A/N: Thanks to my ladies, Paige, Sherry, Tiffany & Cristina xx

Happy Easter to all who celebrate xx

Bella

Rosalie lived in a townhouse in one of the nicer areas of Queens. Her father was a successful businessman who various endeavors. I couldn't tell you what they were; all I could tell you is that Rose's life was a complete one-eighty from mine. Rose had never experienced the struggles in life I had. I had done my best to shelter her from the cruelties of life. Her father, Richard, liked to shelter Rose too. She was his only child. He had lost his wife, Rose's mother, to cancer when Rose was just a young girl. So he was very protective of her.

I guess you could say that was what bonded Rose and me; we both knew what it was like to grow up without a mother and in a sense we became sisters. We fought like sisters too, which is why I knew she would still be pissed off with me about last night, but she would still be willing to speak to me. Albeit begrudgingly.

"What are you doing here?" Rose asked as she answered the front door. Her eyes went from me to Jasper, who was standing mere feet behind me, watching. He had yet to speak one word to me. I had gotten the silent treatment the entire way here. Not that I had spoken to him either. I was too pissed off, but if you are going to be following someone around the least you could do is talk to them, right? Try and convince them that you're not the psychopath your demeanor is giving off. He hadn't even asked for Rose's address. He had known where she lived. That shit freaked me out.

"Can we talk?" I pleaded.

"Fine," she said, opening the door further so I could enter. "I hope you're here to apologize."

I took a step toward the open door and then stopped. Jasper didn't plan to come in with me, did he? I could hardly talk with him around. I glanced over at him. He hadn't moved from his spot, his facial expression gave nothing away. "You're gonna wait here, right?" I asked, but I got nothing in return. I turned around to face Rose, shrugging when she gave me a questioning look. I had no idea what his deal was.

I followed Rose inside the house alone. Jasper stayed outside. We went upstairs to her bedroom out of habit. I knew her father was probably out working and the staff wouldn't bother us, but we were used to going to her room when we had things to discuss. "So who is the guy?" Rose asked as she sat down on her bed.

"His name is Jasper. He works for Edward, that's as much as I know."

"Okay, so why is he following you around?"

"Because Edward ordered him to," I sighed. "Look Rose, I'm in trouble. A shit load of trouble. I wouldn't have brought this to you if I had any other choice, but I can't even go home. I need to borrow money and when I say borrow; I mean I may never have the chance to pay it back. I may never even see you again after today. I also need your help to change my appearance. Maybe cut or color my hair, as well as borrow some of your clothes too."

"Bella, slow down. What are you talking about?" Rose asked, worried. "What kind of trouble are you in? And why are you planning to go on the run? Surely things can't be that bad."

I rolled my eyes. She really had no idea. "My father's dead, Rose. He owed money to the wrong kind of people. People like Edward and Emmett. They want me to pay it back. I don't have that kind of money, Rose, which is why I was working at the club."

"Wait, hang on a minute," Rose said as she stood up, trying to wrap her head around it all. "Your father is dead? When did he die?"

"Yesterday."

"Ugh. You told me everything was fine. Why would you lie to me like that? When are you going to see that you don't have to take on the world by yourself? I'm your best friend, Bella. I have your back."

"I know, Rose. I just… you're not tarnished by this shit. I wanted to keep it that way."

Rose walked over to me and pulled me into her arms, hugging me tightly. "I'm sorry about your father. I know you didn't have the best relationship, but losing him still has to hurt. How can you even think about running when there is a funeral to plan?"

I pulled away from her, shaking my head. "I don't think there will be a funeral, Rose. When I said he was dead, I meant he had been killed. I presume he's lying at the bottom of a 6ft hole in ground by now."

"Who killed him?" she asked, warily.

I cocked my eyebrow at her. "Who do you think?"

"Emmett?"

"No, Edward, but it might as well have been Emmett. They are both cut from the same cloth. Don't you see Rose? That is why I warned you to stay away from him. This is why I got so angry when you wouldn't listen. He's dangerous. You have to promise me that you'll stay away from him. Block his number and never speak to him again. I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you."

"I, uh, I just can't imagine him doing anything like that," Rose said, stepping away from me, staring into space. "I mean, I knew he wasn't a saint, but I still thought he was a good guy."

I grabbed her arm and spun her to face me. "Promise me, Rose," I said, sternly. "When I am gone, promise me that you'll have nothing more to do with him."

"Where are you going to go?" she asked, concerned, deflecting from what I asked her.

I sighed, letting her arm go. I knew she wasn't going to make any sort of promise to me. I had just told her that they had murdered my father, but apparently she still wanted to find the good in him. "I really have no idea," I answered. "I know running isn't the smartest idea, but it's all I have. On the way over here I tried to come up with a plan. A way out of this mess, but I've got nothing. Disappearing is my best option."

A knock at her bedroom door froze both of us in place. I stared at Rose terrified that Jasper had somehow followed us up here and had been listening to every word I had said. "Who is it?" I mouthed to her.

Rose shrugged, signaling that she had no idea. She made her way over to the door and answered it. I was relieved when I saw it was her father standing there. Though I still worried how much he had heard. "Rosey, darling," he said, smiling at her before he glanced over her shoulder at me. "I didn't realize you had company."

"Hello Mr. Hale," I said politely.

"Are you okay, Bella?" he asked, staring at me with concern. "You don't look your usual self."

Rose saved me from answering. "Bella just dropped by for a chat. Is there something you need, dad?"

"Actually, there is. Do you have five minutes? I wanted to discuss something with you in my office."

"Sure," Rose said, looking over at me. "Bella, wait here. I won't be long."

While it wasn't unusual for Rose's father to call her into his office, the particular timing had me worried, but I still waited in her room. Five minutes, turned into ten, and then twenty. Before I knew it a whole half an hour had passed. I was growing increasingly impatient. When Rose's bedroom door finally opened I sighed with relief, only it was short-lived. Edward stood in the door frame.

"No," I gasped, scrambling to the other side of the room. "What are you doing here? You can't be here. You don't belong here."

Edward said nothing as he walked over to Rose's bed and sat down, patting the space beside him. He was crazy if he thought I was going to walk over there and sit beside him. He shouldn't be here. Was that why Rose and her father had taken so long? Had Rose called him? Would she do that to me? Would she betray me?

"Richard called me," Edward said, eyeing me. "He became concerned after he walked past Rose's room and heard the two of you talking. Of course, with me putting the word out about you being under my protection he knew immediately which Edward you were talking about. He told me that you were planning on running… I don't have to tell you my feelings on that. Tell me Bella, how did you plan to get past Jasper?" I kept my mouth closed. I wasn't about to tell him my plans. I may need them in the future.

He patted the space beside him again. I shook my head. "Sit Bella," he said, in a tone that left no room for argument. I hesitated. His eyes warned me that he would make me sit if need be. I sighed, walking over to him and sitting down in the space beside him, making sure I kept as much distance from him as I could. "I think it's about time we had a little chat, don't you?" I never replied. I guess it was my turn to play the mute.

"I must confess that I have no interest in you paying back your father's debt. In the beginning I just wanted to meet you. I wanted to see who Charlie's daughter was. When I met you I felt the urge to help you, but you came across as so stubborn and strong-willed. I didn't think you would appreciate or accept my help. So I decided to make you believe that I wanted you to pay back the debt. That way I could keep an eye on you, find a way to break down your walls and help you. I didn't think it would be so hard, but you are so untrusting, and I admit this James Neal wasn't a factor I took into consideration.

"So I will tell you what is going to happen now. You are going to come downstairs with me. We are going to get into my car and we will go back to my house. It will become your home for the time being. You will forget all thoughts of running away. You will also not leave my house without protection because that is in your best interest, at least until James is found. You will also not fight me on this. You will accept my help and maybe in time you will learn to trust me. I may be a bad man, Bella. I may have killed your father, but I am not made of stone. I help people out when I can, and God help me, I am going to help you whether you like it or not."

"I…" I stared at him, unsure what to say. Was this a ploy to get me to go home with him and cooperate? No, the look on his face was sincere. I wanted to believe the worst of him because I was only use to seeing the bad in people, but he appeared to be completely genuine.

"It's going to be okay, Bella," Edward said as he took my hand and pulled me to my feet. He never said another word as he led me downstairs and from the house. I didn't even get to see Rose before I left. My mind was spinning a mile a minute as I tried to take everything in. He said he wanted to help me, that he was going to help me whether I liked it or not. I guess I had no other choice but let him.