Bella's Point of View

The remainder of my day was filled with boring lectures, a sea of expressionless faces and my focus greatly impacted. I couldn't pay the faintest attention to anything. All I could think about was meeting up with Edward. There was an inner conflict inside of me. Two opposite, opposing forces. In my chest, my heart was fluttering with excitement. But in my gut, my insides were tangling up in a mess of anxiety.

What would he say? How would I react?

I silently cursed myself, in response to my inner turmoil. I shouldn't be allowing these feelings to manifest. He was just a man. Or possibly a werewolf. Like Jake. Either way. It didn't matter in the least to me.

Since I was moving around campus on crutches, Edward had allowed me to borrow a larger backpack to carry all my personal items in. The books, laptop, notebooks, everything fit perfectly. It made moving around much easier, without requiring help from someone else.

Still, after the last class ended for the day, Emmett was waiting for my outside of the door. Several of the girls from the class stared in complete infatuation with Emmett. They fluttered their eyes, swung their hips, did everything they could to gain his attention. But all proved to be fruitless. He only looked in my direction, an easy smile on his face.

"Hey Emmett, what are you doing here?" I said as I approached him. My leg was beginning to ache. I knew it was about time for some pain medication, but I wasn't the biggest fan of relying on pills. I knew the dangers of becoming dependent, or worse, addicted.

"Edward sent me. An unexpected meeting popped up. So, he was hoping that I could stall you for a little while."

"I'm more than willing to wait. He didn't have to send you here for something like that." I shook my head slightly.

"My brother is very intelligent, but when it comes to women, he is a complete dunce. You'll have to excuse how lame he has been acting." Emmett replied with a snicker.

The two of us walked for a while, until we reached the center of the university. There sat an enormous fountain. There were several other students around, sitting at it. Their faces in their books. This apparently was a popular study spot.

However, as the both of us took a seat at the fountain, all the students gradually disappeared from the area. Some with a sense of urgency and fear, others with ducked heads and red faces. This seemed to happen all the time, if Edward or Emmett was around. I couldn't blame them. They were quite handsome, maybe a bit intimidating and mysterious.

"I will admit, there are a lot of questions that I have for your brother. So, I'm glad he was willing to speak with me today."

"I figured as much. You aren't as oblivious as most people we come in contact with." He mused, with a light-hearted smile. However, I noticed his eyes shift. There was tension behind his gaze. Something was making him uncomfortable.

"You heard what happened." I commented, nodding towards my casted leg.

Emmett nodded. "You fell off a cliff, you're pretty clumsy, aren't you?" There was an edge of amusement to his voice.

"Yeah, I've been told from time to time that I'm not very graceful." I allowed his teasing. "I was surprised to hear that Edward knew my ex-boyfriend. Jacob."

Again, tension registered in Emmett's features. "It's a small world."

He was avoiding the subject. Not giving away any further details. He was going to make me work for the information. I wasn't going to give up that easily.

"How exactly does your family know Jacob?" I pressed further.

"Well, I don't know him personally. But Carlisle has worked in many different hospitals all over the world. He knows a lot of different people. It wouldn't be surprising that he may know of Jacob."

It was a well crafted reply. Not too many details. It left room for speculation. But it was an answer. If that had been the truth, why couldn't Edward tell me that? Why did Jacob hate them so much?

"Jacob and Edward didn't really seem to like each other very much. In fact, I've never seen Jacob so full of hatred."

Emmett snorted, his body seemed to relax, a wide smirk on his face. "Well, I can't speak for Jacob, but I'm certain Edward was just jealous that your ex was there."

I raised a brow. "Why would that bother him?"

"Didn't you notice how he treated your little friend Connor? He felt threatened by the chance of a new rival for your affection."

I instantly shot that possibility down, before it gave me hope. Emmett liked making jokes. He wasn't serious. This was just his way of avoiding the facts of this conversation. As much as I wanted to hang onto my main objective, I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"If that's true, why has he been ignoring me for days?"

Emmett snickered. "I'll let him explain that," He now turned with a smug look.

I followed his gaze, to see Edward standing in front of us. His arms crossed over his chest and a dark look on Emmett.

My heart sunk to the pits of my stomach. My heart sprang into frantic beats of panic. I hadn't realized that he was there. He had completely taken me off guard. My face ignited as his eyes flickered to me.

"Thank you for waiting." Edward said clearly his throat, shooting Emmett a few glares, full of obvious annoyance.

Emmett shot up to his feet. "Well, I'll let you two chat. See ya at home Eddie." With that Emmett walked off, leaving us alone.

There was a beat of silence between us, before Edward's eyes softened. "Come with me, I'd like to have our talk in a more private venue."

I nodded, shifting myself carefully back to my feet and adjusted my crutches back under my arms. Edward took my bag for me, watching each of my movements carefully as I followed him back to his classroom.

Once inside, Edward closed the door behind us and had me sit down at a desk in the front of the room. He stood in front of me, adjusting his collar, he appeared slightly nervous. But he pulled a stoic mask over his face.

"I understand you have a lot of questions for me." He started. "But there is a lot I can't tell you. I'm sorry if that upsets you."

"Why can't you tell me? I feel I've been honest with you, I deserve the same from you."

"You're absolutely right, but that doesn't change anything. There are things that I just can't reveal. I assume you understand the importance of keeping secrets, especially for those you care about."

Was he alluding to Jacob? Did he know that Jacob was a werewolf?

"You know…" I said plainly. "About Jacob."

Edward paused, searching my eyes for a moment, before nodding.

"How?"

This revelation had my mind spinning with even more questions. Slowly, piece by piece, I was getting a clearer picture. But there were still gaps to be filled in.

"My family has a treaty with Jacob and his kind. Although the rules of the treaty are only active in the area of Forks and La Push. Carlisle would like to honor this treaty, no matter where we are in the world."

I halted my questions for a moment, allowing this information to soak in. I wanted to fully understand everything that was said. And force myself not to jump to conclusions. But it was hard for me not to make the assumption that Edward and his family were wolves as well.

"You and your family," I paused, swallowing a little. "What are you? If you're connected to the pack somehow. I know that you aren't… human."

His gaze turned guarded, his hands balled into fists. "Does it matter?" The words were a bit sharper than I had expected.

I shook my head. "It doesn't matter to me, I just want to know the truth. If you're a wolf as well… you can tell me."

All seriousness left his face, he tilted his head back and laughed. I've never seen Edward laugh. It was a sight to behold. Musical and clear. It was a beautiful sound, but it only annoyed me at that moment.

He was laughing at me.

"What's so damn funny?" I grumbled, my cheeks warmed.

Suddenly, his emotions shifted, back to dead seriousness. "You think I'm some kind of mongrel. Absurd."

His mood swings were only confusing me further. Was this his normal behavior? He almost seemed unstable. Was he going through some kind of mental crisis? This conversation was putting him through a tornado of different feelings. Did he struggle to choose which feeling to show?

"Why is that so absurd? If you aren't human and aren't a werewolf, what else could you possibly be?" I sighed, running my hands over my face.

Suddenly there was a vibration in my pocket. I retrieved my phone from the pocket and checked. Thousands of text messages from Jacob. But the most recent was a text from my mom.

On my way to pick you up. Sorry, class ran a little late today.

I glanced at Edward, chewing my lip. I didn't want to cut this conversation short. There was still more to say.

"My mom is on her way to pick me up… but I still have a lot to say to you."

He raised a single brow. "If you would like… I could drive you home after our conversation."

My heart twisted in my chest as I imagined being in Edward's car. Being in close proximity. It was a thrilling thought. I couldn't refuse this opportunity to get closer to him…. I mean… closer to the truth.

Quickly, I sent a text message back to Renee, that I was getting another ride from someone else and that I'd be home later.

"Alright," I nodded, tucking the phone back into my pocket. "Where were we?"

"You accused me of being a dog." His nose scrunched a bit, but the crooked smile on his face still held a hint of amusement. I had the feeling he was enjoying this. He liked keeping me in the dark.

"Well, if that's not the case, please, enlighten me."

"Sorry, I can't answer that. But I'm open to answer any other questions you may have." I could tell by the look on his face, he was adamant about ending his subject.

"Does Jacob know what you are?"

"He knows, but due to the treaty, he can't tell anyone."

Well shall see about that. I knew Jacob well. And I knew he would tell me anything. It might take a little… convincing… but I was certain that I would get that answer by the end of the day. With that fact in mind, I settled down a little.

Edward noticed my body relax and instantly became suspicious. "You think Jacob will tell you?"

It was like he was reading my mind.

"I'm pretty confident I'll get my answers."

This seemed to displease him. He turned away from me for the first time. A glare was on his face. His body was so still, it looked like he wasn't even breathing.

"I still have questions. If you're still willing to speak to me." I mumbled softly. I was aware that I had upset him. Which I really didn't want to do. It made my heart ache. Edward was a kind person. Maybe I shouldn't have been so pushy.

He sighed, letting his shoulders slump. "Fine,"

"We had a really good conversation in the hospital. I felt like… we were essentially starting to be friends… but since I've been back, you are acting like I don't even exist."

Edward winced, turning back to look at me fully. "It's for your own good. I'm not… friend… material. I shouldn't have gotten as close to you, as I had."

"Shouldn't that be my choice as well?"

"You don't understand. I'm dangerous. Jacob had every right to react to me, the way he did that night. That cliff wasn't nearly as dangerous as me."

"What makes you say that? You and Carlisle did nothing, but help me that night. You never hurt me. I trust you."

"You shouldn't, not when I can't even trust myself around you." He admitted quietly. A sad look came to his face.

Pain stabbed at my heart. I hated seeing him like this. All I wanted was to move closer to him. Wrap my arms around him and comfort this man in front of me. He looked so broken and miserable. This was another side to Edward that I've never seen.

"Edward, I may not know what you are yet, but I do know your character. You are a kind man. You're a doctor. You care and help people. In fact, if it wasn't for your generosity, I wouldn't even be in this school."

"That doesn't change anything. Even though I sincerely wish that it did. I can't risk your safety. It would be selfish." Absentmindedly, I watched as his hand came out to lightly touch my cheek.

My heart quickened and as hard as I tried to hold it back, I felt my entire face getting warm.

Edward scanned me over, a smirk tugging at his lips. "So warm," He muttered as his hand lingered there. "And a very lovely sight."

If I hadn't been sitting, I would have probably fell. My body was reacting in strange ways. Just a simple touch and I was falling to pieces. My thoughts escaped me as I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing came out. I just sat there in silence. Enjoying the mere seconds of Edward touching me.

To soon, he let his hand drop down to his sides, and worse yet, he took a step back away from me. "I'm sorry,"

I shook my head, still in a partial daze. "I didn't mind it. Actually… it was really… nice." I paused, clearing my throat a little. It's been a long time since I was rendered speechless. There was a fluttering deep in my heart. It was familiar. This was a phenomenon that has happened to me before. But not at this magnitude. When I began dating Jacob. I had pings of this feeling. And as we got closer, those pings of emotion turned into infatuation.

But the feelings that Edward coaxed out of me were something deeper. There were so many words I could use, but none could qualify the exact level of affection I had. It was now that I realized I was falling in love with Edward Cullen.

This really couldn't be explored, not in the position we were in. He was my teacher. This kind of relationship wasn't allowed. Morally or ethically. Possibly even lawfully. I wasn't sure. Honestly, I didn't know that much about him, as a person, or whatever he was.

But I craved to know every detail.

"Can I ask you one more thing?" I asked quietly. All of a sudden, I felt a little self-conscious.

"Anything," He replied easily.

"Would it be in the realm of possibilities that you feel differently about me, then the other female students in this class?" I didn't know how else to phrase it, without coming out and asking if he had feelings for me.

"Yes, that would be in the realm of possibility." His smile turned rueful. I took note of melancholy touching his expression. But I didn't understand why.

"In that case, would it be inappropriate if I asked that we possibly spend some quality time together? Get to know each other? Because it's a very real possibility I feel the same."

Edward frowned, letting silence fill the room. His eyes searched my face. My anxiety grew as the seconds passed. I almost started to regret my request.

"It would be inappropriate, from the standpoint of you being my student." He said gently.

It was a crushing blow. I attempted to keep the pain and embarrassment off my face.

"Let me finish," Edward said, noticing my disappointment. He moved a little closer and let his hand come out to lightly touch my cheek once again. This time, he tucked a few strands behind my ear. My body trembled in response. "I wouldn't be against it. Believe it or not, I do care for you Bella. More than I can put into words. But before we explore this connection any further, I'd like for you to talk with Jacob. If he really does tell you about me and my family, I'm certain he will paint the worst picture possible. After hearing what he has to say, if you still feel that you would like to pursue this, I'll be here. If you decide this is something you can't accept, I'll understand. And I won't bother you, ever again."

This sounded like a fair enough request. He wasn't flat out rejecting me. But he didn't want to start a relationship without everything being out in the open. I'm not sure why he couldn't just tell me himself. Perhaps this was his way of protecting himself and his family. If I learned his secret from a different source, this wouldn't put his family in harm's way. Or maybe he had a hard time talking about it. Saying the words and accepting them. I could never guess what Edward was thinking. But I knew my own heart. No matter what Jacob said, I don't think my feelings would change.

"I'll agree to those terms, even though I know it won't change anything."

Edward sighed, running a hand through his messy bronze hair. "To be honest, I'm not sure if that makes me happy. There is a lot to consider. Just please take heed of Jacob's warning. Believe what he is telling you. Don't jump to any rash decisions."

I nodded, unable to stop myself from smiling.

This was real progress. And Edward was finally starting to take down some of his walls. I got glimpses of the person behind the mask. It wasn't long before I would have a full picture of the man in front of me. Then, I would be able to make my choices. The only way I could possibly change my mind now, would be if Edward would pose a threat to Mia.

Time will tell.

Thanks for reading! Sorry, this chapter took a little longer to finish than usual. I hope you all enjoyed this! Please leave a review with your thoughts!