a/n: thank you so so much for the reviews!! it makes me want to update that much sooner knowing the ones that have reviewed like it so far! i appreciate you so much! so here is your next chapter! it didn't turn out to be as long as i had intended bc i broke it up into two chapters so i could get this one in today, so read on. love!


When Bella woke again a few hours later, she saw a few rays of sunshine coming thought her window. She smiled to herself hoping where ever Edward and the rest of the Cullens were that they were able to be in the sunlight. She rolled over and noticed a tee-peed piece of paper on her bedside table with her name written in an elegant script she knew to belong to only one person on it. She opened it and read:

My Bella,
I miss you already. See you soon.
I love you.
Eternally yours,
Edward
PS- Be safe, my love.

Bella smiled at Edward's thoughtful gesture. He was constantly reminding her why she loved him...and why she thought she didn't deserve him. It was still a mystery to her how he could possibly feel the same way for her as she felt for him. She began to feel a fresh wave of guilt as she thought of Edward's love for her. She hated lying to him, but no matter what Charlie did to her, Bella felt the need to protect him. Certainly the fact that he was her father was part of it, but sometimes Bella felt like Charlie couldn't help reacting the way he did...like he couldn't control the sudden outbursts or overreactions.

Sighing, Bella threw the quilt back and sat up. She winced as her knee and elbow ached as she moved. A noise somewhere between a growl and a moan escaped her throat. Part of her was glad Edward wasn't there to worry about her (although no matter their proximity to each other, Edward constantly worried). As she was about to leave her bedroom, she saw her green notebook sitting on her desk. Another thing she had kept from Edward (as well as almost everyone else). The notebook was actually a sketchbook. She sat down at the desk and pushed the other things that were obscuring the sketchbook off of it. She hadn't really intentionally lied about her artistic skill, but it was something not many people knew about. When Bella moved to Forks and had to take art class for her fine arts requirements she was nervous at first about sharing her art with other people, but upon learning Bella had never taken an art class before, Mrs. Milhouse, the art teacher, informed Bella she had a natural talent. If Bella ever told her, she knew Alice would freak when she found out the 'Anonymous Artist of the Week' was indeed Bella. Art was very personal to Bella, and she insisted her pieces remain anonymous. It was her emotional release in some ways.

Opening the book, the first few pages were cityscapes from when she lived in Phoenix, then landscapes of Forks. Most of the other pages were filled with sketching assignments for art class. She laid the book aside then picked up the folder that had been laying underneath it. In it were the drawings she had done on loose-leaf pieces of paper. The first ones were some portraits of Charlie, then some of Renée. Farther back were the ones most dear to her. Portraits of the Cullens. She had surprised herself when she was able to capture their inhuman beauty. Of course, the one she had the most of was Edward. She was pretty sure she had one showing every emotion Bella had ever seen Edward express. Including ones of him looking not-so-pleased-to-see-her from when she first met him. She ran her fingers lightly over a portrait of him laughing. Her heart ached as she missed him terribly already.

Rising from the desk after carefully re-camouflaging the notebook, she left her room and headed down the stairs. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she was surprised to see Charlie sitting at the table.

"Morning, Dad," she greeted as she got some cereal. "No work today?" This was odd. Charlie usually worked all weekend.

"Yeah, I'm just going in a little later. I wanted to talk to you," Charlie had his eyes cast down at the table, then brought them up when Bella sat down.

:: Uh-oh :: "Ok..."

"I'm sorry about yesterday. I don't know why I act the way I do towards you sometimes. One minute I'm on top of the world and couldn't be happier, then the next it seems like everything is going wrong and I can't fix anything."

:: I don't believe this :: Bella stared at her father. She knew Charlie's confession wasn't easy for him. "Dad," Bella began, "it sounds kind of serious...Maybe you should talk to a doctor or something..."

"It's not that bad, Bella," he stated sternly. "I can handle it fine. I just wanted to apologize for losing my temper yesterday. Don't go making this into something it's not, ok? I've got to get to work," and with that, he left.

Bella stared at the chair Charlie had been sitting in not knowing what to think. She didn't know what to do. One thought did stick in her mind, however: Did Charlie have a serious problem?


a/n: there you are. I know being artistic is out of character for Bella but I thought it added something to her personality and it does come into play later in the story as well. thanks for sticking with me!