XXVIII. Foreseen.

It was a Wednesday night, and my mother had another night shift at the hospital. Edward had come over to study but I had long since stopped focusing on all the books sprawled over my bed. I was leaning against my pillows, staring blankly down at the book on my lap.

Time was a cruel thing. It was moving so fast. Graduation was approaching so fast. My heart ached as I thought of every goodbye I had to say. I felt ill-prepared for it; it felt like I needed more time. More time to prepare, more time to be with the ones I'd say goodbye to. More time to figure out what I'd say to them.

Edward looked at me, noticing my distant gaze. "What are you thinking about?" he asked softly as he reached out and tugged a strand of hair behind my ear.

I sighed softly before looking at him, my lips pouted into a frown. "I have to figure out what to tell people...Why I won't be home for Christmases. Why I won't visit. Why they'll never see me again." I mumbled softly.

Edward silently stared at me as he pulled his hand away. This was still a touchy subject for him. "After a few decades, everyone you know will be dead. Problem solved," he replied with a hint of coldness in his voice.

I sighed softly, and I could feel his pang of regret in my own chest. I looked at him, my eyebrows furrowing. "Why are you so against me becoming like you?" I asked softly.

Edward looked away, his lips pulling into a tight line as he slowly shook his head. "I've told you," he replied.

I'd be giving up my soul, I'd be giving up human things that I want. Those were his usual responses. I shifted on the bed to face him, shaking my head. "Be honest with me. There's more." I demanded.

Edward remained silent for a moment before he looked at me again. "I know the consequences, of this choice you're making. I've lived through it, and to let you suffer that," he explained as he shook his head. "You believe I have a soul... I don't," he whispered as his eyes diverted again. "But to risk yours, just for the sake of never having to lose you. It's the most selfish thing I'll ever do," he admitted.

I shifted again, sitting myself down on his lap. Instinctively his arms wrapped around my waist as his eyes found mine again. "It's not like that," I told him softly as I reached a hand out, lightly running my fingers through his hair.

"Yes, it is." He argued softly.

"Not, it's not," I argued back as I shook my head. "I'm making the choice because I don't want to die and never see you again. I hate the thought of you living out there and I'm just...gone." I explained softly as I frowned. I silently stared at him for a second before speaking again. "I thought, maybe you were afraid that I'll be too different. I won't be, you know... warm. And won't smell the same." I explained softly.

Edward gave me a small smile as he reached one cold hand up and cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing across my skin. "You'll always be my Anastasia. My Ana, just less fragile," he muttered softly.

I reached up and placed my hand over his. "And this way, I'll be your Ana forever," I assured him softly.

The time continued to fly by and we reached March. Graduation was drawing near with less than two months to go. And so was the fight the Cullen's were preparing for. Things in Seattle still hadn't settled down. Victoria nor my intruder had resurfaced again, and I felt bugged by the situation. I was certain there was something we were not seeing.

I had yet to make amends with Jacob. Neither of us had reached out to the other, although I heard from Quil and Embry from time to time. Neither of them mentioned Jacob to me, ever. I hoped to fix things with Jacob before I changed. I wanted to know if I at least tried with him when things ended.

As for me changing, I was filled with confusion and doubt. No doubt that I wanted to change. There was no doubt about spending eternity with Edward. But perhaps there didn't have to be a rush. Maybe I could wait a little longer. But could I afford to? Not only was I a liability for the Cullen's, but there was also the Volturi.

It was a Saturday night and I was spending it at the Cullen's house. I was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a bowl of pasta Edward had made for me. Ever since I came into his life, he had made himself into a nice chef.

Alice and Edward stepped through the doorway, one looking as guilty as the other. "I have foreseen," Alice spoke ominously and Edward elbowed her in the side. My eyebrows furrowed as my head cocked to the side, and my lips parted as they pulled into the hint of a confused smile. "Fine," Alice crumbled as she shot her brother a pointed look before returning her gaze to me. "Edward is making me do this But I did foresee that you would be more difficult if I surprised you."

I raised my eyebrows, biting back a childish groan as I looked at Alice. "Oh God, what is it?" I asked.

Alice inhaled sharply and huffed out as she approached me. "Don't be a baby about this. No tantrums." She warned as she pointed a finger at me.

I grabbed her finger and pushed her hand down. "Alice," I demanded as I raised my eyebrows at her, my head tilting to the side.

"So you're-" Alice spoke before rolling her eyes to the side. "I mean, we're, having a graduation party." She informed me and my eyes widened. "It's no big thing. Nothing to freak out over." She told me quickly. "But I saw that you would freak out if I tried to make it a surprise party." she huffed poutily.

I looked between Alice and Edward as my eyebrows furrowed. "You're seriously going to go through with that?" I asked them.

Edward approached, stepping up behind me as he placed his hands on my shoulders. "We want you to have as many human experiences as possible," he explained softly.

Nasty memories pushed their way through my head and I let out a soft sigh. "Yeah, I..." I mumbled as I shook my head, going silent. I didn't want to bring up the past. Not when it was still so painful for all of us.

Edward could feel and see my inner turmoil as he looked at me. "Ana." He urged me to speak my mind.

I frowned softly as I shook my head. "I don't want to be mean," I replied softly as I looked down at my lap.

Alice reached out, taking my hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "What is it?" She asked softly, encouraging me to speak my mind freely with her and Edward.

I looked between Alice and Edward with an apologetic look in my eyes as I spoke. "The last party...you guys left-" I mumbled softly as I shook my head, looking down at my lap with a soft sigh.

"That will never happen again." Alice insisted as she gave my hand an assuring squeeze.

I again looked between Alice and Edward. I couldn't help but think about what had happened on my birthday last year. It was no small accident, and truly, it could have been worse. I let out a soft sigh and looked down at my lap. "Is it smart to invite everyone to your house?" I asked hesitantly, not wanting to come off as mean or cruel.

Edward reached out, gently rubbing my shoulder. He wasn't offended or angry, he could see the genuine concern on my face. "We're around them at school the whole day." He replied softly as he shook his head. "We'll all be on our best behavior."

I looked up at him, a frown tugging at my lips. I felt horrible for doubting the family. "I didn't mean it like that," I explained softly. "I'm just worried."

"I know," Edward assured before leaning forward, pressing a gentle kiss against the top of my head. "It's gonna be okay." He whispered, his voice ever so slightly muffled by my hair.

I sighed softly, running a hand over my face. "I still think this is incredibly insane," I informed as I looked at Edward and then my eyes shot to Alice. "Your timing is impeccable," I told her and she offered me a sweet smile.

"There are a few things we need to get in order now, and that's going to take a little time. As long as we're sitting here waiting, we might as well commemorate the good stuff." Alice spoke up again as she reached out, patting my arm. "You're only going to graduate from high school for the first time once. You don't get to be human again, Ana. This is a once-in-a-lifetime shot." She explained gently.

I ignored everything else Alice had said as I raised my eyebrows at her. "What few things do we need to get in order?" I asked as my eyes shifted to Edward.

"Jasper thinks we could use some help," Edward explained, something the family has been going back and forth on for a while now. "Tanya's family isn't the only choice we have. Carlisle is trying to track down a few old friends, and Jasper is looking up Peter and Charlotte. He's considering talking to Maria... but no one really wants to involve the Southerners." he explained as my eyes widened at the mention of Maria. "It shouldn't be too hard to convince them to help. Nobody wants a visit from Italy."

I stared up at Edward, my head slightly tilting to the side. "But these friends, they're not going to be vegetarians, right?" I asked knowingly.

"No," Edward confirmed as he pursed his lips, shaking his head.

My mouth fell open as I inhaled sharply, that sounded like a bad idea. Bringing those vampires to our very human town, sounded like tempting fate. Bringing them here, with the pack just across the street, sounded like tempting the devil. "Here? In Forks?" I questioned.

"They're friends," Edward replied, reading the skepticism and worry in my eyes as I stared up at him. "Everything's going to be fine. Don't worry. And then, Jasper has to teach us a few more courses on newborn elimination..." he went on.

I slumped back in my seat. I didn't like the sound of this new plan. There were too many wild cards. Humans would be in danger, and wolves would go on a rampage. I sighed again. "Maybe the wolves are a better option," I mumbled softly.

Alice's eyes sharply shot towards me as she frowned deeply. "Are they?" She asked, her eyes squinting at me. After my recent run-ins with Jacob, Alice wasn't the biggest fan of the pack, less than anyone else in the family.

I wondered over the matter for days. I felt uneasy knowing more vampires were coming to Fork. The human blood-drinking kind. I knew the wolves would be displeased and try to get involved, starting a fight or breaking the treaty.

I still felt too bad to ask the wolves again to fight in a fight that wasn't theirs. Especially after what happened at the Council meeting. I also felt too bad to go to Jacob with this after how our last conversation ended. I still felt horrible about that conversation. I felt horrible over how things were ending with Jacob.

Sunday morning I decided that I couldn't leave everything as it was. I couldn't let things play out this way.

I climbed into my truck and before I could even insert my keys in the ignition, the passenger side door opened, startling me as my boyfriend slid inside. I looked at Edward, my eyes squinting. He was silent for a second.

Slowly he turned to face me, his face blank. "You're going to La Push," he replied. It wasn't a question. He already knew the answer.

I sighed softly, hands dropping to my lap as I slumped back into my seat. "My future disappeared," I mumbled as my lips pulled into a tight line. Alice.

"Yup," Edward replied as he turned to look out the window of my unmoving truck.

I remained silent for a few seconds before turning in my seat and facing Edward completely. "I can't...I can't just leave things with Jake." I explained myself. "It breaks my heart that this is what our friendship turned into," I admitted as I shook my head. "I wish...I wish he could just understand and accept this-us." I said as I motioned between myself and Edward. "I just want my friend back, and I know I should- but I can't give up yet."

Edward turned to look at me, silently nodding his head before speaking after a moment. "I understand that," he assured me softly as he reached out, placing a gentle hand on my thigh.

I reached down, placing my hand over his. I gave him a thankful smile as I squeezed his cold hand. "When are you hunting again?" I asked him as I raised my eyebrows.

"After school tomorrow." He replied and I nodded along. "We're staying close," he assured me.

"Then I'll go tomorrow," I told him as my eyes shifted down to his hands and I aimlessly began playing with his cold and hard fingers.

Edward immediately shook his head as he gave me somewhat of a pointed look for my suggestion. "I'd prefer you go when I'm in Forks," he told me firmly.

"I don't want to tempt you to break the treaty," I replied as I shook my head and Edward sighed, knowing how close he came to doing that the last time. I silently looked at him, my eyes flicking over his face. I frowned as I took in his golden eyes. "Are you thirsty already?" I asked as I cupped his cheek. From what he has taught me, only dark-nearly black eyes, meant they were hungry. Gold was safe.

"Not really." He replied as he shook his head. "We want to be as strong as possible," he explained and I nodded in understanding. "We'll probably hunt again on the way, looking for big game."

"That makes you stronger?" I asked him as I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes," He confirmed with a nod of his head. "Human blood makes us the strongest, though only fractionally. Jasper's been thinking about cheating-averse as he is to the idea, he's nothing if not practical. But he won't suggest it. He knows what Carlisle will say." he explained and I raised my eyebrows. I couldn't imagine the Cullen's turning to that. Especially not Rosalie.

I frowned at the thought and diverted my eyes back down to our hands. "Would that help?" I asked, but the distaste for the thought was clear in my voice.

"It doesn't matter. We aren't going to change who we are." Edward assured me as he shook his head and I met his gaze, nodding my head. "That's why they're so strong, of course. The newborns are full of human blood, their own blood, reacting to the change. It lingers in the tissues and strengthens them. Their bodies use it up slowly, like Jasper said, the strength starting to wane after about a year." He explained, and it made me think of when I was going to change.

"How strong will / be?" I asked curiously as I raised my eyebrows.

Edward smiled at the thought as he looked into my eyes. He rubbed his thumb over the back of my hand. "Stronger than I am." he mused as his smile grew a little.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Stronger than Emmett?" I asked in a slow voice as my head tilted to the side.

"Yes," Edward confirmed, laughing softly as he nodded his head. "Do me a favor and challenge him to an arm-wrestling match. It would be a good experience for him," he told me as he squeezed my hand and I grinned softly as I nodded in understanding and agreement.