It's my birthday. Woot, I'm excited for cake. I wish I could share with all my readers.

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Bella.

I couldn't speak.

I couldn't move.

I could hear a siren blaring down the road until it finally pulled up in front of the diner. Someone must have called because of the commotion. Edward was on the phone now, he was inches away from me and he was talking fast, I couldn't make out a word.

His eyes were flashing this way and that. Scanning the area over and over. My breath caught for an instant, he was protecting me. I didn't know what to think. Should I be happy? I mean, I should be happy, grateful. I was to void of emotion though. I heard Edward cuss and I finally moved to look at him. I was shocked.

"Gentlemen don't swear." He smiled at me, a real smile and in an instant it was gone as a police officer cleared his throat. I remembered the waiter and glanced over. He was rolled back and forth on his back holding his face with both hands.

"Officer McCarty."

"Edward. Mind explaining?" He pointed a finger to the guy still whimpering on the ground. I had to look away.

"Someone stole my wallet. Bella noticed and we chased him out here. He-" Edward pointed at the waiter. "- Put his hands on Bella-" He then pointed to me. "-We really didn't get a chance to tell him what had happened. He wouldn't take his arms off her so she hit him."

The officer stood there for a few minutes nodding his head as he thought over what Edward had said. "You didn't catch him Edward? You're the fastest runner in Forks."

"I'm not faster than a car sir."

"No I reckon you're not that fast. Well I'll take care of him then. Are you alright miss?"

I pulled a smile onto my face, as hard as it was to. I didn't want to deal with the cops. He seemed to buy it and he went over to help the waiter onto his feet. Edward leaned closer to me to whisper in my ear.

"He's Emmett's dad." I looked over at the officer and wondered how I didn't see it before. He was just an older version of the big goofy teddy bear I knew, same build and skin tone. Same everything really. Edward offered me a seat on the bench but I didn't want to sit down.

He was still begging me to take a seat when a car shot into the parking lot. It was a black car. Show's how much I know about cars. Oh, it had four doors too. Carlisle and Esme got out the car and came over to us, they were buzzing with anxiety. Behind them Alice and Jasper were getting out of the car, they were whispering to one another. I didn't even care.

Esme came up to me and hugged me tightly while Carlisle pointed to the man with the bloody nose next the Officer McCarty.

"That was all Bella." I glared at Edward. He made it sound like a bad thing.

"He put his hands on me." That's all I had to say to warrant myself a few curious looks. Jasper even slid me a high five behind his back. I'd never thought I would be congratulated by such sweet people for punching someone. Oops.

I looked at Edward. He was handing Esme the card and whispering in her ear. She had her arms around him and I could see the connection between them. It had totally different dynamics than the family did as a whole.

Alice came up to me and wrapped me in her dainty little arms. I hugged her back surprising both her and myself. She seemed happy to see Edward as well. She was like a bee the way she buzzed around him. Everyone seemed to energetic and it was making me feel a little dizzy.

Taking Edward's advice I sat down on the bench and was joined by Jasper.

"That guy has a broken nose." I didn't really think that was cool, Jasper didn't seem to think so either. He wasn't here to make me feel bad or to make me apologize. That was one of the best things about Jasper, he was so empathetic.

"I wouldn't have hit him if he would have let me go." I was whispering to myself mostly but I wanted Jasper to know. I didn't want them to think I was violent and unpredictable. I was just protecting myself.

Jasper seemed to know how I felt and he placed his hand on mine, gave it a squeezed and then stood up.

"Would you like to go home, Miss Bella?" He had as hand extended toward me and I grabbed it like a life line.

I'd never had a brother to look out for me before.

Before we could leave the diner a few more cruisers had pulled up, and I spent the next two hours recounting what had happened to several different deputies. This town didn't seem to get much action considering the buzz of excitement eminating from the officers.

When we were finally cleared Jasper sat me in the back of Carlisle's sleek black beast, Alice had wanted to ride with Edward. I hadn't protested, I was feeling a bit shaken from all the attention and the looks I was recieving from a few patrons of the diner.

I sat in the back of the car with Jasper as Edward pulled out of the parking lot. We were still waiting on Esme and Carlisle who were talking with Officer McCarty. Things had settled dow n and the waiter who I had slugged was leaving work for the day. I didn't want to be happy about hitting him but I couldn't help the smug smile that crossed my face. He had had it coming.

Esme had Carlisle by the hand when they finally came up to the car. Esme settled into the driver seat while Carlisle walked around the car after closing her door. Such a gentlemen. Esme glanced back at me, smiling kindly before starting the car and backing out.

Finally.

I was relieved nothing had happened after the incident. Edward had paid for our water and there wasn't much of a problem except for that card.

It had been my card. I had thrown it away at the hotel. I had thrown it away in a locker room. Someone had found it and then someone found me. I tried to stay as calm as possible. If Someone was after me then they would find me. If Jane and Alec were after me though they had another thing coming.

I was free and I didn't want to go back. I was not going to get put back into the dark, I had lived. I found people whol loved me and would protect me. That's all I would ever need right? What more could someone like me need from life?

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