A/N: I do not own Twilight, only my own original ramblings inspired by it.

Chapter 10

Bella

The first week on the island was quiet to say the least. Unnerving at times, but welcomed. I hunted early each morning and sat on the beach beside the bonfire every night. Each night under a moon lit sky I would replay that last week of my human life over and over, trying to decipher the exact moment that I lost Edward. Was it when Jasper leapt towards me? On the ride home? Was it something I said that solidified his decision to leave me? How is any of this possible, it's like a bad dream that I long to awaken from. After three solitary sunrises and sun sets I come to accept my new reality, I am a Vampire and Edward is gone.

Just before dusk on Friday Jake returns, I met him on the beach and helped him secure the boat to the tree that he had previously used and helped him carry up the extra nap sacs he brought along with him. Jake enveloped me in a tight embrace and sighed.

"Rough week?" I ask quietly.

"To say the least, yes."

Jake started to unpack his bags when we entered the cabin together. He pulled out extra clean clothes and soap, food for himself and an extra bottle of kerosene for his lanterns. He then sheepishly pulled out his text books and a stack of past due assignments and then looked up at me from under his lashes.

"I'm a little bit behind, if you could imagine."

"Do tell."

"My teachers weren't too impressed with me ditching school for the last few weeks. I missed a few tests but my Dad convinced them to let me make up the work I missed. I have to complete all of the assignments by Monday and will have to write each test during lunch and after school next week."

"Oh, so what you're saying is I have my work cut out for me?"

"Yeah, more or less."

I give him a wide grin and continue to help him unpack.

"That bag is for you." He motioned towards a blue canvas nap sac.

"What's in it?" I ask him as I start to pull out various books, about half a dozen or so.

"Oh wow Jake, for me?"

"Yes, my Dad thought you could use something to occupy your time with while I'm away." I smile up at him while pulling out the last book, as it pulls free from the bag an envelope falls on to the floor.

"What's this?" I ask as I bend over to retrieve it. When I turned it over to look at it, I notice my name is scrolled across it in a neat script.

Jake looked up quickly and glanced at the letter in my hand.

"Oh, that's from my Dad, he wanted to talk to you about some things."

"Oh."

"Um, I'm going to start of the fire, kind of getting hungry already."

"Okay, I'll meet you outside in a minute."

Jake walked out side leaving me alone with my letter.

Dear Bella,

This is not something I ever imagined having to discuss with you. I'd like to say from now that I'm so very sorry I have to have this kind of conversation with you. You were always thought of as family Bella, you and Charlie both. And for that reason alone I will try to make this as easy as I can.

(Oh boy here it comes.)

As you must already know but bears repeating, you now are to follow the conditions of the treaty put into place when the Cullen's first came to the Olympic Peninsula. As such, you are no longer allowed to set foot on Tribal Land. If at any point you pose a threat to; harm; bite; or kill a human, then the treaty will be revoked and you will have to be destroyed.

I urge you to follow these rules and remain in control of yourself at all times. It took quite a bit of convincing to persuade the tribes to let you go unharmed. Many are upset that the ceremony did not take place as planned and will look for any reason at all to come and find you. The fact that you were changed against your will and have a long standing relationship with members of our tribe we were able to insure your safety, for now.

I will always look out for your father; you need not worry about him. It pains me to see how much he is suffering right now. He continues to search for you; it is thought that an animal has taken you, and you are assumed dead. But Charlie continues to hope that one day you will come back to him.

Jacob has my permission to continue to visit with you on the island, for now. And you have permission to stay on it, but remember you are to stay away for La Push and for the safety of others I am asking that you do not return to Forks, it is simply too dangerous. But Bella, hear me now; as much as I think of you as family, Jacob is my son. He is my flesh and blood and I will not have danger come to him in any way and by anyone. So you must know that if you harm my son I will be the one coming after you.

I truly wish that none of this had happened and I am sorry for what you are about to embark upon. I wish you the best Bella, always.

Stay safe,

Billy

When I finished reading the letter I released the breath that I was holding. I stared dumbfounded at it for a few moments before I folded it up and replaced it in its sleeve. The sun was dipping into the ocean as I made my way down the beach towards Jacob.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"I take it you read the letter."

"Yup."

We sat silent for a few moments before I started to ask him about his week. Sure enough it was a roller coaster of emotions for everyone back at La Push. Billy was relieved to see his son return and then scolded him for endangering his life. The tribal meetings were heated to say the least. At one point Paul and Jacob began to square off with one another until Sam ordered Paul to back down. The tribal leaders argued into the night as to what to do with the new Vampire and reluctantly agreed to extend the treaty.

Jacob continued talking between bites of his supper and finally began to relax. He then told me about the search parties and the rumours circulating in town.

Jacob took a deep breath before he started to recount the various stories. The first and the most obvious one was that the Cullen's had vanished a day or two before my disappearance. I could almost feel my blood begin to boil as he continued.

"Yeah, Charlie was able to contact Dr. Cullen in Alaska of all places, and he told your father that they left a few days prior and that everyone in the family could vouch for Edward on the night in question. He even went as far as to have his lawyer draft a sworn affidavit that they were already unpacking they're new home on the night you disappeared. Can you believe that?"

Through clenched teeth I sharply answered "No."

"The other rumours were that you ran off with them and that they are hiding you. You killed yourself because he broke up with you for Lauren (insert eye roll). And now, the most probable: you were attacked by a bear and drug off."

His voice continued almost as a whisper, "The only thing they can't quite figure out is what made you wander off on your own. Charlie is still holding out for your safe return just based on this alone, he even started to check the database for other girls fitting your description, but that was almost a dead end. There was only one girl with your vague description that went missing a few months ago from Seattle."

When I made no attempt to speak he asked if I liked the books he brought with him for me to read. "I know, a library and everything!" he chuckled, "You should have seen Quil's face when he saw me coming out with all those books; he thought I had lost my mind surly, especially when he noticed they were all Chic Fic's."

He continued to ramble on about anything and everything in order to change the subject but I remained silent within my thoughts. He lied. I could feel a coil tightening within my body aching to burst. After all the would be tears I longed to shed over Edward, I was now slowly simmering with anger towards him.

I shook off my bad mood and put on a happy face for Jacob's behalf the following morning. I left before dawn for an early hunt and when I returned I began to pulling out Jacob's assignment's and laid them on the table while he finished his breakfast. The remainder of the weekend was spent tutoring Jake and making sure he would a satisfactory grade on his assignments.

On Sunday Jacob packed up and began to head down to the boat. After a quick good bye, once again I waved him farewell from my spot on the shore. All the while in the back of my mind stewing over Edward's grave betrayal. Boy, what I'd give to be with in arms reach of him right now.

A/N: Thank you all for your reviews, each and every one. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The next chapter is under way and will be out soon. We are in for a bumpy ride.

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