This is by far my favorite chapter I have written. I hope you all enjoy it just as much.

Go check out "Crooked Halo's and Ink Junkies" by ecandme...this woman is amazing and her story is so wonderful. I love her to no end!

Running in circles
Confusion is calling my name
Hiding inside of this poisoning madness again
I'm tired, I'm broken
I'm walking along with the dead

Will I ever feel like I once did

The sun had long set as I exited swiftly through the front door. I saw a swing nestled in the corner of the porch and headed towards it. Curling my legs underneath myself, I sank down into the cushioned seat, pulling out my pack of smokes from my pocket and lit one. I had barely gotten two drags off the cigarette when the front door opened. Desperately wanting some solitude, I tried in vain to hide in the darkness.

Jasper stepped onto the porch and in the soft yellow glow of the sole porch light I saw him turn his head towards me. I sighed, realizing I was not going to get a chance to work through my emotions alone.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, standing awkwardly in front of the swing. I absently waved my hand, inviting him to my little pity party. "Can I bum one?" He pointed at the cigarette poised in my left hand. "It's been ages since I had one. Alice doesn't really approve, ya know."

I silently pulled out the pack and the lighter and handed it to him, watching as he pulled one out and lit it, pulling a hard drag before sighing.

"Bells…" he started.

"Don't, Jazz," I interrupted. "I don't need your sympathy or your explanations. She's right. I've always known that I didn't belong with you guys. Hell, I don't belong anywhere. You and Alice have been nice enough taking pity and befriending the 'new girl'. Rose isn't telling me anything I don't already know."

"Alice and I weren't nice to you out of pity, Bella. I'm sure you've heard the rumors. We've never gone out of our way to be nice to anyone. People usually steer clear of us and we do the same. Don't let her get to you. You do belong, and we want you here. Don't let her make you feel insecure or unsure of yourself, Bells. You're tough…just as tough as she is."

"How the hell do you know how I feel, Jazz?" I accused. "And damn fucking straight I'm as tough as she is. I've never given two shits about what anyone thought of me before, but something about this…about your family…I don't know, Jazz…something feels different. It's like I need to be here. Why? I don't know…but I do know that having her blatantly point out the obvious just pisses me the fuck off!" I ranted, snuffing out my cigarette and immediately lighting another.

"Trust your instincts, Bella.. We need you in our lives just as much as you need us. Time will prove Alice correct. She's never been wrong," he countered.

"So what, this is all because of some fucked up vision Alice had? That's the only reason you and Alice were nice to me? Why Edward has done some weird one-eighty and is suddenly interested in being a human being? Fuck that! I'm not putting myself out there just so Alice can keep her perfect track record," I yelled, abruptly standing up and storming towards the porch stairs.

"Bella!" Jasper yelled, quickly following after me and gently grabbing my arm, spinning me around to face him. "That's not what I meant. I'll admit, we went out of our way because of Alice initially, but Bella, I haven't seen Alice this happy in…I can't remember when. She loves you. And I thoroughly enjoy your company too. I haven't had a real friend in a very long time, and I feel like you and I have become just that…friends," he confessed, smiling sheepishly.

"As for Edward…I can tell you that from the first moment he met you he felt something for you…but Edward is stubborn. It took him awhile to acknowledge and accept those feelings. Hell, even Emmett thinks of you as an honorary little sister…though having just met you…officially. And…I know you haven't met Carlisle and Esme yet, but they've heard so much about you from Alice and Edward that they already consider you a part of the family. Just don't give up on us, Bella. Not because of Rose," he begged..

I had never heard Jasper be so honest…or talkative. Our usual encounters consisted of simple bullshitting. Just as quickly as it had come, my anger dissipated. I threw myself at Jasper, engulfing him in a tight hug.

"Thank you... I'm really glad we've become friends. Having friends hasn't always been the easiest thing for me... I'm usually more comfortable alone, but being with you and Alice makes me feel like...like I've come home. I'm sorry I doubted you or her. I promise, I'm not giving up on any of you." My voice was muffled by the fact that my face was smashed against his shoulder.

Jasper pulled me tighter against his chest and whispered in my ear, "Have patience, Bella. Rose isn't evil…I promise."

I broke away from Jasper feeling significantly much better and followed him back into the house. Rose kept her distance and eventually we all went our separate ways and headed to bed.

I awoke Saturday morning feeling slightly "off". I wasn't sure if it was from the shit that went down between Rose and me the night before or if it was something else entirely, but I already felt on edge. I dressed quickly and made my way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Alice and Emmett stood in the middle of the massive space, covered head to toe in various types of food, but the island was filled with every kind of breakfast food imaginable. Pancakes, waffles, fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, toast…it was an all you could eat buffet.

"Jesus…you planning on feeding an army?" I asked, heading straight for the coffee pot.

"Actually, it's all for you. We weren't sure what you preferred, so we made a little of everything," Emmett announced proudly.

"What about everyone else?" I asked, eyeing the massive display of food in front of me.

"Well Emmett and I have been picking while we were cooking, so we're stuffed, and Edward and Rose don't normally eat breakfast. Jasper already left to run some errands," Alice said.

After taking a little of everything to be polite, I was beyond full. Emmett and Alice refused my help in doing the dishes, leaving me to shower and get dressed for the day. As I descended the stairs for a second time that morning, I was annoyed to find only Rosalie, sitting curled up on the couch, flipping through a magazine.

I walked passed her, purposely ignoring her and went out to the back porch for a morning smoke. As I leaned against the rail, enjoying the quiet the surrounding forest provided, I heard the back door open and footsteps approach behind me.

"Ugh…why are you still here? I honestly thought you would have gotten the point yesterday," a female voice said behind me. I cringed as the realization that Rosalie had followed me outside registered. I closed my eyes and clenched my fists before turning around.

"What the fuck is your problem? Everyone else seems to want me here but you. Are you really that insecure? Get over yourself. I pose no threat to you…you're gorgeous and perfect. I get it. We all fucking get it." I threw my hands up in frustration.

"You're just a temporary fascination to them. They'll come to their senses soon enough," she answered nonchalantly, examining her perfectly manicured nails.

"Oh my fucking God. I am not in the mood for this shit today, Rose. Just leave me the fuck alone…go back inside and…I don't know…primp yourself or something," I said, turning back around and lighting another cigarette.

"Sorry. No can do. The others went out and unfortunately I was assigned pet sitting duty," she answered, lowering herself into the wicker lounge chair on the deck.

"Fine…I'll leave then." I pushed myself off the deck banister and made my way down the deck stairs, crossing the expansive back lawn and walked towards the forest. I glanced quickly behind me and was relieved to see that Rose had not left her perch on the chair. I followed a narrow path that carved through the trees deep into the forest.

It was relatively cold out and a slight drizzle had begun to fall, making me grateful I had been smart enough to have dressed in long sleeves and thrown on a black hoodie before leaving the house. I followed the path further, admiring the varying shades of green that surrounded me.

After almost half an hour, I reached a clearing among the trees. It was relatively small, but a perfect place to get some peace and quiet and it afforded me the opportunity to be alone and far from Rose. There was an uprooted tree which had fallen perfectly between two large Oaks, creating an almost bench type area. Folding my legs under me, I sat down on the makeshift seat, holding my head in my hands.

I replayed my conversations with both Edward and Jasper. Each had assured me that Rose wasn't a threat, but I was beginning to think they underestimated the malevolence of their sister. She had been nothing but a thorn in my side since day one. I had promised Jasper that I wouldn't give up on the rest of them…and it was a promise I intended to keep.

Edward and I had only begun to explore the mutual feelings we had for each other, and I refused to let a tyrant like Rose ruin that for us. My life had been turned upside down by the death of my mother, and damn it, I deserved some happiness. Some escape from the anger and hurt harboring deep in my heart and soul, and if Edward could provide that, then Rose be damned. I would put up with her constant berating and insults, and I would show that bitch that Bella Swan was not someone to be messed with.

I pushed up my sleeves and dug out my cigarettes, lighting one as I began formulating a plan of attack. A soft rustling from my left captured my attention, pulling me from my internal scheming. From behind a curtain of ferns emerged a lone man, his hair jet black, long, and tied tightly into a ponytail at the base of his neck. He wore a simple black T-shirt and ripped jeans. Despite the rain and frigid temperature, he had no jacket and no shoes. His frame was muscular and his skin the color of Alabaster - almost the exact same color as Alice and Edwards.

I scrambled to my feet, faster than I thought was even possible for my clumsy self and backed up a bit. He stopped just on the outskirts of the ferns, seeming to inhale deeply.

"Well, this is a surprise," he cooed, his voice thick with a foreign accent and raising tiny goose bumps across my skin. "I was unaware anyone was out here." He took a few steps further into the clearing, his mouth curving up into a twisted grin. As he continued to advance towards me I took notice of his eyes. The deep scarlet color seemed to swim and dance with excitement.

"Are you…lost?" I asked, fear lacing my voice. I mentally began trying to calculate an escape route. I was surrounded on all sides by forest and at least five miles from the Cullen's house. My mind surmised that the odds of a successful escape were not in my favor.

"No, Child. I seem to have found what I was looking for; the girl with the Ankh tattoo. Though I must say, I'm a bit astounded that I could not sense you before." He inhaled deeply again. "In fact, I still can't seem to smell you…but that is neither here nor there at this point." He pressed towards me further, stopping barely ten feet away from me. I self consciously covered my tattooed wrist with my other hand.

"I'm sorry. You must have me confused with someone else. I should really get back…I have friends expecting me," I lied in a futile attempt to prevent whatever this monster was planning.

"Oh…I don't think I'm confused. This won't take long," he answered, crouching low to the ground and exposing his unnaturally perfect teeth. Accepting the fact that I wouldn't be able to fight him off or escape, I closed my eyes and waited for the attack.

Suddenly my back was flattened against the trunk of a tree and I tensed, waiting for the pain. When after a few seconds no pain registered, I hesitantly opened my eyes. Rose stood with her back to me, crouched with both arms bent backwards, creating a human cage around me. A menacing sound bubbled up from her throat. A growl? Was that a growl? What the fuck is happening? I tilted my head over Rose's shoulder. My attacker was still crouched down, mimicking Rosalie's stance. His ruby eyes bounced back and forth between Rose and me.

"She is with me and I suggest you leave, Nomad. Others are on their way," Rose warned.

"Do yourself and your coven a favor and let me have her. Your human here is a hot commodity you know. If she is who I think she is, there is a rather large bounty on her head," he countered.

"Placed by whom?" Rose questioned.

Coven? Hot commodity? Bounty? Holy fuck…what the hell…

"Ahh that is not information I am at liberty to disclose. Just…let me have her. Save yourself," Red – as I had nicknamed him due to his eyes– answered.

"Over my dead body," Rose replied. Red laughed in response then suddenly, he pushed off the ground and leapt towards us. An angry snarl ripped from Rose's chest as she sprang towards him in response, both colliding in mid air. The sound of their two bodies colliding resounded like a crack of thunder, echoing and bouncing off every tree in the forest. My hands instinctively flew to cover my ears, protecting them from the deafening noise. Both of them landed on their feet with unnatural grace.

Rose and Red circled each other, disturbing and intimidating snarls resonating from both of them. Their movements became too fast for my eyes to follow, only the sound of scraping metal alerting me to their positions.

I staggered forward, abandoning my position against the tree trunk. Wet, fat tears threatened to fall as I screamed Rose's name, terrified that she was hurt. I spun around in circles, following the deafening noise as they moved around me.

Suddenly, strong hands grabbed my shoulder and pulled me backwards. I stumbled, slamming back into the trunk of the tree. My hands instinctively reached behind me and grabbed on to the tree, holding on to it with all my strength. In front of me stood five figures, all crouched and making the same menacing sound as Rose. Three of the figures I recognized – Alice, Jasper and Emmett. The other two figures were strangers; a tall, blond, younger looking man and a small, slender woman with caramel-colored hair flowing down her back, stopping just past her shoulders.

Cold hands grabbed the sides of my face and turned my head. It took a moment for my shocked eyes to register the face floating in front of me; Edward.

"Bella, Bella…are you okay?" he asked, quickly appraising me up and down, panic and anger mixing and swirling in his wild, black eyes.

My fingers dug deeper into the tree trunk as I nodded and uttered the only words my brain could manage. "Rose…my God, please…help Rose," I cried.

Chapter lyrics by Godsmack, song titled "Make Me Believe". I would love to hear what you all thought of this chapter. Did you love it as much as I do, was it missing something? Let me know.