Bella furrowed her eyebrows as she saw a box expertly wrapped in blue wrapping paper on the seat of her truck the next morning. She picked up the box and looked around to see if the person who left it was watching. Not seeing anyone she ripped the paper off and opened the box. She smiled when she found five bags of beef jerky. She picked up the small white card from the top of the jerky and notice all that was written was a phone number. She wasn't sure exactly what this meant but she was sure that Victoria was the one who left the gift.

She moved the box and climbed into her truck. On her way to school she went over the feelings she had towards Victoria. She had been afraid that Victoria would come for her revenge eventually. As the months passed that fear turned into annoyance that it was taking so long. She in no way wanted to die but the fact that she had it hanging over her that she was, was making it hard to make future plans. She was constantly at war with herself over whether to save her money or splurge on luxury items because she wouldn't be alive long enough to actually spend any money saved. She hadn't even started on collage applications because she couldn't see the point of doing it if she was going to be dead soon anyway.

When she heard Victoria's voice she felt herself relax for the first time since the baseball game. She hadn't gotten that much of a chance to look at the woman or even interact with her that day but she knew instantly that it was her. Even faced with the fact that death had come for her, she couldn't bring herself to care and when she finally turned around and looked Victoria in the eye she found herself glad that Victoria was the last person she was ever going to see.

What surprised her was that Victoria had hesitated. She didn't know why she began rambling about frog dissection or big foot but she just felt the need to prolong her time with the woman. After Victoria sat down next to her on the ground it felt natural to continue talking almost like old friends. She probably shouldn't have told her about the Cullen's gifts or the shifters but she couldn't find it in herself to care much about their secrets. She had an almost overwhelming need to give Victoria all the facts to insure she would be safe if she went after the Cullens or if she continued traveling through the woods. Her protectiveness of the red head confused her but she trusted her instincts. She had ignored them the entire time she hung out with the Cullens and the results had been a disaster. When they left she promised herself she would always trust her gut and this time it told her to make sure Victoria stayed safe.

Pulling into the school parking lot she shut off her truck. As she was getting out she hesitated and then grabbed a bag of beef jerky to shove into her book bag. Looking at the card she decided there wasn't any harm with storing the number in her phone. She would like to thank Victoria for the gift. Sending a thank you text was the only polite thing to do. At least that's what she tried to convince herself of. It had nothing to do with the fact that she almost ached to see the red head again.

"Hey Bella ready for Biology this afternoon?" Jessica asked as Bella made her way over to her group of friends. Mike had his arm around Jessica as he talked to Eric.Angela just waved in greeting.

"Don't worry Bella as your lab partner I brought extra bandages just in case the nurse doesn't make it to you fast enough." Lauren told her with a smile causing the whole group to laugh.

Bella looked at her suspiciously. "Why do I have the feeling you aren't joking about that?"

"Because I'm not." Lauren told her. "I had gym with you last year remember? The first time you played volleyball you almost gave Mike a concussion."

Mike smiled at Jessica. "That turned out for the best though. It was Jessica helping me to the nurse and driving me home that got us together."

"See" Bella waved her hand at the couple. "If anything they should be thanking me. I am the reason they have a relationship at all."

Angela linked arms with Bella when the bell rang."Come on we have history first. Today we start learning about the civil war."

"Ugh." Bella groaned. "Why does America love going to war so much?We haven't even been a country for that long."

"At least we are better than the British." Angela said as they sat in their seats in the back row of class.

"Yeah but at least the British gained more land from those wars. No matter how wrong that is." Bella added quickly when Angela raised an eyebrow at her. "Ok I'm just going to shut up now."

"Wise choice." Angela said turning to pay attention to the teacher.

After her slip up with her Latin American friend Bella tried to pay attention as well. She hated that they were studying the civil war of all things. She had listen to Jasper go on and on about the war in one of the many times Alice had left them alone in hopes that Jasper would make a new friend. She had been polite to him the whole time and even when bored would add to the discussion. She even read two of the many books he recommended to her. The reason she didn't like talking to him was because he fought for the south. He was never overtly racist but he had defended the right to own slaves to many times for her liking.

Her thoughts began to drift to a certain red head. Was Victoria old enough to have experience any wars? Was she even American? She didn't know but as she looked around and pulled out her cell phone she knew of one way to find out. Making sure it was on silent and no one was paying attention to her she send her first text.

B: Thank you for the gift. I haven't tried it yet but it looks delicious

B:This is Bella by the way

The almost instantaneous reply surprised Bella.

V:You're welcome. It was hard to figure out exactly what you would like so I got an assortment

B:You picked out a some of my favorites

V: I don't understand human food. The amount of chemicals added was enough to make me second guess buying you any at all

B: That makes it sound like you want to keep me alive for a while longer

Bella looked at her phone in anticipation for the next reply but when it didn't come she put her phone away and went back to taking notes.

"Why do you keep looking at your phone?" Mike asked at lunch. Victoria hadn't replied to her at all and she was beginning to wonder if she had offended the woman somehow.

"I was texting a friend and they haven't replied back yet." Bella told him.

" Who is this friend?" Eric asked.

"I thought we were your only friends?" Lauren added.

Bella wondered how to explain who Victoria was. It wasn't like she could tell them about the homicidal red headed vampire who drank human blood. "She is someone I met while hiking yesterday and we exchanged numbers."

"Ok, now it's getting interesting." Jessica said. "Does Bella have a new love interest? How pretty is this girl?"

Angela interrupted Bella's reply. "Please tell me this isn't going to turn into an Edward situation. For such a hot guy he was beyond creepy. I mean every time I saw him he was staring at you in a way that was less romantic and more I want to eat your face in a non pleasant way. It was kind of scary."

"Oh no this is definitely not an Edward situation." Or was it? Bella knew Victoria was dangerous but she wasn't scared of her. If anything she felt safe with the vampire.

"Good, now tell us all about her." Jessica said trying to get back to the original subject.

How could Bella explain Victoria. "Well she has red hair."

"Red heads are hot."Jessica smacked Mike upside the head. "What? They are. Tell her Bella, red heads are hot."

"She is smoking hot." Bella agreed. "And her voice is deep but not masculine, more smokey. I can't describe it. When I first heard it it gave me goosebumps."

Lauren put her hand to her chest and sighed. "Aww our little Bella has a crush. When do we get to meet her?"

Bella thought about that. Did she have a crush? Going over everything that had happened the day before with Victoria she decided she just might. "I don't know about meeting her. She hasn't even texted me back. Maybe she doesn't even want to see me again."

"Or she is at school like you are and she can't text you right now." Angela said.

"She doesn't go to school." Bella told her.

"What do you mean she doesn't go to school? Is she some loser drop out?" Bella shook her head no to Jessica's question. "If she doesn't go to school how old is this girl? Or should I say woman?"

"I'm not sure but way older than us. Do you think that's why she didn't text me back? She thinks I'm to young to hang out with?"Bella asked.

"I think you are freaking out over nothing." Eric told her. "If she didn't want to talk to you she wouldn't have texted you in the first place. She would have just ignored you."

The bell ringing brought the discussion to a halt. Bella went over the things her friends had told her. It was true that Victoria wasn't the type of person to do something she didn't want to do and the vampire had given Bella her phone number. She decided to just go with the flow and not worry about the reply.

It wasn't until biology it came. Four words just four words Bella didn't know how to respond to.

V:Of course I do

What did that even mean? Well other than Victoria wanted her around that is. For what purpose though? Were they friends now? Bella didn't know. Looking at the frog in front of her she decided to test the friendship waters. Taking a picture with her phone she sent it to Victoria.

B:In biology wish me luck.

V: Do they have proper medical professionals in that building to deal with accidents?

B:Haha

V:You were the one who told me you were accident prone

B:Which is why my lab partner is doing all the cutting

V:That is probably a good idea

B:What are you doing today?

V: I am car shopping

B: Exciting

V:I figured if I was going to stay here for a while I would need some proper transportation

Bella ignored the way her stomach flutter at the thought of Victoria staying around longer

B: You didn't have a car?

V: Not a legal one

Bella's eyebrows shot up at that. So not only did Victoria kill people she stole cars. Bella wondered what other laws Victoria broke.

B:Then I suppose buying one is a good idea

V: Yes it is

V:Are you going to the meadow again today?

Was Victoria asking Bella to hang out? Did Bella want to? Thinking about it Bella found that she did want to see Victoria again. The sooner the better but she really didn't want to go into the woods. It had been raining on and off all day. Still maybe she could invite Victoria over. Charlie had left this morning to go on a trip with his girlfriend so it wasn't like anyone would see Victoria. Desicion made Bella texted back.

B:No, but do you want to come over to my house? My father isn't going to be home so you wouldn't have to be worried about hiding your eyes

V:I would like that. What time do you want me to come over?

B:I will be home in an hour so anytime after that is fine

V:I will see you then

Bella sighed as she went back to the frog they were just starting to cut into ignoring Lauren's questioning gaze. She didn't want to talk to her friend about Victoria coming over yet. She didn't know exactly what would happen and didn't want to start doubting herself,which she knew she would if she talked to her friend about it.