Heysup! Social life back on track, so I guess this is a celebratory update. Today's Labour Day and I don't have any homework, so I guess I can write a chapter now. Maybe serving as an apology too, for the long break in between. I may have to speed things up a little in this chapter because I really want to finish this story up and go on to the next sequel. (Because, between you and me, I think that the story only gets better and better when Bella and Edward are together.)

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Disclaimer: Twilight not mine. Neither is New Moon.

Chapter Seven

bPOV

The final bell for the school day rang and relief flooded through every vein in my body. I gathered my books and exited the school hurriedly, suddenly eager to just reach home and get a little nap. I was just opening the door to my truck when I heard my name being called. A little annoyed that I couldn't get home sooner, I swung my head around, looking for the voice who called me.

"Hey, Bella! Here!" Then I spotted Mike jogging lightly towards me with a big grin plastered onto his face, like the one which seemed to be especially reserved for me. Not wanting to appear rude, I managed a smile out and waved feebly.

"Hey, Mike. What brings you here?" I greeted him when he arrived in front me, chest heaving only slightly. "Nah, just wanted to ask you about that little shout out in Biology today. What was that all about? Cullen bothering you?"

It was funny how the moment Mike said his name, Edward walked out from the school building with his other glamorous family members. I didn't know what to do- smile or frown, or to reply yes or no. Then my body took over, like how it always did in such situations. My shoulders shrugged while my mouth opened, "Edward can be irritating at times, but it wasn't him this time." My inner self frowned, what was I saying? My mouth barged on anyway, "It's the burglary. It's emotionally draining and I think it's gotten to me." At least there was some truth in that one.

Surprise appeared in Mike's eyes and it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't tell anybody about that. I could have slapped myself, I really could. But it was too late, and the best I could do to salvage the situation was to give Mike a wry smile.

"A burglary? When did that happen? Were you hurt?" And he rattled off a whole list of questions. I was suddenly grateful for not telling anybody about the incident. Can you imagine one whole day of that horrible questioning? Torture!

"No, Mike, I'm fine really. If the burglar had silenced me, I wouldn't be here. Yeah, I was safe, somehow ending up in a wardrobe." I was looking at Edward, discreetly of course. But when I said that, it surprised me to see his cheeks lifting up, like in some kind of smile.

"Oh, thank goodness you were safe. So what happened to that nasty person? Did your dad catch him?"

"No. He ran away and the police didn't manage to catch him. He did leave a broken window for us as a souvenir though." I forced a laugh, but I heard that laughter fade away as I saw Edward tensing up, shoulders visibly broader than usual. I wondered if he was eavesdropping on my conversation with Mike or not, but then realised how stupid it was, since he was practically on the other side of the car park. I dismissed that thought with a slight shake of my head. Mike didn't realize a thing; he barged straight onwards.

"Oh dear, that means that the culprit's still at large. Hey, how 'bout I drive you home today? You look tired out and I want to make sure you reach your doorstep alive, no pun intended." Mike's face was tightened with concern. Or maybe he was just worried I'd reject him. I wasn't sure what I should do, but it didn't matter anyway. Edward made the decision for me.

One moment he was at his car, the other moment he was standing beside me. "That was awfully nice of you, Mike, to offer sending Bella home. Both of us appreciate it, really. But being Bella's newly appointed bodyguard, I'm sorry that I would have to turn down your offer. I mean, I can't not follow orders given by Chief Swan himself!" An awkward silence ensued and I was about to snap out of my trance to protest when he pushed me into my own truck. The next thing I knew, he'd bid Mike goodbye and we were on our way to my house in my truck.

ePOV

There was still this heavy stunned silence when I drove out of school in Bella's truck. I realised how uncomfortable I was driving at such a slow speed, but I didn't want to scare Bella unnecessarily. My eyes were both watching the road and observing Bella. She was just there, sitting on the passenger seat, looking horribly stiff and annoyed.

I was the one who broke the silence first. "Well then, Bella, it's just you and me now." With amusement, I noticed how Bella had opened her mouth with nothing coming out. She licked her lips and tried again. "My name is still Isabella, you know."

I almost laughed out loud, but I held it in and compressed it into a smile, pupils darting swiftly back ahead when Bella turned to look at me.

"Okay. Let's try that again." I paused for a short while before continuing. "Well then, Isabella, it's just you and me now." She had turned back to face the front, so I looked at her sideways again.

"Yeah, sad. But that's life." She said calmly as my mouth twitched. I bit back my laughter and thought of a suitable response. "So, you stole my line."

I saw her smile at that, and felt relatively accomplished. She remained silent after that, as if refusing to comment on my victory. I kept quiet for one whole minute before speaking again.

"Hey, why did the blonde stare at the orange bottle for such a long time?"

Bella jumped a little at my voice, but then pondered seriously. Her shoulders sagged slightly when she asked me 'What?'.

I tried not to smile as I replied, "Because the bottle said 'Concentrate'."

A small silence as Bella clapped her hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking in suppressed laughter. It was a while before Bella spoke again after taking a deep breath. "Hey, why did the blonde have two brain cells?"

"Because the rest of them died?" I ventured, refusing to lose without a fight. She shook her head smilingly and I gave a few more wild guesses before saying that I gave up. She didn't answer for a moment and when I looked over to see what was wrong, I found her pressing her hand to her mouth again, trying not to laugh. Smiling to myself, I prodded her teasingly, "So? What's the answer?" She took a deep breath, and then said really quickly, "Because she was pregnant!" She burst into laughter and I laughed along, only because she suddenly looked so carefree and innocent. It made me feel like Bella was just like any other girl and I could just get her. If only, some inner voice commented sourly and it reminded me about Bella's blood and her immunity to my gift. If only she's "like any other girl".

"Oh, turn left here and you can get off." She said, jerking out of my thoughts. I tried to look offended, "No, didn't you hear me just now? I'm your new bodyguard now. I won't let you out of my sight unless I see you, with my own eyes, walk through your door." She turned to face me, eyes narrowed, expression no longer pleasant. I cringed mentally, knowing that I had said the wrong thing.

"Tell me this, Edward, because I'm really curious. Who appointed you as my bodyguard? Don't give me that Chief Swan story because I'm his daughter and nobody knows him better than me."

I grinned cheekily anyway. "Fine, so you've caught me red-handed. Nobody said I was your bodyguard. I said that to keep Mike's dirty hands off you, and in case you roll your eyes, I do mean it. I'm your bodyguard as of now.

She frowned. "Why?"

I shrugged. "To keep you safe, of course."

She glanced at me. "Like how you did in the wardrobe?"

My lips tightened into a white line as I struggled to keep my expression in check. There was a long silence as I debated how to reply that. Then I decided to go with the I-know-you-like-me attitude, which worked during Biology. I turned to face her and gave her a teasing grin. Another wrong move.

At this point of time, I decided that I really couldn't understand girls because I hadn't noticed the severity of the question. Neither did I detect her breaking point. She was looking at my face for a reaction—guilt or innocence—but that grin I gave her apparently proved too much. Bella exploded.

"Stop smiling! Stop treating me like I'm just trying to get your attention like the other girls would. I'm not as desperate and not as blind. All I want to know from you was just that small fact, which you were so kind to abuse me brutally with. But that's no way to treat me like dirt, no way to treat the other girls like nothing! If you regret saving my life, then I apologize! I'll stay out of your way so you'll never have to bother with me ever again!"

"Is that what you think?" I was trying to rein my anger in, but it was difficult. Her outburst had startled me and I was thinking about how to appease her when she suddenly struck me hard with the last few sentences.

"I know you do!"

"You don't know anything."

"Then tell me! Why can't you tell me the truth?"

"Because you won't be able to handle it!" I shouted back at her, frustration and anger flowing freely out of me now.

Held back tears now spilled over her cheeks and she glared at me, face blotched red. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I hate you, Edward Cullen." She jumped off the truck and stalked out of sight.

I slammed the steering wheel and let out an anguished roar.

Okay, so there you go. Angst angst. I had a hard time writing it because it made me moody, and frustrated when I couldn't express their feelings properly. I've done the best I could and I hope it turns out fine enough for you people.

I've decided to go with the "short chapters, more updates" method, instead of the "long chapters, less updates". Hope you guys don't mind.

If I'm not wrong, another chapter would be up soon. But it all depends on the reviews I get and the homework pile at home. So yeah, see you guys soon (hopefully)!