A/N - I just revamped this chapter, putting in italics and fixing some random spelling mistakes i noticed. Sorry for the fake warning

I would like to thank my beta, wannabecullen. She is the reason there are no messed up errors in this wonderful chapter. Extend all thanks to her

Errr, this chapter is the longest one i've written (terribly sorry) so get settled down into your chairs and get some hot chocolate and prepare to be amazed. Oh, and i would also like to thank all of you for my wonderful reveiws. i got WAY more than i expected and now i'm hoping to pass 80 by the next chapter. Speaking of which, it won't be out for a while because i'm almost failing in school and i've got alot of tests, summitives and exams going on for the next three weeks. I'll try to get my chapter done by next friday though.

And as always, i own nothing except my keyboard and computer. All the ideas, dialouge and characters belong to the marvi Stephanie Meyers who created the godly world of Twilight. Actually.. i don't even think i own the keyboard. It's my parents... life sucks for me :(

Music! Okay, so we need some angsty but awesome and also romantic music so i'm suggesting Vultures by John Mayer for the first little bit and Say Yes by Elliot Smith for the last little bit.

As always, Hayley

Port Angeles

The next two days I spent in my room and listened to various forms of music while my head ran through scenario after scenario that could possibly happen. If I arrived too late, I might not be able to restrain myself from killing the men. In that process, Bella could also be hurt or worse killed. Worse still, if I got there too late and her blood had already been spilt, I didn't know what would happen. I shuddered at the thought.

Alice had offered to come help me thousands of times. She knocked on the door and poked her head into my room before I even had a chance to respond. She always started timidly, asking if she could help but before long, her temper flared making mine erupt as well. Jasper had to leave for a walk because of the emotions flying through the house. Alice eventually went to find him, leaving me alone to my plans.

At one point on Tuesday – the day I had been dreading – with only about an hour before Bella left I finally sat on my couch, exhausted from pacing, planning, and overall, not having hunted since my trip. I placed my head in my hands and let out an exasperated sigh. I let my mind wander and reached out to my family.

Die! Die! Oh come on, is that all you got? All you have is a plasma gun, I've got a shot gun buddy…see there goes your head…NOO! YOU STUCK ME!

I withdrew, confused. Emmett was talking about killing someone? With a gun? It was then I realized that he was probably playing with his ridiculous x-box. Counterstrike, Halo, Ghost Recon; any one of those moronically violent games. I shook my head. That was Emmett for you. I absentmindedly wondered what "stuck" meant before I reached out for the rest of the minds.

Edward, if you can hear me…come downstairs. I want to talk to you. What you're doing, it isn't healthy. You need to talk to someone.

I stopped listening to Carlisle. He must have been repeating the same thing in his head over and over again, hoping I would be listening. Esme was, no doubt, thinking the same thing. I ignored the emotions that were rising in my throat and swallowed, in hopes to push them down deeper.

I got off the couch and checked the time. One hour until school ended. I would have to do this now but I needed to hunt first. Just in case. No, I couldn't let myself think that way. I wouldn't allow it.

I ran out my door and down the steps, not pausing to acknowledge anyone's presence. They all stared at me questioningly but I was in the forest by the time they even thought to follow. I quickly disposed of a deer and made my way back to the house. My family was there to greet me.

"What is going on, Edward?" Carlisle asked in his calm voice.

"I've got to go." I said. I pushed past Emmett to retrieve my keys. His hands connected with my shoulders and held me in place. I pushed against them, trying to loosen his grip but failed. "Let me go Emmett." I said through clenched teeth, not looking in his eyes.

"No. Tell us what's going on." He demanded just as calm as Carlisle. The tranquility in everyone's expressions was starting to infuriate me. They didn't know the urgency of what I needed to do. I looked over at Alice who gave me an encouraging nod.

Just tell them.

I shook my head. "You tell them. I'm going to be late." I threw Emmett's arms off me and went in the house to get my keys. Alice was quickly explaining her vision when I got back out of the house. Everyone except Rosalie was staring wide eyed at her when she explained what was going to happen. Rosalie wouldn't look at anyone; her face was contorted into a dark glare.

"Let me come." She said when I passed her. I just shook my head and jumped into my car. I slammed my foot on the gas pedal and sped off down the driveway. My parents were sending me warning thoughts and Alice was telling me good luck. Only Rosalie didn't seem too concerned about my situation. Her mind was far away, back to the night she was changed and what happened to her. I pushed my foot down harder on the gas. That wouldn't happen to Bella, not if I could help it.

I slowed down when I got to Bella's street and drove past her house. Her truck was in the driveway. I let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't left yet. I drove around the corner of her street and parked my car, waiting for the roar of her truck to inform me she had left. It didn't come.

I got out of my car and ran to her house. Her scent was there but it was…faint, as though she hadn't been there in a while – half an hour at least. Fear gripped my insides. She had left with someone else – probably Jessica or Angela – and I had no idea where she was now. I sprinted back to my Volvo and sped off down the street and on to the highway leading to Port Angeles.

I reached out my mind, searching, for anyone that was familiar, anyone what Bella might be with. I was already going more than 30 miles above the speed limit, but it didn't seem to be enough.

After about twenty minutes of driving, I heard Jessica Stanley's voice. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding in and began to slow down in order to follow them. I picked up on a little bit of gossip about Tyler Crowley and Mike Newton as well as some spiteful thoughts towards Bella – confirming that she was in the car.

I followed them all to a department store on the main street in Port Angeles. It was a nice and quaint little town. Alice and Esme enjoyed coming here to shop on weekends and I had been dragged along several times.

I parked my car near the white Mercury – which I found out, was Jessica's – and waited. Every once-and-a-while I got a brief flash of thoughts coming from Jessica or Angela. Sometimes it was one of them in a dress or another piece of gossip. I did a double take when I heard Tyler was taking Bella to the prom and concentrated harder on the thoughts of the girls. I let out a sigh of relief when Angela's mind informed me it wasn't true.

After another hour or so, I finally saw them all leave the store. I was beginning feel more relaxed, perhaps what Alice saw wouldn't come true. Maybe Angela or Jessica hadn't been invited until the last minute. I let my eyes close and sunk into my chair, still keeping my mind with Jessica. She was now prattling on about her date with Mike – like anyone cared – and also simultaneously wondering what she was going to have for dinner. I wondered if and how her brain could handle so much at once.

It was beginning to get darker and I still hadn't moved from my parking spot. Suddenly, a comment from Angela's mind made my heart lurch.

I wonder where Bella is. I hope she hasn't gotten lost. She went to the bookstore ten minutes ago…I wonder if I should be worried.

My breath caught in my throat for a second before I started the car and sped out of the parking lot. I frantically looked through the minds of people walking on the street, looking for glimpses of Bella. I finally opened the window and concentrated hard on the smells that filled the air. I filtered them out one by one until the last one. It was so familiar and so distinct; I thought I would go mad that very moment. I resisted the urge to jump out of my car and follow it on foot.

It was a faint trail and it eventually ended leaving me wandering around aimlessly. It was dark now, almost as dark as in the vision Alice had. I was in an area containing warehouses and lots of alleys. Every time I passed on of the darkened passageways, I looked down it, just to make sure. My mind was still wandering, looking for other consciousnesses that could give me a clue to where Bella was. Finally, I found one.

It was very similar to Alice's vision, what was running through this man's head with one difference. In his delusion, Bella was happy. My jaw tightened, eyes darkened, and I pressed down harder on the pedal. I wasn't too late. Not yet.

The thoughts got stronger, clearer, and more violent.

Don't walk away, come back and we'll show you a good time…

I still was far away, I could tell from the distance of his mind but it seemed that Bella was distancing herself from them and hopefully giving me more time.

So what should we do…?

He's going to get carried away; he should just go pick up a hooker or something from the bar.

That sounds good. It's always better when they're…reluctant.

I wanted more than anything to stop listening to the plan the four men were coming up with but I couldn't, not if I wanted to find them and save Bella. I cringed as the thoughts took another turn, imagining what they would do afterwards.

Kill her, hid the body. The police here are too stupid to do anything about it.

Whatever; leave her for dead. It's not our problem.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I hadn't committed a murder in many decades and I didn't want to break that record, especially when Bella was so close. I rounded a corner, the minds getting clearer and – to my disgust and horror – closer to their victim. They could see her now; that much was clear. Two of them were admiring her figure in a less than tasteful manner.

I rounded the final corner and saw Bella backed up against a wall, beside the alley from Alice's nightmarish vision, and four men – if you could call them that – cornering her. She wasn't moving, her face was twisted in concentration and I felt another protective surge wash over me. I drove straight towards her, almost hitting one of the bigger ones, and spun the wheel so the passenger door was in front of her. I quickly opened it. The smell of arousal and excitement still hung in the air. The rage took over me and I longed to leap out of the car and break every one of the assailant's necks.

"Get in," I said after a moment of Bella standing and staring at the car.

She didn't hesitate to obey me. When Bella got in the car - her aroma drove my thirst up to unbearable limits - it only made the fury worse. I attempted to calm myself, failing miserably. The moment she slammed the door, I put my foot on the pedal, speeding off and leaving the dumbfounded slime called men, behind. A couple of them dove at out my way when I made no attempt to avoid them while driving.

"Put on your seat belt." I commanded again. There was no need for me to save her only to have her fly through the windshield with my reckless driving. I tried to take my anger out on the car, coaxing it to go faster and flooring the pedal. It wasn't helping. Her scent was pushing my anger more than I was pushing the car. I took a deep breath only to be suffocated by her fragrance. I held my breath.

"Are you okay?" She asked me timidly. Her voice was rough from fear. Or something else I couldn't name.

"No." I told her truthfully. My tone was still furious. I tried again to calm myself by pushing the emotions deeper down. It wasn't working. I couldn't look at her so I kept my eyes focused on the road. Everything was passing by with dizzying speed. Finally, I slowed down and pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road.

I focused for a moment before speaking. I composed myself to the best of my ability. "Bella?"

"Yes?" She asked still quietly. She cleared her throat.

"Are you alright?" I asked. If she had been hurt, I didn't think I'd be able to stop myself from going back and hunting those men down. At even the thought of them, the fury came back to my face, breaking though my somewhat serene mask.

"Yes."

"Distract me, please." It wasn't really a question. I needed something to take my mind off them and I knew Bella's voice would be better than anything else.

"I'm sorry, what?" She seemed confused.

"Just prattle about something unimportant until I calm down." I closed my eyes and concentrated on her and nothing else. I reached up and pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to calm the thoughts that were swirling though my head.

"Um, I'm going to run over Tyler Crowley tomorrow before school?" I didn't open my eyes but I couldn't help but smile a little. It obviously had something to do with the alleged invitation to the prom.

"Why?" I asked, though I already knew. I was already starting to calm down by just listening to her voice. I was right; it was better than any other sound in the world.

"He's telling everyone that he's taking me to prom – either he's insane or he's still trying to make up for almost killing me last… well, you remember it, and he thinks prom is somehow the correct way to do this. So I figure if I endanger his like, then we're even, and he can't keep trying to make amends. I don't need enemies and maybe Lauren would back off if he left me alone. I might have to total his Sentra though. If he doesn't have a ride he can't take anyone to prom…"

I smiled; I was happy Bella would rather commit murder than go to prom with someone. But I highly doubted that Tyler was just trying to make amends, after all, I could see inside his head. "I heard about that." I admitted. No need to tell her it was from one of her friend's minds…

"You did?" Her irritation was evident in her tone. "If he's paralyzed from the neck down he can't go to the prom, either." I could almost hear the plans forming in her head. Almost. I sighed and opened my eyes, finally in control of my emotions, but just barely.

"Better?"

"Not really." I said truthfully. I leaned back and stared at the ceiling of the car, attempting to convince myself of the pointlessness to killing the men that attacked Bella. The anger was flaring again and I tried to keep it from showing.

"What's wrong?" She whispered.

"Sometimes I have a problem with my temper, Bella." That was an understatement. My face tightened. "But it wouldn't be helpful for me to turn around and hunt down those…" I didn't finish, for fear I would loose control. I could just imagine what Carlisle and Esme would think. Rosalie probably wouldn't mind. In fact, she probably would have congratulated me. "At least, that's what I'm trying to convince myself."

"Oh."

I took a breath, her scent now calming me instead of infuriating me. She glanced at the clock.

"Jessica and Angela will be worried." She said quietly. "I was supposed to meet them."

I started the engine and turned around, heading back to Port Angeles, praying we wouldn't run into her attackers. The lights from the small city eventually flooded into the car. I quickly located the small Italian restaurant that Jessica was thinking about earlier in the day and parked out in front.

"How did you know where…?" she started to say but then stopped and shook her head. I got out of the car and let the cool air clear my head.

"What are you doing?" She asked, still in her seat. With my thoughts less murky, I allowed a smile.

"I'm taking you to dinner." Did this count as a date? If so, Esme would be proud. I shut the door with a little too much strength and let it slam. I walked onto the sidewalk and waited for Bella to exit the vehicle.

"Go stop Jessica and Angela before I have to track them down, too. I don't think I can restrain myself if I ran into your other friends again." I could feel the fury rising in my throat as I mentioned them. I closed my eyes and let it calm down.

"Jess! Angela!" She yelled, taking a step away from me and towards her friends. They walked towards us but the shock was evident on their faces when they saw me. I composed myself.

"Where have you been?" Jessica asked. Why is he here? Are they on a date! Why didn't she tell me! Why is he looking so…? I stopped listening at that point.

"I got lost," Bella replied, looking down at her shoes. "And then I ran into Edward." She looked over to me. I swear my heart thumped when she said my name.

"Would it be all right if I joined you?" I asked, turning on the charm a bit. I would have preferred to not be in the company of two swooning girls but it was better than being alone. I didn't know what I would do if I was by myself.

Both of their minds went blank and I resisted the urge to snicker.

"Er…sure," Jessica said.

"Um, actually, Bella, we already ate while we were waiting – sorry," Angela said. Jessica! Can't you see they want to be alone!

"That's fine – I'm not hungry." She shrugged. Jessica opened her mouth but I quickly cut her off.

"I think you should eat something." I said, using the voice I usually reserved for teachers. From what had happened that night, Bella should have been going into shock or at least freaking out. I wanted to get her to have something in her system, just in case. I looked over to Jessica and Angela who were exchanging meaningful glances. "Do you mind if I drive Bella home tonight? That way you won't have to wait while she eats."

"Uh, no problem, I guess…." Jessica said, still stunned and staring at Bella. Are you really sure…he sounds kind of…controlling…? I refrained from scowling. It was what was best for Bella.

Angela jumped in quickly. "Okay." She grabbed Jessica's arm and dragged her towards the car. "See you tomorrow, Bella…Edward." Jessica turned around and waved, her mind overflowing with curious questions.

Bella looked up at me when her friends were gone. "Honestly, I'm not hungry."

"Humor me"

I walked to the restaurant, expecting her to follow me. I held open the door as she walked past me and sighed. We stood and waited for the host to show us to a table. She turned around and her eyes immediately fell on me. I kept the exasperated sigh from escaping my lips as she thought the usual things that women did when they first met me. She greeted us with an overly friendly smile, as she looked me over. I was determined to ignore her.

"A table for two." I asked. I attempted to convey to her that Bella was my only priority. She looked down at Bella and smiled; obviously thinking she was no threat.

She led us to a large table situated right in the center of a very busy area. I flicker of annoyance passed though me. Bella started to sit down, but I shook my head and she froze. I looked at the hostess and slipped her a hundred dollar bill.

"Perhaps something more private?"

"Sure." She said, dumbfounded. She led us to a small table in the corner of the restaurant that was completely empty. "How's this?" She asked me.

I smiled. "Perfect." Her mind suddenly went blank for some reason.

"Um, your server will be right out." I nodded and turned towards the table.

I held a chair out for her and she sat down. There was a disapproving expression on her face that confused me. I went to sit down next to her.

"You really shouldn't do that to people. It's hardly fair." She scolded me.

"Do what?"

"Dazzle them like that – she's probably hyperventilating in the kitchen right now."

Dazzle…what in the world was she talking about? I let my confusion seep into my expression. She stared at me incredulously.

"Oh, come on. You have to know the effect you have on people."

I tilted my head a little, trying to find the sense in her words. Did I have that effect on her? "Do I dazzle you?" I asked. The word 'dazzle' seemed a little ridiculous coming out of my mouth, but I was eager to hear her answer.

"Frequently." She admitted. I smiled, no doubt 'dazzling' her again.

Our server arrived just in time to see my smile. Her heart fluttered. Nina wasn't kidding. This guy has to be a model or something and what is he doing with a girl like that? She flipped her hair behind her shoulder, sending a wave of unattractive fragrance to me. I resisted the urge to wrinkle my nose. She smiled.

"Hello. My name is Amber, and I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you to drink?" She asked, looking directly at me. I ignored her and looked at Bella.

"I'll have a Coke."

"Two Cokes." I informed her, without looking away from Bella.

"I'll be right back with that." She said and she walked away.

"What?" Bella asked, finally noticing my gaze. I studied her face, looking for any sign she was going to collapse.

"How are you feeling?" Her face looked pale, but it was always a couple shades under the norm. Her eyes were still bright.

"I'm fine." She assured me.

"You don't feel dizzy, sick, cold…?"

"Should I?"

I laughed. She was one of a kind. Any other girl would have fainted or gone into shock, but not Bella. "Well, I'm actually waiting for you to go into shock." I admitted, pulling my mouth into a smile. Her heart rate increased a little and she took a little breath.

"I don't think that will happen. I've always been very good at repressing unpleasant things." She said after composing herself. A little bit of the blush remained on her cheeks.

"Just the same, I'll feel better when you have some sugar and food in you." I said with a smile.

The waitress, Amber, arrived carrying our drinks and some bread. She ignored Bella and turned to me.

"Are you ready to order?" I can get you anything you want…her mind was heavy with implications. I looked over at Bella who looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Bella?" I asked, forcing the waitress to turn to her unhappily.

"Um…I'll have the mushroom ravioli." She said, obviously giving no thought to what she wanted. Amber turned back to me, beaming.

"And you?" She asked in what she thought was an attractive voice.

"Nothing for me." I said, dismissing her.

"Let me know if you change your mind." She said. I didn't watch her leave. I turned my face back to Bella's. I pushed the Coke towards her.

"Drink."

She took the straw in her mouth and sucked up the liquid quickly. She finished the first glass and I pushed the second one towards her.

"Thanks," she muttered sheepishly. She began to shiver from the iciness of the Coke, or from her proximity to me. That made my heart drop a couple inches in my chest.

"Are you cold?"

"It's just the Coke," she said, still shivering.

"Don't you have a jacket?" It was a cold night; any normal person would have at least brought something to keep them warm. I sighed. Not Bella, of course not.

"Yes." She answered, reaching beside her seat. "Oh – I left it in Jessica's car."

Another shiver ripped though her small frame. I shrugged out of my leather jacket and handed it to her. She ignored my hand for a moment, staring at my body. If I could have blushed, I would have. I was pleased she was happy with what she saw. I pushed my hand towards her a little father and she snapped out of her trance.

"Thanks," she said, blushing furiously. It only deepened my attraction to her. Bella put on the coat and took a deep breath, presumably taking in my natural scent. I smiled and – if was possible – grew even more pleased. The light tan leather complimented the colour of her skin and went will with the sapphire blue blouse she was wearing. Suddenly, blue became my favorite colour.

"That colour blue looks lovely with your skin," I said. She looked down and blushed even more. Her sitting there in my jacket seemed so normal and so…right. I pushed the bread basket towards her.

"Really, I'm not going into shock." She complained, looking at the food that was now sitting in front of her.

"You should be – a normal person would be." I realized that I probably wouldn't be anywhere near her if she was normal and I silently thanked her for being abnormal. "You don't even look shaken." I continued, looking straight into her eyes.

"I feel very safe with you." She confessed. I scowled. That was the farthest thing from what I wanted. Well, it wasn't, but it was the farthest thing that would be best for her.

"This is more complicated than I'd planned." I told myself. Complications seemed to follow me everywhere. Anything that could go wrong with me usually did.

I was deep in thought when Bella interrupted me. "Usually you're in a better mood when your eyes are so light." She pointed out. My breath caught in my chest.

"What?" I asked, turning my shock into confusion.

"You're always crabbier when your eyes are black – I expect it then. I have a theory about that." She said. She didn't realize that my family usually moved before anyone had ever gotten this far into our secret.

"More theories?" I asked, turning the subject away from my secrets and back onto her.

"Mm-hm," she answered trying to be uninterested. She started to eat a bread stick to avoid my eyes.

"I hope you were more creative this time…or are you still stealing from comic books?" I smiled teasingly. My mind wandered over to the X-men mutant theory I had gotten several times. Her scent came again in another round but instead of pushing back, I leaned in, trying to absorb as much as possible. It was simply delicious and was making my head spin, but I didn't care. I told myself I was strong enough to resist. She responded unconsciously and also leaned towards me a bit. The closeness was driving me crazy. I wanted to reach out and hold her hand, to touch her warm skin, hold her and never let go. That's what my brain was telling me. My instinct was telling me to leap across the table and take what I desired. I didn't realize she had started talking.

"Well, no. I didn't get it from a comic book, but I didn't come up with it on my own, either."

I was extremely anxious to hear what she thought me to be, super hero or villain. "And?" I asked when she didn't continue. Unfortunately, I heard the waitress's thoughts coming closer and I knew our conversation was about to be interrupted. I straightened up and sat back in my seat. Bella mirrored me.

The waitress came around the divider carrying Bella's dinner and a large smile. She set it down on the table and turned straight to me, once again blocking Bella out of the conversation.

"Did you change you mind? Isn't there anything I can get you?" She asked. Like me naked in the supply closet with you…

"No, thank you, but some more soda would be nice." I said telling her no to both her words and the thoughts in her head. If only she knew what would probably happen if my teeth, with only my lips to cover them, came any where near her neck.

"Sure," She said, her voice was heavy with disappointment. She cleared the empty glasses and walked away, her head filled with extremely polluted thoughts. I turned my attention back to Bella when she passed out of earshot.

"You were saying?"

"I'll tell you about it in the car. If…" She stopped.

"There are conditions?" Oh course there were, I should have figured as much.

"I do have a few questions, of course."

"Oh course." I was slightly worried about how deep into this subject she was going to dig. If it got too far, I wasn't sure what choice I would have but to tell her everything. But would that really be so bad? If she knew everything…then I could be myself with her. But the more likely chance was that if she knew everything, she would run away screaming.

I didn't notice the waitress come back and set the drinks down on the table, I was looking at Bella intently.

"Well, go ahead." There was nothing I could do about it now.

"Why are you in Port Angeles?"

If there was any question she could have asked, that was the last one I wanted. There was no need for her to know how obsessed I was with her, that I would risk everything just to keep her safe. I looked down and placed a careful smile on my face. "Next."

"But that's the easiest one!" she protested. I nearly laughed. It was far from easy.

"Next." I said, more firmly this time. She got the hint and looked down, frustration clear on her face. She took the fork and stabbed on of the ravioli and placed it in her mouth. I was fascinated and I watched her eat. She looked up at me, her eyes harder.

"Okay, then." She glared. A sudden shiver ran down my back. This was going to be bad. "Let's say, hypothetically of course, that…someone…could know what people are thinking, read minds, you know – with a few exceptions."

I was found out. I suppressed the fear and anxiety rising in my throat. It was okay. She could know this without knowing the full secret. I took a breath and played off the last part of her statement, avoiding confirmation. "Just one exception, hypothetically." Even with the fear, I still felt a twinge of annoyance that there even was an exception.

"Alright, with one exception then." She was flushed with pleasure. "How does that work? What are the limitations? How would…that someone…find someone else at exactly the right time? How would he know she was in trouble?"

"Hypothetically?" I asked jokingly. She obviously knew my secret, no need to pretend anymore. She didn't get the sarcasm.

"Sure."

"Well, if…that someone…" I started.

"Let's call him Joe."

I smiled dryly. "Joe, then. If Joe had been paying attention the timing wouldn't have needed to be quite so exact." There was no need to let her know how close I was to being too late. "Only you could get into trouble in a town this small. You would have devastated their crime rate statistics for a decade, you know." I told her, throwing away the hypothetical situation. Her features hardened.

"We were speaking of a hypothetical case."

I laughed; I really didn't mind her knowing this secret. She was taking it surprisingly well. "Yes, we were. Shall we call you 'Jane'?"

"How did you know?" She asked, leaning towards me again. I wasn't prepared for the proximity or the question. I couldn't tell her about Alice's 'ability'. That would definitely spawn more X-men theories. She was in too deep now…

"You can trust me, you know." She said, reaching out with her hand. I defiantly wasn't prepared for the sudden heat that came near my hand. I pulled back before she could touch it.

"I don't know if I have a choice anymore." I lowered my voice. I almost hoped she wouldn't hear. "I was wrong – you're much more observant than I gave you credit for."

"I thought you were always right."

"I used to be." I shook my head. "I was wrong about you on one other thing as well. You're not a magnet for accidents – that's not a broad enough classification. You're a magnet for trouble." I thought back to earlier that night and my hands clenched. "If there is anything dangerous within a ten-mile radius, it will invariably find you."

"And you put yourself into that category?"

I was probably the most dangerous thing that she would ever run into and there she was, sitting inches away, perfectly at ease. I let my face freeze over in a calm mask. "Unequivocally." She reached her hand out again, more hesitant and careful this time. I only pulled back a little but she ignored me and let her fingers run along the back of my hand. The warmth that blossomed from that spot ran through my empty veins and exploded in my heart. I took a small shaky breath.

"Thank you. That's twice now," she said softly. Her voice was layered with appreciation.

My expression melted, perhaps from her words, perhaps from the heat radiating from the place her fingers touched my hand. "Let's not try for three, agreed?"

Her brow furrowed fractionally but nodded. I moved my hand from under hers, not able to take her blood being so close to me, and put them under the table. I gripped the wood with one hand like I had the first day of Biology. I leaned towards her.

"I followed you to Port Angeles," I confessed. "I've never tried to keep a specific person alive before, and it's much more troublesome that I would have believed. But that's probably just because it's you. Ordinary people seem to make it through the day without so many catastrophes." I paused and waited for her reaction. I expected her to run away but against my expectations – of course – she stayed still. I could even hear her heart pick up its rhythm in pleasure. A small smile was placed on her lips. I wondered if I should have been happy she was pleased with me protecting her, or worried that she felt so safe with me.

"Did you ever think that maybe my number was up the first time, with the van, and that you've been interfering with fate?" She asked.

"That wasn't the first time." I admitted. My voice was low again. I couldn't meet her eyes when I continued and my eyes were fixated at the tablecloth. "Your number was up the first time I met you."

It took a minute but I looked up, her eyes were still warm, understanding and without a trace of terror or fear.

"You remember?"

"Yes." Even her voice was calm, no hint of a waver.

"And yet here you sit."

"Yes, here I sit…because of you. Because somehow you knew how to find me today….?" She was still wondering how I was able to find her. I didn't want to tell her but it seemed necessary. I looked down at her full plate.

"You eat, I'll talk." It would also keep her from interrupting me. She eagerly took a piece of ravioli in her mouth.

'It's harder than it should be – keeping track of you. Usually I can find someone very easily, once I've heard their mind before." She stopped and was looking at me, wide eyed. She resumed eating when I stopped talking.

"I was keeping tabs on Jessica, not carefully – like I said, only you could find trouble in Port Angeles – and at first I didn't notice when you took off on your own. Then, when I realized you weren't with her anymore, I went looking for you at the bookstore I saw in her head. I could tell you hadn't gone in, and that you'd gone south…and I knew you would have to turn around soon, so I was just waiting for you, randomly searching through the thoughts of people on the street – to see if anyone had noticed you so I would know where you were. I had no reason to be worried…but I was strangely anxious…" The last part was a lie. I did have a reason to be worried. A very large reason, but I still couldn't let her know of the rest of my family's gifts. The half-truth was better than a lie.

"I started to drive in circles, still…listening. The sun was finally setting and I was about to get out and follow you on foot. And then-" I stopped and tried to calm myself of the rage that came over me when I thought of the men's thoughts.

"Then what?" She asked timidly. I didn't look straight at her, seeing her in their thoughts – broken on the ground – was enough.

"I heard what they were thinking." The fury came again when I thought of it again. "I saw your face in his mind." I couldn't take it anymore. I covered my face with my hand and tried – in vein – to stop my memories.

"I was very…hard – you can't imagine how hard – for me to simply take you away and leave them…alive. I could have let you go with Jessica and Angela, but I was afraid if you left me alone, I would go looking for them." I still didn't look up. I was ashamed that I had even thought that.

The silence was unbearable. If I could have heard her thoughts, what she thought of me, if might have been better. I finally looked up. She was sitting on her seat, leaning against the back of the chair. She seemed…relaxed. I glanced at her plate. It was empty.

"Are you ready to go home?" I inquired; my voice was still a whisper.

"I'm ready to leave." She said. I caught the distinction in the statement. She still wanted to spend time with me, despite what I just confessed to her.

The waitress appeared. She had been watching from the doors, out of hearing distance, but she had been examining our body language. Apparently she thought Bella to be no threat. If only she knew.

"How are we doing?" She asked me, only me.

"We're ready for the check, thank you." I was finally fed up with how she was ignoring Bella and let some of the roughness sink into my tone. The previous conversation helped as well.

"S-sure. Here you go." She retrieved a black folder from her apron and handed it to me. I placed a fifty in the folder and handed it back.

"No change." I smiled with out feeling and looked at Bella who stumbled to her feet. My smile turned real. The waitress thought I was addressing her and she grinned in return.

"You have a nice evening," She exclaimed. And come back soon. Like later tonight…

I walked slightly in front of Bella just inches away. I could feel the heat radiating from her body, calling me closer, but I was careful not to push my limits. I opened the door for her and we walked out into the night.

She sighed. I looked at her, puzzled and annoyed I couldn't hear her thoughts – yet again. She just looked at the sidewalk.

Once we got in the car, I started it and turned the heat on, remembering she was human and it was cold night. I allowed myself a small glance at her and smiled when I saw her breathing in my scent from the collar. I pulled out and drove into the street and headed towards the highway.

"Now," I commented, when we were settled. She looked at me a little frightened. "It's your turn."

Wasn't that wonderful?
Please Review!

Hayley

PS: really sorry about the next chapter :( may take a while)

PPS: About Emmetts little thought at the beginning: 'Stuck' or 'Stick' means that when someone throws a plasma granade at you in Halo, Halo 2 or Halo 3, and it hits you, it can stick to your armor and explode on you, killing you inevitabley. I'm a bit of a video game nerd