Rain: Hello all, this is the next chapter of The Crimson Eyed Drifter: Distance between Hearts And I want to thank you all so much for the love. I'm glad you guys are enjoying it. This chapter is going to deal more with Bella so sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Mario: Here we go!

The Crimson Eyed Drifter: Distance between Hearts
Chapter Four

Forks
Bella Swan

One week

It has been one week since Jasper had left.

And somehow, I felt as if my world had been turned asunder.

I couldn't explain why I was so shaken by Jasper leaving but it when I watched him ride off into the distance, I could feel my heart squeeze painfully within my chest.

"J-Jasper," A whimpered out as I curled tighter into a ball on my bed, hot tears squeezing out my eyes and down my cheeks.

Jasper…

Every inch of myself was screaming for him to come back to me but why?

Why was I so hung up over someone I truly didn't know?

All I know is that I can't keep crying like this…I can't allow myself to any longer. I spent two weeks pouring my soul out for him mentally but I needed to toughen up!

I know that Jasper wouldn't want to know I'm like this, especially because of his choice so I needed to buck up…Besides, I missed the Cullens and Edward a lot and it was about time I started to be with them again.

Just then, a quick knock hit my door and following that was the voice of my dad, Charlie. "Hey Bells, I know that you don't want to see anyone but I have Esme Cullen wanting to talk to you."

I blinked.

Esme?

She was here?

That answer soon happened when Esme's gentle voice was heard behind the door. "Hi sweetheart, it's me…I just wanted to see if you were ok…"

As I stared at the door, I gave a small sniffle.

Esme rarely comes out of her house unless there was a special event so to have her with Charlie, who would never do this normally, meant a lot to me...

"Come in…both of you," I said with a small smile on my face. With a twist of the doorknob, Charlie came in with Esme following in moments later.

Esme took notice of my tear streaked face repeatedly and said sadly "Oh dear…"

Charlie walked over to me and leaned down in front of me and said "For the past two weeks, I've been listening to you cry and I didn't know how to cheer you up so I called Esme. I know from the few brief times we talked about them that you adore her so I figured she would be the one that would fix you up."

I smiled at Charlie and gave him a tight hug and said "Thanks Dad…"

Charlie returned my hug and kissed the left side of my head and said "Make sure you lock up if you leave out. I'll be heading out to work. Don't wait up."

Charlie then stood up and walked away from me and said to Esme "Thanks again for this. I know you're mighty busy with things."

"Don't be dear. Bella means the world to us all. The least we can do is be here for her," Esme said with a gentle smile, which made my dad blush a bit which I couldn't blame him for.

Esme was very beautiful.

After Charlie walked out of the room, Esme was by my side without a second to waste and soon, I felt her arms around me as she whispered into my neck "My poor baby…"

I wrapped my arms around her as well as I nestled my face against her neck gently, squeezing as tight as I could. Esme pulled away from me for a moment and brushed a few of my bangs from my face and said "I'm so glad Charlie called me to come over because I was very scared that you weren't going to come back."

"I was going to come back eventually…I just didn't want to be reminded of…Jasper…" I whispered sadly.

Esme nodded and said "When Alice told me we would be talking about him, I was honestly surprised. I really didn't see the two of you interact at all even though I wanted you both to."

I shook my head while resting it against her chest and murmured "I always wanted to as well but I never knew where to start. The only thing I know is that he feels that I am worth it…But every since my birthday, I've been feeling different."

"Different? Like how?" Esme asked me softly.

And so I told her everything.

From the moment of the bite to him saying goodbye, I left out no detail that I could remember and with each word and description that came from my mouth. Esme's eyes were getting wider and wider and by the time I was done, she had a look of realization on her face.

"I think…" Esme started after a good minute or two past. "We should go see Carlisle. He should still be at work but he'll need to hear all of this."

I started to get worried.

Was something wrong?

Did they realize I had some vampire disease or something? No, that is such a dumb thought Bells but at the same time, none of the Cullens ever went to Carlisle's job for any reason.

"A-Are you sure that's such a good idea?" I stammered out, clearly a bit frazzled by why Esme needed to see Carlisle about how I was feeling but to my surprise, Esme merely chuckled and place a kiss on my forehead.

"I believe I know exactly what is going on but I want to double check with him to see if he agrees," Esme told me before she stood up and then added "But you don't have to come if it makes you uncomfortable. I would never want to force you to do anything you don't want."

I shook my head and smiled up at her. "No worries…" I told her gently as I stood up from the bed. "Jasper wouldn't want me like this anyways."

Esme only let a mysterious smile form on her face and after fixing myself up in a button down red plaid shirt and some jeans, along with the necklace Jasper got for me and some sneakers, Esme and I were soon driving down the road from my place down to the hospital where Carlisle worked.

After walking inside good old Forks Memorial, Esme managed to charm each and every one that came our way until we found ourselves in front of Carlisle office door. With a quick knock, Carlisle soon opened the door and had the widest smile I've ever seen on him.

"Esme, Bella," Carlisle said as he placed a kiss on both of our cheeks before opening the door wide for us to enter.

Being in his office for the first time, it was rather messy and he knew it since he said "Sorry about the mess. I have a patient who is suffering from a very rare disease and quite frankly, it is giving me some problems."

"It's ok dear, you'll be able to figure out what is going on soon enough," Esme told him as she walked over to rub his shoulders gently, which made him lean into her touch with a faint growl, which honestly sounded like a purr to me.

Which is super cute…I m-mean…it was nice to see. Esme and Carlisle were very private about their affections for one another so when any of us got the chance to see them act like a couple, it was so sweet.

"In the meantime, I require your help with something regarding our dear Bella," Esme told him, which made Carlisle look at me with some concern.

He knew that I hadn't been over as of late due to Jasper and how upset I was but he didn't know exactly how upset I actually was about all of this.

"What is wrong Bella?" He asked me softly, concern evident in his voice. It made me smile that he was so concerned with me.

I was concerned about me as well.

"Well…It's pretty much a long story but I…" I drifted off and looked to the side and said "Just…If it's some vampire disease, don't tell me. I'd rather not know."

After a full minute of Carlisle laughing at my attempt at humor, I relayed everything that I told to Esme to him and like Esme, he was getting more surprised by the second and once I was finished, his face was blank.

"So what do I do?" I asked him in concern, really wanting his opinion on this.

But that was when Esme said to him "Isn't there a book that could help her find the answers she seeks?"

Carlisle's head whipped towards Esme, who had a rather innocent expression on her face but deep down, I believe she was amused by how fast he looked at her.

"Perhaps…you're right…" Carlisle stated reluctantly before he slowly stood up from his chair and walked to the bookshelf to his left and as he went through the many books on the shelves, he asked "Was this the only time you felt this way?"

I nodded my head.

I could hear Carlisle humming a gentle tune as he rummaged through the bookshelf before he said "Ah, there you are," before he pulled out a medium sized book from his bookshelf before he walked to me and held the book out to me.

I tilted my head in thought and grabbed the book and noticed that there was no title on the thick, coffee brown leather cover and said "What's this book?" I asked him in confusion.

Carlisle only smiled and placed a small kiss on my forehead and replied "There isn't one. All I can tell you is that this will help you with everything that is going on within your turbulent life right now."

"Sounds fair," I replied wryly before Carlisle suddenly got a very serious look on his face, which made me focus in on it.

"Bella…Once you read this book, you must come to terms with whatever you find out…No matter what happens. If you try to fight it, It will only damage you further, understand?"

I nodded at Carlisle's words and made an "X" over my heart and said "Cross my heart and hope to live," with a cheeky little grin on my face.

He chuckled and placed another little kiss on my forehead before he stood up and said "Good luck in your quest for answers."

I stood up after him and gave him a tight hug while I replied "Thanks…Hopefully after this life can return to normal…Well, as normal as it can be with my life."

Esme then placed a small kiss on Carlisle's cheek and said "Now we shall leave you be so you can continue your research dear. Just remember to take it easy and don't overwork yourself."

I started to make my way to the door with Esme coming behind me when Carlisle suddenly said "Esme, do you mind staying here for a bit. I must speak with you about something in private."

Esme and I looked back at Carlisle before I turned to Esme and said "I can go wait in the car for you,"

Esme smiled gratefully and reached into her pocket and handed me the car key and said "I won't be long."

I smiled and quickly walked out of the room, holding the book tightly in my hand.

Hopefully…This will tell me why I'm so hung up on Jasper and maybe how I can stop myself from hurting so much without him here.

But as I walked down the stairs and towards Esme's car, I saw Edward leaning against her car door, a serious look on his face.

And suddenly…my stomach dropped.

And I suddenly had a feeling that a lot more pain was going to be in my future.

Carlisle's Office
Esme Cullen

Once Bella left the room, I turned my head to stare at my wonderful husband's face, which was set in a stern look and I bit back a smile.

I know that he wasn't expecting all that Bella had told him and truth be told, it was something I wasn't expecting either but somehow, I was happy by this revelation that I had after she had revealed all that had happened between her and Jasper.

But I don't think my husband feels the same way.

Not because he didn't like Jasper, but it's due to the fact that this would cause more turbulent times within our small family.

Carlisle sat back down on his chair and rubbed his face before taking an un-needed deep breath and said "I love you dearly Esme but I must say…Don't you know what road you're setting her and Jasper down? Heck, what you're setting all of us down by having me get her that book?"

I couldn't stop the grin from appearing on my face at his words. "I know exactly what I'm doing…You know full well that we both know what is going on with her. If we just came out and told her, she would rebel against it and fight what is supposed to be natural for both humans and vampires."

"Yes I know," Carlisle breathed out. "But things are already very turbulent in our family, I don't think Bella finding out that Jasper is…" He paused, as if trying to make himself say the words that I knew he didn't want to say but I chuckled and saved him from saying it by speaking again.

"I know my love but think how bad things will be once Jasper returns…And we both know he will sooner or later...What do you think will happen once our daughter Bella is turned? They would know instantly. It's better for her to know now and avoid the messiness that could come."

Despite how much I saw that he wanted to disagree with me, I knew he couldn't. He knew that I was right but I could understand why he wanted to disagree.

"She needs to know…And she needs to be the one to find out herself," I said with a small smile on my face.

"And what of Edward?" Carlisle asked me softly.

I took a few steps towards Carlisle desk with a frown on my face and said "I love Edward dearly. You know this Carlisle but at the same time, we both know that he's still planning to leave her and if not for Rosalie and Alice nearly ripping off his arms, he would still be trying to convince us to go as well…He is willing to disrespect Jasper's wishes and hurt Bella as well."

Carlisle remained silent at this and I whispered "If he is willing to still leave Bella after Jasper left for us to remain here and him to remain with her…Then maybe…Just maybe…He doesn't deserve her."

I placed a small kiss on the tip of Carlisle's nose and said "Besides…Jasper did what he had to do because he thought that was what this family needed… Doesn't he deserve to be happy as well?"

And with that train of thought in his mind, I made my way out of his office and down the stairs of the hospital and when I came down, the sight that greeted me made me almost weep.

Bella was on her knees in front of the card, her brown hair cascading down her face as tears fell down to the cover of the book below her.

I could smell Edward's scent here and it only confirmed my worse fear but I pushed that aside for now and made my way towards Bella and sat beside her where I pulled her into my lap and held her as she wept.

Rain: And that is where I will end it. The next chapter will be cover Jasper's adventures during the last week along with Edward and Bella's talk as well so until then…

Mario: See you next time!