Charlie was already gone when I woke up. He'd claimed the night before that people did stupid things the snowier it got. I had to sit through his worry that I was prepared to drive through the inevitable ice that would form overnight. I prepared myself for the worst, leaving early to take care of 'The Beast' only to find out that Charlie scraped the ice off my window at some point.

I didn't know what to do for a second. My heart hurt. I didn't even have to ask for him to do this. He just did it, so I didn't have to. I blinked back the stinging in my eyes and opened the truck door. Starting to heat the engine and the interior of the truck. I didn't know how hard it'd be learning to be cared for. The newness of it all was what was making me feel so… off. I just didn't know what to do with all that emotion. I decided when I finished school. I'd do something to show how grateful I was.

Charlie lost some of his nervousness from living with me. I don't think he expected me to be as invested in living here as I was. He was smiling more, joking, actually relaxing after work. It wasn't hard to see that he took the barest amount of care of himself, placing most of his energy in his job or Billy or Harry.

Really, Charlie was a nurturer. I even spotted him trying to tend to my plants. He was the polar opposite of Renee, and the more I compared them, Charlie just showed how much more consistent he was. I almost didn't trust it. I had to drill into my head, Charlie is my Dad, just let him be a Dad. That meant he asked about my homework, wondered if I liked my classes, and quizzed me on what music kids these days were into (what I was into.) As dumb as it was, Renee never asked me these questions, and neither had Phil, the fact that Charlie cared enough to ask made me sad because maybe it shouldn't have been so new to me.

I'd already felt embarrassed, catching myself reminding him yesterday which bills were due. Charlie, to his credit, didn't say anything out loud, but his thoughts were honest. He thought I grew up too fast and that Renee being such a free spirit made me lose out on being a kid. He was perceptive. I hadn't given him nearly enough credit.

I'd forgotten that he worked his way up to Chief even in a tiny town. He learned what my sore spots were pretty quick. But I also knew his sore spots, and it wasn't like he could hide what he felt around me. So just like him, I didn't push too hard, especially when it came to Renee, his parents, or his life choices. So despite cleaning the old items in the house, even if they weren't 'heavy' anymore, they still might bring him pain — I would have to wait longer before adding them to the house.

I put the truck in reverse, hearing her roar angrily in the cold. Driving slowly down the street, I switched gears and wondered how today would go. I wasn't lying to myself. I wanted to talk to Edward, see if I could understand what he'd meant in his dream. See if his eyes looked golder than yesterday.

It was interesting being preoccupied with a boy. Like I was almost normal, even if the circumstances were anything but. But this wasn't Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I could barely control myself when he was talking to me before, and something told me he'd find a way to get under my skin. Last night I laid in bed thinking about the meadow, feeling lips on my ― I shook the thought from my head. It wasn't him — it was just a dream.

Besides, I had my hands full with Mike and Eric, who often thought about what they'd rather be doing with me. The scenarios were harder to pull out of, with how vivid they thought. I tried to give them their privacy, but knowing I played a starring role in those fantasies was hard. Especially when I seemed to be an extension of myself, I'd have to handle it eventually, but I didn't know which reaction would be worse. Nothing screamed 'what a weirdo' like having the new girl break up with people she wasn't even dating.

I was still going slower than I wanted. I came back to Edward. It was easier to think about him. After all, it was hard to judge his thoughts when I didn't know them. In the time it took for me to come to school, I'd combed through our interactions and wondered why it had to be him, why was he silent? I was unsettled because it was so unexpected — to be interested in someone — so much that I almost forgot why I came to Forks. But I couldn't stop myself. I wanted to know more.

I pulled into the parking lot, moving painfully slow as some students found their footing on a slushy sidewalk. I pulled into a spot, glad I'd made it without an accidental fender bender two weeks into moving. Renee would be sure to swoop down at the first sign of an accident, saying it was unsafe and I should stay with her and Phil. I still hadn't called her, keeping everything strictly over email. But I couldn't handle that for much longer. She'd started writing that she missed my voice.

I grabbed my backpack and got out of my truck. Walking carefully over the ice in boots that I'd thought would do well. I was a little off, sliding my hand on my car like a rail towards the back of the truck bed. Then I paused, looking at my rear tires, chains. Charlie put chains on my tires. I stopped and wondered how I could miss that.

"No!" Someone shouted behind me. I glanced up, looking across the lot to see Edward Cullen and his sister. Her eyes were wide, and Edward was looking at her with a shocked expression before he turned to me with the most horror-filled gaze I'd ever seen.

A high-pitched ear-splitting wail blared out across the parking lot — I looked up, a giant dark blue van was skidded across the icy blacktop, coming directly at me. I felt frozen, Like a deer in headlights. Unlike the movies, it wasn't in slow motion. In the narrow window of time for thought, I breathed out a small, "Oh."

Just before I could raise my hands, I was struck hard from the right side. My head cracking against the ground. I saw stars—something cold and solid wrapped around me. The van hadn't stopped contacting — shattering into the bed of my truck. The sound deafening — and the van started spinning around to slam into me. I didn't think, just moved my arms out as if I were holding a shield. The van cracked, rocked against my magic, giving me a glimpse into a pale gold aura that fizzled out as the thing at my back dug into my truck.

I let my arms fall to my sides, and then I was gasping. I didn't have time to process anything else before I was dragged again to the side. A curse sounded from behind me. I'd gone lax, my legs swinging like a marionette, the van rocked back down, slamming where my legs were, glass rained down across the ground. Then finally, it stopped.

Dead silence. I couldn't — didn't know what happened. I was being held, breathing into a jacket that smelled floral. One second was all it took before screaming filled the lot. I felt dozens of thoughts fill my head with absolute madness. But it lasted only a second as Edward's voice cut through everything, low, frantic.

"Bella? Are you hurt?"

"Edward?" My voice sounded odd, slurred. I looked at the van, my truck, him. "I'm fine."

He shook his head, his hands still clenched into my coat, "you hit your head pretty hard."

I nodded. I hadn't looked at him yet, frozen into the lapel of his jacket. "I'm going to try to move now."

"Easy," he said, cold hand cradling my head.

I pulled away, blinking into his eyes, eyes that comically had gotten wider. I ignored his look, fighting the urge to roll my head, looking at the metal cave we'd both created with our bodies, then back at him, "How― You got to me so quickly, how did you do that?"

He was still silent, staring into my eyes. At my question, a bit of himself returned, and he shook his head. "I was standing―"

"Don't. Don't lie." I grabbed his wrist. Knowing, feeling like I knew what he'd say. "Please."

His gaze was resolute, and he continued as if he hadn't been interrupted, "I was standing right next to you, Bella."

"Stop —" I demanded, "How?"

Now his eyes narrowed. "I was right here."

"No. You can't do this to me, please." I felt my eyes water. He didn't understand, couldn't. He had to have seen my magic, there was no way he didn't, but he all but — must have flown to me with how fast he got to me. I didn't want to be lied to,

He swallowed, running his hand over my hair, resting at my neck. "Your eyes are green."

I shut them and let out a hollow laugh. "Of course they are." I opened them again, pleading. "Please, can we talk about this later?" I was asking a lot from him, but I needed to protect my secret, and if he had one too, maybe I could swear to keep it to myself.

His expression was harsh, but he'd nodded, and that was enough for me. That was then when they found us. The crowd's chatter and tear-streamed pale faces got louder as one person screamed out that we were alive. Both of us huddling together. Someone, Coach Clapp, was directing people to get Tyler out of the van. Another said we couldn't move.

I still couldn't believe he saw me use magic. It was hard to ignore that. Meanwhile, he'd been unaffected by my truck, a dent where his back had been proved that. It took several EMTs and Coach Clapp and Mr. Varner to move the van. Edward told the EMTs I'd hit my head and might have a concussion. They placed a neck brace on me and put me on a stretcher. I was incredibly uncomfortable, as what felt like the entire student body was watching me be carted into the ambulance.

That was when Charlie arrived, "Bella!" He shouted when he saw me on the stretcher. No. No. No— No!

"Hi, Dad." His fear and worry washed over me like a tidal wave. "It's okay. I'm alright."

"How can you be alright?" His voice was still too loud, and I winced. He lowered his tone, standing near the stretcher, his voice cracked, and he looked just as uncomfortable as I felt. He looked over at the van near my truck, and I could see his thoughts churning, playing horrifying images. I patted his arm, bringing him back to me.

"Hey, Dad. I'm right here. I'm fine."

He cleared his throat, "I'm going to go talk to Brett." He pulled himself away, eyeing me as they placed me in the back of the ambulance.

"Easy now," An EMT said.

I had no choice but to lay there being jostled around while Edward was taken to the front of the ambulance. Charlie talked to the EMTs, asking how serious my condition was, what had happened, and where Tyler was. The last thing I saw before the door closed was his family's expressions. Only one looked worried. The other's faces were painted with disapproval or fury. It occurred to me then, Edwards's secrets probably weren't just his to keep.

The police escorted us to the hospital, not that it was that far away or even necessary. They parked then pulled me out to see a building smaller than I imagined. The light blue building with a triangular roof had two separate parking lots. It had smaller buildings attached that had been added on later made of brown brick, I wondered where the upgrade came from, and I better understood what Charlie had meant when he said they were lucky to have Dr. Carlisle.

Edward sailed through the doors ahead of me while I was carted in the opposite direction to the emergency room. A long line of five beds spaced across the wall. Long blue curtains separated the area between the beds. Two nurses had obviously been expecting us and followed my gurney to a bed in the middle. Swan's daughter can at least put on a brave face. Good for her. One of them thought while taking my temperature while the other put a pressure cuff on my arm.

No one closed the curtain as they left, and I felt it was acceptable to remove my neck brace. Tyler Crowley from my Government class was driven in and placed to the bed beside mine. His injuries were serious. A bandage wrapped around his head, and his arm was in a sling. He was in a state of disbelief, staring at me anxiously.

"Bella, I'm so sorry!" Oh god, I thought I was going to kill her, "I hit the ice wrong, then I was just going too fast. I tried to stop really―"

"It's okay, Tyler, we're all fine," I said as evenly as I could.

"How can it be fine! I almost killed you." He started to cry tears of frustration. Looking this way and that, Can I even play basketball anymore? My arms shoot. "I can't― I don't― How did you get out of the way?"

Remembering his lie, I just said, "Edward pulled me out of the way."

"Edward? He wasn't there, just you." He said, looking into my eyes, "It was just you."

I swallowed. "No, he was standing next to me." I kept my voice even, a bit of magic leaking into my words, and then Tyler relaxed.

"You're right, god how could I forget." He said, and I felt sick. "Is he okay too?"

I couldn't believe I just did that, oh god. I felt my stomach seize, and I rolled quickly to the side of the bed to grab a trash can. I threw up bile, so unfocused and gross that I didn't register a nurse had come over to rub my back.

I'd changed his memory for Edwards's secret, did something I hated just to― tears stung my eyes. It had been so easy. I felt like a monster. The nurse placed me back down on the bed, explaining that they had to X-ray my head. I probably looked a mess, but I nodded, wanting to be away from Tyler. Tyler, who was apologizing with every breath. Who now thought he'd almost killed two people instead of one.

"Sorry, Tyler." I said, "I'm just going to close my eyes and rest." His voice quieted after that.

People were moving around the ER at a steady pace. Focused on what to do for us, or more specifically, Tyler. I was comforted that they moved this way for everybody—the machines churning away with the occasional beep.

I felt someone at the foot of my bed, and I opened my eyes, Edward. He was thinking hard about something while he looked at me.

"Edward, oh my god, man, I can't believe I almost hit you." Tyler jutted forward, wincing as he had a new person to apologize to. I took a sharp breath and turned to the side. Even as Edward slowly looked over Tyler, more questions were in his expression.

"You did the best you could in the situation." He looked back at me. "Besides, we didn't get hurt." Tyler opened his mouth to say more but was silenced by Edward lifting his hand to stop him. "Really, we know how sorry you are. You should rest." then to me, he asked, "what's the verdict?"

"I got an X-ray. Other than that, I'm fine." I shrugged.

"She threw up earlier."

Edward looked almost worried, and I shook my head. Keeping the bitterness from my tone. "Thank's Tyler. It's fine. It's not my head or anything."

"Something else?" His eyes narrowed slightly.

"It's nothing. Besides, why aren't you laying down next to us?"

"I live with the doctor," he grinned, "not to worry, I told him to go easy on you."

"Edward exaggerates," A voice light and firm stated. A young man, younger than I expected for his father, walked up. His hair was thick and blond, combed and styled as if he worked in the city. He was incredibly handsome, pale with the same honey-colored eyes with slightly shadowed bags as if he was tired, but otherwise, one wouldn't be able to tell with the way he held himself. "So, Miss Swan, how are we feeling?"

"I'm fine, really." I insisted. I threw a look at both Edward and Tyler, daring them to say something.

Dr. Cullen asked if he could examine my head, and I nodded. He tilted my head to the side, cold fingers trailing through to find where I was tender. My breathing sped up at one area, and he eyed my face, "Tender?"

"A little, but I hadn't noticed till now." Edwards's eyes narrowed more, looking at me with a furrow in his brow. "I know how to take care of myself."

If I didn't know any better, I'd say he scoffed. Dr. Cullen looked at Edward, seemingly catching the same expression I did. They seemed to be communicating with a look. Dr. Cullen's thoughts were hard for me to make out. I caught some of his static. Injured― she'll be fine but― concussion― risk? I let it drop, my head flaring up with a sharp pain at my temples—simple doctor jargon.

Dr. Cullen stepped away from me, snapping off and disposing of a pair of gloves before grabbing another pair to put on, presumably for Tyler, "Well, Miss Swan, you can go home. But you need to take it easy and get some rest. Any dizziness, anything at all, and I expect to see you back here."

I sighed, "understood. I'm guessing school is out of the question."

"Actually, it's my understanding a good portion of the students are here."

"What?" Oh god, I looked to Edward. My expression must have shown my horror because he seemed genuinely concerned. I swallowed. "Nevermind." How was I supposed to handle all the noise and chatter? Most days, it was enough to give me a migraine, but I don't know if I could handle this.

"Do you want to stay?" Dr. Cullen asked.

"No―" I wanted to go home, lay in bed, panic about what happened in silence. I doubted that'd happen, but I could dream. I stood slowly, moving around the bed, Dr. Cullen braced in case I stumbled. When I didn't, he still didn't look any less alert. "I can handle it." I hoped.

"You've been fortunate, Miss Swan." He stepped around, standing next to Edward at Tyler's bed, "take some Tylenol if you need it."

"Okay." My gaze shot to Edward.

Dr. Cullen shifted, seeming to pay no attention to Edward and my interaction. He began to look at Tylers cuts. At the same time, I debated whether the talk between Edward and I needed to happen here or elsewhere. It felt like forever before I uttered, "Can we talk?"

He nodded, stiff. He looked back at his father and then walked with me until we got to a long hallway. It overlooked a garden that looked like it didn't belong here. He opened his mouth to speak, but I held a hand out to stop him. Wincing past the pain, I made sure we weren't around anyone else. After a second of not hearing anything or feeling other, I dropped my hand, and he spoke.

"What are you doing?"

"Just making sure," I said.

"I don't understand."

I huffed, leaning against the wall. "I know." He was tense, coiled tight. "Tyler will remember you standing next to me."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly that. Tyler will keep up the story that you were standing right next to me." I said, my voice tinged with guilt, but I had to own what I did.

"And how did you do that?" His voice was low, and I was tired.

"Would you believe me if I said I didn't really know how I did it? I just did."

"I find that very hard to believe."

"But it's what happened, and I can't change it." Then I laughed, "not that I ever tried. You stopped the van from crushing me."

"Well, you returned the favor." he challenged.

"I doubt you would have been crushed so easily." I shot back.

His voice was cold, detached. "It's not like anyone would believe you."

My face grew hot. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

I narrowed my eyes at him, anger wheeling up in my chest. "You think that after you saved me, I'd go telling everyone how you did it?"

His expression went from surprise to suspicion. "I can't help it. I have secrets that need to be kept."

"The feeling is mutual." I bit out the words trying to calm myself. I could understand his fear. Whatever the secret was, it concerned his entire family. His nostrils flared, and he clenched one of his hands. He looked like he was in pain, then it was gone.

"So that thing that you did―" he said, and I glared at him. "Does it happen often?"

"Why do you care?"

"I don't know." He quieted, then looked away.

"Listen, I know what it's like having secrets," I said. "And I get the feeling that this is about more than you. Considering you could have let me die― thank you for saving me."

His throat bobbed, and he closed his eyes, breathing through his nose. "You're welcome."

I smiled, nodded, then turned on my heel to leave. Stopping for a second. It was a selfish request, but I felt it was necessary for the current situation. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"What?"

"Can you stand beside the waiting room door? You don't need to go through it. Just be near enough."

"Why?"

Because you're quiet. Because if you don't, I don't know how I could face a sea of voices that would drown me. I shook my head, "It's a secret."

At this point, I'd started to make out the silent looks we shot each other. He was at war with himself, he wanted to leave, but he also wanted to see where this was going. He was just as curious about me as I'd been about him. "Yes, I can do that."

My shoulders sagged with relief, and I focused on him as we walked down the hallway toward the lobby. He stood back facing one of the double-sided doors, watching me as I took a breath and opened one side. A sea of eyes turned to look at me. People shouting in surprise and jumping to their feet. I recognized some of them, but Dr. Cullen hadn't been kidding when he said most of the school must be here.

Charlie hopped to his feet and was over to me in a couple of strides. Grabbing my forearms lightly, he asked, "Everythings okay?"

"Mm-hmm." then, looking around, I said, hoping this was the last time. "we're okay. Everything is fine."

Charlie put an arm around my back, and again I was grateful. I was grateful I was alive, glad that Edward was made of steel, and happy that Tyler wasn't too badly hurt. I sagged against him. With every step, my focus on Edward faded till we were out of the room and Charlie was preparing to open his cruiser door for me. Edward had stayed long enough for me to escape. I'd have to thank him again later when I got the chance.

We got into the cruiser, and Charlie started the car while I put on a seatbelt and stared at the rain running down the window and mixing with the snow.

"So," Charlie cleared his throat. "Um… you're going to have to call Renee when you get a chance."

"Oh, Dad. You didn't." My voice cracked.

"I'm sorry, Bells, you know I had to let her know."

I let out a choked sound—something I never made before. Charlie was white-knuckling the wheel while I curled up inside myself. It wasn't till we turned down the long street towards our house that I found the will to speak. "Thank you for the tire chains."

I hiccupped, a tear escaping before I could blink it back. Charlie pulled the car over a second later. He hunched over on the wheel, rubbing his eyes with his palms as his body shook back silent sobs.