--------Chapter Four-------

I woke up gasping for air and clutching my throat in the middle of the night. That dream--! I wiped the sweat off my face and placed a hand of my rapidly beating heart. It slowed gradually and returned to normal and I exhaled. Why the hell was I dreaming about Edward Cullen biting me?

"Boo." A smooth voice said from the beanbag chair in the corner. I narrowed my eyes to adjust the figure more. I kept them narrowed as I realized who it was. Jacob Black.

"What are you doing here?" I asked sourly, getting up to open my window. I had to get some cool air circulating in here. I got back into my bed as she spoke again.

"Good. Thanks for opening it—you room smells rancid—like those bloodsuckers."

"Get out Jacob." I said, not even caring why he really came here.

"No. I came here to warn you—"

I rolled my eyes. I had befriended him when Bella introduced us. I had come to like him. I had once had a crush on him, and then I found out his secret. He was a werewolf. Not only that, but he hated vampires with a passion—and to think I once had a crush on him! He had nothing good to sat to me after he found out about my obsession and my friendship with the Cullens', so I doubted he had anything good to say to me now.

"Tell me—and get out."

"Stay away from the Cullens', and we won't have a problem. They are not the kind of people a girl like you should be hanging out with. I mean, that Hale boy alone—"

"Jasper can control himself." I stated brazenly. I was lying through my teeth, and I didn't care. He could probably smell it, and I didn't care about that either.

"You see it too." He chuckled darkly. It sent some involuntary shivers up and down my spine. "You're scared of it, of him. You see the limits they try and set for him, and you can tell he will never reach them.

"I…I..." I stuttered out. He was getting dangerously close to breaking me.

"Well, well, at a loss for words now, are we?" he mused. I glared at him. Anger—such a lovely emotion, and what perfect timing as well!

"Get—"

"Out." A voice growled. Our heads turned to see Edward Cullen, standing next to my dresser. Jacob growled an inhuman sound and Edward tensed, ready for a fight.

"Stop it—both of you. Jake—get out. Now and don't bother coming back."

He looked at me and headed towards the window. Just before getting out, he turned to me and spoke.

"Remember what I said, Alex. Remember what I said." And he was gone. I looked at Edward and he sighed. He walked calmly to my beanbag chair, lifted it up, and casually tossed it out my window. I gasped and looked at him.

"That was a perfectly good chair!" I complained, crossing my arms over my chest. He sat on the edge of my bed and sighed.

"It reeked of that werewolf."

"It was still a good chair." I mumbled out at him. He shook his head, bemused at my reaction.

"So—we need to talk, right?" he said.

"Yeah—well, so you say."

"Bella…" he paused, another human-like gesture. "Bella left."

"…Porquoi?" I asked in French, generally confused about the whole situation.

"Bella…she went to Jacksonville."

I was silent for a long while. Well, it was more like five minutes, but it seemed to be a long while. Edward stared at me, not wanting to interrupt my train of thought or trying to force another lie into his brain. When I spoke again, it came out soft and resigned.

"…when did she leave?"

"Earlier today…like three-ish maybe."

"She didn't call…she didn't even tell me she was leaving…she didn't bother to…" I said, shaking my head. Some friend, right?

"I think she was going to call you once she was settled in Jacksonville." He said.

"Don't lie to me." I spat out, the tears coming quicker than expected. I looked away, letting my fury get the best of me. I was shaking with the rage I had pent up from Jacob's little visit. He stood up, and walked to sit in my desk chair. Thank the Lord and Lady I had my pillows, or I would have resolved to clutching my arms, and with all this rage, I would have drawn blood.

"Alexandra—listen to me. It's better this way. I know you probably cannot see it, but it is. Please—trust me." And he disappeared without another word. I groaned in exasperation and went to my window. I slammed it shut and locked it. No one else would be coming in through my window tonight. I flopped down on my bed and fell back asleep. With any luck, this would all just be a dream…or nightmare. The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache. It was a Sunday, so I knew Chass would be off trying to find a church and KT was probably still in bed. I got up and looked at myself in the mirror. There was no indication that I was insane or that I was still dreaming. In my dreams---I was prettier. I looked to the corner where I kept my beanbag chair and sighed. It was gone. So it hadn't been a dream. Great, just great. I shook my head and walked downstairs to get some cereal. To my surprise, KT was up and watching some cartoons. I must have missed it when we all became five years old again. She was watching the Ninja Turtles….my favorite.

"You're just in time—they just started!" she called, eating my cereal. I looked at her and jumped beside her, taking the box of Cap'n Crunch that was next to her on the couch. I groaned as I realized it was empty.

"When I become a serial killer, Cap'n Crunch will be the first to go. He has had it too good for too long." I said. KT looked at me confused. She must not have gotten that I was referring to the fact that it was a cereal and that if I became a "cereal" killer…well, I am sure you get it. KT was a bit on the slow side in the mornings. So, we just sat there and watched the Ninja Turtles for an hour and a half. So what? Every girl is entitled to be a kid again every once and a while.

--------End Chapter Four-------

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