Hello all! I'm back with another update. I appreciate your support.

Validation beta: bonnysammy

Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all things Twilight

Previously:

I looked at the door longingly before I turned back to Ava.

"What do you want from me?"

"It's not a question of what I want from you, Isabella. It would just be more…prudent."

"What would be more prudent?" I asked.

"For you to become an immortal."

Chapter 8: My Alice

Become an immortal? If only this were a few months ago. I would have jumped at the opportunity to become a vampire for Edward. Then my disastrous birthday party would have never happened. But to think of eternity without Edward was just painful.

"No."

Ava's eyes widened. "No?"

I remained silent and shook my head.

"There are humans who want nothing more than to live as an immortal. None of it appeals to you? The strength? The speed? Having eternal youth?"

"I don't want it. Not without him."

Ava's lips thinned as she sighed. "You know you don't really have a choice. There are rules for our kind that your dear Cullens seemed to forget."

I opened my mouth but she gave me a cold glare.

"There is only one essential rule for vampires. All we have to do is keep our existence a secret from humans."

"I would never tell anyone about the existence of vampires. It's not my secret to tell."

"Forgive my hesitancy to trust a human."

"But I've never told anyone! You can make sure if you don't believe me. No one in this town believes vampires are more than a myth. I haven't breathed a word."

"You know I'm well within my rights to kill you?" Ava questioned dryly. "But it doesn't have to be that way. You can become an immortal instead."

"I don't want immortality," I said stubbornly.

Her eyes seemed to flash with something I couldn't place. "You are suicidal?"

"No, of course not."

She didn't seem to hear me as she continued with her train of thought. "You have given up on any semblance of living."

I shook my head but she didn't seem to be interested in anything I had to say. "Look at you. Frail, sleep deprived, just mindlessly going through the motions of life."

I flinched at her assessment. I had been trying so hard to get better. I made an effort to eat more over the past month and I had already gained five pounds for my effort. I tried to hang out with my friends more, so Charlie wouldn't worry. Am I so obviously depressed that a stranger knows I'm falling apart?

"There's no point of forever if I'm alone."

"Alone?" She paused and looked almost smug. "You and Basil seem to be getting along."

I stared at her incredulously. "Me and Basil? Is that what this pull is about? Is he supposed to be some type of conciliation to get me to agree to immortality?"

"He's a decent person, suitable for you it seems."

"Why are you doing this? You can't just use him in order to make some deal with me! He has feelings too!"

She didn't respond. She watched me with, what was becoming, her signature neutral expression. I huffed in exasperation. "Who is Basil to you?"

She sighed. "Is this what you did with the Cullens? Did you ask them pointless questions all day long? Perhaps that worked for them, but what you will soon find out is that I'm nothing like your precious Cullens."

"I could tell immediately that you weren't like them."

She looked frustrated with me. "What caused the Cullens to leave you?"

"During a birthday party for me, I cut my finger when opening a present. It obviously wasn't an ideal situation, seeing as how I was in a room full of vampires."

I snuck a glance at Ava and she was staring at me with a bored expression.

"I guess Alice didn't know it was going to happen. I don't think Jasper actually made a decision to attack me. It was purely instinctual."

Ava's gaze sharpened. "Who is Alice? What do you mean she didn't know it would happen?"

"She can see the future based off of someone's decisions."

"So you're telling me that between a telepath and a clairvoyant, you still managed to get attacked." She stopped and looked pensive for a moment. "So can't she see you now? The clairvoyant?"

I was startled. "I…I don't know. Maybe? It's not like I can call and ask her."

Ava had a preoccupied look on her face and I quickly grew frustrated with the silence.

"Why would you want me to become a vampire anyway? What does it matter to you?"

"I always make it a point to have connections with powerful immortals." At my confused face she continued. "I'm sure with a bit of practice you'll be something extraordinary."

I was about to protest, but I figured it wouldn't do me any good. As if she could read my thoughts she started to speak again. "Just think about it, Isabella. There are worse things in this world than becoming an immortal."

For the first time since I started talking to her, I agreed. I couldn't imagine a pain worse than Edward leaving me.

Ava's delicate nose sniffed and she looked murderous. "I didn't request an audience, Basil."

I whipped my head around towards the door and saw it open slowly. Basil stepped through and locked eyes with me. "He still isn't answering his mobile, and the rain is making it difficult for me to track his scent. So I came back."

His body language screamed confidence but the tightness around his eyes betrayed his warring emotions.

Ava made a dismissive noise and turned back towards me. "We are done talking for now."

I blinked at her abrupt dismissal. In this time talking with her, I was left with more questions than answers. She took in my expression and smiled slightly.

"No need to look forlorn, Isabella. You and I will see each other soon." While her words were meant to be reassuring, I couldn't deny hearing the threat of her words as well.

Basil appeared next to me and offered me a hand to stand. Feeling his cold hands surrounding mine caused me to sigh in contentment and then frown as I took in Ava's smug look. Basil quickly led me outside and down the steps so we were in front of the bookstore once again.

"Who is it that you keep trying to contact?" I asked him.

He checked his phone and looked at me with a frustrated expression. "I'm afraid that's a bit of a long story."

I checked the time on my phone. "I have time."

My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I missed lunch earlier. Basil's eyes snapped towards the offending sound.

"You need to eat." His eyes scanned the area. "There's an Italian restaurant nearby and an American diner not much further. Which would you prefer?"

"The diner!" I choked. Anything but the Italian restaurant.

He seemed a little confused at my outburst but, thankfully, didn't comment. "The rain has let up a bit. Would you care to walk?"

"That'll be fine." We started walking down the sidewalk side by side. The silence seemed to stretch but my mind couldn't settle on a specific train of thought.

"I envy you," he said, causing my thoughts to stop. "The way you address her…she rarely tolerates anyone with so many inquiries."

"What makes me different?"

He frowned. "I'm not sure. But I'm afraid it can't be good. When she takes an interest in someone, the results are usually damning."

I was quiet for a moment as I thought about his words. "Are you afraid of her?"

He sighed and collapsed his umbrella. I finally noticed we were standing in front of a small diner. I watched as he shook the drops of water off and straighted his jacket meticulously. After he was finished, he reached for the door and held it open for me with a slight bow.

"After you."

I walked into the cozy diner and immediately smelled cinnamon and apples. My stomach growled appreciatively as we slid into a booth. As we waited for the waitress, I finally realized something.

"You never answered my question."

He seemed startled by my voice and looked appropriately abashed. "I know. I suppose it's because my answer is somewhat complicated."

"I think I can keep up," I said. I thought of when Edward spoke those exact words to me and I winced.

"What is it?" Basil's eyes missed nothing. From his expression, I could tell that he'd been watching my every movement.

"Nothing."

His sharp eyes grew narrow and his jaw clenched. "Perhaps we should get something straight."

Before he could continue, the waitress came to greet us. She appeared to be in her early forties with curly blond hair and sky blue eyes. She looked tired but friendly.

"What can I get for you two?" Her smile faltered when she looked at Basil and a dazed look settled over her features. I cleared my throat to get her attention.

"I'd like a Coke, please." She seemed disconcerted by Basil and kept her eyes away from his. As she asked for his drink order, she kept her eyes trained on the little notepad in her hand.

"I'll just have a cup of coffee, thank you," he answered crisply.

She seemed to pull herself together and gave me a quick smile. "I'll have those drinks right out."

Basil watched her walk away and then turned back to me expectantly. "I would like to ask something of you."

I was instantly wary. "Ok."

"As you know, I heard most of your conversation with her after I left. I heard the distress in your voice, and now I can see the pain in your eyes. I know it upsets you to think or talk about that coven. But please, don't insult my intelligence by telling me nothing is wrong, when there so very obviously is."

"I'm not trying to insult you."

"I know that," he murmured. "You don't have to tell me anything. But if you could be honest with me, I would greatly appreciate it. In return, I promise that I will never lie to you. I was always taught that being honest is the one attribute that no one can ever corrupt."

"So," I speculated, "if I were to ask you any question, you would answer it truthfully?"

He grimaced. "It will be difficult for me to answer your questions pertaining to me, if you are so inclined to ask, that is. But I find myself without aversion when it comes to talking to you. I swear to you that any question I do answer will be answered truthfully. You have my word."

As he talked, I watched the smooth planes of his face and memorized each chiseled feature of his jaw. He words were so articulate, I found myself sitting with a straighter posture. He seemed to be rambling a bit, which proved to be interesting, considering how serious and put together he appeared. Maybe this pull was having a similar effect on him as it was on me. My most prominent emotion was frustration. I wanted to know everything about the man sitting across from me but I didn't know why? I wanted him to tell me everything about himself but I also wanted to know everything about Ava and her intentions.

"Here you go," the waitress said, snapping me out of my bubble. "You two decide on anything to eat?" As she spoke, I noticed that her eyes stayed on me.

"I'll have the salad with ranch dressing." She wrote it down and focused on her notepad again as she asked for Basil's order. He declined and she looked relieved as she hurried back to the kitchen.

"You should eat more," he stated.

I shrugged my shoulders nonchalantly. "The salad is enough." In all honesty, I knew I was hungry, but I had so many questions flying through my head that I wouldn't be able to concentrate much on eating.

He shook his head, but remained silent. His hands wrapped around the steaming mug of coffee and I watched the small smile on his face.

"Why'd you order coffee?"

He kept his eyes closed as he answered. "The warmth. It's not as if I feel cold, it's just the warmth is extremely pleasant." He opened his eyes and I almost gasped at the beauty of them. They seemed to have lightened to a bright, golden topaz.

I nodded and took a sip of my coke. "Do you want to tell me about yourself? I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

He rotated his coffee mug a few more times before he responded. "I think I would. Like to tell you about myself, that is. What about you? I know you are pained. Would telling me about yourself make it worse?"

I thought for a while. "No, I don't think so. Actually, it might be a relief to talk about this to someone who would listen without prejudice."

"Ok then, who's first? Will it be my story or yours?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Bella?"

I turned to Alice and raised my eyebrows in question. I was in the mid sentence when she interrupted my story. I wasn't exactly surprised because she seemed to grow uncomfortable as I told them all about my conversation with Ava.

"Could we please talk?"

Everyone started to shift as if they were going to give us privacy. But I wasn't ready to talk to Alice alone. She had the possibility of saying something that could hurt me. I looked around the room in panic and locked eyes with Rosalie. I don't know what she saw in my expression but she frowned and was immediately by my side. She wedged herself next to me in the chair.

Alice's eyes narrowed as she looked at Rosalie pointedly. "I was actually hoping we could speak alone."

Before I could answer, Rosalie jumped in. "It's not like we wouldn't be able to hear you anyway, Alice."

Alice opened her mouth to object but I quickly ended the argument. "I want her to stay, Alice."

Rosalie's posture seemed to relax slightly but Alice looked crestfallen. She took a deep breath and seemed to ignore Rosalie as she looked directly into my eyes. "Bella, you need to know that I haven't been able to see you for some time now."

"Oh," I responded brilliantly.

"You're future was never easy for me to see because you were a human and I'm more attuned with my own kind. But the day Edward left you; I could see you up until your father made a decision to send someone to look for you in a specific area. After that, everything went dark."

My chest burned at her casual reference of Edward leaving me. All these years I'd wondered whether or not she could see me. I had no idea her visions of me stopped so suddenly after they left. Wait a minute. She said she couldn't see me until Charlie sent someone in a specific area. But I was in the woods for hours.

I shook my head to clear my rapid thoughts. "Alice, you saw me up until my dad sent someone to a specific area to find me?"

She nodded cautiously.

"But from the time Edward left and the time I was found…that must have been hours."

"Bella, wait," she said slowly.

"The only way you could have seen me get rescued…"

Alice shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Bella, please, just listen to me."

I shook my head in denial but my mind kept coming to one horrifying conclusion.

"You watched?"

"Bella, you have to understand. I had to watch and make sure you were okay."

"You knew what Edward said to me in the woods and you watched me fall apart after he left?"

"Bella! Please." Alice pleaded, but I would not listen.

"You saw me look for him for hours? You saw me crying and pleading for him to come back? You saw me get so exhausted that I collapsed onto the cold forest floor?"

I didn't notice that I had my arms wrapped around my torso until I felt Rosalie's soft touch. She pried my arms loose and held one of my hands in her own.

Alice dropped to the floor so she could kneel in front of me. She tried to grab my other hand but I snatched it away.

"Don't. Don't hate me," Alice whispered. "I watched because I wanted to make sure you were safe. When Edward left, I knew you were going to try and follow him. So I watched, even though I knew I had no right to. I loved you too much to stop looking for your future. Your dad made the decision to send someone to look in a specific area of the forest and then your future disappeared."

I shook my head at her disbelievingly. "I just can't believe you could sit back and watch me fall apart."

"I'm so sorry. I knew it would be hard for you to let him go, but I thought you could eventually move on."

"You thought I would move on?" I stopped and breathed in Rosalie's comforting scent. "What did you expect of me? You thought I would just go on with my life as if I didn't have an entire family ripped from me? I thought you knew me better than that, Alice."

"Please don't be angry with me. I never meant to hurt you, I promise."

But I wasn't angry, not really. I tried to come up with words to describe my feelings. Hurt, betrayal, devastation? Someone I once considered a sister knew that my heart was going to get ripped out and did nothing to stop it. It's almost as if she approved of everything Edward said to me in the woods. Did she think I wasn't good enough for him either? Is that why she went along with everything? Was she also tired of pretending to be something she's not? Was she tired of being my best friend?

I leaned forward to look at Alice's beautiful face. "I'm not angry with you. I'm just…hurt." I felt deflated. I felt the familiar ache of emptiness. I needed to get out of this house. I stood up slowly and gave Rosalie a grateful smile as I pulled my hand from hers.

"I need to go back to my house."

"Why?" Rosalie questioned. She and Alice both stood with me.

"I have work tomorrow, and I need to catch up on a few things." I was actually surprised the weekend was over already. It felt as if I had just walked into their house but I had been here for more than 30 hours. And this didn't even include the trip to my house with Rosalie and Jasper or my trip to the woods with Emmett.

I noticed everyone had come back down to tell me goodbye. Before I could walk to the door, Alice whimpered. "Bella, tell me what I can do to make this better."

I couldn't stand to see her in any kind of pain but I didn't want to lie to her either. I walked closer to Alice and raised my hand to cup her cheek.

"Don't be sad," I murmured, "I can't stand it."

Her cheek felt like satin to the touch and she automatically leaned in to my cupped palm. I brought my other hand to her face and traced the faint purple shadows under her eyes.

"You need to hunt," I told her. After I pulled my hands away from her, she didn't look quite as sad. I smiled slightly. "We'll work something out, Alice. I just need time."

She nodded and stepped back into Jasper's embrace. He caught my eye and gave me a subtle nod before turning his attention back on his soul mate.

Esme appeared in front of me and cautiously took my hand. I smiled at her and squeezed her hands slightly.

"When can we see you again?" she asked.

"I'm not sure, I usually go to the library before it actually opens to the public, and I stay long after it closes."

I looked to the corner of the room and saw Edward's shoulders slump in defeat. I had to say something to take his pain away. "I actually have a considerably long lunch break that I rarely take. So if someone wanted to visit me, that would be nice, and I could show them around the library."

Edward's eyes snap to mine and I was rewarded with a brilliant smile that took my breath away. Everyone quickly told me goodbye and as I turned towards the front door, there was Edward.

"May I walk you out?"

"Sure."

He opened the front door for me and closed it behind us. "I was wondering if it would be okay if I came to visit you alone during your lunch break."

"Of course."

"I know you and Rosalie are a bit closer now, and if you wanted her to be the one to visit, I didn't want to get in the way."

"You wouldn't be!" I blurted. "In the way, that is. I'd like to show you around, maybe show you some of the books I'm reading."

"I would love that." We stopped beside my car and smiled at each other for a full minute.

"Well I should be going." He opened the car door for me and, to my amusement, helped me buckle my seat belt.

"One more thing, Bella," he started. I looked at him expectantly as he seemed to gather his words. "When is it our turn to talk?"

"What do you mean?" I decided to play ignorant.

"I think you know. I'm not going to rush you, but there are many things I wish to say to you about us."

I felt my chest tighten at his words. "I need time, Edward."

He nodded. "Take as much time as you need. I'll wait for as long as it takes."

I started the car and with a short wave I was gone. On the way back to my house, I turned my radio as loud as it could go so I could stop my mind from thinking double time. I took a deep breath and smelled Rosalie and Jasper's soothing scents still fresh on my seats. I couldn't help but smile as one thought swirled through my mind. The Cullens are back.

End Notes:

Thank you so much for reading.

I know that the Cullens never really responded to Bella's conversation with Ava. But don't worry, they will eventually.

I know that Bella and Edward have had limited interactions throughout the story but they're still not ready for the talk.

As always, I'd love to know what you think.