Chapter Two

Bella was relieved when school finally finished. It had been a trying day. She had started the day just struggling to get out of bed. Weird dreams have been plaguing her and her sleep didn't leave her feeling refreshed, almost as if she hadn't slept at all. She was starting to look tired, with bluish crescents under her chocolate brown eyes. Her whole body felt more uncoordinated than usual. There were several incidents during the day that involved some form of fumbling, tripping, or dropping things.

Then there was that curious incident with those Cullens. What was that about? She sensed that perhaps it had something to do with her, but she couldn't imagine why. Her head felt heavy and fuzzy whenever she thought about it.

Maybe I should take a nap when I get home...

The weary girl made her way to her old beat up Chevy truck in the parking lot. She was startled to find the most gorgeous girl in school...hell, the most gorgeous girl Bella ever laid eyes upon...leaning up against the truck. None other then Alice Cullen.

She stood at only about five feet tall with a slender, feminine build. Her hair had that slightly messy yet perfect look, and she was dressed in a casually fashionable manner. Obviously someone who didn't have to worry about the cost of designer labels. Bella herself was a lean five feet six inches and her dress style was more the comfort-over-fashion sense; well worn jeans, t-shirt, flannel jacket and converse sneakers.

Alice showed her sexiest smile which made Bella feel like her heart was about to burst out of her chest. She halted for a moment and tried to smile back, hoping the twitching of her lips formed into a normal looking enough smile and not too much like a goofy grin. When she resumed walking towards the smaller figure, her legs began feeling a bit shaky.

"Hi Bella!"

The smaller girl's crystal clear voice sounded sweet and heavenly to Bella's ears. For a moment she imagined her ears were tingling at the sensation.

"Ehh...hi...hello!"

Bella blushed at the trembling of her own voice. She never encountered any one who made her nervous in this way, and it scared her a little. Something else was mingling within the nervousness. For the moment she was too taken in by Alice's unexpected appearance to ponder over it.

"I'm Alice. We share English and biology class." As if Bella wasn't already quite aware of who she was and which classes they both had together. How could one not notice the oddly captivating girl? Bella still felt like the new girl, having only been in Forks for a few weeks, and she was too shy to do more than take in brief glances at the always lovely looking Alice.

"Yes, I know."

Bella's smile felt more relaxed and she felt inexplicably drawn to the raven-haired beauty.

Alice continued to smile and there was a shiny gleam in her amber colored eyes.

"Well I know we haven't had a chance to get to know one another. So I thought I'd catch you before you went home and see how you were doing."

"Oh...th..that's nice..and um...thoughtful.."

Damn it, try to get two words out without stammering... Bella cheeks felt like they were on fire, she hoped she wasn't blushing as badly as it felt like she was. She shuffled her feet, ran her fingers through her long hair, and tried to come up with something...anything interesting to say.

Alice could sense the nervousness coming from the human. She wished she could say or do something to set her at ease. Although she had to admit to herself she was enjoying the effect she seemed to be having on the girl. She found the girl's awkwardness rather cute.

"Are you all right? I mean you seem a little tired."

"Uh..yeah...I guess I haven't been sleeping too well."

"Hmm...well I hope we'll be able to remedy that soon."

Uhh..did she just say we? Bella bit her lower lip and looked sideways as she wondered to herself.

Alice continued. "So...how are you settling in here at Forks?"

"Oh...well okay I guess...but all the gray and gloomy weather must be affecting me I guess."

"Yes well, it does take some getting used to", Alice spoke in a gentle tone that matched her smile.

"Yeahh...I'm sure I'll eventually get used to it", Bella laughed a little not knowing what else to say.

There was a moment of silence and both girls continued to smile. Bella kept glancing into eyes unlike any she's ever seen before pulling hers away, her shyness making it too difficult to maintain constant eye contact with Alice.

Hmm...nice to know I have this kind of effect on the girl. Her heart is beating harder by each passing moment...and she has the cutest blush on her cheeks...she really does smell so good...

Alice tilted her head slightly and her smile turned somewhat shy.

"Well I was wondering...if you'd like to go out with me sometime?"

Why beat around the bush? I know this girl likes me, and I like her...

Bella's eyes widened while her mouth gaped open. She thought either she must have not heard her correctly, or someone was playing a cruel prank on her. At this paranoid thought her eyes shifted around to see if any of the students were watching this. Maybe even recording this on their cell phones so they could upload it on the internet later, and torture her about it for the rest of her school life. No one else seemed close enough to hear them, and it didn't seem like anyone was paying them any abnormal amount of attention.

Alice spoke in her most tender and alluring voice.

"Bella, I assure you I am being sincere in asking you out on a date."

As if reading my mind Bella thought. In fact Alice saw this reaction in her vision earlier and anticipated the nervous response. She was still unsure of Bella's answer since the vision diverged into different outcomes, so this could either end with a yes, no, or something less definite. Alice had decided earlier to go on instinct.

"Uummm..."

Bella swallowed hard, trying to form a cohesive response.

She felt pulled into the most incredibly beautiful orbs of amber as their eyes locked in the moment. A flash of pure affinity touched her somewhere deep within as she continued to gaze into Alice's eyes, and found that she believed in the veracity of her invitation.

"Ye..yeahh...I would like that."

Bella was both surprised and relieved that she actually managed to give her answer.

Alice beamed. "Good! I was hoping you'd say yes. So how about we exchange our cell numbers and plan on say...tomorrow night if you're not busy?"

Bella nodded and her face lit up with the most beautiful smile Alice thought she ever saw.

Since the next day was Friday that seemed perfect. Not that it would have made any difference to Bella what day of the week she was asked out by who she was now certain had to be the most gorgeous person on the planet.

Elsewhere in the same parking lot Edward was watching, a deep low rumbling his chest, forming into a growl. His hands clenched tightly into fists, held stiffly at his sides.

After Bella exchanged numbers with Alice and the two said their farewells, she got into her truck smiling happily.

Alice Cullen asked me out on a date! Alice Cullen! Oh my god..is this really happening? Bella never knew it was possible to feel this happy as she drove her way home.

Alice merrily skipped towards her own vehicle, a canary yellow Porsche, pointedly ignoring the growls coming from her brother.

Well, even he isn't stupid enough to get into a tussle right here in the school parking lot. We'll have to discuss this matter when we get home.

Edward heard her thoughts and wanted even more to tear the vampire munchkin apart right then and there. But he knew it would only cause more trouble later on. He dashed into his black Volvo and raced his way home.

Of course Alice got there faster.

-xxxxxxxxxxxx-

"She is MINE!" Edward screamed loud enough to nearly shake the house down.

"Since when is she yours? By what right do you claim her? Stalking her at night while she's asleep and a few words spoken to her during class? Hell, you were never the sharpest tool in the shed Eddie, but surely even you can tell she's not interested in you!" Alice spoke in a firm yet much more calm manner.

This only inflamed Edward's fury.
"You have no right interfering with her!"

"Coming from the vampire's version of a common peeping Tom", huffed Alice.

The rest of the Cullen clan were in various places of the large house, but of course they could hear every word, especially those shouted by the frustrated, never-aging teen male.
Each one on stand-by in case things got out of control, but hoping not to have to intervene. Best to let them sort things out if possible..

The smallest speck of a strange emotion began to rise within Edward. No...he would not let it...it was much easier to hold onto the anger and he quickly froze out any feeling that could potentially render him uneasy or weak.

Alice gazed into his similar amber colored eyes, as if trying to assess what lurked behind them.

"Tell me Eddie...did Bella seem happy when I asked her out...hm?"

"I...I can't hear her thoughts" Edward admitted, his shouting having stopped for the moment.

"Oh...that is interesting..." Alice mused.

"Well then how did she seem to you? I mean you don't have to be able to hear a person's actual thoughts to get a good read on human thoughts and emotions, especially when you've been around as long as we have."

Not liking where this was going Edward decided not to give his answer. His eyes tightened into slits as he considered all the possible ways he could tear his sister apart, and ship different body parts to various faraway places in the world.

After a minute of silence Alice continued.

"Well like it or not I asked Bella out on a date...and she accepted. She also gave the impression that she was happy about it and is looking forward to it. So stop acting like an overgrown child and accept it."

Edward snarled at this.
"You are just a girl, and so is Bella. It's just not...right."

Alice stared incredulously at him, studying him for a moment.
"Whatever poisonous opinions you may have about that whole issue are yours to deal with, don't make them mine or Bella's..."

At the sound of Edward's growing growl, their adoptive mother Esme decided it was time to step in.

"Look you two, stop all this arguing. If what Alice says is true, then Edward you need to behave and let Alice become acquainted with this girl without interfering. And no more stalking her, especially in her home when she sleeps!"

At this Edward lowered his head. He knew he couldn't give a reasonable argument to his mother given the circumstances. It still didn't prevent him from shooting Alice a piercing look before stalking out of the living room and slamming the door of his bedroom.

"Over a hundred years old and still acting like a spoiled child", sighed Esme.