A/N: Yay! The haze has lifted!

ENJOY!

"He what?!" She asked behind clenched teeth.

"We met over summer vacation, Alice, in Greece. He was coming into my room at night… I saw him… I talk in my sleep, he heard the name of the town, Forks, in my sleep-talking one night… he was going to kill me but he didn't want to be tied to anything so close to home."

"Kill you?" She practically yelled, "He's been making it look like… like… that lying, conniving…" her words trailed off.

"Alice,' I said trying to calm her, 'it's okay, really. He explained everything… well, not everything, but enough. He said he'd be here, but I haven't seen him at all. Did he decide to stay in Greece?"

She looked at me, her eyes full of pity. "No, he's around… 'She looked warily around her and then leaned closer to me, 'we need to speak in a place a little more privately; do you trust me, Bella?"

I nodded; she took my hand and led me to the edge of the forest.

After we were sufficiently hidden from view inside the tree line Alice turned to me. "Climb on my back, Bella… like a piggy back ride."

My face must have displayed what was going through my mind; she was comparatively smaller than me, there was no way it would work!

"Trust me, Bella; I'm stronger than I look." She said. I climbed onto her back and like lightning we were rushing through the trees at impossible speeds.

When we finally reached a secluded spot in the forest I began to regret my decision to trust this vampire I barely knew so easily. I remembered how Edward had said that he could so easily kill me and no one would hear. Now here I was alone with yet another vampire… I must really have it coming.

The hesitancy must have registered on my face, because Alice moved in to comfort me. "Bella, don't worry; I'm not going to hurt you. Didn't Edward tell you about our special diet?"

I shook my head… "No… he told me that he fed on human blood and that he intended to feed on mine, he was watching me sleep, planning his next move, when I woke up and saw him. "

"That dirty double-crosser! He's been cheating!" Alice yelled.

"Alice, what did he tell you about me?" I asked.

There were so many other, more important, questions, but all I could think of was his opinion of me.

Alice looked at me as if she just remembered I was standing there. A look of pity crossed her face.

"He never told me much about you Bella… I have a gift; I can see things that may or may not happen… I saw him in your room… he said you were someone in need, and that he wanted to help you, but was afraid you'd find out his secret."

My heart fell… he lied about our meeting to his family; he obviously didn't feel the same about me as I did about him.

My emotions must be showing quite well today; Alice came and put her arm around me… "Come with me, Bella; I need to do something and its best you're with me."

She pulled me onto her back and we ran back to the school parking lot. She dropped me off and dug her cell phone out of her pocket.

"I'm texting Rosalie… we're borrowing her car, but we'll have it back before school is out. Then I'm going to call you in sick to the office. We have something more important to take care of."

Alice made the calls that she had promised to and then unlocked the red BMW's doors with her key. I got in the passenger side and fastened my seat belt.

Alice drove almost as fast as she ran. I kept my eyes closed most of the time, though I could still feel the speed we were travelling at. We arrived at her destination in less than five minutes, though I was sure we had driven farther than I had guessed.

I looked up as I got out of the car at the imposing mansion that stood before me.

"This is where we live, Bella. Carlisle, you've met, Me, Jasper, Rose and Emmett you've seen at school, but you haven't met Esme. She isn't here right now, but she's not who I need to speak to anyway." She said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the intimidating house.

As she shut the door behind me I realized who she must mean to speak with – Rosalie, Jasper and Emmett were at school, Esme was out, and Carlisle was most likely at the hospital. That only left one vampire… Edward.

"Alice, no, I'd rather wait in the car… please; if he wanted to see me he'd have come to school." I whined quietly, but she was adamant.

"Absolutely not, Bella, you're part of the reason I need to speak to him, so march upstairs with me and let's get this straightened out." Alice said as she pulled me toward the stairs.

She stopped at the third landing and turned abruptly to the right. Long before we reached the third floor I could hear mournful ballads pouring from some unknown source. As we drew nearer I realized that they must be coming from his room.

Alice knocked forcefully on the door that stood before us; the only barrier now between me and the amazing creature I had met only weeks ago.

"Go away, Alice." A voice yelled from inside the room.

"Edward Cullen, you get your lying, cheating, double-crossing butt out here right this instant!" Alice yelled. The force of her voice made my ears ring for a moment after she had stopped.

The door opened and Edward's beautiful face appeared, his features were contorted into a fearsome scowl, "Alice, I told you that I was not to be bothered… I…"

He caught sight of me and his expression changed completely… I could not tell whether his features were filled with fear or loathing, but whatever he was feeling would not be pleasant.

"What is she doing here?" He asked, his attention now back on Alice.

"Edward, we have a little problem to straighten out… now turn down your music and let us come in… the sooner I get some real answers from you the better." She said as she pushed her way into his room.

He turned to look between her and me, she, sitting patiently on his large, black, leather couch… I was still standing outside his bedroom door, quite ready to run for my life if necessary.

Finally he turned to me, not quite meeting my eyes and quietly said, "Come in, Bella."

I timidly walked in and sat beside Alice on the couch.

"Edward, I know you've been brooding more often than usual since you got back from Greece, and until today I just could not figure out why; your story didn't make much sense but being my brother, I trusted you." Alice said with a curt tone to her usually cheerful voice.

"Bella and I had a heart to heart today and her story explains a whole lot more than yours… so which do I believe?"

"Depends on what she told you, Alice." Edward said.

"She told me that you intended her to be your first course… that you have been drinking from humans." Alice said.

Edward looked at me. "Thanks, Psyche, I thought you could keep a secret." He said.

"I thought you meant from other humans… I figured your vampire sister would know about you being a vampire too!" I said a little more forcefully than I had intended.

He gave me a look that said I knew that wasn't what he meant, but still, he could see that he hadn't been very clear as to whom the secret was to be kept from.

"Yes, I had been drinking from humans, but only the bad ones… Alice, I was in Italy and decided to visit Aro… he kept flaunting humans before me… he knew exactly how far he was tempting me, and finally I couldn't take it. One of the humans they procured was a fleeing felon; he was on several countries ten most wanted… I gave in."

"Edward, I thought your rebellious period ended long ago." Alice said, her voice saddened.

"It had… the day I saw Bella for the first time I was determined to stop… that's why I left Italy, Alice. I thought the change in scenery would help me get back to being… more like myself. Then I came across her scent. You know what a singer does, Alice, you've had one yourself." He said crossly.

"Edward, I'm not accusing you for falling off the wagon; Aro is cruel, to our kind and theirs alike. I meant rebellious in that you told a human our secret… you know what Aro would do if he found out she knew… how could you do that?" Alice asked.

"When I told you she was someone in need, I didn't specify what she was in need of… no one else but me knew what she knew; she's my singer Alice; I'm not sure I could successfully turn her without going over board and killing her. I wasn't thinking when I did it." He said.

"Oh, Edward, why didn't you just tell me?" Alice asked getting up and walking to his side. She reached out and stroked his arm comfortingly.

I was getting uncomfortable with where this conversation was headed. "Um, excuse me? Why do I have to die? I swore I wouldn't tell anyone, and I know I screwed up, but I swear I won't tell anyone else!"

They looked at me before giving each other knowing glances.

"Sweetie, it's nothing for you to worry about; you're not going to have to die. Not yet, anyway… we'll figure this out, don't worry." Alice said, soothingly.

"Maybe we should keep her here! She'll be safe with all of us protecting her… that way you won't have to sit in her room all night long every night." Alice said.

"Alice, my singer, in the house with me?! That's pure torture! How would you feel?!" Edward retorted.

"Jasper can handle you, I'm sure, and so can I… it is a perfect plan." She said.

"Yeah,' I said, 'except that Charlie won't go for it."

Alice frowned.

Edward gave her an astonished look. "And you're chastising me for cheating? Alice honestly... he's the police chief!" he said.

"I know, I know, I'm just going through all the options." She said as she paced the floor.

Edward looked up… "I've got it." He said triumphantly. "But we'll need Carlisle's help."

I waited anxiously for his solution to my previously unknown problem... well, unknown to me anyway.

A/N: Please Review! Yes, it is true, there are more My Immortal Chapters coming!!!