Chapter 3

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Dr. Cullen continued to stare at the girl and was about to say something, when a young man called Dr. Cullen's name. Looking over at the young man, Laura and the boy's gazes met, before he looked back at Dr. Cullen-who she assumed must be his father. The boy had untidy bronze hair and a lanky build, he looked like he was the right age to be a junior in high school. "Ah, Edward." Dr. Cullen smiled as he looked at his son, but there seemed a slight tightness in his eyes. Edward's eyes widened so infinitesimally, she thought it was just her imagination, and the next moment he was expressionless as he turned to look at her. Lauralithia shifted uncomfortably on the cot, and gave a shy smile and small wave. "Um, Hi. I'm Laura." He nodded slightly, "Edward." Keeping his eyes on her, he directed his next comment to his father. "I'm going home Carlisle, I'll see you later." Carlisle nodded and smiled at him as he disappeared out the door, the same tightness around his eyes.

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Carlisle turned back to his patient, "I'll have the nurse bring in your things, and then you are free to go." Laura smiled at him thankfully, "Thank you, Dr. Cullen." He nodded, the tightness in his eyes decreased as he smiled and walked out of the room. A few moments later a nurse came in with Laura's clothes folded up in her arms. The blood had been washed out. The nurse smiled at her and set the clothes down on the bed, and removed the IV and the heart monitor-two of the things she had magically gleaned from Dr. Cullen's mind. She hated using that spell because of the lack of privacy, but it allowed her to adjust to whatever culture-or in this case world-she came to. The nurse left and shut the door behind her, giving Laura her privacy as she dressed out of the gown and into her clothes. Looking down at her flat stomach, she touched the bandage around her waste cautiously. She still had some healing to do. As she dressed, she looked at each of the items in her room, the names for them coming to mind as easily as if she had grown up with them all her life.

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When she had dressed, she looked down at the hole in her shirt, and frowned. It was a good thing she had on an undershirt, all she had had to do was put it on backwards, and no one would notice unless they looked really close. But she couldn't wear these clothes for long here, they didn't fit the culture, she'd have to find a store and buy some new clothes. That was another thing. How was she going to get money? She had money from her world, but it probably didn't translate well here. I mean come on. Gold coins? Not likely. She probably would have to find a place to trade some of her money for the money here. Maybe a jewelry store? That might work. She'd have to magic the gold into some jewelry to sell, she didn't want the jeweler asking awkward questions.

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She sighed. But even that would bring attention in a small town like this. As she opened the door, she gasped in surprise as Edward Cullen stood towering over her, eyes dark with anger. Without a word, he stepped inside so fast the that when she blinked, the door was shut and she was pinned up against the wall, her hands pinned at her sides by two vice-like grips. Eyes wide, she stared into his black eyes. "What did you do to Carlisle?" He all but snarled. Laura stared wide eyed up at him, trying uselessly to pull her hands from his steel grip. "What are you talking about? I didn't do anything to your dad!" She glared defiantly up at him. His grip tightened and his eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me. What. Did. You. Do?"

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Laura stared him in the eyes for a long moment. "What if I told you I'm not from around here? That I'm different." He stared at her, unchanged. "I was running away from someone, he caught me, and I got hurt in the process-ending up here." Still he was silent. Laura swallowed heavily, "The thing that happened with your dad is something of a gift that I have. I travel a lot, and for me to be able to live anywhere I go, I have to sort of glean from people what the customs are." Edward's hands tightened. "Why Carlisle? Why not a nurse or some random stranger?" he said, deathly still. The red haired girl shook her head.

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"He was the first person I met, and he seemed nice." Edward was so still he was like carved marble. Laura continued when he said nothing, "Look, it's not a big deal, if you are worried about me having hurt him in any way-" He cut her off, "No," he began, and she began to relax, "if you had hurt him, you would not be alive right now." Her breath stilled, and the next moment he disappeared, the door clicking behind him.

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She was still shaking with anger when she made her way out of the hospital, black boots clicking on the cement. 'Her? Hurt someone when gleaning?' She shook her head with a snort. Her steps slowed as a thought occurred to her. 'Well... maybe if it was someone less experienced.' A part of her reasoned. The other part of her that was still fuming wanted to squish the smaller part. The small part reasoned again, 'It wasn't like he'd seen anyone do it before, so of course he would freak out!' Laura growled in frustration, but began to feel immensely guilty about what she had done. Maybe she could make it up to them somehow? Pausing in front of her destination, she took a deep cleansing breath and stepped inside.

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An hour later, Laura stepped out of the town's bank, having successfully managed to transfer her gold into American dollars, and had also gained a bank account, and a visa. She now had more than enough money to start a new life, a dozen times over. The rest of the day was spent in purchasing a used blue Toyota Camry, and a small two bedroom, one bathroom house with a fully furnished kitchen, and living room. It was smaller than she was used to, but she didn't mind-it had a cozy feel. Going to the furniture store, she bought the essentials for making her new home more like a home, and by the time dinner rolled around, her house was fully furnished and warmly decorated.

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Her closet was full of new clothes and shoes, and the bathroom and kitchen filled with all the essentials. The new Laura Miller (she had had to make up a last name, it would be strange to not have one) set about making dinner, dressed in a pair of dark blue skinny jeans, a white poofy button up shirt, and short brown high-heeled boots., her long red hair up in a high pony tail. After she ate dinner-spaghetti and meatballs with store bought bread-she brushed her teeth and changed into her new blue and white striped pajama top and bottoms, and climbed into her bed, unaware of a pair of black eyes that were watching her.

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So! What do you guys think so far? I know it's not great writing or anything, I've been kind of out of the habit of writing so it's not great. Also do I have too many comas in stuff? I know I use them a lot, but what do you guys think? Anyway please review! I need to know what you think! -Leah