CHAPTER ONE: LYING TO CHARLIE

Forks, Washington

Bella:

I woke up to a soft knock on the door. I looked at the clock; it was already 10:00! I never slept this late. Maybe the rain was getting to me. Charlie poked his head in. "Bells, you awake?"

"Yah, Dad." Not to my surprise, Charlie looked uncomfortable. He was always uneasy in my room. Maybe he thought I slept nude or something.

"Uh, there's a boy for you on the phone, his names Edward, I think?" And with that I was out of bed, past Charlie, and downstairs in one fluent motion as I grabbed the phone off the counter.

"Hello?" I exclaimed, almost hyperventilating.

"Hey, Bella." came his smooth, gorgeous tone. "I was wondering if you'd like to come play baseball with me and my family today." Oh, no. I thought. My last baseball game with the Cullen's had not turned out so great, in more ways than one. After a pause, I finally spoke.

"Well, I-"

"Don't worry about anything." Edward assured me, no doubt knowing by my voice what I was thinking. "The others will never find us where we're going. Trust me."

"Okay." I said at once.

"Great. I'll pick you up around 11:30, then." I hung up the phone and raced back up to my room to get changed.

"What was all that about?" Charlie asked. This was something I had not anticipated. Would he let me go? I didn't even know where I was going, or how long I'd be gone. Luckily, I managed to lie my way through, telling him I was going to the mall with some friends, and that I would be back before dinner time. I knew that I would be in serious trouble if Charlie found out what I was really doing, but everything seemed worth it to be with Edward.

"Do you need some money?" Charlie asked, totally believing me.

"No thanks. I have a few bucks saved up." I replied, which wasn't a lie, I did have a few bucks, but this was probably the wrong thing to say to Charlie, because he suddenly got a suspicious look in his eye. If I were really going to the mall, he knew that I'd want all the money I could get. But, to my relief, he didn't question me anymore.

An hour and a half later, I was in the living room when the doorbell rang. My heart skipped a beat as I rose to answer it.