Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

The cafeteria, one of the worst and the best places in every school. The worst, because of the effect the awful stench and noise had on my heightened senses. The best, because it is the one place where my mind can rest without being allowed to wonder too far.

Finally, it was the time of day when the humans ate their lunch. I, having brought a lunch from home as a prop, began heading towards a vacant table near the back. I didn't pay attention to any of the children around me. I could tell that they were staring, and I could hear how loud conversations suddenly became scratchy whispers as I walked by. I was like a shiny new toy; of course they were all talking and staring at me.

I quietly put my lunch on the table and sat down. As I pulled several unappetizing items from the bag, I was glad that the students were uneasy enough to leave me alone for a while. It was more interesting to try to determine the personalities of those around me based on their normal conversations. It was so much more boring if they told me all about themselves. Why not make it a game?

I glanced around, looking for a challenge. Maybe a lemon in a bushel of apples, or a flower in a field of thorns?

Abruptly, I froze. A person was moving towards the table to my right, and he looked familiar; too familiar. My eyes widened in shock and I became unable to move.

As the teen came closer, I recognized the pale skin and the purple shadows under his eyes as that of a vampire. My panic worsened when I spotted the signature golden eyes of one that fed on animals.

I suddenly felt claustrophobic, like the walls were pressing closer, threatening to crush me. My breathing stopped. I felt the pain; they had left me, so why did they need to flaunt my eradication from their family in my face?

This person was definately a Cullen, and I knew him. Another jolt of pain flooded my mind and body.

Startling the people at the other table, I shoved my chair back roughly and spun around to leave.

Unfortunately, I wasn't quite fast enough. He caught my gaze and I could see a flash of recognition in his eyes . But I didn't wait - before he could react, I had walked swiftly out of the cafeteria.

To my relief, the hallway was empty, and I ran at an inhuman speed out of the building. It was difficult to not crush the door as I bolted through.

Once outside, I sank to the ground and rested my head against the side of the building. The Cullens were here and I needed to figure out what I was going to do. I didn't like the idea of being a coward and fleeing, but I knew I wasn't ready to face any of the Cullen family yet, and especially not him. I don't think my heart has healed to the point where I could stand before Edward without falling apart.

I was lucky; it hadn't been my Romeo who I'd seen in the lunchroom, but his brother, Jasper. Unsurprisingly, he looked exactly as I'd remembered him, unchanged by time.

I wasn't sure if I was strong enough to face the Cullens. Would I be able to recover if I tried to put my faith in them and they let me down?

RIINNNGGGGGG!!

I stood up at the sound of the bell, having decided that, as long as I didn't meet up with another vampire, I would go to the rest of my classes. I just prayed that I wouldn't

There may just be a God, because the remainder of the day went by without any more run-ins with figures from my past. For that I was extremely grateful.

The bell rung and I hopped out of my seat and headed towards the door. I had to stop at the main office building again before I could go home and I wanted to get it over with quickly.

Once more I was greeted by the attendant as I handed her several notes from my teachers, commenting on how well I was adjusting to my classes. She asked me a few questions about how my day had gone before I fed her an excuse so that she would cut the discusion short.

As I walked to my temorary home, I slowly began to feel the full effect of the confrontation with Jasper. The pain seemed to create a hole in my chest, and I felt like I had to wrap my arms around it to keep myself together. There is definitely no way that I could face Edward when I couldn't even handle seeing Jasper.

I was preoccupied, wondering what I was going to do, when I finally entered the forest.

I instantly felt comforted and peaceful as the protection of the trees surrounded me. I could feel my muscles losing the tension that I hadn't even known was there. I took a deep breath; I will be able to do this, I am stronger than I once was.

Little did I know that I was going to have to face my past a lot sooner than I would have predicted. Yet, for right now, I was running, feeling the exhilaration of my speed as I unconsciously tried to flee from the shadows of my past.

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