Bella's POV

Schools reopened that Wednesday. Edward and Esme had gotten my transfer documents from Clearview on Tuesday, but everything wasn't situated until Friday. Luckily, I was cleared to begin school at Oakland High on the following Monday.

On Saturday evening, Alice had went shopping to buy me some new clothes for school. However, half of the stuff that she had purchased enraged Esme; they were too sexy for me to wear. If I was amazed about Carlisle cursing, I was unprepared for the way she had screamed at Alice. Carlisle swearing was one thing, but I had never suspected that Esme would talk to anyone that way. It didn't matter much that she had put her foot down, though, because I wouldn't have worn them anyway.

"Alice, what the hell is this?" she demanded with a scowl, holding up a pile of skin-tight skirts, jeans, and way-too-clingy t-shirts.

Frowning, Alice replied, "Bella's school outfits."

Esme gaped at her in furious disbelief. "You have got to be kidding me! I'm not going to have my daughter wearing this shit-"

Aww, how touching.

"-at school or anywhere else! She's only fourteen years old! Have you lost your fucking mind!?" she yelled.

Carlisle entered the room at that exact moment with his hands up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch you language, Esme! Bella doesn't need to hear you talking in that way!" he declared, peering at her sternly. Then he turned and looked over the heap of clothes that she had thrown to the floor with a grimace. "Esme is right, Alice. Bella can't wear these outfits."

"But when I wore clothes like these in my freshman year, you didn't make a fuss, and even though you didn't approve of them, you let me wear them," Alice protested.

"That's because you weren't and aren't really fourteen. Nevertheless, the point of the matter is that Bella is fourteen, and therefore too young to have outfits that would make her look as if she were your age. It is indecent. I'm afraid that you will have to take these back to where you had bought them. The others can remain; they are just fine."

Sighing with disappointment, Alice threw the pile of clothes into a bag and left the house.

Meanwhile, Carlisle and the rest of the family had called every hospital in New City since the day I had returned from Lenox Hill. Unfortunately, neither Mom, Charlie, nor Phil had been admitted yet, so there was nothing that we could except wait.

"Don't feel discouraged, Bella," Rosalie murmured after one of the said phone calls. "They will be found soon."

I could only nod.

(Monday morning)

I was out of bed and in the shower long before dawn. I wanted to arrive at my new school before eight thirty, and since Alice begged me to let her curl my hair and pick out what to wear for my first day, I set the alarm at five o'clock.

Within ten minutes, I had finished washing up. Alice was sitting on the bed waiting for me. The curlers that she had planned to use were already beginning to smoke.

"Good morning, Bella! Are you excited?" she inquired.

"Not particularly," I grumbled. There was nothing I hated more than being a new student. I trembled as I remembered how shy I had been when I started first grade in the middle of the school year, after I had moved to New York City from California.

Alice smiled. "Well, I'm sure that everything will go fine. Come over here. If I'm quick, I can finish doing your hair before six fifteen or six thirty."

I perched on the bed and Alice started to comb and brush my hair. She sectioned it into different parts before curling it.

By six twenty-five, she was finished. "What do you think?" she queried, turning me around so that I faced the mirror on my dresser.

Somehow she had managed to style my hair in corkscrew curls. How did she do it? "It's good. I like it," I responded.

"Thanks. Okay, now for your clothes." She rummaged in my drawer for a minute. "Aha!" she proclaimed, taking out a hot-pink t-shirt with five buttons lining downwards from the collar and navy-blue jeans. She also went into my closet and pulled out a white jacket with fur on the sleeves and collar. "Here, wear these. You're going to be the best-dressed girl in school!"

"I'm going to school to learn, Alice, not overthrow people with your fashion sense," I remarked.

"You tell her, Bella," Esme stated with a laugh, ambling into the room. "Ooh, you look wonderful, sweetie. I'm nearly done cooking your breakfast. Hurry and get dressed, please."

I nodded, and she left. Alice followed her.

Once I had put on my clothes, I went to the kitchen and sat at the table. Carlisle was sitting there with a stack of paperwork.

He glanced at me briefly. "Good morning, Bella. How are you today?"

"I'm alright, thanks. What about you? Did everything go okay at work?"

"Yes, everything went well, and I am fine. Thank you."

Esme laid a bowl of maple and brown sugar oatmeal and a glass of milk before me. "Enjoy your meal, honey."

I grinned. "Thanks."

I ate my breakfast in silence. Carlisle continued on with his work, so I tried to eat as quietly as possible.

When I was halfway through my breakfast, he spoke. "You must be nervous, starting at a new school all over again," he noted.

"Yeah. I hate being the new student," I sighed deeply.

"I am sure that nothing will go wrong. Besides, I know that you must be a smart student. You will be all right. And there may be other children there who will be new as well, after...after what happened two weeks ago," he pointed out sadly.

A lump rose in my throat, and I had to swallow a sob that threatened to escape through my lips. "Mmm," I grunted while trying to prevent myself from bursting into tears.

Carlisle reached over and took my hand. "I apologize for saying that. I understand that it is still a very tender subject for you. Don't cry, my dear. I did not intend upset you."

I sniffed. "I know that you didn't, but I can't help it sometimes. I miss my Mom and Charlie and Phil so much."

He patted my arm gently. "I know, sweetheart. Believe me, I do. If they are alive, I'm sure that they miss you too, and are wondering if you are okay. I am quite certain that they would be happy if they knew that you are being well taken care of. And they would be excited knowing that you're going to a new school."

I did not comment on this.

The rest of the meal went by quietly. When I had drank the last of my milk, Carlisle rose from his seat and made to take my dishes.

"No, Carlisle, I have them this time. You should finish your paperwork," I mumbled, holding my bowl and cup away from him.

"Oh, Bella, please don't start with the stubborn selflessness again," he joked, easing the dishes out of my hand. "Besides, you have to organize your school supplies."

"Already done." I grabbed for the bowl, and thankfully, he let me take it.

"Fine, you may do the dishes, but don't take too long. You don't want to be late for school."

"I won't."

In no time at all, I was done and heading for my room to get my backpack. Edward and Esme had bought me new notebooks and folders last Thursday. I didn't really need them; hardly used my old ones. But Edward thought that it would be advisable to start fresh. In addition to the notebooks and folders was new pencil case for my mechanical pencils, pens with erasers, an advanced calculator, ruler, and protractor for math (just in case I would need it), a mini stapler, a roll of clear tape, and a box of tissues.

Because I was uncertain if I would be reading the same books that I would have been in Clearview, I decided not to pack the ones I had, just to be safe. When I knew for sure what we were reading, I can pack one of the books I had now, if I would need them. If I didn't, then I could buy what was listed, unless Carlisle or I had them already.

I checked to make sure that I hadn't forgotten anything before putting on my jacket. I peered at the clock. It was 7:16. I slung my book bag onto my back and left the room.

"Someone is ready to go," Esme observed as I plopped down onto the couch. "Do you have everything that you need, including your keys and your lunch money?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Good. The school isn't far, only eight blocks. It will take about ten or fifteen minutes to get there. You may walk there, but if you choose to take the bus, just stand on the corner across the street. Make sure that you catch the 11, and not the 12 or the 14. They make a right turn three blocks from Oakland," she added.

I bobbed my head to let her know that I understood. "It wouldn't hurt to walk. Which direction do I go in?"

"Just make a left when after you leave the building and keep going in that direction. The school won't be hard to find; it takes up the whole block. When you get there, make sure that you go to the main office. It's on the first floor, room 114A. You have to get your class roster."

"I will."

Alice quivered in her seat. "Hey, Bella, before you leave, I want to take a picture of you to show everybody."

I made a face.

She jutted out her lip. "Please? Just one or two," she insisted.

I sighed. "Okay, but only one or two," I murmured.

Perhaps I should have refused because she took ten pictures. If I hadn't started to complain, she would have probably taken a thousand.

"That's enough, Alice. It's seven thirty-five. Bella has to get going," Esme said. She hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek. "Have a good day at school, baby. Make me proud. I love you."

"I will, and I love you too. Tell Edward that I love him."

"Don't worry, I will."

Next, Alice embraced me. "Knock 'em dead, Bella!"

I snickered. "I don't think that I'll want to do that!"

Then I went to the kitchen again. Carlisle stood as I approached him and wrapped his arms around me.

"Good luck on your first day. Be careful and don't forget to enjoy yourself a little. I love you," he whispered, kissing my forehead.

"I love you too, Carlisle. Good-bye," I breathed.

He rubbed my back. "Good-bye, my dear."

After saying good-bye to Alice and Esme, I left the apartment building and walked down the block.

Carlisle's POV

When Bella had left, I couldn't help but feel worried about her. From what she had told me once, she was normally very shy about meeting new people. Would she be all right? How would she get along in school, especially when people found out that she was a part of my family?

None of my children had never mixed or mingled with anyone at Oakland, or any other school, preferring to keep to themselves for reasons only known to us. This had obviously broken an unspoken law among their classmates. Even though it didn't hurt them after a while-and at first it did, when they had to go to school at the beginning of their vampire years-my children revealed to me that they faced a substantial amount of ridicule. Sometimes, when things were going really bad, it took everything in their power-well, mainly Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie's because they had quicker fuses than the others-to keep them from getting into an argument, fight, or both.

Knowing this, I could barely repress a shiver, and I felt more uneasy. I hoped that no one would treat Bella too unfairly. Of course, none of the freshmen would know about my family, but what about the sophomores, juniors, and seniors? If they remembered my children, the freshmen would learn about them simply by listening to all of the gossip (and not to mention lies.) I knew that Bella could be one tough cookie, but her emotions had been quite fragile lately, and understandably so. I didn't want her to get hurt. But perhaps she will be fine.

You could never know until you found out.

Bella's POV

By 8:00, I had arrived at the school. I took a deep breath before opening the door. Here goes nothing, I thought.

I stepped inside the building and gazed at my surroundings. There was not much to see except for a corridor full of metal-gray lockers lined up on either side, save for the entrances to classrooms. A good number of students were in hall, putting their belongings in their lockers or talking and laughing.

Not wanting to draw too much or unwanted attention, I bowed my head and made my way down the corridor, searching for room 114A. I located it without a problem. It was just around the corner at the right end of the hallway.

I entered the office and strolled up to the front desk. The lady behind it, who appeared to be around Carlisle's age, looked up when I had cleared my throat.

"Hello. May I help you with something?" she greeted enthusiastically with a bright smile.

"Um, yeah. I'm a new student here. My name is Isabella Cullen. I came to pick up my schedule," I stated timidly.

Recognition lit up in the woman's eyes. "Oh yes, that's right. Hold on, I have it right here."

After shuffling through a stack of papers, she pulled one out and gave it to me along with a yellow slip. "Were you in Advanced placement at Clearview?" She had apparently read my schedule.

"Yes."

"Well, that explains your roster. There you go, and your locker number and code is on the yellow paper. Enjoy the rest of your day. Oh, and by the way, I am Miss Valentina."

I inclined my head. "Nice to meet you, and thanks."

I scanned the roster as I headed for my locker. Yep, I had the same classes, but in a different order. I had Chemistry first, then Algebra II and World History II. Followed by those classes was lunch, and after that, I had Spanish II and English/Language Arts. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I would have Gym instead of Spanish.

Once I had checked to make sure that I could open my locker, I put two notebooks in it that were set aside for English and Spanish. I wouldn't need them right away. I didn't put my jacket in my locker, in case they turned on the air conditioners.

My Chemistry class was on the second floor, Room 208. The teacher wasn't there yet, but a few students were. They frowned in curiosity, eyeing me with interest.

"Nice outfit," one of them commented. She was a girl with dark-brown hair, pale-blue eyes, and a thin nose.

I smiled weakly. "Thanks," I muttered, looking around for a place to sit. I chose a double-desk in the back of the room and pulled out a book to read until class began.

Over the next several minutes, more people arrived. I didn't pay attention to them, but I had a good feeling that they were wondering who I was.

Finally the teacher, Mr. Hendrix, lumbered into the classroom. "Hello, everybody," he announced. "We have a couple of new students joining us today."

Oh, no, I thought.

He grabbed two textbooks and two workbooks from a shelf, then he took some papers out of his desk. He picked up a roll sheet and squinted at it. "Can Angela Weber and Isabella Cullen step up here please?"

My face grew hot as I did so. The other girl, Angela-who was slightly taller than me and had light-brown hair and gentle, light-brown eyes-seemed just as frightened as I was.

Mr. Hendrix beamed at us. "Good morning. I'm Mr. Hendrix, your Chemistry teacher. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Which one of you are Isabella Cullen?"

I raised my hand slightly. "I prefer to be called Bella," I remarked. I may have been feeling nervous, but I was determined to make myself clear in regards to using my name.

"Oh, okay. Everyone, this is Angela Weber and Bella Cullen," Mr. Hendrix declared, pointing to each of us in turn. "Please make them feel welcome and help them out with anything they need." He turned to us. "Now, here are the books that we will be using for the remainder of the year, and a syllabus for each of you. Don't lose your textbooks, please. Otherwise, you'll have to pay $150 for a new one."

"Yes, sir," I mumbled before heading back to my desk as fast as I could. I didn't want to be under any more scrutiny than necessary, and I hated Mr. Hendrix for introducing me to the whole class. Besides, it was evident that I stood out; no one else in the room was wearing ridiculously expensive clothes. Damn you, Alice! Why couldn't you have bought me some plainer-looking outfits!?

The rest of the morning dragged by sluggishly. My other classes, Algebra and History, went by without any major calamities. My algebra teacher, Mr. Robertson, and my history teacher Mrs. Davies were kind. I especially liked Mrs. Davies. She had a good sense of humor. I was grateful that neither of them chose to introduce me to my classmates.

I dreaded going to lunch. I didn't want to sit by myself, but since I was new, I guess that that would be the only option available for me.

The cafeteria was already packed with students by the time I had gotten there, and most of the tables were filled.

I wasn't very hungry (then again, I haven't been lately), but since Alice would find out if I didn't eat and tell Edward, Esme, or Carlisle, I knew that I had to buy something. So I paid for a slice of pizza, a bowl of salad, and a bottle of orange juice and proceeded to find a table.

Pretty soon, I found an empty one on the right side of the cafeteria. I rapidly claimed it before anybody else could and reluctantly tucked into my meal.

"Excuse me?" a timid voice said. I glanced up to see Angela Weber, the other new girl, standing by the table. "Is anyone else sitting here with you?"

"No...make yourself comfortable," I replied with a tiny grin.

"Thank you. I'm Angela Weber, by the way." She tentatively held out her hand.

I grasped it softly. "I remember. I-I'm Bella Cullen. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You too."

Angela sat down. Not knowing what else to say, I continued to eat.

She cleared her throat minutes later. "Oakland doesn't seem like a horrible school so far," she commented.

I shook my head. "No. It's not too bad," I agreed.

Another tense silence pervaded.

"I really like your clothes. Where did you get them?" she queried.

"Thanks. My older sister bought them for me," I murmured.

Angela nodded pensively. "Oh. Does she attend school here too?"

"She did before she graduated in June."

"I wish that I had a sister. Still, I wouldn't trade one for my twin brothers."

I laughed a little. "I have three brothers and two sisters. Well, they're really my four adoptive cousins and adoptive grandfather, if you look at it from Social Services' viewpoint. My adoptive father is my cousin on my mother's side. But I call my four adoptive cousins my brothers and sisters anyway, even my adoptive grandfather. They are all so young."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Wow. That is a large family to be adopted into. You said that they are young. How old are they?"

"Two of my brothers, Emmett and Jasper, are eighteen. So are my sisters Alice, Rosalie, and my adoptive parents Edward and Esme. The one who would be called my grandfather-his name is Carlisle-is only twenty-nine. That's why I say he's my brother. He's not old enough to be my grandfather. But he would be called my grandfather because he adopted Edward, Esme, and my other brothers and sisters. And get this...Alice and Jasper are married to each other, and so are Emmett and Rosalie."

Angela was really stunned by this time. "Whoa! That is unbelievable! But why did your cousins adopt you?"

Unprepared for this question, I froze. I felt as if I had been kicked squarely in the gut. Angela noticed that something was wrong and thankfully didn't ask me anything else.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

I pursed my lips. "It's okay," I whispered.

Neither of us spoke after that, finishing our lunches very quietly. When the bell rang, I picked up my book bag and rushed to my locker. I hastily threw my Spanish and English notebooks into my backpack and put my Algebra, Chemistry, and history textbooks and notebooks into my locker instead. Then I went Spanish class, arriving there just as the next bell rang.

Señorita Ordóñez was one of the most boring teachers I ever had. I supposed that she wouldn't be, if she didn't speak in a monotone voice. On the plus side, I would only have her for three days out of the week. However, I was certain that I was going to ace the class in spite of her, which goes without saying.

Mr. Lawrence, my English instructor, was okay-neither good nor bad. There wasn't much to say about him. He was just a plain individual. It turned out that we were reading the same book-Night, by Elie Wiesel-just like the ninth graders were in Clearview. We would also be reading Romeo and Juliet, Othello, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I had bought them already, which saved me the trouble of going shopping.

Finally, the school day was over. It was a good day, on the whole. At least I wasn't bothered by anyone. I had a small pile of homework from my Algebra, History, and Spanish classes. For English, I had to read chapters two to four of Night, plus fill out a worksheet. That would be a doozie-as I had mentioned before, I had read the entire novel already. I would wait to do my Spanish homework, since I didn't have tomorrow, but I liked to finish all of my homework on the same day that I had received it. If I had time to do so, that is.

After leaving Oakland, I headed home. Many of the other students took a bus or drove, but those who lived nearby like I did were walking, just as I was.

Carlisle's POV

Fifteen minutes later

I was watching television in the living room when I heard Bella climbing up the last flight of stairs. As she entered the apartment, I turned to her. Her expression was calm; she must have had a better day than I had feared. I sighed in relief.

"Hello, my dear," I smiled, getting out of my armchair. I embraced her. "Did everything go well on your first day of school?"

Bella wrapped her arms around me and pecked my cheek. "Yes, it went fine," she replied.

I moved away. "Did you make any new friends?"

"No, but I met this girl named Angela. She seems nice. It looks like your done with your paperwork."

I chuckled. "Yes, but I'll have some more by tomorrow morning."

"Mmm." She looked around. "It's quiet in here. Where are Alice and Esme?"

"They had left, but Esme will be here soon to check on you and make sure that you're all right."

Bella nodded. "Oh. Well, I'm going to do my homework," she stated.

I kissed her forehead. "Certainly. And speaking of which, I left a couple of gifts for you in your room," I proclaimed.

She rolled her eyes and shook her head with a smirk. "More presents? You didn't need to get me any, you know. Half of the presents that you give me are really unnecessary; I can't do anything with them, and I don't know what I'm going to do with them either. Why do you buy me so much stuff?"

"Because you are a genuinely kind, sweet, selfless person who deserves the best in life, that's why," I murmured, tapping her nose. "And even if you can't use half of your presents for anything, they are simply there for you to enjoy and take delight in."

Flushing pink, Bella whispered, "Oh alright, if you say so, but..."

"Ah-ah. No buts." I wagged my finger.

"Whatever you say."

I gestured in the direction of her bedroom. "You may go and see your presents."

Bella's POV

The first thing that I noticed when I stepped into my room was that Carlisle's dresser was missing. In its place was a smooth, wooden desk. It had a table lamp on it, as well as multicolored paper clips, tacks and, rubber bands in a rectangular glass box. They were separated into their individual slots.

Next to that box was another one with staples, with a medium-sized roll of clear tape under it, and a table calculator. There was also a cut-glass cup holder for my drinks, and my candy bowl. It still had Jolly Rangers and Creme Savers in it, but now there were also red and green star peppermints. Spare mechanical pencils and pens with erasers stood in a brown glass cup. Two tubes of glue-one regular and one labeled Superglue-was beside it. There was also a glue stick.

Well, these were definitely useful presents. Dr. Way-too-Hot-To-Trot came prepared! I was surprised that there was enough space for my books, but he arranged everything so that they would.

Then, out of the corner of eye, something else drew my attention. It was a cream-colored armchair, very much like Carlisle's. However, when I sat down on it to see how comfortable it was, the part where I rested my back on it moved backwards. For a minute, I was startled, but then I laughed. This wasn't just an armchair-it was a rocking chair. I relaxed onto the cushions. There must have been wool stuffed inside of them. That was how soft they were.

"Thank you, Carlisle! I like them!" I yelled.

"I'm happy to hear that. You're welcome, sweetie!" he shouted back.

"Any news yet? Have they been found?" I inquired.

"...No. I'm afraid not," he replied dejectedly.

I slumped into my chair. "Oh."

"I'm sure that they will be found soon."

"Yeah. I hope so."

After a minute, I went over to the desk and began to do my homework. I started with Spanish first because it was too easy, then completed my English worksheet once that was finished. Esme came when I had begun to do my one-page History paper, but saw that I was occupied and said that we would talk later. The essay took some time to do, but I was certain that Mrs. Davies would approve of it. At last, I did my Algebra homework, which wasn't too difficult, thank goodness.

By the time I was done with everything, it was six forty-three. The scent of roast beef drifted from the kitchen. Esme had to be cooking my dinner. I put my notebooks and stuff in my backpack before leaving the room.

Carlisle was having a talk with Edward in the living room, but they beamed at me as I approached them.

"Hi sweet pea," Edward greeted, hugging me softly.

"Hi Edward," I returned with a smile.

"Was your first day of school exciting?"

"No, but it was still good."

"I'm pleased to hear that. Oh, and I saw your pictures. They are beautiful. Did you finish all of your homework yet?"

I nodded. "Yes, it's all done," I replied.

Edward grinned. "Good girl," he praised, kissing me on the cheek.

Esme came in the room at that moment and wrapped her arms around me. "Your dinner is ready, baby girl. Why don't you come and sit with me in the kitchen? You can tell me all about what happened at school today while you are eating," she murmured.

As I forced down the meal that Esme had prepared (because I still wasn't hungry), I did just that. I gave her details about my classes, my teachers, and what I had for lunch. I also told her about Angela Weber.

"Did you meet any boys too?" Esme teased.

"No," I responded earnestly.

Carlisle and Edward sat with us as well, listening to everything that I was saying. Truthfully, I wished that they didn't do that because it made me feel awkward. It was strange knowing that I was the only person in the family who ate human food.

Carlisle's POV

I was delighted that nothing had happened to Bella at school, so far. Judging from her story, it seemed as if her day was an ordinary, though mildly interesting one. No one had teased her or bullied her. Of course, if someone did, Alice would have informed us about it immediately.

However, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before Bella became well-known to her classmates. From what I had seen for myself, most of the children in her school dressed normally. With her attire, I knew without a doubt that Bella was conspicuous. I would be surprised if none of the ninth graders mentioned her to the other students. But if they didn't now, they would more sooner or later.

When Bella had finished eating her meal, she helped Esme with the dishes and went to her bedroom. I decided to warn her about her classmates right then. My conscience couldn't rest until I did.

I strolled to her room and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Bella called from the other side.

"It's me, sweetheart. May I come in? I need a brief word with you," I half-shouted.

"Yes."

I opened the door and stepped inside. Bella was relaxing in her new rocking chair.

Grinning, I queried, "Do you like it?"

Bella smiled back. "Oh, yes. It's very comfortable. So what did you want to talk about?"

I perched on the bed and crossed my leg over the other. "I need to warn you about your classmates," I remarked, heading straight to be point.

Frowning, she asked, "Why? Is there a problem?"

I sighed. "Well, if there isn't one now, there may be in the future. I must confess that when my children attended Oakland, they did not make a very good impression with their peers. No, they never fought with them, caused trouble for them or any of the sort," I stated when she opened her mouth to speak. "Unfortunately, many of the students created trouble for them. You see, they didn't like that my children kept to themselves..."

"But they had to-" Bella interrupted.

"Yes, I know that-we both do. Nevertheless, many of their peers didn't understand this. I think that many of them liked or wanted to make friends with my children in the beginning. And of course, anybody would understand why. They were rich. They had most expensive clothes in the school, and never wore the same thing twice. When my children were old enough to drive by state law-as if they weren't already old enough in the first place-they had the best cars.

"However, when Edward, Esme, and the others turned down their classmates, everyone began to think that they were spoiled, stuck-up and self-centered, and would not have anything to do with them thenceforth. They didn't like the fact that they chose to keep to themselves. Everybody wanted them to be a part of the big social circle, but for reasons known to us, my children could not. As a result, they had endured a lot of ridicule."

Bella thought this information over, then nodded in understanding. "Okay. So, you're saying that I should be mindful of my classmates." This was a statement, not a question.

I inclined my head. "Yes, my dear, to prepare you for what may happen in the future. None of us wants you to get hurt by anyone." I stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "And if someone does cause trouble for you, don't be afraid to tell us. I know that many people believe that situations would get worse if they informed someone about being bullied, but it is not true. It will get worse if you don't. So if someone is causing you a problem, let us know if you don't feel comfortable speaking to your teachers or your principal, and we'll sort everything out. Do you understand me?"

Bella nodded. "Yes, Carlisle."

I leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I love you, my dear, and I don't want you to go through the same thing that the others did."

"I know that you don't, and I love you too," she whispered, embracing me and kissing me on the cheek in return.

I patted her back, then straightened up. "Well, I have to prepare myself for work. It's almost time for me to leave," I declared.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning, then."

"Certainly, sweetheart."

After hugging her one last time, I exited the bedroom.

(A/N: PLEASE REVIEW! Sorry for the long update. I was busy with my other stories. Don't forget to tell me what you think. The next chapter's tentative title is Jealousy, but I may change it. IMPORTANT: I am making an alternate story to this one. However, I'm not sure if the alternate story should be about what would happen if Bella's parents and Phil were found dead, or if they were found alive. I will set up a new poll for each choices so that you can give me your opinions. If you don't want to vote on the poll, just leave your choice in the review, and the story will be posted after a certain chapter. A close friend of mine voted for Alive already, but I myself am not sure, which was why I asked that person (and why I am asking you.) Thank you very much!)