In honor of the new year, I'm updating my story and am currently in the process of typing the next one. Also, since I was away visiting my mom and brothers (and they have no internet) i had plenty of time to write the chapters. I think I deserve at least ten reviews because...I lost my cell phone in Philly. And my Twilight Movie Companion book got Loganberry (the pop we bought back from N.Y.) all over it (along with Revelations and Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz that were also Christmas presents) and they are totally unreadable. *sniff*

Disclaimer: Do you think anybody will notice that I whited-out my name and changed it to Stephenie Meyer? "Hello? Renee? Yeah, it's Bee, your sister's daughter. I need to come to Phoenix…Why? Because I'm the last Powers heir…Yeah, they're gone…No longer than a year. Then I'll move in with Charlie."

There was a silence as the sound of my voice faded into the darkness.

Edward hesitated before he spoke. "And then what happened?"

"I stayed outside, watching the house burn and the people inside along with it. I waited until the police came and I left. They later contacted Renee and told her that two bodies were missing: mine and one of my brothers. That made me a bit unsettled, but they automatically assumed that we had gotten the worst of it and had turned to ashes.

"Anyways, when I arrived at Renee's, I was so mad and depressed. Imagine, only two family members left and you haven't seen them since you were six. Well, technically Renee is my real step-aunt; Charlie is a good friend of my mom's. But still, I was welcomed. I stayed there from September until the end of December, and I would have stayed longer, but something happened."

"What?" he inquired.

"Renee's daughter disappeared. I was in the shower when I heard some heavy thudding and then…nothing. Naturally, I hurried downstairs, dreading what I knew I would see. Just as I thought, Shia wasn't there. The only thing I didn't expect was the writing on the wall in blood; Shia's I'm pretty sure. It said, 'So the game continues. You hide, I'll seek'."

Wait, I have to go watch the ball drop…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! LET 2009 BEGIN! BRING IT ON BABY! Ok, on with the story.

"So I called up Charlie, and told him that I would be coming early. Strangely enough, he already knew. It's like the killer already called him and, disguised as Renee, told him I was coming. Either that or she was really sending me there sooner than planned. In either case, I packed up my stuff and left."

"And that's it?" Edward asked.

"Yeah, that's it," I whispered.

"Bella," Edward said fiercely and I looked at him with surprise. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. I swear I will find this evil man and-," he stopped.

"Rip him to shreds?" I finished wearily.

Edward only clenched his jaw and tightened his hands on the steering wheel.

"Alright," I said after a moment of silence. "Enough about me. It's your turn. What's your story?"

"My-my family and I, we're different from others," he started hesitantly. "We're different from most of our kind."

"And by 'most of our kind', you mean vampires, right?"

Edward drew in a deep breath at my casual use of the word.

"Yes," Edward said, but stopped again.

"So how old are you?" I asked.

"Seventeen."

"How long have you been seventeen?"

He paused.

"A while."

"Okay," I smiled. "At least we're getting somewhere."

Edward glowered at me.

"Oh come on," I laughed. "I know you guys don't sleep in coffins of get burned by the sun or any of that stuff but I have to know everything.

"Besides," I teased. "I was starting to feel like that guy, Louis, off of Interview with the Vampire, telling my life story."

"So are you afraid or fascinated?" Edward asked.

"Both," I answered softly.

"Why are you afraid? Is it because of what I eat?" Edward's voice was loud and angry. I flinched back from the unexpected harshness of his tone.

"No, I-,"

"Or are you afraid because I'm a monster; a killer!" Edward practically shouted.

"NO!" I screamed. "I'M ONLY AFRAID OF LOSING YOU LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, DAMMIT! I ALREADY KNOW YOU DRINK ANIMAL BLOOD!"

It was reeeaaalllyyy quiet then.

"Never say that," Edward whispered.

"What?" I was confused.

"NEVER SAY THAT!" Edward roared and I flinched back again.

This time, I turned my head to face the window; we were just entering Forks. I was still staring out the window when something happened: the back of my throat started to fell all prickly and I had a hard time swallowing. When my eyes started to tingle, I figured it out: I was crying.

"Oh my gosh," I whispered as I reached up and touched the tears that had started rolling down my face.

Alright, I know some of you are probably thinking, Why is she fascinated by her own tears? but what you don't seem to realize is that the last tears ( or tear, I should say) I shed was at the cemetery and that was only one. Not since Birmingham. Not since the fire…

"Bella, I-," Edward started to reach out to me, but stopped. "I truly am sorry."

I smiled slightly at that because I realized that he wasn't just apologizing for the words that had made me cry. And just like that, everything was fine.

Over the next couple of minutes home, I asked him question after question:

Why did he hunt animals? ("I don't want to be a monster," He replied, voice low.) Where was he these past couple of days? ("I was hunting with Emmett, but I didn't want to leave," he admitted sheepishly.) Why didn't he want to leave the hunt? ("It makes me… anxious…to be away from you," his eyes were soft as he said this.) Was he not in school because of the sun? ("Yeah," Edward paused. "I'll show you sometime.") Why didn't he call me and tell me he was back?! ("I knew you were safe," Edward was a little confused.)

"Thanks for the ride," I said as Edward pulled up in front of my house.

I was just about to get out of the car when I remembered that I had to ask him something very crucial.

"Heeeeey, Edwaaaard," I said slowly as i turned to him.

"Yes?" He asked curiously.

"Well," I looked down at my lap, a little embarrassed. "Remember that first day of school when you were being a total grouch-pants-butt-head?"

Edward raised a perfect eyebrow at my definition of his "killer" mood, but only nodded.

"Funny story see," I coughed nervously. "Ya know how, in the parking lot, I was looking at your car? Well I- you see, my dream has always been to drive my dream car and-," I paused, even more nervous now.

Edward's eyebrows lowered in suspicion now. Yup, he's definitely catching on; better hurry up and say it…

"CanIdriveyourcarbecauseI'vealwayswantedtodriveanS60RVolvoandthatwouldtotallybeadreamcometrue!" I said all in one breath. (Translation: "Can I drive your car because I've always wanted to drive an S60RVolvo and that would totally be a dream come true!")

Edward sighed, then said, "On one condition."

"Yes!" I practically jumped out of my seat from excitement. "I'll do anything you ask! Promise! Scouts honor!"

"Good," Edward's eyes glinted mischievously. "There are three things you must do. And please don't take this the wrong way; I don't mean to hurt you. First, I want you to make a list comparing your old self and how you are now. After you really think about the changes, I would like to see it. Second and I know this is asking even more, but I want to experience the old you for at LEAST one day. Finally," Edward grinned wickedly. "I'll be picking you up tomorrow morning at 7:30 for school."

I nodded at the first one, cringed at the second, and almost had a heart attack at the third.

"You're-you're d-driving me to s-school tomorrow?" I sputtered.

"Nope," Edward said as he reached over and opened my door. "You are."

I climbed out of the car in a daze. Then, reality hit me and I started spinning around in the grass. I'm gonna drive the AWESOMEST CAR (Sorry baby, I thought to my new Mercedes.) in the UNIVERSE!

I was still spinning when I slipped on the always-wet grass and was ready to have a good hinny soak in the tub later-

when two strong arms caught me.

"Phew," I blew out a deep breath as I looked at my savoir. "That was a close one. Thanks ol' chum."

Edward grinned his crooked smile at my British accent.

"Goodnight Bella," His breath blew in face as he set me upright.

"Sweet dreams!" I called back and I heard him chuckle as I made my way up to the front door.