Alice's POV

After giving Jasper a goodnight kiss I ran upstairs and bounced into my room. Bella was lying across my bed dozing with her copy of Wuthering Heights. I started to throw a soft blanket over her when her eyes opened. "Hey Alice, great party!" she smiled and sat up while stretching her arms above her head. I hadn't seen her so relaxed in – well, too long. I know how hard it had been for her when she broke off her engagement with Mike. He was such a total jerk. Sure, he looked like a nice guy, but not so much when he was caught red-handed playing Hide the Salami (probably more like Vienna sausage) in the shower with Lauren. And this like a week before his wedding with Bella. She didn't deserve to be treated like that, and he definitely was undeserving of someone as good as Bella. No, he and Lauren were perfect for one another. For all I care they could both drown together in the shallow end of the gene pool.

"I'm so glad you had fun!" I chirped happily. "I didn't mean to desert you, it's just Jasper and I sort of got caught up in our own little world and – "

"No, really it's alright," she quickly interrupted, "I had a really good time, definitely better than I expected."

I caught the sudden softness of her voice and my eyes shot to her. She was resting her chin on her knees, with a ghost of a smile on her lips. "So tell me, just exactly how good of a time did you have?" I inquired. Oooh, maybe she met Mr. Right after all. Or at least Mr. Heyimareallyniceguy.

Bella met my eyes, hers sparkling with pleasure. "Oh, can't a girl have any secrets?"

I laughed, "Sure, just not with me!" I clapped my hands together gleefully. "I know! You met someone didn't you? And no holding out on me either!"

Bella blushed furiously. "You're just a regular Miss Cleo, aren't you? Fine, yes I did meet someone and we danced a little. Just a couple of dances, but I had fun."

"No tripping? Wow, you know we're talking divine intervention here. Was he cute?"

Bella chewed her bottom lip for a moment before answering. "No, I wouldn't say that," she muttered "More like gorgeous – painfully so. He had the most beautiful green eyes and supermodel hair. It was all messy and was a beautiful coppery – almost bronze color."

My breath caught for a moment. No, it couldn't be. "A name, Bella, did he give you his name?"

"Yes," she answered breathlessly. "It was Edward."

Edward. Shit. This is so not good.

Bella's POV

Alice had the funniest look on her face that I had ever seen. "Hey, you're not sick or anything, are you?"

She quickly smoothed her features. It would have been funny if not for the weirdness factor. "No, no I'm fine."

"So do you know him?"

She looked at me for a moment before answering. Taking a deep breath she said softly "Yes, I know Edward. He's my step brother."

"Really? That's great – so is he really – I mean, he seems so different from anyone I've ever met. I'd like to know more about him." I gazed expectantly at Alice, waiting for an answer. She was abnormally quiet, with a little frown on her face. This was so not like Alice. I quickly ran through all the possibilities that could cause a look like that on her pixie face.

I broke the silence first. "Alice, he's not like gay – is he?" My face was suddenly on fire. .God I can't believe I'm discussing her brother's sexual orientation with her. ShitShitShit. "Not that there's something wrong with that. I have lots of friends that are, I just didn't expect it." Why don't I just shut up already?

"No, Bella, he's not gay." She let out a sigh and continued. "It's just, I don't think he's the right person for you to be seeing."

Now I was really annoyed. "Come on, Alice. You've been begging me to start seeing someone. Besides, it was just a friend type deal, I mean really, Edward is so gorgeous and I'm – well, I'm just me. " I felt my heart squeeze with sadness. "I understand if you don't think I'm good enough for him – "

Alice glanced up and smiled gently. "Stop it! You don't understand, I think Edward isn't good enough for you! He's – he's not good for you. I don't want to see you hurt, that's all."

"I'm an adult, Alice." I huffed. "I'm tired of being told what I should and shouldn't do. First my father, then Mike, then you. Just cut it out. I appreciate your advice, but I can take care of myself."