Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

AN: I'm going to start putting recaps at the beginning of each chapter because it takes so long for me to get them out, you will most likely have forgotten what happened in the last chapter & I don't want you all to have to re-read the last chapter every time ( I know how irritating that is). & here are some stats I want to share with you :

Reviews: 484

Hits: 23162 (& They Thought Vampires Ruled is at 53047 :))

C2's: 3 (& They Thought Vampires Ruled is at 7 :))

Favorites: 157

Alerts: 264

Last Chapter: Bella is introduced more thoroughly to the Cullens; accept Carlisle, who is looking for information in his study that might lead to the conclusion of what Bella is. They learn each others powers & Bella & Edward start feeling an odd connection that they both underestimate & don't understand. Alice shows Bella the Cullen Mansion before she finally must go home.

Chapter Eight – Can't Stay Away

The run home was effortless. It felt as though I had cloud puffs under my feet guiding me. I wasn't alone. The simple phrase had taken on a whole new intensity as it replayed over and over again. This feeling was so new to me & my mind was trying to process it properly, leaving me in an undeniably blissful mood. I was so used to feeling miserable and like a complete out-cast that I was almost afraid to accept this new elation; terrified that once I accepted it that it would abandon me, leaving me wilting and torn more than before. This pessimistic thinking though, was surely the reason for my absolute misery in the past and I knew that. If I was ever going to rise above this then I would have to learn to let some of my guards down.

Throwing my old thoughts away, I tried to embrace my new and better off ones as I flew through the surrounding trees. Sucking it up, I let go of all my masochistic tendencies and allowed myself to soak in my new view. I was tempted to visit the enticing waterfall, but resisted. I had been at the Cullens much longer than I had originally thought and it was already 6:30. Charlie was sure to be home and steaming by now and any more delays would only allow him to shovel in more coal.

The silence coming from Charlie's house was quite deceiving as I approached, feeling the need to soften my steps and make as little noise as possible. I could almost sense the small patch of heat in the house, pacing back and forth where Charlie's anger stood out as though I was looking through an infrared scope. To add to the anticipating, I could now hear his unrestrained footsteps pounding against the floor. His heartbeat was much faster than usual and a complex sigh full of worry, impatience and anger that only a distraught parent could achieve.

As destructible as I may be, it seemed as though this new found parental concern was one weak-ness I could not deny. Guilt pulled at my chest and I bowed my head as the door inevitably grew closer and closer, my feet condemning me.

Opening the door ominously, I heard the footsteps pause and imagined a red-faced Charlie tense as he composed himself enough to deal with me. I took a deep breath and entered the living room with an innocent expression gracing my features. "Hi, Dad," I greeted hesitantly.

"Don't 'Hi, Dad' me, young lady. You obviously know what you did, so you'd better get to explaining." He looked at me sternly with his arms crossed over his chest.

I averted my eyes to a hole being slowly worn into Charlie's chair. "Uh…well I wasn't feeling very well from the cafeteria food and I wasn't sure where to go. Then I met Alice Cullen-"

"Cullen? They're good kids." He eyed me suspiciously.

"Yes. Yes, they are very nice. You see, and I wasn't sure where to go, so I sat in my car until I felt better. Then my car…my car was having problems and Alice offered to drive me. She invited me to see her house and I didn't want to be mean so I agreed, then we lost track of time. I'm really sorry Dad, I was lost and I didn't want to look like the typical lost new kid…" I was actually really good at lying, but the look Charlie was giving me made me feel like I was five years old and had just been caught in the act of trying to steal a cookie from the cookie jar.

His face had softened and an almost understanding expression took over his angry one. "You know I'm only worried, like any parent would be. I know it's your first day and it's not easy. Just don't let it happen again."

I nodded and waited to be dismissed. I did not want to become an annoyance to Charlie and I had been to Renee and Phil. This was probably already a mark against me and I grimaced.

"I'm just scared that you're going to turn into one of those rebels. I know why you were sent up here, Bella. You already dress the part. I really don't care about how you dress as long as you never do anything that would require me to arrest my own daughter." He smiled as I raised my eyebrows at his irk about my clothing choice. Though I was used to it now and was only joking.

I almost laughed at how uncomfortable he had become. "Don't worry, Dad. I'd never do anything like that." It seemed enough to assure him and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's all I wanted to hear." I rolled my eyes as he wiped his forehead dramatically and plopped himself back onto his spot of the couch.

I was about to turn for the stairs when Charlie added; "I will give you a ride early tomorrow and fix the car before school."

Shit. How was he going to fix a car that needn't be fixed? "Uh…yeah, that would be great. Thanks, Dad."

Turning around, I mouthed a 'shit' as my mind freaked.

The telephone interrupted my mental dilemma. Charlie groaned and sat up.

"Its okay, I can get it," I offered. He lowered himself back down and raised a floppy hand in gratitude.

I followed the source of the ringing since I had never seen where the telephone was. Renee rarely let me down to see Charlie in the previous years and so I only knew where the main rooms were and nothing else. By now I'd figured out that she just didn't want me to see how much better it could be for me. That and I wasn't worth the plane ticket money to her.

"Swan residence; Bella speaking."

"Bella!" an excited voice shrieked at me from the receiver.

"Hey, Alice," I greeted, my mood brightening.

"We're coming to give you a ride tomorrow so we can say we fixed your car without Charlie and he won't have to see that it is fine."

"Thanks. I was starting to think I'd have to go during the night and mess under the hood a little."

She laughed. "See you tomorrow, Bella."

"Yeah, see you."

The dial tone blared into my ear and I mouthed a 'thank you Alice' before hanging up and turning to the stairs.

"Who was it?" Charlie asked from his place infront of the television, wondering why I hadn't taken the phone to him.

"It was Alice, she said she can give me a ride tomorrow so you don't have to."

"Oh, okay. And, Bella?"

I hesitated. "Yeah?"

"Just make sure to call the next time you decide to go to one of your friend's house," he requested with a smile, letting me know I really was forgiven.

"Will do, Dad." I made a saluting motion and turned on my heel towards the stairs. I heard his laugh from behind my smile grew. Atleast I could make him not regret taking me in.

In my room I let myself fall onto my bed and laid there for a minute. My mind revisited the events this afternoon, making my heart flutter. There was a swelling in my chest when I thought about the Cullens. The encounter flashed through my mind in perfect detail which only my sophisticated mind, maybe the Cullens too, could achieve. I remembered the odd looks Edward kept shooting me and the change in atmosphere as our eyes met. I realized though that it wasn't the atmosphere that changed; it was just me and my own little world that it affected. How could I be so affected by a boy I just met. I had never in my whole life been attracted to anyone; not only could I tell how deceitful most guy were, but I could almost taste their teenage lust on my tongue it was so obvious, which was an immediate turn off, no matter how unintentional it was. But with Edward it wasn't immediate lust. I could tell that he would look at the person beneath the skin first, then take time to appreciate the body.

I laughed as I caught myself again. I knew I sounded immature but I couldn't tell him. What if the lack of lust wasn't politeness, but rather a lack of interest. I'd been facing rejection all my life, but I think it would be a big blow coming from the first person I actually approach. Thinking about this though wasn't going to help anything so I tried to forget it, leaving my absolute decisions to a method I try to avoid, spontaneity.

I reached over to the bedside table for my iPod which I use to help me take my mind off troubling matters. My hand met the hard, unexpected and bare table. My eyes widened. Shit. I left my iPod in my bag…in my locker at school. I wasn't worried about my homework because I could rush it and finish it in one minute once at school, but my iPod…I needed it to survive the sleepless nights.

I ran a frustrated hand over my face and sat up. I looked around my room. I couldn't break into the school to get it, so I'd have to settle for a book instead. There was no way I was going to lie here for hours, doing absolutely nothing while waiting for sleep to claim my consciousness. I could read a book, though it gets irritating after awhile. The problem with books is that I can read so fast that they don't last very long with my speed-reading. I had to slowly read each word for 600 pages to even last half an hour.

And so I found myself reading Jane Austen's whole collection as well as Wuthering Heights. It was now 10:00 and Charlie was slowly making his way up the stairs. He paused at my door for a minute, clearly wondering if I was sleeping or doing whatever he thinks teenage girls do in their rooms before going to bed. Eventually he knocked on the door quietly.

"Yeah, Dad?" I asked in a small voice.

The door cracked open to reveal a guilty looking father. "I'm sorry that I forgot to get you some supper. I got distracted from the school's phone call and I'd already eaten myself." He was whispering, but I could definitely hear how horrid he felt. It wasn't his fault, plus I really had forgotten myself.

"That's okay. I ate at the Cullens and if I was hungry I would have told you." I smiled at him, hopefully taking some of his guilt away. He really had no reason to feel so bad.

"K. Well, goodnight, Bells."

"Night, Dad." The door closed with a soft click and I had to stop myself from letting out a sob. Renee and Phil never said goodnight or bothered to see if I was hungry. It was either make my own food or not eat at all. And I could forget about being tucked in.

I almost felt bad as I tossed off my covers, leapt from my window and started for the white mansion. Almost. I had realized that I was going to get no sleep tonight and so I might as well see if the Cullens were like me and couldn't sleep well. What Charlie didn't know couldn't hurt him.

AN: The next chapter is going to be fun :) That's all I'll say x)