A/N: Finally, right? I realized the story is sort of mixed up. And I promise to fix it later on. Pretty much, for anyone who's having trouble keeping up, Bella and Jacob met when she was sixteen and he was seventeen. They had an intense relationship. But after four short months, Jacob meets Leah. And Jacob leaves Bella for her.

The chapter previous to this one was a random chap about Charlie being worried for his daughter.

As to this chapter, well you'll just have to wait and see. Hope I cleared things up. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

Bella's POV

Trying to appear normal for Charlie, I decided to make my way downstairs and watch a game with him. I hid my chagrin to the surprise in his eyes as I stood at the foot of the stairs. Maybe I hadn't been doing such a good job of hiding my shattered heart from him after all. I hated to think all my effort had been for nothing.

I sighed as I sat on the couch next to his favorite recliner, tucking my feet underneath me. I didn't recognize the names of the teams and I couldn't even tell who was winning, so I simply stared at the screen blankly, doing my best to look bored. Any normal teenage girl would be bored watching baseball, wouldn't they?

At half time, Charlie asked me if I wanted to make a trip up to Port Angeles and I didn't hesitate to reject him. That's where the so called Sam was located. If I ever ran into Sam, I promised myself he would pay for putting Jake in such a position. What right did he have to lure my Jacob into such a life? I felt a twinge of sadness, realizing it wasn't entirely Sam's doing, Jacob must have chosen that life for himself. I couldn't be sure anyone put a gun to his head to make him do what he does. And possibly Sam had a good reason for committing such acts. Desperation could lure the kindest of people into doing the craziest things.

When the game was finally over, Charlie turned his upper body towards me. The look on his face was masked into a carefully smooth expression. Caution slightly bordering around his eyes. I readjusted myself on the couch, leaning against the arm of the plush couch. It was black leather, smooth and cool. Opposite to the rough and warm hands that used to shape my body, pull me closer and…

"Bella stop!" I screamed at myself silently.

"What's up, dad?" I realized in the silence how hoarse my voice sounded. I came up with a theory that it was most likely due to the fact that I hadn't used it in so long.

"Bella, now don't get mad at me. I'm just throwing this out there, but would you maybe want to move to Phoenix with your mom? It's not that I don't love having you here sweetheart, you know I love you more than anything. I was just thinking you'd like a change of scenery, experience life out there."

"I've already seen Phoenix," was my short reply. My heart stopped at the thought of never seeing Jacob again; or Forks at all for that matter. It had always been the place I called home.

"I, uh," I probably would have laughed six months ago at his loss for words, but I could barely manage a smile now as he was talking about sending me away.

"Dad, you want me to move to Phoenix. I understand that much. I was just wondering why? Was I a bad kid? I mean I know I don't go out much, but I figured that was a good thing."

"Bells, you're the best of all daughters, but you don't go out at all. Well, except for school and back."

That one cut deep. How pathetic could I be to the point where my own father was telling me I had no life, no friends, and to sum it all up, absolutely nothing?

I took a second to take it all in and think it over. The last time I'd heard from Jacob was a week after he came into my room that one night. He called me after I just walked through the door from getting home from school.

I struggled with my keys as I juggled my backpack and the extra books that I was carrying in my arms, I had a big test I had to study for, when I heard the phone ringing from the kitchen.

"Damn," I muttered out loud.

I dropped my backpack on the ground and set my books on top of it as I pushed the door open. It could be important, since we rarely got any calls anymore.

I worried about Charlie for a second. I wondered if maybe there had been an accident at work.

I left the door open as I hastily made my way to the kitchen and unhooked the phone from its receiver.

"Hello?" My voice sounded breathless.

"Bella? It's me." My heart stopped.

"Jacob?"

"Hiya, Bells!" His voice sounded happier. Which only resulted in breaking my heart further. He was happy without me, and here I was suffering without him. "How's everything?"

"Fine…" I was suspicious for the most part. I wondered why he would be calling me out of the blue like this.

"I just wanted to tell you something." I could practically hear the grin in his voice.

"Okay…" I waited.

"Well, Leah and I are okay. I just wanted to tell you that I'm not working for Sam anymore. Can you believe Leah actually drove to Port Angeles and threatened to out his business to the cops if he ever contacted me again. I'll admit I almost had a heart attack when I heard about it. She could have gotten hurt, but Sam actually respected her guts. I just wanted to let you know, 'cause I know you worry a lot."

"Thanks?"

"No problem. Are you okay? You sound distant."

I instantly stood up straighter. "Oh, I'm fine. I'm just kinda busy. I have a friend over."

"Oh, right. I'm sorry if I interrupted anything. I'll call you some other time. Have a good day Bella. Miss you."

"Me too."

"All right, bye."

I didn't return his farewell as I slammed the phone against its receiver.

"Damn," I said again. How dare that girl take my place and pursue that threat. I didn't know Leah, had never met her or heard much about her for that matter, but I suddenly knew I didn't like her. She had done a good thing, I'll admit that much. I respected her enough for sticking up for Jake when I couldn't, but I just had a feeling, things weren't going to be okay with her.

Then again, what did I know?

As that memory faded back into the drawers of my mind, I realized that had been six or seven weeks ago. I couldn't tell exactly, I hadn't been keeping track of the days or months lately.

I understood Jacob was done with me according to his silence in my life and I understood it was my turn to move on. I couldn't spend my entire life wondering when he was going to come back for me. I felt a little stupid for letting him influence my decision, but there was just nothing else that came to mind. There was no other reason for me to stay. It was a bit risky switching schools in the middle of my second semester, but I wasn't going to complain.

Suddenly, I wanted to hightail it out of here as fast as I could.

"I'll do it," I whispered.

"You will?" Charlie sounded more surprised than ever as I agreed to his suggestion.

"Yeah, dad, I think it's a good idea, too. No offense."

"No offense taken kiddo. I'm glad you're doing this for yourself. It's a big step, but I know you'll be okay. And it's not like you won't come back to visit me." He stopped talking for a second and really looked into my eyes. "Right?"

"Of course I will." I tried to smile back as his eyes crinkled up into a full blown grin, but I'm sure it was another pathetic attempt.

"I'll go call your mom."

"No problem. How soon do you think I'll be going over there?"

"Hm," he thought about it for a second and decided. "A week at the most."

"Okay, I'll start packing some of my things."

"Sure, Bells."