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Chapter Ten

*** Too Close ***

~ Edward's POV ~

The teacher blew his whistle, pushing his way through the horde of students that were circling Newton. This distraction gave me enough time to grab Kriss. Jasper had fortunately ran off at the first taste. I knew he would be hard on himself later, just for thinking about what could have happened.

I had her around the waist pulling her with all the strength in me. The intoxicating smell of the blood filled the large gym making my head spin. Kriss had fallen on the floor trying to claw her way over to Mike.

"Kriss, you don't want to do this!" I whispered into her ear. "Control yourself, like we have practiced. You are better than this."

The thoughts in her head were that of a blood craving animal, but in her eyes I could see she knew this was wrong. Under me her muscles loosened enough to where I could almost pull her out the door.

~ Krystine's POV ~

I felt like I was reliving a horrible nightmare. The burning in my throat for Mike's blood was taking control of my body. The outside world was a daze to me. I only saw my prey. Voices in my head told me the best way to attack and planned it all out for me. Then there was the softer voice, its velvet tone trying to calm the screaming ones.

Something or someone was pulling me from what I desired. I tried to fight back, but the calming voice came again and made me more relaxed.

"Don't let it overwhelm you," the voice said.

I closed my eyes and held my breath trying to eliminate any mode of temptation. I felt my body go limp and arms lifted me from the ground. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hallway leaning against the lockers. Edward's hand touched my face.

"It's okay," he murmured.

I shook my head. "No, it's not okay. I could have killed that boy!" I said in a tearless sob. He pulled me close to him, stroking my tangled hair.

"Shh. But you didn't," he whispered, but to me it didn't matter.

I could hear footsteps approaching us, too heavy to be that of a vampire.

"Is she going to be okay?" the gym teacher asked.

I was beyond words at that point, so I only nodded.

"She's a bit shook up about the blood, but I got her out before anything happened," Edward said coolly.

The teacher looked around the empty hall.

"Where'd your brother run off to, Cullen?"

Edward shrugged, "He got a little shook up too."

He started to walk away before turning back to us, "I don't know what you were trying to pull back in class," he pointed a finger at Edward, "but it won't happen again. I know your aim to well to think that was an accident. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

He looked back at me, "Better get her home, she doesn't look well."

"I will, sir," Edward called as the teacher went back to the gym.

Edward took my arm around his shoulder. I was more than capable of walking, but just didn't want to. He took me out to the parking lot and over to Emmett's Jeep.

"I'm not driving this time," I grumbled.

Edward laughed opening the passenger door. The sound of it lifted some of the weight that hung on my shoulders.

"What about our clothes?" I asked, looking down at my shorts. I didn't care for the school colors, especially on clothing.

Edward pulled his cell phone from his pocket and flipped it open. Speedily he pressed the buttons to spell "get our clothes from locker room." He pressed send and put the phone back.

"Alice will get them," he smiled.

The gray clouds overhead threatened to rain, which wouldn't surprise me with the way my day had been going. The fresh air was quickly calming my burning flame to no more than a cinder. The cool Forks breeze blew and I watched Edward's bronze hair blow with it.

"You never told me where you are from," I stated, finding words easier now.

"Nowhere important," he said, looping my hair behind my ear.

"But, all you have to do is figure out where I'm from, is to read my mind!"

"I read minds, not pasts," he laughed.

"Humph." I slammed my head back on the headrest and folded my arms.

"Chicago," he said. "That's where I'm from, and don't make a big deal about it."

I smiled, "Chicago? Really?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Really," he smiled.

"Wow."

At that moment the heavens opened and rain came pouring down along with small rays of sun that poked through the clouds. If we were smart, we would have tried to put the tops up on both cars, but instead we sat in the rain and laughed.

***

Even out here I could still hear the final bell ring, which immediately after; a flood of students came rushing from the doors. They all rushed to their cars holding their books over their heads trying to shelter themselves from the pouring rain.

I watched as a very dizzy Mike Newton stumbled out of the building holding a bag of ice to his broken nose.

"You should apologize," I told Edward.

He rolled his eyes and said, "If you knew what he was…"

I pressed a finger to his lips.

"I knew what he was thinking; it wouldn't have taken a mind reader to figure that out."

I pressed my lips to his reminding him that I belonged to only him. "Now, go tell that poor boy you're sorry."

Edward smiled, showing his beautiful white teeth. He jumped from the jeep and splashed through the puddles over to Mike.

While Edward did his best at apologizing to Mike, the rest of the Cullens came from the school building. Alice was carrying a grocery sack which I figured contained mine and Edward's regular clothes. Jasper, thankfully, didn't look like he was going to attack anyone, but I can't say he looked happy either. The down pour calmed to a mist.

Reaching the jeep, Emmett, jumped in his regular position behind the driver's seat.

"So, I heard you freaked out in gym class," he teased.

Joking or not I sunk deeper into the passenger seat, reminding me of what I had almost done. Killing Mike would have meant trouble for the rest of the Cullens.

"Oh, Emmett," Alice said, "Don't do that. She has done remarkably well for a new born."

She took the sack with our clothes and smacked him in the head with it.

"Don't listen to him, Kriss, he's a goof," Jasper said with a smile.

I smiled back, "Are you okay though, Jazz?"

Edward had told me it was hard for him too as a vegetarian, and before my first hunting trip that would have sounded absurd, but now I knew exactly how he felt.

"Never better," he said looking down at Alice and gave her a quick kiss.

Rose rolled her eyes and headed toward her BMW.

"Here're your guys' clothes," Alice said sweetly handing me the bag.

"Thank you, Alice."

Edward, at a normal pace, ran to the jeep and got in the driver's side.

"Hey, congrats on bashin' Newton in the nose!" Emmett bellowed.

Alice and Jasper rolled their eyes and went to Rose and hopped in her car.

"Whatever," Edward huffed starting the jeep and leaving the parking lot.

~ Carlisle's POV ~

I had left the hospital early after receiving a very worried phone call from Esme. She was near hysterics and all I could get out of her was an "accident" had happened at school. My mind had immediately jumped to the newest addition to the family. Perhaps, I was wrong and she wasn't ready. All I could do was pray we didn't have to move again. We would, hopefully, have at least two more years at Forks. It was wet here, but otherwise the perfect location to keep my family's existence unknown. I was worried, but I knew my children could care for themselves and that my wife had a tendency to let her emotions take control.

I was nearing the entrance to our driveway when my phone began to ring. I had been using it for nearly five years; however, it still startled me every time it went off, a habit which gave my family many laughs. Old habits die hard I guess.

"Hello."

"Carlisle," Edward's voice spoke through the phone, "we're all fine. It isn't necessary for you to come home." I could tell from his voice he was worried and wished to explain the situation to me, but also did not wish for me to worry.

"I'm in the driveway, son."

"Oh…I'm sorry. I guess we worried Esme, unintentionally of course."

"All is fine, no harm is done. I will be inside in a moment." With that we both hung up and I pulled into the garage.

***

"Emmett," Esme called as I walked through the door. She was still upset, but had calmed a lot since I had last spoken with her.

Everyone apart from Emmett was already seated in the living room as I walked in. As I took my seat next to Esme my last remaining son slid sown the banister and landed on his feet at the foot of the stairs. His never faltering good mood was apparent on his face as he leapt over the couch and into his potion in-between Rosalie and Jasper. Alice was seated on the floor at Jasper's feet, while Kriss sat with Edward in our oversized chair.

"Edward you may begin," I instructed this and he began the story of the day at school. Every once in a while one of the others would jump in, adding something Edward had missed, and by the time we had got to the end, a half an hour had passed. Kriss was the only one of my children that remained silent throughout the entire tale.

When the day had been recounted from start to finish, Kriss spoke. The regret was apparent in her golden eyes, as she apologized.

"Krystine," I said calmly yet firmly, "there is nothing to apologize for."

"Yes dear, you are doing incredibly well," Esme assured pouring love into each word that fell from her lips.

"I told you, you had nothing to worry about," Alice remarked slightly downhearted from Kriss's doubt.

"No harm, no foul, sis," Emmett agreed getting up. "Now that this love fest is over, I challenge you to Guitar Hero IV!" he added this with a smirk as he started to turn on the game system and the TV.

"You can't beat her," Jasper stated, getting up to allow Emmett to move the couch. Rose had already excused herself to her room. She had no interest in video games.

Esme also excused herself to go talk to Rose, and Alice got up to play against Jasper while Emmett and Kriss got ready.

"I've been practicing," Emmett smirked.

Edward loosened his hold on Kriss and allowed her to get up as he moved the chair.

For reasons unknown to me, my children had to remove the furniture so they would have "jumping room" every time they played this game.

"Have fun," I said as I ascended the stairs. Five excited cries of "We will!" greeted me as I entered my office.

~ Krystine's POV ~

Throughout the time Edward and the others recounted the story of my first day to Carlisle and Esme, my breathing had quickened and my pulse, if I still had one, would have been racing.

I could feel Edward's worried gaze on me as he noticed the changes in my body language. Also, I'm sure he was reading my racing mind. I was thinking about the reaction I would receive and his arms tightened around me in a comforting gesture.

By the end of the story I was incredibly worried and borderline depressed. Jasper's wave of calmness hit me full force and settled my uneasy mind.

"Thanks Jasper," I thought truly relieved. I wasn't facing Edward, but I could tell he was smiling.

Before Carlisle could speak my mind thought again of the possible reactions of my family, of all the things they could and should think about me. I was a monster, an uncontrollable monster.

Carlisle's voice broke my thoughts, "Krystine, there is nothing to apologize for."

Esme, Alice, and Emmett followed assuring me I was not to blame and they weren't angry.

I felt guilty for thinking so lowly of my new family and realized that they all meant what they had said. Jasper and Edward's thoughts were unspoken, but I knew they felt the same. I was truly lucky.

Rose, who still hated my guts, had left once Emmett had spoken. Now, Esme had left and Carlisle was going up to his study.

Edward loosened his grip and I got up allowing him to move the chair.

"Have fun," my new…father said.

"We will!" the five of us yelled in unison before we broke out into laughter. My worried mood quickly vanished as I stepped up to meet Emmett's challenge.

Almost finished, I thought as I heard the last round of chords of Living on a Prayer. Emmett was 1000 points behind me and I had only missed one note.

"Damn it!" Emmett cursed as the song ended.

"You might as well give up," I laughed. "You won't ever beat me." Before I could turn around Emmett was leaping toward me growling playfully. He hit me before I could move, but soon I had my new born strength to pin him to the ground.

Growling, Emmett said, "Enjoy your strength while you can, soon you'll be weak again and then you should sleep with one eye open." He was obviously joking, but I was suddenly intimidated. Still, I had to laugh at his analogy of "sleep" as I let him off the ground.

I was just thinking of what song to challenge Jasper with when Alice's guitar fell to the ground. Her eyes glazed over and went into a blank stare. She was having a vision. Before it ended a knock on the front door surprised me making me jump into the air.

I looked at Edward expecting him to answer it, but he was in the same state as Alice. A lump rose in my cold dead throat. Edward would normally just ignore Alice's sudden visions as they weren't usually important. I realized this must be different.

A second knock on the door echoed in the house. Carlisle was on his way to answer it when his usual calm expression changed to that of worry. He had noticed Edward and Alice locked together in the impending future. My eyes fell to the rest of my family. Jasper ran to Alice's side trying to console her, and Rose ran down the stairs to Emmett with Esme close behind her. I was with Edward now, trying to wake him from his gaze. All non-future seeing eyes turned to the door as Carlisle slowly opened it. The Cullens rarely had visitors and when they do, I doubt it's ever a good sign.

(a/n) another cliffie! I'm sure you people are just loving us right now! Hope you like the extra long chappie! We thought everyone deserved it and most of them should be like this from here on out…woot woot as Vampirate1963 would say! Please read and review and let us know what you think and if you like the longer chappies!