I don't own Twilight!

Anthony and I talked a great deal while he made dinner. He insisted on making a pizza himself. I said that we could just ordered, but he prefers a home cooked meal. I offered to help, but he started going off about how he's supposed to be taking care of me and he would feel bad if I helped, so I just sat back on the bar stool and watched as he expertly chopped ingredients.

Dinner went by fairly quickly. His pizza was delectable, much like his pasta. He really was a good cook. He might need to give me lessons. I admit that I'm a bit rusty.

Anthony and I decided to head straight to bed. We were both tired from the exhausting day. It was stressful and strenuous and we just needed a fresh start that the next day promised.

I was almost afraid to get ready for bed. I didn't want to mess everything up. It was all so beautiful and grand. Charlie and I used to share a small bathroom that hadn't had maintenance since he moved in. He's been living there since he was 19. The bathroom needs a little tune up.

I finally crawled into bed. The mattress was soft. Way softer than any mattress I had ever slept on before. I felt like I was in a hotel.

I fell asleep fairly quickly. I felt safe for once. I knew that no one could break through the walls that lined Anthony's property. He was pretty anal, but who was I to judge. I was too!

The next morning I woke up fairly early and I couldn't fall back to sleep. I suppose I did feel a bit odd about sleeping over at my boss' house. I mean, who does that. And even if Anthony was going to suggest I move in with him, usually there's a small guest house somewhere, especially when this property is so big!

Since I couldn't go back to sleep, I decided that I'll wake up and make Anthony some breakfast. I mean, it was the least I could do, since he was providing a home for me.

I crept quietly down the stairs. Everything was silent and the sun was only beginning to peek over the clouds.

I quietly tried to manoeuvre my way around the kitchen. I searched the kitchen thoroughly and found everything I would need to make Crepes. Everyone usually liked them. I added 4 eggs, 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of milk. I mixed until it turned into a golden batter. I had previously put the pan on the stove so it was nice and hot.

As the crepes were cooking, I went to the fridge and got out some fruits. I set the blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries into bowls. I placed them strategically on the table. I grabbed the strawberry bowl though and brought them back to the kitchen. They needed to be sliced into nice bite sized pieces in order to eat them with my Crepes.

I got the cutting board out and a knife. I began to slice away. By the third strawberry, my mind had wandered and I was thinking about my apartment and my books. I wondered if I could get them fixed somehow. I knew that I would never have the money though. Maybe I could replace them all? But that would also be extremely expensive. My shoulders slumped and the knife jerked forward, slicing my palm.

I let out a shriek as the blade sliced the heel of my palm, right near my thumb. I stared in horror as the blood oozed out, covering my wrists. Before I could hold my breath though, I got that scent of blood in my nose, like metal. My brain went fuzzy and my vision blurred. I could feel myself slipping, though I tried to hold on. Waves of nausea washed over me and I could feel myself falling. The knife clattered to the floor. I could faintly smell my Crepes burning, and I prayed to god that I didn't burn Anthony's house down, before slipping into darkness.

"Bella! Bella! Oh my god, are you alright? Say something!" I could hear a voice and I could feel hands cradling me.

My eyelids fluttered open and I was looking into the emerald eyes of Anthony. I gave him a weak smile. "Hey." I croaked pathetically.

"Are you alright? What happened?" He demanded.

I attempted to sit up, but Anthony held me in his arms firmly, "Don't try to move. You're as white as a sheet. I think you hit your head too. Did you fall?" He asked.

I nodded. "I was cutting strawberries and I cut my hand."

Edward looked down at my hand and frowned for a moment, until realization dawned on him. "You faint at the sight of blood?" He asked. I nodded, pathetically. The corners of Anthony's mouth turned up.

My hand actually was stinging quite a bit though. I'm pretty sure the knife cut quite deeply. Anthony turned serious again when he saw I was in pain, "Let me see your hand. How deep is it?"

I showed him my palm carefully. His long, graceful fingers gently prodded, "Jesus Bella. This is deep. I'm going to have to take you to the hospital."

He propped me up against the island and said, "I'm going to grab a dishtowel." He was gone for about 3 seconds before he popped back to my side. He expertly wrapped the towel around my hand and before I could say anything to protest, he scooped me up and cradled me in his arms.

He didn't waver as he carried me through the house and to the garage. He buckled me in before hurrying over to the driver's side.

As he backed out I said, "Could you take me to Dr. Cullen? He's a friend of mine."

"Sure thing." Anthony replied.

We didn't talk much, except when I gave directions to the hospital that Carlisle worked at. I was focusing too much on breathing in through my mouth and trying to ignore the stinging pain in my hand, and Anthony was focused on the insane driving he was doing.

We pulled in to the hospital and Anthony parked illegally. He rushed to my side and pulled me into his arms again, "Anthony, put me down, seriously, it's just my hand." I was actually embarrassed to be carried into an emergency room, if just my hand was cut.

Anthony gave me a stern frown and I returned it with one of my own. Anthony placed me carefully on the ground and I tried to walk myself to the sliding doors of the hospital. The world tilted and seemed to be meeting me face first.

Before I could greet the ground, Anthony's strong, secure arms caught me and he swung me up, "You're pale again."

I barely heard him. Everything was going fuzzy and my vision was once again clouding. I should've listened to him.

We walked in to the emergency room and I vaguely remember Anthony cutting in front of about 9 people that were waiting for their turn at the front desk. Anthony then did some arguing and threatening in order to get Carlisle down to see me right away.

A nurse brought out a wheel chair for me and Anthony sat me down in it. I was thoroughly embarrassed. He was making too big of a deal out of all of this. Anthony also wouldn't let anyone near the wheelchair. He wouldn't even let the nurse wheel me to the room that I was assigned. Anthony was being very . . . protective.

Once we were in my room (a private one), we waited for approximately 5 minutes before Anthony began to frustrated pull at his hair and pace around the room. He also rambled quite a bit. "Where is the doctor? Who is running this place? I swear to god if someone doesn't come in the next 5 seconds, this hospital will be shut down. You could be bleeding to death! What if you get an infection? I'll sue them if you get sick – "

"Anthony! Calm down! I've had worse. Don't worry. You need to stop. You're going to give yourself a heart attack!" I protested.

Good thing Carlisle walked in. "Good! You're finally here! Bella needs to be looked at urgently!"

I stood out of the wheel chair, to greet Dr. Cullen. "Good to see you."

"Good to see you also, though the circumstances are a bit . . . unfortunate. I'm actually surprised that you're back this soon." Carlisle joked.

"This is no time for jokes! If you are unable to take this seriously, I will hire my own doctor." Anthony said heatedly.

I gaped at him in horror, "Anthony! I'm sorry, but that was rude. Carlisle is my friend and he is an excellent doctor.

Edward blushed in shame. "I'm sorry Dr. Cullen. I'm just a bit worried is all."

Carlisle turned his kind eyes to me, "I understand. Now let's take a look at that hand."

I turned my palm face up to Carlisle and looked away. Carlisle whistled, "This is a pretty deep cut. It'll need a couple stitches. I'll be right back."

As Carlisle turned to leave the room, his steps faltered and he turned back to Anthony with a weird look in his eye, "Have I met you before? You seem familiar to me."

Anthony looked confused and he shook his head carefully, "I don't believe we have." He held out his hand, "Anthony Mason."

Carlisle still had the puzzlingly sad expression in his eye, "Carlisle Cullen." They shook hands.

Anthony frowned this time, "Cullen you say?" He asked.

Carlisle nodded at him carefully, "That name rings a bell somewhere, but for the life of me, I can't remember."

Carlisle gave a weak smile, "Must be déjà vu." He turned and left the room.

I turned to Anthony, "Do you know him?"

Anthony slowly shook his head, "I don't. At least, I don't think so." Anthony sank down in a chair that was beside the window, deep in thought. I decided to leave him alone for a moment so he could think whatever it was through.

We didn't have to wait long before Carlisle returned. I guess he knew how impatient Anthony was.

Carlisle guided me down to a chair and gently held my left hand in his palm. I looked away as he began the procedure of freezing my hand and stitching it. I never had a very strong stomach.

Anthony picked up his chair and came closer to me. He held my right hand. Our eyes connected and he seemed to be silently comforting me. I became relaxed immediately. Anthony's green eyes were so soothing.

Carlisle cleared his throat, "We're all finished here."

I looked away from Anthony, slightly embarrassed. My cheeks blushed faintly. Carlisle stood up smiling, "How'd you two meet anyways?" Carlisle asked.

I didn't want to say. It was quite embarrassing that my own boss was housing me and caring for me. "We know each other through work." Was Anthony's response.

I let out a breath of release. That wasn't too bad of a response. Carlisle smiled warmly. "Sorry to cut this short, but I have some other patients that need to be taken care of. My wife and I are going to have a get together sometime, if you'd be willing to come. You could bring your friend also." Carlisle turned his warm gaze on Anthony.

"I'd like that." I said, "Tell Esme I say hi." Anthony's head jerked slightly and he frowned as if he were in deep concentration.

"Bye Bella. And bye Anthony. It was nice to meet you." The two men shook hands.

Anthony put his arm around my waist and gently guided me out of the room as Carlisle finished cleaning up. I gazed down at my left hand. It was wrapped thickly with gauze.

My eyes widened in sudden horror, "Oh no!" I groaned.

"What is it? Are you in pain?" Anthony asked panicked.

I shook my head, "The breakfast I was making! I left it on the stove!"

Anthony sighed, "Don't worry. I shut the oven off before we left. It smelled amazing by the way. What were you making?" He asked.

"Crepes. They're like French pancakes. Way better than regular pancakes because they don't get all soggy."

"I hate soggy pancakes!" Anthony exclaimed.

I grinned at him and the automatic doors slid open for us. "I'm sorry it's ruined now though."

Anthony shrugged, "That's alright. We could make them another time together."

When we got home and walked into the kitchen the first thing we smelled was smoke. We opened some of the windows to air out the house and we began to clean up the kitchen. Anthony graciously said that he would clean up the blood so that I wouldn't get sick again. He told me that I wasn't allowed to do a lot because of my hand, which I thought was completely ridiculous.

We ended up having to chuck out the pan since the crepe that was on it was permanently burnt off. Anthony tried his best to get the charred food off, but in the end he said that it wasn't worth the energy and he'd rather buy a brand new pan instead.

So after the kitchen was fully cleaned, we were pretty tired. I pretty much destroyed the stove top and we spent a good hour trying to clean it. We were almost finished, but Anthony saw that I started to break a sweat while scrubbing too hard and he said that we should both sit down as to not do anything too strenuous for me. He really was too cute.

So we were sitting on the couch in his vast living room. I finally allowed myself to relax. We were sitting in silence for a while, until Anthony asked, "What's one thing that you miss most from your apartment?"

I didn't have to think, "My books."

"The ones that were destroyed?" He asked.

Tears sprung to my eyes just thinking about them, "Ah shit. I'm sorry Bella. I shouldn't have said that. I could buy you new books if you would like?"

I smiled a watery smile at him, "It's alright. And it's just that a lot of those books held sentimental value for me. I got one on my sixteenth birthday, another one was from my grandma and it was the last gift she gave me. I got one signed by my favourite author and one of the books was a gift from my dad which was so thoughtful because he usually just gave me money for my birthday. Almost all my books are sentimentally important to me. It's just kind of upsetting is all. Now all of them are ripped apart!"

Anthony put his arm around me, "It's going to be okay. We'll make new memories. I promise. And nothing like that will ever happen here. You're completely safe."

There it is! I'm so sorry this took so long. I've been so busy with school and I've hardly had time for anything. I need to plan my time better. I hope you liked this chapter. More interesting stuff will happen next chapter. I won't spoil it, but it will be a fun chapter to write.

Thanks for all those people who are still hanging on and reading my story. I'm really trying with my updates here! Thanks!

~greeneyes-99 (Nat)