SORRY FOR THE WAIT~! I've been working quite a lot lately and editing this thing does take time since I went ahead and combined more chapters together. I also changed some things up a bit. Not too much, but I am pretty sure the differences can be seen. Anyway, this is about the longest chapter that's being posted so far at around 40+ pages. Yeah, you heard me right! Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know what was up and that I am sorry for making you all wait so long for this updated version to get out.

Oh and before I forget I am pretty keen on answering questions so after you read if there's anything you wanna know that won't spoil the story I will be happy to fill you in. If you're confused about anything, please let me know and I'll answer your questions.

o~O~o

The rest of the morning after dealing with Jessica and Lauren, I couldn't help thinking back to that feeling I had gotten earlier in the parking lot. I had thought that maybe it'd be because I'd have to deal with those two being really nosy, but as it turns out that wasn't it. Not by a long shot since that feeling of wrongness increased as the day progressed. Something was definitely off about today and it's driving me nuts that I am not able to figure out what it is that's bothering me. I could tell that J.D was having the same problem. It was bothering her as much as myself too.

All through lunch Bella kept tossing glances at the two of us, the worry was etched in her eyes and through her emotions that were all too easy for me to read. It didn't help that I was feeling the emotions of everyone else in the room as well and not all of them were pleasant. A few of them were downright frightening as I hadn't felt emotions as dark as I was picking up in a long time. I had half a mind to find the person tossing out those vibes and just beat them with a tire iron. Might make me feel just a little better. Sure, I'd feel badly, but I'd feel even worse to hurt someone just because another beings emotions overrode my own.

Might have to work on my shielding, I thought distractedly.

"What's wrong?" I almost fell out of my chair as a bell-like voice chimed in behind me.

I look back to see Alice Cullen standing behind me with a worried expression on her face. How in the hell had I not noticed her coming up behind me?! Lord, I am getting sloppy. I guess it does help that J.D was startled at the same time so I am not the only one. Now that was funny. Pretty sure that she'll beat the snot out of me at some point for trying not to laugh when I noticed that she had jumped.

Bells almost choked on her laughter. Yes, leave it to my sister to find enjoyment by seeing me jump and I don't blame her whatsoever. Didn't stop me from glaring at her though.

"Did I scare you?" Alice giggled.

That glare quickly focused itself on the pixie and I couldn't stop the sarcastic remark from escaping. "Nope, you didn't. I only jumped because a ghost decided to grope me from under the table."

J.D started to choke on her food as she tried not to laugh at the heavy laced sarcastic remark. Bella kicked me under the table, but I could tell that she was rather amused by the comment. What? I think under the circumstances it was totally called for.

"I just wanted to know if you, your sister and your friend would come eat with us," she inquired, totally ignoring my sarcasm. Now that's just plain rude.

Wait, what?! Call a halt to the horses here…because I must've misunderstood the question.

"Eat? With you?" I am in a state of shock, so Bella had to speak for me.

"Something wrong with that?"

Not sure since I don't understand the reason why we're being made this offer. I mean don't get me wrong it's great that Alice wants to basically be friendly with us. Still though. This is just odd. Of course, if we do accept the invitation then there will be a lot of gossip going around. Huh, now that I think of it that way I believe we'll take the offer. "We'd be delighted."

My sister shot a kick at my shin. I managed to dodge it skillfully and undetected whilst grinning like a damned fool. I had to do it a second time when J.D tried to do the same thing.

"What are you doing?" Bells hissed at me as we crossed the cafeteria with Alice.

I smirked a little darkly. "Stirring some shit up." I glanced over at her and gave a reassuring smile. "It's something that I like to do every now and then. Besides, I can't go around being nice all the time, Bells. We all have a bit of a dark side to us. Mine just happens to be running free at the moment."

"And going to get us into more trouble than needed," she muttered as we sat down. Bella made sure to sit a little closer to me than she had back at our other table. J.D at on the other side of her in kind of a protective shield – and still looking at me like I had completely lost my mind. As if she's just figured that out. Hell she knew this several years ago.

"What are you doing Alice?" Rosalie hissed, giving a dark look to Bella, J.D and I. Um. Okay, those looks don't effect me at all. I can tell you that right now. I've dealt with all kinds of horrible things in my life so a few dark, lethal looks will do nothing more than amuse the hell out of me. Yeah, I am a little messed up, but there is no such thing as 'normal'. At least for me.

Alice smiled at her sister. "I thought it'd be nice to get to know the new girls."

Um…pretty sure that J.D is not 'new'. She's been here a lot longer than neither my sister or me.

"Is there some problem with us sitting here?" I ask with a complete sugary sweet tone and smile. J.D blinked seeing it and almost pointed out how I was so full of shit at the moment. She didn't because she was a little too busy being impressed. Bella was the same way. "We can always get up and go."

"No, it's all right," Alice assured me with a slight frown on her face. I'm missing something. I know that I am –

"Look at those two! They think they're such hot stuff because they're over at the Cullen table...worthless whores," Lauren whispered.

She did NOT just say that! Oh please tell me that this young female did not just call us 'whores'?! Really now. That was just uncalled. For crying out loud, all we did was accept an invitation to sit at the same table. I don't recall any of us acting like we were better than anyone else here because I know for a damn fact that I am not above anyone here. Sheesh, what is up with Lauren anyway? I don't recall doing anything to this woman and for some reason she's extremely pissed off at me. More than that she's pissed at me, Bella and J.D. I have no idea why she's got something against the three of us. Honestly, I outta just get up and punch that girl right in the face for that because she's just stirred up that darker part of my being that has been sleeping for the last few years.

"You all right, Sar?" Bells asked, placing a hand on my arm, instantly calming the rage that I hadn't fully realized was building up. It scared me sometimes on how enraged I could become without fully knowing.

I shook my head. "Yeah," it came out through clenched teeth as I still felt the rage. Odd? I thought it had calmed…nope, wait, that's not mine. Great I'm feeling someone else's. Lovely.

I'm not sure I can handle this. Honestly, right now, I need to work on shielding because this is going to get me into a lot of trouble. I can already tell.

"Anything wrong?" Jasper inquired. He was sitting between Alice and J.D. And if I am not mistaken, part of the rage that I am feeling is coming right from this particular male. Marvelous.

I wonder if I should answer that honestly. "Nope, just tired." Yeah, I just lied. But how was I supposed to answer that without letting onto the fact that I had heard a whispered conversation clear on the other side of the room. "And wanting to shove my fist down someone's throat." I had to add on that last bit since it was way to obvious that something had bothered me. "Not used to feeling like that." Not for a few years anyway.

"Knuckle sandwich!" Emmett exclaimed looking quite cheerful at the prospect of me punching someone. Out of everyone at this table, this guy is instantly my favorite since he said that in such an excitable manner. "I'd love to see that."

J.D cracked her knuckles, eying Lauren from across the room. "Heh, I'd love to do it myself." The dangerous way she said that sparked the alarms in my own mind. Yup, she heard Lauren's comment as well. I almost forgot that she wasn't human either. This is really starting to feel a bit like the Twilight Zone all of a sudden.

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. Calm yourself, J.D. I really am just tired."

She gave me a look. "You're a horrible liar, Sar. No offense."

I snort. "None taken, but I'm not lying." I was, but no one else needs to know that.

~O~

The rest of lunch was rather peaceful when I no longer felt like ripping Lauren apart. Yeah, that feeling was down right frightening, especially since it wasn't mine. Sure, what she said pissed me off, but considering the fact that she seemed determined to hate the three of us I pretty much ignored it. However, that didn't mean that someone else had bothered to do the same thing – at least at first it had appeared that way, but after a few minutes the feeling lifted and I was finally able to feel like myself again.

Rosalie was just determined to hate our guts. I found that to be rather amusing, but I didn't let it bother me. I know that it bothered Bella a bit. However, we didn't get the chance to worry about it as Emmett made it more than clear that he approved of us. Not that we needed anyone's approval, but still, it was nice. Way to make me feel comfortable. I know that J.D was happy with the effort as well. Bells to from what I could feel from her.

All in all, not a bad time. Wouldn't mind doing it again. Not too soon of course since I do not relish the idea of having that darker part of me rearing it's head again. I've got enough problems in all reality without adding that to the equation again. Unless of course Bella or J.D decide they want to sit with them. In which case I will just have to deal with whatever comes and I will do so with a smile on my face. It's the least I can do. After all, there is no harm in making friends. Friends are a good thing.

However, it seemed that whatever good day I had been having was suddenly shot to hell in one fell swoop.

Why?

Well, the moment we left the cafeteria I instantly found myself being interrogated by Lauren – who seemed to find it fitting to get in my face at this very moment. Really? Why is she getting all in my face? I know that this woman doesn't like us for some reason, but really this is just ridiculous. It had been such a good day too. Honestly, this is just unfair.

This isn't going to be good, I thought with an inward sigh. It'll end badly.

I had no idea on how right, yet wrong I was.

"So," she started with a fake friendliness. "I see it didn't take you and your sister long to become friends with the Cullen's. I wonder why that is?"

Jealous much? Sheesh. I thought I wouldn't have to worry about all this high school dramatic stuff anymore, but apparently I am way wrong. Hell, why is she getting all up in my face about this? I'm not the one that invited us over there. Yet here I am being expected to answer questions about it.

"Well?"

I blinked. "Well what?"

"Aren't you curious about why I think they're talking to you?"

J.D raised a brow, looked at me a moment before shooting her eyes over to Bella. I got the hint and nodded, letting my best friend take my sister away from the area. If there was going to be a fight I'd prefer to have my sister out of the way just in case things get a little too ugly. Hopefully, none of that will happen, but I'd rather not risk it. Maybe I can answer this without irritating the woman further – doubtful as I can sense that she's determined to be a right bitch, but I can always try.

I sigh after seeing J.D and Bella turn a corner. "Really? You're getting all up in my face because of the fact that we were invited over to sit with them? What the hell is your problem?" I reign in the anger quickly as I felt it rise. "No, I don't care to know why you think they did. Besides, it's none of your business anyway and if you're so curious about it, ask one of them. Not me!"

For some reason that seemed to piss Lauren off more and I barely had time to dodge a punch aimed at my face. Instead it clipped me in the shoulder. Shit. I hadn't been expecting that. Not really. Sheesh. What's wrong with her?

"Really? You wanna start a fight with me because of the fact that Bella and I were invited to sit with Alice and her siblings." I chuckled at the absurdity of the situation right before I felt myself being pushed right through the front glass doors. Now that was some force used. Really, I didn't think what went on in the lunch room warranted this kind of treatment.

A few random size pieces of glass were embedded in my right arm and side. Needless to say, I was bleeding pretty badly and desperately trying to stay awake since I had also hit the back of my head during the landing. Oh man, I knew that this wasn't going to end well. I only wish that I had managed to get a punch in myself, but at the same time I am glad that I hadn't as that dark feeling crept upon me once again. Right before I passed out I swear that I recognized the origins of it.

~O~

I wince as I wake up to a light in my face. Oh man, my eyes are a little light sensitive so this is not exactly the best way for me to come back into the world. Makes me more than a little cranky. I'd rather go back to being in the chipper good mood that I had been in for the last few day. I enjoyed that feeling. Not the one that I currently have running through my veins. It's rather…unsettling I believe is the word I am looking for.

"OH, you're awake," the nurse said gently. "I'll tell the doctor."

I couldn't stop myself from wanting to cringe at the word 'doctor'. It doesn't matter how long ago it had been since that incident, I never have liked doctors and I like hospitals even less than them. Some might find that odd considering my personality, but hey, everyone has to have a fear. Well, this isn't a fear exactly. More like a nightmare that I want nothing to do with anymore. I'm not trying to sound like some bitchy, whiny child or anything, but this is the last place that I want to be in. It smells way too much like death or sterilized death in some cases.

Watching the nurse leave I contemplated the chances of getting out of here without getting caught, but threw the thought away after a few seconds. No, I couldn't do that since I did need to be checked out. At least to the medical community here. Although, I swear if my injuries fully healed themselves I know that I will have a lot of questions being asked that I would rather not answer. There are just some things that are meant to be kept secret. Of course, as I sat there, I could feel that most of my wounds were closed. Not all of them were fully healed. Hopefully, there wouldn't be questions asked. I had no desire to go through all of that. Again.

I stiffened when I saw the door open, only to nearly pass out as one helluva gorgeous male walked though that door. Hell...let's see...blond, tall, well fit, smells fantastic good enough to eat actually. Yummy. Uh...wait, did I just say 'yummy'? Oh, no thank Gods, that I had said it only in my head. I am so damn thrilled about that because if I had said it out loud that would've been so freaking awkward. I mean, seriously, if I had said it for everyone to hear no one can blame me for it. The man looks so damn delicious. Really, I could just eat him.

"Sarah Swan," he started with a smile. I almost swooned at the sound of his voice...reminded me of chocolate melting on your tongue. Then I winced when I discovered just how odd my name really sounded. Maybe I should go back to my other name? It's an idea, but it might cause more problems. I think I've got enough at the moment.

I managed to find my voice. "Present," I pause, coughing lightly when I realized that my voice carried a dreamy tone. Yeah, that's embarrassing. "So what's the damage?" Shouldn't be much now that most of the injuries were healed up.

"Not too much," he said, looking over my chart. I hope that I didn't start healing until after I'd been bandaged because that'd be one real uncomfortable conversation. "You did lose quite a lot of blood. Nothing serious, though I will have you stay over night to make sure."

I touched the back of my head. "And this?" I pointed where my hand was located. "What's that verdict?" I remember that I had hit the back of it. Probably gave myself a real nice concussion. Oh, man, Dad is going to flip when he finds out about this.

He just stared at me a moment, but before he could speak the door opened up. Oh, boy. There's Dad and he looked a bit freaked out. Fantastic. I am not going to be living this down any time soon that's for sure.

"Sarah!" And he sounds rather panicked. Shit.

I blink a moment. "Sup Dad?"

"Are you all right?" he asked, moving onto the other side of the hospital bed. Looking from me to Dr. Cullen. "I heard about the fight at school."

I inwardly snort. I wouldn't call that a fight.

"She's fine, Charlie," he answered, finally taking his eyes off me. "Lost a bit of blood. I do want her to stay overnight as there are a few signs of a concussion." Really? I don't remember being told that—oh wait! He was probably going to tell me that before Dad popped into the room. Great. I've got enough problems going on in my head, but at least I was right about having a concussion. At least this time I didn't get amnesia from it – scary as all hell when that happens.

"It's it serious? Will she be fine?" Dad began firing off questions. I had to be amused by this. Call me crazy, but I have never seen him so worked up before. Not that I can remember anyway.

"Yo, Dad!" I called out, wincing a little as my head pounded. Hadn't realized until just then that it was bothering me. Please don't let that be a bad sign. "I'm fine.

He looked at me dubiously.

I glanced over at Dr. Cullen, then back to Charlie. "Okay, I will be fine. Better?"

"Yes," Dad confirmed, the worry was still there, but at least the panic had vanished from his eyes. I wasn't sure I could sit there and feel that without completely breaking down. Again, I need to work on my shielding. Really, once I get out of here I am going to do that.

Damn, I don't recall having this problem back in Phoenix.

I sigh, suddenly feeling worn out. "Can we just go home now?" I'm begging, I can tell, but I don't care.

"Sarah,"Dad began. "If you've got a concussion it's probably best you stay here for the night."

I gave a pleading look. "I'm fine…"

"It's best to make sure you're completely fine," Dad stated, putting a hand on my shoulder, smiling as I pouted. He knew that I didn't like hospitals. "Besides I'd hate to check up on you and find you passed out on the floor."

I flinched inwardly. Mom must've said something to him about what happened back at home after I got home from that piece of Hell I'd been in. I had been still recovering when I returned from what was supposed to be a vacation that turned into a horrid nightmare and my head had gotten pretty banged up before helped arrived. A few days after being at home I had passed out, nearly giving Mom a heart attack and forcing me to be hospitalized in a military hospital until I was 'out of danger'. I made sure never to sustain any head injuries after that. I never wanted to go through that again, nor did I want to put my family through it. Of course, in this case, I doubt that I will have to worry about being chained up to a stretcher so this shouldn't be too horrible. Might even be fun if I look at it in a brighter light.

"Sarah?"

I looked at Dad in a daze. "I'm fine." Not really, I wanna panic so bad right now. "I'll...stay. Since that's what everyone thinks is best." I'm not a fan of having my choices taken from me, but in this instance I didn't want to worry my family anymore than they already have been. I'll try not to freak out. I just need to remember that this place is not that other one.

Dad smiled, pressing a kiss to my forehead – something that he'd never done before. I really did worry him. "I'll come check up on you in the morning."

I nod. "Bells?" I ask as I remember that J.D had walked her away from the area. I can't believe that I had almost forgotten about my own sister!

"She's fine," Charlie reassures. "She was with J.D when it happened."

I know. "Okay."

~O~

Bella did manage to pay me a visit. She looked a little green. She never liked blood. She could smell it. Most people would find it odd that she could smell blood, but I didn't since I could as well. Of course, I'm not exactly human so it's natural for me. It would be odd since Bella is human. I wasn't going to worry about it though.

"You all right?" Bella asks, sitting on the left side of the hospital bed. "You had us so worried."

I winced. Yeah, I'm surprised that J.D hadn't completely lost her mind. "Is J.D all right?"

She nods. "Yeah, she's fine. Just royally pissed right now."

I was afraid of that.

"Not at you," my sister reassures.

The rest of the visit was mostly spent talking about what school work I would have to make up. Bella never mentioned what happened to Lauren. In some manner I was curious about what had gone on after I passed out, but at the same time I didn't care to know. I'm sure I'd fine out later. Hopefully I won't have to worry about getting pushed through anything else because that is not fun.

After Bella left I did get frequently visited by the nurses. I also did get a few visits from Dr. Cullen. Now those visits I felt the most awkward because I couldn't help but flush a deep red. I felt like my sister and I had switched bodies since I normally wasn't one to blush. Now I was blushing like a very young school girl. A little awkward if you ask me. I-I'm not used to feeling like I'm crushing on someone. It's never happened before – from what I could remember at any rate.

Sleep that night wasn't easy. The nightmares stared. That's what I was afraid would happen if I stayed in one after what I had originally gone through. However, out of all the nightmares I went through, only the last one had me jerking out of the bed, falling onto the floor screaming. It was so bad that I had startled the elderly nurse whom had come into the room checking on me. The panic that ran through my veins didn't disappear as the vividness of the nightmare was still running through my mind. I could still see everything that happened with absolute clarity.

"It's all right, child," she said soothingly.

I still wasn't convinced as the panic, fear and terror wouldn't leave my system. The urge to flee had become so much stronger. I had to get out of there before I did something stupid – like jumping out the window. It was so appealing of an idea that I ran to the door, wrenched it open and took off at top speed down the corridor. I didn't get very far as I apparently ran right into a wall or what I had thought was a wall. Looking up I realize that the wall was actually a person.

Dr. Cullen… "Shit," I breathed out as I collapsed against him, the fear and adrenaline vanish faster than it should've.

The next day when I woke up, I really didn't remember what had happened. At first. Took a few seconds before the memory of last night flashed through my mind's eye. Really, my entire face burned brightly with absolute mortification. I really can't believe that that had happened. It's been years since I had last had a nightmare that involved the past – at least I hadn't hurt anyone. Well, except for my face. Damn, man was built like a fucking brick wall. A very hot looking brick wall.

I jerked back as a cold hand landed on my arm. A hot, yet cold brick wall, my mind amended.

"Oh boy," I whispered, voice trembling a bit. "Please tell me you're not wanting to keep me here…" I was terrified of being kept in this place. No need to have another living nightmare repeated. I've got enough problems going on my mind right now without adding more to it.

He shook his blond head. "No." Ah, there's a relief that I desperately needed to hear.

I sighed. "Here I thought I'd be locked up in a padded stall."

"For having a nightmare? No. You're reaction was natural," he reassures.

I shot him a look. "Who says I had a nightmare?"

Dr. Cullen sighed as he sat down next to me. "The nurse told me. Most people scream in terror when they're asleep because of nightmares."

I can't argue with that. The truth is right there and no amount of lying will get rid of it.

"Yeah, true."

Silence, then, "May I ask what it was?" He sounds so concerned. Really, that touched me on such a level that I had never thought would happen again. "You don't have to tell me, but it might help."

I look down at the sheets wrapped around my legs, feeling on the spot all of a sudden. I mean, there couldn't be any harm in telling what the nightmare was without revealing that it was something that I had actually lived through. "It might…but for some reason, I doubt it."

"Couldn't hurt."

I smile grimly up at him. "You're right, it couldn't." I bit my lip, looking back down. "However, this is something that I can't talk about without wanting to run out of the room." I felt myself flush again as an arm wrapped around my waist. I hadn't really expected that. It was a little scary, yet the thumping of my heart was not from fear – near as I could tell anyway. I guess that means he'll keep an arm around me to keep me from running away. Well, I can take that. After all there isn't anything wrong with telling someone…without them knowing that what I am about to tell them is absolutely true.

"There, now you won't run."

I felt another flush. "I guess not."

~O~

The next few days after I had been released from the hospital, Dad made this habit of constantly checking up on me after finding out about the nightmare that I endured. I didn't tell Dr. Cullen not to tell Dad after finding out what sort of nightmare I had gone through. I didn't blame either male for showing worry. It was rather flattering that the doctor was so concerned. Now I may not like doctors but Dr. Cullen had suddenly become one of the few that I actually would consider to be a favorite. If not my most favorite. Damn…I could really eat him up. And I always turned beat red whenever that thought came across my mind.

Curling up on my side, I almost jumped clean out of my skin as I felt something shift against my back. Took a moment before I realized that Bella was sleeping next to me. I had forgotten that she decided to sleep in here with me after finding out what had happened. She didn't like the idea of me having another nightmare – and J.D agreed with her. Hell I was surprised that my best friend hadn't tried sleeping over. Well, now that I think about it, for the first couple of days she had slept over, but wound up having to go back home so Bella took her place. I wasn't bothered.

"You okay?" There's the worry that I wished I hadn't put into her tone. We moved here not too long ago with me being very supportive of this idea and now I've got my sister worried about me again.

"Yeah," I whispered into my pillow. "Just cold." Odd that.

"That's because the window's open..." she trailed off, getting up to close it. "Did you open it last night?"

I blink. "I...don't remember doing that. I might have." Did I?

Taking a careful sniff I discovered a scent that didn't belong in my room, but my mind was a little too fuzzy to pin-point where it originated from. I wasn't worried about it. There wasn't any horrid feeling that came with the idea of someone else being in my bedroom so I wasn't going to be concerned about it. Not yet. Hopefully, whomever it was that had come in made sure to not bother anything else other than the window.

My eyes drift shut as Bella curled back up against me. I so wanted to go back to sleep, but it eluded me.

"Anyone giving you any trouble?" I inquire as I remembered that while Dad had me excused from school for a few days, Bella had to attend. I knew that without a doubt this story about me being shoved through a door had gotten around and I needed to make sure that no one was giving Bella a hard time. Protecting my family was something I took quite seriously.

"The only one who's bothering me is Lauren," she admitted quietly. Can't say that I was surprised. "J.D though keeps thing from getting too horrible." Bella went silent a second. "I think she wants to beat the hell out of her for what she did to you."

I sigh. "I know. J.D is pretty protective," I state staring at the wall. "I don't blame her for wanting to do that, but I would prefer if she didn't."

"Why not? Lauren deserves to have something done," my sister snarls. "I'd hit her myself if I was a fighter."

"Bells," I mutter. "If anyone does anything to Lauren it just makes things all the more true in her mind about why Alice wanted to eat with us."

She snorts. "It's a stupid reason to try killing someone."

"True that."

She went silent for a moment. "How are you feeling?" She's always so concerned about me. It's touching.

I shrug. "I'm fine. I'm not afraid to go to sleep anymore." I had been for the first few days since coming back home. After telling Dr. Cullen about what it was that I had dreamed, I had been afraid to go to sleep as any time I had closed my eyes a flash of it would pass through startling me. That's the reason why someone would sleep in the bed next to me.

"Okay…"

I blink. "What's wrong?"

"I'm worried."

Huh? "About what?"

I looked over my shoulder to see her staring at me. "Well you naturally. What caused those nightmares to come back like that? It's been so long since you actually had one that it just seems…odd."

She really doesn't need to know this. "Don't worry about it, sis."

"Too late for that," she shot at me with a grin, before it turned into a frown. "It's been years since the last time you freaked out like that. It's got Dad worried and Mom almost flew here to make sure you were okay."

Mom?! "She what?" Oh, please don't tell me that Dad had told Mom that I had freaked out in the hospital. I will never live that down, that's for sure. I'm gonna have to call Mom to let her know that I am all right now if that's the case.

"Shit..."

That's putting it mildly. "Dad told Mom?!"

"Not…exactly."

Oh, please tell me that Bella did not. One look at her face told me all I needed to know. She did. "Why?"

Bella looked down. "I was just so worried. I figured since the last time since it was Mom that had found you that maybe she might have some idea of how to help." She bit her lip. "She wanted to come down here and take you to Florida."

I blink. "I take it you were able to convince her otherwise." Apparently since I was still here.

"I told her that it wouldn't be good for you to be taken away just because of nightmares," Bella stated, looking at the wall I had been staring at with interest. "It wouldn't be right, nor fair if she just came and took you away from this place. Being here had nothing to do with the nightmares. At least, that's what I told her."

I sit up. "You make it sound so simple, Bells," I hug her. "Thanks. Pretty sure that Mom found that very hard to swallow."

Bells laughed. "Yeah, she had a hard time believing that. But like I said, I managed to convince her otherwise. Good thing though," she hugged me back. "I didn't want my sister taken from me again."

So sad. I never wanted to hear that tone from her again. A change of topic will be good. "How's school going?" I wanted to know since Dad hadn't allowed me back. Not just yet anyway.

She looked down. "I wanted to skip."

"I see." It was perfectly understandable since I had been injured, yet, at the same time I am glad that Dad and J.D managed to make sure that Bella didn't do that. "I'm glad that you didn't."

There were a few times when Bella told me that she wanted to just skip and stay here with me. I worried her far more than I had originally thought, but again, I am glad that the others were able to convince her otherwise. I did not want my baby sister to be skipping school, even if it was just to be with me.

"You're skipping today?" I inquire casually. I wouldn't put it past her to try at least once. As funny as I'd find it, I'd rather she go to school.

"No, I'll go," she said after a few moments of silence. "I have to turn in your homework along with mine. You did finish it right?"

I let out a soft laugh. "You worry way too much sometimes, Bells," a sigh. "Yes I finished it. It's downstairs in my bag just waiting to be turned in." I thought briefly about sneaking along to school with her, but the last thing I needed was to get into more trouble.

Bella left a few seconds after that, chuckling a bit at my marvelous piece of dry sarcasm. I had thought about just lounging around in my pajamas, but the last thing I needed was a lecture in my own mind about how this would be a sign of depression. Sure, I have it, but I don't need to go around encouraging it. Stripping out of them, I head into the closet to pull out some clothes before going to the shower wrapped in a purple bathrobe. Looking in the mirror I notice the scar on the left side of my neck…old teeth marks that told the story of what I am; what had been done to me and the fact that I wasn't human any longer. There was another deeper, longer scare on my back that I had gotten several years prior to the accident. Sometimes I can't believe that I had survived the attack.

I blinked back to reality, fully dressed and hearing Dad calling for me from downstairs. Wonder what's going on?

~O~

Dad had called me down to let me know that he was going to let me back to school with the promise to not get into anymore fights. Yeah, like I had actually gotten into one. I had tried to defuse the situation without any sort of violence and for my trouble I had gotten shoved through a glass door. Happily there weren't any scars left behind from that – although in some way I wish that there were. It'd make me feel a bit more normal. Yeah, there's a piece of morbid thinking that I did not need.

Sitting in Biology, I couldn't help feeling a bit odd about being back here today. The other students couldn't stop from staring and whispering. It would've driven me nuts if J.D didn't glare at them occasionally to get them to stop every now and then. Ever Dad dropped me off J.D had stuck to my side like a bloodhound. She wasn't going to let anything else happen to me. As sweet as it seemed, I knew that soon this would get on my nerves. I didn't like being made to feel like I was fragile – which I most certainly am not.

"You don't have to glare at them all the time," I mutter to J.D after she turned back to face the front. "People are always going to talk, ya know."

She glanced at me. "Maybe, but they can at least to it somewhere else. Or if they have questions then they can just ask 'em," she added a bit louder, ignoring the teachers stern look.

"What if I don't wanna answer them?" I whisper, feeling just a little bit of…angst for some reason. Normally I'm not like this – dark and brooding. Yet, here I am.

She looks at me. "You had that nightmare again." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yeah."

Silence.

"You…freaked out," J.D commented after a few moments of silence. "That's why you're not your usual self right now."

I'm not normally all that easy to read, but since J.D's known me our entire lives, it's pretty easy for her to know what's going on. Sometimes I hate that, and sometimes I don't. This is one of those times when I am unsure of how I feel about being an open book to her at this point. I guess…I don't mind it so much.

Turning our attention back to the teacher, I realize that Bella had been throwing looks back at us every now and then. Like she knew that something was wrong with me. I hate to worry her, so I tried to brighten up my entire attitude a bit so that she wouldn't worry so much. It was a bit easier to do as I had her happiness in mind and I didn't want J.D to become even more of a worry wort than she already was.

Suddenly, I had this strange sense of calm envelope my entire being. It wasn't just me that it effected though, the whole of the classroom was a lot calmer and I wasn't getting anymore of those stares. The whispering gossip had vanished as well leaving everything to feel like it was just a normal day and that nothing had happened earlier in the week. It was just what I needed and so I sent out my thanks. While I didn't know whom it was that had done this, I wasn't going to ignore it. That didn't mean I was going to go looking around for where it came from either. It mattered little to me really as what I wanted was for the day to feel more normal.

Tapping my pencil against the desk, I contemplate on what I was going to do if Lauren decided to try getting in my face again. I know that I probably shouldn't really worry about it, but the chances were pretty high that she'd try to do something like this again. I'm not exactly looking forward to that. Nope. Not a bit.

"You're worrying to much," a voice pipes up from next to me, making me jump about ten feet in the air.

I shot a glare at my best friend. "It's a habit that I haven't been able to break. Besides, it's not just me I'm worried about."

"Hm."

"You might wanna try wearing a bell by the way," I hiss at her.

She grins at me. "When I'm sitting right next to you?"

"Smart-ass."

"I learned from the best." True enough. I may be a nice person, but I am quite the smart-ass. Hey, everyone needs a hobby. This was one of mine.

"Have you talked to your doctor yet?" she inquires casually.

Well, that was a turn in the conversation. "Which one?"

"As far as I know," she begins slowly. "You've only got one doctor."

"Two actually," I retort, working on the assignment that the teacher had been talking about. "One back in Arizona and one here."

J.D snorts. "Well, that was fast."

"Hm, what is?" As if I didn't know.

She gives me a sly look. "The fact that you were so quick to get a second doctor when you hate them so much. The last time I checked, Lil was the only one that you could stand." She hums a moment. "So, what changed your mind?"

Silence.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

I look at her from the corner of my right eye. "This one just didn't make me feel like an insane person. So basically…nothing."

o~O~o

A/N: Well, there we go. I know that most of this chapter wasn't as light hearted as the others, but this story isn't a fluffy bunny ya know. I did change some things up a bit and maybe filled in a few holes (not too many). And I think this is a lot better. In my opinion anyway. I do wanna know what everyone else thinks of it.