Stephenie Meyer's!

Thanks sooo very much to all my reviewers and I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I'm working on the next chapter now.

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The weather reflected my mood- it was raining again, as was it was prone to in Forks. Edward was out doing something that he didn't bother to involve me in. I rolled over onto my stomach and pressed my face into the pillow. He could be doing any number of things, and he hadn't given me the slightest clue as to what they were. He knew I hated surprises of any kind.

Eventually, I decided that wallowing on my bed wasn't the most productive activity. So, I stood up and went to wallow at the window. After a few minutes of simply absorbing my surroundings, I pressed my forehead against the cold glass. The glow of the streetlights were reflected by the droplets of the downpour, giving an almost halo-like appearance surrounding the bulb of each lamp.

I sighed heavily, yearningly, pathetically, which caused the window to fog up. I rubbed it away with my arm, and restored my view. Charlie was out being the chief of Forks, and what that job entailed I didn't rightly know. I would have thought that with all the empty space I would feel liberated, but I didn't. If anything I felt suffocated. The rain and the vacancy of the household seemed to weigh down on me.

I didn't have to be here, I realized suddenly. And without a second thought I threw my jacket over my arm and ran out of the house. I knew frizzy hair wasn't going to improve my mood, so I draped my jacket over my head and walked out to my truck. I used the mirror as support as I took out my keys and unlocked the door.

Before I stepped in, I glanced behind me and saw an unfamiliar car parked in front of my house. I pulled myself in and slammed the door shut behind me. After fumbling with the keys, I finally managed to start the truck. I turned around to back out of the drive way, and saw that the car had started up also. Surely if someone was going to follow me they'd be more discreet about it.

I tried not to let my mind linger on the headlights that followed closely behind me. Who would be following me anyways? So, I drove slowly, heeding Edward's last words to me before I was lost to sleep the previous night. Even though I was angry at him, I still wanted to live to see his face again.

I cut the roar of the engine when I pulled into a parking space in front of the library. I was just relieved that I'd made it to my destination without any incident. With a sigh, I pulled my jacket over my head again and ran inside.

Despite the fact that I didn't have a library card and the choice of books was sickeningly small for a library, I felt much better. I plucked a few books off the shelves and went to sit at a table in the back corner of the room. I lifted a book up to my nose, but I was completely unaware of what I was supposed to be pretending to read, I simply let my thoughts wander.

Edward didn't really say what he was out doing today. It was possible that he went out hunting again. I wasn't completely sure how successful his trip was yesterday, and he took every available opportunity so that I was at optimum safety when in his presence. I would have thought this caring if I didn't feel a giant hole inside me every time he was gone. But the point was he wasn't with me like I wanted.

I didn't pay any attention to the loud, squishing noises coming from a soaked pair of shoes as they made their way towards me. I didn't even look up when the chair across me squeaked against the floor and someone simply stood behind it. I could feel their eyes on me, but I didn't look up. Maybe they'd go away if I pretended that they didn't exist.

But this person didn't like being ignored. He cleared his throat loudly and kicked one of the legs of the table, almost knocking the book out of my hands. I finally lifted my eyes onto the man standing in front of me. I was preparing to shoot this person the death glare, but it took all my power to just stay in my chair when I did see him. I wasn't going to run away.

"You." I whispered, hiding behind my book.

"Call me Corbin," he said nonchalantly.

"Corbin," I spat. I was acting much braver than I felt.

He whistled low, "Test-y."

"What do you want?"

"Don't like the small talk then?" he asked, and sat down in the chair across from me.

"No, not particularly," I hissed.

He seemed completely absorbed in examining his hands, until his eyes flicked up to me, "You have some interesting friends."

I felt my heart drop out of my chest. He was being vague, he was bluffing, he didn't have anything on anyone. Please let one of these be true.

"The Cullens and the Hales." He said, reaching a hand across the table and lowering my book with a finger.

I was on the verge of a full-on panic attack, I swallowed hard. "What about them?"

"They have quite a bit of money, am I right?"

I nearly sighed with relief, he was after their money. I had to stifle a laugh. I was positive that this was a lone occurrence- being glad that this man wanted to rob them and all. Oh, what a cruel, cruel world.

"A bit, yes," I managed.

"Tell you what," he said, "you get me some of that money and I'll leave you and them alone."

"My dad's the Police Chief!" I whispered as loud as I could without the librarian overhearing, "I'll report you! I'll turn you in!"

"Oh, I don't think you want to get other people involved," He had a malicious grin slapped on his face. I wish I could have slapped it off, and this went completely against my normally nonviolent disposition.

"And why is that?" My voice shook. What did he have on the Cullens?

"Don't need to get into the details, do we?" He said, "But the fact that one tried to eat me is of some concern."

I sent nervous laughter pealing through the room, "You're joking." The librarian promptly shushed me from across the room.

"I don't joke, sugar." He said it in such a way that I believed him. "I want the cash next week, capisce?"

"They don't have that much money," I whimpered, clutching my book with white knuckles.

"Hmm," he stroked his stubbled chin, "I don't think anyone would reserve an entire restaurant if they didn't have money to spare."

I bit my lip to keep a cry from exploding from me. "How much?" I wanted to throw myself against the wall. Was I really going to do this?

"As much as you can get, but more than twenty thousand for sure." He looked as if he was going to raise himself out of the chair, but instead he leaned over the table and thrust a threatening finger into my face, "And if any of them find out about this and try to make a run for it, I swear I'll make your life a living hell."

"You're not going to tell anyone about them are you, are you?" My voice shook.

He shook his head 'no', his hands folded on top of the table. "And even if I did tell the authorities, they probably wouldn't believe me."

"Then you have nothing against them!" I said, slamming my book shut.

"I won't report them for trying to eat me, they'd think I was insane," he chuckled to himself, "I'd report them for something more believable, like drug-possession. That way the coppers would have to stay low in order to find damning evidence, and eventually, they'd discover their odd behavior."

This would make life very hard on the Cullens- people hovering every moment, they could handle it though. But I could prevent all this; all I had to do was to get a few measly dollars.

I flinched when he slid his hand across the table into my direction. When he pulled it away, there was a small piece of paper with some writing on it and a key sitting in front of me.

"Next Saturday, I want you to lock the money inside the designated P.O. box in the Forks post office, I wrote down the number on that piece of paper," he said, nodding in its direction, "Make sure your boyfriend isn't following you."

I nodded unceasingly through his directions.

"There will be another slip of paper inside the P.O. box," he whispered, "that's my cell-phone number. I want you to call me when you've locked it inside."

"Right." I said, clutching the piece of paper in my fist. "How did you find me?" I asked quietly.

"We live in the information age." He laughed softly. I felt my skin rise. "You can find anyone. Plus, the fact that your name was in the scheduling book at the restaurant helped."

I cringed.

"I have to say, I honestly didn't think I'd see you again."

My hands tightened into fists. He remembered me.

"I knew I recognized you when I saw you at the restaurant."

He remembered me from before. I felt hate surge through me.

He leaned back in his chair, "That night at the restaurant," he glanced at me, "when I was cleaning a table near your's, I heard when and where your boyfriend was hunting." He leaned forward and folded his hands on top of the table. "I figured I could go there and hold the three of them there for ransom. You know, make some money?" He shook his head and laughed, "Not my brightest idea."

"I bet," I whispered. He didn't hear.

"But don't worry, sugar. You're my Plan B."

I groaned in disgust. He just laughed.

"I still can't believe that I shot one right in the chest," he whispered, "and I shot the other square in the back. Not a scratch on either of them!"

I narrowed my eyes, "They'll find out."

"You better hope that they don't."

"What?" I whispered harshly, "What will happen if they do? I could turn you in for attempted rape before you even get the chance to point fingers."

"You have no proof."

"Yeah, well, neither do you."

"But I could easily get proof. The incident that you're talking about happened months ago, you can't get proof."

I bit the inside of my cheek nervously. He had me in a corner.

"I have a tip for you," I mumbled just before he went to stand again.

"What?"

"Keep your distance."

"I plan on it," he nodded, "I'd rather not have to mingle with those freaks."

"No, I mean, really keep your distance. They're probably looking for you right now." Maybe that's what Edward was doing...

"So?"

"So?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow, "They can smell you from miles away."

He went rigid and then glanced over his shoulder.

"Imagine what they'd do if they found you here threatening me?"

He didn't say anything.

"Go back to wherever you live and pretend like nothing happened. They're probably looking to see if you're planning on turning them in."

"They'll be watching me?"

"More than watching, actually."

"What the hell do you mean?"

I tapped my forehead, "You may want to be careful what you think."

I got the smallest satisfaction at seeing his eyes widen. "They can read my mind?"

I nodded. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

He was visibly deflated, but I could tell he hadn't given up yet.

"How do I get them to stop?"

"I'm not sure," I'd never had to develop techniques, "But just don't think about what you're doing here."

"Fine. I'll do my best to keep them off my back." He glared at me, "You better not screw this up."

We sat in silence for a few moments before he spoke again.

"Will they catch my scent when I come into town to get the money?"

"Most likely," I answered, "but it's just checking your mail. What's so suspicious about that?"

"I live in Port Angeles, why would-"

"-you could be checking it for a relative or a friend while they're out of town. It is summer after all." I said all of this quickly. I wanted him to leave.

He nodded and rubbed his chin. "Fine. Remember, next Saturday. Don't let any of them see you go down there."

I bit my lip as he rose from the table. I didn't watch as he walked out of the building. I lowered my forehead onto the cold table. Who knew a trip to the library would have such an unpleasant outcome? I should have expected as much though. Edward has told me more than once that I was a magnet for trouble, and this was most definitely trouble.

After a while, I lifted my head. I could just tell them that Corbin knows. I rubbed little circles into my temples. No, I couldn't- they would leave. I couldn't have Edward leave. The thought tore at my insides. Just knowing that he wasn't in the same building with me was enough to send additional tears down my already moist cheeks.

I'd have to do this on my own. I'd have to find a way to get the money without arousing any suspicions. I knew I had my job cut out for me. I was gambling. This was bound to end badly. I'm horrible at gambling.