I apologize for not updating in about 6 months. Life got really busy and then I sort of forgot where I was going with these next few chapters. Nevertheless, I have a great new direction where I'm going and updates will be coming sooner than biannually from now on. Enjoy~

Chapter 11

EPOV

My back was pressed against the cool, stone wall, my gun gripped tightly between my fingers. Emmett stood across the alley, mirroring my posture as we prepared for the runaway, who had escaped from the house a week back, returning to his dad's bar in central Seattle. We didn't think much of it then; he was days from being sent back. A couple days ago, Jasper realized what he had.

"What do we do when we get him back?" Emmett mumbled.

"I have no idea. Let's play it by ear this time." This was new, even for me. No one ever escaped. And no one ever managed to steal. My brother rolled his eyes at my distracted response.

"Ed, you've been like this for too long. Why don't you just go talk to Swan—" I didn't let him get much further than that. I wound my hand back, ready to punch. Maybe violence would be my respite.

It didn't go beyond that. Three pairs of hands trapped my arm, preventing it from snapping back.

"Edward. Stop." Jasper's calming voice reached my senses through my irritation.

Beneath my annoyance, I did feel bad for them. I haven't been able to drag my thoughts from Bella ever since she walked out of my office three weeks ago. I don't know what came over me that day. Every piece of me was inexplicably focused on one goal: comforting Bella. I didn't think of the consequences, how she would react.

I'd like to think I was sensible, that I knew that she would walk away. Maybe I wanted to drive her away, knowing it was better for both of us. But I know that's a lie. No one has ever been so good for me. I hadn't felt that alive in days.

She didn't leave right away. No, she kissed me, or let me kiss her, for some time. Did she want me to?

No, I shouldn't allow myself to think that. There's no point in hoping that she cared for me in the slightest. It would just drive me insane, thinking of what I want to have been.

Almost everything reminded me of her, and my mind was more than happy to think of her. The room itself was the biggest reminder. I imagined her inebriated on her bed, sneaking around the room, being comforted in my arms…

A sharp smack to the back of my head pulled me back from my thoughts.

"Edward, snap out of it! You screwed up, she left. You need to forget about her." Rosalie's voice was hardly calming. It sounded like an air raid siren.

"I'm not letting you mess this up for all of us. Either you think straight or let Jas take over." Emmett was becoming annoyed, and I don't blame him. I pushed the hair out of my face and repositioned my gun, watching the street for the runaway.

"I got it. I'm fine."

He eyed me suspiciously, but said nothing. Jas and Rosalie waited behind us, and Alice was back in the car, watching for the thief. She had the best reflexes, and the most impressive intuition. She could always warn us when there was a cop nearby.

Jasper pulled out his phone, talking to Alice. He mumbled a few short phrases before he hung up.

"He's three blocks away. Emmett, Rose, get into position. Edward, either focus or stay out of it. We can't afford to miss him again."

They nodded, Rosalie moving forward as Emmett shifted over, making room for her. I pressed my back against the opposite wall, my gun the closest thing to the main street. Alice moved the van in front of the alley, blocking the remaining exit.

I didn't let my eyes waver from the street. I couldn't get distracted. She would not ruin this for me, too.

I could hear his heavy footsteps behind me. He was getting tired. That meant less work for us.

As soon as he ran by the alley, Emmett and Rosalie sprang into action. They blocked his path, forming an impenetrable wall of guns and fists. He turned around, only to be blocked by me. Halfway down the alley, Jasper waited, his gun lazily hanging from his fingers.

Alice leaned out the window, hitting him hard with the butt of her gun. He fell to the ground, clutching the tender spot. Jasper sauntered forward, enjoying his time as leader.

"Come on, Black. Your run is over."

BPOV

I curled up in my chair, the light June breeze blowing through the window, ruffling the pages of the old book I found in the library. I could tell by the thin sheet of dust covering the tops that they were barely read. Finding myself with nothing to do and an overwhelming desire to rescue them from disuse, I started to bring stacks of books into my room to read. I've barely stepped out of my room all week; the library was very well-stocked.

I looked up at the sound of a knock at my door. Even though I had friends here by now, I was barely visited. No one besides Alice talked to me that frequently.

I walked to the door, leaving the book page down on the bed. Whoever it was knocked again. My week as a recluse had increased my patience, so I wasn't as irritated as I would've been with the incessant knocking.

I opened the door, stepping back to the middle of the room. I didn't recognize the man in front of me. He was quite tall, standing at least a head above me, and muscular, not the type you'd expect to be held captive. Maybe he was another Cullen.

The way he was standing—leaning forward, hands on the door frame, his black hair matted with dust and rain—he seemed almost menacing. The only thing taking away from his tense stance was his friendly smile, lighting up his face.

He waved, his grin only widening.

"Hi, I'm Jacob Black." Jacob Black. I wondered why the name sounded so familiar. I had never seen him before.

"Bella." I gave a shy wave, my other arm around my middle. I don't know why I didn't tell him my last name.

"So, Bella, when did you get here?" I laughed mentally at his question. He sounded like he was talking about hotels or vacation hotspots.

"A few weeks now. I'm basically a regular." I thought a joke would make me seem friendlier. Unfortunately, it wasn't funny. He stared at me, his eyebrows furrowed in complete confusion.

"I was joking." I said after a few minutes. He chuckled, brushing his wet hair out of his dark eyes.

"Oh. Well, I guess you could say I'm a regular, too, then. In fact, I liked it so much the first time that I'm back again." This was hardly surprising. I'd seen people come and go and come back far too often these past weeks. I laughed a little.

I looked around, rubbing my arm. As nice as he was, I was eager to return to my literary retreat. He coughed softly, bringing my attention back to him.

"Hey, so, it's almost noon. Do you want to get some lunch?" I didn't really want to step out of my room; it was warm and cozy and, most importantly, Edward-free. But Jacob seemed pretty nice, and I didn't want to turn him away.

"Sure."