UNNATURALLY STILL AND WHITE, WITH LARGE BLACK EYES intent on my face, my visitorwaited perfectly motionless in the center of the halt, beautiful beyond imagining.

　　My knees trembled for a second, and I nearly fell. Then I hurled myself at her.

　　"Alice, oh, Alice!" I cried, as I slammed into her.

　　I'd forgotten how hard she was; it was like running headlong into a wall of cement.

　　"Bella?" There was a strange mingling of relief and confusion in her voice.

　　I locked my arms around her, gasping to inhale as much of the scent of her skin as possible. It wasn't likeanything else—not floral or spice, citrus or musk. No perfume in the world could compare. My memoryhadn't done it justice.

　　I didn't notice when the gasping turned into something else—I only realized I was sobbing when Alicedragged me to the living room couch and pulled me into her lap. It was like curling up into a cool stone,but a stone that was contoured comfortingly to the shape of my body. She rubbed my back in a gentlerhythm, waiting for me to get control of myself.

　　"I'm… sorry," I blubbered. "I'm just… so happy… to see you!""It's okay, Bella. Everything's okay." "Yes," I bawled. And, for once, it seemed that way.

　　Alice sighed. "I'd forgotten how exuberant you are," she said, and her tone was disapproving.

　　I looked up at her through my streaming eyes. Alice's neck was tight, straining away from me, her lipspressed together firmly. Her eyes were black as pitch.

　　"Oh," I puffed, as I realized the problem. She was thirsty. And I smelled appetizing. It had been a whilesince I'd had to think about that kind of thing. "Sorry.""It's my own fault. It's been too long since I hunted. I shouldn't let myself get so thirsty. But I was in ahurry today." The look she directed at me then was a glare. "Speaking of which, would you like toexplain to me how you're alive?"That brought me up short and stopped the sobs. I realized what must have happened immediately, andwhy Alice was here.

　　I swallowed loudly. "You saw me fall.""No," she disagreed, her eyes narrowing. "I saw you jump."I pursed my lips as I tried to think of an explanation that wouldn't sound nuts.

　　Alice shook her head. "I told him this would happen, but he didn't believe me. 'Bella promised,'" hervoice imitated his so perfectly that I iroze in shock while the pain ripped through my torso. "'Don't belooking for her future, either,'" she continued to quote him. '"We've done enough damage.""But just because I'm not looking, doesn't mean I don't see" she went on. "I wasn't keeping tabs on you,I swear, Bella. It's just that I'm alreacy attuned to you… when I saw you jumping, I didn't think, I just goton a plane. I knew I would be too late, but I couldn't do nothing. And then I get here, thinking maybe Icould help Charlie somehow, and you drive up." She shook her head, this time in confusion. Her voicewas strained. "I saw you go into the water and I waited and waited for you to come up, but you didn't.

　　What happened? And how could you do that to Charlie? Did you stop to think what this would do tohim? And my brother? Do you have any idea what Edward—"I cut her off then, as soon as she said his name. I'd let her go on, even after I realized themisunderstanding she was under, just to hear the perfect bell tone of her voice. But it was time tointerrupt.

　　"Alice, I wasn't committing suicide."She eyed me dubiously. "Are you saying you didn't jump off a cliff?""No, but…" I grimaced. "It was for recreational purposes only."Her expression hardened.

　　"I'd seen some of Jacob's friends cliff diving," I insisted. "It looked like… fun, and I was bored…"She waited.

　　"I didn't think about how the storm would affect the currents. Actually, I didn't think about the watermuch at all."Alice didn't buy it. I could see that she still thought I had been trying to kill myself. I decided to redirect.

　　 "So if you saw me go in, why didn't you see Jacob?"She cocked her head to the side, distracted.

　　I continued. "It's true that I probably would have drowned if Jacob hadn't jumped in after me. Well,okay, there's no probably about it. But he did, and he pulled me out, and I guess he towed me back toshore, though I was kind of out for that part. It couldn't have been more than a minute that I was underbefore he grabbed me. How come you didn't see that?"She frowned in perplexity. "Someone pulled you out?""Yes. Jacob saved me."I watched curiously as an enigmatic range of emotions flitted across her face. Something was botheringher—her imperfect vision? But I wasn't sure. Then she deliberately leaned in and sniffed my shoulder.

　　I froze.

　　"Don't be ridiculous," she muttered, sniffing at me some more.

　　"What are you doing?"She ignored my question. "Who was with you out there just now? It sounded like you were arguing.""Jacob Black. He's… sort of my best friend, I guess. At least, he was…" I thought of Jacob's angry,betrayed face, and wondered what he was to me now.

　　Alice nodded, seeming preoccupied.

　　"What?""I don't know," she said. "I'm not sure what it means.""Well, I'm not dead, at least."She rolled her eyes. "He was a fool to think you could survive alone. I've never seen anyone so prone tolife-threatening idiocy.""I survived," I pointed out.

　　She was thinking of something else. "So, if the currents were too much for you, how did this Jacobmanage?""Jacob is… strong."She heard the reluctance in my voice, and her eyebrows rose.

　　I gnawed on my lip for a second. Was this a secret, or not? And if it was, then who was my greatestallegiance to? Jacob, or Alice?

　　It was too hard to keep secrets, I decided. Jacob knew everything, why not Alice, too?

　　"See, well, he's… sort of a werewolf," I admitted in a rush. "The Quileutes turn into wolves when thereare vampires around. They know Carlisle from a long time ago. Were you with Carlisle back then?"Alice gawked at me for a moment, and then recovered herself, blinking rapidly. "Well, I guess that explains the smell," she muttered. "But does it explain what I didn't see?" She frowned, her porcelainforehead creasing.

　　"The smell?" I repeated.

　　"You smell awful," she said absently, still frowning. "A werewolf? Are you sure about that?""Very sure," I promised, wincing as I remembered Paul and Jacob fighting in the road. "I guess youweren't with Carlisle the last time there were werewolves here in Forks?""No. I hadn't found him yet." Alice was still lost in thought. Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she turnedto stare at me with a shocked expression. "Your best friend is a werewolf?"I nodded sheepishly.

　　"How long has this been going on?""Not long," I said, my voice sounding defensive. "He's only been a werewolf for just a few weeks."She glowered at me. "A young werewolf? Even worse! Edward was right—you're a magnet for danger.

　　Weren't you supposed to be staying out of trouble?""There's nothing wrong with werewolves," I grumbled, stung by her critical tone.

　　"Until they lose their tempers." She shook her head sharply from side to side. "Leave it to you, Bella.

　　Anyone else would be better off when the vampires left town. But you have to start hanging out with thefirst monsters you can find."I didn't want to argue with Alice—I was still trembling with joy that she was really, truly here, that I couldtouch her marble skin and hear her wind-chime voice—but she had it all wrong.

　　"No, Alice, the vampires didn't really leave—not all of them, anyway. That's the whole trouble. If itweren't for the werewolves, Victoria would have gotten me by now. Well, if it weren't for Jake and hisfriends, Laurent would have gotten me before she could, I guess, so—""Victoria?" she hissed. "Laurent?"I nodded, a teensy bit alarmed by the expression in her black eyes. I pointed at my chest. "Dangermagnet, remember?"She shook her head again. "Tell me everything—start at the beginning."I glossed over the beginning, skipping the motorcycles and the voices, but telling her everything else rightup to today's misadventure. Alice didn't like my thin explanation about boredom and the cliffs, so Ihurried on to the strange flame I'd seen on the water and what I thought it meant. Her eyes narrowedalmost to slits at that part. It was strange to see her look so… so dangerous—like a vampire. Iswallowed hard and went on with the rest about Harry.

　　She listened to my story without interrupting. Occasionally, she would shake her head, and the crease inher forehead deepened until it looked like it was carved permanently into the marble of her skin. Shedidn't speak and, finally, I fell quiet, struck again by the borrowed grief at Harry's passing. I thought ofCharlie; he would be home soon. What condition would he be in?

　　"Our leaving didn't do you any good at all, did it?" Alice murmured.

　　 I laughed once—it was a slightly hysterical sound. "That was never the point, though, was it? It's not likeyou left for my benefit."Alice scowled at the floor for a moment. "Well… I guess I acted impulsively today. I probably shouldn'thave intruded."I could feel the blood draining from my face. My stomach dropped. "Don't go, Alice," I whispered. Myfingers locked around the collar of her white shirt and I began to hyperventilate. "Please don't leave me."Her eyes opened wider. "All right," she said, enunciating each word with slow precision. "I'm not goinganywhere tonight. Take a deep breath."I tried to obey, though I couldn't quite locate my lungs.

　　She watched my face while I concentrated on my breathing. She waited till I was calmer to comment.

　　"You look like hell, Bella.""I drowned today," I reminded her.

　　"It goes deeper than that. You're a mess."I flinched. "Look, I'm doing my best.""What do you mean?""It hasn't been easy. I'm working on it."She frowned. "I told him," she said to herself.

　　"Alice," I sighed. "What did you think you were going to find? I mean, besides me dead? Did you expectto find me skipping around and whistling show tunes? You know me better than that.""I do. But I hoped.""Then I guess I don't have the corner on the idiocy market."The phone rang.

　　"That has to be Charlie," I said, staggering to my feet. I grabbed Alice's stone hand and dragged her withme to the kitchen. I wasn't about to let her out of my sight.

　　"Charlie?" I answered the phone.

　　"No, it's me," Jacob said.

　　"Jake!"Alice scrutinized my expression.

　　"Just making sure you were still alive," Jacob said sourly.

　　"I'm fine. I told you that it wasn't—""Yeah. I got it. 'Bye." Jacob hung up on me.

　　I sighed and let my head hang back, staring at the ceiling. "That's going to be a problem."Alice squeezed my hand. "They aren't excited I'm here.""Not especially. But it's none of their business anyway."Alice put her arm around me. "So what do we do now?" she mused. She seemed to talk to herself for amoment. "Things to do. Loose ends to tie.""What things to do?"Her face was suddenly careful. "I don't know for sure… I need to see Carlisle."Would she leave so soon? My stomach dropped.

　　"Could you stay?" I begged. "Please? For just a little while. I've missed you so much." My voice broke.

　　"If you think that's a good idea." Her eyes were unhappy.

　　"I do. You can stay here—Charlie would love that.""I have a house, Bella."I nodded, disappointed but resigned. She hesitated, studying me.

　　"Well, I need to go get a suitcase of clothes, at the very least."I threw my arms around her. "Alice, you're the best!""And I think I'll need to hunt. Immediately," she added in a strained voice.

　　"Oops." I took a step back.

　　"Can you stay out of trouble for one hour?" she asked skeptically. Then, before I could answer, she heldup one finger and closed her eyes. Her face went smooth and blank for a few seconds.

　　And then her eyes opened and she answered her own question. "Yes, you'll be fine. For tonight,anyway." She grimaced. Even making faces, she looked like an angel.

　　"You'll come back?" I asked in a small voice.

　　"I promise—one hour."I glanced at the clock over the kitchen table. She laughed and leaned in quickly to kiss me on the cheek.

　　Then she was gone.

　　I took a deep breath. Alice would be back. I suddenly felt so much better.

　　I had plenty to do to keep myself busy while I waited. A shower was definitely first on the agenda. Isniffed my shoulders as I undressed, but I couldn't smell anything but the brine and seaweed scent of theocean. I wondered what Alice had meant about me smelling bad.

　　When I was cleaned up, I went back to the kitchen. I couldn't see any signs that Charlie 'lad eatenrecently, and he would probably be hungry when he got back. I hummed tunelessly to myself as I moved around the kitchen.

　　While Thursday's casserole rotated in the microwave, I made up the couch with sheets and an old pillow.

　　Alice wouldn't need it, but Charlie would need to see it. I was careful not to watch the clock. There wasno reason to start myself panicking; Alice had promised.

　　I hurried through my dinner, not tasting it—just feeling the ache as it slid down my raw throat. Mostly Iwas thirsty; I must have drunk a half gallon of water by the time I was finished. All the salt in my systemhad dehydrated me.

　　I went to go try to watch TV while I waited.

　　Alice was already there, sitting on her improvised bed. Her eyes were a liquid butterscotch. She smiledand patted the pillow. "Thanks.""You're early," I said, elated.

　　I sat down next to her and leaned my head on her shoulder. She put her cold arms around me andsighed.

　　"Bella. What are we going to do with you?""I don't know," I admitted. "I really have been trying my hardest.""I believe you."It was silent.

　　"Does—does he…" I took a deep breath. It was harder to say his name out loud, even though I wasable to think it now. "Does Edward know you're here?" I couldn't help asking. It was my pain, after all.

　　I'd deal with it when she was gone, I promised myself, and felt sick at the thought.

　　"No."There was only one way that could be true. "He's not with Carlisle and Esme?""He checks in every few months.""Oh." He must still be out enjoying his distractions. I focused my curiosity on a safer topic. "You said youflew here… Where did you come from?""I was in Denali. Visiting Tanya's family.""Is Jasper here? Did he come with your'"She shook her head. "He didn't approve of my interfering. We ............