----*----

Time went by. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. My cast came off. October, November, and December passed without incident, or words. Bella remained silent, dead to the world. As the New Year turned, I went to Charlie. "Dad, Bella needs help."

"I know, sweetie. I called your mother. We're sending her to Jacksonville." He wrapped an arm around me. "I know the two of you have never been apart…"

I thought for a moment. What would I do if Bella was put in a hospital? I shook my head and closed my eyes. Without meaning to, I played the last few moments of Nate's life over in my head. "No," I said aloud. "I will not let that happen to Izzy." I started to cry. "I'd rather never see her again, than let her—" I couldn't let myself finish the thought, let alone the sentence.

"May, baby, don't cry," Charlie comforted me. "We will not let that happen to Bella. I promise. We'll do what ever we have to to help her. Even if she doesn't want the help. Shush, she's going to be okay."

Before that moment, I wasn't too big on being comforted. Even, as my father failed to calm my fears, I wanted to scream. I couldn't take it anymore. They were trying to do what worked for me. The only thing that would work for Bella was him, and only I knew it.

----*----

I jumped at the sound of Charlie's fist pounding on the table. "You. Need. Help," he told Bella slowly.

My sister mumbled an unintelligible response. She probably thought she'd been so good at fooling us. I wondered why we handled the pain so differently. When Francisco got out of control, I joined him. When they moved me, I went along with it. Everything turned out for the better. Bella would probably never be better. At least, not completely.

It was like Bella had a hole in her. A hole shaped like him. Someone could try to fill it, but it would never be filled, just temporarily sewn shut. Something would always be there to remind her of him. The house had become eerily quiet. I didn't dare play my viola or even to sing. Bella's books lay untouched on the desk beside the rarely used computer. My nights were accompanied by the screams inside Bella's nightmares. It affected my sleep. I slept on the couch nearly every night just to lessen the effect of the noise.

"Don't you see?" Charlie was asking her. "Do you know what this is going to Liza? Do you want to turn out like Nathan Green?"

That hit me in the chest. I remembered the faint dream the night they found us in the forest. Bella standing on the edge of a cliff, about to jump. Is that her future was about to come to? Would we fail?

"FINE, DAD!" Bella screamed, slamming something. "MAYBE I'LL MAKE PLANS WITH JESS TONIGHT! I'LL BE HOME LATE!" She paused to take a breath. "NO, MAYBE I WON'T BE HOME AT ALL!"

When I came down stairs, Charlie was shaking his head. "May, I'm sorry."

"I know, Dad. So am I."

----*----

That morning, I watched Bella from a distance. We were both the first ones to get to school. I sat cross-legged on the hood of the Renault, humming my newest tune.

"You're singing again," Titus commented, sitting beside me. "It's pretty." He hadn't spoken to me since that day.

"You're speaking to me? I'm so honored." I stood, and pulled my bag out of the car. "Finally gotten your head out of your arse, Lyons?"

He gently grabbed my arm. His eyes were wide with alarm. "Liza, I don't get it."

"Of course not," I hissed. "You're the reason I saw Nate die, Lyons. You're the reason I hate myself. What's not to get?" I started walking to Gym.

"My dad told me what happened the day you broke your ankle."

That got my attention. I'd nearly forgotten the fact that I had run from the classroom. "Yeah, so?" It was hard to act apathetic.

He struggled for the right words. "Liza, I've—I haven't—I'm—" He reached for my hand. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Yeah and I'm the reincarnate of Mary, Queen of Scots." I gave an emotionless laugh. "Give up."

"No," he reached for my hand. "Never. I'm not going back down from this, or you." His face neared mine. "Please, give me another chance."

I actually began to think. My first thought was 'Hell no!', but I looked closer. His eyes were puffy and swollen, as if he had been crying. "Titus, I'm sorry. I guess I don't get you either. We went to fast. Maybe, we can try again."

The words had barely left my mouth, when his face lit up. "Ducky, you don't realize how much I've missed you." He kissed my cheek and ran off.

----*----

"You and the Lion trying again?" Jess asked me later, picking Bella up to go to a movie in Port Angeles. "Is MisFire making a comeback?"

"Saying as we're missing a member, no. I think you of all people would remember that."

As she walked away, I heard her whisper, "Emo chick."

I hissed and ran up stairs. It was hard to keep myself in check when I was around the gossip queen. I fell on the bedroom floor, crying. "DAMN! WHY WON'T ANYONE LET ME MOVE ON!?!"

Charlie sat down beside me. "Why is there a loose floor board down here?" he asked, trying to distract me from my pain. He pulled it the rest of the way off.

I looked in. An addressed and stamped envelope for Renée, sat on top of some pictures, and my new viola case. "It looks like our birthday gifts."

"What are they doing down there?" He pulled the viola out. "The Cullens got you a new viola?"

"Yeah. I guess," I answered, "that Bella's trying to forget him. Make it like he never existed. I didn't realize it was down there."

"Was she really that in love with him?" Charlie asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

"I think 'obsessed' would be the better word, Dad. They seemed to hurt when they weren't together. It was getting awkward."

He nodded. "You think she's better off without him?" he asked.

"I hope so, Dad. I really hope so."