A/N: Okay, another not-so-great chapter . . . this was mostly for my own contentment; I didn't really want to leave the last chapter hanging. Just as before, I promise things way more interesting!

Also, thank you thank you thank you for all my wonderful reviews! This fanfic is my little pet, my brain and my imagination's lovechild, so it really means a lot that I've gotten such positive reviews! Thank you! Enjoy!

P.S. NO! Not the Volturi! ;) (no offense taken! It made me laugh!)

To my surprise and delight, Edward practically zoomed down the street, but for those few seconds, I truly believed I was going to die. Emmett held me in the fetal position I had previously taken, and Jasper let me squeeze his hand. I screamed in agony; this was so much worse than the children earlier. There were so many different smells, and I wanted all of them.

I knew the people on the street were probably wondering where all the screaming was coming from; the windows on the car were tinted jet black, so no one could see in. I was shaking so violently, I could feel that I was moving the whole car back and forth. I dug my nails into Jasper's hand and he quickly pulled it away.

"Don't, Jasper," Edward warned. Jasper wasn't helping me? Then how the heck was I doing this? This was supposed to take years to get a handle on. Well, it's not like I exactly had a handle on it, but I was sure a whole lot better than they said I'd be.

"I suspect that's the personality trait you brought over from your mortal life," Edward explained to me, once we were back in the suburbs.

"What is?" I croaked. I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Your determination. I've never seen someone so dedicated to making a change. It's your desperation to live," he justified. I nodded. That was cool. I didn't think there was anything special about me. It felt good to have that proved otherwise.

Next to me, Jasper was massaging his hand.

"I'm really sorry about that," I told him sincerely. "What can I do?"

"Nothing," he said, shrugging and flexing his fingers. "I'm fine. See?" He wiggled them around in front of me. They seemed to be perfectly normal.

"Did you help me at all?" I asked as we got out of the car at the house. He smiled.

"Only driving through the suburbs on the way back, just to bring you back down," he admitted. I honestly wanted to be angry with him for not letting me do it all on my own, but there was a little part of me that was truly grateful for his help. Emmett met me on the other side of the car and gave me a high-five before slinging his arm around my shoulder.

"Very impressive, kid," he said as we walked into the house.

A/N: Shortish this time, sorry kids. I'm posting another chapter immediately after this one so as not to leave you with this little nugget! Haha! ~Munkin93