A/N: Thanks for reading.
Disclaimer: Wish I owned the characters… But I don't.
Chapter 2
(Bella POV)
Each step I took towards the cabin my stomach would knot up more. I felt thankful I didn't eat since I feared what I had digested would resurface. I swallowed and it went down as a gulp. I tried not to pay attention on anything but before I knew it I was a foot away from the front door of the mysterious cabin.
Should I even knock?
I can't turn around now...
It's my only hope.
I slowly lifted up my hand and made a weak fist before I rapped on the door a few times. I heard nothing except a chirp of a bird a distance away. I couldn't even hear someone moving inside.
I knocked again just to make sure the place was empty. I even pressed my ear to the door in case there was any movement inside the cabin that I just hadn't heard. I couldn't hear a thing so I took a deep, slow breath before I reached for the knob.
What if it's locked?
I have to check to make sure, stupid.
When my palm reached the doorknob I flinched - it was cold. It was also loose as it jiggled from my slight touch. I wiggled it around a bit and it opened.
Unlocked.
Well, lucky me.
The door made a slight creak as it opened though it was nowhere near as loud as the front door of Doug's house...
Don't think about that.
I sighed and stepped inside. The knots in my stomach somehow tightened and I felt my stomach turn.
I wasn't nervous, was I? There isn't anyone here so why worry?
Maybe it was because I'm alone.
I looked around and to my surprise, there happened to be furniture. I heard a crackle and turned to the left sharply.
I saw a lit fireplace. I sucked in a deep breath.
This place must not be vacant. Someone must live here, there's a fire for crying out loud. Maybe the homeowner wasn't in the cabin at the moment though because I'm sure I didn't hear a thing through the door. I didn't even hear the fireplace crackle.
It wasn't loud though and the door was thick.
I froze in my place.
Someone may be here. Who would leave the house with their fireplace lit? Why hadn't I noticed that the chimney was smoking? It had to be - the fire was lit.
I still couldn't move though. I told myself that if someone were here, I would ask for help.
After apologizing for intruding into their private property.
But, if someone was here, didn't they hear me enter? The door made a noise, the doorknob made a noise.
I knocked a couple times even!
I snapped out of my thoughts and looked around a bit more. There was an old, brown couch in front of the fireplace. There wasn't a television though.
Does a man or woman live here?
Is there a couple here?
Is this place even safe?
I shivered, but not from being cold. I looked down at my feet and noticed I was standing on a little, dirty welcome mat. It was brown and there was the word 'Welcome' in white writing on it. I looked a little past the mat and saw an old pair of large shoes sitting beside the mat.
They looked to be shoes for a man.
Or perhaps a woman with rather large feet.
I guessed and hoped for a man.
The living room was small but I looked to the right and there was a small kitchen connected to the living room. It had white, tiled floor and I slowly moved my feet to get closer to the room. I wondered if I should have taken my shoes off first though.
It was to late to take them off since I found myself standing in the kitchen a moment later. There was a tiny wooden table to the side under a small window. There were salt and peppershakers on the table underneath a doyley.
There were only two chairs to the table.
On the left side of the kitchen there was counters with cabinets on top. A sink was in the middle of the counters and a stove was at the far right of the countertops. A fridge was near the beginning of the counter tops. None of the appliances were neither new, nor stainless steel.
Though that didn't bug me.
The house felt... cozy.
From what I had scene anyways. I stepped out of the kitchen, walking slowly and making sure I didn't even make a creak in the floorboards when I reached the living room. I saw a hallway and I started walking down it. There were four doors, two on either side.
I wondered if I tried to open one, someone would be behind it. I wondered what were to lay behind a door if I opened it. Instead of moving to open one I just stood there, once again frozen.
That's when I heard a cough that I may have mistaken for a grunt; a door muffled it...
I still couldn't move.
Then I heard a doorknob wiggle and open from the frame. My eyes bugled yet I still stood completely still. Maybe the person wouldn't see me if I didn't move...
I was standing in the middle of the hallway, of course whoever it was would see me.
I saw a footstep out of the doorway then the rest of the persons figure came into view.
Suddenly, the figure turned and faced me, just noticing me.
It was a young man, who looked to still be in his twenties. He had tossed hair that was in a mess at the top of his head. His eyes were a bright green that made my toes tingle. His jaw line was... beyond perfect and his lips were in a firm line.
I gulped.
"Who are you?" He asked angrily as he took a step towards me. His fists clenched at his sides. "I don't do well with company. Especially not... intruders."
He hissed the last word and all my muscles inside clenched. Though he seemed pissed at me I still couldn't help but be awed by his velvet voice.
"I... I'm sorry." I whispered, suddenly having my voice hidden. He raised his eyebrows, challenging me to continue.
"I knocked a few times," I started and I felt my shoulders slump. "No one answered so I just stepped inside. I noticed someone was here by the lit fire... I really need h-help."
I was stuttering and I thought I might break down and cry right in front of this man. I choked back a sob.
"Need help?" He asked with a thick voice. I nodded warily.
"Yes." I whispered and I tried to look up but his bright green eyes held to me intensity for me to handle.
"With what?" He urged. "And what makes you think I can help you. I'm not a damn genie, you don't have three wishes with me."
I was taken aback. He didn't even know who I was and he already hated me. If I knew where I was and if I knew that I could just turn around and walk home, I would. But I didn't - I was lost and he was the only potential help that I had.
"I ran away." I said and my voice broke. I couldn't finish my story either, though, I was sure he didn't want to hear my sob story - he didn't seem to like me one bit.
"So you ran away. Doesn't sound like you need help." He said and he walked right past me. I had to move out of the way or he would've just barrelled right through me.
"Wait..." I called; I didn't know his name though. I followed him into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and pulled out a beer can. He opened it and took a quick chug before setting it down on the counter loudly.
"What?" He said gruffly as he turned to face me again. I looked up to him and once again I was taken back by the intensity in his eyes.
"I'm sorry." Happened to be all I could manage to say. I shook my head violently. "I am more than sorry."
I still didn't have my full voice back.
"For what?" He asked dumbly. I spread my arms out before me, motioning to where I was.
"For just intruding." I said quietly. "And if you don't want to help me, I'll just go."
"I don't want to help you." He assured and I felt a pang of hurt wash through me. "But unfortunately, you can't just go."
"Why not?" I asked, suddenly very confused.
"Where the hell are you going to go?" He asked, raising his voice. I flinched back but shrugged.
"If you don't want me here, I won't bug you." I assured him. He shook his head.
"And when someone eventually finds you dead in the middle of the woods because you didn't have anything to drink or eat or whatever the hell... My house would be the closest thing to you and I would be blamed."
"I'll be fine." I whispered. "Don't worry."
"How the hell did you even get here?" He asked, changing the subject.
"I ran away." I reminded him, growing with fury. If he wanted me to go he should just send me off instead of making me repeat myself. I'd rather walk during the day than at night again. His arms were crossed across his chest.
"From where?" He seethed. "Doesn't look like there's anyone else around here, so where'd ya come from? A tree?"
I shuddered he was so rude. I was almost wondering if I were better off with Jacob.
At least I knew Jacob's limits at least. This man was a stranger... I didn't even know his name.
"What's your name?" I asked suddenly, I at least wanted a name to the face.
"You didn't answer me question." He hissed, eyeing me over. I laughed without humour.
"You never answer mine it seems." I laughed darkly.
"Fine. I'm Cullen, Edward Cullen." He said though he just stood there.
I kind of expected a handshake.
"Well, I'm Swan, Bella Swan." I said pointing my chin out, speaking matter-of-factly.
"I don't know you. You mustn't be from around here." Edward assumed. No shit there buddy, of course I'm not from around here. Of course, I didn't say that aloud.
"I thought no one was around here?" I asked. "Remember, I'm tree girl."
I'm still pissed about that. I mean I know I just intruded in his house, but for him to insult me - he could've just asked me to leave. He chuckled but I couldn't find any humour in it.
"Well, its earth. Of course people are here. The closest house I know it a half hour away, and that's driving. There isn't a store for miles, an hour away." Edward explained and his voice was a tad bit lighter.
Why would he live here?
"Behind the house is where the driveway is though." He continued to explain. "And that's a dirt driveway - it's a ways down it to get to the road there. Did you come up from the road?"
I shook my head slowly and Edward gave me a very confused look.
"I came from the woods." I began to explain. I looked down at myself and noticed all the dirt on me and my hair was a tangled mess.
I was in need of a shower.
And hairbrush.
"Looks like it now that I think of it." Edward said and I laughed dryly. "But from where."
"I really don't know." I admitted.
"Are you lying?" Edward asked me. I shook my head violently.
"No!" I squeaked I had to clear my throat before continuing. "No, I really do not know."
Edward grabbed his beer and gulped it all down; he walked away for a moment and came back into the room without the beer can.
"Okay." He said warily. "I don't know what do."
His voice sounded... defeated. Was not knowing what to do a big confession?
"I can leave. You don't want me here." I said and I turned. I began walking out of the room, heading for the front door. He told me himself he didn't want to help me.
"What did you need help with?" He asked from behind me. I turned to face him with my eyes narrowed.
"You didn't want to help me. I'll find my way." I assured before I turned around again and I swore I was getting dizzy from the constant turning.
"What did you need help with?" Edward asked and I could tell his teeth were clenched. I sighed and went to open the door. I wasn't going to waste my time telling him what I needed and just getting told 'oh' and told to leave again.
I was wasting daylight too.
"Bella." Edward called when I stepped outside. "What do you need help with?"
"I needed directions." I growled and once again I turned to face him. I had my carry on bag slung around my shoulder and I just hoped I would have enough food and water to survive.
"To where?" He asked in a suddenly softer voice.
"Anywhere, I just need to go somewhere." I explained quickly. I needed to start walking.
"Where did you come from? Do you want to go back there?" Edward asked. He wanted answers.
"No!" I cried. "No, no. I do not want back there." I told him. He nodded slowly. "I ran away, remember? I don't know where I'm going back I need to find somewhere."
Edward took in a breath. I faced around and went down the front steps to the grass.
"You can't leave." Edward said. "I told you that. You won't make it."
"What choice do I have?" I asked though I did not turn to face him.
"You have to stay here I guess." He sounded a little upset about that.
"You don't want me here."
"I don't have a choice."
I turned around. "What do you want? What do I do?"
He sighed. "You must've came from a closer ranged house, you must have walked for hours."
I nodded. "All night... Well since about one in the morning."
Edward looked down at his wrist. "Its seven."
I was walking for nearly six hours?
"That's probably a close house too. If you're not going back there, you'd have to walk longer and I can't let you do that." He said and he moved to sit on the front steps on the porch. His feet rested on the ground though.
"You can't let me go?" I scoffed. "You don't want me here."
"Bella, you can't go. I couldn't live if I hear over the radio some brunette was found in the woods dead. I would know that I was the only person that could've stopped that and I didn't." Edward explained and looked at his lap, he played with his fingers.
"You just don't want to be blamed for my death because you live closest. You never know I might live." I added. He looked up.
"Not worth the chance." Edward sighed. I took a step closer.
"You're really scared you'll get blamed?" I laughed.
"I told you I couldn't live with the guilt. Don't make me repeat it!" He stood up abruptly. "Now get inside and I'll figure something to do."
"I don't have a choice do I?" I asked.
"Nope." He hissed and walked into the house but he left the door open.
...
I had enough balls to ask Edward if I could use his shower. He grunted and seemed as though he didn't want me to but forcefully agreed. I made sure my shower was quick. Once I was out of the shower I came out I put a bit of the toothpaste from his medicine cabinet on my finger before I tried to brush my teeth.
I wouldn't tell him I used his toothpaste though.
I changed into the sweater I stole from Doug's but I still had to wear the same dirty shorts from before. I walked out of the bathroom and went into the living room.
I ran my fingers through my hair in attempt to untangle the mess of knots through my hair. I sat down on the couch while Edward poked at the fire with a stick.
"No television." I noted.
"Nope. I got a radio for the news and I'm not wasting my time or money on a television." He said, still poking at the fire. I nodded to myself and bit my tongue, swallowing back the questions I wanted to ask.
He didn't seem in any mood to talk.
"How do you get groceries?" I asked. I instantly regretted talking but my question just slipped out. Edward looked at me over his shoulder and gave me a strange look. He took in a breath before standing and shoving his hands in his pocket he faced me.
"I drive myself to town once a week. Make a trip out of it." He said quickly, looking at the floor the whole time. "Why?"
His voice was still dark but I was still in a way glad we were making conversation.
"I was just wondering." I sighed and I looked at him, which was much easier now that we weren't making eye contact. I wasn't taken aback now. "You have a car?"
"A truck." He corrected. "1963 Chevy. Its a step side C-10 pickup."
That was gibberish to me. "What colour?"
"Red." He answered simply and looked up at me. "Why?"
"Just wondering."
"You wonder a lot." He mused. I shrugged.
"If you have a truck why can't you just take me to town and drop me off." I asked.
I didn't recall seeing a truck though he told me he had a driveway, but it was at the back of the house. That's probably why I didn't see the truck.
"Not here." He said and he shuffled his feet.
"Where is it?" I asked.
"Emmett has it." He growled. "You ask to many questions."
"Who's Emmett?" I asked, ignoring his remark.
"A friend." I could tell he didn't want to talk so I just nodded. He walked out of the room and into the kitchen.
"Do you have a plan?" I asked.
"Yup." Edward called from the kitchen in reply.
It seemed that now, I just needed to hear the plan.
I had a feeling I would spend a little more time with Edward first.
A/N: What's his plan? Why doesn't he like her? Why is he alone in the middle of nowhere? Does he have a terrible past?
Not Beta'd, sorry. ):
