I walked in, adjusting my hoodie. I hadn't wanted to go home so soon, but I had to be there when he got back. Trying to explain why I wasn't there ........... I didn't even want to consider that.

Lucy and Angela walked down the stairs, holding hands. It was kinda warm out, and they eyed the hoodie. I walked up to my room, throwing my stuff, in my room, and walked into Lucy's room. We sat on the bed, and no one said anything until Lucy broke the silence.

"What's with the hoodie?"

I glared at her, and Angela shook her head.

"Leave her alone, Lucy."

She turned to me.

"Did she like the gift?"

The conversation was making Angela nervous. She was new to all of this, and it was to soon, for her to be considering that. I looked at her, nodding.

"Yeah, she loved it. Which reminds me, how did you-"

"She asked me to take one. I gave it to her, that day I was late to English."

I shook my head. She said she'd slept late.

"You said you'd .............. I'm gonna get you for that."

"Somehow, I doubt you'd do that."

She moved closer to Lucy, who took her hand.

"Plus Lucy will protect me. Won't you Lucy?"

Lucy laughed, looking at her girlfriend.

"Of course I will. Don't worry."

Lucy looked at me, and I shook my head. We talked for a little while, before my dad arrived. We heard the door open and we walked downstairs. He smiled at us, taking off his coat.

"Hey, did you 3 enjoy your weekend?"

"Yeah, we did, dad. How's Billy?"

He sat in the armchair, and we sat on the couch. Lucy next to Angela.

"He's good."

"Uncle Charlie, we need to tell you something."

My dad looked at me, turning to look at Lucy.

"It's Charlie, Lucy. Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, taking a deep breath. She looked at Angela, before turning back to my dad.

"No, it's nothing like that. It's just that ................... Well, Angela and I are dating."

My dad seemed surprised, but he wasn't angry.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised. You 3 have been spending a lot of time together."

We looked at one another, trying not to laugh. 2 of us had been spending time together, but he didn't need to know that.

"Are you OK with it?"

My dad shook his head, looking at Lucy.

"Look at me. Both of you."

Angela looked up at my dad. I knew he wanted them to know he was OK with it. He looked at me, making sure I knew this applied to me to.

"As long as the person that you're with treats you right. It doesn't matter who it is. If they treat you right, that's all that matters. Understand?"

Angela left, after they both hugged him. What he said .......... It meant a lot to them.

The next day, after school, I was tidying my room. Angela was having relatives over, Lucy was listening to music and my dad was working late. I tripped over something, as I picked up stuff, and landed awkwardly on my arm. It hurt like Hell, and the crash alerted Lucy to my accident.

"What the Hell did you do?!"

I groaned, realising there was something seriously wrong with my arm. I couldn't move my fingers.

"I fell, and there's something wrong. I can't move my fingers."

She shook her head, helping me up.

"Come on, you klutz. I'll drive you to the hospital."

We arrived and who do we meet?

Dr. Cullen.

He had a look at my arm and after an x-ray, told me that I'd broken it. Lucy had tried to call my dad, but couldn't get hold of him.

He looked at my ring, frowning.

"Where did you get that?"

Ah crap. OK, keep a straight face. He doesn't know anything.

"I got it for Christmas, from a friend."

He nodded, looking at me.

"How's chemistry?"

Lucy frowned, making the connection. She looked at him, as he checked my arm.

"Pretty good. A lot of work, but we're doing OK. My cousin, Lucy is in the class as well."

I turned to her, and she sat up.

"Ms. Brandon, is Dr. Cullens daughter."

She nodded, playing dumb. I felt a little uneasy with the questions. Was he making the connection? But, there was nothing to go on.................. Was there?

"Oh right. She's a great teacher, right Bella?"

I nodded, smiling. The look on her face told me smiling was a bad idea. She had told me before that I always had this particular look when she was mentioned. 'Love sick puppy,' was the term that she'd used. But, I got the point. She must've seen this. I tried to keep a straight face, and looked at him.

"Yeah, she is."

He nodded, and asked Lucy to step outside while he sorted out the cast. I frowned, wondering why he'd do that. I've had more that one cast, so I know how it works.

When she closed the door, he turned to me and started on the cast.

"Friends don't give each other that type of ring."

Yeah. He knows.

"When did it start?"

I sighed, running my good hand through my hair.

"There's no point in arguing is there?"

He shook his head, and I winced as he fixed the cast.

"No. And, sorry about that."

"In October."

He nodded, and looked up at me.

"I thought she'd seemed happier. I'm sure you both thought about what this could-"

"Yes. We talked about that. A lot. I know what could happen. Sorry, for interrupting. But, we've had many, many discussion about that."

I don't normally apologise, but when you're speaking to your girlfriends father ........... You try and be polite. And that wasn't.

"I understand. I know she would have spoken to you about this. Does your cousin know?"

"She does, and her girlfriend, my best friend knows. But, they'd never tell anyone."

He finished the cast, and looked at me.

"I'm sure Alice wasn't pleased about that."

I smiled, thinking about her reaction.

"I told Angela, but Lucy figured it out herself. I told her that they wouldn't tell anyone, and she calmed down. Eventually."

"I knew there was something different about her. She seemed happier than she's been in a long time."

He was trying to talk about her, without mentioning what happened to her.

"Dr. Cullen, I know. She told me. I freaked out, but she told me. You know I was attacked at that party, right?"

He nodded.

"Well, she came over to see me after that party. I knew about Chase because someone mentioned him at another party and I asked my dad. So, I knew what he did, but not who it happened to. She told me and I ............. I freaked out. But, it made a few things make sense. Her nervousness, among other things. But, she's been getting better. I'm sure you've noticed."

He nodded, watching me. My arm was kinda sore, he must've noticed and gave me something for it.

"Yes, I have. She hasn't been as nervous, although bickering with her brother-"

"I've been trying to talk her out of that. Oh, I met Rosalie. I had to give something to Alice, and she was there when I walked in. Did she mention anything?"

He shook his head.

"She mentioned going to see her at the school and meeting a student. But, nothing else."

I nodded, knowing he wanted to say something else.

"Oh. I was worried about that. But, Alice told me not to worry though. She told me all about her family. she was starting relax a little and I wanted her to ............ I just don't want to push it to far. I want to be someone she can count on. After what happened .............."

I looked up at him, nervous.

"I can see that, Bella. She hasn't been this happy in a long time."

I shook my head. This wasn't all down to me. They had been there for her long before she met me.

"It's not all down to me. I just do what I can .............. I thought you would ..... Well, I wasn't expecting this."

He shook his head, and checked my cast, speaking as he worked.

"I trust Alice to do what she thinks is right. She knows the risks, and has decided to do this. You obviously care about her, from what you said. I could see you cared about her, whenever she was mentioned, you smile. Does that feel OK?"

The abrupt change of subject, startled me, and I nodded.

"Uh, yeah. It hurts a little, but not as much."

"OK, here's everything you're going to need."

He gave me everything an told me when to come back to get it checked. I thanked him, and he left, smiling at me. Lucy walked in, looking worried.

"What was that?"

I shook my head, still in shock.

"Come on, I'll explain when we get home."

I walked out, only to run into my dad. Literally. He saw the cast and freaked out.

"Bella! What happened? There was a problem and I didn't get an messages."

I sighed, looking at him.

"I fell, it's broken. I'll live."

He looked concerned, but I kept walking, and he was forced to follow.

"Is it bad? What-"

"I feel, cleaning my room. Dr. Cullen gave me everything and told me when to come back. I'll be fine, let's go."

He seemed to understand how tired I was, and we went home. It was pretty late, when we got home. Lucy and I went upstairs to my room, and I told my dad to go to bed. He told me I could stay home the next day. And seeing as I was sore, tired and well, sore.............. Let's just say, I didn't argue with him.

"Are you going to tell me what happened in the hospital?"

The doo was closed and we were being quiet. I was tired, but to worked up to sleep.

"He figured it out. I-"

"Bella, this isn't-"

"Can I finish, please?"

She looked at me, not saying anything.

"Thank you. He said she had been happier in the last few months. And that he trusted her to make the right decision about this."

Lucy nodded, looking at me.

"She's gonna freak out."

I nodded, thinking about what I'd say. I knew he'd never say anything to anyone, he wouldn't risk his daughters career.

I stayed home the next day, and Alice asked me if I was OK around 11. I had chemistry last on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. So, it was weird that she knew I wasn't in. But, apparently she'd supervised my English class.

"I broke my arm yesterday. Saw your dad again."

'How did you do that?'

"I fell and broke it."

'School is ending early. Something has come up. Can I come over about 12:45?'

"Sure. See you later, pixie. Love you."

'Love you to, baby.'

She arrived at about 12:40, looking worried. Lucy arrived not long after her, and went straight upstairs when she saw Alice. She smiled, and said hello, but knew we wanted to spend time together. Her extra class had been cancelled.

"What happened?"

I sighed, taking her hand in my good one. She looked down at the cast, frowning.

"Hey, up here."

She looked up at me, and I leaned over and kissed her.

"I just fell in my room, and it really hurt. My dad was working and Lucy drove me to the hospital. I saw your dad again."

She smiled, running her hand through her hair. I let go of her hand, and caught the other one. She looked at me, flustered.

"Sorry, I just-"

"It's fine. Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about."

She looked worried. I'd expected this.

"Bella, what is it?"

I took a deep breath, thinking about how I was going to do this.

"Yesterday, he was checking my arm. He asked me where I'd gotten my ring, and I told him that I'd gotten it for Christmas. He asked me how chemistry was. I'd expected that, and told him about Lucy being in the class. Lucy said the same thing I'd said the first time I'd met him, about you being a great teacher. She asked me if I agreed, which I do. I smiled at her, and he seemed to realise something, and asked her to wait outside. He told me he knew and-"

"Oh, this is just-"

"Hey, I didn't tell him! All I did was agree with my cousin! He told me he could see it in the way I smiled whenever your name is mentioned. He told me that he trusted you to make the right decision about this, and me how much happier you'd been in the last few months."

She took a deep breath, looking at me.

"Did he ...... Did he say anything about-"

"He was trying to get around telling me, and I could see it. I told him about the party, which he knew about, and what happened afterwards. I told him that I wanted to be someone you could count on, and that I would be there for you."

She looked at me, obviously shocked. She took a deep breath.

"Well, he won't tell anyone."

"Of course he wouldn't! He'd never risk your career."

She nodded, looking at me.

"I know. And I never said you told him, baby. I know you were just agreeing with Lucy."

I nodded, and she moved a little closer. She accidently hit off my cast, and I flinched.

"Sorry!"

I shook my head, looking at her.

"It's OK, pixie. It was an accident."

She nodded, and I moved my arm. She looked unsure about whether she should move closer.

"It's OK. This arm."

I squeezed her hand, and she smiled.

"Is OK. So, don't worry."

She moved closer, and I kissed her.

"OK, that I didn't need to see."

I turned to see Lucy holding a drink. She must've come down to get one. I shook my head, while Alice buried her face in her hands. They hadn't caught us doing that before.

"Lucy."

"I'm going, I'm going. It could've been Uncle Charlie, relax."

She went upstairs, while I plotted something slow and painful for her. I looked down at Alice, who was blushing.

"Hey, it's OK. She was right."

She looked up at me, flustered.

"I know, it's just-"

"I know. Don't worry. I meant what I said to your dad, I care about you. Now, can I have some cuddles?"

That made her relax a little, and we cuddled for a little while. I made sure that she was OK after the incident with Lucy, seeing as I could tell she was startled. I'd specifically told her not to do that.

She left and I went upstairs, to Lucy's room. She on the bed, with her iPod. She turned it off when I walked in.

"What did I say about sneaking up on me?"

Her eyes widened, when she realised that she'd done it again.

"I was trying to lighten the mood, because I knew you were going to tell her. I'm so sorry, Bella."

I shook my head, looking at her.

"Please don't do that, Lucy."

She nodded, looking at me.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I promise, I won't."

Dad brought home pizza, and I went up to my room. I talked to Alice for a little while, before falling asleep, thinking about how much I'd meant what I'd said to Alice's dad.