EmPOV

I should just tell her. On one hand I want to know how she feels about me, but on the other, I'm afraid that she won't feel the same way. I'm over ninety years old and have never felt anything remotely close to what I feel for this girl. I have been all over the world and have never felt something so strong for her. I want her to be mine. I want her to wake up every day and find me lying beside her. I want to hold her and kiss her whenever I want to. It's crazy because I just met her, and yet I can't imagine my life without her. It hurts to be away from her so much so that I've spent the last two nights watching her sleep just to be close to her and make sure she's safe. And I'd give anything just to be able to kiss her, right now. But I don't because she might get scared away then I'd be majorly depressed. I force myself to remember that no matter how much I want her to always be by my side it will never happen because the moment she knows the truth there's no stopping the inevitable. She's going to run, and I'm going to have to let her go. I can't ask her to stay with a monster like me. I can't ask her to give up her entire life, her friends, and her family to move around the world with me to keep my immortality a secret. I can't ask her to become one of us. I will kill me, but eventually, I will have to let her go, so she can have a normal life like Edward said. Then why am I putting myself through this? Why am I here when it'll only end with my demise? Why do I cling to hope that maybe just maybe we'll end up living happily for eternity? Why can I not walk away? I ask myself these questions all the time ever since I met Bella Swan in all her perfectness. Despite what she may believe she really is perfect in every way.

I sighed. She looked up at me questionably. I smiled reassuringly. "Nothing."

"I thought I told you that you could tell me anything."

If only I could. If only I could. "It's nothing."

She gave me an unbelieving look but didn't push me any further. Her eyes returned to the ceiling as she returned to her thoughts. I looked at our fingers intertwined resting on top of her stomach. My pale white fingers looked so large compared to hers, but they fit together so perfectly. Her fingers absently rubbed mine leaving a trail of warmth everywhere she touched. I wondered if she even noticed the coldness of my body. She hadn't questioned it even though most humans do. Maybe she just didn't think anything of it. Our hands had been intertwined for quite some time that she just got used to it. Either way, I wasn't about to ask her why she hadn't questioned it. Then she definitely would ask. Maybe I should talk to Carlisle when I get home and ask when I should tell her about what we are. Maybe it'd be for the best to let out all the secrets before we got any deeper in this. I don't know if I could handle losing her yet. But she did have a right to know what she was getting herself into.

"What's Phoenix like?" I asked to get my mind off the depressing thoughts of my future.

She looked at me. Her eyes filled with fondness then changed to sadness, I think. Odd. "It's really different from here. Warm and sunny. It's not as green as here either. The city is big. There was always something to do."

"What was your house like?"

"It was big and white. Way too big for three people, I guess. There was a lake in the backyard. I used to go swimming in it during the summer. My favorite part was the balcony that came off my room. It was like my little escape from the world. I don't know why I thought of it like that. I mean it wasn't exactly a hiding place, but I would sit out there for hours on end just listening to music or drawing or whatever."

"What's your mom like?"

"She's great. She cares a lot about me as I do for her. But she always been more of a best friend to me than a mother, I guess. I'm usually the one taking care of her. She's irresponsible and rather impulsive. She's a dangerous cook, so I usually kept her as far away from the kitchen as possible. She liked to change her hobbies every week. Yoga, hiking, running, painting, gardening, whatever she could find really. She used to always try to get me to involved with them too. It was pretty dangerous especially when it was something physical. I usually spent most of the time getting up from the floor." I chuckled. "Um, but yeah, she's a great friend." She seemed a little saddened by that last statement. Then it clicked. She hadn't needed a great friend. She had needed a mother.

"Is she still in Phoenix?"

"Yeah. She's trying to convince me to come back."

"You don't want to?"

"No, Charlie would be crushed, and I'm starting my life over here. If I went back to Phoenix, I'd be leaving behind all the process I've already made. My mom will be fine with her husband."

"She's remarried?"

"Yeah."

"Is he a good guy?"

"Phil is… a good guy, I think." So this Phil son of a bitch was her stepfather. What did he do to my Bella?

"Do you like him?"

"I guess so." She mumbled. I saw the pain flash through her eyes and decided to change the subject.

"Why'd you decide to move here?"

"Mom wanted to travel some with Phil. She always wanted to travel, and she missed him while he was gone. I was keeping her in Phoenix, because I had to go to school. She didn't want to leave me home alone for weeks at a time. So I decided that I would come spend some time with Charlie. Before now, I hadn't seen him in a few years." I nodded, but I could tell she wasn't telling me something. "So, can I ask you about your family now?"

"What do you want to know?"

"You were adopted?"

"Yes. We all were. Edward and I are biological brothers. Our parents died many years ago in a car accident. Rose and Jasper are Esme's, my mom, niece and nephew. Their parents died when they were six. One of Esme and Carlisle's friends was Alice's mother. When she died, they took her in."

"That's very nice of them. They sound like great people."

"They are. I'm very lucky to have them." I sighed. I wish I could have told her the truth instead of building this web of lies. I don't like lying to her. She's more important to me than the people I usually lie to. We sat in silence until my cell phone began ringing.

I sighed as she sat up so I could fish my phone out of my pocket. "I'll be right back." I said as I walked in the direction of the kitchen. "Hello?"

"Alice called. Is everything alright?" Esme's concerned voice came.

"Yes, everything is fine. I'm at Bella's."

"Is she alright?"

"For now. Yes."

"Okay. When will you be home?"

"I don't know."

"Okay. I'll see you when you get home."

"Love you. Bye." I hung up and returned to the living room. She was sitting on the couch stretching her back exposing some bare skin on her stomach. When she saw me, she looked over and smiled. "Sorry. That was Esme."

"Was she angry you skipped?" She looked concerned.

"Not at all." I smiled reassuringly.

"Okay." She let out a sigh of relief. "Do you need to go home?"

"Nope. I'm all yours until you want me to go."

She smiled at me and nodded. "What do you want to do?"

I shrugged. "Up to you."

"I don't know. I'm the new girl, remember? I have no idea what people do in small towns."

"Nothing but gossip."

She giggled. "Yeah, I've been exposed to that already." She paused and looked around. "There really isn't much to do around here. What do you usually do in your free time?"

"Video games." I grinned. She laughed. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. You just look so enthusiastic about it."

"Well have you ever played Call of Duty or Halo?"

"Nope."

"Come on, we're going to my house." I grabbed her hand and pulled her onto her feet then led her to the door. She was giggling the entire time. "It's time you are exposed to the world of video games!"

"Emmett, I need to get changed."

"What's wrong with what you're wearing? I think you look pretty hot."

Her face changed to a deep red color. "Let me go change then we'll go. Five minutes."

I sighed playfully. "Fine. But I'm going to time you!"

She laughed and ran up the stairs. I sent a text message to my parents and my siblings letting them know they needed to act human while I waited. It didn't take her long to return in a pair of jeans and a dark blue sweater. God, she looks way too hot in blue. I wanted to kiss her so bad.

"Can I drive?" I asked pouting when she took the key off the table.

"I thought I told you not to pout."

"But you also said it made you cave."

She sighed and threw the key at me which I easily caught. I laughed loudly and wrapped my arm around her shoulder kissing her temple. "Thank you." I said in my sweetest voice.

She blushed. "Yeah, sure, whatever."

I opened the passenger door of the car for her before moved to the other side and getting in behind the wheel. "I like your car." I grinned at her.

"My car is my baby." She said fondly stroking the dashboard.

"Just you wait until you see my baby." I chuckled. She'd look hot in my jeep. I shook the thought from my head and glanced over at her. Yeah, she'd definitely look really hot in my jeep. Damn, there's no stopping these thoughts!

We arrived at my house within ten minutes. She didn't complain about my speed once. It didn't surprise me though. I had seen her drive, and she was definitely not a cautious driver. That only made her hotter in my eyes. A hot, amazing girl who know how to handle a fast car. Who could ask for more?

She gaped at my house. "Like it?" I asked.

"It has a certain charm about it." She said nonchalantly. I chuckled and helped her out of the car. Something that was quickly becoming tradition.

"Hi Bella!" Alice yelled from the door.

"Hey, Alice." Bella waved. She didn't seem startled by my sister's enthusiasm as most human were.

"We're going to have so much fun!" Alice squealed skipping back into the house. Bella looked at me and quirked an eyebrow.

"I'll try to stop her, but Alice has a problem with knowing limits. She's like the energizer bunny, really. She never stops. But I'll try to keep her enthusiasm as bay just for you."

"Aw, thank you." She giggled. We walked in the house. She looked around the first floor a little. Esme and Carlisle appeared just as we finished the tour.

"Bella, these are my parents, Carlisle and Esme. Guys, this is Bella." I smiled at them with pride.

"Oh, Bella, it is so great to meet you." Esme said pulling her into a hug.

"You too, Mrs. Cullen."

"Please, dear, call me Esme."

"Okay, Esme."

"We're glad you could come, Bella." Carlisle said sticking out a hand. "Please call me Carlisle."

"Thank you for having me, Carlisle."

"We'll be upstairs." I said.

"Okay. Have fun." Esme smiled as I led Bella up the stairs. I led her to my room and opened the door.

"Your room is amazing." She said looking around.

"Thanks." I smiled. "Come on, let's play."