AN: Okay so here's the first chapter. Obviously the last chapter was the Preface. I hope you give this story a chance. I know it's a little out there and that it is OOC but I know where it's going. Please review if you read, it doesn't matter what you say just let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.

"Mmm," I murmured as my impossibly perfect vampire boyfriend continued to kiss below my earlobe, occasionally brushing it with his tongue. "You don't make your restrictions very easy," I complained. His rules for our relationship were ridiculous if you asked me. He'd never hurt me. I had a better chance of getting hurt with a normal, human guy.

Edward pushed away from me gently, sighing before putting his hands up to where I could see them, like a criminal. "Better?" He raised an eyebrow.

I pouted slightly. "I was hoping for the opposite reaction." I wanted him to kick all his rules and listen to me for once.

"It's good you still have hope deep inside." He smirked before walking ahead of me into the biology room.

I rolled my eyes and mumbled about immature, stubborn vampires as I plopped down in my seat next to him at the back table. Unable to stay even for a minute frustrated with him, I reached over and took his hand into mine. He raised our interlocked fingers and kissed mine softly. "I'm sorry I gave you false hope." He turned his smolder on me.

I rolled my eyes again but couldn't help blushing as I replied, "I didn't really mind."

He barked out a laugh as Mr. Banner started talking. "Who in here are seniors?" He asked the class. We raised our hands dully. "How many have done. . . ." My attention was suddenly diverted elsewhere by Edward's hand reached over to grab his pencil out of his bag, right by my leg. I could feel his muscles in his arm against my thigh. I squirmed and shifted, trying to remain focused. Edward looked at me quizzically for moment before moving his hand to slip underneath my thigh, scratching it for me.

"Do you have an inch?" He asked, genuinely curious. I nodded, easier than telling him the truth. But I also blushed as I turned back towards the front of the classroom and I knew he didn't believe me.

". . . . And you kids really need to get on this. You're graduating in one month, you guys. That's barely enough time to start, finish and present a Culminating Project."

Realization hit me like a brick wall. "Oh my god!" I moaned, laying my head against Edward's stack of books on the lab table.

"What is it, love?" He asked concerned.

"I cant do this! I'm going to fail high school and never graduate."

"Bella!" Edward hissed under his breath. "You won't fail high school, I promise." He moved my hair that had fanned over my face. "Now tell me what's wrong." He demanded.

"The deadline for Culminating Projects are month and I haven't even started mine!" I exclaimed quietly, wanting to keep from drawing attention.

Comprehension crossed his features and he began to rub my back soothingly. "I'm sure you will find something to do for your senior project." He comforted. "I probably could give you a few ideas." He suggested. "Lord knows how many senior projects I've done over the years."

"In a month?" I exclaimed. "I can't do it in a month!" I moaned, aware of how whiny I sounded but I couldn't find it in myself to really care. Why hadn't I thought about this sooner? Charlie had been pestering me about it, even. How did I not notice the deadline?

Words like Italy, vampires, werewolves, grounded and missing hikers popped into my brain.

"Bella," Edward called me out of my thoughts. "I will not let you fail high school, I swear. I'll help you with your Culminating Project. Besides," A sly grin appeared on his face, "I have yet to start mine as well."

I huffed. "Mr. Perfect doesn't have it already done?"

"Mr. Perfect has a very distracting girlfriend." Edward commented, pressing his lips to my hair. "And he'll help her with her project too, because he's just so caring."

I rolled my eyes for a third time. "As long as Mr. Perfect will still love his distracting girlfriend when she fails high school and is working at McDonald's."

He smiled cheekily. "Well, as long as she doesn't get fat from eating the food there."

I whacked him in the face-gently to keep from hurting myself. Edward mock glared at me and pointed to the front of the class where Mr. Banner was still teaching, as if telling me to pay attention.

For the remainder of the period I managed to stay on task, reading the textbook and taking notes silently. It wasn't easy though, with Edward constantly trying to distract me. I was starting to think he got a kick out of watching me flustered.

When I got home after school, my worries about my Senior Project were all but gone. Edward had managed to distract my mind entirely. My focus was taken in a whole new direction though when I entered the house to see my father pacing the living room, his head down.

"Dad?" I called after standing there for a minute. Charlie's head popped up at me, like I was a ghost. "Dad, what's wrong?" I was abruptly panicked, hurrying into the living room from the entryway.

Charlie didn't speak for a few more seconds. "W-where's Edward?" He asked, his voice strained.

I looked around for a second before answering. His question threw me through a loop. "I thought I wasn't allowed to have company over until eight. . . ." Charlie didn't look too involved in what I was saying as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "My visiting hours?" If Charlie had forgotten about his new rules since Edward came back, I was all in favor but at the moment it didn't look like Charlie even remembered he grounded me.

"Wait!" Realization struck me. "Dad, what are you doing here? You've never home at this time." I asked, my voice growing sharper when he didn't look up from his phone. "Charlie, what's on that phone?" I reached over and tried to grab it out of his hands but he snapped it shut and stuck it in his pocket before I could get it out of his hands.

He looked at me again, his face clearly shell shocked. "Don't worry about this, Bells." He warned after a minute. "Just something going on at work, that's all." His voice was almost back to normal but I continued to scrutinize him.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?" I asked reluctantly after a moment of silence.

"No!" He answered immediately. "No, of course not, honey. It's just. . . . work stuff."

I sighed before deciding to let it go. It wouldn't be the first time something happened at the station that Charlie couldn't share and he was a big boy. He could handle himself. He'd managed all the years before I came to live with him. I shuddered at the thought of my childhood. Unpleasant memories began to enter my mind before I could will them away.

Feeling sort of sick, I swallowed the lump in my throat before turning towards the dining room. "I'm going to do my homework."

X.

Dinner came and went with very few words, the only sound coming from the TV. I wondered idly what Charlie's problem was but I also knew he wouldn't want to share it with me no matter how much I bugged him. I guess I knew where I had gotten my quiet reserve from.

"Bella?" Charlie suddenly called from his chair in the living room. I dropped the plate I had been scrubbing into the sea of bubbles and walked towards my Dad.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to be gone most of tomorrow," He informed, barely taking his eyes off the television. "This, uh, new case is taking up a lot of my time." I knew right there from his stutter he was lying to me. He was also where I had inherited my awful lying skills.

But I didn't understand why. What purpose did he have for lying about a stupid police case? If it was just his work then why was he acting so weird?

Instead of accusing him right then and there, I just nodded before heading back into the kitchen. "Do you want me to pack you a lunch?" I asked, my voice uneven.

"No thanks, honey." He called back. He appeared to be entranced in the game on TV now.

I started to pack away the leftovers from dinner when I suddenly had the urge to go wait for Edward to show up so he would tell me what was up with Charlie.

Deciding that was what I was going to do, I quickly saran-wrapped the chicken legs and filled a plastic tub with macaroni and cheese before shoving both in the fridge and calling to Charlie that I was going to turn in early. I didn't stick around to see his expression.

Alice must have seen this because as soon as I opened the door, Edward was sprawled out on my bed. I was momentarily speechless, unable to remember what I wanted to ask him.

He smiled up at me smugly, putting his heads behind his head. "I have solved all your problems, my love."

My eyes widened as I moved forward to climb on the bed next him. "How so?"

"You were worried that you would fail high school if you didn't get your Culminating Project done, correct?" He clarified.

"Yes, that is correct." I couldn't help but match his grin.

"Well I talked to Carlisle earlier and we can volunteer in the treatment unit of the hospital." He smiled at me, turning onto his side so that he was facing me. "I figured you'd do better there than around all that blood."

I laughed, returning his happiness before putting my arms around his neck like a vice, hugging him to me. "Thank you," I whispered against his throat. "You may have just saved me from McDonald's."

Edward sat upwards completely, taking me with him so that I was straddling his lap. "Too bad. I think you'd look pretty cute in that uniform." He teased, pressing his lips to my jugular.

I knew he was teasing me but I couldn't think of anything to say back so instead, I kissed his lips softly and sweetly. He kissed me back, returning my elatement. Moving my lips, I opened slightly, trying to give him easier access to my mouth.

Almost immediately he picked me up and set me on the bed next to him, pulling our mouths apart. I planned on pouting but instead I laid back, my head spinning. "Are you ever going to ease up on your rules?" I complained slightly.

Edward rolled his eyes. "No." He stated, point blank, before standing up and removing my shoes and over-shirt for me. "No, go to sleep."

I glared at him. "I'm not even tired."

"Well, you're probably going to be bored tomorrow so I'd like you to be well rested." He said lightly as he pulled back the covers and climbed into first.

"Why?" I asked, climbing in bed after him.

"Because we're going to be going down to the hospital first thing in the morning and getting checked out." He answered, pulling me tighter to him.

"Checked out?" I questioned, suspiciously. "Like needles?" I couldn't disguise the fear in my voice.

Edward's chest shook as he laughed at me. "No, not needles. I already confirmed with Carlisle that you will not need to give a blood sample or get any shots. They just want to give you a physical really quick. It's standard for any volunteers."

"Who's going to be your doctor?" I asked sleepily as I buried myself deeper into his side.

I could almost hear him rolling his eyes. "Carlisle, of course. We've had to get physicals before so Carlisle has basically memorized how to fill out our papers appropriately." He explained, his voice growing smoother as he realized I was probably falling asleep.

Just before I fell asleep I remembered what I was planning on asking him. "Hey, Edward?" I tried to mumble but drowsiness was fighting to overtake me. "I got a question."

"Yes, love?" He asked, stroking my hair gently, making it harder to stay awake.

"Why. . . . is . . Charlie. . . . . ." But I fell asleep before I could finish.

AN: The next chapter will be up tomorrow or maybe even today depending on people's response. Once again, please review. I know it's slow right now but the next chapter picks up the pace a ton.

XOXO