Chapter 3

Any Time

Bella drifted awake. She smiled. She was encased in something soft, warm, and somehow strong. It was a wonderful feeling. She didn't want to move, and she hadn't opened her eyes yet so she was content on just staying there. After a few minutes she realized that she could feel something on her forehead. Breath?

Panic leapt through her. She pulled away from whatever was holding her. That was a mistake. She tumbled to the floor, landing harsh on her shoulder. She hissed in pain. The figure on the couch sat up.

"Bella?" it asked before jumping off of the couch and kneeling beside her. Bella opened her eyes again to fee Jared leaning over her. "Bella are you alright?"

Bella nodded, the pulsing pain in her shoulder was gone, but the memories of the night before were still fresh in her head.

Bella laughed with Jared as they drove towards the LaPush border. There was a loud thud and the old truck shook. Bella hit the gas and the truck spun out of control on the wet ground. Bella let out a shriek as the truck hit a ditch and rolled over in the grass until it hit a tree to stop it. Bella opened her eyes, she was crumpled up in the cab of the truck. Jared was beside her. He kicked out the windshield and had ripped off the steering wheel to pull Bella out. The moment Bella was out of the truck a voice wafted to them.

"So it's true." said a husky voice behind them. Bella's head snapped around. It was Emmett who had spoken. Behind them were the entire Cullen family. Bella leaned on Jared for support. Her leg was definitely broken. She clanged down for a moment to see the bone sticking painfully out of her leg. She felt her stomach lurch. Jared's grip on Bella didn't loosen but got tighter supporting her.

"Please, let me help her. You don't want that leg to heal improperly." said Carlisle stepping forward.

"Jared. It's alright." Bella grasped onto his large forearm and squeezed. His eyes were plastered on Jasper, whose usual golden eyes were black. Alice's small frame was beside him holding him tight. Bella was distracted by the sad look on Alice's face for a moment. Pain shot through her le. She let out a roar or pain. Jared looked like he was about to either cry or kill someone.

Carlisle had adjusted the bones into place. He grabbed a large stick off the ground and held it up against her leg. He reached down and ripped his strips of cloth off of his shirt. He bound the stick tight to her leg.

"She should be fine. I don't know how fast you heal but it will heal right. Just keep it still." Carlisle carefully backed away from Bella and Jared. Edward hadn't said a thing, but he stood there, his face dark and very angry. Bella gripped harder onto Jared, she was afraid of that look.

"Thank you." said Jared. He gently lifted Bella off the ground carrying her bridal style, making sure her broken leg rested on his hand so he could keep it steady.

"So this is it?" asked Alice, her small voice piercing into Bella's thoughts.

"I don't know Alice." Said Bella, her voice was broken and on the verge of tears. "I don't want this to be it." Bella heard a small growl bubble up in Jared's chest. "We gotta go. Sam will be worried." The entire Cullen family looked broken upset and just plain hurt as Jared carried Bella across the LaPush border.

Bella looked down at the ripped pants she was wearing that were still covered in blood. She could see the hole where the bone had cut through the fabric. She shuddered and nodded again.

"I'm alright." Bella sighed and pulled herself to her feet. Jared stood up as well.

"I know you care about the bl- your friends. I'm sorry." Muttered Jared putting his hand on Bella's shoulder. Bella nodded.

"It's alright, I'll figure something out." Bella wrapped her arms around herself. She couldn't believe that she fell asleep crying into Jared's shoulder. What was she three or something? She had every right o be upset though. Sam had called an injunction. She wasn't allowed to see her dear friends again.

Jared pulled her into a hug. She'd only known the guy for what a day but, he was always so kind to her. And he didn't hold back with hugs and stuff. She wasn't ever afraid he'd hurt her. Bella let go of herself and hugged him back. He was gigantic compared to her tiny frame. She might have been fit, but all the guys in the pack were incredibly buff. Bella pulled away from Jared's embrace.

"I'm sorry I crashed here, I know I was supposed to stay at Sam's but, I just, I was too angry." Bella sat back down on the couch where they'd passed out, her arms around herself still. Jared nodded slowly and sat beside her.

"I know it sucks." He muttered putting a hand on her shoulder. "Do you wanna go for a run or something? I know it always helped me."

"May as well." muttered Bella. She put her hand on top of Jared's for a moment than stood up, her hand still holding his. "C'mon." Jared got to his feet and followed Bella out the back door of his small house. Once she hit the grass Bella took off running full speed. Jared watched in awe as her body exploded mid run. She disappeared into the trees. He'd never even seen Sam do that.

Jared shook his head clear of his immediate thoughts and ran to the trees, passed Bella's pile of scrap clothes. He quickly stripped than phased, following Bella's scent. It didn't take him long to find her, catching up to her brutal speed though was difficult. She dashed through trees and over fallen logs, she'd run straight into a small tree and it shattered in one shot.

"Damn you're scary when you're angry." thought Jared as Bella finally slowed down.

"Sorry." She thought back, now trotting lightly. She suddenly came to a dead stop. Jared of course benig a few paces behind her ran right into her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, Bella was growling loudly.

"I can't go any further. We're too close to the Cullen's place." Bella spat, she backed up a bit and tried running forward, but it was like she'd hit an invisible barrier. Out of her mouth came the most horrific roar he'd ever heard. It was full on anger and sadness. The hurt of being left by that stupid leech, and the confusion of all the wolf crap that was going on.

"Bella" said Jared softly. He moved closer to her and nudged her with his muzzle. She tilted ehr ehad towards him, as if to accept his offer of kindness. She flopped down onto the ground and Jared lied beside her, he stretched his neck over hers and laid there, she seemed to enjoy the comfort.

"Thanks Jared." She thought finally coming out of her momentary mental mute. Jared nuzzled her softly, and Bella closed her eyes. "Thank you so much"

"Any time Bella Swan." thought Jared. There was something about this girl that had him stumped. Why did he feel the need to comfort her?

Bella slowly relaxed and calmed down, her thoughts turned into nothing but the sounds around her. Occasionally Jared would hear a thought about him, as she probably heard a thought about her. Bella was glad to have Jared around. All this crap going on kept her mind off of Edward. He'd wanted to leave her. He didn't want her. That would have devastated her, but now she had something to look forward too, to keep her mind constantly off of Edward and shit bullcrap.

Both Bella and Jared had drifted off to sleep, blissfully unaware of the footsteps that had come to surround them.