Then, the door opened and the missing Cullens stepped in.

"I smell human," said the loud, muscular vampire that must be Emmett loudly before his gaze landed on me. He stared in a way that made me self-conscious.

Rosalie, who was absolutely gorgeous, just like Bella described, glared at me.

Carlisle seemed mildly interested.

Edward kept opening then closing his mouth, like a fish. It would have been funny if not for the circumstances.

"Alice," he choked out.

"Hi," I said. "Sorry for surprising you."

"Carlisle, Rose, Emmett," said Bella. "This is Alice. She's a friend of mine."

"Oh, fantastic," said Rosalie. "Same thing all over again."

Edward growled softly.

"Hello, Alice," said Carlisle, stepping forward and extending a pale hand.

"Hello." I grasped it and shook it once before pulling my hand away from his hard, ice cold one.

"She knows what we are," murmured Edward softly. I was confused as to how he knew this, before I remembered he could read minds. I can't believe I never noticed when he was still at Forks High. He'd always smile when I made an amusing comment in my head.

Rosalie stormed out of the room. Emmett came and sat on the chair across from me. "So," he grinned. "Another human. Are you as clumsy as Bella was? I've been missing that."

"Uh, no," I mumbled, intimidated by the vampire's muscles. Even without his extra vampire strength, he could've broken my bones easily.

"The Volturi will return, if they hear about this," said Carlisle wearily. "There's no doubt about it."

"Jasper," called Esme from the kitchen, seeing my guilt and uncomfort for being here, and pitying me. "Why don't you take Alice on a tour?"

He seemed slightly repulsed by the idea, but stood up and gestured for me to follow him.

Edward grabbed Jasper's shoulder firmly as he passed him. "Can you handle it?"

Jasper nodded once, seeming slightly annoyed by Edward's lack of faith in him.

I had already seen most of the first floor, so he led me up the stairs.

"What did Edward mean?" I asked Jasper, jogging to keep up with his long strides.

He paused. "I...struggle with the animal blood diet, more than the others. Human blood is harder for me to resist."

"How does it feel?" I asked curiously. "To be thirsty?"

"Painful," he said roughly, as if thinking about it made him thirsty. "Like a dry burn that won't go away. Animal blood satisfies it enough, I guess, but human blood is much more preferable." His voice had started to strain, and I understood it was from me. I stepped a few feet away from him. I was glad for one thing, that he didn't sugar-coat anything. I came here for the truth, not understatements.

"Carlisle's office," he said, pointing to the first door. "Carlisle and Esme's bedroom," he continued, opening the door slightly to a white room. "Rosalie's and Emmett's bedroom, and the library."

Then he led me to the room furthest down the hall. "My room," he said, opening the door.

I peered inside. There was a bed, though I couldn't imagine why he needed one. There was also a dark wooden bookshelf, filled with books.

"You really like the Civil War," I said, looking at the spines.

"Like it?" he said. "I fought in it."

I turned towards him, surprised. "Really?"

He opened his mouth to reply, but Renesmee ran into the room. She stood on the bed so she was around my height and scrutinized me closely.

"I'm Renesmee," she said finally, seeming to have approved of me. "But you can call me Nessie."

"Hi, Nessie," I said, smiling at the little girl's adorableness. I never really liked kids, but Nessie seemed...more mature. "I'm Alice."

She grinned, showing off her little white teeth. "Wanna play dress-up?" she asked hopefully. "Momma doesn't like it and Aunt Rose is busy right now."

"Sure!" I said.

"Come on!" she exclaimed, taking my hand and pulling me to her room. For a girl who looked as if she couldn't be more than four, she was surprisingly strong.

"I'm a hybrid, you know," she said proudly. "I'm special."

"A hybrid?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm half human and half vampire!"

"Oh, yeah," I said. The skin and strength was a sign of a vampire, but her chocolate brown eyes and pink cheeks showed she was human.

I was trying to figure out how that worked when she suddenly exclaimed, "Wanna see something cool?"

"Sure," I said somewhat hesitantly.

She reached up and pressed her little palm to my face.

I gasped as what I was seeing changed. At first, I thought I was having another vision, but then I realized what I was seeing. I was seeing myself, from Nessie's eyes, standing in the doorway, my swimsuit wet.

The scene changed, and I saw myself talking to Bella, discussing wolves.

Nessie pulled her hand away, taking the scene with it.

"What was that?" I asked.

She giggled. "It's my gift. I can show others what I want them to."

"Wow," I said softly, staring in amazement at the little bronze-haired girl.

"Come on," she said, pulling me again.

I realized that Nessie was much more fashion-forward than her mother. She looked adorable while she came out in different outfits and strutted around, pretending she was a model.

"Alice!" groaned Bella as she and Rosalie came in. "Don't tell me you've let fashion take over my daughter!"

"I think Rosalie has already let that happen," I said, smiling at the blond vampire, a sign of friendship. She scowled and turned.

"Don't worry about Rose," said Bella after she left. "She just wishes she was human again."

"Why?" I asked. "I mean, she had everything anyone could ever want."

"Except kids," said Bella. "That's what she really wants. She's like a second mother to Renesmee, but she wants her own kids who she can watch grow up."

I wrinkled my nose. I didn't think about ever having kids of my own.

"Jacob's here!" screamed Nessie and jumped off the bed before running down the stairs, probably hearing something I couldn't.

"Come on," said Bella.

I followed her to the front door where Nessie was proceeding to tell Jacob something through her power.

There must have been me in it, because Jacob's expression was cool as he saw me. "Embry's mentioned you, too," he said casually, though there seemed to be something hidden in his words.

"How's he doing?" I said lamely.

"Great," said Jacob.

I wonder if he knew that I knew he was a shape-shifter. It was funny, how just a few weeks ago I knew virtually nothing about the hidden world in Forks and now I was a part of it myself. I had to admit, I was a little scared. Not of the Cullens, of course, but how this would affect me and my future.

I guess I'd have to wait and see. I just hoped it'd be for the best.