TODAY'S QUOTE:

Of course I talk to myself - sometimes I need expert advice.

"For the last time," I growled, trying to ignore Dad's worried face, "I've got it under control. Dr Cullen gave me meds to take, and I'm stable," I lied.

He sighed and reached out to touch my face, putting his hand on my cheek. I almost ripped it off, not at all comfortable with it, but that would kinda defeat the whole pretending that I was 100 % normal thing I had going on. Of course, it wasn't like I was actually crazy, but Dad didn't know that.

"Just, I'm worried about you," he said. "And your mother is looking for any excuse to blame you for Bella's accident. And that ballet studio fire."

"I wasn't even anywhere near her when it happened!" I lied again. "I was in Port Angeles, checking out this witchy store. They had a sale on animal sacrifice tables." Dad gave me an unimpressed look. "Why Bella thought I'd be in Phoenix I have no idea."

"Maybe because it's your house?" he asked, giving me an odd look.

"Maybe," I muttered. "Oh look, there's Rosalie."

"I don't -"

I brushed past him, cutting him off to go great Rosalie. "Hey Angel," I said, taking the coffee from her hands and bumping my hip against hers. "How's it hanging?"

She laughed sweetly, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Better than you look," she said, touching my shirt with mild distance. "You need to shower."

"I did this morning," I defended, slightly offended.

"Yes, and you still smell like smoke and ash and blood."

I rolled my eyes. "Only to you vampires," I grumbled. "Stupid extra senses."

"Not extra, just enhanced," she said.

"Same thing. How's Bella?"

"Do we have to talk about her?" Rosalie whined. She almost reminded me of a puppy, in a weird way. "She's fine. Your mother is giving her a billion buckets of love, and Edward is creepily watching over her."

"He, be nice about your brother," Esme said, walking up to us. She lightly patted Rosalie's cheek. "He almost lost his mate."

"So did Carlisle, but you don't see him being all sulky about it."

Esem pursued her lips, and I took that as my cue to leave the conversation before my name got dragged into the half-hearted argument.

I tapped on the door frame, wincing at the sight of Bella. Tubes were covering Bella's hands, bandages wrapped around her head and ribs, and a bright blue cast plastered on her leg. And yet, she and Edward were engaged on a passionate kiss that had her heart monitor beeping erratically.

"This room is disturbingly bland," I said. I walked over to the blind and pulled them open letting bright sunlight stream into the room. Edward's skin began to sparkle, and Bella pulled away from the kiss, staring adoringly at him. "Gross," I said, rolling my eyes. "Also, glad to see you're alive. Next time you stay home, kay Isabella?"

She nodded at me dopely, before screaming. "Edward! The curtains!"

"Calm down, Isabella." I pulled the string on the blinds so that they snapped shut. "He's fine, you're fine, and his sparkling is still ridiculous."

She threw a pillow at me, surprisingly hitting me for once, and I threw it back, just in time for Mother dearest to walk in.

"Morgana Swan!" she screeched. "How dare you! First you run away, then you get your sister injured by pushing her down a staircase and then you go and throw stuff at her!

"Woah, no, I did not push her down the stairs! The fact that you think I would is-"

"It's not like you've made me think of any other reasons your sister would fall down 3 flights of stairs!"

"Maybe she's just clumsy!"

"Maybe you went crazy!"

"Is it always like this?" Edward asked Bella in a would be whisper, if he wasn't so loud from shock.

"Yeah, but generally-" Mum swung her purse at me, and I only just ducked her swing. "No, there it is."

"I am your mother! You will show me the respect I deserve. And what the hell are you wearing?"

Really? She wanted to bring up my outfit? It wasn't even that gothic, or weird. It was just a borrowed black shirt from Rosalie, my boots and my jeans.

I raised an eyebrow at her, but stopped shouting. "I am… sorry mother," I said, biting back the words I longed to scream at her. " But I assure you I would never try to kill Bella. I wasn't even in Phoenix."

"Ah hah! How'd you know where she was hurt?" she asked accusingly, pointing her pointer finger at me.

"Dad told me," I said. It wasn't even a lie. "Can I go now? I'd rather be, like, anywhere else."

I didn't wait for her answer, sweeping out of the room and leaning against the wall in the hallway.

"Bella will be fine."

I jolted at Carlisle's smooth, calming voice. I turned my head to see him standing next to me.

"That's not my issue at the moment."

He sighed. "I know. Believe me, I wish I could just make your problems with your mother go away, I really do."

"I believe you."

He smiled adoringly at me. On Bella that smile was sickeningly sweet, on him, it was… something. Something nice, that made my heart almost skip a beat.

"I'm glad you're alright," he said, his voice softer. He moved closer to me, and I took a step forward. "It was kind of, what's the word? Badass, for you to take on James."

I laughed. Him swearing, even though technically he wasn't even swearing, was kinda adorable. Oh my god, what the hell is wrong with me? Since when do I think of Carlisle as 'adorable'?

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, staring straight into my eyes. Hishand cupped my cheek, and I half forgot how to breath. He leant closer, his lips just millimeters from mine.

And then I ducked, and the moment was broken. Was he about to kiss me? Without a doubt. Did I want him to kiss me? That was a lot more complicated.

"Erm, sorry," Carlisle said, partially stuttering, which was odd for a man who always seemed so articulate. "I didn't mean to make things awkward or weird, or ruin things, or-"

I cut him off. "It's fine," I said, though my voice was a little tighter than it could've been. " I'm just not ready. It's not that I don't want to kiss you, I would just rather wait?" I hated that it sounded like question. "I just don't entirely feel comfortable kissing someone who looks ten years my senior."

He nodded sadly, before seeming to perk up a bit. "I get it. I can wait. At least it's not entirely unrequited."

I thanked the gods he was so understanding. Most wouldn't be.

And we would wait. And then maybe, I'd let us be together.