Present, Human Bella, a few days after future Alice and Bella stopped Edward from breaking up with Bella

PART ONE!

I absentmindedly traced a circle slowly around my left finger with my right hand, something that had become sort of a bad habit for me.

I was going to be married one day….

No matter how many times I told this to myself, I couldn't grasp it, like a dream you just couldn't remember though you had just woken up. Fuzzy and surreal. Edward found this extremely easy simple to comprehend and handle. He hadn't proposed yet, but there was only a matter of time before he would. I could practically feel the pure ecstasy radiating off of him every time I was near him, and it was hard to find anything wrong with the situation when I was with him.

But those few nights I was alone… I found it hard to breathe thinking about walking down that aisle. There were other things I did anticipate in the future though. My immortality.

Of course, Edward was the one against this particular aspect. It was plainly obvious how he took this whenever I would casually point out that one day I would truly be one of his kind. His square jaw would lock, his strong hands balling into fists, and his body would stiffen immediately.

There would have to be compromises before we both got what we truly wanted.

I looked up in surprise as the shrill bell rang with finality, breaking my trance, to see Edward smiling a very amusedly down at me, eyes warm as I took his strong, outstretched hand, smiling with relief that he was still there somehow as he gently pulled me from my seat in eighth period.

After… the future Alice and my future vampire self… had departed departed after stopping Edward from leaving me, I had grown nervous. Although Edward had promised not to leave once he was informed that it would inadvertendtly cause a fight with the wolves that would cause the end of Jasper's life, I was staying alert for any warning that he would change his mind again…

So far he had shown absolutely no sign of abandoning me, always staying close to me and smiling down at me as if there wasn't anything else to worry about. I sighed to myself, ignoring the look Edward gave me as we walked down the hallway to the parking lot.

Werewolf.

Edward had reassured me that Jacob hadn't started to phase yet, but when he would, things would truly change between us, something I didn't want to think about now….

Alice came dancing up to us, standing on her toes in an attempt to mess Edward's flawlessly tousled hair, only to have him lean backwards without pausing in his perfect stride down the row of cars or breaking his hold on my waist, grinning my favorite smirk. Alice rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Bella," she greeted me in her soprano voice. I had to smile back at her.

"Hi, Alice. How are things working out?" I asked in concern. When Edward and I had told Alice about our visit with her future self, she was shaken at the information. Apparently she couldn't harness the improvement to her power yet, and it left her baffled and confused along with the information of Jasper's near demise that was prevented.

She sighed loudly, her whole mood shifting abruptly. "When I'm away from Jasper now, it's like my heart's been wrenched away… Like he's just gone." she trailed off, staring into space, lips pressed as she held back her emotions. When Edward had called her, she had left from Denali immediately, but Jasper had decided to stay, feeling he should keep a safe distance from me after my disastrous birthday party. But Jasper was coming back to Forks today, and Alice was clearly about to snap.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I closed it, speechless. I looked up at Edward desperately, but he was staring intently at Alice's face, pain in his eyes. We stopped by a blue suburban, and Edward dropped my hand to wrap his arms protectively around his sister's tiny body in a gentle hug. I swallowed, touched by this moving gesture. Alice and Edward's relationship always had seemed very playful and teasing, so now as Edward held Alice when she was so broken, I had to look down, feeling as though I was intruding on something very private.

Edward released her and took my hand in his reflexively, like it was made to be there, acting as if I was made out of glass. Alice smiled. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't get so caught-"

"Anytime, Alice," Edward murmured, smiling, leading us back to the Volvo. He reached over to open Alice's and my door, but stopped, mid- reach. I raised an eyebrow as he straightened, cocking his head to the side. "Hmm," he murmured, listening to something closely.

"Hey, Edward, could you give me a hand?" I looked over to see Ben and Angela by his mom's car, the hood raised as he stared at the vehicle, seeming at a loss. Angela grinned, looking amused. Edward chuckled before turning to me.

"Go, he looks like he could use your help," I said, watching Alice dance over to beam at Angela and Ben. I suppressed a laugh when I saw their awed faces, clearly daunted by her uncanny elegance. Edward kissed my hand softly, staining my cheeks with red.

"I will be right back," he promised before striding over to Ben's side to examine the car. I watched in admiration at his grace and beauty as he studied the van, topaz eyes concentrated. He looked up suddenly, grinning his crooked smile as his eyes landed on my face. I blushed and looked down at my shoes, embarrassed. I abruptly decided to hide in the car, turning on my heel to grasp the handle.

I stammered over absolutely nothing but air and fell hard against the side of the Volvo. I desperately tried to gain balance and get my footing on the concrete and not slide to the ground against the sturdy car door. A strong, cold arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me up just as I was about to hit the ground.

Edward chuckled a low, nervous laugh in my ear. "Are you alright?" he breathed, his voice thick with relief, chagrined that he wasn't able to catch me in time in front of so many witnesses. But I wasn't paying attention.

"The car! Did someth-" he cut me off, laughing louder, amused with my worries; it was clear that I wasn't hurt.

"No, no Bella, you didn't even scratch the paint."

I wouldn't notice how dreadfully and comically ironic this was until about a whole year later.

I know, I suck. Story of my life. But I'm writing PART TWO as we speak. I also know this part was short and boring, but the second part is going to be LONGER, BETTER, and HAVE ALL THE ACTION!

AND THERE'S A SEQUEL TO THIS STORY! WOOOO! IT'S CALLED BUTTERFLY EFFECT.

Beta: It was so long, I had to tell Madds to finally split into two parts. I hoped you liked it, and if you don't review...well...tomorrow...don't be afraid to see your pillow stained with blood. =D (I'm joking, but seriously REVIEW and enjoy the sneak peek ;3)

Preview of the next chapter:

The brilliant colors flashed blindingly across our faces as the explosion erupted into one million different shards of light. As I stared at the dreadful beauty of the scene, I began to lose all feeling of my body, though I knew it was only an illusion. I wanted desperately to move, but I could only stand next to Alice, gazing over the gorge at the now blazing Volvo bonfire.