I'm really really really really really really really really really SORRY! I've been busy lately, as usual, and I just haven't found the right mood to pick up the keyboard. Again, I'm very sorry about this whole mess. I've been really selfish for not updating for two months and I hope that this phase of anti-keyboard will end soon so that I can get back to writing about this smexy vampire CARLISLE CULLEN!

SO here is a little TINY TINY chapter to hold you guys over until I can get the next one out. Sorry about the cliffhanger, but you know how Tom Sawyer says, "in order to make someone want something, you just have to make it hard to get." Actually… that's really mean… o_o nevermind! I'll be nice and not give so many cliffhangers anymore!

Sorry, again, love rayray xoxo…

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Stuck Between a Vampire and a Hard Place

Chapter 37: Intruder

After a rather odd car ride back to the Cullens, I sat there motionless in the fine leather coated vehicle. Emmett, what on earth could be the matter? I thought in my mind. Truthfully, I was somewhat frightened to step into that house and face whatever disaster was on our doorstep. Had Alice seen an earthquake… or the rapture, in that case? Did somebody run into a terribly menacing arch nemesis? Had a death taken place? Of course, you could never rely on Emmett to give full detail in a text, but gosh-darn him, it was a curse he sent me. I couldn't let panic take over my emotions just yet, but it was Emmett who informed me- the master of dirty pranks. I wouldn't trust my life with the boy, so I came to the next conclusion that perhaps it really was just a joke. Either way, joke or reality, I had a very bad feeling about this.

I shook my head in denial to the fact that this was anything minor. If this was a dangerous mishap, then apparently, Emmett was the only one who could have pulled through it with enough heart to tell Carlisle and I about it first. If this was an accident, then Emmett most likely was the only one with enough guts to warn us not to overreact. If this was a joke… Emmett was the only one who could bear to trick us. Emmett this, Emmett that… what if this had nothing to do with him?

I sighed of frustration, still to deep in thought to remove myself from the car. I feared finding out what was really happening out there, and it overwhelmed my desire to actually know. Curiosity killed the cat…

I placed a hesitant finger on the door handle. "Emmett… you'd better not be kidding."

"My sweet, if you spend any more time gossiping amongst yourself about the troubles of this and that, I can assure you that one day you will find yourself wishing that you'd spent more time conscious," Carlisle's calm and sincere voice whispered.

I shook my head and took his hand while stepping out from the car.

"My apologies Sir Cullen, I was not aware that my own thoughts were such a bothersome burden to you."

He chuckled at my remark and wrapped a possessive arm around my waist. As he began walking, I lost my breath for a short second. Surprise? No, inwardly I was just eager.

Still, I kept my breath under control even as Carlisle pushed open the heavy door into the house. Immediately I hard muffled voices echoing throughout the acoustics of the ceiling. The vampire beside me hushed his minor shuffles and movements so as not to help his own hearing, but to provide a little bit more clarity for me, which I found adorable.

"Come quickly," he ushered as he motioned towards the staircase.

Agreeing to his command, I paced up the steps without a single thought of hesitance. At this point, I began to believe that my confidence was directly related to Carlisle's stability.

"Took long enough for you two to arrive, eh, Carlisle?" Emmett smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Emmett, if this whole thing was a joke-"

"It's not." Rosalie stared at me with a burning sensation in her dark eyes. They were pitch black, almost frightening.

"What's going on?" Carlisle asked quietly.

Everyone turned to Edward who in the corner cradled a helpless, innocent, sleeping Bella in his tensed arms. The boy looked up from his indomitable trance upon his sleeping beauty. Eyes ever so black against his pale ivory skin, he stared at Carlisle and I with a passionate lust of anger.

"There's been an intruder."