I laughed a humorless laugh that was louder and harsher than I meant. “That girl is long gone, Alice. This,” I pointed at my chest in a stabbing gesture, “this is just a shell of me, what was left after you guys abandoned me. Like it wasn’t enough to have Edward break up with me because I no longer interested him…but the rest of you? Why?” I shook my head not wanting to have this conversation, just wanting her to get her gorgeous, otherworldly self out of my room, out of my life for good. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to fucking know,” I hissed when she opened those perfectly painted lips to reply.

 I met her wide eyes with furious ones. “Edward promised that I’d never have to see any of you again. I would appreciate it if you’d honor that and leave.”

The wounded look on her face was nearly my undoing, but I held firm despite being mere seconds away from having a complete emotional breakdown. I blinked and in that small fraction of a second Alice had disappeared.

I collapsed to the floor, the tears that had been threatening to flow were now gushing while I struggled for air, but no matter how I gasped, I couldn’t seem to get enough. The edge of my vision was darkening while everything else began to blur and the next thing I knew Renee was pounding on my door incessantly.

“Bella, wake up! You’re going to be late for your appointment.”

I rolled over still on the floor where I’d passed out hours before, and groaned. My whole body ached, but it was nothing compared to the jackhammer beating against my skull. Alcohol bad. I’d had fun last night, but damn, the side effects provided a very good argument for abstaining from such future activities.

“I’m up,” I called weakly moving gingerly to my feet while glancing at the clock. Damn, I only had twenty minutes to make myself presentable. Something told me that I’d need more time than that.

I took one step and my stomach heaved and I barely made it to the garbage can by my desk before I emptied the contents of last night’s drunken escapade forcefully into it.