BPOV

Carlisle's eyes went from me to Edward, and I could only imagine what must be going through his mind in that moment. "Forgive me for interrupting, I was just..." He hesitated. "Is everything all right?"

Blinking in confusion, Edward glanced down at his hand - the hand I was still clasping tightly in my lap - and I nearly cried at the loss of contact when he, gently but firmly, pulled away. He gave me a helpless, almost regretful look before mumbling, softly, "Everything's fine."

"I see." Carlisle remained in the doorway, obviously having a hard time deciding what to do next. I could see a million questions in his eyes, and I started to feel really uncomfortable. Then it hit me that Edward probably felt ten times worse, and I desperately searched my mind for something to say to save the situation. Unfortunately, I came up with nothing.

To my great relief, Carlisle seemed to notice the sudden awkwardness as well, because he cleared his throat. "Well, I will just leave, then. I'll be downstairs if you need me." He kept watching Edward for a moment, without a doubt trying to figure out what was going on, before finally backing out of the room.

He deliberately left the door open.

Letting out the breath I had been holding, I turned to look at Edward, resisting the urge to reach for his hand again. "Will he give you a hard time about this?"

Edward shrugged, carefully avoiding my eyes. "Nothing I can't handle."

I wasn't completely satisfied with that answer, but chose to let it go. "I can stay here if you want to go talk to him." I paused, grimacing. "Or maybe I should just go. Charlie will probably be home soon." The reluctance in my voice was obvious, and Edward would have to be both deaf and blind to miss it. Still, I felt the need to add the part about Charlie, just to be on the safe side.

The last thing I wanted was for Edward to think that I actually wanted to leave now.

He glanced at me. "Yeah, that might be for the best. Wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

I swallowed. "Edward-"

"Bella..." He cut me off. "What's gonna happen tomorrow?"

"What, you mean at school?" I hadn't even thought so far. He nodded, and I could see the insecurity rolling off him in waves. I felt bad for him, and wanted nothing more than to assure him that he had nothing to worry about, but at the same time, I was really happy that he actually cared about the next day.

Because I didn't think I would be able to take it if it turned out that he wanted to pretend that none of this had happened.

Hesitating for a brief moment, I then quickly made up my mind. "Um, maybe you could pick me up on your way to school? But only if you want, I mean, you don't have to. I just thought-"

"Yeah, okay." Edward interrupted my babbling, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"Can I..." I bit my lip, praying that he wouldn't say no. "Can I have your phone number?"

He looked a little surprised, but nodded. "All right."

To be perfectly honest, after everything that had happened between me and Edward today, I hadn't really been expecting a no. But a part of me had been afraid of getting my hopes up. I gave him a soft smile, and pulled my phone out from the pocket of my jacket.

A couple of minutes later, I hurried down the stairs with a ridiculously huge grin on my face. Edward and I had finally exchanged phone numbers; now I could reach him whenever I wanted. And it also felt pretty good to know that Edward could easily get in touch with me as well.

"Bella?" A door opened across the room, and Carlisle peeked his head out. "Could you please come in here for a moment?"

My smile faded, and my heart started beating faster. However, he didn't appear to be angry - merely concerned - so I firmly told myself to relax, and nodded in agreement. "Okay." Casting one last longing look at the front door, I then sucked in a deep breath and entered what turned out to be a large office.

"Have a seat." Carlisle gestured for the couch at the other side of the room, and I hesitantly obeyed. He then watched me in silence for a moment before speaking up again, this time with a calming smile on his face, "Words travel fast. I understand you are Chief Swan's daughter. He's a good, honorable man."

I returned his smile, somewhat warily. "He said the same thing about you."

"May I be honest with you, Bella?" I nodded, and he sat down as well. "I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. But there are a few things I feel compelled to tell you."

"Is this about Edward?" I folded my hands in my lap, wishing they would stop trembling.

His expression changed, and I knew my assumption had been correct. "You two seem to... get along?" I couldn't quite read the look on his face, and it made me feel anxious. So I just nodded again, waiting for him to go on. He did. "I couldn't help but notice that... you were holding hands."

This time, I knew he was expecting a verbal explanation. I held back a sigh. "Yeah. Listen, I know what you must be thinking, but-"

"Actually," Carlisle cut me off, "this is not about what I think, because right now, I'm lost. I don't understand how this is possible, and I was hoping you could explain it to me." His face was a mixture of confusion, mild frustration, and... hurt?

I wasn't stupid, nor was I about to insult him by pretending I didn't know what he was referring to. "You're talking about the fact that Edward's allowing me to touch him."

"Yes." He sounded incredulous. "Please, don't take this the wrong way, but frankly, I don't think you understand the full extent of the situation, and it worries me." A pause. "Bella, Edward doesn't even let me and Esme touch him, and we are his family."

Although his words stung, I could partly understand his concern, and I suppose I couldn't really blame Carlisle for worrying. However, what he had said about Edward still refusing to let him and Esme touch him came as a shock, and my eyes widened in disbelief. After all, Edward had been living with them for six years.

Then something clicked. "Maybe that's the problem," I mumbled to myself. Realizing that Carlisle had heard me and was now staring at me, I blushed. "I mean... never mind." I had a theory, but I wasn't ready to discuss such a sensitive topic with Carlisle, who was still practically a stranger to me.

For a moment, I thought he was going to object. Then he let out a sigh. "Bella, I want you to promise me that what we talk about in this room stays here." Seeing my hesitation, he hurried to add, "I'm not asking you to lie to Edward and keep our conversation a secret. But I need to know that you won't go talking to anyone else. Can you promise me that much?"

"Of course." I felt both nervous and a little excited at the same time. For some reason, it had seemed wrong for Alice to fill me in about Edward. But Carlisle was a different matter. And it wasn't like I had gone to him, fishing for information. He was the one who had asked to speak with me, not the other way around.

Still, a part of me felt like I was going behind Edward's back, just by being in this room, and I decided to tell him all about my encounter with Carlisle the next time saw him. Hopefully, Edward would understand that I only had his best interest in mind, and wouldn't be too upset.

One could only hope.

Carlisle leaned back into the cushions, keeping his eyes straight ahead. "Has Edward told you anything about his past?"

"Um..." I hesitated. "I know that he's adopted. And that he came to live with you about six years ago." I decided not to mention that it had been Alice and Emmett who had shared that particular information in the first place.

"Yes." Carlisle nodded in confirmation. He closed his eyes for a moment. "Bella, I realize this is none of my business, and you have every right to be upset with me for asking, but I need to know. What are your feelings towards Edward? What are your intentions? Are you planning to stick around? Or will you move on tomorrow, or next week? Because in that case-"

"Hold on, just a minute," I interrupted him, a little shocked by my sudden boldness, but quickly recovered. "Look, Carlisle, this is all new to me as well. But I really care about Edward, and I would never do anything to hurt him. I know something bad happened to him, and I hope someday he'll feel comfortable enough to tell me about it. I told him that I'm here to stay, and I meant it. Even if he won't..." I stopped abruptly, lowering my eyes in embarrassment.

But it was too late; I had already seen the realization flash across Carlisle's face. "You care for him more than just as a friend. You wish for the two of you to become something more." Stubbornly looking down at my hands, I could feel Carlisle's eyes on me as he continued in a serious voice, "Do you understand that Edward might never be able to give you what you want?"

I raised my head then, looking him right in the eyes. "What I want is for Edward to feel safe with me. To be there for him no matter what. Yes, I have feelings for him, but that's not my main reason for sticking around. Not at all. I'll be whatever he needs me to be. And if he won't be able to return my feelings, then I'll settle for just being his friend, if that means I get to be a part of his life."

Carlisle just looked at me for a long time, his eyes boring into mine, as if he was trying to see directly into my soul. To be honest, it made me feel quite awkward, but I bravely held his gaze, hoping he would find whatever he was searching for. Finally he nodded in acceptance. "You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes, I do," I stated, somehow managing to keep my voice from trembling. I couldn't afford to mess up now; too much was at stake. In that moment, nothing seemed more important than making Carlisle see how serious I was; to gain his trust and acceptance so he would let me keep seeing Edward.

I had been prepared for doubt, maybe even some kind of warning, so his next words came as a total shock to me. "Thank you." When I just blinked in surprise and confusion, Carlisle gave me a sad smile. "You're an extraordinary girl, Bella. I believe you will be good for him." He paused before adding, "In fact, I think you might be good for all of us."

I had just taken a large saucepan of steaming hot pasta off the stove, when I heard the unmistakable sound of my dad's cruiser in the driveway. A moment later, the door opened and Charlie entered the kitchen. I greeted him with a somewhat absent smile. "Hi, Dad. Dinner's almost ready."

"That's great, Bella." The lack of enthusiasm in his voice made me look up from the food I was preparing, and I turned to look at him with a frown on my face. Charlie remained by the door, looking uncomfortable, and I wondered what was bothering him. It turned out I was about to find out. "Listen, I got a quite disturbing phonecall from school..."

Oh, crap! This can't be good...

Then the full meaning of his words registered, and I stared at him in disbelief as realization hit me. "They called you at the station?! What, am I under arrest or something? Do I need a lawyer for this?"

Charlie was clearly not amused, nor did he appreciate my sarcasm. "Don't give me that smart attitude, young lady. I was told that you've been skipping classes today, and I want an explanation."

"It was one class, Dad, not plural." He opened his mouth, but I hurried on, "It was just Gym. Seriously, it's not like I actually missed something of major importance that I will need later on in life. And besides, I had a perfectly good reason for not going."

Yeah, but somehow, I doubt the argument 'I was with a guy, trying to coax him into touching me' will sit very well with Charlie. You've better come up with another explanation, unless you want him to send you straight to a convent.

"Really?" Charlie crossed his arms over his chest, obviously not convinced. "I'm all ears."

I bit my lip, thinking quickly. "A friend needed me. It was an emergency. But for what it's worth, Dad, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

"Damn right, it won't." Charlie gave me a stern look, although I could tell he was relieved that I wasn't putting up more of a fight. Because let's face it; as far as the parental responsibilities went, he was still kind of rusty. When I just nodded in agreement, he cleared his throat. "All right, then."

Letting out the breath I had been holding, I was just about to turn my attention back to the spaghetti sauce still simmering on the stove, when he spoke up again, and I realized I wasn't completely off the hook yet. "So, what was the big emergency? And who were you with? Alice?"

I hesitated for a moment, keeping my eyes on the food so I wouldn't have to look at him. "Um, yeah." It wasn't a complete lie. After all, I had been at her house. And technically, I had been with Alice. For a little while, anyway.

"Oh." He suddenly sounded concerned. "Is she all right?"

I smiled a little, knowing Charlie had always had a soft spot for Alice. He had been thrilled when he found out the two of us had become friends. "Yeah, don't worry." An idea just came to me, and I had to hide a grin. "Actually, it's about boys. I'll be happy to tell you all about it over dinner."

"Um..." Charlie paled a little, and I had to struggle to keep from laughing out loud. He was so predictable; it was like he did his best to forget that we were in fact teenagers. "No, that's okay. The less I know..." He shuddered.

"Have it your way, then." I shrugged, giving him an innocent look as I went on, "Hey, isn't there a baseball game on tonight, or something? Would you like me to set the table in the living room for you?"

"Oh, right. That would would be great, Bells, thanks." Charlie went over to the fridge and grabbed a beer before hurrying out of the room. I chuckled to myself. Sometimes, it was just too easy.

EPOV

I stubbornly stayed in my room until I heard Carlisle's Mercedes drive off outside, knowing he was going to the hospital. I suspected he had been hoping for me to come downstairs before he left, wanting to finish our conversation from earlier and - most definitely - question me about Bella. And that was not something I was ready for.

Strangely enough, the fact that Carlisle had walked in on me and Bella holding hands didn't bother me as much as I had expected, but that didn't mean I wanted to talk about it. Nor did I feel up to keep discussing my reasons for beating the crap out of Mike fucking Newton at school.

As for Bella, I still had a hard time taking in the fact that I had exposed myself so completely. But there was just something about her voice, her gentle touch, her very presence, that made me feel safe. And all of the sudden, I had realized that I desperately wanted to trust her, wanted to believe that she really wasn't going anywhere. That she wouldn't leave me.

So I had let my guard down - which had to be either the bravest, or the most reckless thing I had ever done in my life - and taken her hand.

Now I left my room and headed for the stairs, intending to go out for a smoke. I still felt apprehensive about tomorrow, knowing words about my fight with Newton would be all over school. The mere thought of being the center of attention like that made me cringe, but I realized it was unavoidable. For a moment, I wished I had gotten suspended after all.

Of course, then I wouldn't get to see Bella. And right now, that was the one thing that kept me going.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost walked straight into Emmett, who I met in the hallway. His eyes widened when he spotted me, and I realized I was not the only one who hadn't been paying attention. Ignoring him completely, I was just about to step past him when he suddenly spoke up, "You realize people are gonna talk, don't you?"

Stopping abruptly, I spun around and glared at him. "So, what else is new? Really think I give a fuck what other people are saying about me?"

He shrugged, folding his arms across his chest. "You think Bella feels the same way?"

My eyes narrowed. "What the hell does Bella have to do with this?"

"Oh, I don't know." Emmett rolled his eyes. "But I bet there are already some rather interesting theories and speculations going around. Hell, the girl defended you in front of practically the whole damn school. Now tell me, how often does something like that happen?"

I clenched my fists in anger. "I never fucking asked her to do that! Why do you care, anyway?"

"I don't. I'm just saying..." He let out a frustrated sigh. "Man, why do you always have to be like this? I'm not deliberately trying to be a dick, here."

I snorted. "Really? Could've fooled me."

He was quiet for a moment. Then he shook his head in irritation. "Not sure why I even bother. Seriously, I just wanted to make sure you're prepared for what's coming. Tell me something, Edward. Would it kill you not to be a complete ass every time I open my mouth?" With that, he turned around and walked away, muttering to himself. And I was left to stare after him in bewilderment.