Authors Note

So, this is my first story I've started writing that I actually plan on showing people, I'm hoping at least 1 person will read it :)

Please let me know what you think, even if you thought it was really bad! haha.

I loved the Twilight books...but, mosty because of the vampire part of it. I've read a lot of vampire books... and I've seen pretty every vampire movie and show. I love sci fi... I blame my mom :P I started writing this fanfic because I was thinking about how different Twilight would have been if the vampires were more like the ones in those stories...what if Edward wasn't a vegetarian to start with? What if drinking the humans blood didn't kill them, would he feel less like a monster? What if Bella hadn't met the Cullens in highschool, how would her life have gone? And then...the "what ifs" just kept coming....and I had to know! hahaha. I know I'm not the best writer, but...I hope it's at least interesting!

DISCLAIMER: Stephenie Meyer owns everything that relates to Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 1,

Red eyes and late night reading.

BPOV

Eyes, glowing red eyes. I'm running, always running from the eyes. I reach a dead end and I stare at the brick wall in front of me with panic. I'm cornered, I'm trapped. Chilling laughter flows through the wind. I can't breath. My heart is pounding in my chest. There's no sound, but I know he's coming. I feel a presence behind me, and I know it's all over, he's found me. I turn around slowly…

I awoke to the sound of my own screams. My heart was beating frantically, and I struggled to free myself from the tangled mess of sheets. I sat up quickly and clicked on the bedside lamp, the light illuminated my small cluttered room as I attempted to even out my breathing.

Just a dream I tell myself, it was just a dream Bella. But it felt so real! I can still hear the laughter ringing in my ears. I heard a sound and my heart jumped into my throat. I pulled the covers up around me, hugging them to my chest for dear life. I hear it again, and sigh in relief as I realize it's just the wind. I release my death grip on the comforter and laugh at myself. Only the wind.

I peaked over at the digital alarm clock on my nightstand…

11:05 a.m.

I brushed the hair sticking to sweat on my forehead away before switching off the lamp and sinking back into the mattress. I'm blinded by the sudden darkness and my heart starts to beat faster again.

I take a deep calming breath and close my eyes, but can't seem to get comfortable. With a huff I sat up slightly and pounded the pillow, taking out my frustration. I'm not sure how long I laid there switching from my left side to my right side, then flopping down on my back, scowling at the ceiling. I closed me eyelids. Red eyes. I snap my eyes open and roll over to look at the alarm clock again. 1:15 a.m.

I exhaled a deep breath and let out a frustrated growl, before climbing out of bed flicking on the light switch. I'm not going to just lie in bed staring up at the ceiling. If I'm not going to sleep I might as well be doing something productive.

I made my way out to my tiny kitchen and turn on the light. Eyes burning from lack of sleep, I yawn and make a pot of coffee.

I plopped down at the small table and waited for it to be done. I drooped forward, laying my head on my folded arms on the table.

I closed my eyes and the dream replayed. My body jerked upright and I fell sideways off the wooden chair with a shriek, my arms flailing as I tried to catch myself, before crash landing on the tile floor.

"Ow." I muttered to myself, standing up and rubbing my hip.

Blinking a few times to wake myself up, I poured myself a cup of coffee; I don't drink caffeine often because it makes me hyper.

After I finished drinking my coffee and cleaning my apartment thoroughly to kill time, I looked at the clock. 3:05 a.m.

I sighed and decided to go down to the store. I walked down the stairs carefully, trying not to fall down in my sleep deprived state. I haven't slept well in months. It used to be the dream would come once a week, but now it's been every night. Each time it's a little different, it's always the same piercing red eyes, but…unlike tonight, I'm usually able to calm myself down enough to fall back asleep.

I scanned the isles of books looking for something to read. I pulled out a dusty copy of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, collapsed into one of the comfy reading chairs I'd purchased for the customers, and began to read.

I'd already read it many times, but I was too tired to be picky.

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I was stocking the shelves with the newest arrivals when I heard my co-owner Angela come in.

"Bella?" She called.

"Over here." I called back, placing another book in its slot.

She walked toward the sound of my voice.

"Jeeze Bella, did you sleep at all last night." She noticed the dark circles under my eyes with concern.

"Um, not really, but don't worry about it. I'm fine." I assured her with a smile.

"Are you sure? If you need sleep-"

"I'm sure. I've had like 4 cups of coffee; I don't think I could sleep, even if I tried." I laughed.

"What time did you get up?"

"Well, I came down here around three a.m. after tossing and turning for two hours." I told her.

"The dream again?" she asked, but it sounded more like a statement than a question.

I nodded.

"Maybe you should talk to somebody about it." She suggested quietly.

"What are they gonna do? Listen as blabber on about my dreams, ask me about my childhood, and then prescribe me sleeping pills." I answered my own question.

"It might help just to tell somebody about it." She tried again.

"No, I don't need a shrink Ange. I just need to sleep."

"Ok." She put her hands out in front of her in surrender. "It was just a suggestion."

"So, how are things with Ben?" I changed the subject. A big dreamy smile formed on her face at the mention of her long time boyfriend.

"Oh Bella, things are great! I really think he's the one." She replied happily. I hugged her. Ben and Angela had the biggest crushes on eachother through high school, but they were both too shy to say anything. Then on graduation Ben walked, well, more like marched right up to Angela, and just kissed her…right there in front of everybody. They've been together ever since.

"Aw, I'm so happy for you guys!" I said, and I am, but I was also a little jealous of my friends' happiness. I've never felt the way she feels for Ben about any guy I've met. I mean there was Jake, but I've always considered him as more of a brother, and I haven't talked to him since I left forks after high school.

While I put the books that the customers took out back where they belong, Angela proceeded to tell me all about her perfect date last night, and I listened politely.

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After waking up to my own screams for the third time this week, I was-once again-reading in the store by myself, listening to the sound the rain made when it hit the windows.

My book of choice tonight is The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. I was just at the part where Dorian is revealing what became of the portrait to Basil, when I heard a noise coming from the front of the store. I jumped and my hand went instinctively to my heart. I closed the book with a snap, stood up and placed it slowly on the chair. I heard the sound again and looked around for a weapon…just in case. The only thing I could find was a thick dictionary lying on one of the tables. I figure if it did turn out to be an intruder I could throw it at their head and run. But knowing my luck, it would miss by and inch.

As I got closer to the front I realized the sound was a fist banging on the door. I looked down at my watch. It was still only 2:27 a.m. There's no way whoever's out there thinks we're open. I vacillated between seeing who was out there and calling the cops. Deciding it could be someone that needs help, I went to check. Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the door slowly-dictionary in hand-as my heart was beating wildly in my chest.

Reaching forward with my shaking hand I unlocked the door and opened it a just enough to see a young man-no more than twenty-standing in front of the door drenched from head to toe.

"W-we're closed…" I told him, my voice shaking slightly.

He looked up at sound of my voice, and his piercing black eyes locked on mine.

Suddenly a smile found its way onto his face and I was caught off guard when I realized for the first time just how handsome this stranger was, but I noticed that even though he was smiling there was something…off, in his expression.

I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights as I stared back at him, he smiled wider.

"Are you sure you're closed? It doesn't look like it…all of the lights are on…you're still here…it looks like you're open to me." He smirked, and his eyes were intense like he was trying to tell me something.

I blinked rapidly before answering "Yes, yes I'm sure we're closed."

I saw confusion and shock flash across his face like I'd just told him the moon was purple, but it was quickly replaced by a blank mask.

"Well, are you sure I couldn't come in? Just for a little while. It's raining pretty hard out there and my car broke down...please?" he pleaded, the same intense look in his eyes.

"I don't know…" I looked down and debated the dangers in letting him in, he didn't look like a psycho, but then again looks can be deceiving. My head was telling me not to do it, but something else inside of me was telling me to let him in. I looked back up to study him for another minute; he was looking at me with pleading puppy dog eyes. I sighed and opened the door wider to let him in "Fine. But only because you said 'please'." I told him.

He smiled widely at me and said "Thank you." but made no move to enter.

"Well. Come in then." I said awkwardly, stepping to the side and motioning for him to enter.

He walked into the store and looked around, dripping water on my floor. I sighed as I realized I'd have to clean that. He must have realized that he was tracking in water because he looked over at me apologetically.

"Sorry." He mouthed.

"Don't worry about it." I told him, putting down the dictionary I realized I was still clutching for protection.

"So, a little light reading?" he quirked his eyebrow. I blushed.

"I, uh, picked it up in case you were some kind of ax murderer." I said sheepishly. He laughed, and just like his smile it had an unsettling edge to it.

"And what exactly were you planning to do with that deadly weapon?" he asked mockingly.

"Throw it at your head." I admitted.

"Ah, and what were you planning to do if you missed?" he asked seriously.

"Run."

"I'm pretty fast."

"I'd only have to make it to the phone." I retorted.

"I thought you said I would have an ax?" he nitpicked my plan. I rolled my eyes.

"No, I said you were an ax murderer, I didn't say you'd have one on you."

"So I'm an unprepared ax murderer then? Wouldn't that make me just an ordinary murderer?" he questioned my logic, and I was starting to get annoyed.

All his questions were starting to confuse my tired mind.

"I guess…Oh, I don't know! Why are we even talking about this?!"

"I'm sorry." He said, not sounding sorry at all. "What would you like to talk about?" he asked politely, moving closer to me. He smelled amazing. His expression showed he didn't actually want to talk. He was leaning towards me… Focus Bella! I stepped back away from him.

"I'm going back to my book. You can stay here until it stops raining, or you can use the phone to call someone to pick you up. I don't really care. I said you could come in, I didn't say I'd entertain you." I said, going back to the reading area, walking away from his stunned face.

"And don't drip on the sofas!" I called over my shoulder. "Angela would kill me, she loves those."

I finished my book and decided to check on the man I'd left alone. In hindsight that wasn't my best idea. I walked back to where I left him. His tall frame was leaning against the checkout counter reading. At least he's not dripping anymore. As I was looking at him I realized how his wet clothes clung to his muscular body…Focus!

"Hey…" I trailed off when I realized I didn't even know his name. He looked up.

"Edward." He put the book down on the counter. "Edward Masen." He introduced himself. Edward…the name fit.

"Bella Swan." I mumbled.

"So, Bella Swan, what are you doing awake at…" he looked down at his watch. "Nearly 3:00 a.m.?" he inquired.

"I could ask you the same thing." I responded, dodging the question.

"Yes, but I asked first." He said with a smug smirk.

"And it's my store!"

"That is exactly why you should answer first. Don't they say 'the customer is always right'?" he quoted cockily. I crossed my arms and scowled at him.

"Couldn't sleep." I answered simply.

"Neither could I." he shrugged, smiling like he'd just told a joke.

"What were you doing out in the storm?' I wondered.

"I went for a drive to help me sleep, my car broke down and my cell couldn't get a signal in the storm. I walked around to see if anything was still open, saw your lights on…What book were you reading when I knocked?" Something about his story didn't seem right, but I decided I wouldn't pry.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray." I answered, he laughed darkly.

"Ah, the curse of immortality. I honestly don't understand fools that want to live forever, never changing, never moving on, just existing…" he said bitterly.

"I don't know, I don't think living forever would be so bad, I guess it would really depend on what you do with the time and who you're spending forever with." I disagreed.

"Yes, but at what cost? There is always a price to pay. What is living forever worth if it costs you your soul?" He argued seriously. A little too seriously for a hypothetical debate, I thought. I didn't have an answer to his question, and I'm not sure he expected one. As he was looking at me I couldn't help but compare him to Dorian. He's undeniably handsome, youthful, but even though his face was young and innocent, the look in his eyes told me he'd seen much more than anyone ever should.

"Couldn't you get a hold of anyone to come get you?" I asked, trying not to make it sound like I wanted him gone.

"No one to call." he answered simply.

"Oh."

"No worries, I'll be out of your hair as soon as the rain ends." he assured me.

"No, I didn't mean it like that! I just meant-"

"Bella, It's fine." He cut off my rambling.

"So, what book were you reading?" I asked, but I didn't give him the chance to answer. I picked the book up off the counter to read the title. The Count of Monte Cristo. I nodded in approval.

We talked about The Count of Monte Cristo for a while, and then we just started comparing opinions on books in general. I found that he hated most of my favorites, Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights…

"And what's wrong with Romeo and Juliet?" I asked. "It's one of the most famous romances of all time!"

"One of the many reasons I loathe it." he declared. "Everyone compares their love to that of Romeo and Juliet, when in reality they were just two infatuated teenagers!" I almost turned purple when he said that.

We were still discussing books when I realized the rain had stopped for quite some time. He must have realized the same thing because he stood abruptly and grabbed his coat.

"Well, I should be going, you'll be opening soon. I'm sorry if I've kept you from sleep." He said quickly.

"I would have been up whether you were here or not." I said truthfully. "It was actually kind of nice to have someone to talk to." I blurted out, and blushed when I realized how sad that sounded.

"I enjoyed talking with you as well." He smiled as he took my hand in his and brought it up to his mouth. "Goodbye Bella," he kissed the back of my hand softly. "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

I nearly fainted.

"Goodbye Edward." I breathed out.

He dropped my hand and left. I stood in place unsure of what had just happened. My hand was tingling where his lips had touched.

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Angela came about a half hour after he left; I was just starting to clean up the water on the floor.

"Oh my God, what happened here?!" she asked when she saw it, I panicked I wasn't sure if I should tell her the truth. The truth that I let a complete stranger, who was sopping wet into our store-late at night- and left him unsupervised near the register… Yeah, I think I'm going with a different version of events.

"I…um, I went to go get something outside last night-while it was still raining-and when I brought it in, it was soaked." I told her the truth-minus the details-as I continued to mop. I'm a horrible liar I try to stay as close to the truth as possible. I yawned, my eyelids starting to feel like they weighed a ton. I'm pretty sure I was sleep mopping at this point. She reached out to stop my movements, but I fought her.

"Bella…Bella! Stop! I'll clean it, you go take a nap. Now!" she ordered in a voice that said she wasn't backing down. I felt terrible that Ange would have to clean up a mess that I was responsible for.

"But-"

"No buts! Go! Sleep! You haven't slept more than two hours a night in days. Go" she took the broom from my hand and shooed me up the stairs.

"Ok." I yawned. "But if you need me-"

"Sleep!" she shushed me. I put my hands up in surrender and trudged up the stairs.

I fell into my bed where I slipped into a sleep coma for several hours.

I pried my eyelids open and was blinded by the sun streaming through my window. I groaned and shielded my eyes. I squinted at the clock, 4:39 p.m.

I hurriedly jumped out of bed, swearing under my breath. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and brushed my teeth.

"Angela," I hissed as walked down to the store. "Why didn't you wake me up?!" She was switching the sign on the door to 'closed', and it looked like all of our employee's had already gone for the day.

"I tried!" she defended. "I came up around twelve to see if you wanted lunch and you were…out. I said your name…I shook your shoulders…nothing. You were dead to the world, and you looked so…peaceful. I just…I didn't have the heart to wake you, ok? Sorry." She said and I instantly felt guilty for lashing out at her.

"No, I'm sorry Ange. It was so sweet of you to cover for me today, and I'm just being cranky bitch aren't I?" I gave her a hug.

"Bella, I really think you need to tell your doctor, or see a therapist…something. Not sleeping isn't healthy. I'm really worried about you." She told me.

"I know." I sighed. "If the dreams don't stop, I'll go see a doctor." I promised. I wasn't sure if that was a promise I was going to keep

Thank you for reading, next chapter... EPOV!