Hi, I know it's been a little while but it's probably going to keep getting longer, blame coursework and tests, not me please! Ok I know it's been a little dull, this is another linking chapter I'm afraid but their relationship finally gets going (I love Edward, I really do but can he not get a hint!) This chapter was kind of emotional for me because I was going to be a dancer but then I got told I was never going to be able to make it because of physical difficulties and I recently quit for good anyway which was quite upsetting, hope you enjoy...

Chapter 11

BPOV

When I woke in the morning I was reluctant to open my eyes. I had had such a wonderful dream. It had started with Felix attacking me for stopping dancing, like before and I was calling for Edward, and he appeared. He took me from Felix and we ended up in the meadow from my dreams, and Edward was my golden eyed angel. I had asked him to stay and he had said that he would. Then he'd told me that he loved me. And I told him I loved him.

But it was just a dream. A figment of my imagination. I opened my eyes to the dark, cloudy sky and groaned, it was going to rain today. I thought about going back to school and felt my cheeks start to burn, after my performance in the canteen I wondered what everyone would think of me. I thought about skipping but I'd already missed so much school that I really couldn't skip anymore.

I got dressed and looked around my room. Something was off. I breathed in and there was a slightly sweet smell. It smelt like vampires. But no, however sensitive I was to their scent I couldn't imagine why there would be a vampire in my room? I went to close the window in preparation for the rain when I noticed something else, the window was almost completely open, I could have sworn that it had only been open a tiny bit when I went to bed.

I went downstairs and made myself some toast and was in the process of rushing around to try and not be late for my first lecture when I noticed a silver car reverse into the driveway. A silver Volvo. I dropped the keys I was holding and rushed outside hoping against hope that it was him. I went to the door when he appeared in front of me. I stared at him in shock and reverence as he opened the door for me and stood back. "Uh, what are you doing here?"

He looked a bit hurt and I immediately felt awful. "No I don't mean it like that. I just wondered why you were here, and, umm, opening the door for me. I do have a car you know."

He smiled again and my heart lifted, I blushed, cursing myself for my stupid reactions.

"I didn't think you should drive in your condition and I wanted to drive you, Alice offered but I wanted to get to know you better. And I'm opening the door for you because you shouldn't have to open it for yourself."

I shook my head at him but slipped into the car as smoothly as possible, which of course, wasn't very smoothly and in a flash he was sitting next to me getting the car started. I guess my previous experiences may have had some advantages, at least I was used to the speed with which he moved. We started to drive and he began to ask questions, easy things like my favourite colour and flower. I was a bit embarrassed when he asked me what my favourite gemstone was. Until recently it had been garnet but staring into his eyes the only word I could form was topaz, the colour of his eyes. He smiled awkwardly and we remained in silence for a few seconds before he continued with my favourite animal.

When we arrived in school we parted ways, with a promise to meet me outside my class before lunch. I was so happy I didn't even notice Eric walking towards me until I smacked into him.

I jumped backwards, teetering on my heels before falling to the floor. I looked up at the ceiling in shock. I couldn't remember the last time I'd fallen over. In my memories I remembered myself collapsing, or being knocked over and I didn't even want to think about all the times I'd fainted but I couldn't remember the last time I'd fallen over. My balance was amazing, as a dancer I couldn't be falling over all the time on stage or while I was on one leg. I realized as people crowded around me, helping me up that I hadn't even thought of dancing since Italy.

I stood and thanked the people around me, ignoring the pain in my leg as I walked to my lecture, I barely heard Eric's offer of escorting me to which I shook my head as I stumbled to the back of the room and sat down in a daze.

Ballet had meant so much to me. Dancing used to be one of the few things in my life that I could rely on. It was part of my home in Phoenix, like the heat and my family. I was suddenly furious. Those people, James, Victoria, they had taken something that meant something to me and ruined it. Now I couldn't think of dancing or Phoenix or even home without the memory being tainted by my kidnapping and torture.

As I moved to my second lecture of the day, I felt the anger slip away to be replaced by misery. I still didn't know where some of the scars on my arms and body had come from. Where the sprains and breaks came from. I was still missing years of my life. I wished then that I could remember, no matter how painful the memories were. Whether I had been tortured within an inch of my life I didn't care. I wanted to know, I wanted to go home and dance again. I didn't want everything to be ruined.

At the end of the class I went to the door where I was greeted with Edward, waiting just outside for me. His face cleared my mind of all the sad and sour thoughts and I smiled at him. He looked worried though and I felt my sudden good mood start to slip away.

"What's wrong?"

He put his hand up to my face and stroked my cheek softly. I was stunned by his display of affection. Maybe he did like me? "Are you alright Bella?" He asked.

I was shocked for a few seconds before remembering that he could read minds and had probably seen my mood swings through several peoples minds throughout the morning. I sighed, "nothing's wrong Edward, I fell over that's all." He didn't looked convinced but let it drop, taking my books and escorting me to the canteen. I blushed brick red as I remembered the previous day, I hadn't taken notice of all the stares I'd been getting but now as I entered the canteen I saw all the people staring. I shrank back into Edward but this only seemed to increase the volume of people looking.

Eventually we made our way to the table he had been sitting around yesterday and I looked around, trying to find his family without making eye-contact with anyone but I couldn't find them. "They decided to skip today." he said in reply to my questioning look.

Suddenly he blanched, staring at someone over my shoulder. I turned sharply and saw Jessica, Angela and a tall blonde girl I didn't recognise. Edward was staring at them venomously and the flirty looks on Jessica and the blonde's faces were sliding off to be replaced with fear. I turned back to him and slapped his shoulder lightly. He jumped and though I knew the blow couldn't have hurt a normal person, let alone a vampire but it certainly shocked him. He looked at me silently with wide eyes and I smirked. "No scaring and, or dazzling the unsuspecting humans."

While he was still staring at me I turned back to the girls two of whom were now glaring at my face. They stalked off and for about a second I mourned the apparent loss of my budding friendship with Jessica before smiling at Angela who smiled smugly and waved at me.

I waved back and turned to the stunned vampire before me. He spoke up as soon as I was facing him again. "I dazzle people?"

I blushed and nodded.

"Do I dazzle you?"

I blushed harder and nodded again and he sat back looking very satisfied with himself. We sat in silence for a few seconds before my curiosity got the better of me.

"What were they thinking?"

His smile turned to a scowl and for a second I had to suppress my shiver of fear. "They were thinking of yesterday, and wondering why I was sitting with you now." I waited for him to continue but he didn't say anything.

"And...?"

He looked at me. "And what?"

I laughed, "there must have been more than that, I mean come on! If looks could kill they'd be in the morgue by now! It can't have been that bad, now tell me, what were they thinking?"

He looked down, and after what looked like a short internal debate answered me. "They were wondering why the freak who has flashbacks was sitting with me, they were wondering if it was pity or i you'd tricked me into it or something. And they were trying to flirt with me, to show me what I was missing."

I looked at his expression, he seemed genuinely upset. I wondered why, having a few teenage girls thinking of "showing him what he was missing" can't have been that bad. I laughed loudly and he peeked up at me.

"Why are you laughing Bella? They were being rude about you."

I laughed harder at this and barely managed to choke back my response "I don't mind that, I knew people would think it was odd yesterday I was just laughing because I think it's the girls, how should I put it? Attentions. That have you all bothered. He shivered but shook his head.

"No Bella, I don't care about that, though I must admit I don't like their attention as you put it. I was angry because they were thinking horrible things about you, they had no right."

I sobered up at this, yesterday I had worried about what they were going to think about me too, in fact I had worried over it this morning but right now, with Edward, I couldn't find it in myself to care.

But Edward cared. Maybe he did like me the same way I liked him- with an impossible, crazy feeling that I knew should be physically impossible.

I focused on his face again, trying to find my answer there and he looked back at me, eyes burning with some unknown emotion. "I feel very protective of you" he whispered.

It was in that moment that I knew that I was deeply and irrevocably in love with Edward Cullen.

We stared into each others eyes for what seemed an age before the faint sounds of a bell and people moving shook me out of my reverie.

He helped me up silently and we walked out of the room together.

The bubble of happiness that seemed to have formed around me finally popped when Angela sat down next to me for my last lecture. She leaned forward conspiratorially and I waited for her to start talking. "So...?"

"So...?" I replied and we giggled.

"So I saw Edward glare down Jess and Lauren earlier, I'm glad, someone needed to remind them that they don't rule the school or anything stupid like that. It was so funny!" I nodded and she continued. "And they were being so rude, it's really not fair. After you had your flashback yesterday they were so bitchy I nearly slapped them both. I mean you can't help it if you have them can you?" I shook my head and sighed, I couldn't help it though Edward certainly seemed to be helping keep them back, if that's what I wanted, and I wasn't sure it was.

Thankfully she seemed to have decided that that was enough on that particular topic and she sat back as the lecturer entered the room. I got out my notepad but I wasn't really planning on doing any notes, I noticed Angela get hers out though and she started scribbling rapidly. I was relieved, I didn't really want the spanish inquisition at the moment.

Then she shoved the pad under my nose and I looked down to see a note. I sighed again but at least when I was writing it was easier to control my reactions, I looked at the note, so, what happened with Edward? And immediately felt the blush colour my cheeks. Maybe the note thing wasn't going to help.

I took the pen she offered me and thought for a second before starting to write.

You know his dad works at the hospital? She nodded. Well... I sat for a second and tried to work out how we could have met. He came to see his dad and offered to drive me home. She gasped and grabbed the pen.

So what about in the canteen, it looked like there was more than he just drove you home yesterday.

I took the pen and paper back. I don't know how to explain it. Well that wasn't a lie. He... understands what I've been through and I understand why he and his family find it hard to get along and stuff. At least I thought I understood it, I was pretty certain that they kept a safe distance because they were vampires.

She took the paper and read it appraisingly and shook her head. No Bella, I don't care what you say, that wasn't just some understanding going on there, that was some pretty serious chemistry. I've never seen him look at anyone like that. I noticed that when she wrote that her eyes filled with a slightly wistful expression and she glanced over at a boy across the room.

When I left the room an hour later Edward was waiting for me. He took my bags and opened all the doors for me. I wouldn't have let him do it but I couldn't exactly stop him.

While we drove home he kept asking questions but these were more personal, about my family and my life before. We were nearing my house when he asked the fatal question. "What happened Bella? I know it wasn't a car crash and I know there were vampires but..."

My eyes filled with tears when he mentioned it, I knew that I had to tell him but I wanted to tell him everything, I didn't want him to think I was lying when I told him I couldn't remember. He turned to me, looking for an explanation for my silence and his face filled with horror and he reached out a hand to my face to catch a tear. "I'm sorry Bella." I shook my head, now he blaming himself for my failure to remember.

We stayed in silence for the rest of the ride until he pulled up outside my house. "I'll pick you up tomorrow Bella, is that... okay?" I nodded and got out of the car.

"I'm sorry Edward, I want to tell you, it's not that I don't trust you. I just don't remember and I want to. I want you to know the truth, but at the moment I just can't tell you." I finished and headed for the house, nearly screaming my frustration at my still painful leg as I hobbled to the door, deliberately ignoring him as he called my name, still ignoring him as I heard the car shut off and the door slam. I left the door open a bit and went straight to my room, knowing as I did that Edward was right behind me. Knowing that he was behind me so he could demand the truth, or at least a better explanation, knowing that he was hoping I couldn't tell him so he'd have a reason to stop looking after me. Knowing I was wrong, and that he didn't care for me.

I opened my door and went to the bed, but I couldn't throw myself on it because there was a package on it. I stared at it then ripped it open, glancing at the note charlie left on it, saying it was my stuff sent from Italy by Charlotte. I emptied the box onto the bed and red material fell out, red skirt, red leotard and finally, landing on top of the rest of the outfit.

A pair of blood red shoes.

I fell backwards and felt cold arms catch me before being thrown into memory.

So the next chapter will be all flashbacks, or at least most flashbacks. If anyone has ever lost their dream then they can probably relate to Bella, even if her situation is both fictional and extreme. So as always reviews are really really welcome so please do. I know that we can bump the numbers up! Till next time xx