CHAPTER 35 – COMPLICATIONS

Yael Naim – Far Far

Far far, there's this little girl
She was praying for something good to happen to her
From time to time there're colors and shapes
Dazeling her eyes, tickeling her hands
They invent her a new world with
Oil skies and aquarel rivers
But don't you run away already
Please don't go oh oh

"You are terrible at this"

He unleashed his murderous glare onto me, "Well I'm sure my lack of experience with human food will act as a defence" trying to defend himself.

"Your quick vampire reflexes will contradict that" I snapped back with a small smirk when he gave in and turned back to the pan and the frustration returned.

The Cullens had been interested in the pancake flip and they had all wanted to take turns in doing it. A few had been successful but several had been burnt to a crisp. Esme appeared to be the best at the flipping while Jasper had turned out to be the worse at it.

Now it was Carlisle's turn but was failing miserably as he tried to scrape the pancake off the pan making us laugh at him, "It's really not that hard" Esme chuckled at her husbands

"Ooh I want a go" Emmett rushed over to us and tried to snatch the spatula away from Carlisle but he kept moving it out of his reach.

Edward strolled in after him, now dressed in casual jeans and a dark blue v neck t-shirt and he looked…perfect as always. Furthermore, his bronze hair was still in it's usually mess but now it was a darker shade as it was still wet from the previous shower causing a few strands had strayed to fall over his eyes.

The second he entered, the atmosphere had changed when our eyes locked and he didn't hesitate to walk towards me but then paused a foot away from me so I took it upon myself to step closer to him, "Hello again…" I greeted him with a smile although I wanted to do much more than that.

"Hi" his chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath. He parted his lips but then grew hesitant and closed his mouth again but I wouldn't back down because I was now curious so I kept my eyes on him. He seemed to realise that I wasn't going to give up with the challenging look that I gave him so he finally voiced what he was going to say, "Miss me?" the doubt and hope in his eyes as he said this.

Feeling braver, I took the step and grinned when admitting, "I did actually"

"Okay, lovebirds break it up" Emmett chuckled, wrapping his arm over Edward's shoulders. Both of us were now embarrassed – well maybe me more than Edward as he was still staring at me while I tried looking anywhere but at him by focusing on Emmett, "We need Bella before we burn the house down" he then let go of Edward and took my shoulders in his big palms so that he could spin me around to see the massacre.

Carlisle was still struggling with now crisp and black as he scraped it off the pan. I don't understand how I hadn't heard the screeching sound of the fork against the pan.

"Practice makes perfect?" he tried to defend himself and I just shook my head, pulling the handle away from him as I set it down on the sink and began to wash it, " Don't you have to be in work?" I joked with him.

He appeared to be pleased that I wasn't going to make a big deal over it when he answered, "Actually, it's my day off" he began to move back to his seat, "Saturday-"

The word was enough to remind me of my commitment and I dropped the pan before interjecting, "Wait? What?"

"Saturday is-" he repeated and it finally hit me.

"Oh no!" I exclaimed and quickly rinsed off the pan before pacing it back and using the towel to dry my hands before making my way towards the doorway but Edward had flashed before me, blocking my exit, a frantic and fearful expression colouring his features.

Carlisle spoke before he could, "What?" he asked, "What is it?"

"I have to go" pivoting on the balls of my feet so that I send him my apologetic glance.

He stood from his seat and blurred before me, holding onto my arm as he asked, "Why?" the same expression Edward wore now made its way to Carlisle's.

"Don't" Alice whispered, "We were having so much fun" she pouted and her face scrunched up, almost like she was about to cry and I felt touched that she still wanted to be around me.

I also wanted to stay and continue making weird shaped pancakes while joking around with this amazing family but I had other promises to keep, "I'm going to be late for work" I explained and felt the tension that had surround us slowly crumble as they all finally gained the understanding.

"Work?" Carlisle's brows furrowed but his tight grip on my arm loosened when he now knew that I was not trying to make an escape.

It surprised me just how much they actually cared. Edward had even gone to the lengths of blocking my path.

"Where do you work?" Rosalie surprisingly questioned although there was a wariness playing out in her eyes and I assumed that maybe she still didn't trust my intentions.

"Cora's Diner" answering with ease, "I work the weekend shifts"

He ran his fingers through his hair with furrowed eyebrows, "Why would you need to work?"

"Food? Gas? Electricity?" I listed, feeling slightly annoyed and continued to wait until I saw understanding flood his dulled eyes before a conflict raged within them.

Determination hardened his eyes and he walked towards us, "Bella…we talked about this" he began to argue.

"No" shaking my head when recalling yesterday's follow up argument about me moving in, "You talked about this" I retorted with an edge to my voice.

"You are welcome here" he argued, "This is practically your home" he continued, disregarding the fact that I was childishly shaking my head, "We can give you anything and everything you need. Food? Mone-"

The whole idea was absurd and I felt torn with the pleading voice he was using but I knew it wouldn't be right, "I can't" the pained conflict cracked through my whisper, "I'm sorry Carlisle, I j-just can't" hoping that he would understand why I was disagreeing with him. It had nothing to do with me being fearful of what could happen – more like they had already done so much for me that I just could not burden them like that.

They had already agreed to keep my secret, they were also kind enough to let me stay and to even wanted to make me breakfast but also they were able to help me feel again.

"I hope you understand" I squeezed his hand, blinking away the tears.

It took a few minutes before the determination was set back in his dark hardened eyes was worn away with the reconcilement and he gave a small nod before deeply sighing, "Okay. Fine" his voice was tired and weak as he forced himself to resign to my argument.

Silence followed with the end of our argument and I tried hard to ignore the disappointed expressions that rest had by looking down at my entwined fingers.

"I'll take you"

I whipped my head around to look at Edward and found him staring at me, almost challenging me to argue but the edge in his voice told me that I would not win that argument so I nodded.

His gave a smile but it was strained similarly to Carlisle's which only made me feel guilty. It was like my decline of their invite had really hurt them but I knew that this decision was enough to keep them safe. They were all sinking further and further into my life and I had to stop being selfish and set the boundaries otherwise I would get us all killed.

A/N: Hope you lied this teaser - more of Edward and Bella moments in next chapter. Please continue reviewing - make me happy and they keep me going...