As the bell rang through the school the boy, Antony, leapt out of his seat and bolted quickly for the door. I should have been upset, but I could understand his rush. For half of the lesson I had been casting smiling glances at him and I got the impression I may have...freaked him out a little.

I glided like water from the room and out of the flimsy and battered wooden door. As I emerged into the bustling corridor, it suddenly hit me. The burning sensation that took over my throat and engulfed me in painful fire galloped headlong through my neck. Antony must have distracted me during the lesson enough for me not to notice just how thirsty I was, and now all these human bodies were lumbering carelessly past me, necks throbbing with the pulse that pumped their hot, thick, scarlet blood...

"No!" I hissed, making a freshman girl next to me jump and press herself against the wall. She looked vulnerable, small and frail and when she saw me staring didn't flinch. The corridor was thinning out as pupils trooped to their next lessons submissively, not paying an ounce of attention to the frightening new kid staring at the freshman.

"Summon Carlisle's words" I thought to myself. "Self control is the key, close your eyes, hold your breath and concentrate."

With every bit of focus I could muster, I tore my eyes away from the child and walked determinedly towards the door. I couldn't do this. Who was I kidding? If I stayed a second longer I would end of massacring the entire establishment. My subdued footsteps echoed eerily as I marched through the main hall. Casting the withered doors wide, I strode out into the car park, breathing for the first time in around a minute. The air was still slightly tainted with smells of raw humans, but it was masked under the smell of car exhaust and greenery. Good enough for me.

I began heading for the chipped gates of the school but suddenly found my way blocked by probably the largest vampire in existence.

"Get out of my way Emmett," I hissed. "I'm going home."

Emmett, who was dangling obstructively from a tree, jumped cleanly down with a thud and swaggered towards me. I found Emmett the most annoying of the family, I merely had to hear his name and I would groan. He would ruffle carefully styled hair; he would grin randomly at me for no reason which really pissed me off. And yet...despite all of this...he was the only Cullen who felt remotely like family.

"You're not giving up already are you Minnie?" Emmett teased, hands in faded jean pockets.

Another annoying thing. He had gotten into the habit of calling me 'Minnie' because of my size.

He stretched out his hand to ruffle my hair and I batted it away, seeping venom from my blackening eyes.

"If you're out here to torment me Emmett you can forget it. I'm not going back in there and I'm certainly not taking your crap."

Emmett put his hands above his head, a smirk still lining his boyish features. He was shaking his head mockingly.

"Look, I'm out here simply for friendly advice."

I eyed him suspiciously. His expression was genuine and nearly kind. Nearly. If it had been anyone else, loathing would etch their features and I would have no idea if they really wanted to help me. A good thing about Emmett. Everything he said was truthful meaning he could be relied on.

"Fine. Hit me."

Emmett clonked me on the head and I glared.

"I meant figuratively Emmett," I snapped. "The advice? Or am I excused?"

He ignored my sarcasm and sat me down on a nearby wall.

"Ok. Here it is. We all felt this...this urge to feed. And sure, Carlisle's advice is good, but I understand that it isn't easy to follow. So here is mine. You like Antony right?"

What?! How did he find that out? He saw the taken aback expression on my face and stated proudly: "Edward."

Ahh of course. Edward was constantly scouting around in my head; probably just looking for some form of violent plotting that would get me thrown from the Cullen's doorstep. Well suck it Edward, ain't nothing violent in here and I'm not moving!

I clenched my jaw.

"Continue with the advice Emmett before I get angry."

"Little too late for that Minnie," he commented playing with a leaf. Upon seeing my face, he carried on.

"Anyway, this Antony bloke, you'll be wanting to see him again right?"

I gritted my teeth.

"Right."

"So, every time you get the urge to snap some heads, just picture him and what you'd lose, and that should help."

Wait. This was good advice. Emmett? Intelligent? These words must be coming from somewhere else...

"It worked for me and Bella."

Cue Edward entry.

Emmett scowled as Edward walked, graceful as water, towards us.

"Why'd you blow my cover" Emmet asked indignantly. He had clearly been enjoying being the clever one for once.

Edward smiled hollowly and put his hand on Emmett's shoulder dismissively. He laughed at something he heard in Emmett's head as Emmett stamped away.

Edward turned to me but my expression was cold.

"So? Why do you care if I kill half the school? You want me to, it would get me thrown on the street and you would be free of my invasion."

I folded my arms and turned away. I didn't honestly want to know his answer, I was just going to go home and maybe hunt with Esme. I knew she resented me a bit still, but Esme was such a born nurturer that she couldn't help but care for me as a teenage daughter. At a distance, but certainly there.