I sat on the back porch of the Swan house, my head in my hands.

I wasn't trying to listen; actually, I was hoping for my mom and Charlie, hoping they would show up soon. I knew my mom wouldn't let Charlie be alone and I wanted to make sure he was okay. Or I wanted him to blame me, even though he knew nothing about the wolves or what happened. I wanted someone to blame me, to prove that it was my fault, to prove what my internal monologue was saying.

Hell, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted. Peace and quiet or to rip a leech apart? Both or Neither? A sense of safety?

I just wanted to feel safe. It was so much safer when I didn't know about the wolves or vampires... it was safer in Alaska with my dad. I focused on the sounds of the forest and that lulled me into a sense of calm until I heard Bella say something.

"So, if you saw me go in, why didn't you see Jacob?"

I listened for the response, why was Bella talking about Jacob? I mean he drove her home, sure. I listened closely trying to figure out what they were talking about.

She continued. "It's true that I probably would have drowned if Jacob hadn't jumped in after me. Well, okay, there's no probably about it. But he did, and he pulled me out, and I guess he towed me back to shore, though I was kind of out for that part. It couldn't have been more than a minute that I was under before he grabbed me. How come you didn't see that?"

I ground my teeth violently. How could Jacob tell her that, how could she believe it. I pulled her out of the water, I performed CPR. It was a good deed, and I didn't need to be thanked but right not that sort of gratitude would probably do me some good.

It got worse when I heard Bella say. "See, well, he's... sort of a werewolf," she admitted in a rush. "The Quileutes turn into wolves when there are vampires around. They know Carlisle from a long time ago. Were you with Carlisle back then?"

I took off phasing into the darkness. Sam was the only one who was in wolf form, I guess he was waiting for me. I showed him everything. The Cullen's being back and Bella saying Jacob pulled her from the water. And in doing so I saw Jacob tell her he pulled her from the water. Jacob purposely claimed to be the knight in shining armor.

I ran.

And I ran, as far as I could get in the cover of the forest. i ended up somewhere in Canada way past the border. The voiced of the pack were getting thinner and harder to hear.

I couldn't fault Bella for telling Alice about the wolves, Carlisle knew and so did the others. And I couldn't fault Bella because she told us about the Cullen's powers.

I remember her telling me about Edwards mind reading ability; Alice's ability to see the future; Jaspers to change moods; Lucia's was a good fighter or something like that. Like she knew where to attack.

But despite the happiness Bella felt at having the Cullen's or Alice back it didn't change the fact that when she left, Bella would be broken again.

After I reached the limit of the pack link I turned back.

When I reached the boundary of La Push, I ended up at the Pack house. Everyone already knew one of the Cullen's was back, meaning we weren't allowed to search for the red head there.

There was no news on Clearwater's, Harry was gone, but Sue and Leah and Seth... no one knew how they were handling it. Billy was with them.

I glared at Jacob the entire time I was in the house; the others knew why I was mad at him. He didn't even look ashamed, only pissed that Bella was with a vampire.

I woke up Saturday drained from everything. My mom had already left with Charlie, and Eve was with Mark. They left me to sleep, seeing as I hadn't done that much recently, but they left some breakfast out and a note that told me where they were and that they would see me soon.

I showered quickly, before changing into my best dress. A long black sleeve, mid-thigh dress. I never imagined needing one for a funeral but when I bought new clothes Eve insisted that everyone needed a black dress.

It was the only dress I let her get.

I also had to stop by the Swan Residence, we needed to hash some things out about Alice. Sam thought about sending Jacob, but I told him I would be more stable. Jacob was too involved.

And it was along the way.

Bella wouldn't be going to the funeral; I wasn't sure why. Maybe because she really didn't know Harry or because my mom was there to comfort Charlie. She could also feel a little guilt, the red head was after her. It didn't matter right now. I was going and I had to make this quick, so I wasn't late.

I knocked on the door twice. The door flew open, and I was greeted by the same citrusy smell from last night. It would have been pleasant under any other circumstance but at the moment it only reminded me there was a rabid bloodsucker out there.

"Alex?" Bella asked.

"I'm just here to clear some things up. You alone?"

"Yes" Bella sighed.

"Can I talk to you for a minute."

"Yeah, of course" I walked into the house and into the hallway behind Bella when I caught sight of the living room. It was a mess of blankets strewn along the floor. Some sort of rouse, Vampires couldn't sleep.

I wanted to be angry at her, I wanted to yell and scream that Bella was selfish. Harry just died, and she didn't even care. But yelling at her wouldn't be fair, she didn't know Harry like the rest of us. I couldn't expect her to mourn someone she didn't know, and she wouldn't be much help for Charlie.

"slumber party?" I asked my voice defeated.

"something like that" she replied her voice guarded.

"just thought Vampires couldn't sleep. Where is she anyway?" I was a little upset that Alice wasn't here actually, I felt like she abandoned me too.

"She had some errands to run. Look, Alex, just get to the point"

I moved to the kitchen so that I could look out the window. "I just have to ask you a couple of questions. It shouldn't take long. I have to get back to Sam"

"Okay. Get it over with then." She said antagonizing me. I furrowed my brows; I didn't understand her antagonism. Shaking my head, I spoke.

"how long is she staying?"

"As long as she wants to be." she responded the belligerence was still there in her tone. "It's an open invitation."

"Are the others coming back?" Bella didn't speak, I looked at her probing for an answer "well?"

"No." she said finally. "They aren't coming back."

"you should now the pack can't protect you if even one Cullen is here."

"okay" her eyes flashed to mine, a glare set on her face ""Well, run along now. Go tell Sam that the scary monsters aren't coming to get you."

"yeah, well they may not go after the pack, but my family is still in danger and so are you" I replied. Bella seemed to finally realize that, and she sighed.

"I'm sorry Alex, but Alice is..."

I shrugged "I get it. I'll never be them." I shook my head "I never stood the chance, not the right kind of monster."

"that's not, Alex we could still be friends"

"yeah, I used to believe that, but I was always going to be second best."

"So, am I not allowed to have any other friends? Only you?"

I shook my head "That's not what I said. But for the record, when the person who saves you isn't the one you praise it leaves a mark, you're not the only one who needs a friend or the only one who was hurt because they left."

Bella furrowed her brows,

"Jacob didn't pull you out of the water. He didn't track you down or perform CPR."

I could see her face turn to shock "you did that?"

"of course, I did. Bella you saw me, I was right there. I let Jacob drive you home so that I could check on Harry."

"why would Jacob say- "

"because he's in love with you. He thinks he can be with you. His ulterior motive to do anything is so he can date you. He doesn't care that he'll imprint and have to break your heart like Sam and Leah. Like Ephraim did. He'll do anything to make you see that he's the one, even if it means lying to make himself seem better"

Bella's face paled like I just called her out on something. I watched her closely to make sure she wasn't going to fall or something. But before she could say anything the phone rang.

"Swan Residence" I said still keeping an eye on Bella, she was coming to, but she still rested her weight against the counter. The man on the phone identified himself as Carlisle. Why he was calling I didn't know, at first I thought he was checking on Alice, but then he asked for Charlie.

Which was weird.

"I'm sorry but he's not here" Carlisle probed more seeking further information, it didn't seem like something Carlisle would do but it might be important.

"I'm sorry, he's attending a funeral. I can have hi-"the dial tone filled the receiver "or not" I mumbled setting the phone down. Bella turned on me in an instant.

"Who did you just hang up on?" she gasped, infuriated. "In my house, and on my phone?"

"he hung up on me, rather rudely I might add."

"He? Who was it?!" she practically begged.

"it was Carlisle"

"Why didn't you let me talk to him?!"

"He didn't ask for you," I said coldly. Why was she coming down on me. Seriously, what did I do to have her turn against me like this. Just few days ago everything was fine. "He asked where Charlie was, and I told him, I was offering to take a message, but he hung up. I don't think I broke any rules of etiquette."

"You listen to me, Alex Uley."

"you're not my mother so don't start acting like it" I growled staring down the girl. But tensed when I realized there was someone else here. Alice was back.

"goodbye Bella" I spit out heading for the door.

I paused in the doorway of the kitchen when I found myself staring into the eyes of Alice Cullen. Then Bella ran into me falling to the ground, but I didn't move.

Alice stood motionless at the foot of the stairs. Like some creepy mannequin in a scary movie.

"Bella," she choked. Her eyes were dazed and far away, her face drawn and whiter than bone. Her slim body trembled to an inner turmoil.

"Alice, what's wrong?" Bella cried, she put her hands on her face, trying to calm her.

"Edward," was all she whispered.

"of course, because why not" I rolled my eyes, we just got over that. The two continued talking and I couldn't explain why I wanted to stay.

"Alice," Bella blurted out quickly. "Alice, Carlisle is back, though. He called just before..."

She stared at her blankly. "How long ago?" she asked in a hollow voice.

"Half a minute before you showed up."

"What did he say?" She really focused now, waiting for Bella's answer.

"I didn't talk to him." Bella's eyes flickered to me. Alice turned her penetrating gaze on me.

"look I don't have time for this. I have a funeral to go to just like I told Carlisle before he hung up on me"

"that wasn't Carlisle" Bella gasped before getting up and hitting me in the chest. Alice started making plans about the two of them going to save Edward, by going to a city crawling with Vampires.

I looked at Bella "you're really going to leave? Go to certain death for someone who left you?"

"I have to"

"why? What makes him so special? He left you, they all did and none of them cared enough to even check up on you. What about Charlie, are you really going to risk him losing you. For this? For someone who left you. What happens if he does it again? Bella you don't have to do anything for him, you don't deserve to go through all that again."

"I have too, you would do it too. I know you would"

I sighed "just be careful" Alice rushed her upstairs to pack, before turning towards me.

"Alex? What happened?"

I turned to the girl or woman; she was probably older than my mom. I sighed shaking my head "so much has happened. And it's only going to get worse now. Because of Edward, Bella went into depression, bad. She sat in her room for three months and no one could do anything. Edward got involved with someone who was so weak to his world, and then left. He knew what he was getting into, but he just ran."

I shook my head another sigh leaving my lips. I was so defeated now, I failed to protect Harry and right now Bella was heading straight for disaster.

"If you're leaving, make sure Charlie knows, he deserves that."

And then I left.

Jacob will have my head later for this, but I didn't care. It wasn't my choice, Bella was an adult, if she wanted to run to save Edward that was her choice. With one look at the house, I closed my door and sped to the funeral. Bella could make her own choices, if she loved Edward enough to be in a comatose state for three months two months wasn't going to help.

I was the last of the pack to show up, but the funeral hasn't started so I was okay.

"Is Bella coming?" Jacob asked.

"No, she's not. She made her choice" Jacob tried to say something more, but Sam shut it down.