I don't own Twilight. Except for the book—that's as close as I'm going to get. And this story. But the characters? *sigh* Not mine.

Chapter 7:

APOV-

I heard Bella gasp outside directly following a soft 'thump'. I looked up and saw Edward talking to Bella.

"What is he doing?" I said, exasperatedly. No way that Bella, or anyone else for that matter, bumps into one of us without us allowing it to happen.

"Calm down, honey. He's under control." Jasper responded.

"Yeah, but for how long? This is a stupid idea." Rosalie chimed in.

"There's only one way this can end, and I'm surprised that he's lasted this long. I remember when I ran into my Singer. Poor lady…" Emmett's voice trailed off as he remembered.

"Please, Em. I can only handle so much bloodlust at once." Jasper said, pain evident on his face.

"Sorry." Emmett replied, shaking his head.

"Shut up, you two! I want to hear what they're saying! When did he get back?"

Jasper tried to answer but Rosalie shushed him. She was trying to listen in too.

"What's your problem?" Bella said. "What have I ever done to you?"

Edward paused for a moment before replying solemnly, "Nothing. But what has the lamb done to the lion?" Bella looked confused and Rosalie let out a short, sharp sigh.

"This is madness. He's going to get us all in trouble. He should just kill her now and we'll move on."

"Rose!" We all said together in a shout-whisper.

"Edward, I can't help much longer before I lose it too." Jasper said to Edward. Even though he was about 100 yards away and on the outside of the building, he looked our way and nodded. Without another word to Bella, he came inside and joined us.

"I don't think she likes you very much." I said once he'd sat down.

"Shut it, Alice. I am not in the mood."

A low, soft growl escaped Jaspers throat. "Now I know you're mad bro, but cool your jets. She doesn't deserve that."

"It's okay Jaz—I understand." I said to him before returning to Edward. "Seriously though. That is no way to get her to like you."

"Like me?" He questioned. "Like me?" He nearly yelled at me before regaining his composure and looking around to make sure that we weren't being heard. "She doesn't have to like me, Alice." He articulated my name, "she just has to live. Through the day." He added the last as an afterthought and so low that I could barely hear him. "I barely made it through that and now I have a whole class with her right next to me."

"You'll be fine, Edward." I said. And just to prove a point, I searched through our immediate future and came up dry. Of course, Edward was watching it with me.

He signed, still not trusting himself, and retreated back into his own mind.

And if I was being completely honest, I didn't fully trust him either, especially knowing that she would one day be like us—something that I'd yet to tell anyone.

EPOV-

That was too close. Rose thought as I walked into the cafeteria. She's asking too many questions. Why don't you stop being so perfect and just finish it already so that we can move out of this God-forsaken place.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you, Rosalie." I muttered under my breath. "Somewhere with some new men to ogle you?"

"Hey," Emmett responded. "Uncalled for. I think." He added, realizing that I was probably responding to something that she'd thought.

I'm sorry, dude. I remember when I went through this. I didn't last nearly this long…

"Em, stop. I can barely control myself as-is ,thanks."

Sorry. He thought. So what are you going to do? I didn't answer.

When I made it over to the table Alice said "I don't think she likes you very much."

"Shut it, Alice. I am not in the mood."

A low, soft growl escaped Jaspers throat. "Now I know you're mad bro, but cool your jets. She doesn't deserve that."

"It's okay Jaz—I understand." She said to him before turning back toward me. "Seriously though. That is no way to get her to like you."

"Like me?" I questioned. "Like me?" I nearly yelled at her before regaining my composure and looking around. "She doesn't have to like me, Alice." I hissed, making sure to put emphasis on her name, "she just has to live. Through the day." I sighed. "I barely made it through that and now I have a whole class with her right next to me."

"You'll be fine, Edward." She said as she searched through our immediate future to make sure.

I sighed and blocked them out. I really didn't have it in me to deal with them right now. I was barely able not to jump across the room and drain Bella where she sat.

I noticed that whether I wanted to or not, I had been keeping tabs on her. I knew where she was and what she was doing (through the minds of those around her) the entire day and that was no different now. I listened in to the banter going on at her table. To make sure she doesn't surprise me. I told myself Because I can't read her thoughts. But I knew better. This was not going to end well.

Sorry this was a short update. The next one is longer and is where the story really starts to pick up, promise. =) Tell me what you think!