Once again, I am so sorry that I took so long to update! I thought that I would be writing more often since it's the holidays, but look at how things turned out. Anyway, minor good news: I took part in a Chinese Creative Writing Competition and my group (of four) won! Okay, we just got a prize. We weren't top three, but whatever. It's, like, the first writing accomplishment ever. :D

Anyway, I've reread Twilight. (It had left my possession for a painfully long time since I wanted to "spread the love". Haha, I got a few new Edward-lovers!) And Not.Broken.Hearted's review hit me like a bunch of stinkin' stink bombs, which is good—that it's really tough if I want to change Bella's/Edward's personality. I love the Bella in Twilight and it's hard to make her all cheerful since then, I wouldn't have loved her. So, I think Bella shall slowly revert back to her old self in Twilight. She'll still do unBella stuff sometimes, but that's to still retain the cheerful element within her.

Sighsigh, things are going so slowly now. My mind's racing ahead and is already at the… third sequel? Whereas I'm still stuck at the FIRST story in reality. Nevermind. I shall buck up! Come on, let's go!

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Disclaimer: Twilight's not mine. But I love it. As much as you.

Chapter Five

Edward lay on his bed and slapped his face, hard. Even though he couldn't feel the jolting pain, he let the pain soak through his skin, and hopefully into his brain. He was, as Emmett would say, "You're totally losing it, man!". Exactly how much is he in love with Bella? Not much. Actually, not at all. And how badly does he want to get through Bella? Very very badly. This was what Edward couldn't understand; what was the driving force behind him going after Bella? She had humiliated him enough to last another century and yet, he was not ready to give her up. For so long, his heart had never been a problem, mainly because it was dead. Not living. Unable to function. This is the first time he considered his heart and feelings as a factor of this.

Shaking his head, Edward roared in frustration. What is wrong with him? He was so confused, so tired. A part of him wanted to give this up because nobody messes with Edward and still gets away with it. But another part whispers his reluctance to do so. He wanted to vent his anger at something or someone, but there was none. This was his problem, and his alone. His ego refused going to Esme for help, knowing that it would bring about another flurry of unpleasant thought-voices.

An internal war raged on and after a long, torturous time, he came to a few decisions. One; he will continue unlocking Bella, but this time, he would play it cool. No more Edward the Retard. Two; he had to find out more about Bella in order to ease the whole process. This part was still within his ability—Jessica.

Bella slid through the whole day easily now that her spirits were lifted tremendously. A grin was perpetually glued on her face and everyone around her felt their own lips curving up. There was just this happy aura radiating from Bella, but nobody asked anything. She hopped into her truck and started it up patiently. Her face lit up when the truck started up with a stutter, but it was soon extinguished by a certain purr coming from a certain Volvo. Stomping on the accelerator, she drove out of the school compound and made her way home at the pace of a stubborn mule.

After stopping her truck and parking it in front of her house, she jumped down again and twirling her keys with her index finger, she was about to enter the house when she realised that it was unlocked. Pushing the door open slowly with apprehension filling her every vein, she tiptoed in and glanced around; Charlie should still be at work now. Walking softly into the kitchen, she made sure that it was empty before picking up a pot for safety purposes.

She stepped out of the kitchen… and was grabbed by the shoulders.

Letting loose a scream which was automated by her fear, she struggled against the grip and slammed the pot in the intruder's direction. A loud curse could be heard and then the lights were turned on. Bella found that she was looking at a chest and looked up, into the face of a young man. Intimidated by his height, she screamed again and started hitting the stranger with her only weapon.

Bella's heart hammered erratically in her chest while her hands went into an up-and-down motion. He grabbed her hand suddenly and instinctively, she opened her mouth, ready for another healthy scream when a sweat-filled palm clapped over it. Eyes widened, Bella breathed deeply and tried to calm herself down. Who was this man? What was he going to do? While she was fervently trying to shut down her tear-ducts, the man spoke.

"I won't harm you. So please don't scream if I let go of my hand, okay?"

Bella nodded profusely, drenched in cold sweat.

The huge palm slowly moved away from Bella's mouth. Bella's eyes followed the hand as it got further away and when she thought it was a safe distance away, she bolted for the door. "Damn!" Bella screamed in frustration as she tripped and stumbled. She thought she heard a small chuckle and glared at the man murderously. She pushed herself off the ground hurriedly and tried again for the door. Then, she stopped and backed away with white lips, her eyes locked on the man who had appeared in front of her.

"No, please, I won't harm you! I'm Billy's son, Jacob. Billy. Do you remember Billy? He's your dad's best friend." That man explained pleadingly to Bella.

She eyed that man, deliberating the reliability of his words. Then she questioned him, "If you really were Billy's son, then you'd know where my dad and your dad usually go play soccer." Jacob's eyes laughed and then he replied, "Is this a trick question? Because you and I both know that they never play soccer! Billy's wheelchair-bound. Nah, them folks prefer fishing." And he went on to mime reeling a fishing rod.

Bella frowned at him. "Well, you did pass the test. Oh alright, I believe you. Welcome to Charlie's and my house then!" Jacob pretended to heave a heavy sigh of relief, wiping imaginary sweat off his forehead, "Didn't see that coming, huh?" Bella laughed and then, as if a sudden thought occurred to her, asked curiously, "How did you get in?" Scratching the back of his head sheepishly, he answered, "I picked the lock."

"Well, that doesn't make you any different than a burglar."

"I guess. Jacob the Burglar, that's me."

Bella laughed and gestured to the couch. "Oh right, where's my manners? Sit down, please. Water for you?"

Jacob sat down and leaned back comfortably, "There's no need for such formalities with a burglar, you know. But since you insist," He looked at Bella with a small smile. "Then, water's fine." Bella shook her head at Jacob amusedly and went into the kitchen to get Jacob that glass of water. She came back soon with two glasses and sat down beside Jacob after handing him one. "What brings you here?" Jacob gulped down a big mouthful of water and then explained, "My dad wanted me to retrieve something from Charlie, but he didn't tell me that the house was locked with nobody in it. What he did tell me was that he needed the stuff urgently. So, I employed a little of my lock picking skills. I went into the kitchen table to find a 'blue package for Billy', but there was nothing of that sort. Unless you consider a plate full of leftovers in a microwave oven, but it isn't in a blue package…"

Bella laughed out at this and then she went into her dad's room, coming out seconds later with a blue bag. "Here you go! My dad told me about Billy coming over, but nothing about him having a son or someone sneaking into my house!" Jacob shrugged and said wryly, "Old people tend to forget about the main points, no?" Bella nodded smilingly as Jacob stood up, "Well, I've got to get going now. Still under Billy's orders, so he won't be pleased of he knew about me chatting up a pretty lady." Bella blushed at this and then walked to the door, holding it open for him, "Nice meeting you, Jacob. Hope to see you around somewhere!" Jacob hesitated at this statement, then he finally spoke, "There is this small gathering at La Push on Saturday. You want to come along?" Seeing Bella's face full of rejection, he added, "You can bring some of your friends along…" As Bella pondered about going or not, Jacob made the decision for her and walked out of the door, shouting out without looking back, "Great! Then I'll see you on Saturday at nine in the morning." Bella opened her mouth to refute that, but then, thought the better of it and shut her mouth. Maybe going to La Push to meet new friends wouldn't be as bad as she thought it to be.

She was in a beautiful big room, lying on a soft bed with drapes. Bella opened her eyes with minimal difficulty and looked around her, searching for clues which may tell her where she was. Everything was so sharp and detailed, it was hard to believe that she was looking through her very eyes. Then, her body pushed itself off the bed and started walking. Bella was frantically trying to stop her body, unsure of where she was and what she was doing. The body came to a halt and Bella looked forward…

In a mirror, she saw her pale face, but beautifully modified so much so that it didn't look like her anymore. Yet, it was still Bella who was looking back at her. She frowned at her reflection, further confused. But the reflection smiled back, revealing a row of pearly white straight teeth.

Bella blinked blankly at the reflection. The reflection blinked too, but when it opened its eyes for a second time, it was no longer the brown which Bella always saw.

It was a bloody red.

Bella screamed and thrashed around in her bed. She awoke with beads of perspiration all over her and found that she was panting slightly. No matter how she shook her head, she still couldn't get rid of the vivid image in her mind. What did it mean? Why did she have such horrible red irises? Why was she so beautiful suddenly? Why wasn't she the old Bella?

Then, sobbing to herself, she realised that it may very well mean that she had changed. No longer the Bella from Phoenix, but the Bella from Forks. Why were there Mike, Edward and Jacob in her life? It was all wrong! She shouldn't be so popular with boys. She had always been this happy girl with girl friends in Phoenix. The only time she let a boy into her heart, he shattered it into million and million of pieces. It became off-limits ever since. Andrea was the only one who bothered to help Bella piece her heart back. Andrea was the only bestest friend of Bella. But she wasn't here anymore. And Bella willingly let Jessica and Angela replace Andrea. Crying into her pillow, she let herself drift off to sleep again, mind devoid of all thought and emotions.

She didn't see how wrong her interpretation of that dream was. But what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

Bella was like a zombie the next day; emotionless face, mute mouth, deaf ears, unseeing eyes, uncoordinated limbs. She was suddenly looking out into a world of black and white, no longer able to force a smile onto her face and saying that everything's alright. She didn't remember it being this hard to be happy when she was still in Phoenix, but it was. Jessica didn't even notice how different Bella was as she rattled on about the newest gossip. Maybe she did, but she appeared to not care. Bella didn't mind that, she wanted that to happen—Life to go on without her. Angela was darting worried glances at Bella throughout the day, but Bella didn't bother assuring Angela that she was fine. Mike shook Bella by the shoulders and asked her what was wrong. All she did was to look back into Mike's eyes… and he released his grip. Bella walked away, but Mike had suddenly hugged her from behind, telling her that everything would turn out fine, voice choked with anxiety. She didn't bother shrugging him off, or telling him that everything would not be fine. Edward didn't talk to her at all. He was like her; face totally emotionless. Maybe there were one or two glances, but that was it. He didn't start irritating her like the last time; he seemed to know that she needed to be left alone.

At the last period of the day, she walked out of the school and right to her truck. Just as she was about to climb into her truck, a voice spoke into her ear. Suddenly, life sprang back into her and she turned her head wildly, looking for the source. All she saw was a Volvo speeding away, kicking clouds of dust into the air.

"Dreams don't hurt, so stay strong…

…Isabella."

Edward raced under the moonlight, slightly anxious to reach Bella's room in time. After yesterday night, he just had to make sure if Bella would be fine tonight. It actually pained him to see Bella in so much sadness. He had forgotten all about the promise to himself—the promise of not going back anymore. All he cared about now was Bella. Bella needed someone and even if she was going to push him away, he'd still be in the shadows, providing invisible but unwavering support. Edward climbed up a tree easily and opened the window to Bella's room quietly. Softly, he jumped in and closed the window behind him. He looked at Bella and found that he was relieved that she was breathing evenly, no more rushed breaths like last night. Leaning back on the rocking chair, his eyes locked itself on Bella's face. He was conscious that there was another being in the house other than him and Bella, but he had naturally thought it to be Charlie. But Charlie wouldn't be prowling about at night, making unnecessary noises. Edward then realised with a start that…

There was a loud clang and a curse reached Edward's sensitive ears. Edward's eyes went to Bella and prayed that she wouldn't wake up at that sound. Alas, she did! She slipped out of bed, cautiously going downstairs to investigate the noise. As she walked past the shadows which hid Edward, he couldn't help but whisper, "No, don't go down." Bella frowned and stepped backwards. When the whisper didn't come back, Bella blamed herself for hallucinating and went back to investigating the noise.

The stairs creaked at Bella's weight strained them. "Dad? Is that you, dad?" Bella called out, but received no reply in return. Reaching the living room, she saw a shadow hover somewhere in the kitchen and thought it to be Charlie being hungry at night. Just as she was about to go back up, she remembered that Charlie was having night shift. He had told her that, along with the reminder to eat dinner without him. A shiver ran up Bella's spine and she called out with a quiver in her voice, "Who's that?"

Silence.

Bella laughed nervously, "If that's you, Jacob, it's not funny!"

Still silence.

Knowing that Jacob would've revealed himself by now, Bella was forced to come to terms with the fact that it was a real intruder in her house this time, most likely a burglar. With her heart beating furiously around in her ribcage, Bella walked towards the phone and picked it up, dialing the police station's number. Charlie was there, Charlie would help her. Come on, pick up the phone, Charlie! She urged the ring tone to stop and for Charlie to answer. Cursing the burglar, she tried thinking of what valuable items there were in her house. By the time Charlie picked up the phone, the list of valuable items was still empty. Why the heck did the burglar come then? "Hello, dad? Can you please come—" Bella trailed off. "Home now?"

The phone had gone dead. Panic rose in Bella's chest as she heard footsteps which stopped behind her. Very slowly, she turned around. There, at the kitchen's doorway, stood a silhouette that was lighted up by the moonlight. A white glint glittered and Bella realised that it was the burglar smiling sinisterly at her. She stood still.

The burglar started to remove his hidden arm from the back and Bella watched closely, eyes never leaving his arm. In his arm was a…

Knife.

Okay, that was stupid. A dreadful cliffhanger. I know how my writing skills have deteriorated since the sentence structures are all about the same. My vocabulary fails me too. But I wanted to type this chapter out before you all start hating me.

Well, I actually wanted big occasions from Twilight to happen in this fic also since it would mark the time clearly. But since it's classified under "too much like the original", I came up with a few scary/exciting events of my own to add in here. Hopefully, it's acceptable. (Poor Bella, having to go through two "burglars" within two consecutive days.)

Lovelove.