Every time I look at the view counter now and see it's over 9,000, I hear Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z going: "IT'S OVER 9,000!" All laughs aside, thank you everyone for your feedback. I'm glad so many people are liking Erik; he's a cutie pie. I'm debating on whether or not his twin Jack should come into play as well, but who knows, we'll see? Anyhoo, please read and review! Enjoy!

Bella left the bathroom, walking towards the front of the store when she caught a glimpse of him: Edward, striding towards the double doors. "Hey Bella," Mike called, his back to the doors, "What's wrong? You look pale."

Her phone slipped through her fingers, clattering against the ground. "Mike get away from the door," Bella gasped, trying to keep herself at a controlled walk. It was easier said than done though: Edward could easily get past their defenses with a simple kick or two. At the sight of Bella's jog Mike turned around and Bella could only imagine what his face looked like. She saw Mike's body stiffen and then her friend charged forward with his hammer drawn back, as if expecting Edward to come bursting through the doors.

Edward paused for a moment, raising one hand against the unfortified portion of the glass doors. The sunlight sparkled against his skin: a million diamonds crushed against the sand. "Do you mean to defend her?" he asked his voice low and soft, like velvet. But his eyes were hard- Bella gulped as she walked up behind Mike. "Defend her from her own boyfriend?"

"S-s-she doesn't like you," Mike stuttered. His knuckles were white. "Go away you freak!"

Edward's eyes narrowed as he curled his hand into a fist. "You know you cannot win against me Michael," he murmured. "I can defend Bella far better then you. Give her to me. Or you will force me to react with power that you cannot possibly withstand."

Mike cast a glance at her and Bella could see the fear on his face. She knew her own face must mirror it and for one wild moment she thought Mike might do that; all his talk about liking her, about what a real guy does when he like someone was just talk. But just as quickly as that thought entered her mind it left as Bella saw something pass over his features. Mike seemed…different. "Bella," he whispered, "do you trust me?"

"Wha-" Bella started and stopped as Mike held out his hammer.

"I want you to run. When he breaks in; I'll deal with Edward myself."

"I-I can't do that Mike," Bella gasped even as Mike pressed the hammer into her hands. She could feel how warm the smooth wood of the handle was, how Mike's fingers trembled as they brushed against her own.

Mike gave her a tiny smile: goofy and in later retrospect, heartbreaking. Mike pulled Bella into a hug: arms tight around her before he let go. "Emergency exit Bella," he whispered in her ear. "I'll hold him off for as long as I can." Mike turned around to face Edward and Bella could see the anger, the rage pouring off the vampire just by the look in his eyes, by the stiffness in his jaw. "Come on you freak," Mike yelled. "Show me what you got!"

"Mike!" Bella screamed as Edward threw a punch. Shards of glass and splinters of wood went flying everywhere and instinctively Bella covered her face, turning away from the storm.

"Run Bella!" Mike yelled as he turned to face Edward.

Bella shook her head. "Mike I-"

"Bella damn it! Move your fucking legs!"

Edward was peeling back the wood and the fencing with relative ease; as if it were made of tissue paper for him. He is a vampire after all, she thought with a horrid realization even as she took one step back. "Bella please," Edward pleaded, "stop this nonsense. Come home with me."

"Breaking into a girl's temporary residence isn't exactly a way to show affection dude. You know that right?"

The voice was undoubtly male and loud: as if the person who had spoken had half shouted. At the sound of the voice Edward turned his head, confusion marring his angelic features. "Brother?" he started and Bella could hear the questioning tilt in his voice. But that doesn't sound like Jasper, she thought to herself as she inched forward, curious to see just what had gotten Edward's attention. Even Mike seemed confused, and he was closer to the damaged doors then she was.

"What are you doing Edward?" Jasper's deep voice sounded like heaven to Bella's ears and she sighed, relieved. If Jasper was here, then everything would be alright. Right?

"What are you doing with one of them," Edward asked and Bella could almost hear the venom dripping off the word.

"Damn, could you at least act like you're fucking civil," came the strange voice again, thankfully quieter this time. "No body likes a bitch man. Especially a bitchy telepath." Edward actually took a step back at that, eyes suddenly wide. He clutched at his head, rubbing his temples even as he glared in the direction of Jasper and his unseen companion.

Jasper's voice: "What are you-"

"Nothing. Just showing your darling foster brother here if he tries to fuck with me I'll kill him. Now back away Frosty: these nice people probably worked all day on those doors and you just annilated one."

Edward was backing up, no longer rubbing at his temples as if he had a bad headache but actually clutching his head, grinding his teeth so loudly that even Bella could hear it. He was backing away from the doors even as there was a knock against the doors. Bella ran to them, by passing Mike as she hurried to unlock them. Mike helped her: moving away the locks and the wood until the door was slightly cracked. Bella opened it, hoping Jasper would be on the other side. The door revealed a handsome stranger: tall and lithe and blonde like Jasper, though this man's hair was straight whereas Jasper's had a slight curl to it. A burning cigarette hung from his lips in a haphazard way and one hand raked through his hair. His irises were nearly nonexistent: a slight thin circle of green behind lopsided glasses as his pupils took up most of the eye. Paradigm! Her mind squeaked and Bella slammed the door in the stranger's face.

"Well that went well," the stranger grumbled from the other side of the door.

"Are you ok?" Jasper asked him.

"That is an extremely stupid question vampire."

Silence. Bella took a deep breath before she opened the door again, casting the stranger a sheepish glance. "Sorry," she mumbled as she took notice of the bright red mark against his forehead.

"Nonsense, I get slammed in the face by doors all the time."

Bella blinked at him, biting her lip to keep from smiling. She was failing, horribly. She could see behind the strange man that even Jasper was trying not to smile. The stranger cast a glance over his shoulder at Edward who was still clutching his head. "Romeo go home," he said as he took a puff of his cigarette. "You're safer home right now than anywhere else."

Edward opened his mouth as if to retaliate but it was Jasper who stopped him from speaking. Jasper gave him a look, one look that caused her ex to fall silent before he nodded, backing away. The stranger's eyes swirled to normal as he rubbed his temples. "Fuck, using my telepathy always gives me a headache."

"You came…" Bella whispered as Jasper nodded, hobbling inside after the stranger. She felt happy: relieved and happy and without thinking she threw her arms around him, hugging him close. "Thank you."

"Bella! What are you doing?" Mike asked and Bella pulled out of the hug. She could hear the worry in Mike's voice even as the stranger cleared his throat, closing the door behind Jasper.

"Looks like a hug to me." Mike shot the stranger an annoyed glance and he grinned. "The name's Hansen. Erik Hansen at your service. And before you start with that "how can we trust him" drivel, please note I helped chase away a psychotic vampire away from your door."

Bella bit her lip. "Don't say that," she began and Erik Hansen sighed.

"Would you prefer sociopathic?" he offered.

"I would prefer the term "misguided"," Jasper muttered.

Bella simply shook her head, unable to argue with each terms at the moment. She cast a grateful glance towards Mike and smiled. "Mike," she began. "Thank you."

He cast a glance at her and looked away. "Yeah…" he trailed off. "Don't mention it." He was willing to die for you, Bella thought as her fingers brushed against Jasper's. Could he…like me? Jasper looked down at her and Bella saw the barest hint of a nod, as if he could read her mind. Oh Mike…you shouldn't like me.

I like…

Their fingers brushed again and this time Bella entwined them, enjoying Jasper's closeness, enjoying his very presence. Sometimes, Bella wished she was normal.