Edward:

She's late. Why is she late? She has always been such a creature of habit that I thought it impossible for her to vary from her course. I swear that she is the only person that could ever come close to giving me a heart attack.

The sun had just begun to set, beginning yet another twilight. Maybe her class ran late. That had to be it, I am sure that I am overreacting. But this is Bella we are talking about. Something didn't feel right. I began to search for her in the thoughts of those around me.

Maybe I should just get it over with and tell my parents about the car. What's the worst they can do, ground me? It's not like I live with them anymore.

Not what I was looking for.

I swear there is something going on between them. I know he says that they are just friends but…

Geez, she looks like such a…

Still not what I needed.

Now that's what I'm talking about

An image of Bella floated through my mind. She was walking back from class. She had her arms wrapped around her chest and he eyes flashed around her nervously.

She doesn't look like she could put up much of a fight. But then again, she is tiny and the small ones have the most spunk. I like the spunky ones; they have a lot of fight in them. That is until I get through with them…

I let out a loud growl at his thoughts and I took off running. It was dark enough now that I didn't have to worry about the sun. Not that it would have mattered otherwise. I would have gone to her regardless.

I could tell by his thoughts that he was waiting behind a dumpster. Bella was headed right towards him.

"Hey the precious," he called in a mocking tone as he stepped from behind his hiding place.

She seemed to have been expecting something like this. She had already been on edge, glancing around her surroundings every few seconds. She was still startled though, I could see it in his thoughts when she gasped and stopped walking, her eyes widening in surprise. Her face became the calculating one that I had grown so used to.

I willed my legs to move faster. Even as fast as I ran I was still scared that I might not make it in time. Bella depended on me and I would not let her down. I had sacrificed so much to keep her alive…

He was getting ready to tackle her and his plans for her forced another growl to erupt from my chest. I had to run faster.

I had just gotten them in my sights when he grabbed her. In one smooth motion she reached up and grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled hard. I heard him cry out in pain and bow down slightly. That was the only distraction that she needed. She jerked her knee up hard and got him right in the groin.

I reached them as he doubled over in pain. He wanted her to fight, well he got a fight. I pulled him back and threw him to the ground. I began to stalk over to him when a gasp caught my attention.

I stopped moving, my back turned to her. I had just broken my promise to her. My promise that I would never bother her again.

"Edward," she whispered in disbelief. I turned slowly to face her. The shock on her face was so intense that, without a second thought, I rushed to her and pulled her to me as hard as I dared. She had spent too much time away from me.

I heard her sob and was frightened that I might have hurt her. I went to let go but she tightened her hold on me.

"I'm not crazy," was all she said through sobs. She suddenly let go of my shirt, and I was so surprised that I couldn't catch her as she fell to her knees, seemingly too weak to stand. I swept down to kneel beside her and she looked at me through her tears. Suddenly, she threw her arms around me and cried harder.

"Shh Bella, it's okay. You are okay," I said trying to soothe her but it only made her cry harder. I was at a loss for what to do, so I settled on stroking her hair and rubbing her back. This felt so natural, so right. The feel of her in my arms was enough to make my dead heart swell. I could barely remember why I ever thought that I could leave her.

Her sobbing eventually turned to gasping for air as she tried to calm herself down. What she had said a few minutes ago was still ringing in my ears. Crazy? Why would she be crazy? I gave her another moment to let her heart rate slow down and her breathing return to normal. She was just sniffling now.

"Bella?" I asked cautiously. She looked up at me and he heart rate increased again.

"Yes," she asked. She was searching my face for something. Her eyes met mine and stayed there. I could see the curiosity and disbelief burning in hers. I wondered fleetingly what she found in my own.

"Why did you say 'I'm not crazy' a few minutes ago?"

She looked down and slowly replied, "Because I have felt you near me for months, it felt like someone was watching me…" She cut off in mid thought and bit her lip. I still could not stand it when she did that. I don't think any amount of time could change that.

"Will you please continue your sentence?" I asked looking her in the face. "Please?"

"Well, I was going to say I felt like someone was watching me but I knew that you wouldn't actually be here because if you didn't come back before then why would you come back now?" She looked down again.

I tried to get her to look at me but she wouldn't meet my eyes. I was distracted by what I was going to ask next when she shivered. I was making her cold. I went to pull away but she wouldn't let me.

"What are you doing?" she asked me.

"You're cold," I pointed out.

"You can't leave yet," she said forcefully. She said it in a tone that I had rarely heard her use. It seems that this is not the same Bella that I knew.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me to," I replied honestly. How could she think that I would leave now? I had been fighting myself not to come back since the moment I left her. "Just, please let's get you inside."

She seemed apprehensive but nodded her head yes. I stood up and pulled her up with me. I didn't want to let her go but I didn't want to overstep my bounds. I had been so wrapped up in Bella that I didn't even notice when the scum bag left.

It was just as well, had he still been here I might have lost control. At least I hadn't accidentally killed him and as it was, I had no intention of going after him now. That would make me to leave Bella's side and nothing but Bella herself could force me to do that.

We started walking. I had seen where she lived but never allowed myself to go anywhere near it. I didn't trust myself to leave again before she came back. It would have been too easy to stay, but that didn't matter now.

She looked up at me through her eyelashes as if not sure that I was really here.

"I'm really here," I said.

Her only response was a light blush. She held out her hand to me and I took it willingly. I wanted to be as close to her as possible.

"Just checking," she said as we continued walking to her dorm.