Chapter 2

Your Game, My Rules

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

I hope you guys like this. I'm really trying to keep them in character for the situations… Please let me know what you think! Any advice or helpful criticism would be great! Enjoy!

).O.(

"Hello, Bella," Dr. Cullen said calmly. He glanced at Edward for just a moment, then added, "Is everything okay? Nurse Green seemed to think you needed me."

"I'm fine," I mumbled, staring at the wall again. I waited patiently for Edward to make his decision. There were only two outcomes to this game of his. He tells me everything in exchange for telling his lie, or he leaves me here without answers, to get my shots and live a half life for the rest of my existence.

A sudden thought made me frown and glance at Edward more suspiciously. Why did he want me out in the first place? His secret was safe with me locked up here. Why not just leave me? I sighed slightly, resigning myself to the fact that this was just another question I wouldn't get an answer to. I already knew what his answer would be.

Nurse Green seemed at a loss for words, glancing between me on the couch, and Edward standing in the middle of the room. My anger had cooled, leaving in its place a dull throbbing pain. I refused to think about how that pain would amplify when Edward gave his answer.

"I-I'm sorry, Dr. Cullen," she stammered. "When he came in, she was so angry, I-I thought…" She let her voice trail off, giving me an apologetic look.

I sighed again. I really couldn't blame her for being so worried. My first week here was a literal hell, the pain and betrayal I felt as I was told this was for the best, not just by doctors, but by my own family. The staff probably kept calming medicines at the ready just in case something like that first week ever happened again.

"It's alright, Nurse Green." Dr. Cullen came over to me, checked my pulse and took my blood pressure, then mumbled so softly I almost didn't hear, "I think a half dose wouldn't be a bad idea…" He was already digging through one of his lab coat pockets for the small syringe that would leave my mind feeling muddled, foggy.

I held out my arm, knowing I'd get a full dose if I fought. I wasn't ready to go back to that drug-induced sleep. It left me disoriented and nauseous when I finally woke up.

I glanced up at Edward. He was looking at me, but didn't seem to see me. His features were pained, as if torn between the idea of getting what he wanted from me, and having to give me what I wanted from him. Well, maybe next time… If he came back again.

I watched as Dr. Cullen finally pulled the right needle from his pocket, along with some antibacterial stuff and a band-aid. He cleaned a small area of my upper arm, then pushed all the air out of the needle.

"You'll feel just a slight pinch," he said kindly, and I turned away. As often as this happened, I still couldn't watch. There was always a little trickle of blood when he pulled the needle back out, and it never failed to make the room spin.

"Wait."

Dr. Cullen and I both froze, then turned to look at Edward at the same time. It would have been comical if I wasn't suddenly so hopeful.

"Let me talk to her, Dad," he said, watching me. "Just for a few more minutes." He turned and looked at his father briefly, adding, "I'll come get you when I'm done."

I could see out of my peripheral vision that Dr. Cullen was debating, a slight frown on his face. He glanced up at Edward, and after a moment, Edward shook his head very slightly. Dr. Cullen hesitated a moment more, then stood back up, putting everything back into its correct pocket as he turned to leave. He lightly touched Nurse Green's shoulder, drawing her along with him.

When they had shut the door, Edward let out a sharp breath, then sat down at the other end of the couch and turned to face me. His features were overly smooth, making me wonder what he was trying to hide. Or what he might lie to me about…

"I won't promise answers," he started, calmly watching me, "but I will listen to your questions."

So he wasn't going to help me… My hope dwindled, but didn't completely leave as I realized he hadn't actually decided yet. Depending on my questions, I might still get out of here. Then I laughed. Yeah, right. I already knew he wouldn't answer the questions I really wanted answers to. I might get a few easy ones out of him, but how did he get to me so fast? How did he stop the van? I'd never know.

"This is pointless, Edward," I said bitterly. "We both know you aren't going to tell me what I want to know, so why go through this charade? It's just going to end with me getting the meds and you leaving. Why not just skip to the end and be done with it?"

Edward cocked his head to the side again and asked softly, "Do you want me to leave?"

My eyes shot to his, startled by the question. No, I thought immediately. I frowned and looked away again, feeling the angry rush of blood to my cheeks. My body's reaction to him would never change, I realized. Two months in this hell-hole, not seeing him the whole time, and all he has to do is look at me with those honey-colored eyes… I frowned deeper, trying to shift my thoughts to something more relevant.

"Why do you want me out?" I blurted, surprising myself with the question.

Edward frowned. "I don't understand… Why wouldn't I want you out?"

"You're not family, you're not even a friend," I said. "Everyone thinks I'm crazy, that I hit my head too hard and it's messed me up. You don't have to worry about anything I might say while I'm in here. So, why do you want me out so bad?"

Edward sighed, looking away from me. His eyebrows came down together, and the slight frown made me want to touch his face, smooth all the wrinkles away, try and make him happy again… This is not what I need right now. I tucked my hands under my legs for good measure, then tried my best to glare at him as I waited to see if he'd answer me.

"Because of me, Bella, you are stuck here, away from your home, your family, your friends. I don't want you to lose all of that because of me." He looked back at me, anguish evident in every line marring his beautiful face.

He feels guilty, I realized with a start. I'm the one refusing to lie, and he feels like this is his fault.

"Edward, all I need are a few answers." I watched him carefully as I continued. "I will tell your lie and keep your secrets, but you have to tell me first."

He sat perfectly still for a moment, not seeming to see anything, then exhaled sharply, glaring at me. "Why do you have to be so difficult? Isn't it hard?"

I stared in shock, then giggled at the absurdity of the question. "No, it's not hard," I replied when I could talk. "Not when I know what I want."

Edward sighed again, but smiled, too. "Bella, if I could tell you, I would. I promise. But I can't. Please believe me when I say I'm truly sorry that I can't tell you what you need to know." He looked at me earnestly, trying to convey the depth of his emotions through his eyes alone.

I stared, caught in his gaze, and almost didn't hear what he said. Almost…

"But, I won't tell," I replied, just as earnestly, scooting closer to him on the couch, unconsciously leaning towards him. "Please, Edward. It's going to drive me insane not knowing…"

He smiled wickedly, looking around at my little living room. "At least you know you'll be well taken care of. And I swear you'll have the best doctor money can buy."

I glared at him. "You do hate me, don't you?" I hissed, turning away as angry tears rushed to my eyes. His eyes flicked back to me quickly as I added, "You should have just let that van kill me. It would have saved you the trouble and the pain of all this."

I heard him inhale sharply, and then say in an even sharper tone, "Don't ever say that again, Bella. Do you hear me?"

"Why?" I was very nearly shouting at him in my anger. "It's true, isn't it? You saved my life, just to put me here. Because of you, I can't see my family, my friends, I can't go to school…" I broke off on a sob. Don't cry, Bella. You are to blame just as much as he. All you have to do is lie…

"Bella," Edward moaned quietly. "Please, look at me."

I looked up unwillingly. I nearly jumped at how close he was. His face was just inches from mine, his eyes boring so deeply into me that I felt he could see my soul.

Edward stared for several very long moments, and I didn't move. I stayed perfectly still, letting him search for whatever it was he hoped to find. He finally pulled back slightly and whispered, "You don't want to know what I am." He stood up and turned to leave. At the door, he half turned and added, "Carlisle will be in shortly."

Tears streamed slowly down my cheeks as he left, pulling the door softly shut behind him. I didn't move, didn't stop staring at the door, the scene of him leaving playing over and over in my head, like a skipping record.

I still hadn't moved when Dr. Cullen came back in just a few minutes later. The tears were still streaming down my face, but I made no move to stop them, no move to wipe them away.

"Bella," Dr. Cullen started softly. "Edward is only trying to protect you. If word gets out to certain people about what he did…"

I glared up at him then, letting him see the pain I usually hid so well. "Protect me, Dr. Cullen? What is it, exactly, that he's trying to protect me from? Because I fail to see how this," I waved my hands around me wildly, "is protecting me from anything."

Dr. Cullen's lips tightened into a thin line as he thought hard for a moment, then he said, just as softly as before, "He's trying to protect you from himself."

Before I could fully take this in, I felt a smart prick in my upper arm, and knew without looking that another drug was being placed in my veins. My head was already feeling woozy, indicating a full dose.

"Why?" I asked groggily. I forced my eyes to look up at him, forced them to stay open for just a little bit longer.

He looked surprised, but answered, what I hoped, as my perception was already off, was the truth. "He's drawn to you Bella, and that's dangerous. Go to sleep. Things will look better when you wake up. I promise."

My eyes were already drifting shut as he picked me up and carried me to my bed, laying me down gently and pulling the blankets up to my neck.

As I slipped into unconsciousness, my mind had one last thought. If word got out to certain people…?

So? Was it good? Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks!