Chapter 1: The Boy With No Face

He's a strange one, I thought as I peered at him from across the school's lunch room. This wasn't the first time I had caught myself staring at Edward Cullen. It was times such as these, when Jessica's insistent prattle about Mike, that I'd glance over at the table hidden in the corner to see the boy with no face. Or that's what we dictated him as he hid his appearance beneath dark sunglasses, a gray hoodie, and a surgical mask. My brain hypothesized different theories to explain his peculiar behavior. Maybe he was horrendously disfigured, maybe he was a germophobe, or maybe he was just ugly. Whatever the reason Edward Cullen intrigued me.

I watched him intently. He sat there, still as stone engaging in animated conversation with his sister, Alice, a tiny human with dark eyes and inky black hair. She let out a bell toned, high pitched giggle and waved her small hands around frantically. I couldn't tell if he was enjoying the conversation as his face was covered, but with the direction of his head inclined to her, I could guess he was at least paying attention to her.

"Stalking Freak Face again, Bella?"

I groaned inwardly as I turned around in the hard-plastic chair, tucking my feet underneath the table toward Lauren. She sneered at me, the corners of her lips upturned in a mocking smile. She still hasn't forgiven me for letting Tyler Crowley take me to homecoming. I had a hard time saying no, and when he showed up at our lunch table with a box of chocolates and a stuffed teddy bear, how could I crack his fragile ego, and decline him. Lauren, upon witnessing it happen, live and in action, vehemently huffed shooting me glares that rivaled with the intensity of the sun, sat there, arms folded pouting like a petulant three-year-old.

The entire table had its eyes on me waiting for an answer. I rolled my eyes.

"I wasn't staring," I said smoothly. I picked up my carton of milk fumbling with it as it toppled over the table and into Tyler Crowley's waiting hand. Curse my clumsiness. He grinned at me, which caused more pointed looks from Lauren, as he sat my chocolate milk back on my plate. "Thanks," I said opening it without hassle and letting the cool, creamy liquid quench my parched throat. "I was just wondering…" I trailed off grabbing a quick glance back at Edward Cullen. He was gone now, he and his sister, Alice. "Do you know why he," I stopped, searching for the right words, "dresses that way?"

"That's because Cullen's a freak," said Mike, as he twirled my now empty carton in his fingertips. I noticed, with some reluctance, that he was eyeing Tyler up and down, his Adam's apple bobbing in defiance. He too had a grudge against Tyler taking me to homecoming.

"He's not a freak," said Angela quietly. I secretly thanked her in the back of my mind. Angela was my best friend. So sweet, and innocent. It made me wonder how she ended up with our group, but then again, I wondered how I ended up in our group too. "Maybe he's sick," she started in a stronger voice. "You never know what a person's story is." She shrugged her shoulders looking down at her half-eaten pizza, obviously no longer wanting to be the center of attention.

"I think he has herpes," Jessica piped up nibbling on a spinach leaf. "I mean why else would he cover his mouth. The shades, totally understandable, I'd want to look cool if I were the new kid too, but the mask? There's obviously something he's covering up."

And more and more theories of the mysterious Edward Cullen arose. I didn't take part in the horrendous gossip, and I noticed with some gratitude neither did Angela. No one deserved to be gossiped about, especially one such as Edward Cullen.

Biology was a constant bore. I sat in the back with a table to myself with my nose in my book, chin resting atop the table top. As Mr. Banner continued about plant life, I drew spirals and loops in my notebook in blue ink. I was on my third loop when Mr. Banner announced, "Ah Mr. Cullen come in have a seat toward the back."

My head shot up quickly causing my notebook and Biology book to take a nosedive on the floor. He shuffled his way down the aisle dark shades perched atop his nose, surgical mask placed firmly on his face, and hoodie up. He stooped swiftly picking up my books and dropping them on the table before making his way to the opposite end of the table and seating himself next to me. I sat on high alert glancing at him. I'm sure to him I must have looked like a spooked kitten, my back was rigid, and I squeezed the pen in my hands so hard my bare knuckles were white.

He said nothing, merely cracking open his Biology book and turning to the page that was listed on the black board. I peeked at him. He was as pale as I was, from what I could see of his skin, it was almost translucent. I noticed reddish-brown tufts of hair spiraling out from beneath his hoodie.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I was so surprised I nearly fell out of my chair. His voice tinged with a hint of laughter, and the words he spoke were as smooth as velvet. I had been caught staring again.

"Sorry," I mumbled almost inaudibly. I didn't know what to do next so I merely clasped my hands together and stared down at them instead.

"I'm used to it," his velvety cream voice was alight with amusement, "though I didn't expect you to be so bold and stare blatantly," he mused. A low rumble shook from his stomach as he let out a laugh, "I'm more used to your cafeteria stalking."

Rats! I blushed scarlet. Caught again. "Er….I…Um…You see-''

He stopped me mid-sentence, "Hey," his voice was like a brake to my insistent word vomit. "It's okay. People stare. I get it."

I chose this moment to turn to look at him. He was looking back at me, face hidden. His head tilted in my direction the way he had earlier in the cafeteria with his sister, Alice. It took everything in me not to remove the glasses from his face. I longed to ask him why he remained hidden, but I knew even that was way too inappropriate.

"I'm sorry," I told him.

He cocked his head to the side, kind of like a dog when it was confused. "For what?" he asked.

"Staring," I muttered. "It's rude."

He let out another low chuckle. I noticed how my heartbeat seemed to increase at his laughter. "It's okay Bella." Bella? How did he know my name? I thought he was new here. When I voiced my question aloud he merely shrugged. "I'm just as observant as you are." The way he looked at me I could almost feel as if he were smirking beneath the surgical mask.

I shook my head and turned back to my book drowning myself in the vacuoles of plants rather than trying to figure out the mysterious Edward Cullen. After another forty minutes of constant nothingness from Mr. Banner's teaching, the bell had finally rung. I groaned. Edward Cullen chuckled as he sidled behind my chair, passing me and walking swiftly out the door. Mike paused at my table placing his books near my head with a loud thump.

"So, what were you and Cullen talking about?" He tried to be nonchalant about it, but even the simplest of humans could detect the slight urgency behind his words.

I lifted my head quickly and brightly told him, "The mitochondria of plant cells." He looked dumbfounded and before he started his inquisition I gathered my things and gave him a bright smile asking, "Are you ready for gym?"

He seemed to like that, even going as so far as to ask me to carry my books, which I politely declined. There was no need to give Mike any more hope than he already had. Inside I was crying internally. I hated gym. It was just a bad combination for the uncoordinated. I either hit people or got hit, fell over everything, and just made a complete mockery of myself.

Today we were playing dodgeball, and as one would guess I got pelted, putting my arms in front of me flailing like a seizing duck.

"Dodge Bella! You're supposed to dodge!" the Coach screamed as a bright red shiny ball conked me in the head and I took my place on the sidelines. I watched as Mike hurled the ball with perfect ease at my attacker successfully avenging me. He turned around and winked only to have Jessica smack him right in the back. She shot me a sharp look and then grinned at Mike.

"Never turn your back on me Mike!" she giggled. Her words had a double meaning.

Mike and I engaged in boring conversation as I prayed for the clock to tick faster, releasing me from the prison that was gym. It was the same old same old. Mike trying to pressure me into a date, me giving some lame homework excuse. Finally, after the third, "Sorry Mike that project in French is really tying me down," the bell rung. I quickly changed into my gym clothes and made my way to my pick-up truck. I was freezing. I yearned for the sunny days of Phoenix instead of the stormy Forks, but I knew my mother was happier traveling with Phil rather than being home with me. And Charlie was happier too. He needed a companion after all these years, and he and I were perfect together. I placed my frozen hands near the heater of the car and looked out my front window. I felt eyes on me. My eyes scanned the parking lot to my circle of friends who were too busy chatting each other up to notice me. That's when I saw him. Behind them he was standing besides an over-the-top Volvo looking at me. When I caught his gaze he continued to stare, and so did I. After what seemed like an awkward moment I gave Edward Cullen a little wave with my half-thawed hand. He didn't wave back, but instead looked at me for another second before opening his door and peeling away.

The drive home was filled with wet slopping snow slush. I hopped down from my truck, slipping on my butt in the process, and trudged my way up the steps. Charlie wasn't home yet, and I took the moment to take steaks out to thaw for dinner. It was quiet. I flipped on the tv, already set to a baseball game, and began peeling potatoes. With some surprise, I managed not to cut myself with the knife and set them to a boil. I got out the asparagus and sprinkled some pepper before pan searing them along with the potatoes.

Charlie had just stepped in when I was drizzling the steak with lime and topping it with steak sauce.

He sniffed the air. "Smells delicious Bells, whatcha cooking?"

I laid out the plates before him and he murmured appreciatively before digging in. I took a sip of my water before twirling the top between my fingers and asking, "Hey Char-Dad…" He looked up from his plate, a tinge of hurt in his eyes that I had slipped up and almost called him Charlie.

"Yeah Bells?"

"Um…you know Edward Cullen, right?"

"Yeah," he deadpanned, "What of him?"

"Well," I shrugged my shoulders, "he seems a little off don't you think? Why does he hide his face like that?"

Charlie placed his knife and fork on his plate and looked sternly at me. "Now you listen here Bells. Carlisle Cullen is one of the best damn doctors I've ever seen, and this town is lucky to have him. I've never had a problem with either one of those kids. People talk because they're a little different, but they're well behaved. Good grades, no trouble with the law, and they're well mannered, especially the younger girl. Don't you go making fun of Edward Cullen you hear me?"

My face tinged red, "Uh no Dad I wasn't planning on it. I…" I bit my lip. "I was curious is all."

"He probably has a good reason for it. Maybe he's sick Bells. Have you ever thought of that?"

Come to think of it the thought of Edward Cullen having some kind of disease never did cross my mind. I shook my head no, and Charlie harrumphed, picking back up his steak knife and digging in again once more. We ate in silence, and after I did the dishes, I went upstairs to work on my French project while Charlie watched the game downstairs.

I was halfway through when I fell asleep dreaming of red brown tufts and translucent skin.

I awoke with a start hurrying to put on my clothes and hop in my car in time for school. I was late, and Charlie had already left. I rushed to the bathroom brushing my teeth and throwing on the first thing I saw in my closet. I made it in time rushing up to Angela nearly knocking her down in the process.

"Woah Bella," she caught my arms steadying me. She gave me an easy smile. "In a hurry?"

"Oh no," I told her scanning in every direction around me. Even I'd have to admit I felt like a crazy person looking for Edward Cullen.

Angela twirled me around and pointed. "He's right over there." I started to question her when she interrupted with, "You've been looking at him in the cafeteria everyday for a week now." I could almost feel her smiling. Sure, enough Angela was right. He was pressed against his Volvo intently listening to Alice as she twirled and waved her hands in animation. I heard the tinkle of her laughter but couldn't quite make out the words she was saying. Soon enough the bell rang, and he glanced up, catching my gaze. I looked away quickly scurrying down the hall with Angela to first period.

I long awaited for Biology to come, and with a day of bratty Lauren, chatty Jessica, and the courtships of Tyler and Mike, I was happy when I walked into Mr. Banner's classroom. He was already there staring out the window. The lights caught his hair bringing out the red in it, and even though I couldn't see his face, in a way he was beautiful. I made my way to the table we shared sneaking peeks at him through my hair. The curve of his jaw, how one hand was tucked up underneath his chin, and his pillowy soft spirals of hair.

"Are you sure you don't want to take that picture?" he whispered. I jumped a little in my seat. Caught red-handed! Again. I groaned inwardly. I heard him chuckle beside me. His voice was as smooth as velvet. It made me want to melt. "I've chalked it down to you either think I'm a psychopath that you should be cautious around at all times, or I'm an alien."

"No," I said flatly, knitting my brows together. Why would he think that? I felt him look at me then through his dark glasses. I looked back at him searching the vast emptiness and coming up with nothing. He did well to conceal himself.

"Not a psychopath?"

"Nope."

"Or an alien?"

"You aren't very green," I gestured to his pale skin. Doing so my hand touched his and a zolt of electricity shot through me. He hurriedly pulled his hand back and placed it underneath the table. My stomach ached when he moved it. For some reason I felt….rejected.

"Then what?" he implored.

I turned my body to him full on and said, "I think you're interesting."

A/N: Annnnnd there you have it you guys. Thank you thank you. I hope you enjoyed the second chapter. Big big shout out to my ahhhhhmazing boyfriend for giving me this great idea for a story and letting me bring it to life. Please read and review. Reviews make me happy so please please pleaaaaaaaase. Okay enough begging I'm starting to look pathetic. Will try to update weekly. Thank you and goodnight! *mic drop*