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Bella POV

It was about three weeks after Alice's visit when Erin came up to me in class and asked what I was doing that weekend. "Nothing really. Catching up on my school work and cleaning my apartment." That was a lie. My apartment was clean enough you'd think it wasn't lived in and I had my homework plus extra credit projects done for practically the next year. I didn't have a social life and when I wasn't at the coffee shop waitressing I was at home cleaning and doing school work. My boss was very happy with me. Whenever they needed help, no matter the time or day I was always willing to go in.

"Well on Saturday night my parents are throwing me a surprise birthday party. Not really a surprise since they told me all about it, but do you want to come?" I could hear the plea in her voice and while smothering a sigh I nodded.

"Sure. I'd love to go." Another lie. I was only going through the motions of life. I couldn't stand being around a lot of people anymore but no matter. Erin was a great friend to a lifeless zombie like me. I smiled at her as the bell rang for class to start. "Tell me the details on the way to lunch."

All through English I could tell Erin was happy I was coming. She was very popular at school but for some reason she liked me and regardless of what everyone else at the school thought she was more then happy to be my friend. The teacher droned on and on about the book we were supposed to have read and I managed to tune her out after a while. I had read Pride and Prejudice so many times that I could have taught the class. Maybe that's what I'll do after college. Teach English. The classics specifically. It should be easy considering most were dramas and had lived through some of the situations myself. Romeo and Juliet anyone?

I sighed as the bell finally rang and all the students got out of their seats. Erin came to my side and we started to walk to the lunch room. She talked as we passed through the halls and weaved in and out of the other students. I made sure I nodded at all the right times and smiled at her and everyone who said hello. We walked through the food line and as she grabbed her lunch tray I grabbed an apple and a small carton of milk.

We sat down at a table in the corner or the room, the farthest from the door. Unfortunately Erin sat down before me, forcing me into the only empty seat. Right next to Steve.

"So Bella, are you coming to Erin's birthday party?" he asked slyly, as if he didn't know the answer.

"Nope. I'm running away to Switzerland this weekend." I said sarcastically with a roll of my eyes. Steve laughed uneasily as if he wasn't sure I joking or not. "Of course I'm going to her birthday party. What kind of friend do you take me for?"

"Well," Lisa, a blond who was worse then Lauren ever was, started, "You have been known to flake out from time to time."

"Steve glared daggers at her tone but before he could even open his mouth I toke care of the situation. "Can I help it I'm not a trust fund baby like you and I have to work?"

Lisa stood up in a huff and walked out of the lunch room, throwing her trash into a can violently as she left. The whole student body stared at her as she left, surprised that someone had stood up to her.

Those at my table and the surrounding area stared at me with their mouths open. No one ever talked to Lisa like that. I sighed as I stood up and slowly walked from the table. Being stared at didn't much concern me. They could stare at me all they liked, it's not like they could hurt me anymore. The pain was the one reason why I pushed myself to the limit so much. If I was always moving or so tired I couldn't think then the pain didn't hit me nearly as bad.

Don't get me wrong, it still about killed me. But knowing he was out there, somewhere, happy, made the pain slightly easier then it was. And if he had Tanya then maybe he would no longer feel needless blame for my actions and situations. Past, present, or future.

I wasn't looking forward to this weekend but I have let Erin down in the past few months and she has tried to be a good friend to me. I had to at least make an appearance, for her sake. I had seen the sadness in her eyes each time I turned her down. In a lot of ways she was like Alice and it pained me to see her upset. Especially at my hands. I tried not to make any friendships when I started here. Renee and Phil had wondered why I didn't want to go back to my old school when I moved back down here but how could I explain that I wasn't interested in restarting old friendships.

Today was Monday so that meant I would have to let Betty at the café know I wouldn't be able to work that night. I was scheduled for the opening shift but I usually stayed over to help out. I knew I wouldn't have any problem getting the time off but she would probably be surprised when I asked for it.

Saturday

I walked from the Café de Luna to my truck parked about a block from the shop. I unlocked it and pulled out my duffle bag. I had a change of clothes inside as well as a small make up bag. I started towards Erin's on foot. She only lived about a ten minute walk from here so I wasn't too worried about it. The walk would give me a bit of time to myself before having to face all the problems that came with being a teenager nowadays.

I walked down the street slowly, not really paying attention to my surroundings when someone covered from head to toe bumped into me. I said sorry as I kept walking. The person seemed to stop for a minute before continuing down the street. I shrugged and kept walking. I wondered for a second who would walk around Phoenix covered, especially when it was so hot out. Oh well.

I walked up to Erin's apartment building and briefly wondered how her parents could afford a first floor unit. I walked a few yards to the last door down the hall. I laughed a little. The door was decorated with pink streamers and balloons. Erin absolutely hated pink. Her family was full of pranksters. They were almost as bad as ….. Never mind. I don't think I'll finish that thought. I knock on the door and force a smile to my face as her older brother opened the door.

Alan smiled as the door swung wide and he leaned against the door jam. "Well hello beautiful. I bet you're here just for me aren't you?" I rolled my eyes as I walked past him into the room. Alan was twenty-two and a man about town. He was a hit with the ladies until they found out he was still living with mom and dad. But that's the way the whole family liked it. They were very close to one another.

"Oh give it up Alan." Erin's dad stated as he walked into the room carrying a large punch bowl. "She'll never fall for your tricks. She befriended Erin so that already proves she's smart."

Alan laughed as his dad left the room. "He's right but I can still dream!" he threw his hand up in the air as if excepting a challenge and marched right out of the room.

Erin walked in when he walked out. "It's always an event when you're here Bella." She said laughing. "I imagine you need to change right? Go ahead. The bathroom is all yours.

A few hours later and the party was hopping. I was sure that if the fire marshal came in he would flip out. The apartment was so full of friends and family I wasn't sure who was who or exactly what room I was in. I eventually made my way to the punch bowl and filled a large plastic cup and chugged it down quickly. My nerves were shot and I hoped some liquid would help calm me down. The punch tasted funny but then again everything did anymore. I quickly downed two more glasses and when I saw that it wasn't helping I quickly found Erin and said goodbye for the night. I promised to give her a call when I got home and hurried out when I started feeling a little strange.

I was just out the front door of the building when I ran into Alan. "Hey Bella. How are you?" He grabbed me by the shoulders and kissed me a bit on the cheek. "Wow. I guess you tried some of the punch huh? Did you like it? I spiked it with a bit of Everclear."

He laughed and walked away. I didn't know what Everclear was but I had a feeling it was alcohol. I realized my assumption was right when I started to really get hit by it. I stopped a moment and leaned on a brick wall next to an alley. I was resting my head in my hand when I heard a whimper coming from down the alley way. I looked up and could barely see someone lying on the ground, twitching.

I walked cautiously over to the form and saw a small feminine hand sticking out from under a dusty cloak. "Ma'am? Are you alright?" I asked, inching closer. Suddenly I was grabbed from behind and between the rough movement and the alcohol I had I was a bit light headed for a moment. A moment of fear enveloped me until the female figure stood up and looked at me. She had bright crimson eyes that stared at me in hunger. I had a moment to get over my shock and then she had my face in her hands.

"Vampire." I breathed as if it were a lifeline. "Why are you in Phoenix?"

The female stopped and looked at me a moment. I couldn't tell what color her hair was but a curious look came into her eyes. "How do you know of us? What do you know of us?" she asked as she lifted my chin with her fingertips.

"I used to live in Forks Washington." I said simply, not willing to take the chance of putting Him in danger.

"Peter, isn't that where Jasper lived for a few years?" the girl asked her companion then reached one hand down and bit into my wrist.

"You know Jasper?" I asked as I could feel the first flash of pain wreck through my body. "Tell him that I forgive him. Please find him and tell him that….." My world went black.

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