Thanks for all the reviews, guys!

I just wanted to make one thing clear, since some of you seem to be confused. Phil is dead. He's not coming back. And he's not gonna come back as a vampire either. Just thought I'd let you guys know, to erase the confusion.

Enjoy!

I shivered on the ground, unable to get up onto my feet.

Suddenly, he was there.

"Bella?" he asked softly. When I didn't answer, he stroked my cheek. I closed my eyes, reveling in the coolness of his skin. "Bella, it's okay. Nothing is going to happen to you," he said firmly, and I couldn't help but believe his words.

But I needed to get one thing straight.

"V-vampires," I managed to gasp out.

Because I knew it was true now. There was no other explanation for what had happened. The beauty, the speed, everything. And he was one too. He had killed Phil, had saved my life. It was his golden eyes that I had seen outside my window. Everything Jacob had told me was true.

Jacob.

"Where's Jacob?" I asked abruptly. He was quiet. "Where is he?" I asked, louder, more urgently. If something had happened to Jake, it was all my fault.

"Jacob is fine, Bella," he assured me, "but you're not. I'll take you to Carlisle."

That was the last thing I needed right now. To sit things out at a hospital, being in the dark, wanting to know.

"No!" I protested. "No doctors, I'm fine!" He didn't look convinced, so I said, "I just want to know the truth."

His eyes softened slightly. "Bella, I'm sorry," he whispered. "It's all my fault." He covered his face with one of his long, pale hands and grew perfectly still, like a statue.

"Please, Edward," I whispered, "just tell me. Please."

He looked at me again, and slowly nodded, having made up his mind.

He swiftly picked me up, bridal style, and walked me into the house, ignoring my protests. He placed me gently on Charlie's couch, went to the kitchen, and got me a glass of water. All of this he did in about ten seconds. Maybe even less. I was almost breathless with his speed.

"Drink," he ordered, and I did. The water tasted cool to my throat, and it calmed me.

When I was down, I placed the glass on the coffee table and looked up at him expectantly. I wanted to know the truth. He sat down in the armchair and put his head in his hands. He didn't move for a very long time, and I didn't have the heart to interrupt him He was obviously very upset. He obviously didn't want me to know anything.

"Bella..." He trailed off. "You already know everything," he whispered, so quietly that I almost didn't hear him. "I'm a monster, Bella. It's my fault that you almost died back there."

I had already known what he was, but hearing it actually come out of his mouth was staggering. But, strangely, the part than bothered the most was not what he was, but what he thought he was.

"A monster?" I asked incredulously. "Edward, you're not a monster. You saved my life just now. Monsters don't save people, Edward."

He looked up at me again, and the intensity of his anger shocked me.

"I am a monster, Bella! Why are you even still here? You should be running away!" he exclaimed, his eyes darkening. "I could kill you right now, you know. I could reach out, meaning to just touch you, and end up crushing your skull. You have no idea what you are saying!"

I let him calm down for a few minutes before I argued.

When I thought he was calm again, I said, "You really don't see yourself clearly."

I was shocked when he suddenly grinned.

"I could say the same thing about you!" Then he grew serious again. "Seriously, though, you should be running away from me."

"I should be," I began, "but I don't want to run away from you."

He was silent then, probably thinking about what I had just said.

After a while, he said, "Isabella Swan, you are one strange girl. I just can't seem to figure you out." He scrutinized me, and I blushed under his golden gaze. "But I'd like to," he added suddenly, "and I don't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"To me, it's good," I said.

He grinned again, making my heart flutter with joy. "You really should stay away from me. I'm dangerous."

"I don't think you are," I said, and when he glared at me incredulously, I added, "I mean, you could kill me, but I don't think you would."

He was silent again, but then he said, "You're right."

***

That night, I had the strangest dream.

Edward and I had been strolling through a forest, our hands intertwined.

Suddenly, I heard a howl, and I jumped. Out of the trees walked a frightening yet magnificent creature: a red-brown wolf.

The wolf lunged at Edward, who jumped out of the way, causing the wolf to crash into a tree. Edward bared his teeth at him, growling. The wolf lunged yet again at Edward, who jumped onto the wolf. The proceeded into an endless brawl while I stood there like an idiot, wanting to help, but not being able to.

Finally, the fight ended, and to my immense horror, the wolf emerged victorious.

Edward lay on the ground, his body unmoving and cold.

I screamed myself awake and sat upright on my bed.

I thanked God that Charlie was staying over at Billy's for the night for some best friend time. I hadn't even know that old men had sleepovers. Oh, well.

Edward had left after a while, after answering the endless number of questions I'd had for him. I'd grudgingly let him go, but only after he'd promised that he'd be back in the morning. It was going to be Saturday, after all.

And as for my dream, I knew that nothing like that could happen because of what Edward had told me.

"The only way we can die," he'd explained, "is if you cut us up and burn the pieces."

I'd shuddered in disgust as he'd watched me with an amused expression. Then I'd shook it off and asked my my next question.

"It's okay, Bella," I murmured to myself. "It's okay."

I went back to sleep thinking of happy thoughts, most of them consisting of Edward.

When I woke up in the morning, I'd forgotten the dream.

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