Suddenly, I saw Edward Cullen tense in his seat.

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EPOV

I stared resolutely at the blank wall before me, focusing solely on the melody flowing through my head, imagining patterns that didn't exist within the cracks. It was the only way I knew to tune out the voices that buzzed inside my head.

Most of the voices I ignored out of boredom. Only the four voices of my family did I block out of courtesy. But since they were used to the lack of privacy around me, they hardly really gave it much thought. Rosalie was staring at her reflection in the window, and as usual, her thoughts centered around herself.

Emmett was fuming over the wrestling match that he'd lost to Jasper, then flickering over to Rosalie's perfection.

Jasper was in pain as usual. He was much, much newer to the vegetarian lifestyle than we were, and he was trying his hardest to suppress the natural urges. I suppressed a sigh.

I stared at the wall again. Edward, I heard Alice call out. How is he holding up? Of course she was referring to Jasper. I frowned slightly, Alice was alarmed. Is there any danger? She immediately started scanning the future, her mind was a meaningless blur for a while. I shook my head imperceptibly.

She relaxed.

Edward Cullen.

I turned involuntarily as my name was called. I knew that voice. It was Jessica Stanley's. I glanced up, and there she was. The Chief's daughter. Isabella Swan, Bella, as she'd corrected countless people that day.

I stared at her for a second, before turning away, wondering what all the hype about her was. She was just an ordinary human girl. I'd seen her face repeated over and over in every thought, from every angle possible. Half the male population here had already fancied themselves in love with her because she was new. Just a shiny new toy, I scoffed.

Of course she's asking about the Cullens. I heard Jessica mock in her mind. Oh look at her. Staring at Edward Cullen. As if she'd stand a chance! I looked up again and caught her eye. I frowned. There were no thoughts coming from Isabella Swan. No thoughts at all. Beside me, I felt Alice stand up. "That's Edward." I heard her snooty voice across the chatter of the cafeteria. "He's gorgeous, duh. But don't waste your time. Apparently no one here is good enough for him." And especially not you. She mentally finished. I had to turn to hide a smile. Jessica Stanley was just so predictable. For some reason though, I felt this inexplicable urge to protect Isabella from girls like Jessica. I frowned.

I glanced towards her again. She was biting her lips and the color that rose to her face was stunning. I suddenly found myself wanting to know what she was thinking, but there was nothing but silence from the girl.

I stood up abruptly with the rest of my family. Dumping the tray in the bin as I walked out. Was there something wrong with my power? Was it fading? I wondered a little worriedly. Did powers fade over time? It was something I'd have to discuss with Carlisle tonight. I pushed the matter resolutely out of my mind as I weaved through the throng of students to get to Biology class.

I sat down at my usual spot, staring blankly out the window. There wasn't anything here that they could teach me that I didn't already know. I stifled a sigh.

High school.

It was the only time of the day I wished I could sleep. Purgatory was probably the right word. I mentally grimaced. My own personal hell. At that moment, a whole horde of thoughts centering around Bella Swan screamed at me. Mike Newton's elated yell especially broke through my barrier of meaningless background music. YEEEEES! The gods must LOOOOVE ME! Bella Swan is in my class! I hope she seats next to me. Wait... someone else is already seating there. But maybe Mr. Banner could change the seats around?

I tuned the rest of his babble out. "Ah. Ms. Swan... yes. Well, I'm afraid there's only one remaining seat left," I looked up as Mr. Banner pointed to the seat next o me. Suddenly, a gust of wind that blew through the front door blasted me with the most heavenly smell in the world. It was delicious. I felt the venom pool in my mouth as I tensed in my seat. In all my 80 years of vampirism, I had never imagined such a sweet scent to exist.

The monster within me was roaring to be let out. The thirst in my throat flared.

As she settled down, she tossed her mahogany locks across her shoulders, sending another wave of that tantalizing scent into my face.

I was suddenly imagining a multitude of ways to kill her.

I could have her right then and now. It wouldn't be too hard to just reach over and grab her, snap her neck and drink that delicious nectar. But what about the other students in the class? I began to mentally calculate how long it would take for me to snap all their necks.

In my mind, the rest of the class, witnesses, were already collateral damage.

Suddenly, I was no longer just Edward Cullen. I was a vampire. And she was my prey.

I turned to face the girl. She stared at me with wide, startled chocolate colored eyes. My hand gripped harder on the wooden desk. Her brown eyes were large, expressive. I read fear within them. Suddenly, someone slammed a file on the table, sending a waft of clean, unscented air towards me, allowing my head to clear for a moment. I gulped and held my breath.

I looked away in revulsion. Leaning as far away from her as humanly possible.

I thought of Carlisle. Of Esme. Of the rest of my family. Carlisle would be disappointed if he could read my mind. I thought of Esme's face. The kind glances and compassion that they had instilled within me, and I was torn. Torn between allowing my natural instincts to kick in, take what I wanted and destroy my family, and a whole town, a voice that sounded sneakingly like Carlisle's whispered in my mind.

No.

The thirst burned in my throat. I had been wrong. High School wasn't purgatory. This, sitting next to Isabella Swan for the next hour was.

I felt inexplicable anger and loathing towards the new girl who just decided to waltz into my life and disrupt everything. I loathed her. This girl who had managed to snap all my self control. In a span of a few short minutes, she'd managed to crack the human facade that had taken me years to painstakingly build up.

The red eyed monster within me roared to be let out.

No. I repeated again, as Carlisle's face swam within my mind. I couldn't allow such an aggravating creature to ruin me. To ruin my family. I didn't want to be a murderer! I didn't... Wouldn't lose everything that I'd gained in my lifetime of denial because of this frail human.

I wouldn't!

Why did I have to lose everything just because she chose this unlikely town to appear in? Why had she come here?!

The monster within growled.

BPOV

I felt a blush color my cheeks.
Perfect. I thought as I glanced away from Edward Cullen. Five seconds here and he already hates me. Could today get any better?

I glanced down. From the corner of my eye, I could see his already white knuckles turn whiter. Wait! Should he be that white? I wondered as I made the mistake of glancing up. My eyes opened wide as the deepest look of loathing was thrown my way. Suddenly, his face snapped away from mine, but not before I noticed the look of revulsion that crossed his face. Surreptitiously, I sniffed my hair, then my clothes, wondering if it was my smell that he was repulsed by. Nope. I smelt the same as always. Strawberry, and the scent of jasmine from my sweater.

I faced down again, letting my hair fall around my face. As I did so, his grip on the table tightened.