BPOV

Jasper struggled against his brother's grip; his teeth snapping wildly. Why did I have to be such a klutz? Ugh. The sight of my own blood was

making me sick. Then I glanced up into the eyes of six suddenly ravenous vampires.

As Edward drove me home silence resonated in the Volvo. Tonight was awkward; but what did I expect? As many accidents as I get in,

sometimes I think I was born to produce bloodshed. Still, I braved myself to break the silence. I was too late; Edward was already apologizing

as usual.

"Bella, I can't begin to express how sorry I am for this evening."

"It's not your fault, if I just had control of my feet, none of this …"

He cut me off ", It's always inevitable with me. If you had been surrounded by your human friends tonight; then what's the worst that could

have happened? Mike Newton would not need to be carried from the room in fear that he would drain every ounce of blood from your body. No,

Bella, you just can't blame tonight on your lack of coordination."

He was right about the coordination thing, but his comment about Mike stung. Didn't I already explain to him that I didn't care? How many times

did we go over this during the past year? I'd rather die in his company than live without it.

"I don't belong with Mike Newton, I belong with you" I mumbled.

Silence.

As he pulled into my driveway, I mustered some courage to ask ", Are you staying tonight?"

"If that's what you want."

How did he do that? He made the words he spoke sound as cold as his skin, and made my heart fall to my feet.

"I...I love you" I barely whispered as I got out of the car, I knew he could hear me.

I crossed the entryway quickly, trying to avoid Charlie's path.

"Hey, Bells."

So much for that idea.

"How was the party; did you get anything nice?"

I had left my presents in the Volvo.

"It was… uh… fun, but I'm really beat; I think I'm going to turn in early."

I bounded up the stairs. Now that I was safely behind my bedroom door, I replayed the night's events through my head. I hoped that Edward

wasn't angry with me for causing his brother's lapse. He was distant on the ride home. I didn't want to think that thought through so I grabbed

my pj's from the dresser and made my way to the shower.

After my shower, I returned to my room and curled up in bed to wait for him. As I laid there and replayed memories of the day; sleep took my

eyes. The dream was the same. I was in the clearing where Edward had shown me his skin in the sun, and it was a beautiful day. There were

sparkly couples laughing and smiling, but I was by myself. Something in me felt empty, like I had no heart or soul. It felt so hot. Looking to the

sky; I saw the sun was getting closer and closer, but it wasn't burning anything except me.

I flinched awake when I felt something silken and cool touch my face; I opened my eyes to see his hand brush the strands of hair from across

my cheeks. I blushed. I never acclimated to the burning heat that coursed through my body every time his icy fingers touched me.

"Edward."

He bent slowly, pressing his cool lips tentatively against mine. I wrapped my arms around his firm body pulling him closer to me. He responded

accordingly; gently parting my lips and exploring my mouth with his tongue. As he deepened our kiss my body throbbed with an aching want for

him. Just as I readied myself to wrap my legs around him; he detached me and sat me on the other side of the bed.

I wasn't going to argue with him after tonight's event. I changed the subject.

"So where are all the presents?"

"I thought you didn't want anything for your birthday."

"I know, but I'm curious."

He handed me a flat, rectangular package wrapped with silver paper. I started to unwrap it.

"Allow me," he removed the paper fluidly and handed me back the box.

"Aww… you ruined the fun part," I said sarcastically

"Safety first," he retorted in the same tone.

I lifted the lid from the box to find what appeared to be tickets. I quickly perused the fine print.

"Jacksonville…..wow…" I didn't know what to say.

"I told them you didn't want anyone to go overboard, but …."

"No, no it's awesome. Renee is going to be ecstatic!"

"If I knew you would accept presents so willingly I would have spent money on your gift."

Then he reached around me to put a cd into my stereo. When he pressed play I knew that all the money in the world could not have bought

what he had given me. The streams of notes from my lullaby floated through my small room. Tears of love began falling down my face.

"Are you okay; is your arm hurting you?" he asked suddenly concerned

"It's… it's just… no one has ever given me something this beautiful. "

"Beautiful music for a beautiful girl."

Then leaning in and touching his lips to mine he whispered "I love you."

EPOV

As I watched her sleep, I kissed her forehead gently. She was so perfect, and I would ruin her. Even if I could control myself from killing her; my

association would certainly lead to her demise. These thoughts circled through my mind when my senses peaked as I saw her flinch in her

sleep. Another nightmare; she seemed to be having a lot of those lately. I couldn't help but think it was her subconscious trying to awake in

her what should be normal instincts.

If her subconscious had succeeded then it would all be so much easier; then she would run from me. It had been what I expected, what I had

hoped for. I had wanted her to quench my dreams, but instead she loves me with no self preservation. Even the day I brought her to the

clearing to show her the monster that I am; she assured me that no one would suspect me or my family if it ended badly. Did she not

understand that the bad ending was her own? Now sitting here I could not visualize anyway that her ending would not be bad; I couldn't even

prevent her ending.

BPOV

I awoke to see him slip through the window to go home, change and pick up his car. My skin was still chilled from sleeping against him

throughout the night. I grabbed clothes and made my way to the bathroom. After I was dressed, I went down stairs to eat breakfast before

Edward would return to take me to school.

"Good Morning," Alice chirped.

"Hey Alice," I said sheepishly.

I felt awful that I'd made Jasper react like he had, but I had to ask the obvious.

"How's Jasper?"

Alice averted her eyes from mine.

"He feels terrible, Bella, and I do too. I should've seen, but… but I was just so wrapped up ….I…"

I'd never heard a vampire stammer before.

"Oh geez Alice! Why are all you vampires so eager to shoulder the blame? I'm the one who's always bleeding all over the place. I mean, I

guess that's not the best etiquette on my part."

Alice just looked away again. The rest of the car ride was silent and when we pulled into school the Cullens were off to class before I exited the

car. I didn't see Edward again until Biology.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Single celled organisms", was his reply as he pretended to be absorbed in the lecture.

Edward had been through Biology more times than I blinked my eyes. Yet suddenly one celled structures were commanding his attention.

Okay….

Lunch was strained. Alice kept trying to involve Rosalie and I in a conversation about the latest couture. I've never been into fashion and by the

way Rosalie was nestled into Car and Drivers I don't think she cared that much either. I would have pretended to care, but something just didn't

feel right today. Edward was talking with Emmett over excitedly about whatever and was actively avoiding my ", talk to me," glances. It felt like

he was detached from me today; I didn't like it.

"Edward?"

Nothing.

"Edward," I said a little louder.

Nothing. Come on now; he had super vampire hearing for crying out loud. I knew he had heard me.

"Edward!"

"Yes, Bella?"

His eyes met mine and his voice was calm, too calm, and the look on his face; what was that? Annoyance?

"You. Are. Acting. Weird.," I said placing emphasis on each word, especially the last one.

The other Cullens at the table stopped trying to appear to as if they were breathing as they waited to hear what would come next.

He smiled my favorite crooked smile, and reached to grasp my hand.

"I'm sorry Bella. My mind has been in another place today. Please forgive me."

He was dazzling me. Edward was originally equipped with this weird ability to confuse and hypnotize humans into being his prey. Now he just used it on me when he felt like dropping the subject.

"You know just because that works doesn't mean it isn't extremely annoying."