A/N: And now it's time for me to sneak back in and hand you this chapter, avoiding eye contact, scuttling out of your way before the much earned abuse starts. Read first, punish later.

Bravery

Graduation day. Was high school over already? It seemed like things had just started. In many ways they had.

I could remember reluctantly coming to Forks, struggling to make friends. Falling for Edward and thinking we'd be happy forever. The Cullens welcomed me in and I felt that anything was possible. Then the problems with Edward started getting bigger, we learned who the other was, and we drifted. Not being able to stand his controlling nature anymore I had to break it off. I still think that was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. After all, he was my first love.

Then along came Cassidy. A flirty girl who would end up doing me the biggest favor ever that I never really got around to thanking her for. Alice had always been there for me and it was obvious to everyone how close we were. Cassidy felt she should go beyond just noticing and do something about it. The way they had pretended to flirt in the movie theater, how Cassidy faked sickness so we'd all have to stay the night in a hotel on our little road trip. AKA the trap to get me to wake up already. Long story short I ended up waking up to the most beautiful girl in the world and the most shocking realization of my life: Alice Cullen. I was in love.

I was still trying to wrap my head around the truth even as we grew closer. We bought each other gifts and rarely could be kept apart. She made sure things moved slowly. Although I often wished it wouldn't, I knew the pacing was right. She was an artist with her touch, a poet with words, and an expert at knowing exactly what I needed even if I didn't.

Things with the Cullens had never been better. Rosalie had shared her acceptance and made me see what an amazing opportunity I had in front of me. I was over at their house more than when I'd been with Edward. They didn't seem to mind the breakup, even though we were all still worried he hadn't contacted any of us since his sudden departure. Alice kept reminding me that he could take care of himself, but I couldn't help worry at times. I could see the glint of fear in his adoptive parents' eyes. He could be impulsive when he was upset. Still, there was nothing I could do and there were so many positive things to focus on. I had to keep in mind the good. That wasn't hard with Alice around.

I still had dreams about the play we starred in together, the 'thimble' we'd shared. After the show the magic of the silent theater swirled around us as we admitted our passion and showed each other how we felt. I had never been kissed like that before. No one could touch me like that again, hold me the same. I briefly considered becoming religious seeing as how I had proof angels existed. She was all I could think about, and my life had never felt so right.

As I adjusted my graduation cap I felt the person looking back at me in the mirror was no longer the girl who had come to Forks, clumsy and alone. I was now the keeper of a divine secret, a confident woman with the potential to be a hero. The winner of the most beautiful woman alive. She had been teaching me to dance for a while now and I always found an excuse to practice. It settled my mind and I found that I was no longer shaky or clumsy. Not as much anyway. I was no ballerina, but Al had shown me how to relax enough to be smooth. Even Charlie had noticed. He smiled and complimented me more, always asking if something was different. I usually pretended not to know what he was talking about, but today I let him say whatever he wanted. It was a day for parents really after all.

I didn't see Alice as we lined up to receive our diplomas. She would be near the front with the other C last names while I was near the back. I smiled and waved at my teachers, remembering fond moments in some of their classes. Even the gym teacher cheered for me, noticing a big change in me since I'd been doing yoga with Alice. The girl could work miracles.

The gym full of families beamed and clapped. I could see both my parents waving as Renee took pictures. Near them were the Cullens that weren't graduating. I smiled to think of how many times they had all done it before. I didn't let myself think of Edward though, not wanting to sadden the happy moment. He could have come if he'd wanted to.

My classmates smiled as they listened to the speeches and laughed at the bad jokes. When the diplomas started being handed out, the tears began. It was adorable really, seeing Charlie try to mask his emotion with his best Chief Swan face. Mom of course didn't even try to hold back that waterfall. Esme dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, the golden eyes which were unable to shed a tear. I smiled up at my family as they got to Alice's name. The moment was perfect.

"Alice Cullen?" her name was called again. Whispers began to creep across the crowd as time wore on. As subtly as I could, I went to the front where she should be, asking if anyone had seen her. I had learned to control my anxiety thanks to Alice, and that kept me calm for a while. But as they had to continue the ceremony without her, and I couldn't just ignore her absence, I went to look for her.

How could no one else be looking? That infuriated me. Everyone loved her, but when it came down to it they wanted to see their kid get that piece of paper more than anyone else. I'd rather have to repeat the entire year than miss out on graduating with her. It wouldn't come to that-it was all done on paper. Still, the ceremony did mean something to us. She'd been excited for me... Where had she gone?

I looked in every classroom, all the bathrooms, even the theater. I was about to give up when I realized I hadn't checked the parking lot. I ran to where her car was parked, glad to see it there at least.

"Alice? Alice, are you here?"

"Bella, please go back inside."

I froze. That was not the voice I'd expected to hear. I came closer, but slowly, peering around the side of the car where Alice lay on the ground. Above her stood her brother Edward.

"What did you do to her?" I accused, running and kneeling down beside her. I didn't think it was possible for vampires to be unconscious, but she appeared to be.

"I found her like this."

"I bet you did." I shot him a menacing look. "How dare you."

"I'm going to get Carlisle."

"So you can hurt him too?" I stood and shoved him into the car with all my strength, logic clearly not on my side. "You're not going near anyone."

He looked both shocked and hurt, anger creeping in there somewhere. "Bella, let go."

I tried to catch my breath, glancing down at her anxiously. "Did you... did you kill her?" Yes, breathing was becoming very difficult.

"No, Bella, of course not. Listen, I don't know what happened but Carlisle will."

I'd let him slip from my grasp before I knew he was gone. I was left with a sudden lump of cold in my heart, attacking the warmth that had been there seconds ago. A sob escaped before I could stop it. Everything was moving too quickly, and yet it was taking Carlisle so long...

I fell down by her side again, taking her hand.

"Alice, what are you doing? What happened to you? Please wake up."

I realized she was shaking as if she were cold. The dress she wore underneath her graduation robes was thin so I took my own robe off, draping it over her. I knew it was ridiculous, vampires didn't get cold, but they weren't supposed to pass out either.

After what felt like an hour I could hear footsteps approaching. Everyone was there, the Cullens in the lead. Other concerned parents trickled out but most stayed for the ceremony. There were a few of our friends and some teachers. Charlie's hand rested on my shoulder as if to say it would all be okay. What did he know? He was even more in the dark than I was. I looked at Carlisle for a sign as he tried to find out what was wrong with his daughter. There was no sign of Edward. The coward didn't want to get caught.

"This is a family matter," I heard Carlisle explaining to my dad. "I will be able to treat her better from our home. If the police need anything, that's where we'll be."

"I understand," Charlie answered. "If she was attacked, I swear we'll find who did it."

Carlisle nodded and lifted Alice off of the dirty asphalt. I resisted the urge to take out my anger on the first object in sight-her car-but I was so furious. This was so wrong, her lying there looking every bit as tiny as she was, her beautiful frame limp and defenseless. I swore right there and then that I'd kill Edward if he really did do this. Maybe he'd found out about us. Maybe he was so jealous he'd even turn on his own sister. He-

"Bella," a cool hand brushed my arm. Rosalie looked me in the eyes as if checking to see I was still breathing. "Come with me. You can wait at our house until Alice wakes up."

I barely heard her words even though they were spoken in the sweetest tone I'd ever heard her use. I was searching the trees for him, trying to catch him laughing maniacally after his victorious revenge. He wouldn't get away with this. He needed to learn he wasn't God.

Rosalie placed me in the seat of her car and we drove to their house. My fists were clenched and my breathing must have been heavy because she looked very tense. Maybe my scent was too strong for her. Of course, it could have been that her sister was in immediate danger too.

"Get a grip on yourself," she said. Just what I wanted to hear. "When Alice wakes up she'll need to see you're okay. The first thing she'll do is worry."

"What if she doesn't wake up? What if he killed her?"

"Who? Edward?"

I glared out the windshield.

The car came to a screeching halt. Rosalie raised her voice.

"First of all, my sister is not dead. Secondly," she reached over and grabbed my face, her icy nails digging in. "Listen to me! Secondly, no one in this family would ever hurt another member. If you accuse one of us, it's like challenging all of us. Do you understand me?"

Despite the feeling that all of the blood in my body had turned to ice, I somehow managed to nod.

"Our victories and losses are always shared. When one of us is hurt, we suffer the pain together. Blind accusations and useless anger never helped any situation."

She let go but I couldn't move.

"Wether either of us likes it or not, you have become a part of this family. You will support Alice and spare the rest of us your amateurish human accusations. We'll figure out what happened and resolve the problem lawfully. If you can't handle that, please get out of my car now." She leaned across me to open the door.

A terrifying silence engulfed me as the damp air flooded in. It was all I could do to keep from passing out myself. I gulped, trying to find the right words, knowing they weren't going to come. I reached out shakily and slowly shut the door. I gave a stiff nod as a very confused tear rolled down my face. It wasn't until we'd driven the rest of the way that I found the courage to reach for her hand.

"You're right about everything. I felt so weak."

She squeezed back. "Then let us be strong for you. I told you before that I lost my ability to be scared a long time ago."

The only apology or thanks I could offer was a faint nod but she seemed to understand. She held my hand all the way up to Alice's room where Carlisle was busy running tests. Rosalie saved me from a very dangerous place that day and instead gave me a strength I didn't know I had. Little by little the Cullens were shaping me into a person I didn't know could exist. Someone capable and determined, and, possibly, even brave.

They kept pushing me outside of my box.

A/N: Thanks for sticking with me. Feels good to be writing again.