A/N: Disclaimer: Stephenie owns all the original characters and events.

I know, I know, I left y'all on a cliffy when I stopped the last chapter and almost everyone asked me "Who is at the door?" As some of you know, I don't plan my stories, I just let the words flow. So even I don't know who is at the door until I start writing. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

*Bri

Chapter 10- History

Alice

"What do you mean you're not really sure yet? We're talking about Victoria, she's an escape artist, you all know that. We can't let her esc-"

I turned my head to look at the door, I hadn't seen anyone coming. I instinctively sniffed the air, I gagged, no wonder I hadn't seen them coming. "It's one of your kind." I told Jacob. He walked to the door and looked out of the peep hole for a second. Then he opened the door, "Embry? What are you doing here?" He stood back and let Embry in.

"Ari called me. I can't believe you left us. What about Sam's alpha commands? I thought we couldn't break the power of the alpha?" Embry questioned. "Well, my dad reminded me that I was supposed to be the alpha. The simple phrase that he told me was, 'Just giving you some options.'and that's all it took for me to realize that I could break away. Then I went to Bella's house and when she suggested we run away I couldn't stop myself. So we left. Although it didn't seem to do us any good." I listened as Jacob told his friend his story.

"What do you mean by that Jake?" Embry asked. "Well, the reason these two," he gestured to us, "are here is because Bella is in danger. Again." he finished, rolling his eyes, like it was no big deal. "Danger? What now?" Embry asked. We sat down as Jacob began explaining our situation to Embry. Once he was done Embry said, "I'm staying." Of course, Bella had to object, "No! Embry I will not let you put yourself in danger because of me. Not happening." He just looked at Bella and said, "There's nothing you can do about it."

Bella got up from the couch and stalked back into her room, slamming the door behind her, I followed, knocking gently on the door. "Bella, let me in please." I pleaded. "No. Go away Alice." "Bella, if you don't open this door I'm kicking it in." I heard the lock click and the door swung slowly open. I slipped in and locked it behind me. "Bella? What's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't need anymore of the people I love, vampire or werewolf, to put themselves in danger for me. I've had enough of this, we should just let Victoria have me." She said, crying freely. I stared at her aghast. I couldn't believe she would suggest something like that. "Isabella! You are not allowed to talk like that, at all. Ever! Do you understand me? There are too many people fighting to keep you alive. You are not giving yourself to Victoria. It's just not happening. Jacob, Jasper, and Embry will take care of Victoria and I will take care of Maria. We will get through this. I promise." I stated.

"Are you sure?" she looked at me with the most pleading look in her eyes, wanting to me to confirm that everything will be alright but I can't. With the wolves around I can't see a damn thing and that scares the living shit out of me. "Bella, I'm positive." "You're lying. I can tell, you're lying to me. You can't tell if everything is going to be okay. So don't lie to me ever again, Alice. I can't take anymore fucking lies!" With that she stormed into her bathroom. "And don't even think about knocking on this door!" She yelled, her voice echoing in the bathroom.

I walked back out into the living room, Jacob looked like he was being tortured and I guess he was, seeing Bella suffering like this. It probably hurt him to hear her say that she wished we would let her go to Victoria. "Jacob, you know I won't let her give herself over to that bitch. I would throw myself in front of her before she could get withing 100 feet of her." He looked up at me through damp eyelashes, "I just can't imagine watching her do that, watching her give herself over to that monster. I couldn't do it. I'd die in the process of trying to save her." "We won't have to worry about that. We'll hide her somewhere." Jasper offered. "Where?" Jacob asked. "With my sister." Embry said, the solution suddenly obvious.

Bella

I slammed the door to the bathroom and locked it, after a second I yelled, "And don't even think about knocking on this door!" I knew Alice, I knew she would do it if I didn't tell her not to. All I wanted was to be alone, just for a little while and absorb this all. I walked over to the window in the bathroom and looked out, there was a fire escape right by my window. I thought about it for a second and then decided. They wouldn't come looking for me for about 20 minutes. Alice couldn't see me decide to go.

I walked out of the bathroom, slipped on my flip flops and opened my window. I was hoping it didn't squeak, luck was with me, it slid open quietly. I climbed out of the window and down a couple of levels on the fire escape, but that was as far as I got. Fear gripped me and panic overtook. I couldn't move another inch. I heard the window on the level that I was on open up and an little old man stuck his head out. "Miss, is there something I can help you with? Any particular reason you're sitting on my fire escape?"

"No, sir. I just needed some thinking time. I'm sorry if I'm intruding. I won't stay long." I said. "Oh, don't worry about it darlin'. Stay as long as you'd like, I never use it anyway. I'm Palmer by the way, Palmer Watson." "I'm Bella, Bella Swan. It was nice to meet you." I replied. "Nice to meet you too darlin', I'll leave ya to your thoughts now." He pulled his head back in and lowered the window.

I looked out at the scenery, collecting my thoughts, even though I said I would much rather give myself to Victoria, I didn't mean it. I couldn't do that to Jake, Alice, my dad, and I couldn't do that to...to Edward. As much as I hated everyone putting their lives on the line for me, I couldn't just walk into the cold, marble arms, and burning venom, covered teeth of Victoria.

I was sitting in silence, not thinking anymore, just staring off into the horizon when I hear the sound of a door being kicked in. "BELLA? BELLA? WHERE ARE YOU? BELLA WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?" Jake was yelling at the top of his lungs. I sighed and headed back up to my fire escape. "I'm right here, calm the fuck down." I said, knowing that everyone of them could hear me. I climbed back into the window and felt strong, hot hands, wrap themselves around my biceps.

"Don't you ever do that again, do you hear me? You scared the hell out of me, not to mention Alice nearly had a conniption fit when she couldn't see where you had went because of me and Embry." "Jake, you're hurting me. Let me go. I'm sorry I scared you. I was intending to go walking, but I only made it down a couple of landings when the fear took over and I couldn't go any further." I said, rubbing my arms where Jake had had a death grip. "It doesn't matter if you only made it down a couple of landings. Victoria could have gotten to you just as easily. You know just as well as I do, that vampires can scale buildings." Alice added from my door.

I blushed involuntarily, "Well, forgive me for wanting fresh air. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Now, can you guys please, clear out so I can take a shower and get ready for work?" The guys filed out, but Alice just danced over to my bed and plopped down in the middle, clearly not moving. I just rolled my eyes and headed to the bathroom.

When I got out of the shower I wrapped myself in a towel, knowing that Alice would want to play 'Dress Up Bella', so why even bother with clothes at the moment. I walked out to find Alice already rummaging through my closet, humming to herself. "So what am I wearing today?" I asked trying to pretend I liked being a mannequin. "Oh, I think this will do." She said, as she pulled out a pair of stonewashed jeans and a red baby doll tee. I rolled my eyes, at least it wasn't too bad. "Are you coming with us to work?" I asked her, already knowing the answer.

"Bella," she said, condescendingly. "Of course I'm going with you. You think I'm just leaving you with Jacob to protect you? That's not enough." She said, linking arms with me and dragging me out of my room. Jacob, Jasper, and Embry were all sitting in the kitchen. Jacob had fixed eggs and biscuits. I grabbed a plate and started eating. Everyone sat in silence, until Embry said, "Well, I better go, I'm gonna spend the day catching up with my sister. Jake, if you need anything, call Ariana and ask to talk to me." He said, shaking Jake's hand. "Bella, take care of yourself today." He said, wrapping me in a hug. "I will, Embry." He left waving bye to Alice and Jasper.

Not long after Embry left, we headed out, walking to the bookstore. The walk was silent, I was watching my feet, everyone else was scanning the faces of pedestrians. We got to the bookstore at the same time as Cathy. "Good morning, Jake, Bella. Who are your friends?" She asked, looking Alice and Jasper over suspiciously. "Morning Cathy, this is my best friend Alice, and her boyfriend, Jasper. They are visiting, they may be moving here. But if they stay too long they need some jobs." I said, trying to subtly point out the fact that I wanted them to have a job.

"Well, I'll have to speak with Lucy. I don't think she would mind a couple of extra set of hands. She'll be in a little later. She has an appointment this morning. Which is why I'm here opening up in her place." She laughed and unlocked the door, and we followed her in. "Wait here." I told Alice and Jasper. I walked with Jake to the break room to clock in. When the door closed behind us, Jake pulled me into one of his bone crushing hugs, "I'm sorry for over reacting, but you really did scare me this morning."

I sighed, melting into Jake's hot embrace, "I know, I did Jake, and I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly. I was just so sick of everyone being so willing to lay their lives down for me. I just couldn't handle it anymore." I said, fighting back tears just thinking about someone possibly dying for me. I hadn't noticed that a tear escaped until Jake wiped it away with his thumb. "No one but Victoria, Maria, and Riley are going to die. Alice and I are not going to let them get to you. I couldn't live with myself if I let them come get you." He reassured me. I nodded into his chest, "I know. Okay, let's go to work."

We left the break room and I went to the office behind the register to get the cash drawer. Cathy was sitting behind the desk, looking at the computer, when she noticed me, she looked up, and said, "Oh, hello, dear. Need the money drawer?" "Yes, ma'am." I answered. She handed me the drawer and I headed back out. When I got to the register, Alice was standing at the counter, staring at me. "Why were you crying?"

"I wasn't." I said, telling a partial truth. "Then why are your eyelashes damp?" She said, inspecting my face. "I sneezed." I lied. "Liar," she said, "But if you don't want to tell me that's fine." I felt bad for not telling her about the conversation Jake and I had, but somethings in my life were going to stay private. "What were you thinking earlier when you left like that?" she asked, I could tell I had no way out of it. "I wasn't thinking clearly, I'm sorry, Alice. Really I am. I just couldn't stand it anymore." "That's not much of an explanation, Bella." She said, not happy with me. "Well, that's the only one you're getting." I said and began counting the cash in the drawer.

Jasper

All these emotions are frustrating as hell. I can hardly even think straight. All I can feel from Jacob is love for Bella, well except for when she pulled that disappearing act early, then he was distraught. Bella, oh Bella, she is so confused, she still loves Edward, though she hates him for leaving her. But she also loves Jacob, and more so everyday. Embry, I could feel his loyalty to his best friend and the girl that his best friend loves. Then there's my sweet, little, protective pixie, Alice. When she got that vision of Maria, I instantly felt the pure, untainted anger that was rolling off of her in thick waves. There wasn't a moment where fear overtook her. The only time I felt that was when we left to come here to Bella's aid.

As much as all these emotions were messing with my self control, I knew that if I lapsed, Alice would kill me. Especially when Maria was on her way here and when Bella needed protecting. So I push beyond my comfort zone, and begin thinking of ways to keep Victoria from getting to Bella and how to keep Alice from getting killed, trying to kill Maria. This was not going to be easy. "Jasper?" I heard Jacob's husky voice call to me from a row of books.

"Yes, Jacob?" I asked, trying not to breathe, the smell of dog was overwhelming. "Why did you come?" He asked, it wasn't rude, he was just confused. "Well, Alice loves Bella like a sister, and there is no arguing with her when it comes to saving someone she loves. So it was either, I come with her, or she come alone. I couldn't let her come alone. Now I'm glad that I didn't." I answered. "Why does Bella seem so skittish around you?" The ultimate question, apparently Bella hadn't told Jacob everything.

"Well, on her last birthday, Alice threw her a party. It was going great. She opened her gifts and actually had a pretty good time. Until she began opening the one from Carlisle and Esme she cut her finger on the paper. I haven't been on the 'vegetarian' diet as long as Alice and the rest of my family, so when I smelled the blood, I immediately went into hunting mode. My family managed to drag me out before I could cause Bella any harm. Shortly after that was when my family left Forks." Jacob gaped at me. "Wow, I didn't even think of something like that." I just shook my head, "You wouldn't. You didn't know my history. In fact you still don't, but I'm sure we'll cover that soon enough."

A/N: So love it? Hate it? Did you like seeing inside Jasper's head? What he's sort of going through? Let me know. Review. *bats eyelashes* Please.

*Bri