a/n: Well, it's been a while…a long while! But I'm happy to publish the next chapter of BBD! The story has always been there, in my head. Nipping away at me to be written. So I finally did. And I didn't like it, so I redid it. And I didn't like that either. So I did it again and again, finally getting out this chapter (and more that will be posted soon!)

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has been reading this story and has enjoyed it enough to review. Those reviews kept me going and working towards finishing! So keep them coming!

As always, Stephenie Meyer owns all of Twilight. Not me, sadly.

Here we go…he's back!

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Chapter Eight

Return

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The room was dark and cold. I could feel the night air coming in from the open window…but there was something else that made the chill sink into my bones. Something malevolent in the bleak darkness. It was coming from him. From the still and unbreathing shadow across the room.

I felt it, rather than saw it. My room, draped in black, made it impossible to see anything other than thin streams of moonlight passing through the curtains. Squinting, I tried to get my eyes to adjust. That didn't help. It was like trying to see into the bottom of a well, too dark and too deep to see exactly what was there.

Between us there was nothing but air. That I knew. But the cold tension that emanated from him seemed to twist and wind its way through the room until we were both encased by it. It pulsed between us, sinister and unnatural.

My heart thudded in my chest, waiting desperately for him to speak. To say my name again or anything at all. I didn't care. But he didn't. Speechless, he shifted on his feet, angling himself closer to window. The moonlight fell onto his face, illuminating it. Bringing it into view. It was my first time seeing him since he left me in those woods. Even just the one glowing side of his face was enough to take my breath and stop it in my chest. Edward. Here with me. And a look of dark hostility on his face.

Too close. We're too close to be safe.

The thought was irrational and wild in my head, but that piercing look in Edward's eyes seemed to confirm it. He felt it too. We're not supposed to be this close. Not supposed to be like this at all.

Instinctually, I tried to take a step backwards, to get as much space between us as possible. But I was met with only the unyielding hard wood of the door behind me, and the metal knob, which poked me in the back.

I thought of fleeing. But my legs could not have carried me. I was frozen watching him. Watching his amber eyes shut softly has he turned his face from mine in what appeared to be disgust. He was angry, alright. Livid even. And there was a pang in my chest when I realized it was because of me. He despised being near me. Even now after so long. It radiated off of him in ice-cold waves of fury.

He spun, becoming a shadow of a blur before a large crack filled the room. I flinched at the sound, and saw that he was standing with his hand in my wall. Inside of it. He had punched it.

Then, he spoke, in a strangled voice as though his very breath was on the brink of failing him.

"It has been too long."

That's when he decided to look at me. Really look at me. As he pulled his hand from the purple colored sheetrock, and tiny crumbles of my bedroom wall fell away. That grim flatness in his eyes searched through me and I wondered what he saw when he looked at me that way. Just Bella, flattened against the door? Or did he see something else? Someone changed and different.

His eyes locked on mine as he exhaled - the first breath I saw him take since I came into the room. His pale face contorted as the last of the air left his body.

Without a breath, without another word, he clutched the sill behind him and jumped through my window without another glance back at me.

It was then I called after him. My voice finally finding its way to my lips. "Wait!" I cried, much too late. The empty window gaped back at me, letting in the night breeze. My room filled with the crisp scent of March air and nothing else. "Wait," I said again, softer, pleading, "That can't be it."

But I was alone again, left staring at the space that had just been Edward Cullen.

My head started to shake. "No. Not like this. It wasn't supposed to be like this."

I faced the window, incredulous to what had just occurred. My fear turned panic was now forming into full-throttled adrenaline. He was gone again. He had returned, only for a moment, to look at me with cold, angry eyes, and mutter something about it being too long and run away. He left me. Again.

I banged my head against the door behind me. Frustrated. Agitated. The adrenaline firing straight through me.

Why did he come back? Why didn't he explain himself? Why didn't he say anything? It wasn't supposed to be like this! I wasn't supposed to go through all that pain. I wasn't supposed to sleep with Jacob, to use Jacob, and have it fail just for fleeting seconds of a return. It was all so wrong, so terribly fucked up and ruined.

I gritted my teeth, shutting my eyes and bracing myself for what I thought would come next. The Pain. The inevitable pain would flood through me in his repeat absence. It would surely be too much this time. His voice, his scent—the sight of him here—all of it.

But there was nothing. Just the steady thump of my heart and the swell of my chest as I breathed. My body did not revolt for the first time in six months. It was unfathomable to imagine it, but there was no pain. No emptiness. Something had changed.

I thought of release, of letting go on Charlie's front lawn, calling out I'm sorry. To Charlie, to Jacob and Edward. And myself.

A part of me had needed to let go and allow myself to repent for harboring such pain for so long. Now it was gone. It wasn't about being numb or trying to be normal anymore. This time, I had come out on the other side. Stronger.

And I wanted him to know it.

My heart pumped and without thinking I charged at the window, releasing the doorknob and running towards the light. My lips pulled back, baring my teeth as I ran to the frame and gripped on to it, placing my hands exactly where his had been only a second before. I pulled myself onto the sill and March wind whipped at my face. Holding the sides to keep from falling, I leaned out as far as I could into the night. Inhaling, I filled my lungs with bitingly cold air.

The moon was above me, radiant in the midnight sky. I looked up at it, remembering how its light had illuminated him. How it now surely gleamed against his skin as he ran from this house.

He can run from me, but not from this, I thought wildly and threw my head back, opened my mouth and howled to the moon.

My throat stung but I couldn't stop. I howled and screamed until my voice gave out. Screaming over and over what I could never say. The name I couldn't ever hear, think, or say out loud. The only name that had ever mattered: "EDWARD!"

"I can say it now," I breathed. Then slammed the window into its frame.

.

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The next morning met me with a fit of dry, hacking coughs. Doubling over in my bed, I coughed and wheezed for air that would not come. I coughed and coughed until my throat burned.

Sitting up in my bed, I could feel the warm breeze from my window. I had to do a double take, checking again at the window that was pulled open wide, letting in the breeze and the sun.

Open, somehow. When last night I had slammed the damn thing so hard the glass had shaken in its frame. My lip pulled into my mouth and I sucked on it, knowing it hadn't been me, or Charlie even, that had opened my window again.

I did not turn my head, but let my eyes do a quick, hopefully subtle, sweep of the room. There was no one here. But someone had been after I had fallen asleep. Someone who was too careless or selfish to shut the window when they left.

I slipped out from the covers and crept over to glaring act of forgetfulness my intruder left behind. I peeked out over the side yard as far as I could see to the woods around us. No trace of any visitor. Of course, there wouldn't really be a trace. But I found myself looking for one anyway.

The sun was up and high; I could feel the warmth on my face as I squinted into it, surprised. Last night had been so cold. It was like the weather had shifted overnight. I beamed up at the cloudless sky. Everything had changed. It wasn't just me… it was my entire world. It was a perfect, glittering, sunny day.

I left the window open as I climbed back inside. Why bother shutting it if someone was just going to come and go as they pleased anyway?

Considering the weather, my bomber didn't seem appropriate to wear in the sun. I settled for a light long sleeved shirt that I pulled out of a pile of clothes on the floor and matched it with a pair of corduroys from another pile draped over my desk. I sniffed both items. They were clean, but I knew not everything strewn about the room was as fortunate. My room needed a good scrubbing. I had let it get unmanageable.

Not to mention the perfectly round, fist-sized hole in the wall, I added to myself. I gave the hole Edward had left behind one last glance before turning around and leaving it behind me to deal with later.

My steps were heavy and loud on the stairs as I made my way to the kitchen. I had decided not to entirely trust the sun today, and donned my bulky boots in case it rained later. I paused on the last step, clearing my throat and rubbing it idly. It stung as reminder of my scream-fest last night.

Charlie was home. I could hear him rustling papers before I walked into the kitchen where he sat, leaning over a cup of coffee and the morning's newspaper. His eyes intently concentrating on the article in front of him. It wasn't until I started coughing that he switched his focus to me.

"How'd you sleep, kiddo?"

I smiled weakly at him and went straight to the sink. Grabbing the first clean glass I saw, I ran the tap over it, filling it to the brim with cold water. Then I poured it down my throat.

I filled the glass again and chugged at the water. It was freezing and harsh against my scratchy throat. It was also, at that moment, the most delicious thing I had ever tasted.

"Slow down, there, Bells, you'll drown yourself," Charlie laughed.

I ignored him and emptied the rest of the water into my mouth. Then I poured myself a third.

"Thirsty?"

"Yea," I said, bringing the glass back to my lips. The water didn't do much for my voice. It came out all scratchy and broken.

"Sounds like you, uh, lost your voice," Charlie muttered and quickly looked away from me.

I nodded, watching him. Had he heard me last night? The question seemed almost ridiculous to ask. I was certainly loud enough to be heard across the hallway that separated our bedrooms. Even if he had been asleep, my screams have woken Charlie in the past. But if he had heard me, why didn't he come bursting through the door like he always did, baseball bat in hand?

"Must be from all the screaming," I said flatly, testing him.

Charlie's shouldered jerked at the word "screaming" but he quickly caught himself and smoothed them out, giving a short "Yup" as he turned his attention back to the paper.

Well that answered that question.

"Dad?"

"Yea, Bells?"

"How come you didn't barge into my room last night? When you heard me screaming?"

Charlie shrugged.

"Didn't sound like you needed me."

He must have registered my confused silence, because he set the paper down and sighed.

"The other times, your screams were…hysterical. You used to scream like you needed someone. You know, to come and wake you up. To help you." He paused, choosing his words carefully, "This time, it was different. You sounded different." Then he cracked a grin. "I knew you didn't need my help. I figured you were just… letting off steam."

Letting off steam. I couldn't help but match Charlie's smile. He had no idea. Then I laughed-in a hacking, scratchy kind of way-imagining Charlie in his room listening to me howl Edward's name in a half-rage thrill.

"Something like that," I conceded.

Charlie winked and returned to his article, his smile fading into an apprehensive frown. Whatever he was reading, it was clear he didn't like it.

I could only guess at the type of article that would get Charlie agitated. As reluctant as I was to broach the subject, I figured talking it over with Charlie was better than simply ignoring it.

"More uh… sightings?" I grimaced and dumped my glass of water into the sink, not wanting to look at Charlie when he answered. I opened the door to the fridge and grabbed the carton of eggs, cracking five into a skillet for our breakfast.

"No," Charlie answered, "not sightings. Killings."

Shocked, I turned to face him. The spatula in my hand dripped of yellow yolk.

"Someone killed the bear?"

Charlie gave an aggravated huff.

"No. I wish it was that simple." He pulled out the page of newspaper and held it up for me to see, "There's been a series of animal-caused killings in Seattle and a new one this morning outside of Forks." He turned the page and glanced at the headline wearily, "Five Dead. Record-Sized Bear to Blame."

He considered the headline for a moment and then slammed the paper down onto the table with a loud- WHACK!

"Damn it Bella!" he said, "One this morning just outside of town! Do you know how lucky you and—and that boy—were last night? You were within feet of this thing! You could have been slaughtered." He picked the article up and the surrounding newspaper pages fluttered off the table to the floor.

Charlie held up the thin grey paper and, ticking off information, he read from it: "violent attacks… lacerations… torn limbs… complete loss of blood…" He threw the paper back on the table.

Yolk dripped from the spatula, but I didn't notice. The bear attacks had jolted me and some distant memory of Sam Uley's fiancée, Emily, rose from the back of my mind. It could have been like that, or worse, for me and Quil. We could have been killed.

Charlie, seemingly on the same thought as me, repeated "You were lucky. The both of you."

"Da-" I started, wanting to explain or give some reason for my actions, but he cut me off.

"No more woods. I'm serious Bells. Sightings are one thing, but now this animal is leaving a trail of bodies. And people are setting out to kill it. You've got testosterone-doped hunters out there who all want to come home the hero with that thing tied to the hood of their car. Idiots with guns, likely to shoot first and ask questions later. So listen to me. No. More. Woods."

"Fine," I answered truthfully. "You don't have to convince me on this one. I don't want to go anywhere near trees again."

"Good," he nodded. He looked down at the papers again, shuffling them into a quick pile. "There's something else too, though, Bells," he added.

"Hmm?" I hummed, turning back to the eggs, scrambling them with the spatula.

"Uh…well…I…" Charlie stumbled.

I waited for him to continue. It didn't sound like he was going to so I set the spatula to the side and turned to face him. He looked up at me, quickly, then set his gaze lower, to my feet.

"This, kid, Quil?…"

"Yes…?"

"Did he—did he do anything to you? Anything he shouldn't have?"

I tried to keep my eyes from popping out of their sockets.

"Charlie!"

"Look-I don't know what's going on. I just know that some boy I don't know took my daughter into the woods alone. Then he apologized to you…something about 'losing control'."

Charlie shook his head. "Can't say I liked that. I just want to make sure that you're okay. That I don't have to go and break this kid's neck.

"He didn't…" I started but was interrupted by a fit of coughing. "He didn't…" I tried again, but the coughs would not relent. I gave Charlie an apologetic look and doubled over to finish the fit.

Charlie held up his hand.

"That's all I need to know. That 'he didn't'. That's good enough for me."

I nodded, rubbing my neck.

"Try some honey for your throat, Bells. It's supposed to help stuff like that." Charlie muttered, gathering up the newspaper and sorting through the pages again.

He sounded oddly like Renee in that moment. I speculated if he had overheard her say that once, and that tid-bit remedy had stuck with him over the years. It wasn't like him to suggest something like honey. I doubted if he even a jar of it in the house.

I cocked a small smile at him.

"As long as we're stating our demands, you have to promise me something too."

Charlie raised his eyebrows.

"And what's that?"

"No more calling on my friends to come and fix me. Especially Mike Newton."

Charlie laughed in spite of himself.

"Guess I had that one coming."

I smiled back and returned to the eggs, which were now pretty much ready. Despite the topic of conversation, it felt good to just be with Charlie. Talking, eating breakfast. Normal, simple things done in a normal, simple way. Without over-trying or clouded by pain.

Even though Charlie left before me for work, he would still be late for his shift. I had the strange inkling that he had stayed home just to talk to me. To work things out between us from the previous night. I was glad he did.

Before walking out the door, he asked me to come down to the station after school and file a report about the bear-wolf. He wanted my exact description of it and what had happened. He mentioned trying to reach Quil later for his story as well, and there was a definite tone of distaste in his voice when he spoke Quil's name.

Outside, it was warm, unusually warm for March. Everything was draped in sunlight, and overwhelmingly green. I checked the driveway and the street for cars. Or rather, for a particular silver car. Knowing it was stupid to think he would be here, but unable to stop myself anyway. He had come back into my room for a reason last night. After I was asleep, where he wouldn't have to risk speaking to me. And he would be back again. This I knew. Something was happening in Forks to bring Edward back. I just had to wait him out. I had done it for six months. I could do it again.

I checked the sky again. It didn't look like the sun was going to let up. I would have to make it through an entire day at school before seeing Edward again. He would not emerge until after twilight.

The school parking lot was packed when I pulled up. I had to search for a spot and ended up parking in the slot next to Mike Newton's car. Mike was still sitting in his driver's seat, playing with his cell phone.

He turned brightly to grin at me through the window when I cut the engine of my truck. Like he had been waiting for me the entire time.

I groaned inwardly.

Mike was already at my door opening it for me before I could even gather my books.

"Good morning!" he cheered.

I nodded in response.

"So what did you think of the movie last night? You didn't say much during it," Mike was already prattling about. Without warning he swiftly reached over and took my books from my hand and tucked them under his arm.

I slowed my steps, stunned at Mike's act of chivalry. He always bounced back so quickly. He had gone from trying to woo me, to despising Edward, to graciously giving me space during my blackout, to shunning me when I was with Jacob, and here he was again. Back to being my friend. Back to himself. Like it was the easiest thing in the world. My own journey back had not been so effortless.

Mike slowed, noticing my lag.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his smile wavering at the ends.

"Um," I stalled, clearing my throat, and subconsciously swept my eyes across the length of the parking lot, "nothing," I finished. "It's nothing."

"What's up with your voice? It's all…gravely," Mike asked, tilting his head to the side, appraising me.

My hand went to my neck.

"Frog in my throat," I said and tried to smile like it was a joke.

Mike's smile returned full force.

"Yeah," he agreed, "I get those too." He shifted my books in his arms—tossing my Chemistry and English books back and forth between each hand. "Anyway I'm glad you liked the movie," Mike continued. He seemed not to notice or care that I hadn't answered his initial question. I didn't correct him either.

"I was thinking maybe tonight we could go out to see one. I know a while ago you said you wanted to see that horror movie. There's a new one playing in Port Angeles. I'll pick you up and we could go-maybe grab a burger on the way…" Mike looked over and smiled at me, then he leaned closer and draped one arm over my shoulders as we walked.

I flinched at his touch and side stepped out of his arms.

"Mike, I'm not ready for that," I said candidly. I wasn't ready for any romance whatsoever. Especially none with Mike.

"Alright," he sighed. "Just, let me know when you are, okay? Last time I didn't know when you were dating again until some oversized Indian had moved in already."

"Mike!"

"Sorry, I'm just saying. I want to be first in line this time," he cooed softly as if he was trying to reassure me of his sincerity. I felt one of his hands rest on the small of my back. "When you're ready, of course."

I looked back at him quizzically. Why would he want to be first in line with me, when there was absolutely no waiting with Jessica? They were together…or sleeping together at least.

As if in response to my internal question, I raised my eyes ahead of me and spotted Jessica standing by the front doors of the English building.

Mike and I both stopped this time. And his hand fell off my back like a dead weight.

Jessica pouted her lips at the sight of us, and with a sniff, turned on her heel and walked inside.

Mike ran a hand through his spiky hair and looked over to me. He was blushing.

I bit my lip at him. This wasn't good. Not for him anyway.

"Shouldn't you go after her?" I finally asked. It seemed only right.

"Not really," he said and crinkled his nose, "I kind of…broke up with her this morning."

"This morning?" I gasped. "You were still in your car when I pulled in, when did you have time to break up with her?"

Mike shrugged again.

"While I was in my car."

Mike ducked his head away from my eyes and then went back to tossing my books back and forth from each hand.

"You drove her to school?" I asked feebly. Hoping that maybe Jessica had been in the car with Mike, and had exited quickly before I had pulled in beside them.

Mike shook his head, "Nope."

I winced.

"You called her then?"

"Nope."

"Mike, what did you do?"

His hand went back into his hair and he nervously scratched the top of his head.

"I texted her."

I groaned loudly. He had been texting Jessica when I saw him in his car. Text-messaging a breakup.

This was not good at all. As if I needed another reason for Jessica to be angry with me. This also seemed like Mike had put the final nail in his coffin as far as their relationship was concerned. Although he didn't seem very upset over it.

Shaking my head a little as I looked back at him, I felt my eyes wander from Mike's face to the trees behind him. They were still. Too still. No birds, no sounds, no wind. Nothing. Goosebumps pimpled my arms. Something was in there that drove out everything else.

No, I thought. Not something. Someone. Someone is in there watching me.

"Let's go," I muttered to Mike and took off for the English Building. He trailed behind me as we made our way to our first class.

Entering the classroom, I rubbed my hands over my face. Edward was here at the school. He had left, but hadn't gone far. He was following me, stalking me. And I had no idea what he wanted or why he wouldn't just come out and tell me.

I took a seat in the back of the room and Mike happily fell into the seat next to mine. I cringed away from his wide grin and focused on my notebook waiting for the class to start.

Mr. Berty was droning on about our next paper due at the end of the month. He also advised us that he would be happy to edit any college application essays for us, and to hand them in during the next few weeks to leave room for revision.

I made a note in the corner of my notebook. It read: "College?" I still had no idea what I was going to do after high school. Last year I had another plan entirely. One that didn't involve college application essays, at least.

I was daydreaming, doodling idly on the paper near my college reminder, when a small folded piece of paper landed on the desk in front of me. I glanced up, seeing who tossed the note and Jessica was whirling her head around back to the front of the room. I chewed on my bottom lip, appraising the note.

Finally I unraveled it. Jessica's loopy handwriting stated: "After class. We need to talk."

When I looked up again Jessica had turned back around and was glowering at me. I nodded quickly and then crumpled her note and tucked it into my pocket.

Mike scribbled obliviously on his notebook next to me.

When the bell rang, I collected my papers. Next to my college reminder, before Jessica had interrupted with her note, I had drawn trees. Trees clustered together in a brooding huddle of woods. Under them, I had drawn blade after blade of grass.

Mike coughed, and I shoved my notebook under my arm. He was waiting for me to get up so he could walk me to the other building.

"Um," I sighed, noticing Jessica leaning in the doorway watching us intently, "Mike I'll just see you at lunch, okay? I have to talk to Jessica and I don't want you to be late to your next class."

Mike turned to see Jessica in the doorway and shot me a fleeting look of apologetic fear. I shrugged back, letting him know I was fine and he sulked out the door, brushing past Jessica without one glance.

Jessica was pouting again. And soon we were walking together outside. I walked fast, and quietly, hoping she would just rail me with whatever profanities she had stored up, and I could make an easy retreat.

But she was silent. And when I went to turn towards our next building, she grabbed the sleeve of my shirt and pulled me the other way.

Towards the woods.

"No," I said, stopping short. I tugged my arm away from Jessica's hand. "I'm not going in the woods."

Jessica turned on me.

"Yes, you are Bella!"

I groaned, "Why does everyone want to talk in the woods? What is it? Are you going to hit me or something? Cause you can do that here, you know."

"I'm not going to hit you," she frowned, "though I'd like to."

"Look, Jess. I know things have never been great between us. I'm sor-"

"No!" she snapped. "Don't even try to apologize to me. I don't want to hear it. You knew how I felt about Mike and you still went after him! Is this how you're going to be? Jump from boy to boy? Edward didn't want you, Jacob didn't want you. Now you're going to prey on someone who I want!"

She grabbed my sleeve again and started yanking me towards the trees. This time I let her.

"I helped you! When you needed me. I helped you!" She was ranting now, pulling me along side of her. "I gave you condoms! I gave you my underwear-which I never got back by the way-and you didn't even take my advice! What are you saving it for Mike now?"

"What?" I snapped.

Jessica had no idea what had happened with Jacob on Valentine's Day. That I had used her advice; that her words stuck with me and had ultimately ended in the downfall of my sanity.

"You're going to sleep with Mike just to spite me!" Jessica snapped back.

I almost choked on my laughter.

"You're insane!"

"No Bella!" Jessica cried, "You're insane! You're a freaking nut job! A joke! You can't even get your own friends to come and visit you! Your stupid father has to go around calling up everyone in school to even talk to you."

"Hey!" I shouted, stepping towards her, "Leave Charlie out of this." My voice cracked and my hand automatically went to my throat to soothe it.

"Stay away from Mike!" she screamed.

"Stop it! You're wrong about Mike. I don't want him," I said.

"It doesn't matter!" she cried, "He wants you!" She was stepping away from me now. "What is it about you that makes everyone want you? Cause I sure as hell don't see it!"

I looked back at her. Shocked by her question. It was the same question that always circled my thoughts since I moved to Forks. I had no idea why anyone had ever shown interest. Not Mike, or Jacob, and above all others, not Edward.

"I don't know."

"I don't get it!" Jessica screeched, "Look at you! You don't even sleep with them. You're a fucking virgin and they fall all over you!"

At the word "virgin", the indisputable sound of a chuckle came from behind Jessica. My eyes instantly switched from her to where the laugh had come from. The woods.

Jessica was still standing across from me, her back to the trees. She was obviously too upset to have noticed the laugh. She was twisting her mouth in and out of a frown. When I looked back at her, her eyes were watering.

"Listen," I said quickly, trying to end her tirade so I could face the voice in the woods alone, "You don't have to worry about me and Mike. I swear. I made it clear this morning that it's not going to happen."

"That won't stop him from liking you."

"Maybe not," I sighed, "But, Jess, if I've learned anything. It's that you can't force love. Do you really want to be with Mike if he doesn't love you back?"

She stared at me, trying to stop her tears from spilling onto her face. When the first one did, she spun away from me and I caught her wiping them away.

"Don't even try to give me advice," she said sharply, "We're not friends."

"Understandable. But I still think you deserve someone who really loves you," I answered truthfully.

Jessica sniffed again. "I want my underwear back," she said curtly then strode past me to her class without looking back. There was another chuckle from the woods. I forced myself to remained where I was until Jessica's footsteps fell quiet and she was out of sight.

The trees didn't move. Even after the bell rang signaling the start of next period. Jessica would be in class, out of range. I knew Edward was in there. Watching me and Jessica scream at each other. Chuckling about it.

I sucked in air, preparing myself for another confrontation; this seemed to be the week for fighting in the woods.

"Was that amusing to you?" I said quietly, knowing he could hear me. My voice cracked and I winced.

he chuckle started again through the trees and for a second I almost flamed again with anger as if it were mocking my hoarse throat. But then the low chuckle boomed into deafening full-out laughter.

I stepped back, listening to the laugh. This definitely was not Edward. Edward's laugh didn't boom. Who the hell was in there? Watching me and laughing like a madman?

The trees crunched and curled as two enormous hands swept them to the side. The laughter only amplified as Emmet Cullen broke from the woods, making no attempt to stifle his amusement.

"Emmett?"

My face must have matched the shock in my voice, because he took one look at me and busted into another fit of hilarity.

"What—what are you doing here?" I asked, straining to look up at him. I'd forgotten how huge he was. Pale marble muscles wrapped around his thick arms. He was wearing a wife-beater, and the exposed skin sparkled in the open sun.

He seemed to become aware of this, because he quickly stepped backward into the cover of the trees.

"Come 'ere," he said, in what he must have thought was a whisper. Although, Emmett's whispers were just as loud as his usual voice.

"No," I shook my head, "No woods for me today."

Emmett smirked, continuing to wave me closer.

Oh hell, I thought and took a few steps forward. I placed my feet exactly where the stretch of sunlight ended and the trees began.

The grin on Emmett's face widened and he reached down and put one of his massive hands on my shoulder.

"Everything's more fun with you around, Bella," he laughed, "I thought it was going to be a pain in the ass having to watch you all day. But, damn, I mean I thought that Stanley chick was going to bitch-slap you."

Watching me all day? I narrowed my eyes at him, waiting for him to explain. But he only shook his head in delight and kept going.

"And then, I overhear that you're a virgin…like I'm not supposed to laugh at that! Edward would fucking flip his shit if he knew that I heard that about you." He snorted and mused to himself, "'Disrespecting your privacy', or something. But come on, I was right here!" he indicated a spot behind a tree, "He can't put me on babysitting duty without assuming I'll hear or see something he didn't want me to know."

I looked back at him in shock. Emmett obviously believed Jessica's accusation that I was still a virgin. And he was also, obviously, very amused by this. I felt blood rushing to my cheeks. I didn't know whether to be relieved or embarrassed. Relieved because Emmett didn't know the truth. Didn't know about Jacob. Which meant, hopefully, that Edward didn't either. I could keep that one secret to myself for the rest of my life. And embarrassed because, knowing Emmett, I would never hear the end of it.

He noticed the red in my cheeks.

"Aw, don't worry. I'm not going to make fun of you…" he paused, "yet." Then he barked out another laugh.

I rubbed my hands over my face; this day was not going very well. The stalker turned out not to be Edward after all. It was Emmett, watching me at home, watched Mike Newton put his arm around me, and watched gleefully as Jessica and I had our showdown.

But then my spirit brightened. Emmett was here. Not Edward. Not brooding, jump out of the window and run away Edward. Emmett would give me some answers. He'd always liked me. He'd tell me what the heck was going on.

"Emmett," I said slowly and plastered a smile on my face, trying to coax it out of him, "can you tell me what's going on?"

His eyes shifted away from mine and he broke off a branch from the nearest tree and started peeling the bark with his fingernails. Avoiding the question.

"I can't," he said, and his tone let on that he didn't particularly like that fact, "You know how he is. I wasn't even supposed to be seen—or heard." He quirked a smile and tossed the tree branch to the floor, "That's out the window now, though. I swear I'd woulda been fucking awesome at this stealth shit if it wasn't for your cat-fight."

"It wasn't a cat-fight," I said dryly. "But how about," I went on, "I just ask a few questions and, if you can, you answer them?"

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. Fuck it."

I grinned back at him. Finally, someone willing to work with me here.

"Okay. Why are you and Edward back in Forks?"

"Pass. That's for him to tell you."

I frowned. This was going no where fast.

"Well then, what about the rest of your family? Are they here too?" I stopped, clearing my throat a little, "Carlisle? Alice?"

I squeezed onto my books in my hand, pressing them firmly to my chest. I hadn't realized how much I had missed Alice. How much a friend like her would have been nice to have around these last six months.

Emmett shook his head.

"Just me and Edward. Jasper was with us for a while but he…uh…never mind."

"He what?" I leaned in closer.

"Pass."

"Emmett!" I called, "Come on, are you going to let Edward dictate your every word? When he says jump do you ask how high?" I raised my eyebrows at him, hoping this would strike the right cord with Emmett. Hoping his testosterone levels would want to squash any implication that someone else called the shots. And that he would spill everything just to prove me wrong.

He only snorted. "Nice try, Bella."

Frustration boiled through me. I stomped my foot hard on the ground. "Tell me!"

At this Emmett started to laugh again. So hard he clutched a hand to his stomach, doubling over.

"You. Just." he said between laughs, "Stomped. Your. Foot."

I sneered back at him but he ignored it.

"You are fucking hilarious when you're mad! Like a little angry bunny rabbit."

That did it.

"A bunny rabbit?" I yelled, and damn my voice for cracking as I said it. I heaved my armful of books at him and they flew in every direction. Emmett dodged them easily but I kept shouting.

"You're just like your brother, do you know that? Maddeningly condescending and frustrating beyond belief! He left last night! Like a coward. And sent you to do his bidding. So guess what, you're going to tell me what you know whether you like it or not!"

This sent him reeling again. And if vampires could cry I bet tears would have been rolling down his face in pure enjoyment.

"Alright, alright," he said steadying himself, "Just not the books again. Anything but the books!" He continued to mock me and I frowned at him. But at least I knew he was going to talk.

"Jasper, um, fell off the wagon. He didn't mean to, of course. Just happened."

A chill ran up my spine at his words.

"What do you mean 'fell off the wagon'? Do you mean that he…"

Emmett nodded. "A human got too close to us when…" he trailed off, not finishing his thought, he shrugged and continued "Of course he couldn't come back up with us, so he met up with Alice to go chill out for awhile."

My throat went dry for a reason that had nothing to do with losing my voice. Jasper had killed someone. There was a victim of Jasper's weakness for human blood. The darker thought, it could have been me, nipped at the back of my mind. Jasper had been close to doing the same thing to me at my disastrous birthday party. It was the reason for all of this.

How did this all come together? I stared back at Emmett, trying to make sense of what he was telling me. Jasper had killed someone. Now Emmett and Edward were in Forks, and somehow…all of this came back to me.

"What does this have to do with me?" I gulped, not knowing whether I wanted to hear the answer or not.

"I'm telling ya, ain't I? Shit gets interesting when you're around. Shame about Jasper but he'll get over it. At least I got to see a little action. You know, enjoy the hunt." He pumped his eyebrows at me, as if I knew what he was talking about.

"The hunt?"

"The hunt. The tracking. That's what we were doing. Edward, Jasper, and me. Tracking that redhead that was with James last year. Followed her all the way down to Texas."

It was like the wind was just kicked out of me.

"Victoria?" I gasped. Saying her name out loud seemed to rattle fears I had long forgotten. They shook now inside of me…echoing Emmett's words. James. Victoria. The hunt.

"Yeah," Emmett nodded, "we tracked her down. Hunted for her. There was an awesome fight. Normally, it would have been easy…three against one… but she had this human with her. Some dude. He tried to help her and blood was spilt. Well, Jasper couldn't help himself. But, we think she was planning on turning the guy anyway. Make herself a new mate."

I blinked back at him. They had tracked Victoria and killed her. For what? What did any of this have to do with Forks? With me?

"Why did you go after her, Emmett? How does all of this bring you, and him, to me?"

Emmett frowned, looking irritated.

"I can't. Shit, Bella. I would tell you, but…believe me, that part needs to come from him."

"He's told me nothing!" I snapped. "He didn't say a word last night about a fight! Your brother just ambushed me in my room and now you're following me to school. Obviously I'm involved in this and I need to know why!" Coughing overcame me and I shot him a loathing glare before I doubled over gagging.

"Okay! Okay! SHIT!" Emmett snarled. He shot forward and kicked a stone from the earth. It shattered on impact, then muttered to himself, "I wasn't even supposed to be seen."

I caught my breath, my eyes watering from the coughing, and met Emmett's golden eyes.

"He's got to tell you himself," Emmett said roughly, "If I knew where the hell he was I would take you to him—but I don't! He's off at some fucking meadow he keeps blathering on about—like I know where that is. And I can't track him cause there's some god-awful stench reeking from your house. I can't catch Edward's scent from there with a nose full of that shit."

Every muscle in my body froze.

Grass.

Green grass, glinting in the sunlight. I pictured clearly the endless field of grass that I had dreamed about for weeks. And knew that's where he was.

Our meadow.

"Emmett—"

He ignored me again and raised his vocals into a perfect imitation of Edward's smooth voice. "The meadow this. The meadow that! Just watch her for me, Emmett. I need to collect myself. I need to prepare."

"EMMETT!" I shouted, grabbing his attention. He looked back at me, surprised by the urgency in my voice. "I know where Edward is."

"You do?" Emmett asked. Now he actually looked impressed.

"Yes. But, I'm not sure exactly how to get there. He," I swallowed, "he always carried me."

"Get me as far as you can. From there, I can follow his scent the rest of the way."

Nodding and taking a deep, rasping breath, I stepped forward into the woods.

With my discarded schoolbooks scattered around him, Emmett bent his knees to the ground in front of me, low enough for me to climb onto his back. His grin was as wide as his face.

"See what I mean, Bella? Much more fun when you're around," he chuckled again to himself. "Now hop on, spider monkey."

.

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