Chapter One: Lost And Found

I just didn't understand it. Edward had been distancing himself from me more as each day passed. I've tried approaching him on several occasions, but to no avail, he either ignored me or changed the subject. He was good at dodging the issue, I had to admit that, but by now I knew exactly what he was doing.

***Flashback***

Alice and the 'older' Cullens weren't at school when I pulled into the school parking lot. I saw Edward standing next to his Volvo waiting for me as he did every day. I looked over at him as tugged me forward, meaning to ask where Alice was but decided to wait until later. He released my arm when I obeyed his silent request to walk. Edward was unusually quiet as we walked over to the bench beside the parking lot. We had not sat on the bench for long, when Edward saw Mike heading our way.

"Newton, I hear you are having some car trouble." Edward said as he left his seat beside me.

"Uh. . . . well my engine isn't picking up the pace. I have to rev it up a couple times to get my car moving. But I gotta hit the men's now. We can talk about it later." Mike stuttered from shock at the beginning but as he spoke he became confused. Mike glanced at me hoping I could explain as he turned to walk inside.

"Excellent, just the destination I had in mind as well." He barely turned his head as he waved at me. "See you later, Bella."

I watched, perplexed as they entered the building together discussing car parts I couldn't even prounounce. Jessica and Lauren were laughing not far away, taking turns between glancing at me and where the boys disappeared. "Whats the matter, Bella? Edward starting to prefer boys now?" She taunted in her nasal voice.

"Yeah, Bella. Is your hideous personality finally driving him to change teams?" Lauren sneered as she high fived Jessica before the two walked off laughing.

I was clenching my fists angrily, trying to resist the urge to follow them and beat them into a bloody pulp. Who do those two-faced bitches think they are anyway? They have no room to talk about hideous personalities-they have them! And where the hell is Edward? I fumed as I waited for either Edward to join me outside or first bell to ring.

I was walking to first period when I noticed that Edward had not emerged from the men's room yet. He had mentioned needing to go fifteen minutes ago. There was no way he would be in there that long. He's a vampire-he didn't even use the bathroom! What could he possibly be doing?

I froze in place when I saw him sitting next to Mike, Jessica and Lauren talking and laughing about something I couldn't hear. What the hell is going on?

All through the class period Edward studiously ignored me and focused completely on the lesson. Which was clearly a distraction because the lesson was duller than sitting around a deserted coffee shop watching a fly continously bump into the light fixture at a slow leisurely pace. This pattern of feigned attentiveness continued throughout the morning, growing increasingly annoying.

***End Flashback***

"Bella, I'm heading out! Be back in time for dinner at the earliest." Charlie called from the living room.

"Okay, dad, it will be on the table when you get home." I replied as loud as I could, closing the book I had attempted to read. The Lord of the Rings just didn't appeal to me today; I had too much to think about.

I decided to head downstairs to plan dinner and check the groceries. I opened every cabinet, double checked the freezer and overturned every nook of the fridge making absolutely sure I didn't miss anything. I went through the ingredients in my head a few times. I ended up with the meal plan of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, fresh hand-tossed salad, and a triple chocolate cake for dessert, because let's face it I had a lot of free time and I needed to keep my mind busy.

After I had everything spread out on the table and ready to serve I went to the living room to make sure Charlie's football games recorded as scheduled, knowing he'd want to watch them once he finished with dinner. He was a huge football fan, the man was a fanatic. He wouldn't miss a single game no matter who played and was known to scream angrily at the TV until he was red-faced when his team lost the ball or yell happily when his team scored.

I smiled fondly at the thought; the man was spirited I could give him that. He gave one hundred percent in everything he did, and I admired him for that. I picked up a large special edition of The Lord of the Rings to read until dinner time.

I tried to focus on The Lord of the Rings again while I waited to see if Edward would drop by to visit me before Charlie gets home. I doubted he would since he's been distant, but a girl could hope. I wanted to know now why he was being so distant. I went over the past week in my head, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There definitely didn't seem to be anything to cause this sudden change in his behavior. I shook my head, I should forget about it for now, I scolded myself. I wouldn't get anywhere by driving myself crazy trying to figure it out. I would have to wait until I saw him again to ask him about it. Problem is, I don't know when I'll see him next, so I have no idea when I'll be able to talk to him about this.

I sighed and threw the book onto the couch. This was useless; there was no way I'd be able to concentrate on the events of the book with my churning thoughts and emotions. I paced around the living room until I heard the door open; I spun around and sighed in relief when I saw it was Edward.

"Holy shit, Edward, you scared me. What happened to knocking?" I moved forward to kiss him but he very neatly dodged me, stepping back and clearing his throat.

"Bella, we need to talk."

"I thought you couldn't read my mind."

"I can't."

"Then we are thinking the exact same thing. I thought we needed to talk just a minute ago and then you show up at my house and announce it. How crazy is that?"

"Bella, we need to discuss some things. It may be a good idea if you sit down."

"Why? I'm fine standing, thank you."

"Sit down, please."

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked warily.

"We're leaving, Bella."

"Okay then. I'll just have to get packed and leave Charlie a note explaining my move."

"My family and I are leaving Forks. We have to leave soon; people are getting suspicious of Carlisle. Jasper is getting restless and so is Emmett. We need a new atmosphere." Here he paused for a moment. "An atmosphere filled with fellow vampires so it isn't so difficult. Of course I'm not taking you with me, you aren't good for me."

For some reason his last statement pissed me off. "You mean not good enough for you?"

"Bella, the bottom line is I want to leave without you. I don't want you anymore, I don't love you anymore."

"Get out! You son of a bitch! Get out of my house! Get out!" I threw whatever I could reach, wanting to hit him wherever I could. The items in reach included plates, vases, pictures, and of course The Lord of the Rings hard back edition.

In a flash Edward was out of sight. I didn't care where he went the bastard didn't want me anymore. What Rosalie told me was true; he was going back to Tanya. He didn't love me anymore, that was why he was distancing himself from me the last few days. I didn't want him and his family to leave but at the same time I was angry that he would say such things after everything we've been through. I couldn't take anymore; I had to escape the house that held so many memories for me. I ran outside and kept running despite the fact that it had begun to rain. I didn't care where I went as long as I wasn't in Charlies' house.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was sprinting through the woods surrounding the house, trying to escape the pain pumping through my veins and burning everything like acid. I kept tripping since the ground became twice as slick as before and I couldn't see the roots sticking up with the rain in my eyes. I finally gave up after the fifteenth fall. My arms were scratched and bleeding, but the rain washed most of the blood away. I didn't care that I wasn't under any cover from the trees and that the cold rain pooled around my form as I curled into a ball on the ground. I don't know how long I lay there but I guessed a while because my entire body was becoming numb.

I heard distorted voices in the distance and saw dim light feet in front of me. I figured I should do something; yell, move, throw a stick. Do anything to let them know I was here and still very much alive.

Something moved nearby and I knew I should be afraid but I was just so tired. A man with russet skin and hair black as the night itself emerged from behind the trees and carefully scooped me into his arms. He began to walk away, leaving me to stare at the spot I had just left. A part of me knew I should be very about a stranger carrying me away, but I didn't care. More voices could be heard up ahead, but I couldn't tell what they were saying. The man was telling them something, and it sounded like he was repeating himself. One question lazily floated around my groggy mind: where was he taking me?

People were rushing around and nudging each other when I was brought into the circle of the tikki torch light. Everyone turned to look at us and seemed to rush towards us in panic. I tried to concentrate through the haze that was creeping up on me.

Charlie was the first to reach us and guided my founder to the house. He held the door open while the other man carried me inside and placed me carefully onto the sofa. Darkness began to slowly creep on me from the corner of my eyes and I willingly gave in. When I opened my eyes again I was so cold, I ached everywhere and my eyes were having trouble focusing so everything seemed blurrier than it should be. I could feel something wet dabbing at my face, arms and legs gently; my vision slowly cleared enough so I could make out the form of a muscular russet colored body beside me.

The man seemed to be speaking to someone else in a slightly distorted voice though I could make out most of what he said. "I think she's coming out of it . . . . No, she didn't . . . . Possibly led . . . . Cullens . . . . Something about a new city."

"More ice, Charlie. The water is hot again, her body temperature is heating it too quickly; I can't get a good cold compress." Someone said to the right. I couldn't make sense of what they were saying, I was so tired. So cold.

"What's the temp?" A deep voice asked from beside my face.

"102 degrees and it's trying to rise. Hurry, Charlie."

"What happens if we don't get her temperature down soon?" My father asked.

Silence.

"What happens?" He repeated anxiously, his voice rising a pitch.

"Possible brain injuries or death. We won't let it raise, we're doing everything we can do to bring it down. Sam, go find another blanket."

The last thing I saw before darkness possessed me again was the russet skinned man leaving my side, his face full of frustration.

A/N: A huge thank you to Psychological Witch and Willow Jane for helping me rewrite this chapter! You guys are the greatest!