Disclaimer: Need I say it? I don't own twilight. .

JPOV:

As soon as Bella left, the family fell apart.

I could tell they were trying not to. They were hiding their storm of confusion, pain and anger behind the mask of a calm face.

But it was useless trying act stoic for an empath. They were trying to help me, trying to make sure I didn't fall apart any more than I had already. I wish they wouldn't. They would only hold on to their emotions longer. They would avoid doing anything, for fear of having a breakdown. Until I spent enough time away from them to let them process their grief in peace, away from the damned empath, I'd be living in a house of zombies.

There was no time like the present.

"Jasper. You know you don't have to do this for us," Esme pleaded.

"Yeah. You could always stay here. You know we'd deal with you," Emmett chimed in.

Carlisle told me to "do what you think is right."

Rosalie only shrugged and walked out of the room, but she sent me a wave of understanding. No matter what shallow front she might put up, Rosalie really did have a sense for what people wanted. And deep down, she'd always feel compassion for someone who was hurting. I'd felt it for Bella earlier.

I tried to smile before responding to all of them, but it came out as just a twitch of the mouth; it might have been imperceptible had we not been vampires. Luckily, we were. They noticed my attempt and were somewhat comforted. The room grew calmer, which made it easier to think about what I'd do next.

"Thank you, for the understanding. But I've got to go and…well, I don't know yet. But I've got to be alone. That much I know."

They were all a little relieved. And sad, and confused. Then there was another wave of pain, and I realized they were remembering Edward and Alice. They may have been traitors, but they were still family. And the rest of the family, the ones that had been left in the dust would always hold on to that. They'd been family.

"Well…if you feel that's what's best for you, then we support you," said Carlisle.

"Thank you," I said again.

I remembered the words that Carlisle had spoken to them before they left. They were similar to the ones he now passed on to me, though these weren't accompanied by crushing disappointment. That was nice.

I went upstairs to pack, hesitant to go into the room I had once shared with Alice.

You've gotta do it, Jasper. It'd be wrong of you to stay, wrong of you to be a coward.

It was harder going into that room than it had been to go into any of the battles I'd fought as a soldier.

But I did go in, somehow.

When I was inside, door shut behind me, I looked around. Maybe for the last time. I didn't know that I'd want to come back here, not after what Alice had done to me.

She'd taken all her clothes, leaving the closets and drawers nearly bare. The black couch was still there, with a throw blanket over the top. Purely for show.

The television was gone, though I hadn't expected differently. It had been a nice one.

And all the pictures that'd been up…they were still here.

I supposed she didn't want to be reminded of what she'd done, how much she had hurt everyone. I half considered pulling them all down, but then figured I didn't care enough. It wasn't as if I would be here for long, and when I came back, if I came back, I could deal with it.

I dug through what remained of the things in the closet until I found my duffel bag. In it, I threw as many clothes as I could fit. Along with them went my bike keys, my credit cards, and some cash.

All that was left was to say goodbye to everyone.

They were still in the living room, though they had gone to sit down on the various couches and arm chairs.

I cleared my throat, a gesture I still hadn't let go of from my human days.

"Er…I'm leaving…just for a little while. I've got to figure some things out. I'm not sure when I'll be back…but….I wanted you all to know that I love you and I'll miss you. I…guess that's it."

They all stared at me for what felt like hours, but was probably a tenth of a second. Then they all but jumped up to hug me. If I'd been human, I swear, I would have suffocated.

After a few minutes of this, I pulled away, waved once over my shoulder, and walked out the front door, the one that, earlier today, had tried to warn me not to come in. I wondered what my life would have been like, how long it might've taken for me to find out about them, if I hadn't seen them today.

I think in the back of my head, I'd known for a while. The feelings that came with betrayal, the one's I'd felt radiating from them [though I'd denied those feelings, not wanting to admit to myself what they were] felt so similar to the one's I'd felt when I had been in Maria's coven.

Still mulling over this, I walked to the garage, and put my things in the trunk of one of the spare Jaguars Carlisle had lying around. I spotted my motorcycle; the one Edward had given me after Bella hadn't wanted to ride with him.

She'd been right in standing up about that. I had heard that conversation [it was hard not to, with my hearing], had felt the anxiety that Bella had, and the fear that she'd hurt Edward's feelings. And then the almost overwhelming relief when he had agreed to give it up.

People shouldn't have to feel that. People shouldn't be so worried about making others happy. Though…where was the line drawn in that? Alice and Edward had clearly not cared what effect they had on other people. That was going a little too far. At least…that's what the rational side of me said. The irrational side, it disagreed. Because I didn't hate Alice. I didn't even hate Edward. They had been my family for so long, had helped me control myself. Despite what had happened, I still loved them, in a way. I still wanted them to be happy.

I felt my distress radiating back at me. Crap. I had to get a hold of myself. This was why I had to leave. I didn't want to make my family suffer more than they had to.

I took another look at the bike and, shrugging, threw that in the trunk too. It might be useful.

I got into the driver's seat and tore out of the garage, sped down the path that led away from the house. I slowed down only as I hit a larger road. I wouldn't want to get caught for speeding.

As I debated where to go next, I realized that the back of my throat was burning, if only slightly. At least I had some purpose now.

Once I had put what I deemed to be 'enough' distance between me and the rest of my family, I drove to the edge of the road that bordered the forest.

As I ran through the trees, feeling the wind run through my hair, I finally felt free. Free to feel, free to be sad.

Deciding that I could wait before demolishing a small population of elk, I sat down. If I could have cried, I would have done so then. I would've cried for Alice, even for the bastard named Edward. And for Bella. She deserved someone who still cared about her. And that gave me an idea. I must have sat there for hours. I had to stop wallowing, at least for now. My thirst was growing.

I quickly found a herd that was running past and demolished it, not stopping to savor the fight. I drank, not spilling a drop on my shirt. Something every vampire eventually learns how to do, though it had taken me longer than some.

I made my way back to my car, my idea giving me renewed energy.

I was going to see Bella.

I wouldn't talk to her; she'd probably be asleep anyway. But I could calm her down if need be. Plus…I heard she was interesting to watch while she slept.

I drove down the streets, finding Bella's house by scent.

And then I was there.

I climbed into the tree, not daring to go inside. Obviously, I didn't want her to know I was here. And I didn't know that I wouldn't slip. Her blood smelled like ambrosia, fit only for the Gods. I could barely discern one human from another, but I knew that she was different.

I could hear her sobbing, and again, I felt those waves of anguish. It seemed impossible for a human to hold that much emotion.

I sent a small ripple of calm towards her. She needed to get this out of her system and calming her too much wouldn't help.

When she finally fell asleep, she slipped into a nightmare.

She felt terrified, betrayed…joyful? And then terrified again.

I sent another ripple of calm over.

I wanted her to get the nightmares out of her system, too.

I sat there in the tree, sending small ripples of calm, until the dawn light kissed the sky. She stirred at around this time, and quick as a flash, I ran away.

I felt her surprise though. Had she seen me?

I shrugged the thought away. She hadn't been terrified, so I'd guess she didn't. Besides, her human eyesight wouldn't be able to catch my lightening fast movements.

Once again, I decided to hunt. Even being separated by a wall hadn't helped me; Bella's blood had made my venom start to drip. I had to hunt to be safe. I couldn't slip, not after all this time.

A/N:

Jasper POV again!

Sorry it took a coupla days again.

:[

This might be a thing for a while. Schools being evil.

But I will update at least once every three days, unless something really big comes up.

Anyway,

thanks again for all the reviews and favorites and stuff, they make my week. :D

Next chappie will be EPOV with maybe a little APOV. I guess I have to explain their disgust at Bella, lol.