Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Twilight. Never will. Don't we all wish…except Stephenie Meyer, of course.


Chapter 2: Outcast

(BPOV)

The rest of the school week went by quickly. I declined several people's offerings in going to see movies or to go shopping. The Cullen boy – I found out his first name was Edward – didn't even show up. Was I that bad? It irritated me beyond belief, because it was completely unjust to judge someone before you got to know them.

Earlier in the week, I had asked Charlie about the Cullens. He seemed very fond of the Cullens; he told me that Edward had four other siblings – Alice, Emmett, Jasper, and Rosalie – and that his mother, Esme, did not work. His father, Carlisle, worked as a doctor at the hospital. And I found out that Esme and Carlisle adopted the whole lot of children. That surprised me - they seemed so kind, especially for such a young couple, to adopt all those teens. Why didn't Edward share the same kindness? Maybe it was just written in his DNA.

I explored around town over the weekend, and managed to write several other songs. It was difficult for me to write when I moved away, but now that I was in a new permanent residence, it seemed to just pour out of me – all of my frustrations, disappointments, distress, depression – everything. I glanced around my room, at all the sheets of music and lyrics strewn across the room, and let out a great sigh. It felt so much better to let it all out. It was just like when you punched something until all the anger was drained out and all that was left was relief.

Now it was Monday and I sat waiting for class to start in Biology; I was distracted by my own daydreams of the Bahamas. I didn't realize that I had sketched an entire blank page of various things I missed: my house, my family's yacht, the Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins, the palm trees, and my friends and I playing in our band.

"That's really good," I started at the sound of an extremely melodic voice beside me, torn out of my reverie. I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

Edward had returned.

And he was different. What was different about him, I wasn't sure…

Well, for one, he was actually talking to me. Huh.

"Forgive me for not properly introducing myself last Tuesday; I was not having the best day. My name is Edward Cullen." His kindness seemed completely genuine. I blinked again, and then finally sputtered out words.

"H-hi. I'm – "

"Bella Swan. Yes, my father knows Chief Swan." He said, and he smiled down at me with beautiful, dazzling topaz eyes and stunning white teeth.

Topaz! My inner voice blurted. Ah, the return of the bitingly sarcastic one returns. Damn, I thought I'd lost it when I became depressed.

Where was I? Oh! His eyes! That's what was different about him! His eyes were topaz, not onyx like the first day I met him! "Did you get contacts?" I blurted out, and felt myself blush. Why the effing hell are you blushing? -- Ahh! Shut up, not now! He looked at me curiously. "You're eyes," I explained. "Last week they were onyx. Now they're…not." Smooth. You're name should be silk. "They're topaz," I clarified.

"Oh…" he seemed surprised. "No, I didn't."

"Huh…" I said, completely embarrassed. "Must have been my imagination. Not really all that surprised." Oh yeah. Make Edward think I'm insane. Next I'll reveal that I have a sarcastic voice in my head.

I was quite sure I looked like a tomato, and was grateful he didn't bring up the subject again. "Hey, how did you know my name?" I asked suddenly.

"Everyone in Forks knows it! We've been waiting for you for a long time – "

"No," I interrupted. I'm not an idiot, I know that. "I mean, how did you know to call me Bella? Ch – Dad, I mean, calls me Isabella behind my back; everyone seemed to know me like that."

"Oh," he repeated. "Well, I heard you telling others that you liked to be called Bella rather than your full name...unless you prefer me to call you Isa – "

"No," I smiled a real smile, although it wasn't a grin. I left my grins back in the Bahamas. You wouldn't be talking to him if you were still in the Bahamas, the voice decided to point out. -- No shit, Sherlock! "I like Bella better." He gave a small smile in return, and we turned to the front as the teacher started lecturing.

(EPOV)

I had forced myself to come back. I would not give in to Isabella Swan. I would not tear apart my family. Besides, I wanted to go back. So, I hunted plenty before I came…and I was relieved to find that I could bear to be near her. It was definitely not easy, but I did it. And I had been coming back to school every day; it was now Thursday.

I watched as Bella walked off to her ancient red Chevy truck through a heavy downpour. Today, she wore a black skirt thats hem ended above her knees, a red, form-fitting shirt with the band name "Rise Against" printed across it, and a black HIM hoodie. Once again, she wore her knee-high boots and choker chain.

Halfway there, she stumbled over her own two feet and her stuff scattered everywhere; luckily, she caught herself before she fell. Again, I had failed that day to come up with anything from her mind. But two other mind voices did come up.

Lauren and Jessica walked by, laughing like there was no tomorrow. Their minds were both overwhelmingly annoying and immature. And it made me cringe what they were thinking about her. "Klutz!" That was Jessica's giggle.

"Did the sandy desert cushion you when you fell in Phoenix, Swan?" That of course was Lauren. I watched helplessly – I was seemingly frozen in place – as they continued to torment her. I couldn't tell her reaction – was she crying? Annoyed? Ignoring them?

I finally summoned up the strength that I ought to have had, and snapped loudly enough for them to hear: "Knock it off!"

They darted away, and I quickly walked – quickly for a human, that is – over to assist Bella. She had just gathered her things when I reached her; or, at least the spot she had nearly fallen. I then realized she had already reached her truck and was unlocking it. Though people were talking, tires were squealing, motors were running, and the rain was pouring, I could still hear with my hunter ears a small sniffle coming from the dark-clothed, rain-soaked girl.

XxXxXxX

That night, I went to her house.

I positioned myself in the tree outside her window; any human would have difficulty hearing or seeing. But I heard, saw, and smelled with my hunter's senses. I heard her cry and scream from frustration. I saw her on her bed, knees under her chin, arms wrapped around her legs. The black mascara was running down her cheeks as she cried. I could even smell the salty tears from where I sat. I was surprised to find my insides squirm with hate for the girls that did this to her – but then I wondered, was that really what she was crying about?

I looked around her room; it was colorful and full of life. Then I saw her, the depressed Isabella Swan. She was obviously not like this before; what caused her to be this way? I'll ask her tomorrow, I thought. I never had reacted this way to a human before. It's not that I considered them prey, but I wasn't really fond of them either…they were more of an annoyance. Why did Bella Swan interest me? Probably because I wanted to unravel the mystery of her past and why I can't read her mind, I decided.

Then she sat up, wiped her face with the back of her hands, and proceeded to walk out of my view to another side of the room. She returned to the bed with something I hadn't expected: An electric guitar?

It was a custom turquoise Ernie Ball Music Man guitar. I watched as she plugged it in, tuned it, and began to play with the pick in her hand. I raised my eyebrows; she was playing a song I'd never heard before. Did she write it? I wondered. The sound was powerful to my sensitive ears, but I liked it nonetheless. Then her voice joined in with the beat, and I found I admired it. She definitely had a rare talent.

I stayed the rest of the night.

So, the edit is done for this chapter. Sorry it's so short! Most of my chapters are longer. So...Bella's character is more bitingly sarcastic, if you couldn't tell, which reminds me of myself haha. But anyways. REVIEW! Please? :) And I promise, if you're new to this story, it gets better haha.