Bella's POV

I woke up the next morning at around nine. I woke up sweating. Story of my life since becoming a wolf. It was ironic really. When I first moved to forks, I was unhappy because I hated the cold. Now I would never be cold again.

After taking the coldest shower I could, I dressed in a pair of shorts and a short sleeve shirt. Then I went to the kitchen where I found both Sam and Emily. They were both at the table eating.

"Morning, Bella. Did you sleep well?" Emily asked.

"Yeah, pretty good," I said. I had woken up a couple of times sweating, but other than that I was okay.

"You should get some food, Bella. Paul and Jared will be here soon and then there won't be anything left," Sam said with a slight smile.

I immediately grabbed a plate from the cabinet and headed for the stove. There were two big pans full with eggs, a big plate of bacon, and an equally large plate of sausage. Normally I'd say this much more food than was needed, even for five people, but the guys could really put food away, so could I for that matter.

Once I had my food, I joined Sam and Emily at the table and started digging in.

"So we're gonna do some more practice phasing a little later," Sam said.

I groaned. Sam was a freaking slave driver! I'd spent hours yesterday trying to learn how to phase on command, but it didn't work. Well, I did phase, but I had to get angry first. Sam didn't want me to do that. He wanted me to be able to phase without having to get angry.

Sam chuckled at me. "Yes, I know it sucks, but it's important. You need to be able to phase on a whim is necessary. Also, practicing will help you with control, which you desperately need."

"Yeah, yeah, I know my control's horrible," I said. I'd phased four times in less than a full day. I wasn't even sure it got any worse than that.

"It could be worse," a new voice said.

I turned to the sliding door to see that Jared and Paul had arrived.

"You could be like Paul here. He's much worse with control," Jared said.

Paul slapped him on the arm. "Shut up."

"Food's on the stove, boys," Emily said.

Paul and Jared immediately started for the stove, fighting each other to get there first.

"So when's the newbie getting patrol duty?" Paul asked.

"Yeah, that's a good question," I said. Sam had explained the whole patrol thing yesterday. We all took turns searching the reservation for possible vampires. Though I wasn't sure what he expected us to find. The only vampires here now were the Cullens.

"Tonight. You'll be going with someone else for the first couple of weeks. You'll go with Jared tonight," Sam said.

I nodded that I understood. I then instinctively turned to the sliding door and saw Edward there. I smiled and immediately went over to him and hugged him. "Hey."

"Hi," Edward said as he hugged me back.

"Great, it's back," Paul said

I let go of Edward and glared at Paul. I was getting really tired of his comments. If he didn't back off, we were going to get into it, and I would do worse than just take a bite out of him.

"Paul," Sam said in a warning tone before looking at Edward. The two of them seemed to have a staring contest. Actually, Sam was probably saying something to him via telepathy.

Edward nodded after a moment. "I understand. I apologize."

Sam's only response was to grunt.

Edward looked at me. "Wanna go outside."

I nodded and followed him out of the house. We walked around back so we could have a bit more privacy. "What did Sam say to you? What were you apologizing for?"

"It was my fault. I knew better, but I did it anyway," Edward said.

"Did what?" I asked anxiously.

"Love, it's okay. Look, you know I was here last night, right?" Edward asked.

I nodded. Billy and Harry had told us Edward had shown up.

"Well, when I got here, Emily was here alone and she invited me inside. Sam isn't happy about that. He doesn't want me alone with Emily," Edward said.

I immediately stopped and turned to face him. "You would never hurt Emily! Sam has no right to…"

"He has every right, Bella. I am a vampire. It is in my nature to feed from humans. Sam knows that," Edward said.

"Yeah, but he also knows you don't," I argued. This was ridiculous. I was getting really sick of everyone treating Edward so terribly because of what he was.

"But I'm tempted and he knows that too. Human blood is like a drug to me. I know I shouldn't have it, but the temptation is always there and it always will be. That's why Sam doesn't want me alone with Emily. She is to Sam what I am to you. Think if I were to be alone with Paul," Edward said.

I hissed at the very idea of that. As it was I tried to keep Edward away from Paul because I knew that Paul wanted to hurt him. The thought of them being alone together made me start to shake.

Edward seemed to notice this. "Bella, it's okay. I didn't mean to upset you."

I forced myself to calm down by thinking of the happy times I had with Edward, like lying in bed with him or being at the meadow together. Thankfully it worked and I stopped shaking. "It's different. Paul is a danger to you."

"And to Sam, I'm a danger to Emily. I understand the way he feels and I will respect it by not being alone with the woman he loves. It's the least I can do after everything he has done. He has allowed me onto the reservation and even into his home. He has even made an attempt to use my name," Edward said with a smile.

I had to give him that. Sam had been very generous where Edward was concerned. He'd been even more considerate than Billy and Harry, two men I'd known almost my entire life. "Yeah, I guess so. I just don't like people treating you badly because of what you are. It isn't like you asked for this."

Edward suddenly frowned and turned slightly towards the house. "I have to go."

"You just got here," I said.

"Charlie's here," Edward said.

My eyes widened. "What?"

"At least he will be in a few seconds. He's come to check on you and make sure this place is suitable for you. He can't see me here, as our 'breakup' is supposed to the reason you left his house," Edward said.

I sighed. "Okay, but come back later."

"I will," Edward said. He then kissed me quickly on the lips and took off at vampire speed.

I immediately entered the house through the back and went back into the kitchen. Everyone was exactly where I left them. "My dad's here."

As if on cue, we all heard the sound of a car pull in.

Sam turned to Jared and Paul. "You two get lost. The last thing Chief Swan needs to see are a bunch of teenaged boys sitting around the house where his daughter is staying half naked."

They both nodded and ran towards the back.

Sam turned to me. "Make sure you stay calm."

I nodded and kept picturing Edward. He was my most calming thought.

Sam got up to open the door just as Charlie started walking towards it. He opened it and greeted my father. "Hello, Chief Swan."

"Sam," Charlie replied kind of coldly. He obviously blamed Sam for me moving here. He didn't know it, but he was actually right to. Sam had been the one to insist I come.

"Please come in," Sam said as he moved aside.

"Hey, Dad," I said as he came into the house.

"Bells. How you doing?" Charlie asked.

"I'm okay. Sam and Emily have been great hosts," I said.

"Well, I wanted to see that for myself and meet the people who convinced my daughter to move away from me," Charlie said as he glared between Emily and Sam.

Sam tensed at the look Emily was getting from Charlie. "Chief, if you wanna be angry at someone, be angry at me. I'm the one that convinced Bella to come stay with us. Emily thought she should stay in Forks and try to get through it herself."

Charlie focused his glare on just Sam and walked towards him. "Alright, fine. Who the hell do you think you are convincing my daughter to move away because of a failed teenaged relationship?"

To his credit, Sam didn't even flinch at the icy tone Charlie used while talking to him. Not that I expected him to. Sam had more than proved he was capable of holding firm and strong. "I am looking out for Bella. She was worried about facing Cullen around town after having the relationship end. I know what that is like. It can be damn painful."

"So you convinced her to move out of her home?" Charlie asked angrily.

"I gave her an alternative. She wanted time away from Forks. She was even considering moving to Florida. Would you rather have that?" Sam asked. I was sort of impressed with his ability to lie. He did it so well that I almost believed him.

"I would rather my daughter not live with virtual strangers!" Charlie growled.

"Dad, please,' I begged.

He ignored me and continued to glare coldly at Sam. "You know, Billy and Jacob Black were at my house yesterday. Jacob claims that you run some sort of gang here. My daughter is not going to be a part of some gang!"

"Dad, he doesn't run a gang. I don't know where Jacob would get an idea like that. Sam just looks out for the boys around town," I said.

Charlie turned to me. "Yeah, that's what Billy said," he said with a small amount of bitterness in his voice.

I frowned slightly. Were my dad and Billy fighting? Why would they be fighting? Unless my Billy tried to defend Sam about me living here and my dad didn't appreciate that. That was the only reason I could see for it. "Dad, there is nothing going on here except for Sam and Emily being good friends."

Charlie finally turned back to me. "Well, I guess I have to take your word for it. Like you said, you're over eighteen."

I cringed slightly. I hated using that against him, but I'd had no choice. He never would've let me go on his own.

"Is… Is there another reason besides the breakup for you to come to La Push?" Charlie asked.

"Like what?" I asked. He seemed like he had a specific reason in mind.

Charlie looked at me for a minute and then shook his head. "Never mind. Look, there's nothing I can do to stop you from living here, but if he is some kind of gang leader, I will stop him from dragging you into it. I'll be around the reservation often and I'll be watching," he said before turning around and walking out the door.