Chapter one - Surprise.

"Happy Birthday" I whispered to myself as I dragged my stiff body out of my bed and towards my bathroom door. My eyes flickered to the clock just to the right of the room I now entered, 6.49am. Great. My original plan was to stay in bed all day, stay locked away from the world . Stay asleep. But no, for the past four birthdays I have wanted nothing more than that. Than to sleep through this horrid day - the day that ruined everything - and yet for the past four years I haven't been able to. It wasn't long before the shrill of my phone rang bells through my head. Irritated I slammed the bathroom door, ignoring the call that would of ruined my perfect slumber, if I had managed it. I had no doubt who was calling. My mum called every year to wish me a happy birthday and beg me to come home for it. And every year I pretended to be thankful and happy only to get her off the phone and leave me to my misery. I heard the phone stop calling and sighed with relief. It was too early to even try and be happy. Too early for that much effort.

The mirror was not my friend. As it hadn't been for years. I ran the brush through my long thick hair, that now hit the top of my jeans. I dotted concealer under my eyes to cover the dark purple bruising that had become an etched fixture thanks to lack of sleep. The circles were so bad today, it really made no difference.

As much as I tried not to think of that dreaded day exactly four years ago, my mind couldn't help but wonder there especially on this occasion. Yet, it wasn't the party that hurt to think about, it was the memory of his musical laughter at me when the first tear streamed down my cheek at Juliet's heartbreak of losing Romeo. It was the memory of the way he brushed it away with my hair and let his perfect breath saturate me. And more than that, it was that kiss. That last kiss, the one I knew was too powerful, too strong. The one I knew was a goodbye.

My phone shrilled again. I moaned and ran for it now. Jacobs number flashed across the screen. Why was he calling?

"Jake?"

"Bells, thank fuck!" His word assaulted me. I had heard him swear before but somehow this was too cheap for him. It didn't fit the Jake I had got to know before my departure from Forks. "You had me worried when you didn't answer earlier." He continued, probably noticing my stunned silence.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worry filled my words as I remembered exactly why I fled from Forks.

I was trying, trying with all my will power to snap out of the numbness that had taken over me. Snap out of everything for Charlie's sake. So far it had been working, thanks to Jake and his new wolf pack brothers. Jake was with me now, pacing around the small kitchen as I sat on the chair and watched him. Victoria had been around again, this time she had made it past them and all the way into my room. Thankfully, it was the one time that I had ever managed to fall asleep easily. The one time I had done it while sitting on Jacobs sofa watching TV with Jake, Billy and Charlie. When Charlie finally woke me, Jake offered to drive us back - knowing I wouldn't go near my truck, too many memories - and seeing how shattered we both were.

"I'll crash on the sofa" he had said as he pulled my half asleep body into his arms and carried me out to it. Charlie was happy with anything that seemed to make me happy, and because of that, Jake was free to come and go as he pleased. It was only as we were walking through the door, that the arm that encircled my frame - carrying me to my bed -started shaking.

"What is it?" I whispered. He sniffed. Then he sniffed in the direction of the stairs before bolting up them.

"She was in here." I knew immediately who he'd meant. I remembered that thrill of fear that shot through me, only to be replaced with what felt like hope. Hope that maybe she would get me. Hope that I wouldn't have to feel this empty anymore. I shuddered at that memory.

We had stayed awake all night, thinking of how we could trap her. Thinking of a way to stop her, but her power of escape had made it impossible the one hundred other times the wolfs thought they had her.

The phone had rung then, interrupting our planning. Jacob had answered it, I watched his expression as fear and shock replaced the worry that had been there. He hung up as a single tear left his right eye and guided down his face.

"What is it?" I whispered, barely audible. Yet, I already knew, I wasn't sure how but his words were not a surprise.

"There was an… Charlie, well he… something happened…" He was stumbling, not knowing how to speak the words I didn't want to hear.

I didn't remember much after that. The rest had been a blur until one night, I sat alone in my small flat and realisation hit me. One single shot, one tiny bullet and my father was taken from me. I had needed to get away, needed a fresh start and with Charlie no longer around, there really was nothing left for me in Forks. Of course there was Jacob but I really had put him through so much already. He didn't deserve to love me, to have his feelings played with so regularly by someone so broken. So as soon as the sun rose, I packed what little I could carry and left. The train ride, had been long. I had left Jake a message saying I was sorry and would call him as soon as I could. The ending was more of a beg though as I pleaded with him not to worry. I had my own plan.

Swan… that was the name that was easily traceable, especially for a red headed vampire who wanted revenge. I had stayed in forks because I was scared that she would come for Charlie if she got frustrated enough at not being able to make me pay. I didn't have that worry anymore. Bella, was the other giveaway. So I would have to lose both. I contemplated names. Marie - my middle name - at least I would realise if someone was calling it. I decided to go with Dwyer, my step fathers name. Marie Dwyer. I hadn't told anyone where I was going and I only gave my number to my mom Renee and Jake.

"Bells are you there? Hello?" He was shouting now. How much of the conversation did I miss.

"Sorry Jake, I got… distracted." I winced, remembering Edwards words to me about him and his 'distractions'.

"Bella. Listen. Victoria was snooping around again last night" I took a breath of relief. If Victoria was there, then she hadn't found me… yet. "But this morning I caught another scent."

"Okay" I waited for him to continue. He didn't. "Jake, spit it out." I shouted irritated. Today, I really didn't have patience.

"I had only encountered this scent once before and it was extremely weak at the time." His voice was low. I had the feeling he didn't want to be speaking these words as much as I didn't want to hear them. I stayed silent, perfectly still. "After you left. After Charlie. I was worried and so I went looking for… help. I guess you could call it."

"What did you do?" my voice was hollow.

"I went to their house. I though that maybe there was something there. A clue to a way to contact them." His words were rushed. " I found his room" his voice whispered 'his' like it was the secret no one else could ever know. "His scent lingered."

My breath caught. Edward. Edward was in Forks.

"I followed it all the way to your old room Bells, but he was gone by the time I got there." I couldn't think.

Why was he there? At my room? For my birthday? Or just checking to see was I alive? Why did he even care? As the time had passed, my pain had turned to resentment. Him and Alice more so than the others. They had all left without so much as a goodbye, well Edward had given me a goodbye, if breaking up with me and telling me I wasn't good enough for him counted.

"Where did the scent lead?" I asked, venom coating my words.

"To the police station and then to the cemetery. I guess he found out about Charlie." I grumbled as I let hid words sink in.

"Jake I have to go" I hung up, knowing I would have to apologise later for that but I just didn't have it in me right now to talk anymore. Why was he there? My mind swam with thoughts. I sat on the thick cushioned chair as I let my thoughts devour what was left of my ability to stay calm.

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