Can't you see you're putting me in danger?

I thought of how I'd nearly given in to the thirst the first time I'd sat next to her. Of how I'd caught her scent and automatically started tracking her in the woods that weekend. I recalled the my own fears the day before, when I'd had to speak oh so carefully to keep Rosalie from turning her attention to Bella, and how that victory had already been snatched from me by Rosalie's notice of her today. I remembered the vision Alice had shown me, of Jasper losing his control in the cafeteria.

Yes, I was putting her in danger. Time and time again. And I couldn't even redeem myself by saying at least I'd saved her today; no, instead she'd saved herself.

After driving aimlessly for a couple of hours, I did the right, responsible thing: I headed back to the school and parked, then spent the rest of the school hours searching minds to ensure no one had been tipped off. Though quite a few people were thinking about and talking about the accident, most of them were concerned with Tyler - his van was totaled, some friends who had followed him to the hospital came back with reports of his injuries - and only had a thought or two to spare in Bella's direction, and then it was merely relief, not even slightly tinged with suspicion, that she'd not been hit.

Only two people thought about me at all. Jessica, still somewhat affected by her past crush, was glad it hadn't been her nearly crushed, but then again if that's what it took to get some alone time with me... And Mike, developing his own crush, was furious it was me who had been able to step up and "rescue" Bella when he should have been the one there for her.

Alice was the first to make it back to the car after school ended. She plopped into the front passenger seat - why the smallest of us frequently claimed the best seats was a question lost to the ages - and checked my eyes. Just making sure.

I looked away from her. Much of my dismay and shame had worn out in the hours since I dropped Bella off, but I didn't want to risk my face giving anything away.

Carlisle is going to be home, Alice continued. He treated Tyler at the hospital and wants to make sure everything is okay.

I nodded.

The passenger door opened. "Not today, pixie," Emmett said in a mock growl. Alice stuck her tongue out at him but bounced out of the seat and climbed in the back as Jasper and Rosalie approached.

So, Emmett thought as he settled into the passenger seat, exactly what happened after you took the girl home? He waggled his eyebrows at me, his mind full of possibilities. I merely rolled my eyes.

Rosalie followed Alice into the car. You know how much I hate it when you hide things from me, she thought, a sarcastic tone in her mind. Why do you bother?

Ah yes, that was the mature response I expected from her.

Jasper climbed in warily, worried that Bella's scent would still be hanging around the car. I suppose you kept the air on, to make sure her scent would fade? She's going to be a problem if things like this keep happening.

That I did not want to hear. I knew Jasper's opinions on how to take care of "problems."

Alice, probably sensing Jasper's discomfort, engaged him in quiet conversation during the car ride home about anything inconsequential she could think of, drawing Rosalie in when she could. Emmett occasionally threw a word in as well. No one tried to get me to talk, and the air in the car was heavy with a sense of waiting.

As Alice had predicted, Carlisle's car was parked in the garage. When we entered, he and Esme were seated at one end of our oval dining room table - the house was filled with normal human things, "props" we jokingly referred to them, most of which were Esme's work. She had brought an incredible talent with her hands into this life and was constantly making things, selling them under false names and front companies.

We all trailed in and seated ourselves at the table. I sat next to Esme, who immediately turned from Carlisle to embrace me. She had only been worried that I would somehow be hurt - her mothering instinct frequently forgot that we were nearly-indestructible vampires - and was concerned because the light she'd seen in my eyes this morning was now completely gone. I looked away from her, staring at the table.

Carlisle waited for us all to sit before he began. "I treated Tyler Crowley at the hospital today," he said. "He mentioned that Edward had been involved in the accident somehow. Since none of you called me or Esme I assume nothing serious happened, but I would like an explanation now." He was not angry, or even disappointed, but he was serious. The family's safety came first for him. He needed to be sure we weren't in any danger.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Rosalie spoke first. "There's something off about Isabella Swan," she said. "And dear Edward has been keeping quiet about it."

I glared at her briefly before turning back to Carlisle. His eyebrows were knitted together. What does she mean?

Can't you see you're putting me in danger?

I took a deep breath, Bella's words echoing again in my head. I was probably not going to be able to escape Rosalie's power today, but I had to try. I had caused enough trouble for Bella already. "Alice had a vision of Tyler's van sliding on the ice a split second before it happened. From her vision it looked like the van was going to hit Isabella, and I ran across the parking lot full speed to try to prevent it." I used her full name, not her nickname; it was how Rosalie had started, and seeming too familiar would only raise more suspicion.

Esme's mouth opened in surprise, but then she smiled, pleased I'd wanted to save Bella. Carlisle remained serious. "Did anyone see you?"

I shook my head. "I checked minds then and throughout much of the school day, and no one was thinking of me at all." Rosalie cleared her throat. "Okay, two people were thinking of me, but not in a concerning way and there's no need to share those thoughts here at the table." Emmett snickered, his mind jumping to conclusions - dirty conclusions.

"And Isabella?"

"The van ended up not hitting her. She's fine."

"You know that's not what Carlisle was asking for," Rosalie put in, her tone acidic. "What was she thinking?"

I glared at her again. "We're in no danger from her either."

The phrase rang true to Rosalie, but still she glared back at me.

Carlisle let out a breath. "You're sure, Edward?"

"Yes," I replied.

"That can't be it," Rosalie said. "Carlisle, the girl is a walking lie. There has to be more to her than 'we're in no danger from her.'"

"What right do we have to pry into her secrets?" I snarled.

Esme put a hand on my arm. "Children," she said, quiet but firm.

Rosalie subsided, but only to a slow simmer. As far as she was concerned, she may have lost this battle... but the rest of the war was still to come.

Carlisle nodded. "It's settled then. Edward, that was a risk for you to take, but since no one saw you there's no lasting harm. Yes?"

It was a question, but everyone in the room knew there was no disputing it. Everyone else nodded or muttered assent. Even Jasper was satisfied, for now, that no further action needed to be taken.

"Then I'll head back to work. See you all later tonight, everyone." Edward, please accompany me to my car.

Having been with me the longest, Carlisle was the best at keeping his surface thoughts clear of what he didn't want me to read, so I wasn't sure what he wanted me for. I stayed at the table while everyone else wandered away and Carlisle kissed Esme goodbye, standing only when he and I were the only ones in the room.

Jasper told me of Isabella Swan's scent, he thought as we strolled out of the house, and that you nearly succumbed to it. Why didn't you tell me, son?

I stared down at the floor. "I didn't want to disappoint you," I whispered, to try to prevent anyone else from hearing.

Carlisle smiled a little and placed a hand on my shoulder. I will never stop loving you, no matter what mistakes you make, he thought. And your struggles will seem more difficult if you keep them to yourself.

I stuck my hands in my pockets, my mind full of all that I was still keeping back.

You know more than you said, don't you?

I hesitated, then nodded. "But I can't say," I said, my voice sinking even lower. "Bell-Is-" Carlisle raised his eyebrows, noting the stumble. I swallowed and went on as I'd begun. "Bella has her own secrets. What I said is true; we have no right to pry in her life, especially as she is not prying into ours."

I see. Carlisle stared searchingly into my eyes for a moment. Tread carefully, Edward. He squeezed my shoulder and left.

I went to school the next day with dread, and not just because of Rosalie. Bella had demanded I not talk to her, not even look at her, and I was finding the thought of complying with her demand painful. This couldn't be all, could it? The wonderful puzzle that was her and her mind, swept away from me in one unlucky moment? Would I really never get to talk to her again?

It seemed so. Bella sat as far from me as she could in biology, her chair practically pulled into the aisle, her notebook at the very edge of the desk. She didn't so much as glance my way, though the tension in her shoulders clearly spoke of how aware of me she was.

I couldn't help it; as class began, I watched her out of the corner of me eye. She was unlikely to catch me doing it, so why not? I felt an odd squeezing in my chest as I watched her struggle – yes, now she'd attended only two days of class in the first almost four weeks of the semester. Today was a review day, but she hadn't learned most of this to begin with. Her notes were sparse, disjointed, incomplete. The test was tomorrow.

Slowly, a plan began to form. My notebook sat in front of me, completely blank – of course, I had no need to take notes. I'd learned this material enough times to write the next edition of the textbook. Or, perhaps, to teach the concepts in person...

I picked up my pen and began to write. But I wasn't writing notes. I was writing my own lecture. I expounded on the concept Mr. Banner was currently reviewing. I drew diagrams. I made comparisons. I came up with metaphors. And, as I wrote, I slowly and carefully shifted my weight to slide ever so slightly closer to Bella.

She stiffened suddenly. Ah, she'd noticed. I held still, waiting, again watching her out of the corner of my eye. She glanced my way.

Her breathing hitched, her lips parted, and she positively stared at my notebook. I used one finger to nudge it ever so slightly in her direction. She turned more toward me, looking over my notebook for several more seconds, then suddenly began writing at a furious pace. She copied my diagrams, rewrote what I'd written in her own words. Any time she paused, I'd read over her shoulder to see what had tripped her up, then write until she again seemed to understand.

In this way the whole class period passed. Mr. Banner finished just before the bell rang, and Bella sat back in her chair, the slightest of smiles on her face as she looked over her notes. Perhaps...

"Bell..."

I didn't even finish her name before she looked up, glaring daggers at me. She swept up her notebook and backpack and ran from the room without a glance back.

I've put her in enough danger already.