"Jake, I'm coming back. Edward got a little…close one time," she whispered, holding out her right arm. It had a matching scar to the one on her left. Like the other one, it was a few degree's cooler than her body temperature, and shimmered.

"Bells, what happened?"

"We were about to make love for the first time – don't look like that, I was living with him, we were in love. I wasn't joining a nunnery Jake, so don't judge. When I sliced it accidentally on the headboard. If you look at it, there is a thin line through it. Edward lost control."

"He drank your blood?"

"To him, my blood is like his personal brand of heroin – I'm his drug. Have ever seen an addict within Cooee distance of his drug? Nothing can stop him. This was like holding a large packet under his nose."

"Doesn't excuse him."

"It does a bit. But, that's not the point. The point is I'm back.

"I'm staying here, well, not here, here. In Forks – with Charlie until I can find a place. There's a teaching job opening up at the Res. High school next semester – I'm applying. If I get it, and I save enough, I'll buy a little place near here. There's a house available with it – but it's not very good. I looked at it a couple of days ago. Dying is a good word for it."

"Wait, back up. You're here? You're staying?"

I couldn't contain my joy. Bella was back.

Bella.

My Bella was back.

But for good? Or just for now.

"Do the Cullen's know? Does Edward know?"

"Most of the Cullen's do."

"Edward?"

She looked guilty. That was answer enough.

"Bella, you have to tell him. Is that why Alice has him? 'Bella-detox' or something? Is it to stop hurting while you run away?"

"He feels bad about what happened. Detox started as space. But I don't want him back. I don't want that life. I missed the sun more than I anticipated. They couldn't come with me to Arizona, so they holed up in Alaska."

"Wait, they were in Alaska? While you were halfway across the country?"

"Don't start on the safety crap, please."

"No, I was going to congratulate you. So, this must have happened pretty soon after you left here? Why didn't you call?"

"And say what, Jake?" She was angry now. She got off the bed, hands on hips. She could be quite intimidating when she wanted to be. "'Oh, hey Jake. Yeah, Edward just tried to kill me – but it wasn't his fault. So, I'm off to college. See you in four years?' Jake, you would have been on your bike and rode after me, pack in tow, ready and willing to kill him and his family – my family. Jake, I would have hated you afterwards – I would have hated me. Running away was easier, safer thing to do for all of us."

"Are they coming back?" My wolf duty exerted itself. Damn.

"How should I know? They paid for college, send me birthday and Christmas presents and that's it. I only see Alice regularly, sometimes Emmet, but that's just because he find's me amusing. No, wait, I stopped that…" She muttered to herself. "I stopped seeing them…"

"How long has it been since you saw Edward?" I asked daringly, ignoring her previous mutterings – I'd figure them out later.

She sighed. "4 years today."

I stared at her. 4 years.

4 years was a long time – I should know, I've waited about that long.

"How did Alice manage to keep him away while she was visiting you?"

"How the hell do I know? I don't even know how she saw me – it's sunny in Arizona – all the time. All I know I haven't set eyes on Edward Cullen in four years."

I could have kissed her there and then.

She had chosen.

Chosen me.

It was enough – now.

But, knowing Edward as I do, he won't give up without a fight.

"Bella, he'll come for you. You know he will. You can't keep him away forever. He won't stay away forever. A druggo can't go forever without his drug."

"He can live for eternity – a few more years – like say, 80 – aren't going to hurt at all. Give him books and a pen, he'll be fine."

"What happens if he finds out that you left him? It's the Volturi all over again."

"No, this was my choice – I'm choosing to live. When Edward went to the Volturi, he though it was because I had died – I'm choosing to live. He can't go back – he would essentially kill his family as well. He wouldn't want that – he respects them too much."

"This is all very well though-out on your part." I told her cautiously.

"College does that to a person. So, who's cooking?"

I shook my head. Bella had changed – for the better. She was bubbly, jumping from one topic to another, like a grasshopper. And she wasn't dwelling on the darkness.

I wondered what college had really done for her – there must have been a guy, there usually was. But she never mentioned one.

"Jake, I know you went out last night, but didn't 'food' pass through your head once? This place is empty! Even Charlie had more food than you – and he's old and forgetful!"

I grinned and shrugged. "When I get hungry I eat. When there's no food – I mean, literally, nothing, that's when I go shopping."

"What, being a good mechanic isn't paying well these days?"

"Not that - I don't have time to shop most of the time. You're lucky you caught me when you did – shop is shut for the next few weeks."

"Why?"

"Owner is going away, so he gave us all a few weeks holiday – we could use it too."

She nodded, deep in thought, before smiling up at me. "Well, that means we have a few weeks to get back into the swing of things – like the pack for example."

I grinned – probably at the mention of 'we' mean 'Bella and Jacob' "Jake and Bells.'

God, I had it bad.

Ok I'm doing the whole 'Disney' thing – I'm remastering these chapters. I didn't realise it, but I'm making subtle inconsistencies as I write it – not good for business.

So, I shall slowly fix up this plot line – make it easier to follow before continuing on.

Anywho, the quotes for the next chapter is:

I Used to be normal until I met these LOSERS I call best friends

~/*\~