Property of an Obsessive Vampire

Chap 1

The insistent sound of tapping woke her up. With a heavy sigh, Bella lifted her head.

And was greeted to a room of twenty or so other teenagers, all snickering at her.

"I hope we haven't interrupted your beauty sleep, Miss Swan."

Her head whipped to the front of the room, where Mr. Banner frowned from behind the lab station. The room filled with laughter and Bella's cheeks flushed deeply.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, looking away. Her wavy, brown hair created a curtain from her and the taunting eyes.

Mr. Banner turned back to his demonstration and Bella yawned. She was having that dream again; in a dark, vacant playground with a beautiful man. Clearly he had been a teenager at the time, his features fresh and unwrinkled, but to her six year old self he appeared a young man, troubled. She never did understand why he looked so miserable.

A paper ball whacked the side of her head and Bella turned to where Jessica was seated, the peppy blond urging her to read the note. Away from Mr. Banner eyes, she opened it under the lab table.

GOING SHOPPING IN PORT ANGELES TOMORROW. UR GOING. NO EXCEPTIONS.

P.S. TURN ON YOUR PHONE! I HATE SENDING NOTES OLD SCHOOL STYLE.

Bella smiled and quickly dropped the paper into her bag. Jessica had been trying to get her to do this all year, but she had refused. Not only was Bella a goody goody, but she was simply unsure of her ability to sneak glances down at a phone with a teacher in the room. Knowing her luck they'd catch her the first day.

The bell rang and the students shuffled out of the room. Jessica greeted her at the doorway.

"So, what's up?"

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, I guess...?"

Jessica shook her head and rolled her eyes. "C'mon, fess up! There's obviously something up with you! You love biology. You're the last person I'd expect to fall asleep in class."

Bella flushed, recalling the embarrassing incident. "It's just stress," she murmured quickly. "I've been taking extra shifts at the diner and ACTs are soon-"

"Ugh, please don't remind me," Jessica groaned, leading the way into the crowded cafeteria. Forks high school was a rather small community with very few people, but they still managed to make the giant room feel small. "And you better get someone to cover your shift for tomorrow. I will not have any excuses for your absence."

Bella grabbed her usual sandwich and lemonade from the lunch line and then walked over to the usual lunch table. Mike, Angela, and Eric greeted them both with a grin.

"Arizona! Heard you fell asleep in bio." Mike chuckled, referring to her nickname when she was still the new girl.

"Ah, give her a break, Mike," Angela defended, giving Bella a sympathy grin. Bella thanked the girl with her own smile.

"Hey, I'm not judging or anything! I'd fall asleep too if I had Mr. Banner as a teacher."

"Does he still act like he's got a stick wedged up his ass?" Eric laughed along with Mike while the girls just shook their heads, containing their own giggles.

"Anyway," Jessica pulled the conversation toward her, pointing to Angela. "You are going with me and Bella to Port Angeles tomorrow. No excuses."

Mike and Eric fake gasped. "I don't recall being invited," Mike stated.

"That's because you aren't." Jessica pursed her lips. "We need a girls night, anyway. We'll probably try on clothes and buy tons of things. If you guys want to carry the bags, I'm sure-"

Eric lifted up his hands. "I'm out."

Mike smirked. "I'll go if you all try on some lingerie."

"Pervert!" Jessica threw a french fry at him with a teasing smile. Mike and Jessica had been flirting the past couple of months, but they were still at the awkward friend stage. Jessica was waiting for him to make a move. Mike didn't seem to be any time soon.

"We wouldn't let you guys within a mile distance if that were the case," Angela stated, picking up a piece of her salad, but the blush was evident across her cheeks.

Mike turned to Bella with a boy-ish grin. "C'mon, Bella. You'd let me by, right?"

An awkward moment passed as Bella ignored the comment, blushing as usual. "I don't think that would happen," was all she said.

"Ooh, rejected," Eric sang, earning a playful shove from Mike.

Bella managed to get Kristy to cover her shift, thanking her multiple times.

"Don't worry about it, hon," the woman said with the dismissive wave of her hand. "You're young. You deserve to have a little fun."

She changed into her usual outfit: fitting jeans, a shirt, and some worn out converse. No doubt Jessica would chide her about her lack of individuality, but Bella didn't really care. She was happy in her plain, comfortable clothing and nothing was gonna change her mind about turning to high heels.

"I'm going out Char- I mean, dad!" Bella called over her shoulder, but as usual the living room remained empty and untouched. Still, it was routine for her to say this. It made her feel less alone.

Jessica honked right when Bella walked outside, rushing into the minivan. It began to pour outside and she forgot to grab a jacket.

"Sorry about the ride," Jessica apologized from the driver's seat. Angela smiled back at Bella from the passenger's. "My stupid brother took my car for his date."

"He got his license?" Bella asked, shutting the door. She remembered meeting Jessica's younger brother once. He was cute, with light brown hair and dimples. He had looked so shy and awkward the last time she met him. Having a date already surprised her.

"Yeah, last week and he's been taking my car everywhere since. I swear if my parents don't buy him his own car soon, I'm gonna go insane."

"The van isn't that bad," Angela defended. Bella had learned quickly that the girl always seemed to be sticking up for something. It seemed in her nature to help a lost cause. "And it's definitely better then Ben's car. I can barely fit in it!"

"I'm pretty sure if you told him that he'd be offended," Jessica laughed. "You've been dating, what, five months? And already you want to criticize his life style."

"Not his life style. Just his car."

"Like that's so much better."

Feeling oddly left out, Bella stared out the window and began to doze off. Her dating experience was slim to none and whenever the girls conversations drifted to guys she found herself going quiet. It's not that she hated guys or anything, she just felt completely lost to the topic. And whenever it came up, her thoughts always seemed to drift off to her dream.

The haunting gold eyes, his unruly bronze hair, the pink of his lips against pale skin. It was like every year the dream grew stronger, the image clearer. It should have been the exact opposite, which puzzled Bella. Now she felt strangely drawn to a boy that didn't even exist.

But that was crazy and she knew it. It was best to forget about the imaginary guy and move on.

The drive there was long and filled with light chit chat. Bella was thankful when they finally found a parking space.

She unfastened her seat belt and looked to her companions. "Do you guys mind if I go over to a book store first?"

"What?" Jessica demanded, as if she were appalled. "I invite you for a girls night on the town and you wanna ditch us?"

"I just wanted to see if they had this book. I'll be quick."

Angela smiled. "I'm fine with it. We can meet up at the restaurant too. I'm starving."

Jessica scowled, but sighed. "Fine. But you will try on dresses afterward, and like it."

"Promise," Bella agreed.

They split up and decided to meet up in an hour, which would give Bella enough time to find the store and the book she wanted. It was drizzling as she made her way down the street and the sun was already going down. She was suddenly thankful her vision was better then most.

Running down the sidewalk, she bumped into a stranger.

"Oh, sorry." Bella flushed and quickly continued down the road. She hadn't met his gaze properly, but merely saw the curve of his lips.

"It's fine...Bella." The voice whispered from behind her. Heart thumping, she stopped and whirled around.

"Do I..."

But the guy had disappeared and she was alone in the frigid rain once more.