A week had passed and there was still no sign of Victoria. We were keeping to our tasks, occupying Bella and Uncle Charlie to keep them away from Forks. Bella now spent most of her time with myself or Jake, or she spent her time on the beach alone where I'd go and check on her every few hours. 

When she was with Jacob my jealousy soared sky high. They would walk on the beach hand in hand, chatting and laughing and smiling. I knew I said I'd let him choose for himself, but it just hurt so much. 

The evenings were more painful. Every night we would have a big meal round either Jake's, Sam and Emily's or ours. Emily hosted mostly, she just loved to cook. Tori was completely confused by the joining of all of us but loved it either way, Jesse was back. 

Jake always came to dinner no matter whose house it was at, just as long as Bella was there. He'd always sit next to her, subtly touching her and calling her "honey". It made my heart hurt. What made it worse was that Bella knew how I felt, yet her selfishness for not wanting to be alone overruled my feelings, so she done so with Jake anyway. 

When the meals were held at our house, I had a chance to escape up to my room as soon as the eating was over. I did try my best to hold in the tears, I knew I was being pathetic, but it was just too hard to pretend to be okay. I ended up crying alone in my bedroom, knowing that all the wolves downstairs could hear me.  

Tonight, only Billy, Jake, Bella and Uncle Charlie were round for dinner. It was like clockwork, watching it all play out in front of me as I sat there in silence. The food would be handed out, I'd pick at my plate, help clear the table and then escape to my bedroom.  

It wasn't long before I heard the usual grunt from Uncle Charlie announcing that it was about time for him and Bella to leave. Jake and Billy usually followed straight after, needing to get Billy home before Jake started his nightly patrol. The door shut behind the father and daughter, but no further footsteps or goodbyes sounded through the walls. I sat up slightly on my bed to try and concentrate on the sounds that were coming from downstairs but there was nothing. Just the continuous sound of four heartbeats and their lungs filling with air. 

Why weren't they talking? 

Then the odd grunt and strained whisper came into earshot. They weren't forming actual words. It was like they were mouthing words to each other on purpose so I couldn't hear. 

The muffled sound of footsteps on carpet ascended the stairs then, just from the sound of their breathing and the electric ripple that tickled over my skin I knew it was Jake. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to talk to him when I felt like this. Why did Ryan have to be such a rude asshole, I could be happy with him right now. 

Jake briefly knocked on my door before entering without permission. His eyes found me quickly, huddled in a ball on my bed as I stared back at him with tear-stained cheeks. There was an understanding on his face, yet he still felt the need to ask. "Why'd you disappear?" He took a seat on the edge of my bed as my eyes glared at him. If only he could see the red in my eyes right now, maybe I could scare him. 

"Why do you think?" I asked him harshly, sitting up from my ball shape to move back against the pillows a little further away from him. 

He stuttered trying to find the words for a moment. "Bella?" He asked me meekly. 

"No not just Bella." I said mocking him. "You too." I sighed heavily, the overwhelming feeling of needing to be truthful to him breaking through. "I miss you. You're always with her. I know we need to protect her, but Victoria isn't just after Bella, she's after me too." 

I knew I could take Victoria; I wasn't scared of her. I just wanted a little attention. For people to acknowledge that Bella wasn't the only one in danger because she's the most vulnerable. 

"Oh, Aria. I'm sorry." He pulled me over to him then, I didn't want to fight his strength as he pulled me into his arms and onto his lap. I hated the hold he had over me, as soon as he touched my skin and held me, all of my troubles went away. He shifted us then, so he was now back against the pillows. I looked up at his face and saw nothing but exhaustion and sadness. 

"You need some sleep, Jake." 

"I'll get round to it." Come to think of it, all the boys looked drained this week. They were working too hard. Jake reached over and grasped my small hand in his hotter, larger one. "How comes you're so warm?" 

"I dunno. Jesse thinks it's a wolf gene thing." I watched as he laced and unlaced our fingers, the feeling sending shivers through my body. "It could be. I doubt it though, I'm not a wolf." I couldn't imagine being one. It was impossible though, only males carried the gene. 

"True." He said quietly and I looked up at him seeing his eyes were closed. He was slipping into sleep. I shuffled myself out of his lap and laid my head on his chest cuddling into his side. His arms went around me instantly, holding me tightly too him as if he were afraid, I'd try and move away.  

He needed to figure out who and what he wanted. He was so open with his affections for Bella but kept me hidden and secret. I couldn't play along for much longer and I knew that one day I was going to snap. I'd leave it for now though, he needed his sleep.  

* * *

I groaned irritably as another gust of wind blew my hair into my face. What the hell was she doing up here? Just once, I wished I could read her mind and find out what was running through it. But no, she had to be weird and be able to block me out. That's not saying much for me though... 

A storm was coming. The clouds projected a dark, purplish hue onto the forest. A jagged bolt of lightning ripped the sky in two just as the icy rain began to pelt down on us. The black water below beat against the cliffs, the waves harsh and unforgiving.  

It was my day to watch over Bella and I hadn't been doing a very good job, hence why she's been allowed to get this close to the cliff's edge. I pondered for a moment, watching her to see what made her decide to come up here and look over the daunting edge, especially in this weather. 

Her toes shuffled closer to the edge making my heartbeat abnormally fast. There was no way she'd do that... 

Thunderous howls then echoed around the trees, snapping my attention away from Bella as I craned my neck towards the east where the howls from the boys came from. The crashing waves drowned out their calls from Bella's human ears. Quickly, the wind changed direction, again coming from the east. First, I got the boys' earthy scents but then they became overpowered by a sweet smell that I never wanted to come close to again. Especially when I had Bella with me. 

I panicked; her scent was overwhelming as it continued to fill my lungs. I followed it furiously until I came to a ledge a couple hundred metres to the right of where Bella was standing. I followed until it came to an end... an end created by the water. 

She's in the water. 

"Bella don't!" I screamed out but it was too late, she had already stepped off of the edge. Her shrill scream bouncing off the walls of the cliffs until she became submerged in the inky water.

Shit! Holy shit! What do I do? 

My body moved for me, propelling me down the cliff side and towards the beach, my legs moving faster than they ever had before. My breathing began to falter as panic set in. 

I've failed. I promised Edward. I promised him and I've let her die. 

I began to strip off my jacket, kicking my shoes off as my hands shook.  

"Aria what are you doing here?!" It was Jake, he ran to me grabbing my waist and pulling me back into his body. I ripped myself out of his grip and started back towards the water's edge. "Aria stop! Calm down and breathe." He held my face in his hands trying to soothe me but all I could think about was Bella. 

"No! Bella!" I gasped out and his face fell. 

"Where's Bella?" He questioned angrily and I glanced back at the water. 

"Let me go." I demanded, tearing myself from his frozen arms again. Victoria getting to Bella flashed through my mind. 

"Why did you let her go in there?" He all but shoved me to the side and ran into the water with me right behind him. 

Because I was faster, I got to Bella first. My hands grabbing her arm before I kicked and clawed my way to the surface. Due to the panicking, I couldn't hold my breath for as long as I usually could, so my oxygen supply was slacking. We burst to the surface, my legs kicking as much as they could to keep us up. Then Jake got to us, his arm grabbing my waist and pulled us to shore. I collapsed when I reached shallow waters, Jake grabbing mine and Bella's bodies before we hit the pebbles. 

"Oh god..." I whimpered as I saw Bella's unconscious state. "Jake..." I gasped, coughing up water. "Bella." 

He grabbed her from beside me, taking her from the water's edge and up to a dry part of the beach whilst I stayed sat in the waves trying to catch my breath, the cold water beginning to numb me. 

"Breathe! Breathe!" Jake's urges got louder, and I turned my head to see him giving her CPR. The water pouring out of her mouth as she remained unconscious. I scrambled up from the waves and sped to his side, kneeling on the other side of Bella's limp body.  

"Come on Bella breathe!" He said again, staring at her as I quickly scanned her body for any bites. "Will you back off!" 

Jake's loud voice made me jump. The harshness and disgust in it startling me, my eyes filled with tears quickly. He never spoke to me like that. Ever. 

"What?" I whispered as I sat back onto the sand, water dripping down my face from my hair. 

"Just stay back." He said again, not yelling but still as harsh. "Bella?" He called for her again, his voice tense. "Bella, honey, can you hear me?" Her heart was beating but she still wasn't opening her eyes. 

"How long has she been unconscious?" The second voice startled me. I hadn't even noticed Sam come out onto the beach. 

"I don't know," Jacob reported, the tenseness and worry still laced into his words. 

"Aria?" Sam asked frantically. 

"She jumped around seven minutes ago." I kept my voice low; I didn't want Jake to verbally attack me again. I let my eyes stare aimlessly at the grains of sand in front of me. 

He continued to push on Bella's chest, chanting the words "breathe" to her as I held my knees to my chest crying silently. Crying for Bella because I knew I had failed her if she died and crying for the way Jake had just treated me. I was losing him. 

"Bella, can you hear me?" Jake asked softly, my eyes switching over to her stirring body. Her chest beginning to move again with each staggering breath. 

"She's breathing. She'll come around. We should get her out of the cold, though. I don't like the colour she's turning." Sam instructed before addressing me. "You too Aria, your lips are turning blue." I reached my fingers up to my lips not feeling the heat that usually radiated from them. I didn't know I could become cold like this. 

"You think it's okay to move her?" Jake asked completely ignoring my presence now. 

"She didn't hurt her back or anything when she fell?" 

"She went in feet first." I mumbled hesitantly. 

Bella's eyes then flicked open. "Jake?" Bella croaked as she looked up at him. He smiled in relief as he looked at her with happiness, relief and... love? 

"Oh, Bella! Are you okay? Can you hear me? Do you hurt anywhere?" He was so relieved and so happy it made my heart hurt. 

"J-Just m-my throat," She stuttered from the cold. "Aria?" Her quiet voice brought me out of my thoughts. I nodded silently, "What are you doing here?" I shifted over to her and took her hand in mine, only then did Jake look at me, his face faltering once he saw the tears. 

"I'm sorry Bells. I shouldn't have let you jump; I was looking out. I could smell-" 

"Victoria?" Bella finished for me, and I nodded. "I thought I-" I knew it. 

"She's still in there?" Jake said a little too quietly and my gaze shot to him. 

"You saw me on the beach, and you didn't think it would be a good idea to bring it up!" I spat at him making Bella jump. 

"I was there to protect you!" He shouted back still holding Bella up. 

"You knew I'd be watching her today!" I cried as tears poured down my face. 

"Watching me?" Bella cut in but she was ignored briefly. 

"We got her out, didn't we?" He argued back as he looked down at Bella in his arms. "What the hell were you thinking?" 

"I just wanted to see something?" She said slowly. 

"See what?" I urged sarcastically but Jake glared at me. 

Why was we so bipolar with me? 

"C'mon, let's get you out of here." Jake said, sliding his arms under her and lifted her with ease. Her body was still limp as she hung in Jake's arms. 

"You got her?" Sam asked, I'm assuming to both Jake and me. 

"Yeah, I'll take it from here. Get back to the hospital. I'll join you later. Thanks, Sam." Jake said allowing for Sam to jog up the beach and away from us in a hurry. 

I frowned looking at Jake's pained face and swallowed. Something happened. 

"Jake?" I whispered and he looked at me painfully, our argument forgotten for the moment. 

"What happened?" Bella added as Jake kept his eyes on the sand. 

"Harry Clearwater had a heart attack." Jake spoke sullenly. I gasped, my hand flying up to cover my mouth as new tears formed. My feet stumbled in the sand as I felt my heart pick up speed. 

"Is he okay?" Bella asked, her own voice shaking with worry for her father's friend. 

Jake's eyes tightened as he trudged ahead. "It doesn't look so great right now." 

"Oh my god." I breathed, his poor family. 

We walked in silence for a while absorbing this new information. The weather making the situation even more morbid. The whipping wind was sending shivers down my spine, I needed the vampire part of me to kick in and warm me up, but it wasn't working. 

"How did you find me?" Bella rasped. 

"I was tracking you. I was going to stop you before you jumped but the pack's howls distracted me, that's when I smelt her." I explained and she nodded heavily. 

"I knew Aria was watching over you today, I tried to find you both after we lost her in the water. I was worried she'd swim to the beach. You're both there a lot..." He trailed off and swallowed hard. At least he was considering both of us now. "Look, no more jumping off cliffs behind my back." Anger filled his tone as the worry faded. 

"Sorry," Bella muttered. "It was stupid." 

"Yeah, really stupid." Jake agreed as we reached the front of his house. The storm was pounding against the roof of the little red house. 

Jacob set Bella down on the couch in the front room as I stripped off my jacket and laid it on the radiator to dry off. "I'll go get you some dry clothes." I wasn't sure if he was only talking to Bella or not. Jake was back in seconds. He threw a pile of grey and black clothes at Bella and me. "These will be huge on you guys. I'll go get your truck; I'll be back soon." 

He left, leaving us alone and to our own devices. I looked down at the pile of clothes he had given me and despite how he had acted with me today my Jake was still in there. He had given me my favourite hoodie of his. 

Whilst we waited for Jake, Bella asked if I would stay with her tonight. She admitted she had some serious things to tell me about why she jumped. She didn't want to risk telling me here in case Jake heard. 

We heard a car door shut then, and I rushed to the door opening it, ready for whoever was about to enter. Sam was wheeling Billy up the ramp towards the door, the pain and sadness on their faces telling me that it was bad news about Harry. "Did he?" Billy nodded slowly, his expression hard with grief, Sam held the same agonised expression as they entered the house. 

"I'm so sorry." Bella whispered from behind me as Billy grabbed my hand, kissing the back of it as he held it tightly in both of his. 

"It's gonna be hard all around." Billy said to Bella as he pulled me down to wipe my silent tears. 

Harry had been like an uncle to me my whole life. God knows how my father was taking this, and Harry's wife and kids. Poor Seth he was too young to lose his father. 

"Where's Charlie?" 

"Your dad is at the hospital with Sue. There are a lot of... arrangements to be made." 

"What about Seth and Leah?" I finally found my voice, after swallowing hard. 

"They are at your house; Rob is taking care of them for tonight." 

"I'd better get back there." Sam mumbled, and he ducked hastily out the door. 

"Where's Jacob?" Billy asked, wheeling himself further into the room after giving my hand a pat and releasing it. 

"He went to get Bella's truck." He nodded once, and then rolled himself through the kitchen and towards his room. I stared after him for a moment, this was going to be hard on all of us. 

Jake returned not long after, his pain-stricken face showing us he had already heard the news. It surprised me when he took one look at me, saw my tear-stained face, a strode across the room to take me into his arms. The electric heat pulsed between us as he held me close. 

Briefly after our encounter Jake went to see his dad and then we were on the road to Bella's house. Along the way we informed him of my plans to stay with Bella. The air was even colder once darkness fell; it had been months since I last felt like this. I was never going in the sea again at this rate.  

Whilst we drove, I tried to ignore the stabbing pain in my chest as Bella huddled into Jake's side trying to warm up. He was so smug about it too until he looked my way, and his face tensed up. If he knew it was bothering me, why was he doing it? I pressed myself up against the window, my knees huddled to my chest as I attempted to warm myself up. 

"How will you get home?" Bella asked. 

"I'm not going home. We still haven't caught the bloodsucker, remember?" I winced at his harsh words. I pulled my hands up into the sleeves of his hoodie and rested my head on the window closing my eyes, doing my best to block out the both of them. 

After a short while the truck came to a stop, the rattling sound had stopped but it didn't go unnoticed by me when Jake's heartbeat picked up slightly. The truck then shifted under his weight as he pulled Bella tight against him. "Sorry, I know you don't feel exactly the way I do, Bells." My breath caught in my throat as my heart sunk. He had chosen her. "I swear I don't mind. I'm just so glad you're okay I could sing- and that's something no one wants to hear." He laughed his throaty laugh.  

It was tensely quiet for a moment. I was worried they were about to kiss but then I felt Bella freeze beside me and Jake let out a long, disappointed sigh. He moved away from her immediately, the truck rocking slightly as he reached for the door. When he opened it, the cool, stormy wind blew into the cab of the truck, chilling me into taking a breath again. 

"OH!" He spoke quickly as the breath whooshed out of him. "Holy crap!" 

I noticed the change in the air at the exact same time he did. There was a vampire. But the smell was so familiar... it couldn't be. 

He slammed the door shut, locked them, and then twisted the key in the ignition in the same moment. With his hands shaking so violently I had no clue how he did it. 

"Jake wait!" I rasped out hurriedly. I needed to be sure. 

"What's wrong?" Bella asked worriedly. 

"There's a vampire." He spat, revving the engine so fast the truck struggled to regain life. 

"How'd you know?" Bella asked as I struggled to form words, the excitement building inside me. 

"I can smell it-" he began but I cut him off. 

"It's a Cullen." I blurted out, turning towards them as Bella's face lit up. Jacob's eyes were wild, raking the dark street. 

"Phase or get her out of here?" He hissed at himself. He seemed to make his decision as soon as he looked at Bella's face. He was being selfish. 

The engine caught with a roar. The tyres squealed as Jake spun the truck around and as he done so I caught the shiny paintwork of a black Mercedes parked across the road. I knew that car! 

"Stop!" Bella gasped noticing it as well in the same second. Carlisle's car... Alice was really here! I had smelt her. "Stop!" Bella cried again as Jake continued to floor it down the road. 

"Stop the damn truck, Jacob!" I yelled angrily. 

"What?!" 

"It's not Victoria. Stop, stop! I want to go back." He stomped on the brake so hard I had to put my arm across Bella to stop her flying into the dashboard. 

"What?" He asked again, aghast. He stared at her with horror in his eyes. He didn't think she'd want to see them. 

"It's Carlisle's car, Jake. I know their scent." I explained and he just blinked at me before a violent tremor rocked his body. 

"Hey Jake, calm down. Okay?" I prepared to hurl Bella and myself out of the truck and away from the raging wolf if it exploded from him. Bella was in her own little world though, staring out the back window at Carlisle's car. 

"There's a vampire in your house," Jacob hissed as a pang of anger shot through me. "And you want to go back?" 

"Of course." Bella's voice was blank and to the point which relieved me immensely. 

Jacob's face hardened while we stared at him. Contorting into the bitter, angry face I had only seen him make at someone who was threatening me. "You're sure it's not a trick?" He asked in a slow, heavy voice. 

"Jake, I know their scent!" I cried, wanting him to let us out the truck. 

"See, its them. Take us back!" 

Another shudder rippled across his shoulders, but his eyes were flat and emotionless. "No." He breathed out heavily. "Take yourself back." He was cold and disconnected as he glared at Bella. His jaw clenched and unclenched. "I can't go back. Treaty or no treaty that's my enemy in there." I felt like I had been slapped in the face and punched in the stomach at the same time. He saw me as the enemy now? "I have to tell Sam right away. This changes things. We can't be caught on their territory."  

"It's not a fucking war Jake!" I said harshly and then he fired his gaze on me. He didn't even listen to me. Instead, he put the truck in neutral and jumped out the door. "Bella. Drive back home and wait for me there. Do not go in the house alone!" I jumped out the truck too, running around the front to try and catch up with Jake's retreating body. "Jacob?" I called into the darkness. 

I reached him quickly as he stomped through the forest. "Of course they'd come back now." He snarled. He had stopped a few feet ahead of me, his body was furiously shaking as he looked at me in disgust. "How could she want them vile creatures over me?" 

"Excuse me!" I snapped. He had never purposefully said these words with me around before. 

"Here we go, you and your loyalty to those bloodsuckers." He hissed, stomping over to me so he could lean over me. I felt powerless against him. I didn't want to argue with Jake. "It would have just been easier if you were dead!" 

I wanted to die then. 

Jacob wished me dead. 

"What?" I whispered, shrinking into myself as he leered over me angrily. 

"I would rather you be dead than to see what you are now. It physically hurts me to know you're one of them. I can't stand it!" He raged as I felt like I was going to collapse. He was just angry; he didn't mean it... 

"I guess I'll just go get myself killed then... maybe Jared might be willing to do the deed. Will that ease your torment?" I looked him up and down in disgust before I bolted it out of there, holding in the tears as I ran back to Bella's house. 

When I got to her driveway, I wasn't surprised to find the cab of her truck empty. I knew she was safe with Alice though inside the house, just the thought of seeing her face again let the tears loose. Despite how annoying she was I had missed her terribly; I had missed all of them.  

I listened in on what was going on in the house only to hear Bella's cries and Alice comforting her. I approached the front door and was surprised to see Alice already standing on the other side of it. "Hi." I whimpered as I fell into her small arms, her marble-like body catching me easily. 

"Hi to you too." She laughed endearingly as she comforted me too. 

We hugged for what felt like an eternity before we rejoined Bella in the living room. She was huddled in a ball, wiping her tear-stained face as she looked at the two of us happily. Jacob had brought back her light but now she seemed to be shining, even if it was only Alice who had returned and not Edward. 

"Anyway," Alice began as we all took seats on the couch, me settled in the middle of the two. "I have never met anyone more prone to life-threatening idiocy." Alice got out as Bella looked like she was lost for an explanation. I heard her swallow loudly. 

"Alice, I wasn't committing suicide." Bella said slowly, so that was why she had come back. 

Alice wasn't convinced. "So, you're saying you didn't jump off a cliff?" 

"No, but..." Bella grimaced as she tried to find her words. "It was for recreational purposes only." Alice's expression hardened. "I'd seen Jesse and some of his friends doing it... it looked like fun." Alice remained silent. "I didn't think about how the storm would affect the current. To be honest I didn't think about the water at all." She didn't buy it. Not one bit. Her dark, black eyes bored into Bella. "Wait, if you saw me go in, why didn't you see Aria and Jake pull me out?" That was a good question. 

Alice cocked her head to the side; her eyes were distracted as if she was searching over her vision again. 

"I probably would have drowned if Aria wasn't watching me. Jake helped with bringing us back to shore. I was unconscious then though. Why didn't you see?" Bella asked again. 

"Aria pulled you out?" She was utterly confused. 

"I tried. I was panicking so I struggled. Jacob done most of the work." Just saying his name out loud I wanted to throw up. 

Something was bothering Alice as she thought about Bella's questions. Then she suddenly leant forward, breathing in mine and Bella's scents. 

"What are you doing?" I asked her curiously. 

"Don't be ridiculous." She muttered to herself, sniffing some more. 

"Alice?" I questioned again leaning away from her. This was weird. 

"Who was you arguing with outside?" 

"Jacob?" Bella said slowly, still confused with Alice's actions. 

"How many are there now?" Alice asked turning to me. What was she going on about? I looked at Bella seeing if she understood. Her face was blank. 

"What?" I asked. 

"Like your brother. Like Sam." She eyed Bella cautiously, like she wasn't sure what to say in front of her. By this point I knew she meant werewolves. 

"There's seven of them. Bella knows the secret." I pointed out and Alice nodded. 

"Well, I guess that explains the smell." She muttered and I scowled, I didn't think it was that bad. "It could explain why I didn't see." 

"The smell?" Bella broke in. 

"You both smell awful." She scrunched her nose up in disgust, surely, she would have smelt it on me before. 

"How long have they been this way for?" Alice asked curiously.

"Well, there was just the four of them before you left," I swallowed hard, not wanting to remember the pain of what the boys had done to me. "Embry, Quil and Jake followed around January and February." I explained, keeping my mind focused on something other than the sadness they dropped me in to. 

"It's only been for a few weeks." Bella added, her voice slightly defensive due to Alice's hostility. 

Alice then glowered at us. "A young werewolf? Even worse! Edward was right- you're a magnet for danger. Weren't you supposed to be staying out of trouble?" 

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with werewolves." It was my turn to glower at her. "And I've been trying my best to help Bella out too." I grumbled as I felt Bella take my hand in hers. 

"Well yeah there's nothing wrong with werewolves until they lose their tempers." She shook her head sharply from side to side. 

"I have a temper too, Alice." I warned her. Setting Jake aside, I would stand up for my friends and family no matter what. They weren't all bad. 

"Relax." Alice said coolly. "Leave it to you, Bella. A monster magnet. The majority of vampires are gone," she side eyed me. "But you still try and find danger." 

"It was inevitable really, with who Aria is and what Jesse is. Being friends with Jake just added to that. Besides, Aria isn't the only vampire around. If it weren't for the werewolves and Aria, Victoria would have gotten me by now. Well, if it weren't for Aria and Jake and his friends, Laurent would have gotten me before she could, I guess, so-"  

"Victoria?" Alice hissed. "Laurent?" We both nodded at her, her dark eyes piercing through us. "Tell me everything. Now." 

Bella and I explained as much as we could about Victoria and Laurent. I told her about the time I had almost decapitated Victoria but the wolves, before I knew what they were, intervened and had us both running. Her eyes almost fell out of her head at that part, she didn't like the idea of me fighting. We then went on to explain our encounter with Laurent in the meadow, when the wolves intervened again. We explained everything the wolves were doing to stop Victoria, everything up until Harry's death this afternoon. Alice listened to us without interrupting, her only response being the shake of her head or the crease in her brow. I wondered how Dad was taking things, maybe I should get home tonight instead of staying here. 

"Our leaving didn't do you two any good at all, did it?" Alice murmured. 

Strangely, both Bella and I laughed. Alice's comment was an understatement. "A downward spiral." I admitted. 

"That was never the point though? You didn't leave to benefit me." Bella added, she didn't know the whole truth of course. Edward thought he was doing the right thing. 

"Well... I guess I acted impulsively today. I probably shouldn't have intruded." Alice said scowling at the floor. 

Bella froze beside me then, her hand dropping from mine. "Don't go, Alice." She whispered as she began to hyperventilate. "Please don't leave me." Maybe Alice shouldn't have returned. 

Alice leapt up from beside me and settled on the other side of Bella. "All right," she said calmly. "I'm not going anywhere tonight. Take a deep breath." Alice eyed me worriedly; this was nothing compared to what Bella was like a few months ago. Once Bella regulated her breathing Alice continued. "You look like hell, Bella." 

"I drowned today." Bella reminded her and I almost laughed at her bluntness. 

"It looks deeper than that, you're a mess." 

Bella physically flinched at the comment. "Look, I'm doing my best." 

"What do you mean?" Alice asked. 

"It hasn't been easy. I'm working on it." Bella shrugged. By stealing my best friend and making him fall in love with you... that's how. 

Alice frowned. "I told him." She said to herself, referring to Edward. We all knew their leaving would have consequences. When I next see him in however many decades he was going to get a piece of my mind. 

"Alice." Bella sighed. "What did you think you were going to find here? I mean, besides me dead. Did you expect to find me skipping around in some perfect world of my own? You know me better than that." 

"I do. But I hoped." 

"Then I guess I don't have the corner on the idiocy market." Alice remarked and I subtly rolled my eyes. She needed to stop digging at her. It wasn't Bella's fault that Alice couldn't see what happened after she jumped. 

The phone rang then, breaking the slight awkwardness that Bella and Alice had created. "That has to be Charlie. " Bella said staggering to her feet. She grabbed mine and Alice's hands and dragged us to the kitchen with her. She most likely didn't want us to talk about her in her absence. "Charlie?" Bella answered the phone. 

"No, it's me," I heard Jake's voice on the receiver and winced. How could I act around him now knowing he wished I was dead? 

"Jake!" 

"Just making sure you're both still alive." He said sourly. Ironic how he used the word alive. He was like a whirlwind that I couldn't keep up with. 

"We're fine. We told you-"

"Yeah. I got it. Bye." If the Cullens hadn't left, would this have been my life? Jacob being this cold, unrecognisable person? 

Bella sighed heavily, hanging her head back to look up at the ceiling. "That's going to be a problem." 

I remained silent. There already was one. 

"They aren't excited I'm here." Alice noted squeezing Bella's hand. 

"They can't defend this territory anymore. They're just worried about Victoria coming to get Bella and I... they forget that I can take her." I explained and Alice glared at me pointedly. 

"It's none of their business anyway." Bella added as Alice put her arms around the two of us. 

"So, what do we do now?" She mused though she seemed to talk to herself for a brief moment. "Things to do. Loose ends to tie." 

"What things?" I asked. 

Her face went plain then. "I don't know entirely... I need to see Carlisle." Oh, how I wanted to see them too. 

"Could you stay?" Bella begged quickly. "Please? Only for a little while. I've missed you so much." Her voice broke at the end. 

"If you think that's a good idea." She looked sceptical. 

"I do. You can stay here - Charlie would love that." 

"I have a house, Bella." Alice reminded her and Bella nodded, accepting Alice's decision sullenly. "Well, I'll need to go get a change of clothes..." she changed her mind and Bella's face lit up like a Christmas tree. 

"Alice! Thank you!" Bella beamed hugging her tightly. 

"I'll need to hunt first. Immediately." She added in a strained voice causing Bella to take a quick step back, slightly behind me. I knew Alice wouldn't hurt her, but I was glad Bella did so, just to be safe. 

"Can you both stay out of trouble for one hour?" She looked at the both of us, checking us over. 

"I'll be here, we'll be fine. Go." I urged, the quicker she feeds the better. Wow, it's been a long time since I last thought about someone feeding. 

"You'll come back?" Bella asked in a small voice. 

"I promise." And then she was gone. 

We stood there for a moment, staring at the spot Alice was last standing before turning to each other. Bella decided to go shower first whilst I set up the sofa bed for Alice and me, not that she would be sleeping. When Bella was done, and it was my turn to shower, she began to prepare some food for us. Once we were done eating, I smelt the freshness of Alice's scent in the house signalling she had returned from her trip. When I told Bella she rushed back into the living room, eager to see Alice again. 

"You're early." Bella was totally ecstatic. 

Bella sat down next to her and leant her head against Alice's shoulder. It was like she needed the physical connection from a full vampire, all I offered was warm, soft skin, she craved the icy marble that was their's. She wanted familiarity. "What are we going to do with you?" Alice sighed as I took a seat on the other side of her. 

"I don't know." Bella admitted. "I really have been trying my hardest. Aria has helped a lot recently." Not in the first few months though, she didn't want the reminder then. 

"I believe you." Alice said before we fell into another silence. 

"Does- does he..." Bella took a deep breath. She could never say his name straight up. "Does Edward know?" She couldn't help herself. 

"No." 

I decided to speak up then. "Is he not with the rest of the family?" 

"He checks in every few months." I scowled at the floor. He was punishing himself, for entering Bella's life... for what happened to me... 

"You said you flew here. Where from?" Bella changed the topic quickly, obviously not liking Alice's answer. 

"I was in Denali. Visiting Tanya's family." 

"Is Jasper here? Did he come with you?" She was taking every chance she could to ask questions, soaking up all the answers. 

Alice shook her head quickly. "He did not approve in my decision to come here." She paused for a moment. "Are you sure Charlie won't mind?" He was still a little way up the road but the familiar sound of the engine of his cruiser rumbled towards the house. I listened closely and heard him sniffle, he was trying to conceal he had been crying before he saw Bella. 

"Charlie thinks you're wonderful, Alice." 

"Well, we're about to find out." Uncle Charlie's cruiser was then close enough for Bella to hear, she jumped up quickly ready to greet him at the door. Alice and I followed meekly; I didn't think he'd be in the mood for guests. 

Charlie looked distraught as he walked up the driveway. Bella hugged him immediately and he embraced her back tightly. "I'm so sorry about Harry, Dad." 

"I'm really going to miss him," Charlie mumbled as new tears pricked at my eyes. 

"How's Sue doing?" Bella asked. 

"She seems dazed, like she hasn't grasped it yet. Sam's staying with her. Those poor kids." I bit my lip to try and control my tears. 

Uncle Charlie kept his arms tight around Bella as they made their way into the house. "Um, Dad? You'll never guess who's here." 

He looked at Bella blankly, his head turning to glance along the street for any cars. His eyes landed on the Mercedes across the road and his eyes turned into slits. Before he could react, Alice spoke up from beside me. "Hi Charlie," she said in a subdued voice. "I'm so sorry for the bad timing." 

"Alice Cullen?" He was unsure and I was worried about how he would react. He hated Edward, God knows how he'd receive his sister. 

"It's me." She confirmed. "I was in the neighbourhood." 

"Is Carlisle...?" The way he drawled it out was obvious to us all that he wasn't really asking about Carlisle.  

"No. I'm alone." 

"She can stay here, can't she?" Bella pleaded. "And Aria too?" Charlie's eyes then landed on me, changing from questioning to sadness. He stepped over to me quickly and brought me in for a hug. I had grown apart from the Clearwaters in recent months but before then I would have seen them just as much as I saw Jake and his father, we were all so close. 

"Of course, you girls can stay." Uncle Charlie said upon releasing me. "I'm going to be busy with arranging the funeral tomorrow. Some company would suit Bella." 

"There's dinner on the table for you, Dad." Bella told him and he thanked her quietly before shuffling away and into the kitchen. 

We all went back to the living room and settled ourselves on the make-shift bed. "You both look tired." 

"Well lifesaving and drowning can tire us normal-ish folk out." I commented and they both smiled. "What does Carlisle think about you coming back?" I wondered if the family missed me. 

"He doesn't know, he and Esme were on a hunting trip. He'll be back in a few days; I'll hear from him then." 

"You won't tell him though, when he next checks in?" Bella asked, no longer wanting to talk about Carlisle. 

"No. He'd bite my head off." Alice said grimly and Bella laughed though I didn't take it lightly. Edward would be furious. "Come on, you two should get some sleep. I wont't go anywhere." She promised. 

As I drifted off, I tried my best to not think about Jacob and his harsh words but now that I was left alone in my own thoughts, the harder it was to block them out. He couldn't have meant them, he even checked to see if I was still alive. Whenever I closed my eyes though, all I could see was his angry bitter face staring back at me. 

He had chosen Bella now, maybe that was his way of telling me.