Author Notes: This was difficult to write. I also introduced a new very minor character! Anyways, you know what to do, read and then review!

Chapter Thirty

Alice had promised to keep a watch out for the Volturi and the family agreed to keep the Volturi visit a secret for the time being from Bella. She had enough stress to worry about with the end of school and finals nearing. Alice walked into the lunchroom with Edward and notice that Bella was already there, sitting with her friends. They walked up and joined them.

"We should hang out sometime, all of us." Sarah said. Sarah was Mike's tentative girlfriend. He wasn't sure if he wanted a relationship yet, but he really didn't want to be alone. He was still mourning the loss of Jessica and he missed her dearly.

"Yeah!" Alice said happily. "We could go to Seattle and shop! My treat!" Everyone groaned. They all knew that Alice loved spending money. "Please! Consider it a early graduation present to everyone" And a thanks for being such great friends to my sister. She added mentally. Edward smiled at his little pixie of a sister at her thought.

"Yes, indulge Alice just this once. I'll be there and make sure she doesn't go overboard, in fact, Jasper will be there as well." Alice face fell slightly. Jasper was the only one who could really reel her in should she go overboard. Bella hung her head, defeated.

Then she sat up, grinning. "Fine, but if we're shopping, we have to do something else. Like go to the Space Needle or something. We're not all going to shop the whole time." And you'll have to eat. Bella was glad Edward didn't read her mind but the look on Alice's face meant she saw what was going to happen and there was no way around it.

"Fine." She said. Edward groaned inwardly. They started to chatter amongst themselves to figure the day. They decided on Saturday and they decided to take Emmett's jeep since it could hold them all.

"I can't go." Mike said, "I have work on Saturday and I can't get out of it this time." He picked at his food. Sarah placed a hand on his back and rubbed it, but he shrugged her off and got up. He gave her an apologetic look before leaving the cafeteria.

No one said anything for a while until Emmett joined them, turning mike's chair around so his chest is against the back. "Disgusting, school food is, right? that's why I brought my own." He reached in his backpack he decided to bring with him in to the cafeteria instead of leaving it in his locker and took out a thermos and took a sip from it, smacking his lips in satisfaction.

"Want some, Eddie?" Edward held out his hand and took the thermos from his brother and took a drink before handing it to Alice. When Alice was done she handed it back to Emmett, who replaced the cap and got up.

"Well this was fun, but I must go tend to my Rosie." The lust was rolling off of him and Jasper shuddered at the table where he and Rosalie sat. Bella shuddered as well as Edward and Alice.

"What were you guys drinking?" Bella asked, knowing full well what it was.

"Special vegetarian soup." Alice said, "Carlisle made it. He said we needed to eat healthier instead of the junk food. It was rather disgusting." Bella instantly wondered what Emmett did with the "lunch" he brought to school.

Emmett was thinking of the ingredients he used to make his special lunch concoction. Next time I'll try mixing grizzly and mountain lion blood together instead of squirrel and dog blood.

Edward's hand went to his mouth. He ran out of the cafeteria as humanly possible to the bathroom. Emmett was howling with laughter and held out his to Jasper, who placed two hundred dollars in his hand. It was well known in the Cullen family that Squirrel and dog blood was something Edward didn't enjoy.

Bella just shook her head. "I swear, they act like little children sometimes." Her friends laughed. "It's true! I BET Jasper and Emmett can go a whole month without making a single bet."

Edward stayed in his car the rest of the day, plotting revenge against Emmett while thinking of the Volturi problem and Bella. He was resigned to the fact the only way to truly protect Bella was to make her a vampire, something he was really reluctant to do. He did not want to damn her pure, beautiful soul.

He was glad that Bella was successfully distracted with her friends and the shopping trip and didn't catch on that something was wrong yet, though he knew that she'd notice something soon. She wasn't totally unobservant and she was quick to catching on to things that was amiss and wrong with the family.

He wondered if it was right to keep this from her. His Bella had the right to know what was going on, but the others were right, it would cause her stress and nightmares.

He would die to protect Bella from Aro. Perhaps he could persuade Aro to leave Bella alone. Offer himself to go to the Volturi instead of Bella and become one of their little minions. He would do it if only to protect Bella.

He had decided then. He would go to Italy and persuade Aro to leave Bella alone and allow her to remain human in exchange for him.

His phone vibrated and he glanced down. It was Alice.

"We will stop you." The text said. He still had time to get to the airport after going home. He hated not having to say goodbye to Bella, but this was for the best. "You will not go to Italy. I've already called Carlisle and Esme." Came another text.

Damn it! He screamed in his head. There was a knock on his window and he glanced over and saw Esme and Carlisle. Edward bowed his head.

"I did this for your own good." the last text said. Edward glared at the phone, annoyed with Alice now. Why did he have to have a sister that could see the future?

"Open the door, son." Carlisle said, soothingly. Edward hesitated before climbing out of the Volvo, his head bowed as he looked like a kid with a hand caught in the cookie jar. Esme hugged him and held him out at arms length.

"You must never, ever go to Italy." She said sternly, shaking him gently. "Don't even think about it. Bella will be safe with us. They will not take her." With that, she pulled her son close and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her. He hated upsetting Esme.

"I'm sorry I entertained myself with the thought, mom." He whispered. "I just want to keep Bella safe."

"I know son, but you can't do anything rash and foolhardy." Carlisle said. "Just think of how Bella would be should you leave. Don't worry about Aro."

Edward pulled away after a few moments. "I'm sorry, if I worried either of you." Esme hugged her son again and Carlisle clasp his shoulder.

"No more ditching. Go to class." Carlisle said after a few moments, sternly once the concern and worry passed by. Edward nodded and headed back to class. He glanced back and saw his parents still watching him.

After entering the school, Carlisle took out his phone and messaged Alice, thanking her for the heads up on Edward before it was too late, and Edward made the most idiotic move of his life.

They would deal with the Volturi, the right way and when the time came. They had time to prepare. Carlisle made a mental note to call Tanya and Kate later for their assistance. He was leader of his coven, his family and he would take charge and make the decisions, not Edward. Carlisle new the Volturi better than anyone and knew how to handle them. He just hoped it would be enough.

Bella had no idea of the drama unfolding in her family. She was looking forward to the Seattle trip with her friends. It would be nice to get away for a little while, even if it is shopping. She thought of what to buy. Maybe Rosalie would want to come shopping with us. She thought, realizing she doesn't spend enough time with her other sister. I'll ask her.

Bella smiled, content in her own little world for the time being.

To Be Continued

End Notes: I keep mentioning squirrels it seems. I have nothing against the critters, in fact I think they're cute but just a victim of an unfortunate circumstance in this story. Oh, and I feel horrible because Rosalie never gets much time, so next chapter Rosalie will be in it more, but of course it has to do with shopping :D Anyways, whatcha think of this chapter? It's a bit different but I needed to add some normalcy in Bella's life.