Monday

Bella woke at 6.00am to the shrill sound of her alarm clock.

Bella's POV

Great, school.

I sat up slowly and rubbed my tired, blood shot eyes. How can I spend the day around the two of them? I wonder if they will even be there. Taking a calming breath, I made my way downstairs and to the kitchen where Charlie was eating his morning breakfast.

"Morning Bells, how you feeling now kiddo?"

"I actually don't feel too great dad, do you mind if I stay at home today? I'll call someone and ask them to get me any work I miss." I prayed he would believe the excuse of sickness and began to feel nervous as he looked at me with a critical stare.

"Yeah of course that's fine. If you're no better tomorrow though, you might want to go see a doctor, you're not normally sick. Do you want me to pop back at lunch and check on you?"

"Oh no that's fine Char...Dad, I think I will probably just sleep again and maybe read a little."

He rose from his seat, his coffee cup in hand as he turned to place it in the sink. When he turned back to me I felt overwhelmed with guilt at the worried look gracing his face. He walked toward me and kissed my cheek lightly.

"Alright, well I'd better be off, call me if you feel worse or want anything ok? I will see you tonight."

He walked to the door and lifted his coat from the rack, ready to leave. He turned once more, gave me a small smile and then left to protect Forks from the limited amount of crime we have here. I trudged upstairs feeling exhausted but there was a place I wanted to go. I dressed quickly in a pair of sweats and a V-neck cashmere jumper to help ward off the cold and slipped my feet into my comfortable UGG boots. I pulled my coat on and left through the front door not bothering to shower, brush my teeth or my hair and walked slowing into the woods beside my small house. I walked to the spot Edward had left me the year before. I noticed a broken piece of tree to my left which I stumbled towards and sat upon quietly.

I stayed still for a long time, thinking about, and looking at nothing in particular, just embracing the pain that lingered in my chest.

"Hey."

Startled I looked behind me and saw Jasper standing with his gaze lowered to the ground. He looked terrible. His hands were in his pockets with his shoulders hunched. He looked like a little lost boy.

"Hi," I sighed, "how are you doing?"

He shrugged a little as he walked towards me and sat on my right hand side, placing himself on the rest of the log stump. We stared ahead together for a while, neither of us keen to break the silence. We just sat, two wronged parties, feeling hurt together. Finally Jasper spoke, breaking me from the trance I was in.

"Didn't feel like school huh?"

I shook my head sadly. "I couldn't face seeing them. I have too many classes with Ed..." I gulped and continued, "him. I don't want to see him right now."

He took an unneeded breath before replying. "Me too. I don't want to see either of them."

"Oh, so they went in then? I guess I made the right choice staying away." I looked towards him and noticed the mess of his hair, as though he had run his hands through it many times. Edward did that a lot.

He looked back at me then. "I don't know. I moved out of the house last night. I couldn't be there anymore. Their emotions were killing me. Not just theirs but the whole family. Carlisle and Esme are worried sick about all of us. Emmett is worried about us and Rose. Rose is feeling very bitter and angry. She's worried sick about you and I. You especially I think. I heard her ranting to Emmett that she could kill Edward for hurting you again."

I looked at him with confusion written all over my face. "But she hates me, why would she care?"

He looked sadly into my eyes, "I don't know if Edward told you but she was wronged when she was human...by a man that she loved. He was her fiancé. He raped her and then left her for dead. That's when Carlisle found her and changed her. The attack was so brutal she was dying. I think she sympathises with you especially because you're human and a woman. You're more fragile than me."

Shaking my head I put my hand on his tentatively, not wanting to startle him. "Just because my heart beats doesn't mean it's feeling this anymore than yours. I think we are both just as fragile at the moment." I turned my head back to the distance, still holding his hand in mine. His fingers enveloped mine, holding tightly to the bit of comfort I offered, but being careful not to cause any harm.

"You're right I don't feel very strong now."

I felt my lower lip begin to tremble and my hand started to shake in his. I felt the tears rising fast and it was impossible to stop them. Letting out a strangled moan I gave in to the sobs that engulfed me. "WHY DID HE DO THIS TO ME?" I screamed loudly, not wanting an answer or even directing it at anyone in particular. It was the one thought that I was able to process.

Jasper's POV

I felt her begin to shake and felt her distress worsen. I knew what was coming.

"WHY DID HE DO THIS TO ME?" I heard her shout. At least she attempted to, it sounded more of a broken yelp. She was now bent forward her head in resting on her left hand and she grasped my hand more tightly, with sobs wracking her body.

I tried sending a feeling of calm over her but it was useless. I wasn't feeling positive and calm myself and her pain was too great. I did the one thing I could. I shifted and easily lifted her broken body onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her hunched figure as tightly as I could without causing her physical discomfort. I didn't even notice the scent of her blood, just as I felt no urge to bite her frail neck. She moved closer and placed he face hard against my chest soaking my shirt in her tears. That's when mine began to fall. I hadn't cried until this point. I had simply been angry. Now I felt hurt and confused and worried for both myself and the poor girl in my arm.

I don't know how long we sat this way, with my tears falling to her hair and hers falling on my chest, but soon we were both exhausted, our eyes emptied of liquid. She sniffled a little as she calmed herself down, and then raised her head to look at me.

"I'm sorry about that, I don't know what happened."

"Its fine don't worry about it. You weren't the only one crying." I tried to laugh a little but it just came out in a harsh breath.

"Are you ok with being this close?...I mean you aren't thirsty or anything are you 'cos I could move if you want." I looked down at her red eyes and the expression of hope on her face. I could tell she didn't want to move, she wanted comfort. I shook my head and smiled slightly.

"No, I'm fine. I think I have lost my appetite."

She laughed a little then and rested her head against my chest.

"So..." she interrupted my thoughts, "where are you staying if you moved out of home?"

"I found a little cottage not far away, only a 10minute run away or so...well for me, it would probably take you 3hours. It's a holiday cottage, one that gets rented out. It's empty for now so I have been sitting around there."

"Oh, that's nice." She looked uncertain as she looked at me again. "Are you going back to school tomorrow or are you going to give it a miss? I think I have to. I told Charlie I was sick today but he said if I still felt ill tomorrow he was taking me to the doctor."

"I haven't decided yet."

The thought of seeing Edward and Alice felt too much for me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be in an enclosed place with the two. But I looked down at Bella and knew she was feeling the same as me, only she had no choice about high school, this was her first time round. I nodded my head deciding I would go to support her...we could support each other.

"Yeah, I will be there."

She smiled slightly in gratitude and moved to get off of me. She glanced toward her house and I realised that it was beginning to get dark.

"Well, I'd better get back inside. I should probably have a shower and take care of my hygiene problems." She had her back to me as she walked away. Then she stopped and taking a deep breath looked over her shoulder back at me, "Thank you Jasper." Then she kept walking and I stood as I saw her enter the warmth of her home.

I hadn't planned on visiting her this morning. In all honesty I hadn't thought about her since I heard the news. I suddenly felt very guilty about that fact. When I walked out of my small cottage this morning I had felt an overwhelming amount of pain coming from an unknown source. I had followed it, curious to know who it came from. When I realised it was her, my heart sank as I realised the destruction Edward and Alice had caused.

I will be there for her. No matter what happens. She needs someone.

I sighed and ran back to my make shift home.

Edward's POV

I sat in school all day thinking about Bella. I hoped she would come, convincing myself that she was just running late. By lunch I knew I had deluded myself. Jasper didn't come either. I could see how much Alice was hurting. She looked paler than usual if that was possible, her face withdrawn and looking tired even though we don't sleep. Rose hadn't spoken to either of us since Saturday night. She was disgusted with us and she felt such sympathy for Bella and Jasper. I could hear in her thoughts she was wondering whether to go and visit Bella to let her know she had a friend-even unlikely one. She was fighting with herself. She spent the day looking for Jasper and Bella too, looking hopefully around the school cafeteria. Emmett wasn't really thinking much. He was scared about what would happen though. He cared for Bella as though she was his little sister and he worried that she wouldn't be around any of us anymore. He worried for Jasper too. Jasper was his brother and he felt pain for his hurt. Jessica asked me where Bella was. I snapped at her telling her I didn't know. That probably wasn't the best move; it sparked interest in Jessica's mind. I heard her deciding to call Bella that night to see 'how she was'.