Disclaimer : Characters don't belong to me, although I wish Alice did. Y'all can have moody old Edward! Hooray for the awesomeness that is Stephenie Meyer!

The Girl

"Imagine, if you will, the difficulties during the 20's," droned Mr. Murphy, "Black Tuesday and the devaluation of the Mark in Germany were the …"

Imagine…I almost snort. I don't have to imagine those times. I can actually remember what I was doing when brokers were throwing themselves out of windows in 1929. This man has sucked all the life out of, what was, an amazing time to live. Last week our class project was to present information from the roaring 20's from the perspective of someone who lived then. It was ridiculously easy, so the perfect score I received on the assignment didn't come as a surprise. I didn't even need a vision to see the A+ Murphy put into his grade book. Jasper was impressed. When he was in AP American History last year he only got a 95 on his Civil War project. Ironically, Murphy thought the uniform Jasper wore during his presentation wasn't accurate, and docked him 5 for the lack of authenticity. He's still the most recent family joke, the first one of us to not have a 100 in a class.

As I suppressed a smile, I scanned ahead for him. His refusal to rematch Emmett is going to cause a lot of grumbling, and Esme is going to have to step in to tell Emmett to lay off. He's going to get two deer and a wild cat tonight, and we are going to reminisce about the night sky without light pollution. The bell broke the sleepy classroom into a flurry of activity. I rushed a bit so that I could catch Jasper before he got too deep into the crowded hallway; he could better control himself if I was near. I tried to see over the heads of the milling students. Curses on my parents and their apparent short stature! I couldn't see a damn thing.

"I'm right here baby," he whispered from behind me, leaning down to entwine his fingers into mine, "I can do it, but lets hurry please."

The anxious look on my face must worry him. He didn't mention his book at all, although he knows I think it's cute when he tries to speak French. That southern accent just garbles it all up.

"What were you thinking earlier!? I had the most horrible visualization; there was so much blood and screaming. I almost ran out of Matthews' class to try to stop you!"

He looks at me with confusion in his coal black eyes.

"That wasn't me, Lis. I was being good…you know, Sartre and all."

"You don't have to pretend around me, Jazz. Even if something terrible were to happen, I would still love you. Nothing could make me stop loving you. I would know you tried, and that you tried for me."

"Alice"

Now he sounded slightly affronted.

"It wasn't me. The only decisions I made were to ignore Varmer and go hunting tonight with the woman I love. I don't know what tripped off your freaky little brain."

As he gave me his explanation, he slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. I frowned, but at my recollection of my vision, not at his gentle teasing. He misread my expression, because he immediately started apologizing.

"Jeez, Lis, I can't say anything right today, can I? You know I didn't mean…"

"I'm not upset at you, I'm just irritated. It was a horrible thing to see…so real. I've been anticipating screams since. If it were a "freaky little brain thing" as you so kindly put it," I jokingly tried to pull away, "I'd like to cancel my subscription. I hate false alarms"

Our conversation carried us all the way to Edward's shiny gray Volvo without so much as one strained reflex from Jasper. Rosalie was sitting shotgun, the visor down and mirror open to reflect her already perfectly made-up face. Emmett, standing beside to open back door, called out the rematch challenge. Jasper instantly shook his head. I rolled my eyes. I don't want to listen to their bickering all the way home.

"Move it Rose,"

I whipped open the passenger-side door, and stared expectantly. I doubted she would give up the seat without a fight.

" You're kidding me Alice. I'm not riding home between those squabbling fools. Plus, you fit between them better than I do."

"Oh get off it, Rose. You just don't want to mess up your hair. Move it. You got to ride up here on the way. Don't make me do anything drastic!"

I mimed scissors cutting her hair. She visibly paled, and huffed her way out of the car. With a satisfied smirk, I settled into the seat. Reaching over, I popped my spare key into the ignition and turned the on the radio. Leaning back, I closed my eyes as the music washed over me. I felt the car rock as Emmett planted his giant frame into the backseat. He called for Rosalie to get in so that Jasper could shut the door. Now we just needed Edward.

"So Alice, did you hear that the new girl is already asking about us? She hasn't even been here a whole day yet."

Emmett has one volume…LOUD.

"No Emmett, I didn't hear that. What does she think about us?" I replied in a low tone in the hopes that he will take the hint.

"Um, I..don't…know."

My eyes flew open immediately at his confused tone.

"Well, didn't Edward tell you?"

"No, he just shrugged when I asked him. Now Jasper, about that rematch you owe me…"

Emmett was so easily distracted. Edward probably did tell him, but his one-track mind was too focused on pinning Jasper tonight. I relaxed again, lost in the ebb and flow of the music. Unexpectedly, the door flew open. All three of us startled at the sudden light that entered the car. Edward slid into the driver's seat, panting like a human marathon runner. Instantly I'm caught by an overwhelming apprehension. Jasper wasn't lying. It wasn't him I had seen as the cause of the carnage. Of course. How could have missed it? Why didn't I think to look ahead for the others? But Edward? I would have never considered Edward to be in jeopardy of losing control. My eyes closed, I tried to remember what I had seen. Blood everywhere, screams cut off at their peak by razor-sharp teeth, the chaos and fear. What could have possibly driven my brother to even think of committing such an atrocity?

"Edward?"

As if Edward's gasping breaths weren't enough, my tone captured the attention of the entire back seat. I was going to continue, but he shook his head at me realizing my mistake.

"What the hell happened to you?" clamored Emmett, forgetting his demand for retribution.

Edward didn't answer. He cranked my key in the ignition, and jammed the car into gear. I could sense Rosalie cringe in the backseat as the gears crashed together, transmission whining. He whipped the car out of the parking space at a crazy speed, and made it to the road before most of the students had a chance to even get in their cars. Quickly I looked ahead to be sure we weren't going to get a speeding ticket, or cited for reckless driving. Nothing. Good thing too, because Edward already had the car doing seventy. I doubt I could have stopped him if I tried. I could feel all eyes in the backseat staring at me, waiting for an explanation. I shrugged for their benefit, but I was already looking ahead for Edward. I see miles of lonely road, his empty room, his missing car. The sense of loss is almost overwhelming, I don't trust my voice.

"You're leaving?" I whisper.

All eyes in the backseat shift to Edward now, searching for confirmation and explanation.

"Am I?" He hissed through clenched teeth.

The changing vision becomes so barbarous, so uncharacteristically base of Edward that I am rendered speechless. A girl, the new girl, eyes devoid of life. Charlie Swan distraught, looking for his daughter's killer. Carlisle and Esme torn between apprehension for our family, and distress with Edward's folly. The scene sharpens, I see an unfamiliar room. Yellow cabinets, it's a kitchen. The Swan girl inside, oblivious to her certain demise. Edward is crouched in the shadows, her blood calling to him, impossible to resist. He moves to spring…

"Stop!" He groans, tortured as I am by the visualization. I saw him fighting to control the demons.

"Sorry," I whispered, almost panting myself.

I closed my eyes once more and the previous scene returns, an empty highway bordered by snow and forests. Scenery flying by at a breakneck pace, my heart grieves.

"I will miss you," I fought the catch in my throat, "No matter how short a time you are gone."

I felt Emmett turn to Rosalie, and Jasper surreptitiously reached for my hand hidden near the passenger door. Edward had to tell Carlisle himself; Esme was going to be difficult enough for us to handle alone. She loved us all, but there was a special place in her heart for Edward.

"Drop us here," I ordered as we approached the well hidden drive, "You should tell Carlisle yourself."

He nodded in agreement and locked the brakes. Emmett, Rose, and Jasper filed out of the car waiting expectantly for me to tell them what was going on. Edward needed my strength, he would decide right, I felt sure. I put my hand on his shoulder.

"You –will- do the right thing," I command him in a whisper, "She's Charlie Swan's only family. It would kill him too."

His agreement to only the last part of my statement worried me. I didn't bother to hide the anxiety on my face as I slid out of the car. I could feel the lump rising in my throat, and I almost threw myself in front of the car to stop him. Jasper came up behind me, arm sliding across my collarbone, and rested his chin lightly on my head.

"Let him go Lis, you can't save him any better than he can save himself. If this is what he has to do, then he has to do it."

The four of us morosely started for the house as Edward turned the car back towards town. The Volvo fishtailed from the violent acceleration and I watched the glowing tail lights, so much like Edward's violent eyes in my vision, fade into the distance. The begging I did in school seemed to work, so I tried it again. Be strong Edward, please, please, please. I steeled myself for the flood of images that I know would soon be bombarding me.