Ok, I'm sorry for not having posted in so long D8 College stuffs... And yes, this is going to be a relatively short chapter, but hey, I gave you guys a pretty long one before. Besides, this one is just going to set up for the rest of the story. The next chapter is going to be short too, I think...

Six: Saying Goodbye

The news of the Cullens' departure was met with mixed feelings. While the hospital was sad to hear that one of their better private practice doctors were gone, the school was glad to see their creepiest student go for good, despite the fact that Edward hadn't been to class in days on account of the sun. Her friends were kind enough not to rub it in... sort of. It was very difficult for Jessica to hide her enthusiasm that Bella would no longer be seeing Edward. She told her once or twice that it was best that he did leave. And that now she'd be single when she went up to Seattle. As if to bribe her further, she told her constantly just how incredibly hot the city boys were. Particularly the ones who played guitar and read poetry. But Bella had no interest in other boys. At least, not at the moment. It had only been one week after Edward and the others left. It was also two weeks to her photography summer class. She lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Edward's snow globe was resting on her bedside table. She had awoken that Saturday morning, thinking that a note would be on her window, or that he would be found, asleep in her bathtub. Her heart low and her body tired, she sat up and looked around the room. So many memories... Late night visits and being there for support. She could recall when Chris broke her heart. She cried like a madwoman. And the shoulder that she was sobbing on was none other then Edward's. Why had she not cried now? She felt equally as stupid. She had cried the night Esme took her home, but not after. She almost began to hate herself for her lack of feeling. She could shed tears for the one who cheated on her, but not for the one who wouldn't even think of such a thing? Shaking her head, she got up and dressed herself. Her eyes lingered on the snow globe. She grabbed it and put it in her nap sack. She didn't want to spend the rest of the day moping in bed. She had slept in, so Charlie was no where to be found. She was glad for that; she would rather be alone this morning.

Getting into her truck, she drove slowly. She didn't know where she was going. She let her truck take her wherever it willed. Her mind drifted from thought to thought, the soft, late spring breeze brushing against her frizzy hair. She could remember teaching him to drive. He had almost killed the both of them. A tiny smile came to her face as she turned onto a road. She also remembered their time spent at the mill... when he told her the story of Annabell. Her hand tightened on the wheel. Why did Carlisle have to bring her up? Though Bella would never admit it, to herself or otherwise, a part of her had always been jealous of Annabell. It was a very small part, as the rest of her felt nothing but sadness at her tale. But when Carlisle suggested that she was nothing but a replacement... That struck her deeply. Perhaps that was why she couldn't cry. Was she just a replacement for Annabell? Edward had reacted so harshly when Carlisle said that. Was that because his true intentions were revealed? Bella felt a sickening taste come to her mouth as she turned onto another road.

Was it all just a lie...?

She surprised herself when her truck found First Beach. Bella sat there for quite some time, her hands on the wheel idly. Finally, she turned off the truck and opened the door, her nap sack on her shoulder blade. The ocean called to her, softly purring against the break of the surf. Off in the distance, she spotted James Island. For once, Bella thought not of Edward, but of Jacob. She could remember the day that he took her there. A warmth spread over her as she walked onto the fine sand. The warm sun shone down on her exposed arms and face. Yes... Jacob. Her dearest friend. They had known each other for years, and care so deeply for one another. Bella sat just a ways away from the dark mud and set the globe beside her, staring at the island. She could remember being inside of it for the first time. Jacob was the one who showed it to her. It was all so grand... How could she have forgotten it so easily? How exciting it was to be sneaking around in secret passage ways, or how eagerly she listened to his stories. Her mind trailed back to when they were just children, wandering around in the green foliage of the forest. They played hide and seek. Whenever they did, she hid, while he sought her out. She recalled then that whenever he ran around in search of her, he always howled, as though he were a wolf hunting prey. In retrospect, no action was more fitting for him. A smile curled around her lips and she propped her chin in between her knee caps. She sat there for God only knows how long, staring off into space. She was bringing up old memories. Maybe it was to distract her from Edward. Maybe it was because she was at First Beach. But whatever the reason, the old thoughts made her happy.

"Thought I'd find you here.."

Bella blinked and looked over her shoulder. Jacob, the boy who she was just thinking of, stood right behind her, smiling kindly. He sat beside her, his hands on his ankles. "Hey." Bella turned back to the ocean and nodded.

"Hey," she replied. There was a silence between them. For some reason, now that he was actually there, her mind veered back to the memories of Edward. She sighed, her feet sliding back up towards her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and glanced at Jacob, who was looking at her in earnest. As if to ask if she was ok. She turned back to the sea, her eyes glossed over. Without thinking, she leaned into him. He had always had a calming, relaxing effect on her. Her constipated emotions began to move again, her body becoming less tense. "You know what sucks? I mean... the worst part of it all?" she began. He didn't respond. Instead, he rubbed her arm, holding her close. She let her eyes land on the snow globe and she pulled it up to her. She turned the crank beneath it and let the song once more float out of the thing. The metallic sounds twirled about from the object, little bits of false snow falling about the model mill. She looked up to Jacob, unaware that tears were finally crowding her eyes.

"I didn't even get to say goodbye..." Her lower lip trembled and she set the globe down. "I didn't even get to... get t o wish him well or... or ask that he writes or something... I don't even know wh-where they're going... I just..." She felt two strong arms take her and pull her into a warm hold. She gripped Jacob's shirt and began to cry. She cried for little Jasper, as they had just become friends. She cried for Rosalie, who was slowly starting to accept her. She cried for Emmett, who always treated her like a sister. She cried for Esme, and how she would miss her gentle voice. She even cried for Alice and Carlisle, despite their feelings towards her. But most of all, she cried for Edward.

She let her tears fall for quite some time. At first, it felt good to let go like this, but soon, a headache began to take over. She slipped into silence, clinging to Jacob and calming herself. It wasn't until sunset that Jacob suggested they get home. Bella agreed and stood, still pressed up against him. As they left First Beach, Bella looked back, her eyes on the snow globe that she left in the sand.

I know, I know, it's short! I told you it would be. I'll try to pad out the next one so it's not so small. Leave those reviews! I want an average of 8 per chapter (that's about the same as TTR).

~T.