CHAPTER THREE
By studying this girl – Bella – he was able to see that she was slightly timid. This could be accounted for by the fact it as her first day and she didn't really know those around her very well. She always kept herself at least a foot away from the boys, it was obvious that she too had noticed they had taken a liking to her, and he concluded that she was insightful; she was the only one at the school the boys hadn't grown up around or were related to so she became something they wanted to claim as their own. Vampires have amazing hearing, they could hear a pin drop from 50 feet away and using that hearing, Edward heard one of the boys ask her if she'd like a lift. Bella refused softly, and kindly. Apparently her father had given her a car for moving down to Forks to live with her. Her expression told Edward that she was grateful of this, but felt slightly guilty. Edward had wanted to go for a run for a while, and chasing Bella back home sounded like the perfect opportunity.
From the shadows Edward watched Bella as she said goodbye to her new friends. She looked slightly awkward when the boys rushed to give her a hug, and ensured the hugs didn't linger, perhaps worried that they'd think something of it and try harder to make her their girlfriend. She didn't seem to mind with the girls however, and seemed to get on really well with two girls. Being where he was, he couldn't read their minds but he didn't want to venture closer just in case he was seen. He didn't want to do any scaring yet. He waited patiently as she made plans to meet her new friends before school the next day but could barely contain his excitement as she climbed into her car, ready to drive home. Edward seldom chased cars - it was something dogs did not vampires - yet he couldn't deny he enjoyed it. Bella was a careful driver, obeying every speeding limit, making it very easy for Edward to keep up. He ran through the trees on the side of the road and, if needed, kept to the shadows where there were no trees to offer him cover. Having been a vampire for almost 100 years, Edward had mastered the art of remaining unseen; therefore any time Bella looked through her mirrors, she wouldn't see anything suggesting she was being followed.
Bella pulled into her drive, and Edward noted – to his pleasure – that she lived surrounded by a forest. There was a perfect place to watch, kill or even just scare her right on her doorstep. From the cover of the trees, Edward watched intently as Bella got her bag out from the front seat and walked up to the door. From where he was, he could see through the window into the living room where her father sat. Bella came through and greeted her father, only getting a half-hearted response his eyes glued to the television screen. While her father watched the game, Bella wandered through to what Edward presumed was the kitchen to make dinner for herself and her father. Edward sat and waited for her to return, deciding to scope out the house and see the interior when they were asleep. It was all too easy for a vampire to get in and out of a house without being seen. When Bella came back through to the living room, the game was just finishing and her father was exclaiming that he wish he could cook so she didn't have to and asking how her first day went, so as they ate Bella told her father – Charlie – all about her first day at school and about how she had made some new friends. She then went upstairs with her bag, Edward assumed to do her homework and he waited until all lights were off and he could hear the unmistakeable sound of sleeping.