Bella's POV

Better I not know than what? I mused. I had been trying to figure out Edward's cryptic answers to my questions since he fled the cafeteria during lunch. I decided to do some research. Wheeling myself into my room, I sat in front of my desk, and turned on my laptop. Using google as my search engine, I typed up "The Cullen Family" in the search bar. A bunch of articles about Edward's father, Dr. Carlisle Cullen, popped up almost immediately.

"Dr. Carlisle Cullen is famous for his work as a doctor. He and his wife, Esme, are currently raising five adoptive children. . ."

I scrolled through many articles like these, before trying a different search. Even though they were all adopted, they all had the same pale skin and gold eyes. Either Esme and Carlisle were looking for kids the same age that looked like them, or something was going on behind the scenes. Pretty confident that the similar features on them were just a coincidence, I searched up "golden eyes, pale skin" just in case it lead to something, but I only got a bunch of results about fashion, and hair and eye color. Thinking back, I thought about any other features that made them different. I suddenly remembered crashing into what seemed like a cold, steel wall, while flying down the ramp, and looking up, just to realize that it was Edward. I was going so fast that only a super strong person could stop my momentum, and there would still be a hard impact. Trying my luck, I entered in, "Cold, hard body." Sadly, I only got results about freezing to death outside. Frustrated, I tried typing in all of the information together, now positive that there was nothing going on, and I was just overreacting to a coincidence. But, once again, I came up with articles answering if hair color, skin, and eye color clashed.  I lay back in my bed, trying to think of any other google search that would give me an answer to confirm my suspicions. I created a mental image of their family in head, and tried to think of the words to describe them. Beautiful, Graceful, Inhumane. This time, I searched up, "beautiful graceful inhuman creatures", but only came up with animals. Racking my brain, I tried to think of where else I could get information on the Cullens. After a few minutes, I vaguely remembered my mom talking about a new family, the Cullens I think, moving in from Alaska, about two years ago. So, I decided to ask my mom about them.

"Mom!" I called from my room.

"Yes, honey?" she replied.

"Can you come here?"

She came in, looking concerned, "Is everything okay? What's wrong?" she asked frantically, looking me over.

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask you some questions." I answered.

"Oh," Mom said, looking relieved, "So, what's your question?"

"What do you know about the Cullens?"

"Well, they're a very nice family. Some people judge them, since they're fairly new. They only came down from Alaska 'round two years ago. Dr. Cullen is a really good doctor, and I hear their children are very smart." she informed me, "Why did you ask?"

"Oh, nothing much, I'm just friends with Edward Cullen, and was just interested in his family." I fibbed.

"Oh, okay. Is that all?"

"Yep." I chirped, hoping that my mom wouldn't get suspicious of me inquiring about the Cullens. Tired from all the useless research, I got ready for bed, swung myself out of my wheelchair, and onto my bed, and was out like a light as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Edward's POV

I groaned, holding my head. What have I done? If only I was more careful with my words. Luckily, Bella hadn't heard me mention the Volturi, but my siblings had, and had chastised me for a whole hour afterwards. If Bella had heard me mention it, she would have enough resources available to find out my secret, putting all of our lives at stake. I opened my bedroom door, and went into the doorway of my father's office.

"Dad?" I called. He looked up from his paperwork. 

"Yes, Edward?" He replied. 

"Was-" I began, unsure of how to phrase this question,"Was there ever a time - you being a doctor, and seeing many people everyday - before you met Esme, that you fell in love with someone, and really wanted to tell someone what you are? You got nervous around that person and didn't want to lie about your identity?"

"No, son. Though, I might be able to give some advice if you were ever caught in that situation." he said thoughtfully.

"Well," I began, "There is this girl named Bella-"

"The one you saved from that Jessica girl?" Dad interrupted.

"Yes. Well, whenever she asks a question, I feel like a have to answer. It's very hard to lie to her. I have never met anyone like her in my century of existence. Usually, I find it very easy to lie, it has been coming naturally to me now, from more than a century of practice, but around her . . . I just . . . it's just . . .  lying has never been so hard." I explained, trying to describe how I felt.

"Well . . ." my father began, processing what I had just told him. He pondered what to say for a while before answering. "There's really nothing you can do. I mean, I've never found myself in that unfortunate situation. When I fell in love, the girl I loved, well, she was already half dead, so I had to bite her, and then I could tell her what I was, and what she was too. Actually, the first time I met her, she was just a teen, but she was young, and I had not yet developed feelings towards her.  The only thing I can say, having had no experience with that, is, well, I guess, just to try to fight it. Lie to her, no matter how hard it is. Just tell yourself it is to keep her safe, because if she finds out and the Volturi find out that she knows . . . let's just say that wouldn't be healthy for anyone."