Bella absolutely did not skip all of her afternoon classes to skulk around the library with Angela. She, of course, was grounded and abiding by all rules. Anyways, no one would believe that either of these straight-A students had skipped their afternoon to talk. Thankfully, the library had a slightly hidden reading nook, just in case the rumors that they were breaking rules were true. The librarian wasn't even considering watching them, so Bella was free to sit and hear her friend out. Angela had quite a lot to say. In fact, she talked for almost thirty minutes without pause.

"I couldn't tell anyone. I didn't know what was wrong with me, you know? And by the time I did...you were..." Angela let the silence hang between them, and Bella didn't need her to continue. She and Angela had a long history, even though Bella disappeared from Forks around the age of twelve. Sometime in the interim, Angela had discovered herself. "Can I tell you something really odd without you freaking out?" Angela hesitated. It looked like she might panic, no matter Bella's answer.

"You can tell me anything, Ang."

"I think you were my first crush as a kid." Angela ducked her head, settling her chin on her arms. "Not now, I swear. You and Rosalie seem great. Really great. But those summers we spent making mud pies with Leah on the beach? I was so invested. And I was heartbroken when you didn't come back anymore." Angela sighed. "I wish I had figured this out completely before starting this thing with Ben. He told me he loves me. I thought if any guy would be for me, it would be him."

What was Bella supposed to say right now? Angela was pouring out her heart, looking for comfort, and Bella wasn't even gay. She couldn't even empathize. She put a hand in Angela's arm. "I promise I'm not freaking out. I'm here for whatever you need."

Angela hid her face behind her hair. "I'm so scared, Bella. My parents are religious. I thoughti would be fine as long as I still liked guys. But…" She lowered her voice even further. "I am gay. So gay. I'm 'swing a pride flag from the top floor of a building, jump down with my rainbow parachute, gay." She buried her face. "They'll kick me out. I'll be homeless. I bet the twins will pretend I'm dead." Angela's low voice came out from under her arms. "How did you know Rosalie would want you?"

Bella's blood ran cold. She felt ice in her veins as her face went pale. "What do you mean?"

Angela looked up. "You two are so secure. You're so confident. How did that happen?"

"She started it." Bella realized how that sounded and tried to backtrack. "I mean, I didn't know, not really. Rosalie told me she liked me, and everything just clicked into place. I hadn't even considered I'd be gay."

"So what made you give her a chance?"

"Rosalie is…" Bella wished she could turn the focus back to Angela. Rosalie is what? Her savior? A supernatural creature who ran her through Italy's streets to save her idiotic vampire brother? "An enigma. She's special. And selfless. She's funny, sweet, and insanely intelligent. Hey, looks don't hurt, of course." Angela giggled. "I got lucky, honestly."

"I'll say." Angela offered a watery smile. "How did Charlie take it? Wait, does he know?"

Bella huffed, then told Angela how Rosalie revealed their 'relationship' to her father. "And when I get home, I'm going to have to explain why Rosalie sneaks in," her voice rose in frustration, "because I didn't know he put up a camera!"

Angela smiled wider. "Why does she sneak in?"

Bella should have anticipated this question. She didn't. She also didn't expect Rosalie herself to come around the shelves to where they were standing, say, "I'm only human," kiss Bella on the cheek, grab a book at random, and then walk away. She was gone as quickly as she'd come.

Angela laughed at the surprise appearance, then laughed louder at Bella's dumbstruck expression. "Do you think groveling will work on my father?" Bella asked, embarrassed.

"He's the chief of Police. There's no way." Angela laughed. Someone on the other side of the library stacks shushed them. Bella felt like it might be Rosalie, though she couldn't prove it. "He's supposed to be tough on you, right?"

"If you had to convince your dad to go easy on you, what would you do?"

"Offer up several Hail Mary's."

Bella didn't think Hail Mary's would work in her situation; Charlie didn't even go to church.

Bella and Rosalie sat in the BMW at the curb in front of the Swan house. She handed over the contraband cell phone, and Rosalie dropped it into her purse. Bella felt like the hammer was about to land on her, and she didn't want to have a fragile glass piece of technology on her when this happened. The chief might do a full metal detector sweep on her when she walked in the door. Whatever punishment was coming, she didn't want to make it worse.

"So, you'll pick me up tomorrow, right?"

"If you want."

"I do. You know, if Charlie allows it." Bella was nervous, sue her. She had been flaunting her father's rules. Hell, she had been flaunting every father's rules. No one wanted their daughter jet-setting across the world, skipping classes, and sneaking people into their home right after sneaking out of it. She put her hand on the door handle, then hesitated. Bella wasn't ashamed to admit it: she was afraid.

The Chief of Forks was a good man. He was a patient man. He had loved his wayward wife long before she had been wayward. When she said she wanted to leave, he had let her go without causing any trouble. He signed the papers with only the most minimal hesitation. When his daughter decided to stop coming back, he went to visit her instead. He was a good man. When she decided to come back and live with him, he'd accepted her with open arms. And now, she had ignored his rules. He had recorded proof.

Rosalie watched Bella as she fidgeted. She leaned in, turned the car radio up a few notches and quietly asked, "Do you want me to come in and try to help?"

Rosalie's face was very close to hers, for some reason. The girl didn't need to be so close, and why did Bella have such a strong urge to kiss her? Rather than consider it, she gave in to that feeling. Bella closed the space between them. She was stalling, of course, but for now she was engaging in her new favorite activity: kissing Rosalie.

Their lips met, and Bella smiled at the familiar feeling. If Rosalie was surprised by Bella's actions, she didn't let on. Instead, she kissed her back. Bella leaned awkwardly over the center console, trying to get her arm past the steering wheel and up to touch Rosalie's face. She hadn't meant to attack the vampire, but she was afraid. Charlie was going to take the tiny bit of freedom she had left. Her humanity, her freedom, and even her choice in who she dated were taken from her. She could have this though, this stolen moment with Rosalie.

As she tried to get closer, her elbow connected with the horn, and the sharp beep made Rosalie laugh against her lips. Embarrassment made Bella's cheeks flare. She didn't want to be laughed at, she wanted to be kissed. Bella climbed the console, never letting her lips far from Rosalie's. She helped Bella, wrapping and arm around her back, lifting her over the console, across her lap, and helping the girl straddle Rosalie in the driver's seat.

Rosalie pulled back slightly. "What's got into you?" She asked, gripping Bella's hips to keep her from moving.

In an effort to save face and not lose the moment she'd created, Bella slid a hand into Rosalie's long silky hair, made a fist, and pulled it. Rosalie's eyes turned dark, and she let Bella pull her in. Before, Rosalie had been gentle, their lips barely brushing while she smiled. After, the kiss changed.

Bella couldn't be sure, even as she thought of this kiss later, but she was almost positive that Rosalie growled as their lips met again. It seemed that Rosalie liked having her hair pulled. Maybe really liked it. Bella gripped tighter, and Rosalie's tongue forced its way into her mouth aggressively. The kiss was rough, and it was good. Rosalie bit down on her lip, just hard enough to make Bella gasp. She let go of Rosalie's hair, her hands settling on Rosalie's shoulders as she tried to brace herself. The hands at Bella's waist squeezed, thumbs digging in to her hip bones, and Bella almost moaned. She muffled the sound best as she could, but Rosalie pulled back a bit and laughed quietly. The radio kept playing from the car's speaker, barely drowning out the sound of Bella's own heavy breathing.

One of Rosalie's hands gently crept under the hem of Bella's shirt. She slid her thumb slowly back and forth, her cool skin clashing with Bella's feverish own. She settled her hand on Rosalie's chest, and played with her necklace. She wanted to keep kissing her. Instead, she said, "Charlie's going to kill me, isn't he?"

Rosalie kissed her again, then said, "If he is, he'll probably kill you twice for making out in front of him."

"What do you mean?" She felt her heart catch in her throat, as she said, "I'm just a lovesick teenager. I have to steal these moments when I can." Rosalie's gentle fingers on her lower back were clouding her mind. She also felt distinctly…damp. "Wait. In front of him?"

Rosalie smirked, and Bella looked at her lips. She could kiss her again. "I can hear him. I believe he's standing at the…" she paused for a moment. "The kitchen window."

Bella groaned, then let her forehead rest on Rosalie's. She liked this angle, being above Rosalie, feeling in charge of the situation. "Well, it's been nice knowing you. Please report it when I go missing." She let go of Rosalie's shirt and reached for the driver-side door handle.

Rosalie hand beat Bella's to the door handle. She opened it, helped Bella climb off her lap, then left the car with her. "Let me at least walk you to your door. I'm nothing if not a gentleman." Rosalie shut the door, took Bella's hand, and they walked side by side to the front door. Bella knew that trouble was coming. She was anxious. Charlie had just seen her making out with Rosalie. They stopped on the front porch, and Rosalie leaned in, whispering so the camera wouldn't pick up the sound. "Last night, I had to hide under your bed so your father didn't see me in your room."

Bella couldn't help it. She let out a loud, surprised laugh. Before she could respond, the front door opened. "Come in and take a seat, you two." Charlie looked scary. His face was blank, emotionless. They were going to be murdered. Bella looked between her father and her 'girlfriend.' "Yes. Both of you. Now."

He stepped to the side, the door hanging crookedly off its poorly repaired hinge. Bella walked in, holding on to Rosalie for dear life. Charlie followed them, shutting the door with terrifying finality. She might be walking into the house with a powerful vampire, but it was to face down the man who loved her, homed her, and was trying to raise her right. Rosalie squeezed her hand as they sat on the couch.

Charlie struggled to shut the cockeyed door then walked into the living room behind them. He took his gun holster out and put it on the side table by his recliner. Bella followed his motion, wondering if this was a threat. Charlie sat on the coffee table directly across from them. Bella's eyes kept flicking to the gun In the holster on the side table.

"I consider myself a kind man. I feel like I might be a patient man. I know I haven't put too many restrictions and rules on my daughter." He focused on Rosalie. "I can see how that might have been a mistake." He looked at Bella, his brown eyes boring into her own. "You almost died last year. I don't put rules on you because I want to be a tyrant. I enforce rules to keep you safe, alive, and smart." He looked at Rosalie again. He didn't seem angry. He seemed concerned and disappointed. "I'm not trying to keep her away from you. I'm trying to protect her: heart, body, and mind."

Rosalie didn't let go of Bella's hand. She did nod as Charlie talked, like he needed encouragement. "Here's what I've decided." His eyes landed on Bella again. "You are still grounded. Yes, there are cameras. I don't yet know how long I intend to keep you on house arrest. " Bella groaned quietly. She hadn't meant to. Charlie's brow furrowed, and she looked away, muttering 'sorry.' "I will allow you to come around as often as you want, within reason." Bella looked up again, seeing her dad was addressing Rosalie again. "If you are here, the bedroom door is open. If you stay over, your parents call me to approve it, and the door stays open. If Bella's grades slip, you no longer come over. If these rules are broken, you no longer come over." He looked at Bella again. "I am a very understanding man. Do not push me any further. Do you two understand me?"

Both girls answered, 'Yes, sir,' and there was a beat of silence before Bella said, "Dad, did you pull out your gun as a subtle threat?"

"Dear god, no! The holster digs into my hip when I sit!" The scene dissolved into laughter over the misunderstanding, but the meaning was clear. There would be no more breaking Charlie's rules.

Rosalie smiled as she stepped into Bella's room. Her comforter was still on Bella's bed. It was so much bigger than her little double bed.

"Door open!" Bella sighed as the call followed them from the kitchen. Bella left the door open a few inches. "More than that!"

"Are there cameras in the hall too?" Bella stage whispered.

"No! I was a teenager in love once. That's how I made you!" Charlie chuckled at his own joke.

"Ew, Dad!"

Rosalie sat on the edge of Bella's bed and laughed. This was all so domestic. It was fun. It was normal. It was family. She felt the unfamiliar prickle of venom welling up behind her eyes and blinked it away. The joy of the moment hurt her just a little bit.

"Your dad likes me."

Bella sat on the edge of the bed next to her, then flopped onto her back. "I think he's still being swayed by who you're not. We've also probably pushed that to its limits."

"I'm surprised he didn't say anything about that little show in front of the house."

Bella looked horrified. "Oh God, he saw that."

Rosalie leaned on her elbow next to Bella. "I imagine that is why we have to keep the door very open. He seems to think we'll make another you if we're elsewhere." Rosalie thought about it while Bella appeared to die inside. "That's probably why I'm still allowed around. If we're here, he can at least keep an eye on us. Smart man."

"I hate you."

"That would be extremely fair." Rosalie had an idea. "Mr. Swan, what are the physical boundaries of Rosalie's grounding?"

"Property lines!"

"Thank you!"

"And school!"

"Thanks, Dad."

"And absolutely nowhere else!"

Bella lowered her voice. "What was the point of that?"

Rosalie raised her voice. "Just trying to see where you're allowed to go. I would never purposefully flaunt your father's rules! I intend to be a Swan one day!"

"I can't hear you sucking up over the sound of the football game!" Rosalie heard the television's volume go up and was sure he was truly no longer listening.

Bella sat up. "So, Angela. I assume you heard everything?"

"Not everything. I actually did go to class this afternoon."

"Right." Bella hesitated. "I had no idea what she was going through, and she tells me because she trusts me. She knows what I'm going through?" Bella huffed. "I have absolutely no clue what her life has been like. The fear she feels? The stress? I've never been afraid like that."

"Haven't you?" Rosalie didn't want to say it, but Bella needed to hear it. "Haven't you felt terrible fear?" Even with their current situation excluded, Bella had felt real fear. She reached out and touched the crescent moon scar on Bella's hand. She regretted bringing it up as Bella's face fell.

"Yeah..." She looked down at her shoes, a dirty pair of old Chucks. Rosalie could buy her new ones. a thousand new ones, if she...Rosalie stopped her thoughts in her tracks. She didn't need to buy Bella everything. She needed to listen. "No matter what, even when I hurt him, I was never afraid that my Dad wouldn't want me anymore. Angela is scared."

"I know."

"What do you mean?"

Rosalie did not fidget. She did not get nervous. So when she crossed and uncrossed her legs, it wasn't fidgeting. "Human emotions are not just things you feel. Jasper isn't the only one who can sense them, you know? Sometimes, there are things from Angela that don't make sense." She crossed her legs again. "High schools are disgusting."

Bella looked extremely confused.

Rosalie sighed and tried again. "There are things we hear, see, and smell all day long and wish we wouldn't. With Angela, sometimes there are sudden spikes in her heart rate, her breathing, and shortly after...she smells like fear. It's been happening for the last few years." Rosalie looked at Bella. "But her face never changes. It's like she's been afraid forever, but she's learned to mask it. There are just some things you can't hide."

Bella jumped up. It seemed like she had been electrified. "Can we take a walk, please?"

"Bella?"

"Property lines. Come on." Rosalie stood to meet her, and Bella placed a gentle hand right in the center of Rosalie's chest. "Please? It's just a walk." Rosalie nodded and followed her girl's lead. Her fake girl.

They got to the bottom of the stairs, and Bella leaned into the living room. "Father of mine?"

His response was immediate. "Daughter of Renee's?"

"As you have indicated to us that our property is a grounding safe zone, I would like to take a walk with my girlfriend. Do I have the permission of my jailor?"

"If I step outside, say your name, and don't receive an answer within 60 seconds, you will be grounded, home-schooled, and single. Understand?"

"I understand."

"I also understand!" Rosalie added.

"Don't suck up to me!" Charlie called.

Bella pulled Rosalie towards the back door as quickly as she could. As soon as the door shut, Rosalie caught Bella in her arms and sped her towards the woods. She set the girl down gently. "So, why are we on the edge of your property?"

Rather than answer, Bella started walking. rosalie furrowed her brows. Humans were so weird. She followed the girl as she walked parallel to her large back yard. Rosalie wasn't sure, but she thought the Swan home was on roughly an acre of land. She didn't think they could walk very far before they were pushing Charlie's limits. The silence was odd. As Bella wandered, Rosalie broke it. "What are you thinking about?"

"Maybe I'm just happy we're here together. Maybe I'm just now realizing how much you are aware of with your hyper of." Bella tried to step over a log. She didn't quite clear it.

Rosalie darted forward, put her arms around Bella's waist, and gracefully spun her back into a standing position on the other side of the fallen tree. She let go of the girl quickly. "Maybe I am too." She listened to the sound of Bella's racing heart and realized she was committing it to memory. She would recognize Bella's heart anywhere after so many days in close proximity to it. "Maybe you should walk more carefully."

Bella scoffed. "I am extremely careful at all times, obviously."

Rosalie growled. Bella turned back towards her as Rosalie said, "Prove it."

Belal laughed. "Make me."

Was this human for real? Did she think Rosalie couldn't make her? Wouldn't, maybe? Rosalie didn't ask. Instead, she bum rushed the fragile human. She was careful, of course. She would never hurt Bella. She made sure to cushion her extremely breakable body all the way down. They landed softly on the forest floor, a soft 'wumphf' sound coming from the wet leaves cushioning their fall. She pressed Bella into the woodsy floor as carefully as possible. "It doesn't seem like you're being very careful." She caught Bella's wrists and pinned them above her her head. "In fact, it seems like you weren't being careful at all." Bella's heart took off in her chest. "Are you scared?" She smirked, then took in the rest of Bella's physical output. There was...more. The girl's eyes were dilated, and she licked her lips. In a moment, Rosalie was gone.

"Rosalie? Rosalie?" Rosalie heard her name being called. She was ten feet away, leaning against a tree. Bella sat up and eyed her. "Are you okay?"

"Are you?" Bella looked confused. "I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't mean to be so aggressive."

Bella stood up, shaking leaves from her sleeves. She walked purposefully over to Rosalie. "I'm not going to break. I'm not made of glass." Rosalie opened her mouth to assert that, to her, Bella was made of glass. Thin glass. She didn't get the chance, as Bella plowed ahead. "If it's too much, I will tell you." Rosalie was ready to argue, and Bella groaned. "You're my mate, yeah? If you intend to keep me, you need to listen to me. I am done being bossed around by supernatural creatures. So quit coddling me."

There was something in the way that Bella spoke that clicked for Rosalie. An idea, a distant possibility, that maybe this girl, this new Bella, wouldn't be too bad to spend eternity with, if she chose to stick around. When your 'mate' tells you what they want, you give it to them. She took Bella's hand in her own, kissed it, and they began walking the outer limits of the Swan property.

The entire time they walked, Rosalie had the feeling they were being watched.