I do not or claim to own any of the Twilight saga.

I had left my cell on silent as I gallivanted around on my motorbike, searching for something to keep my mind off of tomorrow. I knew it would go fine as long as I hunted before. Yet the vision that Alice was trying so hard to keep out of her thoughts was playing on my mind. I knew if it were to be something that would put us all at risk she would tell me, or I'd like to think she would. Though knowing Alice she may try and change the course of events herself, although she would know if they were being changed safely or not.

I pulled into an empty truck stop to look at my cell, and to see the time. I flipped up my cell to be barraged with a number of texts, from all family members and voicemail. I sighed internally as I dialled voicemail, of course the first voice I would hear would be Esme's, "Bella honey, where are you? I wish you would tell me before you take of like that – how am I supposed to know if you're safe or not? Please just call me sweetheart. I love you."

The message cut off and a wave of guilt hit me. Of course Esme would worry about me, it was in her nature to be a mother, and a mother's first job was to worry. Though I was older than her mentally, she was physically older than me and took to the role of mother to all the Cullen children like a duck to water. I laughed when she had said the word safe, what could harm me? A motorbike accident? That's something I can walk away from unscathed, I can pretty much do anything without causing harm to myself. Yet Esme's concern still made me feel guilty for not telling her where I was going. I had never had any one care for me the way that Esme does, even as a human. I had no mother for she had died at childbirth, and my father was pretty non-existence as he worked continually in order to keep me in food and clothing. So when Carlisle had turned Esme after finding her with a faint heartbeat in the hospital morgue – he saved her. Gave her a new life. If that's what you can call this. I quickly scrolled through my messages and opened one from Emmett:

Bells, I told them you were just going for a drive to clear your head but they sure know how to worry. Call me please. –Em.

I sighed yet again and dialled Emmett's number, it had barely got to two rings when the phone had been picked up:

"Bells – see I told you guys she would be fine." I rolled my eyes at that – what could have happened to me?

"Emmett is Esme there?" I asked sheepishly, my annoyance at them all had been quickly erased. I hated to make her worry.

"Yes she's here Bells, wanna talk to her?"

"No that's fine, just tell her not to worry, that's what she's doing right now though isn't it?"

"Of course she is Bells – what else would Mom be doing if it wasn't worrying about her golden child." He said with a chuckle. "She just wants to know if you're coming home. I told her that you were of course. I mean you'd hate to miss out on school tomorrow right?"

"Yes I'm coming home Em, you could have told them that yourself you didn't have to actually ask me. I'm just in Portland so I will be home soon. Oh and Emmett, the grizzly's are huge here, took me a good five minutes to take one down." I teased, grizzly bears have to be Emmett's favourite hunt, and I knew he hadn't seen any since his trip to Europe.

"Damn Bells there was just no need for that, you know?"

"I know just had to be said though, I'll see you soon." I flipped the phone shut, put the bike into gear and I was off again.

I had chosen the back route to the house, needing the challenge of the sharp bends and curves in the road – it gave a sense of exhilaration which is hard to come by as a vampire. As I thought about tomorrow, the new school semester, I felt a sort of angst. Because of the classes? No. I knew they would be a breeze. But because of the pointless thoughts that I would have to listen to, there was no way in which I could block that many thoughts as hard as I could try. I wasn't also looking forward to the four pairs of eyes that would no doubt be following me around the school. Just looking for signs of a slip that hopefully wouldn't happen. I mean I knew these kids; they were classmates – not friends, classmates. We kept a distance at school, kept ourselves to ourselves. We sat together in classes or if that wasn't possible we sat alone. It was easier that way, people seemed to know that there was something different about the Cullen's, so were indeed quite happy to leave us alone. Though I knew that we were admired for a number of reasons; our looks, our money and our intelligence. The thought from Mike Newton last semester about us being "a complete new race" wasn't too far off, and certainly gave me something to laugh about for a while.

As I pulled into the driveway I picked up on the thoughts of my family inside, Esme being the loudest with a sigh of Thank god. I swung into the garage and parked at the end just behind Rosalie's blood red convertible, paying special attention not to scratch the paintwork. I'd have to get Rosalie to check the bike over, with her being our mechanic and the rattling in the bike becoming quite disturbing.

Bella, for Esme's sake I wish you wouldn't do that. You know what it does to her.

I leaned back against the bike, and looked up at the creator of our family, and for all intents and purpose my father. Though when I say it like that Carlisle has become my father, not has he only looked out for me over these past one hundred odd years but has also supported me.

"I know and I'm sorry, but I did tell Emmett what I was doing, maybe he just wasn't clear enough on the matter. I didn't have any intent on not returning so just forget it please." I began to walk off, and I brushed past Carlisle as I went. Though the conversation clearly wasn't over.

Look Bella, you must be feeling some...anxiety about tomorrow. Don't tell me that you haven't because Jasper has informed me that you are. And I don't mean to pry but you are my daughter and I care. Ever since the end of the last school semester you've been distant from me Bella. From all of us. I know you have your reasons for this ever since the incident Bella, but I believe that you have overcome that and will be fine tomorrow. You just have to let your family back in. We're here to support you in whatever you do – and you decided to come back to us after what happened. I am more than happy with your choice, but you have to let us help you.

The pleading even within Carlisle's thoughts was too much to bear, the suffering that I seem to have brought to him and Esme, made me feel disgusted with myself. All along I was looking out for myself, not realising the pain in was inflicting on my family. I would do this no longer.

"I'm sorry Carlisle. I'm sorry that I let you down; I should have had more will power because that's what this life all comes down too. Tomorrow will be a fresh start I promise, no more brooding, no more wallowing in self pity and not another slip." He cringed internally as I mentioned the slip, but I looked at Carlisle's face to see he was smiling.

That's all I ask of you Bella, he thought. After all we wouldn't want it to affect your school grades now would we?

"Ha-ha Dad, can I go to my room now?" He shook his head at my stupid remark, and laughed along with me. I grabbed the key to my bike, shoved them into my jeans pocket and walked from the garage to go to my room.

"Oh and Bella, you could never let me down."

Writers note:

Eeek well that was the third chapter obviously. Sorry to disappoint with no Edward yet again – but I can promise you that he will be in the next chapter. I thought that I just had to put something in about Bella's relationship with Carlisle, and I am quite proud of that section. Yet again any comments at all our welcome both good and bad. And whatever you do please try and take the time to review. Because next chapter we say hello to Edward ;-)

Thanks again, Emma.