A/N: Thanks to all my ever so lovely reviewers! Your responses convinced me to type up the second chapter today.

Disclaimer: I still don't own it!

I was sitting at my desk trying to finish studying for my calculus final when my cell phone rang. It was the upbeat tune I had chosen for Alice, and it was coming from my purse… which was all the way across the apartment, meaning in the kitchen. I bolted out of my chair, tripping, of course, and fell into the waiting arms of Mark.

"Thanks!" I said quickly, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and he set me upright. I dashed into the kitchen, this time without incident, and flipped open my phone.

"Hi Alice," I gasped.

"You know, if I didn't know that you had caller ID I'd wonder if you were psychic. I mean, you never ask if it's me, you just know," Alice teased me.

"I didn't even look at my phone, Alice. I know which ring tone I have set for you."

"Well, then let's say that you didn't have caller ID. The phone wouldn't know it's me, so it wouldn't play my song, and then you'd have to ask who it is when you pick up," Alice pointed out.

"True," I allowed, waiting for Alice to move on.

"I think the general population would die if they didn't know who was calling," Alice continued, oblivious to the fact that I didn't really care that much about caller ID.

"The general population excluding the family psychic, of course," I said.

"Well, I'm not a member of the general public to begin with, so it's not an issue!" Alice laughed.

"So, besides trying to get me killed by calling on a Wednesday instead of a Friday and catching me off guard, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" I asked as I settled onto the couch in the living room.

"Yeah, sorry about your little trip," Alice said, though it was an unconvincing sorry. "Aren't you glad Mark was right behind you?" She giggled, and I rolled my eyes.

"He knows bad things happen if I don't answer my phone when you call," I pointed out to her.

"Well, in my defense, I had just seen you falling down some stairs that one time, and I didn't want that to happen, so I was calling to warn you."

"Alice, you calling is what made me fall down the stairs. I was surprised, and you know me and my balance issues."

"But then you didn't answer your phone, so I was worried that you actually had fallen down the stairs and I was too late, so I kept calling until someone picked up."

"But the point is that he knows that I'll rush across the apartment to get the phone so you don't leave about 40 voicemails."

"I know!" Alice said, and I could just hear her beaming on the other end. I rolled my eyes again.

"But that didn't answer my question." I reminded her. "Why are you calling today?"

"Can't I call my best friend any time I want?" Alice pouted.

"Alice," I said warningly. "You're in far too good of a mood for this to be a purely social call. What's happening that I need to be afraid of?"

"We're going shopping!"

"No."

"Bel-la!" she whined. "You have to get something new to wear for the Christmas party!"

"What Christmas party?" I asked suspiciously.

"The one at our house over the winter break," Alice answered. "And I AM taking you and Mark shopping."

"Mark and I already have plans over the winter break," I lied. "We won't be in Forks."

"Bella, have you forgotten who you're talking to?" Alice asked. "I know your only plans are to stay on campus, be bored, and do nothing."

"I don't wanna go shopping," I whined.

"Rose and Esme and I are all going, and you're coming with us whether you like it or not," Alice informed me. "You can bring Mark if you want, but if he doesn't want to go, then the guys will be watching some T.V. at the house and he can stay with them."

"Whatever she's volunteering me for, I say no!" Mark called from the other room. "I heard the word shopping, and I know my name was in there somewhere!"

"We aren't going shopping, honey, it's fine!" I called back.

"Yes, you are," Alice insisted. "I've already seen it, and you don't bet against me, now do you?"

"Maybe not before," I answered quietly, "But now I do."

"Bella…" Alice said warningly.

"You're the one who brought it up," I said. The light conversation was gone now, replaced by a somber mood and whispering voices. I never told Mark what the Cullens were, and I never wanted him to find out. "I didn't bet against you before, but I'm still not one of you, and you had that vision. Things change, and that's one thing that won't ever happen. I'm happy with Mark-"

Alice cut me off with a short laugh. "No, you're not, Bella. I'm your best friend, I know these things. You're no happier with him than you were without him."

"Yeah, well, like I said, I've bet against you before."

"Well, I'm winning this time!" Alice exclaimed, trying to return the conversation to the previous mood. "You're coming shopping, and you'll like it!"

"Oh, now I'm really betting against you," I jested. "I'll never enjoy shopping!"

"Anyway, we've already told Charlie that you're coming home on December 17, so you'd better be here so he doesn't get mad," Alice finished.

"Alice!" I scolded her, "You're not playing fair!"

"I never have!' She laughed. "See you in a few days!"

I was about to protest, but her laughter got cut off when she hung up.

"Stupid vampires," I muttered as I closed my phone.

"How was Alice?" Mark asked from the door to the bedroom.

"As annoying as ever," I grumbled, and he laughed.

"Another shopping trip, I take it?"

"Yes," I admitted begrudgingly. "She already told Charlie we'll be back in town by the seventeenth."

Mark laughed and went back into the bedroom. "I suppose I should start packing, then."

I groaned and flopped back onto the couch. "You aren't supposed to be going along with this!" I accused him.

"I found out the hard way never to bet against Alice!" he called back.

"Not as hard as me," I muttered so he wouldn't hear.

A/N2: Thanks for reading! Next chapter may be up tomorrow, but if not, it should be up sometime this week.

Please review and tell me if I need to fix something! I want input to make the story better!

Addie