Chapter 1: Running
Running.
That's all I ever seemed to do these days.
Running from Vampires, James and Laurent.
People telling me to run, that I don't belong in their world.
Well, I don't belong in my own world either, so where do I belong?
Edward told me I should be running away, that I should fear him, for what he was.
I promised him, and myself, that I could never fear him, for he was such a kind man, I nearly didn't see him as anyone but a… human.
Then I was made to have a birthday party, something that I was loathing, although a night with my Edward seemed fine, I would get through it.
Or so I thought.
I opened my presents, although when I got a paper cut, everything seemed to go quick.
Ravaged vampires snarling at me, as I looked towards my finger I watched drops of midnight red dripping down slowly to the white carpet, sounding like a pin drop as it splashed.
Then the rest is history.
Pushed into a glass table, in excruciating pain, ending with a guilty looking Edward.
It was only when he drove me home from the disaster, I roamed what happened over in my head.
My life had been in danger, by a paper cut, and I found my heart beating heavily, I could have died.
I was being driven home, I knew Edward could hear my heart, he kept stealing small glances at me, although I never returned them, staring outside the window, staring into the moonlight.
I always thought I would be… safe with Edward?
I could forget it, when James attacked me, that wasn't my family attacking me, this was completely different and so…real?
I feared for my life.
I agreed with what Edward had said… If I had a normal boyfriend, that wouldn't of happened.
I still loved him, of course, but it started to sink in.
I was dating a vampire, who thirsted my blood, and I wasn't taking this seriously, putting my love before my actual safety and life, family.
Blinded.
I watched as the car slowed to a stop the engine puffing then shutting off.
It was silent; I didn't turn my head from the window, I felt Edwards gaze on my back, burning me, it pained me not to look at him, but I was to lost in my own thoughts.
Without knowing, I felt my hand curling on the handle, opening the door to a burst of cold, bitter air, which stung my eyes, leaving Goosebumps on my body.
I quickly turned my head towards Edward, taking in his expression; he looked expressionless, like he was trying not to show his emotions.
"Staying over tonight?" I whispered, although somehow, I knew what his answer would be.
"No, I need to talk to my family, and all." I saw hurt in his eyes, but shrugged it away.
"That would be best." I stood there, and slowly leaned in to press a small peck to his cheek, and then closed the door behind me.
I didn't look back.
My heart was thumping manically as I ran upstairs into my bedroom, wincing when I hit my arm on the wall, and lied myself down onto the bed, breathing in and out, scrunching up my hair.
Why was I so stupid! I wasn't thinking about what I was doing, I could have died, my family could die!
I would put my family's safety first; I was endangering their life, right before my eyes.
I didn't know what to do.
What my heart was deciding.,
I didn't question myself, my heart knew what my decision was, my heart would guide me through, my head didn't know what was happening.
I felt a tear drop onto my pillow, and my eyes closed.
The next day as I arrived at school, I felt strong, independent, but also hurt, angry, sad and confused.
I walked into the parking lot, cradling my arm into my chest, only peering out the corner of my eye to see that Edward was staring at me from across the parking lot.
Then in a flash he was next to me.
"How's your arm Bella?" He was peering down at me through his long eyelashes, I wanted to kiss him, but being reminded of my arm bought in a wave of anger.
"Oh, good morning to you too," I muttered sarcastically, I knew he could hear, " I think you know how my arm is, if it was good, it wouldn't be in a cast."
I knew I was being harsh, but it slipped out, and only a small part of me regretted it.
Edward and me didn't talk for the rest of the day, although he kept glancing at me, I didn't pay him notice, although I wanted to turn around and smash his lips to mine, it seemed like months since he had kissed me, and I quickly licked my lips, like I could still taste his lips on mine.
I hope he didn't see that.
I shouldn't have done that.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward do the same thing.
Couldn't help but smirk.
School Ended, we didn't talk, I didn't know what I was doing, but my head was telling me to do this! Do that!
I wasn't scared of Edward, but freaked out over what happened.
I entered my house, collapsing onto my bed with a huge sigh.
I missed Edward, yet I still wasn't going to talk to him.
I needed a sign.
Something, to tell me what to do, in this mess.
When my head said, forget about the vampire birthday attack! It was a honest accident, you didn't die!
My heart said, Did that just happen? What if your family accidently gets hurt!
They both said, what's best for you and Edward, you love him.
I went downstairs to cook Charlie's dinner, when I looked outside my window to see the postman delivering some letters, slipping them inside the box.
I huffed, grabbing my coat, and opening the door to the fierce rain which hammered against me, I made a dash for it, grabbing the letters, pulling them to my chest tightly, running back to the house with them.
I shivered, as I took down my hood, and began to shuffle through all the letters, most that were addressed to Charlie, leaving them on the kitchen counter.
One piece caught my eye.
It was a small holiday brochure, with a picture of the beach and the sun on the cover.
I felt my self-sigh, warmth, I missed it…
I found myself flicking through the pages, not interested in most of the holidays, until I reached near the end of the book.
A place in Virginia called Lark Creek; it seemed small and homely, comfortable.
Pretty.
I could do with a holiday…
…Wait…Why was I thinking of holidays?
I sighed, I don't know…
I didn't know what it was about this place in Virginia that appealed to me, when I could go to the beach, but was I ever normal?
I decided to suck up to Charlie, cooking his favourite meal for him, putting the sports immediately on the television, being the good daughter.
I had looked at the prices, it wasn't that bad, nothing that working at newton's couldn't do, although spending any money made me uncomfortable, I was sure about this.
A break.
"Hey Bells, smells nice, my favourite" I watched as Dad hung up his gun, waltzing into the kitchen with a smile on his face,
"Yeah Dad, the games on by the way…" What game I had no clue.
He came and sat at the table with me and smirked,
"Thanks Bells, but me and the others at work watched it already, but…thanks…"
It began to get awkward, as all conversations with Charlie did.
"So, how was your day?" I asked
I watched as he swallowed his food then looked at me, " It was alright, not anything remotely interesting went on…wow this is great bells, you should cook this more often"
I smirked.
"So I was sort of expecting Edward to be here, as usual…" I watched as he frowned toward his plate.
"Yeah…homework…"
Time to ask.
I grabbed the brochure from the counter and slapped it onto the middle of the table, looking Charlie straight in the eye.
He stared for a second…" You want a beach?" He nearly spat out his food, but I laughed and shook my head.
"I wish, no, I was wondering if I could go on a holiday… to Virginia"
He didn't speak.
"I'm 18 now…"
"How long?"
"I haven't thought about that yet, I just wanted to ask you first…maybe a month"
"Who else were you planning to take?" He raised his eyebrow; I knew he was thinking that I was taking Edward.
"I would go by myself Dad."
He seemed to consider this, and seemed happier than a few seconds ago when Edward sat in his mind.
"The money, how much…"
I'd already thought this through, " Not much, quite small, for the flight and to rent a room in a hotel…"
"And your 18…" He murmured…
"Yes, I'm an adult, I think it would be good for me to see some other parts of America, some learning…"
"Why Virginia?"
Even I didn't know.
I just shrugged and smiled.
"Well it's okay with me Bells"
Thanks Dad"
I sat up off my chair and walked over to give my dad a kiss on his cheek, where he blushed, and I laughed.
I was off to Virginia.
