Bella found herself surrounded by shirtless tanned reservation boys. If that wasn't odd enough, she recognized some of them, which was a little disconcerting when she realized that she had hung around these boys when she was a kid. Now they were real life models, tall- dark haired and handsome. She eyed Emily as she flited around the room serving eggs and pancakes to everyone. What was Emily feeding these boys? Was it is Quileute thing to grow into such tall and muscled characters? Unsurprisingly, she felt a little awkward and embarrassed, considering the circumstances. Mostly because the table was very crowded and her tablemates would brush against her, making her flinch and cower. Her skin seemed more sensitive than usual. Nothing a good bubble bath wouldn't fix of course, but she couldn't help but cringe at the odd looks she was receiving around the table. She took a deep breath and exhaled through her nose before picking up her fork to attack her plate. She wasn't actually hungry, but not eating would of course signal a problem especially at the rate the reservation boys were eating. And boy did they eat.

It was through her second small bite of buttery pancake she realized that it was the Quileute group that must have found her the previous night. The thought was enough to make her stomach turn. She sent a quick glance around the table. No one seemed to be watching, they were loud and joking. Teasing seemed to be a common theme around the table. Her eyes landed on Emily, who was now seated and whispering to a man Bella was familiar with- Sam Uley. Charlie really liked the guy, apparently he ran some goody goody watch group. The thought hit her like a train. A bunch of reservation boys with an "attachment" to Sam? This must be the same group.

Bella lifted her glass of orange juice to her lips in contemplation, but before she could think anything else, the door slammed open and two out of breath individuals stumbled into the room. The room instantly went silent as every male there turned towards the door with a fierce expression. Surprised at the sudden slamming of the door, Bella had jerked backwards. Which was of course the wrong thing to do, as her orange juice splashed all over her and her borrowed clothes. At the shift of all her tablemates as they turned towards the door, her tablemate's elbow pushed her just enough to fall off her chair. She landed with a crash, banging her wrist on the chair and dropping the glass during her fall. A moment feeling like an eternity stretched out as Bella felt tears well up against her will. Must she look like a fool everywhere she went?

Just like that, a pair of hands were on her, lifting her up like she was a doll, hands grating against her skin like sandpaper. Everything was loud again, apologies raining down upon her. In another moment, those hands were torn from her skin, replaced with hands that were familiar to her.

"You dolt, look what you did to her!" a voice growled, the fury present there likely to light the offender on fire. Leah's hold on her arm was firm but not strangling despite how angry she seemed. Bella peered through her hair at Leah, who was yelling at the poor guy who pushed her off her seat on accident.

"You think just because your huge you can go shoving people around!? Do you just go around hitting anyone you fucking see Paul? Is that fun for you?!" Leah gestured with her hand, poking Paul in the chest. Paul face seemed to twist, and his body started to shake.

"I said I was sorry, I didn't mean to push her off the damn chair. Maybe if YOU didn't come slamming through the house there wouldn't be a problem! But no, Leah Clearwater is too good to eat with us, you always have to be a fucking drama queen." The man named Paul growled back, his teeth bared. His entire body started to quiver, his fists clenched tightly. Bella shrunk against Leah, as anger seemed to be rolling off Paul in waves. What the heck was going on?

"Don't you fucking touch her ever agai-" Leah was cut off.

"Paul, Leah outside!" Sam barked out. To Bella's surprise, Paul and Leah all but ran from the room, followed by Sam and some of the other boys. Bella suppressed a shiver as she rubbed the spot on her arm where Leah's hand had been. She felt colder than she had just a moment ago. The rest of the group wore confused expressions as they alternated from staring at the door and staring at disgruntled girl. Bella stood awkwardly, orange juice dripping onto the floor as she held her bruised wrist gingerly. It really stung, and the tears that welled in her eyes threatened to fall again as she wallowed in self-pity and embarrassment. She sniffed quietly, but that seemed to draw attention back to her.

"Aw man she is crying. What do we do?" One of the boys stated, staring desperately at the rest of the group.

"Probably because your just standing there staring at her," Emily said, stepping in. "Seth go get a towel, Bella you come with me and we'll find a change of clothes." Emily threw an arm around Bella's shoulder, guiding her away from the dining room. Emily guided her back to the guest room and set her back on the bed, before disappearing into the hallway.

The boy Emily referred to as Seth entered the room, offering a white towel with a grin. "Don't worry about all that. Paul is always angry, always on the edge to fight. He never means it, wouldn't ever actually hurt someone who couldn't fight back. Leah is just on edge today too, otherwise this whole thing never would have happened." Bella took the towel with a watery smile.

"They aren't actually fighting are they?" Bella attempted to wipe off the sticky orange juice off her skin, and completely failing. Orange juice wasn't something that was willing wiped away, after all.

"Naw, I doubt Leah will actually fight today. She is trying to lay low." Seth grinned. Bella wiped her face with a clean edge of towel, clearing any tears that had fallen.

"I'm usually not such a baby, I just hit my arm pretty bad against that chair." Bella felt the need to explain her pitiful appearance.

"Personally, I think the tears were perfect, maybe it will get Paul to think about his actions first." Seth teased, taking her arm and pressing her already bruising wrist gingerly. "Well," Seth exhaled with relief, "since you're not screaming I think it is safe to say your wrist isn't broken, just bruised. Emily will probably wrap it up though, put some ice on it." Seth released her arm.

Emily entered the room before any awkward silence could fall. With a smile Emily handed her a new set of clothes. At Bella's questioning glance, Emily explained "Your clothes have too many tears and holes to wear. We will leave you alone to take a shower and then you can join us to finish breakfast. I think Paul and Leah will be settled down by then. Do you remember where the bathroom is?" Bella nodded, and like that they left her, presumably to join Sam outside.

Bella took a shower, one that ended quicker than she would like, but she couldn't hide forever. The sooner she finished breakfast the sooner she could leave. She dressed in what she assumed was Emily's sweatshirt and jeans. She made her way to the kitchen, throwing her dirty clothes on her bed before catching Emily as she picked up another platter on pancakes to take to the dining room.

"Hey Bella, Seth said you hurt your wrist. Wait here a sec and I'll be right back." Emily disappeared into the dining room before reappearing. Emily wove through the kitchen rummaging through several drawers before motioning to Bella to sit at the Island. Bella extended her left arm to Emily, watching without interest as Emily expertly wrapped her wrist with gauze. It was obvious that this wasn't the first time Emily had done this, nor the first time Bella had injured herself. She was used to the "patch up" process by now. Bella's hair fell over her face as she lowered her chin. It took a lot of effort not to laugh bitterly. She could almost say that Emily rivaled Carlisle in that aspect.

"There all done! I'll grab some ice for it and you can just lay your hand on the table and ice it." Emily patted her finished wrist and made to get up.

"Actually Emily, would you mind re-wrapping my forearm as well?" Bella of course meant her right arm, the one she had extended stupidly trying to break her fall the night Edward tried to protect her from Jasper. The fall that was supposed to protect her from a paper cut, and had instead sent most of the Cullen family from her instead. Instead of simply attracting one vampire, Jasper, the whole night had been ruined by fleeing members of the Cullen family, save Carlisle, as her blood spilled across the perfectly polished tiles of their home. The bandage protecting her stitched up skin had been lost the night in the forest, or removed with the water of the bath. Whatever the case, the still sore and irritated skin needed to be taken care of.

Emily smiled, Bella's stomach turned at the look. Bella tucked her left arm against her stomach and stretched her right arm before her. Emily rolled up her sweatshirt sleeve carefully. In honesty the wound was looking a lot better. Glass rarely sticks you in one place, rather, it was a series of stitches in different parts of her forearm, three different places that had needed stiches. Bella and Carlisle had agreed that it would be simpler to wrap the whole arm rather that individually wrapping. Emily opened a tube of antibacterial and smoothed it over her stiches. Bella tried not to wince as Emily wound a firm bandage around her arm. Emily's cool hands reminded her of Carlisle.

"Do you mind if I ask where you got these?" Emily asked kindly, using scissors to cut the roll of gauze, using a piece of tape to secure the wrapping together.

Bella laughed bitterly. "I fell on top of a vase, if you would believe it. Pretty stupid, I know" Emily seemed to be tense, her body looked stiff. Emily unrolled the sleeve back over her arm. "I think you should be ready to go eat, I'll get the ice. Go on in, finish your breakfast." Emily was up and digging around the kitchen by the end of her statement. She doesn't believe me. Bella eased down from the stool and warily entered the dining room. The seating had completely changed, her orange juice mess had been cleaned up and the room straightened. Everyone was sitting once again, but Paul was now sitting next to Sam. Next to Sam set and empty seat, probably Emily's. Next to that sat Leah, who was wolfing down a whole plate of scrambled eggs. The only available seat was the farthest possible from those three, and as she made her way over she recognized Seth, who was smiling at her. Seth jumped up and pulled out her chair, and Bella thankfully sat. Seth pushed her chair closer to the table before sitting beside her.

Seth wasted no time filling up her pate with pancakes and eggs, hollering down the table for his friends to pass down the sausage and various breakfast items. In moments her plate had samples of everything available, with a new glass of orange juice set by her plate. Emily came up behind her and gently pulled her wrist from her waist onto the table before laying a pack of ice on it. Bella hadn't heard Emily sneak up behind her, so naturally she jumped at being touched so suddenly. Bella grinned self-depreciably at Emily, who simply patted Bella on the shoulder in understanding. The table went silent, unbeknownst to Bella, everyone was watching as Leah glared daggers at Paul while Paul grimaced in regret.

Bella simply whispered her thanks to Emily before picking up her fork with her right hand.

OoOoOoOoOo

After that, breakfast seemed to go smoothly. The group began to disappear after the dishes were done, and Bella tried to escape to her room only to be stopped by Seth.

"So, Bella I heard something about you needing a ride home. Unless you plan to stay with Emily for a few days." Seth grinned.

"I would love to go home; can you drive me? I would appreciate it." Bella was exhausted already from the mornings event, and she knew Charlie would be worried about her. Staying around Emily for too long would be bad for me anyway.

"Well I only have a learner's permit, but I somehow doubt any officer is going to get mad at me." Seth beamed at his joke, and he was probably right. Charlie would probably thank Seth and send him on his way for dropping her off.

"Let me just go tell Emily and then we can head off." Seth began to walk to kitchen, only to be stopped by Bella's hand on his arm.

"I don't think we need to bother her, I already talked to her about it, she said I could go after breakfast. I'm going to see her in a couple days anyway." Bella lied, "Besides, she sounds busy." The sounds of cleaning easily reached them in the hallway, and Seth grinned in agreement. Bella figured it helped that this "errand" would probably get him out of cleaning.

"Let me just grab something from the guest room really quick and then we can go." Bella smiled.

"Sounds good to me." Seth dug keys from his pocket and twirled them around his finger. "Let's ride."

OoOoOoOoO

Driving with Seth was like hanging out with a perpetually cheerful puppy. In no time at all Bella found herself dropped off at her house, Seth driving away with the windows rolled down and the radio turned up. The whole ride was filled with easy questions; it was like Seth was trying to know everything about her in the span of the twenty-minute drive. Bella shook her head before turning the doorknob of her home. She knew that Charlie wasn't home, he was pulling shifts at the station. She wasn't sure what Emily had told Charlie, but Bella doubted anyone expected her to be home yet. That is perfectly fine with me.

Bella left a note for Emily in the guest room, she really didn't want the kind woman to worry over her or storm over to her house to tell Charlie how worried she was or something. It just wouldn't do. Now that she was alone, and knowing Charlie wasn't going to be back until at least seven, she could move on with putting this horrible nightmare behind her.

In no time at all, Bella had found her phone right where she left it two days ago before she went hiking with Edward, it was lying on the table next to the note she had left Charlie. Bella picked up the note, reading the scrawled words with trepidation. Bella remembered being nervous, knowing that something wasn't quite right with Edward that day, but she never expected what had come next.

Dad, going for a walk with Edward. Don't worry, we'll be back by dark. There is leftover lasagna in the fridge if you get hungry. -Bella.

Bella let the note slip from her finger and drift back down the table. She unlocked her phone and searched for Alice's or Edward's number, only to find that their information was gone. With a frown, Bella rushed to her room, fearing the worst. Sure enough, the CD and photo album given to her from the Cullen's were missing. With a strangled sob, Bella collapsed on the floor. Bella frantically searched through the photos on her phone, desperately searching for the million pictures she'd taken with Edward or with her friend Alice. Somehow, those too were gone.

With a scream, she all but threw the phone from her. Her hands tugged at her hair, the pain in her scalp made her feel real against the surreal situation placed before her. It will be like you never knew me. His words ran through her mind. God, did he really mean that? Did he think that taking away my photos and gifts like I was some spoiled child would make me forget?

Bella's breath came out in harsh pants as she tried to figure out what to do. She lurched forward as her hand scrabbled to find her phone. Edward couldn't take away her memories or information of them. With that thought, her brain calmed down enough to remember Alice's phone number. She typed in the number manually and held her breath as she waited for the ring. Straight to voicemail. Bella pressed a trembling hand to her forehead as the message system beeped.

"A-Alice? It's Bella, I really need to talk you. Please call me back. Don't abandon me too." Bella ended the call before leaning on her bedframe. Bella knew she was being stupid. Alice would call back and laugh at her forever thinking that she would abandon her. Then Alice would get the whole story and yell at Edward for being so stupid. Bella smiled, Alice would make sure Edward would know that she wasn't in any danger. Hope rising dangerously in her chest, Bella dialed Edward's number, only to get the message that the phone was out of service. Bella bit back a sob.

Bella pulled herself up from the floor and opened her closet. She gasped in surprise that the clothes Alice had bought her were still here. Bella dug the base of her palm across her eyes, wiping away the blurriness. Alice would never abandon me. Bella tug out a black and silver hoodie and a pair of jeans. She grabbed underwear and socks from her dresser got dressed out of Emily clothes. She ran a brush through her hair and grabbed a backpack. Going downstairs, she shoved a flashlight, map and water bottle into the bag and grabbed her keys hanging by the door.

In no time at all, her truck was rumbling down the highway towards the Cullen's estate. Bella desperately avoided making eye contact with the new stereo in her truck. Why that was still here instead of taken with the CD, Bella didn't know.

What seemed a century later, Bella pulled into the long drive that led to the Cullen's residence. Bella's gut clenched with apprehension. Something wasn't right. The gravel crunched under her trucks wheel, and Bella knew that if the Cullen's were here, they would be waiting for her by the porch – having heard her noisy truck a mile off. But as she reached the opening in front of the Cullen's home, there was no welcome site to greet her. The once sparkling building of glass and polished wood was dark. Bella parked her truck and opened her groaning truck door. Bella forced herself out of the truck and up the steps, her footsteps echoed off into the forest surrounding the house. Thunder rumbled in the distance as she crossed the threshold to the door. Bella knocked, the noise sounding her defeat when no one answered. Bella twisted in the knob of the door to find it locked. The Cullen's never locked their door. What would a vampire fear of being attacked?

Bella walked to the windows, windows that seemed so welcoming when she was on the other side, were menacing now. She cupped her hand to peer in. The furniture was gone, shockingly empty. How had they left in just hours?

Bella walked to the porch stairs and sank down in despair. They all really left me. I guess Rosalie was right to claim that I would never be a part of their family. Bella clamped a hand over her mouth as sobs wracked her body. Her mind turned dark as the sky settling above her.

OoOoOoOoOo

"Alright Leah, I need an explanation for this morning. Provoking Paul like that is something you usually reserve for patrols." Sam leaned against a tree as the rest of his pack lounged on the forest floor.

Leah growled. Figures that I couldn't keep to myself more than a few hours. Leah admitted that she was beyond nervous. This could go either two ways; the pack would be cool or she would live out the rest of her limited days being humiliated by the pack of juvenile teenagers. Because, fuck if Leah was going to live through that. She would jump off the cliff before the rainy season and crash against the rocks in reservation beach than deal with the pack's shit. Her mother would probably even approve of her choice for once. Even if the pack was cool she still might consider doing it, because after all, she was the one who would have to live with being the leach-lover's imprint. And so far, Leah was not cool with it, not at all.

Leah dragged a hand through her long hair, trying to figure how the hell to say any of what had to come out of her mouth.

"Look, I'm sorry Paul, I didn't mean to lose my shit back there."

Paul shot up, an incredulous look on his face. "Are you seriously apologizing to me? Where is my camera when I need one?"

"Shut up Paul," Sam ordered. "What's going on Leah?"

"I need you guys to be fucking serious. I have no choice but to tell everyone something but before I do, I want to make something explicitly fucking clear." Leah said, glaring at everyone present. "I honestly don't know how to fucking deal with this and I'm freaking the hell out. If any fucking one of you same something sexist, or even damn idiotic to me, then I will leave the pack forever. So once I tell you, stick you damn noses out of my head, or you'll regret it."

The group erupted in rumbles, and one of the pack members shout out, "What the hell Leah? You can't just leave the pack."

"I will find a God damn way." Leah swore.

"Alright, alright. That's enough. We'll be serious, won't we guys? What is it Leah, your starting to freak me out. Is this something to do with the Cullen's?" Sam pushed himself away from the tree, his eyes darkened with concern. For better or for worse, Sam and the rest of the pack was taking this seriously now.

"In a way," Leah admitted. "Let's just phase, it will be easier this way."

One by one, the members of the pack phase, leaving Leah as the last. Leah sucked in a deep breath, staring upwards towards the darkening sky. A storm will be here soon.

Leah phased to communicate with her brethren.

Author's Notes:

Hey there, TheQuillDragon here. Hope you enjoy the latest installment in this Bella/Leah story. If you have any questions, you know where I am at. Please comment and let me know what you think. It is my favorite part of the day.