Chapter 9

Alice was no longer upset that she couldn't see clearly. "We'll have to properly prepare everyone, and we can't mention a lot of things around Edward. Oh shoot I shouldn't have had a vision so precise, what if he was listening?"

I started laughing because I could see she was thinking of something complicated to keep Edward out. "Alice, honey, it's ok. I placed my shield over you before you had the vision. I think the three of us can only know the plans we make. I figure since Aro won't be able to read my mind, he won't attempt to read my thoughts. But he will want someone that's close to me leaving Edward or Renesmee. If he chooses Renesmee, sweetie, you'll just show him whatever you want to show him, just not our plans. Whatever we decide, we have to keep from Edward." I hated keeping Edward in the dark about these things. I had to do it the last time we were being threatened by the Volturi and I promised him I'd never do that again. But here I was. I kept telling myself it was for the protection of my family, and that eased the guilt a little. "What were you thinking of anyway?"

"I started singing the Star Spangled Banner in Hebrew." At that, the three of us laughed and waited for Senora Muniz to start class. The hour was extremely boring because I had taken Spanish a few times before and I now spoke it fluently, better than the Senora, but she didn't know that. Finally it ended and I warned them that I would put my shield around them whenever we were around Edward, but to still be on their guard if I wasn't with them.

In the hallways, Edward and Jasper greeted us and everyone walked together to History. I rushed to Edward's arms because I missed him within that one hour. I was mad at him the last time we saw each other, and I wanted him to know that I wasn't anymore. He bent over and kissed me on my forehead and I knew everything was okay. "I see you're feeling better, love," he sighed.

"I am. Thank you for noticing." I really did feel better, it wasn't an act. "Edward, what do you think I should say to Sarah about her things? I mean right now they're stuffed in my locker. But what?"

"We'll just let her talk, and we can listen. Alice and Jasper will take my car home. All of us don't need to be there when she explains her story. It'll only scare her. It'll just be you, me and Sarah." That seemed reasonable, so I simply nodded and walked to class with my family. The rest of the day was uneventful, but mostly because I was anxious to get this meeting over with.

The day was finally over and I had a knot in my stomach. I knew that the plan would work, since Alice had seen it. We just needed to make sure that there weren't any extra outside factors that would deter the better outcome.

Sarah was already waiting for us by the car. Edward reached in his pocket to retrieve his keys, but just as he started to hand them to Alice, I grabbed them. "Actually honey, you, and Jasper head on home. Me and Alice will stay." I thought this might be risky since he could read minds, but I wanted real time visions, on what was being said. Edward looked at me puzzled and I was glad I still had my shield around Alice because I could definitely see that he was trying to read her for information. Nessie grabbed my hand and showed me that I didn't have to worry about her since Taylor was there to pick her up, and that she'll wait till later than expected to be home. She wanted to make sure that I was there to shield her when she got in. I nodded to her signaling that was a great idea, and waved to Taylor. Edward was still confused as he got in the car with Jasper, but he drove off.

"Alice, when either of us speak, I would like you to slightly nod if your vision changes in our favor, or shake your head if it leads to any outcome that you'll no I won't accept. Right now, I am preparing myself that she may have to become one of us, so leave that with the favorable outcomes." I hoped I made myself clear, since even I wasn't sure what I was saying, but Alice nodded and took her place beside me.

All around us, teenagers were scrambling into their cars, excited that the day was over. Very few noticed our small gathering, and those that did looked on in awe of the shy Sarah talking to the new gorgeous girls of Forks High School.

"Hi Sarah," I started, I wanted this to be as pleasant as possible. No use in scaring her. "I don't know if you know my adopted sister, Alice?" I said pointing to my sister-in-law. Alice had a really big smile on her face like she was thinking of shopping. Knowing Alice, she probably did want to go, since we haven't been to one in several days.

"Hi Bella, Alice. Ummm okay, I know you're curious about what I know, or think I know. But I just want to start off that I won't say anything. It's just, last weekend my mom wanted to clean out the attic because our cousin is coming to live with us, so she wants to turn it into a room for him. So she suggested we'd go through everything up there. I'd always been fascinated with Mom-mom, that's what I called her, so when I saw the picture of you, Edward, and her I fell in love with it. Of course then I didn't know who you were. It was just a beautiful picture. But then when I saw you guys in the parking lot, I thought you were ghosts, but then you spoke to me and I noticed other people saw you and I knew that you weren't ghosts, you were something else, I just didn't know what. But I promise I won't say anything." I looked over to Alice and she nodded. The poor girl was rambling though. "I didn't say anything to my mom yesterday, and while we were going through some more stuff, we came across some yearbooks and I saw everyone else, like you, Alice and Jasper, and two other people with your last names, ummm, Rosalie and Emmett. You all are so beautiful by the way. But anyways, I just want to be friends with you. You seem so nice, and I think I could be your friend too. That's really all I wanted to say. I don't even need to know what you guys are." She must have been really nervous because I don't think she took a breath during that entire rant.

I glanced at Alice again, and she was hesitant at first but she nodded yes. I would have to ask her about that later.

"I'm sorry Sarah, I don't understand. What if I said we didn't need you as a friend?" I didn't want it to sound harsh, only to see what Alice's reaction would be if that was my decision. However, as I finished the statement, Alice started shaking her head furiously. Refusing her friendship was definitely not an option.

Sarah's eyes got big again, like she was fighting tears. "I still won't say anything. I promise." Alice nodded her head again.

I couldn't help but sigh. There was no way around it. Alice's visions of Sarah becoming a vampire seemed inevitable at the moment. I was still banking on other factors not being calculated or decided in this case. "Sarah, we'll have to talk to our family, and see what they say. But I'll see you later. Okay?" I gave her a smile that I hoped was comforting and not menacing. I think it worked because she started jumping up and down in excitement and exclaiming very loudly. Okay, maybe my smile was a little too comforting.

Me and Alice hopped onto my bike and sped off, leaving the high school behind us in a matter of seconds. I chuckled softly again at the gawks that most of the guys had on their face as a girl rode a bike they only dreamed of. The ride was extremely short since I asked Alice if we were going to get pulled over by the cops. When she responded that we weren't, the bike peaked out and we were home in two minute. I think I'll ride the bike every day.

"So?" Jasper asked expecting an answer right away but I shrugged and went inside. I wanted to speak to Carlisle first before mentioning anything to the family, I poked my head into his study, but he wasn't there. I knew Esme was in the kitchen because I could smell her cooking. The aroma wasn't impressive to me, but I knew that if I was still human it would have been mouth watering. Garrett and Kate were sitting on stools that sat alongside the island in the kitchen. I stayed for a few moments with them since I hadn't seen them since their wedding, and then Esme told me that Carlisle was called in for a shift at the hospital. I decided since I couldn't speak to Carlisle, then I needed to speak with Alice. I wanted to know what her visions were during the meeting. I found her cuddled with Jasper in their room, but as soon as I poked my head through the door, Alice got up without a word to Jasper. When her husband protested, she looked at him as if saying, "stay." And he listened, "Fine I'm going to find Emmett." And with that he stormed off.

I double checked the shield around Alice, and she followed me to Edward's old room. Since we had the cottage, Renesmee and Esme turned his room into a studio to record music. It was perfect for Renesmee because she was just as musical as Edward, in fact she played piano, guitar and drums. It was perfect for me and Alice because it was soundproof, even for vampires.

"Okay so what were the visions?"

"When she first said she wouldn't say anything, I saw that she was a vampire, and she was in the clearing with us waiting for the Volturi. The next vision was a little cloudy, like there were some other decisions that still needed to be made besides hers, but she was human. Miserable, and pale like something was eating her up inside, but she was human. Now when you made the fake decision to not be her friend, her future vanished, like she was dead. But I couldn't see what caused it, she was just gone.

But Bella, when you said that we'd talk things over with everyone though, she was a vampire, but she looked really happy, we all did."

Alice walked out of the studio at that moment, but I still kept my shield around her. As long as we were in Edward's presence, I was going to make sure that Alice and Renesmee were covered. I stayed in the room, however to weigh my options. It just didn't seem fair, no mattered what happened, Sarah was doomed to a fate that I wasn't happy with. Either we figured out a way for her to stay human, but in order for that to happen, she'd be miserable for anyone to be around, she became one of us, or die.

"Impossible," I said as I finally left the room. I strolled downstairs to find Edward, Emmett, and Jasper watching a baseball game. It never ceased to amaze me their fondness for sports. I only slightly caught glimpses of their conversations as they were placing bets on who would win, but I was concerned about the time. It was a little after nine, had I spent all that time in the studio. I was a bit perplexed that after spending so many hours in the studio, I still didn't have a solution about Sarah.

Just then, I heard a few car doors slam, and I went to the front door to greet whoever it may be. I was happy to see Taylor and Renesmee. Taylor kept to his word and brought her back at a reasonable hour. I placed my shield around Nessie, but I could tell from her face that she was thinking of something silly to keep Edward out of her mind. She looked relieved when she saw me nod, indicating that my shield was around her. Her and Taylor walked through the door and plopped onto the ottoman with the guys. Already Taylor belonged with the family.

I kept the door open because Carlisle had parked alongside Taylor, and was walking up the steps. As he passed me, I whispered low that I needed to speak with him in the study.

"You're training?," he asked.

"No, something else." He looked puzzled but didn't say anything further. He placed his briefcase in the foyer and I followed him upstairs. Alice fell in step right behind me, I didn't even hear her coming.

I always loved Carlisle's office because of the smell. He had so many old books, and antiques that he collected throughout the years. The cross that he made while he was still human was now hanging on the wall above the door, surrounded by framed pictures of his past. Carlisle entered and sat on his desk, while me and Alice stood by the door. I extended my shield again towards Carlisle. It was easier for me extending my shield around individuals now, the concentration it required barely even registered with my mental capabilities. Though it was an unwritten rule for Edward to use his gift while anyone was speaking to Carlisle in here, I didn't want to take the chance. He knew I was keeping something from him, and I hated keeping him in the dark.

"Carlisle, there are a couple of things we need to discuss with you. First, Sarah from our school, has come across some pictures of us." As I said this, he looked alarmed, so I quickly calmed him down. "Don't worry, I took all the evidence that I could find at her house. She had pictures and yearbooks, and a few albums."

"Well how did she get a hold of anything?"

"Angela Weber was her great great grandmother. Her stuff was in the attic, and Sarah was cleaning it out one day. It just so happened that it was the day before we started at the school."

"Is there a threat?"

"Well she says that she won't tell anyone, and I confirmed it with my visions. So we don't need to move. However," Alice paused and took a look at me before continuing, "on more than one occasion, I've seen Sarah either a vampire or dead. On the one chance that I was able to see her as human, it was bad Carlisle. Bella feels that none of the choices are the best, but it may have to come down to Sarah becoming a vampire."

I threw my eyes to the ground because I didn't want to see his eyes. Carlisle was against turning anyone else into a vampire at this point, especially if there was another choice for them. We've already become too large a family, though the Volturi would never allow us to be called a family, they still referred to us as a coven.

As if reading my mind, Carlisle spoke. "The Volturi will know that she knows about us, as soon as they arrive, Aro will see it in one of our thoughts."

I tried smiling a crooked smile like my husband, "Well, dad, that's where my plan comes in to play."

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Sorry for the late update, this was a long weekend. I should have chapter 10 up in two days, so please hold tight. And don't forget to review!!!