Cause all that's left has gone away

And there's nothing there for you to do

Oh, look what you've done

You've made a fool of everyone

- Look What You've Done by JET

Chapter 2

Dirty Little Secret

"I'm so sorry, Bella." He whispered, his sweet, intoxicating breath fanning over my face. I had no idea what he was going to do or what he was apologizing for, but I was not prepared for what he did next. He sighed in surrender as he closed his eyes and leaned in – his beautiful lips parting slightly as he pressed them to my neck…

:):):):):)

"I'm leaving," A velvety sweet voice filled with agony reached my ears. Edward.

At the beginning, the unexpected heat that had coursed through my veins was too much to handle – I'd screeched, I'd thrashed and writhed and I'd even begged for my own death. But then I had become quiet, despite the burning within me. Enough time had passed for the burn to decrease, or for my body to find ways around it. I also knew that no amount of screaming would make the pain go away.

"Edward," A man's voice said comfortingly. "I can't let you do that, son. Look, I know you feel awful about this, but you should stay with her. She deserves that much." Who were these people?! Crap, crap crap! I'd been in town one day and I was dead already!? And if I wasn't dead, I was being tortured to death by Edward Cullen and his family! What kind of town is this?

"She deserves a lot more that this!" Edward was upset, that much was obvious. "She deserves to live a normal life! To grow old and have kids! Not this, Carlisle. She doesn't deserve this!" His voice cracked and he took short shallow breaths that could only be described as sobs. Well, at least he was repentant. But I didn't know why - the last things I remembered where the pain as his lips pressed down on my neck and a loud growl as I slipped into unconsciousness.

"We can't have anyone seeing her when she's supposed to be dead and I think it'd be for the best if you take Isabella up to Alaska while she figures everything out. Just you and her. Guide her, be there for her." The same voice – Carlisle – said in a hushed voice. What was he talking about? Dead? After all of the excruciating pain I'm supposed to be dead?

"Bella. She prefers Bella." Edward corrected automatically.

The heat felt so real it was hard to believe I was just dreaming. Because that's what I wanted. I wanted to pretend I was dreaming and I would wake up any second. My heartbeat picked up faster than it already was and the fire slowly made its way to my heart. Then my heart sputtered twice and beat for its last time.

It was eerily quiet, them watching and waiting for a reaction from my side while I was waiting for my heart to beat again. I was beginning to panic. What was happening to me?

Very slowly, I opened one eye at a time – there was no reason to rush this, for all I knew they were going to kill me. I don't know what exactly I was expecting to see when I opened my eyes, but I was definitely surprised.

A house. I was in a house. If I had to describe it in three words like in those online surveys I'd say: bright, open and large. What surprised me the most wasn't the house - it was them. Seven unbearably beautiful people stood around me – Edward among them – and my body, as if by its own will, stiffened and took a defensive crouch.

"Isabella," A girl spoke. She was tiny, no more than five feet, with short black hair.

"It's Bella." Edward muttered.

"Geez, Edward." She rolled her eyes.

"Geez, Alice." Edward mocked her.

Sensing their distraction, I looked around; looking for my escape and the door to my right seemed like the perfect one. I was about to take a step when the girl – Alice - spoke again.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." She laughed; it was all bells and chimes.

"Who are you people?" I screamed. My voice was different – it was softer and higher; more musical. Almost instantly after my little outburst a blonde boy with scars all over his body stepped forward and I felt calm.

"We're the Cullens, Bella." A blonde man spoke and by his voice I could tell he was Carlisle. "We should explain a few things to you…" He grimaced.

"I should go…" I tried to make my voice firm. I turned and headed for the door.

"Bella, wait." Alice spoke but she was nowhere to be seen; and then she was there, right in front of me. In her hands was a small round thing. She held it in front of me and I realized it was a mirror. Yet I knew it couldn't be. No way. It couldn't be a mirror, because instead of my reflection, the girl who looked back at me in the mirror and mimicked my every move was absolutely breath-taking – she could even be compared to the Cullens. Her mouth slightly parted in awe as I observed her. Her brown hair fell to the middle of her back – shiny and with just the right amount of waves. She had it all: the bone structure, the perfect skin, the ultra-white teeth, and the list could go on and on.

Everything about her was stunning…except for her eyes. Her crimson red eyes. Her mouth – my mouth – turned into a grimace as I examined my eyes. What was going on?!

"What are you people?" I rephrased what I'd said before. I looked at each of their faces, I looked at my face, and they were definitely not human.

"I'm Alice! That's Carlisle and Esme – our parents for all intents and purposes. This is Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and well, you know Edward." Alice pointed out everyone in the room.

"I didn't say who, I said what are you people?" My voice was wavering and my mind was screaming a too-much-information alert.

It didn't escape my notice all the subtle yet knowing looks between them.

"Well…" The gorgeous man with the kind face – Carlisle – started, looking like he didn't know where to start. He hesitated a moment too long and it was the big, muscular, body-builder-looking man that blurted out the words so fast I had to concentrate to catch what he was saying.

"Right, okay, so I'm Emmett!" He grinned, making his dimples show. "Cliff notes version: we're vampires. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know how crazy it sounds but look around – no coffins, no fangs, and sunlight doesn't burn us," He rolled his eyes dramatically, "it just makes us glitter. It's ridiculous if you ask me – not at all manly. Oops, getting off track now. Um, we don't sleep or age, so no need to worry about wrinkles! We don't drink human blood, so don't worry about that either. We hunt animals instead! You've gotta try a grizzly bear sometime…" He raised his eyebrows twice suggestively. "Crap, okay sorry, I get distracted quite easily. Uh, in case you're slow and haven't figured it out yet: you're a vampire, too." He nodded fervently while the rest of the Cullens looked at him as if he'd just lost his mind. Edward slapped his forehead and shook his head. "Don't mind them. They're just jealous of my intelligence," he laughed loudly at his joke. "By the way, everyone thinks you're dead because our only rule is to keep our secret. No one and I mean no one, like not even your dead grandma can know!" He looked at Carlisle grinning as if he were proud that he'd explained everything so casually. He looked back at me smiling. "Welcome to the family!" He wrapped his huge arms around me and hugged me tightly. I was about to tell him that I couldn't breathe but then I realized it wasn't uncomfortable. "Ugh, I knew I was forgetting something! You don't have to breathe, but you probably should and it feels better if you do."

I stood there without moving for what seemed like hours. Was this what going into shock felt like? Vampires. Vampires. What. The. Hell?

"Is this some kind of sick joke?!" I asked horrified.

"No." Edward's musical voice was muffled since he had his face cradled in his hands. It was only one word but the sound that came out of his mouth was filled with guilt. This was not a joke. This would definitely explain the strength, the speed, why he acted so weird when we were blood typing, why it amused him that blood made me faint… but it didn't explain why me.

"Tell me what happened." My voice was void of any emotion.

"Isn't it obvious? Edward bit-" Emmett started to explain.

"I should explain." Edward interrupted. Like mine, his voice was equally detached. "La tua cantante." He looked at me and even though he grimaced, I was momentarily dazzled. It was different than with the rest of the Cullens and I was afraid I couldn't explain it. "It means my singer. You're my singer, Bella. Your blood smelled a thousand times better than anyone else's. We don't know why, but, "He looked down, ashamed and guiltily, "it was too much for me to handle. I should've ran, I should've stayed away from you. But I never thought it'd get this far. I couldn't stop when the paper cut your finger. I just couldn't." He shook his head and again, cradled it in his hands. "If they hadn't gotten there in time…" He looked at his family, "I would've…I would've..." He trailed off, neither one of wanting to hear the ending of that sentence.

"So what happened?" I should've been mad. Hysterical, even. But seeing Edward like this made me see that what was done was done and I couldn't change it. I could not go back and change this.

"Emmett ripped me off of you but our teeth are coated with venom and it had already gotten too far into your system. There was nothing left to do but to leave you to be transformed – to let the venom go through your body and change you."

"Bella, this is my wife, Rosalie" He wrapped his arms around the drop-dead-gorgeous blond and I looked at him incredulously, "What? If I don't change the subject now, Eddie might become suicidal." Emmett teased, earning a slap on the head from Rosalie.

"Wait, what? Your wife? You're not even legal yet!" I said –at least he was doing a good job of changing the subject.

"Remember the little detail about how we don't age?" Emmett rolled his eyes. "Duh" He joked.

"So you're all married?" What kind of family was this?! To say I was shock would be a polite way to say it.

"Yes. Well, not all of us. Yet." Alice winked at Edward. "I'm with Jasper, Emmett has Rose and Carlisle is with Esme." She kissed the blonde man besides her – Jasper, I guessed.

It was too much information. Even for me. I'd always handled the weird a little better than everyone else but this was too weird.

"I-" I didn't know what to say. It was too much.

"No, let her do it alone." Edward said, answering a question though no one spoke. That was random. Not only were they weird, but random too. They must have seen the confused expression on my face.

"Uh, you're probably already freaking out about this, but you're going to know eventually, so… Edward can read minds, Alice can see the future and I can manipulate emotions." Jasper whispered. "Edward was answering a question I'd thought."

I gasped. Edward could read minds!? He could read my mind?! I looked down, embarrassed to even look at him. I didn't want anyone to know that I found myself thinking about him every other second that passed. I thought about his beautiful topaz eyes, his lips when he smiled that crooked smile of his, the way he said my name…

I stopped thinking about that. He was probably laughing at me for the ridiculous thoughts in my head.

"But there's one thing," Jasper continued. He looked at Edward, as if asking for permission to say something and then opened his mouth to speak, "Edward can't read your mind."

I let out the breath I'd been holding in.

"Why not?" Curiosity always got the best of me. I was instantly relieved but I wanted to know why.

"We don't know," Carlisle joined the current conversation. "I thought, maybe it's your power…"

"But Alice and Jasper's powers still work on her, so it can't be." Esme finished for him.

"The only guess I have is that your mind doesn't work the same way everyone else's does." Carlisle added.

"My mind doesn't work right?!" I cried.

"Oh, c'mon, Bella. I've only known you for a few hours and I already figured out your mind doesn't work right." Emmett joked. At any other time but this, I would've laughed.

"I can't handle this. I've gotta go. Charlie's probably worried sick." I mumbled, my mind going a hundred miles an hour trying to figure this out. I hurried towards the door and managed to trip. I fell on my knees but I didn't get up.

"Oh, Bella." The woman who had been quiet all along walked towards me, wrapping her arms around me, enveloping me in a comforting hug. Esme.

"I thought vampires were supposed to be graceful," Emmett muttered and Rosalie shushed him and smacked his arm.

Awkwardly, I hugged Esme back and that's when the sobs exploded out of my body. I knew I couldn't go – that much was obvious. I let myself cry – when I figured out the tears wouldn't come, I 'cried' harder. I wept for my reckless mother. I cried for Charlie, who I didn't have a chance of seeing… if only I could see him one more time. Just see him, tell him I love him and to not worry about me. I needed closure.

And so I cried in the arms of a stranger who, for some unknown, reason cared for me. I hugged her back tightly and pulled her even closer to me. Her face was scrunched up with sorrow, her soft eyes filled with worry as she held me in her arms, whispering soft words to me.

"Everything will be fine, Bella" She murmured in my ear – and for some reason, I believed her.

:):):):):):):)

I opened the door slowly, as if to stop the wood from making any noise. Taking one step at a time, I went downstairs. For what seemed like years, I'd locked myself in Alice's room and moped around. It surprised me that no came up and tried to talk to me.

"Bella!" Alice yelled excitedly – jumping up and down with joy. "Finally! Esme said we couldn't bug you until you came downstairs on your own," her eyebrows pulled together, "I think that was directed mostly to Emmett and I." She laughed.

I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say or do – after all, I barely knew this people, no mare how nice they seemed, I did not know them at all.

"Oh, Bella. Come on," She winked, "There's no need to be shy! We're practically family!" She took my hand and led me towards the living room.

"Hey, Bells!" Emmett boomed. "Are you ready for Alaska?"

"Alaska?" I repeated.

"Oh. Oops, I knew we forgot something. We thought it'd be for the best if you were in Alaska, you know, for security issues. Don't worry; we'll follow in a month or two." He winked. What was it with the Cullens and winking?!

"What?! And what do you mean you'll follow?" For a second, I panicked. They couldn't possibly be sending me alone! They wouldn't, would they? As much as it pained me to admit it, even to myself, they were all I had left in this world.

"Bella." His face turned serious. "We're ditching you."

I panicked. My eyes widened and my breaths became short and shallow and then Emmett started laughing hysterically.

"Kidding!" He laughed.

Out of relief, I joined him with a nervous giggle.

"Not funny, Emmett." Alice slapped him on the back of the head, though a giggle escaped her tiny lips.

"You should've seen your face, Bella!" He laughed.

"Grow up, Emmett." Rosalie rolled her eyes, "Don't mind him, Bella. Seriously, it takes some time to get used to Emmett," She looked at him and her face softened the tiniest bit.

"Seriously though, what do you mean you'll follow?" I asked Rosalie this time.

"We can't all go with you. It'll look too suspicious." She said simply. I waited for her to continue but she didn't.

"Okay, well, who's going with me?" I prodded.

"Edward is." She smirked.

"But," I started. "But, he hates me." I pouted. Edward couldn't even look at me without a grimace on his face. He avoided me like a plague.

"He doesn't hate you, Bella. He hates himself." Alice joined our conversation and her tone made it seem like it was obvious.

"Why?" I whined. I didn't want him to hate me, or even himself. I wanted him to be happy.

"Edward doesn't-" Alice started but she was interrupted.

"Ally, do you have to talk about me?" Edward walked and sat on the couch.

"Yes." She refrained from saying duh. Her response made Edward roll his eyes at her.

"We should probably get ready to leave, Bella." Edward told me and as usual he avoided my stare.

"Yeah, well, I don't have anything to pack…I guess we can leave now, if you're ready." I fiddled with the hem of my shirt.

"Don't be silly, Bella! I already went shopping for you. It's all in the car," She smiled, proud of herself.

I was about to protest, but Edward simply shook his head and rolled his eyes at her.

"Oh, Bella?" his tone was serious again, "are you thirsty? I'm sure you must feel uncomfortable,"

I hadn't even noticed anything until he mentioned it. When the words left his mouth, it was like a trigger, my throat felt like it was on fire. My hands went instinctively against my throat to make the burning stop.

Edward nodded and got up. He left the room and came back in less than a second with a white cup in his hands. Instantly, my mouth filled with venom – Carlisle had said every bodily fluid was replaced with venom – and I fought back the instinct of ripping the cup away from him and drinking it. I knew what it was, and if I'd been human I would've gotten nauseous, but at the moment I smelled heavenly. Blood.

He handed the cup to me and my resolve came crumbling. I drank every single drop and I was mildly satisfied.

"It's from the vegetarian menu," He smiled crookedly. "It's animal blood. Carlisle thought you should wait until we get to Alaska to hunt."

:):):):):)

I bit my lip anxiously, "Um, Edward, there's something I want to do before we head for Alaska." I looked down at my hands on my lap. We were in his shiny, silver Volvo – just barely out of hearing range of the white house.

He waited for me to continue and when I didn't, he reassured me, "Whatever you want, Bella." His gaze was intense.

"Pinky promise?" I held out my pinky.

"I think Alice is rubbing off on you." He chuckled, "Pinky promise." He took my pinky with his. "Tell me what you want and you can have it." He said on a more serious tone.

"I want to see Charlie." I took a deep breath, waiting for his response.

"Bella." He sighed disapprovingly.

"Please, Edward. I need this. Please." I pouted.

He sighed and turned the car around.

"Are you sure, Bella?" He asked when we were a block from Charlie's house.

"I won't hurt him." I growled as he parked the Volvo outside of the house.

"Okay, okay. Try holding your breath," He whispered as he got out of his car, getting to my door before I even reached for the door handle.

We walked hand in hand to the house that had been my home 24 hours earlier. Edward opened the door and walked in – making absolutely no sounds. I led the way to the room that was mine. I didn't want to get all sentimental in front of Edward, but I needed closure.

After gathering a few memories, I walked over to Charlie's room. He was having a nightmare – he wasn't quite a show like I was while sleeping, but he turned and tossed. So badly I wanted to talk to Charlie. I wanted to reassure him, tell him I was fine, but I knew I couldn't. Deep down I knew that him seeing me would only makes things worse. He would never move on.

"Goodbye, Dad." I rarely ever called him dad, and this was the last time I'd ever get the chance to do that.

I sighed and jumped out the window without looking back. I could feel the sobs building up in my chest and I didn't want to wake Charlie. I got into the car and it was half a second before I heard Edward start the car. Without a word, he started driving and it was a half a minute before the crying started. Different emotions coursed through me; I felt sad, frustrated, angry, useless and overwhelmed. I shut my eyes close and curled up into a fetus position in my seat, letting the dry sobs take over me.

Unexpectedly, I felt Edward's arm grip my waist and he pulled me onto his lap – the car did not swerve even an inch. I kept crying, leaning on his chest and he pulled me tighter to him, murmuring soft words to me.

"You're okay. Everything will be okay." He said softly.

After that, I barely paid any attention, only recognizing the signs passing by: Oak Harbor…Vancouver...and finally, Denali.

"We're here." Edward whispered in my ear.

A/N: Hello my little pretty ones :)

I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed Chapter 1 and everyone who read it! This chapter has been rewritten (yay!) so tell me what you thought of it :)

Disclaimer: Must you rub it in my face, Stephenie? Yes, we all know you own Edward and I don't. Insert eye roll here.

Good or Bad? Hit or Miss? Love or Hate it? REVIEW :)

Love, Alex