AN- Hey again, thanks so much for reading my story and to every who added it to their favorites, story alert, or reviewed. I really appreciate it. So here's chapter 3, updates won't be as often as this, but I'll try my hardest to get them out at least once a week.
So I hope everyone enjoys it!(:

Special thanks to my beta, winternow!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Waking up Saturday morning to the doorbell ringing multiple times is not the way I liked it. It was exactly 8 a.m. and Casey Whitlock stood at my front door ringing the bell and banging her fist against the door. I had all but thrown myself down the stairs in my haste, thinking it was an emergency only to find a very amused Casey.

"Did I wake you up?" She had asked oh- so- innocently.

"Yeah," I grumbled, still not fully awake.

"That's good, you should be up."

That was twenty minutes ago. I asked why she was here, but she told me to get dressed so she could reveal her 'big surprise' as she put it. I obeyed and went upstairs to throw on jeans and a long sleeved shirt. I rushed to do my hair and brush my teeth because I knew she sat waiting downstairs alone. Again, I ran downstairs only this time not worried, just curious.

"Your dad's the Chief of Police here right?" Casey asked as I walked into the room.

"Yeah," I said awkwardly.

"That's cool," she drawled out. "My dad was a colonel in the Army."

Last night, as I lay in bed, I thought of the few things I actually knew about Casey. I had figured out that she reminded me of Jasper, but I honestly didn't know why. I knew her name, she was from Texas, she was dyslexic, her ex-boyfriend's name was Luke Evans, and she's a foster kid. Now I knew her dad was in the Army. How did any of this have anything to do with Jasper?

"Do you want to see what I got now?" Casey asked jumping off the couch.

"Yes please," I said quietly. She gave me a funny look, but then took off for the door.

Outside, she skipped to her truck where a blue tarp covered the bed. She yanked it off to reveal a big pile of junk. I looked at it, then to Casey, and back to the junk. I then realized what the pile was- motorcycles…three of them. I looked back at Casey who beamed with pride.

"They're motorcycles. I figured since you like them so much it's safer to have one of your own then to ride with a stranger."

"You got me a motorcycle?"

"No, I got both of us a motorcycle," she said happily.

"How much did you pay for them?"

"Nothing, I was driving by a house and this sophomore was throwing them away. I thought of you and asked if I could buy them. He said I could just take them. So I did." She shrugged as if she just got me a candy bar not three freaking motorcycles.

"Well…thanks." I told her not really sure what else to say.

"Don't thank me yet. They don't actually work."

I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped to the floor. What was the point of getting them if they didn't work?

"That explains why he was throwing them away."

"It just means we have to fix them," Casey said as if it was the easiest thing in the world.

"You know how to fix motorcycles?"

"No, do you?"

"No," I told her.

"Do you know anyone else who knows how?"

"Uh…no," I told her, but when she didn't say anything I pressed it.

"How exactly do you plan on fixing them?" My tone was a little harsher than I meant it to be. She was trying to be nice getting us motorcycles.

'Motorcycle Repair for Dummies,' she said, totally serious.

I couldn't help it, I started cracking up. Like last night, my laughter felt foreign, this time it wasn't uncomfortable. It came naturally to me like it had before. It warmed me to the core and reminded me who I was before he left or even before he existed in my world.

When I finally managed to stop laughing, I looked at Casey who was smiling like a little girl. She was a little girl, I realized. She was just a child; with her curly blonde hair and dimpled cheeks. The way her eyes sparkled like the sun on water or her innocent laugh that seemed more genuine than anything else in the world made me wonder if she would ever really grow up.

"How old are you Casey?" I asked her as she gazed at the pile of junk in her truck.

"Seventeen," she answered, not even the least bit curious as to why I was asking. "Do you know where there's a bookstore 'round here?"

"Actually, I think I know someone."

This time, as we drove to La Push, I took a better look at the picture on her glove compartment. It was definitely Casey, with her untamed locks and dimpled grin. She was probably no older than eight in the picture. The man had to be her father, because he had the same bright eyes and dimples. He reminded me of Jasper even more- in fact I could picture Jasper with those blue eyes plus the man in the picture had Jasper's golden locks.

I was curious as to why only the one picture remained. She must have had the entire thing covered with photos at one time because most of the white was faded. What did the pictures show? When did she take them off? Why did she take them off?

"It's my daddy," she said after glancing in my direction and noticing my examination.

"What happened to him?" I asked before realizing how personal the question seemed.

"He died," she said simply before changing her mind and giving me a more detailed response. "He was gunned down in Afghanistan, and didn't make it out."

My heart ached for the first time in a way that wasn't related to him. She had lost her father and what had I lost? A boy-the love of my life-but a boy nonetheless.

"I'm sorry, Casey."

"Waste of a word, Bella. You know how many times I've heard that phrase." There was more meaning to her words, but I didn't want to ask too much in one day.

"So who exactly is this guy you know?"

"Jacob, his dad and Charlie are best friends. We kind of grew up together."

"He knows motorcycles?"

"He rebuilt my truck. I'm assuming he knows more than we'll ever know."

"Well, I guess it's a good thing I took all three bikes then, huh?"

Casey kept driving, but said no more. Her silence was different then all the other times, it wasn't comfortable or happy. She wasn't relaxed and there were no calming waves emanating from her, but strangely, she wasn't tense.

She wasn't tense at all. In fact, her hands loosely gripped the steering wheel and halfheartedly shifted gears from time to time, her shoulders slumped inwards, her face expressionless, and her light eyes were dimmed. She looked defeated. Did I do that to her?

She lost her dad, I brought it up and now apologizing would make it worse.

What do I do?

"Turn here," I told her absentmindedly, as I tried desperately to come up with something. I tried to figure out a way to fix whatever damage I had done, but before I could, the Black's dull red, wooden house came into view.

The Black's house was sort of familiar. If I scanned my brain for random childhood memories I could probably come up with a few that took place in this house, but that was back when I didn't run with vampires. I suppose I didn't run with them anymore, but that was beside the point.

Way to be a downer, Bella.

I was hoping we could see Jacob without seeing Billy. To Billy, this all worked out. They were gone, Billy was happy. I bet he would even make it a point to rub it in my face. I definitely couldn't handle that today. Of course, I doubt he would care about that small point.

"This is it." I told Casey and she pulled into the drive. We both got out the truck- I gently shut my door, while Casey slammed hers.

Casey stared up to the storm-darkened sky. Her expression was different now; maybe she was remembering something. I watched as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. When she opened her eyed, the dulled blue was light again. Her face held the glow she started the morning with and she was back to the Casey Whitlock I met in study hall, not three days ago.

Casey looked over to me with her child-like smile, and laughed as I visibly jumped at the sound of a slamming door.

"Bells!" Jacob yelled as he ran out the door, and pulled me in to a rib crushing hug.

"Jacob…can't…breathe," I gasped out and Casey giggled. I shot her a look, but she just rolled her eyes.

"What are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but you never come here." Jacob said, in a rush to get out the words.

Then I looked at him. This was not the same boy I remembered. This was a man- tall and buff. The once lanky child had grown to be a tower and was as wide as Casey and I combined. His black hair was curtaining his broad face and I'm pretty sure if his grin got any bigger it would break his face.

"How about we start with what happened to you? You're like a giant now!"

"6'5," he told me proudly. His voice was deeper than I remembered and it made me laugh. He laughed along with me even though I doubt he understood why I was laughing.

"Well, who's your friend, Bells?" he asked, grinning at Casey.

Casey laughed at him, but stuck out her hand. "Casey Whitlock," she introduced herself with a thick accent.

"I'm Jake," he told her enveloping her hand in his.

"Nice to meet ya." Casey was a naturally friendly person. I imagined she made a friend anywhere she went.

"Well, come on, let's get inside." He told the both of us just as the clouds released the beginning of the storm.

I followed Jake into the little house as he pulled his hair into a ponytail he retrieved from his pocket. Casey followed me, but not before taking another glance toward the sky. There was still something off about her stance. It wasn't as causal as before, but maybe it would wear off like her somber mood had.

"Dad, look who came to visit." Jake bellowed as he led us into the tiny living room.

Billy sat in his chair watching TV and drinking a beer. He looked, not seeming interested with his guest, until he saw it was me. "Well hey Bella. Long time no see!" He wheeled himself towards me and shook my hand.

"Yeah, it's good to see you."

"What's going on? Everything all right with Charlie?"

"Oh yeah, I just came to visit and hang out with Jake." I told him looking over at Jacob whose face visibly brightened at my words. Casey who saw this too, laughed at his eagerness.

Noticing the other guest, Billy moved to her, "and who's this?"

He eyed me suspiciously, and a shot of anger ran through me.

"This is my friend, Casey." I told him, shooting him a look that only he would understand. She had nothing to do with the supernatural like me; she was just a girl from school.

Casey noticed the look, but did nothing to question what it was about.

"Nice to meet you," she told him shaking his hand as well.

"You too, where are you from Casey?" Billy asked, questioning her accent.

"Texas," she said simply. He nodded in understanding and wheeled himself back towards me.

"So can you stay for dinner?"

"Oh no, I have to feed Charlie." It wasn't a lie, I really did.

"I'll call him now," Billy told me eagerly, wheeling off to the kitchen.

Well I guess we're having dinner here.

"Can you stay for dinner, Casey?" No way was I staying here without her.

"Uh yeah, but isn't it kind of early to be making dinner plans?"

I glanced at the clock. 10:30, you've got to be kidding me.

I shrugged.

"Okay then, can we show him now?"

"Show me what?" Jake asked.

Casey had enjoyed telling Jake about the night before and Jake enjoyed hearing about it. She told him how she got the motorcycles, which they didn't work, and she had no knowledge of how to fix them. When she was finished, I explained how I thought he could help us.

"It's gonna take some money," he told us after looking the bikes over.

"I have money," I said referring to my college savings account.

"I have money, too." Casey told us, but I didn't know what she was referring to.

"I don't really have any." Jake said, looking down.

"Who said you would have to pay for anything? We pay, you fix." Casey said. "Oh and one of the bikes is yours."

"Really," Jacob asked, sounding like a kid being told Santa came twice a year now.

"Well yeah, there are three bikes."

"Awesome!"

Jake started whatever it was he was doing to the bikes while Casey and I watched from inside the Rabbit drinking warm soda. We didn't talk, but Casey's mood was completely back to "normal". She was staring off into space thinking about whatever and her bright eyes danced with a scene that only she saw. I assumed by the small smile on her lips it was a happy time.

I heard another car pull into the drive; a door slammed and boots crunched the gravel. It must be Charlie.

I made my way out of Jake's garage where Charlie stood with a smile. He was looking behind me though-probably at Jake and Casey. He looked at me after a few seconds and his smile grew.

"Hey Bells," his voice was lighter than last night, I realized.

"Is this your friend?"

Casey moved to stand next me. "Hi Chief Swan, I'm Casey Whitlock."

"Good to meet you kiddo, but call me Charlie."

Whoa.

Charlie shook her hand and then Jake's. Jake and my dad began talking and walking towards the house. I looked at Casey who smiled at me. I wondered if her face hurt from the constant smiling. Casey's smile was always endearing, unlike some people who never stopped smiling making unbearable so all you wanted to do was slap it off their face. Her smile always made me want to smile, even when I had no reason.

I shook my head and walked into the house with Casey on my heels.

What I expected to be a totally awkward dinner, turned out to be a very entertaining one. Casey, of course, was the center of entertainment. At the beginning, Billy and Charlie had been having their own conversation, but they ended up interested in the story Casey was telling Jake. When she was finished they all begged for another one. It wasn't the story that had me enjoying the dinner though; it was the comfort she put off.

She leaned in her chair casually as she comfortably talked to four strangers, telling them about her life in Texas. Everything she did screamed happy, but was she really?

"Are you going to ride home with Casey?" dad asked as we made our way outside after dinner.

I nodded, as much as I loved my dad; I hated riding in his cruiser. It was kind of embarrassing.

"They're pretty cool," Casey stated on the way home.

I absently nodded.

"It's cool Jake's helping us with the bikes."

I nodded again.

"Well aren't you Tonya-talk-a-lot."

"Tonya-talk-a-lot?" I asked incredulously.

"You do speak. You realize you've probably said a total of fifty words all day."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Well coming from a Chatty Cathy, yeah it is."

"Maybe I don't have anything to say," I told her.

"Everyone has something to say," she countered.

"I've got nothing," I said as she pulled up to my house. Charlie was already home, funny; I don't remember him passing us.

"I bet you do."

"Not really," I said with a hint of irritation. I was tired and wanted to go to bed, but Casey, not getting the hint, decided to push me again.

"You don't have something to say about Edward Cullen?"

I froze, only unlike last time she said his name, I couldn't shake the feeling off. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or being with so many people today, or even the way she said it, but it really hurt hearing his name. I felt myself closing up again; being swallowed by the abyss. It felt like darkness took over my mind while tears burned at the edges of my eyes, desperate to break free and fall.

Casey watched this reaction with the same look she had yesterday when I told my story. I couldn't look at her so I pried my way out of her truck. Only Casey didn't leave just yet. She followed me out and to the front of her truck where she pushed my buttons even more.

"What do you have to say about Edward, Bella?"

"Nothing," I gasped out, feeling like someone punched me in the lungs.

"I don't believe that."

"I don't want to talk about it." The tears threatened to spill over, but I pushed them back.

"Why do you act like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like it physically hurts you to hear his name. Can you even say it?"

"Just stop," I told her.

"No, you stop. Why can't you talk about it? Did something else happen besides him just dumping you?"

Yes.

"No," I said instead.

"Then why do you act like the world has ended. Seriously, all you do is mope."

"I don't mope." I argued, getting angry.

"You do, you have no reason to act the way you do."

"What do you know?" I yelled. She didn't understand.

"What do I know? I know what it's like to have your world disappear. I know what it's like to be heartbroken. You don't. All you've ever lost is a boy who obviously didn't deserve you, okay?"

"He loved me."

"Really, he loved you? Is that why he dumped you? If he really loved you then you'd still be together."

"He couldn't be with me."

"He could if he really wanted you."

"You know what, Casey, he meant everything to me. Just because you bounce back from everything doesn't mean everyone else does!"

"Bounce back? Do you know what it's like to lose everyone that you've ever loved and the one person you still have you leave because you're a coward? Do you get that? I don't deal with things by acting like a zombie. I faced it."

I couldn't speak, but Casey could.

"You know what you need to do, Bella? You've cried a river, now build a bridge and get over it. Call me when you grow a backbone and figure out he's not worth the thought you give him."

Then she walked to her truck, opened the door, and left.

I may have driven away the one person who could help.

Sooo, that's the third chapter. I hope everyone liked it.

Comments, questions, constructive critism? All is welcome. Please review!(:

Thanks again,
-Victoria(: