a/n Mystery guy is staying anonymous for now, but I'll be sure to sneak in another one of his POV's in soon ;)

a/n Okay I've gone back and edited everything before this point. Some things were bothering me that I wanted to fix, so I have. I hope it doesn't cause any confusion.

a/n In case it wasn't clear all content in Italics in previous and continuous chapters are flashbacks. The POV does vary, so pay attention. In the last chapter the POV was specifically written to be a mystery.

a/n JUST TO BE CLEAR, EDWARD ISN'T ATTRACTED TO BELLA BECAUSE OF HER SCENT, NOR IS HE TEMPTED BY HER BLOOD. IN FACT, IT DOESN'T AFFECT HIM AS STRONGLY AS IT DOES IN THE BOOK.

a/n Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and Screen gems own the rights to the Covenant.

Chapter 14-Lucky Duck

The past week had been difficult, Bella swore that she saw more of Edward Cullen these days than she did her own brother, Chase.

It was all because of the incident that she was hoping to put behind them, something that Edward seemed intent on not letting her forget.

"Are you alright?" Chase asked. He had been extremely concerned for his sister ever since her nightmares began again, he wasn't sure what was causing the re-occurrence, but he knew that whatever it was, it was nothing good.

"I'm fine," Bella responded she knew that Chase was only concerned for her, but the constant hovering was dragging down her mood.

"Bella-" Chase began.

Bella rounded on him, "-look I know ok. I'm tired all the time and withdrawn and all that other touchy feely crap. I know I'm being a bitch, but I just can't ok, not right now."

Chase eyed Bella for a moment. He knew what she was saying, she was stressed because of the nightmares and was acting out because of it, but she needed to act this way. As much as she wanted to put on a happy face and pretend that everything was alright, that just wasn't Bella, and he couldn't expect that from her either.

"I understand," he said.

"I need some time," she concluded, thoroughly miserable.

Chase nodded and left it at that, when Bella wanted to talk, she would he couldn't make her.

Bella sighed as she watched Chase walk away, she knew she was hurting her brother by keeping the source of her troubles away from him, but until she felt she could talk to him about it then she couldn't say anything.

Bella settled into her daily routine, attending class after class until she thought she might gouge her eyes out from the normalcy.

It was in the lunchroom that day that she really noticed how much had changed.

Chase, normally, sitting with one of the few blonde airheads Forks High kept in stock, sat next to her, trying not to hover nor care.

Bella didn't know where it came from, but one minute there was a tense silence between them, the next, there was an animosity that even she did not want to break.

"Bella," Bella stared in disbelief as Edward Cullen looked back at her from her own lunch table. She did not know what to make of it, they hadn't spoken more than two words to each other since she had yelled at him, and yet there he was.

Edward sat there waiting for Bella to acknowledge his greeting. He knew it was a long shot but for some reason he felt compelled to smooth things over with her, to make things right.

"...Edward," Bella responded back uncertainly. She had no idea what he was here for, and she was a little unnerved at his audacity to sit at her lunch table when they had exchanged such few words.

"Bella, I was wondering if you would allow me the chance to-"

"Hold on. What is this?"

Both Bella and Edward turned their heads to look at Chase. They had both unknowingly ignored him, but as Bella knew, Chase was hardly one to go unnoticed.

Bella looked back at Edward in question. She had no knowledge of what he wanted to say, so he was just going to have to take this one on his own.

Edward looked from Chase to Bella, knowing this would in no way be easy.

"I wanted to talk to your sister about the way I have been acting," he turned to Bella, "we've both said some things I'm sure we're both not proud of..."

Edward continued on but all Bella could think about was the way she had yelled at him last week. She had been beyond exhausted, and incredibly irritable, but even she couldn't justify telling someone to 'kindly fuck off'.

Bella shushed him and began her own self explanation.

"Edward wait, there is no reason you should be apologising. Last week I was...not myself, I can't take it back but I can say that I wish I could. I'm apologetic for the way that I acted; I never meant to attack you like that."

Edward smiled. It was the first genuine smile that she had seen from him, and she had to admit that it held some charm.

Chase on the other hand didn't think so. He was staring at Bella as if she had lost her mind, and couldn't for the life of him logically understand what had happened. Here with was a Vampire, a being that he'd thought she barely knew and out of nowhere she was apologising?!

It went against everything that Chase knew about his sister. She wasn't one for kind words, or apologies, or to even admit when she was wrong. But somehow this Cullen had broken down her walls and exposed the insecure, shy girl he knew was hiding underneath.

Edward Cullen had done in one month what it'd taken him three years.

He had gotten though to Bella.

Without a word, he excused himself from the table. Both Edward and Bella watched him go; Bella with regret and Edward with a twinge of smug satisfaction.

Chase hadn't spoken to her for five days. She didn't even know what he had done wrong, and it wasn't as if Chase was hell bent on filling her in.

Bella sighed; solitude was turning out to be her new course in life.

The only good thing that she could see of Chase's behaviour was that Edward Cullen had been sitting with her at lunch.

It was strange at first, she hadn't realised it, but when Chase left she began to notice the stares and confused looks she had attracted to herself. Everyone wanted to know what she was doing with the illustrious Edward Cullen.

The second day she was more surprised than ever that Edward had sat down next to her. She was still a little bitter, Chase had still not said a word to her at that point and Edward's seating arrangements only proved to make her truly think over sitting with him. But it was more than that, she could see that Edward only wanted to be nice to her, and wasn't expecting anymore than that. After everything that had happened, it was nice to have someone other than her flesh and blood actually stop and ask her how she was doing. At first, she had thought that Edward had meant it out of pity. She had sneered thinking of the a-hole vampire who thought he was above everyone, but walking the halls and seeing his face every time he had passed her had inclined her to change her mind. Maybe he wasn't the pretty playboy she had painted him as in her mind.

Bella sat there confused, she had wanted to talk to him and ask what he was playing at, but she couldn't. Bella had begun to sincerely doubt he was playing any games at all. Chase had given her very little information on the Cullen's, she knew the facts, and could probably rattle off Edward's social security number, but that didn't answer the question of who they were as people, as ironic as that question was in the first place.

One thing was for sure, Edward Cullen had gotten under her skin.

It had started with a simple project; something that Bella never could have guessed could stir such inappropriate feelings for a vampire, no less a man. From there things had gotten so muddled and confusing that even she had trouble remembering which way was up anymore.

Bella had stared at him as he stared at her, both muddling out their own inner ramblings while trying to figure each other out.

They hadn't spoken that day, nor did they speak the next. It wasn't until the third day that Bella's fatigue and irritability seemed to make her snap.

"Edward," she said once he'd sad down at her table.

He looked at her as if what she was about to say would be the answer to all life's questions.

Bella couldn't help but smirk at his little puppy dog behaviour.

"I'd like to apologise," she began. When Edward opened his mouth she ploughed on, knowing what he was likely going to say, "Formally, so this shit doesn't get in the way later."

Edward shut his mouth quickly, and she internally scolded herself at swearing at him again. He seemed like the type that didn't appreciate tactless behaviour.

"Sorry, look when you acted all happy-go-lucky about our project when you were barely around, and then acted like an asshole about it, well, I kind of lost it."

Edward smirked, and she could tell he was holding back an 'gee really?' sentiment.

"Things kind of snowballed from there and before you know it I'm yelling at you in front of the whole school." She smiled openly and continued, "Lately I've been taking all of my anger and frustration out on you without really realising what I've been doing and, gosh, I'm sorry.

Edward stared amusedly at her while she ranted. He had to say that he was pleased that she had managed to not yell at him for something yet, and even more pleased that it seemed that they were moving towards something...more. And yet, he wasn't sure how he felt about that.

"Edward," she sighed, bringing him out of his internal monologue. "I have a lot going on right now and its taking its toll, I –I can't explain, but just..."

"It's ok Bella, some things are meant for another time." He smiled and felt a warm sensation course through his body when she smiled back.

Edward's smiled turned sour as he remembered why he'd been stalling for so long. She'd said what was on her mind, and it was only fair that he took his turn now.

"Bella, I neverwanted to create a rift between you and your brother, it was something I never anticipated when coming to talk to you on Wednesday."

Bella sighed, they were really rounding all of the apology bases today weren't they?

"When I asked if you were alright, I really meant it." He added sincerely, he hoped that would help win her over.

"Why do you care?" Bella asked sarcastically, trying fruitlessly to brush off the emotion. "She couldn't handle anything when her nerves were frayed like used cable wires.

"I don't' know," Edward replied honestly.

Bella sighed, "Don't hurt me Edward, it may not seem like it but I'm pretty fragile."

Bella knew she'd been opening up to him more than she ever had to anyone else before and that thought scared her. She didn't know what to do, or how to act around him, but knew for sure that it would devastate her if this truce died between them.

"I know," he replied, "and that's what scares me."

a/n REVIEW DAMMIT, MAKE ME LOOK GOOD ;)

Some recs in case you get bored between updates

Elemental » by TallulahBelle

It is some serious supernatural romance Wiccan shit. I LOVE it! It's like Twilight, meets the Da Vinci code, and meets the Covenant. Super cool if you like the supernatural.

The Ex Factor: Edward & Bella » by AngelAtTwilight

If you haven't read this it is a sin. No really. Burn baby burn. It's about E &B (AU & AH) trying to survive without each other after breaking up in high school. Its Angsty, funny, sexy and makes you want Edward in ways any girl shouldn't want a fictional character.

Disintegration » by meimei42

If the last one was angsty this one REALLY is. I've just finished reading it and it is powerful. It really opened my eyes to the struggles and heartache and the pain you face when being addicted to a substance, specifically an illegal one. It's an E&B story which is kind of hard to believe, but it does have a HEA, despite everything that happens. Oh and its REALLY good.

High Anxiety » by EdwardsBloodType

It lives up to its name. This literally kept me up reading, and is partly the reason why the update took so long. E &B are younger 16, but have to deal with the emotional baggage of having traumatic pasts. Its tension, tension, tension with these two, and …Jasper's involved? Yeah, go read it.

And one more for good measure. Ladies, do you like Lawyerward? Darkward? How about Artistward????

Not sure? Try it out; he'll knock your socks off...or maybe more than just that.

Caravaggio » by meimei42

"AH. Bella's parents have commissioned a painting to be done of her by a one Edward Cullen. He's too suave for his own good and before long he's trying to talk Bella right out of her clothes."

There's the summary, you decide for yourselves.

a/n Oh and please, if you're below the legal drinking age, cannot vote, or buy porn, don't read a M rated story, cause chances are it's not for you.

Chow!