Why is she taking so long, I tapped my foot impatiently. Alice ran out of the door and dived into the backseat.

"Gosh Bella," She laughed. "No need to freak, we'll be there on time."

Emmett let out a whoop. "Score one for Alice, will Bella ever catch up?"

Rosalie smacked him on the back of the head.

Jasper coughed, obviously hiding a stray giggle.

I sighed, sometimes they were so unoriginal.

I floored it and we sped out of the drive.

--

As I parked the Volvo minutes later Alice began to bounce in her seat clapping her hands furiously and smiling her pixie heart out.

"Jasper, tell your wife to shut up if she wants to live till tonight," I peeked at her in the rearview mirror. She was grinning ear to ear.

"You forget, my dear sister, that I am already dead." She giggled.

Emmett laughed. "She's got a point you know."

I groaned in desperation.

"But Bella," She said, suddenly growing serious. "Watch yourself; you never know what will hit you."

I turned to stare at her, confusion written across my perfected features.

"What do you…?" I started, and then rolled my eyes.

She started to sing.

Step one, you say we need to talk. He walks you say sit down it's just a talk. He stares politely back at you, you stare politely right on through.

I growled. "Alice."

She smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Bella; it's for your own good."

I growled and flew out of car. I shoved the door shut and the Volvo's frame shook.

"Damn it," I cursed.

I stormed through the rain, the crystal drops in my hair sparkling like my skin in the sun.

Oh, here comes Cullen, I heard Mike's thoughts. Wow, poor thing. She seems angry, maybe she'd like a little of me to make her feel better.

I gagged, that foul Mike Newton's thoughts were revolting. I pitied the girl who would ever love him.

I was interrupted by a wave of bodies rushing in out of the cold wet weather. I quietly slid to an empty corner and waited as the rest of my family filed in behind them.

My eyes slid from person to person and then caught a glimpse of a tall boy with a shock of bronze hair that was swept back in a casual elegance.

My eyebrows creased slightly. So few newcomers came to this small town anymore and it was always utter chaos for the opposite sex, looking to snatch them up before they managed to find someone else.

This person was something different though. His eyes were a delicate shade of green, and they seemed to lead to his soul.

But I only got a glimpse and soon brushed all thought off the bronze haired boy and his strange eyes.

--

I whipped through the first hours, gym with Emmett, English, Spanish with Alice and Trig. At lunch I met up with my family at our usual spot.

I was overwhelmed at once by the thoughts of the bronze haired boy.

"Have you seen him?" Jessica was asking Lauren.

"Yeah," She sighed dramatically. "I wonder if he'll say yes if I ask him to the dance."

Jessica's insides stormed. He's mine! But she didn't voice this opinion. Still, I would have liked to see Lauren's face if she had.

Edward.

Strange, I thought. There had been a couple Edward's in my time.

Edward sat quietly by Mike's side. I saw him sneak a glance in my direction.

"Who are they?" I heard his voice through Mike's mind, but when I tried to focus on his my 'hearing' was deaf.

My eyebrows creased.

"What's the matter, Bella?" Alice asked.

"I'm… not really sure," I said slowly. "I can't seem to get a grasp on that boy's –Edward's- mind…" I trailed off.

"I'm sure it's just a minor fluke," She reassured me. "It will probably pass."

But for some reason I didn't seem to believe her.

--

My next class was Biology and I wasn't really looking forward to it. I'd gotten a degree in Botany and Zoology a couple years back and the class was insanely simple.

I made my way to my seat and scattered my books onto the empty desk to the left of mine. I sank further into my chair, preparing myself for the torturous long hour and a half ahead of me.

Then the new boy walked through the door. He stumbled to the front of the room and handed Mr. Banner a pass.

"Sorry…" I heard him mumble.

"It's okay," I heard Mr. Banner tell him. "Go have a seat by Isabella." He pointed to me.

I quickly piled my books together and set them down on the floor by my feet.

Just as he moved into the stream of air pouring out of the furnace his scent hit me full force.

I froze, my venom glands filling in an instant my muscles rippling up my arms. Then I caught a glimpse of myself in his luminous eyes.

I was tensed, my face contorted in an antagonistic stare. I saw his expression change to confusion and a rush of blood flushed his pale cheeks. I winced.

Oh god, oh god no. Not me. A million options formed in my mind. I saw pictures of my fangs ripping into his neck, drinking the warm blood that at this very instant was flowing through his veins.

I grabbed the side of my desk harshly, sliding to the extreme edge of my seat. I shut my eyes willing the scent to lessen. But it didn't and I slowly peeked out through my lashes. He was staring at me, a hurt expression evident on his brow.

"I-I'm sorry," I whispered. I didn't think he heard me.

I concentrated as hard as I could on Mr. Banner's lecture, it was on cellular anatomy. Something so simple a child could do it. Of course, that was what these humans were to me, children.

I winced again and pressed the palm of my hand to my nose. I stopped breathing.

It was the longest hour and a half of my long, endless life, and when the bell finally rang signaling the end of class I jumped out of my seat and almost ran out of the classroom.

--

When I was outside I sank to the ground rubbing my temple with my fingers.

Why was he here? My thoughts were raging, almost incompetent in their speed. When I had finally found a home, finally found a place where I could come out in the day, finally been happy. Why? Why? Why?

I felt the anger rage through my chest, and if I could, I would have cried.

I took a shaky breath. I just had to think it thorough and everything would be okay.

When I was finally calm I made my way to my car. I drove to the maximum speed my Volvo could manage and skidded to a halt at the front of the hospital. I rushed through the push doors and waited impatiently as the desk attendant shuffled through some files.

That must be Doctor Carlisle Cullen's daughter. She's quite a sight, looks kind of hassled though.

I coughed.

"Excuse me?" I purred. "I need to speak with my father, Dr. Cullen."

"Of course dear, he's in surgery right now, but I'll call as soon as he's done."

"Thank you."

--

I wandered over to the waiting area and sat down on the large plush sofa. I couldn't sit still for long though, and I was on my feet again. Pacing as fast as my human façade would allow.

When Carlisle arrived a half-hour later he knew at once that something was wrong. He rushed to my side, his thoughts racing.

"Bella, what's the matter? You look upset." His forehead creased in worry.

"I'm having issues with… this boy…"

At these words a smile spread across his face.

This is so wonderful, he thought. Wait till Esme finds out, she'll be so happy our Bella's never going to be alone again!

"Carlisle, dad, no. It's not that kind of problem."

His smile melted.

"Then what kind problem is it?" He asked.

I took a deep breath and then I let all the words flow out of me in a stream of sentences so fast, no human would even comprehend a word.

"I can't hear his thoughts, and he reacts differently than the others. Like one of us. And he smells so good. I don't even understand it. Something like this has never happened to me before. And I'm scared, Dad, I don't want to leave, but I don't think I can last another day with him in the same school, much less the same classroom. Today in Biology I almost lost it, I almost killed him. I almost killed all of them."

I took another dragging breath, my frame shaking with tearless sobs.

Carlisle held me to his chest, stroking my hair softly.

"But you didn't, and I am so proud of you," he said reassuringly. "You don't have to leave, just talk to the others, I'm sure they'll help. We all love you, Bella, and it would hurt us very much if you went away."

"Thank you," I whispered softly, I was sure he heard me.

--

I met the others in the parking lot, just as the final bell rang. Everyone was strangely quiet as they loaded into the car, and as I picked their minds I found out why. Alice.

"Bella," She whispered.

I whirled around to face her.

"What Alice? You didn't see me massacring a whole classroom? You didn't think to warn me? I almost killed everyone. I was a hairs-breadth away from it."

"I-I'm sorry," She put her head in her hands. I instantly felt remorseful for yelling at her. "I didn't see it until it was too late." She moaned. "A-and then, then I saw…"

Millions of images flashed through my mind. Edward. Edward's arms wrapped around my waist, taking my lips in his, kissing me hard; him on my back, running as fast as I could. And the final image, I was on the ground, laying there, arms spread. The sun was high over me my skin sparkling like diamonds; Edwards's fingers stroking over my face and finally coming to my lips. He leaned down…

"No," My harsh tone broke the silence. "That's not possible. "I can't love him, Alice. We're from different worlds. I almost killed him, I would have killed him! I wanted to." My hands balled up into fists.

I saw Jasper's hand come up behind me and felt a wave of calm wash over me. I wrenched myself out of his grasp and flung the door open.

"Not helping, Jasper." I growled as I flung the keys to Alice. I stormed away from them, and in my mind I could hear their reeling thoughts.

--

I had no clue where to go so I made my way to a close neighborhood. I recognized Mike's house from a couple of kids who had been to parties there. I passed the police station, where Edward's dad –Charlie- worked. I knew where Charlie lived, and that was bad. It meant I could find Edward.

I darted into the woods and ran, as fast and hard as possible. When I emerged I saw a red truck parked along the side of the road. I was curious; I hadn't seen a red truck like this in Forks before. I walked up to it and sniffed it tenderly.

It was Edward's. But where was he?

I sniffed again; his scent was strongest near the woods. I bent over, ducking around the truck and into the tree cover.

His scent made my mouth water and I clenched my fists.

"You can do this, Bella," I muttered. "Just take a look, no need to rip his head off."

I grabbed a branch above my head and flipped myself into the foliage of the tree and peered out through the leaves.

Edward was sitting on the moist soil, his jacket spread under him. It was an unusually warm day and he had on a t-shirt. His hair fell messily into his eyes as he bent over an old, worn copy of Wuthering Heights.

I watched as one by one, as small rays of light pierced the dark wood.

Bella, your skin.

I whipped my head around and my eyes caught on my arm, it was shimmering, like millions of crystals were embedded in the flesh. I breathed in quickly.

I watched in alarm as Edward's head turned toward my quiet gasp.

I flung myself into another tree, dropped to the ground and ran like fire.

I was trapped in the woods till darkness fell and as I crouched in the shade of a sycamore I thought, long and hard.

I had just proved strong enough to be near Edward for a length of time, even if I didn't like to put his life in danger to do it.

I hunted after that, drinking so much then I felt bloated and stuffed. When the sun finally fell, I made my way down the twisty path to the Cullen home.

The pale white house was nestled in a garden of ferns that Esme kept neatly trimmed.

I didn't even bother to use the front door, although I missed my family, I didn't feel ready to see them yet. Instead, I scaled the wall and slid through my open window. Alice was waiting for me.

"Bella," She said, sliding her tiny arms around my waist. "You and Edward will be okay, you can love him, there's nothing stopping you."

I took a step away, my voice rising. "Yes, there is. Bloodlust. His blood, Alice, it sings to me, calling me to take it. I can barely control myself when I'm around him. How am I supposed to concentrate on anything other than not killing him?" I was shrieking, my voice climbing two octaves.

"Bella," Carlisle spoke from the doorway. "You are strong enough, you can do it."

I whirled around to face him.

"I can't, Carlisle." I sank to my knees, my hands clutching my face. "Even if I could," my voice was less than a whisper. "He'd never love me. I'm a killer. I've broken everything I've ever cared for."

--

The night was hard. I paced quickly, letting out a stream of profanities as Alice sat patiently on my sofa.

"Please, Bella," Alice begged. "Just give it a chance. I've seen it. You'll be okay. It's what you should want."

I closed my eyes.

"I don't know what I want, Alice"

--

I went to school the next day. I was nervous, my breaths coming in quick gasps. Jasper sent a wave of calm and I had never been more grateful.

The beginning of the day was okay and as I made my way to lunch I met up with Rose.

"Have you seen him yet?" She asked.

"No."

"Good."

I smiled.

"I've never agreed more."

When we were sitting at out usual table Emmett piped up.

"Edward's staring at you."

I swore.

Emmett cracked up, "Watch your language Bells, you never know if a teacher's near."

I stared at him incredulously. "Yes I do." I tapped the side of my temple.

The whole table cracked up.

But inside, my emotions fluttered.

--

I walked as slowly as possible to Biology and when I came to the door, I peeked through the small window. He was already there.

I took a deep breath and walked into Hell.

"Hello," I said quietly.

He turned to stare at me, surprise written clearly on his face.

"Hi..?"

"My name's Bella Cullen."

He looked down at his hands.

"I'm… Edward Mason."

I smiled timidly and he blushed.

That was it, I was out of air. I hesitantly took another breath. Bad idea. His scent rushed into my lungs.

My muscles tensed and I slid to the edge of my chair.

Why you? I thought. Why Edward? Why is it you?

He touched my arm. I could feel his pulse, his blood pumping through his veins.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Yes, Edward," I told him. "Something is very wrong."

He looked at me as if I should continue but I didn't speak more. He turned to the front, his lip pinched between his teeth.

When the bell finally rang I sat still, willing myself control. I watched Edward rise, and stumble up the isle. His toe caught on a chair and he fell, his books spilling out of his hands and landing in a crumpled heap.

I got up and walked out the door, leaving him lying on the ground.

--

I didn't go to my next class; instead I waited outside in the Volvo for Alice. I knew she would come.

"Hey, Bella," I heard Alice pull open the door and climb in.

"I need your help," I said gravely. "I've decided."