Chapter 2: Distractions

That morning when Alice, Rosalie and I were sitting in the kitchen, eating our breakfast, Carlisle came downstairs. I couldn't meet his eyes. I felt so embarrassed, even though I knew he didn't know about the dream I had had, it was still embarrassing to be in the same room as him.

"Bella, how are your stitches treating you?" he asked.

"They're f-fine, th-thanks." I stammered.

"Let me know it they're bothering you." he said.

I nodded and looked back down at my cereal. I knew Alice and Rosalie were staring at me, but would wait until Carlisle left before asking me anything.

He said goodbye to us, and the kitchen was quiet for a full two minutes.

"What the fuck?" Alice asked.

I didn't say anything.

"Bella, what just happened there?" she demanded. "You could barely talk to my dad!"

I shrugged, not wanting to say anything; I was too embarrassed, even in front of my two best friends. What could I say? Alice I like your dad?

"Oh my god…" Rosalie whispered.

I looked up at her to see understanding clear her face.

Alice looked between her and I in confusion.

"Bella, did something…happen between you and my dad?" Alice asked.

"No!" I said. "No, nothing happened."

"Then why…?" she trailed off, and I looked at her, biting my lip.

"It's kind of obvious…isn't it?" Rosalie asked.

"It's obvious?" I screeched.

"To us, yeah." Rosalie said.

Alice's jaw dropped when she realized what had happened.

"Oh my god, Bella!" Alice said. I couldn't tell if she was mad or not.

I looked down again, I didn't know what to do or say.

"Bella, I'm not mad." Alice said.

I looked up at her. "Really?"

She nodded. "I'm not mad at all. I mean I guess I'm confused, because you're with Edward, but…" she trailed off.

"Her dad is hot." Rosalie said. I sighed. It still felt weird, no matter what they said.

"You aren't happy with Edward anymore? Alice asked.

I nodded. "It's just…gotten boring."

Alice nodded. "I understand."

I smiled softly at her. I knew that she actually did understand and it made me feel better.

"Let's go shopping." Alice said with a grin.

"What?" I asked.

"Shopping." Alice said.

"Really?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

She nodded. "Let's go get ready."

I got ready to go shopping, and Alice drove to our favourite mall in Seattle. She and Rose pulled me into a lingerie store and threw the laciest, skimpiest things in the store at me. I held them up and stared at them.

"And what do you expect me to do with these?" I asked.

Alice and Rose rolled their eyes.

"Try them on." Alice said.

"No, Alice, have you seen these?" I asked in shock.

"Well how else do you expect to seduce my dad?" she asked.

I almost choked on my gum.

"What?" I asked.

"You heard me." Alice said, annoyed. "Go try them on!"

She shoved me into the fitting room, and I sighed. There was no way I could try these things on.

"Bella," she warned. "If you don't try them on, I will come in there and force you into them."

And I knew she was completely serious, so I pulled on the skimpy clothing. I sighed. "It fits."

"You're lucky I'm not making you show us." She said.

I tried on everything else, and it all fit, so I left the fitting room to see Alice waiting.

"Good." She said. "Now, let's go pay for it."

My eyes widened.

"Don't fight it, Bella." Rose said, taking the lingerie from me. "Just go out there and sit on a bench."

I had no choice but to go out of the store and sat on a bench with a sigh.

Moments later, Alice and Rosalie emerged with "my" purchases.

They were both grinning widely at me.

I rolled my eyes and walked away, knowing they'd follow to torment me more, but mostly I walked away to hide the fierce blush on my face.

We ate lunch and shopped more before going back to the Cullen house.

I loved summer. You didn't have to go to school and you could sleep in as late as you wanted.

It was a great feeling.

Back at the Cullen house, the guys still weren't home. They probably wouldn't be home for a while.

We were in Alice's room, listening to music.

"I should go." I said. "Charlie's going to be expecting me, and I need to cook his dinner."

"Okay." Alice said. "Don't forget your purchases!"

I rolled my eyes and slung my purchases over my shoulder before making my way out to the garage. And then, I remembered that Edward had given me a ride.

"Shit." I whispered.

Just as I was about to turn back to go into the house to ask Alice or Rose to give me a ride, the garage door opened, and Carlisle's shiny black Mercedes pulled into the garage.

He got out of his car and looked at me in surprise.

"What's wrong, Bella?" he asked.

"I was just heading home, but I don't have my truck." I explained. "I was just going to go back and see if Rose or Alice could give me a ride."

"I'll give you a ride." He said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Of course, hop in." he said, getting back in his car.

I got into the passenger seat, and put my bags at my feet. My face heated when I realized he could probably see the contents of the bag with the lingerie.

I groaned silently. I really hoped he couldn't see them.

I struggled to get my seatbelt on, but failed, so Carlisle reached over and did it for me.

"Thanks." I said.

"No problem." He said.

As he pulled out of the driveway, I didn't know what to say.

"How was work?" I asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Pretty good." He said. "They let me off early because it was dead in there."

I nodded. "Well that's nice."

He chuckled. "Yeah, it is."

Again, we were quiet. He seemed to feel how awkward it was as much as I did.

"Have you spoken to the guys today?" Carlisle asked.

I shook my head. "They're probably still asleep."

"Probably." Carlisle murmured.

I didn't say anything, just looked down at my hands.

Good god, this car ride could not be any more awkward!

What could I say to him? How could I say anything to the man I had fantasized about on numerous occasions?

"So…" I cleared my throat. "What's it like working in a hospital?" Ugh. I was so lame.

"Good. You get to help people." He said. "I love to help people."

I nodded.

"What are you thinking of being?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. I've been thinking of either going into nursing or writing."

"Those are pretty far from each other." He said.

"I know." I said with a sigh. "Maybe if I go into nursing I can work with you and Edward."

He chuckled. "Maybe. But Edward isn't sure if he wants to stay in Forks."

My eyebrows shot up. "What? He hasn't told me anything about that."

Carlisle shrugged. "He and I were talking and he said he wasn't sure if he wants to stay here after he graduates."

I bit my lip and looked out the window.

By this time we had pulled up to my house and I turned to Carlisle.

"Thank you for the ride." I said.

"It was my pleasure, really." He said.

I went to grab my bags, but unfortunately there were too many and the bag with my lingerie fell onto the passenger seat, all of the contents spilling out.

My eyes widened and my cheeks flushed. Carlisle didn't seem to now what to do either.

I put my other bags down on my driveway, and gathered the items that had fallen.

"Um…thanks again…Car-Carlisle." I stammered.

"Um…no problem." He said, seeming as flustered as I was.

I finished gathering the items, and shoved them in the bag, not looking back to make sure I had gotten everything. I closed the car door, and picked up my bags from the ground. Carlisle sped away from the house before I was even inside.

Carlisle

I sped away from Bella's house in a rush. I probably should've been a bit more mature about what had happened, but I had been so confused and hadn't wanted to embarrass her anymore than she already had been.

I glanced at the passenger seat and groaned. A lacy black bra was on the seat. I shoved the bra into the glove compartment quickly.

I put my head back against the headrest and pulled over. I closed my eyes and breathed.

I knew that Bella had "feelings" for me, and I couldn't help but be drawn to her. But it was wrong. She was dating my son, and she was seventeen. I felt like a dirty old man thinking of her, yet it still bothered me to know that she had purchased those items to wear for my son's pleasure.

I ground my teeth together and finished driving back to my house, gripping the steering wheel tightly. I hated to think of what Edward and Bella did in their spare time. It had pained me when he asked me to get her birth control pills. I could tell that their relationship was strained right now. I could see that Bella wasn't exactly happy with him.

But, what could I really do? I couldn't approach Bella…that would just…not be good.

I went into the house, and went straight up to my office. I tried to concentrate on the paperwork that I needed to get done, but I couldn't. Bella's face kept floating into my mind.

I leaned back in my chair, hands covering my face.

My phone rang, making me jump.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Dr. Cullen, Ms. Weber is having her baby. They're on their way to the hospital now. I think you should get over here." My secretary, Anne, said.

"I'll be right there." I said, and hung up.

I left the house, calling goodbye to Alice and Rosalie, and went to the hospital where I wouldn't be distracted by Bella.