Hello readers! First off, I want to thank everyone that has taken the time to read the story and especially those that took the extra time to leave feedback. I'm overwhelmed to say the least. Second, I want to apologize for taking so long to figure out how the other writers wrote notes at the beginning of each chapter. I thought there was a text box or something that I was missing. How silly do I feel? Third, I'm sorry that I took so long to update. Real life has been getting in the way this week, leaving me emotionally exhausted and not up for writing. I plan to get chapter five up before the weekend is out.

To answer a couple questions: Yes, Bella will open the envelopes. I promise. Not this chapter, but I'm getting there. ;) And I do want to make her stronger here than she was in the books. I don't want her to leap from being dependent on Edward to being dependent on Jasper. She needs to learn to lean on herself a little bit. I hope I can do that notion justice.

Thanks again, fellow fans!

~~ Now, onto the chapter! :

I was standing in a meadow. No, I was standing in our meadow. I could hear Edward's voice, but no matter where I turned I couldn't find him.

"I won't come back," he kept repeating. "It will be as if I'd never existed."

The flowers that once bloomed around us withered in front of me. The sunlight faded away into darkness. I panicked for a moment, but then I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. They weren't Edward's, because I could still hear his words in the distance somewhere. I let myself fall back into them, and they cradled me. It reminded me of fighting off cold winter winds with piles of handmade quilts. Even if Edward wanted to leave, and even if the future was dark, I felt safe.

"Bella?"

I jumped at the sound of my name and left my dream far behind. I looked around and recognized a street sign. We were back in Forks.

"You're almost home," Jasper whispered.

"How are you doing?" If I weren't still groggy I think I would have laughed at how nonchalantly I just asked him how much he wanted to kill me.

"Relatively well," he replied. "Are you warm enough?"

I nodded and slipped out of his coat. We were merely a block from Charlie's house. My headlights bounced off of the lights on the top of his car. At least he was home.

"Your father is awake and worried. He isn't angry anymore," Jasper said quietly. "I'll duck out as soon as we pull up. I don't want to complicate your evening."

"When will I see you again?" I asked. I wasn't sure if I wanted to see him again, but I was sure that I didn't want that decision made for me.

"I'll leave my phone number in your truck," he said. "If you need anything, or just want to talk, I'm always up."

I smiled a little as I handed his coat to him. The truck glided to a stop and the engine fell silent. I looked over to Jasper, and his amber eyes met mine. It was almost hypnotic, the way he could hold my gaze. In the blink of an eye, he was gone with an open door in his place. I pulled the keys out of the ignition and slid out of the truck myself.

Charlie opened the door before I even reached the porch, alerted by my roaring engine. Behind him, I heard the electronic hum of the television apparently muted. He opened the door wide and backed away to give me a wide entry. I entered in silence and he closed the door behind me and latched the deadbolt.

"Where have you been? I've had the patrolling officers looking for you," he said with a strained calm.

"I needed to get away from Forks, so I drove to Port Angeles," I said. It was technically true, even if I didn't stop there. "I'm sorry."

"You're eighteen, Bella. I guess I can't stop you," he said sourly.

"No. I mean, I'm sorry for what I said. And I'm sorry I worried you. I just...I needed some space to think."

He sighed and gestured to the sofa. I walked over and sat down as he flipped off the television and fell into his recliner.

"I'm sorry too, Bells," he said. "I just feel like I'm failing you. I don't know how to...fix this. I don't have the answers."

"I don't either," I said honestly. "But I want to stay here. I want to live with you."

"Bella..." he started, searching for the words, "I don't think he's coming back."

"I know he's not," I snapped. I paused to take a breath, and then continued, "I hate the way that everyone here looks at me since he left, but at least I can come home and escape from it. If I went back to live with Mom, she would never want to talk about anything else...and I don't want to talk about Edward anymore."

"You might be right about that," he said as he leaned back. "But if you want to stay here, there are going to be some changes. First rule is that we are going to split the chores. You aren't my maid. I survived for years alone here and I know how to wash a bowl or run a vacuum. We'll make a chart or something. Does that sound fair?"

I just nodded. He had obviously put a lot of though into this and I didn't want to interrupt him.

"Second, you may be an adult but you are also my daughter. If you plan to go out to Port Angeles, I would appreciate a note. I'll do the same. Fair?"

I nodded again. The rules seemed to be as much for him as they were for me.

"Third, you have to remember that I've never been a teenage girl. You were right. I don't know how you are supposed to act or feel. If I'm not doing right by you, I need you to speak up. Fair?"

"Yeah Dad, I will," I said. "Thanks."

"It's late Bella. Go on up and get some sleep. I'm...uh...I'm glad you're safe," he said. He gave me a small smile, but he was clearly uncomfortable. This was as close to a declaration of love as my father got, and I appreciated it. As I ascended the staircase that night, my choice to stay in Forks felt right.

What didn't feel right was my bed. I was exhausted beyond words on the way home, but now that I was finally in my own bed and I couldn't be more awake. I heard Charlie settle into his own room and soon the familiar chorus of soft snoring filled the air.

I glanced over to the rocking chair by my window where Jasper's scarf lay draped over the arm. Charlie was rather unobservant for a cop, and hadn't asked about it. I crept out of bed and gingerly picked it up. The yarn was soft against my fingers, so soft that I brought it up to my face. It caressed my cheek and I inhaled deeply. The gentle scent was pleasantly woodsy and sweet, like cedar and magnolias. Was this what Jasper smelled like?

I wondered if his number was in my truck, like he had promised. Maybe he had just said that to get me out of his hair. I suddenly felt like I couldn't be sure of anything anymore. Had I really spent the evening with him? Even with his scarf in my hands, I somehow doubted myself.

I shoved my slippers on, picked up my keys and slipped out into the hallway. I lightly made my way downstairs and to the back door, since I knew that door was far quieter to open than the front. Once outside in the brisk air, I moved faster toward my truck.

I slowly pried the door open and peered inside. I didn't see any obvious paper out of place on the seat. I climbed in and checked my glove box. No note. I was right. He had spoken with me only to be polite and drove me home only because it was the decent thing to do.

Without a real reason, I pulled down the visor to check the mirror. Maybe I wanted to solidify this moment, burn the memory of this new rejection into my soul. Maybe it was just habit triggered by sitting in the driver's seat. Whatever the reason, as I did a white paper napkin fell into my lap. The jade-colored dragon logo from the Chinese restaurant was embossed on the front. Just to the right were seven numbers elegantly handwritten and signed with a J. He kept his promise. Jasper left his number in my truck, just like he told me he would.

I made it back into my room without disturbing Charlie. The number was copied to the back of a business card I still had in my wallet from a bookstore in Phoenix. I picked a thick and heavy book from the shelf next to my bed and pressed the napkin between the pages.

As I climbed into bed, I briefly entertained the idea of calling Jasper, but I quickly dismissed it. Just knowing that I could was satisfying enough.