Everyone watched us as we walked together to our lab table in Biology II. I noticed that he no longer angled the chair to sit as far from me as the desk would allow. Instead, he sat quite close beside me, our arms almost touching. It brought a small smile to my lips since he wasn't distancing himself from me like usual. I wanted to know more about his kind of vampires. And I'm sure he wanted to know more about the kind I had lived with for the past two years.

Our skin accidentally touched while Mr. Banner put a VHS tape into the VCR, vaguely causing me to wonder why he wasn't using a DVD like the rest of the human race. Then, as my arm touched his, a faint electric current surged through me, causing me to gently pull away in confusion and awe. The hour seemed very long. I couldn't concentrate on the movie. I didn't even know what subject it was on. I tried unsuccessfully to relax, but the electric current that seemed to be originating from somewhere in his body never slackened. Occasionally I would permit myself a quick glance in his direction, but he never seemed to relax, either.

When the light turned back on and people started talking again, Edward looked over at me, still tense. "You need to relax, Edward. You're in control" I muttered quietly, knowing he could hear me.

"You don't know that" He replied just as quietly.

I sighed and packed up my bag, thinking as the bell rang. I swung the strap over my shoulder and headed out of the room, Edward following gracefully behind me. My phone rang, and I pulled it out, slipping into an empty classroom and closing the door after Edward entered, looking at me with a concerned expression.

I answered my phone and held it to my ear, pacing a little. "Damon, hey, is everything okay? How are things with Elena going?"

"Same as usual. She's being... complicated" Damon let out a heavy sigh. "I was just worried about you. You're on the other side of the country"

"Yeah, I am, but I'm fine. And I know everyone is busy, but could you ask Care or Bon to call me sometime? I miss them too, you know" I sat on top of a desk and listened for a response.

"Yeah, I will. I really wish you were here, but it is safer for you there. We are going to find the cure and help Elena. I promise you, I will get the sister you know and love back."

I sniffled, a smile forming on my face. "Thank you, Damon"

"Of course, Isa. You might not hear from me for a while, though. I'm gonna be pretty busy" Damon said

I took a deep breath and nodded. "It's okay. I can take care of myself"

"I know... Bye, sis"

Damon hung up the phone, and I sighed softly, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

"Are you alright?" Edward questioned, looking at her.

"Not really" I muttered and buried my face in his chest.

Edward tensed, pushing me away. "I'm sorry, but I can't. Your scent is too... alluring. Too... appealing."

"I'm not afraid of you," I said firmly, looking at him. I didn't understand how he could be so caring yet so incredibly distant. Especially since distance was by far the last thing I needed right now.

"I am. And you should be"

"Forget it. The last thing I want is to be alone, and I care about you and want to get to know you, but apparently, you don't want that" I shoved past him and went out of the classroom, walking out of the school.

Edward was suddenly in front of me. "Don't go. Please."

"I want to go home" I said, going around him. "But I can't so I'm going to Uncle Charlie's house."

"I drove you. Let me at least drive you home"

"I thought my scent was too alluring. Too appealing" I rolled my eyes.

"Please just talk to me" Edward said.

I sighed softly and rubbed my eyes, thinking. "Drive me. I'm too exhausted to walk"

The golden eyed, bronze haired vampire led me to his bright, silver Volvo and opened the door for me. I climbed in and held the strap of the bag that sat on my lap. I leaned back, closing my brown eyes as Edward got in the driver's seat.

"Why are you helping me? I don't understand. You want to be close and yet you push me away all the time. You are so confusing, Edward Cullen."

Edward started driving. "I want to be your friend, Bella. I want to be more than friends. I care about you even though I shouldn't. But your scent... It's like a drug to me. It's hard to explain, but... Emmett calls it a singer. He's had it twice before and killed them both on sight. It's like you're my own personal brand of heroine."

"Interesting. There isn't such a thing as that with the kind of vampires in Mystic Falls."

"I really want to learn more about that kind" The Cold One said as he looked at me.

"I'll tell you whatever you want when we get to my house, right now, I just need to think"

And then it went silent as he drove to my current residence. I looked out of the window, thoughts flooding through my head. What was going to happen? Between the Cold Ones and Elena, I was lucky if everything went great. I tucked my hair behind my ear and sighed softly. Hopefully things would go well.

Soon, we arrived at my house, and I led him upstairs to where my bedroom was. The spring dance was tomorrow, and Edward was my ride to Seattle. That is, if he still wanted to be. I took a seat on my bed and patted the spot next to me.

"I can't" Edward said, inhaling sharply as he looked at me.

"I'm not seducing you. Just take a seat" I said.

Edward hesitated and shook his head.

I shrugged lightly. "Your loss."

In reality, Though, it was like he was clenching my heart. My throat felt like it was closing up to where I can't breathe. The only person I had was distancing himself. But I couldn't acknowledge that. I was stronger than that. I had to be after all I had been through. Life had kept trying to beat me down for the past three years. I had even contemplated on doing drugs like Jeremy had. It felt like a tsunami, threatening to crash down on me and swallow me up whole. No matter who was around me, it felt like I was utterly alone, aching for my parents that would never come back. Not even in the world of the supernatural.

Edward took a seat across from me in the chair that was in front of my desk. "So..." He looked hesitant as he thought. "I was thinking... Perhaps you could meet my family. Officially, I mean. Alice already adores you. And Emmett thinks you're adorable"

"You want me to meet your family?" I questioned incredulously.

"I mean, you don't have to, of course. It was a ridiculous idea" He looked away from me, swallowing hard as he finished speaking.

I rose from my spot on the bed. "You complain about me putting myself in danger and being around you, yet you want me to meet your family? You are extremely confusing, Edward Cullen"

Edward opened his mouth to speak, confusion etched across his face as he looked stunned. However, before he could say a word, my cellphone rang. My head lowered as I pulled out my phone and flipped it open, looking at the caller ID. It was none other than Caroline Forbes, who hadn't called once since my departure.

I quickly answered my phone. "Caroline?" I questioned, confusion etched in my voice. "Look who finally decided to call"

"Hey, Bella." Caroline said. "Sorry I haven't called. Life has been busy, especially dealing with Elena. And I did not want to interrupt you settling in"

"Settling in? It has been over a month" I frowned, holding the phone to my ear.

"I know. I know. I just... truthfully, I haven't wanted to talk to anyone." The blonde vampire let out a sigh.

I opened my mouth to speak, but instead Edward said, "Do you want me to go?"

"Wait, whose hot and handsome and very melodic voice do I hear in the room with you? Is he in your bedroom?" She almost squealed at the thought.

I shook my head as I looked at Edward. "Yes, we are in my room. No, it's not what you think. And his name is Edward. He saved my life while I was here."

"Saved your life?"

"A car almost hit me"

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Caroline asked, panic evident in her voice.

I laughed weakly. "I'm okay. I'm okay. He helped get me out of the way"

"Why am I not surprised? You almost die no matter where you are"

"Anyways, like I said, he's in my room, and I don't want to keep him waiting" I told her.

I could practically hear the smirk in her voice as she said, 'Oh I'm sure you don't"

"Shut up!" A faint laugh escaped my lips as a twitch of a smile formed. She wasn't as close to me as she was my sister, but she was still my friend who I have known my whole life. "Not like that. I gotta go. Talk to you later"

"Okay. Make sure to text me the details!" Caroline exclaimed before the phone was disconnected.

I lowered my phone as my smile fell, the mask washing away with it. My eyes fell on Edward. "Sorry about that. She gets a bit excited, and I haven't talked to her in over a month."

"You shouldn't have stopped talking to her because I'm here" Edward said, looking at me. "I could have left"

"I didn't want you to leave. Right now, you're the only one I have left. The only one I have here"

I looked down, blinking back the tears that had been threatening to swallow me whole for the past two years. Suddenly, one escaped the corner of my eye, surprising me since I wasn't generally a crier. I supposed everything was hitting me at once, and it was suffocating me. The loss of my parents, the loss of my brother, the loss of my sister's humanity. The absence of friends. The loss of my aunt and uncle. It was a lot to bare, and eventually I have occasional breakdowns.

An icy chill ran through me as a thumb as cold as ice wiped away the tear, causing me to sniffle a weak smile. "I'm sorry for being a complete wreck. Life hasn't exactly been easy for me. And yes, I would love to meet your family. As long as you help me with my history homework, Mr. Vampire"

"I think I can manage that" Edward said and smiled as he looked at me.

"Good" I said quietly, my eyes lowering to my lap as I struggled to get it together.

Suddenly a body was next to me, pulling me into a hug. I looked up, and my eyes found Edward's. He was not breathing in order to better control himself. I almost pushed him away to make it easier on him, but instead I accepted the well needed embrace. My eyes closed as I leaned on Edward. He was struggling but managed to hold himself together for the sake of my comfort. Everything else in the world, all of its problems, disappeared in the blink of an eye, and it was just the two of us.

And the door opened, revealing Uncle Charlie..