Copyright Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer is the sole owner of all Twilight Universe intellectual property, including but not limited to Twilight characters, Twilight plotlines, and all included Twilight text. This story is a fanfiction commentary on her work and no copyright infringement is intended. I own nothing.

Chapter 11 – Phenomenon Part 2

Jasper had been keeping a close eye on all the emotions in the room all morning. It had been a complete whirlwind, and he was becoming more and more convinced that Bella was somehow projecting her emotions to the group, as they all seemed to follow her lead over and over again.

So, he wasn't overly surprised, though he still didn't understand it, when the wolves seemed to literally feel Bella's love for Edward as he spoke.

What did surprise him, however, was their response. All three of them felt her love, and were suddenly filled with confusion, disbelief, and even shame. What were they thinking? He really wished in that moment that he had his brother's gift. He would have to ask Edward about all of this later.

Hearing Jasper's questions, Edward focused on the wolves, wanting to know the answers too. And realized that in hearing him speak about Bella, and somehow feeling her love – something he very much wanted explained – they were beginning to realize that she was in fact his mate, something they had completely discounted the possibility of before.

The wolves had always believed that the mating bond in vampires was purely physical. They knew that a mate would avenge their partner's death, and that such companionship was common in their world, but they had never seen it as a bond of love. They didn't even think vampires were capable of love.

So hearing him recall his desire to protect his mate, and express his love and commitment to her, the wolves were beginning to question everything they thought they knew about the Cullens, and vampires in general.

Sam and Jared were both looking at their imprints, their mates, with absolute love and adoration, thinking about all they would do to protect them. And they couldn't help drawing the comparison to how he was with Bella. Could he really truly feel for her as strongly as she clearly felt for him? Could it really compare to the bond they felt with their imprints, their soulmates? And what did that mean for the other mated couples in the Cullen family?

All of this transpired in a matter of seconds, without anyone speaking aloud, and to the humans in the room, it was as if nothing happened. But to Edward and Jasper, and to the wolves, this was an important moment in beginning to understand each other. Maybe SM's plan to bring them all together had some merit after all.

Edward was smiling at that thought when Jacob began reading again, as if nothing had happened.

I could hear the sirens now. "Will you promise to explain everything to me later?"

"Fine," he snapped, abruptly exasperated.

"Fine," I repeated angrily.

It took six EMTs and two teachers - Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp - to shift the van far enough away from us to bring the stretchers in. Edward vehemently refused his, and I tried to do the same, but the traitor told them I'd hit my head and probably had a concussion. I almost died of humiliation when they put on the neck brace. It looked like the entire school was there, watching soberly as they loaded me in the back of the ambulance. Edward got to ride in the front. It was maddening.

To make matters worse, Chief Swan arrived before they could get me safely away.

"Oh, so I'm Chief Swan now, am I?" Charlie teased Bella, trying to lighten back up the mood, while also truly curious. Was he Dad to her, or Charlie, or Chief Swan? He was a little hurt that she could think of him that way, even if it was in her head and she didn't mean anything by it.

"Whatever poppa-cop," she shot back, laughing at the look on his face. She really did love him, and she was finding she thoroughly enjoyed this new nickname from her… sister? Daughter? Whatever.

"Bella!" he yelled in panic when he recognized me on the stretcher.

"I'm completely fine, Char - Dad," I sighed. "There's nothing wrong with me."

He turned to the closest EMT for a second opinion. I tuned him out to consider the jumble of inexplicable images churning chaotically in my head. When they'd lifted me away from the car, I had seen the deep dent in the tan car's bumper - a very distinct dent that fit the contours of Edward's shoulders... as if he had braced himself against the car with enough force to damage the metal frame...

And then there was his family, looking on from the distance, with expressions that ranged from disapproval to fury but held no hint of concern for their brother's safety.

The Cullen 'kids' looked appropriately embarrassed as the Quileutes shot them confused and irritated looks.

Jasper spoke up for the group before someone could comment, "We didn't know Bella yet, or why Edward had saved her. All we knew was that he had risked all of us, and that, from what we heard of their conversation, Bella was not going to let her suspicions go. We weren't angry, so much as afraid of what all of it might mean for us."

"It's ok Jazz," Bella assured him, even as the tribesmen still glared at him and the others, "That's perfectly understandable given the circumstances."

I tried to think of a logical solution that could explain what I had just seen - a solution that excluded the assumption that I was insane.

Naturally, the ambulance got a police escort to the county hospital. I felt ridiculous the whole time they were unloading me. What made it worse was that Edward simply glided through the hospital doors under his own power. I ground my teeth together.

They put me in the emergency room, a long room with a line of beds separated by pastel-patterned curtains. A nurse put a pressure cuff on my arm and a thermometer under my tongue. Since no one bothered pulling the curtain around to give me some privacy, I decided I wasn't obligated to wear the stupid-looking neck brace anymore. When the nurse walked away, I quickly unfastened the Velcro and threw it under the bed.

There was another flurry of hospital personnel, another stretcher brought to the bed next to me. I recognized Tyler Crowley from my Government class beneath the bloodstained bandages wrapped tightly around his head. Tyler looked a hundred times worse than I felt. But he was staring anxiously at me.

"Bella, I'm so sorry!"

"I'm fine, Tyler - you look awful, are you all right?" As we spoke, nurses began unwinding his soiled bandages, exposing a myriad of shallow slices all over his forehead and left cheek.

He ignored me. "I thought I was going to kill you! I was going too fast, and I hit the ice wrong..." He winced as one nurse started dabbing at his face.

"Don't worry about it; you missed me."

"How did you get out of the way so fast? You were there, and then you were gone..."

"Umm... Edward pulled me out of the way."

He looked confused. "Who?"

"Edward Cullen - he was standing next to me." I'd always been a terrible liar; I didn't sound convincing at all.

"You never do," Emmett added, helpfully, "Honestly, I still don't understand how anyone believed you."

"Most people would rather accept the lie than dig for the truth," Bella replied, fully aware that this was just further proof that she did not react like most people would.

"You never seem to," Edward muttered, eerily echoing her thoughts. He wasn't upset with her reaction though, not anymore, because if she hadn't pressed him for answers and kept digging, they wouldn't be together now. And he would never give up what they had together now. Right?

"Cullen? I didn't see him... wow, it was all so fast, I guess. Is he okay?"

"I think so. He's here somewhere, but they didn't make him use a stretcher."

I knew I wasn't crazy. What had happened? There was no way to explain away what I'd seen.

They wheeled me away then, to X-ray my head. I told them there was nothing wrong, and I was right. Not even a concussion. I asked if I could leave, but the nurse said I had to talk to a doctor first. So I was trapped in the ER, waiting, harassed by Tyler's constant apologies and promises to make it up to me. No matter how many times I tried to convince him I was fine, he continued to torment himself. Finally, I closed my eyes and ignored him. He kept up a remorseful mumbling.

"Is she sleeping?" a musical voice asked.

"So," Edward began, a light smile tugging at his lips, "You think my voice is musical?"

Bella blushed profusely, much to the amusement of everyone, but didn't answer, and Jacob saved her from any further embarrassment by continuing before Emmett could comment.

My eyes flew open.

Edward was standing at the foot of my bed, smirking. I glared at him. It wasn't easy - it would have been more natural to ogle.

"Hey, Edward, I'm really sorry -" Tyler began.

Edward lifted a hand to stop him.

"No blood, no foul," he said, flashing his brilliant teeth. He moved to sit on the edge of Tyler's bed, facing me. He smirked again.

"So, what's the verdict?" he asked me.

"There's nothing wrong with me at all, but they won't let me go," I complained. "How come you aren't strapped to a gurney like the rest of us?"

"It's all about who you know," he answered. "But don't worry, I came to spring you."

"You know, when you said that, all I could picture was you using your mysterious super speed to sneak me out of the emergency room without anyone noticing," Bella told him, laughing at her mental image of a proper prison escape.

"My solution was far more mundane I think," he answered, though he very much liked that she had wanted him to whisk her away, even then, and that his strange speed hadn't frightened her at all.

Then a doctor walked around the corner, and my mouth fell open. He was young, he was blond... and he was handsomer than any movie star I'd ever seen. He was pale, though, and tired-looking, with circles under his eyes. From Charlie's description, this had to be Edward's father.

"So, Miss Swan," Dr. Cullen said in a remarkably appealing voice, "how are you feeling?"

Now Emmett was doubled over laughing, much to the confusion of everyone else. Seeing their stunned expressions, he tried to explain, "Bellsy thinks Eddie-boy here has a musical voice, but it's Dad that she describes as appealing…"

Carlisle and Bella both looked distinctly uncomfortable at the fool's commentary, but neither was forced to come up with any sort of reply because just then Rosalie smacked her husband upside the head.

"You big oaf, he's like a father to her!"

"Thanks Rose," Bella stage-whispered before Jake resumed reading.

"I'm fine," I said, for the last time, I hoped.

He walked to the lightboard on the wall over my head, and turned it on.

"Your X-rays look good," he said. "Does your head hurt? Edward said you hit it pretty hard."

"It's fine," I repeated with a sigh, throwing a quick scowl toward Edward.

The doctor's cool fingers probed lightly along my skull. He noticed when I winced.

"Tender?" he asked.

"Not really." I'd had worse.

Though none of the Cullens doubted that she had in fact had several major injuries over the years as a result of her chronic clumsiness, and danger magnet status, the comment reminded them again of their concerns that there might be more darkness in her past than she had ever let on. They shared a significant look between them which clearly said they were all thinking the same thing and this needed to be addressed with Bella sooner rather than later.

I heard a chuckle, and looked over to see Edward's patronizing smile. My eyes narrowed.

"Well, your father is in the waiting room - you can go home with him now. But come back if you feel dizzy or have trouble with your eyesight at all."

"Can't I go back to school?" I asked, imagining Charlie trying to be attentive.

"Maybe you should take it easy today."

I glanced at Edward. "Does he get to go to school?"

"Someone has to spread the good news that we survived," Edward said smugly.

"Actually," Dr. Cullen corrected, "most of the school seems to be in the waiting room."

"Oh no," I moaned, covering my face with my hands.

Dr. Cullen raised his eyebrows. "Do you want to stay?"

"No, no!" I insisted, throwing my legs over the side of the bed and hopping down quickly. Too quickly - I staggered, and Dr. Cullen caught me. He looked concerned.

"I'm fine," I assured him again. No need to tell him my balance problems had nothing to do with hitting my head.

"Take some Tylenol for the pain," he suggested as he steadied me.

"It doesn't hurt that bad," I insisted.

"It sounds like you were extremely lucky," Dr. Cullen said, smiling as he signed my chart with a flourish.

"Lucky Edward happened to be standing next to me," I amended with a hard glance at the subject of my statement.

"Oh, well, yes," Dr. Cullen agreed, suddenly occupied with the papers in front of him. Then he looked away, at Tyler, and walked to the next bed. My intuition flickered; the doctor was in on it.

"I really didn't do a very good job of playing that off, did I?" Carlisle mused. He should have been quite good at lying about things like this after more than three centuries of interacting with humans in this new life, but nothing ever seemed to get by Bella, and he certainly hadn't helped things any that day.

"No, you really didn't," Bella teased, "Though at the time I simply assumed that meant you were aware of whatever Edward's secret was, not that you, yourself, actually shared in it."

"I suppose that would make sense," he conceded, still disappointed in himself for the lapse that helped contribute to the potential exposure of his family.

"I'm afraid that you'll have to stay with us just a little bit longer," he said to Tyler, and began checking his cuts.

As soon as the doctor's back was turned, I moved to Edward's side.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I hissed under my breath. He took a step back from me, his jaw suddenly clenched.

"Your father is waiting for you," he said through his teeth.

I glanced at Dr. Cullen and Tyler.

"I'd like to speak with you alone, if you don't mind," I pressed.

He glared, and then turned his back and strode down the long room. I nearly had to run to keep up. As soon as we turned the corner into a short hallway, he spun around to face me.

"What do you want?" he asked, sounding annoyed. His eyes were cold.

His unfriendliness intimidated me. My words came out with less severity than I'd intended. "You owe me an explanation," I reminded him.

"I saved your life - I don't owe you anything."

"You really didn't," Bella admitted, "Anyone else would have just counted their blessings and walked away, happy the van didn't smash them. But I just couldn't stop myself. I had to know the truth, and more than that, I had to know why you had risked exposing yourself to save me."

"You are worth the risk, love," he soothed, "Always."

She didn't really believe that, as much as she desperately wanted to, but she let it go, not wanting to argue with him in front of everyone.

I flinched back from the resentment in his voice. "You promised."

"Bella, you hit your head, you don't know what you're talking about." His tone was cutting.

My temper flared now, and I glared defiantly at him. "There's nothing wrong with my head."

He glared back. "What do you want from me, Bella?"

"I want to know the truth," I said. "I want to know why I'm lying for you."

"What do you think happened?" he snapped.

It came out in a rush.

"All I know is that you weren't anywhere near me - Tyler didn't see you, either, so don't tell me I hit my head too hard. That van was going to crush us both - and it didn't, and your hands left dents in the side of it - and you left a dent in the other car, and you're not hurt at all - and the van should have smashed my legs, but you were holding it up..." I could hear how crazy it sounded, and I couldn't continue. I was so mad I could feel the tears coming; I tried to force them back by grinding my teeth together.

He was staring at me incredulously. But his face was tense, defensive.

"You think I lifted a van off you?" His tone questioned my sanity, but it only made me more suspicious. It was like a perfectly delivered line by a skilled actor.

I merely nodded once, jaw tight.

"Nobody will believe that, you know." His voice held an edge of derision now.

"I'm not going to tell anybody." I said each word slowly, carefully controlling my anger.

Surprise flitted across his face. "Then why does it matter?"

"It matters to me," I insisted. "I don't like to lie - so there'd better be a good reason why I'm doing it."

"Can't you just thank me and get over it?"

"Thank you." I waited, fuming and expectant.

"You're not going to let it go, are you?"

"No."

"In that case... I hope you enjoy disappointment."

Billy couldn't help himself from laughing at this, "Did you actually believe for a second that she wouldn't seek out answers on her own, even if you didn't tell her the truth right then? This is Bella Swan we are talking about here; she is just way to curious and way to observant for her own good. There was no way you were keeping this from her."

"I had to try," Edward defended, "It wasn't just me at risk if someone found out the truth, but my whole family. I couldn't exactly start prattling off our most guarded secrets to her in the middle of an emergency room hallway."

"She never would have told anyone," Charlie argued, defending Bella, "She has proven that much."

"We obviously didn't know that at the time," Jasper countered, "And Bella was still essentially a stranger at this point. How were we to have any idea she would react the way she did?"

"Um…guys?" Bella chimed in, looking slightly annoyed, "I'm sitting right here you know…"

"Sorry Bells," Billy and Charlie said simultaneously, before Jacob started reading again, shaking his head at their fathers.

We scowled at each other in silence. I was the first to speak, trying to keep myself focused. I was in danger of being distracted by his livid, glorious face. It was like trying to stare down a destroying angel.

"Is someone taking note of all of these nicknames," Paul jested, lightly punching Edward in the arm, "She really is creative when it comes to you guys."

The gesture was entirely innocent, and it didn't seem as though Paul had thought anything of it, but its impact was enormous. He had been playfully teasing a vampire. He had hit a vampire without inciting a fight, like any normal pair of teenage boys talking about a girl.

For one moment, Paul, a werewolf with a legendary temper, had reacted to Edward, a vampire who was meant to be his natural enemy, as if he were human. It was the first step down the long road towards friendship.

"Why did you even bother?" I asked frigidly.

He paused, and for a brief moment his stunning face was unexpectedly vulnerable.

"I don't know," he whispered.

And then he turned his back on me and walked away.

I was so angry, it took me a few minutes until I could move. When I could walk, I made my way slowly to the exit at the end of the hallway.

The waiting room was more unpleasant than I'd feared. It seemed like every face I knew in Forks was there, staring at me. Charlie rushed to my side; I put up my hands.

"There's nothing wrong with me," I assured him sullenly. I was still aggravated, not in the mood for chitchat.

"What did the doctor say?"

"Dr. Cullen saw me, and he said I was fine and I could go home." I sighed. Mike and Jessica and Eric were all there, beginning to converge on us. "Let's go," I urged.

Charlie put one arm behind my back, not quite touching me, and led me to the glass doors of the exit. I waved sheepishly at my friends, hoping to convey that they didn't need to worry anymore. It was a huge relief- the first time I'd ever felt that way - to get into the cruiser.

We drove in silence. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I barely knew Charlie was there. I was positive that Edward's defensive behavior in the hall was a confirmation of the bizarre things I still could hardly believe I'd witnessed.

"It was," Alice agreed, "And don't think we didn't all give him hell for it the second we got home."

When we got to the house, Charlie finally spoke.

"Um... you'll need to call Renée." He hung his head, guilty.

I was appalled. "You told Mom!"

"Sorry."

I slammed the cruiser's door a little harder than necessary on my way out.

My mom was in hysterics, of course. I had to tell her I felt fine at least thirty times before she would calm down. She begged me to come home - forgetting the fact that home was empty at the moment - but her pleas were easier to resist than I would have thought. I was consumed by the mystery Edward presented. And more than a little obsessed by Edward himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I wasn't as eager to escape Forks as I should be, as any normal, sane person would be.

I decided I might as well go to bed early that night. Charlie continued to watch me anxiously, and it was getting on my nerves. I stopped on my way to grab three Tylenol from the bathroom. They did help, and, as the pain eased, I drifted to sleep.

That was the first night I dreamed of Edward Cullen.

"Oh God!" Bella yelped, suddenly panicked, "Please tell me SM did not include detailed descriptions of my dreams in these books." She looked absolute terrified, which only piqued the curiosity of everyone in the room. What was it that she didn't want them to hear about? They were already getting a front row seat to her inner most thoughts. What could be more private than her unspoken thoughts about the man she loved?

"What's wrong Bella," Emmett began, ready to give his sister all sorts of hell, "Afraid we might be reading one of your sex dreams?" He was laughing, along with Jasper, and the wolves, but Charlie looked like he might have a stroke at that thought. He really did not need to hear about that, at all.

"Jacob," Bella continued, completely ignoring her foolish brother, "Does it include the dreams?"

"I don't know Bells," he answered truthfully, secretly enjoying her reaction, "That's the end of the chapter."

"My turn!" Emmett yelled, snatching the book. If there was going to be a sex dream, he wanted to be the one to read it, so he knew there would be no editing, and he would have plenty of ammunition for the teasing he was ready to unleash on Bella and Edward both.