Author's Chapter Notes:

Hey again!! As the title suggests we have the emergence of Edward in this chapter! Same Edward I hear you ask? Read and find out! Y'all also have a snapshot into how our Bella met young Edward during her holiday in New York last summer. But be warned this chap is far from sunshine and roses.

I have to say, as the majority of my readers are American or Canadian that I am taking that into account, you've probably seen a scattering of "moms" but I am British so I apologize that they are there and everything else is "wrong". Well to you anyway :) I am using my English and I'm sticking with it :)

And seriously guys? No reviews? There are plenty of you...yet only my two buds shared the love...I'm a little disappointed in y'all :(

Remember...criticism is love...if that's all I'm gonna get :P Please????

Enjoy! As per I don't own anything Twilight...it's all Stephanie's :)


Bella's POV

Now

I awoke on Tuesday morning feeling pissed and lonely. My dream hadn't even really been a dream. I could just hear them at school. "Swan can't even dream properly". It had been a memory from start to finish and I hadn't asked for it. Creeping up on me when I have no choice but to watch, almost like an intervention. Or pure torture. I decided on the latter.

I was pissed because I had only spoken to Edward once since then. He called me a week later, promising to keep in touch, asking if I had read his letter. Honestly I had told him that I couldn't have read it on the flight because my mom would have asked too many questions and since I had been busy getting back into things. He hadn't sounded very happy about it but I had promised to read it. I had.

That was why I was lonely. His letter was more sweet, heartbreaking things, straight from his heart and I had believed them all. Now? I hadn't heard from him in five months. And I was back to pissed. I had e-mailed him with no reply. I had text him countless times, knowing he was never without his phone. No reply. I had called his mobile. I had called the apartment in New York before they were due to leave and it went straight to voicemail. I was out of options.

Renee and Charlie knew there was something wrong, they just didn't know what. I could hardly tell my parents I was heartbroken because the boy I lost my virginity to, no longer wanted anything to do with me. They didn't know he existed.

My mom had suspected something while we had been in New York. Her daughter had never gone out so many times before, but I managed to talk her into believing that I wanted to make the most of being in such an amazing city as I probably wouldn't be again. I had even told her on the flight home that I had checked out NYU. She was so happy about it that we checked it out together online when we got home. Things had been going well. Until Edward dropped off the face of the earth. I stopped seeing Jasper and Angela, the girl from school I was closest to. I stopped going to the park on my own, choosing to study in my room. I only went downstairs for meals or to leave. When I went back to school I concentrated on only my studying.

When I started losing weight my mom took me to the doctor, who pegged it down to stress and teenage hormones. If only they knew. My parents started walking on egg shells around me. When Renee mentioned NYU and if I was still interested in it I flew off the handle at her. I think I may have even broken my cereal bowl in the sink that morning. Needless to say she hadn't brought it up since.

If I had stayed in my room for too long she would come in, hug me tightly and tell me it would all pass. She thought it was a phase. She was trying to be there for me and she didn't know what she was being there for. That was why she had urged Charlie to communicate more. They were trying and I loved them. They just weren't what I needed.

I dragged myself out of bed, noticing without surprise that it was grey and raining outside. The sound of it hitting the window being the reason I was getting up far too early. I slumped down the stairs and into the kitchen where Charlie was standing over the stove scrambling some eggs.

"Morning Bells, you're up early?" He put the eggs on a plate and set it down on the table in front of me before making some more.

I looked up at the clock on the wall, noticing he was right. It was only half five. I ate quietly, ignoring the looks I was receiving from the other side of the table. When I was finished I stood up to rinse my plate before sticking it in the dishwasher, stacked my glass at the side of the sink and left the kitchen without another word, hearing Charlie's sigh as I did so.

While I was in the shower I heard my mom getting up, talking animatedly in the kitchen with Charlie, him leaving for whatever job he was on, the SUV purring quietly from the front yard and setting off down the street passed Jasper's.

I went straight to my room, not wanting the same situation with my mom, shutting the door behind me to get ready for school. I thought about Jessica and Lauren and their group of minions as I decided on what to wear. They were always dressed in the shortest skirts and highest heels and I just didn't get why. Jessica had always been pretty, in a natural, flawless skin way but since she had joined ranks with "Top Bitch" Lauren, she was caked in make-up and dressed like a slut. Not to mention that she acted like a complete bitch too, conveniently forgetting that we used to be friends.

But then I thought of Rosalie. She was gorgeous, in her senior year and obviously in her element. She looked beautiful everyday but she didn't look like she was trying too hard. I sighed as I realised I would never pull off her confidence or her look and settled on the usual; dark skinny jeans, ballet pumps and a deep blue, v-neck blouse. Not wanting to make an effort I threw my hair up in a messy bun and decided to forego the make-up.

I was ready with too much time to spare. This was my mistake. I was going to have to spend time with my mom before we both had to leave. She was hanging up on the phone when I descended the stairs, looking to me with a smile. It didn't escape my notice that when she looked me up and down her eyebrow arched just a little. Okay so maybe I had made a little more effort than usual.

"Sweetie that was the Principal. He asked if you could go in a little earlier today to meet the new student?" I had forgotten to tell her last night when she returned home and Charlie had clearly not mentioned it.

"Yeah he asked me yesterday if I would tutor him, extra credits and all that," I shrugged indifferently and internally rolled my eyes as hers lit up at the fact that it was a boy. Typical. "So yeah, I'm just going to head out now. Have a good day at work," her face fell when she realised I was avoiding her but I couldn't have cared less. I did not want a mother-daughter talk about anything.

The ice from the night before had melted with the rain that was still falling so my ride to school was easier than I imagined it to be. As I pulled into the parking lot it was still fairly empty, only teacher cars scattered round the edge. The Principal was parked in his reserved spot and I pulled up opposite it.

As I jumped down onto the wet road, I looked around. There was one new car in the lot, easy to spot as there were only three including mine that belonged to pupils. A gleaming silver Volvo, under the shade of one of the trees. Sparkling and almost new. New student, new car in the lot. Coincidence?

It was strange being in the school corridors with no-one else around. The place was hollow and eerily quiet. Bypassing my locker I headed straight to the Principal's office with my backpack still over my shoulder. Mrs Cope was sipping on a steaming mug of coffee as I approached and she put it down with a smile.

"Go straight in Bella, they are already in having a chat," I had always like Mrs Cope, friendly and warm and always ready with a smile.

When I entered the Principal's office, there was a boy sitting in the seat I occupied yesterday with a mane of coppery brown hair atop his head. Edward. Even from the back I knew. Alarm bells started ringing as I stood silently against the door.

The Principal looked up at me with a nod of his head, "Ah miss Swan, I'd like you to meet Edward Cullen, our newest addition," he stood at the same time as Edward and waved his hand in his direction.

My eyes were fixed on Edward's back and my heart stopped completely when he turned and fixed his gleaming green eyes on mine.

"Edward?" His brow furrowed slightly before he nodded his head and turned back to the Principal.

With my heart hammering in my chest and my palms starting to sweat, I sat when the Principal asked me to, keeping my eyes forward.

"Mr Cullen, Miss Swan, I would like you to get better acquainted. Bella I would like you to start on whatever timetable you have set up as quickly as possible. Edward is already a year behind and I would like him to pass this year, no pressure," he chuckled wryly and I turned to Edward with questions in my eyes.

"Behind a year? You mean you're not a senior this year?" My voice wavered in confusion and Edward just looked at me as if he had just scraped me off the bottom of his shoe.

"Trust me if I had a choice I wouldn't be here at all," I winced at the tone of his voice and jumped in surprise as the bell rang for first class.

Edward stood and without another word left the Principal's office, and me, behind. I picked up my bag and hurried after him, not knowing what I was going to say. It was Biology first, Edward was in my class, so when I entered out into the busy corridor and couldn't find him I headed in that direction. He was just heading into the empty class when I caught up with him.

"Edward wait!" He turned slowly and looked at me the same way again. He raised his hands as if to ask what I wanted. "Edward why are you a year behind?" His eyes narrowed and I felt cold wash up my spine.

"What's it to you?" I opened my mouth but nothing came out but a whoosh of air. "Listen, I know you have to tutor me but that doesn't mean we're friends or anything, I don't need to tell you anything," the tears sprung to my eyes and I cursed myself for letting him see me cry. It was obvious he didn't care so I shouldn't let him know that I did. "Shit, why are you crying?" He had the gall to look angry and I wiped at my eyes shaking my head and sitting down in my seat as everyone else started filing into the room.

"Ah you must be Mr Cullen?" Mr Banner entered the room with his briefcase and set it on his desk nodding to Edward. "Take a seat beside Bella please, and we'll get started," Shit. I forgot the only spare seat was beside me. No-one wanted to sit beside the freaky genius.

He threw himself down on the stool beside me and I fought the urge to look at him. I lost. He looked different than he used to. He was thinner, his jaw was more pronounced. Dusted with a five o'clock shadow. His eyes didn't sparkle the same way they used to and there were great purple bruises under them. He wasn't sleeping. His hair though, was the same as always. A mess of coppery brown, slightly wavy and everywhere. Just as I looked at it, his right hand reached up and swept through it, a sign that he was frustrated.

"Is there a reason why you're looking at me?" Ah so that's why he was frustrated, I was clearly being too obvious.

I shook my head and bit my lip, cursing myself again, as this time I blushed furiously. His eyes flew across my features, landing on my lip, before he caught himself and turned back to the front with a scowl on his face. Interesting development. My biting my lip still affected him the same way it seemed. That was a piece of information to add to the list. Wait what list? We're mad at him remember? Murder kind of mad! He broke your heart!

The rest of the period passed quietly. Edward copied everything down, tapped his pen incessantly in time with his foot on the stool, huffed quietly if I moved too close to him and scrubbed furiously when he made a mistake. His entire demeanour was stiff and tense and all I wanted was to take it away. Even if he was acting like an asshole.

When the bell rang he turned to me as he packed away his things, "So how are we doing this?" My mind went straight back to that morning when I left, causing me to blush again.

"W-what?" He huffed again, throwing his books into his bag with a vengeance.

"This studying. My house, your house? What?" I sighed. Of course. The studying, after all I was only his tutor.

"Not mine, my mum has a book club meeting today. Is it okay if I come round to yours?" I held my breath as his eyes came back to me, softer this time, as if I had said something groundbreaking.

"Yeah, I'll get you in the parking lot when we finish, you can follow me out there," that was all I was getting as he turned his back on me and stalked out of the class, followed by all the whispers of the girls. I even heard Jessica asking Lauren why he had been talking to me, "I mean, who would waste their time," I shook my head and headed out after him, knowing that he would be in my next class too.

The rest of my day passed as slowly as a day in Forks High had ever passed for me. At lunch I sat with Jasper at our usual table, Angela decideding to join us. It turned out Edward wasn't the only new student. His little sister Alice Cullen, a short girl with pixie like hair was sitting beside him talking at a mile a minute as he stared into space. Yes I was watching him. No matter how he treated me, my heart rate still picked up when I saw him.

On his other side was the biggest senior I had ever seen. Emmett Cullen was taller than Edward, bulkier than Edward and looked nothing like him. He did however resemble Alice a little more. Although he was so huge he looked incredibly friendly. He smiled a lot, had a boisterous laugh that filled the cafeteria and cute little dimples that didn't match the rest of him at all.

Jasper filled me in on all the details he had found out during the course of his day. I acted like he was doing a good job, but of course I knew it all already. Emmet, the eldest was 18 while Alice was only 16, the same age as me. Jasper and Edward were the same age and all should have been in the same year as Emmet, having just not turned 18 yet. Only for whatever reason Edward was now a year behind. My brows knitted together in confusion as I finally let myself think that over. Edward was smart. Really smart, he was a prodigy when it came to playing the piano, the guitar and even art. He had told me one day that music had always helped him more but art was his true passion. Something that didn't surprise me when he showed me his notebook one night. His sketches, done with hardly any thought, were incredible.

As I thought about him he looked up, catching me staring at him and ultimately causing me to blush. Alice was looking at me too, but with a look of sympathy as if she somehow knew what I was going through. Could it be possible that Edward had told his little sister about me? He had mentioned that although she drove him round the bend they were very close.

"Bella?" I snapped my head round and noticed Jasper was asking me a question. "I asked if you wanted to come round tonight, my mom is throwing a party," I nodded before I realised I was busy already.

"Oh what time?" I could feel Edward's eyes on me but I refrained from looking in his direction.

"Probably not until eight or so why?" I debated telling him the truth, but I remembered that when it came to Jasper I couldn't lie. He knew all about my summer last year and Edward but he it was unlikely he woul put the pieces together. After all, like me, he thought Edward's surname was Masen. He had lied to me.

"I have to tutor Edward Cullen for a while, the Principal asked me yesterday," Jasper's eyes widened a bit before he nodded and smiled.

"You are the resident geek after all," all three of us laughed before Angela spoke up.

"I don't know how you can, he's just too gorgeous. I would lose the ability to think around him," she looked in his direction before turning back to me and winking.

I smiled and avoided the rest of the conversation, much like I did for the rest of the day. With only one class after lunch, Spanish, I headed down the corridor when the finishing bell went, knowing full well Edward was walking along behind me.

Without looking at him I headed straight to my truck and jumped in, starting the engine to drown out any thoughts. I watched him sulk towards his Volvo, get in and slam the door. Clearly his tension hadn't evaporated. Maybe he was having a bad day. Why do we care if he had a bad day? He's been an asshole all day.

When he reversed out of his space, I followed him out of the parking lot and onto the main road, where he sped away in front. My truck groaned in protest as I put my foot to the floor, without much happening in response.

Edward must have realised I was falling behind as he slowed at the next junction so I could catch up. We drove slowly out of town, passed my little house that was empty at that time of the day, then Jasper's that was alive with activity. His mom getting ready for whatever party she was hosting. She hosted one at least once a month.

After about ten minutes on the road out of Forks, Edward put on his signal and slowed right down. As I did the same his car seemingly disappeared into the trees, down a road I would never have noticed before.

I gasped audibly at the house that came into view at the opposite end of the long and winding road through the trees. Edward's Volvo pulled up in front of a three storey, white and clean mansion. Nestled in a clearing of tress, there were two cars not including my own parked around the circle, that would have had a massive fountain in it if I had been in a movie.

There were marble steps leading up to the double front door, lined with plants and little trees that Esme must have decorated the place with. Even from the outside, the massive house was inviting and warm and I knew without ever meeting Edward's mom that it was all down to her. He loved his mom and it had always made me smile when he spoke of her.

If this had been six months ago Edward would have opened my door for me, kissed me sweetly and held my hand as we walked into his house together. Maybe it would have been me meeting his parents. But now, he just stood beside his car and looked at me expectantly. I took a deep breath to steel my nerves, fighting back the tears once again and hopped out of my truck knowing not what to expect.

He shifted his weight from foot to foot as if he was nervous as I neared him before turning and heading into the house. Again without saying anything. I stood awkwardly in the entryway not knowing what to do or where to go watching Edward hang up his keys and throw his jacket on the chair nearest us.

"So do you ah...want anything to drink or whatever?" I smirked inwardly, wondering why he was nervous.

"A glass of water would be perfect thanks," I surprised myself with how polite I sounded so it didn't bother me that he thought the same.

"Right well, make yourself comfortable and I'll bring it through," once again he turned and walked away from me, leaving me to my own devices.

I placed my bag on the floor beside the sofa and stepped up to the wall opposite me that housed frame upon frame of family photographs. They were mostly group pictures and it didn't escape my notice that everyone of them contained Edward. All except one of Carlisle and Esme on their wedding day. I wondered why, in all our time together Edward never mentioned Carlisle's name. He spoke of his dad but never his name.

I found it odd that Edward was in all of the pictures, either with his parents or siblings, or people I didn't know. It wasn't as if there were just as many of Alice and Emmet. The unbalance struck me as strange in such a close knit family but I let it go as I heard something crash from the direction Edward had disappeared, followed by an exasperated "fuck". As I got nearer the kitchen door my attention was caught by another picture, this one taken in a place all too familiar and I felt my breath catch. It was Edward standing with his arm around Alice in his room in New York. My heart thudded awkwardly at the memories that it evoked in me.

I clearly wasn't paying attention because the next thing I knew I was simultaneously walking into something solid and warm, being soaked by freezing cold water and landing on the floor on my back.

"Fuck, why the hell don't you watch where you're going, have you got some sort of disability or something?" My face flamed in humiliation as I sat in a wet heap on the floor at Edward's feet. He only looked at me with disgust as I wrestled myself back up to my feet.

"What the hell is your problem Edward? Why are you being such an asshole? Stop pretending like none of it ever..."

"What's all this shouting about? Edward didn't mom teach you how to be a gracious host?" My almost screaming at Edward was cut in two by a melodic voice floating down the stairs, followed by none other than Alice Cullen.

Edward glared at me before turning and inflicting it on Alice, who either didn't notice or was far more used to it than I was.

"Do you know what? I've had enough of your shit today, forget this I'll find someone else to do it," I turned, picking up my bag from the side of the sofa and made to leave but I found that Alice was in front of me. I looked at her expectantly wanting her to move out of the way before I cried in front of her too.

"I'm not letting you leave like that, you'll freeze!" Before I could protest she was grabbing me by the hand and pulling me in the direction of the stairs.

"Alice," Edward's voice was full of warning and dripping with annoyance but Alice just flipped him the finger and continued up the stairs.

By the time we got to her room and she shut the door with a quiet click the tears were streaming down my cheeks. Wiping at them frantically, a tissue appeared in front of me and I looked up to see Alice standing a few feet away holding it out with a small smile.

"I'm sorry Bella," I drew in a shaky breath, taking the tissue off her and putting it to good use.

"How do you know my name?" She smirked, something so like her brother that it annoyed me.

"We need to talk..." Her face fell and suddenly she looked sad and broken, a look that sobered me up immediately and set me to panic in the same moment.


Then:

I felt the someone sit down on the bench beside me so I looked up from my book. There was a guy, at least three years older than me, watching me with a smile on his face. He was handsome, tall and lean with blonde hair and blue eyes, but his smile put me on edge.

"Hey beautiful, what ya reading?" I looked around, wondering why he had chosen to talk to me but everyone was milling about the gallery as usual.

"Eh, nothing interesting," I looked away from him, hoping that if I concentrated on my book then he would get the hint and leave. Unfortunately I wasn't so lucky. He shifted himself in a move he probably thought was inconspicuous and brought himself closer to me, engulfing me in the smell of stale smoke that almost made me sick.

"Aw come on you could at least give me some attention now that I'm over here," his head was getting closer to me and I held my breath, overwhelmed by the smell permeating the air around me.

"Baby there you are! Sorry it took so long for me to find you, it's busy in here," my eyes snapped up at the sound of the new voice, as did the head of the guy sitting beside me.

Standing a few feet away, smiling crookedly directly at me was one of the hottest guys I had ever seen. He was tall, really tall, and lean with the perfect amount of muscle about him. His clothes were smart and his hair was a mess, telling everyone in the vicinity that he had either just woken up or was thoroughly sexed up. Or both. I blushed when I got to his eyes and realised he was watching me for some sort of an answer.

He inclined his head slightly and for some reason I suddenly knew what I had to do. I closed my book over, standing up and leaving it on the seat I had just vacated. Taking a couple of steps closer to him, his scent overtaking that of my creepy friend, I leaned up on my tiptoes and brushed my lips across his cheek. I heard his breath catch in his throat and I blushed. Maybe I had gone too far.

"I was beginning to think you'd never show," I smiled warmly at him, a smile that became more genuine when his arm wound round my waist and brought me close into his side.

"Who is this?" When I looked up at my new saviour he was looking right at the guy I had been saved from with a look akin to pure hatred in his eyes.

"James Cavanagh," came the reply and my jaw dropped. I hadn't been expecting him to actually stay and chat. "I was just getting to know this lovely lady. You know if she was mine I wouldn't be going around leaving her alone, anything could happen," the arm around my waist tensed instantly and I put my hand on his chest to calm him down. I may or may not have let my fingers draw a line down his muscles just for fun.

"Honey lets go. He's not worth it," I picked up my book and my bag, slinging it over my shoulder, hoping that the new guy would follow me out. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face when his warm, large hand grasped mine as we walked away from James. I felt safe. I felt at home.

His fingers weaved through mine more tightly as we navigated our way through one of the groups of tourists who had decided to pay a visit to the Museum of Modern Art that day and I squeezed back just to let him know I was still with him.

When we exited out into the city noise and summer warmth I let go of his hand reluctantly. It was too busy to be standing at the front door so he turned left and walked up the street, in the direction of fifth avenue if I wasn't mistaken. Turning to look at me I was suddenly shy again. Where had that Bella come from in there? I had never done something like that before. I slumped against the wall as I realised how badly that could have turned out, maybe my mom had been right about being out and about in a city on my own.

"Do you want to talk about it?" His voice was concerned and he was watching me intently. I hated that expression, it was almost as bad as "We need to talk", but coming from him it didn't annoy me.

"No, I'll be okay in a minute. Thank you for saving me," I smiled warmly at him but was confused when he furrowed his brows.

"You should be more careful," he looked away, staring intently down the street instead, his comment irking me.

"It's not like I asked him to creep me out!"

"No but you still willingly followed me out here," his eyes snapped back to me in challenge.

"You're different," my voice lost all it's volume and I looked at the sidewalk in embarrassment.

"What if I wasn't?"

"Are you trying to tell me you're dangerous?" I smirked despite myself but I didn't meet his gaze.

"What if I am?"

"I wouldn't believe you. You're not anything like him, I can tell. And do you always answer a question with a question?" I finally looked up, locking eyes with him and blushing at the crooked smile gracing his features.

"What if I do? I'm Edward by the way," I ignored his first comment, knowing he did it deliberately and smiled at his old-fashioned name. I had never met an Edward before, but somehow, even though he was young, it suited him.

"Bella," he smiled wider, his eyes twinkling, making them stand out even more. I would never have described a boy or guy as beautiful before but looking at him in the New York sun, I couldn't come up with any other way to put it.


Alice left suddenly, disappearing back out into the hall. Didn't she just say she needed to talk? Before I could ponder it further she was back, shutting the door behind her once again, and holding a few hangers of clothes.

"We need to get you out of those clothes first," she nodded at my body knowingly before placing the clothes down on the bed. "Here, I think this should do," she handed me a white cotton blouse with cap sleeves and a pair of black linen trousers. When she saw my apprehension she spoke again, "Don't worry, they were packed to go to charity anyway, no-one will miss them," I doubted what she said but I smiled gratefully before I headed into the bathroom to change.

I folded my own, damp clothes neatly into a pile before puling on the new ones, thankful that I wasn't soaked through. Alice's en-suite was overflowing with bottles of everything from expensive skin products to equally as expensive hair products. I checked my reflection in her lit mirror, noting that I was nothing short of a mess. My eyes were red and my skin was blotchy from the constant crying. On top of all that I was as pale as a ghost and my hair was falling out. I took my hair out of it's grip, leaving it around my shoulders, and splashed cold water, from the tap this time, on my face to try and freshen up a bit.

I made my way back into Alice's modern room, that was the epitome of a girls room, with pinks and purples everywhere, to find her texting furiously on her phone. When she heard me entering she looked up and smiled kindly, setting her phone back on the cabinet beside her.

"Thanks for these, I'll get them back to you," she raised her hand and waved it off before I had finished and I noticed that she was looking serious again. She wandered over to her massive double bed and threw herself onto it. Grabbing a cushion and hugging it to her tiny body she patted the space opposite her. I put my folded clothes down beside my bag and hesitantly went to join Alice on the mattress.

She sighed before she spoke up, "You're the Bella, aren't you?"


Author's Chapter End Notes:

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