Edward was waiting for Bella on the porch steps, He immiediatly swooped down, greeting her with a soft kiss.

I rolled my eyes, ignoring them as I entered the house.

Bloody hell.

The entire enterior of the Cullens home had basically been transformed into a nightclub. All the furniture had been pushed aside and pulsing red and purlple lights hung arounf the ceiling.

Alice was by an enourmas speaker, studiing several different CDs. She was wearing red leather pants and a sequined tank top. I suddenly felt incredible underdressed in my jeans and smart pullover.

I should've asked Charlie to take me home so I could change rather than coming straight here.

I pulled at my sweater not looking forward to feeling awkward all evening.

In my excitement for the party I'd forgotten how awkward I always found them till I straed drinking. A few vodka and cokes in and I was having a blast, until then I was an awkward mess.

"Good you're here!" Alice said turning to face me. "I got you this." She handed me a dark grey glittery strappy top. "Go try it on."

I grinned at her, before going to the downstairs bathroom to change. The top went well with my black jeans and instantly made me feel better. I ruffled out my hair. It had grown a bit in the last few months and now just brushed my shoulders.

I walked back over to Alice, "Better?" I asked.

She surveyed me, stepping towards me and pulling out a stick of eyeliner. "Don't move." She instructed, quickly applying a small amount to both my eyes.

She stepped back, admiring her work. "You look adorable."

I rolled my eyes at her.

Adorable. I'm fifteen, not five.

"Edward!" Alice called, "I need your advice. Should we give them familiar and comforting? Or educate their taste in music?"

Edward had his arm wrapped protectively around Bella, obviously he was still spooked by the impending army of vampires coming to kill her.

I guess that makes sense.

"Keep it comforting." Edwards recommended. "You can only lead a horse to water."

Alice nodded seriously, throwing all the 'educational' CDs into a box.

Bella looked at me and Alice, "I think I'm underdressed."

"You're perfect." Edward disagreed. God he's so sappy.

"You'll do." Alice amended.

"Thanks." Bella sighed, "Do you really think people will come?" She didn't even try to hide the hopeful tone from her voice.

"Everyone will come." Edward answered. "They're all dying to see the inside of the reclusive Cullens' mystery house."

"Imagine their disappointment when it turns out you just seem like normal stupidly rich people." I said, grinning.

I made my way over to where Emmett and Rosalie sat, deciding it was probably best to not get in Alice's way whilst she whizzed around the room at a blur.

"How's my favourite little arsonist doing today?" Emmett asked, "Start any fires recently?"

I grinned at him. Emmett was one of the only people who didn't make me feel weird about my gift. He always made it sound like a cool quirk rather than dangerous mutation. It was sweet.

"Only small ones." I joked back.

My training had been progressing well, I had way more control that I ever would've considered possible before. Okay so maybe I still had some work to do with working under fear, but I'd basically mastered it with anger.

"Are you guys looking forward to the party?" I asked.

Rosalie rolled her eyes and scoffed. "What could go wrong with a bunch of mortals nosing around our home. I think it's an awful idea." She sniffed, "obviously, I was outvoted."

"C'mon Rosie, it'll be a laugh, with Edward and Alice here nothing's going to go wrong. It's not like we're going to be sticking around for much longer anyway."

"What do you mean?" I frowned.

"We're leaving Forks, probably over summer sometime. Obviously newborn Bella can't be seen around Forks." He said it so calmly, like it was public knowledge.

"Bella's going to become one of you?" I whispered.

"Well, yeah, didn't –" He stopped abruptly as Rosalie elbowed him. "Um, I mean…"

"You should talk to Bella." Rosalie said, her mouth set in a dim line.

I nodded, having no intention of doing that just yet though. I slowly made my way towards the backdoor, and out into the garden. Sitting on the steps of the porch I groaned and rubbed my head.

Bella was going to become a vampire.

My sister was going to be a vampire.

It was sense I suppose. I almost felt dumb that I hadn't considered it before. Edward and Bella were clearly in love. Edward wasn't exactly getting any older, it's not like they could get married and have 2.5 kids or anything.

I didn't even think there was anything that bad about being a vampire, I mean the Cullens all seem super nice.

I just really, really didn't want Bella to be one.

How was it that Bella being the target of an army of newborns wasn't a clear winner for most upsetting news I'd received today.

I sat outside till my fingers were nearly numbed from the cold.

Bella was going to become a vampire. My big sister was going to become a vampire.

The thoughts went around and round in my brain.

By the time I went back in to the house the party was in full swing. It looked like the entire senior class, most of the junior class and even a couple of kids from my year were there.

I walked through the crowd in a slight daze, unsure if I was looking for Bella or avoiding her. A few of the kids in Bella's year even came up to me to chat. I guess I seemed more approachable than the Cullens. The strobing lights bounced of their skin in a way that seemed almost eerie, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I was a little annoyed that Bella hadn't come looking for me yet. I still didn't want really want to talk to her but she had told Charlie she'd look out for me, and frankly, she wasn't doing a great job. Not that I needed, or even wanted her to being looking out for me. I wasn't a little kid.

Okay so maybe I was more annoyed about the vampire than I wanted to admit.

I eventually spotted Bella in the corner by the door. She was with Alice, Jacob and two of Jacobs friends. Judging by their height, I'd guess they were also werewolves.

Jasper suddenly appeared at Alice's side, he was glaring at Jacob.

Well they're not exactly looking in the part spirit.

I debated for a moment as to whether or not to head over, but my curiosity eventually won out.

"They're coming here." I heard Bella choke out as I approached them.

I was about to ask who was coming here, but one look at Bella's terrified face gave me my answer.

The newborns.

Well, shit.

"Yes." Alice replied.

"To Forks."

"Yes."

"For?" Bella questioned, I could barely hear her she was speaking so softly.

Alice nodded, "One carried your red shirt."

"Shit." I muttered.

"We can't let them come that far. There aren't enough of us to protect the town." Jasper said, looking troubled.

The three Quileute boys listened silently.

"I know," Alice said, her face tight. "But it doesn't matter where we stop them. There still won't be enough of us, and some of them will come here to search."

"No!" Bella and I said in unison.

The blood drained from my face. Charlie, Bella, Me. We were all in danger, along with every single human at this party. Fuck the whole of bloody Forks was in shit.

"Alice," Bella whispered. "I have to go; I have to get away from here.

"That won't help. It's not like we're dealing with a tracker. They'll still come looking here first."

Maybe, maybe I could help. The idea of trying to fight vampires with my gift made me feel sick, but I couldn't stand by and watch the whole town get mascaraed, right?

"Then I have to go to them!" Bella was verging on sounding hysterical. "If they find what they're looking for, maybe they'll go away and not hurt anyone else!"

"Bella!" Alice protested.

"Absolutely fucking not." I hissed.

Bloody Bella with her stupid self-sacrificing instincts. Good god did that girl not have even a single fucking cell of self-preservation in her entire body!

Ohh I'm Bella, when things get tough I have a tendency to think my death would solve everything.

Okay so maybe there's a tiny genetic component there.

"Do you think I could help?" I asked Alice, worried she'd say no and terrified she'd say yes.

"No!" Bella whispered. "No way."

"Maybe." Jasper said thoughtfully, "It could throw off the newborns…" He glanced at Alice, who was glaring at him. "but of course it's much too dangerous." He added quickly.

"Hold it." Jacob ordered, looking between Alice, Jasper and Bella. "What is coming?"

"Our kind. Lots of them." Alice said in a tight and icy toned voice.

"Why?"

"For Bella. That's all we know."

"There are too many for you?" he asked.

Jasper bridled. "We have a few advantages, dog. It'll be an even fight."

"No." Jacob said, a smile spreading across his face. "It won't be even."

Yes!

"Excellent!" Alice hissed.

A small amount of the blood curling fear I'd been feeling disappeared. With the help of the wolf pack, maybe things would actually be okay.

I knew first-hand the damage their razor-sharp claws could cause. I shivered at the faded memory, suddenly nervous one of these two boys had been the wolf that attacked me. I studied them both with a renewed sense of weariness.

"Everything just disappeared, of course," she told him in a smug voice. "It's inconvenient, but, all things considered, I think I'll take it."

"We'll need to coordinate." Jacob said, looking thoughtful. "It won't be easy for us. Still, this is our job more than yours."

"I wouldn't go that far," Alice disagreed lightly, "but we need the help so aren't going to be picky."

"Wait, wait, wait." Bella interrupted. "Coordinate?"

She didn't sound happy.

"You didn't think you'd keep us out of this, did you?" Jacob asked, grinning.

"You are staying out of this!" Bella hissed.

"Your psychic doesn't seem to think so."

"Alice- tell them no!" Bella pleaded. "They'll get killed!"

The wolves laughed and I rolled my eyes.

"Come on Bells, they're built for this right?" I said, once again nervously eying the two boys I didn't recognise, my hands tingled.

"Bella," Alice said soothingly, "separately we could all get killed. Together- "

"It'll be no problem." Jacob said confidently.

"See?" I said, "Nothing to worry about."

"How many are there?" One of the boys asked eagerly.

"No!" Bella shouted.

"It changes," Alice said, not even glancing at Bella. "there's twenty-one today, but the numbers going down."

"Why?" Jacob asked.

"Long story," Alice said, looking around the room, "and this isn't the place for it."

"Later tonight?" Jacob insisted.

"Yes," Jasper answered quickly, "We were already planning a… strategic meeting. If you're going to fight with us, you'll need some instruction."

"No!" Bella moaned.

"Bella, this is a good thing." I insisted as Jasper and Jacob continued to discuss timings. "No one is going to let you kill yourself by going to the newborns, this way gives the best chances of everyone surviving."

"Wait, Jake!" Bella said, pushing me aside. "Please! Don't do this!"

Jacob paused, "Don't be ridiculous, Bells. You're giving me a much better gift than the one I gave you."

"No!" She shouted again, watching helplessly and they left.

"Bella, try and calm down." I pleaded, she shook me off and stalked off into the crowed, presumably to find Edward.

I sighed, once again alone at the party.

I sat in the back of Edwards' Volvo, trying not to think about all the crazy shit I'd found out tonight.

All these crazy things kept on happening to me and people I loved and it was like I was powerless to do anything to stop it. I had this stupid gift, but when it came down to it I was still just some stupid human teenage girl. I wasn't even brave like Bella.

I just wanted to know what was going on. That's all.

"You're taking me with you tonight." Bella whispered, her voice leaving no room for arguing.

Not that that stopped Edward.

"Bella, you're worn out."

"You think I could sleep?"

"This is an experiment, I'm not even sure if it'll be possible for us all to work together. I don't want you in the middle of all that."

"If you won't take me I'll call Jacob."

Ouch. Nice one Bella!

"This feels like a good time to mention I'm coming too." I said, trying to sound matter of fact.

"No you're not." Bella and Edward said simultaneously.

I glared at the back of their seats. Before an idea struck me.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated carefully, sensing out the car engine I felt the small explosions powering the piston. Reaching out mentally I smothered it.

The car engine abruptly cut out with a splutter. Edward groaned.

"Yes I am." I replied, "this effects my too Bella." I pointed out.

Neither of them said anything.

"Come on! I just want to know what's going on." I insisted.

Bella paused "She's right Edward."

Yes!

Edward groaned, "Fine, you Swans are too stubborn for your own good. Now," he paused, looking at me, "can I please start my car?"

I nodded, smiling sweetly at him. "Of course, Edward."

He pulled off again, we were just down the road from Charlies'. "And Ellie," I me his eyes in the rear-view mirror. "You've gotten good at that." He said smiling.

I beamed.

My lessons with Carlisle and Jasper really had been paying off.

Chapter 16 done!

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