Chapter 5

Alice's POV

I hated everything about nosy people. The way they looked and talked. Especially with the supernatural hearing, I hated that they did both of these things differently. They looked like they had the friendliest faces on earth. But every inquisitive question feeling like a chip off the wall of security you've built around yourself. It's like they didn't understand the little social niceties you have put in place that say "FUCK OFF"

It was hardest to see Rosalie try it, she looks like she's literally trying not to rip them to rip them a new one. She seemed like she was desperately trying.

"So Alice, you said that your mum didn't like fishing" Billie went on, I knew it was coming. I just knew it. "I bet she didn't like vampires either"

"You know what, Billy? I'm feeling a bit thirsty, if you'll excuse me" I said before standing and leaving the prying bastard behind. I felt Paul's gaze on me as I walked into the quaint house that Sam and Emily had built for themselves. It was nice of them to invite us to this barbeque. Especially since all the wolves expressions did not change a bit since we had arrived. They still talked about me and made no secret of their dislike for me. I honestly couldn't give less of a fuck if I tried. It seemed like they could easily win a glaring contest, but didn't have the balls to finish what they started. I had been approached by Billy, Sam, Seth and even Paul. The other wolves hated my company and wouldn't be seen within a foot of me, but they still perked up every time I spoke.

Opening the kitchen door, a scene I would least expect lay out before me. There was Rosalie cutting up a pie with Jacob sitting around talking to her. It seemed like I was right on time for Rosalie.

"... And so that's how I managed the winning touchdown" Jacob ended with as I walked in. "Hey, Alice. Enjoying the food? You better serve yourself some before they finish it"

"Thanks, Jacob" I forced out a smile before turning to the sink to fill a glass of water for me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Rosalie place the knife down and slowly walk towards me.

"Are you alright?" she asked coming to rest with her hands folded across her chest and her hip against the sink.

"Yeah, I'm great. How're you?" I asked right back, slapping on a face of content. I shouldn't have let it slip for a moment around her. This whole facade was for her and only her. If she sees what I've really become, I don't know if I could bear it. She mustn't ever see that.

"You are not. Now tell me why" it wasn't a question. I wanted to slap myself for letting it slip earlier.

"It's nothing really, why're you getting so worked up?" I giggled the last bit out to help ease some of the anger I could see building up in her. Please let it be enough, please let it be enough.

"It's not nothing, now tell me what it really is so I can FIX IT. You know what I know it's Paul. What did that fuck up do? I knew this would happen. That good for nothing son of a fucking- "she started getting a bit louder and I could see Jacob having enough sense to step outside of the kitchen. I saw this side of Rosalie many a time. When she complained to my 6th grade English teacher about a grade I got, when she punched a girl at school for spreading rumours about me, I felt the love of this look before but I knew she couldn't fix this one. She could never fix this one.

"Fine, fine. I'll tell you what it is, alright?" I asked gripping her forearms to hopefully ease some of the pressure that had built on. "I've been thinking about Dad's birthday coming up. And... What we were going to do about it"

"What do you mean do about it? What we've always done about it..." she led on obviously buying my story and leaving it alone. Thank Heavens. She returned to cutting up the pie.

"But you and I hate camping. Why don't we just skip that part?" I said trailing on. I wasn't a big fan of the outdoors like Dad. I guess that should've been the first sign that I wasn't really his.

"What do you mean? It's a tradition. We hike and camp and hunt and feast like every year and that's not going to change. Besides, I've asked Sam for Friday off and called the school to say you aren't coming"

Sometimes, I hated this new mummy side of Rosalie.

"Who's going to map the trail? Or cook our kill? We don't know these woods Rosalie, what if they're mountain lions or bears? We can't be too careful in these woods" I pleaded

"There is nothing that we can't handle, that we haven't done before. And besides, you've got that freaky sense of direction, we'd never get lost with you there" she said and I knew with the gleeful look in her eye that this wasn't up for discussion.

"Alright, fine. But we need to pack a few bottles of tequila. I'm not doing this thing sober" I said pushing of the edge of the sink and picking up a piece of the pie she just cut through.

"Oh, waaayyy ahead of you there. Already bought a few cases, just waiting to be drunk at home" she smirked as she picked up the plate of perfectly cut pie. She looked absolutely at peace, cutting a stupid pie.

"What's waiting to be drunk at home?" said Emily as she saunters in, I suppose in search of that pie.

"Oh, nothing. Just a few gallons of blood, nothing you have to fret over" I said, watching her visibly tense up, before Paul steps inside the house with a drink in hand.

"What are you ladies talking about?" Paul said slinking in beside me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and I felt warm from anytime he was around me. It was magic the way my body reacted with him in sight.

"Alice's weird attempt at vampirism. Honestly Alice, at least make it funny" Rosalie jokes as she eyes Paul's arm around my waist. He'd been a bit showy with his affection ever since I kissed him. I was caught up and it felt right at that moment but every time he did things like this I'd melt right back into that moment. Most people thought we were going out, but I knew better.

"I am funny, thank you very much. What isn't funny is that hot piece of ass you keep brushing off" I said loud enough for Rosalie to scowl at me and glare so fiercely, I thought she'd burn a hole. Coincidently, I felt Paul's hand tighten around my waist. Was he growling too? Emily seemed to lighten up after this and giggle like a schoolgirl.

"I don't know who you're referring to" Rosalie said sticking up her nose and exiting with the pie. Emily following close behind.

It was nice and quiet. Thank fuck. Just what I was aiming for. I pried myself out of Paul's iron grip and headed over to the sink to pick up my forgotten glass. I needed to get out of here, the wolves smell got a bit overpowering some times. I had again one of those times where I thought I was going to see a glimpse of the future, a slither of it pass my eyes. Then I realise that that will never happen again.

"Hot piece of ass, huh?" Paul asked from clenched teeth. Sarcasm dripped from his every word "Didn't know that Jacob was your type. Should I set you both on a date? I know this really-"

My mouth covered his as the warmth I associated with his body flowed through my mouth and tingled all the way to my toes. I allowed his lips to take dominance, kissing me passionately, asking me for entrance. I gave it willingly, to express the way his scent calmed me, his presence warmed me. I broke it off after his hands found their way to my ass. Red flags flew up in my mind.

"Yeah, because he almost tried to kill me. I love it when a big, bad wolf wants to rip my throat out and have me for dinner. I don't know what about murder that makes it that much sexier" I drawled right back at him.

His eyes turned guilty and he touched his forehead to mine before bringing his large, hard hands to cup my cheeks "I'm sorry" he whispered to me.

"I wasn't trying to make you feel guilty, you know? Besides, it's what you were made to do, you couldn't help it. If anything you should have just finished the job" I said before breaking away from his delicious warmth. "Alice-"

"I'm trying to steer her the right way" I started to explain myself" She's very stubborn and listens to very few people, one of them who happen to be me. I'm trying to get her to make the right choice"

Paul's face formed a little crinkly V on his forehead "Like you said, he tried to kill you. Why would you want to get him together with Rosalie?"

"I can tell he likes her" I started, thinking about what I've heard from their fleeting conversations around me "My sister deserves to be happy" I said before walking back out to the people.

-8-

Sam's POV

Rosalie wasn't kidding when she said she knew cars. She flew through all the work I'd given her and I could finally breathe in the shop. With no more than 3 cars in the shop, she had sat to repair an old antique carburetor. She looked hard at work with her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth, I don't know how I could bring this up.

"Um.. Rosalie" I called in the middle of my routine check of Mr Awatai's Honda. We said we weren't going to bring this up with Rosalie at the council as she looked like she had nothing to do with vampires but Alice seemed like she was going to be tight lipped about the situation. We now had no choice. She looked at me.

"I was wondering if you knew what kind of people Alice used to hang around" I started.

"Why? Is she in trouble or something?" Rosalie began to worry. I didn't want her to worry.

"Nothing like that. I just was curious because Alice seems different when you aren't with her. I was wondering if her past had anything to do with it" I cautiously said. To her, it might seem a bit suspicious because this was not anywhere near where my concern should lie. "It's just that Emily brought it up and she seemed pretty worried"

"She's fine, Sam. She's just been through some pretty rough stuff, we're working through it" she said before pulling out a grateful smile "Tell Emily she has nothing to worry about, in a few months time she'll be seeing the Alice I've seen my whole life"

"I'm sorry, I hope I'm not prying, but what problems?" I went on. "I mean if there's anything Em and I can help with..."

Rosalie picked her screwdriver back up "She's just going through a tough time dealing with our parents' death. I wasn't there for her the past year and I'm trying to make it up to her"

I nodded because that signalled the end of the conversation.

-8-

Alice's POV

I had nothing to do other than flip through channels. Today was another grey day. I referred to days like these when I couldn't see anything, when my visions of the future got muddled by the indecisiveness of those around me. Now that my sights gone, every day felt like a grey day.

"Hey, Alice! Come help me with this" Rosalie called to me from the kitchen.

I got off the couch and I knew what she was doing before she even came into sight. Just like I predicted she was packing for the camping trip.

"Help me with this will you? I need to get it to fit" Rosalie sat on top of an overloaded bag.

"Please, I beg you. Let's just camp here" I begged. Then I saw it. The flicker of resignation.

Thank fuck.

"I guess, you're right. We can't do it without mum and dad" she stood up "And I guess we can just camp out in the living room"

"And we'll have the toilet near by" I added.

"And we can start tonight, seeing as it's Thursday" Rosalie looked like a little girl who'd just gotten candy instead of the bottles of tequila she had just pulled out.

3 hours and almost 3 bottles of tequila later

"Rosie, this tent doesn't seem very secure" I slurred and I wasn't even aware that I slurred. Was my mouth deforming into a black hole?

"You're right, then the bears might attack" Rosie said attempting to pin the tent down, resulting in her just collapsing on her. "Daddy used to do this, remember?"

"Daddy did a lot for us didn't he?" I said "He looked absolutely peaceful before he died, you know?"

Why did that just fall out of my mouth?

"Daddy loved us and so did mummy. She told me the tales of this place. That's why we moved here" Rosalie picked up the edge of the tent. "She told me that this land had something special. Vampires can't be on this land. Thank you mummy!"

"Did she?" I asked surprised. "She told you about the wolves?"

"She said they were spirits that protected the land and that's why vampires can't get on it. We're safe. Mummy wanted us safe" she drawled out. I almost fell back, I thought she knew about the wolves as I always referred to the wolves as 'the wolves'. This blew my mind.

"Wai- Wha?" I said before losing the battle to unconsciousness. The dreams took me places I didn't wanna be.