Disclaimer: All rights go to the great Stephenie Meyer.

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I had to get out of here. I couldn't do this right now, when her emotions were so powerful-I would never survive the aftermath. I had expected her to be in pain, but not this much pain. Her world was falling around her, and there was nothing she could do. Her lover is gone, her best friend is gone, and the family that very nearly adopted her is gone with them. She's been completely and utterly abandoned by everyone. But me. And she thought I had stayed behind to help her. I really was a foul creature.

I leapt from the window and ran home as fast as I could.

It had been two days since the family left. Edward left that morning. I promised Alice I'd join her in no more than a week. But I couldn't do it then, when she trusted me to give her one more night. But I could wait. Surely tonight was the worst, when the shock was so fresh. In a day or two, her pain would diminish and I could proceed. I waited for the dawn, and watched the sun rise.

I decided that I could probably go ahead and pack my room up, since I wouldn't be needing most of my things right now. I was there when I heard a noise out front. I had been so absorbed that I didn't hear anyone approach, which was odd for me. Bella had my mind all tangled in snarls. I went to the top of the stairs and inhaled. Human. I inhaled deeper. Bella. She really was looking for it, wasn't she? Walking straight into the lion's den, when the keeper wasn't here to protect her. I hesitated, wondering if I should even open the door. She might think I was out.

"Jasper?" she whispered from the porch, peering through the window. I heard her mutter "Please be home," under her breath. Her sadness made me want to choke again. I pulled the door open.

"What can I do for you, Bella?" I tried to sound as pleasant as possible. In the end, my curiosity got the best of me, and I had to know why she came. It's not like we were ever particularly close-we barely spoke. I was always very cautious so I wouldn't hurt her. I laughed inwardly at my pathetic farce. When the cat is away, the mouse will play.

"Why did everyone leave me?" she whispered, staring at me with pleading eyes. Her face was red from crying, and she still had debris in her hair. It didn't take a genius to realize that she wouldn't recover from this. I wouldn't lie to her. I would give her everything she wanted until she gave me everything I wanted.

"Sit down, Bella." I motioned to the couch. She flinched when she entered, but joined me regardless. "What did Edward say to you when he left?" I thought it best to start there, realizing that I didn't know what he told her. It couldn't have been what he told us-that it was for her safety.

"He said…that he didn't…want me anymore. That he was tired of trying to be human for me. He didn't want me to go with him." A fresh wave of tears fell down her face. The feeling that came over me as I watched her cry as a new one for me. I struggled, and felt…sad with her. And it wasn't because of my ability. I wanted to wipe the tears away and comfort her, because it seemed like the right thing to do. I've never had much experience with human emotions, not for a long time, and I was shaken by this bit of humanity surfacing.

"That's…appalling and untrue." I stated bluntly. "The reason that he left, and took the family with him, was for your safety. You see, Edward is essentially a…worrisome creature. He worries mostly about you-that you're not safe within our world. After your birthday party, he saw the danger again firsthand. He thought at the very least you would be safe within our home, but when he failed to protect you there…it tore him apart." I paused to let that sink in. She was feeling angst, and disappointment, and grief.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that he left to protect you. He couldn't stand to be the reason you were constantly in danger. He still cares about you deeply-I believe that he always will. But he wasn't willing to sacrifice your life." I noticed that she wasn't crying now-how odd. I would have thought this news would upset her more.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Has he met me? I don't find danger, it finds me! All the time! And he thinks he could protect me from that? What if I walk off a bridge, or get hit by a car? Is that his fault too? Wasn't it enough to just…just…love me?" Anger. I watched her stand furiously and march around the room. Her hair was flying wildly, and madness sparkled in her eyes. She was quite…radiant. I surprised myself with that terminology.

"Bella, you should have seen this coming. Back when you were attacked by James, Edward tried to get you to go to Jacksonville-for your safety. And when you first met-it was the same. He said you shouldn't be friends. But he couldn't tear himself away then-he felt he had to protect you. But when someone in his own family turned on you-it was the last straw. He thought his family loved you-that you were as good as one of us and that we would never hurt you. He forgot our true nature. I've already apologized for that."

"Boy, you don't hold anything back, do you?" she fumed at me, still pacing.

"No. You wanted the truth. Now you have it." What more did she want? I wouldn't coddle her like Edward, or distract her like Alice. As she paced, I watch the blood flow to her cheeks. It was like a neon sign, pointing me in that direction. I watched her, wondering what she was thinking. It must have maddened Edward. Suddenly she rounded on me, ready for more questions.

And then she fell.

It was her nature. Always so clumsy. Like the last time, I could smell it before I could see it. She had tried to catch herself with her hands, and wound up scraping her palm. Not ideal, but enough to push me over the edge again. She looked into my eyes and saw my desire. Blood flushed her face again, and I was off the couch.

I pulled her to me to where her body was flush against mine. I had one arm around her waist and the other grasping her injured hand. It was a lover's embrace. I brought her hand to my mouth and began to suck. I could feel her panicking as she struggled, but it was useless. I imagined that her eyes were wide with terror, but I didn't bother looking at her face. This was heaven again. It was hot and sweet and everything I remembered. If I could, I would have lolled my head back in pleasure. She continued to struggle.

"Jasper, stop! No! Not like this! Remember who I am! Its me-it's Bella! I don't want to go like this…" she pleaded, crying out. I felt her go limp in my arms. Wonderful. "Jasper…no…I need you…" I pulled away, stunned.

I shook her to get her to look at me. "What did you just say?" I growled. I wasn't the nice guy anymore.

"I said that I need you," she said, staring at me. I looked into her eyes, and I didn't see the fear anymore. She was looking at me like I had made a simple mistake-not that I tried to take her life. She was still scared, but strong. Brave. She was trying to call to my humanity.

I let her go.

"Go. Now." She hesitated. "Go!" I screamed. She ran. I could hear her truck start up and fly down the driveway. I didn't move from my position. What am I doing? She's done nothing to me! I knew when Edward took her in that she was…desirable. I smelled her every day. Why, now, is the pull so hard for me? Surely I was strong enough to beat this. What kind of monster was I? I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket.

Alice.

I pulled myself together and answered. "Hello, love."

"I know what you did." Well, so much for that. "I didn't tell Edward-he's not here right now. But if you try and pull that again, Jasper, I swear I will come down there and kill you myself. You can't come back here." Her voice choked at the end. She was leaving me. It's what I deserved.

"What do you mean?" I stuttered.

"I mean that Bella needs you more than I do. I know you can feel it-that she needs you! I know why you stayed; I was just hoping that your course would change. But know this-I'm watching you. Think about what you're doing, and who you're doing it to. Think about Bella. I'll think of something to tell the others."

The line went dead.