This chapter is dedicated to: SpiderMonkey19, for welcoming me back, and being first; to Emily, who has the kindest heart, whom I couldn't reply to privately (thank you so much); Jessica, who said I grasped Stephenie Meyer's style well; and Emerie, who started drooling :).

OKAY, I know I posted chapter titles way back when, but I forgot to tell you: they are subject to change. Not much though, don't worry. Anyway, here is chapter nine! ( yes, it's based on "I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me", because it's stuck in my head)

9. I Slept With Someone

(BPOV)

Edward and I sat on either end of the worn couch, hands folded in our laps, heads bowed, eyes on the floor. My face was, for once, not it's customary pink hue, but rather a pallid white. Underneath the obvious mortification, I was angry at Edward for not hearing my father coming to check on me. But when I snuck a glance in his direction, he was looking at me from the corner of his eye, too, and the pain there was a gallon of water to the small flame of fury. Charlie was pacing back and forth in front of us, glaring venomously at Edward and staring at me with open disbelief. Finally, after countless minutes, he stopped, one hand running through his thinning hair, his fingers catching on the curls. He opened and closed his mouth, like a fish out of water, no sound coming out. He started to pace again.

This pattern continued on long enough for me to feel uncomfortable - because I knew Charlie was furious and disappointed, and I just wanted to get it over with - but also because of the no-contact with Edward. Which, as I realized in the early days of our relationship, is pathetic. But it didn't matter. Not anymore. Suddenly, Charlie whipped around to face me, leaning forward so I was forced to meet his gaze.

"You," he breathed, his eyes hard, "are in big trouble."

With that, he stomped heavily into the kitchen, muttering under his breath. I felt Edward's arms around me before I heard him move, and I turned to face him. "He went to call Esme and Carlisle." He answered my unspoken question. "He's . . . he's really mad right now." I groaned, hiding my face in his chest. This was just what we needed right now. My fiancé kissed my head, not saying anything.

"What will Carlisle and Esme do?" I asked quietly, trying not to draw Charlie's attention.

"Well, they know nothing happened." he said. "But Charlie doesn't, and he expects some serious punishment for this. But don't worry, love - he's mainly mad at me." I looked up at him questioningly. "He thinks I forced you into it." Edward murmured, smiling his crooked grin. I sighed heavily, not feeling up to talking. Then, Edward was gone, in the same position he was before. I quickly followed suit, my eyes focusing on the floor once more.

"Your parents will be here soon, Cullen." Charlie's voice said from behind us. I looked up - apparently he was passed manners for Edward now. "And they are not happy." Without looking at me, Charlie sat in the only chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed on Edward. Minutes passed in this tense silence, Edward and my father locked in a staring contest. Then there was a knock at the door. I ran to get it before Charlie could get up.

Two gorgeous vampires were at the door, trying to get looks of strong disapproval down. But when Esme saw me, she instantly held out her arms for a hug. I hugged her back, and she whispered comfortingly, "Don't worry dear - we'll go easy on you." I pulled away, trying to smile, and Carlisle winked. They followed me into the living room, glaring at Edward as they went. He looked at the ground in proper shame. They were so convincing, if I didn't know any better I'd swear they weren't acting. Charlie nodded at Carlisle to start, moving from his seat to pace once more. Carlisle sat gracefully, Esme perching on the arm of the chair.

"Well," Carlisle began, shaking his head. "I don't know what to say."

"We are very disappointed in both of you." Esme cut in, frowning at us.

"Mom, Dad," Edward looked up, honesty clear on his face. "You have to understand, nothing happened." Charlie snorted loudly, and Edward continued, looking perfectly distraught. "You know me, you know Bella, we wouldn't do something like this." It was weird, seeing Edward act so defensive, so ... human. I nodded, agreeing with what he was saying. It was true - we weren't the kind of people to do anything like that. Not yet.

"Edward dear, we trust you, and we trust you, Bella, but really, what are we supposed to think?" Esme asked, holding up her hands in an I-can't-help-you gesture. Carlisle nodded solemnly, and I caught him wink swiftly at Edward, who grinned briefly back.

"Yes," Charlie said, joining the conversation. "What are we supposed to think when I find my seventeen-year-old daughter in bed with her boyfriend?!"

"Fiancé." I corrected automatically. Charlie glared at me.

"Nothing you can say is going to help your situation, Isabella, so I suggest you don't say anything at all." I felt what little colour there was left in my cheeks drain - Charlie had never used that tone before. It was almost frightening. A low, whisper-silent growl came from next to me, and I turned to shoot Edward a warning glance, but he was staring at Carlisle. Carlisle met his gaze evenly, and I knew he was talking to Edward without words.

"Nothing happened, dad." I whispered, returning my eyes to the floor. "I swear, we didn't do anything."

Charlie shook his head in denial. "I trusted you once, Bella." He took a shaky breath. "And regardless if anything happened or not, why would he be in your room at two o'clock in the morning without my permission, anyway?"

It was a rhetorical question. I knew that. But I answered it anyway. "Because I asked him to stay." I said quietly, eyes still boring holes into the old, worn carpet. Slowly, the worry and fear for my family's lives - and just a little bit for my own - came back to me, pushed into a dark corner by more immediate matters. I felt tiny tears threaten my tearducts, and Edward's cold hand grasped my own. I wanted to hug him, to hold him close, to hear him tell me everything would be alright. But under the circumstances, I had to settle for the feeling of his hard fingers in mine, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand.

Charlie opened his mouth to speak, when an earsplitting howl sounded from outside - very close to the house.