TEN:

IT WAS NOTHING

Four months passed. Carlisle had formally proposed a week shy of my eighteenth birthday. As for The family, They had all adjusted surprisingly well To our new relationship status and were actually very fond of our progression. All except for Edward of course, who was still gradually making it There. There was one frustrating but necessary factor; No one in Forks or within The immediate area could yet know about us for The simple fact That Carlisle was supposed To be Thirty-eight years old and I was only just about to hit the legal age limit. Thankfully, this burden would only hover over us for a few more days, not That we were in any specific rush To proclaim our love To The world. It was just . . . rather irritating when Carlisle's co-workers at The hospital Tried To set him up or a female nurse or patient started Throwing herself at him – my fiancée - while I was right beside him, unable To act on my Territorial instincts To defend what was mine.

We now both shared the master bedroom, Though Technically my old room now served as extra closet space. On This morning I awoke as usual To Velvet kisses being spread over me. I could feel Carlisle's lips at my navel - That definitely was the one that woke me – and twitched at the tickling feeling . . . "My love you're going to be late", he sung with his lips pressed against mine. I opened my eyes, and moaned as the light of day hit. "How much longer do I have To Do This again?" I asked groggily. "Just a little while longer love", he soothed caressing my cheek.

I turned onto my side so That I could rest against his firm chest . . . "I missed you last night." He had been working double shifts for The last few days since one of The other doctors had Taken a leave of absence. "As I missed you", he responded, his fingers dancing along my back. "Soon my hours will revert back to normal love. Doctor Martin is set to return by the coming Monday." I heaved a miserable sigh before shifting out of bed. Carlisle stood To meet me. "Guess, I'm going to get ready", I said, misery clearly audible in my voice. He leaned in, crushing his lips against mine while he cupped my face in his hands. I had yet to overcome The ecstasy that came with him. It was likely I never would, but that was fine by me . . .

"I'll drop you?" he questioned, like it was necessary to ask. I crushed my lips into his again, having To tippy toe just so I could barely reach them. He grabbed me from behind hiking me upwards. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he sat us back on the edge of the bed. I could feel his length, stiff and ready, pressed over my underwear and instantly I could feel the relentless heat . . . "Please", I whispered brokenly against his lips. He sighed biting my right cheek playfully . . . "So is that a yes?" he asked, teasing again. I rolled my eyes, throwing my head back for a moment in frustration, before letting my legs drop. "I'm going To get ready." He chuckled, amused. "I'll be waiting downstairs."

I took my time showering, wanting to stretch the time as Thinly as possible. Freedom was exactly four days away – my birthday- when I would be able to show all the whore's out there my Carlisle would never be theirs, because he was mine - and seven month's following was The official end of my personal hell at Forks high school. It had snowed the previous night. I dragged my feet unnecessarily across the white paved driveway over to the black Mercedes where Carlisle was already waiting. "Mellow dramatic as usual", he mused, eying me through the rearview mirror. I pulled the door open settling into the passenger's side. "You know, really, if we're engaged now", I emphasized, "I should be able to make decisions like, oh say, whether I want to attend school or not for myself." He clucked his Tongue, shooting me a dubious look. "Your education is of value to me." I rolled my eyes. "That's nice so tell you what - I'll just purchase another forged document off J Jenks and bam, instant educational Value . . . literally." He smirked. "Yes well I would like for your education to be as legit as possible . . . The first time around anyway."

I scoffed. "In a world where supernatural beings have morals, dyer boredom will suffocate you", I mocked. He took my hand bringing it up to his lips and biting it playfully. He heaved a miserable sigh. "Guess it's very convenient that neither of us are capable of suffocation", he retorted smoothly. I chuckled wearily as we first merged into town. "Is There ever a time when you don't have an answer?" He pressed his Thumb into the back of my hand rubbing it gently. "It's possible but . . . highly unlikely." I sighed shaking my head, secretly smiling on the inside. "I have a surprise for you later on", he announced casually. I eyed him suspiciously. "What kind of surprise?" He repressed a laugh. "It's merely just a token of my love." My jaw muscle tightened as I tensed pulling my hand away. "Well this token better not be some overpriced unnecessary purchase."

He clucked his tongue as we pulled into the school's lot, halting at the curb. "I will see you later Then?" I glared at him. "Whatever it is, you're returning it Carlisle." "I love you too my love but if you don't hurry off you're going to be late", he answered as if he was having some other conversation with some other version of me. I shook my head clutching my backpack. "Nice", I answered pushing open The door, "really mature." He repressed another laugh, Then looked back to lock me in his inescapable gaze . . . "I love you", he said with such unbearable emphasis I could almost feel The pull sucking me in, begging me To stay . . . "I love you Too . . . see you later", I responded in a half daze. Then I exited The car, lingering a few extra seconds on the sidewalk until The vehicle was out of sight.

The day was Trailing away as usual. Calculus- my dreaded subject had just come To a close and I was in lunch hour, attempting to tune out all the countless moronic conversations that were taking place around me, seated alone at a corner table shoved to the back of the cafeteria when it happened. Some random woman just up and pulls a seat across from me. From her attire I could easily identify her as a staff member. I immediately tensed feeling uncomfortable. This was the closest I'd ever been To anybody here - period, and the scent of her was no help.

"Hi", she finally said after a little over a minute of being unacknowledged. I could feel my teeth grounding against each other . . . "Hi", I answered dryly, refusing To make any eye contact. She cleared her Throat slightly. Her demeanor was fragile and in a way somehow like she was embarrassed which could only signify that some awkward moment was about to happen. Her hair was long red curls. Her face was clearly a product of a make up overdose, not that I ever bothered with the crap, and comparing her breast size to the rest of her body they were so silicone dreams. "Your Erin Cullen right?" she asked in this little sketchy type Tone. I adjusted myself in my seat. "Yup", I responded, making sure to sound obviously uninterested in her; This normally served as an effective deterrent. "Nice to meet you Then", she went on. I shrugged. "I'm sorry is There something I can help you with?" She looked down at the table suddenly, blushing.

"In a way . . . kind of", she answered, and There it was; awkward in progress. My expression Twisted. "Ok, so," I pressed. She sighed . . . "You're Doctor Cullen's daughter right?" And here we go, I thought simultaneously. "No", I began . . . as usual. "I'm Emmett Cullen's half sister, why?" She smiled her lips curving in content . . . "I just . . . was hoping you could do me The favor of delivering a message for me." My jaw tightened. "You see", she continued apparently unaware of my displayed hostility. "Between you and me, The doctor and I were once very", she paused seeming to be searching for the precise word, "close", she finished her smile unraveling a bit more now. I reclined back in my seat, removing my hands off The table so she wouldn't be able to make out the two ready and waiting fists. "I use to be married . . . but now I'm not", she said. The whore sounded so proud it was pitiful, like it was just so sexy. "Would it be too much of a bother if I asked you to pass it on?" Would it be too much of a bother if I slammed your face into the floor?

I knew I could not let the fire rule me Though, Not here, Not Now, so instead I got to my feet abruptly causing her to flinch. I stared her down menacingly . . . "I apologize for the inconvenience, but I'm afraid that is a message for you to deliver all on your own", I replied coldly. Then, before she could utter another word out of that trashy mouth of hers, I stormed off leaving her looking like a deer caught in headlights . . .

I forgot about next period – forgot about school – forgot all of The world around me in my haze of pure, raging fire. I'd gone through the back of The school, using The woods as an outlet to Forks community hospital. The trip only took maybe seven to eight minutes since I was running at full velocity. I stormed through the emergency room entrance, the doors automatically shifting apart, only asking the nurse at the front desk to let Doctor Cullen know I was waiting in his office. She'd nodded and smiled curtly, and on I went. In his office I paced back and forth relentlessly. Oh, he was going to hear it, I thought grimly, and in The precise moment he walked in.

He smiled warmly, clearly relieved. "My love", he greeted me, "what are you doing here?" I glared, working to unclench my jaw, which took a certain effort. "You wanna know what I'm doing here?" I icily questioned in return. And with that he locked the door with a decisive click. "Of course, it is rather early. Did something happen?" I breathed a slow, deep breath solely out of habit . . . "You wanna know what happened?" I only questioned back again. Concern overtook his expression Then. "But of course. Erin, my love, you are – "So I'm sitting in that shit hole cafeteria", I cut him off mid sentence, "just trying to get through another shit hole day, when some red haired bimbo staff bitch comes up To me with a message – for you", I said accusingly, slurring The words. To my astonishment he looked confused now. "What did she have to say my love?" I laughed humorlessly. "Oh nothing much, she just wanted to let you know – and I quote – that she isn't married anymore so now you can fuck around in the open." Guilt and . . . remorse played across his face Then, and I Thrust back into a chair on the opposite side of his desk, catching myself last second so as not to break it to pieces.

His lips pursed in a rigid line before he sighed, walking hesitantly to stand in front of me . . . "I think I can explain That my love." I scoffed making a face at him before looking away. "Don't even bother trying to smooth talk your way out of this one okay pretty boy." He knelt down. "It was just a venture Erin my love – it happened much before you . . . nearly two years ago." My eyes widened and in the same I rammed a fist into his chest. "You were fucking around with queen bimbo Then turning around and coming to play Daddy dearest with me?" He rubbed a hand against his chest, "That very much hurt", he only answered as serene as ever, which only further ignited the fire in me. "Yeah, That was the fucking point", I shot back. He got back to his feet turning away from me and straying a few steps . . .

"You can be impossible sometimes", he said lowly. He sighed . . . "I have work To Tend To." In The same I darted in front of him. "So that's it Then, you're just going to defend her?" He shook his head, hesitating before speaking again . . . "How dare you?" he challenged sternly. "How dare you question my love for you? Do you doubt me so?" I was a mute now taking a feeble step back. "Time after time again", he said, more To himself This Time. Fear sprouted inside of me. Maybe I had in fact been wrong for just coming here like This, and now, slowly but surely he was bringing me back down to earth from my high and mighty, imaginary pet stool in the clouds . . .

"I don't – doubt you Carlisle. It's just . . . God, you could have at least done better than some married whore – did morals not matter then?" He chuckled with no true humor intended. Then he took my hand in his pulling me to him. His coal black eyes fell to mine . . . "No, they didn't . . . Not then", he spoke softly. "Any and all women I may have encountered before you were nothing but quick fixes to fulfill my needs as a man Erin . . . Now there is only you and", he paused momentarily, "every moral matters because I only want to treat you like the precious gift that you are . . . my angel, they are nothing – they were always nothing . . . but you, you are everything to me."

I swallowed cursing myself inside . . . "So for my birthday can I kick her ass?" I bluntly asked. He chuckled faintly. "I think in a fight where its vampire verses human the end result might raise a lot of the town's attention our way my love." I raised an eyebrow. "Well maybe I could just keep it neutral, bang her up a bit and call it an even score." He brought a hand to the back of my head and leaned in crushing his lips into mine. I sighed beginning to lose focus as his fingers twisted in my hair. "I certainly don't approve of violence", he whispered huskily into my open mouth, "but I must admit these jealous crazes of yours are quite the turn on." I smiled against his lips. "Well its good To know one of us can find some form of pleasure in Them", I mumbled back.

He hiked me up against the wall and I wrapped my legs around his waist. "You know", I barely managed as I felt his brick hard length twitch against my pelvic bone, "its really cynical of you to always torture me this way just to not give it up in the end." He broke the kiss muffling a laugh before moving down to bury his face into the crook of my neck. He bit down on my shoulder and my center involuntarily convulsed against his length. Then in a swift move he was setting me down on The edge of his desk. He placed his hands on either side of me and leaned in To indulge again, suckling on my bottom lip one final Time before forcing himself To break away.

He inhaled a gruff breath . . . "Patients will deteriorate because of you", he whispered. I rolled my eyes hopping off The desk. "Well, since I've officially clocked out of forks high for The day guess I'll bolt home and use my hand To create The illusion That you and I are having sex." He pulled me by my hips Then up against him, quirking an eyebrow. "Perhaps maybe you might wait on me." I scoffed, "What so you can have a free show? I don't think so super tease." He chuckled. "Emmett is waiting for you To Flaunt his new truck anyways." I nodded, "So I'm all cock blocked up, got you." I palmed his hard on over his dress slacks and he backed away instantly. "Go – now", he ordered with a mischievous smirk. I raised both my hands up. "Fine, away I will go to wallow in my own sexual frustration", I said, already making my way To The door.