attempted to cook, but we won't know if we succeeded until you try them," Alice gestured to a plate of pancakes. There was a place set at the table in the dining room for me, I spotted through the kitchen.

"Please, sit," Esme guided me to the spot at the table, and Alice followed behind with the plate.

A few pancakes were shoveled on my plate. The two vampires watched me as I dressed the pancakes with maple syrup, and held their breath when I lifted a piece to my mouth and slipped it in. I chewed slowly. They were delicious and warm.

"They're wonderful," I praised them.

"Oh thank goodness," Alice placed a hand on Esme's shoulder. "We weren't sure if we'd put something in them that would've killed you. Edward wouldn't be so happy after that..." She shuddered at the thought of an angry Edward. I laughed.

Once finished with breakfast, I helped clean up. While wishing my plate, I worked up the courage to ask Esme the question that tore at my mind.

"Esme?" She looked up at me. "Where has Edward gone?"

"Oh, he went hunting with Emmett," She smiled. "He should be back very soon. He said that he'd be back before noon so you two could head back to Forks."

Forks. Home. Mom. Tina. I missed it, almost as much as I missed...Alice gasped.

"What is it?" Esme rushed to her side. Alice's eyes were closed and she was shaking. I helped Esme move her into the living room and onto the couch. We waited for her to stop. After about five minutes, the shaking stopped, and she opened her eyes. They were wide as she stared at me.

"Bella...and your sister..." Alice's words came, in between breaths. "Victoria is coming."

"Who is Victoria?" I asked the her. Esme bit her lower lip and the room had an uncomfortable feel.

"Your mother didn't tell you?" Alice sounded confused.

"No," I furrowed my brow, and waited for her to explain. She began to weave a story. With each of her words, my fear grew. This Victoria wanted my mother dead.

"Victoria is out for revenge," Esme whispered and touched my shoulder briefly.

My eyes suddenly felt wet. I was crying. Crying because my mother and sister were in danger. Crying because of the depression that bit at me. Crying because of how alone I felt. How helpless I was. I couldn't face a vampire alone. There was only one person in world who could stop this empty feeling.

And in that moment, I heard a door open. A few muffled voices, and soon cold arms were surrounding me. I pulled the body that the arms belonged to, closer to me.

Before I knew it, my mouth was opened, and my voice croaked out a few simple words.

"I love you."