Chapter 6: La Push me off a Cliff

The good life is
What I need
Too many people
Stepping over me
The only thing that's
Been on my mind
Is the one thing I need before I die

All I want is a little of
The good life
All I need is to have
A good time
The good life

BPOV:

It had been three months since me and Jacob had started dating. He had become almost a father to the twins, but he was young himself, so he called himself the cool Godfather, and he was. Legally he was the Godfather of Sarah while Sam - the one who had found me in the Forrest - was Mary's godfather. I had also gotten to know The pack, Leah and me hadn't gotten along at first but when she heard my story she almost instantly became my sister.

Which really wasn't far form the truth. Sue and Charlie had gotten close since Harry Clearwater died in February and were engaged. I was very happy for them and Charlie had already gotten money to buy us a new house. It was on the boarder of La Push, and had three stories. We had used a good amount of the money from Phoenix to get it, I had my own room, as did my two new siblings and the nursery was right next to my room. Sue turned out to be quit the decorator and as such had taken it upon herself to decorate the house along with Emily and Leah. I of course offered my help when I had time but with school almost ending, graduation and the Twins to care for it wasn't easy for me.

Me and Jake were in Love, it was obvious to everyone but Leah was always so concerned about us, mainly me. I could understand that but I wasn't worried, I knew I should be but Jake even said it was unlikely he'd ever imprint. I spent so much time in La Push now me and the others didn't spend as much time together, Jess didn't care much, she and Mike had been going at it like bunnies, they were now engaged. I had the strangest feeling she was pregnant.

"Bella, why don't you go out? Have some fun, Jake is worried about you." Sue, my soon to be stepmother said from my door. With final's in two days I was studying my head off. I had been so worried about college the past month, I didn't know if my grades could get me into a good school. Leah herself hadn't gotten into the schools she wanted but that was for a different reason, and so she had missed her chance at a scholarship.

"I can't, the Twins need me and I have to study." I said and she walked forward and pushed my book closed. You have studied for three weeks now, almost none stop. Go have fun, I will watch the twins." Sue said and I smiled and stood up. She nodded happily and I walked over to my new closet. We had moved in just two weeks before and I was loving the house. My room had midnight blue walls, a black ceiling, cream carpet, a walk in closet, a window across from my bed, and the same furniture from my old room. The only other difference was my bedding was no longer purple and white, but deep brown, green and pink.

I picked out a long sleeved black shirt and a pair of dark jeans. I pulled on my black boots, with flat heels, and a long hip length leather jacket Leah had gifted to me. I walked over to my desk and got out my wolf pack necklace and a silver heart shaped locket which Jake gave me when we got together on valentine's day.

I spent the rest of the day on the beach with Emily and Leah. Soon though they had to return home for dinner and instead of heading home myself I wondered around. I really wanted to find something, and I knew what as I walked around the woods. I wanted to find the meadow. Just one more time I'd like to see it...one more time.

I got into my truck and drove to the spot I remembered Edward taking me and began to walk. I was trying to stay on a path so I didn't get lost, but soon enough I was just that, Lost. I pushed aside some weeds and tripped before tumbling through to a clearing. Looking around I saw just what I was looking for, the Meadow. The disappointment was nearly as instantaneous as the recognition. I sank down right where I was – not hard since I was already on the ground - kneeling there at the edge of the clearing, beginning to gasp.

What was the point of going any farther? Nothing lingered here. Nothing more than the memories that I could have called back whenever I wanted to, if I was ever willing to endure the corresponding pain–the pain that had me now, had me cold. There was nothing special about this place without him. I wasn't exactly sure what I'd hoped to feel here, but the meadow was empty of atmosphere, empty of everything, just like everywhere else. Just like my nightmares had been since the beginning.

My head swirled dizzily, and I couldn't help but feel relief that I had, At least I'd come alone. I felt a rush of happiness and regret...something I couldn't place as I thought of the reason why.

If I'd discovered the meadow with Jacob…well, there was no way I could have disguised the abyss I was plunging into now. How could I have explained the way I was fracturing into pieces, the way I had to curl into a ball to keep the empty hole from tearing me apart? It was so much better that I didn't have an audience. Jake would have never understood, he was so happy these days and he didn't want to hear the Cullen's names, about as much as I wanted to actually.

And I wouldn't have to explain to anyone why I was in such a hurry to leave, either. Jacob would have assumed, after going to so much trouble to locate the stupid place, I would want to spend more than a few seconds here. But I was already trying to find the strength to get to my feet again, forcing myself out of the ball so that I could escape. There was too much pain in this empty place to bear – I would crawl away if I had to...and I may have to.

How lucky that I was alone!

Alone. I repeated the word with grim satisfaction as I wrenched myself to my feet despite the pain. At precisely that moment, a figure stepped out from the trees to the north, some thirty paces away.

A dizzying array of emotions shot through me in a second. The first was surprise; I was far from any trail here, and I didn't expect company. Then, as my eyes focused on the motionless figure, seeing the utter stillness, the pallid skin, a rush of piercing hope rocked through me. It shocked me so bad that I lurched forward a few paces before stopping.

I suppressed it viciously, fighting against the equally sharp lash of agony as my eyes continued to the face beneath the black hair, the face that wasn't the one I wanted to see...at least I think I wanted to see it? I shook my head and then felt the next emotion; fear. This was not the face I grieved for, but it was close enough for me to know that the man facing me was no stray hiker.

And finally, in the end, I felt recognition.

"Laurent!" I cried in surprised pleasure. It was an irrational response. I probably should have stopped at fear. I probably should have never moved, I probably should have never came to the Meadow.

Laurent had been one of James' coven when we'd first met. He hadn't been involved with the hunt that followed – the hunt where I was the quarry – but that was only because he was afraid; I was protected by a bigger coven than his own. It would have been different if that wasn't the case – he'd had no compunctions, at the time, against making a meal of me. Of course, he must have changed, because he'd gone to Alaska to live with the other civilized coven there, the other family that refused to drink human blood for ethical reasons. The other family like…but I couldn't let myself think the name. I was already in to deep, I needed to think rationally.

The meadow was a magic place again. A darker magic than I'd expected, to be sure, but magic all the same. Here was the connection I'd sought. The proof, however remote, that –somewhere in the same world where I lived – he did exist. I almost chuckled, I hadn't even realized I was looking for proof.

It was impossible how exactly the same Laurent looked. I suppose it was very silly and human to expect some kind of change in the last year. But there was something…I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"Bella?" he asked, looking more astonished than I felt.

"You remember." I smiled. It was ridiculous that I should be so elated because a vampire knew my name. Inside I was screaming and outside...outside I was almost smiling.

He grinned. "I didn't expect to see you here." He strolled toward me, his expression bemused.

"Isn't it the other way around? I do live here. I thought you'd gone to Alaska."

He stopped about ten paces away, cocking his head to the side. His face was the most beautiful face I'd seen in what felt like an eternity. I studied his features with a strangely greedy sense of release. Here was someone I didn't have to pretend for – someone who already knew everything I could never say. Something didn't feel wright though, and I found myself taking in even more details.

"You're right," he agreed. "I did go to Alaska. Still, I didn't expect…When I found the Cullen place empty, I thought they'd moved on."

"Oh." I bit my lip as the name set the raw edges of my wound throbbing. It took me a second to compose myself. Laurent waited with curious eyes.

"They did move on," I finally managed to tell him. Instantly I felt fresh fear and I thought maybe I should have lied.

"Hmm," he murmured. "I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of a pet of theirs?"

His eyes were innocent of any intended offense. The blunt question though brought a sour taste to my mouth...I hadn't thought of it like that, but, no I wouldn't let myself continue.

I smiled wryly. "Something like that."

"Hmm," he said, thoughtful again.

At that precise moment, I realized why he looked the same – too much the same. After Carlisle told us that Laurent had stayed with Tanya's family, I'd begun to picture him, on the rare occasions that I thought of him at all, with the same golden eyes that the…Cullen's – I forced the name out, wincing – had. That all good vampires had.

I took an involuntary step back, and his curious, dark red eyes followed the movement. I probably should have played it cool. 'Great job Swan!' My conscious berated myself.

"Do they visit often?" he asked, still casual, but his weight shifted toward me.

"Lie," the beautiful velvet voice whispered anxiously from my memory.

I started at the sound of his voice, I looked around and stumbled back more. Laurent seemed to be taken aback by my sudden movement and wide eyes. I breathed in and out, I was going crazy, I hadn't heard him. I hadn't.

Non the less, I did what the voice said to do.

"Now and again." I tried to make my voice light, relaxed. "The time seems longer to me, I imagine. You know how they get distracted…" I was beginning to babble. I had to work to shut myself up. Though then again, If that distracted him, why not. Maybe, just Maybe Jake would come...good luck with that I thought to myself.

"Hmm," he said again. "The house smelled like it had been vacant for a while…"

"You must lie better than that, Bella," the voice urged. I jumped again but this time I reconsigned the voice and my face must have showed great pain and shock because Laurent looked at me like he was contemplating asking me if I was ok. I felt my lips form into a thin line in anger, I didn't want his voice in my head, but I had a bigger problem at the moment.

So I tried. "I'll have to mention to Carlisle that you stopped by. He'll be sorry they missed your visit." I pretended to deliberate for a second. "But I probably shouldn't mention it to… Edward, I suppose –" I barely managed to say his name, and it twisted my expression on the way out, ruining my bluff, " – he has such a temper…well, I'm sure you remember. He's still touchy about the whole James thing." I rolled my eyes and waved one hand dismissively, like it was all ancient history, but there was an edge of hysteria to my voice. I wondered if he would recognize what it was.

"Is he really?" Laurent asked pleasantly…skeptically.

I kept my reply short, so that my voice wouldn't betray my panic. "Mm-hmm." but in my head I was in hysterics, screaming was all I could hear up there.

Laurent took a casual step to the side, gazing around at the little meadow. I didn't miss that the step brought him closer to me. In my head, the voice responded with a low snarl. I closed my eyes for a split second, then snapped them open. What a stupid Idea, first rule, never take your eyes off your enemy. Thank you television. I almost chuckled, I was doing that a lot today.

"So how are things working out in Denali? Carlisle said you were staying with Tanya?" My voice was too high. 'Great way to distract him Swan...make small talk.' I couldn't tell if my subconscious was sarcastic or serious.

The question made him pause. "I like Tanya very much," he mused. "And her sister Irina even more…I've never stayed in one place for so long before, and I enjoy the advantages, the novelty of it. But, the restrictions are difficult…I'm surprised that any of them can keep it up for long." He smiled at me conspiratorially. "Sometimes I cheat."

I couldn't swallow. My foot started to ease back, but I froze when his red eyes flickered down to catch the movement. 'Stupid, Stupid, Stupid...god.' I berated myself as I felt my eyes tear up but pushed the emotion away.

"Oh," I said in a faint voice, "Jasper has problems with that, too."

"Don't move," the voice whispered. I tried to do what he instructed. It was hard; the instinct to take flight was nearly uncontrollable. Part of me though didn't want to listen to him, he had left me, and now his voice was invading my space. How dare he.

"Really?" Laurent seemed interested. "Is that why they left?"

"No," I answered honestly. "Jasper is more careful at home."

"Yes," Laurent agreed. "I am, too."

The step forward he took now was quite deliberate.

"Did Victoria ever find you?" I asked, breathless, desperate to distract him.

It was the first question that popped into my head, and I regretted it as soon as the words were spoken.

Victoria – who had hunted me with James, and then disappeared – was not someone I wanted to think of at this particular moment.

But the question did stop him.

"Yes," he said, hesitating on that step. "I actually came here as a favor to her." He made a face. "She won't be happy about this."

"About what?" I said eagerly, inviting him to continue. He was glaring into the trees, away from me. I took advantage of his diversion, taking a furtive step back.

He looked back at me and smiled – the expression made him look like a black-haired angel.

"About me killing you," he answered in a seductive purr.

I staggered back another step. The frantic growling in my head made it hard to hear. 'Oh..SHUT UP!' I yelled at Edward's invading voice.

"She wanted to save that part for herself," he went on blithely. "She's sort of…put out with you, Bella."

"Me?" I squeaked.

He shook his head and chuckled. "I know, it seems a little backward to me, too. But James was her mate, and your Edward killed him."

Even here, on the point of death, his name tore against my unhealed wounds like a serrated edge.

Laurent was oblivious to my reaction. "She thought it more appropriate to kill you than Edward – fair turnabout, mate for mate. She asked me to get the lay of the land for her, so to speak. I didn't imagine you would be so easy to get to. So maybe her plan was flawed –apparently it wouldn't be the revenge she imagined, since you must not mean very much to him if he left you here unprotected."

Another blow, another tear through my chest. I tried my hardest to think of a way to get out of this...I had to, Charlie needed me, My babies needed me!

Laurent's weight shifted slightly, and I stumbled another step back.

He frowned. "I suppose she'll be angry, all the same."

"Then why not wait for her?" I choked out.

A mischievous grin rearranged his features. "Well, you've caught me at a bad time, Bella. I didn't come to this place on Victoria's mission – I was hunting. I'm quite thirsty, and you do smell… simply mouthwatering."

Laurent looked at me with approval, as if he meant it as a compliment.

"Threaten him," the beautiful delusion ordered, his voice distorted with dread. I didn't wish to oblige the damn voice, but I didn't want to let Laurent know I had been lying to him before.

"He'll know it was you," I whispered, almost angrily. "You won't get away with this."

"And why not?" Laurent's smile widened. He gazed around the small opening in the trees. "The scent will wash away with the next rain. No one will find your body – you'll simply go missing, like so many, many other humans. There's no reason for Edward to think of me, if he cares enough to investigate. This is nothing personal, let me assure you, Bella. Just thirst."

"Beg," my hallucination begged. I scoffed, I didn't want to beg...but I would. Not for the voice of my past lover, but for my daughter's, my family.

"Please," I gasped.

Laurent shook his head, his face kind. "Look at it this way, Bella. You're very lucky I was the one to find you."

"Am I?" I mouthed, faltering another step back.

Laurent followed, lithe and graceful.

"Yes," he assured me. "I'll be very quick. You won't feel a thing, I promise. Oh, I'll lie to Victoria about that later, naturally, just to placate her. But if you knew what she had planned for you, Bella…" He shook his head with a slow movement, almost as if in disgust. "I swear you'd be thanking me for this."

I stared at him in horror. Ether way I was in danger.

He sniffed at the breeze that blew threads of my hair in his direction. "Mouthwatering," he repeated, inhaling deeply.

I tensed for the spring, my eyes squinting as I cringed away, and the sound of Edward's furious roar echoed distantly in the back of my head. His name burst through all the walls I'd built to contain it. Edward, Edward, Edward. I was going to die. It shouldn't matter if I thought of him now. Edward, I love you.

Through my narrowed eyes, I watched as Laurent paused in the act of inhaling and whipped his head abruptly to the left. I was afraid to look away from him, to follow his glance, though he hardly needed a distraction or any other trick to overpower me. I was too amazed to feel relief when he started slowly backing away from me. I took this chance to turn and run as fast as I could. I had no idea where I was going, but anywhere was better then here.

I ran, praying to god to allow me a sudden bout of grace. It seemed to be working, I was able to focus and jump fallen twigs, tree limbs, and it almost felt like I was flying. I had never felt or been so graceful. All things like this have to end though, and It did as I turned to see Laurent following me, and a streak of fire red ahead of him. I winced, Victoria.

I tripped but got up and almost staggered into a area I reconsigned as the La Push cliffs. I ran until I was at the edge were I gasped and stumbled back. I turned only to see Victoria. She was as beautiful as always, like a ferocious cat...A tigress.

"Hello Bella...are you ready to pay for what your mate did to mine." She almost seemed to hiss, her eyes bright red. I knew she had recently fed..I was shacking now. I tried to reign in my emotions and took a step back as she took a step forward. I gasped and stumbled as I realized I was backing up even closer to the edge, rocks crumbled and fell and my stomach plummeted.

"He isn't my mate...I don't have a mate." I tried to tell her but she just laughed and stepped forward. I did the only thing I could think of at the time. I turned and with a look over my shoulder I said icily, "Screw you, Bitch." Then I Jumped.

As I did I heard howls and a voice, I knew to be Jake's scream.

"BELLA!!" I hit the water with a smack, it hurt but not as bad as the pain of my head hitting a rock, I then lost consciousness.

Hold on, hold on
I always wanted it this way
I never wanted it this way
Hold on, hold on
I always wanted it this way
We didn't ask for it this way
I always wanted this way

All I want is a little of
The good life
All I need is to have
A good time
The good life

A/N: I hope everyone liked this chapter. The Laurent Bella Scene is the original form the book, except for some dialog and personal thoughts of Bella's I added. I think if you have read the book they are easy to spot. Wounder what will happen to Bella? HAHA..

Song is The good Life by Three days grace