A/N Thanks to everyone who is following my story, you have no idea how much it means to me. And I love my reviewers...you guys rock! Don't be afraid to PM me if you have any suggestions about the plot. I'm open to ideas.

EPOV

Bella lies back on the hospital bed with her eyes closed. I know she in pain and it is killing me. I take the opportunity to study her face while her eyes are closed. It hits me again how beautiful she is. Thick chestnut hair surrounds her sweet face, she has gorgeous chocolate brown eyes, now closed, and the prettiest soft pink lips I have ever seen. Staring at those lips I can feel an alien stirring deep inside, I almost feel…warm. It's a crazy notion. I know that I noticed her beauty before but I tried so hard to block everything about her that I refused to acknowledge my feelings.

My feelings. How do I feel? Her presence affects me so entirely that I can't think straight when she is around. I think about her all the time, worry that she is ok constantly. I hate the fact that she seems to be all alone. And I seriously want to do damage to those who bully her, hurt her. I freeze suddenly with overwhelming rage at the thought of someone hurting her. I would annihilate anyone who laid a finger on Bella…my Bella. Is this love? Do I love Bella? The answer slams into me like a freight train. Yes…yes of course I love her, I would do anything, give anything for her.

But how do I deal with this, there is no way I can act on my feelings. That would be impossible. But I will do anything I can to protect her and keep her safe, especially from me! I notice I am already able to bear her scent much more than I thought I ever would and I am happy with the progress but I must not get over confident. I need to be around her as much as possible for this to happen.

What does she think of me? I don't think she fears me but she certainly cannot trust me after what she has seen. Why has she never questioned me? I am going to have to do everything I can to earn her trust. I will be absolutely devastated if she wants nothing to do with me. If this is her choice I don't know what I will do.

When Carlisle tells her not to walk around much I swear I don't need to read her mind because her thoughts are clear on her face. She is wondering how she is going to get to school. No doubt her father will be no help. I was seething when I listened to her phone call. What parent can treat their child that way? Does he not care about her at all? What about her mother? Bella never mentioned her. Now I am frustrated again, I feel a need to know everything about her. I will ask her tomorrow while I am bringing her to school.

She seems awkward with me on our way to her house. I am still working out how to approach her after my epiphany. I can't just blurt out my feelings for that would surely scare her away. But when she starts to tell me there's no need to be embarrassed to be seen with her because she won't tell anyone, that she understands why I should hate her I feel like someone is crushing my long dead heart. Does she have no idea how perfect she is, how proud I would be if she would consider me a friend?

I am about to correct her assumptions when she shoots me a smile so beautiful that the words die in my throat. She has never smiled at me like this before and I am glued to my seat in shock at how stunning she looks. Before I can gather my wits she is out of the car and hobbling up the path to her house. I am still sitting here like an idiot when she goes inside so I drive away, still in shock at my reaction to her smile.

By the time I get home my mood has changed to one of self-loathing. Why didn't I correct her assumption that I wouldn't want to be seen with her? She now believes it to be true. She believes I hate her. It is killing me that I won't see her until the morning, the first thing I am doing is telling her she is wrong. My family are all busy with their own pursuits, Rose and Emmet are getting busy in the garage, that I do not need to hear so I decide to hunt again this evening, it can't hurt. When I have had my fill and am about to head home I decide on the spur of the moment to run by Bella's house. I just want to make sure she is okay.

There aren't many houses in Bella's street, just a few here and there, their backyard leads right up into the woods. The street is silent as everyone is in bed at this hour so I quickly scale the side of her house and freeze when I realise I am outside Bella's bedroom window. Before I can assess my actions too closely I have opened her window and slipped silently into her bedroom. I feel guilty for invading Bella's personal space but my curiosity overrides my better judgement. I glance around her room which seems very sparse. Aren't girls supposed to have lots of stuff? Alice and Rosalie certainly do. Bella has little more that her bed, locker a wardrobe and an old shabby rocking chair in the corner. There are no pictures on the walls of family or friends. This makes me sad, she doesn't seem to have anyone at all. The only things I can see cluttering the place are a large number of books.

I freeze when I hear her moaning in her sleep. Bella doesn't sleep soundly she is tossing and turning in the bed which is obviously hurting her ankle as she whimpers in her sleep. I hate that I can do nothing to help her so I take a seat in the rocking chair and settle in to watch her for the night. I no longer feel relaxed if I am not in her presence. After about half an hour Bella seems to settle down and fall into a deeper sleep which in turn calms me down. That is until an hour later when I hear Charlie's car coming down the road. Charlie's thoughts seem fuzzy around the edges, he is not making coherent mental images. Just as I am wondering if he is similar to Bella he stumbles in the front door.

"Shit" he slurs. I catch more than his scent floating up the stairs, I can smell alcohol. Was the Chief of Police driving around town in his cruiser, drunk? What the hell? He makes his way upstairs and I can hear him sliding along the wall to keep himself upright. I am afraid he is going to wake Bella he is making so much noise. She doesn't as much as stir in the bed. Is she so used to his behaviour that she sleeps right through it? Charlie closes his bedroom door and from the sounds of it he flops onto the bed, fully clothed, and is snoring within seconds. I spend the rest of the night seething over his behaviour.

Just as the sky was brightening I decide to go home to change so I'll be back on time to bring Bella to school. Everyone except Carlisle is at the house when I get home, he is at the hospital. I don't need my mind reading ability to know that Alice has told them all about Bella, it is written all over their faces. Their expressions range from anger to absolute bliss. Rosalie of course is in a rage shouting abuse at me in her head, most of her language would make a sailor blush. Jasper is confused, he has sensed my mixed feelings towards Bella. He can feel my love for her but he just can't understand how I could love a human. I laugh "Don't ask me Jas, I don't know how it happened either"

"Please don't misunderstand Edward I'm happy for you, I just can't see how it will work" I frown because I spent half the night thinking the same thing but it's too late now, I'm in too deep to turn back. Rosalie scoffs "of course it won't work out, it'll end in disaster and then we'll have to move. Jeez Edward you are so selfish." I just tune her out because if I listen to her I will lose my temper and that will cause Emmett to get involved which wouldn't be fair to him.

Speaking of Emmett, he is grinning at me and shaking his head. Insane, Eddie boy you are a glutton for punishment. When are we meeting the human? I roll my eyes "She doesn't even know what we are, Emmett how can I bring her here?

"Oh honey, you can bring her here if you want. I will make sure everyone behaves" Esme shoots Emmett a warning look. "I would love to meet her" She looks so happy for me I want to groan "Esme please, I haven't even spoken to her about any of this yet, she may run a mile when I try to talk to her." "Tsk of course she won't Edward, surely she can see what a catch you are."

Just as I am about to flee the room Alice bounds down the stairs squealing in her excitement. "Quick Edward or you'll be late picking Bella up for school" she trills while pushing me towards the stairs so I can get dressed. "Rose can drive today."

I make it to Bella's with a few minutes to spare as I can hear her moving around inside the house, it sounds like she is having trouble with the crutches. I sigh, the girl would give me a heart attack worrying about her if that wasn't impossible.

BPOV

I don't know what was worse when I woke this morning, the pain in my ankle or the hunger pain in my stomach. I wasn't hungry when I got home because I was so upset. I went to my room to lie on my bed. By the time I was hungry it just seemed like too much effort to manoeuvre my way around trying to fix myself something to eat. Also I was exhausted after the events of the day and just wanted to sleep so I got into bed and fell into a fitful sleep. I was tangled in my sheets when I woke but strangely I had no bad dreams last night. I heard Charlie's snore as I passed his room but I wasn't surprised, it was still quite early, I usually am not up for another hour at least.

I had to give in and take some Tylenol after my breakfast as I needed all the help I could get if I was going to make it the two miles to school on my crutches. Before I went to sleep last night I promised myself that I would no longer pine over Edward, I would have to get over him.

It was clear yesterday when he didn't disagree with me that he doesn't intend on having anything to do with me. The ache in my chest over the whole situation will surely disappear, eventually. So when I open my front door and see Edward waiting for me in my driveway I am certain I am seeing things. I am approaching the car, sure it will disappear at any moment when for the second time in as many day Edward rolls down the window and tells me to "get in".

I am speechless as Edward drives away, I barely remember getting into the car. The most shocking thing of all is the fact that Edward is smiling at me. Oh God, that smile, I'm finished. How can I not notice this perfect specimen of humanity? Edward eventually breaks the silence "Good morning Bella, how are you today. I hope the ankle is better." He looks so genuinely concerned that I melt a little. "It's fine thank you." I squeak.

"About yesterday" he starts, "I have to tell you that you are wrong, I could never hate you." He looks straight into my eyes and looks so sincere that I find myself believing him. He continues "I knew you would attempt to walk to school today, despite Carlisle's warning." I blush. "So I decided I would drive you while your ankle is hurt."

"Edward, you don't hav…." "No, I don't have to help you, but I want to so don't bother protesting because it's happening Bella." He sounds so serious I decide not to protest because I'm sure it will do me no good so I relax into the seat and enjoy the first lift I have ever gotten to school. Of course the ride doesn't last long due to Edward's insane motoring skills. So we find ourselves in the school parking lot with almost an hour to spare before class starts and I don't know whether he wants me to stay or get out of his car.

"So, Bella we have time before class starts" he says with a grin and I can't help but feel like he planned it his way, I just can't understand why. "Maybe we can get to know each other, tell me about yourself. I want to know everything."

A/N Thanks for reading. And don't forget to review.