The next day was better than I had originally expected. It wasn't raining when I got up, and I didn't wake up as early as I had the day before, meaning I had less time to get ready, but I didn't mind it too much. Less time to get ready meant less time to sulk about the sad reality that was now my life.

I'd gone to bed after scarfing down five pieces of the pizza. I hadn't eaten since a lunch with Phil and my Mom in Phoenix before we returned home to load up Phil's truck. Charlie had apologized several times for not having food in the house, and I waved his concerns away. "It's not as if you had much time to prepare, anyway." He still looked upset, but let it go. Privately I wondered how he had the mindset to change up my room, but not buy food. But I didn't voice this.

Charlie was gone again when I woke up, but I figured I could get used to this. Seeing Charlie as little as possible meant I didn't have to pretend to be happy here as often. I knew it would probably hurt Charlie if he thought I wasn't happy, and I didn't want to hurt him. And the way I figured it, I'd eventually learn to be happy here. I just needed to give it time.

I didn't take me long to get ready, again. I'd put the coffee on before going back upstairs to get dressed, and I made sure last night that my IPod would be charged. But I thought perhaps I wouldn't need it. I liked Jessica more than I was used to liking giggling girls. She wasn't as bad as Lauren, and she seemed to have common sense about a lot of things. And she didn't turn her nose up at me when I said I didn't care for fashion, like I'd expected. Instead she'd grinned, and said she wished she could not care, too. But she liked clothes too much to not care. I'd laughed.

The day also wasn't as bad because I knew what to expect out of the day. Jessica would find me sometime, it had only taken her twenty minutes to latch onto me yesterday, and I figured she'd do so quicker today. Then she would stay attatched to me until my Bio class, the first class I had without her. Edward Cullen and I would do our lab silently, and then I'd go to lunch and sit with Jessica, and maybe her other friends, though I still had trouble remembering all their names. Jessica had said I'd probably like Angela. Apparently she came from the Indian reserve that the Blacks lived on, but her they lived too close to Forks for her to attend school there. Instead she went to Forks High, and she was just as reserved as me, Jessica reported to me as we walked from History to Trig. I also thought Mike would sit with us, and that would probably make Jessica happy. With Mike would probably come his friends, and that would probably make Lauren happy. She hadn't sat with Jessica and I the day before at lunch, probably because she was still mad about the comment I made about her.

After lunch, I'd suffer through Gym, and I'd go to the station and get Charlie's card, and after going to the store, I'd unload the groceries at home, find places for it all and reorganize Charlie's cabinents, and then cook an actual dinner.

Happy with that, I got ready, and then remembered to pick up my keys from the table by the door. Charlie had added a key to the house, and another key, which was a key to his office at the station, as reported by a note under my keys. I thought that was nice of him.

The drive to school wasn't as long, since I knew were to go today instead of being unsure and cautious. I wasn't as early, and therefore didn't have the best selection of parking, but I managed. Jessica, as I thought, grabbed my arm before I'd even gotten out of my truck.

"Bella!" She greeted. I thought she might've been a little too excited to see me, but I smiled anyway.

"Hey, Jess," I said.

"I heard from Lauren, who heard from Eric, who heard from Tyler, who heard from Angela, who heard from Mike, that you applied at Mike's parents store," She whispered. I nodded slowly, letting myself be pushed back into the cab of my truck. She climbed in after me, and shut the door. Obviously she didn't care for being overheard.

"Miss Newton is a monster, Bella," She said very seriously. I laughed, and raised one eyebrow at her.

"You're joking, right?"

She shook her head. "No! Miss Newton used to be so sweet, but then her husband died, and she like, become completely unlike herself! She was snapping and yelling and she was down right scary! You'd best be careful, you don't want to make her mad!"

I blinked a few times. "Jessica, her husband had just died."

"But it wasn't just grief! I don't know how I know, but I do, okay?" She said. I looked at her like she'd grown another head, and she sighed in frustration. "Just be careful, okay?"

"Yeah, all right, weirdo," I teased her. "I'm sure if I piss her off she kill me in my sleep." Jessica rolled her eyes. "Let me out of my truck, dumbass."

"You're so abusive," She whined teasingly, but opened the truck door anyway. I followed her out, and she started prattling on about Mike, and how maybe I could drop hints if I was hired? I said I would, and she squealed. I smiled at her happiness, though I thought Mike didn't deserve her. I also wonder why she would be so excited about Mike if she was 'in the closet', as she'd said, but I figured it wasn't my business, and didn't ask.

Jessica kept me plenty entertained through my first three classes with any random thing that popped into her mind about anything. Tyler's drunk flirting with Miss Cook that one time, and this time Lauren and I rode ATVs through the forest and crashed and she broke her leg and they'd gotten in trouble, and oh, did you that Eric likes Angela, but she keeps rejecting him? I was in over my head, but small town gossip seemed more interesting than big city gossip.

She grinned at me when I went into Bio, and then loudly told me to 'get with that'. I blushed hotly and glared at her, swiping at her head, but she'd already ran down the hallway. I rolled my eyes, and went into the classroom.

If Edward heard, he didn't let it show. He gave me another polite nod, and I smiled back, and then we both turned to Mr. Banner as he started talking about the lab for that day.

What surprised me, was Edward spoke to me that day.

"How are you?" He asked as we analyzed cells. I was surprised, and didn't actually respond at first, until he looked at me, one eyebrow raised. I snapped my mind back into focus.

"Good?" I said. He smiled. "You?"

"The same," He said. I breathed a little easier, and thought that was the end of it. But he wasn't done. "I heard you applied to the Newtons store."

I looked at him, my eyebrows furrowed. I didn't understand how that was his business. "…Yes, I did," I said finally.

He nodded a few times. "Just be careful."

"Why does everyone keep saying that," I mumbled, looking at the cells.

"Maybe because it needs saying," He replied. I ignored it, as I hadn't meant for him to hear me. Instead I focused on the lab, and he didn't say anything else.

Edward gave me another polite nod when the bell rang, and I smiled back before putting away my books. When I looked up again not a minute later, he was already gone. The classroom was still full, but he was gone. I shrugged it off, and started for the lunch room.

Mike found me halfway there, grinning and seeming to ooze happiness. I couldn't help grinning back at him. "Hey, Bella," He said. "Mom said I'm not allowed to tell you, but expect her to call this afternoon." He winked at me, and I grinned even bigger.

"I got the job?"

"I didn't say that," He said mysteriously. I scoffed.

"But I got the job," I said finally. He just grinned, and started talking about a beach trip he was planning in a week or so, depending on the weather. It was as I was pretending to listen that an idea struck me. "Hey," I said, interrupting him. "Do you know why people are scared of your mom?"

He laughed. "What? No one's scared of my mom. My mom couldn't hurt a fly. Why do you ask?"

"Just…Some people seem weird about me applying. Keep telling me to be careful."

His warm persona suddenly turned cold. "It was Cullen, wasn't it?"

I blinked, startled by this sudden change. Cold and angry didn't fit Mike Newton. I thought for a moment about saying yes, because that was the truth. But a voice seemed to whisper in my head to lie, that to tell Mike it was indeed Edward would be dangerous, for me and for him. So I lied.

"No, actually," I said. "It was just some old friends I ran into down in La Push. Said something about how she got real upset after your dad died. Something about mood swings?"

Mike frowned, and shook his head. "They don't know what they're talking about," He muttered, and stomped off into the rain. I hurried after him.

"Hey, wait up!" I called. He didn't stop. "Mike, I'm sorry! I didn't realize it was a sour subject."

He stopped, and let me catch up. "Yeah, well, it is. And don't worry, I won't say anything to her, you can the job. But don't mention it around her, got it?"

I'd barely nodded before he stormed off again.

Jessica grilled me about the confrontation with Mike, and after I'd given her every single little detail, which had included Edward's interest in my new job, she raised her eyebrows, letting out a low whistle. We were moving slowly in the lunch line, heads bent together. We wouldn't be able to talk about it after we got to her table; Lauren was sitting there already with another girl, who I figured was Angela. Mike wasn't there, but two other boys were. I assumed it was the rest of Jessica's friends.

"Mike's never like that," She whispered. "You'd better be careful. He's real protective of his mom, even more now since his dad died. And he's always had some beef with the Cullens. I've never understood it. And the Cullens never seemed overly fond of him, either. In fact, I heard from Angela that her mom saw his mom and Mrs. Cullen arguing one time in the flower store. She wouldn't tell me what about, though. I don't think she knew. But I wouldn't get in the middle of all that."

I nodded a few times, and went to pay for my food, then waited for Jessica. She joined me a second later. "It's still weird, though." Jessica nodded in agreement.

"Maybe the Cullens have a deep dark secret that the Newtons know about," She mused as we made our way towards her table. She was looking at the Cullens. "What if they're part of the mafia?"

I laughed a little. "I highly doubt that," I said. She grinned.

"Well, it would make them so much hotter," She said. "Haven't you ever dreamed of hot, dirty sex with a hot bad guy?" She whispered, grinning wider when I blushed brightly. "Come on, don't tell me you didn't dream about Jasper last night."

"I'll have you know, I didn't," I said, elbowing her. "And if they're part of the mafia, then I think that's a good reason to stay away from 'em."

"I suppose," She hummed. "But it would still make them hotter."

"They don't have the look," I say.

"And what is the look?"

I look at her with a raised eyebrow. "Not Gucci."

She laughed, loudly, and linked our arms as we got closer to her table, no longer talking about the Cullens.

"Bella, this is Angela, and you know Lauren. That's Ben and that's Tyler," She said, nodding to the two guys, how grinned at me. I smiled back and sipped my water. "Bella here was just telling me about Phoenix, and all the model boyfriends she's had."

I rolled my eyes, and nudged Jessica with my shoulder. "Don't lie."

Lauren laughed, and it sounded like a pig to me. "I'm not surprised. I'm sure there were much prettier girls for them to go after."

Jessica gasped, and Angela, who had been quietly observing while looking rather bored, was now interested, looking at me with a raised eyebrow to see my reaction. I didn't give one. "Lauren!" Jessica hissed. "I'm so sorry, Bella."

"That's quite all right, Jessica," I said, mimicking Lauren's stuck up tone. Jessica looked quite uncomfortable now, and I felt guilty for being rude to her friend. But I refused to be talked down to like that. "I'm sure Lauren thinks she's much more their type. Am I right, Lauren?"

"As a matter of fact, you are," Lauren said, grinning evilly. I gave a more sinister one back.

"Well I do believe you're right in thinking that," I said sweetly. "As only stupid and plastic was their type."

The table was silent, and then Angela started laughing loudly, her head thrown back and drawing attention to herself. Lauren threw me a hateful glare, and I smiled sweetly back. She grabbed up her lunch and stormed away. Jessica put her heads in her hands and Angela slowly stopped laughing, pointing at me.

"You, I like you," She said, still chuckling. "It's about time someone put that bitch in her place. Maybe she'll learn some manners!"

I gave a half smile, and rubbed Jessica's back. "I'm sorry, Jess."

"No, no, it's fine," She said. "Lauren deserved it."

"I don't see why you're friends with her," Ben said, scooting down the bench to take Laurens place. "She's a bitch."

Jessica shrugged and picked at her milk cartoon. I changed the subject, already thinking about how I was going to drag the story out of her.

"Are you going to the girls choice dance next week, Angela?" I asked. "I know Jessica is," I said, nudging my sulking friend to try and bring her bubbly self back out. Angela shrugged.

"I had thought about it," She said. "But I guess I'll know for sure sometime next week. I might have family obligations. Are you going?"

"I doubt it," I shrugged. "I'm still getting used to things here, and I don't really know anyone well enough to ask."

Jessica perked up at the challenge I'd presented. "Well, there's Eric, but he's a little lame," She said thoughtfully. "There's Mike's friend Brandon, he's on the football team with Mike. But he's kind of an ass, so I guess not really your type-"

"You've drug her type out of her already?" Tyler laughed. Jessica grinned wickedly.

"Yeah, and it's not you," She countered. It was a lie, she hadn't even asked me my taste in boys. But I let her have her moment of getting something back on Tyler, and in minutes they were playfully bickering. Angela caught my attention again.

"I understand," She said. "But if you do decide to go, I was thinking of just going solo, if I can. You could be my date, if you wanted."

I smiled. "Sure. I guess let me know if you can?"

"Yeah. And if I can't, I'll have one of my friends go with you," She said. "So I don't leave you hanging. But I should be able to go, S-my mom is all about high school experiences."

"Oh, that'll be so great!" Jessica gushed, turning away from Tyler and leaving him to talk to Ben. "We could go as a threesome!"

Angela snorted, and I tried not to laugh. Jessica huffed at us. "Oh, shut up. It could be fun! What better way to fight the system than turning the whole idea of the dances around, and us girls just go together?"

"Yeah, I'll be your pimp," Angela sniggered. "You two get all dolled up and I'll be your greasy pimp."

Jessica and I laughed, and then her and Angela were snarking at each other, and I let my eyes wander the room as I picked apart a french fry. My gaze met that of Jasper Hale, who was staring at me without shame as he sibling laughed around him. He had a smirk on his face that chilled my bones and a spike of fear hit me. He was a like a predator that was stalking his prey, and knew that he had them cornered. I shivered, and bit my lip. He winked at me, and I suddenly had to redirect my gaze.

Jessica kicked me, and had a devious grin on her face. Knowing what she was thinking, I rolled my eyes, and excused myself. I dumped my tray, and made my way to the bathroom. Jessica followed me not long after.

"Don't you dare tell me you didn't dream about him last night now," She said, leaning against the sink and reapplying her lipstick. I hurriedly checked the stalls, but no one else was in there. I locked that door.

"Oh, shut up," I said. "I didn't. And that's the truth."

She hummed, as though she didn't believe me. "Well, I bet you will tonight," She said, winking at me in the mirror. I rolled my eyes, and looked away. Her gaze softened after a moment, and she took my hand. "Hey. It's okay."

I smiled. She had no idea what was going on in my head right then, but she was insisting on comforting me all the same. "I know. I'm fine."

She shook her head. "I don't think you are, but okay," She said. She shrugged. "Maybe you should ask Jasper to the girls choice dance instead." I scoffed, and she grinned wickedly.

"As if," I said. "I don't have the balls."

"I bet he wouldn't turn you down, though," She said. "You're sexy as hell. I bet if you swayed your hips and gave him a smirk, he'd be putty in your hands."

I raised my eyebrows at her, and she started laughing.

"It's not that far-fetched!" She said. "It could happen."

"Yeah, maybe with Ben," I said. "Someone who's not a gazillion times hotter than me."

Jessica sighed. "I suppose," She said. "No offense. He'd probably turn everyone down."

"Maybe you should ask Alice," I said. She blushed pink.

"Don't," She said softly. I nodded, and she grinned, linking our arms. "Let's be goddesses that don't need the Cullens to validate us." She said. I laughed at her, but walked with her as though we were goddesses.

I didn't see Jessica after gym, and I thought that might've been a good thing, as I had a killer headache after having been knocked in the head with a volleyball, and there's no way I could've taken her chatter right then.

I was almost to the safety of my truck when Angela called my name. She looked sympathetic. "Hey," She said, her voice soft. "I saw what happened in gym. You okay?"

"I'm fine, I just need some Advil," I waved her concern away. She grabbed at her purse, and pulled out a little pill bottle.

"Here," She said. I took it, and it was Advil, and I raised my eyebrows up at her. She shrugged. "I get insane headaches. It's like there's twelve other voices in my head sometimes." She chuckled as if this was an inside joke I couldn't possibly get. I didn't question it, and instead swallowed two of the pills.

"Thanks," I said.

"No problem," She said, stuffing the pain killers back in her purse. "Look, I heard about the whole Newtons store thing, and what happened with Mike." I sighed. Nothing was private in a small town. "But I guess I'm really just shocked that you know people down in La Push."

I blinked a few times, then nodded slowly. "Well, I guess I technically don't. My dad is friends with Billy Black, I used to play with his kids when I was little. I haven't seen them in years, though."

"So what you told Mike, that was a lie?" She asked. I shrugged, unsure of her interest.

"He seemed ready to bash Edward's head in," I said, defending my words. "I didn't think it wise to say any ill against him."

Angela nodded a few times. "I guess you did the right thing, then."

"Why the interest?" I asked boldly. "You think what I said could get anyone down there into so trouble?"

She shook her head. "No, I doubt it. I was just curious. Most of us on the reserve keep to ourselves," She said, backing away. "I'll see you later."

"Wait-"

But she was already gone.

"Hey, Mark," I said, walking into the station. "My dad in?"

"Just missed him," Mike said sheepishly. "Sorry, Bella. You need in his office?"

"Yeah, but he gave me a key, it's good," I said. He nodded, and went back to his computer. I let myself into Charlie's office, and sat behind his desk again. His card was under the phone, as promised, with a note that said 'Not over $70, please'. I was just going to get it and leave, but something in the files on his desk caught my eye.

It was about the body the hikers had found in the woods, is what it looked like. The victim had been a Jerry Pilgrim. According to his file, it looked like he'd been prone to drug use, and the death had looked like that was what caused it. In fact, if it wasn't for the body pulling a disappearing act, that's probably what it would've been written off as. I flipped through the pages. The words 'drained of blood' caught my eye, and I read over the paragraph.

His body didn't have a drop of blood in it. His body had been ripped apart by animals, but it wasn't a bloody scene as it should've been. There wasn't any blood at the crime scene, and there wasn't any in or on his body. It looked like the M.E. was still trying to figure out why that was, and Charlie was trying to find the actual crime scene. I shivered, and quickly left his office, and said goodbye to Deputy Mark.

After I had unloaded all of the groceries, I played the messages on the machine while putting them away. The first was just someone trying to sell Charlie something, and I deleted it without listening to it. The next was Jessica, telling me to call her ASAP as something So Effing Weird has happened and she had to tell me Right Now. I frowned, but didn't call her back right away. I didn't know when Charlie would come home, so I figured I'd wait until after he'd gone to bed less he hear something he shouldn't.

The next was from Miss Newton about the job. She asked for me to call her back, and I grinned. But the next message caught me off guard.

"Charlie, it's Billy," A old, croaky voice said. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but I think you should talk to Bella. She seems to be getting mixed up into things she shouldn't be. I don't know, maybe it's none of my business. But I wouldn't want to see her hurt."

The message ended, and I frowned at the telephone. What did Billy know about me that I didn't? I wasn't mixed up in anything. I'd barely been here 48 hours! All I'd done was go to school and get a job. How in the hell is that 'getting mixed up into things I shouldn't'!?

I deleted the message without a thought. I knew if Charlie didn't bring it up, Billy would think that he'd pissed him off, and not mention it again. I figured that was best for everyone.

Billy didn't know what he was talking about.

I was just pulling out lasagna when Charlie walked in the door. I listened to him toe off his boots and then come into the kitchen.

"Dinner smells great, Bells," He said, kissing my head and moving towards the stove where the pan was. He went to grab a plate, and found cereal instead. I giggled, and he looked at me, annoyance on his face but amusement in his eyes.

"All right, you've redone the cabinets. Where's the plates?"

"Up there," I said, pointing to the cabinet by the fridge. He gave me a look, but got two plates down. He spoons the food onto his plate, and then I do mine, and we sit at his small table. I could tell that he was a little nervous eating my cooking, despite the sweet smell. Renee had always been an adventurous cook. But he let out a noise of appreciation after the first bite.

"This is good, Bella," He said. I smiled in response. He sipped his beer, and looked at me with a grin. "I heard you got the job."

"Nothing gets by in this town," I joke. He chuckles. "Yeah, Ms. Newton called this afternoon. I start this weekend."

"That's real nice of her," Charlie commented around shoveling the food in his mouth. He went for seconds. "Hirin' you so quickly."

"I think she's desperate, to be honest," I said. He nodded.

"That's probably got something to do with it, too." He gulped down the food and took other sip of his beer. I thought about what Edward and Jessica said about the job, and how Mike had reacted when I'd asked him about it. I thought about asking Charlie, but I didn't know if he would mention it to anyone and it get back to Mike or Karin. I bite my tongue, and didn't ask.

Charlie went to watch a baseball game after dinner, and I cleaned up the dishes before going up to my room and grabbing my cell phone. I could hear the TV from downstairs, but I didn't know how into it he would be right now. I looked at the window, debating if that decision was wise or not. But somehow, potential death looked more friendly than Charlie hearing me bad mouthing the good people of Forks.

I heaved the window open, and carefully crawled out onto the roof. I used to do this a lot in Phoenix. Renee was very loud, the TV was always loud, her voice, her music. If I needed to talk to someone, I'd always climb out onto the roof. But this was a little different. Renee's house hadn't been two stories, and if I were to fall, I probably wouldn't break anything. If I were to fall off Charlie's roof, I'd probably break my entire body.

But the roof wasn't too slanted, and while it was slippery and wet, it wasn't too bad. Charlie's just had his roof replaced, recently, I thought. Maybe a year or so ago. It was more sturdy than I'd expected.

I sat down carefully, and dialed Jessica's number. It was cool on the roof, cooler than I'd expected, but it wasn't too bad. I had a jacket on anyway. Jessica answered on the second ring.

"Hello?" She answered hesitantly. I realized I hadn't given her my cell number. I didn't even know how she got Charlie's number. I guess her mom probably had it or something.

"Jess, it's Bella," I said, and a flood gate unleashed.

"Bella!" She whispered furiously. "Hang on." I heard a door close, and her walking, and then 'Mom I'm going outside' and an 'Okay dear'. And then another door closed, and Jessica got back on the line. "Hey. Sorry, I had to get out of the house. I don't want my parents to know what happened."

"What did happen?" I asked her just ask quietly as she was talking. She plowed into her story.

She'd been on her way to Port Angeles to get a first look at the dresses before going with Angela and I, that way if she found one she liked she could reserve it and not miss out on looking her best 10. She hadn't thought about inviting anyone with her, she figured it'd be a short trip and she'd be fine, back in her car before dark. But that hadn't been the case.

She didn't know how long he'd been following her. She'd thought she'd seen him around, but it wasn't like Port Angeles was that much bigger than Forks, she figured she'd just seen him around. But then he'd grabbed her hair and yanked her into an alley. Her immediate reaction was to scream, but his hand had covered her mouth before she could. He'd moved impossibly fast, she didn't think anyone on the busy street realized she'd suddenly been yanked in a dark and dirty alley.

He'd said she 'smell amazing' and that he 'could barely restrain himself' and then he'd started sucking at her neck, and she'd started crying and kept trying to get away, but he was too strong. He'd had her pinned between the wall and his body, she couldn't get away. The awkward angle rendered her legs useless, she couldn't get any momentum behind her kicks. He had her hands above her head. She remembered begging under his hand 'please don't hurt me', and he kept laughing and saying she 'wouldn't feel a thing' and that 'maybe she should'.

And she thought that that was it, that she wasn't going to be able to stop it, that it was the end for her. But then a blur of black and white had grabbed the guys head and yanked him back and had screamed for Jessica to run, and Jessica had, not looking back. She was a block from her car, and she was running for her life, and she was so sure she looked a mess, but no one seemed concerned. She'd gotten to her car, and who was leaning against it? Alice Cullen. She said she was really sorry, and she hadn't meant too. Her car was barely touching Jessica's, but Alice was freaking out about it and insisting she wanted to help, and Jessica had been shocked because, uh, since when does Alice talk to people outside her family? Jessica had waved her concern away and got into her car without another word, but Alice had persisted, asking her if she was all right, that she didn't look good, but Jessica hadn't wanted to talk about it. She'd almost ran over Alice in her haste of getting away. She'd cleaned herself up in a gas station on the way back to Forks, and she pretended nothing happened, because she wasn't sure exactly what had happened.

When she was finished, I didn't hesitate. "We have to tell the police."

"No!" Jessica immediately protested. "No, we can't-I'm fine, nothing happened-"

"Jess, someone was going to rape you, maybe kill you! And who knows what happened to the guy that saved you-?" But Jessica stopped me.

"That's the weird part, Bella," Jessica said. "It wasn't a guy. The memory is a little blurred, but I think-no, I know it wasn't a guy. In fact…I'm pretty sure Alice saved me."

I was quite, and so was Jessica. That didn't make sense. If Jessica couldn't fight the guy off, Alice surely couldn't. Alice was shorter than Jessica by a head or two, and she looked more like a pixie than anything else. Her body was tiny, like that of a dancers. She couldn't have that much body strength, not enough to knock a guy twice her size off of Jessica. And she certainly couldn't have fought him off on her own, and have had the time to get to Jessica's car before Jessica herself.

"That doesn't make sense," I tell her. She sighed.

"I know," She whispered.

I offered to stay with Jessica that night, but she said it would raise too many questions. I told her I'd sneak over and sneak out and her parents wouldn't see me, but she told me no, that she'd be fine. I'd tried insisting, but she was firm in the decision. She wanted to be alone. So I resigned myself to only seeing the girl tomorrow.

I didn't make sense to me, how she could think Alice was the one that saved her. Alice wouldn't have saved her. But she was set on it. I'd tried to talk her into seeing reason, but she kept insisting that it had to have been Alice. A blur of black and white-Alice's skin was incredibly pale and her hair was dark black. The voice that had told her to run had been a females, and then it had been Alice at her car. The more she talked about it, the more she seemed sure it was Alice. She told me she didn't know how she knew, but she did. I stopped pushing her.

Charlie was gone the next morning again, which was probably a good thing. I might not have been able to stop myself from telling him what had happened to Jessica if he had been. I could respect her wishes, but I really thought she ought to tell someone other than me-Someone who could really help.

The next week was a blur of the same. Jessica acted as though nothing had happened, and wouldn't give me an opening to bring it up. I knew this was probably her way of coping, but I didn't think she should not talk about it. But I also didn't know how victims dealt with that sort of thing. Jessica seemed fine, and nothing actually had happened, so I figured the best course of action was to just leave it alone. Jessica seemed happy that I'd stopped pushing it.

The kicker was, Edward had mentioned Alice running into Jessica two days after the incident. He asked how Jessica was, that Alice was worried. I'd fixed him with a look.

"I don't see how that's your business," I told him. He'd frowned.

"I'm just asking for Alice-She feels guilty about the car thing. And she said Jessica seemed pretty shaken up, and she's been worried," He said smoothly, his voice like honey. I thought for a second that he was trying to seduce me into answering, and then I thought it was working, and then I forced my mind to clear.

"I think both you and Alice should just leave it alone," I hissed at him. "What happened that night is Jessica's business. Not yours or your sisters."

"Alice is just-"

"Worried, I get it," I snapped. He looked frustrated. "And that's really nice of her. But Jessica is my best friend, and if she says she doesn't want to talk about it, I'm going to respect that. And that includes not talking to you about it."

He didn't say anything after that, and he didn't give me a polite nod of greeting for the next week.

I'd officially survived in Forks for a little over a week. I hadn't talked to my mom much, but Phil kept me updated through text. Mom had let her cell die, and had lost her charger. Phil told me he was going to buy her a new on as soon as he found one. I told him to get a few cheap ones, because she'd probably lose another before the week was over. He'd laughed, and agreed. Mom had told us to stop making fun of her.

Jessica was prattling on and on about the dance, and how she couldn't believe Lauren would go with Mike when she knows Jessica likes Mike, and isn't that just so rude of her? I'd agreed robotically as I picked apart a roll. Angela wasn't in school that day. Jessica said she was weird and only came on occasion. Something about 'family obligations'. I didn't ask, and Jessica didn't seem like she knew, anyway. With Angela not there, Ben wasn't there, and Tyler wasn't there by extension. Mike was with Lauren on the other side of the cafeteria. Jessica was boiling at the act, stabbing her cardboard tasting fishing furiously.

I was watching the Cullens.

Their heads were bent together over their trays, whispering about something. Alice looked worried and I thought her eyes kept flicking to me and Jessica. I knew Jasper had looked at us, because every time he did, he caught my eye and held my gaze, his molten gold eyes seeming to swim with some emotion I could detect from the other side of the room. He'd look away after a moment.

Rosalie seemed furious, and her fork was currently in her apple. Emmett seemed to be trying to calm her down as she argued with Edward about whatever it was they were discussing. I was immensely curious. The Cullens barely seemed to talk the whole week I'd been there, and yet now they were arguing. It didn't make sense.

"Bella!" Jessica said, grabbing my arm. I jerked back to reality and looked at her apologetically. She didn't even try to tease me about staring at the Cullens as she normally would have. Her eyes were wide and she looked frightened. "I need you to walk calmly out of here with me, as quickly as possible, and convince the lady at the front desk to let us leave early."

I looked at her in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You're my best friend, right?" She said, instead of answering me question. I nodded without hesitation. "Then please do this for me without asking questions."

I was still confused, but I got up, and waited for her to follow me. Then she grabbed arm and put it over her and almost hid in my side as we walked out. She was shaking, and I was confused.

She wouldn't let me leave her to talk to Mrs. Cook, and that ended up being a good thing. She saw the state Jessica was in, and let me leave without a problem. She also promised not to mention it to anyone so no rumor were started about Jessica. I thanked her, and took Jessica to my truck and helped her in. She was still shaking.

I didn't take her to her house, her dad was home. She slid down into the floorboard as we passed it so he couldn't see her. When we got to my house, she sat on my couch and shook, and didn't say anything for a long time. I left her alone, and made some tea, and put it into her hands.

"Thank you," She whispered.

"Want to tell me what the hell is going on?" I asked her. She shook her head, and sipped her tea.

"I don't know," She mumbled. "I thought I saw…I thought I saw him."

For a minute I was confused, and then it dawned on me. "The guy that attacked you?" She nodded. "But I thought you didn't see his face?"

"I didn't," She said. "But I-I thought I heard him. He was saying my name. He said…That he was going to get me." She started crying. "Why is this happening to me, Bella?"

I shook my head and hugged her tightly as she cried into my shoulder. "I don't know," I tell her. "I'm going to call Charlie."

"No!" Jessica shouted. "Please. Don't."

"Why not!?" I yelled. "Jessica, this guy is dangerous! I have to tell my dad, he can help you!"

"No!" She shouted again. "You don't have to tell him."

"Why the hell not!?"

"Why did you lie to Mike about what Edward said about Ms. Newton?" Jessica countered. I hesitated. "You told me, Bella! You told me because it was like someone was telling you not to, and you knew you had to trust them. It's the exact same for me!"

"But what if it's the guy that attacked you, making you think like that?" I persisted stubbornly. She shook her head.

"No. This voice is sweet, like honey," She whispered. I thought for a moment about where I heard a voice sounding like honey before, and then I remembered. I had thought Edward's voice sounded like honey just a few days ago. Suddenly pieces fit together, and I was seriously pissed off.

"I'll be right back," I said, getting up.

"No! Bella, wait, don't lea-"

"I'll be back in a few minutes, I swear. Lock the door behind me and hide in crawlspace under the stairs if someone tries to come in," I tell her, and leave before she can guilt me into staying. I fly back to the school, rage fueling my system. My truck groaned in protest at the speed, but I pushed it to keep the pace up.

Classes were transferring when I got back, which would make it easy to find Edward. I was storming through the hallways looking for his bronze hair, when someone stepped in front of me, blocking me, and I ran right into them. Cool hands wrapped around my shoulders, steadying me, and I blinked a few times before taking a step back, and looking at who I'd run into.

It was Jasper.

He looked confused, and concerned, and his hands didn't leave my shoulders. "Isabella, right?"

"Bella," I corrected. "Look, I need to-"

"Are you okay?" He interrupted. I glared at him, and he raised one eyebrow.

"No, I'm not okay. I need you find your brother."

"Which one?" He asked carefully.

"Edward," I growled out the name. He didn't look surprised. He almost looked amused.

"And what has my idiotic brother done this time?" He asked.

"That's none of your business," I say coolly. "I just need to find him and castrate him."

That got a bubble of laughter out of him, and I rolled my eyes, and tried to push past him. He let me go, but kept up with me easily. "Seriously, what did he do? I'm sure it can't be that bad."

"If only you knew," I grumbled at him. "Where is he right now?"

"Spanish, or should be," Jasper shrugged, sweeping his hair out of his eyes. I watched the movement, and for a second I was dazed before I shook my head and stomped off towards Spanish. "Hey, wait-"

But I didn't answer him. He didn't follow me.

Classes had started by the time I got to Edwards Spanish room. I hesitated outside the room, then yanked the door open. Mr. Harris blinked at me in confusion. "Miss Swan?"

"Hey, Mr. Harris," I said, giving him a sweet smile and trying to charm him like Edward had tried to do to me. He blinked a few times. "I need Edward, if you don't mind. Miss Cook sent me."

"She...She did?" He asked, rubbing his head. "Well, I suppose- Mr. Cullen, you're excused."

Edward looked hesitant, but got up and followed me out anyway. I lead him around the building, and then turned to him with crossed arms. He looked skeptically. "…Yes?"

"Why are you so interested in Jessica?" I asked him slowly, as though I was talking to a child. He frowned.

"I'm not," He said. "Alice-"

"Didn't attack Jessica last week in Port Angeles."

He blinked at me in confusion, then looked quite angry. "Are you accusing me of something!?"

"Maybe I am," I said coolly. "Would that matter to you?"

"Maybe it would," He replied just as icily. "Maybe you should think before you accuse."

I didn't let my mind wander down the 'maybe he didn't' path. Instead I glared at him and he glared back. "Jessica doesn't want to talk about it, and I don't blame her for that. But I swear to God, if you come near her, I'll have the entire state so far up your ass you won't be able to see straight. Benefits of being the sheriff's daughter," I hissed. He glared down at me, and then turned away, stalking off. I turned away too, and ran back to my truck, leaving as quickly as I'd came and going back to my house. What I found there left me worried and confused.

There was a motorcycle parked outside, and a figure on my front porch, knocking on the door. "Bella!"

"Yes?" I said hesitantly, getting out of the truck. The guy turned, and I blinked. It was Jasper Hale. "What are you doing here- No, how do you know where I live?"

"It's a small town," He said carefully. "I was worried about you. You seemed really upset, and when I heard the crying inside…"

"Crying in…Oh my God," I ran up the porch steps and let myself in, not even thinking about Jasper when I left the door open and rushed to the crawl space where I'd told Jessica to hide. She was there, stuffing herself in the corner and sobbing. "Jessica," I said softly, reaching out my hand. She flinched. "I'm so sorry I left you. It's okay. He's not here. It was just Jasper."

She slowly crawled towards me, and I hugged her. Jasper was standing uncertainly in the doorway, and I jerked my head towards the kitchen. He wisely went in there without comment and let me stay with Jessica until she had fallen asleep on the couch. I put a blanket over her and then rubbed my head. I touched her hand as I got up, and the same electrocution sensation crawled up my arms and I gasped, eyes widening as I saw Jessica running through the woods, screaming, cradling her stomach, which was bleeding, a lot. "Bella!" She screamed, and I jerked my hand away, and looked down at her. She was still sleeping soundly.

I shook my head, and made my way to the kitchen. Jasper was there, leaning against the counter by the sink, hair in his face and eyes concerned. I got a mug down and started to make tea. "Would you like any?" I asked Jasper. He shook his head slowly.

"No, thank you," He said. I nodded, and sat down at the table, stirring the tea slowly. Jasper scrapped the chair out loudly and then sat down across from me. He didn't say anything for a while, leaving my to my thoughts, then, finally, he asked me, "Would you like to talk about it?"

I bit my lip. Jessica didn't want to talk about it, but everything that had happened in the short time I was in Forks was just weird. The images I'd seen, what Jessica thought she'd seen, it was too weird to handle. And I did want to talk about it, I want to talk and rage and cry and get it all out. Everything with Jessica and the horrific things I'd seen, the ache I felt about missing my mom and how Forks felt like home but didn't. I wanted to ask questions and get answers, for once.

But I didn't know Jasper. Not like I knew Jessica. I'd only been here a little over a week, but Jessica was more of a friend to me than any of the people I knew in Phoenix. But for some reason, I felt like I could talk to Jasper, and trust him. And so I did.