Jasper's POV

At first, I stiffened in response to Bella's impulsive display. After a moment, however, I relaxed slightly, and even raised one arm to pat her awkwardly on the back. She smelled delicious, like lavender with a hint of something spicier underneath, jasmine, maybe. For the first time since I entered the room, I became aware of the blood pulsing just underneath her creamy, translucent skin, in tune with the rhythm of her heart pounding against my silent chest…that, coupled with the salty-sweet aroma of her tears and the musky scent of her hair…it was all too much. Pushing her aside as gently as I was able, I crossed to the window and, without a backward glance, stepped out into the chill spring rain.

Bella's POV

After Jasper left, I collapsed sobbing onto the bed, feeling broken and empty and ashamed. I couldn't believe I'd done something so phenomenally stupid. I knew how careful I had to be around Jasper. Hadn't I tried to exploit that very same fact, back in Italy? I felt anger surge through me as the tears fell faster, anger at myself, at the world for being so cruel, irrational anger at Jasper for leaving when I needed him so, and Jacob for hurting me simply because he could…I wanted to scream, to pull my hair out by the roots, but I was afraid of waking Charlie.

And then, suddenly, I was sick of it all. Sick of myself and my pathetic reactions, my crying and my feeble body. Wiping the tears away fiercely with the back of my hand, I stumbled into the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, I saw a little girl trapped in a grown up world, small and fragile and weak. I didn't want to rely on others to be my support any more. I wanted to be strong.

Seething with self-hatred, I seized Charlie's clippers. It didn't take long to adjust to the buzzing sound they made as my hair fell like silky curtains to the floor.

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When I awoke a few hours later, the sky was gray with pre-dawn light. I lay curled up in my bed, one hand cradling my shorn head, with no clear recollection of how I'd gotten there. The image of my hair lying on the tile floor was seared into my memory like the image of the sun in my retinas when I regarded it too long, but as to whether I'd bothered to sweep it up, I had no idea. I cringed when I thought of Charlie's probable reaction to this discovery. He would no doubt think I'd lost my mind completely, and though I was not altogether sure I hadn't, I planned on feigning normalcy for as long as my subconscious would allow.

With this in mind, I crept into the bathroom and, after ascertaining that I had in fact remembered to dispose of the evidence of my apparent breakdown, I turned the hot water on full blast and stood directly under it's scalding spray until my skin turned pink and it ceased to feel comforting. Then I wrapped myself in a soft white towel and stood in front of the mirror to examine the damage.

Put simply, I looked like a refugee. I'd become so thin that my limbs were six times too big for my body and I could count each one of my ribs and vertebrae. My collarbones jutted out above the wasteland that used to be my chest, and my face was nothing short of gaunt. The shadows beneath my eyes looked as though they'd been etched onto my skin, and my once lively brown eyes, which I'd always considered my best feature, were hollow and dull. My hair, which was now no more than a centimeter long all over, completed the look. I ran my hand over the bristles again and sighed. Charlie was not going to be happy.

Jasper's POV

I tore through the forest in a frenzy, furious at myself for my reaction to Bella's gratitude. So what if she hadn't been thinking? Who did I think I was, promising to be there for her unconditionally and then fleeing at the first sign of emotion? The strange, deep ache I felt in my chest when I pictured her crying alone forced me to abandon the game I was pursuing and lean up against a tree for support, one hand clutching my chest. I hadn't felt physical pain in years, and never had I felt anything like this…it had to be all in my head. That was the only reasonable explanation. I refused to believe that my invincible vampire body would give out on me now after everything I'd put it through in the early days.

The realization that the pain I felt was purely psychological forced me to face something I previously hadn't wanted to consider: I cared about Bella. The girl who had once been the love of my brother's life had, through some unfathomable twist of fate, become the focus of mine.

Bella's POV

I dressed for school with more care than usual, picking out a soft, plush white sweater that disguised my bony frame and dark skinny jeans that were neither boring nor flashy. Shoving pearl studs through my earlobes, I resisted the urge to throw a beanie over my shaved head. It was better to get the questions out of the way upfront, I thought as I jogged downstairs, forcing myself to stop in the kitchen to grab a bagel and a glass of orange juice. Downing most of the tart drink in one swallow, I filled my thermos with tea instead. Snagging my car keys and coat from the row of hooks beside the door, I thanked any god who was listening for the lack of a confrontation with the still-sleeping Charlie and stepped out of the doorway into the driving rain.

I had almost reached the school when it happened. There was a flash of tan fur, taut muscles clenched tight. I swore and slammed on the brakes, wrenching the steering wheel sideways, but it was too late. I could only watch helplessly as the truck careened forward, the deer's large frightened eyes seemingly fixed on my own. There was a screech, a hideous thud, and then a second impact, more solid than the last. The truck's front end crumpled against it and came to a grinding halt. I was thrown forward in my seat, the shoulder belt the only restraint that stood between me and the windshield. I was suddenly aware of a blinding pain in my leg, and looked down to see that a jagged piece of metal had been thrust into my thigh.

"Bella!" I heard an anguished voice cry. It was the voice of my angel, my soul, my entire reason for living. I smiled as the encroaching darkness obscured my vision, my eyes drifting shut as Edward's sweet lullaby beckoned me home.

A/N: I'm evil, I know. Sorry. I'll try and post the next chapter tomorrow so you won't be in suspense for too long.

Also, effective immediately, the name of this story will be changing to "Redemption." Sorry if this creates a problem for anyone, but it just fits better with the direction I want it to go. Thanks!