-1Charlie was stood in the doorway as I drove up to the front drive. So I deliberately made sure I was parked completely straight before I got out the car. I needed time to make up a convincing reason for my lateness.

"I thought I had banned you from seeing that boy?" He called across to me when I finally got out of my car.

"What?" I said back, pretending I didn't know exactly what he was talking about.

He gave me a scathing look and moved aside for me to get into the hallway.

"I went to the school library after class" I lied, trying to keep my reddening face hidden as I dug inside my bag.

I pulled out the books I had grabbed at lunchtime whilst scanning the library for any sign of Edward, and shoved them into Charlie's hands. He looked genuinely surprised.

"I thought I might try and start my reading for English." I grinned taking the books back, "I'll be in my room if you want me? Dinner at 8, is that ok?"

And with that I rushed up the stairs and into my room, slamming the door behind me.

I tried to start the book we had been set to read, I tried to complete the calculus problem Bandara had set us, I even tried to email Rene but each of these I gave up in turn. I couldn't concentrate.

All I could see was Edwards eyes, darkened with the physical side of himself he tried so hard to control. I was never bothered by the chill of his skin, I even liked his icy lips but the coldness in Edward's eyes made me shiver.

I had to do something to distract myself so I went downstairs and starting cooking Charlie his dinner. I wasn't hungry.

Once I had parked Charlie in front of the game on the TV, lasagne on lap, I went back upstairs telling Charlie to get I wanted an early night, so that he wouldn't disturb me.

I knew he was there before I had even opened the door.

Edward was sat on my bed, waiting for me to swing the door open. I half expected to see those cold, unblinking eyes, but they had returned to the gorgeous amber.

I ran to him, expecting him to open his arms to receive my hug, but instead he shot across the room. Leaving me to fall stupidly onto the bed.

"What was that for?" I hissed, trying to show how hurt I felt inside. "first you storm out of that meeting with Bandara and hide from me when I come to find you. Then you won't hug me. If this is about Charlie I don't care. I…"

"No, it's not that." It was barely more than a whisper. "I just don't trust myself anymore. I really hurt you today. I…I…"

But he stopped, he could face admitting he had come so close to attacking me.

"But you didn't attack me. I never thought for a moment you would."

"Well I did. I know I did…I imagined it. Every detail." His voice cracked.

I went over to him cautiously, as he sank to the floor and put my arm around him.

"Bandara said he had drugs that could help," he chocked although no tears ran down his contorted face, "He said I could get better."

"But your not sick!" I protested, "I like you the way you are, you don't need to take drugs to be around me. It was only because Bandara was there that you overreacted that's all. Emmett, Jasper and even Carlisle were the same. If you hadn't scratched me then Carlisle might have attacked Bandara. Esme had never seen him like that."

Edward just gave me a doubtful look.

"I promise Edward. I love you just as you are. Vampire and all."

Edward finally relaxed under my arm and reached round to return my hug. But I pulled back in disgust.

"What is that smell. Have you been eating garlic?" I cried, wrinkling my nose.

"Oh yeah, that. Bandara has asked all of us who agreed to be observed to take these tablets. They smell of garlic because apparently the smell of garlic masks the stench, as he put it, of vampires. He reckons that's where the legend that Vampires are scared of garlic come from. Humans who could smell vampires couldn't smell them when they hung garlic on there door."

"Hmmm…" I said as I lent in again trying hard not to gag. "So you agreed to be his guinea pig then?"

"We are not guinea pigs. He is just observing our day to day lives"

"Whilst feeding you drugs"

"Whilst we take herbal remedies to make it possible for him to work. Have you ever considered how hard it is for him to walk into a room of vampires, we are natural enemies. You should smell minotaurs."

"Who else is being observed then?"

"Only me, Alice and Carlisle. Esme offered but Bandara wanted those of us who had the most contact with humans. He wanted Jasper to do it too, because he is our newest recruit but Jasper refused, surprise, surprise."

"Yeah I got the feeling that Jasper didn't trust Bandara much for their conversation." I grinned, as my nose finally got used to the garlicky stench.

"So I am going to have a little shadow for a while. He will sit with us at lunchtime, the story will be that he and Carlisle are old school friends and he is mine and Alice's godfather. And he asked if he could see you and me together."

"What?" I shouted, pushing away form Edward again.

"He was very interested."

"I'm not a freakshow to be prodded and poked…"

Edward grabbed me and shoved a hand over my mouth.

"Shhh! Look we will talk about this tomorrow. Charlie is coming."

Then he was gone.

I had just enough time to grab the book I had abandoned on my bed, before Charlie burst into the room.

"What are you shouting at?" He gasped, as his eyes swept the room. He had obviously run full pelt up the stairs.

"Oh sorry, did you hear that? There was a huge twist in my book and I just kinda shouted out a bit." I lied again, the temperature of my face reaching boiling point.

"Well, don't do it again. I thought you were being attacked. Try not to get so involved in you book in future." He said, but his eyes settled on the open window, which was blowing a cold daft through my room.

"Aren't you cold?" He asked, walking to the window and shutting it, but not before he had a good look down for any evidence of a retreating boyfriend.

"Good night then." I said, trying to get rid of him.

"What? Oh yeah good night then Bella. Don't read for much longer."

I slept alone for the second time in two nights.