A/N: Welcome back. A lot happens in this chapter...

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters.


(Bella POV)

I hear ringing, loud, loud ringing. It started as a hum inside my head, but now it's growing. I hear Edward groan and his arm around me pulls me tighter to him. He's laying on his stomach, his face muffled into the pillow, but he has his right arm around my stomach. I lay on my back, opening my eyes and taking in the dark room.

Does Edward hear that noise?

Then it hits me; it's the phone. I sit up quickly and all the blood rushes to my head. Edward's arm slides down to my knee and he squeezes it. My left hand flies to my head as though to help the dizziness. After another ring, I manage to claw my way towards the nightstand with the phone on it. I pick it up and answer almost breathlessly, "Hello?"

"Bells! Bells?" It's my dad, Charlie. "Bella what took you so long to answer?"

I look over at the digitial clock, the red numbers telling me it's very early in the morning. It's way too early for catch-up phone calls with your dad. I picked up the alarm in his voice though and he sounds breathless too. "Well, it is after midnight. What's a matter? What's that noise in the background?"

"Some of the guys are in. Bells, someone broke in my house."

"What?" I almost shout. I hear Edward shuffle around in the bed, the comforter getting pulled off me. With my free hand I pull it back. Before Charlie answers, the lamp on Edward's nightstand is flicked on and he's looking at me with a confused, sleepy expression.

God, I love that tousled hair.

"My house was brokin' in to." My dad says slowly and angrily. "I know who that little fucker was too, that damn Crowley. He's been callin' me non-stop tellin' me to watch out and beware."

"What?" I repeat.

"Bella if you say that one more time, I swear I will lose my goddamn mind."

"But why?" I question.

"Because it's annoying as hell."

"No," I correct myself. "Why would he break in?"

Edward leans towards me and places his ear on the other side of the phone trying to listen. I'm sure he can't hear anything though. He's also half asleep. He's slumping towards me, so I lightly elbow him in the ribs.

"Ever since his son died he thinks I should've too. I pretty near did too I say. That don't matter; he's a lunatic. He wants revenge. I swear it's cliche and all, but as I said he's a lunatic. Damn smart one at that might I add, he left no evidence and since I didn't previously report a harrassment, nothin' can be done. And trust me, I'm a cop, I'd know."

I hear voices in the background, but still manage to hear my head. I swallow before saying, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm callin' you know aren't I?"

"I mean about him harrassing you."

"Oh I'm a big boy. It ain't nothing."

"Look what happened. And you can't do anything about it! I would have at least made you report it. Then there'd be something to go off of. Do you want me to go there now and help you? How's the house? Did he take anything?" I ramble off aimlessly.

"Nah, nah. Didn't take much. Took my belt though, that one hits below the belt. Ha ha. Or it would ya know... anyways, that means a lot to me and he knows it! Apart from that all he did was smash the photo of you I have on the living room table. It's everywhere. I woke up right after he got inside so he couldn't do much damage."

"Are you sure it was him? He's been with Miss Samuels."

"Jessica? Why, no. I heard a man's grunt. I swear it. Look, I've got to file a report now, but I'll talk to ya when the sun's shining. Get some sleep kiddo."

Yeah right. "Well, keep me posted dad."

"Will do."

...

"Maybe I should just stay home." I murmur and turn away from the full length bathroom mirror. Edward's leaning against the doorframe with an impressed smirk. His eyes gaze over my knee length black cocktail dress.

"Maybe." He licks his lips and takes a step forward. His eyes become serious when he takes my hands. "As much as I would love for you just to stay home with me," His gaze take another sweep, "this might be best for you, love. Just go out with Angela and have fun. It'll be a few hours. A few drinks and a cab ride home. It might clear your mind."

"But with my dad and Crowley-"

"All the more reason to go out and have fun." Edward interrupts and kisses my forehead.

"But what about you?" I ask.

"I have Alice, we can have a pizza and movie night. Wrestlings on, maybe I can get her to watch some of that with me."

I shake my head in amusement. "Good luck."

"You too," He replies leading me out of the bathroom. "Come on, the cab will be here any minute."

...

"What is this drink? It's amazing!"

"I forget what it's called." Angela blushes and takes another sip. "I just picked the fanciest one on the list."

Angela and I are at a local restuarant together, a more upscale one. We're just doing a formal dinner. We both used it as an excuse to dress up and have some fun. It feels like forever since I've last talked to her and I'm especially glad to see her tonight.

"It's good." I push the drink away. "I don't want to drink it to fast. It will go straight to my head, I swear it."

"Bella?" Angela asks me suddenly with an odd look on her face. "Who is that?"

"Who?" I look around the place. The decor is outstanding, but I see no one I know.

"That lady sitting behind us. She's alone, but she keep looking at you." Angela's eyes follow over my shoulder and I slowly peek over.

It's Miss Samuels.

"What the hell!" I whisper angrily and look back to Angela. "It's Miss Samuels." Within the past half hour I've already filled Angela up to date with all the drama in my life. And of Edward. Of course of Edward.

"That bitch." Angela shakes her head. I smile at her cussing, something she very rarely does. "Let me go have a talk with her."

"No Ang, don't." I shake my head. "Maybe it's just a coincidence."

"Doesn't look like it."

"I won't let her ruin tonight."

Before Angela can respond, the handsome waitor with a dark goatee is back and presenting us two little shot glasses. "We didn't order these." I shake my head and almost nudge them away.

"Ah, someone in this room said to give this to you two."

I look back at the shot. "What is it?"

"It is a classic Jello shot. Cheesy I know, for a place like this." He looks around and laughs, "But the folks love them!" With that, he turns and walks away.

Angela takes hers and slurps it before I can interject. Instantly she starts coughing. "Angela?" I ask alarmed and stand up. "Ang?"

I hop up and start patting her back with force. The whole room has grown quiet apart from Angela's coughing and she's gasping for breath. She hops up and runs to the washroom and I'm close on her heels.

I find her in the first stall, throwing up.

"Angela!" I yelp and stand behind her hopelessly.

"Go," She croaks.

"The Jello shot." I mutter. "Given to us... Samuels."

"Samuels!" I shout and turn, running - or trying to - in my short inch heels. I peer around the restaruant and everyone puts their gaze on me.

Jessica Samuels or Miss Samuels or Miss Bitch or whatever the hell you want to call her is no where in sight! I almost make an animalistic growl and run out the door. I kick my heels off on the street and run towards the end when I see her turning the corner.

I want to yell, scream, but what do I say? I don't even know what to call her! I run as quick as I can, my tight dress not allow much movement from my legs. Each step I get closer to her, her red dress becoming more visible.

"You- you!" I run into her breathlessly. She falls forward, but catches her balance. She turns and looks at me, wide-eyed. I hunch over to catch my breath (a key sign in saying I need to start doing my step areobics again) before standing straight and looking her in the eye. "You bitch. I can't believe you!"

"Pardon me?" She asks astonished. She even places a hand on her heart dramatically and looks around. The dark streets are empty apart from the occasional car passing.

"You leave my family alone. My friends. Me."

"What do you mean? Are you okay?" She takes a step backwards and hugs her purse tighter to her.

"My dad, Edward, Alice. Leave my family alone! We did nothing wrong! Why are you with Crowley! Why are you doing this?" My voice cracks. "You hated me from the start because of a love affair with my dad years ago? Seriously? I'm a good teacher. I'm new and I filled in an empty place so your school wasn't without staff. You're a horrible person. You... I don't even know what to call you. You digust me."

"What a way to talk for a teacher."

"Well it seems that I'm not the only one with a bad side." I reply and take a step forward. Jessica takes a step backwards. I want to hit her. I want to spit on her. I want to claw her eyes out. I don't know where this rage is coming from. It's a pit eminating from my core of all the hatred I have stored up to the Crowleys, to her, my mother, that old lady that took my parking place at the supermarket, everything.

A car passes, slows and pulls over. It's a police car. An officer steps out of the car and walks over, pulling out his flashlight. "Ladies, I had a call reporting a commotion here. They said the two ladies fled and ran outside in a fury."

"That would be us." I look at the ground, then back to Samuels. This is my chance to end this. "Officer, this lady has blackmailed me. From the beginning. It's a long story. But now she's dating this guy who is after my dad and stole from my dad and now she just poisoned my friend and-"

"Ma'am, I'm going to ask you-"

"Officer," Jessica interrupts. "I was finished my meal and this lunatic just followed me. I don't even know her."

"I worked with her. Look it up, please just listen to me." I look at the officer. "I know I sound crazy, but I need your help. Please."

"Will you ladies come inside my car? I'll take you uptown where we can talk and sort this."

...

An hour of sitting in a room with Jessica, me, finally Angela, and two officers is about all it took to make Jessica Samuels blow it.

"You are accusing me of blackmailing! Really! And, and, and-"

"You tried to poison me!" Angela yells back. "They found that shit you put in my shot in your drink you dumb bitch."

"Ladies, ladies." An officer stands up, he introduced himself as Gerald earlier.

Angela and Jessica sit back against their chairs and behave.

"Can I say something?" I ask and Gerald nods. I turn to face Jessica. "I don't know how you can hate me so much, how you can hold a grudge. I don't know why I can't be happy. I don't get this. Starting with the Crowley's and now with you... You with a Crowley! Tyler's dead, but I still have so much trouble with him!"

"You can't blame this on Tyler. How dare you! His father and him were right; you are nothing. It's unfortunate that Tyler needed you so. He thought he did anyways." She huffs and another streak of madness overcomes her. "And you think you're all that! You believe this and that! I love Bill Crowley and I will help him with whatever. It doesn't matter, what he needs I will give him! I couldn't help him with the business, but you and your dad could. Now there's no one to help! Your dad refused to help or pay any debts that Bill needed! Hell, Bill and I even checked the house last night to find any cash, but we found none! It's horrible! So much effort-"

"Ma'am, please." The other police officer places his hand forward to silence Jessica. "You understand that you will be arrested. You have possession of an illegal posion and you blackmailed, it's already on your record from past doings but now it appears your falling into your old ways. You also just admitted to a break in alongside with Bill Crowley."

"You snapped!" Angela claps her hands. "You deserve to spend your life here."

"My god, I said nothing. I didn't." Jessica's face mocks horror. She seriously can't believe she cracked. "That just came out in rage, I swear-"

"Please," Gerald silences her. "You'll have a lot of time to talk to the police. You will be here a while."

...

I run into Edward and hug him tightly. "Edward, Edward, Edward, Edward." I recite his name over and over, breathing in his scent. Ben and Angela are a few feet away in the sheriff's office too.

"I was so nervous when you called. What happened?"

Quickly, but without forgetting any details I fill Edward in on what happened. At the end, he pulls me tighter and spins me around quickly. "Are you okay?" He asks, cupping my face in his hands. I nod once. "Holy shit, it's about time. Angela, are you okay?"

I look over at Angela as she pulls away from Ben's protective grasp. "I am now." She smiles.

"You were poisoned. Where is that wh-" Ben gets cut off by another one of Ang's kisses.

"I'm fine, really." She laughs lightly. "I'm actually happy it happened. I mean that sounds crazy, but now she's gone so she can't do anymore damage and I'm okay and Bella's okay. Everyone is okay and Jessica even confessed to the crime. Bill will pay. Big time. He also had a part in the event tonight..."

"Wow." Edward shakes his head in disbelief. "I feel like a weight is lifted off my shoulders."

"One is." I say and lean against him. "I'm tired now though, that's for sure. What time it is?"

"It's nearly eleven at night. You've been here a while."

"Where's Alice?"

"At the neighbours."

I nod and let out a yawn.

"Bella?" Edward asks and looks down at me with concern. "Where in the hell are your shoes?"

I let out an easy laugh. It felt amazing coming so naturally. Yes, a weight is definitely off my shoulders.

...

Edward's all but dancing around the kitchen. "And it's nearly midnight now, but who cares? Alice, get out a bag of popcorn, we have some celebrating to do!"

Well, Bill and Jessica are left in the hands of the police, but restraining orders are still being placed on them from Edward, me, Alice, Angela, and possibly my dad. It was a long process, but finally I'm home. I had a quick shower and changed into one of Edward's black button down shirts before spawling myself all across the sofa. I watch Edward and Alice in amusement.

Alice doesn't exactly get what's going on, just that Bill and Jessica are no longer worries in our lives, so she, too, is happy.

I smile a wide and sleepy smile. "Edward, honey, I love the enthusiasum, but popcorn isn't that much of a celebration."

"What did you have in mind?" He asks as he walks into the living room. He sits on the tiny spot of space I left on the couch and pulls my legs into his lap, rubbing my sore feet. Chasing someone down the cement street at night is not a good idea. Especially not when you're barefoot. My shoes are still somewhere on the street too, unless someone picked them up.

Hey, you never know.

"Hmm..." I tap my chin. I raise my voice and say, "I think it's time to go to Florida!"

"OHMIGOD MICKEY MOUSE ON MAPLE SYRUP!" Alice screams running into the living room. "You're serious, right? Please tell me that you're serious. Please, please! I have popcorn a-poppin' and my hearts a boppin'."

"She's smart." Edward comments in a casual voice. "But I agree. I think I'm due a visit to Mickey Mouse and the beaches."

"You've never been to Florida." I reply to Edward.

"Exactly."


A/N: Bittersweet. You know why? Only one more chapter left...

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