Chapter 4:

I tried to scan the area to see if I could sense anyone. But the wind changed direction and I lost the smell. I started to walk towards my car when I picked it up again. It was coming from the visitor's side of the field. Someone from the other school maybe? No, that didn't make sense. My kind would be here only to feed, drawn by the allure of thousands of human meals on a dark night.

If I smelled them, they could smell me, at least I figured. I wanted to dial Jake and Sam and see what they suggested I do but they wouldn't know.

Should I worry about the people here, or myself? I didn't want anyone to die, but I didn't want to fight either. I decided to find out what I was dealing with first, than call the pack if I need help. I could run to La Push if I need to, I doubted any Vampire could catch me, I was fast, almost as fast as him I imagined.

I was walking towards the other side when I heard Sarah. "Bella, are you lost, your car is that way."

"No, I thought I saw someone I recognized from Seattle over there. I wanted to check."

I had to get her away from me. If this vampire was like James, Laurent and Victroria they would want to hunt the person another vampire protected. Like had happened to me.

"See you Monday," I shouted hoping she would take the hint.

"Ok Bella, bye…"

I turned and walked a few steps further. The vampire was standing by the cars on the phone, speaking at vampire speed so soft that only I could hear her.

"I'm telling you Carlisle I smelled it, one of us here."

I recognized that voice and that name instantly. She may have been whispering but I felt she shouted at the top of her voice. Alice, Alice Cullen. The sister of Edward. Alice was my former best friend. But she left when he left and never returned to say hello, not even once. I didn't hate her as much as I hate him. I don't like her either. Part of me wanted to run over and speak to Alice, and part of me wanted to run. I choose the latter.

I turned quickly and walked fast to the far side of the school and I took off as soon as I knew no one could see me. I made it to my house in two minutes, jumped in the BMW and took off. I was going to head straight for La Push. I knew Alice couldn't see me there and that's what I wanted.

I pulled into Jakes driveway after midnight. The game was long over and Charlie would be home. Everyone else was sleeping or otherwise occupied. So I plopped my seat back and closed my eyes. I couldn't sleep, but I tried. Of course all I could think was 'there was Alice, and she was speaking to Carlisle.' Which meant he has been close.

If I stayed on La Push the Cullen's would never bother me, they have their precious treaty. There was a house for sale Jake said… maybe that's what I would do.

Or I would go far away, Europe or Asia. I always wanted to travel, why not do it?

I had always stayed around Forks because that was my home, but now it was time to cut the strings even more. I switched on the stereo so the music played softly. I counted in all the languages I knew. Then I did the alphabets. Anything to distract me.

The sun was starting to rise and I could hear movement inside Jacob's house. I rolled down the window to get some fresh air. A minute later Jacob was standing at my window.

"Bella please let me know when you are coming, you scared the heck out of me. I smelled vampire stink and was ready to attack."

"Oh stop you already told me I don't smell as bad as other vampires."

"That's true. How long you been here?"

"Since late last night. Why are you up so early?"

"Pre-natal appointment thing. We have to see the doctor, I have no idea, I just take orders."

"Good," I said smiling. "You're learning. Maybe I will go bother Sam and Emily."

"I am sure they are up, that kid, wow he's a handful. How long you staying?"

"I dunno? Call me when you are done."

"Sure, sure. Do I have to do anything at these appointments?" he asked.

"Jake how would I know, I can't have kids, I haven't seen a doctor in twenty years."

"Yeah, must be nice. No doctors, I'm jealous. Alright see you later I hope."

He bounded off back in the house. He had barely aged in twenty years; he looked to be around 27, not in his mid thirties.

I drove over to Sam and Emily's. Sam and Sam Jr. were off already; Emily was home cooking breakfast for when they returned.

"Hi Emily," I said knocking on the open door.

"Bella!" she yelled, "I didn't know you were visiting."

"Last second decision on my part. Want some help?"

"No, thank you. When was the last time you cooked anything?" she asked laughing.

"Ummmm, ten years ago I think. Wow time flies."

"It sure does, wait until you see Sam Jr., he's a horse."

"Dad's a wolf, son's a horse, what kind of family is this?" I joked.

"Very funny coming from a vampire." She replied.

"Speaking of, I need some advice." I hesitated.

"Spill it Bella, don't make me threaten you with food."

"So I was at a football game last night…"

"Stop right there…. You were at a football game, this must be serious."

"Yeah well, you know, new high school, big game. What's an eighteen year old vampire to do?" I shrugged. She just shook her head. "At the end of the game I smelled another vampire, and I went looking for them, and it was it was one of them, Alice."

"I thought you like Alice," she said flipping a pancake.

"I do, I did. I.. don't know. She was on the phone calling Carlisle, telling him she smelled a vampire as well. I didn't wait around, I took off and here I am."

"Why?"

"Why did I take off? Cause if she and Carlisle were there he was near and…"

"Bella, what do you have to lose? You are still in love with him."

"I am not in love with him. I just haven't found anyone I love as much as I loved him. There's a difference. And it's really not easy for me to meet men, as I am a vampire which you so kindly pointed out."

"So you if you don't love him anymore than why not see him and his family, it would be good for you to have some vampire friends I imagine."

'But what if I see him and I still am in love with him?"

"Then you are no worse off than you are now. You can choose to run from your feelings, like you have been. Or you can accept them and deal with them and grow from them."

"Won't it open a old wounds?"

"Bella, I am saying this cause I love you. How you can you re-open wounds that never healed in the first place. You have never dealt with it. Not honestly. You will live a very long time, far longer than I will. You need to decide when you want to be honest with yourself, now or in a hundred years, or maybe two hundred. Until then, you will never find true happiness."

"I was happy with him, that was the last time I was happy."

"Sometimes we build someone up so much in our mind that no one can compete. But the reality is that person isn't what we imagine. You won't know until you see him."

"Maybe you're right. I mean I know you are right, but I don't know if I am ready."

"Whenever you are, just remember, you are an amazing person, he would be lucky to have you." Emily said as she smiled.

I stayed at La Push for the day, I had lunch with Jake and his wife. She ate enough for her and I, which was good since I didn't eat. Jake's advice was what I expected, he never liked Edward and so he told me to stay away. His wife echoed Emily's opinion.

I hung around until it got dark and drove up to Seattle. I did the cleaning. I didn't have to do it Friday night; all the clients cared was that it was done over the weekend so that it was finished by Monday when work started again.

I walked around Seattle for a while when I was done. I liked big cities, so much energy. I got back to my car around 4:30 and decided to go back to Jefferson County. I drove past the school to see if my truck had been towed. It hadn't. I parked the BMW and ran back to the high school. Got in the truck and brought it home.

Sunday morning and nothing to do. I went in my room and curled up in a ball and stayed there for most of the day. Lost in thoughts of my past and my pain.

At midnight I decided to shower. Anything to end the tedium. I took a long hot one, so long that the hot water ran out. I dressed in some comfy pj's and decided to read some books. I read them at human speed, so they would last longer.

But sunrise I had finished four books and was ready to tackle my homework. That was done in ten minutes so I fired up my computer. I searched online for the school we lost to in football. I went to the school site and saw that they had a list of students. I searched the names wondering if I would find them, and I did.

Edward Massen

Alice Brandon

Jasper Brandon

Rosalie McCarty

Emmett McCarty

I knew they used different names and these made sense to me. It was the Cullens, using Edwards real last name as well as Alice's and Emmett's. That also meant they would be hunting where I was, so I needed to be careful.

A quick search of the hospitals in the area and I found a Carlisle who was a recent addition to the staff. Carlisle Massen, Surgeon.

At least I knew what I was dealing with, and if I wanted to I could find them. I just hadn't decided if I wanted to.

I got to school with plenty of time to spare. Sat in my usual back corner in homeroom and drew pictures in my notebook.

"Hi," I heard, I looked up slowly. "My name is Ken, and yours is Bella correct?" I nodded. "I just wanted to introduce myself. I should have last week, but I am kinda shy, takes me awhile to work up the nerve to say hi to a pretty girl."

I guess this was his attempt at flirting, it was not so good, but then again, look who he had to compete with. A greek god. "Hi Ken, nice to meet you as well." I said trying to be polite. He was cute and wasn't lying when he said he was shy. I had noticed he was shy the first day of school, not that I was interested in him but you pick up on things like that sometimes.

"Cool.I hope you like Jefferson, it's dull here I know, but it grows on you, see ya later."

He walked away. Cute kid I decided. I knew he wanted to ask me out, but when he got close my alieness scared him away. And I did nothing to change that. He would say he was intimidated, I knew the truth. It was better for him anyway.

In study hall Sarah asked me if it was my friend at the game.

"Nope, my bad. How was McDonald's?"

"Usual nightmare, someone gets in a fight, soda spills everywhere, I really don't know why I go."

"Cause you're in high school and that's what you do in high school." I replied.

"I guess. Too bad your parents wouldn't let you go, some girl from the other school asked about you, she saw us talking. I told her your name was Bella Black. She thought you were her cousin from Forks, never heard of Forks before."

I tried to stay calm. "What did she look like?"

"Short, and beautiful. Not as pretty as you but close." I looked away. "Same complexion though. You could have been related, her name was Alice."

"Maybe, though I doubt it. Neither of my parents have siblings." Neither of my parents existed for that matter, well Charlie and Renee did but they thought I was dead. But I didn't add that bit. I realized that Alice knew who I was, or at least had a good guess. That complicated things.

"Sarah went on to tell me about the boy she a crush on, how he sat the table across from her at McDonald's and she was in heaven. She didn't speak to him, never had. But she felt like they had been together since they were next to each other, if you don't count the aisle.

I never switched out of biology; I just didn't feel the need. I barely paid attention anyway so why bother. I made it through school painlessly and walked to my car ready to continue my charade. Home, homework, drive, clean, drive, waste time, school.

I left for Seattle right after school. I needed to make a few stops along the way, shopping for school supplies in one town, clothes in another, cleaning supplies in a third. I didn't like shopping, but it was necessity, so I tried to make a game out of it. I would spread money to as many places as I could.

I often wondered what the companies who hired me to clean their offices would think if they knew that instead of a crew of people working for hours each night, there was one tiny vampire cleaning for a few minutes. I bet I did a better job than a whole crew. And Swan Cleaners had an amazing reputation. I turned down my work than I accepted. I only worked in building with none or one security camera. And I only worked in buildings that weren't all glass. It's hard to hide what you are doing when there are lots of windows.

Before I headed back to Jefferson that night I wanted to drive and clear my head. I took the most circuitous route back, pulling into my garage an hour before school. As soon as I stepped out of the car I could smell it. Vampires, more than one had been here. I recognized Alice's scent from the other night.

Now what do I do? I walked in the door from the garage to my kitchen. The smell was in the house as well, which means that had come in. Stupid vampires with no manners.

I ran at vampire speed into the bedroom, that's where I kept all my fake ID's and aliases and photos. I had a drawer built into the bottom of my bed. Unless you climbed under the bed you would never know, and if you did, it would be hard to open, unless you had vampire strength. I also had it set up so if anyone did go under if would trigger a switch in my lamp. Nothing anyone would notice, but I could tell if someone had been there. I checked the lamp and the switch hadn't moved. So that means they only know who I am based on what's around the house, and that wouldn't tell them much. There were no photos, nothing with anything but a name and while Bella Black was not a complete giveaway, it was close, to them at least.

I decided then and there to make my stand. They would be back, I knew they would. I took out a piece of paper from my notebook and wrote:

To Whomever Was In My House Last Night:

I don't know who you are but please leave me alone. I am living away from my coven for a bit and do not wish to waste all the time and effort I have put in to my cover.

I hope you will understand and give me the privacy I would give you.

Thank You.

It wasn't poetry, but it was what I wanted to say. After I was changed my handwriting looked totally different. They wouldn't' recognize it as mine. A quick shower and I was off to school. Another uneventful day which is how I liked it. A quick car switch and I was on my way to Seattle.

I called Jacob on the way.

"Hello Bella" he said when he saw the called ID.

"Hey, how's tricks?"

"Trixs. I prefer Apple Jacks, but hey…"

"Wow that joke sucked…"

"They can't all be winners, Bells," he chuckled.

"They know about me." I said mysteriously.

"Who the leeches?"

"Yeah, they visited my house while I was out."

"Do you want me to get the pack back in action, they would love it."

"I dunno, but consider yourself on call, how's that?"

"Sounds good to me. We have been itching for some excitement around here."

"You have a baby on the way, isn't that exciting enough?"

"Maybe when it gets here, for now I just get food for the Mrs."

"Send her my love. I will call tomorrow."

"Bye" he said and hung up.

Swan Cleaners started earlier than usual. Not good since there were some people working late. I didn't really mind, but I don't like people to see me. You never know when that can come back to be a problem.

I was done by one in the morning. I thought about going to see some bands playing but the bands playing at 1:00 am always sucked. I decided to take another crazy route home.

I was home around five. The vampires had returned, that smell was obvious. I walked in my house to see they had written on my note. It was Carlisle's writing.

Hi,

We come in peace. We just want to meet you. It's not often we run across one of our kind. Have we met before?

If you want to call my number is listed.

Carlise Massen

Clearly, they didn't get the hint. Whatever doubts I have had before are gone. I knew this was the Cullen's. I also knew Alice would never stop coming by if she thought it was me. She must have even seen me in her visions by now. Which means it's time for me to make a decision. I hate making decision, once I do I carry them out precisely, but I hate making them.

I flipped a coin. Heads I leave, tails I call.

Tails.

Best 3 out of 5, I decided.

Heads

Tails

Heads

Heads

Good I leave. I like that. I will go to school and head to Seattle and never come back. Movers will pack everything up like every other time and the mysterious Black family will be gone. I need to get new IDs, and stop using the name Bella.

I showered got dressed and went to school, more to see Sarah one last time than anything else. This was the hardest part, I would start to get close to someone, and then leave. It was heartbreaking every time.

During study hall I told Sarah I was leaving, my dad's job was moving him again. She was bummed out, I could tell. I promised to email and call, but I knew I wouldn't. At lunch she was teary eyed. She asked if I needed help packing. I said no, the company pays for all that, I just have to move myself.

She was at my locker at the end of the day, a hug goodbye. She was a sweet girl, I would miss her. I really would. We hadn't known each other long but I knew she was someone I could have loved.

I walked to my truck slowly after school. The plan was to head home, grab the valuables from under the bed and throw those in the back of the BMW. I would grab enough changes of clothes to last a week, probably in La Push. I would have the movers there in a few days, once I decided where to move and bought a new house. Although, maybe I wouldn't do that this time. The Cullen's would be smart enough to find out where everything was forwarded and if they thought it was me, I would have to move again. No, that makes more sense, take only what you want to keep Bella, sell the rest to charity and start anew.

I was lost in my thoughts when I got to my truck, so much so that I didn't notice the car parked next to it.

My key was sliding in to the lock as I heard the window of the car behind me open. The smell hit me before the words.

"Still driving beat up old trucks, some things never change do they Bella?"

"Go away Alice."

"So it is you," she squealed with delight. She was bouncing up and down in her seat clapping wildly.

I ignored her and got in my truck. Stupid Bella, why did you have to say goodbye to Sarah you could have been in La Push hours ago. As the truck roared to life I saw Alice climb in the passenger side.

"What are you doing? I said go away."

"Bella, it's me Alice..." She said as if I didn't know.

"I am quite aware of who you are. That's why I asked you to go away. Now please, lets not make this difficult, I am leaving in a few hours and you don't have to see me again."

"But I want to see you, I am so happy to see you. At first I couldn't believe it was you, it was too crazy to believe. But then as I poked around and I started to get more hopefully. I thought you were dead but I am thrilled you're not. "

"Whatever Alice, I don't know what games you are playing but I want nothing to do with them."

"Bella, I know human memories fade after, but do you really not remember how close we were?"

"I remember everything quite clearly. Far too well..." I started to remember how much I loved Alice, and so I stopped myself from thinking about it. "Well this has been fun reminiscing but I'm a busy gal and I have things to do."

"May I ask you one thing?" Alice asked clearly upset.

"That depends." I learned my lesson years ago.

"Who did this to you?"

"Interesting question. Do you mean who ended my life? That would be your brother; the day he left me in the woods, the day he told me he didn't love me anymore. I died that day, I was found in a ball lying on the ground basically comatose. If you mean to ask who turned me into a vampire that would be Victoria. She decided I would suffer more as a vampire than dead, and so would your brother. I won't tell you the rest. There's your answer. Now please get out of my truck."

"Bella I'm so sorry. I had no idea. I never knew what Edward told you..."

She said his name and I flinched. "It doesn't matter what he said. You all went along with it. In twenty years none of you tried to contact me..."

"We thought you were dead." She stammered.

"Oh please, do you expect me to believe that with your visions you couldn't see me??"

Her head rolled back into the chair. "At first he told me not to look. None of us were to contact you he said. But every once in awhile I tried, I don't know why, I never got anything. Then we heard you died. Edward wanted to kill himself, he went to Italy to the Volturi..."

"The what?" I asked.

"The Volturi, they are the rulers of our kind. Edward asked them to kill him but they refused."

"Well that's a touching story, but you have said his name twice, and that's more than I have heard it in many years which is the way I like it. Alice please don't make this harder than it is for me. I will leave and go somewhere you will never hear from me again."

"This isn't the Bella I remember." Alice said sadly.

"That was twenty years ago, more than half my life."

"What am I supposed to tell my family?"

"That's not my problem now is it. You all made a choice not to have me in your lives."

"Edward made that choice, he thought he was protecting you."

"Yeah that worked." I snorted. "Did I mention that Victoria wasn't the first vampire that came after me? That would be Laurent. Only the wolves saved me that day. The wolves took care of me when Victoria bit me, they gave me a home, made sure I didn't hurt anyone. Where was he then?'

"No wonder you're bitter," mumbled Alice.

"Bitter, what would you be? Both my parents think I'm dead, I never got to say goodbye, not the way I wanted. I can't live on the reservation because I don't age and Charlie still goes down there to fish. I can't live amongst humans for too long or they would notice something was wrong. So I'm bitter, can you blame me?"

"Bella..."

"No Alice this has gone on long enough. You know my story now leave me alone."

"I can't do that Bella."

"Oh yes you can, you did it before now do it again. If you won't get out of my car I will just run. You won't catch me."

I had barely looked at her the whole time. I looked straight ahead, never looking in her eyes. "I'll get out, I'm sorry Bella. We all are." She climbed down from the truck. I didn't say anything, Alice waved as I pulled out and I didn't return the gesture.

My plans had to change slightly; I would grab my safe box and just a few outfits. And be out the door in less than two minutes. I would leave everything else here.

I pulled in to the garage and stepped out of my truck and wrinkled my nose. The smell of another vampire. I should have known.

I opened the door the kitchen door. "Hello, lets get this over with," I said at vampire speed.

"Hello Bella, I can't believe you're alive."

"Rosalie, I didn't expect you." She was sitting in the kitchen looking more beautiful than I remembered. "I'm leaving in a minute."

"So Alice told me." She said holding up a cell phone.

"Well good, then I don't need to explain anything. It was nice to see you again."

"You think you are going to get rid of me that easily."

"What could you want? You don't even like me."

"That's not true… Wait, I should be be honest, I guess. You're right. But not cause of who you are because of what you represented..."

"That's great Rosalie, and maybe twenty years I would have cared. But now I want to leave and so I will see you later."

"Wow, you have changed. That's too bad."

"People change, it happens."

"He knows you're here," she said as I started to walk away.

I paused for a moment then recomposed myself quickly. "And so he sent his sisters to say hi, how quaint. What do I have to do to get you to leave."

"You sound like me." She smiled.

"So what is this, another fun Cullen game. Don't tell Bella what's happening. Well sorry I am not playing." I grabbed my laptop of the counter. I walked into my room and dropped under my bed. I grabbed my safe from the bed, reached in the closet and grabbed a few outfits. I walked back to the kitchen. "Feel free to stay as long as you like."

"And what do I tell Edward?"

"Why should I care? It's been twenty years, he doesn't have the guts to face me. So he sends his sisters. It simple, he said you wouldn't be a part of my life, so maybe he can follow through with that one promise."

I walked out the door and threw my stuff in the trunk. I opened the passenger side door. "Emmet, get out."

"Hey Bells!" he said when he saw me and reached to hug me. I backed away so he couldn't touch me.

"Goodbye Emmet."

"Where ya going?" he asked and didn't move from his car.

"None of your business."

"Oh come on, you can't blame me, you know I had nothing to do with it. It's not like they let me make choices."

"That's probably true, Emmet, but it doesn't change much. It was nice seeing you."

"Really, no love for your big brother. I'm hurt." He said getting out of the car.

"Sorry to hear that.'

"Will you say hi to Esme and Carlise before you go?"

"No I don't think so."

"C'mon Bells, Rose can check out your car and make sure it's running smoothly for where ever you are headed."

"Thanks but no thanks."

"So that's it?"

"Yeah, I'm running late." I lied.

"What should I tell Esme, when will she see you? She's bouncing of the walls waiting to see you."

I paused. Part of me ached to see them. But a much stronger part of me wanted to get to La Push and that side of me was winning.

"Speak to Alice, she can tell you every thing."

"I heard about your conversation with Alice"

"Then you know I gotta go." I hit the button on the garage door and it started to go up. At vampire speed I ran to my car. I opened the door and jumped in. I started my car and backed up. I was surprised I made it out the driveway without too much trouble but I was relieved.

Emmet was waving as I straightened out on the street. I floored it.