AN: Another chapter, I don't really know what else to say…uh…its pretty long, but not the best. So yeah.

Disclaimer: Story is Stephenie Meyer's, song is Just a Ride by Jem

Chapter 4: Just a Ride

Life, it's ever so strange
It's so full of change
Think that you've worked it out
Then BANG
Right out of the blue
Something happens to you
To throw you off course

I evaded the questioning of my parents and my friends the entire morning, somehow. I was rather amazed and proud of myself to be perfectly honest. When lunch came I plopped myself down next to Mason and pulled out my little brown bag. I had opted for something much lighter – a salad and an apple – this time simply so I wouldn't feel like such a fatty. It was probably a good idea because I saw today he had chosen not to even grab food. I noted he looked as orgasmic as ever today, it was slightly warmer – not that it would have mattered to him – and he was wearing khaki shorts and a slightly tight fitting white t-shirt. It wasn't tight enough for him to look gay, but was tight enough to show off what had to be the sexiest stomach ever. I fought back whimpers.

"You look nice today." He told me, a grin on his face that almost made me believe that he knew what I had been thinking about. I felt myself blush furiously.

"Thanks." I muttered. He chuckled.

"Tell me about vampires." I demanded, shoving a forkful of lettuce in my mouth.

"Well, we've covered my unfortunate inability to sleep, the fact that I do not in fact turn into a bat, and that I am as able as you to vainly stare at my reflection in a mirror like a narcissistic moron." He said. My brain took a moment to function what he had said, was that an insult?

"Did you just call me a narcissist?" I asked. He smiled.

"No." he answered simply. "Now ask away."

"Well how am I supposed to know where to start?" I muttered.

"Well, I thought there would have been a few questions burning in your mind." He said, confused. I subconsciously stuck out my lower lip.

"Wanna tell me what they are?" I whined, I wonder if he knew what he did to me, making my mind go blank.

"Well…diet, where I came from, where I've been, power…" he trailed off, grimacing. I don't think he really meant to mention that last one.

"I already know you're a 'vegetarian.'" I said putting air quotes around vegetarian. He rolled his eyes.

"Right, I'm a vegetarian and my favorite 'food' is elk." He said sarcastically, putting air quotes around food. I giggled in spite of myself.

"As for experiences…well I'm not much of a history person, but you will be the first one I come begging to once we get to the World Wars in history. But I guess…where did you come from?" I asked. "I have to have something normal to tell my friends, they have been ridiculous. You are aware that the entire school is enamored with you right?" I asked, whoops, probably shouldn't have said that. I was leading myself to a question I didn't want answered…

"I moved from…Los Angeles." He said, as if trying to remember. I felt myself raise my eyebrows.

"Right, you, in all that sun, wouldn't you have melted?" I asked. He rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Please, we don't melt." He said. "We sparkle." He finished with a grin. The thought of him sparkling almost made me loose all self control. I barely restrained myself from squeaking.

"I will have to witness that sometime…if it ever gets sunny." I said.

"Why do you think I live in the current rain?" he said. My next question caught him so off guard I immediately wished I hadn't said anything at all.

"So have you ever actually hung around the Cullens?" I asked casually, figuring that he would have – he had heard of them, went by their vegetarian lifestyle. But I was completely unprepared for the expression that came across his face. It went completely blank for a moment before settling on enraged, his eyes flashing coal black.

"No." he snarled. I felt my eyes prick with tears and I buried my chin into my chest, trying to hide behind my hair.

"Sorry." I muttered, probably inaudible for any except vampires. We were silent for a few moments before I felt his cold finger curl itself underneath my chin. Gently, but still with enough force for me to comply, he lifted my chin so that my blue eyes were staring into his remorseful gold ones.

"No, I'm sorry, that was uncalled for." He spoke so softly. I bit my lip and simply nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He sighed, and looked so sad.

"Yes." He said, drawing his finger along my jawline. "I lived with them for a time, after I was changed. We had a disagreement…if it is alright with you I don't really want to talk about it." he said, his voice perfectly schooled and melodic as usual. I found myself nodding again. His hand fell slowly from my face and I frowned at the absence of the chilly skin from my own. He looked amused once again and replaced his finger.

"¿Te gusta?" he asked. I scowled at him and slapped his hand away, grinning in spite of myself. Of course I liked it – I bet he knew it all too well.

The bell suddenly rang, signifying the end of lunch. We both gave each other a quick smile before heading off to class.

The week passed in a similar fashion, except after another day of neglecting them at lunch my friends dragged me back to sit with them. Hoping to evade their questioning I dragged Mason with me – they couldn't squeal and proclaim their undying love and jealousy of me while he was sitting right next to them. However I was unable to ask him any more questions with the surrounding people who were still under the impressions that vampires were myths…and could turn into bats.

In English on Friday we were told to discuss our reading thus far of Romeo and Juliet over the weekend with our partners.

"Let's make a day of it." Mason told me, his golden eyes glinting in excitement. "I'll pick you up at eleven, what say you?" he asked with the dizzying grin. I had no choice really. Even if I hadn't wanted to I would have said yes in the same breathless way. He dazzled me, damn vampire.

So, come the next morning I was furtively rushing about my house, ignoring my mother's prying, loaded questions as she not so subtly fired them at me.

I was trying to get my hair just perfect, but one of the strands was curling so the wrong way. All my jeans made me look waaaaaay to fat. Had I gained like ten pounds? Last time I checked that was a negative. All of the shirts I had seemed insistent upon making me look either like I was completely flat chested or had love handles.

I paused suddenly in all of my mad rushing. Since when had I ever done this? This wasn't who I was. I wasn't one of those girls who perpetually thought they were fat, and even if I were to be fat. I didn't care what my hair looked like on a regular basis. When had I let myself be completely transformed by a boy? It was simply against everything I had ever believed in.

"GAHHHHH!" I cried out in frustration. My step father poked his head in my room, a smirk planted firmly on his mouth.

"Problems dear?" he asked. I gave him a deadly glare.

"You think? I hate boys." I said without thinking. His eyebrows rose up.

"Boys?" he asked, immediately alert. Why did I open my mouth? Something really was wrong with me.

"I give up. I don't know what is wrong with me. He is just a boy!" I screamed. I knew I wasn't convincing anyone, not matter how loud I made myself. He wasn't just a boy. He was godlike vampire who I happened to be falling head over heels for. Just great.

"He is just a boy, good grief don't give yourself a coronary." My step-father said. He was out of his element that much I could tell with ease.

"Yeah, your right." I muttered. He looked pleased and left me to my misery. I threw my hands up in surrender and grabbed my favorite pair of Abercrombie jeans. After pulling those on I threw on a plain white wife beater followed by a dark blue Hollister top. Letting my hair cascade down my shoulders I ignored it. I then slipped on my blue ballet flats and grabbed my purse and called it good.

I raced down my stairs, grabbing Romeo and Juliet in haste, it was already ten fifty six. I hadn't eaten breakfast and probably would pay for it later, having to eat with the boy who never did. I don't know why that bothered me so much.

My mother stopped me short, a stern look on her face.

"You didn't tell me you were going out with a boy." she said. I felt my face immediately flush.

"I'm not going out mom! We're working on our English project – again! See I told you this class would be hell."

"Oh I don't think that you think this is hell." She said with an all knowing smirk on her face. It made me vaguely want to punch her.

"Go away." I told her, only confirming her thoughts. She sat next to me.

"Okay, tell me about the boy." she said, once again sounding like a teenage girl. I sighed.

"He's just a boy…" she glared at me. "Okay well, not exactly. I just…I just don't know so could you please stop bugging me until I do know." I said, jumping up. I hated that woman sometimes. She rolled her eyes.

"We're talking tonight." She told me. I rolled my eyes back and refused to even respond. Then there was a resounding knock on our door. I hurtled myself forward and jerked it open.

There was Mason, standing in all his glory with his expression in a relaxed smile. His eyes betrayed his mirth however. I found myself smiling mindlessly back at him. My parents appeared out of nowhere on either side of me.

"Forgive out daughter, why don't you come in." invited my mother. I grabbed Mason icy hand immediately and tried to drag him away, but he remained on my doorstep. He gave me a mildly evil grin before turning back to my parents and accepting their invitation by waltzing into my home.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" asked my step father, bemused. I gave him a deep scowl.

"Mason, this is my mother Kate Parker and my step father Steven Parker. Mom, Steve, this is Mason Reed." I said. He shook their hands in a very polite fashion.

"Well, as happy as this moment is for everyone I'm sure. Mason and I have work to do, so we'll be off. See you later!" I called, this time jerking Mason away more forcefully. I'm sure it made little difference at all, but he complied this time, calling out his farewells to my family. I glared at him once outside and he stared innocent back at me.

"What? You have a lovely family." He assured me.

"I have an insane family, you just don't know it yet." I said darkly. "You haven't even met my brother." I said, rolling my eyes. His eyebrows furrowed.

"I think today, I should find out more about you. I wasn't even aware you had a brother. It's only fair that since you know I'm not human I should know of your immediate family." I smiled at him in spite of myself before stopping shock in front of his car.

It was possibly sexier than him…okay not even close but still. It was a shiny black sports car, but I, of course, had no idea what it was called – I wasn't so much of a car aficionado.

"Well, are you going to stare at it or get in?" I heard Mason whisper in my ear from behind me. I stumbled in shock and fell into the gorgeous car.

"How…?"

"I've been around for a while – have a bit of money." He said with a conspiratorial grin. I just nodded, still too dazzled to speak.

"So, tell me about your family." He said. Why the hell was he interested? Why the hell did he care about me at all?

"Why do you care?" I asked. I kept all malice out of my voice and it sounded innocent in tone, but I realized a bit too late that it was a harsh question. He frowned slightly.

"I'm not sure." He said quietly, he looked at me, smiling shyly. "There is something different about you." I nodded yet again. I would take that for now.

"My parents divorced when I was ten. My dad lives in Seattle. My mom married Steve when I was almost twelve. I have an older brother, Carson, he's twenty, and at the UW." I paused. "I miss him a lot." I found myself admitting. I did.

"Really, most siblings seem almost relieved when their elder siblings go off to college." He said. I smiled wistfully.

"My brother and I aren't exactly like that. We've always gotten along really well." He smiled.

"That's nice. I had a brother. We never really got along…" he trailed off. "He died about ten years ago, but I haven't seen him since 1927."

"I'm sorry." I said, truly feeling sorry. "And I'm sorry you've been so lonely." He gave me another sad small smile.

"Well, I'm not lonely anymore." He said. Wow. I glanced around me and noticed we were going fast…really fast. I looked at the speedometer and my eyes bugged out.

"HOLY SHIT! Mason, slow down!" I screamed. "120 miles per hour! Are you suicidal?" he burst out laughing.

"Never underestimate me, Sophia. Vampire reflexes enable me to drive better and 120 than you could ever drive at thirty. Relax." He added.

"You'll never stop amazing me, will you?" I asked in a shocked voice.

"Probably not." He said, his mouth twitching. He pulled off to the side of the road.

"Follow me." Was all he said before walking briskly into the trees. I followed, having to walk quite fast to keep up. He noticed and slowed his pace, flashing me an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I forget sometimes." He said. We rounded the last tree and the sight took my breath away. We were on an uninhabited portion of the beach. The cold Atlantic waves crashing on the finest sand. It was actually sunny out, and the sun was glistening off the ground. I gasped.

"It's gorgeous." I said, stepping onto the sand. I hurriedly pried off my shoes and let my toes sink into the fine earth. Dancing forward I noticed him still standing in the shadows.

"Are you sure you don't melt?" I asked him playfully. His lips turned upwards.

"Are you ready to be shocked again?" he called. I nodded, a grin planted firmly on my face. He stepped into the sun and I felt my breath forcefully make its way out of my lungs in a strangled gasp.

He shimmered, more so than the sand and the water. It was like his skin was made of diamonds, each glinting in the sun. He was more beautiful than ever. My mouth hung open as I watched him walk towards me.

He lifted an icy, glittering hand to my chin and snapped my mouth shut for me.

"Wow." I breathed. "You're so pretty." I found myself saying. The blush came immediately after, flooding my cheeks. He only gave a slight wince at the sudden presence of blood under his finger but that was it. He gave me a cocky grin, something I hadn't ever seen on his face.

"Why thank you. Now, I know you don't sparkle in the sun, but I must say you are pretty gorgeous yourself under it." he said, his voice losing the cocky tone and taking on a sweet and sexy one. I couldn't even find my voice again. He was so close to me I could feel his cool breath on my face, and I could smell his sweet smell. It was intoxicating. I don't know how long he was there but he pulled away abruptly.

"Sorry." He said, his breath thick as well.

"For what?" I asked, my voice coming out in a choked gasp of intense longing, I wanted him back up next to me.

"I shouldn't have…you do know that I'm putting you in intense danger right now right?" he asked, his face looked pained. I shrunk the distance between us and placed my warm hand on his face with a courage that I don't know where I acquired.

"I don't care." I said. He nudged his cheek into my hand like a cat, closing his eyes and relishing in the warmth.

"You should though. It's natural, normal." He said, his eyes never opening. I stepped closer to him again.

"Who ever said I was normal?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. We were right next to each other now, his ice cold body touching my own comparatively roasting one in random places. His lips eerily close to my jaw.

"Are you certain?" he asked, his voice almost inaudible even with him right next to my ear.

"Yes." I said, my voice coming out in a low, lustful tone. He moved his lips slowly down my jaw, every time they touched it sent tingles through my entire body. He finally came to my own mouth and his lips rested lightly on mine, barely touching. The tingles were now like electricity running through me, but in a good way.

"I'm sure." I mostly just mouthed, not sure that any sound at all came out of my mouth. There was nothing I had ever wanted more in my entire life. Ever. His lips then molded to mine. The contrast of cold and hot created an added shock, apart from the simple shock of kissing him. My heart was going insane, beating wildly in my chest – I thought it might beat itself out of place. My head was spinning crazily and I felt my legs give out slightly.

Mason's arm swiftly came under my back, holding me upright. He broke the kiss, looking at me worriedly. I just stared back at him, a smile slowly creeping onto my face.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I don't think I have ever been more perfect in my entire life." I answered honestly. He broke into a grin and pulled my back onto my feet. His rested his cheek on my own and held me close.

"What am I going to do with you?" he asked.

"Keep me here forever." I answered, my voice mumbled. And we did stand there for quite a long time in complete blissful silence. He moved his head so that we were touching foreheads and noses.

"We have Shakespeare to discuss." He noted. I rolled my eyes.

"Screw Shakespeare." I said. He smirked.

"Now Sophia! I was under the impression you were a good little girl who did her schoolwork!" he said in mock shock. I giggled.

"Well, some things are just so much more fun…" I trailed off, placing my own lips on his. He kissed me back for a bit before pulling back.

"Seriously, the sooner we discuss the way Shakespeare uses language to deepen his story then the sooner we can have more fun." He said. I sighed overdramatically but complied.

I found my concentration drifting though, as he went on tirades. He looked so sexy, his mouth moving rapidly, his hands motioning so fast they were almost blurry and his face the epitome of concentration as he let his excitement get the best of him. I found myself not thinking about Shakespeare at all, but simply watching him move. I didn't even notice when he stopped talking, but I did notice when he stopped moving so much and gained an incredibly amused expression.

"You aren't paying attention at all." He stated. It wasn't even a question. I shrugged and shook my head.

"You're just too perfect, it makes me loose focus." I said simply and unabashedly.

It's just a ride, it's just a ride
No need to run, no need to hide
It'll take you all around
Sometimes you're up
Sometimes you're down
It's just a ride, it's just a ride
Don't be scared now
Dry your eyes
It may feel so real inside
But don't forget enjoy the ride