I know you guys hate me now. You have a right to. But on my other three stories – something went wonky in my computer and I lost a lot of stuff, including those. And now I'm trying to find the willpower to rewrite all of them. Besides I only write fanfic when struggling with writer's block on my original fiction. So bear with me and enjoy this one. Please.

Disclaimer: So I tried to order Carlisle off the Internet from this company somewhere in Alaska. But the idiots sent me a paper doll! And that's not even the worst part. I carried it out into the sun, and it doesn't even sparkle! I mean, geez, that's a dead giveaway. So no, I don't own him. Unless you count the paper doll version…which, sadly, I don't.

The bell rang, sealing my imminent doom.

I gathered up my books as slowly as possible, straggling out of the classroom a few steps behind everyone else. Jessica and Lauren sent me an evil smile, and I lagged further.

Gym was horrid on a good day – Jessica and Lauren had made it a living hell.

If Edward and the others were here, they covered for me and the rest left me alone. But if they were gone, like today – then it was Open Season on Bella.

I didn't know if they resented me for being clumsy, or if it ran deeper than that – jealousy because of Edward, probably. But either way I would not be making it out unscathed.

I hadn't told any of the Cullens because it was hard enough to get them to hunt enough as it was. If Edward knew he'd never leave, and then I would be stuck with more guilt.

Carlisle was supposed to be working today – Edward had left me with strict orders to go to their house after school, and Carlisle would be there to stay with me. I told him I didn't need a baby-sitter, but as usual I lost the argument.

Ten minutes into gym, Jessica had managed to trip me twice and Lauren had smacked in the head with the ball so hard I saw stars. "I'm so sorry, Bella," she gasped, fake concern dripping off of every syllable.

But the worst of it was when Jessica tripped me a third time. I lay there on the hard floor trying to muster up enough energy to get up. I still don't know if they planned it or not, but accident or no accident, Lauren's shoe collided with my ribs as she sprawled over the top of me.

A sick moan shoved its way to the surface as she slowly crawled off me, digging her knee into my back in the process.

The gym teacher blew the whistle and ran over to help me up, apparently not noticing any signs of foul play.

"Are you all right, Miss Swan?"

"I'm not sure," I answered honestly, breathing past the pain in my ribs.

"Do you need to go to the nurse?"

"No," I said quickly. "But I don't think I can play anymore."

"Here, I'll sign you a note," he said, almost gleefully. Even the coach was eager to get me out of the volleyball game.

As I limped outside, trying not to breathe, I glanced back at Jessica and Lauren, wondering if they realized they'd gone too far.

But they just smirked at each other and exchanged a discreet high-five before jumping back into the game.

At least it was the last class of the day. I slowly made my way to my ancient truck, being extra careful not to trip. I didn't need to do any more damage to myself.

It took me a few minutes to climb in, slowly dragging myself up in the cab with one hand bracing my left side. I pulled down the mirror to survey the damage.

I was a full shade whiter than normal – and when you're already as pale as I am, that's a problem – there was a darkening bruise on my chin, and my hair was a mess. I would have to go to Charlie's and get cleaned up so I didn't give Carlisle a heart attack.

I turned the key.

Nothing happened.

You have got to be kidding, I griped to myself. Even with my luck, this is just too much.

I tried again, on the off chance it had been a freak accident. Nothing. The engine didn't even turn over.

Charlie was out of town, I wasn't about to ask anyone at school for a ride – they'd wreck the car out of spite. I could ask Mike, but Jessica would hate me even more. And then she'd probably break my arm or something.

Reluctantly I pulled my phone out, combing through my hair with my fingers. Maybe he wouldn't notice.

Yeah, and maybe I was a fairy with little glowing wings.

"Hello," his voice came on the line, and I sighed.

"Hey, Carlisle, are you still at the hospital?"

"Hello, Bella," he said, his voice pleasant. "Actually, I'm just wrapping up my shift. Is something wrong?"

"Um."

"What is it, Bella?" his voice shifted over into doctor mode. "Are you hurt?"

"My truck won't start," I told him tiredly. "It won't even turn over."

"Hmmm….you'll have to get Rosalie to look at it. I'll be over to pick you up in a few minutes."

Sorry," I told him.

"It's no trouble," he assured me.

"Thanks, Carlisle, I'll see you when I get here."

"Goodbye, Bella," and he hung up the phone.

Ugh. Every bone in my body ached. Even my hair hurt.

I rested my forehead on the steering wheel column and silently cursed my bad luck. And Jessica. And Lauren. And Gym. And possibly the whole school.

By the time I forced my head back up, Carlisle was guiding his black Mercedes into the parking spot next to mine. By this time gym was over and people started pouring out of the school – great, now my humiliation was complete. I just hoped we could get out of here before Jessica and Lauren came by.

I blinked and realized I'd been sitting there staring like an idiot, lost in my thoughts. Carlisle was staring right back, his gaze both puzzled and concerned.

I blushed as he opened the door. "Hi, Carlisle. Sorry, guess I was daydreaming."

His frown did not magically go away. He tipped my chin up, studying the bruise. "Bella? How did this happen?"

"I fell," I answered. It wasn't a lie – I had fallen.

I thought he was going to say more, but he let the matter drop.

"Well, come on then. I'll send one of the boys after your truck when they get back tomorrow."

I tucked the keys into my pocket – like I had to worry about someone stealing the ancient pile of rust.

When I moved to get out, my head spun. I braced myself on the door handle as discreetly as possible, aware of Carlisle's probing eyes.

By the time I made it over the Mercedes Carlisle was holding the passenger door open for me. I managed to get myself inside without passing out.

"Hard day?" he asked, backing smoothly out of the space.

"Yeah," I snorted, "that's an understatement."

I leaned my head against the cool window, hoping it would alleviate the aching. I would bet money I had a perfect imprint of that stupid volleyball on the back of it.

"Head hurt?" he asked next, resting one hand on my shoulder while keeping the other one on the wheel. Which was kind of disturbing since he drove nearly as fast as Edward did.

I made some kind of muffled noise in agreement.

"I'll give you something for it when we get home," he said, and I realized I was doing a miserable job of fooling him.

"It's okay, really," I said, sitting up straight. "Edward isn't there to give me answers in Trig, that's all."

He chuckled. "I suppose he's done it enough."

When we pulled into the Cullens' drive, Carlisle had the passenger door open before I even reached for the seat buckle. "Here, let me help you," he said courteously. He was as bad as Edward was about things like this.

He put his arm around me as we walked up the porch steps, putting a little too much pressure on my tender ribs. I shrieked, instinctively flinching away from his hand.

He snatched his arm back, startled, as I landed hard on the porch steps.