A/N:Ok, so not saying much except this chapter is in Carlisle's point of view... and the next chapter will be as well... Thanks Missy my Beta... Read. Enjoy. Review....

Chapter Fifteen: Slipping

"Should I be calling Bella?" Emmett asked as he walked into our living room to find me sitting on the futon couch with a beer in my hand, "It's only ten in the morning, you do realize that right?"

"No, don't call Bella," I replied more harshly than I intended, she just didn't need to see me like this.

"You two in a fight or something?" Emmett asked and I shook my head.

"No, I just don't want to see her right now," I said, taking another sip, "Besides, she's shopping with Alice."

"What's been going on with you?" said Emmett, I hadn't told him the reason for Mom and Steve's visit, and apparently neither had Bella.

"Nothing is wrong with me," I retorted and he scoffed.

"You're slipping," said Emmett, taking the beer right out of my hand, "You're almost back to what Jasper described you were a few years ago. He's worried about you too."

"Why don't you two stop gossiping about me like little old ladies?" I asked, harsh and I knew it.

"Carlisle! Does Bella even know what the hell is going on with you?" He asked shortly.

"Yes."

"Does she know you've been acting like a tool?"

"Later Emmett," I said as I stood up and James pulled into a spot out front.

"What're they doing here?" Emmett demanded and I shrugged.

"Picking me up," I said as Emmett clenched his fists and a look of disgust came across his face.

"He's a murderer, Carlisle," said Emmett in almost a scream, "What the HELL is wrong with you lately?! Since when do you hang out with them?! And I don't think Bella would like to know that you're hanging out with Victoria, never mind the murderer too."

"And why is that?" I spat and Emmett just got madder, and I didn't care.

"She's frikin' slut! Nothing but trouble."

"I would never cheat on Bella, and you should know me better than that."

"I thought I did," said Emmett, "But you're not being yourself. Haven't been all week."

Emmett was still bright red when we both turned to look out the window. James had hopped out of the front seat and jumped into a sitting position on the hood of his car. Victoria, his 'friend with benefits' laid across the front, her head in his lap. Then Laurent got out of the backseat and leaned against the side of the car.

"Later," I said tersely as I grabbed my riding jacket and helmet.

"Please just come back normal," said Emmett as I went out the door.

"Carlisle my main man," James greeted me as I walked down the steps, I had only been hanging around with them a few days, they were pretty accepting.

"Hey," I greeted them all with a nod as I walked over.

"What's wrong, Carlisle baby?" Victoria asked as she got off the hood of the car and headed towards me.

"Nothing," I said wanting to snap at her for the baby comment that made me shiver (and not in a good way), but I remembered that she called everyone baby.

"You know, I could make you feel a whole hell of a lot better…"

"I have a girlfriend, back off," I snapped as I threw on my helmet.

"What do you love her or something?" Victoria asked, as though the whole idea of actually loving someone was ridiculous, and noticing my silence she added hot-headedly, "Is she the one Carlisle? Is she you're… happily ever after."

"Not happily ever after," I replied, "I'm not that dumb to believe that crap, but I do love Bella. She makes me want to believe in it, even though I can't."

"Bella's Emmett's little sister right?" James asked uninterestedly and I nodded, "And he's ok with you tapping his lil sis?"

"He got used to the idea," I said.

"She hot?" Laurent asked.

"Gorgeous."

"Ok," said Victoria, annoyed that the conversation wasn't about her, "We have to stop at the mall before we go anywhere, I need new shoes."

Anyone looking in on this scene would think that I was a total jerk, and I was one. I just felt like some useless bum and was afraid to be around normal people, which was why I hadn't seen Bella since Monday when she was sick. I didn't want to infect them. I had issues, and I could get over them by myself, I didn't need anyone's help. I never had, and why would now be any different? James, Victoria, Laurent, they were all already outcasts, and I knew that I couldn't infect them with anything that I might have.

I missed Bella, but I didn't want her to see me all broken, and I refused to bring her down with me. If I told her the extent of my feelings about this whole mess she would stick by me, make me feel better, I didn't want it. When I was with her it was so easy to forget what was going on, and just be happy, be the me I wanted to be, the real me. Then, when I wasn't in her presence I was like this, and I hated it, it wasn't me. I needed to get over it on my own before I brought her into the equation any further than she already was. She was much to precious for me to mess with.

I stood outside the shoe store at the mall with James and Laurent on either side while Victoria was inside the store. We were leaning against the railing that went around the balcony style second floor. James was cracking jokes or making comments about the women that passed, so I turned around and looked down at all the people milling around the bottom floor. I was just about to text Bella and ask her if I could come by later when James let out a low whistle, causing me to turn around.

"I have got to get myself some of that," said James and Laurent muttered his agreement.

"Damn, look at her," said Laurent as I looked around trying to see who they were talking about.

"Over there, Carlisle," said James, noticing my curiosity.

I looked over to where they had pointed to see Bella sitting on a bench outside on of the stores, presumably waiting for Alice, her nose in a book. I was instantly hypnotized as I always was at the mere sight of her, and I whispered her name under my breath, too low for anyone to hear. I really didn't deserve her, she deserved someone whole, someone without so many issues. Nonetheless I wanted to go to her, then I realized my company, and turned back around, hoping she wouldn't see me and come over.

James was not a good person, and if Bella came over here he would assume she was coming to see him. He would undoubtedly say something rude at the very least. He was a murderer, and everyone knew it. Horrible temper he had, and he acted as though the world was just his for the taking. He had never been convicted of any of the charges brought against him, murder, grand theft, another murder, but I guess that's what happens when your mother's richer than God. I did not want my Bella exposed to the likes of him.

"We going soon?" I asked, trying to seem casual as I looked over the side.

"Why, Cullen?" Laurent asked skeptically.

"Particularly when we have such an exquisite view," said James and my face burned red.

"Shut up!" I said angrily as I whipped back around.

"What did you just say to me, Cullen?" James snapped, and he got right up into my face, "I am going to look at her as long as I want, you got a problem with that, Cullen?!"

"Actually I do," I said, towering over him, I was at least a few inches taller, and a lot more muscular, I wasn't afraid of him, but he was of me, "That's Bella. My girlfriend."

"Oh it is?" He said, indifferently, "She's hot."

"Yeah, you mentioned," I spat and James took a step back.

"Why don't you ask her to join us?" James said, and I knew it wasn't actually a question so much as an order.

"I don't want to," I said and James punched me, hard, in the shoulder.

"Go get her!" He yelled at me and I rolled my eyes as I started going over to her, "Where the hell you going? Just call her from here."

"She doesn't like being the center of attention," I said simply and I walked over to where Bella was sitting on the bench.

I took a deep breath and walked behind the bench, stopping momentarily behind her before dropping to my knees. She was still reading and hadn't realized I was there until I pressed my lips to the side of her neck. I felt her whole body tense up for a few seconds before she realized it was me and smiled, putting her book back into her purse. I felt the happiness start to warm my entire body and I knew that I didn't deserve to be anywhere near this happy, I was too much of a failure for that.

"I love you," I whispered to her as she turned to look at me.

"Carlisle," she breathed as I stood up and she rotated around in her seat, slipping her arms around my hips and putting her head on my stomach.

"What're you doing up here?" I asked, kissing her head then removing her arms and hopping over the back of the bench to settle down beside her.

"We were planning on surprising you and Jasper afterwards," she said, wrapping her arms around my neck and pressing her forehead to mine, "I got the green light to start sleeping over again, of course Emmett's there so we can't really be alone, but…"

"We'll figure something out," I said, a mischievous smile crossing my face.

"Thought you might say that," she said, leaning in and kissing me, not so briefly, "That smile drives me nuts I hope you know."

"I do," I said smiling as Alice walked over.

"Hey Carlisle," she said, "Jasper here?"

"No," I said, "I'm here with another group of friends…"

Bella cut me off with another kiss, this one more needy and passionate than the more innocent first couple.

"I missed you," she explained in the two seconds that she pulled away before assaulting my mouth once more, the kiss seemed to go on forever, and I never wanted it to end as I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her tight.

"OW OW."

"YOOOOOW," I heard James and Laurent's wolf whistles and howls and pulled out of the kiss with Bella.

"Don't be rude, Cullen," said Laurent as he and James eyed Bella like wolves on the prowl, I didn't like it, neither did Bella, "Aren't you going to do introductions?"

"Bella, this is Laurent, that's James." I said and Bella gave me a questioning look.

I couldn't look at her, it would be too much pain for my heart to take. I stood up, and helped Bella up with me. She wrapped an arm around me and I returned it without even thinking, or looking. Bella was still looking at James, she was scared and had a good reason to be. It really was only his mother's money that kept him out of jail.

"Carlisle," said Alice, realizing the silence was doing no good for anyone as she pulled a dress out of one of her bags, "What do you think? Will Jasper like it?"

"He'll love it," I said, letting go of Bella as she released me to go and look at the rest of the stuff in Alice's bags.

"You sleeping over too, Alice?" I asked curiously.

"Cullen, way to go," said James crudely and I shook my head as bother girls and myself went red.

"No," said Alice, and I nodded.

"Tough luck, Cullen," said Laurent and Bella looked mortified.

"Carlisle?" said Bella, she looked so bewildered as she looked at me for an explanation.

I opened my mouth to give her one, not quite sure what I was actually going to say when Victoria came out of nowhere and put an arm around me. Before I could say anything I looked over to Bella who looked shocked.

"There you are Carlisle baby," Victoria said in a sickeningly sweet voice, and I knew what she was trying to do.

I went to push Victoria off of me, but I was too late and she pushed her lips forcibly onto mine. I kept my mouth sewn shut, but it didn't matter I knew the damage had already been done. I pushed her right away, but Bella was already running away, with Alice right after her. I broke off at a run after them, and chased them into the parking lot.

"Bella," I called, running full speed after her, I could hear her crying, and it broke my heart, "Bella, darling wait. Let me explain."

"How do you explain that?!" Alice screamed at me as Bella got into the passenger seat and slammed the door, and I opened my mouth, but Alice cut me off, "No, you don't get to speak. You shouldn't even get to breath, how could you? You stupid bastard, leave her the hell alone! And if I were you I'd move so I don't run you the hell over!"

I backed up - though I didn't want to - and out of the way as I watched them drive away, my whole body felt numb.