A/N: MUST READ! DEADLY IMPORTANT! Like the answer to why-in-Hades-hasn't-she-updated-in-so-long-important!

Okay, so here's the deal. I'm going to sleep away camp in like two days—it's close to my last year there—and camp is for three weeks and there isn't Internet. That means I can't go online for three weeks, AKA, no updating.

After sleep away camp I'm going to my family's house that's in the country. There's no Internet there either unless I go to the library. (And I'll obviously bring my own computer to the house.)

So when I get out of sleep away camp I'll finish writing the updates. Then I'll either try to post them when I go to the library with my computer or when I actually get home.

Therefore, the waiting period for updates for all of my stories (my first priority is Daughter of the Ocean then Secrets Not Told) is about 4 and ½ weeks.

I repeat; the waiting period for both updates will be about 4 weeks.

I WILL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES (UNLESS I END UP IN THE HOSPITAL) STOP WRITING THESE STORIES.

I mean it; I'm not abandoning my stories. I love them—okay, not LOVE them, but close enough—and I WILL NOT ABANDON THEM.

For all of those who are willing to wait for my updates and not give up on me, I'm giving you a teaser. :)

Please, don't give up on me. I'll be back before you know it. And now, for all of my reviewers who deserve the teaser despite my horrible updating, read on!

Okay, before me continue, here's a little fact. I can lie; in fact, probably my whole life would be considered a lie. But I cannot, absolutely cannot, lie to vampires.

"What?" Edward spluttered, staring at me.

Time to start acting.

I widened my eyes and smiled a 100-watt smile, my attempt at confusing them. "Nothing, Edward, I didn't say anything."

"She said she was a mental shield," interrupted Jasper, sneaking a glance at me.

I smiled wider, but it wasn't a nice smile; it was the predatory smile that clearly said, "Shut up."

"That's not what I said," I told Edward, cutting off anything Jasper was going to say next. "I said I was a metal shield, you know, 'cause I'm a bird freak and weirdly strong so if you tried to hurt me it would be like denting a metal shield and—" I continued rambling till Edward broke me off.

"She said mental shield," he decided. Turning to me, he remarked with his golden eyes fixed straight on me, "You know, you're a bad liar, Bella."

"Says the person whose whole life is probably a lie," I muttered.

"And yours isn't?" he shot back.

When I didn't answer, he sighed smugly. "Is your name even Bella?"

No, it's probably Subject 14… to the School anyway.

"As a matter of fact," I said, glaring at him, "it is."

"Sorry." He held his hands up in front of him before running one through his messy bronze hair.

"Mine turn to ask questions," I announced, changing the subject. "So what to you eat?"

"Animal blood," Carlisle answered calmly, waiting for my reaction.

I wrinkled my nose; blood wasn't exactly my favorite thing and decided to ask another question.

"Are there any other mythical creatures in Forks?"

A/N: Well, hope you liked the teaser. It was the beginning of the chapter from where the last one left off.

Now, I won't be able to respond to your reviews but please, anyway, REVIEW!

And please, don't give up on my story. I'll be back soon enough, just wait 4 weeks—okay, that's a long time, I have to admit it is, and I won't be angry if you guys immediately go and delete me from your story alerts list, but I'm not giving up on this story. It will continue as soon as I get back. So please don't give up on me.

I might be asking a lot, but mostly, the only reason that I continued writing the 2nd chapter and 3rd and the 4th—well, you get my idea—is your commentary.

So, maybe I am asking too much. But anyway, I'll be back in about 4 weeks with the next chapter, waiting to see who's here with me.

See you in August! And since I feel like I just made such a serious speech on a subject that most of you might think is small, I'm going to brighten things up. So go out and have fun! Try and count how many silver Volvos you see and maybe even book a flight to Forks! Maybe you'll see Edward—hey, you never know!

So, yeah, guys, bye for now. I've annoyed you long enough but I have one more thing to say that I've repeated over and over: I'M NOT GIVING UP MY STORIES!

Now, bye! And I'll see you in August!