Edward

I couldn't wrap my mind around this new concept that I was not naming. She was stubborn, stupid, idiotic, unbelievable and really stupid. She shouldn't have any power over me. She makes my skin crawl with anger. I would happily strangle the pretty little life out of her, with her long plain brown hair wrapped around her slim neck. There was nothing extraordinary about this girl, which made her boring like the rest but why did Bella Swan stand out to me more than anyone else?

"Edward!" Coach called from the stands at the other end of the field. I flicked my head up to his and glided to a fast stop, I raised my arms up outwards questioningly.

"You were pushing yourself too hard!" He boomed at me, and waved me over. I looked behind me and my "team-mates" were quite far back. I jogged to Coach Clapp and stood there expectantly.

"Way too hard Cullen, I don't want you fainting on me" He defended as I scowled at him, he had interrupted me mid-flow. He called everybody else in, congratulated us and reminded us that try-outs were tomorrow; when all we did was run laps around everyone. Or was that just me? Races bore me, nobody is quick enough to keep up with me let alone beat me. That's the only reason I'm on this poor excuse for a running team; nobody else was. Also Carlisle and Esme suggested it would be 'healthy for me to participate in something positive for once' as they had put so kindly. Coach Clapp dismissed everyone but I was dazed and extremely out of focus and was surprised when everybody else was heading towards the changing rooms.

"You don't have to prove yourself to anyone" Coach whispered to me as I was brought back to the present and he gave me a knowing nod.

"What do you mean sir?" I asked attempting to conceal my annoyance and confusion at where this conversation would lead.

"You can run faster and better than anyone here. You don't need to push yourself like that" He defended as we started to walk back to the changing rooms.

"Not everybody was here" I mumbled mostly to myself but Coach's head twitched at my comment and I knew I had said way too much.

"You won't have to compete against her" He said understandingly and he was careful not to name her but I don't think that was the point.

"Are you seriously saying that she is going to compete with the girls? She would not stick around for that. She'd get bored and leave" I argued stopping outside the changing rooms, waiting for his answers.

"We can't put her with the boys in the real races. You're bored here, why haven't you left?" He argued back with a concerned face but he still held the authority, and he was making that known.

"I have to be here" I mumbled innocently and shied away from his prying eyes. He was the only adult who could do this to me, make me feel like a child.

"No you don't Cullen, you could leave whenever you want" He answered quickly,

"Fine I'll admit it – I love to run. But I do not have anything in common with her, she'll run because she likes to show off or whatever; she'll get bored and leave" I argued angrily remembering the passion in her eyes and every movement as she ran the other day. She had stayed behind to complete it, to beat me. It broke me to know that she could have the same relationship with running that I had.

"You know that's not true. But even if it was, I get the impression you two don't get on so why would you want her to stay?" He countered cleverly, I felt like Coach Clapp had more knowledge than anyone else at this school. He knew how to read the students, how to relate to them and how to scare them – which I could imagine comes in handy.

"No, it's not like that. I don't want her to be here in the first place" I rambled quickly in defence mode but he shot me a look like 'you can not pull that crap with me'. I stormed off like a little child because I knew he had beaten me. Even worse; I knew that she had beaten me.

…..

I was still mulling over the ever so annoying events that had occurred today and they angered me beyond all comprehension. At dinner I wouldn't say a word while they were all busy chattering nonsense about their days. Alice was giving me wary looks but I ignored them. She was the one who had brought her back to me, which was an offense punishable by death so I was glad that she kept her distance because I knew I would take it out on my innocent family instead of the one person who really deserved it.

I was lying in bed unable to get to sleep staring endlessly at the dull ceiling above me and with my iPod floating music into my tired ears. I wanted to sleep but my mind was too busy and there was no blocking it this time. Did she have to be so indifferent but being so terribly different at the same time? Everybody else would have given up or lay down while I tackle them with harsh unnecessary words. But Bella, she gave me as good as I got even though she seemed like the least caring… At times. What baffled me the most was that my imagination tortured me with her image two weeks before I even knew she existed? It irritated me that I could not understand fully, or at all.

My mind eventually wore itself out as my lasts thoughts consisted of Bella she stared in my murky dreams.

…..

Bella

I woke up panting yet again; this dream was becoming very tiresome; which contrasted terribly with the idea of sleep in the first place. If I wanted to torture myself I would stay awake and think of him and remind myself of how ridiculous the turn of events had been. Instead of that I fall to sleep with false hope of rest and thoughts of soft comfort and I am met with the burning green eyes of Edward Cullen as he bores through my every thought and invades any bit of privacy he can get his hands at. But I was impressed at what good timing my dreams had, they would always wake me up before a couple of minutes before my alarm went off.

I groggily got up and threw some clothes on, remembering as I packed my bag that I had try-outs for something I didn't particularly wanted to be a part of today. I threw my trainers into my bag with a heavy sigh and lifted my eyes to my lonesome mirror, afraid of what they might meet in the reflection. I peeked open my eyes after closing them as a reflex action and took a deep breath before studying the state of my appearance.

"You did it, you look more hideous than ever" I mumbled to myself while brushing my hair harshly to get it less inflatable. I stared at my bare eyes and prayed that I had something to compare myself to. I don't like looking at magazines, they are fake and over powering. My face was nothing like theirs. My eyes were big and brown and had been make-up free since I was about ten when I used to care what people think – lucky that passed. I sighed at myself again before giving up and jogged down the stairs. Charlie had already left for work, leaving me to my own devices until I had to go to school. He had written me a short note on the fridge with a post-it note wishing me; "good luck and stuff." At least it was a Friday, I reminded myself as I gave up on the empty house and settled for a slow relaxing drive to school.

I was all too aware of the situation that school held for me. Edward. I drove to school with my music playing softer than usual as the empty roads made for a calmer environment. I parked up at school and stretched my neck preparing for the long day ahead. I turned up the volume on the stereo so glad that Charlie had gotten the truck for free, allowing me to spend more on a proper sound system and closed my eyes. I successfully daydreamed about running across all of the lands and all of the oceans making sure to admire all the imaginary creatures I would pass if it were ever possible. I was shaken out of my daydream when I came across the abrupt end of the world. It was a dark, dark cliff edge and nothingness was creeping up towards me, but I didn't turn back. I jumped off, the edges of the world in flames faded above me as I continued to fall. After truly freaking myself out I scrambled from the car and into the main school building. Not many others had arrived and I hadn't been as observant to see if the stupid shiny Volvo was there and to where its owner would be. I was at the staircase for the rooftop but I didn't have the confidence to go up there. I don't think I could face him again today. I had cut him off more than once yesterday and I felt bad. I wanted to be screamed at but I didn't understand why. I didn't want to, emotions lead to what seem like unavoidable events but in reality they were more than avoidable just everybody likes to play whim to their emotions. Not me. I turned hastily away from the staircase after standing staring up at it for a good couple of minutes.

I kept my eyes on the ground, praying for it to open up and swallow me whole. If we were to repeat the act that happened on my first day there would be explosions of very large proportions. I wished that I could just fade into the background or build a kick a** time machine so I could change the wrong doings that I have done or were done to me, that way things would pan out differently and I would no longer be so frightened to raise my eyes because I might be met by a set of truly piercing green ones.

…..

The day past dangerously quickly and left me with tangled knots in my stomach that couldn't be undone, and believe me I tried. I stayed away from the peace or not so peaceful space of the canteen roof instead I settled for the field behind the gym, where I had run yesterday. Yes I was hiding, but it was the safest way to avoid those pest-y emotions and the brute that had caused them.

I trudged slowly to biology; I decided not to look up as I had done previously. It just put me in a worse mood. I slid into the empty seat and was aware that Edward was beside me but was also aware that he was staring out of the window with his entire body shifted away from mine. I sighed when I noticed his headphones in his ears and wasn't going to say a word to me or notice my existence. I decided that it would be a terrible idea to attempt a conversation anyway. I pushed one headphone into my ear and concentrated on the music which was soothing as it screamed at me. I jotted down the notes when asked and to my disapproval my eyes looked up to the unmoving Edward. A couple of times I caught him looking down at me but I didn't wait to see the meaning behind it and flicked my eyes back down to the drivel set as work. The bell rang shrilly and shocked me. I jumped up and I heard Edward stifle a cold laugh but he straightened his face and packed up his things.

"I was going to wish you good luck for the try-outs" He said calmly as I gathered up my things and I gave him a careful look, not knowing precisely where this was going. But then mentally kicked myself as I realised the smirk on his face,

"But then I remembered that you are a complete b***" He chirped and I shoved past him and he laughed menacingly as I jogged from the door.

"Don't waste your energy now – you'll need it for later" He bellowed down the hall and I resisted the urge to run up to him and hit him again. He had past the silence and was now tormenting me. But I could put up with that for a while, I think.

Turns out Edward was right, Coach Clapp was waiting for me at the door to the changing rooms and then blocked them with his large body and shook his head firmly at me.

"You must rest, conserve your energy yeah?" He offered but I knew this was a one-sided teacher sort of conversation and I wasn't doing gym today. I followed his lead into the sports hall and waited obediently until judgement time arrived. I watched the people that have made no attempt to know me skip around the courts trying to play basketball and was relieved that they hadn't. They all seemed as fake and false as the next. Admittedly, Alice seemed perfectly nice, and perfect. So I would never fit in there but it was nice anyway. I would cope just fine with being alone; it's what I was used to. Coach Clapp sent everyone to the changing rooms when the end of school was nearing and sat down on the bench next to me.

"You nervous?" He asked curiously without looking at me in that casual sort of way.

"Should I be?" I asked in return and he shrugged. I then understood what he meant.

"You've seen me run, I can do it" I replied like I hadn't caught on, hoping he would drop it quickly.

"No, I know you'll make the team. You only really have one competitor" He said with more meaning this time. I sighed and gave up on the conversation when the bell rang loudly and I made my way to the changing rooms to prepare myself for the promptly arriving hell. Grin and bare it? Or run and get on with it. The second option sprung at me and I grabbed it with both hands and jogged out to the field with my iPod in my iron grip, everybody else had assembled and I was surprised by the amount of people there. I searched the faces absently but spotted the glare of a familiar but unfriendly pair of eyes and took my attention back to Coach Clapp.

"Right this is how it is going to work; everyone will run and the best eight boy's times will race again to get the four boy team members and then the same with the girls. But everybody will run the track first to start with and I'll take your times. Warm up lap – go!" He instructed quickly, and if I hadn't done this before I would have been lost and confused. It was a warm up lap and I knew that he would get mad if I raced ahead already so I started out first onto the track but was in a slow jog and my favourite person was hot on my heels.

"I'm surprised he isn't running you with the boys" Edward said to me, it sounded like the start of an actual conversation and I was taken aback. I took out a headphone to hear him properly;

"Why should he, I am a girl?" I replied.

"Much to my disgust – your better than most of the people here, let alone than just the girls" He complimented, sort of.

"Most of the people here?" I asked playfully as we were nearing the end of the warm up lap. He scoffed at me and plugged his other headphone in and I copied his actions, keeping my blood moving my jogging on the spot. I craned my neck to stretch and waited for the others to join us at the starting line.

"Two laps, it's not long people. Two laps to prove yourself!" Coach Clapp bellowed from the sidelines, Edward's eyes twitched towards Clapp with a certain glare to them and for the first time running ever I developed a knot in my stomach, and it worried me. Something in his words struck within me and I couldn't tell what it was. I cleared my mind and concentrated on the music in my ears and the ground beneath my feet. I could close my eyes and run the track, they are all the same, I told myself. I breathed heavily and let it out as Coach Clapp boomed "GO!" at us. We all started simultaneously but Edward and I got a clear head start.

The track became blurred and I was away. The lyrics ran across my vision and I was running with them. Everything and everyone else disappeared. I was safe, I was quick and I was alone. I didn't look behind me, I did glance to the side after I gained the confidence and nonchalance, Edward looked as peaceful as I felt. I caught his eyes and he smiled at me but still facing forward. My feet were only inches in front of his and his strides were twice the length of mine but mine were quicker.

The end straight was pending soon and I was going to push myself, I could feel it beneath my feet. I gave Edward another sideways glance and he mimicked my look. He was going to push too. I forced my arms into the proper angles and pressed off hard on the balls of my feet with a menacing smile to Edward and pushed away from him. I saw Coach Clapp waiting at the end of the track and I smiled smugly to myself but I heard the rapid feet coming up behind me and I knew it was him. He was pushing hard. I centred my nerves and pulled on my stomach and threw myself forward again. Coach Clapp looked down astonished at his stopwatch as I crossed the line and I turned my head to watch Edward fly into me.

His body floored mine and we rolled together until the moment slowed.

"Want to look where you're going?" I mocked quietly and carefully as he was getting off of my with his weight resting on his arms beside my head. His expression was confusing and I couldn't understand it.

"I was" He mumbled standing up, smiling warily and offering me a hand to get up to. I took it a little too hastily and dropped it as soon as I was on my feet. We walked in silence back to Coach Clapp; the rest of the students were coming up to the end straight but Coach was staring at us intently.

"How are the times looking Coach?" Edward asked surprisingly cheerfully. Coach Clapped raised a finger at us, gesturing to wait and I stood silently beside Edward while everyone else crossed the line. I waited patiently as everybody gathered their breathing again and Coach sat everyone down. I obliged with the rest of them but I was eager to find out my time. Coach listed everyone who had made the best times but he didn't mention Edward or I. I shot Edward a concerned look and raised an eyebrow to Coach Clapp but Edward shrugged. Coach Clapp even sent everyone off to start their second races and left Edward and I sitting there in a confused state of shock. I got up and went to stand next to him where he was about to start the second race.

"What's happening Coach?" Edward got in there before I did, standing on the opposite side of him to me. Coach Clapp raised his finger again to signal to us to shut up. We did as we were told and I resisted the urge to look at Edward. We had already suffered too much contact today. I waited patiently again as Coach Clapp shouted the instructions to the rest of the people, who were eyeing myself and Edward cautiously, clearly confused. I didn't understand myself; and it was starting to scratch at me. Coach Clapp boomed another 'go' before the bodies in front of us sprayed out into a harsh sprint. I turned my glare back to Coach Clapp.

"You two can't run with them" He told us flatly without taking his eyes away from the students running around the field for the second time.

"What?" I asked angrily. He had made me try out and now he wasn't even going to place me on the team.

"You'd make them cry. You finished half a minute before everyone else. It would kill them to watch you two finish nearly a whole lap before them – would you stick around for that?" He told us matter-of-factly.

"Oh come on, why would you let me try out just to say I can't make the team because I'm too good?!" I questioned, now I had lost all control over my patience and it was lost to the wind.

"I never said you weren't on the team" He told me again, still not turning to me, his smile was about to crack. He was enjoying my annoyance.

"Why are you doing this now Coach, I train with them and race with them all the time?" Edward asked more calmly than I expected, but I didn't raise my eyes to him, for the on-waiting rage that he would surely safe for me.

"Because you have never run with her before, it's like she sets you off. You ran better than I've ever seen you today" I glared at the innocent Coach as he rattled off a dreamy-creamy piece of utter nonsense.

"What utter crap" Edward said angrily and started to storm away to the changing rooms. I stood there in shock and then decided to go home too. I had accomplished everything that I had wanted to; I made the team. I didn't exactly want a heart to heart with anyone especially Edward, or Coach Clapp for that matter.

I raced to the changing rooms filled with an exhausting sensation; I think I recognised it as rejection. But I hadn't felt it so subtly before and it stung and itched. I was eager to get rid of it by the sound of a thudding bass against my eardrums. I skipped from the changing rooms to the car park after getting dressed in a hurry. I skidded past the buildings and saw my car not far away but something in my peripheral vision and stopped suddenly. I turned to him and he was sitting with his hood up covering his hair and eyes and his long legs were stretched out in front of him and his right foot was tapping very quickly in time to a beat. I strolled up slowly to him and sat next to him.

"Congrats on making the team?" I offered, keeping my eyes forward – realising why Coach Clapp had preferred talking to us this way. It was easier, like you were talking to a brick wall or something. And I forgot that I wasn't.

"Look, I'm just going to pretend you don't exist. That sound okay?" He said harshly staring deep into my eyes but with anger but I could sense that it wasn't fully true. There was doubt in his eyes that nobody could miss.

"Whatever" I mumbled getting up from my spot and walking over to my truck. I pushed myself in and forced the car to a spitting start and went as fast as I could away from the school. As soon as I was far enough away my eyes exploded in a watery mess and I couldn't control it. I had to pull over. I sat there clutching at my eyes and my chest wishing for some relief from the emotions that poured through me, relief that I just couldn't find.