***Just a reminder that this is a short chapter story and posting daily until it is completed and then there will be multiple updates. The whole story will be posted by the end of the month.***

Chapter 2

I head home and change for the beach before packing my bag of warmer clothes in case it gets cool later. I get on my bike and head toward the beach. I ride as fast as I can, and once again, I close my eyes, enjoying the feel of the air through my hair.

A loud rumble makes me open my eyes in time to see a large van turning onto the road. I hit my brakes, turning to the side, and lose my balance. I fall off the bicycle, tumbling down the small hill. I wince as I sit up but jump when a man's voice calls.

"Hey, girlie. Are you all right?" his deep husky voice asks.

I stand up too fast and see the man moving toward me. I step toward him. "I'm fine," I insist with a bit of a yelp when a branch flings back and hits my arm.

"Why the hell were you riding with your eyes closed?" the man asks in my ear as he places his arm around my waist.

I narrow my eyes at him. "There was no traffic when I closed my eyes, and it was no more than a few seconds," I huff. I go to move away from him but wince in pain as my arm brushes a bush.

"Girlie, take it easy; that was a bad fall."

"My name is Bella!" I exclaim, looking at him.

He tilts his head. "Bella, as in little Isabella Swan, the Chief's daughter?"

I gaze at him, trying to figure out if I recognize him or not.

The guy is around six-foot-two and well-built. I can feel his abs against my side. He's got messy copper hair and sparkling green eyes. I'd say he looks like he's in his mid-twenties.

"Yeah, that's me," I say, having no clue as to who he is.

"I'm Edward Cullen. My sister Alice used to babysit you back in the day."

I gulp, not because of my memories of Alice, because there are still stories about Edward Cullen running through our school, and he left a decade ago!

"Ah, I see. I left a lasting impression on Fork's High School."

I smile, rubbing my head. "Well, your name is still carved into the walls." I snicker. "So what brings you back here?"

He gives me a lopsided grin, raising his brow as he helps me sit sideways on the passenger seat of his van.

"There's a story about your leaving," I declare without delay as my face heats up. "They say you told Principal Newton to take his school and shove it. Then turned to my dad saying the same about the town. I heard you declare you'd never set foot in this hellhole of a town again! You took off on your Harley Davidson and rode off into the sunlight."

Edward looks at me, with a gleam in his eye. "It didn't go down in that precise manner," he says with a smirk. "It was sunset."

I feel my mouth open in shock; I can't help but blink at him.

"I have a first aid kit. I'm checking you over before looking at your bike."

"So ..." He wipes my elbow.

"So what?" he says as I wince a little.

"What made you come back?"

"I'm the new detective at the Police Department."

"Wh–what?" I stutter.

"Don't I look like a cop?" he asks, attending to the small scrape on my knee.

"Er, don't you have a rap-sheet, a large one?"

He laughs, and I can feel the heat of his breath against my knee.

"I do and did, which makes me a great cop. Besides, I've been very good since I became an adult." He looks up, giving me a wink. "When I was a kid, I didn't kill or hurt anyone, just let off steam, you know?"

I bite my lip, shaking my head, and Edward gives me a confused look.

"How about you, Bella – is the chief keeping you under lock and key?"

I roll my eyes. "Ah, no. He wants me to misbehave. He's even making me go to this stupid party at the beach."

"You make it sound like he's punishing you."

I shrug a little, but stop when I see Edward's eyes seem to be scanning me.

"You look like an angel, which means there's a devil in there somewhere, wanting to break free."

Before I can say anything, he moves away, picking up my bike.

"Sorry, doll. The chain is broken. I can fix it, but not without the right tools."

I move out of the van when I hear him open the back of it. "What are you doing ..." I see the most beautiful motorcycle in the back of his van.

"You like my bike?" he asks, and all I can do is nod.

My hand reaches out to touch the motorcycle, but I pull back at the last second.

"You can touch her. She's tied down and secured in place."

I swallow and rest my hand on the handlebars.

"Do you ride?"

I shake my head, moving away from the motorcycle, and pout.

"You've seen me on a regular bicycle. On something like this, I'd be more apt to kill myself. But, my goal before I die is to grow a pair and go out on one."

"I'll hold you to that, doll."

I look at Edward as he closes the back of his van.

"Come on, I'll drop you off at your house to clean up." Edward helps me back into the van before moving around to his side.

A/N: So what do you think of things so far?