DISCLAIMER: sorry!!!! I didn't put one of these in the last chapter!!! I DON'T own Twilight, or "If I Should Die Before I Wake", by Han Nolan, where I get a lot of ideas …

Love in the Ghetto.

Bella POV

When I woke in the morning, it was an uncommonly gray day, and my spirits were immediately darkened. After dressing, I went down the hall to our small table, and pulled out the gruel from the cabinets.

Food was becoming more and more scarce, as people had generally less money. Charlie still received a steady paycheck, but many were less fortunate. Mr. Brandon, Alice's father, was laid off just two days ago, and the family was trying to live off their meager savings.

Thinking of Alice, I reminded myself to invite her over for dinner. It was the least I could do for my best friend.

5 years ago, there had been a new family on the street, and my mother had forced me to be cordial. It turned out to be a rather eventful day, with me tripping over their moving boxes, and meeting the new family.

Alice had come downstairs rather shyly, but when she saw me, she had rushed down and gathered me in a hug.

I smiled at the memory, but one glance outside sent me back to my room in a flurry, chastising myself for being late.

Within 10 minutes, I got out the door, yelling goodbye to Charlie who had just come down for breakfast.

Taking it upon myself to get the household started, I had to get up early to motivate Charlie to move. I – we – couldn't afford for him to be late. If he lost his job … I wouldn't think of it.

Passing the derelict house to our left, I arrived at the Brandon's small front porch. Knocking twice – our secret code – the door was flung wide by a smiling Alice.

"Bella!!!" she nearly screamed, bouncing up and down. Rather gingerly, I noted … Was that from last night? I shook my head as I realized that she was still talking.

"…and then I came home, and you left, and my father was SO worried, and he said something about your dad, and …" I droned it out.

"Alice!!!"

She stopped talking and bouncing long enough to get a sentence in.

"We need to go to school!" Realization dawned on her bright eyes, and she slung her book bag over her shoulder, calling a quick goodbye over her shoulder.

Travelling down the beaten path, we threw quick glances around the alleys, and corners. We could NEVER afford to be stopped on the way to school. One missed day without a parental excuse got you expelled, and if you were expelled … you had to survive the day outside, and not in a safe, warm, crowded building.

Eventually we reached the stop for the school buildings – also the place to part our ways.

You see, Alice is incredibly short. She just is. When the Germans saw her in my class- though she IS my age- they demanded to know why she skipped grades.

No amount of persuading could deter them, so Alice now went to junior high, among the young teens, and then met me at the corner when school was over.

I gave her a brief hug, and then turned on my heel to the bracken colored building in front of me.

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As always, I was last out of the room, so I speed walked to the corner where Alice should have been waiting.

But she wasn't there.

I asked the people milling around me, faces without names, or ones I had never learned- but no one knew where the small dark-haired girl had gone.

I dreaded returning home, or to her home, without dear little Alice by my side.

Where was she? Was she playing a game?

Oh! Poor Mr. Brandon!!! She was his only family left! I simply couldn't walk up to the door, and tell him his daughter was nowhere to be found.

So there! I wasn't going home without my best friend! God help the person who took her!

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EPOV

When the sunlight gradually moved to shine on my face, I awoke with a contented smile.

The words of last night echoed on my mind- the congratulated yells, whoops, and even sobs of joy. I was reminded of my life's perfection, so I decided to splurge my good health.

Creeping quietly this time, I slid down the wooden stairs, avoiding the ones that I knew squeaked. The kitchen was empty, so I pulled out the flour and eggs I knew I would need.

Part of my extra-credit hours in the Deutsche Wehrmacht included mess hall duty, and I had developed the talent of quite a chef.

…if you counted spaghetti, pancakes, and any form of soup as "delicacies" …

Not a half hour later I had four large pancakes laid out on a platter, with an egg – western style – next to each plate.

I smirked to myself as I thought of the ways to wake up Emmett – and pretty soon I had a crooked grin on my face – a little inherited trait from my father.

Taking the pan I had used for the eggs, I crept quietly back up the stairs, wielding the pan like the weapons I was trained to use.

Luckily, Emmett's door was ajar, and I squeezed through the opening created, and into the darkness that awaited me.

But he wasn't there.

I checked and re-checked, but he was nowhere in his room or in our house.

My plans of mischief long forgotten, I set the pan down, and hurriedly dressed.

Somewhere, along the streets, Emmett was out there, and he was most certainly up to no good.

I left a quick note on the table for my parents, telling them Emmett and I were out for a walk. It was cheesy, and a lie, but it would satisfy Esme.

Out on the street, I was at a complete loss of where Emmett would have gone. I only hoped that he wasn't tormenting another Jew.

A year ago, he had been caught in a … compromising position with a young Jew girl. Although no one likes a Jew, this was beyond tormenting and abuse. Because of the severity of the situation, he had almost been discharged. A dishonor like that would ruin the good name of our family.

Thankfully, he had not been found guilty, and he was safe.

If he was doing that again … I would stop him.

Before I knew it, my feet had led me to the young Jew school. Why did I think Emmett would be here?

Since I was due home from my "quick walk" soon, I hurriedly checked the alleys around the small building.

There! I saw movement in the next alleyway.

I ran towards the filthy corridor, only to find something that shocked me.

Emmett was there, landing a punch on a small, dark-haired girl.

A/N: YAY!!! So there's chapter 2!! If you haven't guessed … wait, don't guess, that will spoil it …

AND EDWARD WILL MEET BELLA NEXT CHAPTER!!!!! YAY!