The Lake House Chapter 1, a twilight fanfic

*All characters are property of S Meyers. I don't own Twilight, but I wish I did. I'm just having fun with her creations*

Ch. 1 - Escape and Embarassment

BPOV

Escape - to be free; to avoid; to regain one's liberty. When I decided to relocate myself to the lake, these were my objectives. I wanted to be free. Free from the past. Free from what happened. To be able to live in a community without stares and whispers. And, for the past year, this is what I had.

There were only five people in town that acutally knew what I had gone through two years ago. I trusted them with everything, and they had never once betrayed that trust. They loved me and never talked about the accident. I needed that so desparately. I just needed to feel normal.

One of these four was my crazy neighbor, Sue. She was a retired singer from Nashville. She was so much fun to be around. We would talk, sing, dance, whatever. But, you did not want to get on her bad side. She owned several guns, and did not hesitate to let you know she had them. Again, she was crazy.

Then there were my two best friends from home, Alice and Rosalie. We had been coming to the lake for years. Infact, I purchased my house after visiting several times with them. Alice and her husband, Jasper, owned to house a few doors down from me. They had two daughters, so they only came up on the weekends. Rosalie would come with them and sometimes just come to see me, when Alice couldn't make it. They both worried too much, but it was useless for me to fight it anymore.

I had originally purchased the lake house as a weekend getaway. We would all spend every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day at the lake. The kids loved riding in the boats and fishing off the pier. It was the one and only place I could truly relax. I was always calm when I was there. I hated to leave on Sunday's.

"We're about to head out. You okay?" Alice asked as she looked me over.

"I'm fine. Just be careful driving home, and call me when you get there." I answered.

I always worried when they were driving home. They always remember to send me a text when they passed through Sibley. I still suffered anxiety about that stretch of road, and they completely understood. I guess that day will haunt the rest of my days no matter what. Funny, even when everyone tells you, and shows you something is not your fault, your conscience can always make you believe it is. Damn my conscience. Damn that stupid company and its faulty equipment, and damn my ex for doubting me.

"You know I will, and I'll text you when we get past the place. Is your appointment tomorrow?" Alice always knew when my doctor appoinments were. She was like my personal calendar.

"You know it is. You probably have an alert set on your phone!" I teased.

"No, just written down on my desk at the office. You had better call me and let me know how it goes!" She demanded

"Don't I always?" I replied

"No! Which is precisely why I have to write it down, so I can call you." She laughed.

We hugged each other as she went to get in her car. Rosalie walked over to give me a hug also.

"You know how scared she still is about you, right?" Rose asked.

"Yes, I know. That's why I make sure to let her know when I have to see the doc. I promise to call you both tomorrow, okay?" I felt bad about putting them through all my crap. They stood by me through everything, and never judged me once. Which is more than I can say for everyone else in my life, at that time.

"Okay. Love ya Bella!" She said.

"Love you too, Rose!" I said. Then I headed over to Sue's. Maybe today we would just sit and look out over the water. That would fit my mood great!

The lake was beautiful today. Just a slight wind, which caused the ripple affect I loved so much. Not many boats out, just very peaceful. I loved being on the water. It just made me feel so calm, at total peace with the world.

Sue was on her porch, beer in hand, when I walked up.

"What took you so long? I thought I was going to have to sit here by myself all damn day!" She barked, as I approached.

"Just needed to see the girls off, that's all. How are you feeling? Did you remember to take your medicine this morning, and eat?" She neglected her health, and I worried about her. Hmm, I guess I should be more understanding of Alice.

"What are you, my wardon? Yes, I ate and took that damn medicine. Not that I need any of it. if they would just let me live my own life, I would be just fine!" She was in a mood today. Too bad I can't drink one of those beers she has.

"Hey, don't you go see doc tomorrow? What time is your appointment? I need a ride into town. Do you mind?" She asked

"Sue, you know I don't mind. I see him at 10:00, so be ready around 9:30." I told her.

"Thanks Bells. What would I do without you?" She joked. She knew good and well that I would take her, even if I wasn't already going.

The next morning I dropped Sue at the grocery store, and I headed over to Dr. Cullen's office. Carlise Cullen had been my doctor since I moved here. He was a great doctor, and I was completely comfortable with him. Good thing I was as he was the only doctor. This meant I saw him for everything, and today was an everything day. We were checking from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

I signed in at the desk, and said good morning to the girls there. I grabbed a magazine as I sat down and waited for my name to be called. I didn't get through the first page before the door opened to the back of the office.

"Bella Swan?" the nursed called.

"Esme, how are you today? I haven't seen you in a few months now." I truly loved Carlise and Esme. They had always been so kind, and looked out for me. They were the last of the five that knew my story. Esme worried about me being alone too much, so she frequently invited me to dinner. She was a fabulous cook, and I never had to worry that she made things I couldn't have. Type 1 diabetes is not always food friendly, so I had to be careful.

"I am very well Bella. How are you feeling? Everything good these past 3 months?" she inquired.

"Yes, everything is going just great. I think my A1C will show that my blood sugar is being well managed, especially with all your great recipes!" Esme would give me the best recipes when I would visit. She was so much like a mom to me, and I just loved her for it.

"I'm glad those are working well for you, dear. The doctor shouldn't be long. You can go ahead and get changed." she said, as she walked into the hall.

I hurried to get changed. I hated when I was in the middle of getting that damn gown on, and Carlise would walk in the room. Thankfully, he used the gowns that closed all the way around. There is nothing worse than having you ass hanging out in front of someone you have gotten to know on a personal basis. Or so I thought.

"Bella Swan?" I heard him say as he was walking in the room.

"Almost done here doc." I was just finishing when he entered. "Well, this is the big visit today, so let's make it count. As you know it is the most action I will get for another year so..." I stopped dead in my tracks as I moved the curtin. I was looking into the face of the most gorgeous man I had ever seen, and it was NOT Carlise Cullen.

"ESME!" I screamed "ESME get in here NOW!"

"Ms. Swan, please calm down." The beautiful stranger kept saying to me.

"I don't know who in the hell you are, but get the fuck away from me!" I demanded. "ESME CULLEN!"

"Ms. Swan, I am Dr. Edward Cullen. I work here with Dr. Cullen. I just arrived last week, so we've not been properly introduced." he said with all seriousness.

"Excuse me? You work here? I don't care if you work here or not, you are not my doctor! I would have NEVER joked about my lack of action if I had known you were in the room. I can't believe that you just barged in here like that!" I was mortified at this point. Also, I couldn't help the fact that his eyes had me completely hypnotized. They were so green they looked like two emeralds. His bronze hair really set them off, and I could not get myself to look away.

"Ms. Swan, I can assure you that I did not barge into the exam room. In fact, I make it a point to never barge in anywhere. Now, Dr. Cullen has been called out to the hospital and has asked that I cover his patients. I promise I am a real doctor, and I will be completely professional." Something in his voice sounded as if he was trying to convince himself along with me. Just then Esme entered, and I began to feel a little better.

"Bella, honey, what is wrong? I heard you screaming!" she said.

"Esme, who in the holy hell is this, and where is Carlise?" I was done with being nice.

"Bella, this is our nephew, Edward. He just moved here to work with Carlise. He started with us last week. Now I know you are very picky, but I promise you that Edward is a wonderful doctor, and you are in great hands." Great hands indeed. Oh crap, now I can't stop looking at his hands!

"Now, Ms. Swan, will you please have a seat on the exam table?" Dr. Gorgeous asked.

"Do I have a choice?" I quipped. "Oh, and you had better start calling me Bella. I mean, since we are about to get all up close and personal." I immediately turned 10 shades of red and my hand flew to cover my mouth. Dr. Great Hands just smirked, and I swear I think I saw him blush as well. So much for professionalism!

EPOV

Finally! I was finally going to get to work as a doctor. Years of training, school, etc. and it was finally here. I was so excited when my uncle and aunt suggested I work along side him in his small practice. I loved the idea of really getting to know my patients. Knowing their families, friends, everything. I always believed that medicine should have a more personal touch. I never wanted to see my patients as a time slot during my day. I really wanted to relate to them and with them. This was that opportunity.

The past week I had spent with Carlise and Esme. They were too good to me, and insisted that I could stay with them as long as I would like. It was a very tempting offer, but I also felt the need to be on my own. The lake was so beautiful, and I really wanted my own place. I wanted to wake in the morning and see the water. Have my coffee and breakfast on my own front porch while I watch the waves. I had saved a good bit for a sizable down payment, and spoken with the local bank. The bank assured me that they would grant me a loan, so now I just had to find what I wanted.

Esme suggested that I call a friend of hers that handled most of the real estate on the lake. I told her that I would do that when I was ready. She had written down the information for me, so I would have it on hand.

Monday morning was off to a rocky start. Carlise was called into the hospital for an emergency, and I was to be on my own most of the day. Esme was there with me. She had been Carlise's nurse since they had been married, and she was great. The patients and staff adored her. I hoped that this would make it easier for me.

"Edward, it is a lite patient load today. The most important one is first. Bella Swan. She is a personal friend of ours. She is here for her annual and her 3 month A1C. She needs to be completely checked out, or Carlise will have a fit!" She let me know.

"Hmm. She must really be something for Carlise to have a fit over." I joked.

"Edward, this girl has been through hell. The fact that she trusts us makes it that much more important that we take very good care of her. She was only diagnosed with Type 1 two years ago." Esme stated softly.

"Two years? How old is she?" I asked.

"She's your age. She had mature onset of the disease. She has handled everything like a real trooper. She is so strong, and yet so very fragile. You will see exactly what I mean." With that, Esme went to get Ms. Swan settled in the exam room.

My age? I didn't think anyone in this town was my age. It seemed that my generation was skipped over completely when it came to the residents here. Sure they had kids that were school age, and their parents and grandparents, but anyone in their mid to late 20's had vanished within the town limits.

Esme had already moved on the next patient as I was entering the exam room. I called out to her as I entered, not wanting to startle her.

"Bella Swan?" I asked. The curtin was still drawn, so I could only assume she was behind it.

"Almost done here doc. Well, this is the big visit today, so let's make it count. As you know it is the most action I will get for another year so..." she stopped and looked terified. I could not stop staring at her. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. Her hair cascaded down to her mid back and looked like flowing chocolate. Here eyes were the same. Chocolate pools that were beginning to look at me with such anger that I almost flinched.

"ESME!" she screamed "ESME get in here NOW!"

"Ms. Swan, please calm down." I tried to calm her, but it was no use.

"I don't know who in the hell you are, but get the fuck away from me!" she demanded. "ESME CULLEN!"

"Ms. Swan, I am Dr. Edward Cullen. I work here with Dr. Carlise Cullen. I just arrived last week, so we've not been properly introduced." I tried to be serious, but she was even more gorgeous when she was angry.

"Excuse me? You work here? I don't care if you work here or not, you are not my doctor! I would have NEVER joked about my lack of action if I had known you were in the room. I can't believe that you just barged in here like that!" Ah, yes. That must be it! She was embarassed about the comment. Well, if she was looking for action...easy there Cullen, don't need a law suit!

"Ms. Swan, I can assure you that I did not barge into the exam room. In fact, I make it a point to never barge in anywhere. Now, Carlise has been called out to the hospital and has asked that I cover his patients. I promise I am a real doctor, and I will be completely professional." I don 't know who I was trying to convince, her or myself. I had never felt unprofessional with a patient, but she did something to me that none of the others ever had.

"Bella, honey, what is wrong? I heard you screaming!" Thank God for Esme.

"Esme, who in the holy hell is this, and where is Carlise?" Bella was not one for beating around the bush, I could see.

"Now, Ms. Swan, will you please have a seat on the exam table?" I asked.

"Do I have a choice?" she quipped. "Oh, and you had better start calling me Bella. I mean, since we are about to get all up close and personal." she immediately turned the most beautiful shade of red and my hand flew to cover the front of my pants with her chart. I could feel myself blushing as well. So much for professionalism. How in the hell was I going to perform a pelvic exam on her now?

We managed to compose ourselves and get through the exam. Her A1C results were good, and she had been watching her diet and insulin closely.

"Bella, I have to say that you are one very healthy Type 1. You must take your care very seriously. It is nice to see a patient that works so well with their doctors." I tried to soften her up a little.

"Well, it is the hand I was dealt, so it is the hand I have to play. I play to win and I never fold, so I guess I do take it seriously." she smiled.

" Well, you must be one of the very few that never have episodes." I laughed.

She immediately changed her disposition and tightened her arms around herself. What had I said? I was praising her for being such a great patient. Why would she react this way?

"Bella, have I said something..." she didn't let me finish.

"I will be on my way, since I think we are done. Nice meeting you Dr. Cullen. Good luck." and she was gone.

I sat there for what seemed an enternity. Esme came to get me. I told her what had happened, and she looked down and just shook her head.

"I should have warned you. I am so sorry Edward. Bella did have something happen to her, that's why she is so very careful. It's also why she moved here. She wanted to get away from it." Esme wiped a tear from her cheek.

"No, I'm sorry. Had I known, I would have never said anything. What happened to her?" I was so concerned.

"Edward, if you want to know, you will have to ask Bella. It is her story to share, if she decides to." with that she moved me on to the next patient.

We had several to see through out the day, but nothing major. I couldn't get Bella out of my head. I hated that I had upset her. She seemed like a very intellegent, capable woman. Not to mention she was drop dead gorgeous, and exactly my type. But, something told me it would take a while for me to gain her trust. Well, then I guess I was in this for a while.

I was just finishing for the day when Carlise walked in the office.

"Edward, so how was your first day? Anything exciting happen while I was away?" he asked.

"Not really, expect that Bella Swan was certainly not expecting to see me instead of you." I laughed.

"Oh no! She can be a very fiesty one, that is for sure. How did that go? Did her tests come back good? What was her A1C? Did you.." I cut him off.

"Carlise, I did every test I could think to do. She is in great health. Blood sugar looked great on her A1C and everything else checked out good. I have her chart here for your review. Esme told me that she is a very special patient." I handed him Bella's chart and he grinned.

"So, what did you think of her?" he smiled.

"What do mean? She seemed pleasant enough, I suppose." I tried to hide my own embarassment. Carlise knew she would be someone I would show an interest in, and I started to wonder if there really was a hospital emergency.

"Well, she is your age, probably the only person in town that is, and she is single. I just thought maybe the two of you may have some similar interests." he stated rather smugly.

"Similar interests? Such as..." I questioned him.

"Well, let's just say that she is a regular guest at our house, so you may want to find some common ground." he laughed.

"True, but remember that I will be looking for my own place soon." I reminded him.

That's when he really let loose with a laugh. "That's right! There is your common ground!"

"Carlise, I'm afraid I'm not following you." I was very confused at this point.

"Bella is the only real estate Broker in town! She is who will be helping you find your new home!" He was really enjoying this. I stood there very distracted. Now I would be seeing her, and very soon at that. Hopefully she would be willing to help me find a home. Afterall, I had ran her out of the office with my insensitive comments just this morning.

That night I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about her. How beautiful she was or how vulnerable she seemed. There was clearly much more to Ms. Bella Swan, and I wanted more than anything to know everything about her.

* short chapter, but I'm just getting started. Please let me know what you think, or if you have any suggestions. Be gentle, this is my first time!*