A/N: I usually post Friday evening but as I'll be busy, you guys get this chapter a day early. As promised, Bella's birthday is at hand, among other things.

Ivy

I had just started to eat my western omelette when Jasper knocked at the door. I got up to let him in and returned to my eggs. He set his duffle bag on the floor and took a seat opposite me.

I peered outside the kitchen window and my mouth dropped open. "Did you come on foot?" I asked him when I didn't see his truck. There was no possible way he could have made it home and back in that amount of time. Even in a car.

Jasper shrugged. "You know why I can't give you an answer to that," he told me.

"I know. It's just disconcerting sometimes," I sighed. "I love you but you do some seriously weird shit," I told him honestly.

Jasper reached across the table and held my free hand.

"Oh, I forgot," he grinned his signature trademark crooked smile and whipped his shirt off. I couldn't hide my smile and bit my lip.

"Thank you for that," I stared at his glorious chest. "Fair is fair," I told him. I stood and closed all the downstairs blinds. I slid my robe off my shoulders, letting it pool at my waist, taking my seat once more.

I kept eating nonchalantly, effectively topless. I couldn't understand how I felt so comfortable with his ogling though it was gratifying. Even with past boyfriends I always covered myself outside of bed.

"Are you making me feel more at ease with you?" I asked him.

"No. I promised you I wouldn't alter your feelings unless you asked," he said, meeting my gaze despite his obvious desire to keep staring at my breasts.

"That's right, I did. I don't know why it's so easy for me to be naked around you," I told him, popping the last bit of omelette into my mouth.

"I don't know either, Sugar, but I'm definitely enjoying the benefits," he said.

I put my dishes in the dishwasher and held out my hand which Jasper took and we headed back up to my bedroom.

Despite my earlier words about taking him in my mouth, neither of us went down on each other. I felt like we could sort of work up to that. We definitely gave each other hand jobs a few times though.

I had just finished getting Jasper off and propped myself up on my elbow, watching him slow his breathing with his eyes closed. He was so unsettlingly gorgeous. I couldn't tell if me loving him yet not knowing what the hell he really was, was wrong. At least Bella was in the same boat and if she could love Edward knowing what he was, it couldn't be all that bad for me to love Jasper.

He opened his eyes and mirrored my position. We just stared at each other for a long time. I could only say 'I love you' so many times. I didn't need to tell him. He could feel it.

After a while, we both got up, acknowledging we were both hungry. I made myself a sandwich and Jasper left to eat his food. I still didn't know what he ate. I wanted and didn't want to know in equal measure.

Eating my sandwich, I wondered why Jasper couldn't go all the way with me. He'd said he would hurt me because he was so much stronger. It didn't make sense.

I finished my meal and went to take a shower. I pulled on my flannel pajama pants and an old t-shirt, slightly disappointed Jasper hadn't made it home to join me in the shower. He wasn't back yet so I blow-dried my hair just enough to make it dry. I snuggled into my sheets and dozed off.

I awoke to Jasper tugging the loose neck of my shirt off my shoulder and placing soft, sweet kisses to my skin. His cold lips were no longer foreign to me. Instead, they were now a huge turn on.

"Hey," I whispered, turning to face him.

"Hey," he whispered back. He was in his pajamas that were similar to mine only with a tighter shirt which I greatly appreciated. "Sorry to wake you. I just couldn't resist kissing you," he apologized.

"Don't be silly," I reassured him, "You can wake me up any day."

"I love you Ivy. So much it scares me sometimes," his drawl was pronounced. He knew I loved it when he did that.

"Ditto," I said. I moved my head, placing kisses on his shirt-clad chest and pulled up his t-shirt just enough to expose his ridiculously chiseled abs. I bent my head to kiss every silvery scar I could see in the moonlight filtering through my window. I worked my head further down and Jasper's hands buried themselves in my hair. I was perfectly willing to suck him off but Jasper knew where I was headed and held my head over his abdomen until I nodded my understanding. He loosened his grip and I contented myself with just kissing every inch of exposed skin. There were so many scars! Silvery, crescent shaped scars. I briefly wracked my brain for what could have caused them. What was hard and crescent shaped? Apart from a cookie cutter - and I knew it wasn't that - I couldn't figure it out.

What the hell happened to him? I wondered. I knew he'd feel my confusion and curiosity but he never said anything. I mentally shook my head and just pulled his shirt off entirely and kissed his perfect pecs all over. Having finished my work on his chest, I shimmied back up to capture his lips in a long and heated kiss.

"Get some sleet, sweet Ivy," Jasper finally whispered. "You look done in."

"I'm not sleepy," I yawned, knowing it was a childish thing to say.

"If you say so," I could hear the smile in Jasper's voice. I curled into his side, shrugging off the blanket he tried to separate us with. He was cold but I needed to be near him. It was worth it to have his arms around me with my head tucked under his on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Darlin'," he said.

"What for?" I mumbled, definitely drowsy.

"For accepting my scars the way you just did," he said softly.

"They're just as beautiful as the rest of you," I told him truthfully.

I felt Jasper tighten his arms around me pleasantly and drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to the Imperial March, feeling irritated at the interruption. I couldn't understand why my arms were trapped and couldn't reach out for my phone.

Jasper held it out to me and I disentangled one arm just enough to answer and hold it to my ear. I realized I was wrapped in my throw blanket. I was an Ivy burrito.

"Hello?" I rasped. It was too fucking early for a phone call.

"Ivy? Are you still asleep?" I heard my mom chide me. I looked at the alarm clock on my nightstand just beyond Jasper. 10:00. Way too fucking early for a Sunday.

"I'm awake now," I replied, fighting to free myself from the burrito I was in. I glanced up to see Jasper silently laughing at me. I glared at him which only made his shoulders shake more.

"Lily's dance competition is over and we're almost home," she informed me.

"Okay. Thanks for the heads up," I told her.

"We'll be home in about fifteen minutes," she added.

"See you soon," I mumbled. We said a quick goodbye and I, now free of the blanket, sprawled myself diagonally across my boyfriend's chest and just laid there.

"Um, Ivy?" Jasper said softly.

"Hmm?" I had my eyes closed.

"I think I should probably leave," he said and I heard his smile.

"No. Stay," I pouted.

"Ivy, I don't think your parents would take kindly to finding me in your bed," he told me.

"Ugh. You suck," I told him, rolling off him to my side of the bed.

"More than you know," he said so quietly that I wasn't sure I heard him properly.

I grabbed my clothes and got dressed in the bathroom while Jasper dressed in my room. I watched as he packed his duffle and I escorted him to the door.

"See you at school tomorrow," was all he said after a good few minutes of passionate kissing.

"I love you," I called after him.

"I love you too, Sugar," he called back and walked into the tree line and disappeared.

I sighed happily. I made sure all my dishes were in the dishwasher and my bed was made. I opened my bedroom window a crack to hopefully dispel any lingering smell of naughtiness. It wasn't exactly sex smell but it was close.

My parents and Lily spilled into the house and Lily assaulted me, telling me everything about the competition. She had won third place for her ballet routine and I heaped her with praise when she showed me the ribbon she had received.

"I'm so proud of you, Munchkin!" I hugged her. She hugged me back and I was struck by just how much I loved my life. Everything was absolutely perfect.

Monday morning dawned bright and drizzly, and I couldn't have cared less. Any day I got to see Jasper was a fantastic day. I dressed and ate quickly, collecting Lily and drove her to school but not before my dad gave me a wink and a thumbs up. I had no idea what the heck that was about. I panicked for a moment when I thought he'd found out about what Jasper and I had been doing on Saturday but no, that made no sense. He wouldn't have done that if he knew.

I found Jasper waiting for me in the parking lot and we headed in together.

Bella and Edward were already in the school foyer.

"I'll bring her over around seven," I heard Edward say, "That will give you more time to set up."

"Sounds good. See you tonight, Bella! It'll be fun, you'll see," Alice trilled to a stricken looking Bella.

"What's that about?" I asked Jasper as he slung his arm around my shoulders as we headed to homeroom.

"It's Bella's birthday. Alice planned a party at our house," he explained. "You're invited, of course."

"You know I'm grounded until the end of term," I said morosely.

"You were grounded until the end of term until I pled your case to your parents saying your good friend Bella insisted you come to her party and would be heartbroken if you didn't. Your mom took some convincing and your dad was the one to bring her around."

Now I knew why my dad had winked and given me a thumbs up.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I demanded to know. "I have to work the late shift tonight. I could have booked it off if I'd known."

"Sorry. I didn't know about it until yesterday and just decided to surprise you with it today," he shrugged.

"I won't be able to get there until closer to 8:00," I told him.

"That's fine. Do you need me to pick you up?" Jasper offered.

"No thanks, I'll have my car. Thanks for convincing my parents to let me come," I gave him a quick kiss as we took our seats in class.

Mr. Bertrand was one of those hippies that never changed after the 60s. His grey hair was past his shoulders and he always wore a rolled bandana across his forehead and a fringed suede vest. You can take the man out of Woodstock but you can never take Woodstock out of the man. Mr. B, as he had asked me to call him, was my boss at Mercury Vinyl, the local Forks record store. I had worked there since the age of 16, earning and saving as much money as possible to help pay my way to EAMS, the renowned and elite music conservatory in Seattle. Minimum wage for three years didn't even come close to one year's tuition but every little bit helped. I loved my job at Mercury and it allowed me to be around music so I was happy.

I still hadn't heard back yet from the school and I forced my mind elsewhere or otherwise go insane. It was a slow night at the shop and I had taken the evening shift that ended at 7:00. I made Jasper promise not to wait for me to get the party started. I had brought my violin to work with me and I'd be there in time to accompany a chorus of happy birthday to Bella, whether she wanted me to or not.

"Ivy, you've just looked at the clock five times in as many minutes," Mr. B said. "You got a hot date or something?"

"All of Forks knows I'm dating Jasper Hale so my date is always hot," I grinned and Mr. B grinned back. He was such a laid-back guy – I suspected he probably still smoked weed – and he was great to work with and for.

"The Cullens are hosting Bella Swan's birthday party. I told them I'd be there after my shift," I informed him, hoping it didn't sound like I was trying to get off work earlier than I'd promised.

"It's been a slow night. Take off, girl! Go enjoy all the parties life has to offer," he said, making a 'shoo' gesture towards the door.

"Are you sure?" I asked, not wanting to leave him in the lurch.

"Absolutely," he told me.

"Thanks Mr. B," I said, grabbing my purse and violin case, "I owe you one!" I called when I got to the door.

"You owe me nothing, Ivy. Get to that hot date before you're both as old as I am," he said with humour. I laughed in reply and made my way to my car.

I drove the long road out to the Cullen's house. The dashboard clock read 7:30. I was making good time. I stopped at a stop sign and double checked my bag to make sure I had Bella's gift with me; I did.

I pulled up to the house and just as I got out of my car and stood beside it, the front door burst open, making me jump.

What I saw next would stay with me for the rest of my life. Emmett was bodily hauling Jasper outside and down the steps followed by the rest of the Cullens. Dr. Cullen and Bella weren't with them. None of them seemed to see me but what really scared me was Jasper's expression.

I had never seen such a look on anybody's face before. It was pure animalistic desire, and not the sexy kind. It was single-minded determination and need. Even from this distance I could tell his eyes were completely black and wild and he was struggling harder than I'd ever seen anyone struggle, trying to break free of Emmett's iron grip on him. Even Emmett and all his strength was having a hard time dragging Jasper towards the forest. The rest were following, making sure that if he did manage to get loose, he wouldn't get far. What was even worse were the sounds Jasper was making. They were definitely not something a human could have produced. It was a snarling, growling sound that came from deep in his chest. It sent a shiver of fear down my back. It was a sound only a predator could have made.

On top of all of that, I could see he was trying to bite Emmett and anyone else that came too close. What the hell? Why would he want to bite someone? If someone was dragging me somewhere, I'd use my limbs, not my mouth, I thought.

The whole disturbing party had disappeared into the trees and I stood stunned, trying to make sense of what I'd just seen and unable to do so.

I steadied myself against the hood of my car and slowly made my way to the door that still stood open. I knew Bella and Carlisle were still inside and maybe they could give me some answers. As I entered, I heard their soft voices coming from the kitchen. Before I could even walk in, I saw the carnage of the living room. The table there had been knocked over, there were presents scattered around, there was a mess of smeared icing and cake on the floor, as well as flowers and a broken crystal vase and jagged shards that had presumably once been plates.

What had happened here?

I crept towards the kitchen thinking this night couldn't get much creepier and heard something that made me stop in my tracks.

" – my father's particular brand of faith," I had missed Carlisle's full sentence but the next I heard as clear as day, "But never, in the nearly four hundred years now since I was born, have I ever seen anything to make me doubt whether…"

Carlisle had said something more but I didn't hear it. Four hundred years since I was born. It kept repeating in my head with Carlisle's voice. WHAT. THE. FUCK. I decided I must have misheard and kept listening.

"I'm sure all this sounds a little bizarre," he continued, "coming from a vampire."

Okay, I know I heard that for real. Vampire. The Cullens were all motherfucking vampires. I was horrified. No, more than horrified. I felt like I was going to vomit all over the white carpeting. I staggered back, nearly loosing my footing on a broken plate. I made it to the door before turning around and bolting back to my car. Before I could get in, I saw Carlisle at the door. He must have heard me as I ran away. His face was stricken and he had made a move towards me, as if he wanted to come down the steps, but stopped when I screamed at him.

"Stay away from me!" I shrieked.

Carlisle froze. I jumped into my car and my tires spun until they gained purchase on the gravel as I tore out of there.

It was too early to go home so I ended up in the parking lot of the diner, not sure how I had even gotten there. I stayed put in my car, briefly opening the door to get fresh air as I hyperventilated.

They're all vampires. My mind immediately denied it. Obviously it was impossible. Vampires didn't exist. I still preferred my theory about aliens. At least it made more sense than this!

I mentally listed all the idiosyncrasies I could remember: they didn't eat human food (ugh, I'd think about what that implied later), they were impossibly beautiful, their amber eyes, their skin was cold as death, they were incredibly strong, some had superpowers, they came out in daylight but never in direct sunlight, I had never heard Jasper's heartbeat and I had initially felt repelled by them, probably my brain telling me they were dangerous.

But they didn't have fangs! How could they possibly be vampires? If they couldn't puncture an artery with long incisors, they must have to bite really hard. I shuddered in both fear and disgust.

I ran my hands over my face. I felt cold and numb. Oh fuck, I'm going into shock, I realized. I started my car and cranked up the heater. I didn't feel any better but at least my body would be convinced I was okay.

Another thought came to me: they weren't even alive. They were walking, talking, fucking corpses. And I had wanted to fuck one. I opened my car door and dry heaved for a few minutes. Oh god, I had had a dead finger inside me and I had felt one up. I felt so dirty. I was the very definition of a necrophiliac. Thank the lord, I had never gone down on him. I wouldn't have been able to handle that.

And yet, for all that, Jasper had never wanted me to know and had given me a choice. He had never lied and I had never pushed. Maybe I should have. But I knew that now I was aware of what they were, I was in danger. How long would I have before the others came for me? But then, Bella had known far longer than I had and she was still alive.

Bella. She knew what they were and chose to stay with them. She had always been strange but now I was convinced she was a lunatic. On top of that, Jasper said she wanted to be one. What the fuck was wrong with her?! It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. Now I understood what Jasper had meant by not being able to see my family again and how I would have to murder innocent people just to survive. Didn't she realize how much she would have to give up? How many people she'd have to kill to sustain her unnatural life? How could anyone choose that sort of life (or undeath, in this case)? And for what? Just so she could stay with Edward?

The clock on my dash read 11:00 so I figured I should go home. I thought about what I would tell my parents. Obviously, Jasper and I just broke up. I didn't want to stay with someone dead. I couldn't. It went against every law of nature.

"I'm home!" I called to my family who were all in their rooms. I heard a muffled "Hi Ivy," from my mom. I was just thankful they didn't feel the need to see me as I looked at my reflection in my full-length mirror in the corner of my room. My face looked unnaturally pale and there was a tightness about my eyes and a frown on my face. I looked awful but I felt awful too. I fell onto my bed without undressing and allowed myself to break down with my cries muffled into my pillow. I had loved Jasper more than life itself and now it was over.

What reason could I possibly give my parents as to why we broke up? I would never make him into a villain (even though vampires were always villains, except maybe in Interview with a Vampire. Louis was kind of an okay guy). I couldn't bring myself to say he cheated on me. That was too unfair. If I told my parents he got accepted into another college and we decided to break up instead of doing the long-distance thing, would they buy it? Yeah, they probably would. I cried some more over the thought of not ever seeing him again but I just couldn't face him. How on Earth was I going to be able to see him for the rest of term? There wasn't much longer to go until the end of the school year. Maybe I could fake an illness. No, I wouldn't be able to keep that charade up.

Something else was bothering me though. Why had he never even tried to drain me dry? I should have been dead long before now. He'd had plenty of opportunity, even in the early days in the auditorium. Now, I'd never know. I was firm about staying away from him. I'd already tempted fate enough.

I cried myself to sleep that night, followed by nightmares about my gorgeous ex-boyfriend hunting me down with that crazed look on his face.

The next four days went by. I saw Edward, Alice, Rosalie and Emmett at school but they kept to themselves and I kept a huge distance between us. I saw them glance at me often during lunch but I studiously ignored them. I had made the mistake of looking at Rose in homeroom and she shot me such a look of pity that I couldn't look back at any of them again. I wondered why Jasper wasn't there. I was incredibly relieved he wasn't but it didn't stop me from worrying. You can't love someone one day and not love them the next.

Bella still sat with Edward at lunch but seemed nervous, walking on eggshells around him. I could only guess that the mess in the living room and Jasper being dragged away meant that he had attacked Bella and couldn't help thinking that it could have been me. Bella seemed fine, minus the bandage on her arm. I was more of a wreck than she was.

At the end of the fourth day, Edward walked over to me near my car and when I saw him, I hastily backed far away. I probably had a terrified look on my face because he looked pained. Oh right, he could read my mind and I had mentally shrieked in fear.

"I was going to give you this," he indicated a letter he was holding, "But I think I may just drop it in your mailbox instead."

"Don't you dare go near my family!" I hissed, sounding braver than I felt. "I'll take it."

I walked as close as I dared and snatched the letter, watching him warily the whole time.

"Please read it," he entreated. I nodded once and he left without anything further. I took a deep, calming breath. I tossed it on my bedside table when I got home, unopened. I couldn't handle it just yet.

The next day, the Cullens were entirely absent as was Bella. Was she still alive or did they take her away to turn her into a vampire?

"Did you hear about Bella Swan?" my dad asked me at supper that evening.

"No. Why? She wasn't at school today. Is she okay?" Is she now one of the undead? I refrained from asking.

"She went for a walk in the woods with Edward. He must have left her there because she got lost. Sam Uley found her, thank god."

"Why would Edward have ever left her in the woods? What a stupid thing to do. Especially with bears around these days," my mom said. I couldn't agree more. I had a hard time believing Edward would have done something like that.

"I heard they left town," my dad said. "All of them just up and left. I guess Dr. Cullen got an amazing offer, some kind of fellowship, and he couldn't turn it down."

"What?! They're gone?" I asked, aghast. I felt something sharp lance through me and cut deep. I looked to my dad who wouldn't meet my eyes. I looked to my mom instead. How could they just have left in the span of a few days? Moreover, why would they leave and not bother to say goodbye? Had I meant so little to them? Then again, I had made sure to stay away from them all and that made any sort of conversation impossible.

"Yes. I'm so sorry sweetheart," my mom said softly and took my hand over the table. "I know how much Jasper meant to you. I'm sure that boy loved you and I know you loved him."

I felt myself tearing up but forced myself not to cry. I had been doing that every night since Bella's birthday.

"Are you going to be okay?" Lily asked me. Sweet little Munchkin.

"I'll be fine, thanks Lily," I forced a smile. She had looked so worried about me. "I just need some time."

"Of course," my mom said, giving my hand a squeeze before letting it go.

My mom took pity on me and let me off the hoof with the dishes so I went up to my room and stared at the envelope on my bedside table that Edward had given me. I had told him I would read it and my curiosity urged me on. I hadn't been ready to read the contents before, but now I was. I hoped it contained the goodbye I needed to hear to give me some closure. I grabbed it and sat in my desk chair as I ripped it open.

Sweet Ivy,

Thank you for reading this letter. There are some things I need you to know.

First off, I am so incredibly sorry about how things have turned out. I'm so ashamed of my weakness that has caused this whole fiasco. I'm sure that by now, you've pieced together what happened.

My family will be leaving Forks for good with no intention of ever returning. Carlisle told me how you reacted to the news and at least you've proven how sane you are by staying away from my kind. Please keep to that. You'll be safe now without us.

Just know that I never would have harmed you or Bella willingly. Please don't blame any of the others. This was entirely my fault and if you hate me for it, I will accept it. It would be justified. I won't even ask for forgiveness because I'm not worthy of it. I hate myself for all that has happened. You'll never know just how sorry I am that we had to end this way.

I wish you a long and happy life with a far better man than me.

Just know that I will never love anyone as much as I love you.

Be safe,

Jasper

p.s. If ever you come across my kind with red eyes, RUN.

I reread the letter ten times. It gave me no clue as to where they went or what they were doing. They could be anywhere by now. I felt incredibly saddened that Jasper felt responsible for this. I mean, he was responsible for it, but I knew he was a good person with a good heart. I couldn't have fallen in love with him if he weren't.

And what was with that post scriptum? Vampires with red eyes? And I should run away from them? I really wished I could get some clarification about that.

High school was officially over and done with. Graduation was held, parties were thrown, people were trashed. Not me, mind you. I didn't want to get grounded again.

My friends had heard about the Cullens leaving, everyone had heard, and they allowed me to mope for two months. Two, whole, excruciating months. I cried every night and had horrifying nightmares about vampires when I finally managed to sleep. I felt so empty and utterly exhausted. After those two months, Lisa and Kelly took it upon themselves to cheer me up and get me out of my dejected state. I may have been terrified of Jasper now but I still loved him and it still hurt that I would never see him again.

My amazing friends almost never left my side. They plied me with lots of chocolate and cheesecake which did wonders for me. Maybe Remus Lupin was right and chocolate made everything better. I continued to play the violin which was remarkably therapeutic. I always felt better when playing and I threw myself into learning new pieces with relish. I still worked at Mercury Vinyl with Mr. B. I appreciated that he never pitied me or danced around the issue the way everyone else did.

Newton's Outfitters was nearby and sometimes I would see Bella head in for her shift. She looked absolutely awful. I may have looked the same initially but mercifully, I looked half decent by that point. She, on the other hand, looked like the living dead. At least had she been a vampire, she would have been a beautiful corpse. I had tried to talk to her a few times but I was creeped out by how hollow she seemed. She was just an empty shell. Edward had destroyed her completely. I felt a flash of anger towards him for what he had done. I was still nursing a broken heart but at least Jasper hadn't devastated my life.

I was worried about Bella and wanted to make sure she wasn't suicidal so I went to her house to give her the birthday gift I had never given her.

"Hi Chief Swan," I greeted Bella's father at the door.

"Hi…Ivy?" he asked slowly, never having actually seen me before. Our paths had never crossed.

"Yeah. I'm Ivy Donovan," I went to shake his hand. He shook it and gave me a grateful look that I didn't understand.

"Bella's upstairs. You're the only friend who has come to see her, you know," he whispered to me and I felt bad that Bella seemed to have no real support system. Edward had isolated her from her friends. That's what abusers do. He was a sick bastard.

"Do you think she'd mind if I went up?" I asked.

"I don't think so. Head on up. It's the first door on the left." I nodded in thanks.

I knocked on Bella's door. I heard some shuffling and the door opened.

I started at the state Bella was in. She looked as bad as before but my memory had recalled her as less corpse-ish. She really did look dead inside. She had deep, dark circles under her eyes and her usually shiny mahogany locks looked like they hadn't been washed for far too long.

"Hey," I said softly. "Can I come in?"

Bella said nothing and just moved aside to let me in.

"Here," I held out a gift card envelope, "I never gave this to you that night..." She knew what night I was talking about.

She took it but didn't open it.

"It's a gift card to Barnes and Noble. I know you like to read but I wasn't sure what so I got you this," I said.

"Thanks," she said and the scratchy voice told me she hadn't spoken in a while. Christ, what was I supposed to do now? I noticed the way she had her arms wrapped around herself, looking like she was trying to physically hold herself together.

I took a deep breath. "Bella, I know he hurt you," she flinched but I went on, "Jasper hurt me too. But you can't let him have such a hold over you! They're never coming back. If you need to talk, I'm here and I get how you feel better than anyone else does. Please don't let this ruin your life," I said. I feel like she hadn't heard a word I said. She looked at me blankly. I would have slapped her if I thought it would have done any good.

I waited for something. Anything really.

"Thanks for the gift card," she said in clear dismissal.

I sighed. "Remember, I'm here if you need me." It was all I could offer her.

I trudged down the stairs with a goodbye to Chief Swan and an apologetic look. "I told her she could talk to me if she needed to. I'm sorry I can't do more than that," I told him quietly. He nodded.

"Thanks all the same, Ivy," he said.

I left and vowed that I would never let a man reduce me to that. Ever.

The next week my mom called me down to the kitchen.

"What's up, Mom?" I asked her. She looked excited and a bit nervous, holding something behind her back.

She said nothing but pulled a thick white envelope from behind her addressed to Miss Ivy Donovan. My eyes went wide, taking the letter.

It was from EAMS.

A/N: Please don't hate me. It had to happen. I hope you like Demetri because here he comes...

On a completely unrelated note, did anyone notice the movie scene where Carlisle is stitching Bella up after the birthday fiasco, she's clutching his arm? I mean, I definitely would have too, but it seemed oddly intimate between them.

As always, a huge thank you to my followers and especially to my reviewers! 3