Bella POV

I suppose i should've thought through bailing a little more thoroughly, considering it would be an hour long walk back to the house. i pulled my hood up, as it began to rain, wishing i'd brought my coat.

I was back on the road to the highway after a few minutes when a car pulled up beside me. I was going to keep walking until i realized it was Rosalie in the drivers seat. "Get in," she ordered, i frowned but did anyways.

The car was tense and awkward, maybe i should've just kept walking. As if the one person that takes me home ended up being the person that's always hated me. "Your pretty messed up now, aren't you?" she asked thoughtfully. She didn't sound judgemental or anything so i didn't take i offensively. Not that i cared about what she thought much.

"Just because i'm straight up and have a backbone now doesn't make me screwed up," i retorted.

"Doesn't it? The last i checked you were catatonic," i turned to her, eyes narrowed, "i came back Bella. A few weeks after we left."

"Oh yeah? Good for you, must've been proud, you got to prove i was a weak little girl that caused nothing but trouble after all," i said amused.

"You can act as heartless as you want, i practically invented it, your like a two-way mirror, whatever it is that's making you want to hurt them so much, get over it."

"Were you not there for my little speech?"

"Why do you think i came after you? I dont know what your trying to accomplish, or what your trying to hide from us. But your full of shit."

"Am i now?" she said nothing, "okay there Dr. Phil, whatever you say."

"Whose the girl that came and got you at school?" she asked, changing subjects.

"What's it to you?"

"Alice can't see her, and she can't see you very well either, i'm just wondering who she is."

"Wonder all you want," i said smirking.

When Aleera picked me up on Friday at the end of school, she had a new car, an expensive new one too. It was a deep kind of sapphire blue. The bell went and she was leaning against it casually. As beautiful as always, black leather jacket, tight dark blue skinny jeans and a tight red shirt beneath it. I saw her, smiling wide and then i was running.

She stepped away from the car, moving a step towards me. I barelled into her, wrapping my arms around her and she stumbled as she lost her balance. She laughed a little, returning the embrace. "Good to see you too," she said amused, kissing me on the cheek.

I noticed a few people staring, and she tossed me the keys, "got you a present."

"What?" i asked, confused. "What present?"

"Isn't is obvious? Your holding the keys to it," she said amused. I looked from the keys to her, to the car. I did that several times.

"You bought me a car?!" i said in shock right as Jessica and Mike came up beside me. "Aleera, this thing must be worth millions."

"Well of course, It's not just any car, it's an Audi R8 V10 Plus Coupe," she said grinning. "I was helping Adam pick out his new car, and when i saw this one, the first thing i thought was, 'Bella would hate something like this'."

"Are you friggin' kidding me?! Have you lost your mind?!" i shouted in disbelief. "You bought me a two hundred thousand dollar car on a whim just because you thought it would drive me nuts?"

"Actually, it's a hundred and eighty seven thousand, not two hundred thousand," she said smirking. Lauren and Angela joining us. "But yes, that's why i bought the car." All i could do was stare at her. This chick was insane! And where did she get the money for it in the the first place? I kept wondering things like that.

"Who are you and why would you buy Bella of all people a car?" Lauren said in that condescending disgusted tone.

She narrowed her eyes at Lauren, "i'm sorry?"

"You should be, Bella's damaged goods and your spending money on her. She's worthless. Have you even met Edward? It's like she's a gold digger or something."

Aleera didn't miss a heartbeat, as soon as the words left her lips, with blurring speed she had thrown a hard punch straight into her face. Hard too. i cringed at her furious stare, "think twice before insulting her in front of me." To be fair though, if Aleera hadn't hit her, i would've.

"Bitch!" she shouted, getting back up to shove her. She had a bloody nose.

"I wouldn't do that," i warned her in a sort of sing song voice. I was glad she was here today, seeing her break Lauren's nose just for insulting me, made me feel a little smug.

She went to hit Aleera back and she dodged it easily. She didn't move quickly this time, almost in slow motion. She hooked her ankle around Lauren's barely tugging and then Lauren went face first in the asphalt.

"Cut it out, both of you," Edward's incredulous voice echoed behind us. We all glanced at him and i tensed. I'd forgotten the Cullen's were somewhere in the parking lot behind us, probably watching too.

"Who the fuck are you?" she asked coldly. She didn't seem at all phased when she got a look at him, not all that impressed with the vampiric beauty or the fact that he was probably far more dangerous then she was.

Oh my god, can he read her mind? I had been hoping to avoid them meeting at all. I didn't think it would end well. She just met him and the first thing he does is order her to do something. She hated that. Both of us did.

He gave her that scary vampire look people sometimes get, and she either didn't notice or didn't care. Probably the latter. Everyone was watching excitedly, both of them sizing each other up. I knew she couldn't win a fight with him, and i also didn't think he'd try and hurt her anyways. But Aleera was good at egging people on until they snapped.

"Maybe i should be asking you that," he said coldly.

She quirked an eyebrow at him, "this is Bella's ex-boyfriend," Mike said quickly.

"Really now?" she said, grinning suddenly. "I have to say, you dont look like much," she said chuckling, making it clear she wasn't at all impressed. I smiled a little.

"Well that just makes you her rebound," Alice shot at her. Her expression didn't falter, she only smirked more.

"You'd love for that to be true, wouldn't you?" she didn't seem at all doubtful and i moved to her side, to grab her or something in case a fight broke out.

"Bella belongs with Edward, not some random hood rat," she said in disdain.

"I guess hood rats are rising up in the world, cause the last time i checked they can't afford audi's," oh god, this was going to end badly.

She didn't look at all put out with their insults, in fact she seemed to be enjoying it. Goddamn i loved this woman.

"Bella, i dont think it's wise to keep company like her, she's probably a criminal or something," Edward said facing me directly. Aleera snickered a little at that.

"Dont start!" i said annoyed, "you dont dictate my life! Didn't i ask you to leave me alone?"

Aleera's expression dropped, eyes narrowing a little. "Were looking out for you Bella, thank god we came back, who knows where you might be in five years, jail probably," Alice said in disgust.

"Really? I was thinking Bali, maybe Europe," i said thoughtfully.

Aleera was eying Edward now, seeing something i wasn't maybe. "Edward," she started, a serious 'dont fuck with me' look on her face, "if Bella's already told you to back off, why are you harassing her? The police have term for that you know, and you have stalker written all over you."

"Look at what you've turned her into, of course i'm not going to back off. Bella needs professional help," excuse me? "People that care about her and want what's best for her," he said coldly.

"The only person who knows what's best for her is herself, dont be a prick just because she shot you down," he didn't like that very much. I watched his eyes darken and i panicked.

"Let's go," i said, taking her hand and then getting in the car, she just laughed, waving goodbye mockingly.

We pulled up to my house, and she followed me in casually. "Aleera, can we stay here tonight?" i asked hesitantly.

She gave me a curious look, "why?"

I remembered the disturbing conversation i'd over heard. It had been repeating in my mind everyday now. I didn't feel safe there. I felt safe with Aleera, but not in that house. Especially with Adam and Jace wanting to kill me.

"I want you to meet my dad," i said shrugging, "your going to have to meet him sometime."

"You really want me to meet him?" she asked running a hand through her hair.

"Yeah, kind of," i said blushing a little.

"Alright, we'll stay here," she said giving me a small smile. I dont even know how i was going to explain the car to Charlie. "What would you like to do?"

"Let's go to La Push, we can go swimming," i said excitedly. "You can meet Jake."

"Jake, the gang member guy you were talking about? I thought you guys weren't talking," she said confused.

"Well he said things are complicated, but he misses me i guess," i said shrugging.

"Alright, sure, what the hell," she said amused.

We pulled up to Jake's house, Sam and him looked like they were having some kind of face off out on the front porch. We got out of the car, and i saw something flash in her eyes, a sort of indecision or confusion. She gave me a smile, noticing my stare and then took my hand.

"Hey Jake," i greeted happily. They turned to us, and both of them zeroed in on our intertwined hands.

"Making new friends, i see," Jake teased, moving off of the porch to hug me.

"Jacob, were not done talking," Sam said irritably.

"I told you i was being careful! Nothing will happen!" he said angrily.

"I dont care, dont make me pull rank on something as trivial as this," a low rumbling came from Jake, and if i didn't know any better, i'd say he growled. Aleera frowned.

Jake glared at Sam hatefully, "i can't do anything tonight Bella, i'm sorry."

"Why?" i asked in disbelief. I'd really wanted him to meet Aleera.

"Maybe tomorrow?" he said glancing back at Sam.

"Fine," i said pouting a little. Aleera grinned crookedly, and i waved goodbye. Jake was stuck staring at our intertwined hands, but he didn't seem too judgemental.

"Wait, Bella!" Jake shouted, before we'd pulled out with the car. I rolled the window down, "nice car," he said appreciatively, just now noticing it, he glanced at Aleera, "yours?"

"It's Bella's," she said dismissively.

He looked shocked for a moment, but then shook his head and rolled his eyes like it wasn't all that surprising. "Were having a bonfire tomorrow night, you guys should come."

"Bonfire?" she asked, intrigued, and then nodded once.

"We'll be there," i said nodding.

"That girl, the one that came out to try and make you stay at school the other day, is your ex-boyfriends sister?" she guessed.

"Yeah," i said awkwardly.

"Anything i need to know?" she asked eyebrows raised, pulling off at First Beach.

She parked, both of us getting out and going to sit on the sand. She pulled me into her arms, leaning against a thick log. I relaxed in the familiar embrace, resting my head back against her shoulder and she kissed the side of head lightly. I smiled, warmth flooding my body.

Turning to me to give me her full attention, though she kept me in her arms, "there's a lot to tell."

"I'm listening," i glanced at her open expression. She was open minded about everything. I'd told her some of the more unusual habits i had, and she still wanted me by her side. But the Cullen's were vampires, how do you tell someone something like that without actually saying it?

When i didn't speak, she took my hand, and then turned my chin to face her. "Bella, dont get all weird on me now," she said kissing me lightly.

"It's kind of hard to explain," i said, giving her a quick kiss and then looking back out over the ocean.

"Doesn't matter, everything in this world can be hard to explain sometimes," she said shrugging, an unusual look in her eyes. By the looks of it, whatever was going through her mind may be just as complicated. She turned to me smiling slightly, "But my point is, that i dont care. Whatever made you who you were when we met, is the person i fell for. No secret or horrible things that have happened to you, or may be you've done something horrible that your scared of me finding out about. It doesn't matter to me. It wont make me view you any different then i do now."

I nodded once, "my mom got re-married about a year ago, and she wanted to travel with him, but she couldn't because of me. So i moved here, where i met the Cullen's. They were outcasts. But i guess we were just attracted to one another, Edward and i. But his world is kind of dangerous for people like me and on my birthday, we all became very much aware of how risky it was even just being around them in their own home. They left, just abandoned me, i didn't even get a goodbye from any of them except Edward. Told me i was a distraction, a toy, that he never loved me."

"I see. So Cullen's-bad. In what way are they dangerous exactly?" she asked carefully, eyes narrowed, as if she already knew the answer.

"There world doesn't like me, because im, lower on the food chain, sorta speak," she gave me an amused smirk, and then kissed me again.

"Why did they come back then?" she asked curiously.

"Edward got into some trouble, Alice covinced me to help her," i didn't feel the need to say just how or where or even when, but she didn't ask.

"They seem pretty determined to separate us," she pointed out.

"Yeah, i noticed," i said rolling my eyes. I wasn't too concerned, they were just annoying more then anything.

We sat like that for a few minutes, lost in thought. "What about you Aleera? Any ex's i should know about? Aside from your player like habits that everyone has told me about."

She tensed instantly, eyes closing in a pained sort of way. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."

She let out an almost shaky breath, "there was someone, almost two years ago, when we lived in Athens, Greece. You've seen how brutal my world can be. Murder, violence, drugs, money, everyone clamoring to be king in a world with nothing but territory rivalry."

"She died?" i summed up. She nodded once, looking over the ocean, smiling sadly a little.

"She didn't belong with us, with me. But we went for it anyways. She was just so good, and so beautiful in every way, she just got to me, like no one else could," i watched a tear slide down slowly, and she frowned. "But despite how much i loved her and tried to keep her safe. It wasn't enough."

"How did she die?"

"Bad timing, her part, mine, everything went wrong that day. She was soemwhere she wasn't supposed to be," she said shaking her head, as if she couldn't understand or make sense of whatever she was remembering. "Anyways. She died. Soon after we decided it was time to take everything to a whole new level, to step up our game, but most of all, it was time to be smart. We moved back here, where no one knew us or who we were, where we could start over from scratch. Her name was Kaylee."

"I'm sorry," she gave me a small smile.

"I'm not," she said honestly. "It's life, people die all the time. It was my own fault, for being so cocky. I learned my lesson."

"Still, you loved her, people never forget things like that," she shrugged.

"it's life, she would've gotten hurt sooner or later. She wasn't even totally aware of what being in my life meant for her own life. It's just so damn confusing and disgusting sometimes. But that's what were good at, and that's what we enjoy, so," she shrugged again.

"You still enjoy the life you live, knowing it got someone you love killed?" i asked perplexed. I dont think i could ever do that. I mean, if you truly loved with someone, could you really live the same life style that got her killed? i doubted it.

"It wasn't my life, it was me, my choices, my decisions, my own arrogance," she distinctly. "Besides i understand this world, and it understands me. It's where i belong."

"You dont belong in that life anymore, you belong in my life," i said grinning at my own lameness, she laughed and i smiled at her. I loved hearing her laugh, her real sincere laugh, one i never heard unless it was because of me. It was like her own special laugh for me.

"Are you afraid that i'll get hurt?" i asked after a while.

"Why do you think i've been teaching you how to fight?" she retorted simply. "We've been much more careful then before."

I nodded, i trusted her.

We got back to the house, Charlie already home. He was in the living room when we walked in. "Hey Dad," i said a little awkwardly.

Charlie was eying Aleera down, who looked very much like a teenager. I think it was her eyes. Instead of that broken, distant or hostile look she usually had, she looked very much like a teenager with a sot of rebellious yet trustworthy gaze.

"Bella, whose this?" he asked giving her nod, she just smiled a little.

"Um, Ch-Dad, this is Aleera," i lost my breath for a moment, "my girlfriend."

It was very silent, as Charlie worked through the words. Now he looked so surprised i was a little worried he would go into shock. "Your girlfriend," he repeated, eyes bulging a little.

"Yeah," i said shifting awkwardly.

"Aleera Kale," she said, holding out her hand. He took it, still too shocked to form much an 'oh' sound.

"Y-your not from around here," he said in a sort of strained voice.

"No, i live in Port Angelus," she said evenly.

"i guess that's where you've been disappearing off to," Charlie said glancing at me.

I shifted nervously, "yeah, i met her a few months ago."

"I-uh, it's good to meet you Aleera," he said nodding once, seemingly approving. I let out a huff of air, relief sweeping through me. At least he wasn't homophobic or something.

"Nice looking car you've got," Charlie said, even more awkward then i had been.

"It's actually Bella's, her truck doesn't look like it has much life left to it," she said shrugging.

Charlie's eyes went wide, "you bought her a car?"

"Yes, Bella has horrible luck, sooner or later that truck would break down in the middle of nowhere and leave her stranded, i'd prefer not to have to worry about that," she said giving him an amused smile.

"That's quite generous, who are your parents?" he asked, giving her a sort of questioning stare.

"My parents are dead, they were wealthy, owned quite a number of companies out east," she lied easily. I was always impressed with her lying skills.

"Who do you live with then?" he asked frowning.

"Family friends," she said evenly.

"Will you be spending the night?" he asked, a little suspiciously.

"If it's alright," she said nodding once.

"That's fine," he said glancing at me. "She's been disappearing all night for weeks, i'm sure there isn't much you two haven't done yet."

"Dad!" i blurted out going bright red in embarassment.

"Well he's not wrong," she said grinning widely. I blushed even more, now Charlie flushed a bright pink. I groaned, grabbed her hand and then pulled her up to the bedroom.