Chapter Six- Change of Mind

After what seemed like three hours, Edward returned from the hospital. He appeared to be mulling over something in his head. He was awed, ashamed, and furious, I could tell.

Bella… She must be extremely interesting; otherwise Edward wouldn't have been so excited and shaken from boredom.

I was going to question Edward, but I thought better of it. After all he'd gone through, he should be left alone. Anyway, he'd have to think of an excuse soon. Rose was furious. Maybe he knew. Perhaps Emmett told him already.

I left the room, the worries pressing me.

The next day, I heard that Edward was being questioned by all the teachers about how he, Bella, and Tyler were.

What if that was the breaking point, the point that made him explode?

I sincerely hoped it wasn't.

So that was how I went through the days. I didn't listen to the teacher at all. All I did was regularly keep check on my visions and see if she would call on me. I spent the whole time worrying about how Edward, Bella, and the rest of the class were. It was a routine.

Another thought hit me. How would Edward fare when he found out that Jasper was planning to kill Bella, and Rosalie was on the warpath? He would be infuriated, no doubt. But how practiced was his self-control? I would rather not find out the hard way.

I hoped that Emmett was there to stop him when he found out. Or, rather, that Emmett would tell Edward about it himself.

As I was making that wish, I floated upwards into another vision…

When it was over, my eyes flew open in shock and terror. Our family will fight against each other?!? For a girl Edward barely knows?

Edward definitely knew now, and he knew what he would do. However, I…who would I side with? I wouldn't side with the winners just because I'd win too. I'd side with the people who I thought were right, wouldn't I? It was difficult to say.

It was a quiet ride back. I knew that Rosalie would be shouting at Edward silently by now. I was worried about Jasper. I didn't want him to fight Edward, and I didn't want Edward to fight him either.

Edward was probably thinking about what he would do when they started to fight. He was focusing on Jasper, I knew, because Jasper was the best fighter. I also knew because my visions kept swirling around those two fighting and circling each other, sizing up each other.

Stop that, Edward! It can't happen that way. I won't let it. He didn't answer me, so I resumed searching.

When we arrived at our house, I hesitated for a while before entering. I was still searching through vague memories. By the time I got in, they were already in their chosen places at the conference room. It was actually the dining room, but we never actually used it, so Carlisle liked to call it the conference room. I sighed softly and sat next to Esme, almost subconsciously. I rubbed my forehead. All these visions were making my head hurt. Sometimes I wished I could get rid of them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jasper twitch uneasily, looking as if he wanted to join me, but I already knew he wouldn't, no matter how much he wanted to. Even so, I was a little disappointed when he thought better of it and stayed where he was.

Edward took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry," looking first at Rosalie, then at Jasper and Emmett. "I didn't mean to put any of you at risk. It was thoughtless, and I take full responsibility for my hasty action."

Rosalie glared at Edward. "What do you mean, 'take full responsibility'? Are you going to fix it?"

"Not the way you mean," Edward clenched his jaw. He was definitely trying to keep calm, but his voice still had that quiet, dangerous sound to it. "I'm willing to leave now, if that makes things better."

"No," Esme whispered. "No, Edward."

He patted her hand. "It's only a few years." I hated to hear him say that because it wouldn't just be 'only a few years' to me or to Esme. It would seem like forever.

Emmett cleared his throat. "Esme's right. You can't leave now. That would be the opposite of helpful. We have to know what people are thinking, now more than ever." He smiled victoriously. That Emmett.

"Alice will catch anything major," Edward retorted.

Me!?! I don't want anyone to rely on me, Edward!

He didn't hear. He was too busy focusing on Carlisle.

Carlisle shook his head. "I think Emmett's right, Edward. The girl will be more likely to talk if you leave. It's all of us leave, or none of us."

"She won't say anything," Edward insisted.

"You don't know her mind," Carlisle said softly.

"I know this much. Alice, back me up."

Oh, for the love of heaven.

I stared up at him wearily. "I can't see what will happen if we just ignore this." I glanced at Rosalie and Jasper briefly.

Rosalie's palm smacked down on the table with a loud bang. "We can't allow the human a chance to say anything. Carlisle, you must see that. Even if we all decided to disappear, it's not safe to leave stories behind us. We live so differently from the rest of our kind- you know there are those who would love an excuse to point fingers. We have to be more careful than anyone else!"

"We've left rumors behind us before," Edward said stubbornly. It was true though. Emmett and Jasper were the worst.

"Just rumors and suspicions, Edward, not eyewitnesses and evidence!" Rosalie challenged. Jasper nodded, his eyes hard.

"Evidence!" Edward scoffed.

"Rose-" Carlisle began.

"Let me finish, Carlisle. It doesn't have to be any big production. The girl hit her head today. So maybe that injury turns out to be more serious than it looked." Rosalie shrugged. "Every mortal goes to sleep with the chance of never waking up. The others would expect us to clean up after ourselves. Technically, that would make it Edward's job, but this is obviously beyond him. You know I'm capable of control. I would leave no evidence behind me."

Edward was losing his temper. "Yes, Rosalie, we all know what a proficient assassin you are."

She hissed at him, infuriated.

"Edward, please," Carlisle interrupted. "Rosalie, I looked the other way in Rochester because I felt that you were owed your justice. The men you killed had wronged you monstrously. This is not the same situation. The Swan girl is an innocent."

"It's not personal, Carlisle," Rosalie spoke through her teeth. "It's to protect us all."

Carlisle thought through the answer he was about to give. Then he nodded, and Rosalie's eyes lit up. She should have known better. Of course, I knew better.

"I know you mean well, Rosalie, but… I'd like very much for our family to be worth protecting. The occasional… accident or lapse in control is a regrettable part of who we are. To murder a blameless child in cold blood is another thing entirely. I believe the risk she presents, whether she speaks her suspicions or not, is nothing to the greater risk. If we make exceptions to protect ourselves, we risk something much more important. We risk losing the essence of who we are."

Edward looked like he wanted to smirk. Heck, I wanted to smirk.

"It's just being responsible," Rosalie pressed.

"It's being callous," Carlisle corrected. "Every life is precious." My eyes began bouncing between the two like watching a tennis game.

Rosalie sighed heavily while Emmett patted her shoulder. "It'll be fine, Rose," he promised.

"The question is," Carlisle continued, "is whether we should move on?"

"No," Rosalie moaned. "We just got settled. I don't want to start on my sophomore year in high school again!"

"You could keep your present age, of course."

"And have to move again that much sooner?" Rosalie countered. That was true… I wouldn't be too eager to move to another place...

Carlisle shrugged.

"I like it here! There's so little sun, we get to be almost normal." I liked it too, but I wasn't always complaining about it.

"Well, we certainly don't have to decide now. Edward seems sure of the Swan girl's silence."

Rosalie snorted.

Edward was silent, mulling over something. Then, quietly, he opened his mouth and spoke. "Jasper," he nearly whispered.

Jasper's face was stone-cold. At this point, I wasn't sure whether I should side with Edward or Jasper.

"I won't let her pay for my mistake. I won't allow that."

"She benefits from it, then? She should have died today, Edward. I would only set that right." Jasper's mouth was moving, but his face was unchanged. He did have a point, but…

"I will not allow it." Edward emphasized each syllable.

Jasper's eyebrows shot up. He wasn't expecting that. Then he shook his head. "I won't let Alice live in danger, even a slight danger. You don't feel about anyone like I feel about her, Edward, whether you've seen my memories or not. You don't understand." I loved Jasper so much, but I wished that he didn't always pull me into everything. It's not like I need protecting – I'm a psychic. What better protection is there?

"I'm not disputing that, Jasper. But I'm telling you now; I won't allow you to hurt Isabella Swan."

I was tired of the arguing, so, I did what I do best. Look to the future. I was traveling forward in my mind again. And, I saw something that surprised me a lot. My arm was around Bella's shoulders and her arm was around my waist. We were talking and laughing, best friends. I…loved her. Will love her. Do love her. Jasper is not going to like this.

Abruptly, I pulled myself out of it. "Jazz," I said.

He looked at me, his golden eyes pleading. "Don't bother to tell me you can protect yourself, Alice. I know that. I still have to…" He was partially right.

"That's not what I'm going to say." I said clearly. "I was going to ask you for a favor." Edward saw it in my head, and his mouth fell open with an audible gasp. I was also worried how Edward would take this startling insight.

"I know you love me. Thanks. But I would really appreciate it if you didn't try to kill Bella. First of all, Edward's serious, and I don't want you two fighting. Secondly, she's my friend. Or, she's going to be."

"But… Alice…" Jasper gasped. I bit my lip. What he wanted to do was wrong, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for him.

"I'm going to love her someday, Jazz. I'm going to be very put out with you if you don't let her be." It was with those words that a new path opened before my eyes. Another vision simmered before me. Bella wasn't going to say anything… and… Oh! Edward was going to… What was that? He was going to kiss Bella? I already knew that he loved her, but that was unexpected. The vision was rock-solid, clear as air. It wouldn't change, but the timing was quite unsure. "Ah," I sighed in relief. "See? Bella's not going to say anything. There's nothing to worry about."

"Alice… What does this…" Edward choked. I knew what he was thinking, without the mind reading abilities. He wanted to know if this was a good thing or a bad thing. My mind wondered to the future, trying to find that outcome for him.

Another two images flew before my eyes. Edward, his lips red with Bella's blood… Bella, her face as beautiful, as solid… as a vampire. Oh! Edward could not see that. I would not allow it. At least not that decision. He won't be happy. "I told you there was a change coming. I don't know, Edward." I locked my jaw and focused on Jasper.

"What, Alice? What are you hiding?" Edward knew, as usual. Dammit, I wanted to yell. I shook my head, trying harder not to let him in. My teeth were gritted in concentration.

"Is it about the girl? Is it about Bella?" When he said Bella's name I knew I'd let it slip. My slip didn't even last for a second, but he still found out. Sometimes I just wish my head was a private place again.

"NO!" Edward's chair hit the floor, and he was on his feet. I knew he wasn't going to like what I saw. Why did he have to get all probe-y on my head?

"Edward!" Carlisle stood up too, and put his arm on Edward's shoulder.

"It's solidifying," I whispered. "Every minute you're more decided. There's really only two ways left for her. It's one or the other, Edward." Since he already knew, it wouldn't hurt to get this fact out. I think he already knew this, I was just verifying what he was already thinking.

"No," Edward said, leaning against the table, breathing very hard.

"Will someone please let the rest of us in on this mystery?" Emmett complained, very annoyed.

"I have to leave," he whispered to me.

For the love of Pete! Why must he run away from every problem he finds? Too late did I realize that my thoughts weren't private. But lucky for me, he didn't hear me. He was too caught up in his newfound horrors.

"Edward, we've already been over that. That's the best way to start the girl talking. Besides, if you take off, we won't know for sure if she's talking or not. You have to stay and deal with this," Emmett said loudly. I agreed wholeheartedly.

"I don't see you going anywhere, Edward," I said. "I don't know if you can leave anymore." Think about it, I added silently. Think about leaving. I'm not entirely sure of Jasper, Edward. If he thinks she's a danger to us…

"I don't hear that," he contradicted me.

Not right this moment. Would you risk her life, leave her undefended? I knew that would get him in the end. Threaten the Swan girl, and he was down on his knees.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Edward groaned. His head fell into his hands.

I love her too. Or I will. It's not the same, but I want her to be around for that.

"Love her, too?" Edward whispered, incredulous.

I sighed. You are so blind, Edward. Can't you see where you're headed? Can't you see where you already are? It's as inevitable as the sun rising in the east. See what I see…I revealed a collection of visions concerning him and Bella kissing and spending time together.

He shook his head. "No. I don't have to follow that course. I'll leave. I will change the future."

I snorted. "You can try."

"Oh, come on!" Emmett bellowed.

"Pay attention," Rosalie hissed at him. "Alice sees him falling for a human! How classically Edward."

"What?" Emmett asked, startled. "Is that what's been going on? Tough break, Edward." Always a sense of humor, that Emmett.

"Fall for a human? For the girl he saved today? Fall in love with her?" Esme, who had been so silent until now, was completely skeptical.

"What do you see, Alice? Exactly," Jasper demanded. Exactly when he said the word 'exactly', I was launched into another vision. It was very similar to the one before. Bella and I… our arms around each other, but this time, there was no difference between our arms. We both had cold, white skin… skin of vampires. I turned towards Jasper. "It all depends on whether he's strong enough or not. Either he'll kill her himself," I glared at Edward, "which would really irritate me, Edward, not to mention what it would do to you," I faced Jasper again, "or she'll become one of us someday." I was shocked by my very words, but I refused to show it in my face. Mainly because I wanted it.

Rosalie gasped.

"That's not going to happen!" Edward shouted. "Either one!"
"It all depends," I repeated, "on whether or not he is strong enough not to kill her— but it will be close. It will take an amazing amount of control— more even than Carlisle has. He may be just strong enough…" Another vision. "The only thing he's not strong enough to do is to stay away from her. That's a lost cause."

The room was silent.

After a while, Carlisle sighed. "Well… this… complicates things."

"I'll say," agreed Emmett, close to laughter.

"I suppose the plans remain the same, though," Carlisle stated. "We'll stay, and watch. Obviously no one will… hurt the girl." Edward stiffened.

"No," Jasper said. "I can agree to that. If Alice only sees two ways…" I smiled.

"No!" Edward growl-shouted. "No!" He stalked out of the room. He was running before he had even gone out the door. We all watched him disappear into the night. We all stood very still and mulled over what had just happened.