Disclaimers: Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight. All I own are my two OCs.

No copyright infringement is intended.

Sorry for another big delay! I've had a lot of work at school and had two big tests that I was really stressed about.

TW: This story deals with mature themes such as self-harm and suicide/suicidal thoughts. Reader's discretion is advised.

3

BenPOV

Everyone sat in silence after Raina's abrupt departure. Amna's eyes were filling with tears and the rest of her family just seemed sad about something, yet understanding. What had happened to Raina to make her this way? She could be cold one minute and passionate the next, it gave me whiplash.

I sighed as I thought about the way she was before she became so distant and cold. I was sucked into a memory of her last day as the Raina I knew.

Raina laughed at another one of my lame jokes and I couldn't help but really look at her. We had been friends for awhile now, but I had felt a shift in my emotions towards her recently. I often thought about holding her before I remembered that we were just 11.

Her eyes shone and her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were beautiful, I realised. They were a dark brown normally, but today, they were almost gold. Her skin was flawless unlike some of the other girls' in the class. Her hair was long and flowing, I had to stifle the urge to run my fingers through her scalp. She smiled at me, and my vision focused. Oh, that smile, what I wouldn't do to see it everyday.

''Ben? Are you okay?''

''Yeah, sorry.''

My friends started laughing at me but I paid them no mind. They had found out about my crush on Raina but I made sure they kept it secret. I didn't want to ruin our friendship, it was too precious to me.

All of a sudden her eyes glazed over and she was unresponsive. I became worried, I had never seen her like this. I shook her shoulder but she just sat there, motionless.

''Raina? What happened, are you okay?'' She didn't show any sign that she heard me. I called the teacher over and she waved me off, telling me my concerns were for nothing.

''Don't worry, Ben. She's okay. There's something in her file about her spacing out often, no reason given, but there's no reason for you to worry.'' I sighed in relief and waited for Raina to come back.

When she did, I saw tears in her eyes, but she brushed me off when I asked her about it. I knew something had happened though, she was slumped over her desk, looking resigned and sad. This was new to me. Raina was always happy, I associated her with everything good and happy in the world. So to see her like this was disconcerting. The rest of the class passed in silence until the bell rang. Raina packed up quickly and was about to leave when I grabbed her wrist. She jumped before turning around, looking at me impatiently.

''What is it, Ben? I have somewhere to be, you know.'' I was shocked, Raina had never spoken to me like that. I felt a slash of hurt before I masked it and continued on.

''Where are you going? Don't we usually walk together?'' I said. Her eyes softened before she smiled a soft smile.

''I'm sorry, Ben. I can't today. I have to do something urgently. I- I'll see you tomorrow'' She seemed unsure about that last part, but I shook it off. I loosened my grip on her hand before she walked away. I watched after her, stunned.

I didn't see her the next day, or for a while after that. She missed a month and a half of school. She was supposedly sick, but I knew better. Something had happened that day. When she came back to school she was different. She stopped wearing bright colours and had completely shut everyone except her best friends out. Eventually, though, she cut them out of her life as well. We all watched on sadly as she distanced herself from all of us, knowing there was nothing we could do.

Two years later, my friends started worrying about me. I had started to like her even more, even though I knew she would never feel that way back. It seemed like she had no emotions, until now. Now here I was, five years later, 16, and hopelessly in love with a girl who had shut everyone that loved her out.

I looked into her eyes as she passed by, I wanted to comfort her, but I had forgotten how. I felt like I had lost her before I had her.

Two weeks had passed since we had begun to live with Raina and her family. It wasn't bad, but I had only seen Raina handful of times outside of school. It was like she was avoiding everyone, and she sure was good at it.

I passed by the drawing room, and noticed the door was locked. It had always been open these past few weeks. I moved closer and heard people talking inside. I recognised the voices as Raina's and her parents'. I knew it was wrong but I couldn't help but listen in.

''Raina, don't think we haven't noticed your attitude and behaviour recently.'' It was her mom.

''I know I've been acting cold, but don't I always? You can't say that this is a surprise to you.'' Raina said in a bored tone.

''No, it isn't a surprise but we really thought that having your friends here would change you.''

''They aren't my friends, Mom.'' Raina said hesitantly.

''But they once were, weren't they?'' I heard her dad's deep voice counter.

''Things change, you know. What's here one day could be gone the next.'' Raina said wistfully. Her voice conveyed some sort of deep longing.

''We want you to interact with them, Raina! You've really hurt their feelings, especially Ben's. That poor boy just wants to be your friend again. You're ruining their experience here!''

''Why does their experience here matter? Eventually they'll move on and leave us, everyone always leaves.'' It seemed like she was talking about something else, and I had an inkling it had to do with what happened years ago.

''Everyone always leaves, Mom. Just like Oliver did.'' she whispered.

Oliver? Maybe that was the boyfriend her mom was telling us about when we got here. Why did he leave, was the question.

''We just want the old Raina back!'' her dad said desperately.

''The old me left with Oliver.'' Raina stated in a cold voice. I didn't have time to move away before Raina burst through the door. I staggered back and she leveled me with a hard stare before she went up to her room.

Well, that didn't answer anything.

RainaPOV

After the incident on the first day, I avoided everyone else like the plague. I either stayed locked up in my room or I went hunting right after school.

I had started needing blood more often, recently. I knew it was because I was getting closer to 18, the age I was when I died almost 100 years ago. Every year, I become more and more like a vampire. I was told it was because I was supposed to become a vampire, but James was frustrated after losing the chance to have Alice, so things didn't go to plan. I still remember the attack so vividly, even after all these years. Then again, I'm a reincarnate and almost a full vampire, I won't have the same traits as a normal human.

I walked out of my room and I was about to run out the door before my parents stopped me, asking for a minute to talk. They led me towards the drawing room and we walked in.

''Please close the door behind you, Raina'' my dad said.

I wonder what's going on in his head. What do they have to talk to me about that warrants such privacy? I felt around for his aura and grasped onto the atoms that made up his body. I made my way up to his head and delved deep into his mind, but he was hiding it from me. My eyes flashed dangerously but my dad didn't even flinch.

''What are you both hiding from me?'' I growled. It wasn't often that I was restricted from knowing what was going on. My parents' eyes danced with mirth before they sobered up and cleared their throats.

''Now, Raina, do not forget that we are your parents.'' my mom scolded me.

I sighed, ''Well, what is it you need to talk to me about so urgently?'' my parents glared at me for my sarcastic tone before my mom continued.

''Raina, don't think we haven't noticed your attitude and behaviour recently.'' I sighed, so this was what they were so worried about.

''I know I've been acting cold, but don't I always? You can't say that this is a surprise to you.'' I said tiredly. Would they ever understand that I had changed?

''No, it isn't a surprise but we really thought that having your friends here would change you.''

''They aren't my friends, Mom.'' I said hesitantly.

''But they once were, weren't they?'' My dad said in a matter-of-fact tone.

''Things change, you know. What's here one day could be gone the next.'' I didn't mean for the conversation to take a sharp turn to my problems, but it always found a way to come to light, no matter what. His absence had encompassed my whole life.

''We want you to interact with them, Raina! You've really hurt their feelings, especially Ben's. That poor boy just wants to be your friend again. You're ruining their experience here!''

''Why does their experience here matter? Eventually they'll move on and leave us, everyone always leaves.'' It was true, everyone always left me. Nobody could understand me fully, only he could, but he wasn't here, was he?

''Everyone always leaves, Mom. Just like Oliver did.'' I whispered. I could never heal fully without him, I had to make them understand that. Without him I was nothing.

''We just want the old Raina back!'' my dad pleaded with me.

''The old me left with Oliver.'' I ended the conversation with that simple truth. My control was slipping, I realised, and I knew it would only be matter of time before I lashed out and someone got hurt. I burst out of the room, desperate for some fresh air and was met with the flustered face of none other than Ben.

I stared at him before running into my room. I'll just have to leave through the window, then. I quickly changed into my hunting clothes before I opened my window on the fourth floor. I had my legs dangling out the window and I was just about to jump down before I felt a strong, insistent pair of arms pull me away frantically. I looked into the clear blue eyes of Ben Woods. Oh, just great.

Well, there's chapter 3! Chapter 4 might be coming up soon after this, as in, an hour or so. I'm feeling really inspired right now so I can feel my creative juices flowing. Thanks you all for the support and see you next chapter!