A/N: I didn't get this up as soon as I had intended, but I have cut down the lag time in between, so that's something at least. Thanks to all you kind readers who take the time to read & review, and to all you followers. They do encourage me to continue until the very end.

Chapter Seventeen

Revelations

True to his reputation, Mr. Saunders let both Bella and Alice leave early after serving only thirty minutes of detention. As they were walking towards the school exit and into the parking lot Alice came up with a suggestion to get away from school grounds and go someplace nicer where they could talk with more privacy and without interruption. After reassuring Bella that it wasn't far away and wouldn't take too long of a drive she agreed, but insisted on driving her own truck and following her. So Alice had to drive her Porsche slower than she really liked, as Bella followed behind during the relatively short trip to one of the many nature trails in the surrounding dense forests of Forks.

Once they were parked along the side of the forest road Bella climbed out of her truck, and started walking towards Alice who was leaning against the shiny yellow trunk of her car, looking hopeful yet somewhat nervously at her.

Bella quickly glanced at the beautiful scenery that surrounded them while asking curiously, "Any reason why we had to come at here to have a talk?"

Alice smiled and answered, "Well its one of the places I feel most comfortable, and I thought you might like it too. Come, let's take a walk while we talk." She took one of Bella's hand in her own, to encourage her to move along side of her. It was the first physical contact they've had since Monday morning. Alice felt alive at the feeling of Bella's hand in her own, wanting to touch her every time she saw her at school.

Bella felt the touch of her smaller hand alight all her senses again, sending an electrical charge throughout her whole body. And there was that same coldness of her skin she remembered feeling before. It wasn't an unpleasant coldness, but it was somewhat distracting. She came out here to let Alice have her say and to give her one final chance to give her some honest answers, not hold hands with her as if this was some kind of date in the woods. So she gently pulled her hand away and shoved both her hands into her jacket pocket, as if to keep them warm. Alice looked down and tried not to let the gesture discourage her too much as they started walking towards the nearest hiking trail.

The forests surrounding Forks are lush, thriving on the high precipitation of the area, so it took little time walking to find themselves on a path where they were surrounded by dense trees and foliage. Alice always found the combined scent of spruce, fir and cedar to be the most relaxing gift that nature had to offer, and hoped it would instill a calming effect for Bella as well.

Alice was the first to break the silence that hung between them. "I come here quite a bit, its not too well known by tourists or even locals, so it's a good place to go when I want to be alone with my thoughts."

Bella replied dryly, "It's lovely. But its getting kind of cold and I didn't agree to come here with you to go on a nature hike."

Alice turned to look at her with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry. Look, we can go back inside my car and I'll turn up the heat."

Bella shook her head. "Its fine Alice. So what did you want to talk with me about?"

"Well to start with… I want to reassure you that Edward won't be returning to Forks High. He's still away, hopefully for quite some time."

"I appreciate you telling me this and I'm glad to hear that he's transferring to another school…but I still want to know how he got in and out of my room the way he did. It wasn't my imagination."

Alice halted her steps, prompting the same response from the taller brunette, who regarded her with weary chocolate colored eyes. This time Alice wanted to get this conversation right, she knew that it was likely her last chance with Bella. She made full eye contact with her as she wanted to convey all her sincerity.

"I'm sorry that I ever suggested that it was. It's just a really complicated situation, and something that is near impossible to explain without putting my entire family in jeopardy. But I meant it when I promised that I'd do everything in my power to make sure he never comes near you again."

Bella's bit her lip as she contemplated the meaning behind her words.

"That sounds…ominous." After a moment when it seemed like Alice wasn't going to respond, Bella steadily added, "you still haven't answered my question."

Alice regarded her carefully while she made a mental decision. It flustered her when she couldn't see a clear outcome. This block of her visions has plagued her all week, though she hoped that when this moment came she would see something reassuring to support her decision to continue on this path. But there was nothing. This momentary hesitation from Alice was enough to earn her a scowl from Bella who promptly turned away to start walking back the way they came.

"Bella, wait – let me answer!" Alice leaped forward reaching for her, wrapping a hand around the retreating girls arm to stop her from leaving. Bella swiftly spun around with her hands outstretched and pressed against Alice's upper torso to push her away and cried out, "No Alice, I'm done waiting! I came out here with you for one reason only – to give you one more chance to tell me what the hell is going on!"

Bella's sudden temper flare took Alice by surprise. She was vaguely aware that she had taken a few steps back as the taller girl pushed forward, overtaken by such anger and frustration that her hands coiled and fisted against the lapels of her coat.

"Why won't you tell me?" Bella's voice cracked and she looked about to cry out of pure exasperation.

Alice felt a slight buzz coursing through her body, dazed from the wave of emotion emanating from the furious girl. She sensed something more going on than a girl scared and confused by recent events. She shook her head trying to come up with the right response that would calm her.

Bella let out a frustrated growl of defeat and loosened her grip in order to pull back and turn away, when suddenly she felt swooped up in a rapid whirl of motion, a dizzying spin of everything around her. Her vision momentarily blurring, a feeling of vertigo that made her stomach feel woozy. She was stunned to suddenly find her backside leaning against what felt like a large tree and feeling Alice's smaller frame pressed up against her front.

Her eyelids fluttered and she slowly began to regain focus. As her vision cleared she looked into amber eyes which held her under intense scrutiny, as if searching for an answer to some unknown question.

Bella felt her heart hammering in her chest at Alice's sudden, impulsive move and the way her body was reacting to the feeling of her lean body pressed against her own. She felt the light pressure of delicate smaller hands upon her, one on her hip and the other clasped around a shoulder. Alice was using only enough pressure to keep her in place, but not enough to make her feel pinned under. She started to breath heavily at the sensation of the smaller girl's chest brushing against her. Their new position felt as intimate as if they were merely a pair of lovers sharing a private, cozy moment while alone in the woods.

The started brunette swallowed dryly when she saw the look of hunger and desire flash across the delicate beauty of Alice's porcelain face, as if in direct response to her body's irrepressible reaction. Bella wasn't feeling afraid, more of astonishment over her display of inhuman speed and strength. She was also well aware of an undeniable feeling of arousal which had come at the most inopportune time. She took a deep breath, forced herself to push it aside to ask the inevitable question.

"What are you Alice?"

She sounded more inquisitive than accusatory. Alice was a little startled by this, and then a feeling of relief washed over her. Her gaze flittered across her face before regaining their steady focus back to dark coffee colored eyes.

"If I were to tell you, it would change everything. You won't look at me the same…" Alice spoke softly, her melodic voice still sounding as beautiful as ever to the human, even though it was tinged with a sadness that made her heart ache.

Bella could feel smaller hands start to relax their hold on her and she intuitively sensed that Alice was about to make her own retreat. She quickly lifted her hands to place them around the smaller girl's slender waist to keep her pressed against her, and prevent her from escaping.

Alice was fully conscious of the gesture. All her senses felt more alive than ever from the girl's human warmth and her action. Although their position suggested it was she who was holding Bella captive, Alice felt as if she was the one now being held in place.

Bella licked her lips that suddenly felt chapped and took a deep breath in before speaking again.

"I think its too late now to pretend than you're an ordinary human Alice."

Alice regarded her carefully, still amazed at the lack of fear from Bella. The corners of her lips tilted up slightly without forming a full smile. "Yes, I suppose it is."

"Though I have had my suspicions about that for a while now…" Bella added.

Alice chewed on her lower lip and gave her a subtle nod. She pulled away slowly so that Bella felt secure that she wasn't about to run from her. The girl released her grasp and let her pull free to put some space between them.

"Yes, I can imagine you have. Especially after…well what happened with Edward" she winced slightly at having to bring up the incident again. She took another light step back and turned to face away from Bella, still feeling some self-blame about the whole ordeal.

She took a deep unnecessary breath in, as if gathering up all her courage to continue, "So tell me, what your…suspicions about me are."

A part of Bella wished she could close the physical distance between them again. But she kept her primary focus on more important matters for the moment.

"Well…I-I've always known there was something different about you. Since the first time I saw you I could feel that."

Alice smiled lightly at the memory, but silently let her continue.

"The way you looked at me…like you could see things other people couldn't. Like you were able to see inside of me. Then when you asked me out that first time…well it really took me by surprise. It was something I wanted without really realizing it. Or maybe it was just so unexpected that you would ever even notice me like that. At first I thought it was either a prank or I had to be dreaming."

"I was definitely being sincere" Alice quickly replied.

Bella pushed away from the tree she'd been leaning against. The cold temperature was steadily decreasing. When she spoke again a subtle mist of her breath could be seen in the chilly autumn air. "There were a lot of small things I noticed about you that seem out of place…like the way you sometimes talk as if you come from another time. And well…other little oddities..." She contemplated a moment. "I tended not to think about it too much at the time…because I was just excited to be around you." She took a step towards Alice who was still mostly turned away from her.

"Your skin is ice cold to the touch" the girl breathed out, restraining herself from reaching out and touching Alice, who stood as still as a frozen statue. Bella shifted another step closer and Alice could feel the warmth of her breath brush against her left cheek.

"I've never seen you eat once. Not even during lunchtime at school."

"And you're unbelievably fast and strong."

"No one can move the way you just did unless…" Bella paused, uncertain where her thoughts left her.

"Say it….what you're thinking" Alice prompted.

"I-I don't know Alice. You tell me. You can trust me…please..."

The plea in Bella's voice made Alice turn and look at her. The murmur of the forest surrounding them muted into almost perfect silence. Alice could see there was nothing left but the truth. Unless she willing to run now and leave her question unanswered, to just let her go. A part of her thought that really was the best thing for Bella's sake - to run from her and never look back. To let the girl live out an ordinary human life untainted by the continuing presence of vampires in her life. She would be better off not knowing that monsters were real. But Alice had already made the decision that she was not going to lose Bella by denying her the truth or by running from her. If she loses her now it will be by Bella's choice. She owed the girl that much.

Bella continued to look at her expectantly, hoping for Alice to give her the truthful answer to her question. The lingering silence feeling heavier with each passing moment.

Alice's light bell-like voice was a delicate puncture into that stillness and quiet.

"I'm a vampire."

For a long moment Bella stood staring at her as though she hadn't really heard her or understood the meaning of her words. As if Alice had spoken in an alien language that made no sense. Slowly her face took on an expression could be read as either disbelief or that she was on the verge of another angry explosion. Alice wasn't sure which would be worse.

"A vampire…" Bella repeated the words as if she were speaking them for the first time in her life.

"Yes." Alice confirmed assuredly.

Bella's first thought was that it was impossible. But didn't she already see and experience the impossible for herself? However, her notion of what vampires were - besides being purely fiction - clashed in many ways with who she saw standing before her. Then again, it might explain what she saw the night she found Edward in her bedroom.

There was still a shadow of doubt in her mind, the part that didn't want to believe such things really existed. But as she continued to gaze at Alice she saw someone who appeared to be completely in earnest with her self proclamation.

Bella's eyes gradually scanned down Alice's smaller frame and back up again to her eyes.

"You don't look like a blood thirsty creature of the night. And you're out during the daytime as I've seen you plenty of times."

"There are a lot of myths about vampires. Some are true in part, but most are inaccurate. But its not a myth that we really do exist" Alice replied.

Bella pulled her eyes away and looked back into the surrounding forest. This conversation was feeling too surreal. "I'm not sure I should believe you", she quietly uttered.

Alice could hear the lack of conviction in her voice. She knew that Bella wanted something more than just words and one impulsive display from her. She wanted something more. She wanted undeniable proof.

"Fine, what can I do to prove it to you?" she asked with complete sincerity.

Alice took step towards her and Bella reflexively took a step back. Bella's expression was more cautious than fearful, but it did tell Alice that she still didn't have her full and complete trust. She knew that trust had to be earned, and she fully intended on doing everything in her power to eventually obtain that from Bella.

"I would never hurt you. If you believe nothing else please believe that much about me" Alice spoke gently as she looked into her eyes.

"I think I know that", Bella replied as she held her gaze.

Alice took a step back and gestured to the tree behind them. It was a particularly tall and large Sitka spruce tree, the kind that really flourishes in the wet climate of the region. "Here, let me show you this much..." she sidestepped a couple paces then with rapid flow of motion that would have been missed if Bella blinked just then, leapt onto the side of the tree twenty feet above the ground and effortlessly clambered up the rough scaly bark like a human spider for another ten feet, until she reached the bottom branch that hung thirty feet high. She stood on the branch that barely bounced from her weight and grinned down at Bella who gaped in shock as she tilted her head as far as it could go in order to fully see her. The girl was speechless as she continued to stare in astonishment.

Alice did a quick somersault as she leaped back down to the ground to nimbly land on her feet, just behind Bella who let out a gasp as she spun back around to face her.

The astonished girl found it nearly impossible to form any words for a moment, but eventually managed to say, "that was…amazing."

Alice gave a small shrug of her shoulders. "Its nothing really." It really wasn't - in comparison to what she was physically capable of, but it seemed like a harmless way to show herself off without actually frightening Bella.

"Vampires are real and in all honesty…are very dangerous. So I don't blame you for being scared…I-I just don't want you to be scared of me."

"I'm not scared. Not of you." Bella ran a hand through her hair and shook her head in a bewildered expression. "I still can't quite believe all of this. It's all just so..." she couldn't find the words, "Obviously you have some kind of superhuman abilities but…vampires?" She studied Alice for a moment. Although you are cold and pale…other than that you look as human as me. I mean you don't even have fangs."

"I do actually…" Alice hesitated then said a little apprehensively, "I'll show them to you but… you won't get too frightened?"

Bella nodded mutely.

Alice parted her lips as she forced her canines to drop and sharpen. She opened her mouth just wide enough so that Bella could clearly see that she really did have fangs.

Bella looked at her with absolute fascination. Her own mouth parted slightly as she took in Alice's appearance. Her short raven hair was in complete disarray from her acrobatic display and oddly enough, she found the fangs to be kind of a sexy look on her. Her heart skipped a beat at the thought, and she felt her entire body flush at the unexpected reaction.

"Alice…" she uttered not knowing what else to say.

Alice slowly closed her mouth and watched the various emotions splay across Bella's features. Astonishment, curiosity, and what she was certain was arousal, which was certainly an encouraging sign. Vampires were usually quite seductive creatures that humans found inherently beautiful, but usually only when they kept their human guises intact. The flash of sharp canines usually instilled a paralyzing fear in humans as it was often the last thing they saw whenever this close to a vampire.

Bella blinked a few times and felt suddenly stricken by all of this new information. Gone were the last traces of doubt from her mind. A whirlwind of conflicting emotions twisted and jumbled up her insides, making her stomach churn and her knees feel weak. The world was turning upside down. Fantasy was reality. The impossible was not only possible but was happening right here, right now.

She felt overcome by lightheadedness as she stumbled a few paces back, feeling both of her feet labor to move under her weight, and her coordination - which was never the greatest - now as useless as those of a drunken sailor. She felt one of her legs stumble over something and begin to drop beneath her as she started to fall backwards. Her eyelids fluttered against the spinning of the world around her. Before she could land on the cold hard ground beneath her, she felt herself caught and held up by the strong slender arms of the graceful vampire at her side.

When Bella woke up the first image to greet her were two familiar faces hovering somewhere above her looking down at her with concerned expressions. One she halfway expected to see, the other not as much. Both Charlie and Alice were standing close by and looked relieved to see her open her eyes. She jerked up to find that she was no longer alone with Alice in the forest, but lying back on the couch of their living room.

"Take it easy there kiddo. Alice said that you fell asleep exhausted after you both came home after school. Just checking to see that you were all right….maybe you should go to bed. Obviously you haven't been getting enough sleep. Unless you're hungry? In which case I can order us a pizza or something."

Bella slowly regained some of her senses and straightened up into a full sitting position while leaning heavily against the back of the couch. Her mouth felt parched from dehydration. Her voice sounded scratchy when she tried to speak. "Mmnn…not hungry. Could use some water though."

Charlie abruptly left the room to retrieve a glass of water. Alice adroitly moved swiftly to sit next to her and quietly spoke.

"You fainted when we were in the forest." Her slender fingers moved to gently brush the hair from her face. "You scared me a little but I think you'll be fine after you get some rest. Don't worry, I drove you home in your truck, and Charlie just thinks you fell asleep. We can talk more tomorrow if you want, but I have to go now and pick up my car I left behind."

Bella reached out to grab Alice's hand just as Charlie walked in to hand her a glass of water.

"You're welcome to stay a while. If Bella doesn't want to eat right now you can join me for dinner" Charlie said, smiling warmly at Alice.

She answered as she stood back up still loosely holding onto Bella's hand. "Thanks for the kind offer Charlie. I'm afraid though that I'm expected home soon, so I should get going...but maybe some other time?" she flashes her most charismatic smile, dazzling Charlie long enough to completely forget that he hadn't see her car parked outside.

Alice turned to Bella and spoke in a gentle voice, "Give me a call tomorrow to let me know you're feeling better?"

Bella swallowed a sip of water before answering, "Yeah, I'll call you tomorrow."

"But only after you've had lots of rest" Alice pointedly adds in a gentle tone.

"Okay…" Bella reluctantly let go of the smaller, colder hand in her own that softly pulls away.

"Great. Well bye for now" Alice waved cheerily at them both, while they both said goodbye at the same time.

Alice left the house with a little more bounce in her step than she's shown in a while and made her exit out of the house.

Bella furrowed her brow as she started to wonder how much of what she remembered from the forest really happened.