Chapter 2: Bloodlust

I hurried to Biology as fast as I could. I kind of needed to mentally prepare myself, for a whole hour with her in the same room. And I knew very well that there was only one available seat in the whole classroom. Right next to me. Mr. Banner would have no choice but to seat her at my lab table. This simple girl was frightening me, but not into cowardice. She could ruin everything I had, that I worked for, and Carlisle too. He had created us all, us being my family and me, into being the most humane vampires as possible. No feeding on innocent humans, and supplying on unimportant animals. If I were to do something compulsive, I could ruin everything for me, and my family, and I could not let that happen.

In the attempt to mentally prepare myself, I calmed my whole body down into a stiff pose, though gripping hard so as to remind me of self-control. I couldn't help it but my face must have been in a tight concentrated way; I must have looked sinister. As most of the prey in my school panic away from me. But I didn't exactly care how I looked, I just cared that I could obtain self-control for ah hour. Just today, for tomorrow I could handle my further existence, well depending on this torturous hour.

Soon, students started filling in, as I organized my thoughts for commands. And as soon as I saw Mike Newton enter the door, I mobilized completely. The only part of me that moved were my eyes, following her every move, as she followed Mike in.

Hesitantly she waited in the back of the classroom near me, and waited for everyone to get seated so she could speak to the teacher quietly. And as she started up the ally between the tables, and reached Mr. Banner's desk, I could see why. Her voice, though I hadn't heard it much in the lunchroom, was so high but soft. And being shy, especially today, she spoke in a practical whisper. He just signed her slip and assigned her a book, and sent her to the only vacant seat.

The class was in silence, except for the few whispers around the room, and all eyes were on her as she made her way to my—well now our—lab table. She watched me on her way down the aisle. Her eyes were wary and hesitant, as I remembered my attempt of management over my own self. I solidified my body and narrowed my eyes, and kept thinking of Carlisle. Though when she saw my face, she blushed a lovely shade but turned away too quickly before I could admire it, and in doing so, she tripped over a book in the walkway. Stumbling she caught on to an edge of a table, seating another girl in my class. Of course, Bella being the new girl and now embarrassing herself as well, she laughed at her, but not enough to the teacher's notice. She reassembled herself, but all it took was one fluid and simultaneous movement to change everything.

As she took another step towards the back of the room—towards me—a warm gust of air flew out of a vent and blew her wonderful and pleasurable aroma right in my face. Right then, was when I went crazy. Instantly, I could think of about ten different ways to kill her, and drink her tender, luscious blood. A few students and a teacher were nothing compared to enhanced vampire strength, easily taken care of. As she would be sitting next to me I could effortlessly and quietly lay my fangs into her soft throat, all it would take was one quick snap at he neck to knock her out, then I would handle her body and drink the warmhearted blood. All that could be handled in about…fifteen seconds. And before the innocent teacher and students noticed I would slip out the classroom door, never to be seen again. And that was only one plan…Hm, or I could wait till school ended, and isolate her in the school parking lot, where nobody would be around. And she wouldn't have time to scream, for I could be quicker there than in the classroom, where I had to worry about noise. I could easily bite, and drink her, then as teachers soon filed out, drag her into the woods surrounding the school, and slurp her dry. Then I could go on and live here, and not ruin everybody that surrounded me lives. Carlisle would have no shame of being driven out of Forks so suddenly…just the shame of me drinking from a human. Which he raised me against, and I was set on that. But I couldn't ruin things for Carlisle, ever. So if anything harsh were done, it would be kept a long—and eternal—secret. So after school it would possibly be, just to give Alice the message to go on without me…

Focus! I had to control myself. This couldn't get out of hand. Bella was innocent, well, besides the fact she was driving me insane. All those potential, gory, evil scenarios only took a few seconds to think of, and a couple to simmer down and cool. And by then, she had finally reached her seat next to me. As class started, I tried to re-control myself, and think.

But all it took was one breeze of her scent to make me turn malicious. And this was only one hour with her and I was trying to kill her. She was completely blameless. She had no reason to die. But I couldn't spend any more time with her than this hour. These plans to hurt her or anyone else in any way could not continue. (Although not to mention, there were some flaws with my plans that my hastiness didn't think out.) I only had this period with her. Easily managed, right? I could just go and change my schedule to get a different Biology block. Switch whatever, just get me out of there, and just don't put me in another class with her.

Luckily, with Jessica's obnoxious mind, I could hear Bella's schedule. First period: English, next: Government, then: Trigonometry, and after that: Spanish. Then it was the entire school's lunch hour. After lunch, she obviously had Biology, then the final block being Gym. Ha! Now I could easily avoid her, without doing anything severe. And that would all be fixed after school.

The next forty-five minutes were torture; I had to keep my mind of her. I could have tried to pay attention in class, but I'm over a hundred years old. I think in my twenty some-odd high schools, at least one of them would have taught this along the way. After about ten minutes into my thinking process, she let her hair glide off her back and around her shoulder to create a barricade between us, for she kept sneaking glances at me. She was trying to hide, but all that did was disturb the air around us, and send more of her mouth-watering fragrance around me, encasing my body in her smell, and that started the whole period-long process over again. And so it went on. Thoughts of drinking and blood, then a calming period, then a control/handle period, her own intrusion, then repeat. It was like the Isabella Swan shampoo.

I couldn't take that the whole period, smelling her, and longing for her blood, to lay my teeth into her warm skin, and feel the blood pulsating in my mouth. Stop! I couldn't think that, I would do something horribly wrong. I just…wouldn't breathe. Yes, because technically I didn't have to. So I stopped the flow of air into my mouth and nose. And for once this whole class period, I felt sane, like she wasn't even there. I could think clearly and see everything sensible. Well, until the whole holding-my-breath thing got uncomfortable. Like I said, I didn't need to breathe, it was just uncomfortable, because it's a human instinct. We vampires still have them, they're deep inside of us, but they're always there.

Finally, stopping my breathing got to difficult to manage, and I let the air flow inside my body and melt my insides, for the air was full of her smell. In a way, I kind of hated this girl. She was making me go crazy and corrupting everything. I hated her for making the big true monster come out of me. But surprisingly…hating her made the stress drift off of me. Hating her gave me a reason to be infatuated with her and her blood. Normal human behavior proved that. Whomever the human in question "hated", they would always be watching them and complaining about them. Same scenario, except with me, I would actually kill her. I had to try to quiet my breath, for it was staggered and heavy. She would undoubtedly notice.

But then finally the bell rang and I instantly removed myself from her presence. There was no way I could live through my next block class, I would be thinking about her too much. And my lack of attention would tip-off some teachers. Mr. Banner was just excited about what he taught, and little took student behavior into his awareness.

So, I ran out to my silver car parked in the school parking lot. I fluidly moved through the crowd of students rushing to their next class. I made it out the front doors without a teacher spotting me; most of them taught last period anyway. I sped across the parking lot and jumped into my car. As I sat there I shuddered. This was where I wanted to kill her, and shed innocent blood. I could not believe this monster—more of one than normal—that I became. I was willing to wreck all Cullen life, for simple blood lust. If I wanted to drink, and I should have soon for I didn't drink blood for about two weeks, I could go find an animal. Possibly my favorite, the mountain lion, and feed off them for thirst.

But it was her blood I wanted. She smelled so sweet, and I was drawn to her. But then I though of Alice's reaction this morning, her giggles. What had she seen? If I wanted to kill Bella, why was Alice laughing? There…must be something more.

But I couldn't think about this, not right now. I needed to clam down and wait till school ended. But I just needed to send Alice a message to not wait for me after school. Because I've known Alice for so long, we have a special connection, a hyper-awareness, to each other's minds. So while I was reading her mind I could talk to her in a way. I guess more like think to her. She would hear me, and then easily respond. It's hard to explain, and Carlisle and us couldn't even describe how it worked. It was just good, when we didn't want to heard or seen talking.

Alice, head on home without me today…I have…business to attend to. I thought to her.

Uhm, okay. But why? Always the curious nosy person, Alice was. Could I tell her? I mean, she saw what was going to happen to Bella with me. She should know already what I'm doing with her seeing skills. But I was more concerned with why she giggled at the though of Bella and me this morning. But could I ask her?

Bella she…well…what did you see this morning? I needed to know before I could answer.

Oh come on now, Edward. That would ruin the fun of the journey. She answered slyly.

Alice! …No response. Ugh. Fine Alice. Just don't wait up for me after school. Again, no response. Well, I knew she heard me. Clearly, today was causing too much frustration. Bella, the future, my family. I couldn't handle everything, and I would have thought I could. So one would have to wait. But which one?

Suddenly and thankfully, the end-of-school bell rang throughout the school, and excited chatter filled the air. Now it was time. I got out of the car and glided up towards the office. Ms. Cope was in there, with her baggy purple shirt on. Ha, the lack of human high-maintenance. She would be unwilling I knew, at first. But I could persuade it out of her. Humans are vampire's prey. We seem astonishing to them, and they would easily follow and listen to us. Like a snake and the flute-player; play the right notes and they're in your control. I shyly but swiftly moved up to her desk.

"Ms. Cope?" I whispered. As she turned around I put a small crooked smile on my face.

"Oh Edward dear. How…erm nice to see you…" She obviously felt awkward in my company. And to think she just sounded like that, you wondered what she was thinking…

Oh dear, Edward Cullen. So…handsome, but dear me. My husband at home would be…ashamed of me. But look at him. Oh what could he want…he can have anything he…

I gave a little chuckle under my breath. Her thoughts were very humorous to me. Cause she was an old lady, at least over forty, and I was seventeen (Well, that was my claimed age.) How embarrassing, for her, I mean.

"Nice to see you. You look lovely today, as always," I flattered her effortlessly. Soon, she would be overwhelmed by my performance and would undeniably change my schedule. "But I have a favor to ask."

"Oh?" She asked turning slightly red.

"See I know it's far too late in the year to change things around, but is there any way that I could switch out of sixth-hour Biology?" I requested innocently.

"Uhm, well dear, it is too late in the year, but maybe I could move things…" she mumbled while moving papers and getting the computer ready, "But what is the problem? Is it Mr. Banner?"

"Oh no, he's great. I just would like to have Biology earlier in the day because…erm," I struggled to find a realistic explanation.

She was busy on the computer anyway, but then she stated the dreadful news. "I'm so sorry Edward, but there is no other available period for Biology—"

"I'll take any science then." I stated firmly. I had to get out of there. I was leaning over the counter narrowing my eyes and broadening my smile, in attempt to have her accept that.

"Well I—" she was cut off, because a burst of cool air rushed into the office and swirled everything around. A girl just stopped inside for one second to drop a paper in a basket. But that one second inside blew everything around. Papers, flyers, posters, and the air, and that made everything I worked for, with Ms. Cope, impossible. In my deep conversation with Ms. Cope, I hadn't noticed another student had already entered the office. Of course it was the last student I wanted to see. Isabella Swan stood in the back of the office, hair twirling around her face, her cheeks a red shade, and her eyes wide. One second was all it took to circulate the air around, so Bella's fantastic scent blew around and around the entire office. Making any more of my efforts useless. Grudgingly, I turned back to the receptionist and whispered, "Never mind then. I can see that it's impossible. Thank you so much for your help." I didn't dare look at Bella on my swift exit out. But I could feel Bella stare after me, and I rushed out to the parking lot wondering now, how I would get home.

"Edward!" someone called, but I instantly knew it was Alice's voice. I turned around looking for where her voice came from, but then I saw her in her red convertible, waiting for me alone.

Before I could ask anything, she answered me, "I got home and rushed back with my car. I realized you would have had to run home, and I thought I could at least pick you up." She smiled at me as I got in the car with a frown. I had to quickly erase it thought, with Alice if you wore a frown she would force you to be happy. So I just put a slight grin on my face, otherwise…she might ask questions.

After about a minute, and we were already about a third of the way home, despite how far we lived, Alice of course spoke out.

"You know, I know why you didn't want us to wait for you after school." She stated, as a fact. She kept staring at me, every now and then looking back at the road, but only for a second. I kept silent. I knew she knew, so what more needed to be said?

"Come on, tell me, please?" she pouted, but then couldn't resist it, and gave me a smile. You couldn't say no to a face like that, the pout one or the smile, it was impossible.

"Fine. Well…" I couldn't think of how to explain it to her. But then, I thought of a quick evasion. "Well, first, tell me why you giggled this morning, then I'll tell you."

"Excuse me mister, no ultimatums." Alice argued. Luckily, jasper wasn't with us, otherwise he would have used his power to lighten the mood to influence me, and possibly Alice, to just tell one another.

"No ultimatum, no answer at all." I demanded, with a smirk on my face. It was that easy…well, till—

"I knew this would happen, that's why I brought back-up." She said with a tad of authority in her voice, but easily with a smile. That was what I had been afraid of. Outside of the car was a blur, going as fast as the car we were in, and granted we were going about eighty to ninety miles per hour. I knew exactly what—well who— the blur was. Then, the fierce blur jumped right into the car without hesitation. And straightening himself out, he flashed an evil smile at me. It was Jasper, Alice's husband. Great, she knew how to deal with stubborn people.

I scowled, but then Alice asked me again, "So why did you stay late at school?" She asked now with a big grin on her face, she had won the battle with Jasper there. He had climbed in the front passenger seat next to Alice. And just sat there, motionless, looking peaceful. He was putting out a calm friendly atmosphere. Almost as if you were drunk, and you just ramble and tell anybody anything, except without the slurring.

I couldn't even defy the question. My mind just started to think, and my mouth to move. "I wanted to get away from the new girl." Somehow I had come up with a way to clarify my actions that afternoon. But of course, Alice and Jasper already knew about her. She was the schools current gossip.

We were home now, and I motioned to get out of the car, to get away from Mr. And Mrs. Twenty-Questions, Alice was more cunning than I was. She already had positioned Emmett outside the house to pin me down. It was awkward, but if Alice wanted it done, it would have to be completed. Emmett jumped in where Jasper had and took me and plopped me on his lap, and wrapped his enormously, super-vampire strong arms around my upper body. There was no way I could have escaped. Boy, Alice sure thought of everything.

"Now, Edward, please explain, to everybody why you stayed late this afternoon." I narrowed my eyes and glared at her. She was mocking me. But Jasper still had the atmosphere put around us, so I was imposed to answer.

"I told you, it was the new girl. I couldn't be around her anymore." Whoops, I said more than I should have.

"Why can you not be around her?" Alice questioned further. Obviously, she was taking charge in the questioning. All three of them, were staring at me, with slight smiles, for they knew they had me cornered.

I couldn't object. "In…in class…she was just so…so appetizing. And I couldn't destroy what…we have. All of us." I stated. It was pretty much all out on the table.

They just stared at me blankly. Then Alice started laughing hysterically. Now that everything was out, Jasper let up the atmosphere, but only a little. Now, it had to be my turn for questions, and now I had evidence.

"So, then, Alice?" I stared at her just as blankly as she had me.

"Uhm, what Edward?" she asked. Ironic thing was, she asked that like a clueless blonde stereotype, but her hair was short and black.

"You know what I want to know. You just started laughing like crazy. And the snickers from this morning are with the same motive. Tell me now, I answered your questions—"

"Ha! Yeah, by force!" She smirked at me, unwillingly. But then I played my puppy-dog-sad face, changed my attitude into slight depression, and mumbled "Fine" and asked Emmett to kindly release me. As I was getting out of the car Alice stopped me. Success.

"Fine, Edward, I'll tell you…" she said willingly as she gave in. I gave her a smile now, with approval.

"You'll just have to get to know her to find out!" She squealed at me, then like a speedy ballerina, danced off inside.

I narrowed my eyes, in frustration and irritation, but didn't bother chasing after her. Maybe…just maybe…there was some truth to her misconception. But just as slowly as it took me to come to that conclusion, Bella's scent filled my head till I was noticeably dazed. I raced off to the woods behind the house. I just kept running. I had to go. I couldn't be around her anymore, ever. I formed a plan all while running (it's an automatic thing to me, just like breathing.) Where could I go? Clearly, I couldn't stay in Forks, but I couldn't be on my own. Who knew what else would impulse me? Well, I had to inform someone in my family I was leaving, for who knew how long. Possibly till Bella died out. But there was only one person I could tell who I knew wouldn't hold me back. Carlisle.

I changed my direction and headed towards the hospital, to tell Carlisle that I was leaving…for Alaska.