-1Carlisle took one look at me, with my t-shirt still raised to look at my bruised side, to Edward crotched staring very determinedly at the floor, and whisked me out of the dining room.
"All that needs is a band aid" he said cheerily, but clutching my arm very tightly, as we swept past Rosalie and Emmett who still seemed to be locked in a wrestling match.
Esme smiled at me encouragingly, but her eyes darkened as we raced past.
"Best not stay in here it appears." laughed Carlisle, still gripping my arm. "Here we are, if you just sit on that step there I will just patch you up."
Once I had the band aid taped rather too firmly to my side, Carlisle flashed me the first smile I really believed.
"Right. Now we have that sorted. Shall we return to entertain our guest?"
As we came back into the dining room the other all fell silent. They had a assembled round the table, as if in a formal meeting, and none of them could meet my gaze. Only Doctor Bandara seemed content enough to watch my journey round the table to sit down next to Edward.
I reached out and gave his hand a friendly squeeze, but his fist stayed as hard as rock. He still wouldn't look at me.
"I was just saying to the others here," sneered Bandara, "All I want to do is study your behavioural patterns. You are very unusual, and ever since then the Vampire Monitoring Council discovered such a large, for want of a better word, vegetarian vampire pack, we have been very interested in talking to you.
"I mean if there was some sort of technique to your resistance, then we could teach other vampires to do the same…"
"Wait" cut across Jasper, "our vegetarianism is a choice, a way of life. Not something a human run council can force upon the whole vampire population. The VMC have interfered with the vampire way of life before, with dyer consequences. I do not want to see a repeat of 1989. We are not helping you open up another vampire cleansing service."
"No one wants to see that size of a disaster, especially the VMC." replied Bandara, all hint of a smile gone from his pale features. "But the Vampire Monitoring Council have changed quite dramatically since 1989. We are working much more on cures and ways of trying to subdue the natural instincts of vampires. We would never ever consider trying to cleanse you again. The VMC is well aware that vampires cannot help the fact they are vampires, however we would like to help them understand themselves better."
"A fat lot of help your cures are going to be. No one will want to take them." growled Jasper.
"You'd be surprised" smiled Bandara. "Edward here has already benefited from our beneficial drug scheme. If we hadn't no given him the pewter saline your friend here", he said nodding to me "might not be with us anymore."
"I think we should listen to him" said Carlisle, "The more we know about ourselves, the more we will know about how to control ourselves."
"Exactly. All I need is for you to allow me to join your household for a week or so, allow me to study your day to day behaviour. I might also talk to you about the different drugs we could offer you, especially if you have any difficulty controlling you basic instincts."
Edward stood up very suddenly.
"I am going outside for some air." he managed to hiss before exiting straight through the window.
I stood up and gazed round the room at all the confused faces. Only Alice seemed to be content.
"Don't worry he has not gone far. He's in the garage but I wouldn't go to him if I were you. He won't be very friendly. No not like that." she laughed, seeing my scared expression, "he just is worried about you… and him. Go home Bella, he won't return until you are gone. I will make him come visit you tonight. Go home, Charlie is starting to wonder if you have broken your promised to him already."
As I drove away I could see a shadow lurking round the side of the house, waiting for me to leave.
A/N- Review please?? The more you review, the more quickly I write, so the more you find out...