Sorry again about the amount of time between each update, but I'm already half-way through writing this next chapter, and I promise it will be longer. Stephenie Meyer is the puppeteer! Thanks for anyone who reviewed! I appreciate them alot!

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I took a series of deep breaths as I sat in my idling truck. I was sitting in the Forks Post Office parking lot. Still adamant about what I was about to do. I'd moved the money from the black bag it was originally in and stuffed it into a manila envelope. If Alice did have a vision about me in the post office, it would probably be best if she didn't see the bag that they had obviously given me. Might give her ideas.

If all went well, this would be my very last encounter with Corbin. If all went well, I wouldn't even have to encounter him. Only one phone call, that's all I needed to make. I took another deep breath and drummed my fingers on the steering wheel.

I fingered the piece of paper that Corbin gave me with the P.O. Box number on it. It was nearly falling apart from all of my nervous folding and unfolding. The money was in my lap, and the key to the P.O. Box was in my hand.

As my mounting resolve finally overflowed, I turned off my truck, shoved the envelope into my jacket, pulled the hood over my head, and flung myself outside. I splashed through the puddles of water until I'd finally made it inside the cold interior of the post office. A ring of a bell marked my entrance. I shivered and then walked over to the line of P.O. boxes, leaving a trail of water behind me. My shoes squeaked as I walked, and I winced every time I heard the noise break up the eerie silence.

I looked at the scrap of paper in my hand, it was blotchy from where the rain got it, but the numbers were still readable, and I set out to find the box. I tried to convince myself that I was merely looking for a book at a library, not a P.O. Box where I had to insert 20K into. The thought calmed me little.

I stopped walking when I found the P.O. Box that corresponded with what was written on my scrap. I took a step forward and unsheathed my key, ready to insert it.

"Bella Swan!" A voice called out in recognition.

I cringed. Small towns had its drawbacks, and being recognized at every public building was definitely one of them. I ignored them and shoved the key into the lock and turned.

"Bella!" The voice was closer now; I couldn't feign deafness any longer.

I turned around slowly and I called out the appropriate name, as was customary. "Mrs. Stanley!" I tried to radiate happiness, but I knew I wasn't kidding anyone. I wasn't trying very hard.

"I haven't had the chance to apologize after the bowling alley incident."

Here we go.

"It's fine Mrs. Stanley, really," I assured her. "I'm still fully functional, aren't I?"

She threw her head back and laughed far louder than was necessary for the conversation. "You sure look it!"

I turned back and pulled the envelope out of my jacket. The money was almost inside of the box when I was stopped. I looked over at Mrs. Stanley, who had placed one well-manicured hand on the envelope.

"You don't have any stamps on it, honey." She plucked it out of my hands. "Or a return address. Honey, do you know how to mail a letter?"

"Of course I do." I did, really, though looking at the envelope would mark me the contrary.

"Here, let's go and buy you some stamps." She took my hand and pulled me over to the desk. Behind it, a very bored-looking woman was filing down her nails.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

The woman looked up at us with tired eyes. "What can I help you with?" she asked in a nasally voice.

"Bella here needs a book of stamps."

The woman placed them on the counter.

I began to reach in my back pocket for my wallet, but Mrs. Stanley pulled out the money first and slapped it on the counter.

"Please, let me pay for them," I protested.

"No I insist," she said scooping up the stamps, "and call me Ellen."

I nodded, but didn't reply.

I followed her over to the still-open P.O. Box. Mrs. Stanley ducked her head and looked inside. I felt my breath catch as she pulled out the strip of paper with Corbin's phone number on it.

"That's mine," I said.

"Is this that Cullen boy's phone number?" She raised one finely plucked eyebrow.

"Uh, sure," I replied lamely, "He just got a new cell-phone, and I haven't memorized it yet," I lied, "I carry the number around with me everywhere."

"Jessica talks about you two a lot," Ellen said.

"Does she?"

She nodded and started to put the stamps on the envelope.

"Thank you for the stamps, but I think I can handle it from here."

"Just let me help you out, Bella."

"Please, Mrs. Sta- I mean, Ellen. I really do know how to mail a letter properly."

"I blame e-mail, it makes this whole process seem pointless," she said, ignoring me. "Hell, they even call this snail-mail now." She licked the back of the stamp and stuck it in the corner.

I closed my eyes tightly. Why'd she have to come here now? Of all times! I nearly threw up my arms in frustration, but I folded them across my chest instead.

"A lot of things have changed," she went on, hugging the package to her chest, "I mean, 20 years ago they used to have a gorilla in the Seattle mall."

"That's interesting, Ellen," I said, my voice dry.

"I think its name was Ben," she placed a finger on her chin. "It was awful though."

I eyed the package resting in her arms.

"They had it in this sad, little concrete cage. It looked perpetually bored out of its mind."

"I'll bet."

"I think it was adopted though," she fingered the corner of the envelope.

"That's good." I hoped my short replies would cause her to lose interest in the conversation, but they didn't hinder her in the slightest. I now knew where Jessica's talkative trait came from.

"Yes it is! The SPCA probably had a fit."

I nodded. "Probably," I echoed. "Ellen? Do you think I could have my envelope back now?"

"Oh!" she yelped, "I completely forgot about this!" She pulled the envelope away from her chest. "You're probably very busy. Teenagers are always busy. I know Jess is. I'm sorry I'm wasting your time."

"It's fine, Mrs. Stanley."

"Ellen."

"Right," I said turning away from her.

"Don't forget to write the addresses!" She said over my shoulder.

"I won't forget, thank you again."

The moment Mrs. Stanley turned around I shoved the envelope in and shut the locker quietly. I then walked briskly to the back hallway where the pay phones were located. My hands shook as I reached for the receiver, and they continued to shake as I inserted the appropriate amount of money and dialed the number scribbled onto the scrap of paper in my hand.

"Talk."

"It's done," I mumbled.

He laughed boisterously on the other end, "I'll have to admit, I had my doubts."

"Great," I snorted, "You'll leave us alone, then?"

"I'll consider it."

My heart skipped a beat. He's merely going to consider it. I had to suppress a groan.

"Bye then." The line went dead.

I hung up the phone and had to resist the strong urge to slam my head against the cold, tiled wall. I was stupid to think that this could have ended so easily. I pulled my jacket tighter around me and walked back through the lobby.

Mrs. Stanley stepped in front of me, blocking the exit.

"You know that they don't pick up the mail in the P.O. Boxes, right?"

"Yes," I replied curtly.

"I saw that you put your outgoing mail into your P.O. Box."

"I did," I tried to pass her, but she stepped in my way. "I'm going to mail it later," I said in an attempt to placate her curiosity.

"Oh," she rubbed her hands together nervously, "Okay then."

I passed her this time, but she placed a hand on my shoulder before I was completely out of her reach.

"There's a chute just right here in the lobby if you want to do it now."

"I'm fine Mrs. Stanley, thanks," I said without turning around. I shrugged off her hand and proceeded to move towards the door. I felt Mrs. Stanley's curious gaze follow me as I exited the building.

I ran through the parking lot and jumped into my truck. I sat erect in my seat for a few moments before I leaned over and rested my head on the steering wheel. I knew I should have probably left right then, but relief weighed down my limbs.

That's why I was so eager to bypass Mrs. Stanley, I had no want to be in the same place at the same time as Corbin ever again, and he would be on his way now that I've called him. With clumsy fingers, I shoved my keys into the ignition and started the engine.

I was turned around to back out of my parking space when I heard two sharp knocks on my window.