Chapter 1

Today was my day.

I was walking down the familiar halls of the Forks hospital to pursue my career in medical study. When my grandmother died due to cancer, I immediately wanted to be a doctor in order to save lives but even though I was good at what I did I still get queasy from too much sight of blood. My mom, who divorced my dad when I was fourteen, sat down with me and told me that I didn't have to pursue this medical career if it made me sick but I told her that I wanted to help people and being a doctor was my dream. Eventually she understood and gave me a half-order to get hired by a Doctor Carlisle Cullen, the greatest surgeon in Forks.

I didn't who he was but I gave my mom my word and winded up going to Forks Hospital to have an interview with him. I prayed that he would accept me into the program and be kind to me. True, I was only twenty-five years old but that didn't mean I was a damsel in distress. Nervously, I stood outside Dr. Cullen's door and smartened my hair and skirt up a bit before knocking.

A pleasant, warm voice said, "Come in," and I entered quietly. The office was enormous with many books that could have been in a library and a rosewood desk sat near the window that overlooked the parking lot. In the desk sat a handsome young man who looked about twenty-six or younger. He had pale skin with dark circles around his eyes like he never got a decent night's sleep. His blond smooth looking hair looked slightly ruffled like he had been running his fingers through it but his smile was disarming and warm like I was an old friend of his. His eyes were a wonder because they were topaz-colored and that really got me. How many people had that eye color? The answer was none. Despite the abnormality of his eyes, his face was incredibly handsome like a movie star's but more natural and it was even more handsome when he smiled. His lips were full and slightly pink—the only pink that was on his face—and they drew me in to kiss them but I was had more self-control than that. When he stood to shake hands with me, I noticed he was taller than my five-six; he stood about six-three—give or take a few inches—and even though he wore a loose fitting outfit I could see the natural muscles in his arms and legs. His waist was pretty trim too but it was hard to see with the loose sweater vest he wore.

"Hello," he said in a charming, slightly accented voice, "I am Doctor Carlisle Cullen." He suavely approached me and stood about three feet away from me. He bent down a little to look in my eyes like how you were supposed to when you talked to someone but I couldn't help but flush at his close proximity. Damn hormones! Why did you have to start kicking in after I left high school?

"I-I'm Melinda Jones," I said a little shakily but passed it off as nerves. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Cullen." I felt like I should have done a curtsey but it would have been stupid to do so.

"Ah, yes," he sighed, "the secretary mentioned that you would stop by for a job interview." As he inhaled to sigh, I noticed the hue in his eyes darkened but passed it off as the light in the room. "Shall we sit?" he asked before I could inquire of his eyes.

Before I could speak, he took me by the elbow and led me to a chair in front of his desk. His touch surprised me because it was as cold as ice and it went through my body like an electric current. What the hell was he, a human or an angel? I myself couldn't answer that question because he started firing questions at me like my family life, my school studies, and where I lived but they easy to answer. However, it felt like it was a date conversation because he was treading personal grounds when he asked of my parents' relationship.

"Are your parents happily married?" he asked, causing me to nearly choke in shock.

What kind of job interview question was that? "W-well," I said nervously and embarrassed, "they divorced when I was fourteen. Can we not talk about it, please? It's still a little hard to accept. It's been nine years but time can't heal all wounds." I gave him a flighty look, daring him to contradict me, but he didn't. Instead, he asked of why I wanted to be a doctor:

"Why do you want a job in the medical field?" His eyes were growing a little darker by the minute but I thought it was rude to point it out to him.

"Well, my grandmother died of cancer—spare me the sympathy—and I wanted to heal people and save them." I know my statement sounded corny but it was how it felt.

"Really," he breathed. "You sound a little bit like me. I've wanted to heal people for as long as I can remember." He didn't elaborate why but I got a pretty big picture that he just wanted to save people like me.

It got a little awkward when he bent in closer to my face than he should have but I couldn't help but feel heat flare up in my body and my cheeks were red, I knew it. It was like he was flirting with me or checking me out but was steadying himself from pouncing me like how a normal horny man would feel. In actuality, I couldn't wait for the interview to be over because I needed to breathe. The heat I felt made it feel as though the collar of my knit sweater was strangling me.

"Well," he said gracefully, gazing into my eyes with an unknown expression, "I am thoroughly impressed by your resume, Miss Jones. I hope you can be here at ten for work because you are now hired."

I felt the world stop like I was waiting for the punch line but after about five seconds I processed it and smile widely. Before I could stop myself, I leapt into Dr. Cullen's and gave him a big hug. His body was pretty sturdy though like a rock but that didn't stop me from hugging him.

"Thank you," I said excitedly, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Thank you like a million times! I promise I won't let you down, Doctor."

In response, I felt his nose tickle my jawbone like he was sniffing my perfume. I did apply some perfume but not so heavy that he could sniff it if he just merely pressed his nose to my neck. I immediately blushed when I felt his nose move across my skin and into my hair because what he did felt so…intense but I let my better half get the best of me.

Finally he released me and stared into my eyes intensely like he wanted to kiss me but didn't. "I know you won't," he said loyally, nodding appreciatively. "See you tomorrow morning, Miss Jones. It was nice to meet you."

I nodded back, smiling ear to ear, and waved at him before I walked out the door. There was something totally strange about the doctor and I wanted to know what because his eyes were changing color rapidly. No matter what, I would find out his secret or die trying.

…

(Carlisle POV)

Even after she left my office her scent still lingered and it caused that ancient burning to flare in my throat. I was disciplined in smelling human blood and I barely recognized the scent anymore but for an odd reason this girl, a small twenty-six year old girl I could crush with just one false movement, caused the old familiar burning to rise up again. Once again, I ran a hand through my hair, trying to control myself from running after her.

I wasn't Alice but I could envision myself approaching her from behind, brushing her chocolate curls away from her shoulder, and biting into that tender human flesh I felt when she hugged me. I could see her inquisitive light brown eyes widen in surprise when my lips would touch her neck crook. As sinful and wrong as it was, I could feel her slim yet mature body up against me as I tasted her warm human blood that I hadn't tasted in over three centuries. It sounded rather strange to see her skinny limbs jerk and struggle with my iron-strong hands but I could contain her. Her warm breath invited me in more but I managed to regain self-control but mainly because the door slammed open to reveal Nurse Jackie.

The middle aged woman seemed to notice my antsy behavior but was polite enough to just merely say, "Doctor Cullen, there's coffee in the lounge if you want any. Are you feeling all right? You look a bit peaky."

I wanted to laugh at her question but I merely shook my head before heading back to my paperwork. "I'm fine, Jackie," I managed to say eloquently. "I do veto the coffee, though. I'm not thirsty." For coffee anyway, I finished mentally.

She seemed to get the message that I just wanted to be left alone because she nodded and walked out of my office quietly to leave me to my thoughts. As I was thinking deeply, I sincerely wondered if human boys felt this way if it involved something like adult moments because this girl invaded my mind the way a pornographic star would a teenage boy's. It was hard to push her out of my mind but I managed because I was able to do my work diligently and left the office like I usually would.

As I drove home, I made up my mind to try and avoid this girl as much as possible but it seemed impossible because how much she invaded my thoughts.

A/N: Okay, this is my first Twilight story so don't kill me! Yes, I made a CC/OC story but instead of killing Esme off or any other of that crap, I just made it as though she didn't exist. I hope you like the story and I might delve into it further if I have the time. Please leave nice reviews!