Author's note: Yet more favourites for this story, yay! This chapter's a little shorter than the others, but it means I've been able to update quicker and hope it still satisfies. Enjoy :)

Chapter four

It was impossible to even begin making sense of the previous night's dream. A haze of familiar places in unusual surroundings, populated by people I may or may not have known, the entire thing was a cacophony of confusion. The worst part of all was I couldn't work out which parts I recognised and which I didn't. A thought hadn't crossed my mind that morning that wasn't invaded by muddled flashbacks and it was starting to give me a headache. I had no idea what caused it or why it was bugging me so much; all I knew was I wanted it to piss the Hell off. The only coherent memory I could recall from the dream was the colour yellow. Everything had been bathed in it, from the palest lemon, to the most vivid ochre. Was I really missing sunlight that much?

"Earth to Bella!" called a voice, breaking me out of my reverie.

I looked up from the swirling pattern of milk in my coffee to see Angela staring at me expectantly. "I'm sorry," I apologised. "You were saying?"

"Forget it," she muttered, with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Did you get any sleep last night?"

"Err," I considered. "I can't remember."

Angela somehow managed to laugh and sigh at the same time. "I'll take that as a no. I'm surprised your boss hasn't sent you home yet."

"There's still time," I said. "I have half a shift to go."

It was almost two and Angela had offered to meet up during my lunch break for a coffee. It was a spur of the moment thing and I was so, so glad she had recommended it, as it provided a degree of distraction for my overworked brain. To be honest, a sense of anticipation had been building for the past week and I was beyond irritated with it now. It made no sense for me to be feeling this way. Knowing the reason behind the emotion did nothing but fuel my irritation further. It was stupid, really. I mean, there was no reason for any of it...

...not at all...

...not really.

"When is your next day off?" Angela asked. "Because I wanna get a serious bout of shopping in before all the other kids come back from college for the summer."

"Kids?" I arched a brow at her condescending referral to her peers. "They're the same age as you."

"Yeah, well not all of them act like it," she responded.

"Okay, Grandma," I teased. "My next day off is Monday. I'm busy in the evening, but up until about five, I'm yours."

Her eyes glanced heavenwards as she considered. "I think I'm free. I'll let you know for definite, but I'm pretty sure I am."

"Then it's a date!" I confirmed.

Angela went quiet for a moment after that and it seemed she was working up to telling me something. Although curious, I waited patiently for her to finally reveal whatever was on her mind. When the silence stretched on for too long, however, my patience dissipated.

"Alright," she began slowly. "Remember that exhibition I told you about?"

"Yeah," I said, nervous about what she was going to say. I seriously hoped her insecurities hadn't got the better of her.

"Well, guess what? I agreed to take part."

"Angela, that's fantastic!" I cheered.

She blushed at my praise and looked down into her tea as a wide grin spread across her face.

"So, when and where is it?" I asked, psyched for my friend's good fortune.

"There's no definite date, but they want to go through my work with me, see what'd be best for the show. As for location, it's going to be at the university itself."

"That's amazing. I'm so glad you said yes."

"Me too," she admitted. "Even though I'm shitting myself," she finished with a laugh.

"Well you'd have even more to fear if you'd said no, because I would've killed you for passing up that opportunity!"

Biting her lip, Angela suddenly grasped my wrist. I noticed the bracelet she wore was a vibrant yellow. The colour was invading reality now, too. "Please say you'll be there," she begged. "I need all the moral support I can get."

"I already said I would, silly," I promised, having difficulty dragging my eyes from her jewellery. "Speaking of which, is there any chance of a preview of the stuff you might exhibit?"

"None of it's here physically," she replied. "But I do have a folder on my laptop with my very best stuff on it. You can see Monday if you really want to."

Strolling from the diner back towards the book store together, Angela hugged me goodbye and I resumed the rest of my work day. I never did finish my coffee. It had seemed like a good idea to wake myself up at the time, but, when it came to actually drinking it, the beverage held no appeal, which was odd-I loved coffee! As soon as the bell signalled my entrance, that familiar thrum of expectation in my stomach returned and I immediately looked for something, anything, to pass the time. I wasn't entirely sure what fuelled my anticipation about the arrival of the promised visitor. Perhaps it was just my inquisitive nature taking over. I'd been like it from childhood; Mom always joked that the weirder something was, the more desperate I'd be to see it. I couldn't deny it, either, unfortunately. The moment a curiosity crossed my path, I just had to find out more and Carlisle Cullen, like his cousin, was, indeed a curiosity. What I looked forward to most, I think, was my eyes being able to actually absorb him, without being blindsided by unexpected splendour. I briefly wondered if he had anything to do with my dream, but, as I couldn't recall any distinct details about it (besides yellow), the speculation was left unresolved.

As time wore on and five o' clock gradually grew nearer and nearer, my heart sank a little at the thought that I may not get to see the object of my fascination. In truth, it was my inquisitiveness more than anything that was feeling let down. When the end of my shift arrived, despondence sat lightly on my shoulders. Damn it, I'd wanted to see him! I tried not to dwell on it too long. After all, there was always the possibility he might visit the next day and, if he didn't, I'd just have to make do with inspecting every last unusual detail of Alice to work out what the deal was with the Cullens.

At home, my dulled mood didn't improve. I wasn't overly grumpy or anything, just a little dejected, which I knew was silly and did my best to hide. God, was I really so bored in Forks that the idea of seeing one person could instil such excitement in me? This was one of those times where Charlie's relaxed demeanour wasn't such a blessing. Mom, sensing my unhappiness, would have done all she could to distract me and eventually find out what was wrong. Sadly, that just wasn't Charlie's way. He figured that if someone wanted to talk, they'd do it in their own time. That kind of attitude was a problem for me, as I didn't find it altogether easy to burden others with my issues.

After my inquisition the other day, I didn't want to continue questioning my dad about the enigmatic family; his practised indifference belied his astuteness-I mean, he was Chief of Police for a reason. I went to bed early that night, hoping for much better sleep this time around and I was moderately successful. It took a while to actually fall asleep, as I wondered if the yellow dream would be a recurring one. Parts of it were, but its attack wasn't so strong second time around.

000

"Morning, Dad," I called, scooping my hair into a low ponytail as I descended the stairs.

I received no reply and was about to repeat my sentiment, when the words of the newsreader currently occupying the television screen reached my ears.

"...in what police are describing as one of the most gruesome acts of violence they have seen in recent times."

I stood in the lounge doorway, my eyes watching the chubby man sat behind the desk as he relayed the details of a vicious murder that took place the previous night in Seattle. With a warning to shoo younger viewers out of the room, photos of the victims were put on screen, but I looked away. Just hearing what happened to the two poor guys was enough to make me shudder. Minus two thirds of their throats, most of their blood and left on the street for all to see, the victims most definitely suffered a great deal and I wondered what sort of monstrous person could do such a thing. In an age claiming its inhabitants are becoming more and more desensitised to gore, I think I would be hard pushed to find anyone not outraged by such brutality.

I glanced at Charlie, who was stood in front of the set, his hands in his pockets. He had obviously been about to leave the house for work when the story came on as he was clad in full uniform, with his jacket zipped up. I could see the muscles in his jaw tighten as he watched. As a cop, it must be horrible to hear such things, to see that the very people you are sworn to protect are also potentially capable of doing something so horrible to their fellow men.

Knowing there would be no point in trying to talk to him in his current mood, I headed to the hallway to grab my coat and car keys. Hopefully I would be able to dispel the horrific story from my mind before I got to work.

As I entered the store, there was no escaping the news as I caught the headline of the newspaper Jerry was reading.

"Morning," I said, wondering if he would be more responsive to my greeting than my father had been.

"Oh, good morning, Bella," he replied, closing and folding the paper, before placing it on the cashier desk.

"I see the wonderful news didn't escape you either," I commented, making my way behind the desk.

Jerry shook his head, genuine remorse crossing his features. "Sad, isn't it? To think, a species that landed on the moon could also do that."

I was about to reply when the bell above the door tinkled. My eyes pivoted to see the object of my fascination waltz through the store entrance, like an angel gliding through the gates of Heaven. What caused these religious metaphors? Maybe it was the hair. The light caught it in such a way that created a soft glow, surrounding the crown of his head like a halo. I stood there motionless as Jerry stepped forward to meet Carlisle Cullen.

"Ah, there you are," greeted my boss, with what I had quickly learned to be a characteristically warm smile.

"I apologise for yesterday," Carlisle said, his voice every bit as silky smooth as I remembered from the first time I met him. "There was an emergency at the hospital."

"I suspected as much," Jerry remarked in understanding.

As they exchanged pleasantries I, being completely unnoticed, was able to actually study the doctor in front of me for the first time. In his presence, I found every one of my senses to be heightened. Age identification seemed nigh on impossible as his face was neither young nor old, but had a timeless quality I found enthralling. Unlike my encounter with Alice, smell was the second sense to be awakened by Carlisle, but, like his cousin, an incredible scent surrounded him and I was unable to keep from taking a deep breath to inhale it. That sweet fragrance was there, gelling all the other scents together in one delicious aroma and I found myself spellbound. He intrigued me before, but absolutely captivated me now.

Lost in my observations, I didn't realise how aware the pair were of my presence until fingers snapped in front of my face, bringing me crashing back to Earth.

"S-sorry?" I stuttered, blinking almost furiously to clear my head.

"Daydreaming again?" Jerry asked good-naturedly, causing my cheeks to flush crimson. "I was just introducing Carlisle."

"Oh, hi," I breathed, ready to slam my head against the cash register if it stopped me acting like a love struck teenager. All hopes of not making an ass of myself had clearly failed, but was there ever really any doubt I would?

Carlisle's eyes fell on me. "We've already met," he said. "Although it was not under the best of circumstances. I treated her father after a minor car accident a short while ago."

"Oh dear." Jerry looked at me in alarm.

"It was nothing serious, thankfully," Carlisle explained, before turning back to me. "How is he recovering?"

"Fine," I responded in a small voice that was a pitch higher than usual. I licked my suddenly dry lips before forcing myself to continue. "It, uh, didn't take him long. I think he was going stir crazy towards the end."

"I can imagine," he chuckled. "Send him my regards."

"I will," I promised and he returned his attention to Jerry, a large book transferring from the hands of the doctor to the shop keeper. They continued conversing while I continued to stare like I had never set eyes upon a human being before. In my defence, he wasn't like other humans. The short, balding man beside Carlisle may as well not even exist for all the impact he made in comparison with the otherworldly blonde. I was suddenly overcome by an urge to reach out and touch the sleeve of the doctor's jacket, just to ensure he wasn't a figment of my imagination, but I managed to battle against it.

"Well, duty calls," he stated, although he carried none of the reluctance in his tone that most did when using the same phrase. "It was lovely to see you again, Bella." I was glad he didn't attempt to shake my hand; I wasn't sure how I'd react.

"I'll let you know once I've finished this," Jerry said, referring to the volume in his hands. "Although, I can't promise you'll get it back."

"Take as long as you need, there's no rush." Carlisle made his way to the door and rested a hand on the handle as he looked back at us, his eyes finding me again. "Oh, before I forget, Bella, Alice wondered if you would like to have coffee with her during your lunch break this afternoon."

The request threw me completely. Was my dad psychic? He'd talked about us becoming friends, but I never gave it serious consideration. Realising Carlisle was waiting for an answer, I nodded my head. "Um, sure," I answered. "I get off at one thirty." I glanced at Jerry briefly and he nodded in confirmation.

"I'll let her know," he smiled, waving goodbye to Jerry before exiting the store.

My eyes followed his form until it was no longer visible through the window. As much as I loved the English language, I knew it would never suffice to describe the encounter I had just faced. And I had Alice to cope with next! Not that I didn't want her company, but I seemed to need preparation time before engaging with a Cullen or Brandon. I looked over at Jerry. He was completely unfazed right now, but had his first meeting with Carlisle been as disorientating as mine? For the sake of my dignity, I hoped so.

My third meeting with Alice turned out to be rather enjoyable. She was as chirpy as ever and I found it hard to be shy around her, despite the fact that this was the first time we'd ever had a lengthy conversation with one another.

"I figured," she said, sliding into one of the booths populating the diner Angela and I had visited the day before. "That since we're working in shops so close together, we may as well get to know each other a little better."

To be honest, I was happy to oblige. It made sense to make a few decent friends as, although I didn't have an exact timeframe of how long I'd be living in Forks, I knew it would be for quite a while. After all, Angela would only be here for holidays and I couldn't spend all my time with just Jacob. Thoughts of my childhood friend reminded me of his warning against the girl opposite me. I could just imagine how happy he'd be with this situation. The defiant part of my brain reminded me that it was none of his business, especially as Alice had yet to do anything wrong in my eyes.

Usually, I disliked overly talkative girls, but it wasn't the typical inane prattling that exited her mouth and I enjoyed listening to her musical voice. We somehow managed to talk about everything in our lives, yet avoided anything too personal as, after half an hour, I still knew little more about her than that she lived with her cousin and boyfriend on the outskirts of Forks. Part of me wondered why she had sought me out. Surely a woman like her had an abundance of friends. But, as I looked closer, I was sure I saw a subtle hint of loneliness in her face. It was then that I leaned back, to get a broader picture of this beautiful young woman. Although the stereotype portrayed attractive women as having everything, in reality, extreme beauty could often be isolating, as Angela's enviable height had proven during school. Thinking back to my initial reaction to Alice, I could see why many might shy away from her. She was very friendly, but odd, quirky and struck me as someone not many would quite "get". Perhaps, as I was a newcomer, she wanted to establish a connection before I was claimed by the other residents. Or, maybe she sensed my love of all things unusual and reckoned I might be worth investing time in. Either way, now that this connection was beginning to be forged, I knew there was no way I wanted it to break.

My half-an-hour break passed oddly. It seemed to fly by, yet I felt as though Alice and I had been talking for hours. I found myself leaving the encounter with a smile on my face, with all the tension and confusion I felt earlier evaporating. After actually talking to her, I realised Alice was nothing like the unapproachable elf I had originally thought her to be. She was, in reality, a very pleasant and intelligent young woman.

"Same time tomorrow?" she asked as we were about to part ways.

"Sure thing," I replied eagerly, more than happy to make this a regular arrangement-Jacob be damned.

A/N: Again, sorry it's a bit shorter than the others, but it seemed like a natural place to finish the chapter. Is everyone happy with how it's going so far? The main purpose of this chapter was to set up future plot points in the story and I always worry about pace with any stories I do. Hope you enjoyed and I'll see you all very soon