Here's the continuation, Enjoy.

Chapter Four: Trouble

Bella POV

In the last year and a half a lot has happened. I mean…things were going pretty well. After I signed the deal back in December of 2012 I started school in Franklin and would work weekends in Nashville, in the studio and writing rooms, coming up with material. Not that I was short of it…I managed to pop out quite a few songs. Some of them are album material and some of them aren't…but that's just how it goes. They can't all be gems, you know?

I met some people in school but I tended to stick to myself. I missed my friends and family back home so much that it was hard to be overly social, knowing it just wasn't the same. I remember the first time my family flew out here….it was in March of 2013, during March break.

"So are you enjoying it here, sweetie?" My dad asked. I nodded, handing him a coffee. We were sitting in my mom and Phil's living room socializing. I was just thankful I had two divorced parents that could handle being in the same room together. I went and sat on the floor in front of Isaac and he played with my hair. The tears when they arrived were exhausting…I was just happy to see them all.

"I really am dad…I miss Forks. But I've been keeping busy with work and school. I'm actually picking up a few night courses to lighten my work load for next year because Mike expects me to be fairly busy at the label." He nodded with a smile.

"So you been travelling?" He asked and I shook my head.

"No not really…I mean…I go into Nashville quite often and play at the pubs or bars. I had a gig at the Blue Bird last weekend, which was unreal. But I've been staying local so far. Just letting people get to know my face. I'll be travelling a little this summer though for radio press." He nodded.

"So you're loving it then." Jax stated and I nodded, a huge grin on my face. Tuck smiled to me and I smiled back. It all felt right…having them here. I felt like I wasn't torn in so many directions. I felt like…I could be at peace for a moment.

Of course I still missed my friends like crazy, but I Skype with them weekly.

"You should hear the work she's coming home with. I'd never speak poorly of your talents, Bella but…even in the last few months you've…I mean you've improved a great deal. It's magical to watch really." My mom told them and I blushed.

"I've been learning a lot. The guys at the label are amazing…it's nice to feel like I've grown." I told them and my dad smiled.

"I'm so happy for you, Bells." He told me and I grinned.

"Thanks, dad."

In that moment I was so happy. I'd finally started to heal my wounds…I had felt…a bit lighter. Well…until Paul mailed me some of my things back in April of 2013. I had ignored an email from him. He had reached out and just told me he missed me…that he was sorry. I never replied to him and two weeks later I picked up a box at the post office…small things. A few picture frames of us…a plaid button up shirt I'd left there…my baseball glove and a pair of skates...I shook my head at the thought.

Even if I had have replied, I didn't know what I would have said. What could I say? Oh…you miss me? You should have called. It was too late…I didn't have it in me to be that person that rolls over and takes him back…mailing me my things had devastated me…and only made me even angrier. After that…I didn't really care about…playing it safe. I started dating again that month, small flings. Nothing very serious…even though I slept with one of them…but I knew I was only trying to fill a void. I was only trying to keep myself from doing the one thing I'd never forgive myself for.

Telling him I missed him too.

That's why in August of 2013 I started dating someone more long term. Though…I'm still not entirely sure it counts as one to put on the ol' resume.

"Soooo tell me all about him!" Leah begged over Skype and I laughed. I shrugged and thought about what I could possibly tell her.

"Well he's really smart and interesting…keeps me on my toes. He's pretty protective of me." She nodded.

"And gorgeous." She said and I laughed. She had seen a picture of us on Facebook. I didn't speak about him much with my friends or family…I didn't really know what to tell them. 'Oh yea…I've gone from heartache to dating a vampire.' Like that would go over well. I mean…it's not like I had gone looking for someone like Edward…he had just kind of fallen into my lap.

Last month in July I had been walking back to my apartment in Nashville around 1am from a long writing session. I had gotten the place in June because my hours were crazy at the label once school was over. With a half-hour drive one way…sometimes at two in the morning and back again at 7am…it was easier to be five minutes away. My mom and Phil had helped me get the place and as soon as I start making more money I can pay them back.

I had never been scared of the area…no one had ever bothered me before. Of course…it wasn't really a 'no one' that had bothered me. This 'one' had sharp pointed teeth, red eyes, and was freakishly strong. He had pulled me into a back ally by a dumpster and did some sick things. He had licked the tears from my face and told me he was going to perch my dead body on a street light…like a scarecrow. The whole incident was burned into my brain. He had bit me…just to hear me scream. It was like torture…it burned so bad. But before he could do much else this…guy had come out of nowhere and…and…ripped his head off. He sucked the wound the vampire had given me until the burning stopped and taken me to the hospital. I had needed some blood pumped into me but…thanks to him I was alright.

It had taken a while to accept what he was…vampire. You go your whole life thinking that's only a silly story…that it could never be real. And now…I'm dating one.

Because of that it was hard to tell my family and friends much about him or how we met. I told them he had offered to walk me home after witnessing a mugging and after that we just became close. But…I never told them about the hospital visit or the fact that it was me who had been in trouble. I'd never know how to explain it and keep the story straight…so I lied.

I had lied a lot during my relationship with Edward. He was a nice enough guy…depending on your definition of 'nice'. We fought a lot…and it was impossible for me to deny it…I had wanted him to fill the void in my heart. I had been so angry and so weak…that I fell for the secure feeling he gave me of just having someone.

Don't get me wrong…I mean I did love him. He was…he was a huge part of my life while we were together. But now I have the benefit of perspective…I had deluded myself into thinking it was perfect…when in reality I was only half living. I had devoted myself to something dead…someone who wasn't as faithful to me as he claimed...someone with their own agenda.

I had known how dumb it was, I mean I'm not an idiot. I knew it was one sided…and yet I gave into it because I was desperate to just have someone to fill that gap…and I convinced myself it was special. We broke up in December 2013 and were on and off for a few months until I'd finally had enough in March of 2014. My family seemed pretty relieved when I stopped taking his calls. They didn't know the ins and outs of the relationship but it wasn't hard to see that I wasn't happy anymore…and that I wasn't the only one he was playing. It was hard…but not as hard as the first time around. I may have been in an intimate relationship with Edward…but he wasn't in one with me.

I've heard that he asked around the label when I stopped taking his calls and I forced myself to just let him wonder. Once I was away from him…I realized I wasn't happy. I wasn't ok with the constant fighting and cheating…and I wasn't ok with letting him see how much he had hurt me. So…I just cut all contact with him. I never thought I'd break up with a vampire…not because he was a vampire…but because he wasn't good to me.

I looked down to my crescent shaped scar on my right wrist and sighed. The worst part about the breakup…was knowing about their world. Knowing that I was apart of it…and now I'm not. It's like trying to lie to myself everyday…trying to ignore it.

It was like…pretending those seven months never happened…because I can't possibly tell anyone about it. I couldn't be honest…all I could do was release my pain through song…and I did.

I'd written a lot about that relationship…different aspects of it and different emotions I had felt. It made it a bit easier because…I didn't necessarily need to discuss it. People that wanted to know about my life could just listen to the album…they'd have a humanistic idea of how I felt and what I went through.

Since my breakup with Edward I have been working very hard…way too hard. I know it's not the first time I've been heartbroken…and it's definitely not the worst…but it still left a void. A void I needed to fill quickly. I had been spending every spare moment immersed in my work and every waking weekend moment in Nashville at the label. Mike was pretty happy with the last few songs I turned out, and so was one of my co-writers, Joe.

"I know it's probably a jerk thing to say…but you're at your best when you're hurting." Joe told me, sitting down at the table I was sitting at. I was in the break room of the label with my songbook in front of me. It was a Friday night and I didn't need to be at work until tomorrow morning but…I didn't want to sit at my apartment alone. I wanted to be busy…when I was alone I thought…and when I thought I thought of Edward and how…how I wasn't good enough for him. Which always led to Paul. Always Paul. It has been over a year since I left Forks…I haven't spoken to him since before he started avoiding me.

"Well…that's the life of an artist…right? We always write from the heart." He nodded and looked at my song book. I hadn't written anything down yet.

"Stuck?" He asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know…I don't know what's going on in here." I told him, pointing to my head. He chuckled and looked to me.

"Well then, what's going on in there?" He asked, pointing to my heart and I sighed.

"Honestly? I'm pissed off." I told him and he chuckled again, nodding.

"That's always a powerful tool." He told me and I smirked.

"Yea but what am I supposed to say? I knew that it was bad news from the start? That I knew he was messing around and…and that part of me knew he never felt what I felt?" I asked and he shrugged.

"Why not?" He asked and I stopped to look at him, confused.

"What do you mean?" I asked and he shrugged again, looking at me seriously.

"Why can't you say that? Bella, you're a smart girl. And even the smartest people screw up…make mistakes…hell I've got a whole list of mistakes and I'm a genius." He told me and I laughed, earning a smile from Joe.

"Bella…you can't limit yourself to what's nice to say…or what's poetic. Sometimes you have to sit there and say…'I fucked up'. And guess what? People will relate." I looked to him curiously.

"You think so?" I asked and he nodded immediately.

"You're damn right. If I had someone write a song and say, 'Hey, guess what. I made a huge mistake. I knew I shouldn't have done it, and I'm to blame.' I think I could relate to that person so much more than someone that never took responsibility. Sometimes we are to blame for our hearts being broken…and that's a hard thing to admit. But if you can…it could be one of the best ideas you've ever had." He told me and I nodded, thoughtfully.

"Thanks, Joe." I told him and he nodded, patting my shoulder.

"I have to go…but I'll see you bright and early?" He asked and I nodded.

"Night, Joe."

"Goodnight, Bella." He told me and left the room. I sighed, looking to my book and shook my head. I looked deep…deep down. And I asked myself just what I was thinking when I got involved with Edward…and the answer kind of scared me. A small part of me knew he couldn't have cared about me…and…and I liked that. I liked knowing…that it was bound to fail. Because at least it wasn't a surprise when it went ass up. I was prepared…to get my heart broken. And yet I still loved the notion of forever…and knowing he was someone that could actually give me that. And that's my fault.

I looked down to my book and felt like I'd been hit with lightening. I started writing and never once stopped. I wrote what I felt…like a diary. I could always edit later…right now I needed to vent and get it out…I needed to let myself be pissed off and disappointed in myself. I didn't stop until 2am before I shut the light off and went home. I fell asleep feeling so much lighter…Joe would have a nice surprise tomorrow morning.

"Good morning Bella." Joe said and I smiled to him, handing him a coffee I had picked up.

"Morning, Joe." He gratefully took the coffee and watched me sit down at the table in one of the writing rooms. We had it booked from 7am-1pm to hash out some ideas.

"So what time were you here 'til last night?" He asked and I shrugged.

"Around two I think." I told him and he chuckled.

"Still stuck?" He asked and I grinned, pulling out my songbook and guitar. I shook my head and showed him my scribbles.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" He asked, pulling the book in front of him. "'I Knew You Were Trouble'. I like it." He told me and I grinned. We went over it and brainstormed a few changes before we got started on the music.

"I was thinking something upbeat. Like…a song you'd rock out to in your car." He gave me a look.

"Really? It's not a deeper song to you?" I shook my head.

"No…in my head it's like…it's something like this." I told him and played a melody on my guitar. He looked thoughtful before shaking his finger.

"I think you've got something there, Bella." He told me and I grinned. We wrote some music to go with it and at about five to one I looked to the song in front of me.

"I feel…so much lighter." I told him and he nodded.

"Those are some deep lyrics, Bella. I'd imagine it feels good to get that out." I nodded.

"It really does…I just…thank you. I never could have come up with it had it not been for our talk last night." I told him and he smiled.

"That's what I'm here for, Doll."

That song truly had turned out amazing. Joe had told my producer, Bob, that he wanted me in the studio right away to do a demo. He said he wanted that raw aggression to be in my voice and I agreed…it sounded amazing. We had added other instruments and had a final recording of it and I just…I had been so happy. Everything had been coming together and I was starting to feel better. I felt stronger. I felt…I felt more in control than I had in a long time. Don't get me wrong…I wrote a sad song about the breakup too…but…it was still strong. I don't think it would have been possible without "I Knew You Were Trouble". I don't think a lot of the things I've felt since then would be possible. It was true… admitting defeat and taking responsibility…it made me a stronger, happier person. And for that I was grateful.

Of course, that was in April, a month after we split for good. Even though I felt stronger…it didn't stop me from putting in way too much time at work. My parents have noticed I've been around less and less…and I felt guilty. The last time I saw my dad was March break 2014. Of course, a few of my brothers had come to visit when school was let out.

I grinned, throwing the headphones off and booking it out of the booth. It was a studio day but it was more than that. Isaac and Tucker were arriving today to spend a week with me, and they just came into the studio, my mom having picked them up at the airport.

"I missed you guys so much!" I told them, pulling them both in for a group hug. I smiled looking to them both.

"You guys have grown…my God." I told them and Tucker laughed.

"Well…I did just turn fifteen." He told me and I grinned.

"I know! I have your present at my apartment." I told him. I had felt bad that I wasn't able to go home for his birthday at the end of May but when he mentioned that he could come visit in June it worked out well. I shook my head.

"What are you now…5'8?" He grinned.

"5'9"!" He told me and I laughed. I know that wasn't necessarily tall, but I was only 5'1". I looked to Isaac and assessed his changes.

"You must be 5'11" now." He shook his head.

"5'11" and a half, thank you." He told me and I laughed, shaking my head. I hugged them one more time.

"I'm just so much happier now that you're here." I told them, winking to Tucker. He chuckled. We messaged each other daily and there was never a…'have a great day!' Or…'I hope your day is good!'...it's always "I hope your day is filled with happiness." It meant so much more to us…because all we wanted was for the other to be happy. Sometimes it was hard without my family…but I always tried. I had to set a good example for my baby brother.

They were pumped because Bob let them stick around the studio with me for the day so they got an inside scoop on what I was working on. It was nice to share it with them…and it meant a lot that they wanted to be there.

That visit was burned into my brain…every word…every hug. Every little piece of him I could hold onto…because today? It was all I had left. Today it was hard to breathe…and I felt…like I'd never be happy again. Today…I felt every resolve I had fade away into blackness and I didn't know what to do. Today…my whole world fell apart in a way I could never explain.

"Bella." I heard him say as I turned around, waiting at baggage claim and was met with a hug. He pulled me in as close as he could get me and I let myself break down. I stood there…and I cried. Harder than I've ever cried before. And he cried too. I felt his warm body shake against mine and I just let myself fall apart. I looked over his shoulder and saw Sam.

"He's here just incase…I don't want to hurt you if I'm not able to keep it together." He told me and I nodded, letting him tuck me under his shoulder. Sam grabbed my bags and I thanked him and we walked away from baggage claim. We left the airport and got into his truck. He tossed Sam the keys.

"Could you drive, man?" Sam nodded and got into the drivers seat. I closed my eyes and curled into his side and let silent tears fall down my cheeks. My world was different now. It wasn't a world filled with love and joy…it was dark and empty…and I struggled to hold my chest together as I took a deep breath, more tears coming. We drove all the way from Seattle, me pressed against his warm skin.

When we finally got to my house I sat in the truck and stared.

"You coming Bella?" He asked and I could only stay still. Sam gave us privacy and went into the house. I could only look at it.

"It doesn't even look the same." I told him. I had stopped crying about an hour ago…unsure if I had anything left to cry. He was silent for a moment, waiting for me get my bearings.

"Everyone's here…been here all day. No one can seem to leave…I think they are scared to." He told me and I just sat still, absorbing his words. I looked to him. He looked the same…and yet so different. Then again, I suppose I look a lot different too.

I haven't been back to Forks since I left in December of 2012. It was now July of 2014. My hair was quite long…all the way down to my elbows. It was still brown of course…but I'd taken to straightening it rather than leaving it curled…though it was curled today naturally after my shower. I looked to him and saw pain in his eyes and I took a deep breath. I'd have to go in sooner or later…and it won't hurt any less later. I climbed out of the truck and he took my bags for me. I stopped at the door and opened it slowly. I stepped inside…kicking my shoes off. They disappeared in the wealth of shoes by the door and I could hear people talking in the living room. I took another breath and walked into the living room and stopped. I caught my dad's eye and broke apart. I felt like I was choking on my tears and he came to me, pulling me into a bone-crushing hug just like Jaxon had done in the airport. We stood there sobbing for a few minutes, not caring who was watching.

"Dad it hurts so much." I whispered and he nodded, his voice cracking through the tears.

"I know baby…I'm so sorry." He cried and I felt him pull away slowly.

"Where is he. I need to see him right now." I cried, looking desperately around the room and caught his eye. He came rushing towards me and pulled me into a hug.

"B I'm so sorry." Isaac whispered and I pulled him closer, endless tears streaming down my face. We stood in our embrace for a few minutes until he pulled back. I looked around the room through my tears and saw everyone.

Jacob, Rachel and Billy. Leah, Seth, Harry and Sue. Sam, Embry and Jared were here…along with their parents who were good friends with my dad. I saw Claire, Laura and their mom Pam in the corner. Everyone was watching me with tears in their eyes and streaming down their cheeks. And standing next to Sam, hardly recognizable was Paul. He looked to me with tearstains on his cheeks and I felt myself choke up more. Seeing him couldn't phase me right now though.

Isaac took me over to the couch and we sat down. Jaxon came and sat beside me too, putting his arm around me, Isaac taking my hand.

"When did it happen?" I choked out and the room went silent.

"About two this morning." Sam told me and I looked to him curiously. "I…I called for the ambulance." He said and I took a shaky breath and held his gaze.

"And he…" but I couldn't get it out. He took a deep breath and choked back his tears.

"There was nothing they could do, Bella. It was almost instant…I'm so sorry." I nodded, a fresh onslaught of tears gracing my cheeks. I leaned forward and put my head in my hands, sobbing until I couldn't breath.

He was gone…and there was nothing I could do. I heard myself yell into my hands, not bothering to control myself. Isaac leaned forward and put his arms around me and rocked me gently.

Tuck had been hit by a drunk driver last night when he was walking home from a friend's house…

And he's gone.

Thank you for reading, I look forward to your reviews.