CHAPTER 26

EDWARD'S POV.

Christine was waiting for me when I got home. She was sitting in my armchair reading a book; she looked up when I went into the living room.

"I know what you are about to say, but before you say anything, hear me out, OK?" she stood up and stood directly in front of me.

"I said those things to Bella because it's nothing but the truth. You deserve more than a human girl who will break your heart, Edward." I gave a bark of humourless laughter. Was she trying to talk me out of loving Bella?

"I'm not trying to talk you out of anything, Edward. What I'm trying to say is: keep your options open. Don't get tied down now. You have the rest of eternity in front of you."

"Look Christine, I've been in this world for the past 120 years. I think it's time I settle down"

"Oh yeah? And tell me, how are you going to do that?" my eyes narrowed and my fists clenched. She was right of course. Bella was going to die someday and what was I going to be left with? My heart broken into thousands of irreparable pieces.

"See? You know so yourself, Edward. You can't fall for a human! It's against nature."

"No, we are against nature. Creatures like us shouldn't exist." She winced at the truth in my voice.

"You don't mean that."

"Maybe, maybe not." I turned towards the door when she stopped me again.

"Did you forget everything? Everything you promised me that night?" she whispered. Anger bubbled inside me. How dare she bring this up now? The breath caught in my throat and the familiar flow of venom flooded my mouth. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes; trying to push down the sea of red I saw swimming in front of my eyes.

"That night . . . meant nothing to me. You were controlling my mind, Christine, and you know it. Whatever I said to you was not intentional. It was all an illusion for you. You were making me say those things because you wanted it so badly. As I said, it meant nothing to me and never will." Christine gasped. Urgh, couldn't she have gone hunting with Tanya and my family? Oh no, she had to make my life hell, one way or another. She had to make me look like I was the bad guy all along when really, she was the bad one. She had been controlling my mind that night, and held it against me when I wouldn't do what she wanted. This time I was going to listen to myself.

Carlisle didn't know anything about what happened with Christine. That was fine, otherwise he'd know if I was losing my temper. He would want to know why and I couldn't explain that to him. Alice was always in my head these days, which nauseated me as I wanted time alone to think about a few things.

Why did Bella's friend, Isaac look so familiar?

Why was Bella so scared of losing me?

She's scared of losing you because you are too real. Alice had said to me, via her thoughts.

What do you want Alice?

Nothing!

Then get out of my head. I want to be alone.

Nobody wants to be alone, Edward.

I DO! If anybody knew what was going on in my head, I would be locked p in a padded cellar before I could say anything. Bella had found a job at Newton's (of course) so I couldn't see her from eight until six.

"You can come in the shop, Edward. They're not going to bite your head off. Or maybe you could come when it's my break."

"Mmm, maybe I will. I don't know Bella. I don't like Mike, so I don't see the point of a fight." She had sighed and looked away. She couldn't understand what it felt for me, being around a human I disliked. She did her best to understand but it was hard, I could see it in her eyes. She shrugged and said, "Whatever. Do what you want."

"Aw, love, you know you'll see me tonight."

"OK." She had said and got out of the car, heading for Newton's where Mike was waiting eagerly.

Fine, Edward. You know, you've changed a lot since Christine came, is everything OK?

Yes. Everything is fine, Alice. Thank you. Everything was silent in my head after that. What I really hated about school holidays was the boredom. Us vampires could do hardly anything without being careful.

Lie. We could go to the movies, go shopping (No thanks, but Alice would LOVE that) and do lots of things. But deep down we were bored and the only thing we could do to satisfy that boredom was feeding. We couldn't feed that much or we could a) be found out and b) turn into something more powerful and monstrous than we already are.

So I decided to do some research.

Bella had told me little about Isaac Grey. She didn't know much about him except that he had been adopted with other seven sisters and two brothers, she knew he was from Italy and that's about it.

I lay on my bed and let my mind wander through the town to Port Angeles . . .

"Jesse! You said we were leaving last night!" Isaac yelled.

"Wow. Why are you so eager? It's not like you have a girlfriend back in Phoenix." Josh laughed.

"No, but . . . I don't like this place. It freaks me out."

"Riiiiiight. Why?" Jesse's eyes lit up.

"I don't know. And anyway, I don't like that Cullen kid."

"Yeah right. He's a bit freaky isn't he? It's like he knew what we were going to say at all times." Josh grunted from the sofa.

"Could you please shut up about the Cullen kid? Just the thought of him makes me want to go and punch his lights out." I laugh silently.

"I miss Bella." Adam whispered.

"Don't we all?" Josh snapped.

"Did you have to be so hard on her? She didn't mean to ignore us like that." Jesse snapped right back

"Huh. Oh, man my ribs are caning." Josh yelped.

"Oh will you shut up about your damn ribs, please? We've had enough!" Paul yelled.

"Listen to ourselves! We're fighting like little kids." Isaac shouted.

"Yeah. When Bella was here, we never fought." Josh said. His voice was full of sadness. What have I done? He thought. I've ruined everything.

"Call her." Isaac urged, "Call her and tell her you're sorry." Josh smiled and gestured to Isaac to come near.

"Isaac, what will Bella say?" Isaac was silent and then whispered so low that only Josh could hear, "She'll say that she forgives you and you'll say that you love her like she was your sister. She'll laugh and it will be done." Josh sighed and gestured at the phone.

"Hand it over."

ENETER ISAAC GREY'S MIND:

Edward Cullen. A vampire? But that was impossible! I need to contact him as soon as possible. Why didn't Bella tell me? Oh yeah, she doesn't know what I am. Josh is the only human who does know. And that might be a mistake . . . . .

"Carlisle!" I yelled. Carlisle rushed into my room, saw me lying on my bed grinning up at him, and a confused expression adorned his face.

"Yes?"

"There is a vampire, in Port Angeles. He is Bella's best friend-''

"Say no more. We're going. Well . . . I'm going." He left, a happy look on his young handsome face