Disclaimer: If I owned Twilight, I would be writing books, not Fanfiction.

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I knew from the very moment my head hit the pillow that I would waste tonight's dreams running for my life.

After the whole deal with the tracker-Vampire-James incident (as I lovingly refer to it), Charlie had become (although it was barely noticeable) slightly wary of Edward- after all, to Charlie, Edward was the reason I'd left Forks in the first place. Out of courtesy for the chief's feelings, Edward had since found places other than my bedroom to spend his sleepless nights, leaving me alone, to fend for myself in the darkening depths of my dreams.

Tonight was different, though; even though he was never there, most nights I was comforted by an intangible feeling that Edward was close by (or at least keeping tabs on the brainwaves of any Vampires or rapists nearby), but tonight, he was nowhere.

I found myself in a forest, all alone, drenched and shivering from the cold rain falling around me. My hair was plastered to my face and neck, and the water droplets congregating along my eyelashes made it nearly impossible for me to focus my eyes. The brightness of the sky seemed to contrast in an almost surreal manner with the rest of the scene, as the ground around me remained dark and shadowy, allowing me to imagine for myself what obscure and dangerous secrets the forest may have been hiding.

A noise over my left shoulder caught my attention, jerking my neck painfully to the side and bringing me face-to-face with Edward who, despite the inclement weather, was just as perfect and golden (and not to mention dry) as always. What little light reached through the trees caught his hair, but not his eyes. His eyes were steel, black, to lumps of coal in a furnace of anger. I stood up warily, not sure of how to react.

"Get away from here."

His voice, too, was strangely frigid, not the typical, flowing tones I had grown used to.

"Edward…?"

"Just go! They're coming for me, and I can't risk your involvement…" I walked towards him as he spoke, noticing that he only moved further away. I reached my arm out to touch his face…

"Oh!" My hand fell through the air, having not met with the icy flesh of his face. I stared at my hand in surprise. "Oh…"

I looked back at Edward. His eyes were now a stony gray color, a shade I had never seen before. His voice seemed to crumble as his face, too, turned ashy and dry.

"Don't let them change you…" he seemed to melt, almost gracefully, away from me, turning to ashes all he touched. "Promise me, Bella…"

"Edward!" I glanced down at my hand, noticing that it, to, was turning gray. "Edward, what's wrong? Tell me!"

And he was gone, scattered along the forest floor.

I shuddered back to reality, my face stained with tears and my right arm heavy at my side. My bed was soaked with sweat. I brought my hand up to my face- still intact. I searched the room desperately for some sign of Edward, something to let me know he was okay… He was nowhere. I rolled, shivering, onto my side and stared hopefully out the window, but to no avail. I felt scared now, more scared than I had in months. I was so scared that Edward would leave me, and never come back. It took my until 5:30 AM to cry myself to sleep.

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The next morning, a lovely, light snowfall took place. Lovely, at least, until it began coating the streets, roofs, cars, etc.

When I finally got to school (it took me quite a while to drive there- my caution level had risen significantly since the near-deadly accident from which I was so thoughtfully snatched during the last substantial snowfall), Mike was already pounding together snowballs, no doubt anxious to take out a few unsuspecting students on his way to class.

"Morning, Bella!" He shouted cheerfully as I approached. "Where's Cullen?"

"Edward didn't drive me to school today," I replied, a bit annoyed at the tone he used in regard to my boyfriend, "and you've got to give him some respect. He's only saved my life, what, about 2834793 times now?" I joked. "I haven't seen you jump in front of any trains for me."

"Haven't had the chance," He mumbled, and went back to his compacting of snow. "Hey, Jess and I are going down to the beach tomorrow. You wanna come?"

Something in his voice sounded reluctant, and I figured Jessica would much appreciate a bit of 'alone time' with Mike, so I graciously devoted my afternoon to a nonexistent English paper, apologized, and headed on in.

I hadn't been in school one second before Edward had found me, kissed me, and offered to carry my books. I was a bit angry at him, though, for not rescuing me last night. I worked up the angriest face I could and glared dejectedly at him.

"Good morning, Bell… whoa! What's with you?" He brushed a bit of hair from my face. "Are you… angry at me…?"

I pulled away slightly, fighting to maintain my angry face. "Why yes, dear Edward, as a matter of fact, I am."

He stifled a laugh. "Well, um… is it okay that I be, um, enlightened as to the reason for your anger?"

"No." What would I tell him? I had a dream last night, and you disintegrated, and, I don't know, I think that might actually happen? Not a chance.

"Well, that was a thoroughly uncreative answer. You could have at least made something up." He slid his arm around my waist and drew me closer to him, but I refused to make any sort of eye contact. He wouldn't just leave me like that. After all the dangers he'd put himself through for me, he couldn't afford to leave. "Please tell me? I'm trying to read your mind, but all I can pick up is that rather large kid behind you. He's wishing the cafeteria would serve ham omelets and quiche…"

I couldn't help but grin. Being a mind-reading Vampire has to be interesting on some level.

"I… just… nevermind. You'll laugh at me." Bad move. He placed his hands on my shoulders and pressed me, gently, up against the lockers.

"Bella, Bella, Bella… how many times must we go over this?" He put on the most serious face he could some up with. "I promise beyond promise that I will not laugh at you."

I sighed. I was going to have to tell him sooner or later, anyways. "You can't get mad at me either, 'kay? And you can't start ranting about how I should have avoided you, or how terribly guilty you are, okay?"

"I promise."

I breathed in sharply. "I…I had a dream," I started carefully, "and you were in it. You kind of… I mean, someone was chasing you. You told me to go, to get away…" I avoided his face, "and then you turned to dust." I finally summoned the courage to look at him. His eyes were warmer now, his expression sort of intrigued.

"And so, what, you're afraid I'm going to turn into a pile of dust?" He laughed. I shuddered, recalling my dream, and he quieted down, hugging me against his chest.

"I was scared you were leaving me."

The look on his face went stolid and serious, like I'd touched on something he didn't want to think about. Usually he was fairly good at hiding his feelings- lest his eyes give them away- but now? I could tell he was uncomfortable, nervous…

"Edward?" I questioned worriedly. He snapped out of his stupor and kissed me lightly. I could a glimpse of his eyes- they were black.

"Of course I'm not leaving you. Where would I go? I've got an eternity to spend, and what better place to spend it than in Forks with my beautiful Bella?" he backed away slowly, promising to see me in Biology, promising he'd drive home from school with me…

The sun came out during lunch and, of course, Edward and his siblings left.

I was all alone in Biology.

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