Disclaimer: I will own Twilight when Robert Pattinson asks me to marry him.

2. Open Book

We sat all night in silence, no one daring to move, until the sun was over head, covered by clouds.

We all climbed into the Volvo, that was now driven by Emmett, still in silence. Sitting their watching Emmett drive rather than Edward, looking back and seeing an empty seat, it was all unbearable.

The void left by my brothers departure was immense, uncomprehendable. I was not my usual self and my family took notice, but didn't care to say anything.

Edwards departure had taken a toll on the entire family, and when Carlisle had come home from the hosital he was just as sulken as the rest of us.

Hunting last night was the same way, silent. After we had gotten home everyone just took their positions on the couch again.

For once on my life I was releived when it was time for school, it would ease the tension. I frequently checked my brothers future, but it remained solid.

He was on his way to Alaska. It crushed my silent heart, to see him gone, in so much pain, because of one little girl. I knew Emmett, Jasper, and myself for that matter did not blame the girl for Edwards departure, but I couldn't say the same for Rosalie.

She was planning to talk to the Isabella today, she needed to be warned not to.

"Rose, you can' t talk to Isabella today." I said calmly.

"Why not?" Rosalie spat back as her teeth curled over her mouth.

"What would you tell her? 'Yeah, hi you don't know me but you made my brother leave because he is a vampire and he almost killed you. So now I hate you, Bye.' Yeah that would work out so well."

I knew what I had said got to her. She slumped in her seat and didn't reply. We were at school now, and we all fluidly arose from the car.

"See you at lunch." I whispered to Jasper as our lips met for a brief second. I sighed and turned towards my class.

The morning was uneventful as I watched Edward and Jaspers futures. Edwards stayed the same and Jasper never thought of killing humans, which pleased me.

It was soon time for lunch and I walked into the cafeteria with Rosalie, Emmett and Japer. It was weird not having Edward with us, and knowing it was not just due to him being off hunting.

I knew the rest of my family felt the same way. As I sat down I sighed, and started playing with my bagel. I looked up only to see Isabella looking at our table with dissapointment.

I couldn't understand why she had that look of sadness on her face, but it was definitly directed at us.

"Why are you confused Alice?" Jasper had sensed my confusion as I shook my head and mouthed "Nothing." He let it go, which made me feel relieved, I looked up at him to see a scowl on his face.

I giggled and brushed my lips against his. Emmett rolled his eyes at us and chuckled at us. School was the same as always, except for the fact that Edward was not present.

I was going to have to get used to it, and be myself again.

"Hey guys!" I said as I skipped towards the Volvo.

"What's with you?" Emmett wondered as he took in my happiness.

"I'm just being myself, like always." I mused, trying to keep the smile on my face. It was hard knowing that no one knew what I was really feeling, that no one could read my thoughts.

The smiled cracked into a hard line as I thought this.

"You don't have to pretend to be happy Alice, were all sad." Jasper said as he used his calming effect on me.

"I know but it's better if I atleast try to lighten up the mood." It would be better for all of us if we weren't so down.

We all looked at Isabella then, due to the loud grumble of her truck, then we got into the Volvo and sped home.

The rest of the week was uneventful; Edward was still in Alaska, Isabella still looked sad everytime she glanced at our table, and Jasper still had loads of self control.

It wasn't until Saturday that things started to change. Edward was coming home.

"CARLISLE!" I screamed as I ran down the hallway. "Carlisle, Edward is coming home!" I beamed at my adoptive father as he took in my words.

"Alice, are you sure?"

"Positive!"

"What did you see, exactly?"

"Edward was saying goodbye to Tanya, she asked where he was going and he said...home." I was bursting with joy now, and so was Carlisle, and everyone else, who had rushed downstairs when they heard my news.

"He...why...how...when?" Was all Emmett could say. We all loved Edward like a brother, and news of his return brought all of us great joy.

"Now." Everyone whipped around to see Edward standing in the doorway and suddenly all six of us were on top of him, giving a gigantic hug.

"I missed you sooo much, Edward!" I sqeeled.

"I know Alice." He replied as he made his way out of our hug.

"Never, ever leave again." Esme said, with a tone of contentment in voice.

"I don't know if I can keep my word on that." Edwards voice was strained, but his future showed him staying, for now.

You will stay, I warned in my mind. He glanced at me and nodded with a crooked smile. Will you come talk to me? He once again nodded and stepped away from Esme.

We walked outside together and sat by the river that flowed behind the house.

"It's great having you back. You can't even imagine how hard it has been for everyone." I tried to think about it, but the way I remembered this week, and the way it actually was, seemed like two parallel worlds.

"I know Alice, it wasn't just you that suffered."

"So, what are you going to do about tomorrow? How will you be near Isabella?" I couldn't comprehend how he would struggle through the class and not have to leave again.

"Bella, she will be difficult, but I will hunt tonight to prepare myself. I will get to class after her, so her scent does not flood the air, and I will hold my breath."

"You know, it might not be a bad idea to socialize with her," I remember how I had explained that to Jasper last week. "treat her like any other human, Edward."

"I will, Alice, thank you for your concern." I knew he really didn't want to talk tonight so I let him go back into the house, while I sat by the river for a little while longer.

I hadn't realized how long I had been sitting there until I looked up and saw the sun over head. I went inside to get ready, and the atmosphere was lighter than it had ever been in the house.

It seemed that everyone was happy that Edward had returned, and it had brought a new feel to the house.

We left for school a little while after that, and were there very quickly. As we pulled into the parking lot Edward sighed. I put my hand on his shoulder, like I did the night he left.

You won't hurt her, Edward, I really do see that. I wasn't lying to Edward, like had lied to Jasper the previous week, he really wouldn't hurt the Swan girl.

Edward smiled as he got out of the car and headed toward his first class. I was on edge all morning, looking at his future, making sure it wouldn't change.

I was releived when the lunch bell rang and I hopped out of my seat, making it to the cafeteria in record time. As I got there I saw Edward, Emmett and Jasper whipping snowballs at each other from all directions.

I rolled my eyes and went to go stand with Rosalie, who was laughing at Emmett, who had just gotten hit in the face with a snowball thrown by Jasper.

"Your dead meat Hale!" Emmett said as he wiped the snow off his face. Emmett ran at Jasper who was already running towards the cafeteria.

Rose, Edward and I walked behind them laughing at the feeble chase. We entered the cafeteria, all laughing at Emmetts obvious fury, as we sat at our reglar table.

I looked at Bella then to see her staring at us, but she didn't look sad, no, it was more like shock. Was it due to Edward coming back?

Or that we were all laughing a little too loudly? Or was it something completely different? I dismissed these aligations as Emmett leaned towards Rosalie and I shaking his wet hair. We leaned away as the boys started laughing.

"Not funny Emmett." Rosalie grumbled as she wiped water from her face.

"I'm sorry, babe, did I ruin your make-up?" They were howling now and I couldn't totally supress a giggle. Rosalie glared at me and I straightened out.

"Be nice Emmett." I scolded, jokingly. I looked over at Bella who was still staring at us.

"Bella, what are you staring at?" Jessica Stanley asked as she followed Bellas gaze over to our table.

Edward looked up at her then, certainly knowing that Bella was thinking about him. Her head suddenly dropped to the table as their eyes met, and she blushed a deep red.

"Edward Cullen is staring at you," Jessica said giggling into Bellas ear.

"He doesn't look angry, does he?" Bella replied, with her head still on the table. I looked at Edward, who didn't look the slightest bit angry. Edward, why does she think that?

Edward held up a finger under the table, signaling me to wait. I nodded and went back to listening to their conversation.

"No," Jessica seemed as confused as I was. "Should he be?" Jessica seemed very puzzled as she glanced over at our table to look at Edward.

"I don't think he likes me," Bella said as she lifted her head up to look at Jessica.

Aww, Edward. You made her think your some kind of jerk. It must be the way you looked in Biology last time you saw her.

Edward didn't even look at me as I thought this, which was strange.

"The Cullens don't like anybody...well, they don't notice anybody enough to like them. But he's still staring at you." Did people really think we hated them?

When it was really them not coming near us? All their human instincts told them to stay away from us, but no one seemed to grasp that in their conscious minds enough to know that we didn't actually hate them.

"Stop looking at him." I giggled as Bella hissed at her friend. Edward finally glared at me, knowing their conversation was done. So what does she think of you?

"I don't know Alice." Edward whispered, looking at the table once again.

"She wasn't thinking about us at all, that entire conversation?" It seemed odd to not think about what you were speaking.

"Well, I don't know. I can't hear her mind, I tried but I don't hear anything, it's...empty." Edward looked puzzled as he said this, squinting at Bella.

"What? Not at all?" It seemed so unrealistic that just this one person was the only exception to his power.

He shook his head and the bell rang. Remember to talk to her. Edward nodded as he walked out of the cafeteria. I sighed and walked towards my English class, knowing I would be watching Edward the whole time.

He was set on talking to her which was good. He had gotten there after her but I didn't know if had talked yet because I couldn't hear their conversation.

I was on the opposite side of the school, which was rather frustrating. I watched his future, he hadn't thought about killing her yet.

He was going to ask her about her personal life, I could sense his strategy. It would be harder to kill her if he knew things about her.

They had stopped talking then, and that's when he started thinking about her throat. How easy it would be to whisper something to her, the go in for the kill.

People wouldn't notice, and he could say she passed out as an excuse for carrying her out of the classroom. I was worried now, he was planning on killing her, I had to get over there. Now. I raised my hand.

"Yes, Alice?" Mrs. Lower called from the front of the room.

"May I be excused, i'm feeling a little faint," I fanned myself as I said this.

"Alright Alice, would you like to call your parents?"

"No, I might feel better after I cool down." I said as I walked out of the classroom. I waited until I could no longer see the classroom to start running.

Don't do it Edward, I thoght as I made it near the science building. Just as I was about to enter the bell rang. I sighed, very releived as Bella walked out, Edward following right behind her.

I stuck my hand out and hit his rock hard chest.

"Where are you going? Your class is that way." I pointed in the opposite direction of Bella and he sighed.

I followed him to his next class to make sure he didn't veer off in the direction of the gym. School was over quickly, and I made my way to the parking lot.

I saw Bella getting into her beat-up old truck and Edward leaning against the Volvo staring at her. He chuckled as she almost hit the car next to her, and didn't stop until she was out of sight.

"What was that?" I asked.

"Nothing. It was just funny." Edward said as he climbed into the Volvo. I rolled my eyes at him, something was up.

A/N: Tada! Two chapters in one day, I am genious. I might update tomorrow, but if not I don't think I can update until Friday, due to work and family that is coming to visit. Anyways, REVIEW!! I have no reviews tear I don't care if it says my story sucks, just give me something!