Bella's POV

School again. I have to get the rest of the notes. I had made sure to take all my pain killers and have a good meal before coming to school today. I had learned my lesson from yesterday. Getting the bed sheet down had been a problem when it started raining but I had managed to poke it with the broom through my window and get it in through the window. I could still feel myself blushing at the thought of Ed…I mean a person from the list naked in my closet. I'd had a peaceful day at Jake's garage he'd managed to get a new piece he wanted for the Rabbit and I watched him repair it. Charlie and I had dinner with Billy and Jake before driving back.

"Bella if you want I can tie a string in the back yard for you to hang clothes if you don't think the drier does a good job. It must be difficult to hang stuff on trees." Charlie had remembered yesterday's incident and offered to help me at breakfast.

"Yes dad. But I guess it's not necessary since it's raining here all the time and the sun very rarely comes out. We can maybe do it on days when it is sunny." He grunted at this and left for the station without further comment. I heaved a sigh of relief. Hopefully he forgets all about it after he gets to the station.

As I got down from the cruiser I searched for the Cullen's. The Volvo was there but they were not in their usual spot waiting for me. That was surprising. Mike saw me and came to me.

"Hey Bella, You missed all the action yesterday! You will never believe what happened, Alice and Edward fought in the mud right here in the car park and Vice Principal Morgan even called Dr. Cullen in."

"What? You are pulling my leg now right? They never fight. Sometimes the guys fight with each other and even Rosalie joins in but never Edward and Alice."

Mike's eyes grew huge at this piece of information.

"You mean the Cullen's also have fights like you know normal kids."

"Of course Mike. They are only human." I smiled to myself at my own little joke.

"Where are they Mike?"

"I think they are cleaning the front lawn."

"Ok. Thanks." He was going to say something more but I kept walking and saw Alice and Edward in the front yard.

They both came to me when I approached.

"What happened to you two?"

"It's his fault he pushed me into the mud." Alice was really upset. I could see she didn't really like getting dirty cleaning the front yard.

"What? How could you do that to your sister Edward?"

Edward looked ashamed. He kept his head down.

"Why did you do it?"

"She left me yesterday Bella if it wasn't for you…."

Oh! I got the picture. "But I knew you would help" Alice chirped up.

"Oh! Now did you?" I put my hands on my hip and turned to the shopaholic pixie.

She had the grace to look down. "I saw it.."

"And you thought it was ok to leave your brother…. like that knowing how easily he could get hurt?" Why was I defending Edward? He's the one who had pushed her into the mud and got them punished. Now it was my turn to get confused. Then I remembered something.

"Alice why did you want to get caught? Now you might even get detention."

"I … I didn't want to get caught. I was so angry with Edward I didn't even see Mr. Morgan make the decision to come to us."

"And what about you? You mean to say no one noticed you fighting until Mr. Morgan came?"

"Well no….. we were surrounded by the whole school." It was Edward who looked very sheepish now.

"What do you mean? Didn't hear their thoughts?"

"No Bella we were so engrossed in the fight that…."

I burst out laughing I just couldn't help it. I wish I'd been here to see their faces when they got caught.

"Bella we didn't mean to fight we are sorry. Now we won't be able to come for the first class with you." Edward looked upset.

"It's ok I'll get someone else to lend me the notes."

"Don't worry Bella we only got orders to clean up the front yard and then we have to write an essay on discipline. We've already written it. We are going to be in a class room near yours and we will write down everything we hear for you. You will just have to get the stuff she might decide to write on the board."

"I'll read her mind for that. Don't worry Bella we've got your notes covered."

"Ok you two. Get back to work then. I'll see you in the rest of the classes. You sure got off lightly. Why didn't you get detention?"

"Carlisle and Esme came and they sort of pleaded our case." Edward spoke up.

"Oh I see." I was just about to walk away when Alice's eyes glazed over. At the same time Edwards face became very worried. He was reading the vision she was having.

"What did you see Alice?"

"It's Victoria, Bella she's coming this weekend. You have to get out of here."

"Why should I do that? It would make sense for me to be the bait then it would be easier for you to catch her."

Alice shook her head. "Please change your decision to stay Bella it only ends in disaster as I can see. Try thinking of leaving I want to see what happens then."

"Where on earth would I go? And what about Charlie?"

"Bella you still have the two plane tickets Carlisle and Esme gave you for your last birthday." Edward reminded me and I cringed at this reminder.

"Ok let's say I took Charlie and went to Jacksonville will it change anything? I remember there were two tickets."

I could tell Edward was not that happy with this. Then I remembered that the open ticket was intended for Edward.

"Edward I have to take Charlie. My scent will surely lead her to my place and I can't leave him there."

"He can maybe go to La Push."

"No way I'm not leaving him and that's final. Ok. What do you see if I do get out of town?"

"Well I don't see what happens exactly but I see her running through the forest near the treaty line."

"Then we must warn the wolves. Can you tell Jacob Bella?" Edward asked me.

"Sure. Sure. I guess it will be nice to see mom after a long time and it's a good break for Charlie as well."

"Bella, can I come too? I don't want you and Charlie to be alone in Jacksonville. What if she comes there next? Or has some acquaintance who could follow you there? Please let me come."

I thought about this. He was right Charlie's gun was no match for vampire strength and it will be useful to have him along. I also didn't want Edward anywhere near Victoria.

"Fine. But I am not introducing you to my mother. She will eat you alive for what you did to me. And I don't think Charlie or Renee would really understand why you had to go to Jacksonville with me. It wouldn't make any sense to them."

"It's ok Bella. I'll hide outside. I won't be any where they can see."

"But then where will you…. Oh ok you don't sleep. Well I suppose it's ok. You can check into a hotel and change and stuff I guess."

Edward's face lit up. "So it's ok if I came."

"Ok sure. But I don't want Charlie or Renee to see you ok?"

"Ok Bella."

"I can see this working. It will be a bit cloudy in Jacksonville this weekend anyway and Edward can hide outside without shining."

"Alice why are you singing the national anthem in Mandarin? What are you hiding?" Edward was looking very puzzled at Alice.

Just then the bell rang.

"Ok you two. I'm off to class. Catch you in the next class. I'll have to talk to Charlie and some how get him to come with me. I know he has the weekend off this week. So it should work out."

We were all in Jacksonville. I had managed to get Charlie to come with me. I knew he also wanted to visit Renee for some time and it was not difficult to convince him because of the free tickets and the fact that they would expire soon. The thunder struck again. That stupid vampire! Couldn't he spend the night at his hotel or something? I couldn't bear the thought of Edward out there in the rain. Trust my luck that it would rain in Jacksonville just on the weekend that I decided to come here.

Well I'd better ask him to come in.

I locked my room door and slowly opened the window making sure not to make any sound.

"Edward…are you there?"

I was surprised when a face peered at me upside down from the top of the window. So he was on the roof.

"Yes Bella"

"Why don't you come in you are getting wet. Don't you have an umbrella or something? Didn't Alice foresee the rain?."

"Alice did see it cloudy so that was one of the reasons that made it ok for me to come."

"You are wet." I can see his hair dripping water.

"In case you didn't notice it's raining out here."

"Cut out the sarcasm Edward and get in here and dry your self."

"It's ok Bella, I'm not cold. I'm used to the elements. Besides I would wet your room."

"Shut up and come in." Annoying vampires!

He slowly slid in and closed the window. He was standing near the window dripping wet.

I pushed a small carpet under him and he stood on it.

"Get out of those clothes you are dripping all over the room. Here put your clothes in this." I handed him a plastic bag.

He looked at me in surprise. Then he looked down.

"Bella….I..I don't have anything to wear. I didn't bring anything because I was planning to just stay on the roof or the trees around the house. I just have a few items in my waterproof pouch."

Oh joy! There goes another bed sheet.

"Here put this on."

He still stood there.

"Now what?"

"Can.. can you turn around Bella?"

"Oh, sorry"

Now it was my turn to be embarrassed. Oh shit! Hope he didn't think I was going to try to get a free strip show from him not that I wouldn't have liked it. Oh! shut-up Bella! I admonished myself.

I heard the rustle of clothes and then Edward handed me the bag. I turned around and had the shock of my life. I had forgotten to give him a towel. Oh! shit! Parts of the bed sheet was now clinging to him. My mouth must have dropped open. Edward looked down at his body at my expression and quickly turned his back to me trying to wrap himself more tightly with the bed sheet.

"Here use this." I flung my towel at him and turned around to give him some privacy. I heard some more rustling.

"It's safe to turn now." I slowly turned to him. He was wearing the towel around his hips now and had the bed sheet also wrapped around him covering most of him. He looked like a wrapped up mummy for Christ's sake as if I would pounce on the Victorian. Looks like he was not going to take any risks. I had to smile at the look on his face. He was clearly embarrassed.

"Well now that you are dry I'll go back to bed."

I climbed on the bed and switched the light off leaving only the little bed side lamp on.

I must have drifted off to sleep.

I saw Victoria pouncing on me from above while Edward tried to put her away. I screamed as loudly as I can but felt a hand on my mouth. I struggled against it.

"Bella, Bella wake up. You are safe. I'm here with you. Victoria is not here love. Wake up."

Someone was whispering in my ear.

I slowly opened my eyes. I saw Edward leaning over me with his hand over my mouth.

I grabbed hold of him for dear life and he hugged myself tightly to his chest.

"Bella… it's ok I'm here love. No one is going to hurt you. I'm here love. Go back to sleep."

I closed my eyes willing the nightmare to go away. After a while I was feeling relaxed. Edward always had that effect on me. I was feeling safe and protected. I knew for sure he would not let anything happen to me. I must have slept some more but something must have woken me up. It was still raining but it was hot here. But I was not sweating. It was nice to have something cool next to me. I buried my head in the cold flurry …..what? Just in the nick of time I realized I had to stay calm I willed my heart beat to relax and then slowly focused on where I was. I didn't open my eyes but I was aware of everything that I felt.

My cheek was resting against something cold and flurry, Edward's chest… Edward's bare chest! Oh god! oh god! What do I do now? I was loath to move away. It was nice to have the cold pressed next to me. His arms were around me. I had slept with him this way for so long. Well not a bare chested Edward but guess it's the same and for once I was not cold I was too hot from the weather and his cold was very welcome. I regulated my breathing as if I was sleeping and started on taking the rest of the inventory of what was touching what.

Ok I had my hand on his forearm. That's fine. My leg was draped over his. What? Should I move it. No I guess not he might figure out I was awake. What was underneath? I can feel the material of the towel ok so he was still wearing the towel. So that means he's not trying to seduce me right? Ok what next…Holy…there was something hard pressed against my stomach through the towel. I decided I had better not try to analyse what that was. It was the rolling pin effect. So I could guess at the origin. Ok where's my feet. One foot touched something cold and hairy again. Guess it's Edward's leg. Ok. The other one was wrapped in the bed sheet. Fine. And I was fully clothed in my t-shirt and track bottoms. Not such a good choice for the Jacksonville weather but for once I was glad I brought them. I was also glad that I had not ended up sleeping in my panties and bra as I initially decided.

So now that I have all the facts what do I do now? Should I move? Or …. It felt really nice being held this closely and it was really cool and a good respite from the heat. I felt another kind of heat in my core but I decided I was going to ignore it. I had best get back to sleep. I willed myself to think of sheep. I felt tired and drained and finally I felt myself drift into nothingness.

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