A/N: WHOOOO! I am finally out of school, and ready to get my summer ON! Exams sucked butt, and I ended up with a C in Chemistry, but only as the semester grade...still sucks. I turned sixteen last Thursday, and I do not feel any different...oh well. Here is chapter 9, hope you enjoy! :D

One week later...

That morning I had woken with swollen eyes and a throat that felt like sandpaper. I woke up like this a lot of mornings, for crying myself into unconsciousness every night was the only way I could sleep. Sometimes I still thought how my father was doing, or if he was alive. I hoped and prayed every day that I would just get a glimpse of him, just to see if he was well.

As I had rubbed the sleep from my eyes, I had tried to convince myself that what had happened the past week had been a bad dream. But as the week had slowly progressed on, I had to accept that I'd never see Mama or Lizzy again. As our backs and hands ached from our daily digging, I asked Alice to explain exactly what became of my family. Listening, I felt like someone had punched me in the gut, knocking me to the ground, unable to breathe. And the problem was that I was not sure I would be able to get back up.

It was then time for our food and we're escorted to the building. As I sat down on the cold floor, I tasted the soup. It was disgusting, but I was starving, so I took my chances and ate it anyways with a grimace on my face.

As I ate the little bit of soup I had, all of a sudden Alice and I heard a clatter to our left. When I looked over, I saw that a boy who looked to be about 16 or 17 had dropped his bowl on the ground, his soup spilling over and out onto the grimy ground.

It seemed that no one said a word or breathed for a few seconds. Then all hell broke loose. Men and women all around threw themselves to the ground, licking the dirt to get the drop of soup there. I stared horrified while people behaved like wild animals that fought over their prey. Alice quickly grabbed my arm, dragging me away quickly.

"Eile, we must go before-..." a shot interrupted Alice, ringing in our ears. I looked back and saw the people on the ground being beaten and shot at. I quickly turned away, knowing they would soon inevitably be beaten to death. We kept running.

All of a sudden, while rounding the corner of a building, Alice and I were tugged behind it. Before I could draw the breath to scream, a hand was clamped over our mouths. I looked at our attacker, and saw big blue eyes, and dark curly blonde hair.

Alice gasped, and threw her arms around this stranger. "Jasper? Was machst du...?" But before she could speak, he shushed her.

"Come, we must-..." there was screaming, and multiple shots rang out. Jasper, now looking afraid, tucked Alice into his side and turned to go.

"Warten! What about Bella?" Alice stopped and grabbed my arm, only for Jasper to grab her back.

He looked anxious and tense. "No! I must take care of you! They will kill anyone near here, and with her, it will only slow us down!" He looked at Alice with fear and... and something else. He hadn't even spared me with a glance, for it seemed he had eyes only for Alice.

As I looked on, It dawned on me that if I went with them,they had a bigger chance of getting hurt. Though I didn't understand it, I saw that Jasper cared for Alice deeply, and that she would be safer with him than with me. He was right, I would just slow them down, so I did something stupid. Knowing Jasper had a hold of Alice, I ran back.

EPOV

Outside my office, I heard gun shots near the dinner building. This was just about a daily occurrence, but when I glanced at the window, I saw a streak of black spiky hair...with a head of familiar mahogany waves following. Without thinking, I was up and out of my chair and outside in about 10 seconds. I didn't think, but searched frantically. As I did this, I thought back to the past week...

*Flashback*(earlier this week)

I was eating my breakfast in the early morning, leaning against the building outside. It was only a coincidence that I had a perfect view of the front doors to the place where she slept.

Ugh! I thought. Not only have I turned soft, but I am a stalker now? Just then Guards went to front to wake up Bella's building.

As she came out into the light, I saw some changes in her.

Hmm...how awful the past week seemed to be for her. Her clothes hung more loosely from her frame, making her look more innocent and fragile than before. Her hair was pulled back into a braid that went down to the middle of her back. Even with the slight distance, I could see that her eyes were swollen and just a little sunken in, making her cheekbones jut out from her pretty heart-shaped face. As I continued to stare at her from my safe distance, a thought hit me like a ton of bricks. Despite her haggard appearance, she was still...beautiful.

At that, an uncomfortable knot formed in my stomach, making it hard to breathe. I quickly turned away, and went to my office. Once there, I sat in my desk chair, my elbows on the desk, and my face in my hands. You know, I thought, I hope this doesn't become a habit. I didn't like being uncomfortable, and that was what this...this...Jewish girl was making me feel. But, she was making me feel other things...but they made me uncomfortable too. I started to think that I might end up like Dr. Whitlock...he was one of my best friends, but what he did was stupid. Saving a Jewish girl who was supposed to die-...I stopped mid thought, putting my face in my hands.

IDIOT! That is exactly what you did! What a fool I am...

A FEW DAYS LATER...(still in the flashback)

I stormed into my office, plopping myself into my chair. I have been doing that a lot this week, and it was because of what a fool I was...

The first day I watched Bella, I couldn't stop myself from doing the same thing, every morning. The knot in my stomach would tighten on my way there, but as soon as I saw her, it seemed to melt everything away, leaving me with a weak feeling. I finally could no longer deny the strong pull I had to Bella, and couldn't stay away from her any longer.

I never spoke to her, but just watched. Sometimes during the day I would walk the campus grounds, just looking. And more often than not, I would see Bella. Just glimpses, but enough to feel the knot disappear in my stomach. It would wind up, and tighten until the point of pain, but seeing her made it go away, giving me peace. I couldn't understand it, but I think I might be accepting that I could be feeling something for this girl...but I couldn't be sure.

*End Flashback*

When I didn't see Bella, I began to run, panicking. The only thing that I could think was that I had to get to her...and then I ran into something, knocking both me and it over onto the ground.

A/N: *Sigh.* stupid Edward...so stubborn. SOOOOOOO Whatdoya think? Review! Review! Review! (plz) :D

-VanaBana