Sorry this took so long to post . But anyways, please enjoy the second half and Alice and Esme's week ! And please, please PLEASE review!!

Week 31-May 26

Alice POV

It's a nice feeling, waking up not hungover. I felt actually semi normal again, but by ten o`clock I was really craving a cigarette or something. Mom was sleeping next to me, her face peaceful and her breathing quiet. I gently pushed back the quilt and grabbed my pack of smokes out of my bag then went into the bathroom. I locked the door and turned on the shower then went over to the window. The sky was a clear blue and when I opened the window I was pleased to discover that the air was actually somewhat warm. The sun and heat was a pleasant reminder that summer was only a few weeks away.

I opened the window as wide as it would go then light a cigarette. I made sure that all of the smoke stayed outside and when I was done I sprayed the bathroom with perfume to hide any evidence.

"Alice?" Mom called.

"Uhh, in the shower! Be out in five." I ripped off my clothes then jumped into the shower. When I was little I used to sing in the shower, but I haven't felt like doing it in years. Something about today was different though, and without really thinking I started singing.

When I walked into the room dressed in the jeans from yesterday and a baggy t-shirt and my hair dripping mom was sitting on the bed smiling. "You have a nice voice."

I could feel my cheeks turning red. "Thanks I guess." I muttered. It feels kind of awkward talking to her after our whole conversation last night.

"So what do you want to do today?" She asked.

"I dunno." I shrugged, "This was your idea, so you should be the one to decide what we do."

"Alice..." She stood up and walked over to me. I pulled away though.

"I'm hungry." I walked out of the bedroom into the kitchen. I cut a bagel in half and then stuck the top half in the toaster. How the hell are we supposed to stay here for four more days?

Mom stayed in the bedroom which I guess I was happy and sad about. As much as I hate to admit it, I kind of like being around her. Like, just when it's the two of us. She's actually not that bad, I guess. I'd never tell her that though.

I buttered the bagel then sat down at the counter and ate it in silence.

I kept waiting for mom to come out of the bedroom but she never did. I didn't want to go back in either though, so I just went and sat outside. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining and everything seemed to happy. Somewhere in the world there was probably a baby being born or a little kid laughing and smiling. Somewhere there's a mother hugging her baby and somewhere else there's probably a teenager thinking about killing herself, or a child kidnapped and alone.

Aren't all babies born the same? Nobody has a baby expecting for it to grow up and drink and do drugs and cut it self or want to kill itself. And somewhere there's that mother watching her three year old daughter dance around the living room singing along to Sesame Street or something, and I'm willing to bed that the mother isn't thinking, 'Oh I hope she becomes one of those kids who does everything wrong.'

I mean, fuck, this world is such a bipolar place. It has every end of the spectrum. There are the happiest of people and the saddest of people and everyone in between, and it's always changing. I mean, mom was so happy, so carefree, before she found out about what happened to Bella. One event like that can have such a rippling effect, I mean, look how many people's lives have been affected because of that one night?

"Fuck." I said out loud, even though no one was around. "Fuck this world." I picked up a rock and hurled it at a tree. "Fuck everything." I picked up a handful or rocks around me and just threw them in random directions. I didn't realize how angry I was until I felt mom's arms around me.

"Shh," She whispered as she wiped the tears off of my cheeks with her sleeve. "Alice, it's okay. It'll all be okay."

And maybe things will be okay for me, and for us, but what about everyone else in the world. There are so many people that it won't be okay for.

Mom led me back inside and we sat down on the couch. "What was I like when I was little?" I asked.

Mom smiled as if she were remembering something funny. "I never knew a kid that small could have so much energy. You sure gave us a run for our money. You always had something funny to say or do and you loved dancing. You would always put on little shows."

I remembered that. When I was five I put together a whole ballet recital and then made everyone in the family pay me a dollar to come see it.

"Did you ever think things would be like this."

"Never." She admitted. "I thought I was too good of a mother..."

I leaned over and rested my head on her shoulder. "This isn't your fault you know." I told her. It was a little bit of a lie, but I hated seeing her upset.

***

It was dark outside and I could hear the grasshoppers and other night bug things. "Ready?" Mom asked. We decided that tonight we would eat outside by the fire. Neither of us knew exactly how to make a fire, but we'd figure it out.

"Yeah." I grabbed the pasta I had just made and followed her outside. There was a fire pit behind the cabin and it was actually pretty easy to get a fire going. We found some old plastic chairs and just sat around the now blazing fire.

"Here." Mom tossed me a can and when I looked at it I saw that it was beer.

"Really?" She was letting me drink? She shrugged and looked up at the sky.

"Why the fuck not, right?" She opened her own can and took a long drink. We ate and drank in silence, just sitting there under the clear the sky. It was really warm for May, and I loved the feeling of being away from everything.

Once she was done her food mom pulled out a pack of cigarette's and lit one. She then tossed the pack over to me and I did the same. It felt weird smoking in front of her, but I guess nothing about us is normal any more.

"Since when do you smoke?" I asked.

"Alice, you've been very honest with me, so now I'm going to be honest with you. But this is something very serious, and I trust that you'll keep it between us." Her voice was very serious and I wondered what could possible be this secretive.

"I was married once before your dad." She said. Her eyes were fixed on the stars and her voice was quiet. "His name was Charles, and my parents had sort of fixed us up." She took a long drag before continuing. "He was amazing...at first. But then once we were married he changed. He became someone that I didn't know. He hit me...and abused me, and I couldn't get away from him. And then I became pregnant and I thought things would change but they didn't. I couldn't raise a baby near him so I planned to leave. One night he beat me worse then ever, and the next morning I left. I was so close to term, but the baby...he didn't make it." Tears were covering her cheeks and her voice was shaking. "I know that things seem really bad Alice, but they get better. I saw him. My baby. They made me name him and everything. I felt like I couldn't, like there was no other choice. I had nothing. I tried to...I...God I felt so trapped. I just wanted..." She took a deep breath. "A friend was worried about me, and tried to come over and when I wouldn't answer she called the police and they saved me. And I'm so glad they did. I mean, I would have been giving up my whole life."

I was crying too. I couldn't believe what she was telling me. "Does dad know?"

"He was the doctor that saved me." She smiled. "John would have been seventeen this year."

"Mom, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine..."

"I don't know exactly why I told you this. I guess since you've told me so much about who you are, I just wanted to give you an idea about who I am."

I nodded, wiping the tears off of my cheek.

"I don't expect you to change over night Alice." She said after a while. "Things take time. But I know that you'll end up okay. You just need some guidance, and I don't know if I am the right person to provide that guidance."

"Are you going to send me away?" I knew that if I went away it wouldn't be to a place like where Rosalie went. The places where kids like me go are not that lovey dovey. It would suck, I know that. It would be really strict and I don't think I can do it.

"I just want you to be okay."

"How did you become okay?"

"I had a lot of help Alice. I had a lot of doctors and therapists and it took a long time. But you're not as far gone as I was. At least, I hope not."

"No." I shook my head.

"Then I think that with help of your father and I, and a therapist or something, you'll be able to stay at home."

"Good. I don't want to leave you."

"I don't want you to leave us either." She stood up and walked over to me, pulling me close to her.

"I don't think we're really nature people." She said pulling away. "I don't know about you, but I would much rather spend the rest of the week a hotel, going to the spa and shopping."

"Really?" I smiled, "Me too!"

"There's no point in going now, but we'll leave in the morning. You and I really deserve it I'd say." She hugged me again and rubbed my back. "We're all going to be okay."

***

The next morning we packed up the car and drove back into the city. We found a fancy hotel downtown and got a room that overlooked the water. The first thing we did was order room service. This is the type of life I had always dreamed about. Sitting in a swanky hotel room eating room service and watching ordered movies. I was so happy that I didn't even think about drinking or smoking or anything. I just thought about the here and the now.

Once we were done eating we put on our housecoats and fuzzy slippers and padded down to the spa. When Rose and I were little mom used to do our hair and nails, but I've never been to a real spa.

"Do you want to get your hair done too, or no?" Mom asked as we walked into the spa.

I hesitated and ran my fingers through my hair. I wasn't sure if I wanted to give up my new look quite yet. Sure, I'm happy right now, but I'm not fixed. I know I still I have my issues, and I don't think I'm ready to move on just yet. "No thanks."

The lady led us to these cool massaging chairs and we dipped our beet into hot water. "This is so nice!" I gushed and a lady rubbed my feet.

"Don't get to used to it." Mom laughed. "Spaing is an expensive addiction."

It felt so good to spend the day being taken care of. I feel like it's been so long since anyone payed attention to me, and now it's all about me. I don't think I ever want to go home now.

***

That night we went out to a fancy restaurant and mom let me order whatever I wanted. I loved that it was just the two of us. No Rosalie or Bella or boys to interrupt. Just her and me time.

"I wish we had done this a long time ago." She said. "I know that if I had spent more time with you, you never would have done what you did."

"Don't focus on the past mom." I held up my glass. "Think about the future. Cheers, to our bright future." We clicked glasses and for the first time, I could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"What do you say to a shopping spree tomorrow?"

I could feel my face light up. "Shopping? Really?" I hadn't been on a real shopping trip in like, forever.

"We need to get something to wear to court."

And just like that I was back in the real world. Bella's court date was fast approaching, and I know that once we get home everything will go back to revolving around her. "Right, court..." I muttered. And as fast as it had appeared, the light was gone. Fuck, I need a drink.

Soo... the next chapter will be the first court date, and we'll see what happens with the whole custody battle. Please post your opinions on what you want to happen, as well, who thinks Kyle should wind up in jail? Please review!!!!!!!

Love Alice !