Okay! I'm going to make this short and sweet for you guys. I've dragged this out as much as I needed and I'm itching to start spinning my webs of mischief into motion! So please, enjoy ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight saga in anyway. Even though Bella's path as a vampire was cool – it was also dumb that she couldn't be happy with Jacob and seemed to use him and then always get her way in some way! He had to settle for the spawn of his lost love and fated enemy? Ugh, it's maddening I tell you! But any who! If I had own it, Bella would have ended up with the right guy and her last name would be Black. lol

The Twilight saga: Distance

Chapter 8

~Crazy for Love~

THIS was really real. This was really happening. This was crazy as hell.

It was just…it was the most unreal, the most unplaced and coming face to face with it only brings into focus just how much I affected other's lives.

And to think. Angela, of all people, it was Angela.

I could only gaze at the beautiful creature she became as her form descended upon me. All that I could think was that I was horrible, that I deserved this.

The worst part? I've could have somehow seen this coming – could have prevented this fate. Yea Angela was a fantasy freak, sure. But I doubted she had this in mind for her future. A future she planned step by step and seemed so bright for her. Now it was all a washed out illusion. I felt sick with guilt. I was selfishly worried about me when Angela, who became an unknowing victim of Riley, was possibly forced into this life and then manipulated to believe otherwise. Who would have thought a few sick days out of school could turn into the worst case scenario.

Angela had been missing. It was the smallest, seemingly innocent, tib bit of information reguarding my normal life...or as normal as it could get. Disreguarding the mythical struggle and dangers that was my life.

And this is where she was. The whole time. And I did nothing to stop it…

"Bella, get back!" Edward's voice reached my ears in a snarl as he maneuvered in front of my body, pressing me into the trunk as his hands, absolute in it's motion, flew out and grabbed Angela before he spun to throw her in the opposite direction. It was a strange sight though, for her form was suddenly bent backwards, gripping both of his legs as the force of his movements caused both bodies to flip and crash into the snow in a heap of hisses and snarls.

At last second, Edward's body flew off of her smaller frame as she immediately bolted upright into a defensive crouch, a scowl marrying her face. She looked merely confused as she hissed and spat angrily.

Edward held back and made a mad dash for the pile of forgotten limbs as Seth stealthily moved in on her form, her eyes wildly following Edward's form. Her eyes darted to the pile and immediately saw Edward's intention. She snarled and made to follow - but quickly spotted Seth and twisted impossibly to the left, escaping his claws in time before leaping back into the tree above me. Her body fluidly twisted like a pantheress as she turned just in time to watch as Riley's and Victoria's limbs were set ablaze in an explosion of flames.

The fire roared as it quickly ate up the venom that bleed from their leaking bodies, turning it to ash as a licorice purple smoke billowed and licked the sky. Edward turned away and took a step back from the blazing flames.

Seeing the fire blaze, her eyes widened in horror as her face contorted into one of nausea and anguish. "NO!" She screeched in a pained lost, the sound traumatizing before she dropped into a crouch before me.

I froze, pressing my back more firmly into the tree trunk while Edward and Seth seemed to mirror my movements, not even breathing – not that I would hear it with my heart hammering in my ears.

Angela's form shook, her back facing me as she focused her attention on Edward and Seth, and from the way Edward stood, tense and ready to pounce as his eyes flickered from her to me, that's how he wanted it.

I frowned, glancing from her and back to him. He flicked his gaze back to me, reassuring, but I felt as if a gasp froze and lodged itself into my throat. The air was thickly tense, the roaring of the fire as it crackled and poped in the distance doing nothing to fill the edged silence.

I could feel it. The way her body tightened a little more...and a little more as each pop sounded, as if a clock ticking down the seconds. She was about to snap.

Then, as if reaching it's peek, Edward, he slowly took that tiny, almost unnoticeable step closer. It set her into motion.

With an enraged yell, she was a blur as she wildly aimed for Edward. He stooped, bracing for the impact. I closed my eyes and sent up a silent prayer.

"How could you!?" a deranged voice was howled into the wind, a scream i believe, forcing a growl from Seth's wolf as she impacted with Edward's form. And like with Victoria, an explosion of a crumbling moutain set off as their bodies seemed to tangle in a dangerous killer tango. The only sound coming from them being her enraged snarls and grunts at not being able to land a hit. At least I told myself that was what it was.

I slowly moved away from the tree, trying in vain to follow their blurring limbs when suddenly, Edward flew yards back into the snow. Angela was standing, as if in pain, before racing to his fallen form with crazed intent. I blinked. If I wasn't traumatized with fear, adrenaline, and muddled thoughts, and if she wasn't a vampire – I would have sworn she was crying. A crying, fighting angel. But it also could have been my poor human vision.

"Why did you kill him?! Couldn't you see that it was all Victoria?" she spat out Victoria's name as if it was the exact venom that dripped from her teeth, her sneakered foot coming down to smash in Edward's face but meeting snow as he appeared behind her, griping her body and snapping her head to the side as he readied to bite out her throat.

Seeing this, my eyes widened and it was as if his intentions finally sunk in. He's going to kill her… Before I knew what I was doing, I was frantically screaming, begging, demanding that it wouldn't end like this. "NO! DON'T!"

Pausing as my plea, Edward's face contorted with different expressions as he spared me a glance, flickering quickly as flipping page. I could only catch his bewilderment and pity before it settled on irritation. Jerking back and quickly releasing her, he carelessly kicked her forward, sending her flying into the snow yards away. I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding before being startled at the closeness of Edward's form, his face looming over mine. "How could you possibly not want me to kill her?" he asked incredulity, his accent flowing.

My stomach tousled in resent to his proximity as my mouth opened, nothing coming out as I struggled for my reasons. But how could I know?

But I realized that my reasons would have to wait as Edward turned with a low growl to face Angela. She stood, slightly crouched as she faced the both of us warily. She, again, looked like a lost child and my heart reached out to her as it reminded me that she knew nothing of what she was doing. Nothing of what could be done for her. "Edward, please…" I touched his back, wincing at the repulsiveness I felt at the contact. Silently asking to…oh I don't know. Not kill her? She was obviously tricked into all of this, right?

Edward shifted. "She's not who you think she is, Bella" he grounded out, not taking his eyes off her form.

I glanced at her, knowing this could be true. But I could only see her as Angela. My guilt sunk deeper. "Edward..." I plead softly.

"Fine." Edward sighed low enough for me to barely catch. "But no promises." He hissed before he stood to his full height, fully facing her.

"Listen," he spoke out calmly, trying to catch her eyes and hold it as she glanced cautiously from him to me over and over. Edward inched forward a little. In reply, she crouched a little, almost like a frightened animal.

Hey…where's Seth? The random thought flew through my mind and for a moment, I glanced around to approve that the sand colored wolf that was Seth was indeed gone. But I didn't have the chance to question his sudden absence as my attention was brought back to Edward and Angela.

"Riley was tricked into loving Victoria…" Edward began briefly, trying to get through to her now.

"He didn't love her!" Angela snapped, rebellious as she jerked forward. There was an odd glint her eyes as she continued to glare from me to Edward. Something was really off…

Edward paused, raising his hands. "Yes, foolishly, he did. He attacked." He tried to reason.

She merely hissed, her head snapping to him as her eyes focused solely on his, her pupils dilating. But as she did so, in a sudden rush, I was forcefully slammed back into the tree as the atmosphere seemed to dangerously shift, leaving me misplaced and out of breath as my mouth opened in a silent gasp. It was like an invisible force pressing in my chest and I clutched it to catch my breath, shakily peering up to see Edward's widened eyes. "Ed…" I rasped, worried at how he seemed to be in the same predicament, as if he was suddenly gripped tightly and unable to move. My eyes slowly moved to Angela, her eyes focussed intently on Edward, as if she was frozen with us, her eyes heavily glazed.

Was Angela doing this?

There were a few solid beats of a few seconds before the hold seem to suddenly loosen, allowing me to intake a rough gasp of air as the unseen force just melted away. Bringing my hands to my throat, I weakly gaped at Angela as she blinked, breaking eye contact before her head shook back and forth furiously as if breaking from a trance; her black tresses whipping like a dark halo around her.

"That – that's a lie!" her voice cracked, picking back up the conversation as if nothing transpired. "He would have changed – but you killed him!" she yelled in defiance, her voice strengthening once more as her eyes narrowed at him. But now, she seemed more confused than before.

My legs, numb, wavered under my weight as I braced myself against the tree, still trying to catch my breath. Wondering what it was that she had just done, if it was a gift, and if so, what the hell was it?

"You're just confused. We can help you." Edward spoke in a voice that deeply spooked me. But I kept my eyes attached to Angela, not daring to move again. I could waste a lot of time questioning and wondering on how exactly this came to be. If she even remembered me and understood a portion of everything I was faced with. But with the fact that I was a human with blood that she fed off of, the fact that she was a wild newborn and could probably care less of who her next meal was – kept me quiet and faintly hoping that I could make it out of this alive.

But then, my bad luck coming into play, a soft breeze wisped through the trees, through my hair, across my skin – right into her.

The effect was immediate. With speed that rivaled Edward's Angela turned, her scarlet eyes lustrous as they widened, zeroing in on my arm as they darkened with thirst. They practically read: KILL.

It was as if ice was poured down my back as I remembered too late: the gash on my arm.

The same gash that was dripping crimson blood onto the snow beneath us. The same blood that drove every newborn here today.

Well, shit.

Angela was launching at me again like a wild animal. My mind raced, my heart screeching in my chest as I felt my legs finally give out and I desperatly dove to the left. Her nails swiped my cheek as I crumpled into the snow with a grunt, my lungs feeling like a scorching cabob while I dared not to question how I miraculously dodged that blow.

Edward had spun and desperatly grabbed her a moment late, slinging her off with all that he had before she could make another swipe at me. She soared through the air as he turned, dropping in front of me as he checked my face with a look of remorse. "I'm sorry" he breathed lowly, his face telling he couldn't believe that he allowed it to happen, that he did it. Bringing up a hand to touch me, he hesitated, letting it hover a mere inch away before lettting it drop.

I quickly shook my head, too shaken to speak. But damn if I didn't try. "N-n-not yo-ur-ur f-fault." I gazed up into his eyes to get my point across as I tried best as I could to breathe correctly. He didn't argue, but his eyes shown that he clearly thought otherwise.

Then, his head abruptly snapping to the right, he hissed threateningly and moved to rise but my hand automatically shot out to stop him. "Don't" I whispered firmly.

His jaw tightened. But his hiss was surprisingly enough, Angela had completely paused her descent. Blinking, as if pulling from a hex, her eyes lightened back into its bright redden depths that they were before, her face blanked.

It wasn't a mere second later that her line of vision focused on Edward, her face contorting into anguish. "You killed him!" she screamed. Again.

Whoa, okay, confusion at its best here.

"Uh, Edward…?" I questioned lowly, not taking my eyes off of her.

But I went unheard as he watched her closely, crouching to carefully block me from view. "It's not how you see it." He spoke in the same strange tone he used moments before.

"He wasn't going to hurt anyone!" she bit back. Her eyes now glossy with tears that would never fall.

Seriously, was she ignoring me? And nuts as a free throw in? A newborn that suddenly wasn't raging with thirst? Was a vampire's thirst something that came and went or what? I must be missing something here because this was just past bazar - not that i'm complaining.

"He was going to leave, both of us, after Victoria was through with her…her sick game!" she tossed her head carelessly at me but her eyes remained on Edward.

Ok, so she knows that I'm here. Hm, I'm guessing my scent and blood doesn't bother her…? I slowly stood, careful of my footing as Edward motioned me to stay back.

"All that you know is a lie. Riley and Victoria both used you, just as much as she used him alone. Riley didn't love you, Victoria didn't love him."

My face twisted in incredulity. Love? So Angela loved Riley? How!? What happened to the whole never fall for the kidnapper thing? He couldn't have corrupted her mind that much. She was a smart girl regardless. Unless… was she even kidnapped? How did this all fall to? Was this even Angela? The confusion cloud was just escalating.

Angela bucked forward in anger, I jumped, snapped from my thoughts. "SHUT IT! You don't know! You don't know anything!" but she sounded unsure of herself.

Edward took another small step forward. "I do know. I read their minds. I can read your mind. It was all a scam. They used you." he spoke evenly.

Angela took a slow step back, her red orbs apprehensive, refusing to believe his words. "N-no…No, he was my everything. He saved me. He cared about me." She spoke it with an abnormal tone, like a mantra that she memorized and constantly said over and over.

Well that said a lot. He really lied and manipulated her, BIG time.

"You don't have to do this." Edward coated softly. "I can help you..."

But she only pulled from whatever place she was pulled into and glowered at him. "I lost him because of some girl!" she raged, her eyes flickering to me, the sight of them sending shivers down my spine.

Her eyes then stayed locked on mine, her face melting into the unreadable.

And i couldn't help but think that I had no idea Angela was capable of such creepy expressions.

"Tell me," her voice was terrifyingly calm as she studied me, her face slowly twisting in a familar way of thought as she spoke solely to Edward. "Why…why do you protect her?" she questioned lowly, turning to face Edward again with a forming frown. "Why do you protect this human?" for a fleeting moment, she seemed genwinely curious. But her eyes flashed to him and her lips dug into a scowl. "To keep her blood to yourself?" she spat.

Edward flinched.

Uh oh.

"NO!" he hissed, moving to block vision of me again.

"Then why!?" she screamed.

I've had enough. It's not that I wasn't still shaken with a newborn only a few feet away, but she was a friend. She was Angela. That was the difference. I breathed deeply to calm my shaking nerves (no help) before I moved from behind Edward. "Angela," I carefully leveled my voice. "What…what happened to you?" I questioned as bravely as I could, going on a limb and hoping she won't transform into a thirst driven monster again.

Her head immediately whirled to me and Edward placed a hand out in front of me, ready to defend any attack she may make this time. "I'm not this An-gel-a you speak of, human." She spat acridly.

I was stunned silent, confused wasn't even the word anymore. I was pretty sure this was Angela. Can she not even remember her name? I was once told by Alice that once changed, she had forgotten all from her human life. Was Angela suffering the same? Is that how Riley manipulated her so easily?

Well it sure would explain a lot…

So in this case, I was a strange human girl with good smelling blood and was the reason some strange amber eyed vampire snatched away a love who didn't reciprocate her feelings and lied and manipulated her to think and believe whatever it is that she does and now she really do want to kill me and not just follow orders. So practically, an eye for an eye and Victoria all over again.

Great…

I turned to the newborn – not An-gel-a – to see that her eyes were locked on Edward again, both stock still as if trying to peer into the other's remaining soul. It was brief before she pressed her eyes closed and looked away to me again. I frowned. Her eyes narrowed. But I didn't give a damn, I didn't like that look she gave him one bit. She turned her attention back to Edward, as if dismissing me. I scowled. Maybe I should let Edward kill her if she obviously wasn't my school friend.

"I don't know what that was, and I still don't know why a coven of vampires would protect a measly human, but I think I understand…" she spoke calmly, her eyes flickering between Edward and me.

What the hell was she talking about?

Her head tilted. "Tell me, Edward." She tested his name leisurely, sounding beautiful coming from her lips. I didn't like it. "What is a… a singer..?"

"Nothing" Edward's voice quickly overrode hers.

I glanced at Edward then Ange – um, I mean the newborn. My focus more on her. What was going on?

"Bella, love, get back." Edward spoke gently, his gaze remaining warily on her as her eyes slowly narrowed in question, a small scowl marrying her face.

I frowned, opening my mouth to object when I heard a familiar wolf's howl…

Ba-thump

At the same time, my heart seemed to ring like an overbearing base in my ears as a shooting pain wrenched through my chest. I grunted at the sudden pain, clutching my chest as I was forced to bend over with a startled gasp of pain. But even as this was happening, my mind was spinning as I understood what was happening now.

A pack member was coming. And it sounded like Jake.

"Bella…" Edward placed his arm out for me to grip onto as I slowly stood, wincing at the feeling of the contact and pain in my chest before I hastily turned to find Angela's form as she gazed attentively into the trees.

And as realization hit, my stomach dropped. Angela was a vampire, a newborn, and a wolf was coming – no, Jake was coming.

My stomch dropped lower at this realization:

Jake was going KILL her.

My head whirled to Angela. She simply stood, confusion etched onto her face at the sound. "Get out of here!" I panicked.

She turned to me with a scowl. "No, I have some unfinished business." She retorted leisurely, her eyes starting to dilate.

I gave her an incredulous look. Did the change make her stupid too?! I don't care that she is a memory lost, bloodsucking newborn that was just trying to kill me and was giving Edward gooey eyes. She was a friend in her past life and – to me – she was one in this one. God we didn't have time for the extra bull-shit!

Ba-thump

"Ugh!" I jerked and clutched my chest again, something in the back of my mind telling me that something was nearing the small clearing, and fast.

I grunted, panting as I glanced at the surrounding trees, my panic rising. Wolves were nearly as fast as vampires, especially Jake and Leah.

Oh God, please don't let that be Leah.

"Please! You're in danger! Something is coming for you and if you don't leave now, they'll KILL you!" I practically begged Angela to leave, as crazy as that was. But as I've said, I didn't care. I couldn't bare to see her die, not when I knew who she once was.

Angela frowned, her eyes wary as she contemplated if I was possibly lying or not. "Why do you care?" she asked finally.

I heard a resounding growl. My eyes widened. "THERE'S NO TIME! If you can locate me later, I'll tell you!" I glanced at the canopy of trees again. I forgot how inquisitive Angela could be. Right now, it was the only thing that connected her to her human life – and it was working my last nerve while her added stubbornness irritated me beyond imaginable at this moment.

I was jerked around to face an incredulous looking Edward. "Bella are you insane!?" he hissed.

I scowled and impatiently jerked away. Yea, ask me something I don't know.

Angela gazed at me too, as if I was insane to tell a vampire to come back for me, especially if said vampire's sole existence was to kill me.

And yeah, yeah I agreed with everyone, everything, and a passing deer who believe that I am. I accepted that I was indeed that insane person already. But if a friend you knew was changed into a vampire suffered from memory loss and was about to be torn limb from limb by a wolf that you knew – what would you do?

Well, I'm doing the opposite.

Angela glanced at a suddenly silent Edward before her eyes studied me again. "You are a strange human girl…"

Just as she said this, a previously missing, familiar, tan blur burst from the tree line and shot like a bullet, heading straight for Angela as a feral growl reverberated through the air.

My eyes widened, a gasp sharply stopping in my throat. "Seth, NO!" I screamed a second too late.

But Angela merely smirked as her body's outline shimmered before she dissolved into mid-air. Not even a millisecond later, Seth's wolf form whizzed through the space she was standing in, coming up empty handed before skidding to a halt more than a few feet away.

I breathed deeply, my heart pounding as my eyes searched the surrounding area, but I couldn't find a thing.

Did she..?

"She got away, Bella." Edward spoke softly, so low that I had to strain to hear.

I sighed in overbearing relief, sure that the fact of Angela being a vampire – being practically a stranger to me and dead to others – will full most hit me later. I sagged in against Edward's form, yet again ignoring the repulsive twist in my gut at the contact.

"You okay Bells?" Seth's voice brought my attention to him, thankful that he had on his cut offs.

I nodded. "Yea." I then stood, glancing around again. "Yea, I'm fine…"

"You're bleeding" he stated, pointly disagreeing.

I turned to Seth to see that he was eyeing the fine scratch marks on my cheek with a frown. He gave me a questioned look similar to one that Charlie would give me. I raised a brow. "Yea…" I retorted, crossing my arms. "That tends to happen to humans when skin is damaged." I replied, narrowing my eyes slightly and daring him to continue looking like that.

He rolled his eyes then gave me a different look. "Yea, but how did it happen?" he pressed rather sarcastically.

"Don't matter, I'm alive, drop it." I threw back dismissively as I turned to Edward only for him to silently scrutinize the scratches too. I sighed. "I'm fine. It wasn't your fault." I reassured gently as he peered down at me, bringing a hand up to gently brush my uninjured cheek. I closed my eyes against the frost bitten feeling as my mind hazed slightly. "So…uh" I cleared my throat, opening my eyes and pulling away from Edward to look at Seth, only to find him gazing into the distance.

"So Seth," I started, causing him to turn to look at me with attention. "When we were…um…talking to uh…Angela." Her name was like lead on my tongue now. "I looked up and you were gone." I finished thickly.

Seth broke eye contact and looked way.

My brows furrowed and I moved to peer into his face. "Why?" I questioned.

He turned to study a tree, rolling his tongue in his mouth as he shrugged. "I was doing a check in with the pack. I sensed something lurking right outside this clearing."

My mouth opened to form an "o" as I nodded and studied the ground. Was it the beautiful woman I saw? "Oh…" was all I could say before pressing my lips together. Were the pack okay? Was…Jake okay?

Seth sighed. "It's Jake."

At hearing his name, my head snapped up in reply, my stomach seeming to roll around. Was he here? How – no, why…?

Seth glanced at me and smiled a bit. "No, but he's near here." He answered my silent question. He turned and focused on something I couldn't see beyond the tree line. Then he frowned. "I still smell traces of him." He explained. "But he's heading back towards the clearing it seems."

My brows furrowed. But why was he...?But another thought overlapped the first. My eyes widened. Angela! Did Jake find her? I whirled to face Edward for answers. He was already gazing into the distance as Seth was. "He's chasing someone…he believes it's the newborn who attacked you." he filled in.

I breathed with relief for Angela. But then the meaning of his words sunk in and I perked up in wonder. "It isn't?" I questioned. If not Angela, then who?

Edward shook his head. "No. Her skin is darker than the skin tone our newborn had."

"Darker..?" I repeated. Like Lauron maybe?

Edward pulled from his trance to focus on me. And as I gazed at him, I felt a sense of the absolute unknown. It was something in his eyes, something I've never seen before, something I felt that clipped a portioned peace of mind from me. I took an involuntary step back. But he blinked and it was gone. I frowned. What did that mean?

Edward eyed me strangly for a second. Then, he sighed. "Picture Seth's skin – but paler." He replied, his lips quirking up at the small joke attempt. But at his suggestion, my frown deepened and my stomach soured at the thought that someone else I cared about could change so drastically.

My mouth thinned as I nodded, and quickly decided to divert the subject. But he beat me to it.

Edward briskly turned to Seth. "Seth, why don't you head to the clearing, the battle has neared its end and they're all just cleaning up the mess now."

Seth met his gaze and held it, as if having a conversation I was completly out on. Seth slowly blinked. "So it's finished." He stated, with it, he suddenly looked tired and older than he was.

I glanced from Seth to Edward, the meaning of their words sinking in. Realizing, I gaped at Edward. "We – we won?"

Edward gave a weak smile. "More or less"

"Really Bells, such ye little faith in the wolf spirits?" Seth smirked with a soft chuckle.

But I wasn't relieved just yet. I turned to Edward. "What about Angela?"

"Angela?" Seth questioned, lost now.

I turned to him. "Um, I knew her. She went to my school. She was the newborn you tried to attack." I drawled as guilt began to fill me again. Will I ever see her again? The Angela I once knew?

Reading my thoughts through my face expression, (the closest he could ever get to actually reading my mind) Edward shook his head. "Angela, isn't what you remember her as anymore, Bella" he spoke lowly, crushing any hope that the sweet, caring, human Angela I knew still existed.

I tried to absorb this fact, but it just didn't. "So, Angela is…gone." I choked on the last word.

Edward shook his head. "Yes…and no."

I looked to him to elaborate. He sighed. "I'll explain later. But as for now, we should be joining the others." He looked past me to Seth. "I can handle it from here now. You can head home."

But Seth didn't budge. I turned to peer at him only to see him gazing boldly at Edward, passive and unmoved as he merely shifted to his other foot.

My brows furrowed, and I gave him a quizzical look. "Seth?" I called. He was acting as if Edward was suddenly a rogue vampire that he just met.

Edward chuckled humorlessly. "Well, suddenly, he doesn't want to leave you with me. He thinks that I've hurt you enough." He gestured to my wounds and the sure bruise on my side that was hidden under my clothes.

I glanced at Edward incredulity before turning back to Seth. "What? Seth, none of this was his fault." I scoffed. Even if some things were iffy, I still wasn't going to throw the blame on Edward. This entire thing was because of me, right?

Seth crossed his arms and gave me a look that was similar to Jacob's when he thought my defense was misplaced while sarcastically stating 'Yeah, right' as if he saw right through me. My eyes narrowed, growing a little ticked. "If I remember, you were the one to cause the bruise." I stated. He winced, his arms dropping. "The others were placed solely on me." I gestured to myself.

Seth glanced from me to Edward then back to me before sighing, appearing scolded and a little hurt. Yes, I felt a twinge of guilt for my words, but he had no right to blame Edward.

Seth blew out, dragging a hand through his cropped hair. "Look, I'm sorry. I was told by Jake to keep you protected and..." He glanced at Edward. "I didn't mean to offend." He glanced back at me, his voice showing a true sign of hurt feelings. I suddenly felt worse. "But it would seem I can't even do that." He spoke lowly, appearing as if he felt worthless. Okay, now I felt like complete crap. He turned, "See you later Bells." he mumbled lowly as he raced off into the trees, heading back home, as ordered.

"No, Seth…" I tried to call after him, but he was gone.

My shoulders slumped. A boy that was just worrying over my wellbeing and what do I do? Make him feel like a failure. Nice going Swan. I sighed and yanked a hand through my hair. I'll have to remember to apologize later. Turning, I faced the reason I stepped into all of this chaos. I breathed in and released a breath. But I promised a fight, right?

I stepped closer, pausing at feeling a rush of electric that seemed to surround us. My mind blanked for a moment and I blinked to see clearly. Once I could see again, I noticed that Edward was gazing at me as if I was something from another world revealed to him. But then he blinked and he focused on me again, appearing normal.

I cocked my head slightly, smiling awkwardly. That was new, and off throwing. "You, uh, you felt that too, right?" I asked hesitantly.

Edward gave a quizzical look, smirking slightly. "You mean the feeling of relief that the suicidal girl I'm dangerously in love with won't be eaten anytime soon?"

I sighed and smiled, glad for the ice breaker as I rolled my eyes at his teasing. It wasn't as comfortable as before, but it was a start. "Sure, sure. So glad that I haven't turned into a Bella meal." I replied lamely.

Edward chuckled, and this time, it was more genuine. Walking closer, he peered down at me, the electric atmosphere between us multiplying to a level that I felt faint. Should I be worried? I gazed up into his face. God he was beautiful.

He smirked again, his hand catching mine as he slowly peered down, bringing my hand up before scrutinizing the wound on my arm. "Let's do something about this." He stated softly as he ripped a long strip off the bottom of my shirt and used it to gently wrap the cut.

I gazed in wonder as he worked, appearing completely calm and unaffected by the blood. "It doesn't bother you?" I breathed as I gazed up into his eyes, wincing as he applied pressure.

Finishing, he met my gaze, his gentle and amused. Though there was a flicker of something else that loomed beneath that also caught my attention. But my mind couldn't form any questions, hazzing as he loomed impossibly closer. "Not ever since I thought I lost you." he replied thickly, his accent running beautifully off his tongue.

I gazed at him for a moment, nothing worth saying coming to mind. I felt myself getting lost in his gaze. I felt my eyes closing as his face loomed closer…

Bella…

I jolted back, swallowing a surprised shreek. That… that was Jacob's voice! I glanced around, my heart accelerating as I worried that he was here, watching. But at seeing nothing, I slumped, feeling idiotic. Was I imagining things? My lips dug into a frown. Is he okay? According to Seth and Edward, he was in the woods. Alone. Chasing a vampire that I had the sneaky suspescion wasn't a newborn.

My worry began to grow. That means she was a vampire with experience. Jacob has never taken on one single handedly, has he? Wasn't it always as a pack?

Oh my God...

"Are you alright?" Edward's voice assaulted my thoughts, his voice once again like a faraway call.

"Jake" I breathed shakily. That bad feeling returning to the pit of my stomach. A feeling that something bad was about to happen.

"What?" Edward probed.

I mentally shook from my stupor and looked up at Edward, seeing his distaste and question in his frown and eyes. I physically shook my head. "No, it's – um…" my lips thinned as I racked my mind for a reasonable explanation to give. But other than admitting being insane, I came up blank. I turned away. "We need to get back." I answered quickly, shuffling to the tree line. We needed to get back now.

"Bella" Edward called out.

My feet came to a stop as I squeezed my eyes shut, praying he wouldn't question it right now. I was already emotionally strained, mentally loaded, and physically tired. This day was packed with so much. I just wanted to get back to the others, make sure they're safely waiting and thank them before going home and surrendering to the comforter of sleep. Then tomorrow, I'll deal with the mess. Call me a coward, but I'd like to see you go through this on a daily bases and have enough energy to fix everything you twisted and ruined.

But Edward said nothing more, carefully maneuvering me onto his back.

"So, it's really over with, huh?" I tried to devert my shaken nerves.

He stood and made sure I was comfortable. "Yes, Bella. The battle is over." he replied generously.

I waited with baited breath for him to continue.

"Everyone is fine, Bella." He reassured with an overdone sigh.

Fine. That means everyone was ok. That means Jacob was fine. So I should stop worrying...

I rolled my eyes and smacked his shoulder, resulting in a chuckle from him as he pretended to flinch away. I smiled before sighing and slumping against his neck, yet unable to breathe him in. I should finally be able to relax, thankful that everything went smoothly. that Jacob – and the others – were okay.

But that gut feeling didn't go away. And lounging in the back of my mind, I knew. Something has changed, something drastic, and it was more than me, Jake, Edward, or even Angela. It was something deeper and it held the power to terrify.

But as of now, I just chose not to awknowlage it. Maybe never.

"Ready?" Edward's velvety voice flowed into my ears.

I closed my eyes and nodded, pulling myself closer as Edward carried me towards those I kind of saw as my two families... Yea, that's how i saw them, and I needed to see them.

"And Bella?" Edward spoke up.

"Hm?" I hummed, loving the wind brushing past my face and through my hair.

"You're insane." He deadpanned, his words holding layer after layer of meaning.

I opened my eyes and was stuck by the surroundings. Strangely, I wasn't afraid. After spending days, weeks, months being afraid then enduring second after second on death's door step - I couldn't be. The scenery was beautiful. I smiled in reply to Edward's words, swallowing this unusual urge to yelp into the wind, to somehow show that - for this moment - I was grateful to be alive. What did I hate about this again? Is this was Jake meant? Though I'm sure this has nothing on what he experiences.

"I know" I breathed in reply to his words, the rush I was getting making me grin like an idiot.

It wasn't something only a rocket scientist could figure out. I was simply insane – for those I cared for.

Okay! That was the eight chapter and the ninth is quickly coming to wrap this plot bump up. I tell you, I love writing, but this can drain a gal. lol. But any who, please click the review box below so I can get my writing boast to continue. Or I shall never write again….

Psh! Like I'd stop writing because of that. Lol But guys, I gave you these because I'm in training and I'm going to be a bit busy. (sorry THIS took so long! *sweat drop* ) But let me know what you think, kay?

Smooches!

Till next time my little newborns and pups!

~Lilmama