Ok, now, Edward and Becca are going to have a fight. Let's go see.


Ch. 12- Blowout- EPOV

Why wasn't Becca answering? It had been nearly two weeks since I'd seen her and I couldn't take the loneliness anymore. Mom tried to take leave from the hospital as much as she could. From what I heard of whispered conversations, the hospital staff were sorely missing Carlisle. He had been their leading surgeon and, apart from that, he had been a good friend to many, inspite of his family's reclusive nature.

And now, in addition to my 'Cullen-induced' nightmares, I also kept dreaming of those monstrous creatures who had, ironically, saved me that day from being killed and sucked dry by a thirsty vampire. I sighed. The nightmares wouldn't have been this bad if my vampires had saved me. Unfortunately, they hadn't, and they weren't my vampires, much less my family. They never were.

I winced at the stab of pain in my chest and decided it was a better idea to think about Rebecca. No sooner than I had the thought, I heard Phil calling me. "Edward? You there?" "Yeah, I'm right here," I answered and went downstairs to see him. He looked at me with mild surprise. "Why aren't you at the Blacks with Rebecca?" He asked. I could see the concern in his thoughts. I shrugged, trying to seem like I didn't care. "Jake told me she had mono."

Phil frowned. "That's funny," he muttered. "I just saw her at the motor shop with her brother and another guy on my way here. She looked just as healthy as ever." I stared at her, my thoughts reeling from his simple words. Jacob had lied to me? And Rebecca hadn't reached out to me? Or maybe, she had recovered but Jake had forgotten to give her my message and it slipped her mind too. "I made up my mind. "I'm going to see her," I decided and rushed up to change. "You do that," Phil yelled after me. "She looked like she could use some company. She was arguing with Jake and the other boy."

Half an hour later, I was sitting in my car in front of the Black's house. I knew Billy was aware of my presence; I had caught him peeking out the curtains more than once. One look towards the house and I realized Rebecca and Jacob weren't home. So, as I waited for them to return, I remembered what Becca had told me about the cult-like group that had formed in the rez, with Sam Uley at the head. How first it had been just three boys; him, Paul and Jared; then one of Jake's best friends, Embry Call had joined. A few weeks later, Jake had suddenly started to hang out with them. As much as he used to curse and rage about them for corrupting Embry, he was suddenly looking up to Sam and following him around. His other best friend, Quil, and Becca had been worried that they would be next. And now, somehow, I knew it: they, or at least, Rebecca, had joined the gang.

A sharp rap on the side of my window startled me. I looked up to see Rebecca standing rigidly, her arms crossed over her chest. I did a double take when I saw how much she had changed since the last time I saw her. Her waist-length hair was cut to just above her shoulders, she seemed a little taller, nearly as tall as me. But that wasn't what disturbed me. No, it was the look on her face that scared me. Gone was the happy-go-lucky smile I'd grown accustomed to, the infectious grin that had helped me to forget all the pain, the twinkling eyes that had considerably brightened my days, cliché as that sounded. In it's place was a dark fiery look, like something had lit up inside her and was fuelling her with anger. Her mouth was set in a grim line that seemed to mirror the one on the faces of the five men behind her.

Sam, Paul, Jared, Embry and Jacob all looked the same. They could have been brothers, with their smooth russet skin, dark eyes, close cropped hair. "What are you doing here, Edward?" Rebecca asked, her voice filled with anger. My eyes focused on Sam for a moment and I felt a surge of hatred at him for taking away my friend. I wanted badly to take a swing at him. No, more than anything, in that instant, I wanted to be stronger, more powerful, someone who would scare Sam silly.

I wanted to be a vampire.

The force of my forbidden wish nearly knocked me over as I was reminded forcibly of Bella.

"I need to talk to you, Becca," I said with difficulty, looking back at her. "In private," I added. Becca turned to face Sam. He nodded and Rebecca looked back at me, before starting to walk towards the forest. Ignoring the other boys, I got out of the car and followed her. In the back of my mind, I noted that Becca seemed more graceful than I remembered her to be. Abruptly, she stopped and swung around to face me.

"What did he do to you?" I suddenly moaned. Becca shut her eyes. "It's not Sam. Don't blame him. It's not his fault," she answered. I tried to say something, but she didn't let me. "We just can't be friends anymore, Edward," she said. "I'm not good for you." I couldn't take it anymore. "And who should I blame for that, if not Sam?" I shot back.

She halfway smiled, but it seemed bitter. "You don't want to know that," she said. "The hell I don't," I snapped. "Tell me whose fault this is now, if not your precious Sam." "You asked for it," she growled, her eyes glinting in rage. "Why don't you try pointing the finger at those filthy, reeking bloodsuckers that you love so much?" My mouth fell open as her words hit me like a blow to the chest. Pain shot through my nerves, but for once, it took a backseat to the words that Rebecca had said.

"I don't know who you're talking about," I whispered reflexively. Becca's face twisted in pure fury. "Oh, don't you?" She whispered back. "The Cullens," she drew the name out. "Your ex-girlfriend." I shut my eyes for a few seconds. There was no point in lying. She obviously knew. What I didn't know is what the Cullens had anything to do with Sam's cult. "Okay, okay," I said quietly. But what does that have anything to do with this? They're gone. What are you blaming them for?" "Yes, they're gone," Becca agreed. "But, sometimes, things are set in motion and then it's too late. So, I blame them for existing." She was trembling now, her hands shaking in anger. I tried not to start when I heard a cautious voice in my head, the kind that didn't hurt to remember.

"Be careful, Edward. Don't push her too hard," Bella warned me. "Give her a chance to calm down, please. I can't protect you when you're so far away." Without warning, Becca stilled, calming down slightly. She took a deep breath and said," Go back, Edward and don't come back. I can't hang out with you anymore." "No," I groaned. "Please, don't do this. Becca, I need you. You're my best friend." "I'm sorry," her voice broke on the words and she turned and ran away, back in the direction of her house, while I stood rooted to the spot, only just becoming aware of the tears leaking from my eyes.


Rain was falling and I found my best friend, walking soundlessly beside me, though beneath my feet the ground crunched like dry gravel. But she wasn't my Becca; she was the new, bitter, graceful Rebecca. The smooth suppleness of her walk reminded me of someone else, and, as I watched, her features started to change. The russet color of her skin faded away, leaving her face pale white, flawless and smooth as silk. The polished river-stones she had for eyes turned gold, sparkling like flints of amber. Her newly-cut hair twisted in the breeze, lightening to a dark brown, growing to just past her shoulders. And her face morphed, becoming so beautiful that it shattered my heart to see. I reached for her, but she took a step away, raising her hands like a shield. I was abruptly reminded of both Rebecca and her, when she'd shown me her meadow. And then Isabella vanished.

She disappeared from my sight and I sat up in bed, tears and sweat mingling on my brow in spite of the cold drafts coming in. A conversation from another time echoed in my head. 'Werewolves have enemies?' 'Only the one. You would call them vampires. It''s the werewolves' duty to protect the people from them.' And one word stood out now; the answer to everything that had gone wrong two weeks ago. WEREWOLVES.


You know, I really hate what Edward and Jacob had made Bella go through in New Moon. But there's no way to write the story if you try to avoid that.