Hey, everybody!

Sorry it's been a little longer since I've posted.

I've been SUPER busy.

But....

TADA!!!!

Here's the next chapter!

R&R PLEASE!!!!!

:)

P.S. The sentences/passages in Italics are Bella's thoughts.

Enjoy!

______________________________________________________________________________

I looked up from my hands to see Carlisle looking at me.

"Um....s-sure, Carlisle."

I was suddenly nervous; my palms were sweating and my arms were shaking.

Why was I so nervous? It was just Carlisle. He's not Charlie. I shuddered at the thought.

Edward followed me as Carlisle led us to his study upstairs.

The room was huge, with a large oak desk and matching chair. Two seats sat in front of it.

It suddenly felt like I was in court as Edward sat down next to me.

Calm down, Bella. The world isn't ending. Carlisle just wants to talk to you.

Yeah, right.

He's not going to ask you about the other night.

Uh-huh.

The silence in the study rang in my ears. Carlisle was twiddling his thumbs, and appeared to be deep in thought. Edward was staring at the floor.

I was trying to not hyperventilate.

Why wasn't he talking? Why wasn't anyone talking?

I'm in trouble. I'm in some serious trouble.

Oh, get a hold of yourself, Bella. Carlisle just wants to have a normal, trouble-free talk.

If he really wanted to talk to me, why couldn't he have done it downstairs?

Silence.

That's what I thought.

I was too busy arguing with myself that I almost missed Edward break the silence.

"Why'd you sneak out the other night, Bella?"

Damn it all.

The dreaded question. The one question I had been avoiding for days. I had been in luck; no one brought it up.

Until now.

Part of me wanted to say, "How the hell should I know? Charlie's screwed with my brain!" While the other part wanted to tell the truth.

But there was two sides to that.

How would the Cullens, the wonderful family that's been kind enough to keep me in their home, take the fact that my miserable excuse of a father would shoot them all if he found me?

But I wanted to tell them. They were nice enough to keep me here.

I at least owed them the truth.

Come on, Bella, you're a big girl. Just spit it out. They aren't Charlie. Nothing will happen to you.

You'd better be right.

"I thought he might kill you all."

I braced myself for them to laugh in my face, or at least get insane looks.

But they never came.

Instead, Carlisle and Edward seemed to understand. I couldn't be sure, because I was looking at the floor, but they seemed to exchange sad looks.

Great, Bella. Now you're just their charity case. Pack your bags; next stop: Charlie's.

Shut the hell up.

"I won't let him find you, Bella."

I looked into Edward's sincere green eyes. This time, I blocked out my mind's incessant screaming and listened to my heart for the first time.

He's telling the truth. Edward loves you. Trust him.

"Okay." I sighed in defeat. I see there was no chance of me leaving any time soon.

That struck an idea.

The grandfather clock in the corner read 9:45.

Perfect.

"I'm really tired. I think I'll just go up to bed." I took the silence as a "yes". I opened the door slowly and walked out.

The living room was empty, and I immediately knew everyone was sleeping. I tiptoed up the stairs and into Edward's room.

Carlisle's study was right under Edward's room, and I heard muffled whispers.

I was too intent on my plan to care.

The large window was open, thankfully. A slight breeze wafted in and blew my hair out behind me as I climbed out.

This time, there were no clouds. The moon was full, and casting silver light down on me like a spotlight.

I made it down quietly, and made sure no one was behind me. Both the front and back yards were empty, and I started slowly and quietly down the street.

About halfway down the street, I heard the purrs of four cars.

I turned to see Alice's Porsche going the opposite direction from me, Rosalie's BMW going straight from the Cullen's driveway, and Emmett's Jeep going into the forest.

Edward's Volvo was coming my way.

It broke my heart to see them all spread out, looking for me, but if they caught me, Edward would never let me live it down.

The Volvo's headlights approached at top speed.

I dashed behind a fence right as he passed. My heart shattered as I saw his face. He looked hysterical, like if he didn't find me soon, he'd kill himself.

I ignored it and waited for the purrs to fade. When they did, I ran to Charlie's.

The lights were off.

Hmm. Charlie's always home on Sunday nights. He was at the mall earlier.

I pushed open the unlocked front door.

The house (not surprisingly) smelled of stale beer and cigar smoke.

I tiptoed, through the dark, upstairs. My room looked the same through the hazy moonlight.

I walked to the window.

All was normal, and I even considered sleeping in my bed, just for old times' sake.

That thought was immediately washed out of my head when something hard and glass came down on my head.

______________________________________________________________________________

OMG.

Such an exciting chapter!

I wonder what happens next.... ;D

YOU COULD FIND OUT IF YOU REVIEW!!!!

Please, people, it just takes a second, and it'll get you more chapters sooner!

But....

Hope you enjoyed it!

R&R PLEASE!!!!

:)