Naïve…That's what I had been, as a child, as a teen, as a young woman now.

I always had a comfortable life. A calm life where everything in my life was decided for me. What clothes I wore, what food I ate, where I went, when I did it.

The only thing I had a hold of was my mind. And even that at times was washed away in the fog of the control these people had on.

I was losing myself in a war over the actions of my body, as I soon would find out.

I had control on nothing; they had no control over me, and they were trying to disillusion themselves into a fairytale where they could.

They'd never be able to keep hold of me, especially where I was headed.

As silently as I possibly could, I slipped out of bed, turning back to the bed as an after thought.

If Angela comes in here, she'll know I've left…

Quickly, I moved about the giant pillows on the bed, shaping them into my form so if one were to look at it through the mahogany silk curtain, they would see naught but me still in slumber, and it would not quicken them to wake me.

No one woke me in my slumber, so the servants quickly learned to let me be as I was if I remained in bed, unless I was requested.

And in the position I was in, well, I could just order them away or silent, but only then late I would be severely punished for my insubordination.

Shaking my head to chase away the thoughts of punishments befitting the crime I had committed to only moments before, I grabbed a few under gowns, leaving my corsets and the rest of the rubbish where they belonged; off of my body and in the trash where none would find them. I donned the gowns before throwing on my over dress and a cloak.

Looking down the hallway, I slipped out as quietly as I possibly could before I started slowly for the stairs passed my fathers room.

When I finally caught sight of my destination, I ran to the entrance, the pads of my sandaled feet quietly making a slishing noise as I slowed my ballet-like movement down the stairs to the grand doors, throwing them open before throwing myself into the warm, basking light outside my prison.

It had been so long since I had last seen the sun, so long since I'd been locked away in my cage with no sights of escape.

I spun happily around, the burgundy gown spinning daintily around me as I laughed aloud, closing my eyes in ecstasy.

Slowing my revolutions, I smiled, running toward the stable, thoughts of leaving this wretched place and going to the village.

After all, I'd already committed the crime, I was going to be punished all the same, why not have some fun while I was at it?

Dismounting the black stallion, I ran my dainty palm down the beasts white nostril, the velvety softness warm in my hand.

Looking at the kind hand, I handed him a frank and the reins as he took my identity down on a slot of paper so I could reclaim the horse later.

Thanking the man, I turned and continued on my way into the small town market, hoping to come across some trinket or other that would have made my sacrifice somewhat worthwhile.

It was crowded right then, the throngs of people heading also into the morning market to buy odds and ends and fruits and vegetables and meats and poultry for their morning meals.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of someone watching me, across the street where he could not be caught at the crime. I looked about, looking for the officers if need be.

There was a feeling in the pit of my stomach; a queasy feeling that made me uneasy as I knew that whatever intentions that the large man had, they would not be leaving me short of a minor disaster.

Turning, I moved swiftly to the right, hoping to move into the crowds of people, becoming lost to the man's sight in the middle of the mob.

Looking to the direction I traveled in, I collided with a dark cloaked man, tumbling to the ground in my rash flight.

A hand descended towards me, the skin a translucent pearly white.

As torturously slow as I think I could have possibly moved, I lifted my head to the see the beautiful stranger I had just bumped into, leaning over me as several people glanced in our direction.

He leaned down even closer to me, his breath cool against my cheek, "Are you alright?"

His hands slipped around me, as he pulled me from the cobbled street and into his chest before whispering deliberately in my ear calmly, "Play along with me…"

"I've been looking all over for you, where have you been?"

Another shiver ran down my spine, this one a spark of excitement, as I felt the sensation of evading mild danger, solved by the form of this beautiful man, as I caught sight of his glorious green eyes, shimmering down on me.

"I'm sorry."

"Never mind, never mind. Come with me, Madame, we'll go get breakfast."

He moved me more then I moved myself, briskly sliding me underneath his arm, casually walking me away from the square.

Being in his arms felt fantastic, so much better then it should have felt, too much that I should have felt for a good man whom had only been making

Turning around a corner and onto a side street, he rushed me into an alleyway and into the eave of a bakery shop, quickly pushing me against the wall.

Confused beyond all belief, I glanced at him, questioningly, before attempting to voice my obliviousness.

He held a hand out against my lips, silencing me.

It sent another warm shiver up my spine, as he held my mouth shut and my thin body against the brick wall of the building.

In the moments that passed, us silent and pressed inappropriately for a to-be-bride and a stranger, I noticed how inconceivably beautiful he was, with his glowing green eyes, light skin, and curly mahogany brown hair, which laid uneasily on his head. I was painfully aware that he was strong, stronger then I'd ever sensed in a mans presence, as he held me as stiffly as he possibly could. I cast my eyes away as he began to glance at me up and down.

After a few moments passed, he pulled me from against the wall slightly, and looked me over carefully. "I'm sorry you got involved in that. It was completely my fault it got out of hand."

Sighing, I rubbed the wrist he had relinquished, stimulating the blood back into the extremity, "Please, sir-"

He abruptly cut me off, "Edward Mason, if you will Madame."

"Mr. Mason, please if you will explain to me who-"

"Who those men were?" He laughed softly, his face screwing up in a handsome smile, "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

"Oh really? What's that supposed to mean, Mr. Mason?"

"I don't believe I've gotten your name, Madame."

"Bella Swan."

He lifted my hand daintily to his lips, were they gently set a kiss to my gloved palm, "Well, Miss Swan, if you would care to go somewhere more, lets say private, we might be able to discuss that topic a bit further. But here, my lady, the doors have ears, the walls have eyes."

I glanced around, noticing that people were stopping near the alleyway to watch the exchange between this man and I, as we were pressed very close together in a crevice.

"Then shall we depart then? To a place more….. Appeasing?"

The only reply I received, was the mans extended arm, bared strongly to me, which I took willingly, earning several nasty sneers from girls who were just passing by.

"So tell me about yourself." I probably was treading in deep enough water already, why not try to get some leeway out? There was considerable trouble awaiting me at home, I was sure of it, judging by the sun on the horizon, marking it past the waking hour.

I sat down silently as he held the chair out for me, before taking the seat my opposite.

'Probably trying to be polite.' It upset me, this man's distance. It probably shouldn't, but it did all the same.

I had a stinging urge to lay my hand down upon his cheek, to feel the strength of the muscles there and see if they were as strong as they appeared, but I restrained my hands, wringing a bit of my dress between them instead, to distract them from the urges that would surely be discouraged.

"Well, we've lived here for years, my family and I. I was born here, in Chicago-"

"Oh my, were you really? May I ask you how old exactly you are."

He smiled delicately at my outburst, as I covered my mouth to disrupt the remaining words from pouring out.

"Seventeen."

"Really, I just turned seventeen last month!"

"What a coincidence." He smiled another silly smile at me, all of his teeth bared at me in the most adorable way.

"Where do you live?"

He chuckled softly, "My, you're a nosey one."

"I'm sorry. Its just…you intrigue me…"

"Its quite alright. A lot of girls are." He gestured one handedly towards the window, where several girls were inconspicuously looking into the room, at him no less, before looking away acting innocent.

It angered me, it was disdainful in my eyes, what they were doing.

I shouldn't be so mad, one of them might be his bride, he might already be wedded, and here I was, consumed in his presence and possessive over him, the anger fumed my hatred of what I knew would undoubtedly happen to me in only a few months.

His hand shook me out of my reverie, and I noticed that I had begun to dig my nails into the soft wood of the table before me. The very hand that distracted me took mine within his, enveloping them in a warm embrace.

"Please forgive me if I'm being too…forward."

"It's quite alright. It's refreshing, really. I don't get this sort at home."

He smiled once more at me, his green eyes glowing. "I live in town, like most of the city. You?"

I blushed. I doubted that he knew what he was doing to me. I felt the uncontrollable urge to spill my guts out to him and see if he would devour me, alive or other wise. I'd never gotten this before, not once in my life.

"That's alright, you don't have to tell me. I realize that you probably think I'll follow you home tonight, anyway."

"You don't seem to understand. I want to tell you everything, I just cant seem to. Every time I look into your eyes I get…"

"Flustered?" he offered delicately, looking me deep in the eyes once more, seemingly to test this fact of his being.

I stumbled with my words before disillusioning myself by removing my eyes from his gaze. I sighed before I nodded, glancing up at him through the curtain of brown locks that flowed between he and I.

The only thing that was between our gazes, or our bodies, apart from the flimsy table.

"Edward? Is that you, darling?" a woman's voice called from the door.

I turned, uneasily, to look at what had distracted him.

I lady stood in the doorway, a parasol in one hand, partially hiding her face, before she closed it and stepped fully into the dimly lit room.

Her hair was a golden brown, coiling on the top of her dainty head with a few ringlet coming down to frame her beautiful face. She had similar green eyes to Edwards, part from the ring of aqua around hers.

"Darling, who's this?"

"Mother, this is Bella Swan. Bella, this is my mother."

I internally sighed, relieved that this woman was not at all like those at the windows, but his mother.

She smiled at my politely with a slight inclination to her head, before she turned back to the man before me. "Dear when do you plan on coming home? It's nearly noon."

Once more he glanced at me, giving me a heart wrenching smile, "As soon as we're finished here, and I've escorted her home."

She nodded lightly, before turning, her dress making a swishing noise as she retreated past the doors into the midday light outside.

Sighing the beautiful man stood, extending his arm to me, before suggesting that we might leave. I, following his lead, took his arm as he led me through the throngs of men and women and children and animals that clustered in the streets towards where I had left my horse in order to take me home quite properly.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. I do however own the Naïve storyline, so do your self a favor, and keep your ruddy hands off.

Alright So I got to thinking about different Twilight Situations, and I decided to write the best one into a fanfiction, cuz, you know, I'm weird like that. Idea swoops, I write until nothing comes to me, I take a break, start a different story, then go back to the last one later.

Anyway, the situation goes: what if Bella'd been alive when Edward was still a human? What if they loved each other before the Spanish Influenza struck his family? What if she was rich and he was not? And so the story began….

I do have an AN to my readers however: Your Not Alone and Who's Your Boy will be the first story lines I have ever posted and finished. Its all a matter of when I can get the time to type up the chapters and post them, and only then will you get your fanfiction.

Anyway, thank you all for reading the first chapter of Naïve, I hope you enjoyed it. Please comment on the story so far, the more RVs it gets, the more tempted I shall be to update.

! Tao-Ri-Sarra !