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Alice

Something was happening. My visions of the future had suddenly become blurred and there were parts that were completely blank. It was either Valerie, or the werewolves. But… something else was there also. It was almost like a shadow… or maybe a presence that I knew was there, but I just couldn't find it. Weird. I'll have to tell Carlisle.

I race through the dense foliage of the forest. Hunting always made me feel better. I wonder what Jasper is doing… no, I can't think about him. If I think about him and her, it'll hurt too much. I want to blame her for everything, but I can't. It's not like she made him fall in love with her. Carlisle had told me that he had known a few other vampires who had felt a connection with a human, but Edward and Bella had been the first couple to actually make it. What would happen if Jasper and Valerie didn't make it? I hate that that makes me happy.

I hear a commotion from the house. Only a mile away, I race back as fast as I can. I arrive just in time to see the best, yet worst thing that could happen. Jasper's hand imbedded deep into Paul's abdomen. Valerie is crumpled behind Paul, just starting to sit up. Paul has a look of intense fury and pain. Jasper's face is a mask of horror. The room is silent and tense. I glance at Jacob. It seems as if he's deciding whether to be relieved that Valerie was not hurt, or angry that Jasper was about to rip Paul's heart from his chest.

"Ok, .hell," Leah's eyes flickered, taking in the situation. She and Seth were behind me in the doorway. Paul gives a pained snarl and rips Jasper's hand from his stomach. Jacob pulls Paul back by his shoulder and supports him while Paul clutches at his stomach. I quickly get to Jasper, and put myself between them. Everyone else seems shocked. Valerie stands and tries to hide the tears that drip down her cheeks.

"You bloodsuckers, what the hell did you do?" Leah demands, clenching her fists and taking slow steps forward.

"Leah," Seth warns.

"No, I want a damn good explanation for this!" Leah glares at Jasper.

"She was in the way, but I couldn't stop," Jasper's silky voice falters. He stares down at his hands, hating them. Carlisle steps up.

"They were about to fight, and Valerie jumped in between them. So, Paul threw her out of the way, but the force of him throwing her backwards pushed him closer to Jasper… and you see the consequences," Carlisle gives a worried grimace to Edward. Something nudges me in the back of my mind. I can't remember what it is, but for some reason it's important. I shake my head and look at Jasper. He still can't look up. I know him too well to think that he could forgive himself for what just happened.

"You'd better take Paul… away," Carlisle adds. Jacob nods, and drags Paul, still grimacing, toward the front door. Leah sniffs disdainfully, "You're lucky that we took Trevor home before you started this." She glares again at Jasper. I feel my temper rise, but I hold back. It would definitely make things worse if I launched into my protective mode.

"Trevor?" Valerie's tentative voice breaks the hostility in the room. Her hair is tangled and the skin under her eyes is a deep, sleep-deprived purple color. Looking closer, I can see her lips and hands trembling slightly.

"Oh dear, this is awful. I am so sorry Valerie; we'll get you home right away! Please, don't think of us like this, please…" Esme trails off. Valerie nods slowly, but there's doubt and a strange look of guilt in her eyes. Esme takes her hand and leads her to the door. Jasper makes a half-hearted move to follow, but Edward holds him back.

Once they're gone, Jasper sinks to his knees. "What have I done?" he stares blankly at nothing. "Will she ever forgive me?" he looks questioningly at me. I open my mouth, ready to reply with a definite 'yes', but nothing comes out. For once, I don't know what will happen.

Valerie

All I could remember was throwing myself in front of Paul. I saw the hatred in Jasper's eyes, and I saw his outstretched hand. The only thing I could think of was not letting him hurt Paul. But he did. And I'm sure he feels horrible, but… ugh, can't think straight. I know I should have said something about the rebel vampires, but I couldn't. Not yet, I don't want to hurt them yet. I'm just too selfish.

Tired and confused. That's all I can feel right now. Esme leads me to an extremely expensive looking car, and casually lifts me into the front seat. I don't even notice the trees blurring past us. Within minutes, we are in front of my house.

"Are you ok? Can I help you get inside?" Esme looks at me apologetically.

"No, thanks. I'll be ok, I think," I slowly get out of the car and walk to my front door. Before I can even open the door, she's gone.

"Valerie!" A relieved Trevor bounds down the stairs and squeezes me into a bear hug. "Are you ok? What happened? They said that you had fainted? Are you sick? Can you really believe everything they told us?" Trevor examines my face. I laugh the laugh of a tired, and deranged person.

"Look at you, being so grown up," I sigh. "I believe it. I don't know why, but it's all unfortunately true," I pat Trevor's head and stumble upstairs. He follows me up and helps tuck me into bed. "Thanks Trev. I wish I was the one taking care of you," I whisper from beneath my warm comforter. "Don't worry, you have been," he ruffles my hair fondly and exits, closing my door.

A noise wakes me up. I sit up and look blearily toward the sound. It's dark and rainy outside. And there's a hand outside my window. My throat closes up and instantly I think of Thalia. But then I see the face. Paul. My heart continues to beat fast, but I sigh in relief. He lifts himself higher and thrusts my creaky, old window open.

"What the hell are you doing?" I exclaim angrily, throwing a pillow at him as he steps into my room. Water runs from his hair and face, soaking his already wet shirt. He easily bats the pillow away, closes my window, and steps further into the room.

"I'm just here to make sure you're ok. That's all," he says gruffly.

"Uh-huh. So you came all the way here, in the pouring rain, just to make sure I'm ok?" I reply skeptically. He fidgets and nods.

I get up from my bed and walk toward him. "How are you? Are you ok?" I ask quietly, referring to the huge gash that Jasper left in him. "Yeah, werewolves heal fast," he gives me a lopsided smirk. I roll my eyes. "Of course they do," I move so that I'm only a foot away. Paul looks down. Cautiously, I reach toward him and lift the end of his dripping t-shirt. A wide white bandage is wrapped tightly around the lower end of his torso. I wince when I see the wide burgundy stain in the middle.

"Does it hurt?" I lightly trace the edge of the stain with my fingers. Paul swallows.

"No, not really," he murmurs.

"Oh," I let my hand drop. Paul catches it in his. Despite the frigid rain, his hands are hot and fiery. He pulls me into a hug, still clutching my hand.

"Why did you do it? Why did you put yourself between him and I?" He whispers hoarsely.

"I-I don't know… I just did," I reply softly, not daring to look up at him. I can feel the heat of his body even through his damp shirt.

A burning hand cups my chin and brings it up so that I'm looking into Paul's eyes. He brings our faces closer. He kisses me. And I kiss back. His lips are flaming, and the kiss awakens something that I've never felt before. He's the first to pull away, but he keeps his forehead against mine. "Thank you," he whispers. I lean into him, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing.

"For what?" I laugh softly. He smiles slightly. "For understanding, for putting yourself between me and a crazy vampire, for everything…" he brushes a stray strand of hair out of my face. I try to find a smart reply, but end up with nothing. So, I say what any teenage girl would say in a situation like this. "Oh shut up," and I pull his face back to mine.

This time the kiss is rougher and more desperate. Paul wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me closer. So many emotions course through my veins, I can't even think straight. My hands grasp the end of his shirt, pulling him closer. He pulls back. I blink in surprise and catch my breath. I begin to take a step back.

"Oh no you don't. You can't get rid of me that easily," Paul pulls me back, grinning slyly. "Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?" I glance at him in surprise. He smirks and takes his shirt off. I roll my eyes at the attempted joke. "You could at least try not to be so cheesy," I grin, pulling him back to me. He lifts me up, kissing me at the same time, and sets me gently on my bed.

His lips continue to burn their way past mine, and into my entire body. He pushes me against the bed. I struggle to breathe and I can feel him smile against my lips. I run my hands through his short hair, and feel him shudder. It goes on like this for a while, but then he stops. I look questioningly up at him.

"You're still tired. You need to rest," He chuckles at my exasperated expression.

"Do I? Do I really?" I challenge, brushing my lips across his.

"As unfortunate as it is, yes," he replies smiling. He rolls off of me and curls around me. I huff in defeat and rest my head on his arm.

"You'll stay, won't you?" I hate how whiny and desperate my voice sounds.

"Yes," Paul replies with a yawn. "Always."