Bella

I drove down the overgrown lane towards the house. Aside from the ever growing collection of dust, everything was the same as it had been when they left. I liked coming here sometimes. I would usually just sit on the porch steps and look out over the lawn, but something felt different this morning. It was the same feeling I'd had standing outside the pizza place; like I was being watched. I thought I could almost hear footsteps coming from inside the old house. I stood up from the step and walked closer to the door to see if I could hear anything.

"You'd best leave if you what's good for you."

I jumped back, startled by the sudden voice. I jumped off of the steps and bolted to my truck. Standing at the window was a blond male, clad in only black dress pants. I revved my truck to life, turned tightly, and drove back up the lane.

I drove towards the school. It had begun to rain now, the fat drops pelting my windshield. There were so many thoughts running through my head. Had they sold the house? Had they come back? Was this man one a new member to the clan? Who was he? Was he just a squatter? Most importantly...was he a vampire?

School dragged...then work dragged. I found myself in the stock room simply to pass the time. I organized, then I reorganized what had already been done. There was only half of an hour until my shift was over. I went back onto the floor, bringing a mop with me, and began to wipe away boot prints.

"Miss, have you a moment to speak with me?"

"Of course sir. What can I..." It was him, the man in the Cullen's living room. His features were flawless, and his skin the color of alabaster. His eyes which were violet (likely the result of blue contacts), burned into mine.

"How did you know where I was?" He whispered angrily.

"Mike!?"

"How do you know what I am?"

"MIKE!"

Mike came running around the corner of the isle. "Jeez Bella, you don't have to scream," he said with a bit of a laugh, "What's up?"

"Could you help me with this gentlemen please? You know more about specialty tools than I do."

"Of course," Mike turned to look at the man, but he was already gone, "Where did he go? Weird."

"Mike can you do me a favor?" I asked.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Don't let him in the store. There's something wrong with him."

"What are you talking about? I didn't see anything wrong with him Besides I can't just..."

"Mike please..."

"Did he say something to you? Because if he did we should call Charlie and..."

"No!" I struggled to control my volume, "Don't call Charlie. Just keep away from him. Don't let him in the store.

"Bella, what's..."

"Can you please just do this for me Mike?"

"O-Okay," Mike said, seeming thoroughly freaked out.

"I have to go," I said putting the mop away.

"But we still have 15 minutes!" Mike hollered after me.

I can't go home, I thought to myself as I walked across the parking lot, still wearing my red vest. The only thing protecting Me in the shop was the presence of of everyone else. It was too conspicuous of a place to kill me, but at home, where it was only Charlie and I, under the cover of night, I would only put him in danger. I got into my truck, looking thought the window back at the lit storefront, when a strong cold hand clamped over my mouth.

"Don't scream, or I'll have to kill you," he whispered in my ear before removing his hand, "Drive to the house."

I turned the key and slowly pressed the accelerator, exiting the lot. There was nothing else I could do.

I drove up the winding drive way to the Cullen house, pulling it off to the side of the road. I turned off my truck, and in a flash, he was at my door, opening it for me. He waited for me to lock the door before placing a hand on the small of my back, leading me into the house. I wasn't sure what he wanted, or what he was doing here, but he hadn't killed me yet, and that could only be taken as a good sign. He lead me thought the foyer and into the dining room, pulling out a chair for me. He was more polite than I had expected, but something about that only put me more on edge. He sat next to me, at what would be the head of the table, leaning towards me, forearms braced against the table. He was quite beautiful actually. His pale smooth skin stretched over angular cheekbones, the pale blonde locks of hair that framed his face, and the way the fabric of his dress shirt pulled tightly against his biceps. I felt myself wondering about the color of his eyes without the distortion of the contacts; the exact shade of red.

"Who are you?" his asked, his voice snapping me back to the present moment.

"Bella Swan," I answered stupidly, "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

"Caius Volturi. And what do I want?" he seemed to smirk for a second before becoming serious again, "Right now I want to be the one asking the questions. Is that something simple enough for your dull human mind to understand?"

I nodded.

"Who are you?"

"Isabella Marie Swan."

"But you're not important. You're not immortal, you have no special power, you're just...simple. Completely ordinary."

He seemed to no longer be talking to me.

"Why would anyone even bother with you? Why tell you? Of everyone in this town..."

"I don't know..." I said, feeling more and more broken as he kept talking.

"Don't take it personally Isabella Marie Swan, I would consider you quite attractive as humans go. Although that doesn't quite seem to be what is offending you."

I sat quietly, looking at the table.

"Back to questions then," he said, "How did you know where I was?"

"I didn't know you were here," I replied quietly.

"Then why were you here?"

"I like to come here sometimes. I don't know why."

"You're scent still lingers all over this house. You knew who lived there. You knew the Cullens"

"Yes."

"And you knew what they were? What we are?"

"Yes."

"And yet you stayed. Why?"

"Edward...I l-l-..." I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks, "We were...it didn't matter to me," I as finally able to spit out.

"And now I see why you are upset. You were left behind, weren't you? How long has it been now?

"Four months, and three days."

"And he had no intention of changing you?

I shook my head.

"You didn't want to then?"

"He didn't want to."

"Then I must tell you that he did not love you as much as you thought he did."

"I got the message loud and clear. Especially after he told me outright."

"And yet you yearn for him."

I stayed silent for a moment.

"What do you want with me? Are you going to kill me?" I finally asked.

"I don't know yet. I can however assure you that I will not be letting you out of my sight," Caius looked at his watch, "It's late."

He was right. It was past eleven.

"I need to call my Dad. He'll be wondering where I am. And I don't think that either of us want him to come around here looking."

"Call, and lie to your father."