Edward jump from a tree back to his room. His lips were cover with a layer of blood. Deer blood never made him satisfied. It was tasteless like tofu. No one live on tofu alone, so why should he? "Because killing innocent human is not humane. We are blessed and cursed at the same time. But we must do what is good for everybody. Remember, you were once human." That was Carlisle answer when Edward asked him 3 weeks after he turned him into a vampire according to Edward's biological mother's dying wish. Carlisle was the perfect father any child would want. Even though not biologically.
Edward lay back on his couch. Until he came back from school, he completely forgot about the girl with wings. Spending more time with Bella was not only making him losing his focus but also did not bring him back to her. That was Edward's grand plan. Since the flashes came after meeting Bella, the "her" he was suppose to stay away from was…her. And maybe by spending more time with Bella, he might have a chance to be whisk back to the girl with wings. But he hasn't had the flashes ever since then. Why not? Bella was the girl he was told to stay away wasn't it?
Edward closes his eyes and calms himself. He began to develop a headache and the taste of deer blood was not helping at all.
That day in school was like normal. Or the word "bored" should suit better for Edward. Going through high school for the last few centuries was torturing. Maybe not as bad as changing into a vampire but it was really torturing him mentally. Every teacher praise about the Cullens' academic results. And not only the teachers but the towns always admire and look up upon the whole family. Everyone will say "Dr. Cullen is very generous by adopting the broods." "And he just dots on his wife." "The children are very intelligent. All of them did well in school." "He's the best doctor in the whole district. Why, he healed my sprain that I consult about to many specialists." "Mrs. Cullen was always kind. Did you know she donated a large sum of money to the hospital?"
But it was not the case among the students. To them, the Cullen was a bunch of freaks, albeit a very cool bunch of freaks. Because of their freakiness, they never try to approach them. And Edward and his siblings, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper actually were glad for it. Isolation from the humans helps them to control their hunger for human blood.
The reason for excelling in their academics was not as what the teachers thought it was. After centuries of schooling, Edward would be surprise if they hadn't done well in school.
Bella was as hard to read as usual. School was normal with the exception of Mike who caused a small explosion that broke the laboratory's conical flask and got himself detention.
"Edward! Someone's at the door. Go get it." Rosalie's voice rang through his ears.
"Yes, I got it."
He ran down stair and opened the door. He choked at the first sight of the unexpected visitor.
"Oh. You live here."
At the door was the new girl, Leah Turner, dripping wet from the shower that has just ended. The reason he choked was that because her left arm had a cut. Quite a big cut and it was bleeding heavily. Before she could say anything further, he bolted back up stairs. Then he heard Carlisle's voice. "Come in dear. You must be freezing." Just then, Jasper ran up and slammed his door. The same goes with Rosalie, Alice and Emmett.
Carlisle greeted his visitor when Esme called him.
"I'm a doctor. Come, you might want to get that cut fix up." He led the visitor to the living room. "Take a seat. I'm going to take my kit. Just wait here."
When he came back, the girl wasn't sitting but staring at a Rembrandt picture. She doesn't look like she's in pain. Her left sleeve was torn away and used to wrap around her wound to prevent her blood from staining the carpet.
"It's a Rembrandt." She said without turning.
"You notice." He placed the kit on the coffee table and opened it. "Come, sit and let me see that." She turned and sat, carefully not getting her wound in contact with the sofa.
"You must be new here."
"Yeah. I move here a few days ago." She was still facing the picture. But when she shifts her eyes on him, Carlisle saw the palest pair of eyes. "You must be the town physician, Dr. Cullen."
Carlisle froze. "Indeed I am." He smiled and disinfects the needle with a bit of alcohol and tied the thread on it. "I don't remember my son told me about you."
"That's because he's too busy staring at Bella Swan." He penetrated into her skin and out. She didn't flinch. Not one bit.
Carlisle frowned. "He was?"
She nodded; her eyes begin to wonder around the room. "What's wrong with Edward?"
"Edward? Oh, he had something bad for lunch."
"Oh, I see." Her eyes settled on the family photo. "That girl is very beautiful. The blond one."
"Rosalie? Yes, she is indeed."
"She looks cold." Whatever this girl is, she's very frank. An attitude easily mistaken for rudeness.
"Well, I think she wasn't in the mood that day. Alright, I'm done. Try not to put any strain on that hand. I must say…sorry, I haven't caught your name yet."
She smiled and held out her right hand. "I'm Leah Turner and I am much obliged that you sew up my wound."
Carlisle shakes her hand and returns her smile. "Well, Leah, I meant to tell you that you show much bravery. Not many of my patients show that kind of courage."
"Thank you for your compliments, Dr. Cullen. I must be going now…oh, that reminds me. I was lost while walking in the woods. I trip on a log and cut my hand. I was wondering around, trying to find my way back when I found your house."
"Oh, then we can't let you walk home." And straight away he called down Edward. When he came down with a sour look on his face, Carlisle instructed him to fetch Leah Turner back home.
"Don't worry. I don't think you can smell her." he whispered at his ears before Edward leaves.
In the garage, Edward points at his car. "That one."
Leah stared at the Volvo S60R. She looked up and asked "You like silver?"
"Yes, I do." And with that reply, Leah entered the car. Edward was nervous. What does Carlisle meant when he told him that he won't smell her? But the moment she entered, he couldn't sense a trace of blood. Like she never had the wound.
"What did you had for lunch?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your lunch. What did you had for lunch?"
"I haven't had my lunch."
"Oh."
And after that, the whole journey was quiet.
When Edward's car disappeared from the bend, Carlisle walk back into the house. Esme was leaning against a bookcase.
"I've never met anyone like that before." She muses.
"I know. Such…politeness. It's hard to find this type of people nowadays."
"I don't smell blood here."
"Hmmm…maybe she's just…tasteless."
"She's different, Carlisle." Esme said, walking towards her husband and wrap her arms around his neck.
"Yes, you're right. I mean, which girl or anybody could say that that's a Rembrandt? With the exception of us of course."
"I wonder why she moved to Forks."
"I wonder too, darling."
They reached the main road and Edward asked where her house was. The journey from the house to the main road was a relatively easy for him. On the account that he couldn't sense out a single smell of blood.
"Oh, you could just stop right here, that would be kind enough of you."
"At the main road?!"
"Yes. Right here would do just fine."
"Are you going to walk back?"
"I came into the woods on foot; I think I could walk back."
"What would your parents say?"
"I have no parents at home."
"What do you mean?" Edward's eyes narrowed.
She instead of answering opened the door and step out.
"Wait!" Edward got out of his car hurriedly. "You can't just walk home?"
She smiled. "Don't be silly, Edward. Of course, I can."
"What were you doing in the woods anyway?"
She stared at him and he noticed her eyes was the palest of grey, like a dark pool of mercury. "Just walking." And with that simple answer, Leah Turner walked home.