Disclaimer: Without the great Stephenie Meyer, where would I get my inspiration?

Chapter 9: Alone

"Oh dear, I'm not finished packing!" my mother said as she flew past me on the stairs. Saturday morning had started with a whirlwind of activity: my mother of course was unprepared for their road trip.

It was amusing to watch her run around, grab something, set it down somewhere, then spend the next five minutes searching for it again. "Mom, do you need help?" I asked with a laugh.

"Oh Becca, please!" She handed me the list of groceries I had failed to get the night before. "I added some things I needed for the trip." Deodorant, contact solution, face wash. The list went on to name snacks that were probably worse for someone than stopping at McDonald's.

"Mom," I whined, wishing she had told me to help by looking for her bracelet (which I knew for a fact she'd set on the bookshelf in the living room), "couldn't you just, oh I don't know, stop on the way there?"

"Becca, there's no time. Now be a doll and hurry!" She dashed past me to the bookshelf and held the bracelet up in triumph. "Now where did I put that blouse?" she muttered, taking the stairs two at a time.

"Try the bathroom!" I yelled, as I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

"What do you mean? I wouldn't have left it in the bath—thank you, honey!"

I rolled my eyes, knowing she would take another hour just to collect all of her belongings. My mother was a bit scatterbrained but in an endearing sort of way.

Forks Outfitters was bustling with life when I arrived. Mothers and daughters hurried through the produce section while grumpy men gravitated towards the sports area, still grumbling about being dragged away from their ESPN.

I paused at the entrance, the people behind me huffing indignant "excuse me's" as they brushed past. My eyes darted to the camping supply area searching for any unbelievably gorgeous yet intimidating men. Satisfied with the fat or balding (or in some cases, both) men gathering there, I made my way farther into the store to get the items my mother had so desperately wanted.

I didn't know why I was so worried about the men I'd seen the previous night. They didn't even say anything to me really, or do more than just look at me curiously. But something about them felt wrong, almost unnatural. It was the hair-raising feeling when you walk into a dark room, the same feeling I had when in the woods near the lonely white house. And while that feeling was telling me to run, I was sucked in, entranced by their perfect features. Sort of like those crazy tornado chasers. They know the danger of going too close, but they can't help but to watch in fascination as a house gets torn to bits.

My mother was less frenzied by the time I got back. She was still searching for her mascara which I found in the refrigerator while putting the groceries away.

"Oh, darling. Are you sure you'll be fine home alone for a week?" she fussed, brushing my long dark hair out of my face.

"Mom, I'll be fine. Really," I insisted.

My dad came down the stairs, ruffled my hair, and patted my mom's butt. Ugh. They were probably silently jumping for joy at the fact I wasn't coming. 'No, bad thoughts. Don't think them, Becca…Damn it.' My brain was not enjoying the idea of my parents hotel hopping for a week without any distractions.

I shuddered and grabbed a ho-ho before my mom could take the bag out to the car.

"Here's fifty dollars," my dad said, handing me a few bills. "Maybe you can invite a few friends over and have pizza." I didn't want to mention the only person I wanted to have over would most likely ignore my invitation. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" His eyes were full of fatherly concern.

"I wish people would stop asking me that!" I threw up my hands in frustration. "Go, I'll be fine. No parties or boys or staying up on school nights. Scouts honor."

My parents hugged me goodbye. My mother was a little tearful; goodbyes were always a bit hard on her, no matter how long the separation would be.

"We'll call when we get there!" my dad yelled out the window as they drove away.

"Finally," I sighed, closing the door. I grabbed my grandma's journal, a soda, and the previously snagged ho-ho and settled myself on the couch.

May 14th, 2006

Graduation is looming closer and I haven't chosen where I want to go yet. College was always my second choice. I suppose I could always take a semester off and then decide. Not that I haven't been receiving acceptance letters. The problem is I haven't applied to these colleges. Dartmouth? Syracuse? Yale? Really? Does he think I won't notice? Or does he just expect me to be thankful for being a charity case? The only normal acceptance letter I received was from University of Washington, and I worked days on that essay. I drove to their empty house and threw all of the unwanted acceptance letters through the broken window. Let him see I don't need any of his help.

My breath caught in the back of my throat. A broken window at a house? Could it be the same one? Could it possibly be true that her ex-love's house and the abandoned one I frequented were one and the same? It seemed fantastic and impossible, but my heart still jumped in my throat.

There hadn't been anything in the house. No papers, no sign of my grandma's vandalism other than the obviously shattered window. Someone had been back. Did he come back for her only to find she was happy with my grandpa?

Against my better judgment, I got in my car and drove the now familiar road to the house. If there was someone there, I'd just introduce myself and ask if they knew anything of the history. Nothing suspicious about that. Who would be crazy enough to break into a house and then come back to talk to the owners?

'What about what Grandpa said?' the more responsible side of me argued. I banished that thought easily. What my grandpa doesn't know won't hurt him, right? It was Adam's fault that everyone knew about the house anyway. The thought of him "telling on me" made me seethe. I pushed the gas pedal down just a little harder. Just a quick visit and no one would know any better.

The long driveway was actually harder to navigate with a car. Overgrown bushes and low-hanging branches scraped my doors, and I hoped there was no permanent damage. Grandpa would definitely notice any abuse to this particular car.

Finally, I caught a glimpse of the lonely white monstrosity through the primordial trees. The windows were dark, and no cars appeared to be in the driveway. I got out of my car cautiously, listening for any noises. I climbed the steps to the front door and knocked three times, loud enough that someone on the third floor would have heard me. Silence followed and I knocked again. When I was sure no one would answer, I tested the lock and froze. Adam and I had made sure to lock the door before we left, positive that everything was in the same state as when we arrived. Yet, when I tried the handle, the door swung open freely.

"Hello?" I attempted to announce my presence, but my voice was strangled. My first few steps into the house were small and cautious. It was almost dark outside, and it was difficult to see anything in the rising shadows.

Hello?" I called out again. Nothing. I slowly moved into the next room, the room with the broken window. There was nothing on the floor around it. Even in the gloom I could see that. I looked closer at the layer of dust coating the floor. With the last few rays of light, I noticed something. I bent down to study the slight inconsistency of the dust. In one spot it was thin and not as opaque as the rest around it. Something had sat here, more recently than anything else. Still, it had been years since whatever had been here (college acceptance letters?) had been moved.

This was the same house. I was sure of it. My mind reeled with the discovery. My grandma had been here, had possibly stood in the same place I was right now. The boy she loved had lived here and had taken her heart with him when he left.

I made my way back to the car and turned to look at the house. "Who do you belong to?" I asked out loud.

Suddenly a loud and terrifying howl ripped through the air, sounding as if it came from behind me. I whirled around, eyes scanning the driveway and the forest surrounding it. Was that something moving in the brush? Were those the glow of eyes watching me? My heart hammered as I stumbled against my car, reaching for the handle without taking my eyes off the greenery encasing me. I fumbled with my keys once inside and only stopped to breathe once the engine was running and all doors were locked.

I kept my eyes peeled for movement as I made my way back down the drive. At one point I saw a large shadow move farther into the woods. 'It's too big…and quick. It's probably just a deer,' I tried convincing myself.

I relaxed as soon as I made it home. Well, I relaxed as much as possible. With everything I'd just learned in the few short hours my parents had been gone, it was impossible to unwind. That and I had an eerie feeling that the eyes I thought I'd seen in the woods were still gazing at me unblinkingly from outside the window. I shook my head, trying to convince myself that I was just freaked out because my parents weren't home.

Monday came after what seemed like a lifetime. Both Saturday and Sunday night were filled with howls somewhere in the woods nearby. I'd make sure to tell my dad about the increasing wolf problem as soon as he got home. I wouldn't have to worry about it for the rest of the week. I made up my mind as I turned into the parking lot: I would drive to Grandpa's after school. I wasn't going to let Adam think he got away with telling everyone about our little adventure. If he thought he was in the clear, he had another thing coming.

"Becca!" a voice called from behind me. I turned to see Jesse Booker pushing his way through the student-filled parking lot. "Wait up!"

I rolled my eyes and leaned against my car. "What do you want, Jesse?" I asked when he got close enough. His hair was messy and face seemed haggard. I glanced to the arm he was favoring, a white cast peeking from under his sweatshirt.

"What happened?" I questioned, nodded my head toward his arm.

"Oh, I was camping with my parents near Mt. Baker. Broke my arm." As he kept rambling on about how the terrible accident had occurred, I started to tune him out. How easy it was to find him annoying once I was over his looks. "The closest hospital was in Monroe. It was such a long drive! Thank God Dr. Cullen was there. By 4 a.m. I was all patched up and out of there."

My brain snapped to attention. "Did you say Dr. Cullen?"

Jesse looked confused by my sudden outburst. "Yeah, I'm sure that was his name. I remember because my mom kept talking about him on the ride home. He was the only doctor on call. Why?"

"I don't know. The name just sounds familiar." Like an itch I couldn't scratch, the name tickled at my memory, just out of reach.

"Well, the reason I wanted to talk to you was because I wanted to apologize," he said, making his voice sound appropriately earnest and sincere. "I was stupid and I messed up and I just wanted you to know that I—"

"Amy Crowley broke up with you didn't she?" I choked back a laugh. Served him right for being a cheater.

"It's not just that," he started, his cheeks flaming unattractively.

"You need a date to prom?" I guessed and wasn't able to hold back the laugh that erupted at the hopeful look on his face.

"Sorry," I said, patting his shoulder. "I'm going in a group date…Amy Crowley invited me." It was a lie, but it was worth seeing his stunned expression before I turned towards my first class.

The driveway at my grandpa's was empty when I got there, but I could hear boisterous laughs coming from within. I opened the door cautiously to reveal a group of people, some I hadn't seen in years.

My grandpa turned to see who had arrived. His face dropped for a split second—just long enough for me to see—before he regained his composure. "Rebecca," he announced, opening his arms. The room was suddenly very quiet and very tense. All eyes were on me.

"Hi, Grandpa." I shuffled nervously into his arms. "Is this a bad time?" I whispered into his ear.

"No, of course not. You all remember Rebecca?" he asked, turning his attention to the group crowding his living room.

Dan and Connor were sitting on the floor beside the couch. They nodded their heads in my direction, both flashing tense smiles. Dan seemed older than normal, as if he was suddenly years beyond his twin.

I noticed Henry Call sitting close to his grandfather. Evan Ateara, the youngest in the room, sat next to the Calls. Everyone, young and old, was staring at me.

"Hi." I managed to sound calm, though their intense stares were unnerving me. I felt as if I'd just grown two heads or started talking in foreign tongues. It wasn't exactly the 'welcome back' I'd imagined.

I turned back to my grandpa, giving him a hopeful look. "I'm actually here because I was wondering if I could stay with you for the rest of the week. There've been a lot of wolves around the house, and I can't get any sleep."

Someone snorted loudly. I glanced back to see Henry smacking Evan on the back of the head. Evan smiled sheepishly and cleared his throat, suddenly finding his fingernails particularly interesting.

Grandpa Jacob gave them both a stern look before answering me. "Sure, sure. No problem. Dan, help Rebecca bring her things into the house."

Dan nodded and stood, towering above me, waiting for me to take the lead. The minute we were clear of the house, I breathed a sigh of relief. Dan glanced down at me, raising an eyebrow.

My shoulders rose as a non-committal answer. I wanted to ask him where Adam was—if anyone knew, it would be Dan—but I didn't want him to think that was the only reason I was here (it was the majority of the reason, but he didn't need to know that either).

"Wolves, huh?" he asked, grabbing a bag from the backseat of my car.

"Yeah, they set up shop in the woods behind my house, apparently. Can't get any sleep. I feel like they're watching me. It's creepy."

He shook his head and smiled. "So you'll be staying here the rest of the week?"

"That's the plan."

"Good," he said, shouldering my bags and walking back towards the house.

I didn't understand why he sounded so relieved, but I decided not to question him. As we walked through the door, the entire room went silent again. I had the feeling that I had been the hot topic of conversation just seconds before. Dan took my bags to my childhood bedroom—a setting for much of our adventures as young kids—and returned to his brother's side.

"I'm gonna get going," he announced, looking around the room. The others stood up and began muttering about how they 'were late' or 'needed to start dinner' or, in the case of Evan, 'left their porn out in the open and mom would be home soon.' Henry smacked him in the back of the head again. Everyone gave me a hug and told me how glad they were to see me. I noticed how short I was compared to everyone else.

"What have they been feeding you guys? You're monsters!" I laughed as Evan and Henry hugged me at the same time. Henry's smile faltered, but Evan's stretched from ear to ear.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he teased, ruffling my hair. I rolled my eyes and punched him in the arm. I think it hurt me more than him, and he chuckled as I examined my sore knuckles.

Once everyone had made their exit, I turned to my grandpa, whose uncomfortable expression only confirmed my suspicions. He knew something.

And I was determined to know what it was.

A/N: Another update for you guys! Sorry it takes so long for me to update. Unfortunately (and I do mean that when I say it) I have a life outside of writing. I wish I could write all the time but it doesn't always work out that way. I'm also writing a novel right now, and it could use some attention.

Twilight the movie…what did you guys think? I've seen it four times already and well…I think that speaks for itself. I could gush about it forever, but here's the shortened version: Jasper equals my new lover. Rob's accent was sex and Alice was perfection! I adored the baseball scene, and Rob's song in the ballet scene almost brought me to tears.

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed. I was happy to see my story reach 100 reviews and SO blown away when I got to 117! You guys ROCK!

To answer a few questions:

Yes, it was Jasper and Emmett in the store. The Cullens aren't going to suddenly appear in the story again (sorry), but they are going to start making appearances. Everyone do a happy dance!

sbeller: Yes, Bella and Becca do look alike (though due to her Native American roots, Becca is noticeably tanner)

Any other questions you have, feel free to ask. I may not be able to answer everything at the risk of giving away the plot, but ask away!