Edward's POV
It had been a long two weeks, especially for me. Finally, Carlisle's 'friend' was scheduled to leave. Bella had been angry with me, but I felt a strong need to warn her, protect her if I could. After that day she had missed a few days of school and I had been watching her house, just in case. Upon her return, I had discovered that she'd been on the reservation. There was now a tall Quileute man, one of them, keeping an eye on the school...and on me. Every day since her return, she'd been brought by that Jake guy, her boyfriend, and he'd picked up her as well.
I longed to be the one she kissed every morning before exiting the car and the one she ran to in the afternoon. It was torture watching her jump into his open arms and kiss him with abandon. But she was safe with him and happy...that was what I wanted for her. She had avoided me at all costs now, even taking a different route to her classes. I knew it was best for her, but it still stung.
But today, our 'guest' was leaving town and I was starting to feel normal again. We'd had him 'hunt' outside of Forks, but I had known that Chief Swan was onto him anyway. He was a smart man and knew something was creepy and dangerous about him. He'd had a very frank conversation with Carlisle about the visitor and about me. I was told, no ordered, through Carlisle to stay away from his daughter. Carlisle had been polite, as usual, and assured Charlie that it wouldn't happen again. And then Carlisle had to talk with Bruce about keeping a low profile and not scaring the locals.
Bruce was different than us. His 'diet' was more traditional. But like me, he could hear thoughts, but only those of other vampires. When my thoughts had drifted to Bella after he'd arrived, he became thirsty and wanted her. That is when he'd found her at school and I had to warn her of the danger. I hadn't known until later that evening that he'd followed her home. Luckily, her father and boyfriend (such a strange term) had arrived, forcing him to leave and quench the fire elsewhere.
As he drove off, my shoulders relaxed. She was safe...for now at least. I knew he'd be coming back, I just didn't know when. He hadn't tried to hide his thoughts from me as if it were a challenge. I needed to speak with Alice. She saw and came to my side instantly. "We have a month".