Chapter 4

Just like that, Monday came and Bella was back in school like nothing in the past three days even happened. Edward, however, was not. Everyone in the Cullen family was out until Wednesday, apparently, to spend time with Lu. Even since she showed up, it felt like Bella knew less and less about Edward as he diverted conversation from what happened and the girl while everyone was so taken with her.

It wasn't that she was jealous, she was just lost. It was confusing that after all that went down in Phoenix, nobody would explain about Victoria or how Lu came to save her or why. All she knew was a stranger kept her alive and nobody filled her in. It was hard to not understand.

Of course, there was the gossip mill at Forks High. During lunch, Bella was able to turn to Jessica and hope for the best.

"Hey, did Columbia Cullen come here?" She asked.

Jessica instantly perked. "Oh my God, Lu? Yeah. Why?" She rambled a bit. "You should ask your boyfriend, don't you think?

"Well, he's not here and I just… heard her name and got curious." Bella fibbed. "Do you guys know anything about her?"

Angela spoke up. "Lu was the opposite of the others. She talked to people, mostly hanging around the disability kids, but she was really nice."

"Yeah." Mike agreed. "She came here until the end of the last school year. In August, she just didn't show up. Word was that she was still just a foster kid and was going to a new home, but we don't actually know."

"Let's just say," Jessica began, "That is Lu Cullen is coming back to Forks, you might be out of a boyfriend."

Angela gave her friend a look while Bella sat back, taken away. They couldn't be serious, could they. "No, Bella, don't worry." Angela told her. "Edward is totally into you."

"Though Lu and Eddie were quite inseparable in their day." Eric added.

Mike supportively said, "We can't prove anything, ignore them. They just hung out like all the siblings do, unless Lu was with her friends. I doubt her and Cullen were actually together-together."

Everyone seemed to have conflicting views, but Jessica eventually said, "Just ask Edward. I'm sure he'll tell you it was nothing."

"I did ask about her." Bella said. "He only told me that she was family and that she might come back."

They shrugged and Angela looked around. "Where are the Cullens, anyway?"

She hesitated then shrugged. "Columbia's in town until tomorrow so they're spending time with her, probably."

They all then seemed iffy, no matter what side they originally picked. "I'm sure it's nothing." Mike repeated and that was the end of it.

Bella didn't feel like this was nothing, but Edward would have told her if he dated Lu, wouldn't he?

She expected that after school she could ask him because he'd driven her to school that morning and would no doubt pick her up. It would be easy, wouldn't it? Like the question game they played before, when she'd found out about him being a vampire, but this time all she needed to know was if he had dated this girl.

Only it wasn't Edward that picked her up. She went out to the parking lot expecting to see him leaning on his Volvo like he had before, only there was no Volvo. Instead she spotted the woman in question: Lu. She was talking to a kid Bella was sure was either mildly autistic or had Asperger's, but the boy was happy to see Lu and hugged her as she laughed.

She really was nice to people.

Swallowing the worry she felt, Bella waited at the bottom of the stairs to see what was happening. Lu pat the boy on the back. "It was good to see you, but I've got to go."

He left, and Lu turned right to Bella, her smile lessening into something more polite than actually happy. "I've got Emmett's Jeep. I'm supposed to drive you home." The vampire told her.

"Uh yeah, okay." Bella nodded, heading for the jeep. They both got in and she could feel everyone staring, making her uncomfortable. "Where is Edward, anyway?"

"He hadn't gone hunting in a while, so Carlisle and him set off for the afternoon." She answered casually. "Nobody else wanted to leave me so I ditched them to stop the bickering, though it would have been Alice coming to get you if I hadn't. She's the most likely to realize what's best."

They sat in school traffic and Bella had no idea what to do or say anymore. Especially when Tyler came up to say a quick hello to Lu and try to flirt. Lu just grinned and dodged all flirting by saying she had a boyfriend in San Francisco. She wondered if that was true or not.

When they'd finally gotten out of the parking lot, Bella had to force herself to say something or she might go mad. "So, um… Why'd you leave Forks?"

"Personal reasons. Though the joke in the house is that it was my mid-life crisis since I'm only forty-six."

Bella couldn't help but give a short laugh. "So do you really have a boyfriend in San Francisco?"

That made the vampire bite her lip and take a moment. "He thinks I'm six years older than I look and he's about to turn twenty-seven so I can't keep up with the charade much longer. It's almost too bad – we've dated five months."

She felt that was now a topic to avoid and thought for a moment. Twiddling her thumbs, she said, "I know I kind of told you in passing but I never really got to thank you for saving me. Edward said that if you hadn't shown up, I'd either be dead or in a hospital bed for a week."

"No problem."

"He just- he seemed so surprised that you were there, you know? I'm thankful, but why would you save me when you didn't know me?"

Lu glanced over at her, lips turned down in a frown. "I would do anything in this world for Carlisle. He called me and that was all it took, no other reason. I don't care if you were a murderer or intending to kill all vampires or what – if he asked me to help you, I'd do it for him."

She really shouldn't, but Bella asked, "Why?"

"Because he saved me. I didn't know what vampires were but I was bitten by a stray and almost drained, until he stopped it. Then after my change, while I over reacted and panicked, he never left my side. It was only me and him, nobody else, for weeks until I could trust him, and I will always trust him."

"Well it's going to suck when you leave. Everyone, even kids in school, seem super excited that you're back."

"I guess." Lu shrugged. Then her tone got deeply interested. "So as Rose tells it, you and Edward have only been dating two weeks and he's already gotten you almost killed."

She was shocked by the sudden change in demeanour and the statement. "Um, well, yeah but I've been going to school here since January so I knew him." Not really for long, and there was the whole avoidance thing, but she didn't want to say that. "I love him."

"I'm not here to say you don't, I'm just saying that you might be making a wrong choice. Only two weeks, and you spent one of it being hunted by a psycho killer." Lu explained. "That's a good sign to get out, if not to save your own life but to spare Edward the pain dealing with you will cause."

"Dealing with me?" Bella repeated in offense.

"He won't let you be killed or turned, but you now have a target on your back for this, and for knowing what we are. It's not as simple as killing one vampire and going back to your supposedly happy life. As long as you associate with him, you're a burden."

"I'm not a burden. He loves me. And I would have been fine if you didn't show up, so why did Carlisle even call you?"

Lu scoffed. "Because I will always do what's best for the family, and because I'm a tracker. I was the only one who could find and stop James in time, because you would not have been fine."

They pulled up in front of Bella's house and Bella was angry and upset, a pain in her chest. "You shouldn't have picked me up. Edward would never let you talk to me this way."

"If you really knew Edward, than you'd know he's agree with every word I said."

Gathering her bag, Bella just got out and irrationally slammed the door. She went inside without a thank you or good bye because what Lu said hurt. Inside, she waited until the Jeep was gone to double over and let this sob bubble up.

The next time she saw Edward was Tuesday, at lunch in school. Apparently Lu already left, not that Bella would ask. Everyone was present save for Rosalie, but the couple sat at a table all their own.

"So Lu picked me up." Bella started just to mention it. She had to know that the girl was wrong about everything.

"I know. I can read her mind." Edward pointed out. "And I know what she said."

"She was awful to me."

He gave a slight cringe. "She was honest with you." He denied. "Not that you're a burden, but everything else. That as long as you and I are even friends I'll have to look over my shoulder every step. It's not safe and it isn't fair to you."

"Well it should be between me and you what we choose to do, and I know I want to move forward." Bella claimed. "Don't you want this to go somewhere?"

Edward tapped the table, hesitating, making her fret. "You have to understand that Lu is doing this to save you so much pain. She's the reason we stopped socializing. Just being near us, being our friend and spending time with us, got her killed. It was hardly any different than what happened to you, except we didn't have a warning that she'd be hunted like we did with you. She didn't have us all to protect her."

She wanted to cut in to say she was different, but Edward went on. "Carlisle called her because I was going to fail to save you, and we all knew it. You're lucky that she was there, and you should listen to her. Alice may see the future, but Lu always knows what's best. She has this… gut instinct that has saved us endlessly."

"I don't want to listen to her. I want to be with you." Bella refused.

Again Edward made that face like he was in pain as he mentally debated with himself. "Bella, I don't know what you expect from me. To say yes and move on or to make the decision for you. But you should know I do believe everything Lu said."

"Neither. I want you to be with me because we can't be apart and you want to be with me."

He gave a small smile that convinced her well enough. "I don't know what I want, but I don't want to say goodbye."

She should have caught the hesitance, but Bella was deaf to it and took this to mean they were a couple, strong as ever. Edward thought differently.

Rose came to San Francisco with Lu. It had nothing to do with all that happened or the previously secret boyfriend or even the shopping. The two just missed each other and Rose could care less about school for the time being if it meant seeing Lu. They did shop, a little, but it was mostly visiting after that.

Because she was there, though, Lu invited her to go with her to Andrew's birthday party. It was a large formal thing with his family, members of the company he worked for, and business associates of his parents as well as friends. While she never mentioned it before, it felt like she may drown as the only outsider there and was asking Rosalie for support.

She gave it very sweetly if only because it meant a party and a dress. She may hate people but this was something Rose hadn't done in a long time. So while she donned a red peplum dress with lace shoulders, Lu went for something more discreet and olive green.

"So what is there to know about this guy?" Rose asked as they drove to the venue.

Lu began, "He works in green energy, high up and doing well for himself. His father's a lawyer, mother's a trophy wife bitch – my words, not his. The way he describes her makes me dread it getting this far. He has a brother, two sisters. He likes to talk about the weather. Sincerely likes it. Sometimes it freaks me out but he's also really sweet."

"How did you end up dating this guy? He sounds too soft and not your taste." Rose retorted.

"I met him in the park while he was jogging and I was trying to read this book about fireflies." She admitted. Rose gave a little snort next to her. "Shut up. They're interesting."

Not having warned Andrew because she didn't have much time to talk to him, Rose and her arrival was going to be a bit of a surprise. They walked in, checking their coats at the door and Lu putting her present with a pile of others. It was this alarm clock he vied after for months online but said was too frivolous to buy, but his cheap one never woke him up properly and she thought he'd love the gift.

"Swanky." Rose whispered in Lu's ear, looping their arms.

Lu rolled her eyes. "They're old money in a different sense than us. Of course it's swanky."

"Lucy!" She heard Andrew's voice call.

As they both turned he was walking over with a big grin. "Handsome." Rosalie commented almost inaudibly.

Ignoring it, Lu let go of her arm to hug and lightly kiss her boyfriend. Quicker than he seemed to want, but she didn't want to look too intimate in front of this room of important strangers, and especially not in front of Rose.

"I'm so glad you're on time! You didn't call me when you got into the city." Andrew said, arm around her shoulders.

"I was a little busy but I wouldn't miss a minute of this. Andrew," She started, turning to Rose with a soft gesture. "This is my sister, in every important respect, Rosalie. Rosalie, this is Andrew."

Rose pulled a grin and nodded a polite hello. "I hear all good things, promise." She said.

Andrew was beaming but obviously surprised. "I'm glad someone in her family could make it. I heard it was far to travel, and especially after the car accident I doubted anyone would come. It's a pleasure to meet you."

At 'car accident' Rose gave Lu a glance. "Yeah, I told him about Bella's minor wreck but it's all fine. Just a tiny head wound." She fibbed.

"I'm so glad. So! Since you're both here, why don't you come meet my family? I'm sure they'll be equally excited to meet Rosalie." Andrew said enthusiastically.

Rose gave a smile, head tilted, and said, "I would love to later in the evening, but I think I'll mingle and have a drink. You two go on."

It was an awful experience. The mother was scrutinizing, the brother got her alone thinking she was in it only for Andrew's money, and the sisters kept questioning if she was really twenty-three even after she showed them her albeit fake ID. But Andrew was clueless and kept trying to put his arm around Lu, who eventually retreated and found Rose again in the back of the room.

"It's awful." She admitted, leaning next to her sister and friend.

"I've been listening." Rose said in agreement.

Lu sighed because Andrew had been great until this very moment. "At least this will make the break up easier. His mother will be ecstatic."

Next to her, the blonde sister turned to Lu. "Please come home, Lu. It's so horrible without you there."

A sadness crept through her. "You'll be fine. Even Edward's moved on."

"He hasn't moved on." The woman snapped. "He twiddled his thumbs and toyed with his wedding band for months. The only thing that distracted him was the human girl who Jasper says he doesn't even care for in the way he's telling us. Did you see his face, every time he looked at you or when you entered a room these past few days?"

"It doesn't matter. He's dating that girl, and she's crazy in love with him." Lu refused.

"It does matter because she will never be one of us. And this isn't even about Edward. Forget him. I want you home. I love you. Why can't I be enough?"

Lu knew if she was human, if she could cry, she would. "You are enough."

Rose caught her eye. "Then come home."

Shrugging was the only answer she had at that moment. "Maybe. But don't tell anyone. I don't want them to think it's a yes and overreact or- just, I don't know, Rose."

"I can live with maybe."