Chapter 2: Trouble

The town was small but very interesting. I had never been out of Volterra, and I haven't ever been in town. It was all so new and interesting. There was this thing called a dry cleaners and an arcade. The dry cleaner was just a place for humans to wash their clothes. I had never seen one. My clothes were never dirty and when I went to hunt I wore a black simple piece of fabric to hide in my room.

The arcade was beautiful. All the noises and sounds. The arcade was full of children, some young others looked in their teens. I thought this was strange since school was in session. Maybe theses children were off for the day.

I walked up behind a boy that was shooting a plastic gun on a television screen. I watched him. There were humans with their heads falling off and walking very slow. They looked like they were covered in scraps of cloth. I read the name of the game: THE MUMMIES RETURN.

I giggled. The absurdity of it all. There were no such things as mummies. Especially ones that were killed by such small things as guns. The boy must have heard me giggle because he turned. When he saw me he grinned. He was cute, with spiky blonde hair and baby blue eyes.

"Hey, do you know how to play this game?" he asked. I smiled and shook my head. "I'll show you its really easy." He took me and placed me in front of him. He went behind me; the boy was at least nine inches taller than me.

He picked up the gun and gave it to me and then placed his hands over mine. "You see you have to point the gun at the mummies and then you just pull the trigger." He pointed the gun at the mummy and he pushed my finger down in the trigger.

The mummies head blew off. I squealed in delight and shock. He chuckled and pointed it at another one. We played until we were killed by the queen mummy. The boy pulled away and I couldn't stop smiling. That was the most fun I'd had in a long time.

"That was amazing. They don't have games like that were I'm from. Hi, I'm Gwen." I stuck out my hand to him. He took it without hesitation.

"I'm Mike Newton. Are you new?" I nodded.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" I asked. Mike looked shocked then he looked at his watch.

"Your right. I was going to just stay here to ditch math but I got caught up playing with you." He smacked his forehead with his palm. "It's almost lunch now."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make you late." I said worriedly. I didn't want him to get in trouble; he was so nice to me.

"No, it's not your fault." He thought for a moment. Then his eye lit up and he turned to me. "Do you want to help me? I could say that your car broke down and I had to take your car to the mechanic. And it was late before we got to school."

I nodded. "Of course. Lets got to school." He took my hand and led me to his car. His hand was big around mine. It felt so fragile, so breakable. I had to apply the lightest pressure just so I wouldn't crush it.

When we got to the school he led me into a small office with an old lady behind a desk. She greeted us with a warm smile. "Hello Mike, how may I help you?" she asked. Mike explained our story. He said I was coming in to sign up for school when my car broke down. He was a really good liar and the lady fell for it.

She excused him from all his classes and told him to get to lunch. He thanked her and we walked to a big building. When we stepped inside it was empty except for a bar with human food on it and long tables.

Mike led me to one of the middle tables and sat down. "Thanks so much for being my alibi." He said taking a sack lunch out of his backpack and opening it. He took out a sandwich an apple and bottled water.

"No problem, I had fun with you today. I just wanted to repay you. This town is so amazing. I wish I could go to school, it looks like it would be interesting." Then I almost smacked myself. Now what was I going to tell him?

"Your home schooled huh? I know how that can be. I was, until I was ten. It was really hard to get adjusted to public school." Mike said taking a bite of his sandwich. I smiled and watched the process of him eating. He looked a little uncomfortable so I stopped and turned my attention to my hair.

Just then a huge clanging ran through the room and I jumped. "What was that?" I asked looking around for the cause of the alarm.

"It was just the bell that signals the classes are over. Are you okay?" I nodded. Other people were starting to come into the room. Soon our table was crowded and this girl with really curly hair was staring at me.

"Who are you?" I frowned. This girl was very rude. Mike looked angry for a second then turned to the rest of the table.

"Guys this is Gwen, Gwen this is Jessica, Lauren, Tyler, Angela, Ben and Eric." I waved to them. "I met her in the arcade this morning. She's new and she got me out of detention." he lightly squeezed my arm.

I don't know why but the contact shot through me like electricity. I looked around the lunch room to take my mind off of it. Then I saw the Cullen's who were all staring at me. I saw a human sitting next to them. She was pretty with brown hair and a cute face. She was sitting next to Edward.

So that was his mate. I wondered why he didn't have one before. But it was a human. How could he stay with a human? Wasn't it difficult to be around her?

I turned to Mike. "I'll be right back. I need to say hell to some old friends." I inhaled before I left. Just in case I wanted to find him again. He had a very yummy scent, like vanilla.

"Yeah, I have Biology next so if we miss each other just meet me there." I smiled at him in reassurance. Then I headed to the back of the lunch room.

"Hey guys." I sat down beside Alice. I looked at the human girl across from me. She looked scared of me. Well, I don't like that. "Hi, I'm Gwen. I assume your Edwards mate."

The girl laughed softly. Edward looked embarrassed. "Yes. I'm Bella. Nice to meet you Gwen."

"Nice to meet you too. So is school fun? I've never actually been in one before." I asked. I always wanted to go to school after finding out just lying around all day wasn't very fun.

Bella shrugged. "It is if you like to learn I really like it except for Gym." She grimaced. I cocked my head to the side.

"What's Gym.? Is it like physical fitness?" she smiled and nodded. "Well, how can that be hard? Is it hard?"

Bella and Edward exchanged a look like a private joke. "It is when you can't walk across a flat surface like Me." she giggled.

My mouth formed an 'o' in understanding. "You're clumsy. Okay." Then the same bell from before rang. I jumped again not prepared. "That thing is so annoying." I mumbled under my breath.

Then I remembered that Mike was waiting for me. The slight thrill of happiness that went through me, both excited me and horrified me. What did this mean? Mike was just a human. Aro would call them 'food'. But Mike wasn't food, and he wasn't a friend either. He was something much more. And that was the most terrifying part. I would have to talk to Edward about it later.

"Does anyone know where the Biology room is?" I asked the table.

"Yes, were going there now. You can follow us." Edward took Bella's hand and started to walk down the halls. They would look at each other with so much love. It made me envious. I hope I would find that one day. Edward seemed to make it work with a human. Why couldn't I do that?

We entered a science room with posters of the human anatomy and pictures of insects and there was even a tank in the back with a large snake. I walked to the back of the classroom and looked at the creature.

It had a beautiful pattern of red, yellow and black. I think it was poisonous but I couldn't get a good look at it. I opened the top and stuck my hand in the tank. It must have thought I was food because it bit me. Of course it couldn't get through my skin. It must have noticed that because it then continued to slither up my arm.

I heard a scream behind me and turned around. The whole class was watching me. Mike looked especially freaked out the teacher was on the phone with someone. I think it was animal control. Edward was pinching the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed. He looked a little angry.

"Gwen what are doing?" Mike stage whispered.

"I just wanted to see the snake." I said in a normal voice. Oops. This was a poisonous snake and it was on me. They thought I could die. No wonder Edward was angry. I placed the snake back into the cage and closed the lid.

What was I going to do? Oh I got it. I gave Edward a meaningful look then I put my hand to my head.

"Oh my…" then I fell. I fainted. Well, I pretended to faint.

"Gwen!" I heard someone yell. It was Mike. I could hear his heart pick up speed. I scared him. Oh that's just great.

"Get out of the way. I'll take her to the hospital. I think she got bitten." That was Edward. He picked me up bridal style and left the room. I knew we were outside but I could hear two heart beats following us. "Stay here Newton. She needs to get to the hospital."

"I want to make sure she okay. I care about her." he argued. I felt my dead heart skip a beat. He cared about me. Something in me was awakening. I had no idea what it was, but it hurt and felt completely wonderful at the same time.

"Fine, help me get her in my car." Edward growled. I was propped up against someone. It was Mike. The smell of vanilla surrounded me and I was wrapped up in warm arms.

"Don't worry Gwen you'll be okay." He whispered in my ear. I loved being next to him. His embrace was safe and warm.

"Mike…" I breathed in my sleep. I heard his heart stutter and start again. So I had the same effect on him as he did on me. That was comforting. He held me tighter and I felt his lips brush my hair.

This was the best day of my life.