I'd just like to make it clear that in this story, Bella and Edward are both human. Don't worry though! The Cullens do come later and they are not human.
Chapter 1
Edward Anthony Mason
I slammed the door of my truck closed, little specks of red paint glided to the ground like snow. I inspected the edge of the door frame and sighed at the sight of a disappearing paint job. My father had brought this truck for me as a present when I first arrived here in Forks. As first impressions go, this car should have had a pretty poor one, but in my eyes this car had attitude. I had loved it at first sight. It's loud, roaring engine reminded me of a lion; it was fearless. And if challenged in a collision my truck would probably come out most-intact.
Of course this King of the Jungle was missing some kingly qualities such as it's incapability of going over sixty. It was a rather unfortunate discovery as it had left me stranded on a road some two-hour-walk away from the nearest telephone.
I gave my door a good-natured, well-earned pat, then; quickly readjusting my back pack, I made my way across the wet car park, over to the shelter by the entrance to the cafeteria where Edward and a group of our friends waited.
Edward and I had been best friends since my fourth visit to Forks, back in the days when it was routine to make yearly visits to my father, Charlie. I always dreaded those visits. Not because I didn't like catching up with Charlie, but because of those damned fishing trips. I never had the heart to tell Charlie I detested them, not after he give's me a new fishing pole every time I get off the plane. Not after seeing his red, shining, excited face. So I put up with the fishing trips. I did it for Charlie's sake. That is, until I met Edward. It was just by luck that Edward's grandfather, who was living in Forks, was sick and so they were down there visiting him. Just luck that Edward's father, who was also named Edward, decided to force Edward on a fishing trip to that particular lake on that particular week. Just damn good luck.
I had enjoyed Edward's company so much that his father and my father made a point of it to catch up every year and we'd all go fishing together. It certainly made the yearly visits much more enjoyable and I even started to count down days until I would see Edward again.
Edward and I stayed very close, despite the long distance between us. It always made me sad, those farewells where Edward would leave back home for Chicago and I for Phoenix. My mother, Renee, hated seeing me so depressed when I would arrive back home. She called my father and he called Edward's father and they all arranged another way for Edward and I to catch up more than just once a year. It was finally agreed that Edward and I would call each other once every weekend and in between that we could email each other.
I remember the joy I had felt when receiving an email from Edward telling me that his family were moving to Forks! They were moving there to be closer to his grandfather who apparently was entering his last few months of life. After hearing this it had always made me secretly long to move to Forks but the thought of leaving Renee in Phoenix to cope by herself had cancelled that desire. Until she met Phil, a handsome, young, small league baseball player. Phil moved around a lot and Icould see what it was doing to my mother. I was holding her back, preventing her from staying with Phil. This was the small push I needed for moving to Forks.
I had announced my plans to Renee, and of course she had been disappointed, but I could see the want in her eye. The need for being with Phil. The motherly part of her didn't want me to go, wanted me in arms reach at all times, but the other part of her, the part that wanted to live its own life, that part wanted her to let go and fulfil her own personal desires.
"Hey everyone," I said as I neared the group. Only one person really noticed me, and the smile on his face was radiant with contentment at my arrival.
"Bella, you made it!" He looked down at his watch. "Just in time, too. I was getting worried that you weren't going to show!"
I laughed and gave him a bump on the knuckles as was customary when we greeted each other. "So, how was detention yesterday?" I asked, pulling my back pack off my shoulders, dropping it to the ground by my feet and then leaning on the table that Edward was sitting on. Edward sighed and shook his head.
"Oh, you know the usual," He looked up at me and rolled his eyes. "Had to write a bunch of lines explaining what I did wrong."
I looked at him seriously and raised one eyebrow. "Then I hope you've learnt your lesson. You'd better not do it again."
Edward lowered his head to the ground, mocking guilt. "I will never, ever kick a soccer ball at the PE teacher again," He looked up at me, his eyes glinting with mischievousness and the corners of his lips pulled up in a dangerous smile. "But Bella," he said innocently, "it's not my fault he just happened to be standing right where I kicked the ball, and it's not my fault he's such a git. How can I honestly know where the ball is going to go exactly? And what's more, how can I help if it hits him in the lower region? You can't expect my aim to be that accurate."
I snorted and gave him a gentle shove to the shoulder. "You're the best soccer player in the school. You could aim the ball at someone's little finger and not miss!"
Edward laughed and stood up, flinging his back pack over his shoulder. "Really, one of these days, you might actually make me blush!"
I bent down to pick up my own bag. "Wouldn't that be a nice change," I muttered under my breath.
"What's that?" Edward asked.
"Nothing," I said quickly and started walking to catch up with the others. Edward followed behind me, searching for something in his bag, distracted for the moment.
"So Bella," Mike said to me. "You wanna come hang round with us after school?"
I bit down on my lower lip and smiled slightly. "Who's us?" I asked.
"Well, me, Laura, Jess, Tyler, Edward and maybe Angela."
I thought for a moment, wondering if I would be bothered by the end of school. "We'll see," I said finally, figuring that was a fair answer. Mike seemed satisfied and nodded his head.
The rest of the day went by slowly, and it was a huge relief when we were finally dismissed, however I still had to let Mike know if I was up for hanging out with everyone later. I could say I had a lot of homework and just go home and read a book. Or I could go and just mainly spend the time just joking around with Edward.
Both options were equally as tempting and it wasn't until Edward came up to me and asked, "So you coming with us all after school today or what?" that I made up my mind.
I gave him a wide smile and said, "Of course."
Edward smiled back, obviously glad that I was coming and we both walked outside to the car park where Mike and the others waited by Tyler's van, listening to some music.
"Honestly guys," Edward said in disapproval, "Greenday?"
I laughed aloud and the others scowled at Edward's teasing.
"Hey," Tyler said, "Didn't you, at your thirteenth birthday party when I brought you their new album, say to me "Tyler, this is exactly what I wanted!"?" Tyler looked at everyone and raised his eyebrows.
But Edward wasn't falling for it.
"Hmm, I also remember you tried to hug me after I said that."
"Tried to?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.
Edward shrugged. "I shoved him away and told him to go home and think about his sexuality."
Everyone burst out laughing and Tyler's face turned a deep red colour. I almost felt sorry for him.
"Jeez guys, it was four years ago alright?" Tyler said defensively, but it only made us all laugh harder.
Mike was the first to calm down and he stood up with a slap to his knee. "Alright you bunch of loser kids, let's get going before it gets too dark."
"Who are you calling a loser kid?" Edward asked, pretending to be insulted. I walked past him, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
"You had to find out sooner or later. I'm just sorry it had to be like this," I gestured to our audience who laughed as they one-by-one got into the van.
It was quite crowded in the van. Edward and Tyler sat up front. After a vicious battle of some vulgar language and some minor physical violence, Edward had won driver's seat.
The rest of us sat in the back with Angela sitting on Jess's lap and Lauren sitting on Mikes. Lauren didn't seem to mind. She kept giving me little sidelong glances, with a smug expression on her face. She didn't seem to understand that I didn't want to sit on Mike's lap.
"Where are we going anyway?" Jessica asked after a good ten minutes of driving.
Tyler looked into the back and said, "Where do you think we're going?" He seemed disappointed. "We're going to the beach!"
"But it will be dark," Lauren said. "What's the point in going to the beach if there's no sun?"
"I find the beach is really relaxing at night," I offered. "It's so quiet with just the sound of the waves."
Lauren glared at me, her mouth in a hard line. "But Bella, obviously we're not going there to relax." She had said my name with venom and pronounced it more like Bell-aaah.
Edward was always protective of me, and whenever Lauren would take a snap at me, he would always come round with a band to tie her mouth shut.
"Tyler and Mike thought this would be a good night to relax after yesterday's exams. It's the one night this week it's not supposed to rain."
"Still it seems pretty pointless―"
"Carpe Diem, dear friend," Edward interrupted, turning into a long driveway that would lead us to our favourite beach hangout.
Lauren frowned and leaned to Angela's ear. I only just heard what she said.
"What does Carpe Diem mean?" She had asked.
I felt only too obliged to answer her question, "It means 'Seize the day'." I said, watching her don't-you-dare-outsmart-me-in-public-again face with amusement. Of course, I practically outsmart Lauren everyday.
I caught sight of Edward's face in the front review mirror and I could have sworn I saw him smile if only for a second.
"We're here!" Tyler announced as Edward parked the car.
We all got out, grateful to get the cramps out of our legs from being squished together for so long. I lifted my arms up in the air and took a deep breath. Suddenly someone grabbed me around my stomach and lifted me up, spinning me around. I squealed with both delight and surprise.
"Put me down," I laughed, slightly dizzy. Whoever it was placed me down and held me supportively until I was steady. I turned around to face Edward. "Oh!" I exclaimed, jumping from fright.
Edward frowned. "Hey, I'm not that ugly."
I played along. "You still haven't fixed your mirror?" I sighed, "Well, it's probably for the better."
Edward laughed and shoved me slightly. Actually, a little harder than he meant to as I stumbled back and my heel caught on a rock. I fell to the ground on my butt.
"Ouch!" I cried when I landed. Edward's face was shocked.
"Bella, are you alright?" He was worried.
I rubbed the side of my butt. It was going to bruise.
"I'm fine," I assured him and raised my arm to him. He took it and pulled me to my feet.
"I'm so sorry," He said but I waved a hand dismissively.
"No serious pain, so no foul," I said. Edward smiled slightly but I could tell he still felt bad. I decided to just let it go; he would get over it if he knew I had.
"Let's go down, shall we?" I suggested to the group. Several nodded and mumbled an agreement, so we started along the grassy track that led down to the sand and ocean. Mike and Tyler walked up front with the blankets, coke and packets of marshmallows.
"Getting kind of dark isn't it?" I said to Angela.
She nodded but kept her eyes to the ground. "Yeah," she said as she rubbed her arms for warmth. "And kind of chilly too," she added.
"Then I guess it's a good thing Mike brought the blankets," I said, trying to make conversation.
Angela is a pretty easy friend. Talking isn't a requirement of hers; she's that sort of person you can sit around with, not say a word, and still enjoy her company.
"Sure is," She agreed.
Shortly, after another two minutes of hiking in silence, we reached the sandy beach. I quickly slipped my shoes off and took a moment to just stand on the spot and close my eyes; I loved nothing more than to feel the sand between my toes, a slight breeze to keep me cool, and the distant sound of gentle waves.
I lifted my arms up by my side like a bird… pure freedom was how it felt.
"What are you doing?" Edward's voice came from behind me.
I didn't move, didn't even open my eyes. "I'm flying," I said quietly, smiling as the calm wind blew in my face.
"Are you sure?" Edward said, "You don't seem to have left the ground yet."
I dropped my arms back down to my sides and opened my eyes to glare at him.
"It's called an imagination, Edward." I said, pretending to sound exasperated.
Edward smiled slyly. "Oh, I know. Believe me, I have one."
I laughed. "Right… no, that's not an imagination."
"Whatever," Edward said, putting his hand on my lower back and pushing me towards the others. An odd feeling coursed through me when he removed his hand and for a second I wanted nothing more than to have him place it back there. "Let's go see how the others are coping with this fire."
"What fire?" I asked, confused.
"Exactly," he said.
Mike and Tyler were crouched over a pile of sticks; all positioned so they were leaning against each other like a tepee. A bunch of matches lay beside the tepee, all blackened after use. I looked at the matchbox to see that only a few matches remained.
"Are they all the matches left?" I asked, worried.
Mike mumbled, "Yes," as he tried to light stick on fire ones more.
"I think I see what the problem is here," Edward said.
Tyler twisted around to look at him, "And?" he asked, frustrated.
"Leaves," Edward said. "Add some dried leaves into your little pile of sticks and you should have a fire going in no time."
Tyler stood up and brushed off his hands on the side of his legs. "Right then, I'll go get some." He said before walking off towards the track we had come from.
I suddenly realised Jess and Lauren were missing. Angela lay on her back on a blanket, just chilling under the setting sun.
"Where are the others?" I asked. Edward looked pointedly towards the ocean where I saw Jessica and Lauren walking in the water's tide, shoes in hand.
"Oh ok," I said, returning my attention to Mike and the fire.
I noticed Edward was still watching the other two.
"Edward?" I asked.
His eyes didn't move. "I think," he stopped speaking and I waved a hand in his face. He flinched, finally snapped out of his trance and then looked at me and smiled. "I think I'll just go and see how cold the water is."
"Oh… alright then," I was disappointed, but then I smiled. "Hey, I'll come too."
Edward bit his lower lip. "Well, I'll probably only be, you know… you'll probably find it's a waste of time, like…" He sighed. "Sure, if you like."
Something hit me in the stomach, winding me. Did my best friend…? Did he just…? My mind couldn't even think straight. I reached for a coke.
"You know what?" I said, my eyes looking anywhere but his face. "You go ahead. I'll catch up later," I said, and then added a stiff, "maybe." I lifted the coke up in a cheers fashion and opened it, taking a sip.
"Yeah, alright, cool." He said before jogging off towards Lauren and Jessica.
It all came to me then. He wanted to be with them. That was why he didn't want me there. Edward was a good guy; he wouldn't turn his back on me. If I was there I'd probably just get attacked by Lauren and he'd protect me, stand up for me.
And of course that would completely screw his chances with either of them.
But why on earth would Edward ever be attracted to Lauren? I hated Lauren, and I had always been fairly certain Edward wasn't too fond of her either.
So it must be Jessica. It had to be.
Of course that would make…some sense. She was a good friend, not including her incapability to keep a secret, and she was a nice person. I could understand why a guy would be interested in her.
But this guy here was Edward; my Edward.
My best friend.
Jessica Stanley was a good person, but was she good enough for Edward Mason?
Tyler returned at that moment, his hands full of dry leaves.
"About bloody time," Mike said, grabbing the leaves from his hands and dropping them onto the pile of sticks.
"What took you so long?" I asked Tyler.
He shrugged. "Just had to walk kind of far," he said.
I nodded and then laughed.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
I reached out and pulled something from his hair. "You had a leaf in your hair," I showed it to him and he scowled.
"Yes!" Mike cried out, as the tepee was suddenly engulfed by a flame. I felt myself relax as the heat from the fire radiated onto my skin.
Mike pulled out a packet of marshmallows and picked up a stick that was lying nearby and stuck a marshmallow on it.
"Hey, you three," Tyler called out to the three beach romantics. "We got fire and marshmallows! Come get some before it all runs out!"
I watched with a weird feeling in my stomach as Edward raced Lauren and Jessica over to us. Lauren stopped suddenly and knelt over to examine her foot. Edward noticed and jogged back to see what was wrong when he suddenly had a pile of sand dumped on his head.
Lauren ran screaming towards the group, Edward not far behind. Jessica arrived first and was bent over in a fit of laughter. Edward and Lauren were both breathless by the time they reached us.
"Jeez you three," Mike said, shaking his head. "Get your breath back and help yourself to some of these marshmallows."
We all relaxed around the fire, telling funny stories, eating melting marshmallows and watching the sun set until the leaves ran out and the flames died around two hours later.
We walked back to the van, the trip taking longer than it had on our arrival on the current situation of it now being dark.
It never left my attention that Edward was walking unnecessarily close to Jessica. So close that his hand would graze hers here and there. Nor did it leave my notice that he hadn't said a single word to me since he had come back from his walk with those two. I was suddenly insignificant in his eyes. Not that those eyes had even looked at me since, either.
On a particular steep step, I watched in repulsion as Edward placed his hand on Jessica's lower back and helped give her a gentle, steadying push as she stepped up.
I pulled at the collar of my shirt, realising that it was too tight and was making it hard to breath. I must have been really distracted not to notice it earlier.
We reached the van eventually. While the others got into it I turned around to take one last look at the ocean. It was very dark, and the only things that gave away the vast amount of water in front of me was the sound of the waves crashing against distant cliffs and the reflection of the little light the moon and stars gave off as it caught on certain angles of the waves.
"Are you coming or what Bella?" Edward asked, his head leaning out of the front passenger seat window.
"Sorry," I mumbled. "I just got… distracted." I walked over to the van and paused.
Edward laughed. "Looks like you're going to have to sit on Tyler's lap."
I panicked. "No, I'm too heavy. I'll crush him." I spoke quickly; my voice getting slightly higher pitched ever word.
Tyler scoffed, "As if Bella, you're probably the lightest here!" Lauren glared at him and then at me. How dare she be compared to me, it said.
"Fine," I said, and got into the van and sat on his lap.
Tyler decided to make things very awkward for me just then; he wrapped his arms around my waist. I held my breath for a moment, unsure of how to react.
Mike was driving this time, and he started the engine which roared to life. It was not as loud as my truck, though it could put up a decent fight.
The trip could not have gone any slower. I closed my eyes most of the time, wanting nothing more than to see the driveway of my house. Only occasionally would I open my eyes to make sure we were still moving.
We arrived at Lauren's house first. I didn't miss the murderous look she threw at me before getting out of the van.
I tried to move over now that there was a free seat in the car but Tyler's arms refused to move.
"Stay," he said with a sly smile on his face. "You're keeping me warm."
I looked away and grimaced, disgusted.
Angela was next, and then me.
I got out of the car, resisting the urge to kneel over and kiss the ground. The beautiful, welcoming, wonderful firm ground. I said goodbye to the others, and shut my door. Edward got out of the car and, for a moment, I thought he was getting out to give me a proper goodbye, say, a hug or something. But he gave me nothing more than a small wave and a smile before getting back into the van to sit next to... Jessica.
I swallowed, something rising up in my throat. My heart pounded in my ears, and my hands started to shake slightly.
And I realised something I should have realised a long time ago.
I watched the van back out of my driveway before I ran inside the house, ignoring Charlie who sat in the living room watching some game on TV, a beer in his hand, and upstairs into my room. Once inside, I locked the door and leaned my back against it, closing my eyes and giving a last attempt at ordering my scrambled mind.
Dare I admit it? Dare I say these words?
I had lied to myself for too long now. The truth was there, hiding, and I had subconsciously known about it all along, only I had been too dull-witted to notice.
I sank to the floor, my knees weak and giving in to gravity. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes as the words etched themselves into my mind.
I am completely in love with Edward Anthony Mason.
I can't say the updates for these chapters are going to be regular as I am working on two stories at once and I have promised myself to make these chapters for this story reasonably long and so they take a while to write.
Please review, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!
