CHAPTER 3: TAKEN

Just this morning ignorance had seemed bliss, especially compared to how I felt right now. I felt breakable, human. This was pathetic, because I was of the indestructable kind and I acted like I could be crushed so very easily.

Emmett and Jasper would have a field day knowing this, I thought wryly.

I sat in my car - a silver Volvo, rather conspicuous compared to the other cars in the parking lot but the most 'normal' car we owned - resting my head back against the seat. I bailed out of last period Spanish, knowing Mrs. Goff could probaby care less f I were there. She was embarrassed that my Spanish was better than hers - it seemed to make her nervous that my pronounciation and spelling could beats hers any day - so she was probably relieved to be able to actually teach the students something today, rejoicing that for once she need not worry about her academic credentials compared to mine.

The silence and solitary environment of my car gave me enough time to think. Think about Bella and all these strange feelings I had seemed to have self - willed for no good reason.

This was nothing more than a crush: I had been surrounded by all the drama that took place at Forks High long enough that it was bound to happen that some of this human teenage angst would rub off on me. That there would be one person who'd make an impression. And Bella posed plenty of reasons for me to be impressed with her. Not being able to read her mind was certainly one of them.

The frustration and fascination about that were probably the reason why I had developed this crush. It was probably not even that. I had deluted myself into thinking that her heavenly scent was like incence; a seductive aroma; specifically and only designed to tempt me into needing to be with this girl.

This was just another one of those far too human reactions. I had tricked myself into thinking I wanted Bella, when in reality this was just impossible. I barely knew her and she had no interest in me. And even if she would like me, it still would not change the fact I was a vampire and it would be insane to even consider Bella would easily accept that horrific fact, stay with me and not shriek in terror and run away.

Since I had assessed all of this - internally making a 'pros and cons' list of my own on all these absurd new developments in my existence - I had to come to the conclusion that no matter how much I thought of Bella, no matter how much I thought I wanted her, I just needed to find the strength to forget about it and let it go. That was the only right thing to so.

I had walked this earth over a century, I had seen death and horror, war after war destroying countries and lives. People loving, hating and killing each other. How hard would it be to get over one small crush.

Final period passed and eventually the school started to empty out. It was not before long that I spotted my siblings making their way to the car.

I could hear each and every one of them harbouring their own thoughts on my supposed well being, as they got in.

Look at him, what the hell is going on?, Emmett wondered.

Great, Edward's in emo-mode, Rosalie shuddered, I am so not in the mood to hear Linkin Park boom through the house again.

Must be about the Swan girl, I knew there was something about her, Jasper trailed off.

Only Alice purposely directed her thoughts at me - knowing I'd pick up on them - by posing me a silent question

Need a distraction? I was planning on going to Port Angeles, want to join me?

I had no lust for going anywhere, but I could use a distraction. At home, I'd only be pestered with the thoughts of my siblings and as much as I hated to admit it, Alice was the only one I could "really" talk to too. I dreaded the idea of pouring my heart out to my brothers who would surely crack jokes about it for another century or two.

We dropped Emmett, Rosalie and Jasper off at the house and headed for Port Angeles.

"What are we doing there anyway?", I wondered.

"Finding something to surprise Japer. Our anniversary is coming up and I need some delicates to celebrate", Alice explained.

Great, I was helping her find naughty underwear? I instantly regretted the decision of joining her.

Alice smirked at the grimace on my face. "Relax Edward, I won't ask for your opinion. Like I'd need it. Like I'd ever ask you", she teased

Right. Who'd ask the ever lasting virgin vampire brother for advice when it came to sexy lingerie. That was wrong in so many ways, though I knew Alice would only find the virgin bit humorous.

We remained silent for the rest of the drive. Alice was internally debating on getting lace or silk and I tried to tune out her final decision on that and the visual images of how she'd look in either fabric as much I could.

Port Angeles was no Seattle but it sure beat Forks in the shopping department. Personally, I could not care less about either town. Both were filled with mind numbing people, eager to consume as much meaningless crap as they could.

Alice and I made our way through town, trying to blend in and act normal by walking at an actual human speed. This did not help with my patience.

"Where are we headed?", I asked blandly

"To the mall. Honestly Edward, if all you're going to do is mope, than you better turn around and go home. You leave the Volvo though, I am going to need it for all the things I am planning to buy.", she answered

Alice loved shopping. Another thing to make her feel more human, I supposed.

"Sorry", I apologized, "I'll behave", I promised.

The mall was my epitome of hell. Too many people, too many thoughts. Their minds were completely occupied with what to buy, whether or not the prize was right, how long they'd have to stand in line at the check out; it was all so wasteful and so unnecessary to listen to. All the crowdedness and noise drove me instantly mad. And knowing Alice she'd be walking around here for quite some time.

"Alice, how long will you need?", I groaned, idly hoping she'd make it quick for once.

"Tss, Edward, you said you'd behave. Stop whining, OK. Just follow me", Alice instructed.

And so I did. We made our way up and down escalators, from one lingerie store to the other and all I wanted to do was become invisible. Alice took her time to fit bras and panties and I could do nothing but stare at ceilings, walls and the occasional store clerk. I felt for them more than I did for myself. How could they enjoy standing behind a counter and flash fake smiles and give bad advice to people. Money, I guessed. They did this because they got paid for it.

I supposed that my family and I were lucky that way. My father was without exaggaration the best doctor in Forks and had a decent salary. Most of our family fortune came from good investments, mostly thanks to Alice's gift of seeing stocks go up and down. She adviced all of us on what to buy and sell and we gratefully listened.

To ease my irritation of having to wait for Alice in every store, I spend most of my time drifting off, thinking about Bella and what she would be doing right now. I felt slightly embarrassed doing this. Like a regular school boy with a crush on the most popular girl in school, I occasionally even nurished a small hope that perhaps - by some kind of twist of fate in favour of me - Bella would show up at the mall.

As I entertained these thoughts, I found they went around in circles - moments after I wondered what Bella would be doing, the exact same question would pop again, like the flashing neon sign with her name I continued to see in my mind. What would Bella be doing right now? I had known this girl for less than a day and already she occupied every frame of mind I had. Like it was the most natural thing. Except to me, it wasn't. It was all new. And it collided with what I had resolved to do earlier. This was not forgetting, this was not letting go. This was harbouring the crush, feeding it to make it stronger. And that was the last thing I needed.

"Alice to Edward. Hello! I asked you if you were ready to go..", Alice called, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Are you finally done then?", I hoped. Please let it be so...

"Done in this store, yes. Still have a few other items to buy though", she told me.

I sighed and followed her out of the store.

Maybe it was because she had been on my mind for the past few hours or perhaps I had this weird build in radar for her all of a sudden, but either way I knew Bella had to be close by before I spotted her.

I could tell because my heart suddenly felt like it had started to beat. If I would have been able to sweat, my palms would have been moist by now. Inside me, there lingered this odd feeling, a feeling too unfamiliar to explain. In layman's terms I supposed it could be compared to having butterflies in one's stomach. The feeling repelled me as much as I welcomed it. Another thing to make me feel so ridiculously weak and human.

"So much for distractions", I muttered

Right, like this shopping spree had offered the slightest bit of a distraction. All I had thought about was the girl. I had even hoped for her to be here. And now she was standing in front of the entrance of the store next to the one Alice and I walked out of.

Talk about wishful thinking, I mused.

Alice shot me a glance, wondering what I was staring at. But as soon as she turned her head she understood. She turned to me and smirked.

This bothered me, because I knew that smirk. That was the smirk, the smugness of a psychic who had foreseen an event and was proven right about it. But before I could ask her, something caught my attention.

Something I had not anticipated on.

Something that didn't please me one bit.

If time could have stood still, it would have. If breathing would have been a necessity for me, this would have knocked the air out of me. If my heart could have had a heart beat, it would have stopped.

If the mall was truly hell, as I had suspected all along, than I was in its mouth right now.

Bella wasn't alone. And suddenly I realized why she had said no to me before.

She was taken.

Because unless she liked holding hands with random guys - and I knew this was wishful thinking and unlikely to be the case - this guy who was holding her delicate warm hand, had to be her boyfriend.

I scanned the guy quickly, taking advantage of the fact they hadn't seen us yet. And maybe I was being biased - knowing I would never approve of any guy Bella was with - but this guy seemed all wrong.

He had long black hair, pulled in a ponytail. I could tell he was from Native American decent. Probably one of the kids from the reservation at La Push.

Perhaps a Quileute decendant...

If I was right than this was definitely not good. The Cullens and the Quileutes were not friends. In fact they were nothing short of enemies.

Could this get more complicated, I mused.

I refocussed my attention on the guy and suddenly his gaze met mine. His eyes were black, coal black. Angry. He tightened his grip on Bella's hand and this infuriated me. Clearly he assessed me as a danger. This in itself should have amused me, but the way he squeezed her hand - showing possessiveness in disturbing ways - alarmed me.

He was lean and toned and his forearms were quite massive. Not that I couldn't take him, if I had to. It was odd; this would have never been the type of guy I pictured Bella to fall for.

Bella noticed the guy - her boyfriend - looking at me and followed his gaze. Momentarily our eyes met before she quickly looked down.

Unfortunately, there was no escaping the 'happy' couple because Alice already started moving in their direction, eager to greet them.

"Bella, Hi!", she waved enthusiastically, "What a coincidence to run into you here"

And as she said that, an image flashed from her mind to mine. Something that hadn't completely clicked for me before, was very clear now. Alice had foreseen Bella would go to the mall and she had dragged me over here deliberately.

Lingerie shopping had been a cover. Albeit a very skimpy cover and one Alice had taken far too serious. I shot her an irritated glance that she caught.

Sorry, Alice apologized silently, I needed an excuse to get you here.

Right, like shopping would ever be an excuse to Alice...

"Hi Alice, Edward", Bella retorted politely.

In the few seconds I allowed myself to glance at Bella again - she met my gaze immediately, her cheeks instantly flushing a bright crimson red. She abruptedly yanked her hand away from the guy and smiled at me...apologetically.

This puzzled me, maybe this wasn't her boyfriend then. Why would she be ashamed to walk hand in hand with a guy in public, especially if he was in fact her boyfriend? Was she embarrassed because Alice and I were here, spotting them together? Afraid perhaps we'd spread this news around the school? Bella would probably be the type to shy away from gossip and its effects. Or was she embarrassed because she didn't want him to meet us?

I just didn't understand. And my inability to read her mind did not help with the confusion.

"Whose your friend?", Alice pressed, as she gave the guy a warm smile.

He did not seem to enjoy this, because his eyes remained weary and his mouth twitched in chagrin.

"This is Jacob", Bella introduced him. Her voice was steady but there was not a hint of real feeling in it as she spoke his name.

"Her boyfriend", he added darkly, flashing a small - evil - smile as he looked me over. He instantly grabbed her hand again, clearly meant to mark his territory.

So she was taken. But not so happy, I concluded. Otherwise she would not feel so uncomfortable with him holding her hand around us. Also, she had introduced him by his name, not by his 'title'. And she hadn't smiled.

Idiot, be nice, Alice urged. Speak!

"Nice to meet you", I murmured, knowing he'd be able to hear the insincerity in my voice.

"So, how long have you guys been together?", Alice wondered smilingly before this Jacob could react to my fake pleasantries.

Right, Alice never beat around the bush.

"Three years", Jacob replied smugly, "We survived the long distance thing just long enough for Bells to move here", he explained.

Bells? He called her that? Oh this guy is all wrong for her, I concluded. Her name was too beautiful to be degraded like that. From Isabella to Bella made sense. From Bella to Bells was unnecessary butchering.

I could not help but stare at Bella again, hoping I could see something in her eyes; some sort of reassurance that this guy was really what she wanted, trying to make sense of this strange picture of two people who just did not seem in love at all. Their holding hands looked like it was routine, or staged even; something to show the outside world. Something without feeling.

Bella met my gaze briefly. Her mouth twitched up at the corners but this was a smile that did not reach her eyes completely. Her eyes were rather blank. I hoped that maybe this Jacob person was on her 'cons of Forks' list, rather than on her pros- one.

Suddenly I remembered something she had said during my interrogation at Biology today.

So far, can't say the pros outweigh the cons.

Her own words. But if they had been together for 3 years - I found this quite remarkable since it meant they had been together since they were around thirteen-fourteen years old and what did you know about love then - than they must have a steady relationship that had survived the long distance factor. So why was Bella not happy with being here in Forks then? After all her boyfriend was here and that should normally be the biggest "PRO" of all. And yet it didn't seem to be.

This realization pleased me.

Gave me a strange sense of hope...

"We better get moving", Jacob said, "Charlie expects us back in time for dinner"

"Right", Bella said quietly as she glanced at me "Alice, Edward, it was nice seeing you. I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow"

"Sure thing", Alice assured her, "We could save you a seat at lunch, if you like", she mused

"Thanks", Bella smiled softly, "that would be nice"

Jacob seemed to get impatient then, as he scraped his voice loudly.

"Right, I have to go. Bye", Bella spoke and she walked away.

I halfheartedly expected her to turn around to look at me like she'd done after Biology, but knowing her boyfriend had a tight grip on her, it was unlikely she'd do that.

And she didn't.

Why did that bother me. Why should she turn around. Why did I care? What was this weird feeling I had now. This feeling that Bella should rip herself lose from this guy, turn around and run to me. Was that pure jealousy or was there more?

Why could I not shake the feeling I had before. That this was going to be complicated.

Bad, even.

After all, the way it seemed, this girl I wanted - and seeing her just now had currently pushed all my 'forgetting about my crush and letting it go' plans far far back - was dating someone who could probably be asserted as an enemy. A mortal enemy even...

Still, if Bella loved him - and three years of being together seemed to indicate that - than that did not matter. As long as she was safe I had no right to interfere.

But I could not be entirely sure of that.

Was she in fact safe...

Also, was it up to me to worry about that..?

"Well, that was unexpected", Alice murmured, breaking the silence, "Edward, don't be mad. I knew she was going to be here but I hadn't foreseen she'd be with a guy. A boyfriend"

"Some gift you have. You dragged me along because Bella would be here, but secretly you just wanted to shop for naughty underwear", I scoffed, "It's shameful how you use your visions for your own benefit." Then I showed her a small smile and she smiled back.

"I am forgiven?", she guessed.

I shrugged. "If you are truly planning on making your anniversary worth Jasper's while than you better get a move on the skimpy outfits", I teased.

"Right, we better go, the shops are closing soon..", Alice agreed.

Eventually, we made it back to the car. Alice had bombarded me to be her personal carrier; my arms were covered in boxes and bags. Alice was nothing if not thorough when it came to buying things.

On the way back home, I could not help but hum along with the radio.

"You seemed to have perked up. What's that about?", Alice wondered.

"I am just glad to have escaped the hell that is shopping. Glad I made it out alive. For a moment I was worried I'd never be able to drag you away", I teased her.

"Haha, very funny. So this has nothing to do with the fact we ran into Bella?", Alice asked. "I mean, I did not lure you into accompanying me without a reason, you know.."

"And what would that reason be, " I retorted bitterly, "I barely know the girl, why would I care to see her", I stated, although it came out more like a question

"Why indeed. Bella has quite the effect on you, doesn't she. I saw the way you looked at her. Not to mention the nasty looks you fired at that Jacob. Though to be fair, he did seem weird. Not extremely friendly..", Alice observed

"Not everyone can be Alice-friendly", I said, "But this guy did seem to have a stick up his behind", I agreed.

"He seemed familiar though, didn't he?", Alice wondered

"By the looks of it, he seems to be one of the La Push kids. Definately from the reservation.", I said firmly.

"The Quileute rez?", Alice asked

"Seems like it", I answered wryly

"Hmm, should we tell Carlisle about our run in then?", Alice debated

We respected Carlisle - our father figure, the patron of our family - too much to keep things from him and so I understood why Alice would feel the need to tell him this. Anything that could form a possible threat to our nature and existence was something to inform him about. But, what was there to tell...

"I don't know. We did not cross any lines. We ran into him at the mall. I doubt he even knew who we were", I told her.

"He sure looked like he knew. Did you see his eyes. He definitely did not like us", she assessed.

"Well, who does", I pointed out.

"Bella does", Alice chirped, "Me more than you though", she teased while sticking out her tongue.

"Well, we'll see about that at lunch tomorrow", I shot back smiling

Momentarily I felt a strange high. The excitement of having Bella at our table during lunch. The knowledge I could speak to her without her boyfriend's evil eye stare to distract me. This way I could learn more about him and their relationship.

Learn more about Bella.

This sounded nothing short of perfect to me.

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Merci Beaucoup for all the encouraging reviews!!

I know some people object to the Bella/Jacob pairing and I'll tell you right now I do too. So be assured this is just a plot device ;).