Yay! the longest chapter yet. (since some who shall remain nameless are begging me for longer chapters) sorry it took so long to update. i've been swamped at home. Christmas holidays are easier but i hope to finish this story by then.

My first reaction was shock. I don't think I heard any of the Cullens call Benji by his nickname. Then I remembered Alice's affection for nicknames and how much she wanted to call me Jen and understood. But more overpowering was the real threat. Not ten minutes ago Bella told me that Alice was watching Phillip, so we would know if he was near.

It took forever to get the information out of Alice; she was constantly apologizing. Finally I yelled, "Alice you are going to drive me nuts! What happened that made you get so apologetic?"

She looked at me glumly. "The dog caught our scent somehow. We don't know how it happened. We were extra careful to avoid this but he was on our tail in a minute. Emmett is trying to leading him off when I came to warn you."

My face paled. I already knew what she was going to say but hearing it out loud was worse than thinking it. Benji was up in a split second talking so fast I had difficulty keeping up. "Go get the family. We will take the car and have you guys can warn the pack. We'll lead him to La Push and you guys form a group around us. Go, Alice, go."

She left as quickly as the words were out of his mouth. He turned to me and picked me up in his arms. I started to protest but I stopped and asked a more serious question, "What are we going to do?"

"We are going to get the car and drive back to La Push. Alice, Bella and Emmett, when he gets here, will follow us from behind. Edward, Jasper, and Carlisle will run ahead to warn the pack that we're coming." He said all this while running down the stairs and in the car.

I grasped the edge of the seat as Benji drove recklessly fast. At first I tried to watch the scenery but soon we were going to fast that everything was a blur. My breathing came out in short, abrupt spurts. Benji looked at me, concerned. He brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. I closed my eyes at his touch, enjoying it while it lasted.

"I'm not going to let him hurt you, Jen. I promise." I looked at him. His eyes were back on the road but I knew he was trying to distract me.

"I know that," I replied, enjoying the distraction, "and I know it's silly but I …don't want him to get hurt." I mumbled the last words.

"How can that be?!" Benji said flabbergasted, "He kidnapped you, broke your arm, he almost KILLED you!"

"I know that, but he was the first person I could really talk to. He almost understood me." I said, pleading.

"How so?" His hands were clenched over the wheel; he didn't like this subject.

"I came here to escape. I thought if I left my past; if I thrust it out of my of my life I could live somewhat normal again. He taught me that I shouldn't hide, that I should talk about it, so I did. He made me feel alive again."

Benji shook his head slowly. "I wish vampires never existed, and then you wouldn't be feeling the need to protect as corrupt as that Phillip."

I scanned my brain for some way to change the subject. "How will I be, as a vampire?"

He chuckled at my attempt but went along anyway. "I've been talking with the others about that. We think you'll be a very unique vampire, not that you aren't a unique human." I smiled "You see people who they really are; people can't hide from you, which is why you can manipulate people easily because you know what they will believe."

"How do you come up with that?"

"There were several clues. I always knew you got your way so easily. All you had to say were a few well-planned phrases. Then it was the fact that you could see right through my image illusion on the first day of school and straight through Bella's force field."

"What?! When did I do that?" I interrupted.

"When you saw me for the first time, I should have looked like a normal teenager; not pale with gold eyes. And at the funeral with Bella. She was camouflaging herself and you saw her. You knew she was there and a measly shield couldn't hide her. You knew who I was and I couldn't hide from you."

"But I couldn't see myself, when I looked down I couldn't see my feet." I said, confused.

He chuckled, "You never could see yourself well." His eyes became sad, "When I left it did you no good. That night so many months ago made you start seeing less of yourself. I think you believed people, at first, when they said you were crazy."

I didn't want to think about it. It was the truth and that's all that mattered. I leaned on his shoulder, "It's over now." I struggled for a comforting thought, "What will I look like?"

He smiled, "You will be strong and beautiful. Your skin will sparkle in the sun and your hair will be twice as red and silky. Rosalie will be no match for your beauty." I sighed contently. We sat there for awhile, enjoying each others company.

We started talking about what we would do after this situation cleared up. I wanted to leave immediately and get married, but Benji wanted us to finish high school. Soon though there were more pressing matters. He kept glancing behind him, looking for a wolf I presumed; I got jittery.

"I want you to do something Jen. Were about a thirty minutes walk from La Push, I want you to jump out and walk the rest of the way." I looked out the window, when were slowing down immensely.

"What do you mean? I won't leave you." I said terrified.

"It will throw him off. I have to divert him and it might take me awhile since he can't know I'm leading him home. Go Jen and be careful." I took it as a dismissal, opened the door and rolled out. I was in the bushes almost immediately. I crouched down in case Phillip was closer than I thought.

Something cold and white ran past me. "Bella!" I said.

She stopped and turned; she seemed surprised to see me, but not for long. She walked to me and handed me a silver necklace with a small silver ball on the end. "I can't stay long but this is for you. It contains a shield. It will only hold for about thirty minutes; Carlisle and I have been working on it for awhile. Just squeeze it when you want to use, but only use it in the most desperate moment." And then she was gone, leaving me to find my way to La Push. It shouldn't be too hard; all I needed to do was follow the road.

I ran most of the way stopping only when I was tired or heard a wolf cry, which was frequent. I was about two-thirds of the way there when I saw him. I had come at a bend in the road and to my surprise I saw a gianormous wolf smelling a car. (Gianormous may not exactly be a word, but it's a mixture of giant and enormous.) I realized that it must have some illusion on it because the wolf didn't seem to know if it was there or not. Then I noticed it was Benji's car and it was parked by a warn foot path. I crouched lower as the wolf raised his head to smell the air. My heart seemed to stop as he turned towards me and then ran out on the path.

I quickly got into the car and drove off to La Push. I calmed my breath and as I entered the familiar terriotory I wondered what I would do with my dog problem.

i keep forgeting to thank all my wonderful fans that have dutifully read and reviewed my story, so thank you. and the little comment on "no wolf-bashing" i can bash whoever i want. it's my story!