Someone who reviewed my last chapter said I should make my chapters a little longer. She's right. Small chapters are kind of a tease, so I therefore tried to make this one longer. ;) I hope you fella's enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, I am not Stephenie Meyer.

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Chapter 7- Resistance

The walk back to the Cullens house felt almost too short. I wanted more time alone with Edward. To be able to hold him and kiss him without prying eyes was almost too much of a temptation to resist.

Within minutes we arrived on his front porch. Edward's eyes were still on mine as he reached for the door knob, which is probably why he didn't notice Alice. Before he Edward was able to open the door, Alice's hand enclosed the knob on the other side, throwing the door open with a bang.

"I'm so excited!!" she screamed. Alice was literally jumping up and down with a wide smile on her face, her hands clapping excitedly. "Edward, I saw it all in my head, but I didn't think you'd be able to do it! I'm so proud of you!!" She continued her bouncing.

"Alice, please," Edward said so low I wasn't even sure he'd said anything. "We aren't even sure about what's going on yet, and we'd like some time to discuss it. Have you told the others?"

Alice's excitement seemed to vanish; a serious expression talking over her face. "No, I haven't. I was just so excited I couldn't control myself. You two go ahead and talk it through. Although, I do suggest that you guys tell our family soon, otherwise they're just going to figure it out for themselves."

Alice gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and Edward a quick smile before heading towards the kitchen.

"Come on," Edward said in my ear. "Let's go to my room."

We quickly ran up the stairs, and once safely inside his closed door, Edward kissed me softly on the lips. His hands were on my waist pulling me closer to him. As much as I loved kissing Edward, the idea of his family downstairs somewhere wondering what happened between us in the forest stopped me from enjoying myself. With some effort I eventually wiggled free from Edward's grasp.

"Music?" I asked with a wide smile.

"Sure," he smiled crookedly at me. It took all of my will power not to run back into his arms and ravish him.

"What would you like to hear?" I asked in a shaky voice as I studied his massive record collection.

"To be honest, I'm much more interested in kissing you than listening to a record," he responded as he walked quietly towards me from behind. Gracefully, Edward rubbed his hands from my hips to my shoulders, massaging them softly. I arched my back ever so slightly, before turning around and hooking my hands around my neck.

"Edward, we need to talk about some things before we do anything." I couldn't help but notice the way I hesitated before saying the word 'do.' I hoped he hadn't caught it.

"Ok. What would you like to talk about?"

Edward grabbed my right hand and led me over to his long leather couch. I had only been in Edward's room twice before. We usually spent most of our time in my room. I supposed he likes his privacy.

"I just want to clear a few things up," I said. "I'm sure your family is going to attack us with questions right when we leave this room. I just want to make sure I understand exactly what is going on here."

The end of my sentence came out in a whisper, for Edward was suddenly very distracted by my neck. He bent his head down and began kissing me, very softly from my collarbone to the sensitive area at the base of my jaw.

"Well," he began against my skin, "I believe we are in love, and that is all they need to know."

Edward's breath was cold as it caressed my skin, causing me to shiver involuntarily. Suddenly uncomfortable, I noticed my shivering wasn't because of the cold, but because of what he was doing to my body. I suddenly wanted Edward in more ways than one. I wanted him to make love to me.

"Oh," I said in a trembling voice.

We were then distracted by two loud knocks at the door.

"Edward? Bella?" said the man behind the door.

"It's Emmett," Edward whispered in my ear. "I believe they would like to see us downstairs. We will be right there Emmett," Edward called softly to the door. I listened as the footsteps quickly retreated down the stairs.

"Can you hear what they are going to ask us?" I stared wide-eyed at Edward, hoping for some kind of reassurance that I could actually go through with this.

"Are you nervous?" Edward asked me calmly.

"A little," I lied.

Edward laughed softly before he laced his finders with my own and led me towards the door.

The conversation with his family was embarrassing, uncomfortable, and frightening. It was embarrassing because Edward and Alice, mainly Alice, described in detail what had happened in the forest. It was uncomfortable because I have always hated being the center of attention, and because Emmett clapped Edward on the back once he found out we had our first kiss. Edward wasn't too happy about his brother's excitement. He let a loud growl slip from his chest, and earned an angry glare from Esme. Lastly, the talk was frightening because Rosalie never softened the piercing gaze she kept on me.

Meanwhile, Edward brought up the situation that occurred moments before our sudden rush of affection. He told his family he found me pinned to a tree by one of the wolves. Alice shut her eyes to sort through her vision, but she never found one with me and a wolf.

"I didn't see it, and I still can't see it; however, there is a moment when Bella's future simultaneously disappears," Alice said with her eyes closed. "I see her arguing with Edward, I see her crying and then," Alice opened her eyes and they immediately landed on Carlisle. "And then she disappears."

"Alice," said Carlisle. "I don't think you were able to see her future because of the wolves. It has happened before, when we spoke to them about the treaty. Do you remember?"

"Oh, you're right," Alice said. Her eyes seemed to be glazing over again as she tried to sort out the images in her brain.

--

Over the next couple of weeks, Carlisle and I began my training on resisting human blood. Mainly it was all about controlling your mind and learning the proper way to breathe. One day, Carlisle brought home a glove covered in blood. He took it out of its Ziploc baggy and held it from across the room. Immediately I wanted to rip the glove from his hands; however, thanks to Alice's help, I resisted.

"Think of it as a person, Bella," she told me. "A person with a family, and friends. They are people with their whole lives ahead of them."

I closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing in and out through my mouth. As my head began to clear, I no longer wanted the blood on the glove.

Suddenly, I felt cold hands grip my shoulders from behind.

"You're doing a beautiful job, love," Edward hummed in my ear while grazing his lips against my ear-lobe.

"Thanks," I said, mystified.

"Well, Bella," Carlisle called from across the room while he placed the glove back in the Ziploc, "I believe you are prepared enough to risk being around humans. What do you say I take you to Newton's Outfitters, so you can have a real taste of how to resist a room full of humans?" Carlisle said this with a twinkle in his eye.

"Of course, if you truly believe I am prepared enough," I said hesitantly.

"That is for you to decide, Bella. Are you prepared enough?"

I stood there silent for a moment, fuming. I knew I was ready; we had been practicing for weeks, after all. But was I truly ready to test my self control?

"I'm ready," I said confidently. "Let's do it."

--

Carlisle drove Edward, Alice, Emmett and I to Newton's Outfitters. I supposed he brought the others along, just in case I couldn't control my cravings. I knew Emmett was the strongest, and he would have no trouble trying to keep me away from the unfortunate civilians.

I was unbelievably nervous the entire ride to the shop. Just seeing human's, mortals, walking the streets in their rain coats, talking to their friends or family members gave me a familiar emptiness at the bottom of my dead heart. To be able to join the human race and act human myself was a dream almost too impossible to come true.

Edward saw the stiffness in my body language and began rubbing small circles on the back of my hand. I looked down at our hands, my little one enclosed in both his large ones, and felt completely content. Edward always knew the right ways to calm my nerves, even if he couldn't read my mind. Slowly I raised my eyes; to his flat stomach, hidden underneath his blue-gray t-shirt, to his defined torso, wide pale neck, square hard jaw, flawlessly round lips, and lastly his golden smoldering eyes. He was so beautiful, I felt my body tremble just from looking at him. I hadn't noticed he was watching me as I drank in every detail of his too perfect self, but he seemed flattered, none the less. Edward flashed his wide, crooked smile, at me before turning his gaze back to the street.

"We're here," he said gently, his eyes still focusing outside the window.

With much effort, my eye's left his face and fixated on the little utility store we parked in front of. The sight made my stomach drop.

"I can't do this," my voice broke on the last word.

The small store was held at least a dozen people. This is going to be impossible, I thought to myself. I was prepared to only have to resist one, but twelve?

"Don't worry, Bella. I looked into your future and I didn't see anything go wrong. Besides, we'll all be right next to you the entire time. You'll do fine, I promise." Alice's voice was gentle and encouraging as she stared at me from the front seat.

"She's right, Bella. We'll be right next to you the entire time, and anyway, if you get out of line, I'll be sure to drag you out of the shop before you even have the chance to eat anyone." Emmett said this with a wide grin, probably hopping the opportunity would come up. I didn't miss the wickedly angry glance Edward threw at him.

"You'll be fine, love." Edward continued the circles he drew on the back of my hand. "Just remember to breathe through your mouth, and if their scent gets too strong, you can always hold your breath and signal to us when you're ready to leave."

"Okay," I said. My eyes were still on Edward's. "Let's do this."

I exited the car carefully, making sure I didn't crush the door as I closed it. Outside, the air was wet and fresh, though there was the faint familiar smell of human blood. The smell didn't seem to bother me too much, even as I followed Carlisle through the front door of Newton's Outfitters.

"Dr. Cullen!" called a woman from behind the desk.

"Hello, Mrs. Newton, how is your evening?" asked Carlisle politely.

"Very well, thank you. Planning another camping trip? Is there anything I can help you with?" The woman was almost too eager to the point where she was embarrassing herself. I glanced quickly at Edward, and giggled noticing he glanced at me at the exact same time.

Edward and I walked hand in hand through the aisles of the shop. The store was small and stuffy, and it smelled of old leather. I was surprised with how easily I ignored the burning at the back of my throat and the constant pooling of venom in my mouth. Humans weren't too hard to resist, after all.

"How are you feeling?" Edward whispered in my ear.

"Fine, actually. They are amazingly easy to resist." As I looked up at Edward, my smile immediately left my face. I noticed his hostile expression.

"What is it?" I asked quietly, my eyes focused on his.

His face immediately cleared at the sound of my voice. "Nothing."

I turned around to search for what may have caught Edward's attention, when my gaze fell immediately on a pair of wide blue eyes belonging to a boy about my age. Or at least, the age my body was stuck in.

He was tall, and handsome. His face held some roundness, causing him to look somewhat younger, and his blonde hair was fixed into perfectly jelled spikes. The boy seemed mystified by my stare, so I quickly dropped my gaze to my feet.

"I'm ready to leave, Edward," I said quietly enough for only Edward's ears. "I don't like the way people are looking at me."

Edward tightened his grip on my hand before saying, "Let me tell Carlisle. Only a second longer, Bella."

We walked quickly towards Carlisle, who seemed to be buying a backpack with many pockets and a pair of gloves. As soon as we reached the register, the woman charging Carlisle immediately locked her gaze on me.

"And who is this?" she asked. Her voice seemed to hold too much interest. She must be one who gossips frequently.

"This is Bella Swan, a close friend of my family." Carlisle answered before I had the chance. "She will be staying with us until she completes her senior year."

"Oh! Will she be attending Forks High School this fall?" the woman asked. She was now eyeing me skeptically, analyzing me.

"Yes, I believe she will be." Carlisle shot me a quick smile before thanking the woman and exiting the store. As Edward and I made our way towards the front door, I noticed the blue eyed boy was still starring at me.

"Is everything alright, Bella?" Carlisle asked me before we reached the car.

"Yes, but all the prying eyes started making me uncomfortable."

"Well, you'd better get used to it," Alice said from beside me. "The Cullens don't go unnoticed in the small town of Forks."

--

The next chapter contains a steamy hunting trip and a first day of school.

-PuppetStrings19