BPOV:
''Bella. Bella.'' A female voice whispered, stirring me awake.
''Hmm. Mom?'' I mumbled.
''No, sweetie. It's Esme.'' The voice said. I let out a frustrated sigh. ''What's wrong?'' She asked, caringly.
''I'm just accepted that this obviously isn't a dream, when this is the third time I'm waking up.'' I murmured, rubbing my eyes. I sat up on the bed and looked at Esme, who was standing by it with a tray in her hands.
''We'll get you back home, Bella. Don't worry.'' She said. ''I made some breakfast for you. Freshly baked pancakes with strawberry jam and a glass of milk. You slept for quite a while so I thought it was time to get up, so you wouldn't starve in your sleep.'' She laughed. I smiled and let her set the tray on my lap. ''Let me know if you need anything. I'll be downstairs.'' She told, heading towards the door.
''Esme, wait.'' I said. She stopped and turned to me with a smile.
''Yes?'' She asked.
''Where's Ed-veryone?'' I blushed. I couldn't believe what I had been about to ask. Thankfully I caught myself – I just hoped she wouldn't notice.
''In school, of course.'' She answered.
''School?'' I questioned.
''Well, Alice suggested that she stayed home to keep you company, but Carlisle thought it would be best that they went to school. We saw it best that people didn't find out that you were here. Unless you want them to, of course?'' She said in a questioning voice. I shook my head. She was right – it was best if people didn't know I was here.
''Esme…do you…do you mind keeping me company?'' I asked, poking the pancakes with my fork.
''Of course not.'' She replied, coming to sit next to me on the bed.
EPOV:
''Someone's in a hurry.'' Alice thought.
''Am not.'' I said.
''Yeah, right.'' She rolled her eyes.
''I seriously hate when you two talk privately.'' Jasper sighed.
''Then start driving with Rosalie and Emmett.'' I replied.
''No thanks. By the way, why are you in such a hurry to get home?'' He asked, raising an eyebrow at me. Alice smirked at me and I glared at both of them, ignoring the question.
When we left the house I felt so strange. All I wanted to do was go back in. I had spent the night in Alice's room, watching Bella sleep and getting accustom to her scent. It seemed to be working. I had only left the room twice. One of the times was only because Carlisle wanted to talk me. As I had predicted, he wanted to talk to me about my thirst for Bella's blood. He wanted to be sure I could control myself around her. I had simply told him I would do my best and Alice had promised to keep an eye on me. I didn't want the monster inside of me to slip, either. He had told me if I was even close to slipping up, it was best that I left until Bella got back to her own home. If Bella found out what we were it could cause many trouble for us. I had completely forgotten that there was the chance of exposing myself, because of my thirst. I had only been worrying that I would drain her.
We arrived at the house before Rosalie and Emmett. I relaxed myself, not wanting my family to know that I had been missing Bella. They would only question my reason – questions I wouldn't be able to answer, because I was unsure of my reasons as well – and assume things.
I parked in the garage and got out along with Jasper and Alice. I locked my Volvo and we walked into the house together. At first I was wondering if Bella was awake, as she had been sleeping when we left. But then I heard Esme talking. Carlisle was at the hospital and wouldn't come home for a while, so I knew Esme was talking with Bella. I heard laughing and became curious as to what they were talking about. Alice opened the door and skipped inside, Jasper following her. I followed and saw Bella and Esme in the living room, talking on the couch. Bella had changed her pajamas into white sweatpants and a brown sweater. She was smiling at Esme, oblivious of our arriving.
''This girl is absolutely wonderful.'' Esme thought.
''…and then…they threw him out of the cinema.'' Bella laughed.
''Oh my.'' Esme laughed as well. ''What did you do?'' She asked.
''We finished the movie and walked out to see…'' Bella stopped, giggling. Esme waited, curiously. ''Oh, God. He was…wearing a large popcorn tub on his head, while carrying around an even bigger one, throwing popcorn everywhere as the security guard chased him.'' She put her hand over her mouth, trying to keep in her laughter.
''What did his parents say?'' Esme asked.
''They've completely given up trying to stop him. They can't exactly do anything to him either.'' Bella said.
''What are you talking about?'' Alice asked, skipping into the living room and leaning over the back of the couch. Bella jumped slightly.
''Bella was telling me this hilarious anecdote of the time she went to the movies with her friend and friend's brothers.'' Esme answered.
''That Angela girl you told me about?'' Alice asked.
''Yeah. She has two brothers. Isaac and Joshua.'' Bella told.
''And apparently Isaac is quite the prankster.'' Esme said, laughing. ''Emmett and he could get along very well. And therefore we will have to make sure they never meet.'' She added, half-serious and half-joking.
''What about Joshua? What's he like?'' Alice asked.
''Oh, just wonderful. He's pretty much the greatest guy in the world. You can't help falling in love with him.'' Bella told, grinning.
Falling in love with him?
I felt as if someone had stabbed my un-beating heart.
''What makes you say that?'' I asked, making Bella gasp. She looked at me, wide-eyed. She seemed to be both surprised and nervous.
''I, uh, didn't see you there.'' Bella gulped. ''I…I need to use the bathroom. Excuse me.'' She said, standing up and rushing into the bathroom that by the stairs.
''Is it me or is she avoiding me?'' I asked.
''Maybe she's just shy.'' Alice said. ''What was she feeling, Jazz?'' She asked.
''Surprised and nervous.'' Jasper answered. As I thought.
''She didn't seem to be avoiding me before. Why now? And why doesn't she act shy around you, Alice?'' I asked.
''I don't know. Give her some time and she'll come around. I'm positive.'' Alice said.
…
''How is she doing?'' Carlisle asked.
''She seems to be open around Esme. They've already bonded. Emmett is being stubborn and isn't going to talk to her until tomorrow, because of her taste in music, but she doesn't seem to mind – Esme has scolded him and he has promised to apologize tomorrow. Rosalie is staying away from her and Alice is befriending her quite well.'' I told.
I could see Bella in the kitchen from my spot by the staircase. She was eating dinner with Alice, who had volunteered to keep up the human pretense and eat for today. Emmett, Jasper and Rosalie's excuses were that they were busy with their homework. I was working with Emmett, whilst Esme was helping Jasper with his homework and Carlisle was helping Rosalie – at least that's what we told Bella. For some reason she had been amused by what she had been told but hadn't questioned anything we did or said. She seemed completely willing to believe anything we told her. I wasn't sure whether she was open-minded, oblivious or simply foolish. I doubted it was the latter of the three options, but either the first or the second.
''You've told me how we're doing. Not her.'' He said.
''If you want to know what she's feeling you'll have to ask Jasper.'' I replied. ''I checked the school's register – no one saw me. No Isabella Swan is leaving nor transferring to Forks High. Alice predicted that asking the students about her will raise too many questions and rumors.'' I said.
''I checked the hospital's register. No documents of Isabella Swan. I also checked the police station's register. No Charlie Swan.'' He said.
''Do you think she's making these things up? That maybe she isn't who she says she is?'' Jasper asked, appearing behind us on the staircase. I shook my head.
''She wouldn't.'' I said.
''How are you so sure?'' Jasper asked.
''If she was lying you would know. Her feelings would expose her, of course, unless she knew about your power and had found a way to avoid you knowing.'' Carlisle said.
''She said I was an empath.'' Jasper whispered.
''She was joking around.'' I said. ''Why would she lie? She has no reason to.'' I added, trying to defend Bella.
''He has a point.'' Carlisle said.
''Maybe she did something illegal. Stole, trashed, killed…'' Jasper shrugged. I glared at him.
''She would never.'' I growled.
''Why do you think you suddenly know her so well?'' Jasper asked.
''Has she felt guilt or regret?'' I asked, avoiding his question. ''If she has, then I will say that it is possible. If not, I would like for you to stop presuming things unless you have decent proof.'' I sneered.
''Defensive much?'' He rolled his eyes.
…
''How are you doing?'' Alice thought from behind the door.
''Rather well. Surprisingly.'' I whispered, only loud enough for her to hear. The others knew that I was practicing control, but that didn't mean I wanted them to hear me talking with Alice.
''You hunted before you went in there.'' She thought.
''One deer. That was it.'' I whispered.
''Really?'' She seemed surprised.
''Really.'' I whispered.
''I'll check on you again, later.'' She thought, before I heard her footsteps as she walked away from the door. ''Oh, and one more thing. Joshua is Bella's gay friend.'' She informed.
BPOV:
A knock on the door woke me up. I knew it was Esme with breakfast. She had been bringing it to me every morning since Monday – today was Friday. I had been living with the Cullens for the last couple of days and, surprisingly, it had been…great. Alice and I had become great friends, Emmett had 'forgiven' me for my horrible taste in music and Esme kept me company while the others were in school. She told me stories about the family, but made sure they didn't seem supernatural or anything. In exchange, I told her stories about my kid of a mother and best friend's brothers.
Jasper mostly stayed in the background and Carlisle spends most of his time at the hospital – like always. Rosalie avoided me completely and I avoided Edward quite successfully. I was terrified to death that he would find out I was in love with him. Loving him secretly was one thing. Loving him openly and being rejected by him was a completely other. He couldn't know. Because I couldn't deal with the rejection.
''Morning, Esme.'' I said, rubbing my eyes and sitting up on the bed. She opened the door and walked in with a smile.
''Morning, Bella.'' She replied. ''Have I become predictable?'' She said with a laugh.
''A tad, perhaps.'' I smiled. ''You really don't have to do this every morning.'' I said, as she placed a tray with a cup of orange juice and a plate with bacon and eggs, on my lap. There were salt and pepper shakers on the tray too, as well as toasted bread and two napkins. ''And I don't mind cereal, you know.'' I added, still smiling.
''Bella, I enjoy doing this. And from what you have told, it was about time someone took care of you for an exchange.'' She said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
''I don't mind taking care of myself.'' I mumbled.
''All of the time?'' She questioned.
I started to eat, avoiding having to answer her question. She didn't seem to care, though.
We went through the usual daily routine. Esme talked with me until I finished eating, then took the tray downstairs while I went through my bathroom routine. Esme would then set clothes out on the bed that I would be comfortable with and in. I would put it on even though I knew Alice would force me to change, once she came home. Then I would go downstairs and sit with Esme, talking, until the others came back. And today wasn't very different from any of the others days. At the end I was telling Esme about the time Renée had an obsession for gardening and ruined our entire backyard. She laughed as I told her how Phil had paid professionals to fix it, after I talked Renée out of buying a new house instead. She truly loved Phil, but that didn't make her ignorant of his money.
It was quite amazing how Esme and I could always find some memory to talk about. Although, there was always an awkward silence at some point that forced me to pretend that I had to go to the bathroom or something. I never noticed when the others finally did get home, until Rosalie went through the door, slamming it close and making me jump, every single day. She gave me a glare like always, before she went up the stairs. Esme let out a sigh, as always, as Alice joined us in the living room, as usual. She took one look at my clothes and opened her mouth, surely to complain, but I held my hand up to stop her and got up from the couch. She grinned and took my hand, immediately pulling me up the stairs. I threw a glance over my shoulder and saw Emmett laughing and Jasper chuckling.
And I also saw Edward staring at me, causing me to blush crimson. He always seemed to be doing that. But why? Why in the world would the Edward Cullen stare at me?
''Hey, Bella, seeing as it's Friday and everything, how about we go shopping in Port Angeles or something?'' Alice asked.
''Alice, I don't like shopping.'' I said. She gasped.
''What!?'' She exclaimed.
''I don't like shopping.'' I sighed. ''Please don't force me.'' I groaned. I knew how she could be when she tried to force someone to go shopping. ''Please, please, please!'' I begged.
''But, Bella.'' She pouted.
''Alice, the only one I would ever voluntarily to go shopping with is Joshua. And that's because he has this…way of shopping. I really wish you could meet him. The two of you could become great friends.'' I said.
''What does he do when you go shopping?'' She asked, as she pushed me into her closet.
''He jokes around, goes into the dressing room with me and uses the whole time checking out his own ass while he tries on clothes, sometimes he…he tries on bras.'' I laughed. ''Most of all he makes me feel confident. Not completely, but just enough. I'm always insecure but with him around…he just knows me in and out.'' I sighed.
''You sound like you're in love.'' Alice laughed.
''Alice, I've already told you. He's just a friend and he's gay.'' I said.
''So you're attractive to gay guys. No wonder you're falling for Edward.'' She said, throwing some clothes around.
''Edward's not gay.'' I said, then blushed. ''And I'm not falling for him!'' I exclaimed, quickly.
''Oh, come on Bella. I see the way you look at him.''
''Alice, listen carefully. I'm not falling for Edward. He's just…some guy in the background while I'm stuck here.'' I lied.
''Stuck here?'' She questioned, holding a dress in front of me.
I suck at this keep-a-secret-thing!
''I mean, staying, not stuck.'' I mumbled. Technically I was stuck in a book, but she didn't know that – nor did she have to.
''You don't really think Edward's a guy in the background, do you?'' She questioned, looking at me knowingly.
''Alice, drop it. Seriously.'' I said, sighing. I knew Edward could hear us and I definitely didn't want him to hear me telling about my everlasting love for him to his sister. I was sure he felt relieved that I wasn't some annoying teenage girl lusting after him. He had probably met plenty of those.
EPOV:
''You sound like you're in love.'' Alice laughed.
''Alice, I've already told you. He's just a friend and he's gay.'' Bella said.
''So you're attractive to gay guys. No wonder you're falling for Edward.'' Alice replied.
If she had been talking to anyone else, I would have been yelling at her for questioning my sexuality. But instead, my ears strained to hear Bella's next words as clearly as possible. I knew it was a bad idea to eavesdrop, but seeing as Bella always avoided me, this seemed like the only way to ever hear her speak – seeing seemed to be something I had to do secretly as well, as she always went somewhere else whenever I was in eyesight. I had never eavesdropped in my life, truly. There was never a reason to. But now, I just had to know. I needed to know why Bella never spoke to me, and it seemed as if I would get my answer soon.
''Edward's not gay.'' Bella said, almost defensively. I smiled at how I had been the one defending her just a couple of days ago and now she was the one defending me. ''And I'm not falling for him!'' She exclaimed, immediately after her first words. I frowned.
''Oh, come on Bella. I see the way you look at him.'' Alice said.
How does she look at me?
''Alice, listen carefully. I'm not falling for Edward. He's just…some guy in the background while I'm stuck here.'' Bella replied.
I'm just…some guy? That's all she sees me as?
''Stuck here?'' Alice asked.
''I mean, staying, not stuck.'' Bella mumbled.
''You don't really think Edward's a guy in the background, do you?'' Alice questioned. I was practically pressing my ear to the floor – it was ridiculous, as I could hear the two of them perfectly.
''Alice, drop it. Seriously.'' Bella sighed.
I wish I could…
…
''Alice, I don't think I can watch another movie.'' Bella mumbled, her eyes closing as her head fell onto the couch's armrest.
''Fine, fine. Time for bed.'' Alice laughed, taking Bella's hand and pulling her up to a stand, after turning the TV off. Bella stumbled slightly, her eyes still closed as Alice guided her out of the living room. ''Edward, help me here. She's dozing off.'' Alice said. Bella's eyes shot open and at last she saw me standing by the doorframe – I had been watching her for three movies now, but she had been completely oblivious.
''I'm fine.'' Bella said, shaking her head and standing on her own. ''Night, everyone.'' She said, before hurrying up the stairs, effectively tripping. I caught her before she hit the stairs, savoring the feel of her warmth. ''You always catch me.'' She murmured.
''I can let you fall if you would like.'' I chuckled. ''Come here. You're clearly too tired to walk on your own.'' I said, lifting her up in my arms. She snuggled her head into my chest that was covered by a blue T-shirt.
''I would argue. But as said, I'm too tired.'' She mumbled into the fabric. ''Just know that I would totally win the argument.'' She added.
''I'm sure you would.'' I replied.
I walked up the stairs with her in my arms. Alice figured that Bella was too tired to notice whether or not she was following so she stayed in the living room, cuddling up to Jasper as they finished the movie her and Bella had been watching.
I got to Alice's room and opened the door, holding on to Bella with one arm. She seemed to have dozed off again. I pulled the covers off of the bed and laid Bella on it. Her hands grabbed my T-shirt as she mumbled something I couldn't understand – not even with vampire hearing. I gently pried her fingers open and tucked her into the bed. I leaned over and laid a kiss on her forehead. She let out a contented sigh as I walked over and closed the door, before taking place by the bed. I usually stood by the door, but for tonight I decided to sit closer to her. She whimpered and her right hand reached out for something. She let out another whimper when she didn't find it. I took her hand and laid a kiss on her palm. A lazy smile crossed her lips.
''Edward.'' She whispered.
''Yes?'' I asked, quietly. She didn't say anything and her eyes remained closed. I listened to her heart and breathing. It seemed as if she was asleep, but why did she say my name, then? Was she dreaming about me?
''Edward.'' She whispered once more. ''Stay.'' She whimpered.
''I will, Bella.'' I whispered, giving her hand a squeeze.