Disclaimer: I own a copy of the original Broadway cast recording of Rent, and lemme tell ya, I am beyond sad that's it's closing on Broadway before I get a chance to see it . But, I don't own this. Still.

All was well in Galena. If you could consider having Alice pestering me constantly to stay here forever "well". Or if you could consider Emmett trying to make me freak out and give him temporary amnesia "well". Or if you could consider having Edward stare at me with puppy dog eyes at all moments "well". By this point, I had pretty much decided that I would stay, but since Alice couldn't see my decisions, I played with her a bit. And Edward too, because of course he could never read my mind. A little torture to get back at him was appropriate. That is, until he decided that it needed to be discussed.

"You are being incredibly cruel to me" he whined one day. I simply smiled at him and patted his hand. Rosalie snickered and Alice looked like she agreed wit Edward. Of course Emmett and Jasper were too interested in their video game to pay any attention.

"Guys, I don't know. But I promise, as soon as I figure out whether I'm staying or not, you will be the first to know." Rolling my eyes, I settled back to watch the boys play. Edward stared at me while Alice and Rosalie looked on one of the laptops for clothes to have shipped over. "Besides, maybe I have some long lost love waiting for my return in Forks." I added off-handedly. I was joking, but Edward fell for it hook, line and sinker.

"What? Who is this man? Where did you meet him? What does he have that-"

"Who said it was a man?" Even Emmett stared at me for that comment.

"Whoa Bella, please tell me you and some chick aren't like, you know…" he said, astonished. Edward groaned and started rubbing his temples, and I knew that Emmett was imagining a dirty sequence playing out between me and other females. Jasper however, snickered. I had no doubt in my mind that he could feel my impishness.

"Jesus, guys, she's just kidding. Emmett, stop drooling, and Edward, stop worrying about not being good enough. Seriously." He turned back to his video game. Emmett, his opponent, was too busy thinking of other things to even concentrate, and Jasper soon beat him.

"You are the most wicked creature I have ever come across" Edward said, taking my hand.

"Yes, and I am the wicked creature that wont let you follow her into her bedroom tonight." I replied. Ever since we had shared that very public kiss, he had come into my room as I rested. I knew I would never fall asleep, but he would sit in an armchair and watch me lay there with my eyes closed. We had not done anything in the way of physical affection since that day, probably because he thought I still wanted space.

I did, but I also longed for him.

"Rose, how about I get it in purple, you in blue? I should call quickly since they're closing soon, I never accounted for the hour change." Alice said as she took out her cell phone to call the store. The moment she put it into her hand, however, it rang. "Damn." Alice answered the phone. "You need to call her back, I have an urgent matter… listen to me, pup, I don't care about your little troubles, I need to use my phone so you will just have to… oh try and find me, I dare you…" she snarled into the phone. Judging by her hatred of the person on the other end, I knew it was the werewolf. Sighing, I stood up and retrieved the phone.

"Yes, Jacob?"

He sounded frantic, and I could imagine him pacing in his small kitchen while talking to me. "Bella something happened."

"What do you mean?" the tone in Jake's voice was one that meant I would not like the next words.

"Someone, or something, I don't know, came looking for you. Seth got hurt and-"

"Seth!? How is he? Please tell me he's all right!" who would hurt Seth, and why were they looking for me? I glanced up at the Cullens, who were all staring. "Hold on." Making my way swiftly out the front door, I knew it wouldn't help my privacy, but it was the principle of the thing. "Talk. Tell me everything."

"Embry smelled the vampire first. Well, we think it was a vampire. Anyways, we were following the trail when Seth's face met this tree. We didn't know what was going on or why Seth was singled out, but the next thing we knew, he stopped being attacked. He was just lying on the ground and whimpering. Don't worry Bella, he's fine now, but he kept telling us that he heard someone asking where you were. He said he could hear them asking him clearly and didn't believe us when we said we heard nothing."

"Shit, Jake." I sat down on the porch swing. How was I supposed to reply?

"Didn't you tell me once that some vampires have special powers and stuff? We think that this vampire might have a power that makes him invisible or something. I had to call you just in case, I don't want anyone to find you and hurt you." He said quietly.

"Jake, really, I appreciate the concern, but don't let yourselves be hurt by trying to protect me. I'm not that shy little human anymore, remember? Body of stone…" I tried joking, but nothing was going to brighten the mood. "So what do we do now?"

"Well, you sure as hell can't come back here, Bells, it's way too dangerous."

"So then what?"

He was quiet for a moment, and I knew he was either thinking hard or trying to something he didn't want to. Or possibly both. "Bella, I think you're going to have to stay wherever it is you are. If you're still with the Cullens, they will help protect you, wont they?"

"I'm sure of it."

"Then I don't think I'll be seeing you around Forks for a while. Please, stay safe."

"I promise. Bye, Jake."

"Bye, Bella." I hung up the phone. Leaning my head back on the seat, I worried about telling the Cullen family that not only was I going to intrude on their hospitality indefinitely, I was also going to need protection.

"Well, it's official," I said as I walked back into the living room. Esme and Carlisle had joined their children, for which I was grateful; better to knock them all out at once. "I'm here to stay."

Alice squealed in delight and jumped up to hug me, while Jasper handed Emmett some bills. I patted Alice's head and sighed. "Don't get all happy yet. According to Jacob, some stranger came to Forks looking for me."

So… what do you think is going to happen? ;)

Review. And a special shout out to dazzledmom just for making my day :