"Bella, you know we have weekends like this at least twice a month. I would love it very much if you were to stay with us on those days." Emily smiled, giving me a firm hug. "It was so lovely getting to know you, finally. You know, not from a third party."

I laughed. "Yeah, I know. I really loved being here. Just let me know what days everyone is getting together and I'll make sure I'm free those days."

"Will we have to come and get you? It wouldn't be a problem at all." Emily offered.

"Oh no, Charlie can bring me. Or I can drive myself." Maybe. "He's always looking for an excuse to visit Billy. He'll be thrilled to know I'll actually be socializing this summer."

Emily's smile was consistent, but her eyes were troubled. "Alright, well you know how to reach us if anything unexpected comes up or if you need something. For absolutely anything, don't hesitate to call on us, Bella."

"I know." I gave her another hug, urged by the concern in her eyes. "You'll be the first one I call if I need anything."

"Good." Emily nodded and stepped back, folding her hands across her stomach. I looked around at all the faces. I'd already said my temporary goodbyes. I was just waiting on Charlie. He should be here any minute now.

"He's not here." I heard Sam say, making me jump. I tried to look confused, but he wasn't fazed. "He's on a job."

Another wave of disappointment crashed over me, just as confusing as it had been before. I shrugged it off and turned around when I heard Charlie's cruiser in the driveway, shifting the gravel and dirt noisily.

"I'll have Jacob give you a call when we get those days planned out." Emily called after me. "See you soon, Bella."

"Yeah, see you." I waved at all of them and hurried as fast as I could over to the cruiser, climbing in the front and pulling on my seatbelt.

"Have fun?" Charlie asked as he backed out.

I waved one last time and then glanced at him. "Yeah, it was fun. We went to the beach a lot, watched movies, and did each other's hair." I decided to omit the part where we all got drunk. Need to know, right?

"Sounds girly enough." Charlie chuckled, shaking his head a little. "Well I'm glad you had fun. It's about time you got some new friends."

"Dad…" I complained. "I have friends."

"I've never seen you go out much, unless it's with the Cullen boy." His mouth twisted into a grimace. He didn't like Edward, not after the incident with James. Though of course he only knew what we told him, which was definitely a good thing. If he knew the truth, or at least some of it, then he'd try to kill Edward for sure. "It's good to take a break from… certain people once in a while."

"You make it sound like I never leave the house."

Charlie said nothing, but he stared guiltily out the window, only glancing in my direction when he was checking his side mirrors.

"I'm not that bad." I mutter, looking out my window. "Anyway, we're making plans for another girls' night at Emily's. Just let me know when Jake calls to give me the days."

"Holing up in your room again?" Charlie asked innocently, pulling into the driveway. We sat there for a minute, me staring at him incredulously, and him with this look on his face that made me feel like he knew exactly what I was doing upstairs. That sounded bad even to me. I don't do anything upstairs, I just sit with Edward. It's not like he would let anything happen anyway… Shut up, Bella.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you." I say as I get out. "I'll be downstairs later to cook dinner."

I made sure to walk up the stairs as slowly as I could, knowing Edward had to be waiting for me. I was honestly surprised he hadn't pulled me out of Charlie's cruiser himself. I knew I was in for a verbal beat down. I had it coming. I made the decision to stay in La Push spontaneously and made no effort to let him know. Whatever I got I probably deserved.

Walking into my room was another shock, at first. I didn't see Edward. He wasn't pacing the floor, he wasn't laying or sitting on my bed. Nothing. Except when I turned to the side to shoulder my door closed, he was standing there behind me. He pushed my door closed, his expression as calm as ever. But the lock on my door clicks. It'd do nothing to keep a vampire out… but it'd stall a human. My dad, for example. Or me. Not that I'd be able to go anywhere. I felt the smallest trace of fear—the first I'd ever really felt around Edward.

He smiled at me, like he always did, and grabbed my hand to gently pull me in the direction of my bed. I sat down but he didn't. He walked over to the wall across from my bed and leaned against it, his eyes never leaving me. My heart was racing in my chest. I was honestly surprised it hadn't beaten through my ribcage by now.

"How was your weekend?"

My heart nearly stopped.

"Oh… it was fun. Hung out with Jake and his friends… m-mostly Emily and Kim." I wrung my hands together. "I spent most of my time with the girls. Watching movies… doing hair… going to the beach…" My voice trailed off. His expression wasn't changing. That's what was scaring me. Wasn't he angry? I half expected him to explode. But here he was.

Not exploding.

"And you didn't think it might be a good idea to contact me?"

And there it was.

"Edward I—"

"Do you realize how selfish you were?" His expression was mix between irritation and concern. "I had no way of knowing why you didn't come home until Charlie returned. You know I can't step foot on the reservation. It was outrageously irresponsible of you, Bella. I was worried sick."

"If you would just—"

"This is why I can't trust your judgment. You don't make good decisions for yourself. Something could have happened to you. Do you remember what happened with James?"

I flinched. "That was different." I whispered. "They would never hurt me."

Edward was in front of me then, gripping my wrists. I gasped and tried to pull them out of his grasp but nothing happened. Of course nothing happened. He was inhumanly strong. I guess I was hoping he'd take the hint that he was hurting me.

"You hurt yourself, most of the time." Edward insisted. "You're a walking danger magnet, Bella. I always have to be here to protect you. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you. I love you too much."

"I love you too, Edward. But—"

"Don't go back."

"What?"

"I said don't go back." His grip loosened but he didn't let go. "It's too dangerous and I can't be there with you."

For a brief second, I wished I could hit him. "No, Edward. I've already made plans to go back."

"I won't let you."

"You can't stop me."

His eyes went wide with shock, and then hardened. Cold, like amber-colored ice. It sent chills down my spine. He stood up and took a step back.

"Something changed."

"Nothing has changed. I'm just not going to let you keep me from seeing my family." I retorted quietly, the fight inside of me nearly gone now. "I loved being there. I didn't know I would. And I'm going back whether you like it or not. If you try and stop me, I'll have someone come and get me. Or Charlie will take me. Good luck telling my father, the Chief of Police, no. Vampire or not, it won't be a good day for you."

"Bella—"

"Get out." I was whispering now before the last of my sudden bravado left me. "I want to be alone."

Edward stood there for a second, his expression twisted into a grimace of anger and confusion. I never acted this way. I always told him yes and I never ever went against what he said. I wanted him to hold me and tell me everything was going to be alright… but maybe on some level he was right. Something had changed. I just didn't know what it was yet. Clearly neither did he. And he wasn't happy about it.

Before I could blink, he'd disappeared. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and looked down at my wrists, realizing I was going to have to figure out how to cover up these new bruises. Hopefully they will have faded by the next time I went to the Rez. I wouldn't know how to explain these away. Hell, they couldn't be explained away. Each bruise was distinctly in the shape of hands and fingertips. It was obvious what it was. I sighed and fell back against my bed, closing my eyes.

A small part of me wished I hadn't been so insistent on getting into Edward's life. It was becoming more trouble than I could have ever anticipated. Though, what I could have anticipated would have been much better than having to deal with the whims of a vampire. A controlling vampire. A vampire that could make me feel so special because falling in love with a human just wasn't done. Because the human was changed or killed—or died, over time.

I wanted to be with him forever, but he wouldn't change me. I didn't know why. Did he want to be with me forever? Or did he feel like he loved me now, but didn't want to love me for eternity? Did he expect to get tired of me? Was I worth the trouble I was causing?

This train of thought caused tears to well up and spill over. I cried for a while. I don't know how long, but it was long enough for Charlie to come upstairs and ask if I wanted any pizza. I pretended to be asleep, holding my pillow over my face. He left after covering me with my blanket, talking quietly. He must have been on the phone. I hadn't caught what he was saying, but the woman on the other end was loud enough.

My mom. I took a deep breath and rolled over, staring out my window. A part of me wanted Edward beside me. Another part of me was glad he wasn't there. The rest of me was confused beyond reason. What did I want exactly? What had changed? Why did I feel like I had forgotten something? Well… not forgotten. Like it was gone. Like a piece of me was missing. Yet I had always felt complete with Edward beside me.

When sleep finally took me, I dreamt of a gray wolf.