Edward Cullen is back at school.

"hello? Bella? What do you want?"

I told them that I'd have a soda.

"Actually I feel a little sick." My stomach was churning, the fear that had accumulated from thinking of reminding myself what I had lost, the loneliness at home, the empty life - all because of the Cullen's I was afraid to face.

I'd been thinking about the Cullens too much and worrying about why Edward wasn't at school... at the same time I wished he would die and his spell on me would perish with him.

I had thought numerous times of asking Charlie did he know where the Cullens lived - and arriving with soup for ill Edward. I don't know when I'll feel whole again, so hopefully he's either dead (with his spell) or... back at school.

I want to know whether Edward is OK now but I was too sick with fear to ask the rest of the Cullens. I realized it got worse when I worried about Edward and loosing myself. When I did that - not only was I lonely but I was so worried and depressed. Mike asked me how I was feeling twice... anxious. I wondered whether I should play it out and skip bio.

shit! I realized Edward is here - looking over at his table.

If the Cullens were staring at me, then I would skip biology like the coward I was ( I just don't want to experience any more pain - I've had ENOUGH). I examined Edward, who was not glaring at me, but laughing with his family. He held his hand up to his lips in an futile attempt to conceal the rumbling laughter. The blond girl wasn't laughing, she was urgently trying to persuade the other giggling members of the table that it was a serious matter. She seemed to be the one being mocked, but I know better. I zoomed in on Edward who looked different – the skin shades livelier and the bags under his eyes were less noticeable. Edward Cullen looked at me. I shoved my head down and shook. His butterscotch eyes were humorous and so alive as he was chuckling at me.

"Edward Cullen is staring at you" Jessica giggled in my ear.

"he's not laughing is he?" I couldn't help asking - still looking down.

"yes, why should he be?"

I shrugged.

"I can't believe it, the Cullen's don't notice any body enough to like them. How closely do you know the Cullen's?" Mike interrupted us with plans for a snowball fight – luckily.

***************************************

Biology

"Hello" Edward said with a humorous undertone. I looked up, he was holding back giggles. He composed his features, a smooth mask took over. "My name is Edward Cullen, I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan"

My head was spinning. How could he be perfectly polite! He laughed at me all lunchtime. At my pain... at what!?

Thoughts zoomed and sped through my head and the part of me was lingering close, like an offer dangling in the air. With that part, lingering. I was so lonely. It was crushed down on me like all the other biology lessons near Edward. I wrapped my arms around my ribs and my head lolled forward for a moment in absolute agony and desire for someone... to love... to love me .

I gained my composure before thinking of a smooth way to bring up the subject of exposing his families secrets. "who are you? I hear your fathers' like a doctor or something?" That's all I could manage slowly with the headache that he was giving me.

"My father's a doctor in town" Edward managed somewhat awkwardly, then he smiled, a smile pulled his facial features high for a second, and his eyes fell into a humorous haze of golden laughter. "Have you met - "

"Did you get contacts?" I blurted out unthinkingly. He smiled again and this time convulsions of laughter rippled through his shoulders. He stopped them, still smiling and then tried to stop smiling. "No" he managed through the effort to conceal his laughter.

"what's so funny?".

He chuckled.

"It's the fluorescence".

"I believe you" I mumbled in a scratchy tone.

"Are you okay Bella?" Edward's face got a little closer to mine and his eyes went hard. It shocked me.

" Why are you laughing at me?" I said in a muffled tone.

Edward looked away, shocked, and then sighed "we need to get this work done". He began working away as I tried to pull myself together, tried to tell myself every piece of me was mine and Edward couldn't have it. I glared at him pointedly, he didn't seem to notice, but he smiled. "So...Why did you move here Bella?"

"It's ... complicated"

"I think I can keep up"

I wondered why I caught his attention and what did they do to me. But I couldn't ever say that right, it would come out all wrong. Answered normally. "My mother got remarried"

"That doesn't sound so complex. When did it happen?"

"Last September"

"and you don't like him"

Edward continued asking questions and brooding over my unhappiness in Forks, all the while I was figuring out ways I could blackmail the Cullens into handing over their voodoo doll or something. There was something wrong about the Cullens. I thought of the most insane options first like kidnap. I wouldn't want to face the big guy. Prank calls, stuff like that.

"You put on a good show. But I bet your hurting more than anyone else can see"

I smiled sourly. He laughed outright this time. I thought of tying the little dark haired girl in the back of my truck and calling up the hospital for Dr. Cullen. Edward laughed some more, dragging it out as I scowled at him. "Why are you so unhappy? Did you leave behind a boyfriend? What are you missing?"

HE KNOW'S! YOU ASSHOLE! The piece that your family are stealing I thought.

He tried to keep a straight face as I gave him the sour lemon look. I said that I'd never had any of those experiences. He laughed again. I was just about to lose it when the bell rang. Edward was the first out his seat, I heard his laugh float behind him. A frown seemed permanently creased my forehead and anger was hot on my back. What was so funny, that he laughed at my pain the whole lesson?

********************************

I looked around me to make sure it was clear. Edward and his family were staring at me, big smiles on their faces, all but the blond girl, I wondered what their problem was. I thought of going over there and asking what they were laughing at. I drew up my courage but the silver Volvo's quiet engine rumbled and and sped off through the car park.

***********************

Carlisle's POV:

"Hello everybody" Esme walked up to me and placed her smooth cheek against mine. She was containing smiles today. The bags and the colour of her eyes seemed brighter. She suddenly acquired a little more seriousness with slightly dipped brows."Carlisle. You should go upstairs – there is much to talk about"

I heard the breathing of my family in one small area upstairs.

"Carlisle" Esme tilted her head to the side and lifted the corners of her mouth slightly with awkward feelings, "Alice had a vision". She returned to stare a little uneasily.

"Is something wrong? Esme?" Esme blinked and smiled a tight lipped smile.

"Alice saw a girl with a crush on you Carlisle. But, I'm worried about her. She's... not like other girls. I think you should get Edward to tell you about her, that way – we could – deal with her feelings in a more - manageable way. From what I hear, she's very - different"

I blinked, I knew a couple of patients and associates at the hospital looked at me in a romantic way, but not a romantic interest they thought worthy of, considering they thought I was happily married.

"Someone called Bella. She sounds really pretty"

I ascended the stairs to where I heard whispers and laughs flowering from under Alice's closed door that had only started when the sound of my footstep filled the house. I knocked and opened the door. Edward stood responsibly. "Carlisle" he greeted me troubled.

"Nobody needs to worry. Her interests will fade in time" I sighed at my frowning family, all besides good-natured Emmett. I realized it may present more of a problem than it had appeared, "I don't think this is something I need to worry about... I suppose if there is a family meeting required, then maybe it is a serious... matter?" Alice sighed and started half-way through.

"What she's planning to do... Carlisle... She could spread something nasty about us. She hasn't thought of anything she would be capable of though - At the moment... I didn't think a teenager could make trouble for us either... but from my vision - she had chief Swan twisted round her little finger - and he looked angry at us"

"She thought of kidnapping Alice" Rosalie said sourly, I knew Rosalie had more trouble coping when it came to humans – and all they have that was unwillingly taken from her. Something immediately occurred to me and I frowned lightly. "could somebody please tell me... from the start"

"She's... a teenager, 17 – in my class. Her name is Bella Swan... She has some very confusing ideas in her head from, no reasonable source. She thinks we did something to her" Edward said gravely. I felt pity for this girl immediately. what we could have done to this girl? What is wrong with her? She is not the only girl who has had been pained by vampires. Maybe her instincts are a little stronger than the normal flight response.

"Maybe you should go and welcome her to Forks Carlisle" Alice suggested, smiling mischievously.

"Dad, her father is chief Swan. And from what Alice saw- she's going to create some trouble for us. She will end up on our doorstep... with an angry policeman"

"What did you see besides them arriving?Was there any clue as to what she did to create trouble?"

Alice shook her head and Edward smiled abruptly and I knew Esme was going to make a pitying monologue for the girl. She had all the right, but I don't need this. As always:

Esme walked into the room with a smug smile on her face and sat next to Edward. "Edward says Bella seems to be thinking we've stolen something from her.... She's blaming us for her loneliness, Carlisle. So – maybe we can help her, when she does create trouble" Esme said with a serious and pitying tone.

"Maybe, this could be good for you. Some new compassion besides the hospital" Edward tried softly and slowly.

I did not think I had to be told this so softly. It had not occurred to me that my family worried about a lack of love in my life.

"I'm married, she will give up afterwards and move on, the teenage heart is quick" I pressed reassuringly, "How does Alice know she's attracted to me if we haven't met?"

"The look in her eyes Carlisle. She looked really lonely" I sighed and took this story into account.

I don't need something like this to happen. She was a poor teenager and it was only destined for heart break. She was young. Lonely teens will choose the next man, it doesn't have to be someone their age, just someone they admire when they're confused.

"What does she think we've stolen?" I asked out of curiosity.

"She feels something's different whever she's around us, but it seems to be a feeling of importance, she's not sure what it is. She knows that it's to do with us and thinks we're using vodoo dolls or something". I nodded. "voodoo dolls" Emmett sniggered. It seemed a teenager crossing paths with vampires was inevitable at the moment. "I hope we can trust her instincts to guide her away from us". Alice giggled and looked up pointedly "Hey Carlisle, she's really pretty".