Curing Love Chapter 2, a twilight fanfic

Disclaimer: I, in no way, own anything Twilight.

The characters, setting, and everything else all belong to their respective owners.

Title: Curing Love

Chapter 2 - Meet Edward Masen

AN:/ Yes, I know this update was more than delayed. But, trust me. I have a legitimate reason. I was behind because I got grounded (that's one quirk of being a teenager) for a while and then after that - because I have such wonderful luck - my computer completely broke down, erasing whatever I had started for future chapters. Needless to say, I learned an important lesson there. Always use a flash drive! I've been working constantly trying to get back whatever was deleted, and, finally, here it is. Sorry again for the wait. I promise it won't happen again!

Enjoy!

EPOV

"Edward, sweetie, you have money for lunch, right?"

"Yes, Mom," I replied for the umpteenth time.

"And you put the new house key on the chain with the keys for your car?"

"Yes, Mom," I said again with a half-amused, half-exasperated sigh. "Really, Mom. I'll be fine," I assured her. My mother, ever the worrier, had been hounding me for the better part of the morning, acting as if I were about to attend a new Kindergarten rather than a new high school.

"Honey, you know it's my job to worry over you," she said matter-of-factly.

"I know, Mom, and I'm not asking you to stop worrying over me. I'm just asking if you could tone it down just a bit," I said good-naturedly. "I'm a Junior in high school; you shouldn't fuss over me so much."

"Alright, alright," she said. I waited for a few more minutes for what was sure to come, and then, "So you're sure you're ready then?"

Her question caused me to laugh out loud. My mother might have been a bit... worrisome at times, but I loved her for it. She was definitely one of a kind.

My family - which consisted of myself, my mother, and my father - had just moved from the obstreperous, boisterous, and teeming city of Chicago, Illinois, to the quaint, rainy town of Forks, Washington.

I had lived in Chicago with my parents since I was born, and I knew that I would miss everything that is The Windy City. All of its spectacles never ceased to amaze me. Everything from the numerous visits to the cultural museums to the beautiful view of the glistening, lustrous Lake Michigan had me entranced. But the most endearing and captivating aspect of Chicago, in my opinion, are the lights. The luminescent brilliance that are the Chicago lights have mesmerized me ever since I was a kid. Nights upon endless nights, I remember sitting beside my bedroom window, taking in the enchanting sight that it had to offer. With all of the towers and buildings illuminated, I always thought nighttime Chicago to be a constant festival of lights.

I was so enthralled by everything the city had to offer, that I couldn't imagine wanting to live somewhere else. My plans were to finish high school there, attend college at its University, and eventually, I know I wanted to get married and spend the rest of my life there. Of course, I wanted to see the rest of the world too, but home for me could never be anywhere else but Chicago.

But life in the city couldn't always be perfect. When a series of crimes began taking place not too far away from our neighborhood, my mother decided that she had had enough of the city life. It was time to ' try something new' as she had put it. She said she was tired of living in a big city, and, undoubtedly, my father went along with it. After discussing it a while more, they decided that they would like to move here, to 'experience small town life.'

Why they chose Washington state - which was practically all the way across the country - I'll never know. There are plenty of boring, small towns between Chicago and Washington. Michigan City, Indiana, for example, would have been perfect. But, sadly, it was Washington for my parents.

So after many family discussions and some relentless pleading on my mother's part, we decided to go. I, of course, wasn't happy about the decision at all, but I plastered a smile on my face nonetheless; it was the least I could do to repay my parents for all they had done for me throughout the years.

Despite their recent decision, I couldn't have ever asked for better parents. My mother, Elizabeth Masen, was the epitome of what a mother should be. She didn't work, as she was a stay-at-home mom, but I knew that without her, my father and I would be wrecks. The bills wouldn't be paid, there would be no food in the refrigerator, and God knows that the house would be no where near clean. I silently thanked whatever higher force that made sure my mom grew up with all men. That way, she knew what she was getting into when she married my father and then when she found out they were having a boy.

My father, Edward Masen, Sr., was a very successful pediatrician. From what I have seen of his work, the children adore him. His very presence calms them down, and he always makes a point to indulge in small talk, efficiently distracting the child while he deftly does his job. He always works happily, even when he gets called to brutal hours in the middle of the night. Though his insane schedule has never kept him from being there for my mother and I whenever we needed him. He has always been a huge family man.

When growing up, constantly hearing my friends complain about their parents' bickering, getting divorced, or unflaggingly bringing home new boyfriends or girlfriends, I always remember to highly appreciate the devotion towards each other that my parents have obtained and preserved over the years, their love for one another not decreasing or wavering in the slightest. Naturally, they have arguments every once in a while; it was inevitable. But what healthy relationship doesn't? They always work it through, though; their relationship always comes out unscathed. If anything, it strengthens them. All in all, their commitment and adoration for each other has only grown with each day that passes.

Their fidelity is what provides our family with it's structure - the reason for the brass-bound binding that held my family so closely together.

So, finally, after numerous 'good luck' and 'have a nice day' lines from my mother and a wave from my father, I was off to start my first day as a student at Forks High School.

*~*~*

I pulled into the school's parking lot, already five minutes late, next to a beat up red Chevy. I got out of my car, feeling very sincerely sorry for whoever owned that piece of rust that was actually classified as a vehicle. Shaking my head, I half-jogged towards the building through the light rain that had begun to fall.

I made it to the school office without getting too wet, and quickly entered into the warm, small room. The secretary who introduced herself as Ms. Cope - a little more friendly than necessary, if you ask me - handed me my schedule and a layout of the school, and then sent me on my way to my first class which, glancing down at one of the papers she had handed me, I saw was Calculus.

I quickly rushed to the building of my first class and came to the door of the classroom which was shut, indicating that class had, indeed, already started. I knocked lightly before entering as discreetly as possible, walking up to the teacher's desk and handing him the slip that had given me to excuse my tardiness. I was thankful that the teacher - Mr. Peters as his desk read - had not been lecturing the class when I arrived. Yet I was dismayed to realize that still several students had noticed my entrance - despite my attempt at stealthiness - and were now whispering excitedly to their neighbors.

Taking the little white slip from my outstretched hand, the teacher turned towards class and spoke in a loud, clear voice, "Class, this is the new student, Edward Masen," Mr. Peters conveyed to the class. "He has just moved in from ...Chicago is it?" I nodded my head in affirmation. "I expect you all to do your best to make him feel welcome. Have a nice day, Mr. Masen," he added, once again addressing me.

"Thank you, sir," I replied before ambling across the classroom, taking an extra textbook that was sitting conveniently on the shelf as I went, to take one of the only seats available in the class which was next to a boy with a round face and blonde hair. After after the stint of time allotted to us for worked on whatever assignment they had been given - while I skimmed over the chapter they had been currently going over, the teacher walked to the front of the class and began answering any questions they had. Luckily, I had already begun learning the material they were going over now, so I wasn't too far behind.

Finally, class was over, and as I began gathering my belongings and slipping on my jacket - the rain had begun to fall harder now - I noticed the kid beside me had turned so that he was now facing me. I looked over at him as he stuck his hand out between us and proceeded to introduce himself.

"I'm Mike Newton," he said with a cocky smile.

I met his extended hand with my own and shook it twice. "Edward Masen," I said back to him. "But I guess you already new that."

"Yeah, man," he addressed me as if we had been friends for years. "Everyone's been kinda waiting for you to get here. It's not every day that anything really exciting happens here," he informed me. I've only been here a few days, and I already noticed that, I thought wryly. Though, coming from The Second City, I hardly pegged a diminutive family of three moving into town to be 'exciting'.

I picked up my books, slinging my bag over my shoulder nonchalantly as I made my way towards the door. It wasn't until I was about six feet away that I perceived the group of about four girls standing to the side of the exit, giggling to one another while gazing over to where I was standing. When they noticed that they had been caught staring, however, they averted their eyes to the ground, yet the giggling continued.

I was used to this, of course. Not to honk my own horn or anything, but I knew that girls found me attractive. I had gotten my copper hair from my mother, although her's was tame and submissive while my own was rather unruly and utterly incompliant. That I had definitely gotten my father who had the same unkempt hair. Mostly everything else, too, I had gotten from my dad. We had the same nose, facial structure, and body build - muscled but not bulky. The only other prominent features that I had acquired from my mother were her lips which were dark and full and her vibrant, emerald green eyes.

Mike annoyingly nudged me in the ribs with his bony elbow, nodding his head towards the group of girls who were still stealing occasional glances in our direction while waggling his eyebrows suggestively. I grinned at him for his benefit and shook my head no. I have had my fair share of girlfriends over the years past, but, by the looks of their scanty attire, I knew that these were not girls I would associate that way with.

Ignoring the protesting from Mike, we walked out of the classroom and towards our next class while he gave me a brief assessment of the students of Forks High.

"And then there are the Cullens," he continued after fourth period in a tone that was almost... reluctant? As if he wanted to deny that these Cullens even went to this school.

A boy who we had met during second hour, Eric, sighed suddenly as if he felt the same towards this family. Despite my initial indifference towards pretty much everything Mike had been telling me so far - what can I say, that boy can talk! - I was suddenly filled with curiosity as to why it seems like everyone hates this family.

"Continue," I urged him when he paused - probably to gauge my reaction to the attempted ominous voice he was using.

"There's two boys, Emmett and Jasper, and two girls, Rosalie and Alice. They're all seniors." he replied. I waited for him to continue as he seemed to mull over what to tell me. I could almost see the wheels turning and the steam coming out of his ears from the effort. "Well, they're weird," he offered as if that was sufficient enough of an answer.

"Any particular reason for that?" I asked, growing tired of the conversation.

"Well Emmett, the oldest... Dude, he's freaking huge!" he exclaimed, much louder than necessary I might add.

"Yeah, everyone thinks the guy's on steroids," Eric added with a slight chuckle.

"And as for the others," Mike continued, pausing again, choosing his words carefully. I was waiting for him to continue, anxious and curious to hear the story behind this apparently bizarre family when Mike's opened his mouth to speak only to abruptly shut it again. "Speak of the devil...," he muttered almost incomprehensibly, his eyes widening as he stared at something down the hall. I followed his gaze and felt my own eyes widen as I stared at the group of four making their way down the corridor in our direction.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that this was the family that Mike had been just telling me about - Coincidence much? - but the fact barely registered as I was too busy gawking at the family coming towards us. All questions I previously had as to why they were different immediately disappeared as soon as I first laid eyes on them.

Automatically, my eyes were drawn to the blonde first, as if they were somehow magnetized. I couldn't look away. Her long, blonde hair that flowed in seemingly endless waves down the middle of her back, perfectly accentuating her flawless body. My mother always emphasized to me how rude it was to stare at women and not be looking at their eyes, but, now, I couldn't seem to pull my eyes away from the beautiful creature. Not that I really wanted to... .

My eyes continued to roam her supermodel-like form, when I saw a rather large, rather possessive hand draped over her shoulder. By the way he was holding her to himself, it was made pretty clear to me that they were together. Noticing how his muscles bulged from underneath his shirt, I realized that Mike wasn't exaggerating at all. Whether or not he was on steroids, he was, well... huge. With the thought of those muscles - and more importantly what they could do - in my head, I instantly regretted every single second I shamelessly ogled his girlfriend. I mean, I was well endowed in the muscle department, by no means insubstantial, but taking one look at the bear of a highschooler, I knew that there was no way in hell that I would ever be even close to a match for him.

The other girl was standing to the right of the blonde. She had short, black hair that stuck out around her face in perfectly arranged spikes. She was short and thin giving her the appearance of a pixie. The boy standing to the left of the her one was leaner than the bigger, brawny one, but still intimidating. He had on an impassive expression, and he looked like this was the very last place he wanted to be. His blonde hair slightly resembled that of the tall girl's. Come to think of it, he actually had a lot in common with her. Not just with her, I realized. With all of them.

Looking them over as a whole, I realized that they all share many of the same physical features. All four of them had the same strikingly white skin that was almost translucent, and they all walked with the same agility that seemed as if they were simply gliding over the school corridor. Their features were all straight and flawless. They were, well...perfect. The girls were beautiful beyond belief, and I have to admit that both the boys of the group were good-looking. I didn't find them attractive - I wasn't gay - but I could only imagine how often they have girls gawking over them.

Despite their good looks, they all had a certain edge to them - something that said unapproachable; their face, their walk, the very way they held themselves just screamed intimidating, as if they were somehow above the rest of us. But it wasn't just intimidation that seemed to keep everyone away from them. They were - for a lack of a better word - frightening. Even the tall blonde in all of her glory warned everyone in sight with her eyes to stay away.

But she was not the most daunting; Not even the big, burly one, who looked as if he could pulverize you with one flex of his over-sized muscles was the one that shook me the most.

The one that had me most on edge was the shortest. The pixie-like one. Possibly the youngest.

I had to think about it for a minute before I could pinpoint exactly what about her had set me so on edge, but then I got it. It was her facial expression. They way she looked at me when her eyes met mine was...disconcerting. I didn't know how to explain it right, but the look she gave me just looked...expectant? Like she knew something I didn't. And, honestly, it freaked me out.

She kept that weird look on her face until the family of five finally passed Mike and I by.

"What did I tell you?" said Mike smugly.

"They were...something," I replied. I noticed my voice was a bit off. Mike laughed, and resumed prattling about anything and everything there was to know about Forks High School.

I thought again of the rather unconventional group. The beautiful blonde girl, her bulky boyfriend, the stoic blonde boy, and the petite, spiky-haired girl.

Definitely something.

*~*~*

The day passed on leaving me with an ache for Chicago and an enormous headache. When Mike said that he was going to tell me everything and anything, I didn't think he was necessarily being literal. Needless to say, I was wrong.

He wouldn't. Stop. Talking.

Aside from that, they day had gone well. I had met a few more classmates that I got along with. Ben and his girlfriend, Angela, were kind and amiable people that I instantly knew I could get along with. I ran into two of the girls that I had seen earlier in the classroom and learned their names were Lauren and Jessica and that they usually hung out with Mike and his friends. Joy.

We were sitting at lunch then, when I heard Jessica snicker over to Lauren. "Omigosh-" she really pronounced it that way -"look how wet she is! God, could get anymore pathetic?" she sneered. They laughed together, and, soon, the whole table was laughing except for Ben and Angela who looked around the cafeteria uncomfortably. I followed the line of their gaze and was met by an unsettling sight.

A girl who appeared to be about my age was walking towards the lunch line wearing nothing but a baggy t-shirt and a light sweater. Jessica and Lauren were right; she was soaking wet. Her long, brown hair was flat against her head, and a few strands stuck against her face. Looking around, I saw that we were not the only ones staring at her. There were numerous groups of snickering highschoolers laughing and sneering at her.

"Who is that?" I asked no one in particular. I couldn't help but watch as she waited in line to get her food, seeming oblivious to all the ridicule that was directed at her.

Mike smiled. "That's Sorry Swan," he answered, appearing to enjoy the nickname. "Her name's Isabella. I'm not surprised I forgot to mention her. She's-" he paused as if looking for the right word.

"Useless," Jessica chimed in.

"Socially retarded," Lauren threw out.

"A freak," another boy named Eric offered.

"-pretty much an outcast," Mike finished. "She has, like, no friends here. She's really weird."

"But it's not even our fault!" Jessica blurted.

"Yeah," Eric agreed. "We tried to make friends with her or whatever, but she didn't want to. She chose to be the outcast," he clarified.

Somehow I found that hard to believe. Who would choose that for themselves? To be the object of an entire school's mockery? Surely there was something that they were not seeing?

Despite their claims about the strange girl - Isabella, I repeated to myself - I wanted to talk to her myself. I wanted to see if she really was as... strange as everyone else made her to be. Plus, I knew my mother would want me to. She would never stand for anyone treating another person like that; that was just the kind of person my mom was.

I earned quite a few curious and bizarre glances - and a slight smile from Angela - as I got up and started walking towards the girl. She was paying for her lunch now, and I began to plan out what I would say once I made it to her. As I was about to reach her, though, she unexpectedly turned around and took one step in my direction.

That one step was all it took for the two of us to collide and send her sprawling to the floor. I watched in horror as her tray of spaghetti and tomato soup - spaghetti and tomato soup? - splattered all over her white sweatshirt, most likely maiming it permanently.

From her seat on the floor, she looked up at me with big, brown doe eyes. Beautiful eyes, I noticed. Eyes that were filled with unshed tears. I finally came to my senses and crouched down beside her, thinking desperately of something I could do that would partially make up for the embarrassment I just caused her.

"Oh my gosh," I said, my voice filled with disbelief at what I had just done to the poor girl.

God, why do I have to be such an idiot at the most inappropriate times?

"I am so sorry," I continued. "Are you okay?"

I barely made out a muttered 'fine' as I stood up, offering her my hand for help off of the floor. She looked at my hand with something akin to disgust, and made a point of standing up on her own. With one last hate-filled stare directed solely at me, she turned around and quickly strode out of the cafeteria, her disregarded lunch tray still on the ground and apparently forgotten.

I stood there for a moment until I noticed that the entire cafeteria was gawking over in this direction.

Shamefully, with my eyes downcast, I made my way back to my seat where everyone was still staring at me. All of the sudden, Mike stood up, leaning over the table with his hand extended in a fist. "Man, that was priceless! Did you see the look on her face? Hilarious!" he exclaimed, his eyes bright and entertained.

"I didn't do that on purpose!" I defended myself, ignoring his outstretched hand. "It was an accident! I was just going to talk to her!"

"Yeah, it'll be best if you tell her that too. Really, man. Way to go. You are officially cool here," he replied looking pleased and completely ignoring my insistence that it was an accident.

"I told you, Mike. It was an accident. I swear it!" How could they think I would do something so cruel to a person who had done nothing wrong to me. And a girl too! My mother had raised me to always be a gentlemen and to treat everyone with the utmost respect especially women. I was soon frustrated with the whole situation.

I had no more time to argue though. It was almost time for my next class, and most people had already left. I got up abruptly from the table, and stalked towards the exit, cringing as I had to pass the spot where I had knocked her over. Accidentally.

Walking down the hallway in what I hoped was the right direction, I pulled the list of my classes along with the school map out of my coat pocket. Biology was my next class, and I quickly made my way in direction of the room before Mike could catch up to me. Earlier in the day, we had compared schedules, and it turned out that I had this class with him too.

But, as my luck would have it, he caught up to me anyway. I heard him running in my direction from behind me, but I didn't turn around to see him come.

"Hey, man. Okay. I get it. It was an accident. It was funny as hell, but it was an accident," he said, sounding out of breath.

I just nodded at him in response.

"So are we cool?" he asked.

I didn't want to forgive him. I was still baffled at how he could just laugh at her like that, but I really didn't need the drama right now. "Yeah, we're cool," I told him.

"Good," he replied. "Well, this is the room," he said stopping by the door to the biology room. "I wonder who Banner's gonna pair you up with," he mused.

We entered the classroom, and as Mike took his normal seat, I walked up to the teacher's desk where he was grading some kind of worksheet.

"Hello, Mr. Banner," I said to get his attention without sounding rude. I didn't need a teacher on my back.

He looked up at me from his desk and stuck out his hand. "You must be Edward Masen."

I took his hand and shook it twice before dropping it again. "Yes, sir," I affirmed.

He nodded his head once. "Alright then," he said. "You can get seated at that desk over there," he said and pointed over to a vacated table. Looks like I'm sitting alone...

*~*~*

The rest of the day had passed in a blur. Biology had been boring, and gym, my last class of the day, had been uneventful. We had been doing some kind of national fitness test that was apparently required in the state of Washington.

Finally - finally - the bell had rung, and I was making my way towards my car. On the way out of the building, though, I kept my eyes peeled. I wanted to see her again. The girl with the brown eyes. I wanted another chance to talk to her - to apologize. But no matter how slowly I walked or how vigilant I was, I couldn't even catch a glimpse of her. I sighed, deciding to leave it for tomorrow.

The rain had been on and off throughout the day, and, just now, it had started to come down a bit faster. I hurriedly got into my Volvo and sat down contentedly in the fine leather seats.

God, I love my car...

I sighed with relief when I finally made it back the house. The rain had really begun pouring, and, to be honest, it made me slightly nervous. I almost never had to deal with this kind of weather back home in Chicago. I had never been in an accident, but still, the potential was clearly there.

The second I walked in the door, my mother was there. I noticed with delight that the new house had already started smelling like the one I grew up in. That could only mean one thing: my mother was baking cookies.

Yessss.

What would I do without my mom's home-made cookies?

"Edward! How was your first day of school, honey?" She walked up to me, and, despite my wet clothes, embraced me in a hug that only she could give.

Yes, I am almost eighteen years old, and I still love my mother's hugs. Sue me.

"It was fine, Mom," I answered trying to keep my voice light. I knew, though, that, sooner or later, she would figure out today's tragedies despite any of my efforts to keep it otherwise.

"Well," she huffed, "it doesn't sound fine. Really, Edward, how did it go?"

Curse my mother's intuition.

"Really, Mom," I said, playfully mocking her tone, "it was fine."

"Edward, how long do you honestly think you can keep it in until you just blurt it out?"

And so, over my mom's cookies - which were delicious even though they looked deformed - I told her every single detail of the day's events.

*~*~*

"I forgot to ask you, Mom. How are you liking this place?" I asked her while eating a waffle the next morning.

"I love it! And, Edward, it's so safe here! I finally feel like I can relax! Did you know the chief of police lives right in our neighborhood? Only about two blocks from here. Isn't that great?"

"Of course. So really, though. Do you like this town better than back ho- I mean, back in Chicago?" I know my mom didn't like living in a big city that much, but she must miss Chicago a little.

She sighed a little. "Edward, honey, I know you miss Chicago, but you'll get accostomed to life here soon enough. Trust me, soon you're going to feel right at home here," she told me. I never really doubted my mom; she was one of the wisest people I know, but somehow I doubted that I would ever think of this drab and lifeless place as home.

I finished my breakfast and put my dishes in the sink before grabbing my book bag and car keys and heading for the door. Before I could leave, though, she came over to me and grabbed my face between her two hands and brought it level with hers. I smiled a little to myself when I noticed that she had to stand on her tiptoes to do it.

"I promise you, sweetie, soon you're going to love it here. You'll see. Now go," she said releasing my face and walking back towards the kitchen. "Find yourself some friends to hang out with. Find yourself a girl too," she told me laughingly, although I knew she was completely serious. "But she has to be smart!" she added as I walked out the door.

*~*~*

The day went by much like yesterday, save for Mike's constant rambling. Thank God.

Much to my dismay, I didn't see the girl again. Isabella.

Before I knew it, lunch was over, and it was time for Biology class. I walked into the classroom only to find that the seat next to mine on the table that was vacant yesterday had someone sitting in it. A girl someone. A girl someone who had brown mahogany hair. A girl someone whose brown mahogany hair was identical to someone's that I had... er ran into - literally - yesterday.

What are you waiting for? I told myself. You've been waiting for the chance to talk to her. Move!

I warily made my way to the desk and slowly slid out the chair beside her. Her head was bent over a book, so she didn't notice me when I had first walked in, but, now, as she heard the sliding of my chair next to hers, her head snapped up and she looked at me straight in the eye.

The intensity of her gaze rendered my mind temporarily absent, and it took me a moment before I could find the words I had so carefully constructed earlier.

"Hello," I blurted out. So much for those 'carefully constructed words'.

She grimaced for a moment and then nodded her head. "Hi," she simply said sounding irritated and bored.

She had turned back to her book, and I thought hopelessly of something else to say to ease the obvious tension.

Introduce yourself, idiot! my inner voice commanded.

"I'm Edward Masen," I said. I'm ashamed to admit that my voice may have sounded just a bit pleading, as if making conversation could somehow influence her to forgive me.

She only nodded her response.

This was going to be difficult...

*~*~*

AN:/ So there you guys have it. Edward comes from the perfect all-American family. And I couldn't help but portraying him as a bit of a momma's boy. Not in a pathetic way - you know the live-at-home-until-you're-thirty kind of way - but just a cute 'hey I'm a teenager but I still love my mom and I'm not afraid to admit it' kind of way. That's just how I always pictured him to be.

Thank you guys for reading! Again, I'm sorry for the delay and I promise you it won't happen again!

Now be good readers and follow the little arrow to comment.