The Wayward Vampire

CHAPTER 1: Along came a . . . vampire?

I woke early in the morning to a slight headache. I laid in bed with my eyes closed until it went away. Well, until it lightened a little. For some reason I had the distinct feeling that something was going to happen. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. I just knew something was going to happen. I let the thought go and got ready for school.

Charlie had already gone to the station so it was okay that I skipped breakfast that morning. I was late enough already. Unsurprisingly, before I had time to grab my book bag from beside the front door, Edward was impatiently, but politely knocking on the door. Opening it and seeing his face made my breathe catch in my throat. I was still a little light head when he bent down to place a soft kiss on my lips.

Smiling at my breathlessness he said, "Ready to go?"

"Yeah. Just let me grab my coat." Before I even had time to move, he had my coat, book bag and me in his arms and was carrying the bundle to his car. I wished that I could get used to his inhuman qualities, but no matter how hard I tried, he always seemed to take me by surprise, as if it were the first time he had done whatever it was that he did at that particular time. Rather than question my lack of acceptance to the inhumane ways of my boyfriend I simply enjoyed the feeling of being in his arms.

"Hello, Bella!" Alice's high pitched bell-like voice trilled the same greeting every morning and still, like Edward, surprised me.

"Hi, Alice. What's up?"

Smiling brighter than usual (which was saying something) she simply said, "Nothing."

A little afraid by what that meant, I slide into the front seat beside Edward and out of nowhere the thought that something was going to happen, again swept over me.

"Are you alright, Bella?" Edward's words were laced with worry, and when I turned to him I saw that his face was a flurry of concern. Was my face that easy to read?

After considering what his reaction to my thoughts might be, I simple shook off the feeling and told him, "I'm fine," and left it at that.

I was growing accustomed to the stares that always seemed to follow me. Although lately the students of Forks High were loosing interest in Edward and I's relationship. Some people on the other hand, like Mike Newton, had never lost hope that he would break up with me. Or I him. Of course I don't have the heart to tell him. If Edward had his way though, poor Mike would have been told, not gently, just by the way, to buzz off. Jealousy gets the best of us all. Even sexy vampires.

All of the sudden the two of them were on alert. The moment the two of them looked up, a pale, petite brunette rushed passed us. Her skin was freezing as her hand brushed mine in her hurry. Even though it was obvious Edward wanted to keep me away from her cold touch, he wasn't quick enough to grab me before it happened, which was astonishing considering how fast he was.

"I don't know!" Edward hissed, answering something that Alice had thought.

Then I got it. The brunette was a vampire! How did this happen?

"I don't know!" Edward repeated.

I was so frightened and caught up in my own thoughts (which were coming a mile a minute) that I hadn't even realized I was speaking out loud.

"Edward what are we going to do? We have to tell the others, we have to grab her and find out why she's here. We have to –"

"We just have to stay. We'll tell Carlisle when school ends. For now I'll keep my mind on her. We have to protect the students here."

"Edward . . ." I began.

"I know Bella. We'll find out what this is about.