-11. Trouble

The last traces of daylight was long gone by the time I left the white house and started down the road. I ran silently--with flowing movement--through the trees far too quickly to be tracked by human eyes. With my heightened senses I detected scattering forest animals, running water in the distance, and the presence of someone walking in my direction.

A problem I solved with a minor course correction.

My mind reviewed the days events. I'd driven my siblings to school in the morning. Then I had to sit through class after class of boring lectures and assignments. And after returning home, spent several hours practicing on the piano. It would probably be the same old routine tomorrow.

Edward! Wait! I was almost to town when I 'heard' the voice. I came to a halt and gazed in the direction I had come.

"What is it, Alice? What did you see?" But I had no need to ask, I could see for myself--the vision in her head.

Her thoughts were focused on a scene of me in the dark, feeding on a human girl. I couldn't make out any specific details as to who the girl would be. She was unfamiliar to me. Alice approached gracefully, as usual, looking worriedly at me.

You can't go out tonight, she thought. It was an effective method of communicating.

I nodded. "I see," I whispered. But I wondered, what could possibly have caused me to attack a human? I spent hours around them every day. I couldn't figure it out.

"Okay, I guess I'll head back to the house then," I told Alice. As if I were terribly interested in going out anyway--There wasn't any place that would have entertained me for long.

"Alright good," she answered.

After returning home, I spent the rest of the night dwelling on Alice's vision. What had made me lose control? I was still gazing out from my bedroom, at the sky beyond the glass wall when a voice downstairs caught

my attention. "If Edward doesn't hurry up we're going to be late for school," Rosalie was saying. "We won't be late," Emmett replied. "None of us drive that slow," he laughed.

I changed into some fresh clothes and grabbed my books--props for

School--and darted downstairs.

Even without the ability to read minds I could tell that Alice and Jasper were already in the car…I focused on ignoring them. Apparently they wanted to use my Volvo for a moment of privacy. Sometimes having these extra senses, like now, was a bit awkward. I didn't like invading other's privacy all the time.

Rosalie and Emmett followed behind after me as I went to the garage, and then slipped into the driver's seat of the car. A moment later we were off to school.

The speedometer steadily climbed, to peak at 170 mph As the silver Volvo shot down the road.

Everyone was silent. My thoughts were on Alice's vision the entire time. I checked the minds of my siblings and noted that none of them were

concerned. Rosalie was absorbed in what she looked like, gazing in a compact mirror. Emmett simply observed the scenery passing by the window.

As for Jasper, he was irritated about his difficulty conforming to the vegetarian diet still--Alice was busy fretting about Jasper's problem. It was

just like any other morning.

How's Jasper doing? Alice asked me. She asked this every often since Jasper was the only member of the group who had much trouble adjusting to out diet.

"Fine," I uttered. There was no point in trying to be any more subtle than that--everyone could guess what I meant.

Alice smiled.

The gossip caught my interest before we'd even pulled into the parking lot. Not even Alice seemed unconcerned about whatever it was that held the interest of nearly every student on campus. I listened a little harder.

…Some transfer student…I hope she's nice…

..At least I think her name…That's what I heard…

…A new girl?…I hope she's pretty…

...Sweet I hope I can get a date with her…Show Brittany a thing or two…

So many students seemed to be obsessing over news of a transfer student. Nothing to be concerned about. Just another insignificant human child. I parked the car in my preferred spot My siblings all piled out, still quiet as usual.

For one brief moment I considered the idea that maybe, this new girl was the one Alice had seen in her vision. The one I'd have bitten…

I stepped out of the car.

"Better get this over with," I said to myself, and started off in the direction of my first class.

As I wandered towards the small building where I would find my class, my eyes shifted back towards the parking lot. A loud engine had caught my ear. I returned my attention towards the classroom door, and upon reaching it, turned the handle and stepped inside.

The room was brightly illuminated by dull yellow lights. Few students occupied the small desks which were organized into rows and columns--it was still a few minutes before class would actually begin. I went to the desk that I normally sat in, planting my books down on its smooth surface, and parked myself in the chair.

I counted the seconds, waiting for the other students to arrive and class to begin. I wanted it to be over and done, just get through the school day so I'd be able to escape to the white house and be myself again. School was torture. I considered suggesting to Carlisle about setting up a home school program.

The new girl walked in. I could tell easily, because I only recognized her face from the minds of every boy on campus. I had noticed the only available seat was the every one next to me; too bad for her. I looked at her. she seemed like just another human female, I thought. But then a fan shifted and blew her scent in my direction.

I nearly choked, as I placed a hand over my mouth and noise in attempt to null the smell. I held my breath. Venom filled my mouth and my hunger grew, but I remained still.

The new girl approached the table, and me. I was in trouble, I knew that if I attacked her then I'd cause a major incident for the family and then we would have to move. I didn't want that to happen but my mind was already busy calculating--planning--how I would have to purge the entire classroom of human life. There could not be any witnesses.

I watched in horror as the new girl found her seat, eyed me uncertainly, and settled down at the table. I grasped the edge of the table and tried to turn away. The monster within me demanded I feed. I felt weak, the scent from this human girl was intoxicating. I couldn't bear it…

To Be Continued…