AN: And we're back to Bella! Port Angeles here we come! Two chapters so close? Outrageous! There are like 3000 of you reading now, and I've been focused on homework a lot lately, so hopefully this makes up for it a little! :D

I regretted that Saturday of running more than anything. My leg was so angry at me, and my other one felt like it was rubber. I'd barely made it inside, and to the couch. Charlie had gotten around to ordering pizza, since he had noticed my inability to walk. He flicked the light, and I looked over to where he stood by the door.

"You okay to go to school tomorrow?"

Would Edward be there I could try and hobble in for that? No. His father had said he'd come back early and alone, that the others would be gone for another day or so.

"I'm going to say no for that. I was stupid today dad." I sighed.

"Yeah, figured. I'll call the school for you tomorrow." He looked towards the television for a second, and then back to me. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't go running down the back roads Bells. Stick to main roads next time okay?"

"Trust me I'll try."

The rest of that night – after the pizza had come, and I'd eaten an impressive half of it, I made the best of a hot bath, and then tucked myself into bed. I turned my alarm off and passed out.

I was in a forest this time. It was dark, eerie, foggy. I was running, in the same gear I'd been today. Suddenly a chorus of wolf howling began behind me, and I ran faster, my leg wobbling with the effort. The sounds of running beasts, howling and yipping with the chase began to catch up with me, tearing at my heels. I turned back for the briefest of seconds, and ran straight into a wall. But the wall caught me, and I looked back to find that it was Edward, looking fiercely deadly at the menace at my back.

I woke gradually with the sun. My legs were so stiff, and my stabiliser muscles in my core ached. It took me half an hour to get out of bed, slowly stretching and loosening what I could as I went. As I moved more and more my legs felt better, but I was still hobbling all over.

It was sunny outside today, so I opened every window in the house, and tried to be productive. I wrote the paper I had due on Wednesday, and I tried to clean, which took a lot more effort than usual, because my legs were not cooperating and bending them required some serious hanging on. I texted Angela when I knew she'd be on lunch to let her know I was fine, and that I'd be back to school tomorrow. She responded very quickly.

Glad to hear it! Jessica and I were going to go to Port Angeles tomorrow after school to pick out some dresses, want to come?

I wouldn't be much help with the dresses I knew, but I could be supportive, especially for Angela.

Absolutely. I'll drive up in my own truck, in case I pick up a new desk chair while I'm up there though!

That was a reasonable enough excuse to drive I felt. We agreed to leave directly from school the following day. I spent the rest of the afternoon thinking, and trying not to think, about Edward Cullen. He had seemed completely at ease with my disability, much like Angela, and even with my fear of cars, which was almost starting to become more of an issue than my hearing. He and his family were different, supernatural, if I had my guesses correct – and yet, kind, distant, only trying to fit in and live their lives as normally as possible. Just like me. Did it matter to me at all, really? I don't think it did. But at the same time, I was clearly getting obsessed over this boy, a boy who'd shown some bipolar flip-flopping of personality traits, and who I wasn't even totally sure of. Still… the things he had said on Friday. He was 'tired of trying to stay away from me'. Was that good? Did that mean that he was only staying away because of familial expectations? Was he not supposed to associate with 'normal' people? And if so, did I really want to get myself involved with someone whose family could never approve? Ugh the questions. Carlisle hadn't seemed too angry when he had essentially saved me from walking around like a lost puppy into the wilderness. So maybe at least Edward's father wouldn't completely despise me. But I was getting ahead of myself.

I was about to start dinner when a tap on my shoulder scared the living daylights out of me. I screamed, twisted, and fell to the floor, bumping my elbow really hard on the tile floor of the kitchen. My father, in his attempt to catch me, ended up falling as well, and gripped the counter in an only slightly more graceful descent to the floor. We were both tangled on the floor. It took a second for my heart to restart, and then my hearing clonked out slightly because I could only hear my heart thumping loudly and quickly in my ears.

"Sorry Bella!" Charlie half-yelled at me. "You okay kiddo?" he signed 'O' and 'K'.

"My elbow kills, but I'm good. Just terrified. Cops aren't supposed to do the whole 'home invasion thing'." I joked, while extracting my legs from his. Charlie got up first and helped me and my failing legs up. I rubbed my elbow as he apologized.

"I did turn the light on in the hall, but I guess you didn't see."

"Seriously dad it's fine. I clearly wasn't paying attention." Space case again. Too much Edward in my brain.

"How are your legs?" he asked, watching me wince as I sat down.

"Fine enough. They'll be back to normal by tomorrow I think…. My elbow though..." I pulled a grimace, and then laughed as he smiled guiltily. We worked on dinner together, and I asked him if I was good to go to Port Angeles with the girls tomorrow.

"I thought you weren't going to the dance?" he asked, confused.

"I'm not." I affirmed. "Seattle, remember?" with Edward Cullen, I wanted to add.

"Then why are you going dress shopping?"

"I wouldn't have to explain this to mom. I'm going because Jess and Angela need my opinion on their dresses. I'll help them coordinate outfits and things, and I hope to hit up a bookstore while I'm there." And apparently maybe a furniture store to pretend to look for a desk chair. Charlie shrugged his acceptance of the trip and shook his head at the foreign concept that was teenage girls. I was actually looking forward to this. Although Tuesday as a school day would probably be slow and drawn out (because of my excitement for the evening, and because of the potential lack of a biology partner), I had a feeling that I'd have fun that night.

Tuesday morning there was no silver Volvo in the parking lot. But Angela and Jess were waiting excitedly for me. I caught most of what Angela said, but Jess was so excited in talking about the evening's plans, and the route we would drive to get there, that I lost most of it. I decided eventually that I would just follow her car later, as I was not hearing most of her instructions. During classes I copied down yesterday's notes, which Angela had lent me, and then paid attention to what I could. The day went by surprisingly quickly, and at lunch everyone was jovial. The boys were planning a trip – but I didn't catch to where, and I spent most of the time watching them throw food at each other while attempting to score in each other's mouths. I saw one piece of carrot bounce off of Mike's nose and land in Jessica's cleavage, which stirred up a lot of laughter, and I'm sure some fun comments. I made sure to keep a smile plastered on my face, and most of the time, I wasn't even trying.

The afternoon went by just as swiftly. In biology class I found myself utterly distracted and my eyes kept wandering to the empty chair beside me. Gym was awful. My legs were still so sore and stiff that I could barely run to keep up with the rest of the team, and so ended up sort of standing in the middle, and ducking in a paranoid fashion every time people came near me. And then suddenly it was time to change back into regular clothing and skip town.

It was still even partially sunny when Angela and Jess got into Jess' car, and I backed my truck out, and began following them. Although I was alone during the drive, I felt refreshed and invigorated. A break from routine and a little bit of shopping felt like exactly what I needed. I truly hoped I'd find a good bookstore, but regardless, I'd enjoy the girl time. I focused on the tail lights in front of me, the road sped away under my violently shuddering truck, and I smiled to myself.