Chapter 11

Bella:

I had slept the whole day after leaving Charlie at The Diner. I hadn't even realized it until I'd finally dredged myself out of the motel bed. It had been a week since then. I managed to eat out with Charlie a few times and made plans to look at apartments. But I was still tired and had to fight the nausea each time I tried to force myself to eat something.

I had disturbing dreams each night. They gave me an incredible sense of both dejavu and dread. It took me back to those horrible dreams I had back in high school. I had nearly forgotten about those dreams entirely.

Just like before there was a being that could only be described as an icy coldness and just like before, this being was chasing me through the evergreen Washington forest. What was different now, was that it was starting to catch me, coming closer right on my heels. In some of the dreams I would wake up there and it would end. Other times, the coldness would start to catch up. It would lick at my skin and where it touched me would turn to marble stone, caught in paralysis, making it harder and harder to get away. I always felt another pair of eyes watching me as I ran. They were protective, like whoever owned those eyes would not let the cold catch me, but also like they were helpless in stopping it.

Thankfully, I always woke up before the freezing monster could catch me. Now, just thinking about the dream my skin breaks out in goose bumps and a chill runs through me. I went to the bathroom and turned the heat of the shower water as high as it could go. Even though my skin turned bright pink I still felt cold spreading through me as if it started from within me. I felt ice in my very veins.

I quickly washed my body and hair then stumbled out of the motel bathroom, disappointed. I tried to shake it off though. I didn't have time to dwell on the dreams that I couldn't control, I had too much to do, and I'd wasted enough time being tired over the past week. I had a list made of what needed to get done. The list so far was:

- Find an apartment

- Get my job at Newton's

- Find used car to buy

- Look for teaching jobs

It was a really daunting list comprised of spending large sums of money and finding a way to afford such spending. It was particularly intimidating now that I wouldn't have the Cullens' deep pockets to back me up. I was ready for the challenge though. I was ready to finally be truly independent.

A moment later Emmet barged through the door of our motel room and picked me up in a bone-crushing bearhug while exclaiming how much he'd missed his "Belly Bean." I was glad to see him even though I knew he was called upon by Rose to try to help pull me out of the funk I'd been in. It really was helping though. Today was the first day that I'd had enough energy to get dressed somewhat nicely. I was warmer than I was all last week and it was finally warmer outside despite the typical Forks cloud cover and on-off rain.

I dressed in black jeans, a while v-neck tee, and a grey cardigan. I brushed out my long hair and let it tumble down in natural waves. I was ready to go to the appointments that I made to get tours of a couple different apartment complexes, Rose and Emmett were going to come with me. On the way out, I grabbed my purse and slipped on my comfortable converse sneakers. Emmett and Rose followed me out the door and revved up Emmett's Jeep. We piled in, Rosalie was driving, Emmett was in charge of music, and I was navigating.

The first stop was not too far away from the motel, so it didn't take long before we were all hopping out of the jeep and starting our first tour. As soon as we walked into the complex's office a stout woman standing behind the front desk greeted us.

"Hello, which one of you is Miss Swan?" She was looking at us from above her glasses that were pushed down her nose as she compiled several papers and stacked them on a clipboard. When I stuck my arm out to shake her head and said that that was me, she shook my hand, but her eyes scrutinized me. She looked me up and down, sizing me up.

"ID." She said. She didn't say it as a question, just sort of a rude announcement of what she needed from me. I dug through my purse, then gave her my driver's license. The four of us then made our way to the display apartment.

The display apartment was on the other side of the complex which provided a great opportunity to scope out what the outside looked like. There really weren't any amenities, but that wasn't what I was looking for anyways, so that didn't bother me any. The manager opened the front door and we stepped inside. She gave us a moment alone to look around. It was a one bedroom apartment, there was dingy carpet and even I could smell the mildew coming from the kitchen sink, which was in the same room as the washer and dryer. Worse yet, the front door did not lock properly and there was a draft coming in the thin window panes. It wasn't too much of a problem for now, but as soon as Washington winter hit, there would be trouble.

Emmett's nose scrunched up as he smelled something bad. "I'm sure the smell is so bad, you can even smell is Bella Bean. This place sucks." Rose elbowed him in the ribs trying to get him to leave me alone in case I liked the place, she understood my need to feel independent. That said, it was obvious that she was trying to hide her natural reaction to the stench as well.

"It's ok Rose, this place sucks." I told her. It was just that moment when the woman decided to come into the space. She cleared her throat and made room for us to pass by as she locked up.

"I guess our little complex is not good enough for you." She stated, her voice surly.

"Um… I just want to pick the right one." I was trying to be polite, but I also was not about to apply to live here.

She silently just handed my license to me and walked back to the office, her clipboard still in hand. The three of us all just looked at each other a little unsure of what to say but as soon as we were in the car we all let out a laugh at the irritated woman's expense.

We went to four other places in the same day, and they had each turned out much the same as the first one did. The last one was near the Forks-La Push border and for some reason I had a gut feeling and wanted to get just a little bit closer to the border. Rose and Emmett shared a nervous look that I didn't understand, but still Rose kept driving in the direction I wanted.

We edged slowly in a small neighborhood that gave way to one driveway that led into the woods. At the front of the drive there was a "For Rent" sign up.

"There!" I yelled, and Rosalie turned in, the car coming to a crawl down the long gravel way. At the end, there was a beautiful, cottage style home. There was a small garden on either side. Rose parked the Jeep and we walked around back where there was a little, wooden porch, with just two chairs and a small table between them. A french door separated the indoor space and the outdoor space, so I climbed the few steps up the porch to peer in.

The french doors led to a quaint kitchen and living room combo, it looked updated, but still modest. I could see another door at the other side that looked like a bedroom door and where the front door was, but couldn't see into the room. Regardless of the one hidden room, I knew that this was my home. I bounced a little in excitement and called the phone number that had been on the "For Rent" sign.

It rang four times before an elderly woman answered. She told me that the place was for rent, and that she would show me around the place the next day. Unfortunately the little house was just outside my budget. I frowned, but Rosalie read my expression immediately, having heard the conversation.

"Oh Bella, don't get so upset, you know we will cover the difference for you." She told me. Before I could argue she put up a hand and continued, "No, let me do this for you. It will be a housewarming gift." I sighed, giving in. I knew that I couldn't win in an argument with any vampire. If I tried, then she would just disappear after depositing an ungodly amount of money into my bank account, so I just muttered a "thank you" and dropped it. Plus, I couldn't get the stupid grin off my face anyways knowing that I was going to get the little house of my dreams.

We made it back to the motel and I couldn't wipe the excitement from my face for the rest of the night. We had a good night, all just hanging around and chatting. It was nice to catch up with Emmett, it hadn't been that long since I'd seen him, but I was used to seeing all of the Cullen's nearly everyday. The three of us watched silly movies all night but the exhaustion caught up with me quickly and I passed out on my bed, horrifying dreams filled my mind once again.

The next morning I found a note from the married pair stating the they had gone out hunting and that I would see them again in a few days. I got ready for the day, feeling pretty light after such a good day with Rosalie and Emmett yesterday, but the fatigue I had felt before yesterday set back in and I was back to being uncomfortably cold.

I dressed in an oversized hoodie and leggings with my hair tied in a knot on the top of my head. I had very little energy so I didn't bother with makeup, just grabbed my things and drove Charlie's Camry to the cottage house where I was meeting the old woman who owned the home, Mrs. Thomas.

It was about a twenty minute drive from the motel since it was on the very edge of Forks, so I took the time to think on what I was going to do about my sleeping problem, and what the dreams meant. The best I could think of was that the dreams were about vampires chasing me… but why weren't there any vampires there? And who was watching me as I ran...why were they unable to help?

When I got to the home there was no one there yet so I parked the car and waited on the back porch. I sat on one of the chairs and was lulled to sleep by the quiet sounds of the forest that surrounded me.

As soon as I'd fallen asleep, I was dreaming again. I was running as fast as I could through the woods and this time, instead of the coldness reaching me, those eyes stalked out of the woods. It was a wolf. A humongous black wolf with intelligent eyes that had sped up and run out of the woods in front of me. The wild animal had stopped me in my tacks and I looked around me fearful of the coldness catching me. But while there was a chill from within me, there was nothing chasing me any longer. The wolf brought his giant face closer to me and ran his snout along my neck, brushing my hair to the side.

Suddenly I was jerked awake by a deep, rumbling voice calling my name. "Bella? Wake up… Bella? Uh...Marie?"

I met brown eyes deep as the trees in the forest were old. He smelled of the woods and of a masculine shampoo. "Sam?" I asked surprised.

"It is you! What are you doing here?" He asked. I was wondering the same thing. Was it possible that he was from the reservation here? I knew that he must have been native, just looking at him had told me that, but I hadn't ever seen him around here. I was pretty engulfed in Edward and the Cullen life nearly the entire time I'd lived here before though, so it made sense that I didn't recognize him.

"I'm supposed to be meeting Mrs. Thomas here for a house tour." I told him honestly, blushing as I remembered the last time we had spoken and the fact that I had left him without any way of contacting me.

"Well I am here to show you around then, Mrs. Thomas wasn't feeling too well this morning, so I was sent to show the house." He said and my heart skipped a beat at the vibrations of his voice. Just being near him again was causing me to feel heated and wanting. All I could think about was the feel of his hot bare skin against my own, moving within me and pushing me closer and closer to the edge.

He cleared his voice when it had been too long since he'd been waiting for me to respond, and I swear I saw something change in those eyes of his, like something had been switched on,something primal. I swallowed thickly. He cleared his voice again, then stood up from where he had been crouched beside me. He extended his hand towards me, and I took it, allowing him to help me stand.

Sam led me around the home and to the front door. He unlocked it and when the door swung open, I felt like he had unlocked the door to my future. The feeling I had yesterday sprung forward within me again and I was overcome with the sense that this was my home and that I was meant to be here.

I smiled wide and looked at Sam who was watching me with a smile of his own. "You like it, huh?" He said. I nodded and continued to look around the kitchen and living areas. It had hardwood floors throughout and even had a small fireplace.

"Does it come furnished like this?" I asked him. It looked like I had caught him off guard as he had been watching me take in my surroundings.

"I think so, yeah." He told me. This was an added bonus. If I was going to be looking for a car soon, then I wouldn't have the extra funds it would take to buy my own furniture. I also really enjoyed all the simple pieces in the room and they were functional, so if they came with the rent, then I didn't see much point in replacing them.

"So, Sam… I just wanted to apologize… you know for the other night. I didn't really mean to leave without giving you my number, I just, well it was my first time, you know hooking up with a total stranger, so I'm really not sure of the etiquette there, but I really didn't think I'd see you again, so I didn't want to seem weird or clingy by leaving a number." I was rambling, and I knew it, but I was so inexperienced with all this kind of stuff, and now here he was, looking even sexier than he did when we'd met, and I wanted him.

"Bella. Calm down. It's alright, really. Honestly though, I am glad that you're here, that I get to see you again." He told me, bringing his dangerously warm hands to rest on my arms. I wanted him to touch my needy skin. I could feel him on me even though he was just skimming the fabric of my hoodie. For the first time since he'd shown up today, I remembered what I was wearing and blushed a dark red.

I was here ogling literally the most attractive man I'd ever seen, and I was wearing a hoodie and leggings. Fortunately, Sam didn't seem to notice what I was wearing, because he was already undressing me with his eyes, seeing only what was beneath the thick material.

"Bella… Are you going to rent this house?" He asked me, his gravelly voice an octave deeper than it was a moment ago. I nodded my head yes, completely speechless. "Good." He said simply, then picked me up and carried me through the door that lead to the bedroom. I wasn't sure what this meant for what we were, and I knew that I had a hundred other things to worry about, like my nightmares and fatigue, and generally what was wrong with me lately. But right now, cradled in this man's arms and being carried to where I knew I would find myself wrapped in pleasure, I felt good, and I didn't care to think about anything else.

Author's note:

So the characters decided not to do what I had planned for them, but that's ok, I still like how it turned out. I hope you like this direction as well!

-Dahlia