It's been a busy week…I feel like I'm running on auto pilot. But no worries, right? Jensen and Blakely and I are currently sitting on the couch watching Gilmore Girls, so I've got a little relaxation time.

Please review, and let me know how you like the story. I'm introducing a little APOV into this chapter, so you'll see her reaction and get a little look into her life and her relationship with Jasper. And it shouldn't be too long until we get some resolution to some of the stories problems.

…

EPOV

I was awoken by a loud banging on the apartment door. Groaning, I rolled off the bed and stretched my arms over my head. I practically stumbled to the door, peeking into Avery's room as I passed to make sure she was still sound asleep. Rubbing my eyes, I yanked the door open and came face to face with the short girl who had been friends with Bella, and whose name escaped me.

"Um, hi…Alice, right?" I asked, the name thankfully coming to me in a split second.

"Yeah." She said, her voice high pitched and anxious. "Is something wrong with Bella? She hasn't been in school all week and hasn't answered her cell phone and her dad wouldn't tell me anything-" I furrowed my eyebrows as she jabbered on, a sharp pain hitting my chest at the mention of Bella's name. "Where is she?" Alice finished, her eyes wide.

I ran one of my hands through my hair, exhaling loudly and closing my eyes for a second. "She's gone, Alice." I finally said, knowing that it would be better to just tell the truth and get it over with.

Alice stared at me, obviously confused. "What do you mean, she's gone?" She finally asked.

"Why don't you just come inside?" I said, holding the door open. Alice hesitated for a moment, and then walked into the apartment. As I closed the door, Avery started crying. I smiled apologetically at Alice as I headed into her room, picking Avery up and cradling her against my chest. "Sorry." I said to Alice as I walked back into the living room area. "She's…hungry." I said. Or at least I thought she was. Bella had always gone on and on about how babies had different cries for their different needs, but I still couldn't distinguish between them. It just sounded like screaming to me.

"It's okay. You can um, do what you need to do." Alice said kindly, and I nodded and hurried into the kitchen with Avery still crying in my arms. I hurriedly fixed her a bottle of formula, thankful that Bella hadn't been breastfeeding. If she had been, I could have a pretty hard time feeding Avery. After I got her bottle all together, I gave it to Avery and walked back into the living room, where Alice was sitting on the couch. "Okay." I said with a sigh, sitting down on the chair and feeding Avery her bottle. "Where do you want me to start?" I asked nervously.

Alice rubbed her forehead, honestly just looking confused. "Well…at the beginning would be good. I honestly don't understand."

"Last week, I came home and the apartment was totally empty." I began, looking down at Avery instead of at Alice. "Avery was at the neighbor's and Bella left a note saying that she couldn't do it anymore. Charlie found out that she's with her mom in Seattle."

"So, wait…she just left?" Alice asked incredulously. I nodded silently as I looked up at her, and Alice's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? When she and I talked…she sounded so sure of herself. "She told me how thankful she was to have someone like you, how great it was for you to take responsibility. And she said that all she really wants is for your family to be together!"

I shrugged, my heart clenching. I didn't want to know about the lies Bella had been telling, trying to pretend that she could do this.

Alice shook her head again, still shocked. "She's with her mom? That doesn't make any sense…she told me that her mom kicked her out and didn't want anything to do with her."

"That's what she told me, too. I don't know Renée, and I don't plan on ever meeting her now." I said sharply.

"I'm really sorry." Alice said after a moment. "I know that you work, and that you're planning on going to college next semester. "And I know this must be hard emotionally, too. If you ever need a babysitter, I'm here." She said, and I smiled at her.

"Thanks, Alice." I murmured. "I've been relying on Charlie a lot, and I know that's not going to last long. He works, and it's only a matter of time before our schedules don't work out."

Alice sighed, playing with the ends of her short hair. "I still can't believe she just left…" She muttered, and then stood up. "I'm sorry to leave so quickly, but I have to go."

"It's fine." I said, standing up as well and readjusting Avery in my arms. "Thanks again."

"It's no problem." Alice assured me, hitching her purse over her shoulder and walking towards the door. "I'm happy to help."

…

APOV

I couldn't believe this. I hadn't known Bella for very long, but I had thought that she was a good friend and a good person. Evidently, I was wrong. I just couldn't understand how a mother could leave her child like that. And Edward- I felt so bad for him. I didn't know him at all, but I could tell that he was responsible and stepping up. Bella had told me how Edward had been there for her and Avery, sounding grateful. But then she just ups and leaves? Don't understand any of it.

Had Bella been lying to me, just to make herself sound more grown up? Because it was obvious to me that Bella was hardly responsible. To me, she sounded like a scared little girl.

"Are you okay?" I hadn't heard Jasper come up behind me, so I jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. I was sitting on the hood of my car in front of my house, and when I glanced down at my cell phone I realized that it was time for our date, and I wasn't even ready yet. "Hey, what's wrong?" Jasper asked, sitting down next to me and touching my hand.

"Do you think I'm mature?" I asked, and Jasper frowned slightly.

"Um, yeah, actually. A little oblivious sometimes, but plenty mature." Jasper decided, and I nodded silently. "Where is this coming from, Ali?"

I signed, looking up at Jasper and leaning my head against his shoulder. "I found out last week that Bella has a seven month old daughter." I said softly. Jasper stilled slightly, but didn't interrupt. "And she told me all this stuff about how she was trying to grow up and be responsible…and then today I found out that she just left her daughter and her boyfriend and ran off to Seattle."

Jasper stared at me, his eyebrows furrowed. "Are you serious? Is that why she's been gone from school?" I nodded silently, and Jasper raised his eyebrows. "Wow. That's messed up."

I nodded again, and managed a smile as Jasper put his arms around me. For years, I had only seen Jasper as my best friend. I was so glad I had been able to open my eyes and see him for who he really was.

…

Sorry this is a bit short, but I'm going to the store now and then having lunch with my little brother Ryan and his girlfriend. Review!

Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie