Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its characters.
Chapter Seven: Rejected
Edward knew the new girl would have to sit next to him as soon as she walked through the door, seeing as the seat next to him was the only open one left in the room.
After speaking with the teacher, Bella took her seat next to Edward, he immediately stiffened. He was completely shocked, even more so than he had been at lunch. The girl was obviously human – her heartbeat told him so – yet she smelt strongly of vampire.
While pondering the possibility that this human girl actually knew a vampire, Edward didn't realize the venom that had began pooling inside his mouth, or the fact that he was slowly inching himself towards his tablemate. Finally conscious of his own involuntary actions, Edward realized the reason. Underneath the smell of vampire was the sweetest blood that Edward had ever come across, it was almost as if her blood was calling to the monster inside him.
Immediately cutting off his heavy breathing, Edward tried to focus on all the reasons that he could not kill the girl sitting next to him.
By the end of the period it was all he could do to not snatch her up with him and run for a more secluded spot to end her life and his monster's crooning.
Edward walked quickly to his car, breathing large lungfuls of fresh air. Without her scent around him, Edward was able to think a little more clearly and deny the squirming monster inside him. Unfortunately his perfect vampire brain wouldn't let him forget the way her blood had smelt.
Sitting in his car, Edward tried to think of ways to keep her alive and not expose his family. He had been thinking of leaving when his ego stepped in. He refused to believe that he, a vampire with at least 70 years of experience not drinking human blood, would be forced to leave his family to run away and hide from a simple human girl.
If he could get out of that period of Biology, surely he would be able to ignore her any time they happened to pass. Deciding that was the best solution he could think of without running away, Edward made his way to the Administration office just as the bell releasing the students from their final period sounded.
Although he did not enjoy using it, Edward was perfectly – and sometimes painfully – aware that everything about him appealed to humans. Being as sweet and dazzling as he could manage, Edward began the process of trying to convince the secretary to allow him to switch into a more challenging class during his Biology period, while trying to ignore the very inappropriate images involving himself that were forming in the woman's mind.
He was not progressing very well – at least in his battle for a new class, him in the secretary's fantasies was quite another thing – when another student opened the door, bringing with them a gust of wind. Edward stiffened, looking over his shoulder to see Isabella Swan, standing against the wall. He knew he was glaring at her, but it seemed almost like a personal attack that she was there, at the exact moment he was as well. Surprisingly she met his glare evenly with an indifferent expression, even her heartbeat told him she didn't care that he was looking at her that way.
Tearing his glare that was now faltering away from her, Edward turned back to the secretary and thanked her for trying. He turned stiffly and walked out of the room, taking more deep breaths. He knew then that he would either end of killing the girl or he would have to escape the boring little town of Forks, Washington. The new girl made up his mind for him when she came out of the office and walked right into him.
-x-
Jessica had told Bella that the Cullens were not friendly and did not like associating with others. She hadn't quite believed the extreme qualities of the comment, but when she turned in her seat during Biology, she noticed that Edward's black eyes had formed a glare that was directed toward her.
Bella shrugged off the feeling of indignation and figured he was angry with her, illogically, because he would have to actually interact with someone besides his family from now on. She simply turned back to the teacher, trying her best to ignore his presence altogether.
Ignoring him became difficult when her mind began to wander. Bella's thoughts turned to the man that was either stalking her, or was a figment of her imagination, and she couldn't help but notice the similarities Edward and that man. Both were deathly pale, gorgeous, and had rings under their eyes like they hadn't slept in years. The only real difference besides being different people was their eye color. Bella ignored the feeling that they were both part of the same nonhuman group, only to rethink that thought when the bell rang and she saw Edward stand and dart out the room faster than she thought was humanly possible.
Not really caring what he was if he was in fact not human, Bella let her mind focus on trying to keeping her body upright and out of other people's ways as she participated in her PE class.
Unexpectedly, Bella ran into Edward Cullen yet again when walked into the Administration office to return her neon-sheet. It appeared that Edward was arguing with the secretary, who was batting her eyes at him, on whether he could change his Biology period for something, anything, different. Guessing that the cause was her, Bella's thoughts were confirmed when another student walked in. Edward stiffened and focused another glare over his shoulder, in her direction. Bella looked steadily back, calling him a stupid stuck up prat in her mind.
Edward's glare seemed to falter slightly at Bella's indifferent expression; he quickly turned back towards the secretary, thanked her for her help and swiftly left the office. Bella envisioned her future Biology lessons that she thought would possibly be worse than even trigonometry as she stepped toward the secretary to give back the now signed sheet.
As soon as Bella stepped out of the office, she got an ominous feeling. Bella looked over her shoulder to see if something was coming her way, only to step right smack into Edward Cullen. He turned to her with a slightly determined expression on his face which immediately softened into a stunning smile. Bella was caught off guard by his reaction for a second before she registered he was speaking to her.
"Isabella Swan."
"Actually, it's Bella." Something flickered behind his inviting eyes: amusement.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get to introduce myself earlier, you caught me at a bad time." He smiled apologetically. "I'm Edward Cullen."
Bella smiled back slightly, trying to keep up her diplomatic façade. On the inside, she was quite irritated with Mr. Cullen, it appeared that he was using her as some sort of entertainment, although she didn't know why or what for.
Edward leaned toward her slightly, breathing into her face as he spoke again. "Would you like to go for a small walk with me? We could get to know each other a little better since we are going to be lab partners."
The feeling of intoxication caused by his breath immediately left Bella when she saw the same flicker of amusement pass through his eyes at his own words. Bella smiled as invitingly as she could before speaking. "No, thank you though."
With that, Bella side stepped him and walked to her truck, leaving Edward completely stunned. He had planned to take her for a walk into the forest, away from everyone else, and kill her quickly. Even with the monster rearing in him, Edward had wanted to make Bella as happy and comfortable as possible in her last moments.
As he stood rooted to the same spot, gaping at where Bella had stood Edward realized three things: he could not read Bella's mind, something that had never happened to him; he had given into the monster and almost killed an innocent girl, only to be thwarted, by that same girl; and the most shocking of all, that Bella had turned him down when he had been using his most dazzling and inviting expression, no human woman had ever been able to resist that expression, let alone make coherent sentences, yet she had spoken quite clearly and said no.
Edward was brought out of his thoughts by Alice, doubled over in laughter, standing next to him. She was obviously amused by his expression, as were the rest of his siblings that were standing nearby, but had apparently seen his rejection and she thought it was hilarious. He probably would have joined in her laughter if not for the horror and nausea he felt about the fact that he had almost killed Bella.
Deciding he would need to leave, at least for a little while, Edward turned toward his car. Alice immediately stopped laughing, seeing his decision, and followed him.
Must you? Is it really that bad? Alice asked Edward with her mind. He nodded curtly before opening and entering his car. The rest of the family followed, although only Alice understood what had just occurred and what he was about to do. Edward stopped at the mouth of their driveway. He politely asked they continue on foot from there before heading to the hospital, trading cars with his father, and heading out of town.
...
A/N: (Cackles madly) That's right! Bella rejected Edward! Hahahaha! Anyway...for those that are wondering why Bella seems so out of character, like I said before, she witnessed her moms death and thinks she's either crazy or is being stalked by the killer who is planning on murdering her too, so obviously she'll be a little different, not to mention the fact that she doesn't really care if she lives or not...sorry, Bella's kinda angsty, but don't worry, she'll get better! :)
