For someone with legs that can run faster than a cheetah she's sure taking her sweet time, Bella thought as she idly flipped through the channels on the TV.

She didn't even know what was on with how fast she was going through the channels, but in reality it was more something to occupy herself with as she tried to come up with some sort of explanation for Alice when the petite vampire arrived.

Sure, Alice had said yester-today that she would believe Bella no matter what once she dropped her little known human name like she did, but the brunette still felt like she needed to explain herself. It just made sense to her feeble human brain. If she explained herself, then Alice would be more likely to listen, to give in and help her, to fix this mess she found herself in. Bella was just a human. She didn't know what the hell was going on.

Her teeth worried her bottom lip, going from gnawing her lip to chewing the inside of her cheek as she finally just turned the television off and tossed the remote on the couch beside her. And like some saving grace for her nerves, a firm knock sounded at the door, causing Bella to bolt up into a standing position and quickly scamper towards the entrance.

When she opened the door, a wave of relaxation washed over her at the familiar face of her best friend.

Alice was wearing something designer, Bella knew that, but as fashion dumb as she was, she couldn't even begin to tell you the brand, the maker, whatever was needed to identify the clothes. But as usual, the clothes were well made, and fit the vampire's small frame snugly.

Large honey-yellow eyes looked at Bella with trepidation as the younger girl moved aside to allow her guest into her home. Alice gave her a gentle smile, white teeth flashing for a second in her usual cheerful grin, before Alice unwound the heavy scarf she had been wearing as she played human for the rest of the world.

"Did you get lost on the way over?" Bella asked, still harboring some anger towards the Cullen's as a whole and lashing out like a petulant child. Immediately she regretted the words, as Alice looked a little taken aback by them.

"I had to let Carlisle know I'd be back before-"

"Before you left?" Bella cut in as she shut the door.

Alice, to all her credit, didn't even flinch as she replied firmly with a, "Yes."

"Sorry, that was bitchy of me," Bella sighed, running a hand through her hair as she trudged past her friend and made a small hand movement to indicate she wanted the other girl to follow her. Alice did, trailing after her with the grace of a dancer as Bella's toes caught the bottom of the stairs and she half-tripped up them as the pair made their way up to her room.

Only once Alice was seated on the bed and the door was shut did Bella feel comfortable enough to speak.

"I'm in a time-loop, or something," she said quickly. "I don't know how to get out of it. Every day I wake up and it's yesterday-today- and I know Edward is breaking up with me and your whole family is leaving and I'm probably going to wind up wandering in the woods again tonight and another search party will be called-"

"Bella, you're rambling," Alice said softly as she reached out for the younger girl, silently requesting her to come forward so she could comfort her. "Explain it a little slower, please?"

Bella lept at the chance for contact, clinging onto Alice's hand like a lifeline and clamoring into the bed alongside her, pressing up against her like a needy puppy. She felt more than actually heard the soft exhale of bemusement Alice let out when she finally situated herself against the vampire.

Dainty fingers ran up and down Bella's back, soothing her, as the two now sat together on Bella's small twin mattress.

Bella clumsily recounted the initial breakup and the past few loops. Alice listened quietly, letting Bella get everything out in her stumbling manner as she tried to explain everything. The feelings were the worst part, how she felt utterly betrayed, even by Rosalie, who saw her as less than dirt it felt like.

"I just-" Bella said in a hiccuped breath, "I didn't expect to be thrown away like trash just because I'm human. If you all don't want me like this, then supersede Edward and change me yourself."

"I won't lie," Alice said, sounding more like she was talking to herself than to Bella, "I've thought about it before. Changing you I mean. I'm sure all of us have. But my visions- I see you as one of us, sometimes, and I want to make that so real…"

Alice looked at Bella with slowly darkening eyes, going from honey yellow, to topaz, to mahogany as the hunger seemed to set in the vampire as she looked down at the human in her arms.

Distantly, Bella could hear a faint rumbling, and realized the sound was coming from Alice's chest as the vampire growled lowly. In her prey response, her heart started beating a little bit faster as she stared up at the predator holding her with large brown eyes.

"You have no sense of self-preservation at all, do you?" Alice asked, head canting to the side as an exasperated sigh spilled from her lips.

"You won't do anything I don't want."

A gasp tore its way out of Bella's throat as Alice suddenly flung the girl against the mattress and climbed on top of her. Bella's heart thundered loudly- in her chest, her ears, her throat.

"Are you really sure?"

Bella swallowed thickly before nodding.

Alice sighed and sat back on her haunches after she moved to give Bella space. "No self-preservation."

Sitting up, Bella exhaled slowly. "You're playing games with me, Alice. I'm going through something that's- it's awful, and you're teasing the answer in front of me."

"What if it's not the answer, though?"

"How could it not be?" Bella snapped. "If I'm a vampire like you all, then I can defend myself. I won't be a 'liability' like Rose seems to think. And… and I can stay with you. If I'm not human, then I'm useful."

"Bella!" Alice said the human's name sharply, causing Bella to flinch at the harsh tone her best friend rarely ever took. "Don't ever say you're not useful. You wonderful, silly girl."

"If I'm so wonderful, then why don't you want me?" Bella shouted.

"Because it's not up to me! You're not my mate, Edward's decided-"

"Screw what Edward wants! He's not my keeper, I'm an adult, I make my own choices," Bella snapped. "I want to be a vampire. I want to stay with you and the rest of the Cullen's!"

Alice sighed, bringing a hand up to her head and rubbing at her temple even though Bella knew she wasn't able to brew up a headache. Against her will, her anger deflated at the little human action Alice had picked up and a small smile tipped the corners of her lips.

"Look, you told me your human name because you said you would believe me no matter what. How else would I have known that if I wasn't going through something really weird?" Bella asked, slowly tamping down on her temper as she crossed her legs on the bed and looked Alice head-on. "I mean, you should try and see my future. Yesterday, or I guess today… you couldn't see me. Can you still not see me?"

Alice looked at Bella skeptically, but still shut her eyes to concentrate. Bella watched as the pale eyelids moved rapidly as the vampire's eyes scanned the future. But quickly confusion marred the delicate features of Alice's face, then morphed into fear as the girl's eyes snapped open and she looked at Bella with panic.

"Okay, you're in a time-loop. Or something," Alice mumbled as she reached out to hold Bella's hand. "I can't see your future anymore, and that scares me. I don't like being blind to this sort of thing. Anything could happen, and I can't in good mind leave you when-"

Alice's phone rang. Bella's eyes flitted to the designer purse the vampire still had on her person.

"Excuse me," Alice said as she pulled out her cell and took the call. "Hello?"

Bella's weak human ears couldn't make out the caller, but she was quick to guess it was Edward when Alice frowned and replied, "Yes, I'm with her."

And suddenly the vampire's lips had moved too fast, the words coming out so fast and low that Bella couldn't make out what either was saying. Frowning, Bella huffed in indignation as she waited impatiently for Alice to pay attention to her again.

The call lasted only a few seconds after that before Alice sighed out a, "Goodbye, Edward," and flipped the phone shut.

"I'm guessing you have to go?" Bella asked sadly, panic also rising in her chest as she tried to calculate how much time she actually managed to get with Alice to try and fix this before Edward butted in.

"Edward's given me the day with you. One last 'girl-day', he called it." Alice rolled her eyes before smiling serenely at Bella. "We'll figure something out, however. I'm sure of it."

Excitement buzzed through the teen at Alice's answer. Getting up, Bella immediately went to her backpack and pulled out the spiral ring notebook she doodled in during the more boring parts of class instead of taking notes. Flipping to a clean page, she plopped it on the bed next to Alice.

"Okay, we need to make a plan if today doesn't work," Bella said while clicking a pen and testing it on the page to make sure it wrote. "I want plans. I want plans of plans."

"Do you also want pictures of Spiderman, boss?" Alice drawled as she stretched out on the bed and shot Bella a playful grin.

"Absolutely."

The sun was setting. Charlie was due home any minute. Bella and Alice had spent the large majority of the day in Bella's room, only coming out for the human to eat and use the bathroom before retreating back into the tiny space to formulate plans.

When it came down to it, however, they had nothing. Not a thing. Zip. Zilch. Zero ideas.

"I'm going to be dumped tonight, aren't I?" Bella asked sadly, shoulders slumping as she gripped the notebook tightly in her hands.

"I'm sorry," Alice murmured. "I'm a terrible psychic."

"It's not you," Bella said. "I- I think it's me."

"Bella…"

"No, no," Bella said with a wave of her hand as she placed the notebook on the small computer desk before she gestured for Alice to follow her downstairs so she could start cooking dinner for Charlie. "I'm just being dramatic. I know."

A soft hum emanated from the vampire as she followed Bella down the stairs. "Want some help cooking?"

"I thought you guys didn't like the smell of human food?"

"We don't. I don't." Alice scrunched up her nose as Bella opened the fridge and the wafting scents of cold foodstuffs started to fill the kitchen. "But I would be a terrible guest if I didn't at least offer."

"Go sit down, silly goose," Bella said with a roll of her eyes. "You're perfect there."

"It's nice someone appreciates how wonderful I am," Alice sighed out in bliss as she pulled one of the small chairs out at the too-small kitchen table and sat down. It was really only for two people at max, which was perfect for her and Charlie. Alice's small frame also seemed to fit it perfectly.

Bella snuck glances at Alice through her lashes as she prepped dinner. The vampire was sitting stone-still, elbow on the table, head propped up on her hand, as she looked out the window at the few cars passing by.

Alice always looked like a model who was made for candid pictures. Even now, Bella wanted to run upstairs and grab the camera given to her for her birthday to take a few farewell shots of Alice before she was once again gone. Sure, she would be back tomorrow, but it would be a different Alice than the one she knew at this moment.

Bella's heart clenched tightly in her chest at the thought.

Even though it would still be her Alice she would meet up with tomorrow-today, it also wouldn't be. These few hours changed them intrinsically.

"I know you don't think it'll work," Alice started, jolting Bella out of her doomer thoughts, "but I think we should definitely try and talk to Carlisle again."

"Wouldn't hurt," Bella mumbled as she popped dinner into the oven. "Really, what do I have to lose?"

A gentle knock sounded at the door and Bella sighed.

"It's Edward," Alice said softly. "I should go."

"At least he has the good timing to dump me before my father gets home. Charlie would probably try and kill him."

Alice laughed softly before standing up and crossing the small space to embrace Bella once more. "I'm scared to leave you alone," Alice said, voice muffled with how she was buried deep into the corner of Bella's shoulder. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I can't see your future, and we're leaving."

"You don't have to go." Bella's grip was ironclad as she hugged the vampire against her. "You can stay."

"I can't." And Alice sounded so torn that it made Bella bite her tongue against asking again. She knew Alice was extremely attached to the Cullen's, and it wasn't fair of her to ask her to break off from them just to stay with her. "Tomorrow, we'll come up with a better plan."

Bella laughed, the sound bitter as she pulled back and put distance between the two of them.

"I'm not sure if that's true, but I'll always bet on you."

Alice smiled sadly at that and left.

Edward walked in, a gentle smile on his face that made Bella's stomach twist in anger and uncertainty.

"How's being an invalid going?" he asked in that soft voice of his that made Bella want to run to him and hold on so tightly that he couldn't pry her off and would have to stay.

"Oh. You know. Exciting."

Edward hummed as he leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed loosely over his chest as he looked at her with those brooding eyes she loved so much.

"Can I kiss you?" Bella asked before Edward could respond.

Surprise flittered across his perfect features.

"You know why I'm here."

"I do. Can I kiss you anyway?"

The vampire seemed to mull over the question for a little while, before uncrossing his arms and taking the few large steps needed to cross the kitchen. His cold fingers gently held Bella's chin, angling her head up better so he could kiss her.

It was just like any other time they kissed when their lips met. Hot and cold. A rush.

Like usual, Edward never deepened it more than something chaste and innocent. Bella was desperate, however, and her tongue licked out to trace against his lower lip as she pressed closer against his firm body.

Please want me, her mind screamed as Edward stiffened, his lips going hard against her own in a matter of milliseconds. Please keep me.

Edward's clumsy mouth kissed her several more times, a few quick pecks, before pulling away, forehead's pressed together, noses brushing as they simply breathing in each other. Edward's hands reached up to cup Bella's face, large and consuming, they held her entirely as his thumbs brushed the apples of her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," Edward apologized. "I can't."

"I know," Bella said as she looked into those Cullen-yellow eyes. "But I wish you would."

"Please, take care of yourself," Edward pleaded to her.

"I don't think you get to ask that of me. Did you know I'd follow after you to the point a search party would need to be called?"

"A search party?" He was confused. And why wouldn't he be? He didn't experience those few terrifying and cold hours.

"Nothing," Bella sighed out. "It doesn't matter."

"I may not be able to ask it of you to be safe, to take care of yourself, to live a long and happy life, but I'm going to always wish it for you," Edward said as he pulled away. "You were my world, once, but I'll be just a chapter in your book."

"How do you know that?" Bella asked in a small, fragile voice. "What if I want you to be my world, too?"

"I can't allow that."

"Jackass."

Edward seemed surprised she would call him that, but before he could rebut or ask her why she would call him such a crass thing, he turned to look out the window. Of course, Bella looked as well and saw the police cruiser pulling into the driveway, indicating Charlie was home.

"You'll be okay," Edward said, commanded.

"I won't, but thanks anyway," Bella said as she went back to prepping the last little bits needed to finish her and Charlie's meal for tonight.

Edward tilted his head, looking at her with sad, confused eyes.

"Goodbye for now, Edward," Bella said as she pulled the roast out of the oven and placed it on the counter to cool. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Bella." Awkwardly, Edward waved farewell to her before leaving.

And just like that, another small part of her heart broke. It doesn't get any easier dealing with being dumped when it happened every day.

"Bells!" Charlie called out as he entered the house. "That boy wasn't here all day, was he?"

"No, Dad," Bella shouted out in response. Already the seasonal sports game was on before Charlie even passed through the living room. "He came to break up with me."

Charlie stood in the doorway between kitchen and living room, looking positively uncertain on how to respond to that.

"Are you… upset?" he asked slowly as he started taking off the police belt with all his gear attached to it. "Should I do something?"

"Of course I am," Bella replied. "And, no, don't worry yourself. Tomorrow things will be better."

"That's good," her father sighed in relief. "It's always good to look on the bright side. Y'know, I never really liked that boy after the incident of you storming off in the night and falling down a flight of stairs and out a window. You deserve better, Bells."

Bella paused in her preparation of plates at Charlie's admission.

"Yeah? You think so?" she asked curiously.

"He… he wasn't good for you. You weren't good for each other, I think," Charlie said, stumbling clumsily over his words as he tried to get out the rare feelings. "It's best for you to have figured it out now than wind up in a situation like your mother and I had."

Bella grimaced at the comparison.

"I'm gonna eat and just go to bed," she said as she placed the plates on the small kitchen table. Draining was the day that allowed no progress.

Charlie offered to wash dishes, making the cleanup after dinner vastly easier on her and allow Bella to trudge upstairs and settle under the blankets as she willed her exhausted body to relax.

It felt like she was always tired anymore.

Reaching clumsily towards her nightstand, Bella groped and grasped at air until her fingers grabbed her phone. The light was harsh on her eyes, making them water and blink at the brightness, as she pulled up the texts.

Last night she went to Edward, tonight she'd go for Alice.

8:32 PM
Thanks for spending the day with me. Tomorrow we'll do better.
message unsent

Bella sniffled, tears coming unbidden to her eyes once more as she tucked the phone away once more. Curling up into a tight ball, she allowed herself to cry for herself, heavy, ugly sobs falling from her mouth until she was borderline choking on the tears themselves when they became too much and her nose was too clogged with snot and mucus to breath properly anymore.

Eventually the sobs tapered off into pitiful animal whimpers, her body shivering with pent up emotions as she curled as tightly as she could in on herself. She was raw, vulnerable, and absolutely wrung-out from the day.

Then, and only then, did she fall asleep.