Stolen Heart

"How do I choose between my head and heart?"

BPOV

'Why' seemed to be my favourite word at the moment. It lingered in my mind playfully. But then it became more serious and puts more and more pressure, until the word is suddenly stabbing at my brain, picking hard at it trying to discover any glimpse of a clue.

Why me? Why the Cullens? All this pain and stress was inflicted onto them as a result of me. I wasn't stupid; I knew that Rosalie despised me, although we hadn't ever spoken. I felt helpless, and in the way. Their lives would be back to normal if I just left. But I knew I simply couldn't. I knew my life would be in tatters without Edward, like it was before I'd even met him.

"They're coming. They're coming next Friday. They are going to take us one by one and…kill us." Edward and Alice murmured in unison. Silence cast itself across the room.

Then I felt it. It was a small feeling, starting at the bottom of my chest. The intensity of it started to increase, slowly crawling up my chest. It felt as if a bonfire had been lit. The flames igniting at the tiny twigs at the bottom, struggling to reach the chunks of wood above it. The only difference was it wasn't painful, it was comfortable. Like I wanted it there, but I was going to have to work to keep it. I closed my eyes, and my heart started racing.

"Bella? Bella are you alright?" asked Edward, he must have noticed the change in my heart rate. I could faintly hear voices swirling around me.

"What's wrong?"

"Can you hear us?"

"She's nuts, I told you!"

"Carlisle come here! You can help!"

"Is she passing out?" I just ignored them and concentrated on the exhilarating feeling erupting inside my body. Suddenly, it exploded, like the fire had reached its climax.

"I can protect you Edward" I screamed, my eyes still clamped shut.

"I can stop them from killing you!" Then as quick as that, the feeling snapped out of me. My eyes refocused and snapped open. My eyes rolled, I flopped dizzily onto the sofa.

"Wha-what just happened?" I mumbled.

"We don't know Bella, are you alright now?" Murmured Esme, she sat beside me. I glanced over in the corner, Edward stood totally fazed by the event. He looked so lost in thought. His hand reached up and ran smoothly through his radiant hair. He looked so exquisitely perfect. I shook myself, can I not focus for one minute?

"I guess." I whispered. But I wanted the feeling to return. It was time for the old Bella, to become who she is supposed to be.

"I was right." I murmured. Everybody glanced at me. "I was right!" I exclaimed loudly.

"What do you mean Bella?" Asked Carlisle, his concerned tone betrayed his calm posture. I stood up and stared straight into his compassionate eyes.

"I have to go back." I replied. My eyes picked up a slight flicker of a movement, and Edward was in front of me. He put his palm on my shoulder.

"No way Bella. I just got you back. He'll kill you." He said coldly.

"Edward please." I murmured, my strong tone wavering. Don't do it, don't tell them. "I know Jacob more than anyone could possibly imagine. He won't kill me, he couldn't. Although he portrays it in a ghastly way, he really does love me. And I haven't told any of you the whole truth." Fucking hell, why can't I ever keep a secret? I'd forced myself not to think about the dark and inescapable secret Jacob had enforced upon me.

"Bella, what is it? You have to tell us." Pressed Jasper, sidling up to me. He seemed to be having trouble with my scent, so he didn't come too near.

Don't tell them Bella, don't tell them. Edward can't ever know.

"It- it doesn't matter anymore." I muttered, all my built up strength leaked out of me.

"If it's not important then you can tell us." Snapped Rosalie frostily. Edward didn't stop Rosalie's comment this time, although he must have heard it in her thoughts.

"Please Bella. Please tell me." Begged Edward. A single tear slid down my cheek. Edward kissed it softly. Electricity abruptly pumped through my body. I was going to have to get used to that.

I wanted to get used to that.

EPOV

The frustration of not being to read her mind was on the brink of torture.

There was the whole protection scene. Now she wants to go back, which I physically will not allow her to do. And now she has the secret. The latter was the worse. I had to know, I needed to know. She'd kept it carefully locked away, but in the heat of the moment, she'd let it slip that she was hiding something. I didn't want to pressure her, but the whole matter became even more aggravating when Jasper asked her to reveal her secret, she tensed. But when I asked her, panic flashed in her eyes. And she started to tremble. This nearly made me scream with frustration.

Slowly the little 'meeting' broke up. I sat at the piano and began to play, 'where is my mind'. (a/n link on profile.) I felt Rosalie's presence in the piano room. I halted mid-chord to focus on her thoughts.

Do go on.

I growled.

"What do you want Rosalie?"

I just came to tell you that I agree with the girl.

"Bella!" I hissed, still not turning to face her.

Bella, whatever. She SHOULD go back.

She was pushing all my buttons, and she knew it. I stood up, knocking over Esme's antique piano stool. I turned to face her.

"No one and I mean NO ONE is going to harm her again. I'll make sure of that." I yelled.

"She's a VERY stubborn one and you know it." She replied speaking for the first time. Her vicious tone subsided to a soft, pleading one. "Please Edward, I'm just worried about the family, Em." My voice softened with hers.

"I know Rose we all are. But it's just not possible, Bella and I cannot be separated." She stared at me, her mind trying to think of a reply. She settled on storming out the room and slamming the door. I sighed and picked up the stool. I sat down and continued to play. Why did everything have to be so difficult? Everyone else in my family had found someone and settled just like that. But of course mine had to be the different one. Bella was a human. Even if we were going to defeat Jacob, there was going to be many complications in the future. A sudden image appeared in my mind, Bella, pale and beautiful, her eyes closed. Suddenly, they snapped open. I staggered backwards as I took in her crimson eyes. I shook my head, trying to get the picture out of my mind. Bella just couldn't be a vampire. As if on cue she entered the room.

"That's beautiful" she sighed. I nodded. I patted the stool, and she perched next to me as I played. I felt her eyes bore into my slender hands, producing the enticing music. When I finished, I glanced up to see her staring deeply into my eyes.

"Edward." She whispered. "The secret is…" She stopped mid sentence.

"Tell me, please Bella." Tears spurted down her face again, but she rubbed them away fiercly. She took a deep breath.

"Jacob, Jacob has imprinted on me."