Summer solstice

Bruised

Bruised

Forks, Washington was a boring place by most accounts and no one in the town could believe in anything exciting happening. That was probably why when my adoptive father Carlisle moved us back into this town everyone was excited and buzzing about the arrival of the good looking doctor and his equally good looking family. Personally I didn't want the attention yet I knew my sister Rosalie was basking in it. She loved everyone's eyes on her and Emmett and their beauty. I never saw the appeal of having humans lust after me, it would be far too hard to deal with in my opinion. Although living in a town full of them, acting as if we were them was difficult on it's on account. I longed for the companionship my brothers and sisters had, with someone, anyone really. They were always so happy, although that could have been Jaclyn's doing sometimes, but they were happy and in love. Rosalie tried to comfort me all the time, saying you couldn't force love to come and that one day I would be as happy as her. I just wanted that day to be today. I had spent years frozen in time, created after Carlisle saved me from an asylum I lived in. It was the only human memory I had left, lying in that dark cold room on the floor. The door creaked open and the man introduced himself as a doctor who was going to save me. I didn't believe him, I had lost track of the time I had been in there and then I felt him hold me and run. When I awoke, it was impossible to describe how I felt or what had happened. Carlisle told me and I took it in stride. He and his wife Esme had discussed adding to their family and since they felt I was in danger, they saved me. He apologized again and again, my poor father actually believed I was upset but I finally felt like I belonged.

I still feel like I belong in this family, my family of vampires. We grew rather quickly from the three of us. Carlisle changed Edward as he found him dying in the hospital. I think he hoped I would take Edward as a mate as he did with Esme but I saw the future and I knew we were to be friends. It was me that saw Jaclyn for the first, wandering around looking for her place and I knew her place was with Edward. Perhaps that's why he's so good and close to me, as if I owe him with discovering his other half. Rosalie joined our family after Carlisle found her dying in the street and at first she had difficulty accepting her immortality but after the day she found Emmett dying in the woods she realized she had eternity with him. It was impressive, at least in my eyes, that she had the strength to carry him over a hundred miles to Carlisle all while he was covered in blood. I suppose that's what love did to you though. And that's all I wanted in the end, my own companion, my own mate, my own love.

I could hear Edward sigh from the driver's seat as we took off towards the school. Jaclyn was out hunting with Esme and wouldn't arrive till later, allowing me to take the passenger seat on the drive to school. I felt his hand reach over and rub my leg, in a reassuring way. "Your mate is out there love. I promise you won't be spending decades alone." I knew he meant well, I did but he didn't know how I felt and he couldn't. Jaclyn was the perfect mate for Edward, she was in flash like Rosalie and Emmett were and anyone could tell the lengths she'd go for Edward from just one look in her eyes. I was jealous. Not that she was with Edward but that she had a love like that. He sighed again and rubbed my leg once more. I forgot he could hear my thoughts for a moment there. "Alice, I promise you to the ends of the earth, I will not allow you to be alone forever. I will find your mate." I smiled a little before I felt it hit me. I went into my trace like state as the future flashed before me.

"I'm Alice." I said in a high chirpy tone, my eyes focused in on a brunette sitting next to me. She had a soft gentle face, the kind on somebody you'd like to know.

"Bella." She responded, her voice shaking a little.

It ended quickly and I shook my head, trying to figure it out. I could feel Edward's eyes boring into me and I just waved him off. Why I'd receive a vision like that, I was unsure but it had happened. I pushed the thought from my head as we arrived at school. School was just another charade in this life. Act like humans, be like humans yet we weren't really human's. It made me laugh a little. I patted Edward's arm and headed off to my boring morning of classes, unsure of when this random meeting with this girl would be. I breezed through my morning but took my time getting to lunch. Rosalie was always one for the theatrics, loving how every eye in the place turned and was glued on her. Personally, I was over it and therefore took all the time in the world I could to reach the cafeteria. As soon as I entered, a new smell it my nose and in turn made my throat it, it was a scent I had never picked up before, and it was strong. Very strong. I glanced around until my eyes settled on the source, the girl from my vision. She was gorgeous, completely gorgeous in that subtle way. I was lost for a second until I saw her duck in embarrassment. Even from my spot, I could see her cheeks turn pink and her blood rush around in her. I somehow glided to my seat, attempting to block my mind but Edward saw right through it. I took my normally seat and I tried to not look at Edward and Jaclyn, damn them and their mind reading, emotion controlling powers. I would not give in and give them the satisfaction. Must. Not. Think. About. Her. Damn it. I sighed and turned to look at them.