I shut my eyes, and buried my head in my hands.

"Bella?" Someone shook my shoulder.

I screamed.

"Bella, Bella, stop, its me!"

I shook my head, my hands still covering my face. "No, no, please!" I sobbed, shrinking away.

"Bella!" The person shook me harder, "It's Edward!"

Edward? I knew that name. My screams slowly died down.

"It's just me." He repeated, his voice softer now.

I lifted my head out of my hands, and saw Edward standing in front of me, concern written on his brow.

"Oh, Edward," I shakily moved aside for him to sit, and he did so, putting his arm around me.

"Bella, please tell me what happened," His voice sounded pained, as if he couldn't take much more of this.

""I hear him," I gulped the fog, trying to breathe evenly, "everywhere. No matter where I am, he's there. He's going to come for me, and when he does-" I let the sentence hang in the air, imagining it seemed much too horrible.

"He's not there, really Bella, it's all in your head," he rested his head on mine, he suddenly began to shake with anger "and if he ever shows up..."

I nodded.

he sighed, controling himself. "Please. Come inside."

I stood, and allowed him to escort me inside. Before I entered the building, I could've sworn I heard a low chuckle, echoing as it got farther and farther away.

--

Jordan's POV

"Jordan."

I stared out the window of the hotel, not listening.

"Jordan!"

I turned my head, surprised to find Jeff looking at me funny.

"Yes?" I didn't know how long he had been calling me, but I tried to pull myself back into reality.

"Jordan, is anything wrong? You have been really distracted all day," He came to sit next to me on the bed, putting his arm around me.

"Well," I said hesitantly.

"Yes?" he urged.

I surprised him by slapping my hand on the bed. "Jeff, I am positive that it was Bella last night at the restaurant. Im sure of it!"

I could tell he was restraining from rolling his eyes. "Jordan,"

I stood, "No Jeff, listen." He folded his hands, and looked up at me expectantly.

"I'm listening."

"Last night, did you see her face? She looked scared. Like she was warning me to stay quiet, and she kept looking around nervously."

"Of course she looked around nervously, who wouldn't after wrongly being accused of being another person?" He smiled, his eyes sympathetic. "Look Jordan, you can't keep doing this."

He stood, putting his hand on my shoulder. "Remember in California when you accused the lifeguard of being Bella?"

"I didn't accuse her, she just looked like her from behind," I contradicted.

"Or the woman in Oregon?" he prompted. "How about the saleswoman at the bookstore?"

I shook my head getting angry, "Jeff!" I pushed his arm from around me. "I know it was her! I just know it!" I was shaking now, why didn't he believe me? "You know what Jeff? If you aren't going to believe me, I guess I will just have to go back to that restaurant and find her myself. To prove you wrong."

Before I could storm out of the room, however, Jeff grabbed my hand, sighing in exasperation.

"I'm coming," He grabbed the keys of the desk, and we both left hurriedly.

--

I felt bad for leaving Edward. He had asked me to stay with him in his classroom till lunch was over, but I needed to settle some affairs.

I walked into the counselors office. I walked to the sweet looking secretary at the desk. "Um," she looked up at the sound of my voice. "Could I please speak with Mr. Browning please?"

She nodded, pressing a button to the left of her. "Mr. Browning, there is a young lady here to see you-"

He interrupted her. "Send her in."

I nervously wrung my hands as she gestured for me to enter through the door on the right.

"Thank you," I said timidly, though I doubt she heard me.

"Ah, young Elizabeth," said the man in the large armchair, emphasizing the name in a gloating fashion.

"Mr. Browning," I said, stepping forward.

He was a very fat, balding man in a cheap suit. What little hair he had, was combed over his greasy head to give the appearance of more hair.

"Have a seat," He gestured to the uncomfortable looking chair in front of his desk. "Long time no see."

I nodded, and sat quickly, shivering as if with the cold. Although his office was surprisingly warm, but stifling.

He got right down to business, "You missed a payment last month," he said, smirking.

I nodded, "Yes, I just came here to explain that. See, since finals were last month, I wasn't able to put in as many hours over at the restaurant, and so I was unable to make enough money for you."

I reached in my purse and extracted a wad of bills. "Here, this is what I can give you now, but I am afraid I will have to give the rest to you later." I set the money on his desk.

"Bella, Bella, Bella," He said, shaking his head sadly. "See, you are paying last months debt, what on earth are you going to do about this month?"

I swallowed. "I-I'm having a little difficulty at my workplace-"

"You were fired, you mean," He said, an almost pleased smile creeping over his face.

I almost gasped. "How did you kno-"

"I happen to be very good friends with your employer, well, EX employer, Bob Jackson. I have been keeping tabs on you, see."

I swallowed again, my throat very dry. Too dry to talk.

He was quiet for a moment, before he stood and slowly paced the room.

"Bella," He smiled down at me, though his eyes flashed with something I didn't recognize. "You do know that you don't have to pay me with money," he emphasized, walking to my side.

"I mean, look at the situation, you are out of a job, with no way of paying me. There is no way of knowing whom I may spill the beans to," his smile widened, and he put his arm around my shoulder. "The board of education, the police," He paused, "Your foster parents."

I shivered.

"It would just be easier on the both of you if you just gave in."

His breath smelled awful, like sauerkraut, and onions. Foul.

"I promise not to hurt you this time," He put a hand on my thigh, and my first instinct was to break it, but I withheld, hatred flooding through me. "I am very sorry about last time, but whomever had given you those previous tally marks, well, you have to admit its genius. Keeping score. I just had to put my mark there." He put his lips to my neck and began biting, his breathing ragged. "I honestly had no idea you were so fragile, so breakable, or else i wouldn't have lost my temper, I am sorry, I'll never do it again." His voice was soft, and it made my stomach churn with nausea. He slid his hand higher up my thigh till it reached its mark, and he squeezed, hard.

I jumped to my feet, coiling away from his body, disgusted. I moved to the door and opened it, ready to dash.

His words stopped me, and I turned to see his face, hard and serious once again. "Think it over Miss Anderson, because to me, it seems you have no choice."

I quickly shut the door, and ran out of the office, away from the questioning eyes of the secretary.