Disclaimer: I do not own twilight or its characters. They are the sole property of Stephanie Meyer.

A/N: Please review!!! I need them… Thanks to fallunder for the last review… here is your EPOV as requested….

EPOV

It was an average evening. I was pondering over my new composition, trying to work out whether the new nuances I had added would mix with the original. I frowned to myself as I remembered the days' events. It had been strange, to say the least. The new girl. Bella. Everyone was worried.

We were driving into the school parking lot, when Alice froze, her sharp features looking even more so as her eyes unfocused. I saw what she was seeing and understood in a second.

"Alice. It's just a new girl. There won't be a problem."

The vision of a dark-haired, slightly awkward girl held no interest for me, so I couldn't see any issues. Rosalie tossed her blonde hair.

"Alice, if Edward didn't like Tanya, I doubt anyone here will be to his liking."

Alice frowned.

"I know that there is something that makes her dangerous to us. I can't see what, but there is. Trust me. Ok?"

I sighed.

"Will it make you feel better if I meet up with you between classes?"

She brightened slightly.

"Yes. I will also be watching you very closely today. So, no freaking out the Newton kid. I hate watching you do that."

I snickered, imagining, sneaking up behind him and whispering in his ear, and she whacked me over the head.

Rosalie sneered at Alice and grabbed Emmett's meaty hand.

"See you guys at lunch!"

I watched them saunter away casually, and then turned my attention to the sleek-looking black sedan entering the parking lot.

"Incoming, new girl", I muttered under my breath.

Alice whacked me again.

"You will listen to me, won't you?"

I grimaced to myself.

"Yes. I will. Just this once though."

I made my way to my classes, listening to the inane babble from the student body.

I hope that my hair doesn't frizz before I see Mike. Jessica Stanley.

I wonder if the new girl is hot. Mike Newton

There better be a quiz today. Angela Weber.

I wish I didn't have gym today. Lauren Mallory.

In biology, I was met with a barrage of stuff about the new girl, Bella.

She is so un-coordinated; I hope she isn't in my gym class.

She has beautiful hair. I wonder if she has a date for hair.

That ass would look so much better in a mini skirt.

Please let her be in my English class.

I waited till I could hear the office staff heading for the bell ringer, and bolted out of my desk to the cafeteria. Outside the doors, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice and Emmett were waiting, Alice looking smug.

"Crisis averted. She doesn't seem to be posing a danger any more."

I rolled my eyes.

"So I don't need a guard anymore?"

"No."

"Fabulous."

I walked through the doors, grabbed a tray and filled it with food that I wouldn't be eating. We were all a bit different from the student body here at Forks High. We were vampires. But we weren't the kind that killed humans. We were what we laughingly referred to as vegetarians. Ha ha. I led the group over to our table, listening, as ever, to the childish oohing and aahing over the beautiful siblings. I tuned them out. As we approached our table, Alice took a sharp intake of breath. The vision had returned in technicolour. Oh, crap. At our table, reading a book and eating an apple was non e other than Bella Cullen. I decided to take one for the team. But as I approached, there was a blast from the air conditioning behind her. I caught a whiff of her scent and that was all it took. Alice hissed at me and I struggled for control. I held my breath and smiled.

""Excuse me."

She looked up and was momentarily stunned. Then she smiled, opened her mouth and made this odd croaking noise, somewhere between a bullfrog and a fifty year old pack-a-day smoker. Then she blushed. I almost jumped the table. It was so beautiful. I could hear her heartbeat increasing as she took in the rest of the family. I was so tense that, if my skin wasn't rock hard, the tendons would have broken the surface. I gritted my teeth in an attempt to hold back.

"Sorry to scare you, but this is my family's table. We sit here every lunch."

I gestured behind me, to show what I meant.

She looked at everyone in turn, assessing them. I listened carefully, seeing what she thought of us. But there was silence. Nothing. Is she retarded? I looked carefully at her. No. Am I lapsing because of my thirst? Nope. I could still hear Jessica lamenting about her hair from across the cafeteria. Bella interrupted my reverie in a voice that was definitely better than the half croak she had managed to squeeze out a few moments ago.

"Is it okay if we share today?"

Her enquiring look was just one more image burned into my mind. Would she look at me like that when I killed her?

Rosalie sensed my tension was reaching a peak and stepped in. Flicking her hair, she said snidely, "I'm sure you can find somewhere else to sit."

Bella gathered her things and made to leave the table. And immediately after clearing the chair, fell over. I reacted in a split second. I couldn't stand the thought of her blood spilling here. Or anywhere in my vicinity. I grabbed her arm and steadied her. I tried to keep my voice light.

"You really should look where you're going."

She blushed again, the stain in her cheeks making it very hard for me to resist taking her right there and then.

"It doesn't really help either way."

I shrugged.

"I'll have to watch out for you in gym then."

I tried to make it sound as casual as I could.

She walked away, and Rosalie scowled as she sat down. I decided that the rest of today would be better spent hunting. As would every second night from here on out. Because hurting her would not be good for me. I couldn't let my family down like that. Not now. Not ever.

The rest of the day passed uneventfully for me. I caught a few mountain lions, and, ensuring that my thirst was sated to the point of overkill, went home to practise my piano. It always calmed me. Today's piece was a direct result of my run in with Bella. It was seductive, drawing you in, until the final notes when it turned into a stormy mix of deep nots and high nuances.

I was just making a few final changes when I heard someone walking up the gravel drive. Who would be here at this hour? We, as a rule, did not often invite people over here. This was our place to hide. At that moment, the visitor knocked. I wandered over to answer it, aware that my entire family was curiously gathered downstairs to learn of the unexpected visitor.

I swung open the door, and nearly fell over in shock. The very object of my thoughts, the one who would eventually be my undoing, was standing on the porch, dripping wet and shivering. I was curious as to why she was out this way, at night, without a car.

"Can I help you?"

She blushed. She must be really shy or extremely self conscious, I thought to myself. But I like it. She really is quite attractive.

"Um… hi."

She looked down and seemed to be trying to remember why she was here. I was intrigued that I still couldn't hear her thoughts.

"My names Bella and my car broke down a few miles back. Could I maybe use your phone?"

I smiled. At least she wasn't here on some crazy suicide mission. And she wasn't stalking me like Jessica Stanley had.

"I'm sure we could arrange that. Come right in."

I stood back to allow her entry.

She looked around in awe.

"My name is Edward Cullen, and the blonde over here", he said indicating the goddess, "Is Rosalie. There is also Emmett and Jasper," I waved my hand over in their general direction. "There's also Alice, and my parents, Esme and Carlisle," as I indicated my parents for all intents and purposes. As I was speaking I involuntarily moved closer to her, inhaling her scent, trying to identify what was so intoxicating about her.

She stepped back. I quickly realised what I was doing and moved back a little bit.

She addressed the room.

"Hi. My name is Bella. Could I possibly use a phone?"

Esme spoke up.

"Of course, dear. Follow me."

She led Bella over to the phone. I moved over to the doorway to get some fresh air that wasn't tainted by the most delicious thing I had ever wanted.

After a short period of time, she returned to the main room.

"Thanks for that. I couldn't get to anyone, so I'll just walk home and sort something out in the morning."

I cocked an eyebrow.

"You're walking home in this weather?"

She shrugged.

"It's not too bad out there."

I was genuinely surprised.

"Are you kidding? There's a raging storm going on out there!"

She pulled her shoulders up to retort, but decided not to when she noticed the whole family watching the exchange curiously.

"I'm fine. It isn't that far away."

I was worried. I couldn't afford for her to die, or get hurt. I wanted to take care of her as much as I wanted to drink her blood. I was very confused, but I was also very aware that if she got hurt, I wouldn't be very ok with that.

"I'm driving you home."

"No way!"

I ignored her protests, and, ten minutes later she was in my Volvo, her car was at my house with Rosalie exclaiming over it ("You haven't changed the oil since when?!") and she was silently seething in the front seat...

"I'm sorry about today."

I concentrated on the road and tried to ignore the burning in my throat.

Bella looked over, confused, and then realised what I was talking about.

"That? No problem. I wasn't really that comfortable there anyway."

"It's just that we like to keep to ourselves. My family and I aren't exactly good with people all the time."

She furrowed my brow.

"It's fine. Really. I won't sit there again."

I grimaced.

"Could I … maybe sit with you tomorrow?"

She looked genuinely shocked. I regretted saying the words as soon as they had come out of my mouth. Why couldn't she say no?

"Uh… sure… if you want to… I guess you could."

We pulled up outside her apartment. Just then I realised another problem. There was a five mile hike from her apartment to the school and the bus never came this way.

"Do you need a ride to school?"

She hesitated, and I considered offering the services of Rosalie, then, remembering that days incident, decided against it.

"Yes."

"Great. Pick you up in the morning, okay?"

"Ok."

But it wasn't great. I was scared. I rushed home to speak to Alice, hoping she would shed some light on why Bella was becoming my addiction. But, as I looked up at her window, I wanted nothing more than for her to be mine. I wonder if I could change her. Would I succeed? Would she want me? I drove home in silence, revelling in the remnants of her scent and plotting ways to see her more.