This is a work of fiction based on the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I do not own the characters, settings, or any elements from the original books and movies. While Peninsula College is a real institution, the events, characters, and situations depicted are purely fictional and for entertainment purposes only.

Sorry for the late update! I was busy this week battling a cold x_x


4

Bella

I skipped my morning classes. I was stressed and needed to get my head around this whole ZAP thing. After dropping Kelly off at school, I stayed in the parking lot and just held my head in my hands. The car was silent. All I could hear were the voices of students outside and the humming of my car. Bruises, scars, and being unconscious for days, I thought. The knot in my stomach tightened.

With a heavy sigh, I pulled out my phone. My thumb hovered over the screen, hesitating as I opened my contacts.

Alice Cullen. The name was still there. For four years, it had sat in my phone. I never had the balls to delete her contact because some part of me hoped I would still need it.

My heart pounded and I started to feel nauseous. What if Alice didn't answer? Worse, what if she did? I shook my head. The mission. I need to think about why I'm here. Think of the kids!

With a deep breath, I pressed the call button.

After one ring, she picked up.

"Bella! I knew you'd call," she said.

The corners of my lips rose as I pictured her smiling on the other end.

"This isn't going to be a normal thing. I just needed…" I paused and bit my bottom lip. "...your help, Alice."

"Of course," she spoke softly.

"Meet me at the park near campus?"

"There's a part of the park, across the lakes where no one visits. It's kinda gross, but it'll do," she said.

"Got it," I said. I hung up the phone, not wanting to leave any more space for possible conversation. My heartbeat slowed down and I started my drive to the park.


As I walked toward the more vacant area of the park, I noticed what Alice was talking about. Across from the stunning lake was a large area of grey, dead trees surrounding a small building—what seemed to be an old restroom—covered in graffiti and strange, disgusting stains of brown and red. I should've just told her to meet me in my car.

I walked toward the back of the building and saw Rosalie and Alice. My eyes stayed on Rosalie. They both had on beanies and large gray hoodies. From afar we probably looked like a drug deal. Before I could ask why Alice brought Rosalie, Alice started to step closer.

"Bella," she had a concerned look on her face. "ZAP has a connection to vampire venom. Carlisle tested it and found that it had been diluted and altered, chemically, which prevents a full transformation."

"What?"

"It gives humans a high, euphoric state. But it comes with severe side effects. Bruising, dependence on the drug, and memory loss. We think that Victoria might be testing this weird vampire formula to turn humans into vulnerable, dependent pawns for something that she's planning."

I scoff. "So you're telling me, Victoria's a drug dealer who makes drugs and sells them to teenagers in frats named Noodle Arms?" I laugh in disbelief. This whole thing sounded absurd.

"Well, yes," Alice replied. "But-"

"It's a lot more serious than that," Rosalie stepped in. "We don't know what she's going to do yet, but we're going to have to figure it out."

"And since when did you care, Rosalie?" I snapped. My eyes widened. I was surprised by how confrontational I was being, but I needed answers.

"I know…that I wasn't the most… fond, of you, Bella," she started, lowering her gaze. She looked back up at me and continued. "But, Edward has and always loved you, despite everything." I shook my head in disbelief and kept my hands in fists. "And I care about Edward. So, I care about you too. We figured you would want to be around girls rather than…well, Edward, Jasper, and Emmett, " she said softly, in a whisper. If I wasn't paying attention I likely wouldn't have heard it.

I nodded, staying quiet. "Okay," I said. "I have to go. I have classes again in thirty minutes." Before they could say anything, I turned away and walked off into my car. I kept my hands in my pockets and kept my gaze on the floor.


After my classes, Kelly and I decided to head out for something to eat. I kept what Alice and Rosalie said in my mind.

As we sat down with our burgers in front of us, we talked about our day and what we conjured up.

"So," Kelly said through bites, "Taylor wouldn't tell me much about Noodle Arms. Think they're arguing or something. But she did mention another party this weekend, which is great for our-" she whispered, "...mission. The theme's jungle, so I'm gonna dress up as a slutty cat. I think you should too," she smirked.

I laughed at the thought of us in ugly cheetah jumpsuits and a stupid attempt at cat makeup.

"Well, I learned a lot about ZAP. I think it's not just a regular drug. I'm pretty sure it's been experimented with. It's enhanced in a really dangerous way." I felt guilty about lying, but I knew I couldn't tell her how ZAP was created by this crazy redheaded vampire who was out to kill me and everyone near me.

Kelly nods, taking another bite of her burger. "How'd you find that out? Hook up a frat bro or something?" She raised an eyebrow at me.

I shake my head. "Sure, whatever," I laugh.


On our drive home, we sang all of Hamilton as loud as we could. Kelly said that it would hype us up for Friday and it would make our memory of the day a little less work-heavy.

As I drove around the corner, I saw two figures in front of Charlie's home.

"Oh shit," Kelly whispered.

That damn pixie and her fucking brother.

I pulled up to the driveway, parked the car, and sighed heavily.

Kelly was first to leave the car, her shoulders stiff, as I followed her out. I made sure to slam the car door shut.

"I'll…leave you guys to it!" Kelly smiled and walked inside.

I walked towards the two. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"Bella, I saw you in my vision," Alice said frantically. "You were at a party, and it was similar to the first vision I had—you took a drug, ZAP I'm assuming, and completely blacked out!" Her eyebrows creased and she looked dramatic as ever.

"Alice, it doesn't matter! You guys should have been out of my life years ago! Yet you're still here? Why?" I directed my question towards Edward, hoping he would implode with the intensity of my stare.

I felt tears building up, and my face started to grow hot. I hated how they wanted to protect me as if I was the same girl I was years ago.

"Bella, I'm sorry," Edward looked at me, his eyes seeming darker than usual. He walked a couple steps toward me before stopping directly in front of me. "I never should have left Bella, I'm sorry–I'm so, so sorry." He raised his hand to caress my face, but I stepped back.

"You left, Edward! You left! I lost you, Alice, and myself! While you were out doing, God knows what, I was here, stuck in that damn forest!"

"I'm sorry, Bella! I thought it was the right thing to do," he stood with a frown on his face. The way we were standing was exactly like the scene of when he left me in the forest. I cried harder.

"It wasn't your decision to make!"

"Bella—leaving you was the biggest mistake of my existence," he said, "but I never, not once, stopped loving you."

I blinked the rest of my tears. Him and Alice were blurry blobs. I didn't know what to say, think, or do, and I wanted to kill Chief Softy for assigning me to this stupid case.

Alice walked to me and hugged me. I felt her cold hands caressing my back, and all I could do was stand there.

"Oh, Bella," she whispered, "Edward isn't the only one who missed you. You were and will always be my best friend. So please, let us protect you. We won't ruin your mission. We'll just watch over you and save you if you need it. I can't lose you again," Alice hugged me tighter.

I took a deep breath and sighed. Alice was too good at this. "Okay, fine. But you can't compromise my cover. I mean it. Don't call me Bella or any nicknames. Just Diana. And if you have to talk to Kelly, call her Penny."

Alice held my shoulders. "Of course Diana," she smiled, and looked back to Edward.

"I gotta go," I said, and gave a small smile to Alice. I looked past her and Edward was standing with the same pained look on his face. I didn't acknowledge him and walked back inside.