A/N: I decided to keep Bella's guy a secret until the end. I'm sorry if you're disappointed, but I can't see this Bella getting any closer to Edward. Maybe I'll come up with something. Hmm…I think I have just the thing. Enjoy! Oh, and Bella meets a/the shifter(s). This will probably be a really long chapter…well compared to the usual. There's a lot going on.

Naked Wheelchairs

Bella's POV

The next day at lunch, I was bombarded with questions. Jasper simply whispered, "I told you so." He told me that his family freaked when Jasper was at my house, Alice especially. Jasper disappeared completely from her vision and Edward couldn't read his mind. Even Emmett seemed worried.

"Alice," I snapped my fingers in front of her face and she turned her frantic eyes on me.

"Please, please, please, Bella, let me see him. Please," she begged, desperation etched on her perfect face.

"Uh…I'm sorry Alice. I gave Jasper a gift, for privacy, you know? It's kind of…" I glanced at Jasper, "irreversible." I knew that was a lie. My blood would wear off in a month or two. Jasper sent waves of calm and amusement around the table and tried to lighten the mood.

"Well, at least I can surprise you on our anniversary for once," he chuckled and Alice giggled with just an edge of hysteria.

"How'd you do it?" Emmett asked like the big lug he was.

"I…I put my…" I tilted my head trying to think of a good lie. Then I shook my head, "I don't like to get too technical. I did what I did and I can't undo it. Let's leave it at that."

Jasper and I avoided the questions, changing the subject very smoothly whenever someone tried to bring it up again.

Alice's eyes glazed over ten minutes from the bell.

"I don't get it. What does it mean?" Edward mumbled, brow furrowed in concentration.

"Alice, what do you see darlin'?" Jasper asked, grasping her hand in his own.

"I…It…It's too blurry…" Alice said. She shook her head as if it would make her vision clearer.

"Tell us what you can make out," Jasper suggested.

"Someone's coming, a vampire. I don't know when. I don't know why. I can see him talking to someone," Alice replied.

"Can you hear what they're saying?"

"No, not really. I can just make out the name 'James' and something about a blood bag." My eyes widened as I connected the visitor to my past. Jasper was staring at me, curious and somewhat protective.

"I wonder what it means," Edward pondered.

I stood and left without a word or glance back at the vampires at the table.

I immersed myself in my thoughts during the weekend trying to figure out who this man was. This man that made my memories collide with each other in my internal apocalypse. I remembered things I kept from Jasper. Those two insignificant recollections made me break down. Only…they're not so insignificant.

Number one: they found me when I was little. They came back once every three months to take some blood ever since then.

Number two: they killed my best friend. They promised me they wouldn't kill him if I came with them, but they lied and I saw him die. I couldn't do a thing to stop it and he died.

I drowned in my terrible past for two and a half days. The tears rolled silently down my face. When my dad found me in my room, he stayed with me for the first night, rubbing my back and telling me everything was going to be okay. I was only slightly aware of his presence. He ghosted in and out when he had to make a phone call. Or bringing me food that I didn't touch. Or doing what else he did that needed to be done. He stayed, falling asleep in the rocking chair near the window. As he slept, I saw the worry in his face smooth away.

I went down stairs the next morning to make my dad breakfast. I masked my face with happiness. I convinced him that I was okay. He didn't ask why I was so distraught. It was like he knew I wouldn't want to talk about it. Billy called and asked him if he wanted to go fishing. My dad hesitated, glancing at me, but I urged him to go saying I had plans with Jasper.

Half an hour later, he was gone and I was back in my bed, letting thoughts of Miloh engulf me. When Dad came home I acted as if nothing was wrong, but the next day, I did the same.

On Monday, we drew people who meant something. When Mr. Munster came around asking the significance of our drawing, I was finally able to smile and reply, "My best friend."

When Jasper asked me about what happened on Friday, I shrugged it off telling him my stomach hurt. He was skeptical, arguing that he tried calling me repeatedly over the weekend.

"I had the flu," that was my excuse when lunch came around and I stuck to it. The Cullens accepted my answer when my determination won over theirs.

The weeks passed and I saw myself getting closer to Jasper. He reminded me a lot of Miloh and I liked him more than I should, but I wouldn't act on it. I would never dream of saying anything. After all, it was just a crush.

Edward backed off a little, but Mike didn't.

"So, what do you think?…Bella?" I heard a voice.

"Huh?" I replied, sitting straighter and more aware than when I was spaced out.

"I just asked if you wanted to go to the dance…with me?" Mike asked.

I groaned internally. "Dance…? Isn't it girl's choice?" I asked.

He rubbed the back of his head. I heard Edward silently growling next to me.

"Well…yeah, but I wanted to see if you were going to ask me."

I quirked my eyebrow in disbelief. "Sorry, Mike, I have…someone in mind…I heard that Jessica asked you. You should go with her."

"Who?" he asked, completely ignoring my suggestion.

"I, uh…" I trailed off, trying to think of someone. Jasper came to mind, but I shooed the thought away, blurting the next name I could think of. "Edward." Baise! I cringed at the thought, cursing my foul tongue. "Uh huh, I was going to ask Edward." I could practically hear the smile creeping on his face and sure enough, when I turned to face him, he had the goofiest grin I've ever seen. I groaned and he chuckled as Mike walked away.

"I knew you wanted me," Edward said boldly. I pinched his hard arm, breaking the skin. "Ow."

"Shut up," I warned, irritated.

He smirked, "Isn't there something you want to ask me?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Shut up," I growled.

"Bu-"

"Finish that sentence and I will beat you with my iron wit."

He gawked at me, his face contorted in confusion. "What?"

"You do not want to go there, Edward."

We sat in uncomfortable silence until Edward decided to say something. His voice softened from his earlier self assurance. He actually sounded nervous, "So, do you want to go?"

I scowled playfully, feeling bad, "I guess I have no choice…"

I left school early that day and traveled deep into the forest to practice my shield so my skills could continue to expand. I meditated under a tall tree allowing every little sound to be heard. I heard the birds. The wind. The scamper of paws. I heard whimpering.

I opened my closed eyes and stood quickly, focusing on the sound. I thought I heard something strange. Something familiar. I heard it again and without hesitation, I ran. I ran towards the distinct growls of vampires.

The first thing I saw was a giant black wolf being thrown into a tree by a group of nomads. I heard the bones crack and the wolf turned into a man. The man from the beach. Is this Sam?

I turned back to the three male vampires who were now staring at me curiously. The man (am) stares at me, defeat and desperation in his eyes. He's defenseless. Vulnerable. Fury rages in me a growl escaping my clenched teeth. I turn to the vampires who haven't attacked me yet. With my shield I tore them to shreds, they didn't have time to scream. I pulled out my lighter and set fire to the pieces.

I turn back to the man after I can avoid it no longer. He's still staring at me too many emotions play behind his almost black eyes that I am unable to know what he is thinking. I approach him slowly.

I crouch down so I'm at eye level with him. "Are you okay?" I ask, nonchalantly.

He stares at me with those wide eyes and he whispers, "But…I can hear your heartbeat…"

"Uh…yeah…are you okay?" I repeat. "I heard bones crack."

"I guess…I," he hangs his head to see his legs. Both bones are sticking out weird angles. "I guess I broke my legs."

"Well, shiznits, do you need a doctor or something?" I ask, truly concerned.

"I just need to wrap them up and go home. I'm a fast healer," he answers awkwardly.

"Do you need some help? I can get you home…"

"Uh…"

"Well that's settled," I lift him in my arms, bridal style, earning a very unmanly yelp of surprise.

"Put me down," he growls.

"Not a chance." I started running towards the reservation at full speed stopping at the edge of the forest. I bet this would be a sight to see. All five feet and three inches of this average girl-weighing approximately ninety three pounds-carrying a fully grown man-six foot something, weighing around two hundred pounds. I chuckled at the image and put him down on the ground. "Stay."

I jogged to Billy's house which was very close to where I left Sam. When I knocked on the door, Billy answered.

"Bella, what are you doing here?" he inquired.

"Hi Billy. Can I borrow your spare wheelchair?" I asked. He was about to say something but I stopped him abruptly saying, "You don't want to know."

He quirked his eyebrow but didn't ask any questions, "It's in the garage."

"Thanks Billy. I owe you a meal or something," I ran out to Jake's garage, waving bye. I hurriedly retrieved the wheelchair and carried it to where I left Sam. He was poking his leg, assessing the damage, wincing whenever he touched the bone.

"Quick it, you're gonna make that bruise bigger," I warned, swatting his hand away. I picked him up and set him on the chair.

"Uhm…" Sam begins.

"Yes?"

"I'm still naked," he replies.

I laughed. "Oh right." I took off my sweater and covered his nakedness. "Now then, where do you live?"

"Uh…"

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Besides, I think we're on the same side," I smiled.

Sam looked hesitant but agreed, telling me his address. I wheeled him down to a little house near the woods, keeping close to the trees. I heard clattering of pots in the house and footsteps running towards the door. A woman with long black hair and a scarred face ran out, looking worried.

"Sam, what happened?" she asked. He groaned in response and she turns her gaze to me.

I smile meekly. "Hi there."

"Bring him inside, if you would," she responds.

I follow her inside and ask where the bedroom is. I send her away from the room she leads me to, asking for towels, wrappings, and something I could use as a brace. When she returns, I can see her narrowed eyes. I recognize her as the woman from the beach. It certainly isn't a good thing if a chickadee walks in on her man, naked in the arms of another woman.

"What the heck are you doing?" she growls.

"I'm uh…putting him on his bed," I respond. "Why so hostile? I saved his naked butt."

He chuckles.

I turn my attention back to him, my expression gone completely serious, "This is gonna hurt so brace yourself." I broke the bones in his legs again because they would have healed at a strange angle. He screamed profanities while his girl watches with wide eyes. With my shield, I will the bones in each leg to align the way they should be set. I reached for the wrappings and pieces of metal in her hands and quickly wrapped and braced his legs.

"There you go," I said, smiling.

"Jeez, you should warn a guy-" he started, wincing.

"I did warn you," I cleared my throat to prove my point, "and I quote, 'This is gonna hurt so brace yourself.' Does your memory suck that much? Hey, we never introduced ourselves. I'm Bella. Swan? Charlie's kid."

"I saw you with Jake and them that day on the beach. My name's Sam Uley, and this is Emily Young. My Emily." He looked up at Emily with such love in his eyes that I felt uncomfortable. After a silence much too long and awkward for my liking, Sam spoke up.

"What are you?" he asked.

I didn't feel like explaining my story. I was relieved when I heard Sam's stomach growl.

He laughed patting his stomach. Emily pulled the covers over his still naked form.

"Someone's hungry," Emily said kissing him on the forehead, "I made some muffins."

"Mmm."

"Would you like some too, Bella?" Emily asked me.

"Uhm, yeah. I can eat," I rubbed my empty stomach, remembering I hadn't eaten since Friday morning, "Actually, I'm famished." As if on cue, my stomach let out a growl that could have won Sam's.

The couple laughed and Emily brought us muffins.

A/N: I told my sister that the very last word of this chapter would be muffins. I was right. Yay! Okay, so, what did you guys think? Before you guys ask, NO, Bella will not be getting with Jasper. It's just a crush and YES crushes are possible in the Twilight series. I don't think Stephanie Meyers understand the concept of a crush. It always has to be love at first sight. That bothers me. Any who, I got off topic. What do you think about all these interesting developments and whatnot? Review for preview(: