chapter eight

It's not too long into the future when I have to leave for Northwest.

It's obvious Charlie had wished I had decided even today. He wanted me to claim I would rather start later in the week here instead of in Seattle. I understand how he wants to cling to me, and I also know it's going to be the last time I'll see him most likely before Alec takes me away from America and towards the oldest city in Italy in order for me to begin my second life with him as a vampire. I don't say anything about it either, when it comes to the sadness in his eyes nor say anything about how I'm glad I'll be in Seattle because that means I'll be able to be with Alec (or be with my new friend Alexandra). I'm not that harsh of a daughter, even if someone might think it's selfish, I would put a vampire before my own father but it's not their opinion I care about.

I change into a simple outfit that doesn't really stand out in the crowd and gather the few things I had brought with me here before getting into the police cruiser. It's one thing I wish I didn't have to deal with. I would have liked to be able to drive up to Seattle without having to carpool with Charlie. It's not embarrassing, but it's just another part of me that isn't as free as I wish I was.

The drive towards Seattle is quiet, there is a steady traffic up to Port Angeles but not thick enough we would have to move at a crawling motion. I fight the urge to toy with the radio so I can play some random music station, and instead listen to the sound of the police scanner telling others how things are going around the city, and for Charlie to know where his fellow men in blue are in the said coastal city. It's been more prominent in my life while in his cruiser, it's just as if I were listening to the music, he had grown up with than the police reports.

I do perk up some when we reach Seattle, even if that means the traffic is more stressful than I wish it to be. My fingers do tap against the car handle rest, my eyes scanning over the people who are moving on either side of the roads, going about their own ways, and none of them even remotely resemble Alec secretly here. I both wish he were here but not at the same time, I want him low on the radar when it comes to Charlie. It would be better if we just stick to the story of him being Alexandra my private school friend, instead of Alec, my future vampire lover.

Finally reaching Northwest I lean over and kiss Charlie on his prickly cheekbone before hopping out of the police cruiser with my luggage. He leans over and notices Principal Dwyer waiting patiently for me, but he's also looking at all his students entering the campus. He shoots a nod towards my dad, before he turns and gives me a kind smile.

Heading forward to the front entrance of the campus, I barely notice as Principal Dwyer heads over to where the police cruiser is so he can have a short but respectful conversation with Charlie. I instead go through the front gates and towards the direction of where my dorm building is, and it just so happens I'll be on the top floor this time around instead of the third floor (which was meant for the juniors). I'll also have to deal with Rich Newton, but if it weren't him I would be dealing with then chances are I would have to be dealing with Mike Newton back in Forks.

Entering the first floor of the dorm building, I immediately go over to check in at the desk, getting my paperwork done and my I.D. photograph. The picture isn't beautiful but it is much better than the picture I had last year. So I have something to look forward to.

Another being, apparently Principal Dwyer managed to pull some strings, and I'm able to have my own dorm room. I later find out part of the reason is because the rest of my graduating class don't care to have the same dorm room as me. The death of Elle Fizherbert has scarred them more than me, apparently they feel I am cursed. So they don't put up a fuss at the thought of me being the only senior having my own dorm room to myself.

Heading down to supper, I barely pay attention to the food I pull from the buffet line or how much the food will cost when I pay for it. I sit down at the end of the table assigned for my graduating class and stir my plastic utensil around my food. My eyes flicker towards the windows that look out to the scenery of the campus outside, none of it interesting enough for me to look at longer. I hear my name spoken down the line and turning my head, I almost snort when Rich is badmouthing me, claiming how I'd not be able to please him anyway.

I get up to throw away the remains of my food a few minutes before supper ends, when my surname is called. I know the voice so I turn towards the person with the most respect. A person who I can respect and do respect, Principal Dwyer. He has been a kind man to me, and doesn't treat me any differently than he treats the others. We both know we are going to eventually become estranged after I graduate but for the time being we have a good relationship.

Bowing my head to let him know he can continue, Principal Dwyer chuckles some from where he stands. He has his hands stuffed into the pockets of his designer suit trousers and cranes his head to the side. Principal Oswald is talking to a middle school aged student, putting her hand onto the young boy's shoulder while having a stern but motherly look in her eyes.

"Walk me back to your dorm," Principal Dwyer says, and nodding my head to let him know I understand, the both of us leave the cafeteria together. Everyone is gathering their things together if they have any so they can head off to their own dorms for the rest of the evening. The sun is already setting over the skyscrapers and the canopies of the few trees planned in the campus.

Once the cafeteria doors shut and we go outside I sigh in relief at how the weather is working with us for the moment instead of against us. I don't have to deal with it raining harshly above me nor do I have to worry about running towards my dorm while soaking wet because I had forgotten to grab my umbrella (and yes it's the same umbrella that Principal Dwyer had given to me).

"So tell me about how your summer went. Mitzie and I were invited over to Europe for some business meeting between American Private Schools and European Private Schools in order to see how our test scores are and other boring things such as that," Principal Dwyer states, and inquiries at the same time, he's not forcing me to tell him how things went.

"I broke my kneecap not even a week into being in Forks, so that was fun," I remark, smirking some as I see him pause to look at me to see if I'm joking or not. His eyes flicker down to where my kneecaps are before there is relief flooding through him. "And no, I didn't need any surgeries done. I had that done when I was in eighth grade."

"Can't say I have ever broken or sprained or injured myself enough to end up needing to have surgery. I was on the rowing team at my Scottish private school, Merchiston Castle School. It's one of the two remaining all boys' boarding and day schools in Scotland. My father insisted on me going over, though Mitzie says whenever I get angry there is a Scottish tinge to my voice," Principal Dwyer jokes, smirking some at his own memories running around the Scottish landscape with the rest of his school boys. A different time period, and where he was young and free, and I wonder if he had met Mitzie over in Scotland or not.

As if he senses I was thinking of it he nods his head.

"I must admit I am glad you decided to come back. I would have understood if you decided to spend your senior year in Forks instead." Principal Dwyer is looking forward, his eyes not turning to look at me. He doesn't want to show favoritism.

We arrive at the dorm building before long and I turn to look at him.

I know I'll see him around the campus throughout my senior year, but I wonder what he would do if he found out I'm planning on going down to Port Angeles in order to be reunited with Alec. He would probably wrap me up in bubble wrap and ship me off to either Charlie or his great-nephew. I'd understand of course but it's best to keep that part to myself, not that I would want to tell him. It's my little secret, and I'll make sure to keep it a secret. It makes it even more thrilling in my opinion.

Saying goodbye to Principal Dwyer, I enter the dorm building again and wish I could go over to where the fireplace is so I can smugly rest in one of the chairs with a blanket draped over me. I know I would be able to do that in Forks, in Charlie's house, but here I know I'm not welcomed to even be around the rest of the school. I'm marked for death in their eyes, and it's only a matter of time before I end up going missing too. They expect for the person who had murdered Elle to find out I had survived one day so they would come after me next.

I'm barely heading towards the stairs when gasps resonate behind me.

I arch my eyebrow up and slowly turn around, my eyes widening in shock at the sight of Alice Cullen standing in the doorway of the front dorm doors with her brilliant golden eyes showing a thrilled look. She's dressed in the school uniform and she has this confidence radiating throughout her. I almost wish to close my eyes and open them again to make sure the vampire girl is not in front of me.

"A-Alice? What are you doing here?"

I know I've never officially met the rest of her family; I had opted out of that. I didn't feel the need to meet them, to learn what it was like to be an animal drinker instead of a human drinker. She's still here as if she's been around me since the very first day I had gone down to Forks, and stayed with me until this morning even though it's the complete opposite.

"Bella! Carlisle decided to let me stay here with you. I also managed to get us to have the same dorm room together," Alice chimes in, as she skips over to me while behind her one of the eager boys is carrying around her luggage behind her. She reminds me of those Beverly Hills women that would have their limousine drivers lugging around her shopping items.

"Charlie didn't tell me you would be here," I whisper, as she reaches me finally.

I don't have to look down at her since she's wearing a pair of high heels that makes her about the same height as me. She hooks one of her arms around mine and leads me up the stairs while the boy struggles behind us but eagerly continues as if he expects Alice to go out with him.

"We'll talk more when we get into our room, I'll explain everything there," she whispers back, her tone allowing me to know there is no way for me to go against what she says. I merely press my lips together and head up to the fourth floor of the building.

Arriving at our dorm room I unlock the door and we head into the room.

The boy trails in behind us and sits the luggage down before Alice thanks him with a dazzling smile and too soft voice. He blinks a few times, not expecting for her to use that sweet tone on him. He blushes and rushes off, enough for Alice to wait for him to head down the hallway before she shuts the door behind her and locks it.

Sighing, Alice heads over to where one of the desks are and pulls the chair out. She switches the chair around and sits down so she's facing me but leaning against the chair back. I sit down in my own chair and wait patiently for what she has to say.

"The first thing I want you to know is I have precognition, which means I am able to see into the future. I can't see the future clearly, a person has many paths ahead of them and I can only see the path they are currently on. I have to admit there were some pranks I had seen happening towards you…one of them would have you end up in the hospital because someone would trip you while you were heading towards the stairs. Rich Newton has it out for you, he's brainwashed everyone into thinking you are cursed and had something to do with Elle dying. He has some fake evidence and if I hadn't come at the last minute I know Alec would have come after Rich and murdered him," Alice informs me, enough for me to blink a few times at what she has to say to me.

"Alec would have come after Rich and killed him? All because of Rich sending me into the hospital for some prank? Well more like attempted murder if you think about it," I mutter, my brown eyes flickering away from the beautiful girl in front of me towards the bay windows that look out to the buildings on the other side of the campus. I press my lips together, and Alice nods her head.

"It's happened before, Bella. Two summers ago before he started here his freshman year the girl he was dating decided she didn't want to be with him anymore. He didn't take the clue and she embarrassed him in public, which in return made him decide he would get revenge against her. She ends up in the hospital, her mom's brake lines were cut. Her mom ended up dying and she ended up with brain damage. He got his revenge and with how you've embarrassed Rich two times, he's ready for his encore of derangement," Alice states.

Any type of light amusement drains itself completely from me.

This is serious, I've never really had serious boyfriends and the thought of some rich psychotic boy deciding to try and murder me for embarrassing him makes me feel as if I'm just waiting for the climax of the horror film. I'm waiting for the moment he'll come after me for real and not just lingering in the background. I'm waiting for him to strike.

Even with Alice sitting in the chair and looking at me seriously, with those perfect golden irises showing more than fierce determination, a part of me wonders if she'll be able to stay around me enough for him to not have the chance to attack me. She'll be able to see what he has planned for me before it happens or at the very least stop me from being attacked by avoiding some tripwire or getting into some car that has a bomb attached to the undercarriage (yeah maybe I'm throwing some odd examples out there but those two things are still possible).

"You will survive, Bella. I see you becoming a vampire. I can't tell you when, because I don't know. I can't tell you how, nor who it will be who will turn you. I don't know. All I know is you will be able to have an eternity with Alec like the both of you wish. I'm just here to make sure no harm will come in the way for you, and you'll get your happily ever after. Carlisle cares very deeply about Alec and the rest of the Volturi, and he couldn't help but admire your bravery when he met you. There was no hesitation in making sure you would be able to have a future you want," Alice confesses, which in return actually makes me calm down some.

I will survive.

I will be with Alec.

I'm also certain if they don't take care of Rich before I am turned, I will make sure to take care of him, myself. There won't be another girl who will end up brain dead or even killed because they dared to defy him. They dared to call him out and embarrass him because they rejected him or stood up for themselves. I will make sure to avenge that poor girl.

Alice smiles some, as if she can imagine what it would be like too, even if she can't obviously see every decision a person makes. She knows where my thoughts are and she's agreeing with me it would be glorious for him to be punished for all he had put that girl through and what he would have planned on putting me through.

"What about eating though? You're going to be in a city for months on end, and you won't be having the same diet as Alec does," I announce, which in return makes Alice press her lips together and it's her turn to look at the windows that look out to the city of Seattle. There's this sadness etched across her features for a moment, along with aggravation before she turns and looks at me once more.

"I'll be gone for a few hours every other weekend, probably heading down to the woods in Forks. It won't take too long for me and I'll be back before anyone will be questioning me. It will also make sense for me to go down to Forks all the time since I'll be visiting my family."

I don't have time to do anything before there is knocking on the dorm room. My eyes narrowed in the direction of the said door, wondering if there was anyone who was leaning against the door in order to hear what I was telling Alice. Alice shoots me a look to tell me to stop it before she gets up from her spot on her chair and wisps over to the said door. She opens it and there's no surprise on her face when it happens to be Rich standing in front of her.

"So are one of the famed Cullens. I thought Mike was exaggerating when it came to him saying how hot you and your sister are. I'm sure you've been told we have the weekends off and can go around the city once our schoolwork is done. I was wondering if you wanted to go out and get something to eat? A pretty girl like you needs to be shown around the city."

Rich stands there with his hands in the pockets of his trousers and if one looks closely, they can see his nose is slightly crooked. It's not obvious but it reminds me how I can stand up for myself. I'm also certain Alice can stand up for herself, especially with how she straightens her back and what little smile which appears on her face almost tightens in annoyance.

I almost want to say hello to him before the warning Alice had given me resonates throughout me. I am on his hit list and the last thing we need is for him to push up the date of whatever 'prank' he's going to be pulling on me. This isn't just a normal boy who can't get over being rejected, this is a powerful boy.

I stay quiet and observe Alice and Rich.

If it weren't for the fact I know for certain Alice is a vampire, and vampires do exist, I am certain I'd be petrified for her. I would have pushed her behind me and shut the door, locked it, and called Principal Dwyer in tears at how the boy is planning on killing me or having me kill myself due to his little trap working. I know she can handle herself though, so I sit quietly on my side of the room and imagine Alice having actual fangs to flash out to the boy in front of her.

"That's very sweet of you, Rich. I'm sorry but Bella is going to be showing me around Seattle. I also have a boyfriend," Alice says, patient and kind.

Her eyes almost seem to zone out some as Rich stands there, and his fingers tighten on either side of him, hard enough I'm almost wondering if he's going to be making himself bleed. He loosens up some, before his eyes flicker over to me. I turn my eyes away from him, knowing this is something I can't tell Alec about. He would come over as soon as possible and murder the boy in such horrific ways it would have mentally scarred the police officers and pathologists that would take care of his body.

"Well, if you ever change your mind, I'd love to still show you around the city," Rich offers again, his eyes hopeful only for Alice to nod her head before shutting the dorm door in front of him, her wrist flicking some as she locks the door.

Alice spins around and goes over to where her luggage is before she opens one of them up, pulling out her high-end clothing she'll be wearing outside of class. There is also high brand makeup, she tosses over some face cleaning wash to me and some makeup remover wipes. I furled my eyebrow at the second item thrown at me. I'll always take some of the face cleaning wash, but the makeup remover wipes feels as if it's not really something I'll use. I'm not a makeup person.

"Oh, like you won't be asking me to help you get ready to have your rendezvous with your mate," Alice scoffs, rolling her eyes in amusement towards me. I notice how there is a small curve in the corner of her mouth at how I am fated to be one of them. She'll have a second chance to actually get to know me, make her be a part of life slowly but surely more.

"How are you okay with me being the mate of one of the Volturi guards? Carlisle, it is understandable, he was in the presence of the kings and queens and the guards for two decades. The rest of you, you haven't met them, have you?"

Alice starts to put her favorite books into the bookshelf provided on her side of the room, most of the books are biographies of the most famous fashion designers. There are photography books that are filled each page with a piece of artwork from these famous fashion designers. I wouldn't be surprised if they are all signed by the said fashion designers, and Alice had gotten them when they were brand new or through careful secondhand sources.

"We have all met them. Every few decades the kings send for us to have an audience with them. We meet on neutral ground, not in the castle and not where we are staying. We made sure we had fed quite well before we would visit each other. We both know our limitations, and we make sure to keep our diet away from our conversations as much as possible, but when we do talk about it, we have learnt how to talk about it from Carlisle," Alice confesses, making me hum to let her know I understand. It also makes sense why she wants us to get to know each other, since in the future I most likely will be in these meetings every few decades to see how the other is doing.

"There is one thing I want you to know before you meet with Alec again," Alice says, her voice so calm and collected yet there is this edge to it. I know not to mess with it, not to roll my eyes and tell her she has nothing to worry about. I turn and pay complete attention to her, to let her know I will listen to what she has to tell me.

"The Kings Aro and Caius are the rulers of the Volturi, along with their king brother Marcus. Two of the queens are still alive, Athenodora and Sulpicia. The last queen is deceased, Didyme, she died a thousand years ago. The kings are very numb to everything around them, as long as you do what they ask of you then everything will be fine."

My mind flickers towards the future, where I will be in the company of Alec again.

We will be curled together with a blanket draped over me. He will be running his fingers against my cheekbone and telling me how things have been for him, and I will tell him how things have been for me (though I don't know if I want to talk about Rich Newton or the Cullens).

Alice and I don't force each other to tell what it's like for us, what life is like to be a vampire or what it's like being a human who is mated to a vampire. We make sure we talk only about normal, bland things any teenage girls would agree with. She paints my nails and I paint hers, the colorful radio in the corner of the room is on and it's on one of the radio stations connected to Seattle.

As the first day in Seattle begins to settle into the first night of Seattle, I know everything will be okay.

Especially when I have Alice Cullen on my side.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: as always Twilight doesn't belong to me

2 chapters left! Port Angeles, where Bella and Alec meet again. Along with the last chapter being Christmas Break, when Alec changes Bella.

-it'semmynotemma