"Sometimes, the person you would take a bullet for is the one standing behind the trigger."

-Unknown

***

So much has happened over the past hour. And now I have the knowledge that Harry Clearwater is dead.

Heart attack in the woods.

The sad part of it was that I just wanted to go home. I didn't want to be awake anymore today, I just want to get home. I wasn't listening to anything Bella and Jacob were saying, but he had his hand back so I could hold it and gain some of my body heat back. I was still reeling that Bella jumped off a goddamn cliff for fun. Like, if you want to have fun, let's go get some freaking ice cream, you don't need to plummet to an icy death.

When we pulled up to our house, a car caught my attention, and it was like all of my senses were kicked back to life. Slick, black, and shiny. I knew that car anywhere.

"Carlisle." I whispered, immediately going to open my door.

"No! Courtney it's a trick!" Jacob cried, and I turned to send him a sharp look. "No, I need some closure."

Jacob could prevent Bella from getting out of the truck, but he sure as hell couldn't contain me. I jumped, running across the stiff concrete and pushing the door to my house open. It was dark, except for a figure standing right in front of me.

"Sadie?" I recognized her from her florescent hair. "What the hell are you doing here?"

The girl grinned, her teeth shining in the darkness as she flipped the light switch and my vision was flooded. "We have a guest."

"Hi."

I think I screamed when I heard Alice's voice, but I might have just jumped. Her short, graceful figure was beside Sadie before I could blink, and Bella walked in at that exact moment.

"Alice, oh Alice!" She cried, running over to practically leap into her arms. I was floored. My entire body was shaking, and it was only partially from the cold.

"A-Alice?" I squeaked, my voice an octave higher than usual. I was expecting to feel some sort of burning anger if I ever saw her again, but all I felt my stone cold relief. "Alice?"

"Oh, Courtney I'm so sorry!" Se cried, and before I knew what was happening I practically collapsed in her arms, tears streaming down my face for the second time in a day. Alice held onto me so tight I was afraid I might break in half, but I didn't care, I didn't care. Alice was here, Alice was okay.

"Mind explaining to me how you're not dead?"

"Mind explaining to me what the hell you are talking about?"

Alice blanched, recoiling in surprise. "I-I saw Bella jump off a cliff, and you jump in after her... I-" She turned to Bella with a sharp gaze. "Why the hell would you try to kill yourself?" She turned back to me. "And why wouldn't you just get help?"

"I-I did." I muttered, reaching up to tug on a strand of my already drying hair. "I was with Paul Lahote in the woods... and I told him to go get Jacob."

"I-" She paused, shaking her head. "I didn't see that."

"And I didn't try to kill myself, I was cliff diving."

I decided that I needed to add my input. "Yeah, Bella's an adrenaline junkie now."

"It was fun."

"I have never met anyone more prone to life-threatening idiocy!" Alice scolded, guiding us over to the couch as Sadie brought over two mugs of hot tea.

"You didn't tell... them. Did you?" I asked, taking a sip of my tea.

"Edward only calls once every few months... Jasper-" She winced deeply at his name, and I was sure I did too. "Well, he-he's not doing all that well."

"You think he'd be going fine if he didn't even say goodbye." I mumbled, and Alice's face softened.

"Don't you think that for one second! He's a mess, Courtney, he couldn't say goodbye because he wouldn't have been able too."

Alice's nose scrunched up. "What is that god-awful wet dog smell?"

"Oh-" I chuckled numbly, setting my mug down. "You know how I mention Paul and Jacob? Their kind of..."

"Werewolves."

"Werewolves?" Alice repeating incredulously, "Guys, werewolves are not good company to keep!"

"Speak for yourselves."

We all turned when a new voice was heard in the doorway. Jacob stood their, his nose scrunched up like the whole room smelled horrible. I guess to him, it did.

He directed this to both of us, but he only looked at Bella, causing me to roll my eyes and sink into the couch. "I had to see if you two were okay."

Sadie made a face. "Well, love you too, Jake."

"I thought you couldn't protect me here."

"I guess I don't care."

"I am going to throw up."

Bella glanced between Jacob, me, Sadie, and Bella. "Well I am not going to hurt them."

"Nah, you're just a harmless Cullen. I'm thinking of the other bloodsucker that is trying to kill them because of you."

Alice's eyes widened, the only indication she heard what Jacob just said. "Victoria?"

"Yeah, that old ass decided to pay us a visit."

"I didn't see her... I didn't see Courtney go for help, I didn't see them get pulled out of the water-" Her eyes widened and she stood up, shaking with partially contained anger. "I can't see past you and your pack of mutts!"

"Don't make me mad-"

"Yo!" I stood up, pushing in between the two.

"Or things will get very ugly."

"Okay, you stop being a drama-queen." I pointed to Jacob, who pouted slightly, but stood down. "You you-" I rounded on Alice. "The pack have been there for us this entire time, so you don't get to go insulting them."

She frowned, looking quite ashamed. "Can we talk? We'll leave you alone." She said to Jacob and Bella, gesturing for Sadie to come. She looked excited for an opportunity to get out of there.

Alice lead me out to the porch, and we sat down side by side.

"You know I am so sorry. We all are-"

"Alice-"

"Rosalie wouldn't stop chewing out Jasper about leaving. None of us wanted too! Edward thought it would be safest for you! And we all know that Jasper only ever wanted what was safest for you! Please, please forgive us! I know you, I know how you must feel. But we all love you so much, Cordie! And that's why we had to go."

There was a long pause which I used to digest all that she said. Was it true? Did they leave to protect me? Did Jasper only blame himself?"

"I love you, Alice."

She grinned a wide, perfect grin. "I love you, Courtney Swan."

"And I love myself."

We turned to Sadie, giggling and ruffling her hair. She grinned like a proud puppy. "Is no one gonna talk about how Court jumped of a cliff?"

"One less thing on my bucket list."

Alice suddenly straightened up, her lips parted and her eyes widened. "No." She whispered. "Come on." She jumped up, and Sadie shared one last look before following her back into the house.

I only caught the end of her sentence. "He wants to die too."

***

"Okay! Sadie and Courtney, you stay here and someone will come an pick you up to meet everyone at the airport."

"Hey!" I defended, leaning into the window so she couldn't drive away. "I wanna go to Italy! What makes you think that you and Bella can do this alone? Do you know how goddamn sunny it is there?"

"We'll manage." Alice shot me a tight lipped smile. "You need to be here. You have some people to talk too... and I don't know how well the Volturi will take you and your... strength."

"But-"

"No buts! Now send that mutt home and wait for someone to pick you up! Don't open the door for anyone other then Charlie, or someone in my family."

"Yes mom." I grumbled under my breath, taking a step away from the car. "Be safe."

"I always am."

I was so used to junky red trucks, that I jumped when the car pulled gracefully out of the driveway and sped off.

A/N: Ohh, who do you think will pick her up?