Disclaimer: All rights belong to Mrs. Stephenie Meyer. I just toy around with different ideas.

Chapter one

Epov

My family had moved to Forks, Washington a year ago and at the time I thought it would be better if I were to stay behind in Denali. I had been fed up with living among three perfectly matched couples and wanted to try living our there on my own. Especially since my mind-reading abilities made it impossible for me to get away from it.

To be honest, my intentions of doing so were rather selfish. Tanya had been attempting to seduce me for a long time and usually my gentlemanly manners made me decline her offers, but after an especially excruciating night at our home when my siblings and parents were all giving in to their baser needs for each other, I decided it was time to see if Tanya and I could work.

I needed a release from all the pent up frustration and what better way to do that than to indulge in a sexual relationship with a vampire as beautiful as Tanya.

My sister Alice, who had the power of foresight, was the only one of my family who had known of my decision. She had scolded me for giving into Tanya, because she could see that it would be nothing more than a physical relationship and she wished more for me. At the time I had snapped at her to keep her thoughts to herself and not tell anyone.

After they left for Forks, I gave into Tanya almost immediately. She was fierce and raw and so was the sex. But that was all it was. Sex. I fucked her many times, but never made love to her. After three months of this unsatisfactory arrangement I had grown tired of it, but because I could hear Tanya's thoughts, I knew I would hurt her if I broke it off.

So I continued, changing my selfishness into cowardice and keeping up the charade. It was only when Tanya came to me a few weeks ago that I knew I had to change something.

"Edward, I want to visit your family. We haven't seen them since we got together and I would love to finally meet them as my future in-laws."

I choked on an unnecessary breath. "Excuse me? Your future in-laws?"

"Why, yes. We've been doing this for nearly a year, Edward. Why not make it official?"

"Maybe because I don't love you?"

"What does love have to do with anything? We're good together, Edward."

"No we're not, Tanya. Not good enough to marry without love. I won't do that to you or to myself."

Her eyes widened and in her mind I could see her defeat. She knew she couldn't keep me. She knew that this was merely a bond of convenience and purely physical.

"Fine, Edward. I hope you find your happiness eventually."

"I hope you will too, Tanya but we both know that won't be with me."

"Will you leave?"

"Yes, I was already thinking about moving back in with Carlisle. The are going to start their junior and senior year soon, so I might as well go now so I can join them at the start of the year."

"Makes sense. Well, tell them I said hi."

"I will. Goodbye ,Tanya."

She hugged me and darted off through the trees without saying goodbye. Her pride was hurt and she didn't want to make it worse by watching me pack my things and leave.

So here I was, on the road to Forks, nearly an hour away from our home. As soon as I made up my mind Alice had called me to squeal in my ear how much they were looking forward to getting me back. I had grinned like an idiot, because it was then that I realized that I had missed my family as much as they had missed me.

I remembered the meadow I went to to think in peace when we were living here nearly fifty years ago and wondered if it was still there. When I saw the dirt road which lead closer to the meadow I decided on a whim to go look for it. When I parked my Volvo on the side of the road I called Alice to let her know I would be late.

"Hi, Edward. I know. Don't worry we'll be here when you decide to come home. Take your time," she said as soon as she picked up the phone.

"Well, it's nice to be reminded how much time can be saved with your visions, Alice. I'll see you guys later, then."

"Bye, Edward." she chimed before hanging up the phone.

I chuckled at my sister and put my phone back in my pocket. It was only after I got out of the car that I noticed that there was an old beat up red truck parked a little further up the road, partially hidden behind the bushes. I could smell that it hadn't been sitting there for very long, the exhaust fumes were still lingering in the air.

I wondered briefly if I would encounter a human in the forest, but since the meadow wasn't near a trail, I figured it would be safe. Besides, I could always head back if I caught their scent or thoughts.

Just to be safe I didn't run flat out, but in a human running speed. When I was almost at the meadow, I heard a soft feminine voice drift towards me, accompanied with the most delectable scent I had ever smelled. I ghosted to the edge of the clearing and inhaled deeply. Because the wind diluted the fragrance I could appreciate it without going insane with thirst, but I had no doubt that I would have been unable to stop myself if I had come across this woman in a closed space.

I decided to put myself out of temptations way by moving to the north of the clearing, so she was downwind. Again I heard her soft voice, which was almost as alluring as the smell of her blood.

I was hiding behind the trees, so I couldn't see her clearly, but I caught flashes of her dark brown hair and translucent skin.

"Yes, gran, we arrived just fine."

Due to my acute sense of hearing, I was able to catch what was said on the other side.

"I'm glad to hear it, honey. But you sound tense, what's wrong?"

"It's already started, grandma and we've only arrived four days ago."

"Don't tell me your father is playing favorites."

"No! Of course not. No, dad's just his usual quiet self and he's treating us both the same, but it's just...every one else."

"Oh, dear. Tell me about it hun."

"Gran, it's just so frustrating. The day after we arrived Billy Black came by with his son Jacob to drop of Harry Clearwater's fish fry. They greeted me because I opened the door, but as soon as they saw Nessie, I was air to them. I didn't even get included in the conversation, no matter how hard dad tried. It was like I was invisible."

"Don't let it get to you, Bella. You know it's not you. You're just as special as she is, maybe even more so."

I smiled now that I had a name to go with the floral fragrance and bell-like voice. It would make it easier for me to identify her in school. I didn't know why it mattered so much that I knew her name, but I refused to over think this little surprise in my day.

"I'm not special, gran. We went grocery shopping the other day and we ran into two girls and a bunch of guys that are going to be in our class when school starts and none of them even introduced themselves to me. How can you say I'm special when nobody even sees me?"

"Didn't Nessie introduce you?"

Bella took a deep breath. "She stopped doing that as soon as she started to get favored by mom."

I felt bad for her. I didn't know anything about her, but it was clear to me that she was lost in the shadow of a sibling. It had to be tough to be singled out, I could identify with her in a way. It wasn't like I was dwarfed by the presence of my siblings, but I was the odd man out because I had never met my mate.

"Bella, I'm going to tell you something that you might find a bit offensive, but you need to hear it. You're far more mature than Vanessa, despite the fact that you're twins. She's a typical teenage girl who enjoys all the attention and thrives on it, no matter who it hurts. You are responsible, smart and pretty much grown up, that intimidates people. You have such a shield up around yourself, Bella. You need to lower it so people can see the real you. Maybe then Nessie won't be so much more appealing than you."

Bella sighed and I could smell the salt of her tears. "I'm going to go, gran. I want to read for a while before I head home. Talk to you soon."

"Bye, sweetheart and remember to open yourself up."

"I'll try. Bye gran."

As soon as she ended her call there was silence. Complete and utter silence. Surely after such a call Bella would be thinking about it. I was worried that I had lost my gift for reading minds for a moment, but then I recalled something Bella's grandmother had said earlier. She had mentioned that Bella had a shield up. That could explain her mental silence.

I decided to take a small gamble and climbed up a tree so I could watch her without being seen. When I pushed the leaves aside I sat there frozen.

In the middle of the meadow, lying on her back was the most beautiful angel I had ever seen. Her dark hair was splayed out beneath her, creating a dark halo around her pale heart shaped face. Her cheekbones were delicate, her nose small but perfect, her mouth full and in the most beautiful pink color. She had her eyes closed, so I had no idea what they looked like, but I imagined them to be deep and soulful, no matter the color.

Her body was thin, but not overly so. Her clothes were too wide for her, so I couldn't clearly see her curves, but I knew they were there under those layers. Hidden from the world, but still enticing.

I could clearly see the dried tears on her cheeks and I had to hold myself to the branch I was perched on so I wouldn't run to her and cradle her in my arms to comfort her.

I was confused that this girl, Bella, could evoke such deep feelings of protectiveness in me. I blamed it on the fact that I overheard her conversation with her grandmother and I had felt sorry for her and tried to push it aside, but it was harder than I thought.

I stayed there for nearly an hour, never taking my eyes off Bella's form. She had fallen asleep sometime while I was watching her and I couldn't make myself leave for fear of something hurting her if I left her out here alone.

She mumbled incoherently in her sleep and suddenly shot up, her eyes opened and she groaned. I noticed her eyes were a deep chocolate brown and my guess that they were soulful was right on the mark. It made her even more angelic.

She scrambled to her feet and picked up a bag that had been lying near the edge of the trees. I watched her disappear behind the trees and listened to her soft footfalls as she made her way back to her car.

I remembered that she had parked her car on the same dirt road as I so I quickly jumped down and ran full speed back to my car, making sure to run in a large arch to avoid running into Bella.

When I got to my car I could faintly hear her heartbeat and footsteps. I breathed out heavily and quickly pulled back onto the road to head home.

I deliberately drove at a slow pace to see if her truck would come up behind me. As soon as I saw the red rust bucket pull onto the road behind me, I put my foot down and sped home.

Bpov

I was in the meadow that I had discovered by accident two days ago when my gran called. She always had the perfect timing for her calls. I didn't know how she did it, but she always contacted us when we needed her, whether it was me, Nessie or my dad. Of course she knew something was wrong when she heard my voice and I had to admit that my twin was the cause of it once again.

Vanessa and I had lived with out mother ever since she and my father divorced twelve years ago, but mom got remarried and I suggested Vanessa and I move in with dad so mom and Phil could spend some more time alone. Nessie had thrown a fit that lasted several days, but eventually I managed to convince her with promises of uncharted territory and the prospect of discovering a whole new source of boys.

I knew it was playing dirty, but it worked and that was all I wanted. I had had enough of being ignored, of being the plain uninteresting twin sister of Vanessa Swan and I had a small amount of hope that things might be different here in Forks.

Of course I was proven wrong on our first full day here. The visit of Billy and Jacob had proved enough and to make matters worse, the encounter at the Thriftway was even more embarrassing. I hated my sister in that moment. She never even said anything about me.

The following day I had pulled out the hiking boots I hadn't used since last summer and I headed out into the woods to be alone with my thoughts. My father had been very understanding and he had handed me a backpack filled with a couple of maps of the area, a first aid kit, a flashlight in case I got lost and was surprised by the darkness and a can of mace.

I laughed at my father for that, but he reminded me that wild animals would also be repelled by it if needed, so I stopped laughing and tucked the can back into the pack. I thanked him and with a promise that I'd be careful I went out at five in the morning.

I hiked the entire day, only stopping to eat the lunch I packed or take some pictures with the small digital camera I had on me at all times. That night Vanessa had announced that she had been invited to a party. Dad didn't want her to go, but Nessie kept whining and nagging him until he relented. I spent the night with my dad, watching 'A few good men'.

My dad and I were very much alike. We were both quiet people who were uncomfortable with talking about feelings and emotions. So when my dad wrapped his arm around my shoulder and hugged me awkwardly I had to fight back my tears. He knew I was feeling crappy about the situation with Vanessa, but couldn't do anything about it.

Vanessa came stumbling into the house an hour after curfew, drunk. Dad and I had just cleaned up after the movie had finished and he quietly told me to go upstairs. It didn't matter that I was locked in my own room, I could still hear them yelling at each other.

The next day I went hiking again and stumbled across this meadow. So I went back here today, practically running away from the second fight between Nessie and my dad. We've been here for nearly four days and already I was doubting my decision to come here, well at least to come here with Vanessa. It might have been a better idea to head out here alone. Dad wouldn't have minded.

But we were here together and I knew I had to deal with it. Grandma pretty much told me the same thing, so after I hung up the phone I lay on my back with my eyes closed and let my mind wander. I tried to think of ways to be more open, but I had no idea how. I drifted off to sleep getting sucked into a bizarre dream.

I was standing in a large field, Vanessa was on the other side. I could feel a presence beside me, but when I turned to look there was no one. I shrugged off the feeling and focused on Nessie.

"You!" she screamed.

I didn't know what was wrong, so I stepped closer to her.

"Stay away from me!" Nessie screamed.

I froze when a large wolf jumped forward and snarled at me. I slowly backed away and stumbled. I reached my hands back to catch my fall, but two strong arms caught me. I turned to look at my savior, but before I could see his face the image faded.

I woke up with a start, not knowing what that dream was about but I felt uncomfortable. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end, giving me the distinct feeling that someone was watching me.

I stretched and groaned and quickly got up to leave. I walked swiftly, without looking back., quickly getting in my car the moment I reached it. When I turned onto the road I saw a sleek silver car in the distance. As soon as I noticed it, it sped off at break neck speed, giving me another uncomfortable chill.

When I arrived home it was quiet. I knew dad was at work, but since he grounded Nessie, she should be at home.

"Ness? Are you there?" I called as I walked up the stairs to drop my bag in my room and switch my hiking boots for my sneakers.

"Nessie!?" I called again as I walked back out in the hallway.

Still no response, so I pushed the door to her room open. I shook my head at the mess that lined her floor. She had clothes thrown everywhere, Cd's strewn across her desk without their cases, make up articles scattered on her vanity. It was a pig sty. But obviously my sister wasn't there.

With a sigh I headed back downstairs and made a quick sweep of the ground floor knowing that she wouldn't be there. I debated on calling our father, but knowing Vanessa she would manage to get caught on her own, so I took a sketchbook and pencil with me and headed to the back yard.

I sat down on the porch swing and drew my legs up under me. I started sketching the yard and added a few creative touches that made the picture look like it belonged in a story book for children. I smiled sadly when I realized this was the first time I did this since Casey died. I fingered the tattoo on the inside of my wrist and sent up a quick prayer for my only friend.

Nessie did get herself caught. And in the most ridiculous way. She had been invited by some of the party goers to hang out at La Push beach. The cops were called when they started getting too loud and of course dad was the one to respond to the call.

"Dad, why are you being so difficult? Mom, never was this strict!" she shouted as soon as they came in the door together.

"You're under my roof now, Vanessa and you will live by my rules. I gave you the benefit of the doubt the first night, but you couldn't even make it home on time and don't even get me started on the drinking," dad responded quietly.

"Ugh! I'm young! I want to live!"

"You can live once you prove to me you can be trusted. Today you proved that you can't. Turn in you cell phone and laptop now. You will get them back at the end of next week as long as you behave yourself."

Vanessa screeched in indignation and stomped up the stairs. When she came back she thrust the items into dad's hands and then turned to me.

"I'm not coming down for dinner. You can bring it up to my room," she declared with her hands on her hips.

"Excuse me? What am I, your maid? If you want dinner you come downstairs." I replied in a stunned tone.

She had been rude at times in Phoenix, but never downright demeaning. This was just taking it one step too far.

"Oh, don't go all huffy! Can't you do this for me, please?"

"No."

"Fine! Then I won't eat!" she yelled before thundering back up the stairs.

I rolled my eyes and headed to the living room. She really needed to get a reality check if she thought my world revolved around her. Dad fell next to me with an exasperated sigh.

"Was she this bad in Phoenix?"

"It seems worse, but she's always been rather focused on herself."

"Maybe it would help if your mom would give her a call or something. Nessie told me she hasn't contacted either of you, not even an e-mail or text message."

I frowned, thinking back to the past four days and realizing he was right. My mom and I never had a very strong bond, I reminded her too much of dad for that, but she and Vanessa had been practically joined at the hip in the past years.

"Why doesn't Ness just call her?"

"I don't know. I just hope she knows her boundaries now. I don't know if I can handle the next two years if they continue like this."

"She probably will tone it down once she talks to mom."

We sat in silence after that, not really feeling the need to fill the silence with mindless chatter. When it was time for me to start dinner, dad helped me without me having to ask. We were easy that way. Vanessa came back downstairs when the lasagna was in the oven.

"Dad, Bells, I'm really sorry for what I said earlier. I just wish I could talk to mom, but she won't answer her phone. I didn't mean to take it out on you and I promise that I'll mind the curfew and stuff," she said in a small voice.

"Thanks for apologizing, kiddo, but this doesn't mean you're off the hook," dad said.

"I know dad. I know."

"Good, now come sit with us. Dinner's almost ready."

The last two weeks of summer break were reasonably quiet and uneventful. Every day the weather was reasonable I'd go hiking, usually ending up in the meadow. I hadn't had that eerie feeling again, so I figured it was just the dream that had spooked me.

Vanessa was behaving a little better, but she still had her moments of selfishness. Mom did call, but it took her three more days and the only excuse she had, was that she was busy. I nearly snorted and called her a liar, but it wouldn't change a thing so I didn't.

One weekend to go before school started and I was dreading it.

Epov

The two weeks after my impromptu run in with Bella, I was constantly debating with myself whether or not to go back to the clearing. Part of me wanted to see her again and maybe even talk to her, but a bigger part of me realized the threat it would pose to her safety and the most prominent emotion I had felt when I saw her the first time was protectiveness. Finally the Friday before school started, Alice had had enough of my indecisiveness.

"Edward, for the love of god will you make up your mind? Your mood swings are giving me a headache and you're affecting my husband with it. He keeps changing his mind while I'm trying to seduce him."

I threw up my hands and flashed her an apologetic smile. "Fine, I'll go tomorrow. She might not even be there."

Alice sighed and headed out of my room to go back to Jasper. Again she was the only one who I had told what happened in the meadow, mostly because she cornered me about it, but she had kept it quiet and I now owed her a couple of big favors. I wondered if buying her a car would be over the top.

I heard a loud mental squeal from Alice and knew I had found my way of repaying her for keeping the two secrets I was able to keep in this house. So I spent the rest of the night looking for a car for Alice.

I waited for noon to start towards the clearing. If she was going to be there I wanted to have a choice whether or not I would approach her and I wouldn't be able to do that if she came after I did. I felt a tight knot in my stomach as I thought about our first encounter. An encounter she wasn't even aware of and I wondered, for the umpteenth time since then, whether I had been wise to stay or just plain stupid and maybe even creepy.

When I arrived, I could hear her steady heart beat and smelled her floral fragrance, venom pooled in my mouth in anticipation. I knew I had to be careful, so I stood there inhaling her scent greedily in order to somewhat desensitize myself to it.

When I felt confident enough to not drain her the moment I stepped into that clearing I walked through the trees and forced myself to act surprised.

"Oh! Wow, I never knew someone else came here," I said staring in her shocked eyes.

She had jumped up and was clutching her backpack to her chest.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" she asked in a demanding tone, but I could hear the light shake of her voice.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was just trying to find this place in fact. I don't mean you any harm, promise."

She kept her guarded stance and I knew I would have to put in a little more effort to get her to loosen up enough for me to join her here. I smiled tentatively and she returned it reluctantly.

"You didn't tell me who you are," she murmured.

"Sorry, I'm Edward Cullen. I just moved out here. My family lives a couple of miles outside of Forks."

She smiled a little more heartfelt and the anticipation in my stomach increased.

"Hi, Edward. I'm Bella Swan. It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too and just so you know I'm not some psycho."

She chuckled then and I vowed to make her laugh at least once today, just because I was so curious as to how it sounded. If her chuckle was this adorable, her laughter must be enchanting.

"Well, maybe I'd better go. If you came looking for this place, you must come here for the peace and quiet, so I'll just get out of your way."

"You don't need to do that. You were here first after all."

She blushed and shifted from foot to foot. In that moment I would've given my immortality to know what she was thinking of.

"We can both enjoy the peace and quiet of this place. I just wanted to go here to read. My siblings are too loud and I haven't gotten used to it since I came here," I stated with a warm smile.

She nodded minutely and sat back down into her previous position, placing that backpack down beside her. Ah, progress.

"What were you going to do with that bag if I were a dangerous man?"

"My dad has graciously provided me with a huge and very heavy Maglite which can be used to beat your head in and a can of pepper spray, so unless you were some otherworldly creature I would've been able to cause you severe pain."

I stopped breathing when she said that and was debating on whether or not to leave her here.

"Hey, don't look so scared. I won't use it against you. You look like a decent enough guy."

"You can't always tell by the way someone looks, Bella," I said curtly.

She frowned. "See, I should leave. I'm making you uncomfortable."

"No! Please, stay. I'm not uncomfortable, I promise."

Bella looked like she was about to ask me another question, but shook her head and returned her attention to the book that she had picked up from the ground.

We sat in silence for a while, the both of us lost in our book. I looked up when I heard Bella sigh and slap her book closed.

"Finished?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. I only had about five chapters left when you came."

I frowned, had that much time really gone by?

"I'm a very quick reader," Bella explained unasked.

I smiled. "Ah, that explains it. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, I guess."

"How did you find this place?"

"The second day I was here I went hiking a few miles east from here and I got a little lost because it had been a while since I navigated with a map and compass. I sort of stumbled across it and the little stream that's a few yards west from here. They both helped my find my way back and I sort of been coming here ever since."

I smiled. She was a smart girl, her gran was right about that.

"How did you find it?" she asked me after a moment of silence.

"When my family moved up here last year I spent a week here to help them set up the house. I took a day off work and ended up stalking through the woods. I really did get lost, because I had absolutely nothing to navigate with, so when I finally decided to use my common sense I kept an eye on the sun and kept heading east towards the house. I ran across this place and decided to come looking for it again today."

She smirked. "Remind me to give you a copy of my map, it's on there so you can find it quicker next time."

If only she knew how unnecessary her kind gesture was. "It's all right. Now that I have been paying attention I will be able to find my way here pretty easily."

"Can I ask you something a little personal?"

I shrugged and gestured for her to continue.

"You said something about your family moving here last year? Why didn't you move with them?"

This was something I had rehearsed with my family to make my story in school more believable.

"I was seeing someone in Alaska and I had a hard time leaving her, so my aunt and uncle who live up there, offered to let me stay with them. I had originally planned to stay until we would go off to college together but then we broke up a couple of months ago and things just got awkward. I finished out the year and moved back in with my parents."

Bpov

Hearing Edward talk was soothing and slightly arousing at the same time. He had a velvety voice that sounded seductive without him even having to try and it made me shiver in delight. The fact that he was absolutely gorgeous probably helped too.

He had the most amazing tousled bronze colored hair and deep, warm, topaz eyes. His facial features were strong and masculine and I could tell he had a very well defined stomach, by the way his t-shirt clung to him. He was most certainly swoon worthy. I mentally smacked myself several times for some very out of character thoughts I had about him.

"Can I ask you how old you are?" Edward asked, breaking the silence once again.

"I'm sixteen, but I'll be seventeen on the 13th of September. You?"

"Turned seventeen in June. So I take it you are going to be a junior?"

"Yeah, so we'll probably be class mates, seeing that Forks is so incredibly huge," I said with a hint of sarcasm lacing my voice.

He laughed and the sound made my body tingle all over. I smiled in return and looked back down at my book, lightly tracing the words of the title with my finger so I wouldn't be caught staring at him.

"Do you have any siblings?"

I looked up from the book, a frown on my face. "Yeah, a twin sister."

"I can't imagine another girl as beautiful as you," he murmured with a sweet smile.

"We're fraternal twins and she's far more beautiful than me. I'm just plain, she's gorgeous. Mark my words, once you see her you'll forget I exist."

I had no idea what made me say that, but Edward made me feel like he would listen to my darkest secrets and never judge me for them.

"I highly doubt that, Bella. And believe me when I say that you are anything but plain. I could never forget you even if I tried."

My eyes snapped to his and I could no longer look away. I felt this inexplicable pull towards him and wanted nothing more than for him to sit closer to me. When reality trickled back in my brain I knew if I would let my mind cling to this attraction I had for him, I would be all the more hurt when he would drop me after meeting Nessie. So I tore my eyes away from him and awkwardly cleared my throat.

"Bella?"

"Hm?"

"Will you promise me something?"

I peeked at him from under my lashes. "Depends on what it is."

He pursed his lips, his eyes were filled with a sadness I couldn't comprehend.

"I usually am a very private person and tend to distance myself from my peers. Promise me you won't let me do that to you? I want to get to know you as a friend, but I have dark moods every now and then. Please stick with me, even when those hit me?"

He sounded so desperate and forlorn that it made my chest hurt.

"I promise on one condition."

"Anything," he breathed.

"Don't forget me once you see my sister. It would kill me."

I sounded just as broken as he had moments before and the air between us suddenly filled with an electric hum. I was lost in his intense stare and I felt my heart flutter erratically.

Without thinking I got up. He rose to his feet almost instantly. Her took five large steps and stopped inches from me. Close enough that I should feel his warmth, but it wasn't there. If anything he radiated cold, but the strange thing was, it wasn't deterring me. It drew me closer.

I reached up my hand to cup his cheek and gasped at how hard and cold he was under my touch. Like he was carved out of marble. We stood there staring at each other for a few minutes and then in the blink of an eye he was gone. The silence was deafening and I felt my chest tighten at the loss of his presence.

For a moment I thought I had been dreaming, but then I spotted the book he had left behind. I shuffled forward and picked it up, determined to return it to him when I saw him in school on Monday. If he chose to acknowledge me that is.

No, I berated myself, he begged you to stick with him, so you will give it to him no matter what.

Epov

When Bella had reached for my face I panicked. I stood frozen for a few minutes, but then I ran. Too fast. She had already touched my skin, felt how hard and cold I was. She had probably registered that I wasn't breathing once I was that close to her. She already knew too much. How could I have thought I could be friends with her? Friends with a human girl. I scoffed at my stupidity.

I was on the verge of kissing her when my mind finally processed the danger I was putting her in. The urgency to keep her safe outweighed my desire to kiss her in that moment and I fled from the temptation. I felt like a coward.

When I arrived home, Alice immediately hauled me off. She whirled around as soon as we were out of hearing range.

"What were you thinking, running away like that?" she demanded.

"Excuse me? You're saying I shouldn't have run?"

"You did ask her to be your friend didn't you?"

"Yes."

"And didn't she practically beg you for the same thing?"

"Yes, but she knows I'm not human. She touched my skin, she must've felt it."

Alice shook her head. "I don't see her saying something to anyone, but I do see you ignoring her until she gives up on you."

The image of Bella's defeated expression flashed through Alice's mind and I felt my chest tighten at the sight.

"See? It's not a good idea to shut her out. You'll hurt her. She needs a friend more than anything, Edward. I can see that she's going to be sad in the next few weeks and you might be able to help her through that."

I took a deep breath and forced myself to let my mind drift back to the moment in the meadow. She had gasped when she had felt my skin, but she didn't move her eyes from mine. Her heart rate sped up a little, but there was no fear permeating the air. If anything she had leaned in a little closer.

"Ah," Alice breathed. "That's better."

I saw her vision and it made me smile involuntarily.

I was sitting next to Bella in biology and we were talking, laughing and occasionally brushing the other's hand as we worked with the microscope. Bella would occasionally blush and look down at the table. She looked absolutely adorable.

"Thank you for telling me, Alice."

She waved her hand. "It's nothing, just pushing you in the right direction. I just have better means to determine which direction is the right one."

Bpov

When I returned home, I quickly shot up the stairs and stuffed Edward's tattered copy of Romeo and Juliet in my book bag. I didn't feel the need to explain what I was doing with a book that I didn't own after I returned from a hiking trip.

Nessie was in her room, singing along to the radio, clearly in a good mood. I walked over and knocked on the doorframe, watching her pluck a dress from her closet.

"Oh, hey twin. What do you think, is this a good dress for a party with college boys?" she asked, holding the dress in front of her.

"What party with college boys?"

"Oh, dad lifted the punishment because I managed to behave half decent. So Jessica Stanley, who you met in the store, asked me to come to a party at her cousin's frat house in Seattle."

"Does dad know?"

"No! What do you think I am, stupid?"

"Ness, you just got of probation, do you really think this is a good idea?"

"Oh, please Bella. Stop being such a goody two shoes. Don't you dare tell dad."

"I will if you're not home tomorrow before two p.m."

"Deal. I'll text you in case something comes up and I can't make it home on time."

"Promise me you'll be careful?"

"Sure, sure! I'll call you if something goes wrong."

I shook my head and told her the dress would be perfect, before heading back to my room. I flopped down on my bed and closed my eyes.

Edward's face appeared in my mind and I frowned. I remembered his cold hard skin like I was still touching it. It wasn't human. He wasn't human. I sat up as the words registered in my mind. Edward isn't human. The truth of the words struck me hard. I recalled our entire interaction and pulled out the things that stood out.

He was incredibly beautiful and his eyes had changed color when he looked at me intently. It hadn't really registered with me earlier, but it now proved my realization. His skin was cold and hard and I remember now that he hadn't been breathing when he was close to me. And then he was gone at a speed that wasn't human.

I sat frozen on my bed, shell shocked. I took a few deep breaths. Was I scared of him? No. He didn't appear to be a danger to me, so no, I didn't fear him. Could I still be friends with him? Yes, I promised him I would and I was sticking to it.

With those two questions answered, I pulled out my laptop to see if I could find what he might be. I entered some of his characteristics, but came up with nothing fitting. I read several legends and obscure stories, but none of them was a perfect fit. The cold skin did come up a lot in vampire mythology, as did the speed, but I was afraid to believe that to be the truth. I eventually gave up and resolved to ask Edward when I got a chance to talk to him alone.

Sunday the rain was pouring down relentlessly and me and dad got comfy on the couch with a bunch of my DVDs. Nessie came home at noon, looking rather fresh for someone who attended a college party. She silently thanked me when it was clear that dad was oblivious. I just shrugged. Without saying a word she curled up on the couch with me and dad and we finished watching the movies together.

At dinner Nessie nudged my shoulder. "I talked to Jess a lot last night and she told me the infamous Cullens have another brother who starts school tomorrow too."

I had to bite back the smile that threatened to break out on my face.

"Who are the Cullens?"

"Oh, didn't I mention them yet? Apparently they are these absolutely gorgeous teenagers in our school, but they ignore everyone, something about feeling better than others. They're all adopted and get this, they're also dating each other! Two couples living under the same roof as adoptive siblings. It's a little freaky if you ask me."

Dad looked up from his plate and cleared his throat. "They aren't related, Vanessa so it's not freaky."

I raised an eyebrow at his sudden urge to defend them.

"What?" he asked, looking from me to Nessie. "I just don't like hearing gossip. Their father, Carlisle is a good doctor and a nice man. I cannot imagine those kids being anything but friendly."

I smiled, knowing at least that Edward was friendly.

"Well, as I was saying, they have another brother. He stayed with his aunt and uncle last year because he didn't want to leave his girlfriend. They broke up a little while ago and now he's going to attend our school."

"We'll just have to see tomorrow if he lives up to the hype, huh?" I asked innocently.

"Yeah, definitely."

~*~

The next morning I got into an argument with Nessie about our transportation. Dad had bought us both an SUV, with the understanding that we had to share it, but Nessie was refusing to drive to school with me.

"Come on, Bells. You've been using that truck ever since we got here, why can't you drive that thing to school?"

"That SUV is mine too, Nessie. You can't just confiscate it."

"Watch me."

She shoved me aside and got in the car, peeling out of the driveway before I got a chance to stop her. I groaned and forced my feet to move toward the rusty Chevy I had been using over the past two weeks. It was still dirty from my many trips into the woods.

When I got to school, Nessie was waiting for me. She shoved a bunch of papers in my hands and half ran away from me. I noticed a bunch of kids waiting for her and rolled my eyes. Same story, different school.

I let my eyes sweep across the lot and they landed on a shiny silver Volvo that had just pulled up. It looked a little out of place in the parking lot and I immediately wondered who it belonged to. I didn't have to wait for long, because the first person to exit the car had a mop of unruly bronze hair.

Edward Cullen.

I dug through my bad to fish out his book and jogged over to him. He caught my gaze when I was half way over and smiled an incredibly sexy smile. I stopped a foot away, extending his book toward him.

"You dropped it on Saturday," I whispered.

"Thanks, Bella. I was wondering where it was. I have to go get my schedule. See you around?"

"Sure. See ya."

I watched his retreating form for a moment, appreciating the nice view. I chuckled and turned to leave for my class, but stopped in my tracks when a small pixie like girl with the same golden eyes as Edward came bounding over.

"Hi! I'm Alice, Edward's sister."

"Oh, er hi! Nice to meet you?"

She smiled warmly. "You too. I've got to get to class, see you later."

I nodded and walked off towards my first class, a goofy grin plastered on my face. Maybe I wouldn't be invisible in this school after all.

A/N: So here it is, my new vampire story. I hope you guys will enjoy it like you do my other stories. Please let me know what you think of this first chapter.

Hugs,

Mo