Bella POV

My thoughts were racing for the rest of the day thanks to the conversation I had with the Cullens at lunch. Edward tried to keep me calm, but his assurances just freaked me out more. You wouldn't say "everything's ok" if everything was actually ok.

A cool touch on my hand brought me out of my thoughts. Edward. He looked down at me, his caramel eyes full of concern.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice like soft like melting snow, "everything is going to be ok."

"Would you stop saying that!" I whisper yelled at him in the back of class. He just chuckled at me and turned back to the front of the class, even though he didn't need to pay attention.

I sighed at him and Edward smiled, still facing the front of the room, watching the teacher rattle off facts that he already knew. His cold him grabbed mine and squeezed it reassuringly.

The bell rings. Loudly and very annoyingly, signaling the end of school. I was dreading going home and lying to Katie. Edward chuckled at my sour expression and continued holding my hand as we navigated our way through the hallways and into the parking lot.

Edward and I walked to the back of the parking lot, the cold, overcast day signaling the oncoming winter. We approached the corner of the lot where the Cullens parked their expensive cars and my, well, my special truck. Even though I adored my truck, Edward and Katie were alike in the fact that they despised it. I remembered one day, last month, before Katie's dad showed up. Katie and Jacob had just come back from a run and they had made fun of my truck mercilessly.

Flashback (still bella pov)

It was an unusually cold day, even for Forks. Edward, Emmett, and Jasper were out hunting this weekend so I had just gone out to a late breakfast with Alice. She was all excited about going shopping to get Katie some new clothes. Alice and the Cullens really enjoyed Katie's company, even though she didn't hang out with them much outside of school; she spent most of her time with Jacob, Emily and the pack.

I pulled into my houses driveway and cut the deafening roar of my trucks engine. Movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention and I saw Katie and Jacob jogging out of the woods. Katie wearing a black sports bra and black Nike shorts, and Jacob wearing his normal ripped/frayed shorts and showing off his built body by being shirtless. Their breath huffed out of them in white clouds.

They were both covered in a thin sheen of sweat, and Katie's hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, swinging around her head while flyaways floated free, framing her face.

They ran out of the woods, up the grassy backyard, towards the front of the house. They were so absorbed in each other that they didn't even see me. Jacob would bump into Katie and she would look up at him and smile. She kept smiling up at him even when she stuck her foot out and tripped him. Jacob went sprawling, but grabbed Katie on the way down. They both laughed as gravity took hold. Jacob holding Katie in his arms. Then Jacob twisted midair, turning so that he took the brunt of impact and Katie landed safely on top of him. They were cackling, rolling around and wrestling in the grass.

I watched in awe at their shenanigans. They were so completely comfortable with each other. No awkwardness. No hesitation. Just two best friends who were obviously more than that to anyone looking. Did Katie not see the way Jake looked at her? With love and longing? As if she was the center of his world? Did Jake see the way Katie glanced at him when she thought no one was looking?

They continued to wrestle, getting wet grass stuck to them. Katie rolled, coming up on top. She straddled Jakes chest; her hands pinning Jakes arms up by his head. She leaned over him, taunting him. Katie smirked at him, her eyes sparkling. Jacob looked at her with such adoration that I felt like I was intruding on a private moment. Suddenly, Jacob flipped Katie over so he was on top of her, straddling her waist as she did to his. Katie huffed, and blew hair out of her face as Jake stared at her, smirking and looking immensely pleased with himself. He had her arms pinned as well, completely mirroring Katie's previous position. Jacob then puffed out his cheeks making the most ridiculous face causing Katie to burst out in laughter. She then shivered in the cold, goosebumps rising over her arms. Jacob got off of her and offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet.

When the stood up, Jake slung his arm over Katie's shoulder. Katie caught sight of me, standing beside my orange truck, and waved. They closed the distance, Jakes arm still comfortably around Katie's shoulders.

"Hey Bella!" Katie said, "How was your breakfast?" Jake just sniffed the air and grimaced. No doubt smelling Alice on me.

"Uh, good." I responded, feeling a bit awkward after watching them be so close. I shut the car door and winced as part of the paint flaked off.

Katie watched this, looking bemused, "How's the shit car working for you?" Jake snorted, clearly agreeing with his imprint on the opinion of my car. Feeling very attacked I said, "Don't hate. My car is an institution."

"Your car makes me grieve for the death of mechanical engineering." Katie said

"And for the death of the planet." Jacob added while laughing. Katie laughed right along with him. I smiled, happy to see Katie and Jacob bonding so well.

"Hey," I tried again, "you need my car. Don't insult the great pumpkin."

Katie just looked all serious, then sneezed. A fake sneeze. Loud and annoying. "Ah...AhChoo!" Jake, playing along, leaned over to her and said "Jeez, Katie you alright?"

Katie (fake) sniffled and said, "Sorry, sorry, I'm just...allergic to bullshit...AhChoo!"

Jake tried so hard to keep a smile off his face and said, "Wow. It must be a very serious affliction."

"I know I'm sorry. I guess I forgot my medicine this morning." Katie said, keeping the banter going.

"Oh well then we better get you out of here." Jake responded

"Alright, alright!" I groaned, "I get it my car is shit! Just go put some clothes on and leave me alone." They smiled at me, so infectious and happy that I couldn't stay irritated at them.

I pushed them forward, into the house and we all went inside for a group movie day.

[Back to present]

Edward walked me to my truck and then locked eyes with Alice and tensed. His muscles going tight underneath my hand as I grabbed his arm. "What is it?" I asked.

"It's nothing." He answered with a fake, pained smile. I frowned and followed his gaze to Alice and Jasper, locked in deep, hurried conversation. They kept glancing at me.

"Edward." I said, my voice laced with fear and concern. "Please, please, tell me what's going on."

Just then, Alice lightly stepped over to us.

"Katie..." she started but was cut off by Edwards glare. Alice turned towards him and said, "She has a right to know."

"A right to know what?!" I screeched, fed up of being left in the dark.

Alice turned back to me, her butterscotch eyes hard and calm, "The timeline has been accelerated."

My heart stopped. "Wh-what?"

She continued and said, "We don't have weeks or months anymore. I see it happening today. In a few hours, at most."

"See what happening?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Alice grabbed my hands and held them in her cool, pale ones. "Katie. She goes over the reservation line. She doesn't come back."

My stomach plunged. Ice flooding my veins.

"But! She's home sick. She won't be going anywhere. Will she?" I asked fearfully.

"Probably not." Edward said, "So let's get you home."

"No!" I exclaimed. "No! I need to go talk to Jacob! Right now! I need to explain!" I started to head to my car.

But Edward blocked my way, "Explain what? That he can never see his one true mate for fear that he will kill her? And how do you think he will react when he finds out that his imprints death is inevitable?"

"But!" I started.

"Bella! He's young and unstable. He wouldn't be able to control his temper when you tell him and who do you think will be the first person he'd lash out at?" Edward said in a rare outburst.

"She's family! Katie is my family! I have to try! I have to talk to Jacob! I know he'll listen to me!" I exclaimed.

Alice stepped in, trying to diffuse the tension, my fear and Edwards anger.

"Hey, it's ok! Jasper and I will stop by your house to check on Katie. While you go over and talk to Jacob," when Edward made a noise of protest, Alice amended her statement, "talk to Jacob briefly about how Katie is going to be doing a girls night with you and some of your friends. I'll keep monitoring the future and let you know if it works and the timeline shifts in our favor."

Jaspers calming influence slipped over me like cool silk. Temporarily halting the fear and anger pouring through me.

Edward, still visibly struggling to stay calm, said, "Okay. Fine. But I'm going with Bella."

A look of extreme worry immediately crossed Alice's delicate face, "Edward, no. You can't. You'll violate the Treaty."

"I don't care. I'm not going to let Bella get killed because the mutts lost their tempers. Again." Edward responded.

"I'll be fine." I tried, in vain, to interject.

"No. I'm not arguing about this. I will not send you into a dangerous situation all alone." Edward said seriously.

Alice spoke up, saying, "Okay. Instead of you breaking the Treaty, how about you just stand right at the reservation line, I'm sure one of the wolves will be out patrolling, smell you, and come running. Then Bella can ask for them to get Jacob and you can talk at the border."

Edward and I nodded, leave it to Alice to see the reasonable solution.

I opened the door of my truck, "Okay. Let's go then."