Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any characters involved. No copyright infringement intended.

A/N: This chapter took a bit longer...I don't know why but it's finally here! Thanks to all who reviewed last week and I'm thinking I'm going to do something:

From this point on, whoever reviews each chapter will get a sneak peek of the next chapter right from me in their inbox. So it's kind of a win-win situation.

So...review! :)

Chapter 2

When It Rains

The porch was the only dry spot in sight besides inside the car; the rain outside was pouring heavily. Alice and I cautiously made our way up the sidewalk, ignoring the droplets, as we came right to the creaky stairs. The smell of blood was strong and mouthwatering, causing my throat to burn uncontrollably. Venom filled my mouth as I took the step on the first stair and all the way up to the last.

As we came to a stop in front of the door, I grasped Alice's hand, never taking my eyes off of the entrance as I whispered, "Alice, please don't let me hurt them."

She gave my hand a squeeze. "I promise, Bella, you'll get through this."

I took one more deep breath before stopping altogether. I contemplated on knocking, but that would just make the situation even more uncomfortable. My parents would know that something was wrong. I reached up where the key was hidden and unlocked the door. It swung open and I took a step inside.

The house was warm and seemed brighter regardless of the number of lights that were on, or lack thereof. My sneakers were silent but Alice's heels clicked lightly. I could hear the heartbeats even louder in here. Someone was walking down the hallway then, causing me to panic. I froze just as my mother came around the corner.

She looked up from the basket of laundry she had in her hands, stopping in her step. Her tired eyes widened as she looked at me. Her lips, the ones I inherited, popped open as she tried to find her words and her eyes watered. She reached out when she finally recognized me, pulling me into an embrace and letting out a sob all at once as the basket left her hands. My instinct told me to reach out and grab it but I paused when her warm arms wrapped around me. Remembering that she was fragile and easily breakable, I slowly enclosed her with my own arms. For the longest time, she sobbed against my neck as I just stood there, controlling myself.

Finally she pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Oh goodness, look at me," she sniffed, "I'm an absolute mess."

I smiled at her usual behavior, still not saying a word while I held my breath.

My mother rubbed a hand down my arm, giving me a perplexed look. "You're freezing, Bella. Come on, sweetie, I'll make you your favorite tea."

I grabbed onto my mother's wrist, instantly regretting action as I felt her blood pump on my fingertips. She looked at me, confused as I gestured toward Alice.

"Hi," Alice said in her cheerful voice, "I'm Alice Cullen."

"Dr. Cullen's daughter?"

The little pixie nodded. "Yes and Edward's sister. We were just so relieved when Bella and Edward came walking into the house yesterday."

Renee looked at me. "What happened, baby?" She pushed my hair out of my face and moved my face into the light. She at last noticed my appearance and her eyes got huge once again. "You're so pale."

"Bella's very sick as my father diagnosed last night, most likely pneumonia. He suggests that Bella stays in bed for a couple of weeks," Alice informed.

My mother nodded considerably. "Well, come on; let's go sit in the living room. Charlie should be home in about 15 minutes for lunch."

"Then who else is here?" I blurted and then winced at my thirst. I shut my mouth quickly realizing I just revealed that I knew that more than one person was here, due to the scent and number of beating hearts. Then I noticed that there were more than two scents, there were three - my mother's, one that I took as my father's as it was mixed with his shaving cream, and an indescribable one, one that was so delicious that I almost followed it up the stairs.

My mother waved her hand. "She's upstairs sleeping…in your room. You can meet her later, but right now all I want to do is focus on you." Her warm hand cupped my cheek lovingly.

I grimaced and followed my mother into the living room where the television was quietly humming. Alice took a seat on the recliner as my mother sat me on the couch, laying a blanket over my legs. She scampered into the kitchen where she began to make the tea.

I looked at Alice for support. She grinned and gave me a thumbs up before she leaned forward and said only low enough for us to hear, "You're doing great except for that last slip out but other than that, fantastic! Edward's just outside."

"Thanks," I said just as quietly. "Who's that girl?"

Alice gave a little shrug. "Someone your parents found... Listen, I'm going to go speak to your mother, tell her exactly what happened. Whatever you do, do not go outside." She winked and lithely stepped into the kitchen. I heard their voices start to interact.

I glanced out into the pouring rain as I considered her words. Before thinking about it anymore, I stood up and quietly made it out of the house. I watched as he slowly came up the stairs and I couldn't help but grin, even though his face was twisted in pain and somewhat horror. I walked right up to him and then wrinkled my nose.

"Jake," I muttered, "why do you reek?"

He gave me a small smile. "Because Bella, werewolves aren't supposed to be appeasing to vampires. We're supposed to be enemies, remember?"

I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him. "We'll never be enemies though. I don't care what any legend or law says, you'll always be my best friend."

He chuckled and hugged me back. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Sorry," I said, stepping back, "I was a little iffy about the whole situation…why aren't you mad at me or something?"

"The doctor called me over to the house earlier…" I could hear some admiration in his voice. "Even though he's one of them, he's still a good guy and I could tell he means well. He explained everything to me and the pack. Sam respects him a lot for addressing the situation and ordered that we cannot harm anyone of you…no matter how much I would love to tear your little leech apart."

I frowned. "I wish it would've happened differently."

"What?" he snorted. "Have that Cullen change you instead?"

I bit my lip and looked away. I could feel his eyes burn into my face as he stared at me with disbelief.

"No," he mumbled, "do not tell me you were already planning on having him change you. Do you know how much trouble that could cause? It would've given us permission to kill them, Bella. Why would you even want that to happen to you?"

"It didn't happen though," I reasoned. "Instead, I got changed when I was still in high school, when I still had things to do…what if…what if I wanted to have a baby? You don't think I'm not happy with this?" I automatically reached up to wipe away the tears before I remembered I would never be able to cry again.

The door swung open with a frightful Alice. She relaxed when she saw me standing on the porch but tensed up when she saw Jacob. Her eyes wrinkled in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm talking to Bella," he answered patiently. I was surprised at his current attitude. He was being extremely courteous for someone who loathed vampires.

She glanced at him and then me. "I meant that you should come outside to speak to Edward…not the werewolf." She shook her head. "I can't see the dog…and when you interact with him, I can't see you."

"The blood sucker said it was alright to speak to her." Jacob was now getting a little annoyed. I made myself the barrier between the two and he looked back down at me. "What are you going to tell your parents?"

I sighed, hating his scent in the process. It was funny - I used to love the way he smelled. "We have a plan…I'm not happy with it, but we don't know what else to do."

"What is it?" he whispered.

"You'll know about it when it happens," Alice interjected. "Bella, your mother is looking for you. Charlie should be home any minute now too."

I looked at Jake sadly and gave him another hug. "Love you."

He gave me a squeeze. "Love you too…I just wish I had gotten the chance…"

I began to ask him what he meant but Alice pulled me into the house and to the living room. She instructed me to sit like I was before and I just had thrown the blanket on when my mom walked in with a tray of tea and store-bought cookies.

"Oh honey!" My mom sat down next to me, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Alice told me all about it. It must've been horrible. I'm so sorry you had to go through it."

My mind immediately went to the transformation - burning and in terrible pain, the thirst when I woke up.

I grimaced and looked at Alice who stared at the television absently. My mother began to do the one thing I hated the most - fuss over me. She tucked the blanket beneath my legs as if I were still six and felt my forehead ever so often. She was just about to get the thermometer when my dad walked in and came clopping into the room. Without missing a beat, he walked right over to where I was sitting and gave me a hug.

"Bells," he grunted. He pulled back and tried to wipe away a tear without my noticing. I didn't say anything, silently thanking him from trying to not make this more emotional than it already was. He took the spot next to me, acknowledging my cold hand. I shrugged it off.

"I came home as soon as I got done with my paperwork, that way I can have rest of the day off of with you," he grumbled.

"Thanks dad."

"Oh Charlie, you should hear the troubles her and that boy went through!" My mom jumped into the tale of the supposed dilemmas Edward and I had gone through in the forest. I listened patiently; surprised at the things that Alice had come up with.

Alice went with the story about Edward and me getting lost in the woods. We apparently went far enough for the police to not be able to find us. My mother gave a lot of the credit to Edward for my survival much to my father's displeasure. According to the story, I had gotten the best of it with only getting a mild case of pneumonia and a small case of poison ivy that was healing quickly. Edward had a broken arm and some open wounds that were filled with bacteria and had gotten him sick, leaving him to rest at home for duration of time. Then mother said something that surprised me.

"Your family's moving?" my father inquired to Alice as soon as my mother's mouth closed.

She nodded sadly. "Yes, my father got a better job down in California. My mother's not too excited seeing as she's in love with this town, but it'll help with the college intuition that Rosalie and Emmett and Jasper are going to need."

I tried catching Alice's eye, but she gracefully avoided it. It frustrated me that she kept this part of the plan away from me. I never meant to chase the Cullens out of town.

"Well that's too bad," Charlie grumbled. "Your father's a great doctor. He was a good addition to this town."

"Thank you," Alice piped. "I was wondering if Bella could come over one last time. We're going to be very busy packing and what not these next few days and she left some clothes over at our house. Plus, I bet she would like to say goodbye to Edward before he gets sent down to the hospital in California."

"Yes," I agreed quietly, "I would like that."

"Sweetie, are you okay to go? You should really get some sleep," my mother cooed.

My father stepped in. "Renee, let her go. She should thank the Cullens and have a proper goodbye with Edward."

I was generally surprised at my father. I would've thought that he would be the one to reject the idea and send me up to bed.

"Thanks," I said, standing up. Everyone repeated the movement and the small group moved to the front door.

"Make sure you come straight back home when you're finished Bells," my father commanded just as I heard some small feet bound down the stairs.

A very tired and yet beautiful young girl walked over. She held a hand up to her mouth as she yawned and came to a stop right next to Alice, showing that she was a few inches taller. When she closed her mouth and opened her eyes, I was taken aback. This small, teenage human was absolutely breathtaking. Her hair was almost the exact same color as Edward's and tumbled in ringlets to her mid-back. Her cheeks were rosy and she flashed a nice, white smile. But the thing that caught my attention the most was her striking green eyes.

"I almost forgot!" My mother smiled at the child. "Bella, Alice, this is Vanessa. She's going to be a sophomore this year and she's going to be staying with us."

"Nessa," the girl corrected, "my parents used to call me that but you can call me whatever." She held out a hand and smiled enchantingly.

I hesitantly took hers in my own.

"Wow, you're gorgeous! Renee and Charlie didn't tell me about that part. You look very differently from your pictures." Her honesty surprised me and in my peripheral vision I saw Alice's eyes go wide as she stared into space.

Something was going to happen.

At that precise moment, Vanessa flipped her hair over her shoulder sending her scent directly at me, almost knocking me to my feet. It was the most delectable thing I had ever smelled in my whole life. I was ready to launch myself at her when Alice gripped my arm.

"We really should get going," she strained as she kept a hold on me. "The storm sounds like it's going to get worse."

My parents nodded. Then I remembered the thing I was supposed to do. The girl was all but forgotten as my father gave me a hug first.

"Be careful," he muttered in my ear. I nodded, trying to remember everything about him.

My mother was next. "I love you honey. Wear your seatbelts. I don't want to lose you again."

I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, trying to hide the sadness in my eyes.

"Well, it was nice to meet you. I can't wait to get to know you later," Vanessa hoped. I simply smiled and nodded.

"Love you guys," I said one last time as I followed Alice out into the rain. We hurried to the car this time and got in quickly. "Alice, what was that about?" I asked, referring to my attraction to the girl.

"I have no idea," she replied honestly, "but we'll ask Carlisle as soon as possible. Now," she said, turning the key in the ignition, "are you ready to fake our deaths?"