My feet pounded on the pavement.

My pulse thudded through my ears; blocking out any and all sound except for the beat of my heart.

I had to run. I had to get away from the monster in that house.

Nothing was chasing me, but I had to get away from the horror that lied in that house.

You see, my 'monster' was not real in the physical sense.

It was a mental and emotional monster.

Nothing was chasing me. It was more of a running desperately to get away from something.

I was sprinting to Aaron's house. It was the fastest I had ever run without my powers but I still couldn't get there fast enough. Technically, I could have called but then he would have come over to the house and I wanted to get away.

It was early morning in summertime and if Aaron had been human, it would have been rude to go over right now.

Here was my problem.

In these last 10 months (it was July now), my parents had lived under the same roof, lived in the safe house, shared the safe food, etc.

We had functioned like a normal loving family, as if we no different than all the other families around us. Not including my supernatural abilities.

But we were different, and it was the biggest difference that I had forgotten. The biggest difference that was my 'monster.'

My parents were divorced.

They had taken my adjusting to my supernatural powers as recovering from the beating. Well, they had realized I was fine now and they metaphorically ripped the rug from under my feet and sent my tumbling.

They had given me two huge announcements three nights ago.

1) My dad was leaving in a little less than a week.

2) My mom's new boyfriend Phil-who I didn't even know existed much less dated my mom-was coming to visit from Tennessee or Mississippi or something. His name was Phil Dwyer.

Now, I loved country and my parents sometimes called me their country girl and my mom had even promised me my own pair of boots someday, so this would have been great news if my dad wasn't leaving only a week before Phil arrived.

I would have gone to Aaron's earlier, but he had just gotten back late/early last night/morning from a hunting trip so I could only now go see him.

I kicked my sprint up a notch as I turned onto Aaron's street.

Words could not express how relived I was that he didn't sleep and that I didn't have to call ahead to see if he was up or not.

Usually, I was too shy and felt too awkward to barge right through the door without knocking but I did now.

I threw the door open and tore up the stairs. I flew through his bedroom door-literally-and threw myself into his arms.

"Bella?" he asked, concerned. Just his voice made the tears come harder. "What's wrong?"

"He's leaving!" I wailed as his arms wrapped around me and held me tight.

"Shh, Bella," he tried to sooth me-to no avail-as I sobbed into his chest. "Who's leaving?"

"DADDY! I forgot…that…they are…d-divorced!"

His arms tightened as he rocked me back and forth, murmuring pure nonsense all the while.

Voices drifted up into my consciousness as I opened my eyes wearily.

I wasn't even aware I had fallen asleep.

Tear tracks still ran down my face; the horrors had invaded even my dreams.

Aaron wasn't next to me, but I was still in his bed.

I sat up-running my hand through my hair-and went to sit at the top of the stairs to see if I could make out what was being said between my mom and Aaron without them seeing me or knowing I was here.

I couldn't see them, but I felt Aaron make a 'shooing' motion behind his back-obviously directed at me.

Well, at least without my mom knowing I was here.

His voice floated up to me again although he was addressing my mom.

"I'm asking why, Renee."

"I do not have to explain myself to you Aaron." My mother snapped angrily. Great.

"You darn well do when your daughter is running to me in the early morning because you and your ex weren't smart enough to remember to explain to her that you weren't getting back together."

"She should have known."

"Yeah? How Renee? Is she psychic? You've been living with Charlie like you were married for the past 10 months. You didn't tell her about your online boyfriend and now you are planning your new boyfriend's visit-who she didn't know about might I reiterate-only a week after her actual dad leaves after he's been a constant presence for the last 10 months? Are you completely insane?"

"How dare you tell me how to raise my daughter! I am her mother-!"

"THEN START ACTING LIKE IT!" Aaron bellowed so loud I'm shocked it didn't shake the house and neighbors didn't start running over. "You are acting like a forgetful teenage not a-supposedly-responsible mother! You have a daughter! Now, get out before you do any more damage."

"Bella belongs to me. I am not leaving without her."

Aaron moved to tower over my mother and I felt her shrink back in fear.

When he spoke again, it sent chills down my spine-even knowing that he'd never hurt her.

"I will send her home when she is good and ready to deal with you and your crap and not a moment before. Now, get out before I put you out."

I could almost feel my mother's glare as she turned around, walked out, and slammed the door.

"You can come down now, Bella."

I waited until my mother had driven away before I appeared instantaneously at his side.

And yes, I do mean instantaneously. I had basically mastered my air sense. It was the power that we had worked with and strengthened the most since it would be the most useful to me as a human.

Now, Aaron could be on a full out spring and I could still run faster than him with little exertion on my part. It was kinda unnerving that I could run faster than a vampire but I quickly got over that.

Sometime, I could even help Aaron go faster with that same sense.

Everything wasn't clear and seeable- like it was for a vampire-when I was running. But I never hit anything because I used that extra sense to tell me where everything was so I wouldn't hit a tree, or a rock, sprain an ankle, or anything like that.

I was quickly becoming addicted to speed.

When I reached his side, Aaron quickly wrapped his arms around me and I melted into his hug.

A few weeks later…

I laid on my bed, strangely happy.

My mom's boyfriend, Phil, was staying her for the next few months and I figured that we would be going wherever he would now that my mom and him knew what it was like to be with each other instead of texting or something like that.

Phil's job was in the process of transferring him somewhere so we didn't know where we were going yet.

I was oddly content despite the fact that my dad was now back in Forks.

When Phi first got here, I was basically sulky. I didn't want some new dad. He scored major points though, when he came up and introduced himself to me.

"Hi, Bella. I'm Phil. I hope we'll be able to be great friends in the future."

He didn't expect to replace my dad.

My like for him only increased when a few days later in produced the best thing in the world.

A cowgirl outfit, complete with my own set of boots.

The top was a dark tan tank top with a blue light long sleeve shirt that could be buttoned down but we tied in a knot in the front with long dark blue jeans. The boots were brown with these flame looking things going down the front and the back with blue tips.

Needless to say, I didn't really mind my mom's new boyfriend.

A few more weeks later…

Aaron threw me for a loop today.

Of course, the day started out normal enough.

I got up, had breakfast with Phil and my mom, called my dad, and then started to head over to Aaron's house.

Aaron had gotten around to showing me the hidden basement. I had a hard time containing my smirk when he gaped at me when I told him I already knew about it.

Said basement was filed with weapon of every kind. You named it; he had it.

"Tell me what exactly are any of these going to do against a vamp? Your skin is a bit harden then a human's and certainly harder than these weapon's exteriors." I had demanded of him.

"That's true. But I wouldn't put it past someone to use one of them to try and kill you with a human-made weapon.

So, we practiced. With swords, knumchucks, long sticks and just about everything in between.

It was now an unspoken agreement that after I had gotten used to the fell of whichever weapon we were using, we would go all out.

I was actually the one that demanded we do so. He protested, but my reasoning and logic was sound. Other vamps weren't going to hold back when they fought against me, why should he? Besides, if we didn't go all out I'd never learn.

So we did.

At first it had been painful as he was obviously much better than me.

Slowly though, I got better and started to be able to block out the pain when I was hit. We were equal sparring partners now. I beat him just as much as he beat me.

Did I mention we were sparring at vampire speed?

Well, anyways, he surprised me by pulling up in front of my house n a car.

He drove us to some secluded area of trees to park. I was in a blue shirt and tan shorts which was completely normal considering it was august and all, but I couldn't understand why he was in just a pair of jeans. I thought that they didn't get hot…. or cold.

As I was contemplating, he did something that made me panic.

He took a step into the sun.

Uttering a wordless cry of panic-and acting on pure instinct-I threw a hand out a threw him back into the shade.

He gave a surprised yelp as he was jerked sideways and crashed into a tree.

"Bella! What was that for" he demanded as he got up and brushed himself off.

"You were going out into the sun! You're not allowed to do that, remember?"

He stared at me in shock for about half a minute before he slapped his forehead with his palm.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I forgot you didn't know."

What in the world…

"Know what?"

He smiled. "Vampires don't burn in the sun."

I could only blink stupidly at him for a couple of seconds. "They don't?"

"No."

"Well…they why don't you go out into it where people can see if you don't burn?"

"Well, it's conspicuous. I'll show you, just don't throw me again ok?"

At me nod, he stepped from the shade into the sun and my jaw fell open in shock.

He literally sparkled, like smooth diamonds forced into his skin.

At first I could only stare at him in awe, but I had to feel for myself it his skin was still smooth.

It was.

It took a couple more minutes, but eventually I found my voice again.

"You weren't kidding when you said it was conspicuous."

He laughed-whether at the biggest understatement of the year I had me or at my awe I couldn't tell.

"Come on. Let's spar."

So we did.

About a month later…

I was 9.

Finally.

Another month or so later…

My mom had finally gotten over her grudge at Aaron-although I couldn't understand why she was mad at him in the first place. It was her fault I had had a breakdown.

My mom and Phil had 'made it official'-which I couldn't understand cause it wasn't like they were unofficial before-and got engaged. They were to be married in a couple months. What surprised me was Phil. Usually they pick Best Man as a father or a brother.

Phil picked Aaron.

My mom had her sister as Maid of Honor and me as a flower girl.

After my mom finished her job her and we said goodbye to Aaron-or so she thought-until the wedding we were off to Mississippi.

That was where Phil started his new job-minor league baseball.

I rolled my eyes but I didn't complain too much since we were going to a country state.

And Aaron was coming too-although my mom was unaware of that part and I wouldn't be able to see him as often.

We would have the wedding there in Mississippi.

Aaron was thinking about starting a clothesline to bring in more money for himself-and me, apparently.

I would probably end up helping him design stuff.

As for now, we would continue with elemental practice until then.

Until I was named leader of the supernatural.

How cool did that sound?

A/N: I hope you are happy. This one was longer.

PLEASE review! I am on my knees begging!

Even if you just drop in to say hi.

Also check out my new website for this story. I've got photos and Bio's for new characters that I mention in this story, like the McCarthy siblings and the elementals. Give it a try:http/www. (candiifiction) .(webs).(com)

Without the spaces and () give it a try.

Enjoy and Review!