All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

I arrived to Biology before Edward and took my seat. Mike was quick to join me perching himself on the edge of the table.

"Hey Bella. I didn't see you at lunch today. Is everything all right?"

"Yeah Mike everything is good. Thanks."

"That's good." He muttered. "So I noticed you didn't have your truck with you this morning…is it running ok?"

"Yes, my truck is perfectly fine."

"Oh." He stated lamely. We both looked up as Edward entered the room and took his seat next to me at the table. Mike turned back to me choosing to ignore his presence.

"So I was wondering…if maybe…you know…if you might need a ride home today…I mean I could give you one…if you want." A faint blush crossed his face as he looked at me with hopeful eyes.

I contemplated allowing Mike to take me home briefly. It would give me time to think through my answer to Edward's question, but it might give Mike the wrong idea. Most prevailing was my desire to be alone with Edward again. I knew it was wrong, but I craved his company too much to pass up the opportunity.

I say Edward tense slightly just before I gave Mike my answer. His head tilted minutely in my direction. He seemed anxious all of a sudden, as if he was nervous to hear my answer.

"Thanks Mike, but I already have a ride." I shrugged.

"Oh. Ok then…well I better get to my seat." He muttered dejectedly.

I sighed as I felt twinges of guilt for what I had just done. I turned to look at Edward, and was surprised to find him staring at me with his eyebrows furrowed. He looked confused by something. Had I been wrong to assume he was giving me a ride?

"You are still giving me a ride right?" I asked uncertainly, blushing slightly at being so forward in my questioning.

He said nothing and I looked down. "I mean it's ok. I'll just call Charlie. Don't worry about it."

"No. No." He said quickly. "I'm giving you a ride."

"It's ok really. You don't have to." I assured him. I chanced a look at him from the corner of my eye and noticed he was smiling. It was so beautiful it took my breath away.

"I want to." He assured me seriously.

Speechless, I nodded as our eyes held. My head began to spin as I once again forgot to breath. I gasped for air and could have sworn I heard him chuckle. I was about to question him when the teacher came in starting class.

It was a very long afternoon.

"So." He muttered in an off hand tone, as he pulled out of the school parking lot, "It's later."

I sighed. He was wasting no time. This was the part of the day I had been dreading. I could hardly concentrate on my homework in gym as I contemplated every possible scenario. By the end of the hour I had made no progress--I was still undecided as to what I should do.

"What is it you wanted to know?" I hedged trying to bide my time.

He grinned. "I believe you were about to tell me why your health seems to be of little concern to you."

I clenched my jaw, closing my eyes, as I turned my head towards my window. There seemed to be two reactions people always had once they found out I was sick, pity or fear—by abandonment. I didn't know if I could handle either one from Edward.

"Bella." He urged gently.

I opened my eyes and was surprised to see that I we were already at the hospital. We were parked next to my truck. I looked over at Edward and could see the deep concern in his eyes as they pleaded with me to tell him what was going on.

"I…I…" My throat felt tight and my mouth suddenly became extremely dry. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I shook my head gently back and forth.

I turned quickly in my seat and opened my door stepping outside. Swiftly, I walked to the driver side door of my truck, but was stopped by a cold hand on my arm. I turned and found him standing next to me holding my forearm in a firm grip.

"I have to go Edward." I said as sternly as I could, knowing my voice sounded weak. It had started to rain, but I didn't care. I could feel the cold drops as they soaked through my hair, but I couldn't be bothered to put my hood up.

I shook my arm trying to free myself but he held firm. "Let go." I cried as tears ran down my face. "I need to go. Please."

"Bella. Please just talk to me. You can't run forever. Let me help you."

Something inside of me snapped at his words. Help me? How the hell was he going to help me? No one could help me now. I yanked hard one last time freeing my self from his hold and glared up at him. "You can't help me Edward. No one can." I spat angrily.

"Please just…"

"I'm dying ok. Feel better? Now you know my deep dark secret." I yelled cutting him off in mid-sentence, not caring about what he wanted to say. "I have Leukemia. I moved here to spare my mother the painstaking job of taking care of me, and watching me die." My tears had become a steady stream down my face as they mixed with the rain. "Are you happy now? Now you know everything. No more secrets." I whispered bitterly.

Edward said nothing he simply stared at me in awe, seemingly taken off guard by my confession. "You can go now. Thanks for the ride."

I turned quickly and opened my door. Just as I was getting in I felt another tug on my arm.

"Just leave me alone Edward. Just leave me alone." I whispered. I felt him release my arm instantly at my request. I got into my truck and left the parking lot as fast as I could, never once looking back at him. I couldn't bear to see his reaction.

Half way home I pulled over to the side of the road and slumped over on my seat. The tears had become too thick for me to drive safely. I sobbed for what felt like hours. When there were no more tears I righted myself and again began for home.

I pulled up to my house and my eyes widened. There in my driveway sat a silver Volvo. What more could he want from me? I took a deep breath and opened my door, choosing to ignore the car sitting in my driveway. As soon as my door was open I saw him step out. I looked down keeping my eyes on my feet as I walked to the front door of my house.

"Bella."

I sighed stopping in mid-stride. It was better to get this over with now than at school where there would be witnesses. I turned to look at him, waiting.

He stepped closer to me and stretched out his hand resting it on the side of my face. His eyes were soft, and filled with an emotion I couldn't identify. I wanted to send him away, but I couldn't seem to get my mouth to work. The feeling of his hand on my face sent goose bumps up and down my body. It felt incredible. Unconsciously, I leaned into his touch and I could feel his thumb start to gently stroke my cheek.

His eyes lingered on my face for a few moments and I could see worry creep within. I could only imagine how I looked after my melt down. I tried to look away to hide myself from him, but his eyes penetrated into mine holding me hostage.

"Oh Bella." He sighed.

I tried to swallow but there seemed to be a knot in my throat and I was unable. Before I knew what was happening I found myself in his arms cradled against his chest. At first I tried to pull away, but as new tears started to fall down my face, tears I didn't know I had left, I found myself clinging to him tightly. I grabbed at his shirt pulling myself as close to him as possible. He held me firm in his arms saying nothing as my tears stained his shirt.

He held me wordlessly until my eyes, once again, ran dry. He pulled me from his chest and peered down at me with a small smile on his lips.

"I'm sorry." I whispered dropping my head. I suddenly felt extremely embarrassed by my outburst and could sense the familiar blush creep up onto my face.

I felt his cold hand under my chin as he pulled my face up to look at him. "Don't be." He insisted seriously.

We stared at each other for a long moment. I hadn't realized how late it was getting until I felt myself shiver from the cold. It had stopped raining, but there was still a light mist in the air.

He sighed. "You should get inside and change into dry clothes."

I nodded my head in agreement, still unable to speak.

"May I pick you up for school tomorrow?"

I was a little taken aback by his request. I nodded my head, mutely, in reply. After everything he had just witnessed he still wanted to be around me—he bewildered me. I wondered if I would ever truly be able to figure him out.

He smiled widely at me before dropping his hand from my face. "Get inside. I'll see you tomorrow." He promised.

"Oh, and Bella."

I heard him call just as I had unlocked my front door. I turned to find him perched against the open drivers side door.

"Sleep well." He smiled, slipping deftly into the seat of his car.

He was already half way down the street when I finally found my voice. "Thanks. You too." I whispered too late.