Sol ran out into the street after me. He was still wearing nothing but the blue towel. It was a miracle it stayed on as he lent over me, pulling me up and back into the house. I resisted, still screaming and crying and shouting Andy's name. But Sol was bigger and stronger than I was. He pulled me inside and up to my room. He sat me on the floor, kicking aside piles of fabric, and pushed the hair of my wet face.

"Shh, Juniper, shh," he murmured. "It's okay. It's okay."

"No," I said, shaking my head, "It's not. Andy is gone. This is the end. He's gone now. He's gone." I blubbered, trying not to burst into tears again.

"No. He's not. He'll forgive you." Sol assured me. "In the meantime, maybe this isn't as bad as you think it is."

I looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Sol said, still holding my shaking shoulders. "That Andy is not going to be near you for a while. If he's not near you, he's not in danger."

I stared at him. He was right. Andy might hate me, but at least this way he would be protected. After all, the blue sprites didn't know what Andy looked like- only Sol did, and he had left them. If Andy never came to me, the sprites would never see him. He would be safe.

"You're right," I said slowly. "Andy will be safe this way. It's for the best." My voice sounded strange, like it was someone else talking.

Sol leant down, his face full of concern. "But what are you going to do Juniper?"

I looked up.

"I'm going to leave Forks." I said. "The sprites won't even know I'm gone."

"But where will you go? What will you do?"

"I'll find some... friends of mine." I said. "I'll go to Denali. I'll start there, and if they're not there I'll try to find out where they are. If I can't find them, I'll come back here for Andy. I'll explain everything to him. Hopefully he'll forgive me. And if not." I took a deep breath. "Without him or the Cullens, I have no reason to be here anymore."

Sol stared at me. "Here? As in, you'd..."

I glanced at him, then forced a smile and shook my head. "Here as in America. I'll go back to Australia. Start again. Again."

Sol kept looking at me strangely, and I looked away. Then I stood up, wiping my face.

"Well, I guess I better start getting organized. I'll leave as soon as I can." I said.

Sol stood too. "Do you need help?"

I smiled. "Thanks."

In silence, Sol helped me pack my clothes into bags. All my finished stock I crammed in too. The unfinished things I put away neatly. I tidied my room as much as I could. Then with a final glance, I turned off the light and left.

My footfall's were loud on the iron stairs I'd always loved. I didn't have much food in the house- all that I did have I took. I got a piece of paper and penned a letter. Sol sat in silence and watched.

I had too much stuff to take on my scooter- I left one bag on the kitchen bench. I emptied the cash register into my bag. There wasn't a lot, but I hoped it would be enough to get me to Denali. I could figure something out once I got there.

I walked outside, checking the sign was turned to 'Closed'. It wasn't raining, but it was cold and there was thick cloud cover.

I looked at Sol. He smiled at me. He'd put his loose fitting pants back on. He looked exactly the same as he had when I'd met him, what felt like forever ago.

"Where are you going to go?" I asked him.

He smiled. "We got here as stowaways on a cargo ship- I guess I'll do the same and get back to Europe."

I smiled back at him. "Goodbye Sol," I said. "Thank you for everything. I hope I see you again one day."

"I hope so too," Sol replied. "Very much."

We embraced. His dark skin was warm, but it felt nothing like Andy's. Nothing and no one could be anything like Andy.

We came apart. He gave me one last smile, and then disappeared, staying in the shadows as he ran barefoot down the road.

I got on my scooter, squeezing one of my bags into the back and slinging the other round my shoulders. I started the engine, taking in my shop. I didn't know when I would see it again.

I drove through the streets to Bella's house. I knew where it was of course- Edward had told me once. It was close to the forest, almost on top of it. Bella's red truck was outside- it was still early for a Sunday. I sat with my scooter idling outside. Then I killed the engine, walked up to the front door and knocked.

Bella answered the door. She looked the same way she always did nowadays- tired, lost, broken. It took a moment for her to recognize me.

"Juniper?" she said, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm leaving Bella," I said. "I'm leaving Forks. I'm going to go and find them."

Her eyes widened as she understood.

"You are?" she asked. "Why?"

"Because I need to," I said. "There's nothing left for me here."

Bella looked confused.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing."

"Then why did you come to tell me?"

I avoided her eyes as I answered. "Because I'm better than they are." I said quietly.

Then I turned and left.

It was raining by the time I got to Andy's. I stood outside his house, my jacket slowly getting soaked. I didn't know if he was home. It didn't matter. I wasn't going to see him anyway. I just wanted to look at the house before I left. The house where I'd shared so much with Andy. So many memories had been made in this house. And maybe more would be. One day. But I couldn't think about that now.

I pulled the letter I'd written out of my pocket. The rain splattered it and made the ink run. I sheltered it with my body as I walked towards the door. I almost backed out as I walked up the drive and up the steps to the veranda, but I didn't. I took a deep breath, and slid he letter under the door. He'd get it. And maybe he'd forgive me. Maybe.

And then I walked back to my scooter and drove away.

Dear Andy,

I know I have no right to ask for your forgiveness, and I don't expect you to give it to me. I know you're angry at me. I know you probably hate me and don't want anything to do with me. But I have to at least try to explain.

I never cheated on you, and I never would. I know that it seemed like I was, but that's because so many things have happened in the last few days that you don't know about. I know this will be hard for you to understand, but please try. I found a new breed of sprites. They're called blue sprites, and I thought they were good, but they're not. Don't trust them. They wanted me to join them, but I refused. So they started threatening me, and they said they would hurt you if I didn't cooperate. The only one that was on my side was Sol- he was the person you saw in the shop. Nothing happened between us, I promise. It was all a big misunderstanding, and it was my fault for not telling you about the blue sprites earlier.

So now I'm leaving Forks to go and find the Cullens. Maybe I'll find them, maybe I won't. But I have to try. I'll come back, one day, whether I find them or not. But I have to leave, to run away from the blue sprites, and to protect you. You'll be safe Andy- the only one who knows what you look like is Sol, and he's left the blue sprites and gone to Europe.

I hope that when I come back to Forks you'll be able to forgive me. I wish I could have explained this to you in person before I left, but I'm not brave enough I guess. Whether you forgive me or not, I want you to know that I will always be yours Andy. And I will love you for longer than forever.

Juniper