OK, so here it is. There's one coming up in a minute. So this is your guys's Christmas present!!! TWO chapters! And you're gonna love the second one.

I'm kinda sorta depressed... I got a A in my child develpopment class...

and a C in psychology. a C!!!! I'm freakin pissed. At myself. I don't know what I did to get a C... maybe I bombed the final... I think I did. But half that stuff he'd never talked about!!!

Ok, I'm done ranting. I'd love to get some reviews for Christmas...

Happy Holidays, all.

The cell rang; everyone in our living room froze and stared at it. (We had decided to go back to our house, not the mansion in Forks). I reached out, and flipped it open.

"Hello?" I said politely.

"Bella!"

"Carlisle!" I gasped happily. "It's been too long, are you alright?"

"Carlisle!" squealed Alice, bouncing in her seat.

"Alice, is that you, too?" He asked, sounding happily surprised.

"Yep!" she said, "Jasper and Rose and Emmett are here too! Bella's a great jail-breaker!"

"How's that for a jail-break, eh?"

I shook my head firmly; I didn't need any fond memories right now. They were too painful.

Carlisle was laughing, but then stopped and finally asked, "And… Esme?"

"We're going to get her in an hour or so, then heading up to Denali. Don't worry, Carlisle, she's most likely fine, considering." I spoke gently, reassuringly.

"Well, then I'll be seeing you soon." he said.

"Soon." I agreed. "Bye, Carlisle."

Everyone echoed me with a goodbye of their own, and I stood, stretching. Then I motioned to Alice and led her to the garage. Flipping on the lights, I gestured with my arm.

"Oh, Bella!" She squealed, bouncing in place and clapping her hand happily. She danced over to her yellow Porsche, and rubbed the glossy hood. "I can't believe you dragged it everywhere!"

Smiling, I went to stand next to her. "Yeah, well, I knew how much it meant to you… and it was nice to have as a reminder if I ever wanted one." My voice turned far-away and distant. "Sometimes, when I felt really lonely, I would come out and sit inside your car, just to trigger memory flashes."

Alice placed her hand on my arm. "Bella,"

I looked at her and smiled. "So, you want to drive it and come get Esme with me?"

Alice smiled, then her face went blank. "Ha, ha!" she laughed, coming out of it. "Kara is at the door listening. She's plotting to jump in the car before we get on the road."

I laughed. "Kara, you might as well just get in the car now."

Looking slightly sheepish, she opened the door and slipped inside. I tossed Alice the keys as I headed towards the passenger door. We al climbed inside the car, and drove out. Alice turned on the radio and sang along to all the songs. I stared out the window, lost in thought, trying to come up with a plan for once we were in Denali.

"Bella!" Alice said, waving her hand in my face.

"Hmm?" I asked.

Kara sighed, then signed "That's the fifth time that she's called you."

"Sorry, I was thinking."

Alice looked at me, he gold eyes worried. "Bella, you've been really out of it since … the Jacob incident. Maybe before it. What is it?"

For a brief moment, I hesitated, then sighed. "Some of the memories he was thinking of were… painful," I said quietly. "It was just getting to me."

"Liar" Kara signed and frowned at me.

Alice frowned also. "How do you know she's lying?" she asked Kara.

"Because she's repeating what she's been saying since before we found Emmett" she signed.

Rolling my eyes, I shifted my gaze to the window again. "Pull over here," I stated, glad of the chance to change the subject. We were nearly at Idaho's southern border, which was where they'd been taking Esme.

We all took deep breaths of the wind, but there was no trace of any scents besides the faint ones of deer, bear, and mountain lion. Grumbling under my breath, I started in the direction of the place they'd been taking her to. We'd gone maybe a couple miles from the road when something dark and furry bowled into me, knocking me flat on my back. Swearing angrily - mainly at myself for my stupidity; the wind had been blowing our scent straight at them, but their's away from us - I slammed the heel of my palm into the dog's throat.

"Get to her! Now!" I shouted. Then I slipped into Sam's mind. Again. Kara soon tore him off me, and I stood, brushing myself off and muttering.

I threw Sam - who was being momentarily bounced on by Kara, who was also yanking on his ears and tail - a disgusted, dirty look. "Bastard," I muttered, shaking my head. Alice appeared with Esme.

"Bella, dear!" she exclaimed, and wrapped me in a hug.

I returned it. "Come on, we have to get going."

OK, I'm gonna try to get this dumb library comp to co-operate and put up the next chapter... My internet is still down at home, but I can get to the library for updates. No worries. REVIEW!!!