Another short chapter. The one I just wrote that will be a couple down the road is long, I assure you. Anyway I'm cranking this stuff out and getting some ideas. I've actually had dreams about this, weird!! Thanks for your support, it's nice coming home to a bunch of emails in my inbox saying people are subscribing to the story!! It encourages me to keep writing, so if more people subscribe the more I'll write! Also, reviews are nice too. Thanks!

BELLA POV

I finally woke up from my nightmare. I looked around the van and realized I was living my nightmare. Victoria was going to kill me and I had less than a week to live. Our location was still a mystery, though I knew we were in Mexico somewhere. I sat up and looked outside the window. It was bright outside still. I wondered what day it was, and how long I had been asleep. Carefully I got up onto my feet and wobbled around the van. It had been a couple days since I had last walked around and stretched my legs. In the rear view mirror I saw my reflection. I looked awful, and I really needed a shower. A purple bruise was present around my left eye. I examined the rest of my body to see that I had a few bruises, but was okay. Then I turned around and walked to the door. I slid it open to find it was blazing hot outside. It reminded me of Phoenix.

"What are you doing outside of the van?" Al asked me.

"I didn't know I was suppose to stay inside of it, that wasn't one of the rules," I retorted back. Just because I had to follow all the rules did not mean I had to be polite to anyone. "Got any food around here, or is the idea to starve the victim?"

"There's food over there, I suppose we should've fed you sooner."

"Out of curiosity, how long have I been asleep?"

"Just a day. Did you know you scream in your sleep?"

"Yes, but that's only when I'm kidnapped and am scared to death." I could not help but be snotty and sarcastic to my kidnappers, even though I screamed in my sleep frequently.

"Sorry, just curious," Al sounded sincere and sympathetic. If he didn't help kidnap me, I would actually feel sorry for him.

I walked over to where he pointed and found some food. It was a burger and French fries. Though it is rare for me to eat fast food, I was so hungry it seemed like a feast. Al noticed how quickly I ate the food and looked at me in amazement.

"Are you still hungry?" He seemed concerned.

"Yes, sir, I am."

"Don't call me sir, my name is Al. He grabbed more food and thrust it into my hand. "I'm going to cut to the chase right now. I wasn't for kidnapping you. It was Frank's idea. After he met Victoria all he could think about was her and becoming a--vampire." He shuddered and looked back at me. "Frank is the only real friend I have. We met in high school and have worked together ever since. All I know is to follow Frank's control. Whenever he stole something from the store, I did too. He's like a brother to me and helped me when I was kicked out of my house. Though becoming a vampire scares the hell out of me, but if Frank does it, I will too. What I don't understand is why we kidnapped you. I don't ever get to hear any of our plans, so what do you have to do with all of this?"

"Well, it's kind of a long story. But I'll shorten it up a bit in case Frank or Victoria come back and find me around. About a year and a half ago I moved to Forks from Phoenix. At my new school I was attracted to a guy who was so breathtakingly gorgeous, I couldn't help but fall in love. He felt the same way about me. Come to find out, he is a vampire. Toward the end of the year we met up with three other vampires. They weren't vegetarian vampires like Edward's family. One of the vampires almost killed me, if it hadn't been for Edward. I spent the best six months of my life with him until about a year ago he decided he couldn't be with me anymore because he wanted me to live a normal human life. He was always afraid of hurting me since I am a human. It was so hard for me to adjust to normal life. One of the companions of Victoria and the vampire that tried to kill me came back to have his revenge. However a pack of werewolves killed him. When I thought I was about to lose it, Edward's sister came back to live with me. She is one of my best friends and is my roommate at University of Washington. I guess Victoria wants revenge like the other vampire. Though Victoria always scared me more than any of the other non-vegetarian vampires."

"Wow, that's some story. Werewolves? Wow now everything in this world has been flipped upside-down."

"Yes, werewolves. They are the natural enemy to the vampire, though very few of them exist."

"Wow, I really feel for you. What a mess. Is it a hassle to put up with them? What about the myths, can they go out in the sun and do they sleep in coffins?"

"It was all worth it at the time. I really love Edward, I can't live without him. Live after he's gone isn't worth living. As for the myths, I've found most of them aren't true. Vampires don't even sleep, and as for the sun, they don't go out because it makes their skin...glow."

"I wish I could've found someone to love. Now look at me, I'm hideous. I can't control my weight, I go days at a time without showering, and I'm always on the run from the police."

"You know, you could make a clean break. There are other alternatives to robbery and kidnapping. I know Frank is your only friend, but try and go to work somewhere. Your destiny isn't always set in stone."

"The words you say make sense. I have always loved literature, and my dream was to become an English professor. Shakespeare has always been my favorite, and I do miss reading some of his works. Frank always made fun of my intellect and convinced me to give up my hobbies. Now he makes it seem like I'm the stupid one. Maybe I'll start small and graduate from high school first to show him I am smart. Say, you're very wise for your age, what is your name?"

"I'm Bella. Bella Swan. Do you think you can do me a favor?"

"Sure, I'll try."

"You seem like a nice person. How about we help each other out and both benefit out of this situation. How about you help me get out of here, and I help you get enrolled into a night high school program. That way you can work during the day and start your life over."

"Miss Bella, again you are very wise. I don't know how I can help you escape though because Victoria and Frank would know where to find me."

"Al, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. You will have to keep your ears open though and listen for the day when Victoria decides to kill me." I lowered my voice into a whisper remembering Frank or Victoria could be wandering around anywhere and said, "You say that you're going to take me out to eat to fatten me up, then while we're at some restaurant I go to the bathroom and you keep Frank and Victoria distracted. I make a break for it somehow and you decide to come check on me. Once Frank and Victoria realize I'm gone you take the van and come find me and we run away back into the United States."

"Well, it's worth a try. It's a deal. I am so tired of working with these animals. It's time for me to be the real Albert Smith and take charge of my own life."

I stuck out my hand and shook his hand. I could tell we would be getting alone quite alright.

Edward POV

I was so nervous as we started following Bella's scent. We drove as fast as we could and within hours we were down in California. We stopped to strategize for a minute and so Jasper could regain his focus for tracking Bella. Every five minutes I whipped out my wallet and looked at the picture I have of Bella. It was one of her senior pictures that Alice gave me, and it was absolutely beautiful. I cannot believe how lucky I was when I first kissed her. I can't believe I gave up on her just to try and change her mind. I know Bella is stubborn, she would never want what is best for herself. She was so selfless and always thought about my happiness first. I do not deserve such a wonderful person. I only hope we will find her alive and that she will take me back. I was so restless; Bella could not be much farther away, could she?

Jasper sniffed Bella's jacket to regain her scent. I hope she is okay.

"Edward," Alice began. "I have something to show you. Bella has been taking an art class, courtesy to my persuasion and drew this." She held out a piece of folded canvas and placed it in my hand. I looked down and unfolded it.

"It's me," I said in awe. "It's so beautiful, Bella drew this?"

"Yes, she did. Look at the comments the teacher wrote on the back side of it."

"She said that Bella has real potential and should consider a career as an artist. Wow, I knew she liked to draw, but she never showed me any of sketches. Though I always managed to sneak a peak at what she was drawing during class. I never got to see the final product. Thanks for showing me this Alice."

"I have one more for you to see. This is her latest work." She took the other drawing out of my hand and slipped it with a piece of canvas. Opening it eagerly, I noticed it was a self portrait. She had captured everything about herself perfectly. My heart melted in my chest. This picture was not black and white like the other one. Her eyes caught my attention first, she matched them almost perfectly to her own eyes. Though I knew nothing could come nearly as close as the real thing. I opened my wallet and looked at the picture I have of Bella and realized she drew her self portrait from that picture.

"Alice, do you think I can keep this?"

"Well, until Bella finds out, I guess you can." For the first time in about a year, I felt myself give the biggest smile I could manage. I felt giddy knowing I could keep a piece of Bella so close to my heart.