Bella and Rosalie roomed together in the dorms and both of them were getting ready for their night with the boys. Emmett has slipped Rosalie a bottle of wine and the two of them sipped on it from the bottle as Bella straitened her hair and Rosalie put on some makeup.

"We'll have to leave through the window," Rosalie said, "It's only about a five foot drop."

"Good thing we're on the first floor."

"We'd still find a way." She smirked and applied some lip gloss. "So have you and Edward.. ya know?"

Bella snickered and shook her head. "No."

"I snuck into Emmett's room a few times last week when his roommate was on a college visit."

"Rosalie." Bella smiled.

"What?" She shrugged. "It's so.. fun."

Bella had thought about taking that next step in her relationship with Edward. She toyed with whether or not she was ready but given the circumstances of the night she was beginning to seriously consider it.

A knock at the door made both of them jump and Rosalie whispered to Bella. "Hide the wine!"

Bella rushed to place it behind a nightstand and draped a T-shirt over the top of the bottle before accepting a piece of gum from Rosalie.

The two of them flung the door open and Carlisle stood there, still in his work attire.

"Hello ladies. I'm just checking on the Hillcrest remains."

"And how are you Mr. Cullen?" Rosalie smiled. "Looking handsome as ever."

"Thank you Rosalie." He nodded. "What are you two up to tonight?"

"Oh you know.. we're going to hit the town pick up some guys.. maybe drop something in their drink.. get matching tattoos.."

"Care to join?" Bella continued with the joke.

"I can't, I'm.. getting a few piercings tonight," he said dryly, indulging in their jokes.

"Too bad," Rosalie said.

"If you need anything contact myself or Ms. Platt."

The two girls gave him the thumbs up.

"Behave," he added in a fatherly way before closing the door and heading toward the boys' dormitories.

Esme finished up some paperwork she had been working on tirelessly and finally decided to call it quits as darkness crept in a little after five o'clock. She locked up, walking past the empty secretary desk and past a few closed doors, including Carlisle's, in the guidance department.

When she got to the door to exit a noise caught her attention from somewhere inside and she turned to look around the eerily vacant building.

Esme swallowed hard, noting something probably shifted and then proceeded to leave, locking the main door behind her.

The small campus felt odd without the buzz of the student body and teachers' cars coming and going. Esme couldn't shake a slight chill but decided to actively try to push any bad thoughts from her mind for the rest of the night.

She began her walk toward her house but stopped when she saw a tall figure emerge from around a row of hedges by some of the brick buildings across the courtyard.

Esme closed her eyes when she was certain he wore the white mask that she loathed so much. When she opened them he was closer, pacing in her direction with a purpose in the darkness.

He's not here, she told herself. Esme closer her eyes and reopened them; closed her eyes and reopened them. Each time the fear crept in, paralyzing her in place.

It's not real. Esme shook her head and opened her eyes, this time screaming when a hand reached out and touched her arm.

Carlisle jumped back from her reaction. "Hey.. I'm sorry." He put his hands up.

Esme put a hand on her chest and took a breath.

"I keep scaring you today." He shook his head and apologized again. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She put a hand on her forehead. "I'm sorry. It's just this day. It has me crazy." Esme leaned in for a hug and then pulled back.

"Why don't I walk you back to your house," Carlisle offered. When she nodded and gave a small smile and then glanced over his shoulder to where she had been looking. He thought he saw a figure in the darkness though he had just come from that area and nobody had been lurking around.

The kids were all where they were supposed to be and so he turned back to Esme.

"I know you've been a little on edge this week," Carlisle acknowledged.

"How could you tell?" She joked with a smile.

He grinned back. "How about if I make you dinner? I'll go home quickly.. shower.. then you can put your feet up, enjoy a glass of wine and relax."

"You don't have to-"

"I know." He linked his hand through hers. "But I'd like to."

"I have a full box of spaghetti at the house."

Carlisle smiled and pulled her to him, leaving a single kiss on her lips before they made the trek back to Esme's house.

When she fiddled for her keys and unlocked the front door Carlisle looked at her more directly.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Esme nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you." She shrugged and then let out a sigh, craving his company. "Hurry back?"

Carlisle looked at his watch. "Give me twenty."

He looked at her again and Esme nodded to let him know she was okay before they parted and she wandered inside as Carlisle headed down toward his own house.

Esme flipped on the lights in the living room, staring around the house that was rarely empty and then shook off any negative thoughts. She decided to start a fire in the fireplace to get the place feeling cozy on the chilly October night before heading down the hallway to shower and change.

As she passed by Edward's room she smiled at how neat he had left it and had a good feeling about letting her son go on the camping trip.