**(Author's Note:) I'm going to be fully transparent with you guys, I feel like this may be the most awkward chapter in the story. I had a lot to set up, and I'm a little self conscious about it. Hopefully chapter three will be worth it. Please enjoy the story, and I hope to see y'all next year! :) Happy Holidays!**

(Bella)

The next morning I woke up in my bed, my wrist and cheek throbbed with pain. Memories of the night before flashed before my eyes, of running blindly, stupidly, in the stormy wood in a full panic until my legs gave out and I couldn't run anymore. Memories of me curling into a ball on the cold muddy ground, just waiting for my end to come as I huddled under the torrent of rain. Willing it to, anything would have been better than the alternative, than just waiting for him to come back. Time had passed around me as if I were merely an outside observer, I had dissociated so thoroughly that I barely noticed the cold growing colder and the darkness seeping around me.

Eventually I heard the sound of a wolf howling nearby and had been sure that my prayer had finally been answered when moments later I was scooped up in someone's incredibly warm arms and could feel myself being carried away, though I never opened my eyes to try to see who it was or what they intended.

"Bella!" Charlie called out, I could hear a multitude of voices around him.

"She was curled up on the ground sobbing, she seems to be badly bruised on the left side of her face. And she's freezing." I heard the deep voice of the man who had apparently found me.

"Goddamn that little shit!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Thank you, Sam Uley." Billy's voice now, "Charlie-"

"I'm going to ruin that little fucker, Billy!"

"I think right now it's more important that the girl is checked out by a doctor." The man who I assumed was Sam Uley spoke up.

"Yes, ofcourse, you're right. Here, I'll take her." Charlie's tone calmed down. I slowly cracked my eyes open to assess my surroundings. Many people were gathered in Charlie's front yard, I recognised most of dad's friends and coworkers and even some of the boys I knew from school, it seemed like the whole town had shown up in the dead of night.

"I've got her."

"Then follow me over here, Gerandy's over there on standby."

The memories faded away with the early dawn light. I was alone now, warm in my bed, and safe. For now. But for how long?

The weeks passed at a slow crawl, and as they passed my bruises faded and my wrist healed enough to remove the cast. It seemed that the whole town was on high alert now, and the rumor mill was in full swing. I had pretended that I couldn't hear the hushed whispers of my classmates, or see the concern on the faces of my former friends. The unspoken questions hung heavy in the air, everyday. I felt fragile and broken, like shattered glass. I felt hopeless. Then I felt angry. On the third day I stormed into Newton's Olympic Outfitters to quit my job. It wasn't my proudest moment, and it only fueled the rumors.

The weeks turned into months, and no word from Edward or his family. I wanted to take solace in that, but I knew it was only temporary. He had said so himself, even if it took years he would be back for me. Charlie continued his futile quest for justice on my behalf, and so time marched on.

One day I had come home early from school on one of Charlie's rare day's off, and had overheard a phone call he had with Billy. I hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but I found myself ducking behind the corner wall of the small hall that leads to the kitchen.

"Billy, I- I don't know what to do for her anymore. My daughter-" a sigh. "She barely eats, she rarely sleeps, and when she does she wakes up screaming her head off. Sometimes she panics, like she can see him out of the corner of her eye. I just- she's not doing well, Old man." A few seconds of silence. "I already tried to get her to see a therapist, Billy. It- it didn't end well. I'm worried about her. I don't know what in all he did to her, but- it was bad, Billy. It had to be. She doesn't have any friends, he made sure of that." Another few moments of silence. "That's not all of it Billy, I came home once and found her burning that god awful dress in our kitchen sink! My little girl isn't coping well and… and I don't know how to fix her, Billy. I'm afraid I might not be able to…. No, still no sign of them, Chief. I had finally got a warrant for him, but of course money talks… the people at the hospital insist that received a 'sudden and prestigious' job offer in Europe and couldn't turn it down, I don't buy it for a minute…" Suddenly Charlie's tone perked up. "That's actually not a bad idea…!"

Later that night over dinner Charlie had told me that we had both been invited to the Black's residence for dinner and to watch a sports game. I was going to make an excuse. The thought of being near anyone with a y chromosome who wasn't my father made my skin crawl, but I remembered Jacob's sweet disposition, kind smile, and the fact that I'd known him since childhood. I also remembered the absolute hell I was putting Charlie through, it was bad enough my fate was sealed, I didn't have to make him miserable with me. And so, reluctantly I agreed.

The day came and Charlie drove us up to La Push in his cruiser, showing me the way if I ever wanted to visit the Black's residence myself. I listened and retained the information as we drove, ignoring the hopeful gleam in my father's eyes. Both Billy and Jacob seemed like they were ecstatic to see us. Both older men carried on like teenagers, and for the first time in months my heart felt just a tad lighter to see it. After Charlie wheeled Billy off for pre-game beers, Jacob invited me to hang out with him in his makeshift garage. Part of me completely balked, though I did my best to swallow my cowardice, reminding myself that Jacob was a family friend and had never given me any reason to feel apprehensive around him. At first it was awkward, I clutched my sketchpad tightly to my chest, my own sort of life vest. Drawing settled my nerves and helped me express what lurked in the deepest, darkest recesses of my mind. Before I knew it, Jacob had me more at ease than I had been in over a year, and had even managed to make me laugh, and soon a new tradition was made.

I spent many more lazy afternoons with Jacob in his little garage, watching him fix up various vehicles for anyone who came and asked for his help. Some were even kind enough to pay him for the work. We had bonded in a way we hadn't since childhood, when I used to force him to watch 'Sailor Moon' in exchange for watching 'One Piece'. I hadn't realized that I had missed him as much as I had. I loved those lazy afternoons, just Bella and Jacob. Then one day I found someone in town giving away two broken down motorcycles for free, and I couldn't help but pounce on them. I knew my time was limited, and I wanted to experience as much as I could before he came back. The monster. Fixing up these bikes and riding them together, they would make a terrific memory for Jake…

Jake was ecstatic with the idea of our new passion project, and we quickly came to an agreement, he would provide the labor if I bought all the parts we needed. And so those lazy afternoons became filled with purpose.

Overtime, I found myself relaxing just a little bit. Breathing just a tad bit easier. Jacob made me feel optimistic, hopeful for the first time since my own personal hell had begun. However, I never lost sight of the danger that hung over my head, the unchanging fact that someday, maybe even someday soon, he would return.

It didn't last.

I knew it wouldn't, I hadn't deluded myself that much, but it hurt. It hurt in an entirely new way I hadn't anticipated. A night at the movies went completely wrong, he'd been acting so strange that night and had even started on poor Mike. It wasn't like him, it concerned me. Then the worst thing that could have happened, happened. He confessed his feelings, and I had no choice but to reject him. I couldn't tell him that it didn't matter how I felt, that I couldn't risk giving Edward any kind of reason to come after Jacob. It hurt him, and it hurt me. That night I layed in my bed and sobbed, heartbroken, for days. Jacob began giving me the cold shoulder, even with Billy's help, and my pain doubled.

Edward had taken everything from me. He took my free will, He took my self worth, He took my sanity. My emotional stability. Finally, I sat up and wiped away the last of my tears. I had to face this, I had to face him, I couldn't do it anymore. The hallucinations, the night terrors, the anxiety. He may not be here for me to confront, but I could at least give myself a small taste of closure, so I could enjoy my freedom while I still had it. Then, I would confront Jacob.

Resigned, I set my plan in motion.