Jess and I were sitting quietly outside the trig classroom, our backs against the lockers and our legs crossed underneath us. I had never been sent out of a class before, and I definitely have never been given a detention before. I wasn't sure what the protocol was, but Jess was more than happy to inform me that we just had to sit here for the remainder of the period and collect our detention slips from Mr. Varner before our next class.

I wasn't sure how I was going to explain this to Charlie. I should tell him that I was sorry, except I wasn't. I should tell him that I regretted my actions, but I didn't. I knew that I shouldn't have been so rude and disrespectful to a teacher, but it was hard to give a shit when there was a murderous monster on the loose. Also, I couldn't help but feel that Mr. Varner was over reacting just a little bit. I mean, I was a good student. I always did all my homework and got great grades on my exams. (I always made sure to never get a full 100%, since Charlie thought it would raise suspicions, but still.) I was a model student, and considering this was my first offence I thought it was a little extreme.

I looked up when I heard the loud clacking of high-heels on the hallway linoleum and I saw the Vice Principal walking in our direction. "Girls, what are you two doing out here during class?" Mrs Torres asked, her painted red lips pursing and her eyes narrowing as she looked us over.

"Mr. Varner sent us out." Jess answered before I could.

"And why would he do that?" Mrs Torres asked.

I thought about saying because he is an arrogant ass-hole, but instead I said "Because I was kinda rude, and Jess stood up for me." I shrugged.

"That doesn't sound like you, Bella. Do you want to tell me what happened?" Mrs Torres slowly lowered herself down to the ground, awkwardly folding her knee length skirt under her legs and wobbling on her heels as she finally settled down in front of us. I could taste her gentle concern, her soft motherly worry and I couldn't help but smile.

"Mr. Varner asked me to complete the problem on the board. So I did, but when he asked me where my working out was I said in my head where math is done." I relayed to her the story, and couldn't help but smirk at the little scoffing laugh she gave that she tried to hide behind a cough.

Mrs. Torres was fighting to put a stern expression on her face, but I could taste the sweetness of her amusement. "That was rather rude, wasn't it?" She chastised. "And completely unlike you." she added.

I sighed and silently cursed the Vice Principal's uncanny ability to see when her students were struggling. "I…" I started the sentence and then stopped, what was I supposed to say? Oh yeah, it's nothing really. I've just been having nightmares about watching everyone I love die. I killed a man and now live in constant fear of revenge from a homicidal vampire. I couldn't say that, I couldn't even come up with some bullshit excuse that would explain the typhoon of emotions inside of me. "I've been having some trouble sleeping." I eventually said once the silence filling the hallway became too much to bear.

"Bella? You never said anything." Jess said, half-accusing and half-worrying.

I shrugged helplessly and looked at my friend with a pleading look, I didn't want her to ask anymore questions.

"Does your father know?" Mrs Torres asked,

I nodded quickly, "Yeah, he does."

The bell signalling the end of the period rang out loudly, and Jess and I stood up quickly before helping Mrs Torres stand when we saw her struggling to right herself on aged knees and tall heels. The classroom door opened and a wave of students rushed out, followed by Mr. Varner.

"Mrs Torres, what can I do for you?" He greeted, looking between his boss and his students.

"I was hoping that I could convince you to give these girls a little leniency. Miss Swan has been having trouble at home, and as I understand it Miss Stanley was simply protecting her friend." Mrs Torres answered, the stern look on her face telling everyone that she wasn't asking.

Mr. Varner frowned, the lines on his face deepening. He narrowed his eyes at me, "You will never speak like that to me in my class again, understood?" He snipped,

"Of course," I nodded, I made sure to widen my eyes and furrow my brow hoping I was pulling off the look of scared remorse that he was looking for. "I am really sorry, Mr Varner."

It seemed like that did the trick and his face softened a tiny amount, "Alright then," He nodded and walked back into his classroom without a goodbye.

I turned to Mrs. Torres, "Thank you for doing that." I smiled kindly.

"It's alright, Miss Swan. You're a good student, but everyone has off days. Now you girls better run to your next class or you'll be late." She warned in a slightly joking tone before she continued down the hall.

XxXx

"Are you going to tell your father that you almost got detention today?" Edward asked as he drove me home from school.

"Well, no. I mean the key word there is almost." I grumbled out my answer like the tired and petulant child I was.

"Bella," Edward said my name in a low voice, and it was clearly an admonishment of my behaviour.

"Would you stop that." I bit out, fighting the urge to open the car door and jump out of the moving vehicle like a total psychopath. I had been feeling antsy and anxious all day and the energy it took to keep up the human charade had worn away my last shred of self control. "I get that you're a century old and everything, but you're my boyfriend not my parent. I don't need you to scold me for my behaviour." I heard Edward take a breath and start to say something, but I didn't stop to let him speak. "I know what I did was stupid, okay? But it's just… God!" I snapped loudly and clenched my fists, "I was asked to find the answer to an equation, and I knew the answer! I didn't fucking feel like pretending to take the time to work it out! Fuck!" I threw my head back and when I noticed Edward had parked in my driveway I shot out of the car like a bullet, I could hear Edward behind me.

"Bella?" Edward called my name softly and I turned around to look at him. His face was creased with worry and I could see he wanted to embrace me, but I was glad he kept his distance. I had been feeling caged in all day, and I didn't think I could handle being held right now.

"God, Edward." I groaned as I pulled at my hair, "I feel like I'm going crazy. I'm running on, like 4 hours of sleep so I am so fucking tired but at the same time I am so keyed up. I… I just- I want… I need." My words were cut off by the sudden appearance of hot angry tears sliding down my face. To be honest, I didn't know what I wanted.

"Bella, can I hug you?" Edward asked cautiously and I nodded my head angrily. Edward moved and slowly put his arms around me in a soft embrace, leaving me plenty of breathing room. "It's a fight or flight reaction, humans aren't meant to experience it for prolonged periods of time and I'd wager neither are werewolves." Edward's murmured words fell over me and soothed my anger some.

"Make it stop." I pleaded with him.

Edward sighed sadly, "I wish I knew how, my love."

I suddenly knew exactly what I wanted. What I needed. I shoved Edward away from me with more strength than I meant to and as I turned away from him I heard him land heavily in the wet grass. I didn't respond when he called my name, I kicked off my shoes and threw off my jacket not caring where they landed. I stalked off into the woods, pulling my shirt over my head and yanking down my jeans. I felt the pain ripple through my body, and small streams of blood trickled down in tiny crimson rivers.

I released a guttural scream, raw and primal, as I felt my bones break and shift. I fell forward onto my large lupine paws and threw back my head in a deafening howl before I took off into the dense green rain forest.

This is what I needed. I needed to run.

I relished in the feeling of the cold mud and moss under the pads of my paws, the crunch of tree branches and the sting on my skin as low hanging branches slapped against my sides. I could hear Edward in pursuit behind me, calling my name in a distressed and desperate yell that made my heart ache, so I pushed myself faster. I didn't want company. I didn't want to think, or feel anything besides the burning of air in my lungs and the crushing ache of tired muscles.

After a while I could no longer hear Edward behind me. I wasn't sure if I had out-run him or if he had simply just given up. I really didn't care either way. I pushed myself, never slowing down as I ran north. Hours past me by, and I never slowed and I never stopped. I crashed through creaks and threw my body over rivers. As I ran the world around me grew darker, sunlight gave way to the soft glow of moonlight and the glittering stars above. It was long after sunset by the time I slowed my marathon sprint. My bright yellow eyes took in the dark woods around me with stunning clarity.

I must have run a long way, if my surroundings were any indication. The green rain forests of Washington had given way to something similar and yet incredibility different. Tall pines and spruces towered over me, and there was significantly less ferns and undergrowth. I continued to trudge through the woods, my paws flattening the grasses around me. As the night grew on I realised I had no clue where I was. I huffed out a breath and looked up, barely able to see the starry sky above me. My annoyed growl echoed in the empty forest as I continued my walk, looking for a bit of a clearing so I could see the sky and get my bearings.

I could see a break in the trees ahead and I sped to a slow jog. When I reached the small clearing I raised my head and studied the sky above. I was clearly a long way away from any human civilisation, there was no light pollution to hinder my stargazing. The milky-way shined down on me and I studied the stars, naming each constellation without hesitation. When Charlie had insisted I learn how to navigate by the night sky I had scoffed at him, I had made jokes about maps and the internet and how unnecessary it was. I was incredibly grateful for the lessons now.

Doing some quick calculations in my head I realised I had travelled across the Canadian boarder. I don't think I had ever run so far in my entire life, and now I had stopped I realised just how hungry I was.

I raised my head and inhaled deeply through my nose, trying to find any lingering scent of an animal that could become my dinner. I smelt something foreign, musky and gamy and similar to deer yet also different. It was faint, the creature hadn't been through here in some time. I followed the scent until it became stronger, and then I turned upwind slightly and followed my instincts towards my meal.

My dinner quickly came into view, nestled in amongst the tall grass was a dozing moose. I was momentary stunned by the animals' monstrously large antlers that crowned it's head, the moose was so much larger than any animal I had ever seen.

I lowered myself to a crouch and slinked forward, and when I was close enough I launched myself at my unsuspecting prey. I had caught the moose by surprise, but that didn't stop it from putting up a good fight as my jaws locked around it's neck. It bucked and writhed and I was almost thrown off the animal. I dug my front paws into the side of the moose, flesh tearing as the creature made pitiful braying sounds of pain. I used my claws as leverage to move my jaws and get a better grip on it's neck, before biting down sharply and shaking my head violently. I heard the snap of the beast's neck and the moose went limp, we both fell to the ground with a heavy thud. I let go of the moose's neck and shook my fur out, huffing slightly before I got to work devouring my meal.

Turns out my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I couldn't bring myself to eat more than I had and I felt slightly guilty at leaving such a large amount of the dead moose behind, but I figured that there would be scavengers that would benefit from my misplaced gluttony. I trotted off, away from the grisly remains of my meal, to find a place to sleep.

When I woke up to the gentle warmth of the sun, I was happy to note that I was still in my wolf form. I slowly got to my feet and bowed down leisurely, stretching out my muscles as I yawned, my large jaws spreading wide and my tongue lolling out of my mouth. I huffed out a breath as I shook out my fur, feeling more well rested than I had since the fight with James. I turned west, towards home and family. I knew that they would all be worried, wondering where I had gone. I knew that I should start to make my way home to them, but the thought of returning to school and to my human charade made me feel like a caged animal. I couldn't go home, not yet. So instead I turned east, and started to run towards the rising sun.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.