A/N I own nothing. Stephenie Meyer does.

BPOV

"Have you got everything you need, Bells? Need me to pick anything up from the store?"

I sighed, smiling gently at my father's worrying. I knew he was just trying to make me feel more at home in rainy Forks, and I could hardly tell him that that would never happen. So I swallowed the sarcastic remark that threatened to bubble up and instead just replied in the negative. He nodded silently, and left the doorway of my room. Shutting the door behind him, I threw myself onto the bed and curled up in a ball.

Making a new life in Forks with my father was my last chance. After my mistakes in Phoenix, I knew I could no longer hope to stay. But leaving my scatterbrained mother to fend for herself to go live in a place that was so entirely the opposite to my old home it nearly made me cry was the last thing I wanted to do. Renee didn't want me to leave, but at the same time I could see she wanted to have the opportunity to travel with Phil, her baseball-playing husband. So in the end it was easy to convince her that it would be good for me to live elsewhere while I finished off high school.

Not to say it wasn't painful. I had to leave my bike behind, since I knew Charlie would explode if he found out I rode one. Plus, rainy Forks was nothing like the Arizonian Desert; I'd probably crash the first time I rode out. This left me without wheels, and caused the first cringe worthy attempt of Charlie to help me feel more comfortable here. He bought me a truck, which is fair enough, since the terrain around here wasn't the smoothest. But the truck itself…was less than perfect. An ancient Chevy that started shaking violently if you tried to push it anywhere near fifty was not exactly a dream car for someone who enjoyed the speed of a top range motorbike. Still, I grinned and bore it. At least he was being thoughtful.

Billy, Charlie's long time friend, had brought it round for me, since Charlie had bought it off him. With him came his son, Jacob, whom I had apparently played with when I was small. To tell the truth, I really didn't remember, and I was more preoccupied with the disgusting smell that seemed to radiate from him. Kinda like wet dog.

Although only fifteen, Jacob seemed a lot older, and had to have been at least six foot. He did look at me funny when I tried to oh-so-subtly cover my nose when he came closer to me; I would say he even looked hurt. I felt bad for a bit, but it really wasn't my fault if he didn't know how to wash. He shrugged it off too, and proceeded to show off the truck to me. It was him, apparently, who had done it up. As he helped me into the driver's seat, I became suddenly and painfully aware of his attraction to me. Shit. Last thing I need is a kid following me around like a lost puppy. I'm not being mean, he was a nice kid. But still just a kid.

I breathed a sigh of relief after they'd gone, since I'd had to put up with Jacob trying incessantly to make conversation with me, and his clumsy attempts at flirting. In the end, I'd had to tell him that I was gay, just to get him to shut up. His face was priceless.

I'd had a couple of days before school started, so I did my best to learn my way around the town in my 'new' truck. The result was that I returned after only thirty minutes with my head down and my cheeks burning; the truck really did make a god-awful racket. So I'd spent the rest of my time reading out on the grass, staring forlornly in the mirror at how crappy I looked, and cooking proper food for Charlie. I don't think he'd had a home cooked meal since Renee left him. But tonight, my last night before school, all possibilities had been exhausted.

So this left me time to reflect on past events at my school in Phoenix. I couldn't believe that I had gotten so careless; in a matter of months I went from having a small, comfortable group of friends to alienating myself completely, with whisperings and jeering behind my back. And then that last incident – the one that closed my life in Phoenix forever…

Flashback

"W…what are you, you freak?" I looked up from the dirt where I had crouched over the body. Concealing my knife from the boy's view, I started backing away slowly. "What the HELL did you do to Kevin?" he shouted, recognising the body immediately and rushing over to it.

"You…don't understand, I…" I reached forward to him. He cowered in terror.

"No! Get away from us, bitch!"

I'd had to leave before he recognised me, before I could clear things up. And in that moment I hated myself for the things I had to do, because I knew that it would tear me from house and home. It was only a matter of time before that kid put two and two together, made five and started screaming the place down. And that meant I had to leave. Grr. Stupid kid.

So, anyway, there I was curled up on my bed, feeling sorry for myself when I felt another presence outside my window. Come to bother me already? I thought, pulling myself up and padding over to the window, staring into the gloom. Opening the window and sniffing quietly, I caught a sickly sweet smell, almost as bad as Jacob's smell from earlier. But the presence itself was gone. Huh. Guess it didn't feel like a fight tonight. Pulling the window shut once more, I decided that there would be no point staying up any longer if I was just going to mope about past mistakes. Peeling off my clothes, I stood in front of the full length mirror against my wall and sighed at my inadequate body. I then stiffened when I once again felt a presence. This one, however, felt different. A strange thrill ran through my body.

Pulling on some ratty joggers and a creased tank top, I rushed to the window once more, threw it open and took a big gulp of air. The overly sweet smell was still there, but something much more delicious was prominent. It was incredibly hard for me to describe, as it was completely unique, but if I had to liken it to something, I would say it was a cross between mountain strawberries and some kind of musk. My eyes closed, and I took in as much of the scent as I could. There was nothing else better. But by the time I had stopped doing so, I realised that this presence, too, had left. Saddened suddenly, although I didn't understand why that should be, I turned back the covers on my bed and clambered in, leaving the window open so the scent could permeate my room. Within a few minutes I had fallen asleep.

APOV

"Excuse me, Edward!" I fumed. "I do not have to explain myself to you! You know just as well as I that I have absolutely no control over what I see!" My anger only seemed to have inflamed him more. He approached me, I supposed he liked to think he was menacing, and puffed his chest out.

"She is mine," he intoned possessively. I tilted my head and smirked.

"You haven't even met her yet, and already you're making claims?" I tried to hold back my snigger. "Don't you think she should have a choice in the matter?" He stuttered for a moment, before drawing up to his full height.

"She is mine," he repeated. "She will be with me. You have Jasper; I've had nobody for over one-hundred years." He was bordering on whiney now. But mentioning Jasper was a low blow, and decreased my chances of avoiding having to tell the rest of the family about this particular vision. I glared at him. I loathe you, Fuckward. He returned the glare.

"The feeling is very much mutual, I assure you."

"Would somebody please explain to us what is going on?" Carlisle interrupted our glaring match. We both blinked, then straightened up.

"Of course. I'm sure Alice would be happy to explain," Edward replied sweetly. I gave him my best fuck-you glare, and he smirked in return. I took a deep, unneeded breath.

"Okay. For a little while now, I've been getting visions of this new human girl who will be arriving in Forks any day now. The first time, a few months ago, Edward was there to experience the vision with me, and he can clarify that it was not exactly clear. In fact, it was more of a notion of the girl than actually being able to see her. Neither of us knows what she looks like. The pictures were blurred and out of focus, but the actions were clear enough. After this event, Edward declared, only to me, that the girl was his mate, and that they were destined to be together. I wondered how he could know from such a vision, but did not question him. Anyway, each vision I got he became more adamant that she was his destiny. However, this most recent one was…different." I paused to consider my next words. There was no way that I could avoid hurting Jasper now, but I might be able to at least soften the blow for him.

"Go on," Esme urged.

"The girl and I…we were together. On a beach, somewhere. We were holding hands, walking along. Then we kissed. That's it." I closed my eyes, not wanting to see their reactions. I could feel Edward becoming tense once more. Then I became aware of an anger engulfing me. Ohh shit. I opened my eyes, and they locked with Jasper's. His were a soulless black, akin to Edward's.

"Another…girl?" he hissed between clenched teeth. My heart was shattering. There were several reasons I'd tried so hard to conceal my thoughts and feelings from Edward thus far, and it'd all fallen apart at this incident. I never wanted to hurt Jasper.

"Jasper, wait I-"

"No!" he roared. "Don't try to talk your way out of this. I can feel your emotions now plain enough Alice! How could you!" He ran out of the room, leaving me to fall to my knees, broken at his words.

"You see, Alice? You've already ruined two people's lives, and she hasn't even gotten here yet!" Edward jeered. He turned to Carlisle, Esme, Emmet and Rosalie, whom had been relatively silent throughout this escapade. "I would like a vote. Who do you think is more deserving of a clear shot with this girl, my soul mate? Her?" he gestured to my place on the floor. "Or me?"

Esme immediately spoke up.

"I wish not to vote on this matter, but I will say this. Whomever is given 'a clear shot' as you put it, Edward, should immediately step aside if the human shows interest in another person, be it vampire, human, or even werewolf." Edward growled, presumably at the thought of the girl being with a werewolf. I simply nodded. I saw no reason to control who the girl was with; she should be happy. Edward was silent for a time, before finally agreeing after being subjected to Esme's disapproving scowl.

"Very well. I'm going to hunt, and to see if I can find Jasper," she said as she departed.

"Rose?" Edward turned to the blonde. She frowned.

"I would rather neither of you got involved with a human, but if one of you must, I think it should be Edward."

"Emmett?"

"Sorry bro, but Alice has got my vote." I smiled graciously at him, and he grinned in return.

"Carlisle?" I could hear the slight worry in Edward's voice.

"I think, Edward, that you should be given a chance, since you say she is your soul mate, and it is true, you have been alone for your entire existence as a vampire."

I tried extremely hard to hide my despair when the decision was made. Fearing the worst, I tried to look into the future to see if this would change anything.

"Don't you dare!" Edward knocked my concentration and whatever vision that was appearing to me scattered like dust. I growled at him. "You have Jasper. Right now, I suggest you try to salvage what relationship you have left with him." I began to shake violently with anger. How dare he? How dare he presume to tell me what to do because he managed to manipulate our family into letting him get the girl?

"Alice?" I felt a soothing hand on my arm. "Alice, I think Edward is right. Jasper is probably suffering a lot right now, and the least you could do it try to apologise to him."

"I'm not sure that I should do that right now, Carlisle. I might get my head bitten off."

"So much the better…" Edward mumbled. Argh! The conceited bastard!

"Edward, get out. I may have sided with you on this occasion, but that does not warrant speaking to your sister like that!" Carlisle yelled. Edward looked surprised for a moment, then slowly slunk off to his room.

"Go hunt, Alice. You look like you need it." Carlisle's concerned voice snapped me out of my angry haze, and I nodded.

"You're probably right. I'll be back later."

After feeding on a few deer south of the river, I swung into a tree not far from the house to think. Tonight could have gone better, and I had no idea what to do about Jasper. I loved him, but his anger could sometimes make him unpredictable, and I wasn't sure how to even start talking to him. I'd have to wait for a little. But what to do in the meantime? Suddenly, a vision hit.

"Need me to pick anything up from the store?" I recognised the voice as Charlie Swan, the Police Chief. Why was I seeing him?

"No thanks Ch-Dad," a musical voice replied. I knew it was her immediately. When Charlie left, I heard her sigh. She shut the door and curled up on her bed, crying silently.

My heart went out to her. She would feel unhappy here. Wait, but didn't that mean Charlie was her dad? Oh, so she is the prodigious daughter I had heard rumours about. And she was here now, by the sounds of things. Before I could stop to think, I was pulled into another vision.

"Who the hell are you?" the girl asked, staring up at…Edward? He was standing in her room, evidently extremely surprised at being caught. "Get the fuck out of my room, pervert!" she screamed.

I sighed. As much as I hated my douche of a brother, it would be better for the both of us if I stopped him from getting caught. After all, if she thought Edward was a freak, she'd probably judge me the same way, before she got to know me. Rushing off towards the Swan residence, I managed to reach Edward. Staying just within his earshot, I called to him just as he was about to climb the tree outside the girl's window.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." I replayed the vision in my head. He was at my side immediately.

"So what if she catches me?" he asked, irrationally. He was evidently still pissed off at me. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to realise what he had just said. "Uh…yeah. Forget I just asked that." If he wasn't a vampire, I swear he'd be blushing. Before I could say anything, though, he raced off into the woods again. I was about to follow, but a heady scent reached me in the breeze Edward had created. Breathing deeply, I relished in it. What is that? Slowly, I crept towards the house. The beautiful pine-and-honey smell appeared to be coming from the girl's window, although her window was closed. But before I could get closer, I caught a movement through the glass. Not wanting to be caught, I turned tail and fled, but only into the bushes, out of sight. Peering between leaves, I gazed upon the girl's face for the first time.

Beautiful. Her heart shaped, pale face was framed by flowing brunette waves going past her shoulders. Her lips were red and full, and her eyes…a liquid chocolate colour that I could lose myself in for days. She appeared to be taking deep breathes, just as I had done earlier. What is she doing?

In the distance, I heard something approaching. For fear it might be Edward, I slipped quietly away. But my thoughts remained solely on the beauty I had just witnessed, and one particular fact that would usually bring me annoyance, but now brought me joy; school starts tomorrow.