A/N

Ok guys, here you go. Sorry it took so long but I explained why in the last authors note. I hope you'll like this chapter, it's fairly long.

Now something I'm sure a lot of you will be pleased about: I'm not doing any more separate authors notes. If I have something to say, I'll say it in a chapter. I know I was pissing people off. hey, I was pissing myself off.

So, please make sure to review and tell me what you think of this chapter.

Love, Sascha.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters.

POV: Bella

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 5

BPOV

I sat in a chair beside the hospital bed. On the bed, Charlie lay perfectly still, his body tense but his expression soft.

His eyes met mine and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. My own feeble attempt at a smile in return wasn't very successful, but Charlie was in no state to notice, let alone care.

My two warm hands were wrapped around one of his own cold ones. I looked down, unable to hold his gaze. His hand tried to grip mine tighter, trying to get me to look up at him. Although his hand made little progress, I understood his meaning.

I looked up into his eyes, and the power of his gaze shocked me. Suddenly, the monitor next to the bed started beeping wildly. It started out soft, but was gradually getting louder, wilder. If Charlie even noticed the noise, he made no move the show it.

And through it all, still his eyes held mine.

"Let loose a little, Bells."

Suddenly, the beeping was ear piercing and I started to scream, but Charlie continued to just lie there, holding my gaze, his eyes unblinking.

And then I woke up.

The alarm clock beside my bed was beeping loudly. My breathing was heavy, and for a moment I just lay there, the alarm still beeping, as I calmed down.

Finally, I sat up in bed, reaching over to turn off the alarm. I looked at my clock and jumped up, thinking I would be late for school.

Then I remembered. Today was Saturday. I cursed, wishing I had remembered to turn my alarm off last night.

I'd arranged to move to the Cullen's just before dinner. Apparently Esme had planned that we could all get to know one another before I unpacked.

That left me most of the day here.

I quickly had a shower and got dressed. As I walked down the stairs to make breakfast, I began to look at the house in a different light.

Everything I walked past, the pictures on the walls, the worn furniture, even the paint colours, was a representation of my life with Charlie. Some of it, even, represented the time when Renée and Charlie were still together. When we were a family.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing I was moving.

But at the same time, this was my home. It was my escape, my solace.

It wasn't that I didn't want friends, that I didn't want to get over what happened. It was just that everyone I had ever loved had died. I guess I was scared that if I ever let anyone get too close, I would only get hurt again. Maybe that sounds

selfish, but at the time it just felt like survival.

Now it was too late to turn back.

So I blocked out the memories that kept trying to crash into my mind, and focused on my breakfast.

That finished, I began to pack my clothes. There wasn't much to pack, I had never really been into fashion.

I decided that I wouldn't bother taking much with me other than my clothes and the other essentials I would need for my stay with the Cullens. In six months I would be eighteen, and I could move back here.

I spent most of the rest of the day cleaning. I knew all too well what a house could get like if you left it for too long.

All too soon, it was time to go. I sighed, and lifted my bags into my truck.

I followed the directions Edward had given me yesterday, and, fairly soon, I was sitting in my truck outside the Cullen house.

I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised.

From the outside, the house was beautiful. It was old fashioned, but not in a way that looked outdated. More in a way that was, well, Cullen.

The house was made of wood, and was two stories. The entire house was painted white.

I took a deep breath and got out of the truck, leaving my bags there. I could come back for them later.

I knocked on the big, white door and not three seconds later the door swung open and Alice Cullen bounded gracefully out the door to pull me in a tight bear hug. I swear, only a Cullen could bound gracefully.

I wouldn't have been surprised if she had been sitting by the door, waiting for me.

Then I noticed Edward. He was sitting on a step inside the doorway. The exasperated look on his face backed up my theory about Alice.

For a second our eyes met, and it was as if we were both searching the other through their eyes, looking for answers, learning the patterns of each other's faces.

Then the second was over, and we both quickly looked away in opposite directions.

Of course, Alice noticed this exchange and smiled softly. I wondered what that was all about.

I stepped through the doorway, and I got my first good look at the interior of the Cullen house.

I was greatly embarrassed to find that my jaw literally dropped as I took in my surroundings.

Edward smirked at my reaction, but I shot him a look and he quickly sobered up.

The interior of the house was just as beautiful as the outside. While the outside was old fashioned, almost Colonial, the inside was sleek and modern. Yet the contrasting styles didn't clash, rather they complimented each other in a way that

somehow highlighted further the beauty of each element.

I was suddenly pulled away from my thoughts as Alice grabbed my hand and started dragging me through to another room. I glanced at Edward in shock but he merely shook his head in a way that I could only take to mean 'Well, that's Alice for you'.

Alice never ceased to amaze me. I hardly knew her, we had never been friends at school, yet here she was, treating me like I was her best friend. Or like I was her sister…

I suddenly had a coughing fit in shock, which caused both Alice and Edward to look at me in alarm.

I smiled politely to show them I was okay, and Alice looked away. Edward's eyes, however, lingered on mine, as if, once again, searching for answers, but he let it drop.

We walked, or in my case, were dragged, into what looked like a lounge room. Sitting on couches there were Emmett Cullen and Rosalie and Jasper Hale. I recognized them all from school but had never really spoken to any of them.

Standing in the entrance to the room, side by side, were who I could only assume were Alice, Edward and Emmett's adoptive parents, Carlisle and Esme Cullen.

Carlisle and Esme walked towards me as we came into the room, both with sincere smiles on their faces.

Carlisle shook my hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella. We're very sorry for your loss, but hope you'll be happy during your stay with us."

I remembered just in time that I was expected to actually talk, and mumbled a soft 'thank you'.

Next was Esme. She pulled me gently into a motherly embrace and I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm.

"Welcome, Bella. We hope you'll feel you belong in our family."

Family. Again, that word. Yet now, looking at all these people, who, although not technically related, shared a connection so much stronger than any biological bond, the idea didn't seem so bad anymore.

Suddenly Emmett jumped up from the couch and leapt over to me. In some respects, he reminded me of Alice.

He clapped me over the shoulder.

"Hey, Bells."

I flinched at the name, but luckily no one noticed. No one except for Edward, anyway.

He looked at me curiously, but I just looked away as if nothing had happened. Once again, he let it go.

This boy was so much more observant than I had given him credit for. While most people didn't pick up on the tiny reactions to things that gave me away, he had seen nearly all of them. One day soon I would have to start answering some questions.

Then came Jasper. He walked over to where I was standing, but didn't touch me like the others. While their movements hadn't disturbed me, they opened me up to emotions I'd spent ages trying to hide, and I felt a sense of comfort in what I could

control.

"Hello, Bella."

I said my automated reply and then it was Rosalie's turn.

To say so walked over to me would be a massive understatement. She…glided.

"Bella." She said in a soft tone. Then she pulled me into a light hug. I was touched by the movement. At school, Rosalie had always been very reserved.

"Well, dinner's ready." Esme called.

We all walked into the dining room and sat down. Esme served the meal and everyone started to talk to each other.

Although I didn't say much, the chatter felt natural and welcoming. I smiled to myself. These people, this family, had so readily accepted me, it was almost as if I could forget my reasons for solitude and experience, just for a moment, what it felt like

to be loved. Almost.

Of course, Edward noticed the smile, but instead of commenting, he simply smiled back. Then Alice noticed us smiling at each other, which caused her to start smiling, too. God, we must have looked ridiculous.

"So, Bella, do you want to go shopping tomorrow?" Alice was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.

I had my mono-syllable answer ready, but Edward beat me to it.

"Just let her settle in, okay, Alice?"

She looked at him, but appeared to take the hint and dropped it.

The tension was soon lost, and the chatter returned to normal.

When the meal was finished, Esme cleared her throat.

"So, do you kids want to watch a movie or something?"

"Um, actually, I think I might just settle into my room and go to bed early, if that's okay." Wow, I think that might have been my first full sentence.

Esme smiled at me, but it was a sad kind of smile, and I wondered just what exactly Alice and Edward had told her about me.

"Sure, that's fine."

"I'll go grab my bags then."

"Don't worry, Emmett and Jasper can grab them."

"Are you sure? I can-" I was cut of as Emmett grabbed the keys from my hand and ran off towards my truck, grinning.

I turned to them all.

"Thank you, and, um, goodnight."

I turned and walked up the stairs to where Alice had said my room was.

As I flicked on the lights and looked around the room, it was obvious that Alice had decorated it. Everything about it practically screamed her name, but at the same time, it was me. I loved it.

It was simple, three walls painted a deep cream color, while the forth wall was replaced by a wall-sized window that provided a view of the nearby mountains. The bed, desk, bedside table and bookshelf were painted white, which managed to

contrast against the cream. It was perfect.

I was pleased to find that I had my own bathroom.

After I'd checked everything out, I went back out into the hallway, and sure enough, my bags sat just beside my door.

I went back inside my room and changed into my pajamas- navy cotton mini shorts and a grey cami.

I had just finished cleaning my teeth and was about to get into bed when I heard a soft knock at my door.

I opened it and saw Edward leaning casually against the door frame. He was wearing long, flannelette pajama pants, but no shirt.

He looked…cute. It surprised me to think that. I hadn't thought of guys for a long time. But here he stood, and me eyes involuntarily glanced down at his body until I forced myself to look up again. I blushed as I realized that he, too, was looking

down at me. My pajamas weren't exactly modest.

"Hi." It sounded like a question, even to my own ears.

He smiled.

"Hi."

This was followed by silence, but it wasn't awkward, it felt natural.

I walked back into my room, sitting on my bed. He followed, closing the dor behind him and sitting next to me.

I was far more aware of how close he was to me than I should've been.

He was the one to break the silence.

"You freaked out because Alice treated you like family."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact. I sighed. There was no point lying to him. Somehow, he knew me too well.

"Yes."

He moved on.

"You flinched when Emmett called you Bells."

I closed my eyes.

"Yes."

"Do you want to talk?"

I opened my eyes and jumped as I realized that he was much closer to me than I'd thought. I quickly composed myself.

"No, not really."

He smiled. Apparently, my blunt answer didn't surprise him.

"Okay."

But he didn't leave, he just sat there, but once again, the silence between us was comfortable, natural.

Sitting there in silence, side by side, it was calming. I quickly lost track of time, and when Edward finally stirred, I was surprised to find that it was already 10:30. I had been in my room since 8:00.

Edward turned to me, still sitting on my bed. Gently, slowly, his hand stroked my cheek once. I froze. Ever so lightly, he bent down and kissed my forehead.

"Goodnight, Bella."

I looked up at him curiously, but he just smiled and walked out of the room.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N

So what did you think? Review and let me know.

Next chapter will be the start of the main music assessment task, which plays a big part in the story. It will probably be the second last chapter, too. I'll have it out by the end of the week.

Love, Sascha.