Chapter 5

BELLA'S POV

I pulled on a sweater over my tank top at Edward's request before starting down the stairs. I wondered why Scott had come.

When I entered the kitchen, he was sitting in a chair, staring at his hands.

"Scott?" I asked, touching the doorframe.

He looked up, his eyes filled with sadness.

"Hey Bella. There's something I have to tell you." He stood up shakily.

"What is it?" I came to stand in front of him.

God she's pretty.

I bit my lip as Scott struggled to spit it out.

"Bella…I'm the one who told."

"What?" I took a step back.

"It's just…I was worried about you…and I just don't want you to hurt yourself."

I gaped at him.

"How could you do that?"

"My girlfriend, the one that died…she died because she starved herself to death. I just don't want someone else I care about do die that way."

"Scott, I'm not anorexic."

His eyes widened.

"Y-you're not?"

I shook my head.

"No."

"I'm sorry Bella; I just really do care about you." He stepped forward, taking a hold of my wrist. His hands were sweaty.

"It's okay." I said nervously, my eyes darting to his hand.

After awhile, he didn't let go.

"Scott, you're making me uncomfortable." I stepped back, but he didn't let go.

In an instant, Scott had fallen back into the chair. I could see Edward standing near me, his sleeves pushed up.

"She said," his eyes narrowed, "that she was uncomfortable."

Scott sat up, looking from Edward to me.

"S-sorry Bella…I…I should be g-going." He stood, and went quickly to the door.

"Bye Scott." I mumbled, watching him leave.

Edward took my shoulder, laying his cheek on the top of my head.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I don't know." I closed my eyes so I didn't have to see Scott race off in his car.

"I'll protect you." Edward whispered against my hair.

I touched his hand on my shoulder.

"I know."

EDWARD'S POV

Scott stayed far away from me, although he still hadn't broken contact with Bella. I had to hand it to him, he had guts. After I had smashed him up against a wall and thrown him into a chair, he still made a good effort to talk to Bella.

Mrs. Appleton had let up on Bella a bit, worried that she might make her faint again.

"Bella, sweetheart, are you feeling well?" Mrs. Appleton touched Bella's shoulder.

Bella sat up in her chair, shoving the picture underneath the desk.

"I'm fine, just a headache."

"Alright then."

When she had passed, Bella grinned at me.

Class is a bit nicer now.

She thinks she made you faint.

Her breath is enough to.

I laughed quietly.

After class, Bella and I headed home. We had decided to take off the rest of the day. I had promised to go hunting with Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper. Bella was going to take Charlie out to the park, and then go shopping with Esme, Alice, and Rosalie.

"You look pretty." I kissed Bella's cheek.

She was wearing a loose fitting sundress. It was completely white, with straps that hung off of her shoulders. Her hair cascaded down her back, a few pieces hanging in front.

"Thank you." She smiled, touching my face.

"I'll be back sometime tomorrow."

"Alright, have fun."

I rolled my eyes at Bella's phrase, and headed into our room.

"I'll see you tomorrow kiddo." I rubbed Charlie's head, and headed down the stairs.

BELLA'S POV

Charlie sat in the sand in front of me, playing with a bucket and shovel. No one else was at the park, so we were free to be seen in public together like this.

Edward was right – I did look very motherly with Charlie.

The other day, Edward had been sitting up in a tree with Charlie, and I had come out of the house shouting at him. I had ended up shaking the tree, and when Edward fell, I caught Charlie in my arms.

"You could have hurt him Edward Cullen!" I had shouted in his face.

"So could you." He laughed.

I leaned back against the back of the bench, sighing. It was days like these, days where I was free of school and having to put on an act, that I was happiest.

It was hard to go to school, and not act like I was married, or not act like I had a baby. I never got to wear my engagement ring, or my wedding band. Edward had bought me a chain to put them on. I always did, hiding them underneath my shirt.

Suddenly, I became aware of something, but before I could turn, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head.