I was currently unresponsive, trapped inside my mess of a brain as the words Alice whispered to me a few moments ago swirled around my head.

The army was made for Bella.

Bella had pieced it together in her bedroom this morning as she spoke with Alice. The intruder, her missing red blouse, the newborn army and the blindness of Alice's visions; they were all connected. The stranger in Bella's room was a test, to see if someone could get around Alice's ability... and it worked.

Only us three girls knew about this, I'm sure Edward would find out soon. I checked Alice's mind and she was confusing him with translating some novel into Arabic inside her head. He didn't like that she was hiding something from him one bit. I put my barrier back up before he heard my own inner thoughts.

As Principle Greene said his final words before handing over to Jessica, I was knocked out of my head and brought back into reality, graduation. It had been just under a week since the kissing incident and since that last night I hadn't been home since. I had completely ignored that part of my life, today was the first time I had seen my dad, Jesse and Catori since then. Jacob and Billy were supposed to come today but they hadn't made an appearance, not that I wanted them to, Tori brought Seth to fill one of the empty seats. Mom couldn't make it either, she couldn't get the time off of work.

I had also come clean to Ryan, explaining the few intimate moments Jake and I spent together but I assured him I was completely done with Jake now, that he was in the past. Ryan was hurt, I could see that, but he forgave me admitting that we were never completely official. We were now back to where we were before I made up with Jake.

"When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up." Jessica began. "Our answers were things like astronaut, president, and in my case a princess." There was laughter around the room. "When we were 10, they asked again. We answered rock star, cowboy, or in my case, a gold medallist." There were chuckles again. "But now that we've grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this? Who the hell knows?" Cheers from our group and everyone else sounded around the room as I smiled, proud of how she came up with this speech all by herself.

"This isn't the time to make hard and fast decisions. This is the time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love... A lot." I took a deep breath. "Major in philosophy because there's no way to make a career out of that. Change your mind and change it again, because nothing permanent. So make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday when they ask what you want to be, we won't have to guess. We'll know." We all erupted into cheers and applauded as Jessica thanked the crowd before returning to her seat.

After that we were sent up to receive our diplomas and Bella and I received massive cheers from our family. It was surreal really. We had finished high school and I hadn't even made any plans for college. Was there a point? Once Bella has gone through her transformation we would all be leaving, I didn't want to stay here anymore.

"Congratulations!" Tori squealed as she ran over to me once we were outside of the hall.

"Thank you!" I faked a smile as I hugged her. We had made up, sort of. Everything had been explained to her and she seemed sort of okay with it.

"Well done sweetheart." Dad hugged me next and then Jesse and Seth were giving me their congratulations and once again I couldn't help but think about how Jake was meant to be here. He and the rest of the guys were graduating this week too, and I was meant to be there for them but that wasn't going to happen any time soon, if ever.

After that my friends came over and we took a few photos telling each other we'll see each other in a few hours at the Cullens' house for the party. I had completely forgotten about that, I was not in the mood for a party.

Before Ryan left with the others he gave me a quick peck on the lips which left me with a disapproving stare from my father. He felt that I should have heard Jake out instead of Jesse and I attacking him and banishing him from my life. My dad didn't understand that I didn't want to be around Jake any more, he just kept saying life would bring us back together but there was no way that was happening, he was just being a crazy old man.

Despite my lack of excitement for the party, Tori still sent me out anyway. I arrived back at the Cullens' and allowed Alice and Rose to work their magic on me to make me look presentable.

I was temporarily blinded as I walked through their front door, flashing strobe lights of blue, red and pink lit the way up the stairs and into the lounge/kitchen area. Downstairs and the the top floor were going to be completely off limits, we definitely couldn't have my friends figure out that I had a bedroom here as well.

"Darling you look gorgeous!" Esme hugged me as I walked down the stairs.

"Thank you. It was all Alice and Rose really." I snuck a look at my reflection and I did look beautiful. My hair was in big curls down my back and the olive coloured dress clung to my body accentuating my curves, stopping mid thigh.

Bella and Edward arrived next, Bella not even dressed for a party wearing the same clothes she had worn to graduation, but she never really dressed up anyway. I liked dressing up therefore making me a sort of life-like Barbie doll for Rose and Alice.

"Edward!" Alice called from beside a massive speaker in the lounge, her sudden loud voice making Bella and I jump. "I need your advice." She gestured towards a giant stack of CDs that were nearly as tall as her. "Should we give them familiar and comforting? Or, educate their taste in music?"

"Keep it comforting." Edward recommended. "You can only lead the horse to water." I rolled my eyes at his old timer comment and continued down the rest of the stairs to greet them both with a hug. After Alice put the first CD in So Sick by Ne-Yo began to play and I glared at her.

"Really, Alice?" I grimaced, gesturing towards the stereo.

"What?" She shrugged innocently. "It's a party Aria."

I huffed folding my arms across my chest. "Just pay no attention to her." Esme said rubbing my back. The doorbell rang then and Esme dropped her arm. "We'll get out your way." She gave me one last smile before disappearing up the stairs as Alice floated down them to answer the door.

Bella's friends arrived first. Jessica was the first one up the stairs, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the mysterious Cullen House. Mike was right behind her, Tyler, Connor, Lauren, Austin, Eric, Lee and Samantha all of them just as curious as the first.

They seemed a bit taken back by Emmett standing by the doorway of the lounge/club. He looked like a big scary bouncer as he smiled tightly at the humans that wandered past him and into the room.

Bella left Edward's side to go greet her friends. Angela and Ben made their way up the stairs behind the first group as Edward and I watched Bella awkwardly mingle. "I'm not in the mood to party." I grumbled, my hands still across my chest as I refused to wipe the resting bitch expression from my face.

"You and Bella need this. Before we move again." Edward reminded me and I sighed again.

"That isn't my point. Bella's little epiphany this morning has me on edge." I said side glancing Edward and his face mirrored mine, though it wasn't as sassy.

"Trust me, I know exactly how you feel." His eyes didn't leave Bella once, I understood there was an urgency of an impending threat but he was verging on creepy. A newborn wasn't going to pounce on her at a party. "Your boyfriend is here." Edward informed me before slinking away to join Bella's side.

I might as well enjoy myself whilst I can.

Ryan appeared at the stairs first, the rest of my friends in tow, and once he saw me he made straight for me. "Hey." He smiled before pecking my lips. "This place is amazing."

Before I could answer Scarlett pulled me into her arms. "I can see why you spend so much time here!" She beamed, her green eyes sparkling in the fluorescent coloured lights.

"It is beautiful." I agreed with her before I greeted the rest of my group and was dragged towards the dancefloor.

The more I danced and spent time with my friends, the more I began to relax and let my worries slip away. Edward was right, I needed this. I needed one last gathering with all of my friends because as soon as college began in the fall they would all be gone and so would we, I'd never see them again.

The party was a definite success, despite the instinctive edginess caused by the Cullens' presence - or maybe that simply added a thrill to the atmosphere. The music was infectious, the lights almost hypnotic. From the way the food disappeared, that must have been good too. The room was soon crowded, though never claustrophobic, and it gave Ryan an excuse to hold me close to him as we danced to the upbeat music, and if I was being honest, I liked the closeness.

The occasional slow song would play allowing Ryan to hold me even closer as we swayed to the slow beat. As we danced he would plant sweet kisses against my cheeks, shoulders and neck. "You are so perfect." He whispered to me as he spun me around. I needed someone like this, I needed to be the first choice.

I sighed happily, blissful in this moment... well that was until the scent of three people I didn't want to see wafted into the house and up the stairs. I gripped onto Ryan carefully as the dreaded twisting pain in my heart began to regenerate itself again. "Ari, you okay?" I nodded without meeting his eyes as my own scanned around the room looking for them.

Three huge, muscular bodies appeared on the landing, their eyes scanning the party in hope of finding a familiar face. Embry caught sight of me first, an uncomfortable yet sorrowful look on his face as he met my appalled eyes. What the hell were they doing here? I turned my face into Ryan's neck before Jacob could get a look at me. I did not want to talk to him.

"What are they doing here?" Ryan spat tensely. His hands gripping my waist.

"I don't know." I said honestly. "Just ignore them."

I looked up at Ryan's face then to see his eyes looking past me, Jacob was watching us, I could feel it. The hairs along my arms raised as the electrical current that flowed between us fought to connect.

Ryan's next move may have been petty and made to cause anger and jealousy but I went with it anyway. Jacob deserved some karma. Ryan's lips met mine hastily, it was a dominant kiss, showing Jake that I was with Ryan and no one else. The kiss took my breath away as Ryan held me in all the right places, pushing my body against his as his lips moved over mine hungrily. It wasn't perfect but it felt good.

When we pulled apart from each other, Ryan span me again as we continued to dance, another more upbeat song began to play as he gripped my hips and moved them against his. I was now facing Jacob directly, his eyes bore into mine in a silent rage as his hands balled into fists. I watched him emotionlessly, trying to remain unbothered by his presence. Bella intervened then, and I smiled to myself as she began to tell him off.

I scowled at the back of Bella's head as the anger in her voice began to fade as Jacob apologised to her. "Hey you made me something right? Where's my present?" She asked him and my eyes widened with fury as I felt the anger bubble up inside me.

He got her a fucking present!

"I didn't make the bracelet," he admitted. "Just the charm."

Bella held in her hand a tiny little wooden carving of a wolf, attached to a gold charm bracelet. I was absolutely furious. How dare he? After trying to say the kiss meant nothing he fucking made her something!

"It's beautiful." You could hear the smile in her voice and it made me sick.

Her head suddenly turned to the stairs then, and I followed where her eyes went and they led to Alice, frozen and clasping the hand rail. "Excuse me a second." I said to Ryan not even giving him the chance to respond as I dropped my barrier mid stride and met Bella at the bottom of stairs as we stared up at Alice.

A vampire, his blood red eyes matching the red blouse in his hand, began to pass it around to various other vampires. They each grasped at it, holding it to their noses as they inhaled the scent that lingered on the fabric. The vision then changed, the same vampire from before made the decision to leave Seattle. They were coming to us instead. In four days to be exact.

"Alice, what'd you see?" Bella said quickly, here eyes flitting from my panicked face to Alice's.

"The decisions been made." She voice wavered.

"What's going on?" Jacob appeared behind me suddenly, his hand touching my forearm but I quickly snatched it away.

"Don't touch me!" I hissed.

"We need to talk, privately." Alice insisted grabbing both of our hands.

Jacob threw his long arm out to block our way, bracing his hand against the wall. "Hey, not so fast."

Alice stared up at him, eyes wide and incredulous. "Excuse me?"

"Tell us what's going on!" He demanded in a growl. I stepped forward ready to have it out with him just as Jasper appeared out of nowhere, standing on the other side of Jake's arm, his expression terrifying. Jacob slowly retrieved his arm. "We have a right to know." He muttered still glaring at Alice over the top of my head.

Jasper moved fluidly then, stepping between us and the three pack brothers braced themselves.

"Hey, hey," Bella said slightly too high pitched. "This is a party, remember?"

We ignored her. Jacob glared at Alice while Jasper and I glowered at Jacob. Alice's face was suddenly thoughtful. "It's okay, Jasper. He actually has a point."

Jasper did not relax his position whereas I stared at Alice like she was crazy.

"What did you see, Alice?" Bella asked again hastily.

She stared at Jacob for one second, and then turned to Bella, evidently having chosen to let them hear. "The decision has been made." She began again.

"You're going to Seattle?"

"No." She she said quietly.

"They're coming here?" Bella choked out.

The boys watched silently, reading every unconscious play of emotion on our faces. They were rooted in place, and yet not completely still. All three pairs of hands were trembling.

"Yes."

"To Forks?" Bella whispered.

"Yes."

"For?"

Alice hesitated her answer so I spoke up instead. "One carried your red shirt."

Bella paled considerably and Jasper's expression was disapproving. I could tell he didn't like discussing this in front of the guys, but he had something he needed to say. "We can't let them come that far. There aren't enough of us to protect the town."

"I know," Alice said, her face suddenly desolate. "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 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." I explained, from the vision they knew Bella's scent now, her house would be where its strongest. They'd go there first.

"Then I have to go to meet them!" Her voice was strained. "If they find what they're looking for, maybe they'll go away and not hurt anyone else!"

"Bella!" Alice protested.

"Hold it," Jacob ordered in a low, forceful voice. "What is coming?"

Alice turned her icy gaze on him. "Our kind. Lots of them."

"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 will be an even fight."

"No," Jacob said, and a strange, fierce half-smile spread across his face. "It won't be even ."

"Excellent!" Alice hissed.

Bella stared, still frozen in horror, at Alice's new expression. Her face was alive with exultation, all the despair wiped clean from her perfect features. She grinned at Jacob, and he grinned back. This was not happening!

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

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

"I wouldn't go that far, but we need the help. We aren't going to be picky." She said almost excitedly.

"Alice!" I seethed. "No!" She was not dragging my family into this.

"Coordinate?" Bella repeated through her teeth.

"You didn't honestly think you were going to keep us out of this?" Jacob asked me, ignoring Bella.

"You are staying out of this!" I hissed, my face heating up.

"Your psychic doesn't think so." He retorted and I groaned, stepping closer to him.

"This is not your fight." Jacob, Quil, and Embry all laughed out loud and it made me even more furious.

"You'll get killed!" Bella added and their laughs continued.

"Bella," Alice said, her voice soothing, placating, "separately we all could get killed. Together —"

"It'll be no problem," Jacob finished her sentence. Quil laughed again.

"How many?" Quil asked eagerly and I glared at him.

"No!" Bella and I shouted simultaneously.

Alice didn't even look at us. "It changes — twenty-one today, but the numbers are varying everyday."

"Why?" Jacob asked, curious.

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

"Later tonight?" Jacob pushed.

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

The wolves all made a disgruntled face at the last part. This was not happening. This was not happening.

"No!" I moaned.

"This will be odd," Jasper said thoughtfully. "I never considered working together. This has to be a first."

"No doubt about that," Jacob agreed. He was in a hurry now. "We've got to get back to Sam. What time?"

"Enough okay! This is not happening. Do not pretend like I am not here!" I hissed glaring at Jasper and then at Jacob. They told me not to tell them about this battle but here Jasper was giving them everything.

"What's too late for you?" I was ignored again, I was going to rip someone's head off in a minute.

All three rolled their eyes. "What time?" Jacob repeated.

"Three o'clock?"

"Where?"

"About ten miles due north of the Hoh Forest ranger station. Come at it from the west and you'll be able to follow our scent in."

"We'll be there."

They turned to leave.

"Wait, Jake!" Bella called after him. "Please! Don't do this!"

He paused, turning back to grin at her, while Quil and Embry headed impatiently for the door.

"Don't be ridiculous, Bells. You're giving me a much better gift than the one I gave you." I was screaming on the inside and I was sure as hell going to scream the house down once all the humans were a safe distance away.

"No!" Bella shouted again. The sound of an electric guitar drowned out her cry.

He didn't respond; he hurried to catch up with the boys, who were already gone. I then turned to Alice and Jasper who stood smugly together in each other's arms.

"What the hell was that?" I growled, I felt like I was going to explode.

"It's the only way Aria. We need the numbers, newborns won't even know they exist. It'll give us an edge." Jasper explained calmly.

"You were the ones that told me to keep them out of it. My dad is going to find out! He may lose his two eldest children over this!" I cried, wanting them to see why I didn't want the pack involved in this. I couldn't bare the thought of my parents losing both Jesse and I. That was why I wanted them kept separate, if losing only me meant that they would be safe I was all for that. Catori needed Jesse she couldn't lose the two of us.

"We all need some training Aria. This will work." I didn't trust him but there was nothing I could do now. Jake, Quil and Embry were on their way to tell Sam the news and once Sam heard of this enemy there was no way he wasn't going to get involved. "Go on, enjoy the last hour of the party, we won't have long to prepare before leaving for training."

I sullenly agreed and found my way back into Ryan's arms. I pushed aside any questions he asked about Jacob and carried on trying to enjoy my night with my friends.

When people began to filter out of the party Ryan pulled me along with him to say goodbye outside. "I had a really good time tonight." He said honestly, his bright blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"Me too." I tried my best to sound truthful, I was having fun until the interruption.

"Look," he held my hands in both of his. "I'm going away soon to get in some extra practice for my scholarship, I'm training with an NFL coach. I'll be back midway through summer and hopefully by then we can pick up where we left off."

I fought to swallow the lump in my throat as tears began to pool in my eyes. Midway way through summer I might not be here, I could be halfway across the country or in a grave by the end of next week.

"I'd like that." I smiled up at him as I reached up to hold the side of his face.

"Awh don't cry Ari. You'll see me soon." He laughed lightly, wiping away a stray tear.

"I'll see you then." I brought on a smile before I reached up to connect my lips to his in a sweet goodbye kiss.

"Goodbye Aria." He looked over me one last time.

"Goodbye Ryan." He released me then and turned, joining the rest of my friends by their cars as they waved me goodbye. God I hoped I could pull through this battle and see them again.