CHAPTER7

Bella took a deep breath as she turned into Forks High's parking lot. She knew that, in a lot of ways, today would be harder than yesterday. After having it out with Edward in the clearing the night before, she knew exactly where they both stood - there was no longer any hope in her that they would get a happily ever after. The dream of her future was no longer within reach and yet her heart wasn't ready to let go of Edward despite what she had said in the clearing. Added to that, Rosalie was returning and she had always hated Bella and would likely be angry about needing to protect the human yet again.

The one bright spot of the day was that Bella knew Emmett was returning as well. She had missed the big bear of a vampire and had been so excited to see him at her birthday party. The couple had left directly after the papercut incident but Bella assumed they were up to speed on Edward's decision to walk away from Bella only to be stopped by Alice's vision or lack of vision, more accurately.

Sliding out of the truck, Bella immediately spied the massive vampire leaning against his equally massive Jeep. He would have been visible even if the student body hadn't been standing well back from his presence. It was as if he hadn't gone to school with them the previous year or perhaps the other students had simply forgotten how huge and imposing he really was.

"Emmett!" Bella cried and ran across the parking lot.

As she threw herself into his arms, Emmett gently wrapped his arms around her and picked her up. He spun her around in circles before setting her back on her feet. Bella clutched his arm after he let her go to be sure she kept her balance. Then she threw her arms around his neck again and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for coming," she whispered in his ear.

The entire school seemed to be frozen in the parking lot or just beyond watching the display.

Then Bella turned her attention to Rosalie standing stiff on the other side of the Jeep.

"Hello, Rosalie," Bella said quietly. "You look lovely as always."

Rosalie glared at her and said, "My brother is heartbroken."

Bella's face turned hard and her eyes went flat, all happiness and life fleeing their depths. Emmett turned and glared at Rosalie as well.

"His choice, Rosalie," Bella said, her voice holding no human emotions. "Something he denied me."

Rosalie looked away not knowing how to respond to that truth. Edward had made the decision to break his own heart by leaving and he had denied Bella the right to make her own choices. He truly had no one to blame but himself even if he had done it for the noblest of reasons.

"He was trying to protect you," Rosalie tried.

Bella shook her head. "I believed that at first," she said. "But now I don't think it was ever about me at all."

Rosalie and Emmett stared at her for a second. "What do you mean?" Emmett asked.

"I don't think he's nearly as noble as you guys seem to," Bella said. "He always told me he was selfish. I never believed him before but now I think that might be the one time he was actually honest."

"I don't follow, Bella," Emmett said.

"He wasn't trying to protect me," Bella said flatly. "He was trying to protect himself. He was scared and he ran. And he did so by pushing me away in the most hurtful way possible."

"He stayed to keep you safe," Rosalie insisted.

"No, he stayed because Alice didn't give him a choice," Bella said. "He didn't choose to stay, Rosalie. He was forced to by a vision. His choice had already been made and it was to live his eternity without me around. So I'm giving him what he wanted."

Suddenly Bella was incredibly angry. "Besides, this is what you wanted, Rosalie. You made it very clear you didn't want me with Edward. Well, now I'm not and you still hate me. So basically nothing I can do will be a win with you. Why should I bother trying to make you happy?" she said.

"You are still putting my family in danger," Rosalie hissed.

Bella shrugged. "I didn't ask them to stay," she said. "I didn't ask them to protect me from Victoria. I was willing to leave town. Alice refused to allow me to leave and Jasper refuses to stop trying to kill Victoria. So take up your issues with them, not me. I'm done being your stomping ground."

Bella looked back and forth between Rosalie and Emmett before it dawned on her and she gave a short laugh.

"You wouldn't have come back, would you, Rosalie?" Bella said with a bitter smile on her face. "Carlisle called and you would have refused but Emmett wouldn't hear it. That's what really pisses you off. That Emmett wanted to come back and help protect me and the rest of the family despite the fact that you didn't want to."

"You don't know anything about it," Rosalie growled.

"Grow up," Bella spat out. "The world doesn't revolve around you and every single one of the Cullens would be there in a second for you or Emmett. Stop making this about you. You aren't the one with the death threat looming over your head."

Rosalie glared at Bella but kept her mouth shut after Emmett sent her a look he'd never used before in the entire time they'd been together. Plus, Rosalie knew Bella was right - every single one of the Cullens and Bella herself would drop everything and rush to help either Rosalie or Emmett if they needed it.

"You know we'll keep you safe, right, Bells?" Emmett said focusing on the girl in front of him instead of his mate.

Bella nodded and smiled at Emmett. "I know you won't let Victoria near me," she said. "Jasper's already well into war planning. And Sam is gearing the wolves up."

Rosalie sneered at the mention of the shape shifters but remained silent as Jasper walked up beside Bella.

"Bells, can you dial it back a little?" Jasper asked softly.

Bella closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.

"Thanks," Jasper said with a slight smile. "Your anger is almost as overwhelming as your pain."

"Sorry, Jasper," Bella said.

"It wasn't your fault," Jasper said sending Rosalie a clear look.

"Am I the only sane one in this family?" Rosalie demanded. "All she has done is bring danger to this family."

"That's not true," Jasper said. "You know it's not true. I can feel your jealousy, Rose. You need to let it go because I won't let Bella die."

"You're as bad as Edward," Rosalie spat at him. "What is it about her that has the men in this family panting after her?"

Bella stared at Rosalie is shock as Emmett and Jasper both shook their heads.

"How can you even say that, Rose? You're my mate. Just because I don't want Bella to die doesn't mean I'm in love with her or want to be with her instead of you," Emmett said quietly. "Why can't you understand that she's like a baby sister to me?"

"Is that your story, too, dear brother?" Rosalie practically hissed. "That she's a baby sister?"

"No," Jasper said. "I don't see her as a baby or a sister. She is my friend. And I'd never disrespect Alice or Edward by allowing harm to come to Bella when I know how much they love her. I can feel how Alice feels, Rosalie, and as her mate I would do anything to keep her from experiencing a moment's pain. Bella's death would haunt Alice for the rest of her existence and that I will never allow."

Rosalie looked away guiltily. She knew that Alice was deeply attached to Bella, maybe more so than Edward because Alice had no problem with Bella becoming a vampire and being together for eternity. The blonde vampire understood Jasper's need to keep his mate from pain as well since that was the only reason Rosalie had returned to Forks. Had she insisted that Emmett stay away, he never would have forgiven himself if Bella came to harm and Rosalie could not allow Emmett to live with that kind of guilt.

"Where is Alice?" Bella asked.

"She needed to concentrate on...looking," Jasper said with a slight hesitation.

"Is it because she can't see me anymore?" Bella asked.

"It's more complicated than that apparently," Jasper said. "She sees you sometimes, but then you disappear. She doesn't know why but she no longer believes it's because you die."

"Well that's a relief," Bella said with a slight smile.

"We're going to be late for class," Jasper said quietly.

Bella looked around and realized that they were the only ones left in the parking lot. She turned and hurried toward the school building with Jasper effortelssly keeping pace at her side.

"Edward is here," Jasper said quietly. "He won't be inside but he's protecting the perimeter."

Bella nodded to indicate she'd heard him but did not respond in any other way. Jasper felt the spike of her pain at hearing his name though and silently cursed his brother for it as the two entered their first class just as the bell rang.