Okay, just a warning right now, this Chapter probably isn't as great as you think it will be. It's a lot of perspective and not much action. But fear not, for Chapter 26 deals with…can you guess? That's right, the CAR ACCIDENT! YAY! I promise it's gonna be good, but you have to give me time because it's majorly important and I've got midterms to study for as well.

Anyway, don't forget to review!

-Wish

Chapter 25: Worth It

With Edward gone, tension in the family was at an all time high. Everyone had their own opinion of Bella and without Edward to hear their thoughts, they'd taken to voicing them, loudly even by human standards.

The family seemed split into two factions, more or less. One thought Edward should distance himself from the Swan girl and just forget about her. That was Rosalie's, Jasper's, and Emmett's point-of-view.

But Alice and Esme disagreed profusely. Alice wanted Edward to get to know the Swan girl. She believed he could resist the scent of her blood. She'd seen herself and Bella as good friends. Esme's view was simple, she desperately hoped for Edward to find love. Alice had verified that Bella was the girl from her visions. Like Alice, Esme believed Edward could resist. He'd fought through the initial shock. Now that he knew what to expect, he could be prepared for it. Or at least, that was Esme's logic.

I didn't know who to agree with. I trusted Edward; that much I was 100% certain about. He was good at our vegetarian lifestyle, having not slipped up once since returning to the family. But I had no real way of knowing just how much a siren's call Bella's blood was to him. I couldn't read is mind like he could read mine. I couldn't tell just how close he'd been when first Bella's scent wafted to his nose. I'd had my own experience, but what if Edward's was more intense? I had brought compassion to my vampire life and I believed that was what allowed me to resist human blood so thoroughly. But Edward didn't have that extra help. Could he resist? For at least two more years?

I didn't know. It was one of the few times I'd been uncertain about moving the family. Everyone liked it here. We could live as close to normal hours as vampires could. The sun stayed behind the clouds enough for us to do that. Rosalie had made it quite clear she didn't want to leave.

"And what happens when Edward murders the Swan girl?" she demanded at Alice during one of the heated "discussions". "We leave town after a few months or so and start back at tenth grade again? I'm almost through high school. I don't want to begin again at fifteen!"

Starting high school each time had always been an annoyance for Rosalie. She didn't like having to get her driver's license again and again. And she had no patience for easy high school courses. For someone like Rosalie, with a Ph. D. in Engineering, subjects like High School Algebra, Geometry, even Trigonometry, were elementary topics. But the younger we start, the longer we can stay in one place. Rosalie knew that, which was quite possibly the only reason she put up with it. But here was something threatening to send her back down into the lower grades earlier than usual. After graduating Forks, Rosalie and Emmett would have probably "gone off to college". That meant they would either live on their own, or live at home without coming out into public a lot, or even really go to college somewhere else, just the two of them. Jasper would have stayed no matter what. Alice was still in high school, technically. But if we moved, Rosalie couldn't do that. It wouldn't work out really. So she didn't want to move just yet.

Emmett really didn't care all that much I think. He was mostly just agreeing with Rosalie because, well let's face it, she's Rosalie. Emmett didn't like being on her bad side. So he agreed with her, supporting her like a good husband should. I truly didn't know Emmett's real take on the situation. Only the one he put up for Rosalie.

Jasper's take was interesting; strictly tactical. Jasper had a brilliant military mind. He thought about what would be the most logical and the best tactically. He tried to remain as emotionally removed as possible. But that was hard for him to do, since he was an empath. With emotions heightened as they were, poor Jasper probably felt as torn between the two factions as I did. The only way I found out Jasper's opinion was when we went hunting, just the two of us. Jasper didn't mind being around me so much, probably because I was unsure of my view on the "Bella Issue", as it was being called now.

"I think Edward's best bet is to just stay away," Jasper admitted on this trip. "He has too much to lose if he fails to control himself around her. Plus, why take the physical punishment?"

"I guess so," I replied. "But doesn't Alice think that Edward will be able to resist? Isn't there merit in finding out whether or not this Bella would be good for him?"

Jasper was silent for a moment. I wasn't sure if he was tasting my emotions, or considering my words. "No," Jasper said conclusively. "The risk does not outweigh the gain. It's not worth it."

We left the conversation at that, focusing on bringing down prey. I tried to consider what Jasper was saying. He was probably the most impartial, emotionally anyway. I thought that was ironic, since he dealt with all of our emotions, not just his own. I had a new respect for Jasper after that trip.

We argued for a week. Then Alice had a vision of Edward jumping in my car and speeding all the way home, his mind resolved. He was going to tough it out. He was going to see Bella again and talk to Bella and at no time was he going to succumb to his thirst. His mind was made up on that. Rosalie was annoyed about it. Jasper didn't really approve, but he wouldn't voice that opinion. Emmett was just happy, I think, to not have to go along with Rosalie anymore. Alice was ecstatic, even more cheerful then usual. And Esme was thrilled that Edward was going to give Bella the chance. I was just happy that my son was coming home. I'd missed him. Edward had been my longest companion and, not including Esme, my most faithful.

Edward arrived home Sunday night, around eleven. He had hunted along the way and his eyes were a rich, butterscotch color. He seemed to be optimistic, or at least trying to put on that sort of attitude. He reassured everyone that he could handle it. I said he was going to school the next day and that everything would be fine.

"Really," Edward insisted for the fifth time. Esme and Alice and Emmett had been hovering over him, telling him that if he wasn't sure, it was alright to just take another day off. He'd missed a week of school already. One more day wasn't really going to matter. "I'll be fine. And if I feel like I'm losing it, I'll just hold my breath and ask to go to the nurse. It's fine."

That Monday, my thoughts drifted to Edward at the school. I wondered how he was doing, and whether or not someone would come to tell me that Edward had failed and had killed Bella. When Alice came in, after lunch time, my heart sank before she even spoke.

"It's alright I think," Alice said. "I just wanted to say, it was really close, but Edward made it through. The vision of him feeding on Bella has faded."

"That's good Alice," I said. We were in my office once more and I signed off my computer to make my usual rounds.

"I'll see you at home," she said, and left. That was a bit unusual. Typically, Alice liked to stay and chat. But she seemed preoccupied by something. I'd have to ask Edward that night if he could get anything from her, or if she was blocking him again.