Author's Note PLEASE READ:

Okay, seriously y'all. I'm considering dropping this story. Only a couple people are reviewing and it kinda makes me think that no one likes this enough. Could y'all just comment even a "Hey." or something, just to let me know that you're reading it? It would really make my day. I've been crazy busy lately and if I didn't continue this, I could actually be doing something else with my time. I do accept Anonymous reviews, so you wouldn't even need to log in to review. I hate people who beg for reviews and withhold chapters if they don't get a certain number of reviews, but I might have to revert to that.

On a happier note, I finally listened to the "Open Happiness" (www(dot)myspace(dot)com/openhappiness) song that Coke did and I LOVE it. I usually hate happy songs, but this totally is one of my faves right now. Maybe it has to do with the fact Brendon Urie from Panic at the Disco and Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy sing in it, but whatever. Oh, and I'm Betaing these two amazing stories by highonair435 (Cardizzle for all of you TGChatters) called "Secrets of an Heiress" and "Sweet Dreams." Y'all should totes check them out and review!

Also, Miss C. Cullen (Zella for the same people as above) is doing a new competition which I am working on submitting to, which you should also check out! Go to Chapter 7 or 8 of that story, you'll know which one it is, lol. Let me know if you check out any of these and tell me what you think!

Okay, sorry for the ridiculously long Author's Note that you probably didn't read, but I had a lot to say. Okay, on with the story.

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DISCLAIMER: Still Don't Own.

Last Chapter:

"I'm her boyfriend."

WHAT?

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I stared at him in shock. Since when did we start dating? He smirked in my direction and I just glared feeling as if smoke was coming out of my ears.

"Fine. You can go." Mike said dejectedly as he turned around to talk to Jessica. Edward took advantage of my state and lightly pushed me towards the door. I finally came to as we got outside and I almost tripped on a crack in the pavement. I stopped in my tracks.

"Why did you tell Mike that you were my boyfriend?!" I practically yelled. Didn't he realize that I could never date him? That he was a vampire, the very thing I detested with every fiber of my being. Of course, as soon as he spoke all those feelings vanished.

"I just needed to talk to you…" he mumbled. I was certain I wasn't supposed to hear it. In that moment, he seemed almost human. He seemed broken and dejected, and all I wanted to do was give him a huge hug and comfort him, make all those feelings disappear, even though I knew I was the source. I didn't know what came over me to want to do that, and it scared me. I could never feel that towards him, no matter what.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked, softening my voice, trying to almost apologize for my hate. He thought for a few minutes, maybe considering what to say, before he spoke.

"Can we talk somewhere else? Maybe, a bit more private?" He asked.

"Uhm…sure." I said as I made my way to the driver's seat. By the time I had managed to open the door and buckle my seat belt, he was already sitting and waiting. I quickly started the ignition and drove out of the back lot. The ride was silent except for him giving me directions to wherever we could "talk."

After a few minutes, I pulled off at the side of the road just where a dirt path had started to form. I started heading for the dirt path before I felt myself being picked up again by Edward and I closed my eyes, waiting for it to be over. From the wind that was flowing past us, it felt like he was going about sixty miles an hour, kinda slow for a vampire. Before I knew it, we had stopped and I managed to fall down on my back after he set me down. He laughed musically as he helped me up. I brushed the leaves and dirt the best I could off of my jeans and surveyed my surroundings. All around me were trees, except in front of me. There were two trees bowed, almost as if making a curtained gateway to wherever all that light was coming from. I curiously walked over and brushed aside the leaves that were in my way as Edward followed me. I gasped as I took in the sight in front of me. It was exactly the same place as the one in my dream. I had no idea that it even existed, so to see it in real life was breathtaking. I heard the brook running and all the beautiful flowers carpeting the ground. It felt different though and as soon as I remembered what was missing, my blood went cold. This was where James had fought Edward and where Edward and I both almost died.

"What's wrong?" a very worried Edward asked, snapping me back into reality.

"I'm fine. It's beautiful here." I said, hoping he wouldn't call me out on my lie. He went to sit down, and I followed suit, making sure to be far enough to feel comfortable, but close enough that he wouldn't get offended. He made sure I was seated before talking.

"Why do you hate me?" He asked it so bluntly, no beating around the bush, or even nicening it up. I was shocked and it took me awhile to be able to come up with a semi-plausible lie.

"I don't hate you." I said, almost feeling as if it were true.

"Please, we both know that you're lying. Every time you look at my family or me, your face turns from pure hate to a fake smile. Is it because we are Vampires?" He asked, his voice rising in volume with each word.

"Yes." I said almost silently. I couldn't even look at him when I said it, due to shame. I started examining my hands as I felt my face blush. I just couldn't bear to lie to him, but I couldn't look at the hurt he must be feeling. Suddenly, I felt his hand on my chin as he slowly raised my face up, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"Why?" He looked hurt as he said this, as if I had killed his pet dog or something. This simple word caused so many problems. I couldn't lie to him, but I didn't want to tell him the truth. The truth hurt to be spoken, as I couldn't even hear it. It was something I still could not come to terms with, even after all these years. He looked at me with a face that showed that he was waiting for me to tell him. He understood it was painful and let go of my face and backed away slightly. I took a deep breath and started my story.

"When I was in sixth grade, I had come home to find my parents waiting for me. They told me I was a Neutral, that the world I had grown up in was a lie, and that all of those Fairy Tales I had read as a kid were actually darker views of how the world really was. I instantly went into training, usually with my mom teaching me all of the book knowledge and my dad teaching me the self defense part. Obviously, I had to drop out of school and be homeschooled, which meant that I never saw any of my friends again. I spent a few years like this, until ninth grade. It was a normal rainy day, nothing special about it, except one thing. My mom was finally going to let me go out into the real world and my dad had approved. I was jumping up and down with excitement as we got in the truck and made our way to the forest. My mom was smiling at me and bouncing in excitement more than me. Sometimes I think that I was the adult in that relationship." I chuckled lightly at the memory before continuing.

"We made it to the forest edge and stepped out. Mom told me to stay quiet and talked to me about how to go up to the vampire, how to spot where they were by looking at the woods, and even how to smell them out. She focused a lot on the blood, because she knew that the scent made, and still makes, me nauseous." Edward gave a questioning stare. "It's true. It smells like salt and rust. Animal blood smells a little more salty though. Anyways, after her speech, which I barely listened to, we made our way into the forest. I fell an awful lot, which made my hands and knees bleed, which probably started this whole mess." I took a deep breath and braced myself for what was coming next.

"I remember my mom looking back at me and putting a finger to her lips telling me to be quiet and pointing to an antelope galloping towards us. She ushered me to hurry and we walked towards where the antelope had come from. We had made it barely ten feet before I fell again. Next thing I know, a brunette girl comes waltzing towards us. I started to get up before I realized that her skin was sparkling and her eyes were a bloody red. My eyes bulged and I screamed at the sight. I had seen one in books before, but never in real life. The lady pounced and my mom held me behind her back as the lady landed right in front of her.

"That little girl smells mouthwatering." She said simply, trying to get around my mom and towards me. My mom kept blocking her from me, which frustrated her even more.

"Rachel. There's another way. You don't have to eat her." My mom cried desperately in an attempt to save me.

"Not to me there isn't." That was all she said as she went for my mom and bit her in the neck. I can still hear her blood curdling screams right now. I took my chance and ran away as she was being eaten." I said the last part in sobs. It was too much, hearing her voice again. Hearing her screaming. Suddenly I felt cold arms encircle me and I felt safe. I continued crying on his shoulder as he held me close, probably too close for him to be comfortable. I finally calmed down after a few minutes and realized this fact and started to back away.

"I'm so sorry." He said simply, and I could tell he meant it. It felt nice telling someone, I hadn't even told Charlie, my dad, what had happened.

"If I had known…" He started.

"It's fine. Now that I say this, I realize it isn't fair for me to be putting this on you, but when I see…."

"Bella, calm down. It's okay. I understand. We remind you too much of her. I would hate me too if that had happened to me." He got up to leave.

"Edward. I'm sorry." I felt a tear run down my face. He turned around and looked at me.

"At least I understand you a little better, and I know that I am going to get you to change your mind about us." I got up and silently followed him out of the woods and to my truck. I watched him run off before turning on my ignition and checking the time. It was already six o'clock, and at that reminder, my stomach started reminding me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast. I drove onto the road and headed back to my apartment and cooked dinner, needing something to take my mind off of today's events. I started browning the meat for the homemade Hamburger Helper I was making as I got a phone call.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bells!" I heard Charlie's voice answer.

"Hey Dad! What's up?" I asked.

"Uhm, I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tomorrow. Billy wanted to watch the game with me, and his son Jacob is coming over, I thought he might need some company. They haven't seen you for a while, and Jake has been asking about you like crazy."

"Sure dad, I'll come, six o'clock sound good?" I asked with a chuckle. Charlie wasn't one to talk much, but he was obviously anxious to have me come. I knew he was missing me too, but was too shy to admit it.

"Sounds fine Bells. I'll see you then. Bye."

"Bye Dad." Was all I managed to get in before he hung up the phone. I went back to the kitchen and got to the meat before it burned. I checked the noodles I had put on earlier and found them to be ready. I got out a plate and combined the food before curling up on the couch and grabbing a book to read. After about a half hour I finished, cleared my plate, and got ready for bed. I checked the time and found that it was only eight o'clock, but I was so tired. I curled up in bed and fell asleep, hearing a creaking sound that I thought was just my imagination.

And there you have it! I hope I didn't make the meadow scene seem too weird. I wasn't expecting to write that scene that way at all, seriously. In my head, Bella's mom was still alive, but apparently the characters thought something different. They really take control of the story; I just provide the fingers, lol. What did y'all think about that whole thing? What do you think Edward is going to do? I have a few ideas, but I want to hear, well read, your suggestions. I'm going to Virginia on vacation from Thursday to Wednesday, so the earliest I can update is probably going to be Friday because I want to sleep on Thursday. Once again, please, please, PLEASE, review!

Thanks so much!

~JL aka ThisIsMyDisguise