All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
My night was anything but pleasant. I couldn't seem to sleep. The same dream kept running through my head over and over again. I was lost in the woods and it was so dark. I could barely see my hand in front of my face the darkness was so thick and all encompassing. The fear I felt once again gripped me as I recounted my dream on my way to school. I instinctively raised my hand to my throat as I felt it constrict. I tried to swallow but found it difficult. Never had I felt such terror before.
I remembered stumbling through the wooded area trying desperately to get out. I was moving as fast as I could but tripped often slowing my pace. I remembered wanting only one thing, or one person, Edward. For some reason he seemed the key to my escape. If I were somehow able to get to him I would be safe again. At one point during the night I called out his name. Thankfully I never woke Charlie; that would have been tough to explain.
My dream troubled me all morning. I couldn't shake the feelings of horror I felt during my dream. A small, clearly irrational, part of me almost resented Edward. Why was he not there to save me? Why didn't he find me—protect me from the darkness? I knew I was insane to think such things. It was only a dream. I was being a fool.
I shook my head as I finally arrived at school and parked my truck. I needed something else to think about, school was the perfect distraction. As I made my way out of my truck my eyes caught sight Edward's golden eyes staring in my direction. I felt heat rise to my cheeks and I swiftly looked away. I was embarrassed by my thoughts earlier, and rushed to class without looking back.
School was not the distraction I had hoped for. I just couldn't concentrate. I felt ridiculous for allowing my dream to effect me so much. I made my way to math class still in haze sitting down next to Jessica.
She turned to say hi to me but stopped short. "What's wrong?"
I shrugged. "Nothing."
"You don't look so good. Are you feeling all right?"
"Yeah, I'm just tired." I answered honestly.
She frowned slightly. "Maybe you should go home."
I shook my head. "Really, Jessica, I'm fine." I insisted. Whoever heard of a person going home from school early because of a bad dream they had the night before?
"If you say so." She answered sounding unconvinced.
"I do." I said firmly.
She shrugged and turned towards the board as the teacher began class. I felt guilty for being short with her. She was only concerned for me. I should have been more patient. I decided I would apologize as soon as class was over.
I tried to pay attention as the teacher droned on, math being my weaker subject. I was elated when the bell finally rang.
"Hey Jessica." I started as we gathered our things. "I'm sorry for being kind of short with you earlier."
"It's no big deal, Bella. It's fine."
I smiled, hugging my books to me as I followed her out the door. "I guess I'm more tired than I…offfff." She had stopped suddenly and I had run into her.
"Sorry Jessica, are you all right?" I asked before I looked up to see what had caused her to stop so suddenly. There before me stood Edward Cullen holding the door open for us.
I blinked a few times in disbelief before I was able to say anything. "Hi," I sounded as confused as I felt.
"Hello." He greeted in his velvety voice.
His eyes left me momentarily. "Hello Jessica."
"Hey." She managed to squeak.
He looked back at me as he spoke again. "I was wondering if I might have a word with you? Maybe I could walk you to lunch?" He gave a crooked smile and my breath caught in my throat.
"Uh." I shook my head slightly back and forth to clear the fog that had settled over my brain. As my head cleared my thoughts from earlier filtered through. I dropped my head and looked away. I could feel my face burn, and swiftly moved my hair over my shoulder to hide it.
"What do you need to talk about?" I hedged.
"If we could possibly talk more privately?" He questioned in a low voice. I glanced up at him to find a look of concern cross his face. He gestured with his eyes towards Jessica who was still starring with a look of bewilderment between the two of us.
I bit my lip nervously before I finally turned towards my friend. "Hey Jess, why don't you go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later."
She smiled knowingly at me, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Sure Bella, we'll talk later." The implications in her voice were unmistakable. I knew it was going to be a long night. As she walked away I contemplated unplugging the phone so I wouldn't have to talk to her.
I sighed as I watched her turn the corner, essentially leaving Edward and I alone. "So." I began feeling terribly awkward. "You wanted to talk to me? I thought we were meeting after school to discuss the project?" I feigned confusion. I had a feeling his need to talk to me had nothing to do with our Biology project.
"Yes, we are. That's not why I wanted to speak with you."
"Oh." I said turning to walk towards the cafeteria. I wasn't the least bit hungry but I needed something to do than just stand there alone with him.
"How are you feeling?" He asked suddenly.
I turned to look at him. His question seemed more loaded than it should have been. "I'm fine." I answered automatically, halting in my steps.
His eyes roamed over my face and I could tell by his expression that he did not believe me. His eyes lingered on the dark circles under my eyes. I saw his right hand move from his side and hesitantly reach towards my face. He seemed to move with deliberate slowness. As if I were something so fragile he might break me. As his hand drew closer I willed my head to move away, but I remained frozen.
His hand gently cupped my face and his thumb carefully caressed the dark valley below my eye. "You look so tired." He whispered.
I was not prepared for what I felt the moment his hand connected with my face. His hand was unbelievably cold, yet seemed to set my face on fire. I knew this was wrong but couldn't help myself as I leaned into his touch. I could feel the blush creep up into my cheeks at my action.
He dropped his hand but kept his eyes trained on mine. I immediately felt the loss. My face grew cold where his hand had once been. I found myself yearning for him to touch me again.
"Did you sleep well last night?" His voice was gentle.
"I slept fine." I lied.
"I thought maybe you had a bad dream…something I could help you with?"
I could feel the color drain from my face. "What?" I breathed. How could he possibly know? There was no way—or was there? This was not the first time he had known something without being told first. After he rescued me in Port Angeles he had known without me telling him exactly where to find my friends—as if he could…
"How could you…" I trailed off my brows furrowed in confusion. I could feel tears fill my eyes. There was no way this was just a coincidence. It was as if he could read minds. My face flushed with embarrassment as I thought back on all the things he could have seen in my head. I had never felt more exposed or embarrassed in all my life.
He took in my horror filled expression and quickly explained. "You look very tired. I thought perhaps a bad dream had kept you up."
"I don't believe you." I murmured, trying to hide behind my hair. "I have to go." I turned and walked into the cafeteria, but upon seeing Jessica's overly excited face I thought better of it. Instead, I made my way to the office. Suddenly, I felt sick enough to go home.
Mrs. Cope gave me no trouble and without argument dismissed me from the rest of the day.
I slumped against the steering wheel of my car, tears running down my face. I took a deep breath and wiped my face clean with the back of my sleeve. Was I utterly crazy for thinking he could do the impossible and read minds? Of course, he was the impossible—a vampire—who knew what he could or could not do. It's not like I could just go up to him and admit I knew his secrets and ask him to please stop reading my mind.
I threw my head back against the headrest of my truck. I had to find away to test my theory, and until then I had to keep my thoughts clear of anything I didn't want him to know--just in case. But how could I prove what I suspected? It seemed impossible—short of just asking him…
I sighed in frustration as I started my truck and pulled out from where I was parked. My eyes instinctively fell upon where I knew Edward had parked his car. My breath hitched as my eyes made out his form in the front seat. His eyes were closed and he was pinching the bridge of his nose just as he had the night he saved me. He seemed upset or frustrated by something. As my truck passed by his car he turned sharply, almost too quickly, and looked straight at me. His eyes held a deep sadness that broke my heart, but I did not slow my pace as I drove out of the parking lot. The lines between reality and fiction were becoming blurred and I needed to get home to sort through my thoughts. I needed to figure out what I was going to do, if anything.