Find Me

Summary:

The Cullen's are in grave need of a hunting trip, but Edward refuses to leave Bella alone while Victoria is still around and planning to attack. Carlisle decides to skip the hunt and babysit her for his son's sake, promising that he won't let her out of his sight. Bella had no clue that Carlisle had been speaking so literally, and it turns out that such a controlling nature can take a toll on a girl. For one night, all Bella wants is to be a normal teenage girl. It wouldn't be easy, but she'd do it.

However, it turns out that years of running from vampires and not being scared of anything else can make you forget that the human world has its dangers too. Lost and alone, broken and scared, Bella cursed herself for being so foolish. If the Cullen's thought they were soulless, they should take a look at him. Scent completely masked and thoughts dulled by who-knows-what, Bella prepares to say her goodbyes.

Chapter one:

Bella's POV:

I watched his back as he walked into the forest with the rest of them, and then when I blinked they were gone. I sighed in relief- it had gotten to the point where I had thought that Edward might drive himself into madness with the need to hunt. His eyes had been pitch black for the past week, and though he tried to convince me otherwise I knew it was for my benefit.

I felt a cool hand rest on my shoulder, and I raised my head to look up into Carlisle's empathetic eyes. I realised that my sigh had probably been misinterpreted.

"They'll be back before you know it." He said soothingly, and I nodded in appreciation. "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Esme's stocked the fridge."

I smiled, guessing that that would have been his next question. "That's okay, I ate before I drove over here."

"And you told Charlie that this was a two-night sleepover with Alice?"

"Yep. He'll be over at the Rez anyway, sleeping at the Clearwater's and trying to help out." I said, then noted the blank expression that Carlisle took on and realised that I had been oversharing. Though he may not have had as much of a problem with the wolves as some of the other Cullen's did, it was made clear to me that I wasn't allowed over there. Not that I would even be able to if I tried, with his hearing and ability to overtake and stop me at any point in time.

"I assume that you'll be okay to unpack and settle in by yourself? After I get home from work I was thinking that we could watch a movie and you could order some pizza. Edward said you liked that, am I correct?"

I tilted my head and looked up at him, unaware that I had signed up to an evening in. "Um, actually Jess and Angela are going to this party, and they said I should tag along. It's up in Port Angeles, so I wasn't expecting to be back until later."

"A party? Since when do you go to parties?" He asked incredulously.

I blushed, unsure as to whether or not I should've taken his shock as an insult. "I guess the graduation deadline has just gotten real for me. I've missed out on a lot of high school, I want to at least go to a little party with my friends."
"Bella, that's something you must discuss with Edward, I'm afraid. You know that I can't allow you that far away from the protection of myself and the pack, especially at this time."

I wasn't asking you to allow me, I thought.

I frowned and furrowed my brows. "But not letting me go out for just a few hours? Isn't that a little excessive?"

"Bella, the answer is no. Please don't argue with me on this."

I couldn't quite comprehend what he was telling me- if it was Charlie, maybe I'd let it slide. But the point was the Charlie would never have said no, and he was my actual father.

"Carlisle, I know you mean well. But believe it or not, I'm a legal adult and I can look after myself. I won't leave the girls' side's, I promise."

Carlisle sighed and rubbed his temples. "I'm not sure how much clearer I can make myself. You are not going out tonight, Isabella."

I glared at him, unbelieving.

"It's for your own good." He added, placing his cool hand back onto my shoulder. I resisted the urge to shake it off.

"So I'm stuck in the house for the next three days?" I asked sourly.

"We may go out together. Really, Bella, it's not so hard."

"The last time that my mother didn't allow me out of the house on my own was when I was twelve."

"That's enough, Isabella." His calm and collected voice was driving me crazy.

I was completely fuming at this point, and far too stubborn to let it go now. Other than being hunted down by a revenge-thirsty vampire, being patronised was my least favourite thing.

"That's enough from me? How about yourself?"

His dark topaz eyes widened ever so slightly. "Isabe-"

"The only reason I don't storm out and drive to that stupid party is because I know you would physically stop me."

The hand on my shoulder slid down to grip my upper-arm firmly. Hard, but not too hard. Despite seeing a side of Carlisle that I hadn't ever seen before, I knew that he'd never hurt me.

"Go upstairs to Edward's room now, Isabella. Unpack and stay there until you've cooled off and are ready to apologise. Unfortunately, it's a Friday afternoon, and I still have one busy work shift left to go. After that you can decide how you'd wish to spend your evening, inside of the house. Understand?"

I bit my tongue to stop myself from cursing or making the situation any worse. I picked up my bags and walked up the stairs to Edward's room, trying not to stomp. I closed the door sharply and flopped onto the bed, letting out a long puff of angry air.

Did I seriously just get sent up to my room? By Carlisle Cullen, no less. If I was made to guess earlier on today, this was the least likely situation I would have put myself in. How did it even start? Right, he forbid me from exiting the house without parental supervision like a freaking five-year old, and then acted shocked when I spoke back to him.

I forced myself to take a deep breath in, and then out. After a few minutes, it became clear that I wasn't going to be 'cooling off' any time soon. So I decided that I would be going out tonight, and it would be the best party that I had ever attended- despite how short it was cut by Carlisle. I would deal with the repercussions later.

I was in the middle of unpacking when I heard footsteps, and I braced myself for another painful encounter.

There were two knocks on the wooden door. "Bella?"

"Yes?" I replied. I hoped that he couldn't hear the strain in my voice.

"May I come in?"

"Of course."

I was folding sweaters rapidly, needing to give myself something to do. I didn't hear him enter, only felt the bed dip when he sat down.

"Are you alright?"

That made me falter. I looked up at him with pursed lips, then managed to smile and nod. Obviously he saw that it wasn't genuine, and stood up to wrap a long, lean arm across my shoulders.

"Do you need me to stay off of work?" He asked gently.

"No." I said, perhaps too quickly. "No, that's okay. You go and save some lives, or whatever. I'll be here, promise."

"Fair enough. I have to leave soon, but will only be gone for a few hours." Carlisle said, as if this were relieving information.

"Okay."

He hugged me then, with such love and oblivion that it almost made me reconsider disobeying him. Almost.