A/N: Contrary to the title, there's not much Tyler here. But he does get a special mention. Thanks again for all the reviews everyone. It's been a riot writing this. There should be one more chapter and a short epilogue to go. :)

"You should have at least helped her to her feet," Alice said, still yapping away as we walked to lunch together, two hours later. "I mean, you may be a rude, arrogant bastard, but you're a gentleman. You saved her from that truck, didn't you? So why can't you make a little small talk, just for the sake of niceties?"

I punched her lightly on the arm.

"Alice, you and I both know that you want me to do more than make small talk with Bella. And it's not going to happen."

She scowled. The future continued to swirl uncertainly in her mind.

You'll have to choose a path sooner or later. You can't ignore this forever, Edward.

I knew I couldn't. But that wasn't going to stop me trying.

"And anyway, stop terrorising the school kids," she continued. "Eric Yorkie skipped the last two periods, and I know it's because of what you did. And goodness knows where Tyler Crowley is now. Probably holed away in the bathroom, quivering in fear."

I grimaced. Tyler had shared Bella's trigonometry class. I'd found his constant gazing at the back of Bella's head to be quite helpful in studying the girl, but the thoughts churning through his mind were dishonourable and filthy. As soon as his class had ended, I'd stormed my way over to Bella's classroom, ready to tear off that mongrel's head for daring to even dream about depersonalising a lady in such a crude fashion. Alice had caught up with me and forced me to my senses, but not before Tyler had gotten a good look at what was coming for him.

"Perhaps you should go home, Edward," Alice said, quieter now. One look at her mind told me all I needed to know. She thought I was suffering from jealousy. Was I? I didn't know. I'd never experienced such intense hatred before.

If Tyler was hiding from me, I was glad. I didn't want to hurt the boy, but I didn't know if I'd be able to contain myself if I saw him again...

I've never seen you this way before. Strange, isn't it, how easily love leads to hatred?

"I'm not in love, Alice," I hissed.

Sure.

"I'm not!"

It was true. I wasn't in love with the girl. I knew that. But I'd be lying if I said that Alice's conviction didn't unnerve me. Alice liked to live in the future. I'd been making a point to ignore the girl, and so far, my attempts had been successful. Alice's future visions of myself and Bella had blurred completely. So why was her conviction in my feelings still just as strong?

Perhaps I did already love her. After all, I didn't know how it felt. I'd never been in love before.

Maybe you're not, Alice mused. But you're not loveless either. I've known you for fifty years, Edward. I've been your best friend for fifty years. And I know that the man I met in 1960 is not the man you are today. You've changed. You're different. And the differences started one month ago, the moment Isabella Swan entered your life.

I couldn't argue with that. Isabella Swan had changed me – something I'd thought impossible for a creature of stone. But Alice's suggestion that it was love that made me act this way... it just didn't make sense. Love wasn't something I'd ever considered. I didn't want it and I didn't need it.

It was all too complicated. I had a million questions for no one to answer. Why now? Why me?

And why exactly would it be unethical to butcher those three overconfident, brainless twerps on Valentines' Day?

The third was by far the hardest question for me to answer at this moment in time.

Alice chuckled as if she could read my mind, and began pushing me through the lunchroom doors. "Come on. What you need is a break from all of this. Sit and chat with us and forget all about this morning."

"Like that's possible," I muttered. How could I find a break from this torment in a room full of the very students whose thoughts I was trying to escape from?

Alice just laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me to where our siblings were waiting.

"Hi guys," she trilled as we sat down. "Ooh, Rosalie, I love that necklace! I told Emmett as soon as I saw his decision to buy it that it would look perfect on you! And I was right!"

My sister smiled, fingering the sparkling new amulet hung around her neck. "It's beautiful, isn't it? I love it." She turned to Emmett. "Thank you, again."

"You're welcome, baby," Emmett replied smugly. He stroked her nose in an uncharacteristically gentle display of affection, and for some unfathomable reason, I felt a crippling sense of my own unimportance with this gesture. I didn't belong here. My presence on this table was completely ignored. Inconsequential.

The feeling died away almost immediately, as Jasper, taking note of my strange mood, made an effort to bring everybody into a normal conversation.

"Had a good day?" He asked the group as a whole, before turning to Alice. "You seemed preoccupied earlier."

"It was nothing. Edward's been trying to rid the school of testosterone today, and it messed up my visions a little bit," Alice said unhelpfully.

Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper looked blankly back at her.

"Ignore her," I told them. "She thinks she's being funny." I shot Alice a glare and stole an apple from her food tray, absently twirling it through my fingers.

Jasper raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Rosalie was examining her necklace once more. Emmett turned to me, interestedly.

So, Edward, Emmett was thinking. What exactly was it that got you all riled up during first period this morning?

I opened my mouth to answer him, when two tables away Jessica Stanley dropped down into a seat beside the Swan girl.

Thinks I don't know what she's up to... She's got them all wrapped around her little finger, just waiting for Mike to make his move... What a cow...

I curled my hands into fists.

"Hi Ang, Lauren," Jessica sang as she sat down. "Hi Bella." She elbowed the girl as she sat down, harder than necessary. A growl tore its way from between my lips. Alice had her hand clutching the back of my shirt before I even registered the fact that I was half-risen from my chair.

Don't, She reprimanded me. Our siblings stared.

"Jesus, Edward, what the hell is wrong with you today?" Emmett finally asked, exasperated.

I shook my head. I was too angry – I didn't think I could answer him at that moment and still sound human. I grit my teeth against the growl threatening to burst out as I watched Jessica pat Bella's shoulder, a perfect replica of friendship painted onto her sharp, scheming face.

"Edward? Well? What is it?"

"Jessica Stanley hasn't yet learnt to be accommodating to her peers," I spat. "Clearly, no one has ever taught that girl basic human decency and respect."

Emmett frowned, puzzled. Rosalie rolled her eyes and went back to examining the diamond around her neck. Jasper stared at me as if I'd suddenly sprouted two extra heads.

Alice simply giggled.

"I really don't get you, Edward," Emmett said, shaking his head. "Obsessing over the Swan girl is one thing, but this is just weird. What is it with you and the humans these days?"

I lowered my head, apparently examining my shoes, while I secretly watched Isabella Swan from the easy access of Jessica's vulgar mind.

Emmett was wrong. Not humans. Human. Just one.

But why?

"That's what I'd like to know, too," I said.

A/N: Any guesses as to who's up next, anyone? We've had Mike, Eric and Tyler so far...

Reviews, as always, never fail to brighten my day. :)