A/N Thanks again for the reviews!

My apologies for posting this so late, but I was really busy, so again sorry! And actually, when I had completed the chapter, my server was down, so there was more delay..

And sorry, Renesmee's eyes shouldn't be gold but chocolate brown.

That's all! Please review! ^^

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I just kept on staring.

"How…how long have you been standing here?"

"I'm really sorry…I didn't mean to eavesdrop….I just- "

"How long?"

I thought about that. What would she do if she knew what I'd heard ? Nothing too good. And actually, I'd just been here for a minute.

"I just came here."

"Really?"

She was reluctant to ask more, I think, because if I really hadn't heard, it would arouse my suspicion.

"Okay. I was just talking about some things, to my Mom. She gets worried when I leave without telling her."

"Oh." I didn't know why she was giving me an explanation.

"Hey, would you wait a bit ?"

She took out her phone again, one of the latest models. Of course. What else could you expect from a Cullen.?

She saw me looking, and said, shrugging, "Alice is very particular about these things."

I really didn't want to give any reaction to how she'd said just 'Alice' now, as she was looking at me to see precisely that, I think. But my mind confirmed that something strange was going on, which I shouldn't know about, and she thought I knew that. And I think my face showed that. She noticed, and then turned to her phone.

"Dad, come."

She spoke very softly and very fast. Very. And I wondered how I'd even understood.

"I'm calling my Dad to pick me up," she told me. Then, thinking something, she added, "He'll probably send Edward instead." She was smiling wryly.

Okay…Did I miss something? Probably a family joke…

"So, you're a Junior?" she asked me. So now she was having a conversation with me?

"Yeah."

"Your name's Emily, right? Jasper was telling us that some days ago. You work till so late?"

Jasper was talking with his family about me?

"I work double shift today. And it's almost ended now."

"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Renesmee Swan. I'm a year younger than you." She held out her hand.

I held it. It was very warm. Wait, weren't the Cullens supposed to have a cold touch? Annie Long had touched Bella Cullen/Swan once, by mistake, and now many people could swear they had touched them and confirmed her tale about their being so cold. Maybe they all were making that up. But why would even Annie lie? I had seen her actually brush her hand against Bella's, she didn't need false stories.

"I know. You're Bella Swan's sister, right? Bella takes English with me…I mean, we're in the same class," I fumbled.

"Yeah. Her sister." She was smiling again. "Hey, would you come to CCD with me? Its late, but I think we could have a coffee together. Da- Edward thinks I'll be there, but its so far away, could you come with me till there?"

My shift had in fact ended, and I wanted to get to know her more. She was very friendly, and I wanted to know the reason behind her strange demand.

"Alright."

I checked out. She was coming beside me and had a strange expression. Like she was betraying me or something. I hoped she wasn't.

It was not a long walk, but it wasn't very short either. The path she took was not on the main road, but through a lane. Shortcut, she'd said . Now, she was just staring into space.

"So why is your Dad, or Edward, coming to CCD?"

That seemed to shake her out of her reverie.

"Well, I've been in this situation many times, and I usually call them there to pick me up. Now, it's understood that I'll be there."

"You don't have a car or vehicle of your own?" Every member of their family had gorgeous cars or/and motorbikes.

She grinned. "Well, my parents seem to think I'll be like my mother. But as now they know I'm not, in so many ways, they'll probably get me a car soon, after I get a licence. I've never had a licence made .. I mean, I've not had a licence made." She stopped, glanced at me, and continued, "I prefer a bike though, like Jake."

She seemed to remember something, probably involving Jake or bikes or both, and grinned further. For my part, I didn't get a lot regarding what she had meant, but had become almost used to that now.

Something moved behind us. I tried not to look too obvious about it, so out of the corner of my eye I noticed some guys hanging around at the end of the lane towards our right, eyeing us.

Renesmee whispered, "Just ignore 'em."

When did she look over there? I definitely hadn't seen her glance that way.

And then, three of those guys started approaching us. They appeared drunk. I froze. Then I realised that Renesmee was pulling me forward, and I started walking forward with her, fast.

"Hey gals," one of them drawled out.

Renesmee rolled her eyes without looking at anything in particular.

It kinda bugged me that she was so calm about this. I was panicking. And it wasn't like I was the one who was looking stunningly gorgeous in her casual tee and jeans. She was obviously the centre of all their attention, but even now, my mind was crazy enough to notice how like her sister Bella, and unlike her adopted sisters (or Aunt, I hadn't forgotten that) she was in this matter. She wasn't an attention-seeker at school too, I knew that, so it shouldn't have come as a surprise. But her unfazed attitude bothered me just now.

The men were uncomfortably close now. A turn in the lane was close. I thought we would reach some busy road after that, but I realised I'd calculated wrong soon enough. We weren't approaching the coffee shop from the main way, but from behind. I kicked myself internally for not realising this sooner. Not that it would have mattered otherwise, but it did now.

And so we were still in some shadowy lane. What the hell. It couldn't get worse than this.

And, suddenly, I saw I was wrong. It could. And in fact it had. The remaining men from the original gang were now standing before us, leaning against the walls of the houses on either side of the lane. We were surrounded.

Then they started addressing us.

"Hey, c'mon now, you can atleast talk to us."

"Watcha doing out so late? It ain't safe, you know."

"What's your name? You're real pretty."

They were circling us, and I was really scared now.

And then one of them took hold of Renesmee's hand. And I really hadn't expected what happened next. And most probably, neither had he.

Renesmee took out her hand effortlessly from his grasp, and then impossibly, crushed his hand so hard that I think I heard a bone crack. He flinched back, his face screwed up in pain.

Another guy then attacked her, and, again, she moved out of his way with such agility that he fell and hit his head on the wall behind us.

She smiled then, and the way her teeth gleamed was definitely menacing. Not life-threatening, but still very dangerous. There were four men still standing, unhurt, and they were not very confident now.

And then the gang-leader stepped up.

"Think you can scare us away, missy?"

And he did not appear scared. He was menacing too.

This is not happening!

There was the sound of tyres screeching, and a car was before us. It was a beautiful car, silver, with dark tints, horribly expensive, and it belonged to Edward Cullen.

The car came to a halt right before us. Edward Cullen got out and faced the attackers. And then I saw fear on their faces. They started to back off, and appeared to leave. I didn't realise then why they got scared so easily.

Then Edward faced us. His face was not just menacing, it was lethal. Like he could kill you and not bat an eyelid. It could scare away anyone.

His expression changed when he saw Renesmee, softened from the murderous glare, then turned to incredulity, and then to an exasperated anger. I don't think he even saw me standing.

He turned to look at the attackers again, who were now leaving, and fast. He seemed sure they were going when he turned back to us.

"Nessie," was all he said.

Renesmee smiled, in what seemed to me in a guilty way, or rather in a spoilt way, the way kids do when they've done something naughty but know they won't be punished for it. She then stepped towards him, and hugged him.

She then came back to me, and said that Edward wanted us to get in the car. I was sure Edward hadn't even noticed me, let alone ask me to get inside his car, but I did what I was told. Maybe Nessie had invited me in, but whatever.

The inside of his car was as gorgeous as the exterior. I was in the back, and Renesmee got in beside me, leaving Edward alone up front. It was strange to feel so calm now, after how I was feeling just a minute ago. I can't describe the relief I felt.

And Renesmee was beside me, asking if I was okay, and saying she was so very sorry for what happened there. She had looked so brave just before, and now she looked so vulnerable. I wanted to hug her and reassure her that I was totally fine.

"Renesmee, believe me, I'm fine, I'm alright. It's you who fought them off, I was just watching. I should be the one asking if you are fine, not the other way around."

She still appeared to be very sorry.

"Hey, it's not your fault. You were the one who saved us. Well, you and Edward," I glanced at him, and to my utter surprise, he turned and smiled! I was so dazed, I forgot what I was saying. Then he looked back at the road, and I realized what just happened.

Woah.

I turned back to Renesmee with some difficulty.

"Hey, how did you fight off those men anyway? I didn't know you fought so well. And you broke that guy's hand so easily!" I was amazed recalling what I'd seen.

"Well, it was just self defence I learned years ago.."she trailed off.

Then she turned to Edward.

"Edward," she looked at him meaningfully.

"I know," was all the reply she got.

Was this what I thought this was?

"So, hey, Emily," she turned to face me. And it starts.

"Emily, may I ask you something?"

Why in front of Edward, I cringed. I really did not want an audience for what I knew was coming.

"Sure."

"You really didn't hear what I was talking about to my Mom earlier?"

Obviously, she knew. And there really was no point in hiding this. I would never be able to understand what I'd heard, so I might as well ask her for some explanation.

"Um, well, you know I kinda did."

She did not reply. I thought she was mad at me for not telling this sooner, and now telling in front of Edward. I waited for her to speak.

But it was Edward who spoke.

"You didn't understand it?"

He knew the answer. Why was he asking me then?

"I want to know what you heard."

Okay, was he now replying to my unasked question? But more important was the fact that he had put it so openly, so straightforward. That must mean this was very important.

But I did not know how to reply in the same manner.

I thought about all that I'd heard. I had heard some bizarre things, and those must be the ones he wanted to know. I did not know what they, that is, the Cullens would do if I were to let out their secret. I would not, of course, but what if they thought I would? This was an important secret after all. And it would sound funny, but after seeing their physical prowess, and the murderous look on Edward's face tonight, I was actually scared for my life. But from what I'd talked to Jasper, he seemed kinda nice. And Renesmee was so sweet and friendly, it was hard to imagine her letting her family do such a thing. And Edward too was so caring and protective of his umm.. adoptive sister? his girlfriend's real sister? er, Nessie, that it did not do him justice to imagine him like that. But what if that was it? If this secret could bring harm or threaten his family? Then, no doubt, he would do anything to save his family. And that meant anything.

And still, now my fear was gone. Well not totally, but mostly. And I knew I would never do something to purposefully bring Renesmee or Jasper or Edward or Alice, Bella, Jacob, Rosalie, Emmett, or their parents harm. I would not do that with anyone, let alone them, who had been really nice to me. I wouldn't betray them, if that was what they were afraid of. But they didn't know that.

I would keep their secret, but I wanted to have my facts cleared first.

So I looked up at Edward, who had a strange expression on his face, a mixture of surprise, and, something else I cannot name. He spoke before I could.

"You know, it's alright. You can ask us what you want to. We won't kill you." He smiled mischievously here.

Was it just me, or was there a deeper meaning here?

"Really?!?"

And that didn't came from me either. It came from Renesmee. She looked pleased that Edward had taken the decision he had.

"That's really nice of you- " I began, and then my voice was drained by the chime of the clock tower. It was one a.m. Shit.

I had to go home. I couldn't believe it. I was this close to asking them all that'd been bothering me today, after they had given me the permission to, and I couldn't stay out anymore. My mother would have been getting hysteric by now. Maybe she even called the police.

But I could wait for some more time, right? I was already late. What difference would an hour more make? It would. Mom wouldn't even have eaten her food, waiting for me. God, why now?

"But you should go home now, it's late. I know you want to ask a lot of things, and you will. School then, on Monday. It'll probably be better for us too."

Did he just understand, again, what I'd been thinking about? And why would it be better for them? To come up with answers? False ones, to cover up? I groaned.

He was already driving towards my house. With the mad speed at which he was driving, I would be home in less than five minutes.

And I was. Renesmee bade me goodbye, and so did Edward.

And then, I couldn't stop myself.

"I trust you, then, you know, to answer." I badly wanted to add 'honestly'.

"Yes, I know. Believe me, I do."

……….

I had a really strange dream that night.

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Thanks for reading people!

Please review!

And for anyone who understood otherwise due to my lack of disclaimers ---

Twilight does not belong to me. It belongs to the very talented Stephenie Meyer. And I thank her for bringing such characters into our lives. I just play around with them sometimes.

Love, C