Chapter 2: Alice & Jacob

Chapter 2: Alice & Jacob

I’d always had a talent for avoiding people. At school, I would find the most secluded places to just sit and think in total silence, uninterrupted by anyone.

So it was a simple matter to find just the right place around the back of the cafeteria where the forest almost touched the buildings and no one would see. I slipped into the forest, picking my way through the dense under brush.

I had had an idea, and in order to try it out, I had to be a good distance from humans, or it could go horribly wrong. Also, my only other way of getting home was to teleport, and I really didn’t want to deal with that twice in one day (it made me a little dizzy and it could get disorientating).

When I was sure I was far enough in, I stopped, putting my bag on the ground, and closed my eyes in concentration. I had to force my mind to match it all up, make things fit just right. I also had to word this carefully. If I wasn’t careful, I could end up... well, I don’t know what.

I focused, thinking carefully through the words. With practise, I knew I would be able to do this in my head, but it was better to speak aloud the first time. I took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Forces of the Multi-verse,” I said, my voice confident and clear, “I ask that you lend me your power to do with as I may, as my destiny has proclaimed I might, to grant my hearts desire.” The next part always made me feel like a little girl; it sounded so childish after the grand speech. “I wish to become as I would be if a vampire had bitten me and I had completed the Change. I wish for the control demonstrated by the Cullen family, so that I might have the benefits of the Change without being a danger to my fellow humans. As the Bridge, I am within my rights to ask these things and ask that you grant my wish.”

I felt the power surge through me as I finished speaking, a rush of heat through every inch of me. I waited until it calmed, feeling dimly the sensation of my feet lifting from the floor and settling again, before I opened my eyes.

It was amazing. I could see every tiny detail of the scene in front of me, every leaf and every twig and every speck of dirt. I could hear every insect in the dense brush of the forest floor and smell the trails of a thousand different animals around me. They didn’t smell appealing, but I knew that was normal. I turned to my bag, and I was suddenly standing in the spot it had been in, the brown fabric between my hands. It was just like Bella had described in Breaking Dawn; as soon as an action was considered, it was done. I laughed to myself, and it sounded like the sound they use in theatres, when they put on Peter Pan, to announce Tinker-bell’s arrival and illustrate her speech.

I hooked my little compact mirror out of my bag and flipped it open. The face I saw looked like mine, just a little more rounded and grown up, though I couldn’t be sure that was a result of my Change, as I had yet to see the 18 year old me. I smiled at the golden eyes staring up at me, and my teeth glittered in eight colour rainbows. It was perfect, just what I wanted.

I put the mirror away and slung my bag over my shoulder again. It was light as a feather, despite the big Biology text book and new gym clothes that had joined my pencil case and notebooks. I sniffed, trying to catch the scent of my new home, finding it easily, even with the plethora of other smells attempting to catch my interest. Then I turned for home, took a deep, unnecessary breath, and began to run.

I laughed as the wind whistled past me. This was phenomenal! I rocketed through the trees, scaring the little animals around me and scattering a herd of elk as I barrelled past them. Something occurred to me then that hadn’t before. There was no burn in my throat, not even a little bit. I knew it never went away, no matter how much a vampire fed, and being close to my preferred food source should have kicked it up a notch, but I had felt nothing. I was nearly home, so I decided to enjoy it now and worry later.

I Changed back about a hundred metres from the edge of my lawn. I was right on the edge of wolf territory here, and an unfamiliar vampire scent might get them agitated and hostile. I didn’t want a fight.

But when I walked through the last of the trees, still smiling and exhilarated after my run, I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.

A russet brown wolf as tall as a horse was standing calmly in the middle of the grassy space, staring at my house with his head cocked slightly to one side. I gasped and the big head twisted around to stare at me with curious black eyes. I listened carefully, trying to pick up his thoughts.

What is it Jacob? A voice asked. It was floaty and distant, like a memory of the words, but I knew immediately that this was the sound of the pack mind. It was uncluttered, almost empty. There were only five wolves at the moment, at it seemed that only a few were present.

I’m not sure Sam, Jacob replied, his mind much stronger, loud and clear, because he was standing right in front of me. I came out to run the line, check the bloodsuckers aren’t taking liberties, and this house comes out of nowhere. It’s weird; the line just bends around it on both sides, like it’s neutral or something, but I don’t remember it ever being here, or re-arranging the line, or anything. Then this kid turns up, just the same, out of nowhere. This is really weird-can you see Sam? - she’s just staring at me like I’m interesting her.

I giggled. “You are interesting me Jacob.” I said, realising that I must have unconsciously shifted to my true age as I Changed, because my voice was higher, more childlike. I checked Jacob’s thoughts and... yes, I was fourteen again, just a girl.

I laughed again as his eyes popped wide and his jaw dropped. The very human expression looked absolutely hilarious on his animal face.

What the... Sam’s voice said, Jake, do you know her?

No sir, I can truthfully say that I have never seen this chick in my life. I don’t know how she knows who I am or how she has basically just answered my thoughts or why she’s looking at me like that or what she’s doing here or anything and I am just plain freaked right now. He stopped, mentally breathless and unable to say more. I laughed again.

“You’re funny Jake,” I said, “A big strong werewolf like you freaked out by a teenager like me. By the way,” I pursed my lips, trying not to giggle, “ you’re on my lawn.”

One sec, Jacob thought, turning to face me fully now, Can you hear my thoughts?

“Yup.”

Everything?

“If you’re thinkin’ it, I’m hearin’ it.”

So how do you know what we are? Sam asked. He was catching on.

“That’s... complicated. And very hard to explain, or believe. Perhaps another time.”

Aww come ON! Seriously? Your just gonna leave us hangin’ like that? another voice yelled. I winced.

Shut up Paul. Sam and Jacob said in sync.

But...

No buts. Sam’s voice was full of authority. We’ll trust you for now, he said to me. You obviously know what you’re getting yourself into by putting your house there. If you need us, feel free to call.

But Sam...

I SAID NO BUTS! Phase back Paul, we’ll discuss this later.

Fine.

Paul’s awareness faded into silence.

“Thank you,” I said, and I meant it, “He was giving me a headache.”

Yeah, Paul’s like that sometimes. Jacob chuckled. Like Sam said, anything you need, just come down to the Rez and we’ll do what we can to help, um...

“Becky.”

Becky, right. Well, talk to you later?

“Sure, come by any time after school. Oh wait, one sec.” I had to let the natural forces have there way. Staying my proper age was tiring me out pretty quickly. I closed my eyes and felt myself growing taller by an inch or two, my hair creeping from my chin to my shoulders, ageing me exactly 4 years. Jacob yelped.

“This is how I’ll look while I’m here, but what you saw before was the real me.” I smirked at him. “Toodles!”

I left a dumbfounded Jake standing on my lawn and went inside. That was fun.

***

I checked my watch again. 11:26. They would be here any minute. Knowing Edward, they would probably be early. Anyone else would have given up hoping that he would bring Bella with him, but I knew her. If he was going anywhere, she would insist on going with him.

I sat up. I had been lying in the soft, damp grass of the meadow, in the exact centre, reading New Moon again and waiting. I didn’t need to be a vampire to have super hearing. Now I could hear the rush of wind and light thudding of infrequent steps that accompanied Edward’s run. I shoved the book back into my bag and took out Twilight, then stood and faced the direction I knew they would come from.

The wind stopped. I heard the soft crunch as Bella landed on the ground, and then two more as she began to walk this way. Edward growled.

“What is it?” she whispered, clearly startled. Time to make myself known.

“Come now Edward,” I called, loud enough for Bella to hear me, “Don’t be silly. If you thought she was going to get hurt, why did you bring her?”

He growled again. I switched tracks, knowing I wasn’t going to get a civil response from him.

“Come on Bella, I won’t hurt you. I just want to talk. Edward wants me to explain myself, and I will, but you have to come out of the trees first.”

Bella appeared then, pulling a resigned looking Edward along behind her. I smiled, and her face lit up.

“Hi Becky!” she said, her voice bright and bubbly. Either Edward had told her everything or she had recognised my voice. I tested my hearing, finding that I could get around her shield, and realised it was the former.

“I’m glad he brought you Bella. I was worried he would be difficult, but then, you can be very creative when you want something. Shall we get started?” I held out the book, an invitation. Bella took a step forward, but Edward growled again and held her back. I groaned.

“Honestly! I know you’re protective, but I didn’t think even you could find fault in a book.”

He looked wary, but when she moved again, he let her go. I gave her the book and watched her studying the cover; the white hands, the red apple, the title and the line of text informing her that it was an international best-seller.

“Read the blurb.” I prompted.

“Out loud please.” Edward added. He hadn’t moved with Bella, and probably felt a bit left out. I smiled encouragingly at Bella and she flipped the book over.

“About three things I was absolutely certain,” she began. She didn’t continue. She was frozen in shock, her eyes wide as they scanned the extract and the short paragraph that followed. Her mouth dropped open, and there was a whooshing sound as Edward flashed across the grass, taking her into his arms and looking deep into her blank, staring eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.

“It’s...it’s...it’s not possible!” she spluttered.

He gently eased the book out of her frozen hands and passed it to me.

“Read it.” he growled, his glare murderous. I didn’t argue with that look.

I spoke slowly, not emphasising any particular words or phrases. I knew this paragraph almost by heart, but I didn’t look up.

“About three things I was absolutely certain. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him, and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be, that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

I took a deep breath and looked up. “I won’t read any more. You can probably guess the rest. I just want you to know, this doesn’t make you less people. These books exist because of you, not the other way around.”

“These books?” Bella asked, her voice shaking a little.

I nodded. “There are four; Twilight and New Moon, which have already happened, and Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, which will happen in the next year. And no, you can’t read them.” I held up my hand to halt Edward’s protest. “If I let you see your future, it could be disastrous. And I’ll get in trouble for it. So you’ll have to be content with Alice for now. Speaking of which...” I cocked my head to the side, listening.

Yes, I could hear it clearly now, the approaching footsteps, light and quick.

Running.

And that mind! I listened to it, intrigued. It was a mind that lived forever two steps ahead of everyone else. Always in the future, seeing every inch that was decided and seeing the things that changed with every tiny decision. Such an original perspective, I’d never heard anything like it.

I turned to face the edge of the clearing, pushing the book back into my bag. Edward turned too. Bella looked confused.

“Alice is coming?” she asked, unsure.

“Yes.” I said, smiling. I unhooked my barrier, like I had with Edward earlier, letting Alice see me here. Her racing steps moved faster, and she broke through the trees, a streak of white skin and black hair and piercing gold eyes.

“Tell me,” she pleaded, her high voice trilling like a bird, “Tell me everything.”

I walked slowly towards her. I could feel the thrill I had fought to suppress all day bubbling up. I was well and truly star struck.

“Hello Alice,” I said, trying to control my voice, “My name is Becky. It’s so nice to finally meet you in person. You look lovely, of course. If you don’t mind, I haven’t got time to really explain it all right now. It will be easier to put it straight into your head. Do you mind?” I’d done it again, speaking too quickly, leaving her reeling.

She nodded, a look of conviction in her eyes. She could see that this was the only way.

“This may sting a little.”

I placed my hands on her cheeks and closed my eyes. I let it flow over me, and her, all the things I needed to share about me and The Necklace and the Sisters and the Multi-verse, and everything that I could do. She gasped a few times and winced once under my hands, but otherwise she seemed ok. I finished and let go.

Only to catch her again as she toppled forward. Edward was there in a second, lifting her off me before her weight became too much.

“Alice?” he asked, clearly worried.

“'m fine,” she mumbled, “'s jus' a headache.”

“You head home,” I encouraged him, “I’ll make sure Bella’s safe, don’t worry. You get Alice home and in bed. She just needs to lie down for a while.” I turned my eyes to Alice. “I can make you sleep if you’d like. A nap always gets rid of my headaches.”

She just shook her head, wobbling when the action made her dizzy.

Edward swung her up into his arms, and, with a parting ‘sleep well’ to me and Bella, disappeared into the dense forest.

Bella looked at me. “How are you gonna get me home?” she asked, speculation obvious in her eyes.

“Like this.” I said, smiling and taking her hand. I closed my eyes, instructing her to do the same, and snapped my fingers.

The next second, we were in Bella’s messy bedroom. She looked startled, but so much time around the supernatural had made her ‘a pro at weird’ as she put it. I smiled, wished her good night, and then teleported home to a well deserved hot shower and bed.

As I drifted to sleep, I heard a wolf howl in the distance. But it wasn’t pitiful or sad.

It was comforting.  

Chapter 1: Here We Go Again

Chapter 1: Here We Go Again

Why is it that the hardest part of school is the end?

My mind was floating randomly through a million different things in the course of a second, vainly trying to find something to occupy itself. It was Friday, the last Friday before February half term, and Mr Krucks’s year 9 science class were chattering to each other across the aisles of the desks. Only a few were watching the U rated musical projected onto the board. I wished it could capture my attention, but I’d already seen it twice over the course of the day.

It was the last lesson before the end of school. I should be excited. I had a whole week ahead of me, with plenty of time for the things that were important to me. Just one thing, actually. Alex.

Alex.

Alex Alex Alex Alex!

I couldn’t get him out of my head, although that wasn’t exactly a bad thing. I let my mind wander, tracing back over the last few months; the happiest months I had ever had. After my abrupt departure from the realms of fiction and fantasy (I got hit on the head and came home in a coma), Alex had been the most wonderful boyfriend anyone ever had. He walked with me to every lesson, even if we weren’t in the same class. He didn’t mind if I sat with him and his friends at lunch, and he was perfectly content to brave the gaggle of girls that I sat with.

Allie, Gemma, Susie and Beth were the best friends a girl could ask for, always up for shopping trips, and completely understanding when I wanted to spend time with Alex, although none of them had ever had anyone like him before.

Alex was sat next to me now, and I looked at him at the exact same moment he looked at me, both of us smiling. Alex had understood everything about the Necklace almost instantly, and it made it easier having him know.

The Necklace.

Ever present in my life, the tiny silver bow glowed dimly under my shirt. I clapped my hand over it before it could attract attention in the dark room, and Alex’s grin widened. He took my hand and began gently playing with my fingers. I rolled my eyes at his attempt to distract me, pulled my hand free, and reached into my school bag. Reading was almost as good as going to the places for real. My imagination had always been wild.

It was his turn to roll his eyes as I pulled out a dog eared copy of New Moon by Stephanie Meyer and turned to the folded page. I smiled at him and immersed myself in the world of vampires and werewolves. I loved this book. Although some parts were hard for me to read, I kept going back to the Romeo-and-Juliet-style story line that was still entirely individual. Something about Bella Swan, the way she looked at the world, perhaps, or the fact that she saw everything in detail, made her one of my favourite characters in fiction.

If you like it so much, why don’t you go there?

I turned to look at Alex, as if he had spoken aloud.

He was bizarrely nonchalant about my mind reading. I had picked it up after re-reading Twilight a few months back, marvelling at Edward’s unique gift, and wishing I could do it too. Of course, thanks to the Necklace, as soon as I wished it, I could. It was a little different; I could only hear a person's thoughts if I was listening, or if they wanted me to hear them.

Alex had thought nothing of it when I had told him, accepting it just as coolly as everything else. He regularly talked to me in lessons this way. Sometimes I wrote notes back, sometimes I conveyed what I wanted on my face. Now I raised my eyebrows and stared at him. He hated being away from me. He had to be chased away from the bus by the teachers every day, and if we hadn’t lived in different villages, he would have walked me home. So why was he suggesting that I go somewhere that he couldn’t see me every day, where he couldn’t just call if he wanted to talk?

I took my school planner off the desk, flipped it open to the next week and jabbed a finger at the huge red heart I had doodled on the page around the words ‘A whole week of heaven’. I was subtly reminding him that his grandparents had let him invite me to their summer house in Cornwall for half term. Stephen and Eileen Parks, too old to do much travelling, trusted the two of us to manage alone for the week, and both of us had been looking forward to it.

There will be other holidays. Besides, I think my dad would rather I spent time with him.

Alex’s father Henry lived in London, at the other huge estate owned by their family. His family was phenomenally rich. Alex could have gone to almost any school in the country, but he had chosen to come to Swindon and live with his grandparents, so he could go to an ordinary school and have an ordinary life. I was eternally grateful that he had; if he hadn’t, we would never have met.

I grabbed a pen from my pencil case and began scribbling furiously across the blank page at the back of the book.

‘But Alex’ I wrote, ‘if I go away, we can’t talk to each other, for who knows how long.’

I don’t mind. I know you miss it, the excitement of the unknown and all that. You’re always doodling in that book of yours.

He reached across and tapped the pictures scrawled all over my planner; eyes, drawn with pencils and pens, some black and white, some coloured, a few scribbled out completely. He let his hand run over one area in particular, where 8 pairs clustered together. The ones in the centre were brown, and the 7 that surrounded it were various shades of gold and ochre. I rolled my eyes. My obvious obsession with Bella and the Cullen family didn’t mean I would leave him willingly. I jotted down a short note expressing this, and then looked towards the front. The teacher had stopped the film and turned the lights on, and was trying in vain to calm the class down as the final minutes ticked by. No one was listening to him, but everyone packed away their things in a rush, and they all somehow managed to hear the bell. A cheer erupted from the class as they surged towards the door. Mr Krucks gave up trying to organise them and sat down at his desk, fanning himself with the lunch menu from that morning. He waved to us as we exited behind everyone else, hand in hand; attempting to avoid the crush in the corridor. “Have a good holiday sir!” I called as we left.

We walked silently through the half empty corridors, hands swinging between us, until we found a quiet spot just off the main hall. Alex immediately started talking.

“Becks, I know you think I can’t handle you not being here, but I’ll deal with it, OK? Dad does want to see me, and Grandma doesn’t really want to leave us alone all week. You can sync up time if you like, you know, so it will be like you never left, and we can still have that time together. Your parents could still think you’re coming with me and we’ll think of something to tell Grandma. I just can’t stand seeing you unhappy, Becky.”

I sighed. “Alex, I have never been happier in my life. I can go somewhere else whenever I want. It doesn’t have to be now.”

“I really don’t mind Becky. Go and have some fun. Anyone can see that you miss it; you’re always fidgeting and school goes too slowly for you without the adventure.”

He smiled at me and I melted like hot wax, wrapping my arms around his neck. He put his hands on my waist and held me close. I sighed, and he grinned, realising I had given in.

“Won’t you miss me?” I asked in my most sugary sweet, girl-next-door voice.

“Of course I will. Even if you’re only gone for a second or two, I’ll miss you like crazy.”

His eyes looked sadly into mine, and I looked sadly back. I forced myself to smile, and then said, “I’ll come to your house tomorrow, as we planned, while your grandparents are out. We’ll go to the bottom of your garden and I’ll leave from there, OK?”

He just nodded and tried to smile too. “I love you.” he whispered.

“Of course you do.” I smiled again, and reached up to kiss him. His hands tightened, and then he released me. “You’re going to miss your bus,” he reminded me. I pouted, but pecked him on the cheek and ran to the bus, waving at him until he was out of sight.

***

The next day, my mum dropped me at the huge ornate gates of the Parks House estate, with a tearful kiss and a sniffily “have fun”. I waved until she disappeared, then began to walk up the foot path by the drive, dragging my single suitcase and bending over slightly under the weight of my backpack.

Parks House was enormous. It had been built during the reign of Edward VII as a summer home, but Sir Fredrick Parks, who established the family fortune, had given it to his son Harold as a wedding present. Since then, the two properties had been passed to alternate generations, (Henry had inherited Parks Manor in London from his grandfather, Alex would inherit Parks House from Stephen) and money had been shared between them. The front was all white, a little faded with age, and decorated with columns and stone carved lion heads. Inside the house had six bedrooms, all with en suites, three further bathrooms, two studies, a library, a drawing room, two living rooms, a monumental kitchen, a dining room and, my favourite, the ballroom.

I liked the ballroom because it was unquestionably the most beautiful room in the house. It had marble columns along the walls making shallow little alcoves and hidey holes, and gold decoration on the ceiling. An enormous crystal chandelier cast rainbows across the room in the sunlight, reflected by the big French doors and the mirrors along one wall. The floor was polished and wide, uninterrupted by furniture save for a few gilt chairs around the edge and the huge black grand piano in one corner. I wasn’t much of a musician-I preferred singing- but I did play the piano now and then, and I had never played anything to compare with the crystal clarity and ringing sound that this particular instrument produced.

On a normal day, I would have gone up the ten sloping steps to the front door, knocked, and waited for Richard, the butler, to let me in. But today I was being secretive, so instead I gently floated my suitcase off the ground so it wouldn’t make a noise, and darted around the side of the house to the garden.

The garden was as big if not bigger than the house. It was half lawn, dotted with beds of roses, tulips and lavender, and half lake, the vast expanse of water planted with water lilies and lotus flowers and home to a family of graceful white swans and a seemingly infinite number of little green frogs.

I spotted Alex waiting for me by the waters edge and I ran over to him, a huge smile on my face. He smiled back and opened his arms to me. I went into them and kissed him softly on the lips. He sighed and pulled away.

“I don’t have to go.” I reminded him.

He smiled weakly. “I already told Dad I would spend the holiday with him. Grandma thinks you decided to go to France with your parents, so that’s all sorted. You can take the whole week if you like.” His smile turned a little sad. I pressed my hand against his cheek and looked into his eyes. “I love you,” I told him, very serious, “Never forget that.”

“I won’t” he promised, and leaned in to kiss me again. When he broke away I laid my cheek against his shoulder and we hugged each other tightly.

“I’ll miss you Lexi.” I whispered, using the nickname his mum had used for him that I had adopted.

“Miss you already Becky-boo” he murmured.

I pulled away with a sigh, took hold of the handle of my suitcase and waved once before closing my eyes in concentration and snapping my fingers.

The wind whistled past me as I travelled through the non-reality between worlds. I kept my eyes tight shut, not wanting to see the terrifying sights that raced past me. The next second the wind stopped and I landed on two feet, bending my knees to absorb the impact. Unfortunately, my suitcase’s landing wasn’t quite so perfect, and it toppled over, hitting my legs and knocking me to the ground. I huffed and heaved myself up off the grass, plonking my backpack down and looking around. I was in a wide grassy space, standing by a fairly large white washed house with attached garage and a lilac front door. I smiled. Lillian had already been here, that much was clear.

Lillian was my guardian. I was the twelfth girl to wear the Necklace, and, as the most recent before me, Lillian had been assigned to give me a hand. She helped me to use the Necklace for good and made sure I didn’t make a mess of reality. She told me when I was about to catch up with the stories I went to and that it was time to go home. She told me when I should and shouldn’t use my power for something, and she covered for me in times of emergency (like when I had my accident and she made it look like I had fallen down the stairs at school, rather than getting caught in an avalanche as I had done). She was my best friend, someone who understood, because she had been in my position. Her guardian hadn’t been as vigilant, though, and Lillian had had no one to stop her when she made her Mistake.

Each of the Shining Sisters (so called because they looked like beautiful shining women) had made a Mistake, used the Necklace’s power in a way that changed reality beyond repair, and been removed from the time line completely, except for Hope, the leader, because she was the first. Most of the Mistakes came down to greed, jealousy or selfishness, ranging from making Romeo love them instead of Juliet, to reanimating a dead relative, to Lillian, who had taken a star out of the sky and kept it in a jar under her bed for a month, until the constellations shifted and Hope found out. I shivered. Lillian had only been 15 when she was ‘removed’, and she had lasted the longest so far out of the others. Each outlived the last by no more than a few months. If I followed the pattern, I wasn’t going to make it to 16.

Brushing away the dark thoughts, I grabbed my bags, opened the front door of the house and dragged them inside. I was greeted by a wide hall with pale pink walls and a curving glass staircase. A small purple end table held a phone and a set of keys, with my school bag resting against its base. I smiled again. Lillian was very good.

I dumped my things (I would unpack later), grabbed my bag and the keys and went back outside, locking the door behind me; although I seemed to be quite far out in the forest, you never knew when someone would come along out of the blue and decide to have a look around. Suddenly curious, I closed my eyes and let my mind roam outward, trying to pinpoint my exact location. In my minds eye, I saw the road twist in both directions from the end of my short driveway. About 2 miles in one direction, a secluded little drive was almost hidden in the dense foliage-the Cullen’s house- and 5 miles past that were the outer limits of Forks. 8 miles the other way was the edge of the La Push reservation, home to the Quileute Indian tribe and their wolf protectors. With a jolt, I realized my house sat exactly on the invisible vampire/werewolf treaty line. Frowning, I decided I needed to ask the Necklace for a time check. Monday, March 30^th floated into my head, followed by You are 18. My age matched up to the main character in the story so I could blend in more easily. In this case, that meant Bella. If she was 18 and it was March... that meant I was in the short space of time between the end of New Moon and the beginning of Eclipse (I tended to avoid planting myself actually into the story; too much chance of things going wrong). I had two weeks, max. I could live with that.

***

I teleported to school, promising myself I would sort out a car before tomorrow. It was lunch time, but the red headed Ms. Cope on reception didn’t seem surprised by my late arrival. Everything had been arranged before hand by Lillian. I was a foreign exchange student, here for two weeks to learn about similarities and differences between British and American culture. Ms. Cope probably thought I had jet lag and had slept in. She gave me a schedule and a map, smiling and saying “...and welcome to America dear,” as I walked out of the office.

People stared as I walked to the cafeteria to get some food, but I ignored them, concentrating instead on the fact that it was unusually sunny for Washington, and wondering if it was women’s intuition or Lillian’s planning that had prompted me to wear a short sleeved t-shirt today. I bought my lunch and scanned the rows of heads, as if I was looking for a seat. I was really looking for something much more specific.

Ah ha!

The two girls sat together in the crowded lunch room, chatting across the table while the boy next to them engaged himself in a comic book. They both had brown hair, worn straight down their backs. One girl wore glasses, while the other had slightly curlier hair and chocolate brown eyes. I smiled. The only empty seat in the cafeteria was next to that girl. How perfect.

“Excuse me,” I said, faking shyness, “Can I sit here? There’s no where else to go.”

“Of course!” the girl with glasses smiled at me, “I’m Angela, and this is Ben.”

The boy nodded in recognition of his name, then returned to his book.

“Hi, I’m Becky Wainwright. I’m on a foreign exchange here from England... is something wrong with her?”

The other girl was staring into space, not listening at all.

“Ignore Bella,” Angela said kindly, “She’s always like this when it’s sunny. She just misses Edward.”

“Who’s he?”

Bella answered, breaking out of her daze at the name. “He’s my... boyfriend,” she said, as if she weren’t sure if that was a good word. “His family are really adventurous and their dad takes them hiking when it’s nice out. They’re on a camping trip right now. It’s been like this all week.” I tried not to giggle at Bella’s glum expression. Instead I just smiled and looked out of the window at the sun. Summoning my power, I pictured a dark cloud over the sun and slowly moved my hand under the table, closing it into a fist and twisting it around.

“What if I could guarantee that your Edward will be back for next period?” I asked, turning back to the girls at the table.

“I’d say you’re crazy. There’s no way...” Bella trailed off as she looked out the window. A large grey cloud had crossed the sun, and there was an audible groan from the students as the rain began.

“I think the camping trip is over.” I mused quietly, grinning.

***

Edward was in class next period, sat calmly in a seat near the back, waiting for Bella. I was in that class too, and he looked at me curiously when we entered. I had trouble suppressing another giggle. The teacher sat me at the empty desk behind them, and Bella turned around to chat.

“I guess you were right Becky. You’re pretty good at predicting impossibilities.”

“I told you Bella. I guaranteed it.”

“Will someone introduce me, or do I have to listen to inconsequential chatter for an hour?” There was a slight edge of frustration in Edward’s voice, a frustration that was rarely seen in him.

“Of course! How rude of me.” My accent seemed to surprise Edward. I nearly giggled again. “My name is Rebecca Wainwright, but you can call me Becky. I’m on an exchange here from England. You must be Edward Cullen. It’s nice to meet you.” I said all this so fast that Edward was left looking a little confused. He seemed to register that my hand was out, and he gingerly shook it. His hand was ice cold; he eyed me suspiciously but I just smiled wider. Class started then, and Edward and Bella turned round to concentrate. I listened carefully, focusing on him while still listening reflexively to the lecture and taking notes. Edward wasn’t concentrating on the lesson of course. His thoughts continually strayed to me. Who is she? he thought, Where did she come from? And why did I have such the strange feeling I’ve met her before?

Aw, you’re thinking about me!

I had pulled up a protective barrier around myself when I had arrived, not wanting to be at the mercy of whatever vampire abilities I encountered, but it was flexible enough that I could carefully pull it back and allow Edward to hear me as if I had spoken aloud. I read the shock as he heard my voice, heard him struggle not to freeze and give himself away.

Shh I whispered no one else can hear, and Bella will get worried if you react.

Edward was perfectly still. He didn’t dare move an inch. He was sure the voice was mine. Even from our short conversation, he could recognise my smooth accent and refined manner of speech. It suddenly dawned on him that he hadn’t been able to hear my thoughts when I walked in. He usually tuned out the thoughts of the people around him, and he hadn’t been trying to hear me because I’d been with Bella, the only exception to his talent.

I know what you are Edward. You and your family.

Edward stiffened. He couldn’t help it. I saw Bella shoot him a worried glance and he tried to smile reassuringly. She didn’t seem convinced, but she turned back to the teacher.

How can you know? Edward thought, sure that I could hear him. Did Bella tell you? (She wouldn’t do that.)

Bella didn’t tell me, I knew already.

How?

I just did. It’s incredibly complicated to explain, so I won’t try, just trust me when I say I mean you no harm.

Edward risked a confused glance over his shoulder at me. I was facing the front, craning my neck slightly to see over Bella’s head and doodling on my book without looking. I acted as if I had noticed him looking at me and smiled warmly.

How do you know about us? Edward was careful to speak only in thoughts. This was private, and Bella didn’t need to be involved.

My voice rang in his head, though I did not move. Meet me in your little meadow tonight and I will attempt to explain.

Edward knew the place, he went there often. Very well. 11:30 tonight.

Why the late hour? You may not need it, but I get cranky if I don’t sleep.

(How does she know so much?) Bella won’t go to sleep until at least 11:15, and I won’t leave her until she does.

Then bring her with you.

NO! I still don’t know what you are, and I don’t want to lead her to danger.

I told you Edward, I mean you no harm. I am completely human. I will not harm Bella. On the contrary, I laughed softly, I’m hoping we will be good friends.

Prologue

Welcome to the story for which I set up my Fanfiction.net account in the first place. 

Summary: Somewhere, there is a world where Twilight, its characters and events are real. Becky is a girl from our world who can travel back and forth from one to the other. This is her story.

Becky is basically my alter ego, and every day I wish I could wake up and be her. Or at least be more like her and less like the awkward social reject that I am.

Enjoy!

Glitterb

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Prologue

People would kill for my life. Literally.

For over 10 years now, my life has been ringed on all sides by danger and jealousy. I’m still not safe, but things are settling down. The enemies are disappearing, one by one; some destroyed, some discouraged, some defeated- lots of ‘d’ words really.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if Fate and Destiny hadn’t chosen me; If one of the other millions of girls on this planet had been in my place. But I don’t wonder for long. I know it’s not possible.

You’re probably thinking, ‘who is this woman, and what is she rabbiting on about?’ I understand. It was confusing for me at first too. Ok, here goes.

I was born Rebecca Kathleen Wainwright on September the 28^th, 1995 AD. When I was 13, my parents gave me a necklace for my birthday. It was pretty, silver and shaped like a bow, not really valuable, just metal and plastic gems. What they didn’t realise is that The Necklace is much, much, MUCH more than just a simple piece of jewellery. It is a link between our world and something beyond imagination.

Our planet orbits the sun along with eight others to form a solar system. Our solar system is part of a galaxy; a huge mass of burning stars circling what scientists assume is a black hole. There are millions of galaxies, as numerous as the stars, which make up the universe. Most people stop there. But...there is something bigger, something outside our universe and our understanding.

A multi-verse, with universes clustered around each other, crossing over each other, putting parts of themselves into each other in the form of fiction; books, movies, plays etc.

That’s how it works; and I can go there. The Necklace lets me cross the gaps between the universes, to visit places others can only dream of and read about. I can also have anything I want, just by wanting it. Really, anything! Knowledge, power, physical objects, anything. I don’t use it much; I prefer to do things my way.

I’ve been to so many wonderful places in my life, seen so many things, gained so many friends; but my favourite place is not the biggest, the most glamorous, the most wonderful, or the sunniest. To anyone in that world, the town I chose to go to would not be the most obvious choice. But I know you will understand.

In February of 2010, when I was almost 14 and a ½, I spent 2 weeks in Forks, Washington, USA, Universe 24735. Or, as I like to call it, The Twilight Zone.