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Chapter Thirteen

Forks

EPOV

It had only been in Forks that my family's existence was put at risk and our morals had to be tested. I had begun to pay attention to Alice's thoughts not shortly after she insisted that she and Jasper were running late getting ready. In immortal speed, there is no such thing. She had excused it as not being able to decide on clothing, but I knew Alice better than anyone, including Jasper. I knew there was a problem for sure when Alice began to think anything and everything to keep me out of her head. She wouldn't even return my gaze. Arriving in the cafeteria and not seeing her and Jasper there really puzzled me. Alice had not even confided in Bella, I knew this for sure as I could it see the true worry in my wife's eyes.

The lunch hour was uneventful and we were nearing the time that we would leave when Alice called to me. Edward, Edward, it will work out okay but you need to see my vision. Watch. You all will be fine. Its Jasper. I'm protecting him. Alice's vision passed through her thoughts and I could hear and see what she had foresaw. There was a girl across the cafeteria, using a knife to split her apple into several pieces. As she looked up to answer a friend's question, the knife slipped and she cut her hand. Badly. In Alice's vision, all of us remained seated except Jasper. His snarl came from his throat and he bounded, moving so fast so quickly, he reached the girl before I could even catch him with my long bound. Emmett and I both tried to catch him as the others ran from the cafeteria, but we were too late. Our family had been exposed. The vision ended. Please understand, if I had said anything, he would be offended and embarrassed. None of you will hurt anyone. I was hoping the vision would change, but it hadn't. Its almost time. He doesn't know I saw this. Please explain to the others. Everyone will be fine, it is Jasper who wont be and he will not forgive himself if he slips, Edward.

I went through Alice's thoughts quickly. She had told Jasper she wanted to go to the forest and be alone with him. She had tried all morning and he finally gave in just before the lunch hour. I scanned the area for Jasper's thoughts. He was a bit curious as to why Alice wanted to not be in school today as we hadn't went an awful lot in the past few weeks but he figured she was just being Alice. I didn't have much time, I heard the question being asked in the girl's friend's head. She was about to ask the girl. I told everyone to get up and go, no time to waste explaining. Of course my siblings and my wife did as I instructed. We had almost cleared the doors and Bella stopped.

Please, Bella, go on, I thought to myself. My wife was the only one of us that had not been exposed to open blood. She had done very well and had never touched a drop other than human donor blood and that was during her pregnancy with Masen. Even then, the blood wasn't warm and flowing and that did make the appeal less. I tried to push Rose and Bella on out of the door, succeeding finally with Rosalie. Bella turned and I could hear the low snarl forming in her throat. I had to make sure nothing happened but do it quietly so that the other students in the school wouldn't notice my herding my family out the door. We couldn't afford any questions to be raised.

I watched as Bella's eyes began to darken. I knew her throat would be on fire more than it had ever been. All our throats were on fire, I could hear the thought of the others. But we had endured being exposed to human blood before. I had been exposed to Bella's own blood, the blood that sung to me more than any other human's blood ever had. I had the self-control to endure it because of my love for Bella. I couldn't have lived without Bella, but this girl across the room, sadly, was nothing more than a stranger. She wouldn't stand a chance if Bella's instincts kicked in. And they were kicking in fast.

"Emmett, Rose," I ordered. "Take her out of here. Don't be noticeable."

Emmett placed his hand firmly around Bella's forearm. "Hold your breath, little sister," he spoke firmly. Emmett was usually the guy that tormented his kid sister, but not today. He knew this was serious. I'm sure Bella would get to hear his jokes about this later, but at the time, I could see the panic in Emmett's eyes and I could hear his thoughts. He, like Bella, was on fire. He had slipped up a couple times in his past, but not today he wouldn't. Bella tried to pull against him but with Rose there by his side, she wouldn't be able to. I guess perhaps this kind of scenario might be why Alice left all of us together. "It is okay. Rose and I have you."

Bella wasn't moving. She bared her teeth at me. I could still hear the snarl trying to escape from her throat. I looked over my shoulder, none of the other students were looking our way. They had all run to this girl who was about to destroy us. I knew our family would all forgive Bella if we couldn't stop her, but I knew she would never forgive herself. "Nessie, Masen, think of them," I coerced her. Slowly the snarl left her and her throat became silent. Bella's lips lowered across her teeth, hiding the gleaming rows of her weapons. She was holding her breath but that wasn't going to last much longer. I was furious at Alice for not having told this earlier. I knew her feelings on protecting Jasper, and I understood them, but I would have warned the rest of us. We could have stayed home if she had let us know. I would have a long talk with Alice tonight, and if she was lucky, if Bella was okay with what I would prevent from happening, I might be slightly nice about it.

I grabbed Bella and looked into my wife's eyes, "Bella, snap out of it. I know you can. Don't breathe."Bella's posture relaxed and her body gave way to Emmett and Rose pulling her out of the cafeteria doors. I glanced back to see the girl's blood spilling all over the floor. I was beyond miffed at Alice. I couldn't believe she risked the rest of us. She could have given us a more advanced warning. Alice knew better than anyone that her visions were subject to change.

Emmett and Rosalie made a dash across the parking lot with Bella in tow. I bounded past them and had the door open to the car as they reached it. I could feel the anger coming from Rosalie. Emmett was more sympathetic than angry. Looking into Bella's face, I could see why. Bella was distraught. I slid beside my wife into the backseat and put my arms around her. I tossed the keys to Rosalie. I would rather ride with Rose any day than any of my other siblings, her definition of fast was exactly as mine. I brought Bella close. I kissed her forehead and tried my best to let her know it would be okay. "Bella, we've all almost slipped, its okay." I knew my words were falling on deaf ears. She would never listen and Bella was as guilty as I was for holding myself accountable for things that I could not control. "It is our instinct, love, when we smell blood, to want it."

Bella barely would look at me. I almost attacked, Edward. I wanted to taste. I could smell it. I…I…I am so embarrassed. I have let all of you down. Bella had relaxed her shield so I could hear her thoughts. The pain that my world was feeling had taken its hold on every part of me. I had never wanted for Bella to have to feel this. To feel yourself almost give in was enough to torment you if you had given in. "You didn't, Bella, love, and that is what matters. That is what matters."

Edward, I am going to kill Alice. This is her fault. She should have warned us. Is this why she and Jasper left? She was protecting Jasper? Rosalie looked into the rearview mirror so that I could answer her. I nodded my head in disgust. Jasper would be angry with Alice as well. I could sense that.

Ah, bro, I feel so bad for her. I promise, no teasing. Not for fifty years. Emmett tried so hard to lighten my mood. Its not like she did it. Bella did great. Better than most. She had never been through that before like us. We'll convince, little sister.

Rosalie and Emmett's support made the situation a little less bleak than it had been. Forks had always been our family's favorite place to exist. It was one of the few places in the world that we went about daily lives with the humans. It seemed now that our last two stays here had been full of issue. I would never forgot or regret my last stay here, as it gave me Bella and my children, but perhaps I needed to note the dooming of Forks so that I could weigh it against the benefits. Rosalie had us home in minutes. Carlisle and Esme looked up as we hauled Bella into the house. She had yet to speak since we left the school. Carlisle and Esme's thoughts went straight to the nomad. I shook my head so that they wouldn't speak about the woman in front of Bella. No need to upset her any further.

Carlisle and Esme were quickly by Bella's side. Emmett and Rose hung back near the entryway into the living room. They wanted to give her privacy, to be more comfortable and less embarrassed to tell what had happened. "Edward, what is going on?" Esme questioned me. I could see the concern in her eyes for Bella. "What?"

I shook my head at Esme. I couldn't say anything without speaking first to my wife. "Bella, love, I promise it is okay."

I watched as my wife finally pried her hands away from her face. She had placed her hands over her eyes not long after we got into the car. "Edward, I know you must be so disappointed," she shrieked, her voice full of agony. I felt Carlisle and Esme both look to me. Their faces were full of questions. They could see that something terrible had happened. "I almost destroyed our entire family, Edward. I am so sorry, Carlisle, Esme, I am so sorry."

Bella's pleading was tearing me apart. She would have to understand. Carlisle put his arm around Bella's shoulder, "Dear, everything is fine. Please explain. Or do you want Edward to explain?"

Carlisle looked to me, his face hard and concerned. I didn't speak. I couldn't speak. Not unless Bella wanted me to. She finally looked at me and nodded. I cannot speak the words, Edward. You…you do it for me. Please, Edward. I put my arms around my wife once again and whispered to her, letting her know I would do as she asked and that all would be okay.

I stood from the kneeling position I had been in in front of Bella. I took her hands in mine. I faced Carlisle and Emse. "This is not exactly the thing you want to hear, but its necessary that I tell the story," I began. "I'm quit upset with Alice, as is Rose and Emmett, but hear me out." I went through the days events, beginning with Alice's plea into my head. I told them of her vision and went into the story of the cafeteria scene that unfolded moments later. I could hear their thoughts and they were not disappointed in Bella but they both knew she wouldn't believe them. I finished all of the details, reiterating that Bella had not done anyone any harm. That the slip was avoided.

Carlisle and Esme both hugged Bella and told them that we all have had our trials. "I know, but I almost destroyed us," Bella would counter. The discussion finally began to relax and as Carlisle and Esme, more Esme than Carlisle, had begun to make Bella feel less guilty with the explanation that I had tried, we are what we are, our instincts still guide us, even when we are in complete control.

I looked up just as Alice came into view but before any words could leave my mouth, Rosalie was there, screaming at Alice. Everything she was saying, was all the things I wanted to say. I didn't dare interrupt, but of course, Esme couldn't have us fighting. She intervened. Jasper looked was painful to look at. "This is not anyone's fault but my own." he spit out of his mouth as he walked out the door.