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It was dark, as always, in Carlisle's office.

A bed had been added between the shelves and the books.

Angie was lying there, on this Sunday morning, her head resting on Carlisle's chest, her eyes half opened with bags under them due to a severe lack of sleep.

She was barely aware of Carlisle's arms wrapped protectively around her tiny body, but she knew he was there.

It had been two weeks now since what they called the "James incident" and still, Angie couldn't sleep.

She was playing that night in her mind over and over again. Every time she closed her eyes she was back in the reception, facing two vampires, ready to kill her at any second. She was afraid to go back to school. To walk through the hallways where she thought she was going to die.

Charlie's worry hadn't diminished, despite the story the Cullens had made up and made Angie tell the police. She never saw his face, only heard his voice, he was on the phone and left her in the reception where he thought she was unconscious. When she woke up alone she made a run for it. Ran through the parking lot until she reached a payphone and called her father.

Charlie was too relieved to question her story. Angie spent the night at the hospital. Charlie and Bella never left her side. Edward came by from time to time to update Carlisle, even though all he could say was "she's still sleeping".

She went home on Sunday afternoon, where she spent the rest of the day in bed, with Carlisle. She didn't go to school that week. She was afraid her distress would make it hard to focus and to be overwhelmed by her classmates' thoughts, once again.

The second week though, she had no excuse, and she knew if she stayed at home Charlie would worry.

Everything came back to normal… ish. She was still having lunch with Alice and Jasper, people were still staring at them even though most of the school decided to focus on Bella and Edward, who were inseparable, and, of course, Carlisle was with Angie every night, where else would he be?

Angie was exhausted. She had nightmares every time she fell asleep. Carlisle "prescribed" sleeping pills that seemed to help, but the nightmares were still happening.

It was around 9AM when Esme entered the room. She came in with a large plate which contained waffles, strawberries, hot green tea and fresh orange juice: "everything a healthy breakfast should be" she said, as if the vampire who never ate knew what she was talking about.

"You didn't have to do that," Angie yawned as she sat up.

"It's my pleasure," Esme smiled before she put the plate above the telepath's knees.

"Thank you, Esme," Carlisle tried to smile at his friend.

Esme nodded before she left the room.

"You need to eat."

"It smells good," Angie smiled weakly before she took the small fork and ate a strawberry.

Afterwards, Angie asked if she could use their bathroom and Carlisle was more than happy to draw her a bath, reminding her that Alice had bought toiletries for her, and Bella. Cherry flavor, of course.

She fell asleep in the bath, it was the best sleep she had had in two weeks. She didn't even have a nightmare.

The Cullens were determined to make her feel better and even Jasper had agreed to try and help.

"Don't cheat," he told her as they were starting a game of chess.

She was helped by Carlisle, she had never played chess and had no idea how to play that game. Of course, she lost the four games she played, but at least, she didn't cheat.

She spent the rest of the afternoon with Alice, in her bedroom, and to the vampire's delight, Angie agreed to let her dress her up and even do her makeup.

"You're gonna be so pretty," Alice shrieked as she threw a dozen dresses on the white couch of her bedroom.

Angie raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, not that you're not pretty now… 'cause you are! You're just gonna be prettier!" she added, quickly.

Angie sighed. "Can't you do this with Bella?"

"I'm still trying to get her to agree to it. Anyway, I have an idea," she started to say, but then another thought came to her mind, "here, try this one."

Alice handed a sleeveless white dress to Angie. It had rose patterns around the bottom and it was too short to cover her knees.

"See? It fits perfectly!" Alice said enthusiastically. "Anyway, I was saying, tomorrow we're gonna skip class and I'll take you shopping!"

"What?" Angie breathed out, horrified at the mere idea, "I can't skip class! My dad will kill me! We'll get in trouble!"

"Relax," Alice rolled her eyes, amused, "you're not gonna get in trouble, I already asked Charlie."

"You… you talked to my dad?" Again?

"Yeah! I told him maybe it'll do you some good, and he agreed."

"Is Bella coming too?"

"I can only handle one of you at the time," Alice chuckled. "And the best part is, Carlisle's paying."

"No," Angie disapproved immediately, "I can pay for my own clothes."

"Not where we're going shopping," Alice said, "there's nothing in those shops that cost less than three figures."

"Then, take me somewhere I can afford, Alice, or I'm not coming."

"What's your problem? It's just money," Alice whined.

"I'm not taking your money, I'm not taking Carlisle's money, okay."

"He doesn't mind! It was his idea, plus he has plenty of money."

"Keep it, I don't want it."

"You're no fun," Alice pouted. "What are we gonna tell your dad?"

Angie rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll come with you, but I will buy my own clothes and it doesn't matter if I come home empty handed. I have all I need at home anyway."

"You can't do that!" Alice said, "What's the point of you even coming?"

"Alice."

The vampire and the telepath turned their heads towards the door, where Carlisle was standing. He leaned his right shoulder against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's fine," Carlisle told his "daughter". "But you know, I really don't care about the money," he told Angie.

"I don't need your money," Angie told him, "I don't want your money."

"Little human got her pride," Alice mumbled.

"Yeah, sorry I can't be bought," Angie replied with an annoyed tone.

"We're not trying to "buy" you," Carlisle said.

"Yeah, we already got you," Alice joked.

Carlisle chuckled. He looked down when Angie shot her angry eyes at him.

"Actually, he already got me," Angie corrected Alice.

"Oh, that's right, and one day, you're gonna be my mom," Alice laughed.

Angie gasped. "Nobody will ever buy that! When are you gonna turn me, when I'm 40?"

Angie was waiting for an answer until the silence that she met with made her realize: what could they answer to that? Nobody was smiling anymore, and as time passed, awkward turned to uncomfortable.

"I mean," Angie started to say, "not that we have to talk about it," she cleared her throat.

"Yeah, no," Carlisle nodded, "we don't have to talk about it…"

"Now," Angie completed his sentence, "but uh…, yeah…, so… shopping! Sounds fun! …and uh…, your bank account's gonna make you wish you never met me," she tried to joke.

"Yay!" Alice shrieked again, which startled Angie, again. "So, it's settled! We're gonna have so much fun!"

Alice was getting excited. She hugged Angie, and as the telepath hugged her back she looked back at the door, and Carlisle was gone.