Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the characters.


Chapter Nineteen

The next day at school was like a continuation of the one before. I walked through the school hallways and felt like I was floating. I couldn't remember when I had ever felt this happy, this content. When I got home from Bella's, Carlisle had stopped me in the hall to let me know that everything was ready to go for Saturday. He had even gotten the okay for me to observe the OR, from behind a glass window, of course. I passed my calculus test with flying colors. And most importantly, most amazingly, Bella loved me.

Everything was perfect.

And it scared the holy hell at out me.

For nine years, I walked on egg shells knowing that one wrong word, one wrong move could set off a bomb that would leave me bruised and broken. It was difficult to shake the feeling that this happiness couldn't last.

"Hey," Bella came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I felt her lips press into my back.

I jumped at her touch, so lost in my thoughts, I hadn't heard her approach. "Hey," I said, turning in her arms so I could hug her properly. "How was gym?" I asked her as we began walking towards the parking lot.

Bella groaned.

"That good, huh?" I laughed. We had just started the tennis unit. I hated to think the damage Bella could do with a racket.

"I hate gym," Bella grumbled. "Why do I need to play tennis? I mean really, who decided it's a good idea to arm me with a racket? You'd think Coach Clapp would know better by now."

"What happened?" I asked, trying to hide the laughter bubbling in my chest. She was just so dang cute when she was upset.

"I was running towards the ball, I went to hit it but I missed. Obviously. But somehow I hit the net with the racket, which caused me to drop it. The racket bounced off the net, hit me in the thigh and fell to the ground. Then I tripped over the racket, because I was still moving forward, mind you. Which led to me falling forward and getting tangled in the net." Bella rolled her eyes. "I really hate gym."

"Aw," I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. "Did you get hurt?"

She held up her palm and I saw the scratches marking the white skin. I gently lifted her hand and kissed the marks.

"Hey Edward!"

I turned at the sound of my name and saw Emmett and Jasper hurrying over to me. "Hey guys."

"Listen, Alice and Rosalie have practice until four thirty," Emmett said. "Jazz and I were thinking of having batting practice while we waited for the girls. You down?"

I nodded. "That sounds good." We had played baseball once more since the disastrous time with Mike Newton. The memories had not assaulted me as they had that first time. "Do you want to come?" I asked Bella. I smiled when she rolled her eyes. Then I put my arm around her shoulders and the four of us walked to the field. A few students lingered near the field, winding down from the school day.

Emmett ran over to the locker room to grab some bats and mitts. When he came back, he handed me a mitt so I could play outfield. Bella went to sit in the dugout while I ran to my position. It was a typical day for Forks, rain was threatening but it held off while we played. Since it was just the three of us, we just took turns batting, fielding and pitching. I was up to bat, when I caught a glimpse of someone leaning against the foul pole as I swung the bat. The ball slammed off my bat and flew out to right field. I looked back at the foul pole and saw a man standing there, his hands in his pockets. My eyes narrowed and I became aware of the blood draining from my cheeks.

"Hey Edward!" Jasper called from the pitcher's mound. "Are you going to step in the box?"

Startled, I looked back at him and realized he was ready to pitch. I looked back at the foul pole. No one stood there. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. It couldn't be. My mind was playing tricks on me, making me see things that weren't there.

"Hey."

I nearly leapt out of my skin at Jasper's words. He was standing right next to me now. "Are you okay man?"

"Yeah," I said slowly. "Did you see that man?"

"What man?" Jasper asked.

"The one by the foul pole, he was standing there just a second ago."

Jasper was shaking his head. "I didn't see anyone."

"Edward," Bella reached me at that moment. "Are you okay? Why aren't you hitting?"

I turned to her and asked her the same question as Jasper. She shook her head. "Honey, I didn't see anyone," she said.

I was losing my mind.

"Are you okay?" I felt her hands on my cold cheeks as she pulled my face down so she could see my eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. Obviously, there was no one there and no one had been there. I smiled at her and kissed her mouth gently. "I thought I saw Mike in the outfield. Just didn't feel like dealing with him. Come on, let's play."

With a huge effort, I shoved the vision out of my mind and enjoyed the rest of the day. But I felt disconnected from the happy boy playing on a field. Somehow, someway, I was going to say the wrong word or make the wrong move. It was just a matter of time.

At four thirty, Alice and Rosalie showed up, done with their practices. "Hey guys!" Alice sang as she hurried up to the field. She ran up to Jasper and threw her arms around him. Rosalie joined us at a more sedate pace and greeted Emmett with a passionate kiss. We all gathered around the pitching mound. Bella stood in front of me and I wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her head.

"How was play practice, Alice?" Bella asked.

"Great!" she chirped. "It's going to be so good. We are have to have our lines memorized by Monday though, so I know what I'll be doing this weekend." She looked at Jasper, who gave her a pained smile. "Do you guys want to come over for dinner?" she asked Rosalie, Jasper and Bella. "Mom is making lasagna and you know she always makes a ton."

They agreed and we set off towards the parking lot. Jasper and Alice drove my Volvo home, Emmett and Rosalie her Mercedes and I went with Bella in her truck.

"Edward," she said as soon as we pulled out of the lot. "What's wrong?"

"I'm okay, love. I promise." I smiled at her.

"Earlier on the field, for a just a second, you looked terrified. Mike Newton wouldn't put that look in your eye," she said gently.

I sighed and picked at a piece of fuzz on my jeans. I couldn't lie to her she knew me too well. "It's nothing. I just, I thought I saw him standing by the foul pole earlier."

"Him?" Bella turned to look at me briefly. "You mean your stepfather?" Her hands clenched the steering wheel. "Why would he be in Forks?"

"He wouldn't be. What I saw didn't make sense. It must have been the way the trees were blowing, or maybe someone was out there. I mean, I saw it over my shoulder when I was swinging and when I looked back, there was no one there. Besides, he's in jail awaiting trial."

Bella nodded and her grip loosened on the wheel. "What happened in your nightmare last night?"

Of course she knew I had a nightmare. Second one in as many nights. "Same thing as always, pretty much," I said softly, not wanting to get into the details. "He was beating me. But at the end, he leaned over and whispered in my ear."

"What did he say?"

I shuddered as I remembered his words. "'You'll never escape me.' After he said those words, I woke up screaming in my room. Bella?"

"Yeah sweetheart?" I could hear the tears in her voice.

"Do you think they will ever stop?"

"I hope so," she whispered as she reached over to take my hand. "I really think they will, eventually. Your unconscious just needs to realize that you aren't in danger anymore."

I nodded and smoothed my thumb over her knuckles. She came to a stop in front of the white mansion.

We went inside and found Esme in the kitchen. "Mom," Alice said as she gave Esme a hug. "Bella, Jazz and Rose are here for dinner."

"Okay. Thanks for the notice, sweetie," Esme winked at her daughter.

Laughter filled the room. "Do you want to go work on homework?" I asked Bella when the giggles faded.

She nodded and we went into the dining room to work. We sat at the table and pulled out our books. "No calculus homework," I said smiling. "We had a test today."

"Good, now you can help me with my trig," she grumbled. She pulled out her book and put it on the table. "I am so bad at math."

"No you aren't." I pulled my chair closer to her and looked at the assignment. "You just have no confidence in yourself. Here, look at this problem. What's the first step?"

"Write down the problem."

"Yes Bella," I laughed as she stated the obvious.

She chuckled as she wrote the first problem on her paper. Then she looked at me expectantly.

"What's your next step? Think about you need to do and what you know."

"I need to get x by itself," she muttered. Her pencil tapped, a sign that she was thinking. I stayed quiet and let her brain work. After a few minutes, she began to write. I watched her pencil scrawl across the page. I shook my head as she continued, the correct answer appearing as she wrote. She was so much smarter than she gave herself credit for. "I did it," she said as she wrote the final number. Amazement filled her face.

"Love, you are smart. Don't doubt that. Do the next one."

"Yes sir," she said as she wrote out the next problem. For a second her pencil tapped against the page. She wrote out the next step and then more pencil taps. The taps grew more agitated as she continued to stare at the problem. I watched her bite her lip as she tried to figure out the problem. "Gah," she finally sighed. "I don't know."

"Yes you do. Just look at the x, how are you going to get it to stand alone?"

"Edward," she sighed as she stared at the problem. "I don't…wait."

Her hand moved hastily across the page. "Stop doubting your self," I said, smiling at her.

Bella looked up at me through her lashes and smiled. Then she went back to her math. I watched her do the rest of the assignment and her confidence seemed to grow with each problem.

"Huh," she said as she finished. "I get it."

Now I did burst out laughing. I leaned over and kissed her. "I love you babe."

Her arms came up and wrapped around my neck, holding me captive as her mouth moved against mine.

"Dinner!" Esme called from the kitchen.

"Well darn," Bella breathed against my lips. "Why are we always interrupted?"

I laughed softly and gently kissed her one more time. Then we stood up and went into the kitchen and joined the rest of the group at the kitchen table. As we ate, talked and laughed, I looked around the table at the people that become my family in such a short period of time. Two and a half months ago I would never have guessed the decision to move to Forks would change my life so completely and that I would come to care about these people as much as I had. Now, I belonged and I couldn't imagine my life without any of them.

After dinner, I led Bella over to the piano and played her lullaby for her. I watched her as I played. Her eyes drifted closed as she listened and a small smile touched her lips. I played for a while, drifting from piece to piece until I came back to her lullaby. I played with all the love in my heart and by the end of the song, tears were glistening on her cheeks.

When I let the last notes go, Bella let her head rest on my shoulder. "I don't want to go home."

"Yeah, I don't want you to leave either."

"Edward, I am worried about you."

I sighed, knowing she was thinking about this afternoon. "I'm fine. I just need some sleep, that's all."

She nodded and turned her head until she could press a kiss to my bicep. "Tonight, only sweet dreams."

"Yes ma'am," I said as I kissed the top of her head.

Esme stuck her head in the living room. "Bella, honey Charlie just called and wanted me to remind you it's a school night."

"Oh shoot," Bella said jumping up from the piano bench. "I lost track of time."

I walked her to the front door and then out to her car. "I'll see you tomorrow," I said as I opened her door.

"I love you," she said as she pulled me close to her.

"I love you too," I answered. "Good night love."

She held my cheeks. "Sweet dreams. Sleep baby, okay?"

I nodded then watched her get in the car and drive away. I made my way in the house. I found Esme and Carlisle watching TV in the family room and I said good night to them. Then I dragged myself up to my room. I was more tired than I had let on in front of Bella. I changed, brushed my teeth and then lay down on my bed with my hands behind my head. I replayed my evening with Bella, remembering her face while she concentrated on her math, the tears shining in her eyes as she listened to me play the piano. My eyes drifted closed as I floated in the state between sleep and consciousness. As I floated, my mind wandered to the ball field and the figure standing next to the foul pole. My mind wandered more, bringing up a tickle between my shoulder blades as I got the newspaper, a nagging feeling of being followed through a maze. And then, behind my eyelids, I saw the words of a note left in my locker. You brought a snack.

My eyes flew open and I choked on the air in my lungs. Mike, I thought. Mike Newton hates me and he's the one that put the note in my locker. I was paranoid, expecting something bad to happen. There was nothing to worry about, I was safe at the Cullen's, in Forks, Washington.

I sat up, knowing sleep was not possible at this moment in time. I went to my backpack and pulled out Romeo and Juliet. I would do some reading to pass the time.

Sometime around three, I fell into a fitful sleep.

The next day, I was quiet on the drive to school, thinking about what I needed to do. When we arrived at school, I hurried towards the buildings, hoping to find who I was looking for before Bella pulled into the parking lot.

I spotted the blonde spikes across the hallway. I picked up my pace until I was only a few feet away. "Mike," I called out as I approached him.

"Edward," he said coolly.

"Who gave you the note?" I asked without any preamble.

"What are you talking about?" he sneered. But I had seen the flash of understanding in his eyes.

"The note addressed to the vampire," I pressed. "Who gave it to you?" My hands clenched as I fought the urge to shake him and shout out for him to answer me. I wanted him to tell me that he had meant is as a joke and that he had written the note.

"I don't know who it was," he said. "This random guy stopped me in the parking lot that day and asked me to put it in Edward Masen's locker." He shrugged. "I didn't see the harm, figured he meant it as a joke."

Oh god, oh god, oh god. Talons of panic gripped my chest making breathing near impossible. "What did he look like?"

"I don't know, geez. But he did give me something else." He reached into his bag and I watched him pull out another envelope. "He told me to give you this, today actually."

My hand shook as I took the envelope from him. Then I turned and nearly ran to the boy's bathroom. I locked myself in the stall and ripped open the letter, my heart threatening to escape my chest the entire time. As my eyes scanned the letter, all I could hear was my own gasps as I desperately sucked in air and my heart pounded in my chest.

Vampire,

You snack looks mighty tasty. Think you can protect her?

Here's how. Don't tell anyone about this letter. Meet me at the gym tonight at midnight. Come alone or else they will all pay. The doctor and his little wife. Your friends. But most of all, your delicious snack. I've been watching you. I will know if you tell someone and if you are not alone.

Don't be stupid and make the wrong choice.

The note wasn't signed, but there was no question who had given it to Mike. I leaned my head back against the stall door and closed my eyes. My hands fisted, crumpling the note in my hand. My whole body was shaking and I tried to focus on breathing in and out to calm myself down.

Inhale. Exhale. Oh god. Oh god. Inhale. Exhale.

One thing I knew for certain, I couldn't let him put a hand on Bella, or any of the Cullens for that matter. What was I going to do? For a second, I pictured running out of the bathroom, gathering up Bella and Alice, Rosalie and Emmett and heading straight to Carlisle. I saw him calling the police and vowing that everything would be fine. And then I saw saying goodbye to Bella for the night, leaving her in the protection of her father, the police chief. Then while she was sleeping, he could sneak into her room. Or on her way to school he would grab her and take her away. I felt my stomach twist and bile rose in my throat. In my mind, I saw his fists pounding on the girl I love.

I groaned and leaned over the toilet as my stomach emptied itself.

I couldn't do that. How could I possibly live with myself if something happened to her? The guilt alone would eat me alive. I couldn't even imagine the devastation of living my life without her. She was my life, there's nothing for me without her.

I stood up and took a deep, shaky breath. There was no other option. I had to do what he told me too. I couldn't risk Bella's life. It would be stupid and so many things could go wrong. It was a chance I would not and could not take. I opened the stall, glad that the bathroom had remained empty and walked over to the sink. I turned on the water and stared at it run over the white porcelain.

Tonight at midnight, I would meet him at the gym. I reached out and put my hands into the stream of water and watched it flow over my skin. My hands were shaking and I focused on them, willing them to stop trembling. Then I cupped my palms and captured the water so I could bring it to my face and wash away the tears. I took several deep breathes, knowing I had to calm myself down enough to face Bella. A few minutes later, I left the bathroom and walked out to the parking lot. I saw her standing with Alice, her eyes sweeping over the parking lot every now and then.

I knew the minute she saw me because her eyes lit up as the smile broke across her face. I stumble slightly as I felt my heart break a little just looking at her.

"Good morning," she said as she approached. Then her eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head and just gathered her close to me. Her arms wrapped around my neck I buried my face in her hair and inhaled her familiar scent. The freesia and strawberries swirled through my brain, calming me slightly.

"Sweetheart, you're shaking, what's wrong?" she asked again as she gripped me tighter. "Please talk to me, you're scaring me."

I closed my eyes, preparing to lie to her for the first time ever. But I had to save her. "Nightmare," I whispered, not trusting my voice. "Really bad nightmare last night."

She didn't say anything, just held me in the parking lot. Tears I couldn't control began to roll down my cheeks and I brought her even closer to me, lifting her feet off the ground. I breathed her in, felt her heart beating next to mine and tried to find some semblance of control. Somehow, I had I make it through the day.

"The bell rang," Bella said softly.

I nodded and forced my arms to loosen as I gently set her on her feet.

She brushed my hair off my face, her touch so soft and loving I fought the urge to hold her again. "Do you want to ditch class and go talk?" she asked tenderly.

Yes. I wanted to pick her up, run away and never look back. I couldn't bear the thought of losing time with her, not when our seconds had become so limited. But if he was watching, he would see us leave and he might go after the Cullens. I couldn't take the risk.

"No," I said, my voice hoarse. I cleared my throat and tried again. "No, I'm okay."

Bella looked at me, her worry clear in her chocolate eyes. I lifted my lips into what I hoped was an encouraging smile. I took her hand and we walked through the now deserted hallways. Despite how tardy I would be, I walked her all the way to her first period door. I pulled on her hand before she could walk away. "I love you."

"I know," her eyes searched mine. "I love you too."

I kissed her hand and let go. She looked at me one more time and then went into her classroom. "Welcome to class, Miss Swan," I heard the teacher say. I felt bad that she was tardy because of me.

"Mr. Masen?" I jumped and saw Mr. Green approaching. "You need to get to class."

"Sorry sir," I said and then I hurried to calculus. Mr. Andrews did not look happy with me as I entered the classroom five minutes late. "Sorry," I said again.

I couldn't concentrate on the math. For the first time, the puzzle couldn't distract me from the outside world. I tried to find a way out but every path I chose opened the door for Bella or the Cullens to be hurt. I couldn't protect them all. The bell rang at the end of class, bringing me back to reality and Forks High School. I looked down at my paper and saw I had only managed to complete one problem. I gathered my things and walked out the door.

Bella was waiting for me outside the door, a very nice surprise. "Hey," she said softly, taking my hand. "I needed to see you."

"Yeah," I agreed. We walked quietly to her next class.

"I love you," she said first this time when we reached the door.

I smiled slightly. "Love you too."

The rest of the morning continued in the same fashion. Bella waiting for me outside my class, then holding hands as we walked to her class, whispered I love yous before walking away.

At lunch time she led me away from the cafeteria. We went to the baseball field and walked up to the top of the bleachers. I leaned against the metal bars and pulled her against me. I played with her fingers and the slight breeze blew through her hair.

"I wasn't hungry," she said.

"Me neither."

"Edward, what happened? You have shadows in your eyes like I haven't seen since you first moved here."

"I told you," I murmured against her hair.

"What was it about?"

I sighed and kissed the top of her head. I moved my lips across her silky hair and debated what I should say. "You know how yesterday, I thought I saw him?"

"Yeah."

"I dreamt he came back." Maybe I could make her understand why I was leaving her, without actually telling her what was happening. "And he hurt you. Bella, it was the most terrifying nightmare because he wasn't hurting me this time, he was hurting you. I can't handle that." My throat closed up. "Baby if he hurt you," the words stuck and the shaking came again.

"Hey," Bella said turning in my arms. "Hey, sweetheart it was a dream, I'm fine." She rocked me slowly. "I'm fine," she whispered soothingly in my ear. "He's in jail. He isn't going to hurt me, or you ever again."

I let her comfort me as I struggled to gain control. She pulled away and looked at me. I could see in her eyes that she felt relief. I was happy for that. I didn't want her worry so much. I reached up and ran the tip of my finger along her cheek. "You are so beautiful, Bella," I whispered.

She smiled and kissed me. "You are too," she said.

Then the bell rang and I groaned. "I hate how our lives our controlled by a bell."

Bella snickered. "We don't have to go to class you know. We can defy the bell and go somewhere else."

"We need to go to biology," I said, trying to keep a light tone to my voice. "Our project is due today. We'll have to defy the bell later."

"Due dates and bells," Bella sighed as we stood up.

When we arrived in Biology, I went to get our poster and markers so we could finish coloring. We worked on our project in comfortable silence. I held her hand under the table and refused to let go.

After biology, I had to leave her again to go to Spanish. During the time away from her, the panic came back, creating iron bands around my chest. I didn't like to be away from her. Too much could happen when I couldn't see her.

Mrs. Goff was in the middle of her lecture on conjugating verbs when a messenger from the office came into the room. He gave her an envelope and then left the room.

"Senor Masen," she said, holding out the envelope. "Por tu."

I took the envelope, pulling it quickly into my lap so no one would see my shaky hand. I opened it slowly, knowing I was going to need to keep all reactions to the note under control. I could feel Emmett watching me.

Vampire.

I'm impressed. It appears you are following the rules. I was a little worried when you and your snack didn't go to the cafeteria, but your talk was harmless enough. She really is very beautiful in a fragile way. It would be so easy to break her. Just keep doing what you would normally do and no one will get hurt. Except you of course.

I will be waiting at midnight.

I clenched my jaw tight to keep from crying out. He was watching me. Every step I took, he knew what I was doing. He knew what Bella was doing. I knew right then that I had made the right decision not to tell anyone.

I sat rigid in my chair, waiting for the bell to ring so I could get back to Bella.

Finally, the hour long period was over and I made my way through the crowded hallway. I wasn't able to breathe again until I saw her. And when I did see her face break through the crowd, the relief was so great it nearly took me to my knees.

"Hi," she said putting her hands on my cheeks as she kissed me.

"Do you want to come over?" I asked. It was hard to pretend that everything was okay, when my world was shattering around me, but I couldn't say good bye to her. Not yet.

"Of course."

Once we got to the house, I led Bella upstairs to my room. She went to sit on my bed while I went to put on some music. When the music began to softly fill the room, I went to her and sat cross legged in front of her. I took her hand and held it in my lap. I began to trace letters into her forearm, enjoying the feel of her silky skin beneath my fingertip.

"I," Bella breathed, reciting the letter I had just printed on her skin. Goose bumps appeared on her arm and her hand began to tremble slightly. "L, O," she whispered. "V, E." I looked up into her ignited brown eyes as I traced the last three letters. "Y, O, U."

I leaned over and kissed her palm.

"Edward," she gasped softly as my lips moved further up her arm. I had decided on the way home, I didn't want to talk anymore. I wanted to treasure her like she was meant to be treasured. I wanted to enjoy my time with her.

I picked up her other hand and I moved my thumbs in her palms, rubbing small circles into her delicate skin. I leaned forward and very gently touched my lips to hers. She rose up to her knees to meet my mouth. For several long seconds we stayed nearly completely motionless, our mouths just barely touching as I tenderly brushed my lips against her, my thumbs still caressing her palms. My eyes slid shut as the kiss began to deepen slowly. The slow, drugging kiss created a fire deep in my belly. I ran my hands up her arms until I could cradle her face.

The warmth of her soft mouth was intoxicating. She moved deeper, crawling towards me until she was straddling my lap her slim legs wrapped around my waist. "Bella," I groaned. Shivers of delight raced through me as her hands went under my shirt. This time, I didn't cringe when I felt her fingers run into my scars.

"Touch me, Edward," she whispered huskily. "Please my angel."

I couldn't disobey her and my hands moved to the hem of her shirt and then I felt her bare skin under my palms. I ran my hands up and down her spine and then kiss continued. Her back arched under my hands as I continued my soothing strokes on her back.

I seared a path of kisses down her neck and she tilted her head to give me better access. Her hands were in my hair now and she pulled gently as I licked her neck. "I love you," I whispered, feeling her shiver beneath me as my breath touched her damp skin. I laid gentle kisses along her collar bone and up her neck to her chin until finally reclaiming her mouth.

I don't know how long we sat on my bed, kissing. Long enough that the sky outside my window turned from gray, to twilight, to black. I didn't want to let her go. The taste of her on my lips, the feel of her against me was too precious to lose.

She let out a soft sigh as our lips separated for the first time in what must have been hours. Her fingers came up and gently ran along my lips. "Amazing," she whispered, her eyes sparkling. "I literally think I could kiss you for the rest of my life."

I smiled sadly at her words. "As could I, my love."

Just then her stomach let out a loud, angry rumble. "Food is a good thing too," she laughed. I joined her laughter and scooped her off the bed. "We skipped lunch, it's no wonder you are hungry."

"Aren't you?"

"Of course," I lied. The peace I had felt while kissing her dissipated, the iron bands around my chest were back in place. But I smiled and set her on her feet. "Let's go hunt for some food," I said lightly.

On our way to the kitchen, we passed Carlisle and Esme watching TV, as was their habit in the evening. "Hey kids," Esme said when she saw us. "There's food on the counter for you."

"Thanks Esme," I said, happy that my voice came out sounding normal and carefree.

In the kitchen, we found six plates each with a serving of spaghetti, salad and a piece of bread.

Bella and I looked at each other and smiled. Esme was definitely a one-of-a-kind. We took our plates to the kitchen and sat down to eat. I kept the dinner conversation about school and our friends, focusing all my attention Bella, memorizing her. The way the blush crept up her cheeks when she was embarrassed. The way her eyes lit up when she smiled. How she talked with her hands when she got excited. The way she twirled her spaghetti. There was nothing about this girl I didn't love.

When we were done eating, we went to the sink to wash the dishes. When the last plate was in the dishwater, Bella turned to me with a sigh. "It's nine."

What? How could it be so late already? No. My heart rebelled and once again I was nearly overwhelmed by the desire to yank her in my arms and never let go.

"I need to get home," she was saying. "Charlie wasn't very pleased that I was so late last night. He almost grounded me."

I could hardly hear her over the pounding in my ears. "K," I somehow managed. How was I supposed to say good bye to the girl I love without letting her know I was saying good bye? Now we were walking to the door. She was talking about it being Friday tomorrow and how we could hang out afterschool and maybe I could make her dinner sometime this weekend. I nodded, not trusting my voice right now at all. Now we were outside, standing next to her truck. I watched my hand reach out and open her door.

Now she was going to get in and leave me. No no. I couldn't do this. "Bella," my voice cracked over her name.

My mother's lifeless body flashed in front of my eyes. I closed my eyes and fought for strength. I would not fail Bella.

"Edward?"

I opened my eyes and looked at her. "I just wanted to say that I love you and you have made me the happiest person in the entire world."

"I love you too sweetheart." She kissed me gently. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Have sweet dreams, okay?"

I nodded and watched her climb into the cab of her truck. "Good night," I whispered, touching her face one more time.

"Night," she said. She frowned for a second. "You're okay, right?"

"Yeah, just tired." I hoped she would believe that.

"Okay. Good night my angel."

"Night, Bella."

Her truck roared to life and she closed the door. She blew me a kiss as she pulled out of the driveway and I pretended to catch it. And then all I could see were the taillights as she drove away.

The bands around my chest tightened and I felt like I was strangling just to take a breath. My legs would no longer support me and I fell to my knees, holding my chest as I fought to breathe. "She's safe," I whispered to myself. That had to be enough. She was safe, he would never touch her. She is safe. Safe. I repeated the words to myself over and over again, willing the bands to loosen so I could breathe. He wouldn't touch her, I had done what he had asked. I didn't tell anyone. I stood up slowly, dragging air into my tortured lungs. The night wasn't over. There were five other people I had to protect. Determined not to fail now, I turned and walked back into the house.

A/N: So here we are, the climax of the story. I have to admit this is the first time I am nervous about posting a chapter. I think I spent the most time on this chapter than I have on any other, simply because I felt like it was so important for it to be right. I've lost sleep over this chapter, trying to make it right. Please don't be mad at Edward for not telling anyone, he truly feels backed into a corner. Remember, his stepfather has ruled over him for eight years.

You guys have been amazing with your reviews, I can't believe how they have been pouring in lately. Thank you so much.