I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Cheryl and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.

Ch. 11

I waited until everyone should be at dinner and slipped out into the hallway. The carpet muffled my footsteps. I'd made it to the stairs when a throat cleared behind me.

"If you're trying to escape, you're going the wrong way. The whole dining room has a view of the main hall at the bottom of the steps," Rosalie said, and she was wearing a pair of dirty jeans and a stained top—not what I expected her to be wearing.

"I see." I decided I would have to wait until the house was asleep.

"This way." She headed past me.

"Are you going to lead me to the torture chamber or something?" I asked, not moving.

"No, that's in the basement." She smirked. "I'm showing you to the garage. If you want to leave, then come with me and I'll help you."

"Why would I trust you?" I asked.

Rosalie shrugged. "Because I'm a bitch, not a liar."

"Um…I beg to differ." I shook my head.

"Look, we're wasting time. If you want to leave, we need to go now before Edward is back up here knocking on your door again. I'm helping you because Tanya and I figured we owed it to you." She appeared to be honest.

But then I had no clue who I could trust anymore so I might as well try my luck with her.

"Lead the way."

We entered a large garage with a showcase of cars that looked like they were straight off the showroom floor. Rose walked over to a closet and pulled on a black winter jacket. She then leafed through the others and pulled out a deep purple one.

She held it out. "Here, it's freezing out."

I shook my head in refusal. "I can't take anyone's coat."

"You're not. We get a bunch on clearance or sale and give them to shelters," she promised as she shook it.

I took it from her and slipped it on. I fluffed out my hair and picked up my bag. Rosalie seemed satisfied and headed to a beautiful red BMW.

"Let me text Emmett that I ran out to pick up more oil for my car, and we'll be on our way." Rose pulled out her phone and typed out a text. She surprised me by showing me the message, proving what she wrote.

"You work on cars?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Working on cars relaxes me," she answered me.

"Sounds a little tomboyish isn't it?" I quipped.

She paused and her lips twitched. "Maybe. But Tanya was the girly-girl. I might have played with Barbies. But mine was always fixing her doll's Corvette since Ken was too inept."

I couldn't help but laugh as she pulled out of the garage. She paused only to allow the gate to open before she took off. I glanced around to see we were going in the opposite direction from where I came from earlier.

"Where do you want me to take you? I figure I can either drive around for awhile, so you can decide if you want to go back to the house or not. Or I can drive you to the airport or wherever. You do have a plan, right?"

"I have a plan but I'm not telling you it," I told her.

"You don't trust me," she said simply.

"I don't trust any of you."

"I can't say I blame you."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked.

"I told you; both Tanya and I figured we owed it to you." She shrugged.

"Are you going to explain to me why you hated me so much? I tried asking Tanya, but she insisted she needed you for the conversation." I waited to see if she'd skirt the issue.

"I know you were in the bathroom and overheard us. So, you already heard, I didn't hate you. Jealous at times and maybe not your biggest fan, but neither of us hated you," Rosalie explained.

I snorted. "Then I don't think I would want to see how you treat someone you hate."

She laughed. "Look, the first summer I met you, it wasn't about you personally. I wasn't in a good place. Our parents had sat us down and told us the truth about how my mother died and why Aunt Elizabeth was in a wheelchair—" She stopped abruptly and glanced at my shocked expression. "You didn't know about them did you?"

"No, I didn't. I've trusted Edward with everything in my life—he was my go-to person. And I'm finding out he lied about everything, including his name." I sighed. "I'm sorry about your mother. Was it a car accident?"

She gave out a short laugh. "No. But it is what we were told for the longest time. Apparently, lying runs in the family. It was a home invasion, someone who was angry with Uncle Anthony and wanted revenge. I was only three and I don't remember it. But it wasn't you personally that summer. We were told the week before vacay, and I just wanted to be away from anyone that wasn't family. I had it in my mind that Edward should be with us, not you," she explained.

I frowned. "I guess I can see where you were coming from for that summer. But what about the stunts with Heidi and Victoria?"

"Heidi also had nothing to do with you. I knew the two of you weren't together yet. I found out about Heidi's family being involved with the mafia and tried to push her on Edward. Because I had hoped if they were together and got married one day, she would be safe," Rosalie explained. "I do owe you an apology for almost hurting you when I pushed you in the lake. I got mad when it backfired, and she started hitting on Emmett. I swear I thought you'd only get wet, and I didn't know your legs would get tangled in ropes."

I've been worried about Heidi too since I found out. She's sweet, and I didn't believe Garrett when he said she was safe. "I never blamed you for pushing me in—I know I had instigated it. So that leaves us with—"

"Victoria." Rosalie finished with a short nod. "I meant what I said back at the house, it was a bitch move. There was nothing between them. I was trying to get you to see him for the liar he was. He didn't cheat physically on you. But in a sense, he did, since he was leading you on. It pissed both Tanya and me off he was using a girl that way. We pleaded with him to either end it or tell you the truth, and he refused. So we tried to force it."

"Why not just tell me the truth about what was going on?" I demanded.

"Would you have believed either one of us?" she shot back.

"Probably not," I admitted.

"I didn't think so." She pulled into a parking lot for an auto parts store.

She parked in a spot close to the door and shut off the engine. She turned to me in her seat. "I'm going to be honest with you. Staying here with my family is probably the safest place for you, at the moment."

"I don't want to bring danger to your family," I told her.

She looked at me appraisingly. "I appreciate that, but we are in it whether you stay or leave. If you want to leave—" She reached over and opened the glove box.

Rosalie handed me an envelope. I looked inside to see a wad of cash, a fake I.D., and a birth certificate with my picture but the name Marie Brandon. I examined it and it looked real to me.

"How did—"

"I have connections. It should be good enough for an airline or even getting into Canada. I'm going to run into the store while you decide, then I'll give you a ride to wherever you want to go." Rosalie stepped out of the car and headed into the store.

I waited until she was out of sight before leaving the car. I followed the signs heading for the "L". Part of me felt guilty walking away after all that Rosalie did to help me, but I reasoned it was necessary. My mother was already in danger and maybe even Charlie. I wasn't going to put anyone else in danger. No matter what they say. Rose and Jasper had already lost their mom. Edward's mom was in a wheelchair. They'd been through enough.

Days

The "L" station was a couple of blocks away and had a map of the lines on the wall so I could find my way to O'Hare. I was nervous that I would have trouble with paying cash at the airport, but the counter clerk processed it without any issues. I made it through security and had time to kill. So, I grabbed a pre-paid phone and a bottle of Tylenol. Then I bought a quick sub, water, and a bag of chips to take with me. I looked over my shoulders a few times before I reached security, half expecting Edward would be running after me.

The plane touched down in Portland, OR—just after midnight. The next part was tricky. I couldn't rent a car since I didn't have a credit card on me. I would have to wait several hours and take a bus up to Chehalis then maybe an Uber to the lake.

"Bella Swan, is that you?"

I froze and cautiously looked over my shoulder. Standing a few feet away were three tall guys with russet colored skin. The one in the center was giving me a large smile.

"Jacob Black?" I was relieved to see a friendly face. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. We just got back from visiting my sister, Rebecca, in Hawaii. It was cheaper to fly in here than Sea-Tac. Do you remember Embry and Quil?"

"Yeah, it's been awhile." I nodded to them.

"What are you doing here?' Jacob asked.

"A very long and complicated story." I shook my head.

"Are you renting a car, we could share since we are headed the same way?" he offered.

"Actually, I'm not going to Forks. I forgot my credit card since I don't carry it with me to avoid temptation. So, I was going to catch a bus to Chehalis then Uber to the lake house," I informed them.

They exchanged a look with one another, and I started to feel uneasy.

"An Uber this time of night doesn't sound very safe," Embry commented.

"Do they ever sound safe?" Quil snickered.

"I have to agree. How about we give you a ride? We're going up the Interstate and will go right by the turn-off. The cabin is on Mayfield Lake, right?" Jake offered.

"That's nice of you, but it will be out of your way," I told him.

"I insist, it's not too much trouble. Besides, if Charlie finds out you needed a ride and we let you get in an Uber, he'd fry our asses."

"If you're sure, but I rather you not say anything to my dad about me being here."

The guys exchanged another wary look. I didn't want to involve them in my problems. It would only put them in danger.

"You want us to lie to the Chief?" Quil asked.

"No. Just don't volunteer the information. If he asks you directly where I am, tell him. I need to get away from the parentals and their opinions about grad schools so I can figure things out myself." I hoped they would buy my excuse.

"Fine with me. I think we've all been there." Embry shrugged.

"Let me give you something for gas or pay a portion in the rental fee," I offered.

About an hour and half later, we pulled up to the cabin. Embry and Quil snored softly, having fallen asleep minutes into the drive. Jacob frowned when looking at the cabin.

"Does this place have heat and electricity?" he asked.

"Yes." I laughed. "My dad has come a few times for ice fishing when he can get away for a weekend."

"If you say so. Let me give you my number in case you need anything." He wrote it on a gum wrapper and gave it to me.

"Thank you, Jacob. I'll call if I need you." I got out of the car.

I found the hidden key to let myself inside the house. I located the fuse box in the kitchen and flipped the main switch. The light came on in the living room then I heard Jacob backing out of the driveway.

I yawned and shut it off and headed for my bed, pausing to turn the heat up a little. I crashed in my bed after kicking off my shoes and taking off my jacket. I slipped into a dreamless sleep.

I woke up in the late morning, and the sun was shining. I made my way to the kitchen and found a package of peanut butter crackers. I would have to make a trip into the next town, which was about a four-mile walk. Good thing I was still in shape, maybe I could run there. I left as soon as I was done eating wanting to make sure I was back before dark.

The snow crunched under my feet as I walked down the path to the lake. I passed our old secret spot without a second glance. However, I paused on the hill and took a seat on the fallen log overlooking the beach. It looked different in the wintertime. No boats were tied to the docks. No golf carts were lined in a row on the small dirt lot. The swings moved in the breeze with no riders.

As I sat there, I could hear the echoes of laughter and music from the vacant beach. I could almost see the ghosts of kids having swimming races and building in the sand; while the teenagers raced jet skis and stole kisses when no one was looking. My childhood vacations here were carefree and filled with laughter.

I met Edward when I was only six years old. He was my best friend before he became my boyfriend. When we broke up, I didn't lose a boyfriend—I lost my best friend who felt like a part of me.

I realized now I'd closed myself off from feeling the pain of losing him. It was now open like a flood gate—it hurt. I missed the boy I teased by calling Teddy. It hurt even more to realize what I knew was all a façade. A single tear slipped down my cheek for the boy that I lost.

I didn't know the real Edward, or I should say Anthony at all.

Anthony was a murderer. The idea was hard to swallow, that boy who let more fish go than he kept, killed people in cold blood. And he was probably part of a crime family. When I saw him waving a gun around, yelling about killing someone, it scared the crap out of me. I don't think I could be with him now.

I stood and got ready to continue on my way. I heard the rustling footsteps heading toward me. I glanced around for a place to hide, but in the dead of winter there were no bushes or trees to use.

Edward appeared before I could move. He looked out of breath, and I knew I could outrun him. The sun glinted off his gun, stopping me from running.

"Bella, thank god. Do you have any idea how worried I've been? Why the hell did you run?" he yelled.

A tree branch snapped, and I turned my head. Jasper and Emmett were blocking the path to the beach. They had me cornered in.

A/N:

We reached the prologue as many of you guessed. Up next is EPOV.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

Additional notes: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words is having a Halloween image edition. You can find the rules in Facebook group: groups/ 460094101314978