A/N: I have a pet. For people who want to know what it is, pick one of the following:

Tiger. (Hey, you never know, right? Plus my mom could cook steak for him.)

Rabbit. (Cute, furry… cue the "Aww!")

Mammoth. (Wouldn't fit in the apartment… how cares? Except the landlord of course… *snort*)

Cat. (Puurrrrrrr…)

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Maximum Ride, okay? I get it already. Back off.

Chapter Six—BPOV

Okay, so you're a genetically mutated freak with wings and vampires—that have just discovered that you have wings—surround you. What do you do? No clue? Well, that makes two of us. In any case, I was pretty sure that this was a lose-lose situation.

"U-umm…" I stuttered but another burning pain went through my wings and I flinched, looking downward.

The needle was still stuck in my arm.

What did Ari even stick in me? Poison? I wondered. I don't really want to die.

Adrenaline washed through me at the though of going down just because Ari stuck a needle in my arm. If there was one thing I was not going to do, it was die before I had found the Flock.

I shuddered as the pain rippled through me again.

Bella, do something, I commanded myself. Ignore the pain. It's just a message and right now you're ignoring all calls.

"My arm," I hissed furiously. "There's a needle in my arm. Get it out of my arm." A/N: Bananavamp thought of this line. I thought it was really good and she let me use it. Thanks. :D All credit goes to her.

The Cullens didn't react, still staring at my wings.

I made a one-second decision. You know, the kind of ones where your brain isn't working at the time.

I let out a breath and in one swift movement, pulled the needle out of my arm.

Forgetting that vampires surrounded me. Yeah, my bad.

A tiny splotch of red liquid spread over my skin right where the needle had been. Edward's eyes darkened but stayed topaz—sort of. Jasper started growling.

Alice was the first to react. She ran—still at human speed, might I add—over to Jasper and laid a hand on his arm, forcing his eyes to look into hers.

I sighed, wondering where all of my strength had gone. But deciding that I could get away, I flipped myself out of Edward's arms, tumbling a few feet away awkwardly.

"Bella," he gasped.

The other Cullens whirled to face me as my name fell from Edward's lips.

I felt regret wash through me at thought of what I was about to do. I had to get away though.

"Regret?" murmured Jasper wonderingly, glancing sharply at me. Alice stood by him but her eyes were unfocused, her expression vague. It looked like she was miles away.

I wanted to ask what was wrong but I strengthened my resolve.

"Get away from me," I whispered lowly, dreading what I was going to say next. "Bloodsuckers."

I didn't want to see their expressions; I whirled and ran. I knew they would've caught up to me in a second but they were still in shock over what I had said.

And they probably thought I hated them now.

Bloodsuckers, I had called them.

So if they didn't think that I hated them they probably hated me now.

JPOV (Jasper's POV 'cause he has something to say)

I watched as Bella whirled and fled, the word 'bloodsuckers' still ringing in my ears.

She knew what we were… my body instinctively tensed at the fact.

Was she a threat to us? I wondered.

A strong burst of emotion from Edward made my head whip around, cutting off my thoughts. Self-loathing,

"She's right," he hissed. "That's all we are: bloodsuckers."

"Son," Carlisle stepped forward. "I—"

"Edward," I interrupted Carlisle, nodding in apology to him. He acknowledged it and I continued.

"I felt an emotion from Bella before she spoke: it was regret."

"Regret," murmured Carlisle, trying to dissect everything that had happened and fit the pieces together.

Edward stared at me.

It was regret, Edward. I could feel it. I replayed the scene in my head, including the emotions whirling through everyone in that moment.

He winced but I could still feel the strong emotions coming off of him and invading me.

"I'll be back at the house," he informed us hoarsely and in a flash he was gone.

Alice leaned into to me after he had gone. "I love you, Jasper."

I could feel sorrow moving off of her. Alice and Edward had always been close and I knew that she was lamenting the fact that Edward was in such a mood now.

"I love you too, Alice. I love you too."

But still…

Regret… something wasn't adding up. Well, something other than the fact that Bella Swan had wings.

BPOV (Right after she ran away)

Forming a plan, I ran to my car, trying to fold my wings in. The pain had lessened—probably because the needle wasn't injecting more of that stuff in me—but I could only fold them a bit. It looked like I had a backpack underneath my raincoat.

I could deal with that, I decided and jumped into my truck, starting it up quickly.

Pushing 60 miles per hour, I was sure that was as fast as I could go. But soon enough I was pulling into the parking lot of a hotel in Port Angles.

A/N: I'm not quite sure how to spell Port Angles… yeah. That's about it right now.

"Hello, how can I help you?" the receptionist inside asked, glancing sharply down at me.

"I would like to get a room for two nights," I replied. If I had decided to sleep in the forest the Cullens would have probably found me. I wasn't sure if they could trace me to Port Angles but the hotel room was worth it if they couldn't.

Soon enough I was directed my room. I flopped on the bed, wincing when my wings hit the bed.

Oh, I am so going to kill Ari, I thought venomously. There's no doubt about it. And when I do—oh, it will be painful. There's no doubt about that either.

The next day I skipped school and stayed in my hotel room. By the time night came my wings were almost back to normal. I was thinking that whatever Ari injected into me was made so I wasn't able to use my wings. In any case, it was painful and more than annoying.

The second day I lounged around, skipping school again. I was afraid of what would happen if I did go to school. I slept through the night too, strangely enough. The Flock visited me in my dreams and by the time I got up I was more determined than ever to find them.

Checking out was easy and normal—at least normal for someone who hasn't stayed in hotels except for one or two times—and so was the drive to school.

Welcome to Forks High, home of the Spartans, the sign in front of the school told me.

Back to school, Bella, I told myself firmly. You have to face the Cullens some time.

"Bella, you're back," exclaimed Mike as soon as he saw my truck in the lot.

Great, draw the attention on me, will ya?

"Uh, yeah, I was sick," I said uncomfortably. "I've got to go to class now though, sorry."

I could still feel the five burning stares emanating from the only silver Volvo in the parking lot.

Stupid shiny Volvo owner. And that includes said Volvo owner's siblings.

I made up class work in all of my classes—were the teachers purposely trying to drown me in homework?—and Jessica chattered about all the things I missed on the way to the cafeteria.

A thought stopped me short though when I entered the cafeteria. The Cullens had lunch and I wouldn't put it past them to interrupt me and start all the questioning that I was sure was to come.

"Bella, you okay?" asked Jessica, bringing me out my thoughts.

"Yeah," I answered queasily. "I think I'll just get a lemonade today though. I don't think I can eat anything."

"Okay," she shrugged, not concerned.

I bought my drink and sat down slowly at the table.

Conversation irrupted around me but I was quiet, not in the mood to chatter. More like in the whole let-me-freak-silently-so-I-can-figure-out-what-the-vampires-a-few-tables-down-are-going-to-do mood.

Surprisingly I finished my lemonade quite fast and got up to throw it out in trashcan, which was near the center of the room.

I was right in front of it when Alice Cullen intercepted me.

"Hey Bella," her wind-chime, cheerful voice greeted me.

"Alice," I nearly growled in return at her.

She looked taken aback at my temper but quickly continued. "We have some things to go over I would say."

"Okay, listen up," I started. "You're going to go about regularly, ignoring me, and I'm going to do the same. That way we don't have to deal with each other."

"But she knows our secret," Rosalie interrupted from across the room. My head whipped around, pin pointing her at the Cullen's regular table.

"And you know one of my secrets," I retorted. "I'm not going to tell. I would just get a one-way ticket to an asylum, and," I snorted, "believe me when I say I have enough trouble in my life already."

All of them were staring at me strangely and I realized none of them knew that I had very good hearing.

Edward pictured up on my wording though. "You said 'one of your secrets.' That means you have more."

I glowered at him and he smiled smugly.

"Am I right or not?"

"Oh, you're most definitely right," I snarled, "but none of you are figuring out any more of them. And," as I spoke I solidified my decision, "in two weeks or maybe less, I'll be moving out of Forks. I won't be in your hair anymore."

Alice was staring into space again and I waved a hand in front of her face. "Hey Alice?"

"Don't leave," she pleaded, coming out of her daze, shooting a look at Edward that I didn't understand.

"Don't be an idiot," I argued. "None of you like me. Rosalie wouldn't bat a lash if she heard that I died, Emmett doesn't really care either way, I'm sure you don't want your family all messed up because of me, Jasper's only concerned as long as you're safe, and Edward… I'm pretty sure he hates me by now." I shrugged. "What have you all got to lose? Nothing. So don't worry. I'll be gone soon enough."

"But—" she argued.

"Bye Alice," I murmured, effectively cutting her off. "If I ever stop in Forks again after I leave, I'll visit."

Not.

And even if the 'not' was mental I was sure they could hear it in my tone anyway.

***

"So what were you doing, talking to Alice Cullen?" Jessica wanted to know immediately when I got back.

"Oh," I tried to brush it off as nothing, "we have to a reading project together for English."

She looked dissatisfied with the lack of details but nodded understandably.

I got ready for Biology and lagged behind everyone as we walked together down the hallway.

People pushed past me to get to their next class. I paid no attention to them.

"So meet us at our house at 5:00, I have an understanding that we have a reading project to do," Alice Cullen whispered in my ear as she swept by with Jasper, "and we also need to talk."

I could only stare wordlessly after her.

I had feeling that I had no choice whether I wanted to go or not. The look in the Cullens' eyes clearly said 'Come or else.'

Well, I sighed. I'm in for a long night.

***

Okay, confession time: I skipped Biology. I'm pretty sure you know why already. Edward was my lab partner and to tell you the truth, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to stand a whole class period with him. It would be awkward and… well, awkward.

By the time it was 5:00 I was pacing around nervously, wondering if it was a good idea to go to the Cullens' anymore.

Cut it out, Swan, I told myself, internally giggling at my last name, and made a snap-second decision.

In one powerful stroke I unfurled my wings and shot straight upward, deciding that it would be easiest if I just flew to the Cullens.

Minutes later I was flying over their white mansion in the middle of the dense forest.

I won't freak out the vampires with my wings, I promised myself internally so after I alighted I folded in my wings and went to knock on their door.

Just as my hand was about to touch the wood the door whipped open.

"Hey Bella, I've been expecting you," Alice seemingly smiled at an inside joke, motioning me inward.

I gulped.

No turning back now.

I smiled at her and hoped I seemed the very picture of ease before stepping inside and walking into the room Alice directed me into. All of the other Cullens were circled in the crème, tastefully decorated room.

Carlisle Cullen stepped forward but kept a careful distance. His topaz eyes sparked with a curious light and he seemed calm.

"Hello, Bella," he said, flashing a 100-watt smile. "I assume you want to know a bit about us and vise versa."

I nodded silently but before I could speak Alice stepped into my line of vision.

"We'll ask questions first," she told me.

"Alice," Carlisle shot a glance at her. "Be polite."

"No, it's fine," I nodded, politely disinterested at her.

In the inside I was screaming in nervous.

What questions is she going ask? What if she asks about how I got my wings? She'll obviously do that—what if I slip about the School? Or what if I tell them about the Flock—no, no, no…

A calm feeling washed over me, somehow soothing. I felt better but kept my defensive gesture.

"Was this a new trick of theirs?" I mumbled to myself, not really realizing that I was speaking out loud.

"What?" Mrs. Cullen—or Esme—asked curiously. She seemed to radiate motherly concern but I was too on guard.

Did I really say that out loud?

"Nothing," I dismissed. "Just I was nervous and suddenly I felt really calm. I keep my guard up—it scared me for a second."

I glanced around ashamedly before admitting, "I thought one of you had something to with it."

Silence.

"Interesting," Carlisle analyzed me with his eyes.

I hate being looked at like I'm an experiment, I thought somewhat heatedly before reminding myself that they were probably just interested in someone like me.

Interested in a freak, I snorted mentally...

"Well, can we start asking questions?" Alice asked impatiently, interrupting the awkward situation.

I grabbed the lifeline gratefully. "Sure, Alice."

Her next question took me completely by surprise.

"Can we see your wings?"

"Why should I let you?" The defensive question was out of my mouth before I could stop it.

"Sorry," she looked down. "I should've known not to spring that on you. I just thought that your wings were really cool."

"Cool?" I snorted at Alice a bit venomously. "Cool? They're the mark of a freak. At least the only slightly abnormal thing you do is drink blood."

Crap. Not the right thing to say. Definitely not the right thing to say.

"We just drink blood?" Rosalie's melodic voice broke the silence. "Like it's not such a big deal to drink blood?"

She tossed her blond hair over her shoulder and glared at me with her golden eyes set deep in her flawless face.

But for some reason her words struck a chord in me.

"What?" I retorted. "Like it's not a big deal to have wings?"

"We. Drink. Blood," she stated clearly. "Clearly you don't get that—"

"No," I interrupted her. "All of you don't get it. You might think, 'oh, she has wings, that's cool but not really important' but you have no clue at all. Worse things have happened to me in my life than to you in the two of yours."

"Really?" her voice took on a new level. "Do you know what's it's like to lose your humanity unwillingly? To—"

"And," my voice rose with hers, "do you know what's like to not even have that humanity in the first place? Sure, I might be a part human but have I ever had a normal human life? At least even no you have people to love and people who love you in return."

I paused, but not for long. "You don't even know what it's like to lose all you had. And when you find the one person from your family with the people you despise the most—what do you do then? When all the people you've ever loved have either disappeared or betrayed you?"

My voice lowered dangerously now, "But it's not like it'll matter anyway. If things go according to plan I won't even be alive."

I glanced around. Rosalie was staring at me, almost in shock but there was a glint in her eyes, like she was trying to decipher me. Emmett was the picture of shock sitting next to her. Jasper seemed to have trouble dealing with my haywire emotions and Alice was far away again, staring at something I doubted I would ever see. Carlisle and Esme looked at me with concern… I tried not to let their glances penetrate my careful shield.

Edward was the worst. He looked desperate, and there were disarming emotions in his golden eyes, trying hard to drill something into me. His beautiful face seemed tortured.

He didn't even know me though. Why would he feel all that?

"You won't even be alive?" he whispered at last.

"Why don't I start asking the questions now?" I started, ignoring what he had said.

When none of the Cullens objected, I continued. "So… you drink blood, right?"

"I thought we had already cleared that up," Emmett answered amusedly.

"No," I frowned, thinking of how awkward this was going to be. "I mean, you don't drink human blood, do you? I thought you didn't because then surely all of you wouldn't go to school and Carlisle wouldn't work in a hospital."

"We drink animal blood," stated Alice calmly.

At the same time Edward muttered, "You're perceptive, aren't you?"

"Okay," I answered jokingly, "that's good. I didn't really want to be dinner or something."

"How can you take this so calmly?" Jasper sounded shocked. "You're not afraid of us at all."

"Maybe because I know who I should really be afraid of," I retorted.

Like hungry wolf mutants intent on torturing me to death and bringing me back to the School…

"So Alice, this is going to sound really weird," I changed the subject, "but do any of you have… super powers or something?"

"What exactly do you mean by 'super powers'?" She sounded guarded.

"Like you can read minds or something." I was thinking of Angel as I answered.

"I can read minds," interrupted Edward. He was looking at me as if he was afraid I would break down from the shock.

I snickered. "Seriously? You must be so annoyed by now."

"What?" He looked so perplexed that I couldn't help but laugh again.

"But, Edward," I started, serious again, "wouldn't you have figured out by now?"

"What?" he sounded annoyed this time and when I looked up at him he was pulling his hands through his bronze locks with visible frustration.

"Haven't you figured out by now that I'm a mental shield?"

Silence.

Maybe it wasn't the brightest idea to tell them…

I made a silent promise to myself.

Sorry, Cullens, you're not finding anything else out about me. Zip my mouth and throw away the keys.

Little did I know how hard it would be to keep secrets from them. But they didn't know—those very secrets could kill.

A/N: So I seem to cram a lot of things into my chapters. If you're confused, ask questions in your review. Also, how did you guys think I did with Jasper's POV? I'm not sure how it went, I just felt like I should put it in.

And if some of you are freaking about her moving, don't worry. It'll all fit together.

So, Mrs. O'Leary couldn't come to threaten you guys into reviewing so I WAS going to send Edward to dazzle you into reviewing… but then I decided that you would attack him and Bella would be mad at me… so I was like, "I'll send a grizzly bear!" And don't worry, if the bears tries to attack you, then I'll send in Emmett. He wants an irritable grizzly anyway. ;)

Please review! Tell me your thoughts, oh, and happy late 4th! I hope you had a good day!