Bella's POV

After that day, I started to eat lunch with Edward every day now. With each day though, my curiosity grew. Why did he lie and say he was outside for fresh air? How did he get down the ramp so fast? If was already down there, how did I not see him? Just then, the bell rang, interrupting my thoughts, and signaling the end of class and the beginning of lunch. Hurrying out of my classroom, and into the cafeteria, I made up my mind to question him today, until told me what was going on.

"Edward?" I said, timidly.

"What?" 

"Why were you really outside that day?" 

"What day?" Edward asked, feigning innocence.

"You know . . . that day when Jessica pushed me off the ramp, and you saved me?" I recounted.

"Oh . . . um . . . I told you already, I was getting fresh air." he insisted, after a moment's hesitation. 

"Then why was it that you were laughing with your siblings not five minutes before the incident? Why would you need fresh air anyways? You were looking perfectly at ease! There was absolutely no reason for you to need to get fresh air outside!" I burst out.

"Um . . . I guess the cafeteria was getting a little too stuffy?" he suggested, eyes flickering from my to the exit, fidgeting on his seat. I sighed, knowing that it would take a lot more than simple questioning to get the answer out of him.

"Edward, just tell me the truth," I begged, "Please." He cocked his head, as if listening to something, and then gave the slightest nod in my direction, barely perceptible. Confused, I turned around to see Edward's siblings watching me. When they saw that I had seen them though, they quickly turned back and resumed their conversation, as if they had been talking all along.

"I'm sorry Bella," Edward apologized, "But I really can't. It's for the best."

"Better you not know than . . ." he muttered under his breath, before stopping, realizing that I had heard that.

"Better I not know than what?" I asked, curious. His eyes widened.

"I'm sorry Bella, but I have to go," he said, pushing past me and striding out of the cafeteria.

Edward's POV

Bella started eating with me after that day, but luckily, had stopped asking questions. I was growing increasingly worried as day after day, she studied me as she ate, as if she could just look straight into my soul and find out all of my secrets.

"Edward?" she asked.

"What?" I replied, silently begging her not to question me, but as usual, luck wasn't on my side.

"Why were you really outside that day?" she inquired, as I internally groaned.

"What day?" I asked, trying to stall for time as my mind worked overtime, grasping for a reasonable explanation that would fit with the explanation that I came up with on the spot in the hospital. 

"You know . . . that day when Jessica pushed me off the ramp, and you saved me?" she stated, as if were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh . . . um . . . I told you already, I was getting fresh air!" I said, after hesitating and deciding to stick with the explanation that I had come up with in the hospital.

"Then why was it that you were laughing with your siblings not five minutes before the incident? Why would you need fresh air anyways? You were looking perfectly at ease! There was absolutely no reason for you to need to get fresh air outside!" she burst out, accusation burning in her eyes.

"Um . . . I guess the cafeteria was getting a little too stuffy?" I suggested, intentionally fidgeting so that I wouldn't seem too still, for that was how I usually acted under stress. My eyes flickered to the exit, internally calculating how to get out of this conversation before I could give too much away or let anything slip. From here on out, I would need to filter what I say.

"Edward, just tell me the truth," she begged, voice cracking "Please." I could feel my siblings eyes on me, watching the scene.

Edward , whatever you do, don't give in . . . I heard Alice think, Stay strong

Edward, you can't tell her the secret. The Volturi will find out if you do . . . Jasper's authoritative thought. He was always the most logical one, having been a confederate soldier during the Civil War.

Good job Edward, how are you gonna weasel out of this one? Emmett thought amusedly, as if he were watching  a dramatic TV show. This one seems determined to find answers.

Edward, remember what Carlisle told us before we started school? Think of him and Esme . . . Rosalie urged. Knowing that my whole family's life was on the line,  along with Bella's, I vowed to keep her safe, no matter the cost, even if it meant keeping secrets from her. I gave a slight nod to my siblings, showing that I had heard what they thought of the matter. Bella looked confused, and glanced behind her, right at Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett, who were watching us. Upon seeing her, they quickly turned back to their conversation.

"I'm sorry Bella," I apologized, "But I really can't. It's for the best." 

"Better you not know than the Volturi come after you. Or my family." I muttered, trailing off when I realized that I had said it out loud, and that she had heard me. My eyes widened, and I internally cursed myself for letting that slip.

"Better I not know than what?" she asked, her eyes probing. I breathed a sigh of relief, so she had only heard the first part. I better go before I let something else slip, I thought myself.

"I'm sorry Bella, but I have to go," I said, pushing past her and striding briskly out of the cafeteria. I ran outside, climbed into my car, and turned on the music. I sat there, alone with my thoughts and my music, until school ended and I drove the others home.