Driving-Edward

We sped down the highway. We were just passing through the California border. I was driving and Alice was sitting in the passenger's seat of her canary yellow Porsche. He knees were pressed into her chest. She was watching Italy, Bella, Jasper and Charlie all at once. It was a lot for her. I knew she was still struggling with her own emotions about Jasper up and leaving and taking Bella, and going to Phoenix? Why the HELL were they in Phoenix? I asked this question to myself over and over trying to rationalize it. I had nothing.

Around 3 A.M. we were passing signs for Oakland. Very little had changed, she was seeing Bella and Jasper in Italy, Bella was being changed. I didn't like it. But I knew it had to happen eventually regardless. The Volturi were just sick of waiting.

"Edward...something's changed." Her voice trembled, I glanced down at her, and her eyes were wide with terror.

"What's happened, Alice?" Just one glance at her appearance told me it wasn't something good, and that scared me. She trembled in her seat.

"The Volturi want you destroyed. It looks-it looks like Bella's going to be the one to do it." Alice rocked back and forth. I kept my focus on the road.

"So they're in Italy? Or at least will be?" If she could have cried, she would have. The expression on her face was heartbreaking; it was hard to take in. I reached over, and pat her gently on the back. She nodded. I left my hand on her back and I turned off on the nearest exit. Stopping at an all-night service station, I pulled out my cell phone to update Carlisle and Esme. They were worried sick when we left.

The phone rang, once, twice.

"Edward, thank god." Esme's voice sounded relieved as she answered the phone, "Has Alice seen anything new?"

"She sees them in Italy. The Volturi plan to change her. And..." I closed my eyes; I knew what I had to tell Esme would break her heart.

"And what, Edward?" Her voice was worried again.

"The Volturi are planning on having me destroyed. And the way Alice saw it...Bella was going to be the one to destroy me." I heard Esme's sharp gasp.

"You can't mean it. They have no grudge against you." I knew they were all listening.

"They do. Last year, when I went to try to kill myself." I heard Esme fidget. And then I heard Carlisle's voice.

"Edward? I take it you're going to Italy. Some advice, do exactly what the Volturi tell you. It might save you, Bella and Jasper."

"Of course. I have to go. Before I go though, we're about fifty miles outside Oakland. Where's the nearest international airport?" Carlisle was quiet for a moment, thinking apparently.

"You'll have to go to Los Angeles." I was afraid of that. Los Angeles was sunny, and it was already 3:30.

"Okay. Thanks." I hung up.

"Alice? Where are you?"

"Right here" she said quietly from the backseat. I climbed in next to her. Her expression worried me. It was more apathetic than anything. Poor girl, she'd been through so much tonight. First thinking that Jasper was leaving her, then finding out about him taking Bella to Italy apparently. Jasper had never wanted to see Bella changed like that. I knew that. He was open to her being his sister, but he'd never had thoughts otherwise, at least, none that he'd shown.

I scooped Alice up off the seat, and put her in my lap. She'd always been my sister. But what if she was meant to be more than that? Alice buried her face in my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her. She was cold in my arms, but it wasn't unlike holding Bella, except, I didn't have to be so careful. I let her dry sob a few times in my arms.

"Alice, it's alright, we'll get them back. They'll come home." I tried soothing her. Nothing seemed to be working.

"I know that they will. That's not what I'm upset about it. I saw them together. After Bella was changed." She dry sobbed into my shoulder again. I let her. I didn't know what else to do. I wanted to go rip up a few trees. Emmett would be proud of me.

After a few minutes, she was calm enough that we could get on the road again. We had to get to L.A. before sunrise.

We arrived there just in time, around 6:15. We quickly bought tickets to the first flight on Italy they had. It was at 7, with a stop in New York. Alice and I got to the gate as fast as we could without being too obvious. The flight boarded at 6:45. We just made it.

We took off, and Alice laid her head against my shoulder, her eyes closed, apparently asleep. I could do nothing but lay my arm across her shoulders, and act asleep as well.