Here's the latest addition to Full moon! :)

SUSPECT

JACOB HAD HIS ENTIRE LEFT ARM, FROM FINGERS TO SHOULDER IN A CAST. CARLISLE TOLD him that he wouldn't be able to phase again for at least a few days. Although it didn't seem like that long, it still put Jake in an even worse mood. When returning home from the clearing, I'd realised that my jeans were covered up to the knees in mud and dirt. I'd barely made it through the door when Esme told me to go and change. With a new pair of jeans on, I returned to the living room. Jacob had been dealt with – it was then when I saw his arm in its cast for the first time. He was talking to my parents whilst sitting on one of the couches.

As I reached them, I was about to sit next to Jacob – but then I thought better of it and sat on the couch opposite him. He didn't acknowledge my presence at all; Bella gave me one look and returned to their conversation. So that was how it was gonna be?

How very mature of them.

"… So what do we do?" asked Bella.

"I'll head over to Quil's later" said Jacob." – maybe get the pack together. They'll have to patrol for the next couple of nights. We can make sure that the area is clear."

"Stay at home, Jake." She insisted. "They can deal with this for a few nights. You need to rest and fix your arm."

"I'll be fine in a few days-"

"And until then…"

He sighed. "Until then I do nothing."

Edward turned to me and walked forward.

"Renesmee-" he began, "what part of run were your having trouble with?"

Here we go again.

"Dad, I did what I had to do." I insisted. "Let's face it – if I hadn't come back and ended up a distraction then you would all still be in that clearing fighting, if not dead."

"And if you hadn't run back then you wouldn't have been close to death yourself."

"But I'm not dead. No one is. Isn't that good enough?"

"Renesmee that's not the point-"

"Then what is the point?"

"The point is that you deliberately disobeyed us-"

"Careful-" Jacob cut in. "She doesn't like it when you talk to her like she's a child."

I shot Jacob a look that could kill. He fell back on the couch and said nothing – he just stared at me. When was he going to drop this?

"No." I snapped. "I just don't like it when people talk to me like they're my parents when those people are anything but my parents." Emphasis on the people.

"Look, Renesmee-" Bella began, "We know that you didn't want to run, but it was to keep you safe. We're angry with you because you came back-"

"Okay, look – I am sick of this conversation already. I'm sorry that I came back. I'm sorry that Volturi are gone. I'm sorry that you're not hurt and I'm sorry Jacob isn't dead. How very stupid and selfish of me!"

Silence.

"It was stupid." Said Edward. He put a hand around Bella's waist and led her out the front door. It was stupid – but it wasn't selfish. He obviously thought something was right along the lines. Bella and Edward's exit had left me alone with Jacob. I was feeling pretty awkward being alone with him right now. I didn't know how mad he was with me, whatever it was – I hoped it wouldn't last much longer. In the end, I didn't want to be the one apologising – because I had nothing to apologise for. I knew that much.

I sat on the other couch opposite him and stared into space to pass the time.

"How long are you going to let this go one for?" I asked him, more spitefully than intended. I wasn't expecting a response, but when he drew a breath to speak my heart lifted – but then the front door opened and my hopes shattered. It was the pack.

"We figured everything turned out alrigh- what happened to your arm?" Quil was the first through the door, followed by Seth, then Embry and Leah.

"Broken." Jacob replied, standing up. "And Renesmee did come to you, she just changed her mind half way."

"But it wasn't up for negotiation."

"Exactly." He gave me the first smile I'd had in ages with an obvious 'see' ringing to it. I shot him a very unimpressed glare and looked away from them.

"Yikes-" Embry sniggered, "Trouble in paradise?"

"Just a minor disagreement." I insisted.

"Minor?" Jacob snapped. "Ness, what you-"

"Jacob – can we not?" I looked at him whilst nudging my eyes in the pack's direction.

"Alright – so is everything cool now or what?" asked Quil.

"Or what-" said Jacob. "I'm not allowed to phase until this heals up – it'll probably be a couple of days. Until then, patrol. For the next few nights two of you scan the state whilst the other two keep an eye around the area. We wanna make sure they're good and gone, got it?"

"Got it, Chief."

"Don't call me that."

"Okay – so what actually happened?" asked Seth, perching himself on the couch. Jake told them about what he heard from Aro in the woods, about when things got out of hand and what happened after I ran.

"They just left?" said Quil, confused. "Not a word?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. But they did apologise for the 'unnecessary behaviour'." I said.

"Damn straight." He retorted. "So what? – you made a few mistakes, doesn't everyone?"

"I think my mistakes were a little above minor, Quil." I told him. "I mean, hitting a baseball with a little more power is one thing, but hitting it so hard that it soared over the school grounds, deep into the forest…"

"I'm sure it weren't that bad." He insisted.

"You weren't there. Ask Abi, she was."

After I spent the next hour trying to convince them that the Volturi were right to be mad at my recklessness, they left, all of them – including Jacob. I still didn't know where I stood with him. His goodbye was chilly, but not as cold as I'm sure it would have been a couple of hours before.

That meant I was left to myself. I thought about visiting Claire or maybe Abi – but they'd probably be with Quil and Embry seeing as they were due to spend the night patrolling the state. That wasn't fair. Their imprints were going to be out all night, so they spent time with theirs now. Mine couldn't patrol for at least two days, why couldn't I be with him? – Oh, that's right. Because he hates me.

It was around midnight when Abi's caller ID lit up the screen of my phone. Luckily I wasn't half asleep – in fact I was far from it. I wasn't even in my pyjamas. I was sat lazily on the couch, reading a random novel from the bookshelf. Emmett was sat with Rosalie on the other couch, flicking through the late night TV channels. He was complaining on a few minutes before about how they don't consider those who don't go to bed before one in the morning or those who don't sleep at all, because all they put on night TV is crap.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my buzzing phone.

"Hey Abi – listen I'm gonna come into school tomorrow, all better." I said trying to make the conversation short.

"Renesmee-" she sounded panicked, I sat up and now she had all my attention.

"Abi, is everything alright?" I asked, drowning out the sound of the TV.

"Turn on the news." She told me.

"What?"

"Turn over to the news, now."

I did as she said. First I had to wrestle the remote from Emmett, but he eventually gave in. And, like she said – I switched onto the news channel.

'The body of a teenage girl was found in an alley, around 7 pm tonight in the city of Seattle. The girl's body has been identified as 17-year-old Jacey Crowe, who was said to have been returning to her car after spending the past hour shopping. A passerby found her in a tragic state – in a small puddle of her own blood but barely enough to match the loss of blood from her body. The incident has been declared murder with no official weapons involved. Her parents have been informed. In other news…"

Oh crap.

Oh crap.

Holy crap!

Kill me. If God had any mercy, he would have killed me. Immediately Claire's words rang in my head – 'What if something was to happen to Jacey? – People will know that you two didn't get on so well. All fingers will point to you if they don't know who did.' What if she was right? She most probably was right. I hate my life. I was going to be suspected of murder, wasn't I?

Surely I was.

"…Renesmee? Hey, Renesmee are you still there?" Abi's voice sounded on the other end. I wished I wasn't there. I wished I was anyone else but me, or maybe that I was dead.

"Er- yeah, yeah I-I'm still here."

"I can't believe she's dead. I just can't. Who would do something like that?"

A vampire. "A murderer."

"God." She let out a stuttered sigh and was silent for a while.

"Abi?"

"Yeah – I'm here."

"You don't think they'll accuse me, do you?"

Silence.

"I don't know." She sighed. "I could understand why they would, if they do. But I don't believe that you would do it. Plus, it was all the way in Seattle-"

"But I've been ill for the past couple of days."

"Exactly, you've been in no state to leave the house-"

"They don't know that. I could have been lying as far as they're concerned. As far as they know, I could have very easily taken the last couple of days off to track down her and lure her into a trap."

The line when silent again, but this time the silence was more painful than ever.

"Renesmee-" she said quietly. "Did you kill Jacey?"

This time, I was silent. Maybe I shouldn't have been, but I couldn't believe she had actually accused me of it. I thought Abi was my friend – you don't accuse your friends of murder.

"No, Abi. Of course I didn't. Why would you think that?"

"Well, you seem to have thought through this thoroughly. Y'know, the whole possibilities for them to think that you could've killed her?"

I wasn't listening to this. Maybe someone else would be reassuring.

"Well, this has been the most reassuring conversation I've had in my entire life-"

"Renesmee, relax I'm kidding!" she giggled. "Of course I don't think you killed her. You have the guts to hurt her, but you're not a blood thirsty killer – I know that much." If only she knew. But nonetheless, I was grateful that she didn't hate me or think that I was a murderer.

Shortly after our conversation, I decided to call it a night. Being in bed felt like the only positive thing that would come from today (well, that and nobody died in the clearing). I knew that I was in for another rough day tomorrow – depending on how the school reacts to Jacey's death. But I was going to be exhausted; I hadn't prepared myself for enough sleep tonight. Maybe I could skip another day? No, unless it was sunny I had no hope-

There was a knock on my door.

I'd just slithered into bed – "Come in." I replied. Maybe my parents had heard the news and were going to reassure me. Whatever it was, I hoped it was positive, I couldn't face much more negativity today.

The door opened and let in a growing ray of light from the hallway. It was Jacob. I felt bad that the way I recognised him now was by the massive cast around his arm.

"Hi." He said, shutting the door behind him.

"Hi." I whispered. I sat up with half my body covered in bed sheets. Jacob stood by the door and let the faint glow of my lamp light him up in the corner of my room. Was he still mad?

"Are you alright?" he asked, "I heard about that girl who was killed. That was her wasn't it? That girl who's been working you up at school."

I nodded and turned my head away from him.

I was worried how much her death could change things. Would I have to leave school? – I didn't know. Jacob could tell that I was worried and he knew exactly why.

"I spoke to Abi earlier," I began. "She joked about accusing me of Jacey's death." I paused. "But tomorrow, at school – it won't be like that. They'll accuse me, but they won't be joking."

"Ness-" my voice had shaken before, now Jacob was at my side. He managed to scoot over next to me so that he could wrap his right arm around me. I threw my head into his shoulder and wrapped my arms around him.

"When will it stop?" my voice was muzzled in his neck.

"When will what stop?"

"This. Bad things. Humans dying, vampires visiting, people lying." He kissed my head and his lips lingered there for while.

"It'll pass, I promise." I adjusted my head so that I was looking up at him.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" I finally asked.

"I came to make sure you were okay – aren't I allowed to do that?"

"Well, considering the way you've been with me today, I don't think I would be wrong to not allow you to."

He looked ahead for a few seconds. Had I just completely ruined the moment? – probably.

"Listen-" he began, "I'm sorry for how I acted. I shouldn't've been like that – especially not with you. I know that you did what you thought was right, I just-I just-"

"You just wish that I would devise plans before I run into something?"

He smiled, "Something like that."

"But you have to admit that you're glad I came back – otherwise I think your condition would be worse than this." I lightly touched his cast.

"My hero." He sniggered. I smiled and pulled his lips to mine. For that moment, things were looking up (a little). We laid there in silence, and eventually I drifted off to sleep in his arms – with my heart at peace with Jacob, but my mind buzzing with fear.

THE NEXT DAY at school was an uncomfortable blur. I tried to avoid contact with anyone but Abi, Eli and my teachers, but the hasty glares from other students made it difficult. The morning was the worst. The glares were fresh and new. By lunch time, I had educated myself into ignoring them. Not that it made matters much better.

However, at the 'Cullen' lunch table I couldn't help but catch a few glares. Abi and Eli were briefly talking to one another in between mouthfuls of food. I on the other hand watched people at the other tables. Alyssa Ford – a girl from my biology class, subtly looked over her shoulder at me whilst a few of her friends risked glances in my direction. On another table, Will 'someone' kept giving my direction the odd look.

For Gods sake! I didn't kill her! When will these people realise that? Okay, so I hurt her on a couple of occasions – I never tried to kill her. But then again, Monday's incident in the girls locker room probably wasn't all that convincing of my trying not to kill her.

"Renesmee, you're getting yourself into a state over nothing.-"

"Abi, they're watching me. They're all watching me and I know that I'm not being paranoid – look around…" the three of us looked around the cafeteria and caught a few stares.

"Do you believe me now?" I sighed, slumping back in my chair. "I told you this would happen. I told you that they would keep glaring at me-"

"But you didn't do anything-"

"They don't know that!" I cried, louder that intended. "They're too god damn scared to even consider another suspect!-"

"Renesmee- chill." insisted Eli. "One way to get out of this unharmed is to keep your head down – kicking up in the cafeteria isn't gonna help."

"Eli, this is really stressful for her. I'm not surprised she's on the edge of breaking down."

And then it hit me. Is this really what my life had come to? I always thought I was invincible when it came to stress- but then again, the past week hadn't exactly been my best. In fact, I'd call it my worst. First, Jacey scratched my car (which I was never going to get the money for now), then I found out about the past between my mom and Jacob, then I was the reason for Jacey breaking her wrist? Knuckles? Or whatever she broke. As if things couldn't get worse, the Volturi chose the perfect time to visit, then everything turned so bad that I had to run – Jacob nearly died. I had my first fight with Jacob since we'd been dating. Then Jacey was murdered, most probably by the Volturi. My guess was that after reading my memories, Aro had decided to specifically hunt her – I don't think it was just a coincidence.

Oh the joys of being Renesmee Cullen. Oh the joys.

But then I considered, surely things couldn't get much worse. To restore the balance, something good would have to happen – just something.

But no, God still hated me. I was in English – last period. The stares had died down and I was finally starting to feel relaxed myself. But then there was a knock on the classroom door that demolished any contentment I felt. The teacher, Mr Hule, fell silent as the door opened. The Principal walked in, along with two police officers.

Shit.

"Sorry for the interruption, Mr Hule – could we just borrow Miss Cullen please?"

My stomach dropped. I should have known this was going to happen. I just didn't expect it happen so soon.

"Of course – Renesmee-" Mr Hule indicated for me to leave with them.

I slipped my books into my bag as I stood up. Eli gave me a supportive smile and I returned it with a small one. I walked to the door, past the staring eyes and left with the Principle and the officers.

The hallways were deserted and the sick feeling in my stomach grew even more.

"We've contacted your parents," said Principal Klepps. "They're on their way, but the officers just want to ask you a few questions first."

"Okay."

This could turn out much more difficult than it should. I think I know who did it, but they'll never know and they'll never find them – so what can I say to them? All I could do was prove that I was sick and innocent. The well known saying came to my head – 'If I've got nothing to hide, then I've got nothing to worry about.' – but I did have something to hide, because I knew who did it – I just could explain who did it.

I was taken to a small room near the Principal's office, with just four walls, a table and chairs in the middle and a window in the corner.

"I'll wait for your folks outside, you stay in here with the officers whilst they ask you a few questions. Alright?" - I nodded. The Principal left and I was alone with the officers.

"Right, Miss Cullen – I'm Detective Williams, this is my assistant Daniel Webb. If you'd like to just take a seat."

I did as he asked and sat on a chair on one side of the table whilst Williams sat opposite me and Daniel set up a recorder on the table.

"We're not gonna bite, we just want to ask you a few question…" he said. If he wants to talk about biting, I'm not the one who needs to be worried. That's for sure.

The recorder beeped twice to signify it had begun – away we go…

"It appears that you haven't been at school for the past couple days? Mind tellin' us where you were?"

"Ill." I said blankly, "I caught a stomach bug from one of my friends. It hit hard Tuesday, but I was recovering Wednesday."

"Mm-hm." He leant back in his chair. "That friend wouldn't have been Jacey Crowe now, would it?" I was about to answer but he continued. "Well, of course it wouldn't be – because you didn't get on so well with her did you?"

I shook my head.

"We need verbal response, Miss Cullen."

"No."

"No – according to witnesses and her parents, she ended up in hospital twice because of you, all within the last week. Friday, fifteenth of October, Jacey arrived at hospital in a bloody state with a broken nose. Monday, eighteenth of October, Jacey arrives by ambulance with broken knuckles on her right hand and red marks around her neck. Both of these were results of attacks, claimed to have been committed by you."

"I didn't do that to her hand – she tried to punch me but missed and she hit my locker instead."

"But the red marks and broken nose?"

Silence.

"Those were me."

"Uh-hu, so what happened then?"

"Huh?"

"What provoked these attacks?" he asked.

"She did." I said. "I broke her nose because she refused to pay for them damage she did to my car-"

"She damaged your property?"

"Yes."

"What about the neck marks?"

"She insulted my family, so I grabbed her by the neck – tighter than intended. I soon let her go, but clearly the marks stayed there longer."

Williams leant forward in his chair again and rested his elbows on the table.

"You seem to struggle to control your temper, don't you?" I didn't answer, "Whenever someone provokes you, you'll just lash out at them. Do you think that may ever cause you to go to rather extreme lengths?"

I didn't do it!

Just please leave. Leave me alone, all of you! You want juice? Here's some juice – Jacey was a manipulator and had everything she got coming for her. She was going to be murdered by someone else if I didn't do it.

Just go. Go Go!

"Harry – I think we've got everything we need." Said Daniel Webb, grabbing the recorder.

"Yes, I think you might be right, Webb." They exchanged satisfied smiles. "Well, thank for your time Miss Cullen – we'll be in touch."

And they left.

They left the door open and I could see Bella and Edward standing on the other side of it.

"Do they think I did it- the officers?" I asked Edward as the three of us entered the parking lot. School wasn't quite over yet, but the Principal had let me go a little early.

"I'm not sure." he admitted, "Detective Williams was trying to think of other possible suspects as he was leaving, same as his assistant. I think you're in the clear, for now." I felt much better now; I was glad that I wasn't the prime suspect in this investigation anymore. But was I still a suspect?

"We think you'll be okay." Bella assured me. "Just keep your head down for the time being, and we'll see you at home." The two of them left for Edward's Maserati as I slid into my Mustang.

Well, that was a lucky escape. Maybe this was the start of the reformation of balance in my life – hopefully, in a few weeks we would be laughing about all this.

Hopefully.

Hope you enjoyed it!

This is sort of the halfway point for Full moon - just so you know, the next chapter takes place around 6 months later. But if you don't remember that, i'll let you know in the next one.

And as far as Renesmee and Jacob's relationship is concerned - don't worry! nothing 'interesting' will happen in those 6 months ;)

anyway, i'll update soon! keep reading! and review! :) x x