EPOV

James hadn't tried to contact Bella again. I don't know why he hadn't tried to contact me at all. Maybe he never loved me. Whatever, it is what it is. Carlisle tracked Bella's cell phone every day. He told me that she barely used her phone, and if she did, she was just talking to Alice. Bella wouldn't talk about James at all to anyone. I had a feeling she was talking to Alice, but every time Carlisle or I asked her about it, she said denied it. I knew they had to be talking about something, because they were having their girly talks all the time. I let Bella spend as much time as she liked with Alice, because it was the only time she seemed to be herself.

Once we were back to our schedule, I did notice things with Bella get a little better. We were both looking over our shoulders all the time when we would walk anywhere, though. It was very scary knowing that James was out and about. I waited every day for him to show himself. I held Bella every night, just in case it was our last night together. I had a feeling that if James got Bella to ever leave with him, I would never see her again. Just the thought of possibility never seeing her again, made me sick to my stomach. Bella was changing, and I knew James had something to do with it. She was acting like I was the worst person in the world. Every time she would talk to me, she would give me the worst attitude. I was holding back because Carlisle and I both thought it was her way of getting out her anger over the not guilty verdict. I'd had enough, though, I couldn't take it anymore. We were going to yell out our problems if we had to. I needed my Bella back; I missed her.

Therapy with Carlisle had been more of a meeting than anything else. We were planning ways to keep Bella safe. We both feared that she would fall for James' tricks if she was given the chance. Don't get me wrong, I did miss him, but a part of me knew he hadn't changed. Bella told me when she was on the phone with him, he sounded so sincere. I was just as confused as she seemed to be. It was hard to believe that a person could change that quickly, but Bella made a good point when she told me that I had to look at the situation through James' eyes. He lost everything, and that definitely can change a person. I agreed, but I wasn't sure. Could James really change?

Thanksgiving came and went. It was Bella's favorite holiday. She was up by six in the morning, so she could start cooking. Esme tried to help, but there was little to do. I knew Bella only let her help, because it was her kitchen. The food turned out to be amazing, and Emmett pledged his love to Bella. I didn't like that she said she loved him too. I knew she was just appeasing him, but I still didn't like it. Thanksgiving was just a very large family dinner and we ate leftovers for a week. During the dinner, Carlisle said that Emmett and I were going to be painting the inside of the chief of police's house. Neither of us was excited about it. I had no clue how to paint, but Emmett said it was easy. Anything he could do I knew I could better, so I wasn't worried.

We were just starting our Christmas vacation and I was going crazy on how to deal with Bella. I had a feeling that if I hit her, she would explode, and I didn't know if that was going to be a good or a bad thing. It could be good for the fact that she would get everything out of her system. The part that would be bad...she would tell me to fuck off. She was so crazy lately. I didn't know how she would react anymore. I was out of my comfort zone now when it came to Bella.

After breakfast I went to change my clothes before leaving. Emmett said he needed an hour to get ready. I had no idea why he needed that much time to throw on some clothes, but figured he would probably end up talking to Rose the whole time. I walked in mine and Bella's room to find her lying on our bed. Our room was a mess. She hadn't cleaned in an entire week, and I couldn't stand it anymore. I had no fucking clue what was up her ass.

"This room needs to be cleaned," I said as I searched for clothes.

"Clean it then," she said. I turned and threw the jeans I was holding making her flinch when they hit her.

"I want this room cleaned by the time I get home. There will be hell to pay if it is not!" I yelled at her.

"Whatever you say," she said with a bored sigh. I couldn't take anymore and I snapped. I walked over to her and wrapped my hand around her neck. I didn't squeeze, I just wanted to scare her.

"What the fuck is your problem?! I can't take any more of your shit. Tell me right now what it is!"

"I don't know," she said in a whispered voice.

"You don't know? What kind of answer is that?"

"I'm sorry. The room will be cleaned," she said with tears in her eyes.

"Enough with the fucking attitude. I'm trying to be better for you and you are not helping!" I told her. I needed to know what was wrong, but she didn't even know herself. "Is it James? Have you been talking to him?"

"No, I haven't heard from him again," she said.

"Are you sad?"

"I don't know," she said again.

"Think about why you don't know anything while I'm gone. We are going to talk when I get home and I want some answers. I love you and I need to know what is going on in that head of yours," I told her letting go of her, releasing my hold on her neck. I pulled her into a hug and she started to cry.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't give you any answers," she said as she started to cry harder.

"It's okay, Baby. I'm here for you," I told her. I felt lost as to what I needed to do. There was something wrong with Bella. "Have you talked to Carlisle about how you are feeling?"

"I don't know what to tell him," she said with a sniffle.

"It's okay. Everything will be okay," I promised. I didn't know what else to say. "Are you going to be okay while I'm gone?"

"Yeah, I'm just going to clean and then chill. I'm sorry I have been such a bitch."

"We'll get through this."

"I hope so." I had to agree with her, I hoped so too.

BPOV

I didn't know what was wrong with me. It just seemed like everything was against me. I tried to make the best of everything, but nothing seemed right. I had been spending a lot of time with Alice, and I always felt better after we would talk. Then Edward would talk to me and I would just freak out again. Like I said, I had no idea what was wrong with me. Alice and I talked about everything, but yet we talked about nothing. I felt like I could tell her anything, and I never thought that was possible. She didn't judge me, and she didn't run back and tattle to her father, either. I felt like all Edward and Carlisle did was talk about me. If no one was home, I would sit by the door and listen in. They would talk about how I had been acting and if Edward had seen any change in me. Even when they would ask what was wrong, I wouldn't have any answers for them.

As I started cleaning my bedroom, Esme came in to tell me that she was going to the store and then her book club. She asked if I wanted to go, but when I said no, she asked if I was going to be okay by myself. I assured her that I would be fine. I felt comfort in being by myself. I craved time alone. There always seemed to be someone around. I needed to get myself together and try to figure out what my problem was. I just felt blah. Maybe numb was a better word. I was starting to not care about anything. I had even let my room become a disaster area. I wanted Edward to be stern with me. That was what I needed, but he wasn't giving me what I needed. Knowing how badly I had gotten off my game, I knew I had to step it up.

After our room was clean I brought the washing to the laundry room and started a large load. I was surprised we had any clean clothes. I was pretty sure Edward was out of jeans. I really hadn't made dinner since Thanksgiving, so I found everything for lasagna. I always liked to put the pasta dish together before hand, so the sauce could soak into the noodles. Just as I was getting ready to switch over laundry, I heard the doorbell. I was feeling more like myself, and because I was feeling much better I didn't think twice before opening the door without looking.

"Hey, Sweetie." I was frozen. I couldn't talk or even blink.

"James, what are you doing here?" I asked when I recovered slightly.

"I just want to talk. I miss you so much," he said as I saw tears fill his eyes. I had no idea what I was going to do.