Hey guys! *cue Nikki hiding behind a computer* I know what I said in the last chapter about updating sooner, and honestly I tried. I've gone back and forth on this about 50 times, trying to get it right and yet it still doesn't feel that way but I tried my best, so leave me a review when you finish reading to let me know what I did wrong or whatnot. I realise I may have confused some readers at the end of Bella's POV in the last chapter as to who the "he" that she said was referring to. Well it definitely wasn't Edward and seeing as she has only moved here around a month ago, its someone else, a person who may have/haven't been introduced yet. Did you get my hint yet? lol.

(last time I'll edit this, I'm sorry. The typos were practically screaming to be fixed)

Disclaimer:I don't own twilight or any of its characters.

The chapter song is I Dare You To Move by Switchfoot.

I made this chapter a lot longer, again, so I hope that makes up for it being late. R&R.

Enjoy!


Chapter 9

Edward's POV

All their eyes were glued on mine, giving away no clues as to what they were thinking but their thoughts betrayed them. I knew that each of their minds was swirling around the information that I had provided and trying to absorb it as best as they could. As rationally as they could.

"Edward, are you sure?"Carlisle broke the confusion by speaking in his mind. He had remained the most composed of all; his compassion for the wellbeing of others stopped him from jumping into solutions. Esme remained by his side, laying her hands lovingly upon his shoulders whilst her golden eyes, with depths full of concern, focused on me.

Welcome to the planet

Welcome to existence

Everyone's here

Everyone's here

I solemnly nodded my head in comprehension and he bowed his head, gathering them in his hands, as he once more began musing over what we should do.

From the corner of my eyes I could make out Alice sitting closely beside Jasper, both deep in thought as his arms were wrapped protectively around her miniature frame. Despite my overwhelming curiosity, I refrained from looking into their thoughts too deeply. I wanted them to have the time to think about this logically on their own, without reservation, for it was not something that was inconsequential. To take action would mean that the rest of the family would too be affected and I didn't want them to be involved if they were against it in their hearts.

Everybody's watching you now

Everybody waits for you now

What happens next?

Suddenly I saw Alice stand up and walk in my direction despite the confused look on Jasper's face as his arms now grasped nothing but air. I turned on my heel to face her and saw that everyone's attention now fixated on us.

"I'll help you", she softly spoke as she stared into my eyes with deep sincerity and as though she could read my mind she added "I love her Edward…or at least I'm going to, I've seen it and I...I can't just sit back and do nothing."

"Do you even know what you're saying?" Jasper's fuming voice shrilled around the house as soon as he understood what his wife was agreeing to, causing Alice to wince at the harshness of his tone. "Who is she to us? Nothing! So why are we even thinking about getting ourselves involved in something that is NOT our problem and completely unnecessary?" Even though I loved my brother dearly, in that moment I truly detested him as I let out an instinctive growl in response.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor

"Unnecessary!" I snarled, as rage burned through my head. I was vaguely aware of Carlisle who was quick on his feet, his arm on my shoulder, trying to calm me. "Did you even listen to what I told you? Those-" I paused to think of a more suitable word to describe them instead of every vulgar word that ran through my mind in that instant "those animals are practically stalking her"

"And you're so much better than them? What you did was exactly the same, if not worse because at least they didn't enter her house without permission." My stomach twisted in knots at the mere thought of being compared to those vile, abominable creatures.

"I, did it for her own good."

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

"No you did it for you." He replied, chuckling humorlessly and shaking his head at my dismissal.

"Edward. Calm yourself." Carlisle's mind rang loud.

"I did it to protect her!" I replied under his intense gaze.

"No you- "he started, before he realised the truth: "You… No…He doesn't. Does he?" His mind was flooded with a new found truth and even though I tried my best to glare at him in an attempt to stop him from saying it aloud, it was useless "You did it because you-"

"You love her" Alice finished in an unsurprised and collected tone. The same couldn't be said for the other three accompanying me in the room, whose eyes were on me once more.

Thanks Alice.

"He's fallen in love with the human?"

"Well…..this…is going to complicates things."

"I suppose...now it makes...more sense?"

"Is this true son?" My father spoke, stunned and with a look of what seemed to be anticipation.

I sat down on the nearest chair I found, as my head fell in my hands. It wasn't meant to be this way. Then again, what did I really expect when I lived in a house that was shared with an empath for a brother and a clairvoyant sister?

"Edward." Carlisle called once more in his mind, awaiting an answer.

"I…I don't know" I sighed, lifting my head from my grasp and brushing my hair away in frustration.

"You love her Edward" Alice voiced in confirmation before silently adding: "Don't deny it. We both saw the visions before…it was going to happen at one point or another…."

My head perked up.

"No! You said the visions changed. You said they changed when I decided to keep away from her." I growled as my jaw locked.

"And they did! You may not be with her, like you were in that vision, but it never meant that you couldn't fall in love with her."

"But-" Esme stepped in-between me an Alice, blocking our stare contest. "I think that's enough for now."

Welcome to the fallout

Welcome to resistance

The tension is here

Between who you are and who you could be

Between how it is and how it should be

"She's right." Jasper spoke up and took his place beside Alice once more. "We shouldn't be arguing about this when we have bigger concerns."

"Well…..Let's think of this rationally," Carlisle sighed, his thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose. "I realise that it has been years since an encounter like this has occurred, and certainly not under a situation similar to this one, but the treaty still applies and no matter what, the line isn't to be crossed by anybody. Is that clear?"

"Carlisle-" I said through gritted teeth.

"I'm not finished," he scolded me as any father would. "We do not know the true intentions of why they are so interested in Bella and until that intend is found, we aren't going to do anything. Nothing." He finished for everyone apart from me "I realise its going to be hard Edward but they may have good intentions, we don't know that just yet. Be patient son. Please? "

Carlisle's sincerity broke me; I didn't want to break the otherwise simple task that he asked but Bella's safety mattered. That came first. She would always come first from now on. "I won't do anything drastic unless they initiate it." I settled uneasily, but in the back of my mind I repeated that if they take one step towards even harming a single strand of her hair, there would be no stopping me.

"That's all I'm asking."

****

Bella's POV

Reality was like a constant enemy; an unnecessary reminder of life.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor

The house felt like a shield from the outside world and the bed was like the only comforter in my life; supportive and warm.

It's only one day. One day. I don't have to go to school. I tried to think of any excuse possible but with each, came a solution. Time had slowly withered away and the weekend had passed as now Monday had arrived.

I spent the two days doing some of the work needed for the project despite not knowing which parts were to split to whom and I had done all the homework set by the other subjects as well as finally unpacking fully. This was my home now. I had better get used to it.

The weekend brought me an epiphany as I sat motionless on my comforting bed; that I really was tired of the way I was living. I used to be so much stronger, so much that I thought I could handle anything that life would throw at me but I suppose its only when tested that you realise all that you are and can be. So maybe I wasn't that strong. Maybe I was weak, but that didn't mean that I should sit back and watch my life waste away right in front of my eyes, even though at times it's going to feel like the best solution.

I didn't want or need sympathy from anyone and yet I could just imagine their pitiful faces following me all day as they spoke in their clique groups about the latest gossip but I knew that if I stayed at home I would be attracting even more attention and I didn't want that, so I started the engine and set off on my way.

As the town swished past my window, I let my mind drift back to last Friday and everything that happened during it; wincing when I recalled Jessica's harsh words and shocked when Edward's face flashed in my memory.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't understand him, and the worst thing was, it was all my mind wanted, desired; to find out more about him and it frustrated me when I didn't. He was captivating in more ways than one. Whilst he was so beautiful that he easily could pass as a Greek god, he was also a mystery. His skin was like marble; pale, hard as stone and ice cold, but perfect and flawless. His mesmerizing eyes changed colour; a beautiful shade of topaz on most days whereas in some occasions they became so dangerously dark that they were almost black. He ran with a speed that seemed to put to shame anyone who was on the track team. I was inches away from actually hitting the ground that I heard the car door open and in less than a second I crashed into arms instead of the ground.

In my moment of weakness, he was the last person I expected to approach me, let alone comfort me. Despite my pleads in asking him to leave, he did the opposite and came even closer before capturing me in his cold yet at the same time warm embrace. His arms were like a shield; strong, protective and the second they were around me I felt my body relax into them as peace swam to every part of me.

Reality seemed to stop because life was never that nice. All coherent thought evaporated from my mind and set me free. His soothing words were like music to my ears, calming my dispossessed soul. How long we were like that I couldn't remember because in that moment, I just cherished the comfort of another being, instead of the lifeless pillow that I had held onto for the past few months.

It was only when we reached my home that I felt reality kick in as I stared at the uninviting house. It was only then, that I questioned in my mind that if he truly didn't want to be my friend then how was it that every time I needed aid he was always there?

Out of anyone that could have been there; he was.

Was that fate, coincidence? To be honest I didn't know what to think anymore, I just knew that there was more to Edward Cullen than he lets out to be.

And then there was his sister; Alice.

How did she know? Had she been in on it? But she couldn't have been, because the Cullens were the most intimidating group in the whole school with their impossibly beautiful faces and sheer elegance. They were always separated from everyone else, like outsiders who never fit in and for that I felt a tang of sympathy towards them.

Besides, I had never seen Alice ever talk with Jessica, in addition to the fact that in my heart, I didn't truly believe she was capable of such thing, she was the one who tried to help me. Well her…… and Edward.

The more I thought about it, the crazier and paranoid I felt myself becoming. Perhaps this is all just me going mad, it certainly felt better to think about it that way, at least I wouldn't have a million thoughts running through my head simultaneously causing me a merciless headache.

Pulling up in my usual parking spot, I noticed a figure immediately rush to the driver's door.

Jessica.

She looked awful, completely unlike her usual self. She stared at me with sorrowful eyes which had dark bags under them. Was she here to carry on from last friday or to apologize?

I didn't know what to feel. Did I detest her for what she did? Yes. She cut open an unhealed wound and poured acid over it, but did I want her to loathe herself for it? No, because she didn't know, she didn't know the meaning of her words. What amused her at the time was painful to me beyond expression but she didn't know it, the extent of it and she probably never would.

As I starred at her face which was tight with anxiety, I debated what I needed to do,, but came across blank and instead I did the only thing I could think of, taking a deep breath before stepping outside the car as Jessica moved aside allowing my door to open with ease but still remaining relatively close. The air was thick with anticipation.

"Can I please talk with you?" Jessica started before I could even begin to think about how to start.

"Sure" I whispered and lowered my head down, starring at the dark asphalt of the floor.

"I'm so sorry" she said half tearfully, as though she was going to cry and caused me raise my head in astonishment "I didn't mean what I said….I know you probably hate me, I would as well but I just thought you should know, that I never knew or meant what I said" she added as she wiped a tear away which slid down her face "God, I lost my own grandmother to cancer and I know how bad it is, I can't imagine what you have had to go through. I was… I was just angry about what Mike said and I know that doesn't excuse what I did but I'm so sorry. I don't know why but you seem to bring out all the insecurities in me and….and I end up being the worst possible version of myself. So for all of it, I'm sorry".

Maybe redemption has stories to tell

Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell

I was stunned; I didn't expect that, which rendered me in speechlessness.

"I should go. I'm sorry." she replied quietly before turning around to walk away in shame. It took me a while to take in all that she said before reacting towards them:

"Jessica wait!" I half shouted for she was now quiet a distance away and made my way towards her. "Look…" I started before taking a breath. I didn't know what to do; my heart was telling me to forgive her whilst my mind contradicted. "I know you didn't mean what you said………you couldn't have known about what happened to my mum, so…..what I'm trying to say is that…..it's okay".

You're an idiot!

As much as I didn't want to let her off so easily, I was not a person who could hold a grudge for long. It was going to happen sooner or later, why torture her?

"What?" she replied…... shocked?

"I forgive you", I added, so she understood.

"But….but why?"

"Because if there is anything I've learnt from what happened with my mum, it's that life is too short you know. Too short to live it in anger and resent. So I forgive you" I replied shrugging my shoulders as though it was nothing but even I was shocked at my calmness.

"You really mean that?" she asked unsurely after a couple of moments of silence as we both absorbed what happened.

"Yeah" I whispered, trying to as smile reassuringly as I could.

"Thank you" she replied whole heartedly before turning around and throwing her arms around me tightly. I was taken back, I'm not good with stuff like this in public and as I looked around, I saw that a number of people were curiously looking our way. So I gave her a small squeeze before pulling back to reveal a smiling Jessica.

"I think we should…."she said and pointing her head towards the school, to which I gladly nodded "before I get you into trouble for being late." she replied back smirking. It's good to know she's back to her old self. I'd rather have her like this than have her look at me the way she did before.

"Yeah, let's go." I emphasized with a second nod.

Walking down the somewhat crowded corridor after Jessica and I parted, I felt an unfamiliar sharp pain hit me on the left of stomach quite lightly at first before turning more potent with the next stab, preventing me to walk and let out a hiss as I clutched my side with my hand, begging for relief. My breathing hitched. It felt like someone had gotten a razor and was roughly pushing it through me from the inside.

Where can you run to escape from yourself?

Where you gonna go?

Where you gonna go?

Salvation is here

Internally groaning in pain, I looked around desperately for the nearest toilets and within seconds locked myself in a cubicle as my bag hit the ground. The cubicle was suffocating me but I didn't want anyone to see me so I hid myself and the tears that formed in my eyes. This claustrophobic nightmare was better than the alternative and I just prayed that no one would come before I could pull myself together.

I had gotten stomach-aches before but not like this. Maybe I should have called that Doctor- whose name I had now forgotten when I had the chance, I'm sure his card was still pocketed in those jeans. Crying made it worse, it only prolonged the pain but I couldn't help but carry-on doing so whilst biting my lip in order to stop myself until I sensed a faint rustic, metallic taste become more potent against my tongue.

Blood.

I suddenly felt sick and lifted the toilet seat up while my knees which felt as though they were carrying cast iron weights upon them buckled under me. Nausea hit me and my stomach twisted ruthlessly before causing me to retch dryly.

But nothing ever came, nothing other than a foul aftertaste and I sobbed in dissolution with my hands covering my face in disgrace.

The door of the toilet squeaked open and I could see its shadow being reflected on the luminous floor from the very little hollow space that there was from the walls of the cubicle and the floor.

I immediately froze despite the lingering pain the pit of my stomach and resumed biting my lip before slowly picking myself from the ground and sitting on the toilet seat instead. My right hand instinctively captured my mouth to stop the whimpering that I felt were being pushed to the surface.

The clicking sounds of high-heeled shoes were echoing closer and further into the toilets. I silently prayed that they would leave soon as another wave of nausea hit me and I let a small sob escape my lips. I knew then that the person leaving was impossible as its footsteps inched closer to my cubicle before knocking 3 times.

"Are you alright in there?" A musical voice spoke.

I took several deep breaths through my nose to make my voice sound steadier before replying "I'm fine" but it still sounded like a moan.

"Bella?" the voice questioned upon recognition of my voice. How on earth did she know it was me? Wait a minute…..was that-

"Bella? It's Alice. Are you alright?" Great! How am I going to get out of this one? Maybe if I don't answer she'll just leave.

She knocked once more to grab my attention. "Don't be a coward." I whispered under my breath.

"I'm okay Alice." I reassured her, even though it didn't even convince me.

"Are you sure? Because you don't sound like it" she replied concerned but to be honest it was getting on my nerves. I closed my eyes and tried to picture being somewhere else but the knocking on the door kept me from my daydream.

Frustrated that she wouldn't leave; I answered harshly "I said I'm FINE" in a much louder and coarser tone than her soft velvet one.

She was quiet for a few minutes and I thought she would finally leave. I let go of the air that I didn't realise I was holding in my chest as the sensation burned a hole in my stomach causing me to wince again; grabbing the attention of my never-leaving classmate.

"Well you certainly don't sound like it and I'm not leaving until you come out. So until I'm sure that you're fine, we are just wasting time talking like this." she stubbornly replied, like a persistent child who would nag the parents until they got what they wanted and I knew that I too would cave in. She sounded genuinely concerned, the same way that she sounded that day and the sincere tone of her voice made me feel as though I could trust her.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor

Standing up unsteadily and my trembling hands holding on the sides for support, I took in a few deep breaths in to try and look more composed regardless of the throbbing pain that lurked in my stomach. Shaking my head at being so weak, I slid the lock open for release; the door squeaked open and stood in front of the sinks was Alice.

"See I'm fine." My voice was coarse but spoke with conviction. I felt a little better, so I wasn't lying- not to a high extend anyway.

Her expression was unchanged and unreadable. She didn't say a word. Instead she moved away from the sinks as my reflection was revealed on the mirror that I didn't know was placed behind her.

"You're fine?" she asked in sarcasm with a perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised. The girl in the mirror wasn't one I recognised. Maybe I should just accept that the girl I once knew didn't exist anymore. That amid all the pain and heartbreak that life had brought upon it, she had slowly withered away, inch by inch.

A shiver escaped me and I came to realisation of how cold I suddenly was; goose-bumps were visible all along my arms. Shivering, I pulled the jacket that I wore tighter around me before turning around to face Alice.

"We need to have you checked out. This isn't good Bella." She spoke with a deep concern that once again I questioned the cause of. "I'll take you to the school nurse but I think its best to have you checked out properly."

"No!" I panicked "I'm better now. Honestly."

"Bella-" she dismissed, shaking her head in disagreement.

"Look, I was not feeling well before, you're right but I'm alright now." Thankfully the torment settled down for the time being but a light-headedness feeling took over. Nevertheless it allowed me to breath. For now.

"But-"

"Please? I just want to go back to class, and you should do too. We're both going to be extremely late at this point."

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

"Okay," She resorted unwillingly and a timid smile crept on her porcelain face. "But before we do, let's get you looking a little better at least."

She smoothly walked towards me before gently grasping my arm in her hand, tugging me towards the sinks but even with the thickness of the material that separated my arm from hers, I felt the coldness radiated from her skin onto mine and seeped into my bones. It didn't make sense.

Silently taking out tissues from her bag, dampening them with a little water from the taps, she wiped my tear streaked face. Whilst she did, I simply stood in bewilderment, staring at the pixie looking girl which took care of me. It was only when she had applied a little make up to perk up my colouring that I knew I had to ask some questions. She hadn't even attended her lesson for me. It didn't make sense.

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered; my voiced pooled with curiosity.

A timid chuckle escaped her lips before she replied: "Would you believe me if I said that I genuinely do care about you?"

Did I? Of course I did. It was the one thing I was sure of.

"Yes…but why? I don't understand" I shook my head. "You don't know me."

"Yeah I do" she looked up after putting all her make-up away. "You're a girl who is need of some help, because let's admit, we all need help sometimes and I'm going to help you. If you'll let me." she spoke and her voice rang companionship.

She momentarily paused and stood still, frozen but after a few seconds, her posture relaxed before resuming to talk as though nothing had happened: "I take the last part back, I'm going to help whether you like it or not."

It didn't make sense.

"Come on." She gestured with her head for me to follow her out of the door; I took one last look at myself in the mirror before leaving. It was like a flashback from my old self, my cheeks had colour in them, no evidence of the dark circles that usually existed under my eyes. I felt tears welling in my eyes but I stubbornly pushed it down and walked out.

The corridors were entirely isolated, not one person in sight apart from myself and Alice, whom seemed to be distracted as she starred off into the distance at nothing in particular. Not anything that I could see anyway. As we reached the entrance to the class, the pixie looking girl, who was now what I thought to be a true friend, turned towards me.

"When we go in there, just...don't say anything and ignore what he's going to say. He's not in the best of moods. Okay?" She hesitantly asked.

"Okay." I assured but how she knew this information I didn't know and the curiosity was eating me up.

She pushed the door open in one swift moment as everyone's attention in the class turned towards the late-comers.

"Ah! Miss Swan and Miss Cullen; how nice of you to finally join us." He paused to dramatise and I refrained from the urge to roll my eyes "You are 20 minutes late!"

"Sorry sir" I mumbled as blood rushed to my cheeks making them warmer.

"Sorry isn't good enough Miss Swan, and the same goes for you Miss Cullen, in case you were about to share with us your apologies. Every time a person walks in late, the entire class has to stop and everyone gets distracted. It's not fair to those who actually bother to get here on time and want to learn, to be deprived of their education because of those who don't care. If you aren't prepared to be punctual to lessons, it just shows how much you care about this subject and about passing it. It doesn't make an ounce of difference to me whether you graduate or not but it should matter to you" he carried on. I took a deep breath calming myself, in case I replied back something I would regret later.

It was the first time I was late to his lesson and from my little time here I knew it was Alice's too.

"And for that, you can make up the time after-school. Now get to your seats and in the future, try to be here on time" he scolded, crossing his arms around his chest. Why couldn't he just say that to begin with instead of giving us a lecture and further wasting the lesson?

"Of course sir! I can't wait!" Alice replied cheerfully, hopping to her seat in delight, as though she had just gotten praise instead of detention. I shook my head and let out a genuine chuckle before taking my seat, as others in the class sniggered quietly.

I dare you to move

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

"I knew that would get you smiling." She whispered with a smirk, as I settled into the seat next to hers.

"Miss Cullen, unless you want to make that afternoon session 2 hours long, I suggest you stop disturbing my class." Mr Collins shouted from the front of the class.

"Sorry!" was her reply before sending me a cheeky wink and turning her attention back to the lesson.

The rest of the class went quickly; Mr Collin's glares at me and Alice during that lesson kept up my amusement and I learnt that for the first time in a long time, I was actually enjoying my time at school. Even if it was for a single lesson.

"You should sit with us at lunch." Alice bounced on my table after the bell had rung and a beaming smile flickered on her face. How on earth am I going to get out of this one now?

"Oh! Um….I don't know…I don" I hesitated, biting my lip in nerves. "I don't really eat lunch…..so…I'm probably going to-"

"I'm not taking no for an answer." She replied, cutting me off and shrugging her shoulders; a gleam of triumph reflecting in her eyes.

"But-"

"No buts, I already know you're going to join us anyway. I'll see you at lunch Bella." She confirmed with a cheeky smile and hopped of the table and swiftly leaving the class before I could stop her.

Lunch with the Cullens. This was going to be interesting.

I dare you to move…


Thanks for reading! I hope it was good enough. I should let you know that I have exams coming up in about 10 days, so I can't update for about 2-3 weeks. On a better note, when the exams are over, I will have a lot of free time, which usually means I'm typing away on my laptop.

Big thanks to my reviewers: Rae2404, Link's Ocarina Babe, Y, Hallie, Major Grai, TRDancer, trinityamber, FRK921 and e-magination101

Reviews are what keep me going, so drop a review and make my day. ;-) Thank You!!