XXXI. The same.

When we pulled up to the Cullen house and got out of the car, Esme came out of the house and met us hallway, a sweet smile on her face. Edward led me in her direction, his hand on the small of my back, while my mother followed beside his, observing the house in amazement.

"Mom, this is Eleanor." Edward introduced as he looked between his mother and mine. "Eleanor, this is my mother, Esme," he told my mom.

"It's nice to finally meet you." My mother said as she offered Esme a sweet smile, her hands clasping together in front of her.

"Likewise," Esme replied as she returned my mother's sweet smile. "I've heard so much about you," she said as she pointed toward my mother. "You raised a lovely girl here." she insisted as she turned to look at me, her eyes widening in surprise, when she saw my hand. "Oh Ana...what happened?" she questioned.

"Stupid accident," I replied, pursing my lips as I shook my head.

"Edward take her to your father." Esme insisted as she looked at her son before turning to my mother. "Eleanor, why don't I make you some tea," she suggested, showing a hand towards the house.

"Thank you." my mom replied, giving me a brief glance before she followed Esme towards the house. The two women started some friendly chatter as they walked into the house.

Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulders and started leading me towards the house. "How do you feel?" he asked softly as his hand rubbed up and down my arm.

"Irritated," I mumbled softly as I sighed deeply, glancing down at my hand with a frown on my lips.

"I meant your hand," Edward replied, giving me a side-eyed look as he led me in the direction of the open garage.

I pouted my lips out as I looked up at Edward, raising my eyebrows. "I've had worse." I reminded him softly as I slightly shrugged my shoulder.

"True," Edward sighed, a frown tugging at his lips as that sentence brought up unwanted memories for him.

We walked into the garage, where Emmett and Rosalie were. Emmett was leaning against a table, arms crossed over his buff chest. Rosalie was working in the engine of her red convertible.

Emmett's eyes shot towards me and Edward, his eyebrows raising when he saw my red and swollen hand clutched to my chest. "Trying to walk and chew gum at the same time again, Ana?" he asked me teasingly.

I gave him a playful pointed look. "No, Emmett. I punched a werewolf in the face." I spoke mater-of-factually. Both Emmett and Rosalie looked at me in a moment of shock.

"Badass..." Emmett mused as he nodded his head, ignoring the pointed glare Edward shot his way. "You're gonna be one tough little newborn." he insisted as he wiggled his finger at me, and I smiled proudly.

"Jasper's going to win the bet," Rosalie mused as she grinned at me, shaking her head before turning her attention back to her car.

Edward tensed next to me, his hold on me tightening. My eyebrows furrowed as I looked between the three of them. "What bet?" I questioned,

"Let's get you to Carlisle," Edward insisted as he steered me in the direction of the garage door that led into a small hallway where Carlisle's home office sat. It was a new addition to the home after my birthday incident. When they returned home, Esme and Carlisle got to work on creating the room.

"What bet?" I questioned again, looking up at Edward as my eyebrows furrowed even deeper and a frown tugged at my lips.

"Thanks, Rosalie," Edward called out sharply over his shoulder before leading me into the hallway, slamming the garage door behind him, drowning out Rosalie and Emmett's amused laughs.

"Edward..." I muttered as I pulled away from him and came to a stop.

Edward sighed as he looked down at me, pursing his lips. "It's infantile," He muttered and I raised my eyebrows again, silently demanding answers. "Emmett and Jasper like to gamble," he replied with a shake of his head, placing a hand on my back as he led me towards Carlisle's office.

"Emmett will tell me," I muttered as I pulled away from him and turned around, heading back in the direction of the garage.

Edward grabbed my arm and turned me around, steering me back towards Carlisle's office. "They're betting on how many times you...slip up in the first year," he explained as he opened the office door and led me into the empty room.

"Oh," I mumbled, my eyebrows furrowing as I looked at him. I was silent for a second as I let his words sink in. I frowned. "They have a bet about how many people I'll kill?" I asked rather harshly.

"Yes," He admitted before pursing his lips. "Rosalie thinks your temper will turn the odds in Jasper's favor," he muttered before widening his eyes ever so slightly and looking away. I knew what that was; he was referring to the temper I had just displayed.

"Jasper's betting high." I huffed as I walked across the room and sat down on the examination table in the middle.

Edward followed after me. "It will make him feel better if you have a hard time adjusting. He's tired of being the weakest link," he explained softly as he came to stand next to me, reaching out to rest a hand on my knee.

I felt angry that they were betting on me killing people and being reckless and dangerous. With the anger I still felt from Jacob, everything was just boiling over inside me. "Sure. Of course, it will. I guess I could throw in a few extra homicides, if it makes Jasper happy. Why not?!" I ranted on angrily.

Edward gave me a look that told me to calm down. I huffed softly and looked down at my lap. "You don't need to worry about it now. In fact, you don't have to worry about it ever if you don't want to," he told me as he squeezed my knee gently, despite the tightness his voice held.

I looked up at him with a blank look, pursing my lips tightly. "I have punched a werewolf; I am happy to add a vampire to that list," I warned him, but my voice carried a lightness that showed I wasn't serious, just annoyed.

Edward scoffed in amusement as he shook his head at me. "Maybe I'll get Carlisle to give you something to relax a little." he teased and I gave him another light pointed look. He sighed and reached out, brushing his hand over my cheek. "I can feel your anger, Ana," he told me softly.

I pursed my lips, tilting my head to the side. "Yeah, and I can feel yours," I told him softly, feeling his seething anger still simmering in my chest.

Luckily, the damage to my hand wasn't too extreme, but Carlisle did put it in a cast. I was most likely going to graduate with the cast on. I was just thankful I broke it after finishing with all my exams.

Tuesday morning came and I sat in the kitchen with my mom, eating chocolate chip waffles. My mom silently observed my cast for a second, a frown tugging at her lips. She very clearly had something on her mind.

I cleared my throat to capture her attention and when she met my gaze, I raised my eyebrows questioningly at her. She sighed softly, putting her fork down on her plate. "I talked to Billy and told him what his son did," she informed me softly.

I silently nodded my head. I poked at my waffles, remaining silent for a moment. "What did he say?" I asked as I raised my eyebrows.

"He'll talk to Jacob." She replied as she pursed her lips. She reached across the table and took my hand into hers. "I'm sorry for pushing a friendship between you two-"

"No, mom." I quickly cut her off as I shook my head, my eyebrows furrowing deeply. "This is not your fault," I assured her softly as I squeezed her hand.

Soon May came, and so did my graduation. I had yet to hear or see from Jacob but every time I looked down at the cast on my hand, I couldn't feel bothered by him or our friendship. The fight was drawing closer as things in Seattle spiked and got worse. Jasper was sure they'd have to strike soon. As for me...I was getting nervous. Not about changing, not about being with Edward, but about leaving my loved ones so soon. It didn't feel right just yet.

It was early Monday morning. I was sitting at my desk, putting on my glasses as I responded to a few emails, congratulations from family and old friends. There was a soft knock on my door before my mother came in. She looked sad.

She approached me, standing beside me as she placed her hand on my shoulder. She looked down at me, giving me a sad smile. "I can't believe today is the day." She spoke softly.

I looked up into her eyes, placing my hand over hers on my shoulder. I could see her eyes slowly growing glossy. "Please don't cry, Mom," I begged softly, rubbing her hand.

"You're growing up, Ana." She said softly as she moved her hand from my shoulder to my cheek. "And soon you'll be leaving," she whispered and those words hit me harder than she could ever understand.

"We still have time, Mom," I told her softly, my words meaning more than she'd know. "We still have a lot of time." I insisted as I nodded.

She leaned down, hugging me tightly for a second before she pulled away. She smiled down at me for a moment, rubbing my cheek affectionately before she turned to leave, sniffing softly to herself as she closed my door behind me.

I watched her with a smile before turning my attention back to my desk. I stared down at my desk, gears in my head turning as I made up my mind. I only hoped Alice wouldn't see my decision and tell Edward before I could. Maybe she wouldn't even notice it, because I was still going to change...just not as soon.

After answering my emails, I started getting ready. I did my hair and makeup before heading for my closet to find a dress to wear. Despite having multiple suitable dresses, not a single one felt right. I was completely frustrated among the mess I had created in my room. Clothes lay across my bed and on my desk, and a few pieces were thrown onto the floor in anger.

My window slid open and my eyes shot in the direction, expecting Edward but finding Alice. She popped into my room, carrying a large purple box. "Knock, knock," she called out with a beaming smile.

"Alice." I greeted, returning her smile. "Is it really so hard to wait for me to get the door?" I questioned her, raising my eyebrows as I crossed my arms over my chest.

Alice responded with a playful roll of her eyes as she put the box down on my bed. "I'm just passing through. I thought you might need something to wear." She said, her smile growing as she flicked off the lid of the box.

My eyes widened as I looked down at the box. Inside laid a dark blue dress with flower patterns on it. Carefully I reached out and took hold of the dress, lifting it up. It was short and the skirt was fluffy. It was truly beautiful and I could feel just by the fabric that Alice splurged on the dress.

"Admit it," Alice insisted, her smile growing in amusement as she looked around at my messy room. "I'm a lifesaver," she said.

I smiled as I looked at her. "You're a lifesaver," I agreed. I put the dress down on my bed before pulling Alice into a hug. "Thanks," I told her sincerely and she hummed as she rubbed my back. "I've been so busy worrying and punching wolves that I've forgotten I needed something for today." I mused as I pulled away. My eyes returned to the dress. "It's perfect."

"Well, it's nice to get something right for a change," Alice replied as she let out a soft sigh, sitting down on the edge of my bed. "You don't know how irritating it is missing things the way have been. I feel so useless. So ... normal." she muttered as she frowned at that thought.

"I can't imagine how awful that must feel. Being normal? Ugh." I teased as I mockingly shuddered, shaking my head.

Alice gave me a light-hearted, pointed look as she pursed her lips. "Well, at least this makes up for missing your annoying thief, now I just have to figure out what I'm not seeing in Seattle." She muttered as she pursed her lips.

My eyebrows furrowed as I turned my head, staring blankly at nothing. The thief managed to slip Alice's sight, the same way as who was in Seattle. If Seattle was a whole group, and Edward said the only threat nearby was them, could the thief have been from Seattle, checking out the Cullens? Not many knew how Alice's visions worked; what were the odds that suddenly two figured it out at the same time?

Alice looked at me, her head tilting to the side. "Aren't you going to put it on? I picked blue, because I know it's Edward's favorite on you." She explained, giving me a sweet smile.

"It's the same," I mumbled softly, not even registering that Alice had just spoken to me.

"What is?" Alice asked as her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes shooting down to the dress in my hands. "You don't have anything like this," she argued as she shook her head.

I frantically shook my head and put the dress aside before sitting down next to her. "No, Alice! Forget the clothes, listen!" I insisted as I reached out to grab onto her cold hands.

"You don't like it?" She asked in confusion as her eyebrows furrowed again and a frown tugged at her lips.

"I love it," I assured her before shaking my head. "Listen, Alice, don't you see? It's the same! The one who broke in and stole my shirt, and the new vampires in Seattle. They're together!" I insisted.

Alice silently stared at me as she gave it a thought for a second before shaking her head. "Why do you think that?" she asked as she shifted closer.

"Remember what I said? About someone using the holes in your vision to keep you from seeing the newborns? And then what you said before, about the timing being too perfect, how careful my thief was to make no contact, as if he knew you would see that. I think you were right, Alice, I think he did know." I began explaining and Alice listened intently. "I think he was using those holes, too. And what are the odds that two different people not only know enough about you to do that, but also decided to do it at exactly the same time? No way. It's one person. The same one. The one who is making the army is the one who stole my scent."

Alice looked off to the side, eyes ever so slightly widening as she thought about it for a second. "You're right," She muttered before her gaze met mine. "Of course you're right. And when you put it that way," she added as she squeezed my hands gently.

"Edward had it wrong." I insisted as I shook my head, "It was a test... to see if it would work. If he could get in and out safely, as long as he didn't do anything, you would be watching out for, like, trying to kill me." I said and Alice nodded in agreement. £And he didn't take my things to prove he'd found me. He stole my scent so that others could find me." I reasoned. "The army."

Alice's face fell as she sat back. "Oh, no," She muttered, diverting her gaze for a second as she shook her head. "We can't tell Edward, not yet." she insisted as she looked back at me with a firmness in her eyes.

I raised my eyebrows. "Well I can hide my thoughts from him...but you..." I muttered softly as I slowly shook my head.

"I have my ways." She assured me as she gave my hands another squeeze. I nodded before looking down at my lap. My eyebrows ever so slightly furrowed. This fight...it had to do with me, but why? Why was an army built against me? Everyone seemed so sure the Volturi didn't have any involvement. So who else? "Hey, you're gonna be okay," Alice spoke up, breaking my train of thought.

I mustered up a smile as I ever so slightly nodded my head. "Of course I am, I have you," I replied before drastically rolling my eyes. "And the others," I added with teasing dismissiveness. Alice chuckled softly and I smiled, but there was no denying the tension we both felt heavily.