Awake.

Bella stirred, and her head was dizzy as her eyelids fluttered open—slow and reluctant—as the fluorescent lights attacked her eyes. She groaned lightly, blinked hard, and turned her head.

She saw a familiar figure slumped in the chair beside her.

Charlie.

His arms were crossed awkwardly, his chin resting against his chest, mouth slightly open in an exhausted doze. His uniform jacket was slightly unzipped, and his holstered badge rested loosely on his hip.

Despite the throb in her head, Bella smiled faintly. Slowly, she reached out and gave his shoulder a light shake.

"Charlie," she whispered.

Charlie stirred with a grunt and blinked a few times. His gaze locked on her face instantly, and all traces of sleep vanished as his features softened and something in his posture melted.

"Bells," he said quietly, almost reverently. "You're awake."

She gave a curt nod as she asked, "What happened?"

Charlie hesitated only for a second. "You were in an accident, as you know, kiddo. A van lost control in the school lot. It was real close."

Bella's eyebrows drew together as flashes returned.

Tires screeching. A silver Volvo. The wall of a steel van coming toward her body.

And Edward… impossibly fast, shielding her.

"I remember… some of it."

"You're lucky, Bella," Charlie said, brushing a hand against her hair. "Real lucky."

Bella didn't answer immediately as she stared past her father at the closed door, trying to piece together the fragments of her memory. Edward shouldn't have reached her in time. He shouldn't have been able to stop that van.

But he had. Or am I crazy?

And there was John, an old friend of her father.

She remembered his stillness, his calm and detached gaze, as if expecting she would survive.

Bella turned back to Charlie.

"Was anyone else hurt besides me? I assume not."

He nodded. "No. Just you. You've got a concussion and some bruises, but nothing serious. The doctors say you'll make a full recovery."

She nodded faintly.

Charlie glanced toward the hallway. "You've had visitors—even unexpected ones," he said after a moment. "Cullens' dad. Dr. Carlisle was the first on the scene. Checked in on you a few times since. Real professional guy."

Bella raised a brow slightly. "Anyone else?"

Charlie hesitated.

"John… and… Edward. He arrived after John left."

Bella blinked. "John and Edward?"

"Yeah. Your charming prince and John. Tall guy. Pale. Quiet as usual, and wears black clothes like it's the only color left in the world—but sometimes dark blue too." He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

Bella couldn't help a half-smile; that was accurate.

"He didn't say much," Charlie continued. "Just stood and watched you for a while. Didn't seem worried… just watchful."

"Did he say anything to you?"

Charlie looked at her calmly, then nodded. "Yeah. We talked about some things. He'll walk you to school a few times until your full recovery. I know you can do it alone, but if not him, then I told him to bring that boy to walk you… Sasuke, was it?" He winked at her with one eye as she gave him a deadpan look.

"Very funny," she said dryly, then continued. "You said Edward came after John?"

Charlie nodded. "Didn't stay long. Checked in. Polite boy. Handsome too."

Of course he did, Bella thought. Edward wouldn't want to face questions—not after what she saw.

"I want to talk to him."

Charlie raised an eyebrow but didn't object. "Do what you want. Rest first, then you can interrogate your hero boy."

Bella gave him another flat stare.

Charlie just grinned behind his coffee cup, which he'd refilled a while ago, as a soft knock came at the door.

Carlisle stepped in. His white coat was clean, his expression gentle and mature as usual.

"Good to see you awake, Bella," he said with a warm smile.

"Hi, Dr. Cullen," she replied quietly as Charlie nodded curtly.

He approached her bedside, checking the charts with practiced ease. "Vitals are looking good. How's the pain?"

"It's alright," she answered. "But my head's a little dizzy."

"Expected. Concussion symptoms should clear in the next day or so. I'd still like to keep you overnight just to be sure."

Charlie stood, giving Carlisle space. "She's stubborn. Probably tried to get out of bed before she even opened her eyes."

Carlisle chuckled politely. "Wouldn't surprise me."

As he continued his check, Bella spoke. "Dr. Cullen… about Edward—"

Carlisle paused just briefly. "Yes?"

"He was there. He saved me."

Carlisle nodded slowly. "He was very worried about your well-being."

Bella stared at him. "How did he… get to me so fast? The van was—"

Carlisle met her gaze—calm but unreadable. "Adrenaline can do surprising things. You'd be amazed what people are capable of in extreme situations."

Charlie chimed in, "Yeah, in my line of work, it's nothing new—but this is quite a lot. Did he get any injuries, Edward?"

Bella didn't believe it. It was too smooth for it to be adrenaline, and she knew Carlisle knew she didn't believe him.

Carlisle smiled lightly at Charlie's question.

"He's alright. Just… startled." Charlie raised an eyebrow at that answer—suspicious but didn't dig in further.

"Right," Bella said slowly, not even bothering to hide her doubt.

Carlisle looked at Bella and said, "Rest, Bella. You'll need your strength."

With that, he turned and said a quiet farewell to Charlie and Bella, then left the room.

Charlie let out a low chuckle and leaned back into the chair.

"Guy's cool as ice," he muttered, rubbing a hand across his jaw. "Can't read him half the time."

Bella nodded, her mind still in overdrive.

"Dad… that van… it should've crushed me."

Charlie looked at her.

"I know, kiddo, but… let it go. Sometimes knowing too much is bad. And you survived—because a young man saved you. He risked his life for you."

"I didn't ask him to save me," she murmured.

Charlie sighed through his nose, watching her carefully. "Doesn't mean he wouldn't or shouldn't. Nor that you didn't wish he wouldn't."

Bella looked away. "He shouldn't have been able to."

Charlie opened his mouth, then closed it again. "Maybe not," he said eventually. "But he did. That's what matters. And that you're alive."

Bella didn't answer, but she turned her head, staring at the hospital ceiling as she lay on the bed. Her head was still throbbing lightly, but it wasn't the pain that bothered her—it was the impossibility of what happened. Edward. The van. The sound of crumpling metal.

He hadn't flinched. Hadn't blinked. And the dent in the side of the van had been the shape of a shoulder, not a hand.

"Try to get some rest," Charlie said gently. "Tomorrow I'll pick you up and take you home."

She gave a small nod as he left—but sleep didn't come for a while.

Later that evening...

Bella's eyes opened to the dimmed lights of the hospital room. She could hear the faint beep of the heart monitor—then came the knock. Soft and hesitant.

Bella stirred and sat up. Her head didn't hurt that much now. She brushed her disheveled hair out of her face as the door opened a few centimeters.

Edward Cullen stepped inside.

He wore dark jeans, a gray button-down under his usual jacket. His eyes—strange, deep gold—met her brown ones.

"Hey," he said calmly.

Bella didn't speak right away. She just stared.

He stepped closer but didn't approach the bed fully.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me."

"I do," she said at last, her voice quiet but sure.

He gave a small nod, as if confirming something to himself.

"You shouldn't be up," he said gently. "Your heart rate is up. You're still recovering."

Bella said dryly, "And you shouldn't be here at this hour. Nor should you know that."

His smile was light, barely there. "I notice things."

She folded her arms. "Like how to defy the laws of physics?"

He looked at her—then really looked at her. "I didn't mean for you to see. Or question."

"Well, I did."

"I won't lie to you totally, Bella. But I can't tell you everything. Not yet."

She watched him—her emotions a storm of suspicion, awe, confusion… and something else.

"Then tell me what you can."

He hesitated. "I was watching you from across the lot."

"That much I figured."

"When the van came," he exhaled through his nose, "I didn't think. I just moved."

She nodded slowly. "Except you didn't run. You… blurred. Like you weren't there, and then suddenly you were. You stopped a van with your bare hand."

He didn't deny it.

She stared at him, heart thumping. "What are you?"

Edward looked down at his hands for a moment. "Dangerous," he said finally.

Bella shook her head. "You saved me."

"That doesn't make me safe."

They were silent for a few seconds, then she asked, "Then why did you do it?"

He lifted his gaze. "Because I couldn't not save you."

His voice held something deeper—frustration and fear—but fear of what?

"I thought you didn't like me… in school," she said carefully.

Edward gave a hollow laugh. "I told myself the same."

Then, unexpectedly, he reached into his pocket and held something out.

A folded slip of paper. Bella took it and slowly unfolded it with her fingers.

An address. A time. Tonight. Midnight.

She raised an eyebrow.

She looked back up. "What is this?"

"Answers," he said. "If you still want them."

"I do. But you could've just said you want to meet me tonight at midnight."

He just shrugged. "Then come alone later."

She looked down at the note again—and when she looked up, she heard footsteps… and then nothing.

He was already gone.