Thanks to phantomessangel, Delanie, bloftus, titanterror12, puglover770, SesshomarusPegasus, CullenxVamp and Lecia for the reviews. They always make my day.

I must appologise to you all for how it has taken my so long to update this time. My computer decided to crash and they only way it would work was by reinstalling Windows. Of course this took a few days and by the time it was all sorted all my documents had been deleted off this computer including this story and the next chapter I was halfway through writing. I was not happy at all. But now that my computer is all sorted I have been able to rewrite that chapter so let me know what you think and hopefully the next chapter won't take as long!

Disclaimer: The Twilight saga belongs to Stephenie Meyer, not me!

Bella POV

It had been one long week I had faced housebound. Once Carlisle had given me the all clear to leave my bed he had then insisted that Edward should join all his brothers and sisters back at school, so as not to raise suspicion. I hadn't minded at first looking forward to time to rest, but soon after the first day of being alone I was bored. The Cullen's house was vast and there was always plenty to do with various TV's, games consoles, computers and books around the house, but soon enough even these I didn't hold any interest for. Edward and his family would return would return once school had finished and I would be fine again but then it would all start again the next day. When the weekend had arrived I had finally known I would have two days with plenty of company.

"Bella what would you say to returning to school tomorrow?" Carlisle asked on the Sunday evening.

"Are you serious?" I asked.

"I know you are probably dreading it but you will have to return at some point." Carlisle replied in his fatherly tone.

"I can't wait" I replied shocking Carlisle.

On the Monday morning one we were all ready Esme gave us all a hug before we all left out into the garage. Alice, Jasper, Edward and I climbed into Edward's Volvo and started our journey to school.

It felt strange to be leaving the confides of the house for the first time in weeks and even stranger when I remembered that the last time I was conscious away from home was in the middle of a desert. I felt a shudder pass through my body at the thought and Alice who was sat beside me looked at me with curiosity.

"What have I been missing in my classes?" I asked to stop Alice from saying something. It seemed to work as they all started to tell me what had been happening in all our classes.

By the end of my second-class school was beginning to feel like I had never been away. At the end of my Government class I was definitely ready for some lunch. As I left the room with Emmett and Jasper, Edward and Alice were already waiting for us. Rosalie would probably we meeting us in the dining hall.

As we walked in a familiar face bobbed up in front of me stopping me in my tracks.

"Hi Bella, how are you now? I haven't seen you in ages." Mike Newton asked.

I heard Edward's teeth snap shut in annoyance beside me, but Mike continued on as through Edward didn't exist.

"I'm fine Mike now, thanks" I replied trying to keep the conversation short for all our sakes.

"Well maybe now that you are better we should go out sometime this week. Get to know each other better."

I could feel the tension flowing around Edward's body as he stood beside me. If I didn't do something soon, I didn't know if Edward would be able to continue to control himself.

"Edward why don't you go and get us both some food" I suggested. "I'll meet you over at the table in a minute."

It was clear Edward didn't want to leave my side but he did as I asked and walked over to join the rest of his family.

"That's a really nice thought Mike" I said turning my attention back to Mike. "I really appreciate the thought but not yet. I am only just out of bed rest and I really don't want to push things and do too much too soon."

Mike looked hurt but nodded his head in acceptance. "Well I guess I will see you in gym then." He replied before wandering back over to his own table. I felt guilty as I walked over to where all the Cullen's were now sat but it was obvious that Mike wanted much more than friendship and he needed to get the message soon.

As I sat down beside Edward I was met by his dazzling smile making me feel a hundred times better about the situation as he pushed a tray of food in front of me.

"You seem to have found yourself an admirer" Emmett joked as I took a bite of pizza.

"Shut up Emmett" I replied through gritted teeth "Or I will make you eat this food instead of me."

Once Edward and I had calmed down after our encounter with Mike the rest of lunch was enjoyable. Rosalie and Alice were in a heated discussion with each other about what other girls were wearing around the room. I caught Alice's eyes scrutinising my basic jeans and shirt combination a couple of times but chose to ignore it. Emmett chose to take my threat literally and with Jasper spent the rest of lunch daring each other to eat various foods. They dared Edward a couple of times too but he point blank refused.

"What is it like for you to eat food?" I asked Edward as I watched Emmett for a stick of celery down his throat.

"I suppose it would be like you eating dirt" Edward replied. "But it isn't the taste which is the worst thing, our bodies can't handle human foods anymore so we would never digest it, so later Emmett and Jasper are going to have to bring all this back up."

As the bell rang Edward and I left the Cullen's heading towards our Biology class. The corridors were full of students and full of noise. Even with all the shouting and talking around me, I could still hear a conversation going on between two girls I recognised from my Spanish class.

"It is just wrong" the shorter one of the two I believed to be called Jessica said.

"I have always thought that ever since they have arrived" the one I knew to be called Lauren replied.

"Isn't it called incest though?" Jessica asked.

"I suppose they think they can get away with it because they are all adopted and aren't related by blood." Lauren said.

"Well I always believed Edward to be the only decent one but I guess not anymore. Isn't that Bella his cousin or something?" Jessica asked.

"Yes something like that. It is all just sick so the sooner you get over you infatuation about him the better." Lauren replied.

I had heard enough and really didn't want to have to hear anymore of their conversation. I really began to feel sorry for Edward who must hear comments like these everyday through people's thoughts.

"Are you alright?" Edward asked. I turned my attention to him. His face was full of concern.

"Does everybody think like this?" I asked indicating to the conversation he will have also heard.

"Bella I wouldn't worry too much about the thoughts of Jessica and Lauren, they are never nice." Edward replied. I knew he was trying to spare my feelings but I needed to know the truth.

"Edward does everybody think the same way?"

"Everyone is just interested in us. As a family we have always kept ourselves private as far as the rest of the town are concerned. Doctor Cullen works in the hospital while his wife is an interior designer and all their adopted children all date each other and attend Forks High School." Edward replied squeezing my hand. "They are just wanting to know more about this mystery family."

I smiled back at Edward feeling a little better. He was right like he always was and I shouldn't let other people affect my life.

"Are you sure you want to go to Biology?" Edward asked.

I knew I really shouldn't ditch any classes especially on my first day back, but I could no longer seem to face classes any longer today.

"Well I was thinking that maybe I could show you a place which is very special to me" Edward continued.

I agreed and soon found myself back in Edward's Volvo leaving the school grounds. We drove for miles, the road becoming narrower, the trees denser around us until Edward pulled up at the side of the road.

"We will have to go the rest of the way by foot." Edward said. I was intrigued by where Edward wanted to take me and followed his example as he climbed out of the car.

The atmosphere was much denser now we were within the trees and you could feel the water within the air as it touched my skin.

"Would you mind if I showed you my preferred mode of transport?" Edward asked, the excitement clear within his eyes. I didn't have a clue what he meant by this but I didn't want to disappoint him by saying no.

Before I knew what was happening he was helping me onto his back and we were off. It was bizarre to think that Edward was actually running, he was so fast! As I held on tightly and tucked my head in well between his shoulder blades I watched as the trees whizzed past. Edward himself seemed to be completely at ease, his breathing never seemed to change. This was amazing, if not a little scary.

After what seemed about five minutes Edward began to slow and eventually stopped. I climbed down from his back with his help and took his hand within mine.

"Before I show you this place, I need you to understand vampires are a little different in the sunlight." Edward said.

"You don't burn?" I asked.

"No no, that is all myth. We are different though and I need you to understand this before you see me and become alarmed."

I nodded my head to tell Edward and he began to lead me forward. The trees were thinning ahead of us and soon enough I could see the sunlight growing stronger as the canopy above thinned.

As we stepped out into the clearing the beauty overwhelmed me. Edward had brought me to what appeared to be a meadow in the middle of the forest. It was full of wild flowers filling it with colour and a running stream could be heard nearby.

The beauty of the meadow had caused me to forget what Edward had told me. As I turned to look at him I gasped with amazement. Wherever the sun touched him, his skin reflected like a million diamonds. I had never seen anything like it before.

"Please don't be alarmed" Edward said as he began to take a step back within the cover of the canopy.

I grabbed his hand to stop him.

"Edward I am not alarmed. You are beautiful."

We lay beside each other for what felt like hours in the meadow as we talked. Each talking more about our pasts. It was really beginning to be one of the best days of my life until Edward's phone began to ring.

"Don't tell me Alice you aren't capable of finding your own way home from school?" Edward joked as he answered the phone.

Edward's voice became more serious as the voice continued and I sat up with curiosity. By the time Edward hang up, telling his sister we would be straight home, I couldn't take the suspense any longer.

"What's wrong?" I asked. His response was certainly one I didn't expect.

"Alice was just asking me why your future has just disappeared."