Burning Candles

Summary: (Set during Twilight) Curious because of Edward's strange behavior towards her, Bella decides on her second day in Forks to confront him and decides to pay him a visit… to his house. She never expected him to attack her though.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or New Moon or anything really.

Chapter 5: These Are the Nights

I buried my head in my knees as I rocked slowly back and forth. I would have cried if I could produce tears, but I just sat there rocking over and over again. I wanted to tell myself that it wasn't my fault—but clearly, it was my fault. I knew this was my entire fault; I was the one who had exposed me to the werewolves. I was the one who was getting my whole new family in trouble. They probably hated me now.

"What are we supposed to do now?" Alice's voice carried throughout the house. The sweetness was gone from her voice, it was pure worry now. "They'll be back for sure."

"That's a fact," Rosalie commented. "Bella?"

I lifted my head out of my knees and looked up—I had just realized that they were all standing near me now. The whole family: Emmett, Jasper, Edward, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, and Alice were looming above me. I shook my head and rested my cheek against my knee. I wanted to speak, but there was a hole in my throat again. I had no idea what we were going to do because of the treaty. I had no idea that there even was a treaty; I was the only one who
didn't know. I had no idea why they wouldn't tell me about the treaty or even worry about it, but they just didn't. I sighed and shifted my gaze to Rosalie who was still starring at my intently.

"What?" I questioned softly.

"C'mere," she ordered and bent down before grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet. She wrapped her arm around my waist and pulled me towards the dining room. I was surprised at her sudden kindness, as she pushed me down into the seat. The rest of the family filed in and she sat down on my right side, smiling weakly. "Stop beating yourself up, this isn't your fault." She stated firmly and turned to Carlisle.

Emmett sighed and started to pack back and forth. "This is bad." He muttered.

"We can see that Emmett dear," Esme said soothingly. "But everything is going to be alright, I promise you that."

"There isn't much time." Alice commented. "They're looking for us."

Carlisle stood up from the bar stool and asked for the attention of all of us. "All we can do is leave." My eyes widened, we would have to leave? I would have to leave Charlie forever? I didn't know if I could do that. "Or we could fight them, which I don't think is a good idea, there are just too many of them."

"But leave Carlisle?" Esme asked and Carlisle nodded.

"I don't see any other option. I am not putting my family in danger." He said more to himself then to the rest of us. I folded my hands together, not saying anything. I didn't really have anything to say. "There is no other way," he stressed his gaze on Edward. I knew that they were talking in their minds.

"I don't know if I can leave." I confessed and all pairs of eyes turned towards me. "I mean with Charlie and all, I don't know if I can leave and just never come back."

"There is no other way." Carlisle repeated. "Unless you want to die, Bella."

"We can take them!" Emmett shouted from the corner of the room.

"Emmett," Carlisle warned. "Werewolves are not ones to be tempered with. I don't know if we could all take them. There are a lot of werewolves in La Push and I just don't know if it's good to go against them. We did sign a treaty," he hesitated before adding, "and Edward did seem to break it."

Edward snorted from his place of leaning against the wall. His arms were folded neatly across his chest and he threw Carlisle a look. "I didn't mean too, it was instinct, you know that. It was an accident." Edward said and Carlisle nodded his head to say 'yes'.

I was slightly offended that I was just referred too as an accident. I was just an accident? An accident that had been waiting to happen for a long time? It could have been anybody, but it just had to be me because of my scent. I was nothing more then just an accident. Is that what the whole family thought of me? A mistake? They didn't want me, they never wanted me. They had just taken me in because of pity because I couldn't survive on my own. Did they even like me? I shifted my position, very uncomfortable at what was happening before me. Jasper looked over at me and shook his head.

"You are not worthless Bella," he whispered to me and I sank down in my seat, feeling the calming waves from Jasper that were rolling over me. Edward looked over at me and frowned before opening his mouth to say something.

I shook my head and bet him to it. "So we just pack up leave?" I asked, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that was entering my every limb. Carlisle nodded slowly. "Well… alright then?"

"Carlisle, we should think this through," Esme said softly. "Is this really what we should do?"

"Esme is there any other way? I am not willing to put you all in danger of getting killed just because of some stupid treaty. I am not going to do that at all. I'm going to protect you all and this is what we have to do." Carlisle stressed and Esme nodded, still having a worried look upon her beautiful face.

Emmett was still pacing while Jasper was sitting on my left side, Rosalie on my right, and Alice on Jasper's other side. Edward was leaning against the wall, Carlisle at the other end of the table and Esme sitting at his side. Alice looked up at everybody and pursed her lips in thought. "Why don't we just go and stay with Tanya in Alaska?" She asked lightly as if it meant nothing to her.

"That would be reasonable." Esme agreed.

I glanced over at Alice, "Tanya…?"

"I'll explain later." She shot back and looked over to the rest of the family.

"I think we should put it to a vote, I'm not sure if we should leave, I'm sure that we could take the werewolves easily." Emmett retorted and Carlisle shot him a warning glance. "Alright then, let's vote." Emmett declared and looked over at Rosalie.

"Emmett," she warned. "I'm not going to put my family's lives in danger. You know that."

"If we leave, we'll just be cowards in their eyes." Emmett stressed and I looked up at him. He was right, the werewolves would have won if we just packed up and left. Would it be worth it? I would have to leave Charlie and Renée and even Phil for forever. I would have to forget this whole life and just move on to a new one.

"I agree with Emmett," I said finally. "It is not worth it to just leave."

Seven pairs of eyes turned towards me. I looked at every one of my new family members and shrugged before finally, Emmett spoke up. "See! Bella agrees with me because I'm right. There's no point I just moving away because of this treaty!"

"Emmett, you don't understand." Esme finally said. "Bella, I don't think you understand either." She told me and I nodded meekly. I didn't know if I understood what was going on, but I was set on not leaving Forks forever. "If we fight them one of us could get killed. Are you sure that you want one of your family members dead?"

I shrank back against my seat and sighed deeply. "No I don't want that." I confessed and Emmett nodded in agreement with me. "But what are we supposed to do? Are we just supposed to leave because of this?"

"It is the right thing to do." Edward said.

Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper all nodded and I looked up to Emmett who also nodded. "Who is Tanya then?" I asked and Alice reached for my hand. She rested her own hand on top of mine and I looked at her, waiting for her to explain.

"Tanya is one of the members in the Denali Coven in Alaska." Alice explained. "Her and her family are the only other coven of vampires that are 'vegetarians'. The other family members are: Eleazar and his companion Carmen, Katrina, and Irina."

"And we would stay with them—until when?" I asked.

Carlisle shrugged. "Probably forever, I don't think that we will ever be welcomed back here."

I stood up, jerking my hand away from Alice and turned away and out of the room. I walked up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I fell down against my bed and buried my head in the softness of the comforter. Leave forever? First, I learned that I was just a simple mistake and then I learned that I had to leave Charlie, Phil, and Renée forever. I would never see them again; I would never see Mike, Lauren, Jessica, or Angela ever again. I had no idea how long I was sitting there, probably for over half an hour until I finally heard footsteps stopping at my door. I knew that the rest of the family was probably packing to leave already. They were not going to waste any time.

"Bella?" I knew that voice and I lifted my head to meet Jasper's gaze. "Are you alright?"

I looked at him and then looked down at the ground, I shook my head fiercely and Jasper sat down in the rocking chair as I starred at the ground. He was waiting for my answer. "I'm worthless, I was just a mistake." I said quietly as my body was wracked with sobs. "Edward told us all straight out that I was just a mistake so you needn't deny it. I am worthless and you guys probably don't even care what happens to me." I decided and Jasper stood up before wrapping an arm around me tightly and pulling me towards him. I buried my head in his chest and cried, tearlessly.

"You are not worthless Bella and you know that we all love you. You are not a mistake and you shouldn't make yourself believe that. You know that Edward didn't mean that, he really cares about you Bella." Jasper stated and I shook my head 'no'. "What do you mean no? He really does care a lot about you Bella."

"Then why am I 'just an accident'?"

"He didn't mean it," Jasper said. "It was a slip of the tongue."

"I knew I should have expected this, I mean I am nothing. I have been nothing all my life. I'm just a clumsy girl who didn't do anything right and then I got bitten by a vampire by mistake and somehow found myself in this family. But I know you guys don't really want me, you're just doing this to be nice and everything, it's okay Jasper, I understand." I shrugged and tried to suppress my sobs. "You guys should just leave me here to die."

"No! Don't ever say that." I turned my head to a new voice and realized that it was Edward who was talking. Jasper smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead before standing up and leaving the room. I starred straight at Edward and before I knew it, Edward had take Jasper's place. "You should never say things like that Bella, we all love you. You have to realize that."

I bit down on my bottom lip. "But you said…?"

"I didn't mean it, I don't regret biting you. I am so glad that I did because I found the best friend that I have ever had. My God, you know how much fun we have together; I would not change that for the world." Edward said soothingly and let me rest my head on his chest. My sobs had become distant and I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Is that what you were so upset about?" He asked quietly and I nodded.

"That and the fact that I'll never see Charlie or Renée again." I finally admitted. "It's going to be hard not seeing my parents around for awhile. But I will definitely get used to the fact that Esme and Carlisle will be like my parents."

Edward nodded and ran his fingers through my hair. "We're going to leave soon."

"I have to pack?" I questioned and Edward smiled before nodding.

"You want some help?" Edward asked and I nodded before pulling away from him reluctantly and looking around for some bags. I only found my old duffel bag that was already packed—since I hadn't unpacked it from my first days in the Cullen household. I looked at Edward and shrugged. "I forgot to ask Alice to take you shopping."

"Oh! Please don't." I pleaded and Edward laughed before grabbing my hand lightly and grabbing my duffel bag. "Do we need to bring the furniture?" I asked clueless to the concept of moving for a vampire and Edward chuckled again.

"We don't need the furniture; we'll get new furniture when we're in Alaska." Edward explained and pulled me down the stairs where all the others were. I starred in awe because they had all packed faster then I had.

"You contacted Tanya, is that correct?" Edward asked Carlisle and he nodded.

"She knows that we are coming and she accepts what has happened. She is excited to meet Bella for the first time." Carlisle said and everybody's attention was turned towards me. I smiled embarrassed and looked over at Edward and then at Esme who was looking around the room with much interest.

"We're all here?" Esme asked and scanned the room with her eyes.

"I think so." Alice said quickly and sent me a short-lived smile. She walked gracefully over to me and hugged me from the side. She looked down at my wardrobe and smiled. "When we get to Alaska Bella, darling, we are definitely going shopping."

"No thanks," I squeaked. "I'm fine with my regular wardrobe."

Alice pouted. "But Bella, it'll be fun."

"Girls, girls. Calm down." Carlisle said with a smile. "You will have much more time to argue when we get to Alaska. Is everybody ready?"

We all nodded before we each grabbed a couple of bags and placed them into the cars. We were going to take all five cars. Carlisle was driving his car with Esme, Alice was taking Rosalie's convertible with Jasper, Rosalie was taking Edward's Aston Martin V12 Vanquish that he only used for 'special occasions', Emmett was taking his jeep, and I was riding along with Edward in his Volvo. We all said our quick good-byes before climbing into the cars. Carlisle took the lead as Edward decided that we would go at the back. He had told me that he knew the way very well. I glanced around Forks before we exited it for good. I sucked in a breath of air—although it wasn't necessary—and felt a rush of anxiousness wash over me.

I knew I wasn't going to come back here anytime soon.

Time passed slowly, although pass it did. I was sure that I was going to be bored stiff in the car for that long period of time, but I was wrong. Edward kept my 'awake' with talking to me non-stop and asking me all kinds of questions that were related to the game Truth. We even had a few good laughs. When we finally arrived in Denali, Alaska, I was so surprised that it kind of looked like Forks. It was beautiful and breath-taking and it was nothing like I had expected it to be. It was colder then Forks, but I had expected that. When we drove through the different towns, I was too awe-struck to even say anything to Edward, but I think he understood my amazement. It was beautiful in Alaska. It was dark like Forks and now I understood why Tanya, Katrina, Irina, Carmen, and Eleazar all lived here like I did about the Cullen family living in Forks. When we finally pulled up to the house, it was just as breath-taking as entering Alaska for the first time. Edward stopped the car and I noticed that all the other cars were already there. Edward was out of the car in a flash and was already opening the door for me. Suddenly, I was anxious.

"Don't worry Bella," Edward said with a smile. "They're going to love you."

I nodded speechless. We walked towards the house and Edward pushed open the door. I examined the room and saw that my whole family was already there with the exception of five new people. The first one I looked at was around Carlisle's and Esme's age and ran over towards me and hugged me tightly. My eyes widened at the sudden movement and I might have fallen over if she hadn't been hugging me so tightly.

"You must be Bella!" She said sweetly and smiled before releasing me and grabbing me by the arm. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, I'm Tanya." She walked me around the room where I saw two more girls that were Irina and Katrina or Kate and one guy, Eleazar with a girl sitting on his lap, Carmen. They were all so beautiful and I wondered if I lived up to them. Tanya seemed to think so.

Later, after all the introductions, I was sitting in my new 'room' that I was going to have all to myself since I had no companion or anything. I grabbed a journal that I hadn't written in for what seemed like forever. I grabbed the book and flipped through it, laughing at how weird I had sounded when I was younger. I wanted to cry at the memories I wrote about my mother, Renée and about my father, Charlie also. It took up my time—reading about my childhood memories and made me forget about never seeing them again. I put down the journal just as Edward entered the room.

"You want to go somewhere with me tonight?" Edward questioned.

I looked up at him and shrugged. "I don't see why not." I smiled with him as he grabbed my hand and led my downstairs. We exited the house with a quick good-bye to Tanya, Carlisle, and Esme who were still around in the kitchen. Edward and I passed the car and I shot him a confused look.

"We'll walk there," Edward confirmed and I nodded. We were just walking there at a human pace and I enjoyed every single second of it. I was grateful for every moment I could spend with Edward. "So, how do you like it here?" Edward asked and I smiled cheekily.

"I love it here, although I think I do like Forks a little better." I confessed and Edward nodded.

"It'll take a little while to get used too, but I think that you'll like it here much better then you'll like Forks." Edward decided and I nodded as he tugged me along through the green trees. After what seemed like forever, we finally emerged from the thick bushes and I gaped at the beauty of the pink sky. We were at the shore of a lake at the perfect time of the sunset, although the sun was not shining through the thick clouds. Edward sat down on a soft piece of sand and I sat down besides him.

"It's beautiful," I breathed and Edward smiled.

"I'm glad; this is kind of like the meadow back home…but different." Edward explained and I nodded happily. The meadow had been beautiful just as this place was. "You like the family?" Edward asked out of the blue and I nodded.

"I like Tanya the most, she's so friendly." I admitted and Edward grinned, his regular crooked grin that I loved so much. I almost melted, if I hadn't caught myself. We're just friends, I reminded myself. "Irina and Kate don't seem too bad either. Carmen, I'm not sure…but Eleazar also seemed very nice."

"Don't tell Rosalie, but I think Carmen and her are kind of the same." Edward confided.

I laughed out loud. "You have it all wrong Edward; Rosalie is very nice although if I had to say so myself, Carmen reminds me of Rosalie the first days after I was changed." I teased and Edward nodded.

"You know, we're going to be enrolled in the high school around here, right?"

"I know," I said quickly and smiled. "But at least we'll be together."

"True," he agreed.

We sat in a comfortable silence as I starred up at the sky. I was so glad that Edward had taken me here; I was so glad that I was in his company. I was so glad for so many things at that moment that I could barely contain myself. I tore my gaze off of the sky and looked over at Edward who was starring at me intently. "What?" I asked quietly and Edward smiled.

"What are you thinking?" He questioned.

"I dunno," I lied quickly. "I'm just thinking about how beautiful the sky is. Why?"

"I was just wondering," he answered, never taking his gaze off of me. I would have blushed if I was still able too. "Is it my turn to ask the question, or is it your turn?" He asked and I shrugged again. "I think that it's your turn Bella." He said and I nodded, placing a finger to my lips—thoughtfully.

"Is it annoying having to hear everybody's thoughts?" I questioned.

"Not really," he answered quickly. "I got used to the fact that I have to hear everybody's thoughts—well except yours of course—and I found out a way to ignore most of them. Now it's just a usual thing that I had to go through now. It's definitely not as annoying as you might think." He flashed me a smile and I smiled back at him.

"Hmmm. What are you thinking right at this moment?" I asked after a couple of seconds of silence.

Edward shifted awkwardly, his gaze still on me. "That's two questions Bella."

"Yeah, but you do it all the time, so why I can't I do it for once?" I asked innocently and Edward rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

He shifted again and suddenly he looked kind of uncomfortable. "I'm actually having a debate inside my mind." He admitted and I cocked my head to the side, looking at him perplexed. He pursed his lips in thought and sighed. "I'm just thinking something over and it's just a confusing thing to be thinking about."

"That made no sense." I blurted out and Edward frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I'm thinking of doing something, but I'm afraid of how the other person is going to react," he confessed and finally tore his gaze from me and turned back to the lake and the sky. I looked out also.

"Edward Cullen is actually scared?" I mocked.

"It's complicated Bella," he stressed.

"Well, I don't think that you should care what the other person thinks and you should just do whatever you want. If you really want to do something, who cares what other people think about it?" I asked and Edward nodded I turned my eyes off of the sky and towards Edward. He smiled at me slightly and I smiled back at him, I was glad for our friendship, I was glad for everything he had ever done with me and just at that moment, I was so glad to be there with him.

I didn't even notice him leaning towards me until I felt his cool lips against my own.

End of Chapter 5: These Are the Nights

Authors Note: Hello everybody! An early update has come upon you! Seven pages once again and I would like to thank my editor very much! RedTail'sGirl, thank you so much for editing! I am pretty bad at doing my own grammar and spellings and stuff so thank you so much! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and thanks for all the reviews! No more foreshadowing! Next chapter will be up on Friday!

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