Disclaimer: All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Day 2: Sunday: Cookies and a Photograph

I think it's the smell of bacon that wakes me up the next morning. But when my eyes final do open it's not the sweet bacon aroma that has caught my attention.

The eerie feeling in the air from last night has completely vanished. It's as if last night was just a bad dream. A creepy, bad dream. As sunlight pours through the windows in my bedroom I smile because it's one of those rare sunny days in Forks and you just have to smile at that.

I sit up and stretch my arms up above my head, enjoying the light relaxed feeling that I had been desperately hoping for last night. In the background I can hear the sound of a lawn mower cutting grass.

I wash up then slide into a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt before heading downstairs to the kitchen.

" Good morning Bella," Esme greets from her spot in front of the stove as she flips over the sizzling bacon. She has on a cooking apron that makes her look like she stepped out of a Betty-crocker commercial.

I smile and take a seat at the bar stool in front of the counter. " Good morning."

" How did you sleep?"

" Great. The bed was very comfortable." I'm such a lier. Although the bed actually was comfortable.

" That's wonderful. Are you hungry? I'm making bacon and eggs." She says as she wipes her hands against her apron.

" Starved." I smile because it's the truth.

As I dig into the breakfast plate that Esme sets in front of me I wonder how I could have ever found this house creepy. With the sun light pouring out through the windows I hardly find the shadows as intimidating as last night. I chalk it up to lack of sleep that had me so on edge last night.

"So Bella," Esme says as she leans against the counter with a hot cup of coffee held in her hands. " Do you have a boyfriend?" I know immediately Renee mentioned Jasper to Esme on the phone.

I blush like a 3rd grader. "No." I say with a mouth full of eggs. I swallow them down before I say, "Why? Did my mom say something." I don't even need to ask because I know Renee can't keep her mouth shut if her life depended on it but I'm interested in hearing what Esme will say.

Esme smiles down at me sheepishly as if she knows she's been caught. " Well she did mention a boy you spend a lot of time with." Ahah!

I shrug as I finish off my breakfast. "We're just friends."

"Ah." Esme says with a smile as she peers out the window above the sink. " Looks like Emmett's done cutting the grass. Carlisle used to do it but, well, he's not as young as he once was. Now he just sticks to trimming the hedges." She chuckles. I briefly wonder how old the couple are. I think somewhere in their mid fifties. I wonder how Esme and my mom came be best friends. I knew that before my father passed away, both my parents lived in Forks which was how they knew each other. My mom was a school teacher and my dad was the cheif of police. But this was all when I was a baby and my dad died before I could even walk. After that my mother packed her bags and moved to Phoenix. There, she met Phil and had her happily ever after.

She goes to the fridge and pulls out a pitcher of lemonade and proceeds to pour two ice cold glasses. I feel bad for this Emmett guy because the Cullens have a big ass yard.

" Thank you for breakfast, it was delicious." I say as I stand up and bring my plate and cup to the sink. I try to wash them but Esme quickly shoos me away.

" Oh no, I'll take care of that. But would you mind doing me a favor?" She puts the two glasses of lemonade on a tray. "Take this out to Emmett and Carlisle? I'm sure they're both parched."

I quickly nod, happy to do something, and take the tray from Esme's hands. I step out into the backyard and shield my eyes from the surprisingly hot sun. It almost never gets hot in Forks. I peer around the large expanse of the Cullens backyard seeing no sign of Carlisle or the Emmett guy. Again, I sympathize with Emmett and hope he used one of those lawn Mowers you ride on.

However the grass looks freshly cut, the bushes are freshly trimmed and I can hear the sound of a weed wacker coming from the front lawn. I make my way around the side of the house in search of Carlisle as grass shavings rub onto my Chucks turning them greenish.

Then I feel a tug on my pony tail and turn around to see a sweaty Carlisle with garden gloves on a and pair of hedge cutters in his left hand. "Hey Kiddo." He greets while wiping the sweat off his brow with an easy smile on his face.

I smile and offer him a glass of lemonade. "It's pretty hot today." I note as he takes the glass gratefully.

He nods as he downs the glass. " Probably one of the hottest days Forks has ever seen. You arrived just in time." He sets his empty glass onto the tray and thanks me. "Emmett's in the front yard weed wacking if your looking for him."

I nod before setting off for the front lawn. " They hedges look great by the way." I say over my shoulder. When I make it to the front yard I find Emmett.

He's a grizzly of a man and has to be at least 6'5. He looks like body builder with his thick melon arms that hold a weed wacker as he hacks away the weeds sprouting out of the shrubs in front of the house. He has these big shades on that reflect every color in the rainbow. They look like the type of sunglasses extreme fisherman wear. On his curly dark head are a pair of ear muffs and I know instantly it's going to be hard to get his attention.

"Excuse me." I call over the loud engine of the weed wacker as I cautiously approach him, not wanting to get one of my arms weed wacked right off. "EXCUSE ME!" I say louder this time. I still don't have his attention as I walk into his line of sight.

"HEYYY!" I yell.

Finally I've got his attention. Or at least the ice cold glass of lemonade has gotten his attention because that's what his really looking at.

"THAT FOR ME?" He asks over the loud engine. I nod. He cuts of the engine and pulls down his earmuffs. "This isn't that sugar free shit is it? That stuff make my ballz itch." He says and sets down the weed wacker. He swipes the glass off the tray and chugs down it's contents, a bit of lemonade spilling onto his huge chest.

I seriously doubt Splenda can be related to itchy junk unless you pour the lemonade down your pants and not your throat. He wipes his big hand across his upper lip and hands me back the empty cup, finally looking at me instead of the drink.

" You must be that Swan kid." He says, pulling off his gloves. I'm surprised they actually fit his big hands.

" Yeah. I'm Bella. Hi." I say, as I shift uncomfortably as he sizes me up.

" Well Bella, thanks for the lemonade," He says throwing a heavy arm around my shoulder. I cringe because its all sweaty and hot and I'm rubbing against his hairy arm pit. " I saw you checking me out earlier," my mouth pops open, " but your too young for me kid. Your like what? Fourteen? Fifteen? I cant help but feel kinda bad for you so here's the deal. You go refill this cup and get me a Twinky I'll give you a quick peek show." He says, wiggling his eyebrows and slowly lifting his shirt suggestively.

This guy is obviously an idiot. " How about this. I'll get you your lemonade, no Twinky, if you remove your sweaty arm. And you leave your shirt on. Deal?" I ask. "And I'm 17 not 14 smart ass." I add.

For a moment he peers at me from over his ridiculous shades, then he throws his head back and laughs all loud. " You got BALLS kid!" he barks out still laughing. I smirk and slip out from underneath his sweaty melon arm.

After I bring Emmett his lemonade and a Twinky, although I said I wouldn't, I sit on the back porch and read Wuthering Heights as he finishes off the weed wacking because there isn't much else to do. When he's finished, Esme comes out, brings us lunch and all four of us eat out on the back patio.

We all engage in polite chit chat as we eat the delicious turkey sandwiches Esme prepared for us. I notice that in front of Carlisle , Emmett doesn't say anything inappropriate but instead takes on the roll as storyteller. It must be killing him to hold back the word BALLS for such an extended amount of time. I find out Emmett is Esme's nephew and he works at the automotive shop as a mechanic. As I take a sip of my iced tea I glance at Emmet. He looks to be in his early twenties. I decide I like him. Because he's wierd like me. After all, what kind of normal person refers to their genitals within the first minute of meeting a stranger?

While Emmett tells us an elaborate story (something about a pregnant woman and a fishing trip but I honestly haven't been paying attention) my eyes are constantly shifting between the three of them. I notice similarities between them. Now that Emmett isn't wearing those goofy sunglasses I can see that he has the same pretty green eyes as Esme. In fact now I can see that Emmett is quite handsome even with the dirt smear on his for head and the grass sprouting from his curly locks. The Cullen family sport some seriously awesome genetics because I am obviously the least attractive at this table.

When I see everyone is laughing I join in although I'm not sure what I'm laughing at.

" Oh Bella," I sort of perk up at the mention of my name. I've been kind of quiet up to this point, inserting comments and hmms and ahhs when necessary. " A couple friends and I are havin a bonfire down in La Push Friday night. Your welcome to come. " Emmett says.

I'm a bit flattered that he's actually offering to hangout with me. Sort of. But then I glance over and catch Esme's eager gaze and internally groan because I know that look. It's the same look I've seen too many time in Renee's eyes. Esme is playing matchmaker and I'm betting Renee put her up to this and now Esme put Emmett up to this.

I'm feeling rejected by this discovery but I cover it up with an enthusiastic, perhaps overly enthusiastic nod. " Sure! Sounds great!" I grin and Emmett answers back with a grin of his own, completely fooled.

He apparently isn't the only one fooled because Esme claps her hands together happily and says. " Wonderful. I could drive you. This way you can make some new friends," all Renee, " and get a break from us two old bags." She chuckles motioning between her and Carlisle.

I giggle because it's such an absurd thing to say. " Trust me, I'd prefer your company over most people my age." And that's the truth. Kids my age only seem to be interested in three things; drugs, sex and parties.

" Actually Esme you don't have to worry about drivin Bella. I got it covered." Emmett says. I'm starting to feel like an 8 year old that needs a ride to ballet practice. I've been saving up for a car and have my license. I've just not actually purchased a vehicle and times like this I regret my procrastination. Although times like this don't happen often. I rarely go anywhere besides Jazz's house and school. I ride the bus to school and Jasper's house is within walking distance.

We all say goodbye to Emmett and he and I quickly exchange numbers. No doubt Esme's idea but he says it's so he can let me know when he's on his way to pick me up. Yeah right.

After Emmett's gone, Esme and I wash the dishes while Carlisle goes upstairs to shower.

" Do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Esme asks as she rinses a plate.

I shake my head. " No why?"

" Well I was just thinking you may want to go shopping tomorrow. You probably don't have many clothes made for Forks weather."

I nod. " Sure. I really need to get some pants. All I have are shorts." I admit.

She smiles, pleased with tomorrow's plans and we finish off the rest of the dishes while making small talk. The rest of the day is spent quietly indoors. Carlisle is called to work and Esme and I decided to bake cookies.

" What kind of cookies would you like to bake." Esme asks as she pulls out flour from the pantry.

" Chocolate Chip." I say immediately.

Esme smiles faintly at me. " Those were always my son's favorite."

I shift uncomfortably because we've reached that topic of which shall never be mentioned according to Renee. And I can see ,for the moment, that Esme has gotten lost in thought. " Do we need eggs?" I ask as I edge towards the fridge.

" Oh, yes three." Esme says, snapping out of her thoughts. I wonder how often this happens. I wonder how often she gets caught in sad thoughts of him. I really hope not often because someone as kind and sweet as Esme deserves happy thoughts.

And just like that our easy conversation starts up again and I'm proud that I was able to deflect the dark topic of Esme and Carlisle's deceased son.

Apparently Esme was a wonderful baker. Esme worked magic in the kitchen, adding memorized, mysterious ingredients with nimble fingers. The cookies turn out mind-numbingly delicious.

Towards the end of the afternoon I get a call from Renee. She babbles on about the promotion Phil received and how things are going great back at home. I should be happy for them but I'm a brat and can't get over the fact that they shipped me away like a piece of luggage. She let's me know she finally made herself an email and her address is SexyMamaATyahoodotcom(I don't know who thought of this address) this way we can keep in touch easier.

As the evening begins to set in and the sun falls, that creepy charge in the air slowly falls back in place. I'm bitterly disappointed because I've convinced my self that last night was just a product of lack of sleep and my over active imagination. Suddenly every shadow looks a bit more threatening and I'm afraid to walk down the dark corridor to my room.

I'm sitting alone at the fireplace attempting to read my worn copy of Wuthering Heights but I can't concentrate because every little sound is making me jump. I finally give up and set my book on the coffee table.

Before heading upstairs to my room I snag a few cookies from the kitchen because they are just so good. I make a mad dash for my bedroom and try to ignore that every other shadow is shaped like a monster in my mind. I trip over my luggage bag as I throw my self on the bed and burrow underneath the covers. It's not like the covers have any protective powers but I still feel safe under them. Underneath the covers I devour the cookies that I raided from the kitchen.

This is just pathetic. I'm not in 2nd grade, I'm 17 years old and shouldn't be acting like this. What would Jasper say?

With a new found dignity I raise my head from the blankets and survey the room. See! Nothing out of the ordinary. It's just a normal bedroom. A bedside table, a dresser, a closet, a small flat screen tv hanging on the wall opposite the bed and the door that leads to the bath and-OMYGOD WHATS THAT? I jump about ten feet in the air before I realize it's just a towel on the floor. I grind my teeth together at me stupidity and decide I need to do something to keep me busy.

I bravely crawl out of the safety of the bed to go and unpack my suitcase. While I'm throwing my clothes in the dresser in an unorganized fashion I look out the window to see it's completely dark outside. This only creeps me out further. When I'm finished I drag my empty suit case to the closet. After that I make the bed then hang up the towel that gave me such a fright earlier. Just when I'm out of things to do my phone starts ringing and I'm beyond relieved.

I reach on the dresser and grab my phone to check the caller I.D. The screen is lit up with a picture of Jasper with a coke bottle to his mouth as he regards the screen warily. It's one of the few pictures I've ever managed to take of him. JAZZY BOY CALLING the screen reads.

" Hey Jazz." I greet, after putting the phone to my ear.

" Hey Bells. How're things up there?" Jasper greets with his slight southern drawl. I'm suddenly much calmer then I was before and for the moment Jasper's familiar voice has lifted the dark feeling in the air. Jasper has the ability to control my emotions like that. I feel slightly guilty that I haven't texted him or called him since I arrived but I know he wont think much of it because he's just so easy going.

" Every thing's fine up here. Esme and Carlisle are great. I even made a new friend!" I exclaim and I here Jasper chuckle on the other end. " But I'm more worried about you Jazz. What are you gonna do all summer without me?" I ask because just as Jasper is the only friend of mine, I'm the only friend of his. And without me there with him in Phoenex I'm worried he will get into trouble. And I don't like the thought of him spending the summer couped up in his house with those terrible parents of his.

Jasper's mother was bit of a druggy , and definitely not the type of person that should be a parent to anybody. Jasper's father was a mechanic but also an alcoholic. I hated Jasper's father so much when I thought of the the bruises Jasper had hid on his body in middle schoolbut I always eventually found them. When Jasper made it to high school his father no longer treated him like a punching bag though. This was no doubt due to the fact that Jasper had grown 2 feet and was likely to hit back.

" Actually that's what I was calling about," on the other end I hear Jasper shutting a door. I imagine he's gone to his room for privacy and is about to tell me something that he doesn't want his parents to hear. " I cant imagine what it would be like to spend this summer without you," to anyone else this would have sounded incredibly romantic but this was Jazz and I know what he meant. " And you know how my parent's are," he need not say more on that topic, " And I've been saving my money up for a while now."

My eyes light up as I realize where he's going with this. " Ohmygod Jazz are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I squeal on the phone as I flop back on the bed.

" Already bought the ticket."

I gasp. " No way! Ohmygod! What day?"

" Next friday."

" Sweet! But wait! Where will you stay when you get here?" I ask as I roll over in the mattress and pick at the blanket.

I hear a quietness on the other end of the phone and I can't help but laugh. He obviously didn't think this too far through. " It's ok. We'll think of something." I wonder if Esme and Carlisle will let him stay here.

From out in the hallway I hear the sound of a door being opened and closed and I let loose a small but terrified squeak as my heart jumps through my throat. Then I realize it must be Carlisle coming home from the hospital.

" Bella? Are you ok?" I hear Jasper ask in my ear, sounding worried.

I nod even though he can't see me. " Yeah, yeah. I'm fine Jazz, just thought I heard something is all." I say quickly. For a moment I think about telling Jasper how creepy this place is at night and how scared I get but then figure I don't need to worry him with my chickenshitness.

" Ok. Well, sorry but I have to go and help my dad outside. Talk to you later darlin."

" Bye," I mumble and the line goes dead.

And just like that, the eerie feeling returns and I desperatly want to call Jasper back to make it go away. I sigh as I slide off the bed and grab my purse from off the dresser. I shuffle through it until I find what I'm looking for. Sleeping pills. Normally this isn't a habit of mine but when push comes to shove...

I go to the bathroom, and tip my head under the faucet and swallow the small pills. I walk back into my room and kick off my shoes and socks before flopping back onto the bed. I play on my phone until I feel the effects of the pills kick in then I shimmy out my shorts and throw them on the ground before letting the exhaustion take me.

XX

" Bella."

The smooth voice of a man drags me from my slumber.

" Wuh? Jazz?" I mumble in my groggy state. No. That's not Jasper's voice. The voice is too smooth and eerie.

"Bella."

Damn it's cold!

I slowly open my eyelids. Did I just here a voice call my name? I slowly sit up becoming more alert. It's still night time. I grab my phone and check the time. It's twelve freckin o'clock. You've got to be kidding me. Those cheap, god damn sleeping pills aren't worth shit!

" Bella." The voice repeats.

Oh shit! Ohmyeffingod! I'm hearing voices now? What do I do?

" Bella."

I let out small yelp as I curl up under the covers. Is there someone in this room? I slowly pull the covers away from my face and use my phone's screen as a flashlight. I didn't see anything. I shiver, astounded by how chilly it is in this room.

" Who's there?" I whisper as I sit up in the bed.

" Follow my voice Bella." The man whispers back. It sounds like he's coming from the hall. I scurry to the side of the bed to snatch up my pants from the floor then I quickly pull them on.

" Who are you?" I whisper into the darkness. I'm either going crazy and indulging the voice in my head or..well I'm not sure the other possibilities. Point blank, I think I'm going crazy.

" Come to me." Wow the voice in my head is very creepy.

" Hell no!" I snap before I can stop myself.

" Bella." I cringe at the whispery sound of the voice and bury my head once again underneath the blankets.

" Bella." I squeeze my eyes shut.

" Bella!" The voice is really starting to sound annoyed.

"WHAT!" I hiss. I really just want to go to sleep and wake up to day light when things aren't so scary and dark.

" Follow my voice." This again.

" If I follow your voice will you leave me alone and let me go to sleep?" I bargain with the psycho voice in my head.

There is a pause. Oh, now he wants to be quiet. Then I hear a whispery, " Yes."

I fling my legs over the side of the bed and bring my phone with me as a flashlight. Is it crazy that I'm following a creepy voice in the middle of the night? Yes. But I'm sure said voice will torment me all night until his will is done.

" Go up the stairs." The voice calls from the third story. I've never been up there before but I'm pretty sure this is wear Carlisle and Esme's bed is.

I trail up wary of what I will find. What if I bump into Esme or Carlisle. You could tell them the truth. There is a man in your head that wont let you sleep until you do as he says. I snort at the very thought.

Up here the voice stronger.

" Bella." His voice echos off the shadowed walls. I tread through darkness with my phone held in my hand in a death grip as I follow the voice that's growing in volume.

Then I'm at the end of the hallway and I stop because it's a dead end.

" You've found me Bella."

What? I haven't found anything. I raise my flashlight/phone and scope out the area around me. There's no one here. But what did I expect from a voice in my head? Shit, I'm going crazy. Just as I'm about to turn around and stalk back to the room, my light flashes off of the frame of a picture.

I step closer for a better look of the picture and gasp.

The photograph looks like the kind taken in a studeo exept this one is kind of old. Not old old. 90's old. That's not what has my attention though.

It's the face that's looking back at the camera.

The man in the picture is easily the most handsome/beautiful person I've ever seen. He looks to be in his late teens or early twenties. My eyes drop from the emerald eyes down to the soft, full lips, up to the messy bronze locks atop the perfectly symmetrical head and then down again. His tanned skin is completely unblemished and his lips! They are so pink! I wonder how someone could ever be so beautiful. Who is this man?

The face is so familiar and so is the happy grin on his lips but I can't quite but my finger on it.

It's not till Carlisle's identical grin and Esme's pretty green eyes flash through my mind that I gasp once again. Because I immediatley know who this is. I can't believe I didn't figure it out earlier.

It's Esme and Carlisle's son. Edward Cullen.

I take a quick step away from it not sure if this picture was ever meant for my eyes.

Suddenly I notice something.

The voice in my head has completely vacated. But I know that I'm not crazy and it's not just some voice in my head.

" Who are you?" I whisper in the darkness hoping for an answer from the voice. He's fulfilling his part of the bargain and leaving me alone.

But I don't need him to answer because deep in my gut I know exactly who the voice belongs to.

A/N: Thanks for reading and please leave me a review so I'll know what needs fixing.

Warning: If you don't review you WILL be pestered by the ghost of Edward Cullen tonight. :)

Next Chapter: Day 3: Foggy Mirrors and Palm Readers