Monday came all too soon, and Bella found herself at school once again. She couldn't be too upset since it meant she got to be in Carlisle's class first thing. However, she was concerned that he was upset with her over the dance lesson. No matter how many times she had replayed it, she still couldn't tell how they had ended up almost kissing and part of her worried it had been her that had moved first. If that was the case, it would be very difficult to face him going forward. On the other hand, if he had moved first, did that mean he liked her?

Groaning out in frustration, she rested her head against the steering wheel. What was she supposed to do? Taking a deep breath, she sat back. Nothing, that's what she'd do because she was only 17 and it was against the rules to date a teacher. At least, she assumed it was. Nodding to herself, she gathered her backpack and climbed out of The Beast and headed over to where Edward was waiting for her.

As per normal they headed in and chatted about whatever random topic they came up with as they made their way through the halls. When they approached her first class, Edward bid her goodbye and she headed in not meeting Carlisle's eye, too embarrassed by her actions over the weekend. If he felt any embarrassment, he didn't show it. Through the lecture, she noticed the darkness was back, having almost completely vanished on Sunday, but now she could feel it again on the edge of her mind. Like it was waiting for her, feeling her out, gently probing at her own emotions, but unlike on Saturday, she didn't feel the loneliness. In its place was nearly palpable curiosity.

Trying to shake it off, she focused on the lecture. She watched Carlisle as he went over the timeline of events he'd been discussing and when their eyes locked, she saw the same curiosity that she could feel at the edge of her consciousness.

It couldn't be, could it?

The bell rang, making her jump. As the other students filed out of the classroom, she hesitated, slowly coming up to the front of the class as Carlisle was busy with erasing the board. Probing at the darkness, there was a faint feeling of amusement coming through as Carlisle finally turned to face her, the same amusement in his eyes.

"Something I can help you with, Bella?"

Normally, she'd try to resist how her body would react to her name on his lips, but today she wanted to test a theory that had been percolating in her mind for the last 15 minutes or so. So, she let the desire that flared at the sound of her name reach out towards the darkness. The effect was almost instant as his eyes widened, his gaze darkened, and his lips opened slightly. She could feel the same desire resonate from the darkness, though it felt muted in comparison to her own.

"How…" Bella started to ask, but he cut her off.

"You should be going; you'll be late for your next class." His tone was firm, leaving no room for debate as he moved towards his desk.

Bella drifted through her math class, barely aware of what was going on, her mind completely focused on what had happened between her and Carlisle. He had felt her desire, somehow, he'd felt it. Was it even possible, or was she just reading into it? No, he'd definitely reacted, he'd been surprised, but there's been a hint of lust in his eyes. He'd been surprised by it, but was it because , or the fact that she could feel his emotions?

She needed more information, and she had a good idea where to start looking for it.

Happy to skip gym class, she sought out Edward pulled him aside to a quiet corner in the hallway. "Ok, don't laugh, but something is going on and I know it has something to do with your family."

He frowned at her. "What are you talking about?"

Lowering her voice, she shifted closer to him, keeping an eye on anyone walking by. "Since I met you and the others, I've felt this strange feeling, almost like a darkness or presence on the edge of my consciousness. I can feel things from it, and it pulls at me like it wants to be closer."

Edward stared at her in disbelief. His mouth opened and closed a few times before looking around to make sure no one was listening. "I want to tell you, but I can't. You wouldn't believe me even if I did."

"Try me."

"Bella." Edward whined.

"Edward." She growled back.

Edward licked his lips, turning away for a moment. Bella could see his lips move slightly but could hear no words. When he turned back, he looked determined. "Do you believe in soulmates?"

Bella snorted derisively, louder than she meant to which drew the attention of several students for a moment. When they had turned back to their own conversations she responded. "You're kidding right?" His expression didn't change, causing her to frown. "You're not."

"No, I'm not." He ran a hand through his hair. "Look, it's hard to explain, but what your describing is a mating bond. Essentially, it means you've found your soul mate, and the bond is forming to connect you two forever."

"You realize how ridiculous that sounds right?" Bella scoffed.

"Why?" Edward snapped at her. "Plenty of animals mate for life, why is it so strange that a…human…could do the same?"

Catching the hesitation around the word human, Bella made a note to file that away for later. "Because I've seen people fall out of love before, it's a common thing. The divorce rates in America are extremely high. Love doesn't last so why would I believe in soul mates?"

"It's…different…for my family." He almost sounded pained trying to hold back whatever information he was concealing.

"How?" She pushed.

Edward's jaw clenched so hard that she could see the muscles in his jaw straining. "Talk to the Quileute's, ask them about us, ask why we can't go to La Push." He turned away, looking down the hall. "I'm sorry, that's all I can say."

Deciding to let it drop, she stormed away.

When lunch came, she sat with Jessica and the others, though was surprised when Edward, Alice and Jasper joined her. The addition of the Cullen's seemed to surprise the others for a moment before the conversations started back up. Bella wasn't feeling up to conversing, but Jessica kept phishing to see if Bella would be bringing anyone to the dance. She'd broken down and told the girl she'd be going and now was being pestered about needing a date.

That wasn't about to happen.

With how confusing the last two weeks had been, she hadn't really had time to check out any boys, not that any had jumped out at her, so she tried to tell Jessica she'd be going alone. This didn't sit well with the other girl, and she started trying to set her up with whatever guy she thought would work. Bella, however, had eyes for only one person at the moment but she wasn't about to admit it to the girl.

When the school day finally ended, she rushed out to her truck, not even bothering to wait for Edward. She was still irked by his evasiveness and really didn't want to talk to him right now. Cranking the engine over, she drove out of the lot and turned towards the reservation. She was going to get to the bottom of this and she knew exactly who to ask.

Pulling up in front of the Black's house she killed the engine and climbed out just as Jacob opened the door and came running over to her. "Bella!"

He scooped her up into a bear hug making her giggle. "Hi Jacob. It's great to see you."

"You too, girl. Where have you been? I heard you came back like three weeks ago, and you just now visit?" Jacob teased her as he set her back down.

"I know, sorry, was getting settled and two weeks of school and all." Bella followed him inside and they made themselves comfortable in the living room.

"So, what brings you by other than my good looks?" The cheesy smile on his face had her laughing hysterically.

"Right." She shook her head trying to get her laughing under control. "I was wondering, you know the Cullen's"

He nodded. "Yeah, the creepy family that needs to invest in a sun tanning room, what about them?"

"I heard this rumor that they don't go to La Push for some reason, but no one knows why." Bella watched as Jacob sat forward, placing his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands in front of himself.

"There's this old legend that the Quileute's supposedly descended from wolves, and the only time we change into them is when The Cold Ones are around. They were supposed to be this enemy tribe or something, but they were different than us. Supposedly we made a treaty that if they stayed off Quileute lands, we wouldn't reveal what they really are."

Bella leaned forward as well, enraptured by the story. "What are they?"

Jacob laughed. "It's just a story Bella, it's not real."

Laughing, she lightly shoved him. "Humor me."

"Vampires." Jacob smiled. "Stupid huh?"

She chuckled. It was pretty far-fetched. She couldn't imagine Edward sleeping in a coffin at night and wearing a cape all the time. It was ridiculous.

"Didn't they just move here?" She inquired.

Jacob cocked a shoulder leaning back against the couch. "Or just moved back."

They stared at each other for a moment before breaking down into more laughter. Changing the topic they both talked about their schoolwork for a while, then Bella offered to help make dinner when Jacob's stomach started growling. At some point Billy came home and they all enjoyed a nice dinner chatting and laughing just like she remembered from when she was little.

It was dark by the time she got home, but she wasn't tired. Climbing onto her bed and pulled her laptop onto her lap and started searching up the legends of The Cold Ones wanting to learn more about them. Over the next hour or so she found a lot of information and a disturbing amount of it seemed to line up with what she knew about the Cullen's. They were pale, didn't go into sunlight, were cold to the touch, and now that she was thinking about it, she'd never seen them eat. At lunch they always picked at food but never actually put it in their mouths.

Could it be possible?

Shaking her head, she chastised herself for allowing herself to go down that rabbit hole. It was insane. Vampires didn't exist.

The next day she woke up feeling groggy. She'd tossed and turned most of the night, dreams of Edward and Carlisle as vampires plagued her all night. If she was honest, she wasn't sure if she was afraid or intrigued by the prospect that it could be true. They clearly weren't trying to harm her; they'd had plenty of chances to do so. Did that mean if they were vampires, they were the good kind? If there was such a thing. Or was that just more evidence that vampires weren't real?

Rubbing her temples, she pulled herself from her bed and got ready for the day hoping to put the notion of vampires behind her. It worked, for a little while. First period, as normal, she spent enthralled by Carlisle's voice as he lectured. Her next few classes passed slowly; her mind still muddled up with all the vampire lore she'd been researching. Edward hadn't come to find her between classes today for some reason, so she hadn't had a chance to confront him about it and she didn't feel confident enough to ask any of the other Cullen's.

At lunch, she noticed none of the Cullen's joined her. Instead, they kept their distance, almost like they were watching her, waiting to see what she would do. Stealing glances over at them, she wondered if it could really be true. Could that be why they seemed uneasy, because she was getting close to the truth? Shaking her head, she headed out of the cafeteria, and towards the science building.

Vampires weren't real.

When she arrived at the biology room Edward wasn't in his seat yet, which apparently was a green light for Mike to approach her.

"Hey Bella."

"Hey Mike."

Mike shifted from foot to foot. "Um, I was wondering…if you're not busy…if you'd wanna go to the dance with me?"

Bella felt guilty turning him down, but she really didn't want to go with him. She was still trying to find a way to get out of going all together, let alone with someone. Before she could speak though, Edward showed up and dropped into his seat.

"Sorry Mike, she's going with me."

Mike's jaw dropped as his gaze drifted back and forth between us. Not wanting to argue it, I nodded. "Edward already asked, sorry."

He finally seemed to snap out of it. "Oh, yeah, right. Cool, well, see you around."

Mike shuffled off and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

Edward grinned. "Don't thank me just yet, I was serious that we're going to the dance together. Alice wanted to ensure you didn't get out of it."

"Damn." She deflated, laying her head on the table.

"It won't be all bad, I hear Carlisle got roped into chaperoning the dance." The smile was evident in his voice.

Trying not to look too eager, she lifted her head. "Really?"

"Yeah, and if Alice is right, it will be worth it for you both." He gave a little wink.

Shaking her head, she sat back. "Are you two playing match maker or something?"

"Basically. He's been alone a long time; he deserves to be happy."

She regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. "What about you?"

"He's not my type." She chuckled, shaking her head at him as he continued. "I've already got myself a girl. She's my everything."

"Then why not bring her to the dance?" Bella insisted.

Edward glanced around, then lowered his voice. "She's not a student here, she's a bit…older."

Bella's jaw dropped as she leaned in closer. "Like how much older?"

"Promise not to make fun?" Nodding her agreement, he grinned. "26."

"Wow, not what I was expecting." She took a moment to consider it. "I'm glad you found someone that makes you happy."

He gave her a curious look. "Really, that's it?"

Shrugging, she fiddled with her pen. "Not really my place to judge, I mean, your what 17? Age of consent is 16 so you're not doing anything wrong. If she makes you happy, then I'm happy for you."

Edward gave her a genuine smile. "Thank you, Bella."

"I want to meet her sometime, though." Bella pointed her pen at him. "She's got to pass the friend test if she's going to be with you."

He stifled his laughter behind a hand. "I'll talk to her. Does this mean you'll let Alice and me set you up with Carlisle?"

Sighing, she turned her focus to the work they were supposed to be doing. "I suppose, but I doubt he'll want me."

"Oh, ye of little faith." Grinning, they finished up their assignment and headed out when the bell rang.

The next couple of days passed slowly. She'd decided not to bring up what Jacob had told her, finding it to absurd to voice to Edward. If he didn't want to tell her the truth then that was fine, for now. They were still new to being friends, so they were bound to have secrets from each other, that was normal, she hoped.

It snowed Thursday but only a light dusting and had almost melted when Friday came. She was glad because the idea of having to walk through snow in heels scared her. Edward and Alice had both been trying to get her excited about the dance, telling her she'd have fun, that it was an important social event in their lives and so on and so forth. She was completely wholeheartedly convinced that tonight would be a disaster.

Yet here she was, about to willing walk into it.

Bella slowly turned, examining herself in the mirror. Alice really had picked out a beautiful dress, she almost worried it was too beautiful for someone like her. Would he like it? That was the question that really made her nervous. Despite Edward's assurances that it was ok to have feelings for Carlisle, she still felt odd. He was her teacher, she shouldn't be feeling like this for him, she shouldn't be hoping to take his breath away.

Unable to stall any longer, she headed downstairs, where Edward was waiting with Charlie. Holding tight to the railing, she made her way down, both men smiling at her. Edward broke the silence first. "You look amazing Bella."

Shyly, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Alice picked the dress, and shoes and well everything."

"You'd look amazing if she didn't." Edward smiled warmly at her. "Shall we go?"

Nodding, she followed him to the door, Charlie giving her a curfew of 11 as he hugged her, before they headed out into the night. They arrived at the dance about 10 minutes later, Edward letting her out at the door before going to park the car. Heading in, they followed the lighted path up to the building. Inside, music strummed through the speakers, and the dance floor was already crowded with teens dancing.

It was a bit overwhelming, all the noise, flashing lights, and people everywhere, and if she was honest, she wanted to leave already. Edward, being the good friend he was, sensed her discomfort and led her to a table along the outer wall so she could sit and watch the throng of people moving to the beat of the music. It didn't take long for Alice to show up, pulling Jasper behind her as she ran over to them.

"Bella, you look gorgeous." The pixie girl hugged her tightly.

Of the two of them, she thought Alice was the gorgeous one. The girl was wearing a purple halter top dress, with a skintight bodice and flowing skirt that barely reached her knees. She knew the dress was probably some high-end name brand dress, but Bella couldn't even begin to guess who it was by.

"Thanks, but I think you're the gorgeous one."

Alice gave her a playful pout. "Well, thank you, but one of these days I'll make you realize how pretty you really are."

"If you say so." She chuckled, giving Jasper a nod which he reciprocated.

The two joined them at the table for a little bit before Alice pulled Jasper out onto the dance floor. It was fun to watch them as they moved together, clearly having spent a lot of time practicing as they moved in sync. She envied them a little, wishing she could move like Alice did, and to have the confidence to know she wouldn't flub it up.

Leaning closer to Edward so he could hear her, she wondered out loud. "Do you ever get jealous of them?" She motioned to Jasper and Alice.

Edward gave a lighthearted chuckle, but there was a twinge of sadness in his eyes. "Sometimes. I know my girl loves me, but it can be hard not getting to be out publicly with her."

"Do you ever get to go out publicly with her?"

"Yeah, we go to Seattle sometimes, then there's less chance for anyone here to catch us together. We just don't get to get out often right now." Edward stood up holding out his hand to me. "Come on, let's see how good Carlisle's dancing lesson was."

She wanted to fight it, but he looked determined, so she relented and took his hand. The song changed to a slow song; several groups left the floor leaving the couples to sway to the rhythm of the song. Bella tried to follow along with Edwards movements, but ended up stepping on his toes, which only made him laugh.

"It's funny, you danced with Carlisle just fine, but with me you're on my toes." He teased her.

"Clearly he's the better dancer." She shot back at him.

Chuckling, Edward shrugged. "I won't confirm or deny that. We just have our differences."

They continued to dance through the song in silence, her eyes scanning the crowd until they found their target. Across the room, Carlisle stood by himself, drink in hand, but his eyes seemed locked onto her. He looked extremely handsome in a black suit with a light blue dress shirt. They hadn't talked since that Monday after class where she'd tested the strange lingering darkness that was present even now. She wanted to believe that it was him that was pulling her, but Edward's excuse about soulmates just didn't add up to her. How could there be one person out there for you? What if you never met, would you just be alone all your life?

The darkness pulsed, a wave of longing and desire hit her nearly knocking the wind out of her, but just as quickly as it came, a calm seeped in. It felt like a barrier had been placed between her and the darkness. She could feel its loneliness, but it was muffled, like someone was trying to suppress it forcefully. The loneliness retreated slowly, drawn back into the darkness and only then did the strange sense of calm dissipate. She watched as Carlisle's head lowered, his gaze dropping to the floor. A moment later, he was gone.

Searching for him, she couldn't figure out where he'd vanished too. Edward slowed their dance as the music came to a stop, but she hardly noticed, too focused on Carlisle's retreat. To her surprise, Edward chuckled leading her around the dance floor to the door that he'd apparently slipped through when she'd looked away. It led out to a gazebo, lights illuminating the area from above, and bushes lined the path.

"Have fun." Edward whispered to her, giving her a gentle push towards the gazebo before leaving to head back into the dance.

Taking a slow breath, she walked down the path, her shoe clicking loudly on the cement path. Carefully, she climbed the couple steps up onto the gazebo and paused. Carlisle was standing with his back to her, leaning against the railing. He seemed tense, and she wondered if this was a bad idea, if maybe she should leave him alone with his thoughts. Her feet, however, proceeded to carry her forward, the pull she felt even stronger now. It wasn't a want to be near him, it was a need. Every instinct screamed that she had to be near him, to care for and comfort him, to be there with him always.

Coming to stand at the railing, she turned towards him. His head was hung low, and his eyes were closed. She wasn't sure if he'd heard her coming or not, and didn't want to startle him, so she slowly reached out a hand, laying it over his. A twinge of electricity shot through her at the touch and suddenly, the loneliness was back but it was different this time. It felt…old. Like the loneliness spanned the age of time and had always been there hidden from view, aching and laced with desire to be loved.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she squeezed his hand, her voice coming out sounding frail and trembling. "Carlisle?"

His eyes opened and turned his gaze to her. Those eyes she loved so much, looked weary instead of their normal bright cheery demeanor. They regarded each other for a moment before Carlisle seemed to snap out of it, and stood up straight, pulling his hand away from hers. "I'm sorry, Bella. I was…distracted. Did you need something?"

He smiled at her, but it didn't reach his eyes. Hating seeing him upset, she reached out both physically and mentally wanting to dispel the painful loneliness the man was suffering from. Pushing against the darkness she tried to project the feeling of comfort, of welcoming and companionship to whatever hid in the shadows. It fought her, trying to push her away, but she held firm, mentally wrapping her arms around the dark mass until it started to weaken and give in. The darkness started to shrink, and she could feel him more and more. Soon the darkness had all but vanished, leaving her basking in the glow that was Carlisle, his very essence laid bare to her.

Opening her eyes, which she didn't remember closing, her teary gaze met Carlisle's, his eyes brimming with unshed tears and wonder. Her hand had come to rest on his cheek, her thumb running along his cheekbone. He leaned into the touch; his own hand came up and gently brushed away the tears that had streamed down her face. Bella spared a moment to worry about her make up, but it was fleeting. Carlisle's hand came to rest on the back of her neck, idly stroking the skin there, while his other hand pressed against the small of her back.

Moving together, their lips met in a tender kiss.

Bella's hands found themselves around his neck, her fingers lightly playing with the short hair there. Carlisle started to pull away, but she pulled him back against her, the kiss deepening as they held tighter to one another. When her need for air became essential, she finally broke away, their breath mingling as they caught their breath.

"Bella." Carlisle spoke softly, his forehead coming to rest against hers.

She hummed, her hands cupping his face. "Carlisle."

For a moment, it was like the world fell away leaving only the two of them. He held her close as she clung to him, the two of them locked in their moment of happiness, basking in each other's presence. The darkness was gone, and in its place was a golden light, that radiated love and passion and just felt like Carlisle. She couldn't explain it, but she knew she wanted to hold that light tight, to never let it go.

His hands trembled slightly, holding her closer for a moment before he stepped away from her, keeping her from following his movement. "We…can't…I'm sorry, Bella."

Carlisle turned to leave, the little ball of light dimming in sadness and guilt as he stepped away. Her hand shot out and grabbed hold of his sleeve, gripping it tightly. "Please, Carlisle."

The guilt she felt from him intensified. Turning, he captured her lips in a desperate kiss, his fingers grazing over her cheeks. He gave her an apologetic look as he pulled away. "I'm sorry."

She watched as he turned and headed back inside, her ball of light dwindling as it slowly receded back into the darkness. It pained her to feel the light fade away, and no matter how hard she tried to hold onto it, it slipped away from her, leaving her feeling empty, alone. Forcing her feet to move, she went back inside, grabbed Edward and pulled him towards the exit. He tried to ask her what was wrong, but she didn't answer him.

Once outside, he finally pulled her to a stop, turning her to face him. "Bella, what's wrong?"

Tears streamed down her face faster than she could wipe them away. "I want to go home. Please, just take me home."

With a sigh, he nodded. "Wait here, I'll get the car."

It was only a few minutes before Edward was pulling up and before he could get out to open her door, she was already climbing into the car. They drove in silence for a few minutes before Edward reached over and placed a hand on her knee in an attempt to comfort her.

"Want to talk about it?" He asked softly.

Instinctively she wanted to say no, but Edward was looking at her with such genuine concern she found herself spilling everything that had happened. She told him about the darkness she'd felt, about how she'd pushed through it to the light she believed to be Carlisle's heart, to the kiss, and his sudden departure.

Edward growled low in his chest. "Damnit Carlisle. I'm sorry Bella, I didn't think he'd be this stubborn."

Shaking her head, she wiped away the stray tears. "I should have known better. There's no way a man like him would want me. I don't even know why I'm so upset; I knew it couldn't work, but it still hurts."

"Don't talk like that." Edward snapped harshly, running a hand through his hair, musing it up. "Bella, you won't believe me, but I know he cares deeply about you, he just…doesn't know how to let go of his stubbornness to see it."

"How could you know that? Did he tell you?"

He shook his head. "Not exactly." Edward pulled off into an empty parking lot, throwing the car into park. "I've heard it, in his mind."

She snickered. "So now you're a mind reader?"

"Yes."

Narrowing her eyes, she crossed her arms. "Oh, then what am I thinking?"

He groaned leaning against the steering wheel. "You're the one person I can't read."

"Convenient." She spat.

"Bella, I need you to trust me on this." There was desperation in his voice that tugged at her heart.

Nodding slowly, she let her arms drop. "Ok, let's say I believe you. What makes you so sure he cares about me as anything but a student?"

"I know because you're the main thing he thinks about. He's constantly replaying conversations with you, watching you in class or in the halls, and he always makes sure to check the parking lots for your truck in case you get stranded again. The man is into you, but he's concerned because you're his student."

Sitting back against the seat, she sighed, trying to take in all this information. If Edward was telling the truth, Carlisle thought about her, and frequently at that. Lifting her fingers to her mouth, she lightly ran the tips over her lips. She could still feel his cool lips pressed against hers, the memory bringing back the ache in her chest.

"He said he can't, and that he was sorry." She whispered, barely audible.

"Not sure if it will help, but he was brimming with guilt over pushing you away. It took all his strength to pull away from you, and he's got some legendary self-control."

She honestly wasn't sure if that made her feel better or worse. On one hand, it made her happy that he hadn't wanted to push her away, but on the other hand, it meant he was likely suffering again. After feeling the loneliness, the man already suffered from, she would hate to add to it. Closing her eyes, she reached out, searching for that bundle of light she knew was buried in the dark abyss. Using what Edward had told her; she was able to follow the trail of guilt and self-loathing emanating from the small flicker of light. With a small smile, she sent a wave of forgiveness to it, watching it jolt and grow slightly. The guilt she felt eased, though it didn't fully dissipate, and a feeling of appreciation filled the space the guilt had once occupied.

Opening her eyes, she smiled at the warmth she felt. It was small, but it was something.

"You look like you're feeling better." Edward remarked, breaking the silence.

Nodding, she smoothed her dress over her legs. "What can you tell me about the mating bonds?"

Edward let out a long breath. "A lot, but it might sound farfetched."

"I'm willing to be open minded about it. After tonight, what I felt, it's hard to not believe."

Smiling, Edward sat back in his seat. "It's a little different for everyone, but in a nutshell, it's a connection that binds you to the other half of your soul. People normally call it love at first sight, but it's more than that and it's rare. It's like the ultimate form of love, and it's unbreakable. The bond also lets you feel what your partner feels. You will feel when they are happy, or sad, or upset, or whatever else. When the bond is new or forming, feelings are muddled and hard to sift through, or sometimes just too distant to feel and when you're away from your partner it makes it harder to feel. Once the bond is established though, you'll feel them no matter how far away they are."

A smile spread across her face; it sounded nice. Knowing firsthand that the person you were with loved you, cared about you, she could imagine how peaceful that must be. Never having to worry about whether you were good enough, whether they were doubting their feelings for you because you were fated to be together. It was a nice dream, but could she fully believe that Carlisle could really be her mate? It just seemed too outrageous, and yet, he'd kissed her.

"So, are you bonded with your girlfriend?"

There was a happy gleam in his eyes as he smiled. "I am."

"And you think Carlisle and I are meant to be mates?" She asked slowly, unsure she wanted the answer if it wasn't a resounding yes.

"I know it. Remember I can hear his thoughts, I can tell he's feeling the bond pulling you two together. If he'd stop fighting it, it would be a lot easier on the both of you."

"Right, right." She blew out a sigh. "What do I do now?"

Edward shrugged, looking like he was debating that same question. "I guess we give him time, keep prodding him in the right direction. Eventually, he'll have to give in to his heart's desires."

"Thank you, Edward."

He tilted his head at her, confused.

Chuckling at how he much like a puppy he looked in that moment, she clarified. "Thank you for being my friend through all this. I appreciate it."

He patted her knee. "You're stuck with me now; I'll always be there. Alice too, she really adores you."

With that, Edward drove her home and walked her up the steps to the front door. They said their goodnights, and she went inside. Charlie came to greet her and asked how the dance was, and she gave a vague 'it was fine' not really wanting to tell him what really went down. He accepted the answer and bid her goodnight, so she headed up to her room. Over the weekend, she focused on her homework while texting with Alice and Edward, both having messaged her early Saturday to make sure she was ok after the dance. After assuring them both she was fine, they seemed to be working together to get a game night scheduled for the next week so they could all hang out together.

She agreed to it, and they decided to do it on Wednesday, both seeming very pleased with themselves for getting her out of the house. It made her laugh seeing them so excited by something she felt was fairly trivial, but it was endearing none the less. Sunday, she spent most of the day reading the books she'd gotten from Carlisle and was proud of herself when she finished off the first one. The thought of talking to him set her stomach fluttering with nerves, the memory of the kiss still very prevalent in her mind. Would he ignore her now, or just pretend it never happened? Neither were options she wanted but knew he likely wouldn't act on anything while she was in his class. With a groan, she flopped on her bed, deciding to just ignore the persistent nagging of her brain over the whole situation.