EPOV

Alice's words were like a punch in the stomach.

"Refuse…to….see me?" I stammered. Vampires weren't usually caught off guard, but I was.

"She did leave Forks without telling you…." Jasper thought.

I glared at him. He frowned. "Sorry."

"I don't know why, but she'll make Renee tell you to go away."

I was hurt and I didn't understand. I stopped running.

"Did I do something wrong?" I wondered out loud. "Why would she first leave without telling me and then refuse to see me?"

Jasper shrugged. Alice tried to comfort me. "She loves you Edward, I know this for sure. If Bella is sick, maybe she doesn't want to see you until she's better. She doesn't want you to worry."

"Maybe," I replied, suddenly feeling really insecure.

I felt encouragement from Jasper. "Alice and I will go with you to Florida. I'll find out what Bella is feeling and perhaps if Alice is closer to Bella she can get a clearer read on her future. For all we know, Renee guilt tripped Bella into visiting her. "

"Yes," Alice agreed. "We will go with you. I will book a ticket for Jasper too, and I will meet you in Tallahassee."

I paused before responding. It would be nice to have their support, especially if Bella was going to have another extended hospital stay. I shuddered, thinking of the time she spent in the hospital in Phoenix. It was less than four months ago that she almost died. I would do anything to protect her.

"Thanks, I would appreciate your help."

I passed the phone to Jasper to allow him to talk to Alice and ran ahead a few miles. Even though I would still hear Jasper's thoughts, it gave the illusion of privacy.

A heaviness had come over me at the news Bella had left Forks. I was trying to focus on her being sick, but the fact that she had left town without me felt like a punch in the stomach. Why would she leave town in such a rush and not tell me? Even more so, why would she refuse to see me? Something had happened and I was determined to find out what.

As I ran towards Anchorage, Jasper's thoughts were faint, but I could still hear him. I knew he was following my scent, but the miles had increased between us. He seemed to think he would be out of my range of detection.

"How bad is it, Alice?" Jasper asked, thinking of Bella.

Through his thoughts, I heard Alice's response.

"It's bad. Real bad."