Heyys

Okay. So I only got 17 reviews for the last chapter... Which is sad, seeing as I've got over 30 approximately for the others… I've whittled (hehe, see, the awesome words just keep coming and coming :p) it down to two possible reasons:

1). I did only post it on Saturday, and what with the bust lives people live in this day and age, people simply didn't have the time to review.

2). The last chapter was atrocious, and therefore readers deemed it unworthy for reviews, and instead decided to scowl at the computer screen and muse to themselves why they'd just spent the ast few minutes reading the rubbish.

Mhhhmm… yup. I'm betting on the latter :(

I did have a few others including: everyone had spontaneously died of Swine Flu… but I think I would have heard that on the news. And then I wondered if my babbling put people off? Which is still a possibility… Ah well. Anyway. To all who did review THANKS another trumpet of nelephants! (apparently elephants trumpet… it seems odd to me. I was trying to impersonate one (an elephant that is) the other day; it's surprisingly difficult. The noises I made were actually rather disturbing.) *HA! I can just imagine you all trying to make elephant-esque squeals, it's hard, I assure you. :P*

Anyway. This chapter was rushed to get it out on time, so I'm sorry if there are typos :s And I'm sorry if I didn't reply to reviews! UGH. It was either update or reply. And I decided that I had to keep my promise, so instead of working today, like I should have been… I typed this up. Thanks SO much to reviewers! 624 reviews? WOWS…

Ugh. I've made myself a pledge not to babble today. So yeah, *refrains from typing up more* here you go:

What Happened Last Chapter:

(Bella's POV)

I didn't look at Jacob's face. I knew it would just break me further. I had to at least try to be strong. I had to fix this. I would change it. I wouldn't allow the dream to come true. I couldn't allow it to come true.

I knew who the girl in my dream was. The one who had been tortured by Jane, taken away by the figures and consumed by the darkness. I had known since I'd first seen her in the dark clearing, moving forward despite her fear. I knew the girl the Volturi wanted. And I had to find her, I had to stop this. I had to make her believe me, because I she didn't then reality and dreams would merge into one. Causing chaos.

I knew who the girl in my dream was. And I knew she didn't trust me. But I had to make her trust me. Despite how I'd acted. I had to make her believe what I was saying was the truth, instead of insanity like Carlisle would deem it.

Because the girl had been Lucie.

***

What Happened Last Chapter:

(Lucie's POV)

"Nothing, just wondering." I made to stand up. Carlisle had helped to an extent. But not much. I think I'd already known before confronting him that medical science could not cure nor pin point the reason for my dreams. I was about to walk out the room when I felt Carlisle's hand on my shoulder. I cringed slightly, his hand was close to where Demetri had gripped me, a purple bruise lay underneath the thin fabric. I averted my thoughts from that.

"I don't think you have Hypoglycaemia Lucie, but your visions-" My glare cut him off. I hated people calling them visions. They simply weren't reliable enough to be called that. "Dreams- have become more frequent, because of the lack of sugar. But that's easily remedied." He smiled then, and it was one that could put dentists to shame. "I think it's high time Esme got back in the kitchen."

I wasn't going to protest to that.

The Midnight Irises.

(Lucie's POV)

Carlisle had cleaned up the blood; Esme had provided me with a ridiculous amount of cookies; Alice had explained to me to my father was safe, and that we would be going to school tomorrow… These, were just some of the things I took in from the last hour. I'd been dazed really, my mind was overflowing with information I was too tired to process. Yes, I was tired. Instead of telling anyone about this though, I just kept surreptitiously asking for tea whenever people said if I was 'okay'. Esme was the only one who seemed to fully realise the meaning behind the beverage, but didn't question me. I was grateful for that.

Now, I was walking down the Cullens' corridor, meaning to look to wherever Alice had got to, and try and persuade her into letting me see my father. She'd already assured me he was fine. But I wasn't satisfied. And even if he was fine; I still wanted to see him. I was just contemplating whether I should play on her sympathy to get my wish, when I heard them.

Voices. Voices at a door to my left. It was uncannily like the last time I'd overheard something in the Cullens' corridor. Uncannily because it was the exact same two people talking. Jasper and Edward.

I half expected their voices to cease or quieten when I began to listen. But they didn't. Evidently too caught up in their argument to hear my arrival. The moment I tried to listen and make out what they were saying; I knew it was too late to go back. If I moved now, their vampire hearing would detect my presence within a second. Yet if I didn't move, then I was under the risk that they would find out I'd been listening to their argument, and henceforth find out that I had been eavesdropping. The latter was very likely to happen. I was well and truly stuck.

Well crud.

I decided, more out curiosity then anything else, that I might as well listen. And before I could ponder too deeply on my decision, Jasper's voice rang sharply from the other room. He wasn't actually loud, but his words held the aggravation.

"Edward, you're living in denial."

"I'm not." Edward's tone was impertinent.

"Yes you are. You're blind, Rosalie's sick of it, she noticed it first-"

"So what? Now you're taking Rosalie's viewseriously? She's just saying that, it's not true Jasper. She has an aversion to Bella anyway, for reasons that surpass me." There was a sigh at this comment.

"Even if that was the case," Jasper said, somehow remaining to stay calm, "which it's not Edward. I can tell, you have no idea what she feels when you enter a room Edward, and you-"

There was a growl.

"Do not tell me how I feel, Jasper." His name was spat; I recoiled slightly at Edward's tone, utterly clueless as to what he and Jasper were discussing.

"Someone has to Edward." Jasper said quietly. Too quietly, I barely caught it; I strained my ears and leant slightly towards the door.

"I'm perfectly capable of judging my emotions" Edward snapped.

"You're so blind."

And then there was a silence.

I froze. Completely froze. Everything was in slow motion, I saw the door handle being turned and then - in a flurry of movement - it swung open, with Edward scowling in the centre of it, his eyes zooming instantly on the only person in the corridor.

Yeah. Me.

"What," He said coldly at me, (I still hadn't unfrozen) "do you think you are doing Luciana." I scowled back at him, despite myself. I hated that name. Jasper appeared behind Edward and ran off too fast for me to tell which direction he'd gone. The sight of him made Edward's expression harden.

"Standing." Was my reply.

"I would say something else beginning with S actually." He said his tone still cold. "A verb that rhymes with lying."

"Hilarious Edward. Rhyming games. How perfect." I said, mirroring his tone, and fighting the urge to cry. Why did I want to cry? So what if he hated me?

I didn't understand my emotions as I stared at him. And it annoyed me. A lot. Not understanding what others are feeling is irritating. But not being able to understand your own emotions? That's just plain frustrating. At this point, I wanted to be Jasper. Screw mind reading. If I could understand what he was feeling; that would be enough.

But would you stop how you feel if it was different? I drowned out that thought. I already knew the answer. Frowning slightly, in the act of ridding my head of such errant thoughts once more.

"Rhyming games," Edward mimicked me icily, "I was just trying to phrase your spying in a better light, Lucie. You weren't meant to argue the point." His words were meant to offend me. They didn't. I mean, I hadn't intentionally wanted to hear that conversation, and it still didn't make much sense.

It struck me that he wasn't walking away. This confused me; I tried to imitate his scornful look. And failed. My face probably now looked contorted. I mean, I really wanted to slap him. No scratch that; I wanted to punch him. Not because I wanted him to feel pain, (Mike would be another story entirely) but because I wanted to unleash my anger for once. Instead of having it constantly bubbling inside me. Bottled up and never released. Or when it was released, it always seemed to be in a situation when my opponent was a vampire. Which really wasn't very fair to be honest.

Again. Fear washed through me at my most recent release of anger I'd had around a vampire, and the consequences it had caused. I wanted to sit down, to place my hands firmly on either side of a chair. It would have made the shaking less noticeable.

In an act of trying to forget that, again, I looked back at him. Expecting his expression to have changed at my sudden tension. His expression wasn't different though. Albeit, slightly more indecisive.

But still, he was looking straight back at me. I didn't blush, instead I felt the anger surge again, anger and another emotion that I would have to contain. Looking at me like that, arrogance practically radiating off him. But the thing was, he was leaning. Slouching casually against the wall now, his shirt clinging to him, brow furrowed in a quizzical scowl. And running his snowy fingers through his tousled bronze hair.

And as much as I hated to admit it. Edward looked…

Well. Wow pretty much sums it up. Damn his stupid, ethereal, impossible looks. They really didn't help with the whole: you-are-meant-to-hate-him situation. I held on to that. The tiny spark of annoyance. I would need it.

"Utter hubris." I muttered under my breath.

"Excuse me?" Edward's replied trying to keep up the cold tone but unable to completely mask the amused edge to it.

"It'll be your downfall Edward, hubris."

"Excessive ambition shall be my down fall?" He asked sceptically.

"No. God like arrogance will be." He didn't reply to that at first, yet when he spoke, his voice was low, words sharp.

"Arrogance is one thing Lucie. At least I'm not naive." I just sighed, I'd had enough.

"If it's any consolation Edward," I said before walking away, sick of his attitude. "I disagree with Jasper too. You alone know what you feel."

With that I turned, leaving Edward stunned behind me.

Because the only emotion Edward felt towards me was hatred.

I needed Alice.

***

It only took roughly 23 seconds for her to arrive by my side. I made a vow to myself to not think about what had just happened. I would place it in the back burner of my mind. Deal with it later.

"Now Lucie…"Alice started anxiously, looking at her feet like a small child who expecting a scolding for doing something bad, much like I had done when I broke a vase all those years ago. I cut my thoughts off from that memory however, instead focusing on the present. Why was Alice looking like that though? It was strange. She said her next words in a gush, her pitch raising an octave by the end. "Look I needed to see Jazz because he was upset and needed my company, I didn't mean to leave you alone, and then that stupid brother, ugh! Look I'm really sorry about Edward and I just think that-"

I cut her off. The rate at which her voice was rising was actually quite scary. In a matter of seconds, only dogs would have heard her. But she looked even worse at my interrupting. Hanging her head slightly and looking sad. I suddenly felt an urge to hug the small pixie. Sure, she was annoying and kind of scarily obsessed with clothes, but all the same. It was Alice. And I felt awful for being to reason for her sadness.

"It doesn't matter Alice. Just…" Was I really going to say this? Anything to make Alice happy. I chanted quietly, the chant blocked out my other thoughts, which were now practically screaming in mercy. "You can spend some time torturing me to get your mind off things if you like." Yes. As soon as the foolish words left my mouth, I instantly regretted them. Big surprise.

Suddenly, Alice clapped her small white hands in front of her, beaming beatifically.

She looked rather like a seal.

"Yay! Oh thank you Lucie, you won't regret it-"

"I already have..." I muttered ruefully, but Alice's beam only increased. I decided, there and then, that anyone who was that happy about giving people clothes was mentally insane. But then again, it was Alice we were talking about here.

The moment I was in her room, she shoved me into a ludicrously large bathroom with a gigantic shower (did vampires even need to shower?) and animatedly began throwing the contents of the silk bags at me. Each and every one looked ludicrously expensive. But I didn't argue. It was nice to see someone happy for once (even if it was Alice, now hyper at the prospect of me trying on clothes.) My weeks recently had been constantly filled with fear. Happiness was rarely something I saw now a days. I suppose I'd just have to cope with it not being my own.

"Oh Lucie," Alice trilled, awaking me slightly from my slightly depressing thoughts. "This is so much fun!"

I gave her a quizzical look. The girl seriously needed to look up that word in the dictionary. I made a mental note to get her one as a birthday present. And highlight the definition of fun.

"Right, I've decided, you're going to wear this; it's perfect." Alice's tone held too much confidence; I just nodded as I went back into her bathroom and changed. I didn't look at the clothes as I pulled them on. They all fit perfectly; it was quite creepy how Alice knew my exact size really.

It was only when I caught my reflection did I fully regret my mental vow to make Alice happy. The combination was tight jeans and a dark top. It was quite nice actually; except for the top that was. The colour, I didn't object to. It was just a deep midnight blue. But I glowered at it.

Or, more specifically, I glowered at my exposed collar bones.

Alice was going to pay.

***

I don't know what happened. Alice somehow did a sad puppy look when I ranted about not wearing the clothes. It had made me feel guilty. So now, not only did I have to wear the clothes (if you could call them that) Alice had somehow made me agree to have a makeover, to prove I was truly sorry…

Yeah. Life sucks.

The next few minutes pasted in a blur. Alice decided to attack my face with multiple torture devices, all the while muttering strange and long facts about what she was doing. "I won't apply much because in your case Lucie, less is definitely more. Lighter tones aren't needed because you're so pale, you don't actually need any makeup, except for those dark circles under your eyes…" That sort of statement would be followed by several disapproving tuts and then my face would be attacked again, and I would squeeze my eyes shut whilst all the while the mocking voice in my head would mutter profanities at how unjust life was. I droned that out. Instead listening to Alice's wind chime chirps. Even is they were fixated on strange feature enhancing products. .

"Honestly Lucie, you'd think I was torturing you by the expression you've got." Alice practically sang happily. Too happily. It was unnatural.

"You have no idea how correct your statement is." I said darkly. Something about Alice's smile was odd. She was too happy. It was an odd change from her deep melancholy before. I suddenly felt very suspicious of her. "Hang on Alice…" I said slowly, as I pieced the information together. Damn Alice's acting skills. "You weren't really upset earlier where you? You knew I was going to give in, didn't you?"

I saw Alice's reflection in the vanity mirror smile wider. She chuckled musically.

"You're surprisingly easy to influence Lucie. I bet you wanted this really." She said. I inhaled a breath sharply. Wanted this? Wanted to be attacked with those devices? Wanted my collar bones exposed like this? Did she seriously just say I wanted all that?

"I. Did. Not. Want. This. Alice." I said through gritted teeth. With key emphasis on the word: not. "You-you-you…" I struggled for a word to describe the evil-pixie-playing-on-my-guilt-and-sympathy-genius behind me. "Manipulative vampire." I muttered.

"I wouldn't say manipulative." Alice pouted, she had progressed onto my hair now, she'd brushed it so lightly I could barely feel the strokes. Now she was twisting and turning my hair into an intricate pattern. I resisted the urge to growl.

"I would. Using coercion like that's got to be a sin." I remarked lightly.

"Coercion?" Alice gasped in mock horror. "I didn't threaten you once!"

"You were about to." I muttered. She smiled wryly.

"True." She said happily before twisting me round lightly on the chair, I felt dizzy. Alice was looking at me approvingly. I think my scowl might have ruined the affect slightly though. That thought would have made me feel slightly smug, if it weren't for the fact that Alice had already claimed that emotion with her smile. Looking smug in the extreme.

"You look perfect Lucie."

I didn't look in the mirror at the overall affect. I'd look the same, sure, my hair would be glossier; my lips redder; and I'd probably look thinner in the top I was wearing. But it would still be me underneath that. The plain girl with bruises and cuts.

Besides, I was too busy in my head to spare a look at my reflection.

I made an extremely important mental note: never trust Alice again.

If only I could stick to it.

***

I was feeling sleepy again as Alice half towed me downstairs and into the living room.

I sat down on the sofa as they talked; they were speaking irritably fast again, at a speed in which I could only make out a few sentences. The like of which were: "No, no…until the 30th," and: "I can't see them changing their plans so quickly." Which, incidentally, didn't make much sense to me at all.

Jasper scooted over to me next, I hadn't registered the movement, instead nervously twisting the dark blue fabric on my sleeve and scowling at it. It was satin. Typical of Alice to find one of the most expensive materials for me to wear. His voice was as calm as ever. And my mind suddenly flitted to the words I'd overhead earlier.

You're living in denial Edward.

I paled at the memory afterward, still confused as to what Jasper had meant.

"You're confused." Jasper said next to me. I resisted the urge to smack him. I didn't physically want to hurt Jasper, I liked Jasper. In fact, along with Alice, he was probably one of my favourite people to be around. Despite his annoying ability to make me sleepy, he was genuinely nice, besides, he made Alice happy without taking her shopping, or having to endure a makeover. Anyone who could do that was a pure genius.

No. I wanted to hit him because he'd just stated the incredibly obvious fact that I was confused. I had several sarcastic comments lined up to use, one being: No Jasper, how could I be confused? A bunch of vampires are talking at a rate faster then my car can travel and I can't work out what they're discussing- namely because they're talking so darn fast. Plus, I've only recently woken up from bleeding in a forest and still feel slightly dazed by the memory. Otherwise though, I understand the entire situation with perfect clarity thanks.

I didn't say that though. I just nodded slightly, and looked up at him with a pleading look.

"Can you change that?" I said quietly, "Make me become…" Hang on; what was the opposite of confused? "Enlightened?" Oh great. Enlightenment. I sounded like the Buddha. Jasper chuckled wistfully in response to my now furrowed brows.

"No Lucie; it's better if you don't understand."

"I disagree." I pouted. Better if I didn't understand? Yeah. Because that would help with confusion. I frowned at my thoughts. Sarcasm seemed cropping up in a lot of them.

"It's really not very interesting, why else would he be talking to you Luce?" Emmett interjected, grinning. Did he ever stop dong that?

"I recon he's talking to me because I'm a highly mysterious individual Emmett." I said in a mock self-aggrandizing way, repressing a smile at how pompous I sounded. It didn't really work. Emmett just snorted. Rosalie sauntered up to him, a smirk on her flawless face. She was wearing dark jeans and a tight red top, her hair falling effortlessly in pristine curls down her back. I suddenly felt very self conscious. No amount of Alice applied torture would make me look like Rosalie.

"What gorgeous?" Emmett said to Rosalie, before turning to me and grinning. "Rose is probably the most successful assassin here." He said conversationally. Wait. Assassin?! Emmett fell into laughter at my expression; I couldn't help my look of horror. "It's because of her looks." Emmett said wisely, his smile was infectious. But Rosalie frowned at his comment.

"I'm like a rose; beautiful, but if you get too close I'll sting you." Rosalie murmured softly, her melodic voice eerily poetic. There was a pause then, as everyone took in her words and the meaning behind them.

"Sorry babe," Emmett said eventually looking at her bemusedly "but that reminds me more of a bumblebee." She scowled playfully, punching him on the shoulder.

"Since when are bumblebees beautiful Emmett?" Jasper interjected curiously, "have something you'd like to share with us all? An infatuation? Your one true love-" He was cut off as Emmett lunged at him grinning. Jasper was faster however, years of fighting on his side. They circled each other gracefully. Rosalie rolled her eyes. And Alice sighed.

"Don't Emmett." Alice said calmly. "Jazz wins."

"Oh yeah?" Emmett said still grinning whist continuing to circle Jasper. "And how can I tell that you're not lying?"

"Well…" Alice said chuckling lightly. "You can continue if you want, but my bets are on Jazz." Emmett sighed and held his hands up in no defeat, muttering something as he crossed to the window beside Rosalie.

"It's no fun with you Alice. Always predicting…" But I didn't catch the rest of the sentence, whether that was because he trailed off, or my human ears were too weak to hear the rest, I was unsure.

I couldn't understand the silence that had just formed. Everyone in the roomed tensed up except my self, and I noted - with a quick glance to the window - Emmett. He didn't look nervous like the rest of them and I felt grateful for that. The complete opposite of what Alice was now like, rigid next to me. I could feel the minute glances she kept sending to Jasper, despite the fact that they weren't meant to be noticed by me. It didn't take me long to figure out why everyone had frozen slightly, as I heard the Volvo draw up in the Cullens' ridiculously large drive. Seriously. Stupidly large seeing how many people lived here. I cringed at the thought of how many cars they had.

Rosalie was the first to break the silence. She stood up haughtily with an odd expression on her perfect face, half frown, half scowl of disapproval. The effect was that she looked close to furious when she looked out the window. I thought I hear her mutter something before she vanished up the stairs, closely followed by Emmett.

"Ugh. It's so typical of him; he just doesn't get it…" I didn't have time however, to decipher what Rosalie had meant. Because at that precise moment, Edward walked in, his arm snaked around Bella's waist. And despite everything, my stomach knotted painfully. I sat there, still on the sofa. Suddenly finding myself wishing that I was else were.

Edward looked almost taken aback when he found us all staring. And or some reason, this irked me. He should have known we'd all have been in here. What was the point of having mind reading power if you didn't use it? But I didn't question that any further, because I knew the girl beside him had certainly had his uttermost attention. His eyebrows furrowing slightly as his gaze lingered over Jasper - who was now on Alice's other side - I knew he was reading his mind, and was instantly curious to what he was thinking. See? It was completely unjust that Edward could read people's minds. And I was stuck with having to endure haunting memories of childhood by seeing people's pasts.

Again, I cut my thoughts off short. Remembering the clammy touch all too well, the pain as he'd gripped me, causing the bruises that coloured my arms… With probably too much fervour, I looked at Jasper. Willing his looks to somehow distract me, I found him staring at me, frowning much like Edward had. I knew it was because of the hectic emotions that kept overcoming me. I drew my eyes away from his golden ones, afraid he would detect the fear I wasn't willing to talk about. The fear that I couldn't talk about. Without dire consequences attached.

I hastily looked towards Edward and Bella again, ignoring what ever was wrong with my stupid stomach. Bella's eyes however, unlike Edward's, were not scanning the faces of the room around us. She was not blushing at the attention clearly focussed on her. Because she was only staring at one person in the room.

Me.

"Nice of you to drop by Edward." Alice chirped, visibly relaxing beside me as she relaxed her previously hunched soldiers. It occurred to me that the reason for Jasper by her side could have been a vision. I discarded that thought; Edward wasn't looking at her. Was I the only one to notice how formal she sounded? A snort from behind me confirmed that I wasn't. I recognised it instantly, and turned to face Emmett, grateful from having to look at anyone else. He was still unperturbed by the tension, looking like he was trying to prevent a grin.

"Drop by? You seem to come to our house loads Edward… I don't know, I think I assumed you lived here or something. You too Bella." Emmett said with a grin. Bella smiled weakly in response whilst Edward just frowned. I suddenly realised Rosalie wasn't in here. Emmett seemed to understand my expression, though how I didn't know. I'll put it down to some other annoying vampire power... "Rose needs some alone time," He said in a mock whisper, and grinned at Edward, "I think she's cross with you bro!"

"Joy…" Edward muttered sarcastically. Before turning back to look at Bella. It honestly hurt me to see his expression, so filled with love. I wanted to scream. Not because he loved her; but because she didn't love him as much back. And if she did, her heart was torn. His voice wasn't like how he'd spoken to me earlier. All traces of formality had left it, replaced by the emotion that was ardent in his dark eyes. "Bella, do you want to come upstairs?"

Bella's response was not one that I expected.

"No," That was the first surprise. "I want to talk with… Lucie." And that was the second.

I was quite sure my jaw had dropped.

Hastily, I shut it with an audible snap. Edward looked stunned; Jasper confused; Alice troubled; and Emmett - typical to his nature - merely looked amused and like he was about to laugh. I couldn't blame him in a way. Bella was turning rather red. And my jaw was dangerously low.

Bella quickly amended herself, blushing at everyone now gawking at her. She put my previous embarrassment to shame. When Bella blushed, my tomato shade practically looked pasty.

"If you don't mind," She murmured softly to me, a tentative look in her eyes, all traces of hatred gone. I felt ashamed again for thinking ill of her. She looked almost intimidated by me as she stood by Edward, almost as if she was unsure whether to hide behind him or draw away. I couldn't speak. I just nodded stupidly. Edward looked as shocked as I felt. She turned to him next, apology clear on her porcelain face, now a flaming red. "I'll come up in a sec, I just," She sighed slightly, as if unsure how to phrase it. "I need to ask Lucie something."

I don't know why, but for some reason, the act of Bella calling by my name, as apposed to 'her' seemed almost tentative, as if afraid of both my approval and Edward's.

"Sure." Edward said, his voice oddly composed and calm. My eyes flashed to Jasper, he smiled slightly at me and my suspicions were confirmed.

"Edward, come hunting with me and Jazz," Alice said unrepentantly, Edward shook his head.

"No, I'll wait for Bella."

It was then that I looked at him. Annoyed at his statement and how his mind was purely focussed on her. Because if Bella really did want to talk to me, I knew full well that she wouldn't be able to with Edward around. Not with what we were likely to discuss.

But when I met his eyes - which were not upon Bella, but rather myself - Alice's reason for hunting seemed paramount. I held in a gasp.

His eyes were dark; the tawny shade had left them almost completely. His irises were barely distinguishable from the pupils, with only a faint shimmer of gold. They were the colour of midnight. Very dark. Edward was very thirsty. He saw the look in my expression and turned away, hurt unmistaken on his face. I felt sick, realising too late that he had mistaken my shock as repulsion.

"You're probably right." Edward broke the silence - his voice was cold and blunt - only turning to look at Alice, whose mouth was a grim line. He refused to spare me a glance. Unwilling to see my apology. "I should hunt."

And with that he turned to exit the room.

And I couldn't fight down the feeling that he'd left because of me.

****

The Cullens had all left except Carlisle and Esme, both in the study upstairs, and not within hearing distance. Bella and I were in the kitchen, she was looking at her feet. And I stood there, feeling stupid.

"Look Bella," I decided to be blunt. "I'm not going to lie. I hate you for keeping this up. Yes. You love Jake and Edward, but hiding that's just going to make things worse, if you keep it up-" Bella interrupted me however, her voice shaking with rage, though quieter than how she'd spoken previously, barely above a whisper.

"Don't you think I know that?" I was taken aback by her expression. She continued venomously, I'd never seen her so angry, a blazing hatred was ardent in her brown eyes. Yet somehow, I knew it wasn't directly meant for myself.

"I know this Lucie. And it's killing me. But what do you suggest I do? Yeah. I love them both, is that such a crime?" Her voice was steadily losing its heat, but she carried on nevertheless, "I cannot tell Edward, Jake already knows, but do you realise what it would do to him? I've got to be strong Lucie, I can't seem to do anything. I just make it worse. Can you understand what it's like to be constantly weak?"

"I can." Was all I could choke out. It took me a while to respond to her words. "And I do understand Bella. But you have to tell Edward… he'll find out and then it'll just be worse-"

"No Lucie." Bella's voice was sharp. "I can't tell him. You don't understand."

"No Bella, I don't." I replied, mirroring her sharp tone. "I don't seem to ever understand do I? It's part and part of being human I recon. I'm always left in the dark; but I'm used to that. I don't expect to be treated differently."

"Lucie," Bella sighed impatiently, but not angry, just tiredly, as if the conversation had taken too much out of her. "I don't want to argue with you."

"I don't either." I said, but I couldn't keep the sharpness out of my voice. She noticed, looking at me, her expression dark.

"I cannot tell him Lucie. He'll go to Volterra."

And then, the anger evaporated.

And I hated Bella for that. I hated her for making the anger disappear. Because without it, I was barely a shell. Without annoyance or frustration, my heart ached, my head pounded. And fear was all that consumed me. Demetri's voice was harder to block out then ever.

"Look Lucie," She said, her voice lacked all its vigour from before. But I could sympathise, my anger towards her had flickered briefly and was now a dying flame. "I'm tired… both physically and emotionally. Please understand that." I did.

I looked at Bella then, and now she'd mentioned it, she did look tired. As in really tired. Her chocolate brown irises were ringed with black and she too, had mauve shadows forming under her eyes. Her movements were clumsier than normal; her smile forced; her carob black eyelashes fluttering every so often with the temptation of sleep. She grimaced under my scrutiny, as did I.

But my grimace wasn't because of how Bella looked, as if she'd been sleep deprived for days - no, my grimace was because looking at Bella, made me think of what I had looked like before Alice had decided to torture me. I had looked worse.

But wait a minute. Why was Bella lacking sleep?

She slumped slightly against the wall.

"What is it?" I asked quietly, unable to mask my concern. Something about Bella's stance, the way she was resting her body slightly against the wall, was odd. And it worried me. She let out a gust if air she'd been holding and then, in a voice so quiet I was worried I'd mishear, she spoke.

"I've been having dreams Lucie; really vivid ones."

***

Bella had told me about her dream.

She dreamt of me. Me with the Volturi.

It really hadn't been helpful news seeing as I'd spent the entire day trying to forget them. Bella had been worried, scared and afraid for me. It was the last part that didn't make sense. The Cullens had arrived home, with the exception of Jasper and Edward. I'd felt awful at that. But Bella seemed relived when Edward didn't arrive back, and quickly to see Charlie. Alice said the Volturi had no intention of arriving to Forks soon and took Bella home. Part of me wondered whether she really was going to see Charlie or Jacob. The day had passed eerily quickly; it was around 11:30.

And now I was in Edward's room. Sitting cross legged on his sofa. On Alice's orders. She'd arrived back providing me with a heavy quilt I had no intention of using, and had insisted I used Edward's room, claiming that he wouldn't be coming back tonight. I fingered the soft quilt wondering how it was possible for the Cullens' house to be so big and yet not possess a guest room. I didn't wrap the quilt around me, despite the temperature. Because I couldn't sleep. Not with Bella's added news. If I fell asleep now I would surely wake up screaming.

My eyes felt heavy, I found them fluttering shut, wondering idly about Jasper's conversation with Edward earlier in an act of trying other thoughts. I felt light then, very light. Almost as if I was floating.

There was a noise then, and I snapped my eyes open. I nearly screamed when I found Edward stock still in his doorway, staring at me his expression unfathomable as his eyes raked over my figure sitting on his sofa, staring back at him with wide eyes.

His eyes were wide too.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you." He said eventually.

"It's okay." I said truthfully - really trying to stop looking at him like I was - no doubt in utter awe. It was pathetic. Stupid. Yeah, his bronze hair was windswept. So what? That does not give you an excuse to stare at him like that!

"I presume Alice sent you here?" He mused dryly, slouching off his jacket and placing it on the corner of the sofa. I really wish he hadn't done that. My whole do-not-look-at-him act was becoming increasingly difficult and him taking clothes off did not help my situation at all.

"She said you wouldn't come back tonight."

He gave me a strange look then, moving too quickly to my side, so that I couldn't protest - and staring at a point on my hair. "You've got split ends." Edward commented, twisting a lock of my hair gently in-between his pale slender fingers.

And that simple movement, the act of him twisting it, and the supple gentleness of his touch. Was enough.

Suddenly, the memories where hitting me thick and fast, Demetri's voice plagued my thoughts, yes, they were split ends. From where he'd pulled my hair… Wanting to hear me scream. I couldn't help it. His face loomed before be again, and this time even Edward's face wasn't enough to banish the black eyes rimmed with crimson from my mind. I felt a shudder surpass me, as I gasped sharply, my heart rate increasing, every nerve ready for an oncoming attack. Ready to run.

Edward noticed this, instantly; he dropped his hand from the lock of my hair. Instead cupping my face in between his miracle cool palms. So unlike Demetri's clammy ones, the very same ones that had gripped me and paralysed me still. The cold that had not soothed but pronounced the horrible feeling of claustrophobia. He was saying something to me. But I couldn't hear. I couldn't think. I just kept seeing Demetri, and hearing his chilling voice replayed again and again in my mind.

I noted something though, as his voice eventually reached me. Tainted with anxiety to my now chalk white complexion. For once, fire did not irrupt where his skin met mine. I was numb to everything.

"What Lucie? What happened?" Edward was reading too much in my expression, I closed my eyes- knowing how much truth he could access from them - desperate to brush off the comment. He couldn't know…

Because if he did. He would get hurt.

My father would get hurt.

"Oh, and if you're thinking about telling about our little talk and chat? Well don't. I really wouldn't recommend it. Trust me, if you do, you'll regret it. I'll make sure of that. And your father will pay…"

Demetri had worked out of my weaknesses. My father. He knew that I would do anything to protect him, what he didn't know, was my other weakness. Him. The stupidly good looking vampire before me was my other weakness. He could reach me on an emotional level that others would never be able to. Edward didn't know this, and I was going to keep it that way.

If he knew. He would get hurt.

He was still staring at me when I opened my eyes, slowly as I stared at him. I summoned a strength I did not possess. I would have to attempt to pass it off as humour, hoping my eyes didn't give away what I was thinking. Though I knew that my attempt at a coy smile was certain to resemble more of a grimace.

"Split ends Edward? I'm appalled you're ready to criticize me so quickly."

And as predicted, my humour didn't work.

"What happened Lucie?" His eyes never left my gaze, my breathing hitched, it was the first time I'd fully noticed their colour; a salient gold. I'd forgotten his absence had been due to hunting.

"Nothing. Demetri arrived, Victoria ran off. Next thing I knew..." I was in your arms, never wanting to be parted from them. "I-I was back here." Edward was not impressed.

"Why can't you tell me Lucie," He whispered, our foreheads almost touching, I could feel his breath, cold against my hot face. Sending waves of dizziness through me. I blinked, trying to recapture my train of thought. But it had vanished. I could only see him. His angular cheekbones, hair glistening with diamonds.

And it was terrifying.

Because he was too good looking. It was just plain hazardous.

I closed my eyes again, willing to get a grip on my emotions. I couldn't afford this. Not now. Edward was perfectly capable at extracting the truth from me. Hell, all he had to do was look at me to make me feel dizzy. If he'd do anything more then that…

I cut my thoughts off short. Thinking about Edward doing more than staring was plain scary. I couldn't even afford to let him talk really. Not with how his velvet voice would make me feel, that too could procure the information about Demetri from me. A yawn escaped me. And snapped my mouth shut tight in horror, Edward's head snapped round at the sound.

"That does it Lucie. You're going to sleep. Now."

I looked up at him, my eyes pleading. His resolve didn't waver, his expression set in stone. I glared at him, the stony silence in the room felt electric. I wanted to suck up the energy from it. I would need it.

"I don't want to sleep!" I finally shouted at him, letting loose some frustration, he deserved it. My outburst evidently hadn't been expected and he had the grace to look taken aback. Confusion prominent on his perfect face. I looked away from that, his face, the knot twisting sharply in my stomach, a dull ache forming.

Edward loved Bella. Bella loved Edward. I chanted silently to myself. But there was more. You shouldn't be ogling at his face no matter how stupidly perfect it is! I had a strong mind to find that little mocking voice in my head, and hit it simultaneously with a large heavy object. Like a stick.

He didn't speak for a moment; we just sat there in stony silence. While I was raging a war in my head, contemplating the fact that people who argue with themselves tend to need a psychologist. But eventually my head was silent. That's all there was now. Silence. An uncomfortable one, completely different from what it was normally like, with Edward's musical voice so often filling it. As usual, he broke it, his voice formal and stiff with the hint of a sigh. I hated the formal voice.

The formal voice should burn in hell.

"Lucie you're tired." It wasn't a question. It was a statement, and more importantly: it was the truth; and the worse bit was, he knew it. Normally, this sort of statement would take me aback. But no. He was using the formal voice; the one I hated. That gave me some anger to last on.

"But I don't want to sleep." I repeated, meaning to sound stubborn, determined. Strong willed at what I wanted, and refusing to succumb so easily to his requests. It didn't work though. Instead of sounding how I wanted, the truth left my mouth in little less than a whisper. Revealing far too much depth in why I didn't want to sleep. I wanted closed my eyes, unwilling for him to see them. They certainly, would give away what I was feeling.

Fear.

Because despite my anger. A voice couldn't change much. Underneath I was scared. Scared because, despite everything, Edward was closer to the truth then he realised. He couldn't know about how much the Volturi's plans revolved around me. How important I was to them. Because if he knew, he would try to protect me. And then everyone would get hurt.

He stayed standing against the rack of CDs, looking at me carefully, decision wavering forming and reforming constantly on his features. I didn't speak, just averted my eyes. I'd been staring again. And I wonder why you were staring…

I needed that stick again.

Slowly, I looked back to my knees, hugged tightly to my chest. The wind rattled suddenly against the windows, which were open. It made an oddly disconcerting sound, more like a cry instead of wind. A whisper hanging on the night air. My stomach twisted. I knew all too well what it sounded like.

"Cold?" He asked, misinterpreting my sudden body tension, I shook my head. I suppose it looked as though I was cold, sitting like this. With gusty winds making my hair rise slightly in the faint light. But I wasn't. It felt numb again, and it terrified me. I'd thought Edward was the remedy to the numbness. In his presence my despair faded almost completely. I'd be oblivious to all else but him.

Not tonight.

"Lucie…" I hated it when he did that. Sighed my name, half in aggravation and something else. It drove me crazy, and really that wasn't another emotion I needed to add to my exceedingly long list of hellish emotions. The top four were: confusion; craziness; numbness and anger. I hated all of them. I cut my thoughts off short and looked up to find him staring at me again. "Look, you need to sleep."

I was perfectly aware I needed to sleep. But that wasn't something I could just achieve by closing my eyes. Nor something I'd even be able to do in his presence, however drained I was. However tried I felt. Carrying the weight of more than one person's guilt on my shoulders. Forever keeping secrets. Forever telling lies.

I was sick with it all.

I numbly noted Edward was still talking. The words meant little to me, whilst I constantly battled with my mind with the connotations that the word 'sleep' caused for me. Banishing all memories and thoughts at what had happened this morning. A morning that I had almost entirely missed due to sleep deprivation. They still continued to fight though, his words always wanting to haunt me. Wanting to make me cower in fear.

I concentrated more than ever on Edward's voice. Soft, melodic, a symphony of sounds that no human could ever achieve. Beautiful…

No. Those thoughts would not help either. I sighed frustrated suddenly. Whenever I tried to clear my mind, one of two things would always manage to pop up. Horror at the prospect of more dreams, and Edward. I shouldn't be thinking of either of those. Again, I felt ill. Wanting more than ever to sleep. To not think. To be broken free from the purgatory state of mind that constantly seemed to consume me.

"Lucie, you are going to sleep."

His tone was final. But he didn't understand. I'd had more than I could stand recently, my head ached and I was far too terrified to even consider the prospect of sleep, of what would await me in the darkness when I succumbed to it. I shuddered involuntarily. And looked up at him though my eyelashes, too tired to argue, willing him to just understand.

"Please Edward;" I said quietly, "I just… can't sleep at the moment." He stared at me for a bit, an odd expression on his face now, one that I could only describe as surprise. It stood there for a moment, looking slightly stunned for an odd reason then - in a movement too fast to be perceived as walking - crossed the room towards me.

My breathing hitched in spite of myself, and slowly, he traced one pale finger just above my cheeks, I let my eyelids flutter shut. His touch was soothing, not like ardent fire, just a single cool fingertip against the top of my cheeks, tracing the bags that would form if I continued like this.

"On one condition," He said softly, I reopened my eyes; he'd removed his finger, bending down to be level with me on his sofa. His face aligned with mine, golden eyes smouldering. "You promise to never go in those woods again." His words were serious. I just nodded slightly, dazed at his closeness. And promptly forcing on a mask that portrayed no emotion. It was a hard thing to do, look composed and relaxed, when inside you're screaming. Demetri's voice was suddenly filing my mind.

"Sweet dreams."

I gasped. Snapping the eyes I couldn't remember closing back open. Edward's expression was worse than before. Somehow more sincere.

"Please Edward," I said quietly, "I just, I need to stay awake. Yeah, I'm tired, but sleeping… it's just an option I can't afford to take." I knew if he read too deeply into my words he'd work it out. Let's face it; Edward wasn't exactly thick was he? He was still very close to me, kneeling beside the sofa, each hand on either side of me, preventing an escape. Ha, like you'd want to escape?! I hated that part of my head. It always seemed to find the truth.

"You don't want to dream Lucie," My breathing caught. I knew what he was thinking. But I couldn't sleep. Because when I dreamt, with was not something I wanted to do in the first place, he'd be able to see my dream. By whatever glitch we shared he'd figured it out. He'd see how the Volturi spoke to me in my dreams, the reverence in which they referred to my blood. He'd- "I can help, I'll keep the bad dreams away." Yeah. At this moment in time, I was terrified that he'd find out. Terrified. But still. There was no denying how ridiculous hid words sounded.

"You'll keep the bad dreams away?" I asked, heavily accenting scepticism, hoping it was enough to cover my shallow breaths. Edward's expression didn't change. Nor did his stance. It wasn't really fair, with him leaning over me like this. Stupid intimidating, annoyingly attractive, strong, vampire...

"I can if you'd like." He replied smoothly.

"And how," I said, squirming slightly so that I was in a position that did not involve being heavily overshadowed, and therefore feeling slightly less inferior, "do you propose to do that?" He replied flawlessly again, never retracting his gaze from my own.

"I could lull you into a dreamless sleep."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm always serious."

Right. Of course. Edward was always serious. Sorry to make assumptions.

"And how do I know that this," I arched both eyebrows (see? If I could raise one life would be so much easier!) At the use of my next word "'lulling' of yours will work?" I continued with the scepticism, the tone would have been perfect, if it wasn't for how erratic my pulse was.

"Because," Edward mused with a wry smile, "I'm exceptionally good at things like that."

"Oh are you?" God. I had to get away from him. My heart rate was ridiculous.

"I am." He breathed, not without a touch of innuendo. That did it. Forcefully, I stood up, staring at him and using all my will power and determination not to do something that would involve Edward's head being significantly closer to my own. I glared at him. Typical. Just typical. I never used to be like this. It was him. The stupid vampire in front of me was bringing out a foolish side of me.

"I think I'll pass on the offer thanks." I said a little breathlessly, I was by his CD case now, Edward just shrugged calmly and went to my side, running his fingers idly along the rows upon rows of music and books, each perfectly aligned. I suddenly had an incredibly childish urge to mess everything up and see Edward's horrified reaction.

Oh crud. I was turning into Emmett.

I plucked a book from the shelf to distract myself, knowing full well that I wouldn't be able to read a word of it with his presence. And in his room. I wondered if I should have gone back to the sofa and begun to read it, but Edward spoke before I could make a decision. His voice made my thoughts go crazy again. The effect he was having on me at the moment was officially becoming out of control.

"I was lying earlier." Edward said sighing as he looked at me. "You're not naive Lucie, I just couldn't find anything intellectual to say as a comeback to being called arrogant. That stung." He smiled weakly. "I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven." I said weakly. I was still holding the book; it felt silly in my hands.

I could smell him. As ridiculous as it sounded; I could. It was exactly the same, still irritably alluring. Irresistible. I tried to think of something other than him. And it was hard. Very hard. Mike was the only person I could conjure in my mind. It did the trick. But was not entirely helpful. If Edward did so much as touch me I would have probably punched him senseless. Vampire strength or no vampire strength. You just can't complete with that amount of dislike.

"Are you okay Lucie," That was certainly not Mike's voice. "you've got a weird look in your eyes, almost frenzied." I glared at Edward, but had no retort. What was I supposed to say? Yeah, I probably look crazy because I was imagining punching Mike, Why? Oh you know, the usual, trying to distract myself from you.

"I'm fine." I sighed, staring at the book in my hands. It wasn't one of my favourites; but I had read it. It was the sort of book that had an oddly good title.

"Are you going to read that?" Edward asked quietly, gently removing The Grapes Of Wrath from my fingers, his brushing mine slightly.

The stupid spark made me want to flinch again. I looked up to his eyes, and suddenly, all thought of the book was eradicated. It was midnight and his irises were the terrible shade of gold. And I was transfixed. Suddenly, I forgot the fact that I was meant to be thinking of anything but him. I forgot everything.

Slowly, he put the book back on the shelf; his hands were on either side me now. My heart pounded far too audibly against my ribcage. "You don't mind do you?" He said. . No, not said. Breathed. And breathed breathlessly, despite that he didn't need oxygen.

But I certainly did.

And I couldn't breathe because I was unsure if he was even talking about the book anymore.

"Err-" Was my intellectual response. But I didn't say anymore, because in that instant, I saw something spark in his golden eyes. Something unimaginable. Impossible. Because he, was staring at me in the same way that I was staring at him.

Suddenly, I was unaware of the raging wind.

Now all I could hear was my blood pumping furiously in my ears.

Edward leant towards me, with unmistakable resolution in his eyes.

And then, it was if time stopped all together.

***

GASPETH!

I demand 100 reviews for this chapter. KIDDING. I hate it when people demand…Asking is fine (I can't say that pleading is annoying. Else I'd be deemed a major hypocrite.) One or two would be nice though, I won't lie. I LOVE the reviews I keep getting. Reviews=absolouteamazingandawesomeness! Basically, reviews make my day. I'll update this story regardless, but reviews will speed the updates up!

BAH. I feel like being evil. EVIL. Hence the cliffy :)

Review. And then you'll find out WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN… And I'll babble on like crazy next chapter if you want… or not. I could just update without the babble… is that what caused the decrease of reviews? My insistent babbling about Swine Flu..?

*shuts up*

PLEASE REVIEW!

Lily- who'd really appreciate reviews to save her from her future week at school.. she SHOULD have spent the bank holiday doing her work... but oh no...