Edward's Point of View.

I sense somebody staring a hole into the back of my head, and I turn around.

A woman no older than twenty, nor younger than sixteen, is staring at me with a peculiar expression. She is beautiful, dark hair and eyes, but she is also rich. I smirk at her.

Ah, to be rich. I would not wish a thing on my worst enemy--no, no. I probably would. So self-centered and selfish. No true friends, for if you should ever lose your money, how many rich friends would you have then?

I look at her for but a moment, and then I look away. I wish I had eyes in the back of my head so I could see the shock on her face that had to be there. Rich people could not tolerate someone "below" them not staring at them, and wishing they were them.

"Aye, she's a perty one."

I turn back to the conversation I was having with my friend, Patrick.

"She might be pretty, but she's rich, which is just as bad as being ugly," I argue.

Patrick shrugs and smiles his near toothless grin. "I'd 'ave 'er any day."

I grin and say, "That's the difference between you and me. I'll marry for love."

"Yes, Edward, but if she's rich, I'm sure I could be teached to love 'er!"

We laugh and make our way to get our dinner.

Bella's Point of View.

I stomp away from the beautiful poor man and right back into my room, where James is standing outside of the door, knocking and begging me to let him in.

"I'm right here, James," I sigh as I come up to him.

He pulls on his collar, a gesture that meant he was either nervous or embarrassed, and says, "How many people saw you walking around like that, Bella. You know you have to keep up your reputation. I would never marry a woman who's reputation was injured."

"I'm sorry," I lie, but I don't dare to argue. I am a woman and I should get used to the way woman are spoken to by the men, however unfair that may be.

"No matter. Change into your dinner dress."

I keep in my rebuttal and walk into my room and head straight for the closet. I pick out the first dress I see. A dark green dress with jewels in nonsense places, and slip it on.

I go back into the hallway and James laces his arm through mine as we walk into the main dining room.

I push my food around my plate, not caring to eat another nine-course dinner of caviar, lamb, and oysters. The conversation around me was typical, and I did not care to tune in.

"Bella? What do you think of the Titanic?"

I answer without looking up. "It is alright, I suppose. Lacking in a few places, and excelling in others."

"Bella," my mother chides, "mind your manners."

My mother would not dare be disgraced in public, her pride was far too important. I rise my head and stare straight ahead, at a maroon-colored wall, and the conversation resumes.

I go to take a deep breath but am restricted by my corset.

"Mother, may I be excused?"

She pretends not to hear me, so I play along with her little game and yell it to her.

"Mother! May I be excused, please!"

My voice echos off of the walls, and the only sound is gasps of shock at my horrid manners, or silverware clanking off of a fine piece of china.

My mother fixes me with a cold stare and I rise from my seat, not minding her answer.

I want to run, so I have to pull my dress up to my knees--terribly immodest of me--and run out of the room, leaving my mother fuming.

When I reach the deck I am overcome by satisfaction. To make the feeling last longer I remove my heels and throw them over the railing, where they splash into the cold and unforgiving ocean.

I prance around, dancing to my own little tune. I hum and spin around, still holding my dress above what was modest. I half-expect my mother or James to run out and fetch me any minute, and I am thankful when the minutes pass, and nobody comes.

I laugh to myself, a laugh of freedom, and I feel a pain in my foot, and I fall.

"Mother of God!" I gasp and I hit the wooden floor, the bottom of my foot still hurting.

I close my eyes and sigh. It seems nothing can go right for me, no matter what. I hear someone approaching, and I shuffle to my feet to stand up. What I apply my weight to my foot, the pain is anew.

I notice that the person approaching me is the man with the bronze hair and green eyes. He is staring at me and his face implies that he wants to laugh but is trying to be a gentleman and hold it in.

I dust off my dress. "I trust you quite enjoyed that," I say bitterly. I turn on my heel to stalk away, but my blasted foot aches again and I have no choice but to sit down on the bench.

I look at the bottom of my foot and I see a splinter has taken refuge in it.

"Excuse me, but aren't you missing the champagne and caviar?"

He means does not mean this literally, he is only trying to make a fool of me. I find that I am vexed and astonished at the same time.

"Aren't you missing your dinner also? What is on the menu today, pray tell? Rat?"

He does not appear to be put in his place, only amused.

"Rat? No, I believe you are mistaken. Rat is tomorrow's meal. Today is cockroach sandwiches."

My mouth hangs wide open in shock, and he begins to laugh and I realize that he was only kidding. I feel the blush rise to my cheeks, and I look down.

I gasp when I feel a hand grip my foot and fingers press against the tender area. I look up and the man is pulling out tweezers, about to attempt to take out the wooden splinter.

"I beg your pardon!" I say, trying to grab my foot back. "This is a job only for a doctor!"

He smiles. "So rich people need a doctor for a mere splinter. Go on then. It's going to be a painful walk there, though, I'm afraid. Do try not to get another one, for I had seen you throw your shoes into the water."

He has a point and I am in a pickle.

"Just get it out," I complain.

He shakes his head. "I'm afraid I had already offered my services, and you had declined."

I see what he is trying to do, but I was not going to beg a poor man to get a splinter out.

I go to stand up, but I forgot how horrid the pain of my foot was, and I am forced to sit back down.

I swallow hard.

"Please?"


I had a reviewer who was confused that Edward's eyes are green, not topaz. They are all human, and I apologize for not noting that.

Finally, after four chapters they finally speak!

REVIEW!!