Chapter Seven: Stalkers and School

Edward POV

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Alice had left with the brown haired girl for school and I was left to my own devices. I lay in the spare room and listened to my iPod exhausted from the drive. I slipped in and out of consciousness, images of my parents and those deep brown eyes flicked through my dreams.

By afternoon I scrambled out of bed, giving up on sleep still feeling exhausted. Hunger bubbled in my stomach, and I made myself a peanut butter sandwich in the kitchen. I was in the process of cleaning and putting everything away when I heard a car pull up in the driveway. I made my way to the front door just as Alice burst through it.

"Hey Ed, what ya doing?"

Alice caught me off guard she probably noticed the shocked look on my face.

"Hey Al, ahh nothing just made a sandwich thought I would grab a book or something to read?" I gestured to the study.

"Sure go for it, Dad should have some good books in there. I'm sure you wouldn't be interested in my fashion mags." she winked.

I snickered at her, and made my way to the study closing the door behind me. I let out a breath shaking my head, I felt bad for lying to Alice but I hadn't come in here for a book. There was no way I could admit to Alice what my real reason was. I quickly walked over the window and without any further thought I pulled the curtain back and scanned the front yard and down the street. I inhaled quickly when I saw the retreating form of the brown haired girl. She was slightly slumped kicking her feet down the street. Why was I so curious about her? What made her so special that I couldn't help but almost run to the front door upon hearing a car pull up? I didn't even know this girl but for some reason I felt drawn to her like a bug to a flame.

The girl seemed to hesitate, faltering in her steps and I stared at her intently wondering what was wrong. She almost seemed sad in her posture. Before I knew what was happening her body shifted and she turned staring exactly in my direction. Her piercing brown eyes seemed to be staring right at me. I gasped and quickly pulled the curtains closed, stepping back from the window. Did she see me? Did she know I was watching her? It was so crazy to think that she did, how could she possibly of know someone was watching her. Everything about this girl and my reaction to her was strange, foreign to me. I quickly grabbed the first book I could see off the bookshelf and left the study retreating again to my room to get some composure.

Later in the night Alice and I were sitting in the lounge catching up on lost time and avoiding any topics regarding my parents. It was just like old times. We heard the garage open and two cars pull up Carlisle and Esme voices could be heard as the opened the garage door into the kitchen. I got up off the couch to greet them but Alice was faster she skipped to her father's side grabbing his arm with a beaming smile.

"Can we keep him Dad?" She gestured towards me and I smiled at her.

Carlisle laughed, coming over taking my hand in a hand shake before gripping me in a bear hug. I stiffened initially having not been hugged by a man in many years before relaxing into the familiarity of it. Carlisle was the father figure, the role model that I'd never experienced with my own. He grabbed my shoulders and stared into my eyes.

"You've grown Edward"

"Yeah a bit"

"More like a lot! God it's so good to see you again."

"You to Carlisle!"

He smiled slapping me on the shoulder as Esme came over hugging me also. Her hug was more familiar and reminded me of my mother. I couldn't help the lump that formed in my throat as I thought of her at that moment. Esme whispered in my ear, "I'm so glad you felt you could come here, Edward. We've all missed you so much." I couldn't respond afraid of choking on my emotions but I returned the hug breathing in her familiar floral and lavender scent.

After our little reunion we settled down to dinner together at their rather large lavish dining table. I knew what was coming and as much as I wanted to avoid the conversation I knew it was inevitable. There was a slightly awkward silence when we had almost finished dinner. Alice picked nervously at her remaining food with a fork, and I could tell she was looking forward to the conversation as much as I was. Carlisle broke the silence.

"So Edward, does Elizabeth know you're with us?"

I grabbed my napkin, swiping my mouth and stared down at my plate, yes this conversation had to happen.

"I haven't told her. She tried calling a few times on my way here, but I was driving" I shrugged knowing it wasn't a convincing argument. I felt so guilty over my mother I couldn't even bear the thought of hearing her afraid of what she would say to me.

"Do you want me to call her Edward, just so she knows your ok?"

I nodded unable to voice a response. Esme reached across and grabbed my hand. "Edward we just need to let her know your ok. You know you are welcome to stay here as long as you need. We're not going to send you home. We love you like our own son and want you to feel welcome but Lizzy has to know where you are" I looked up into her caring eyes and squeezed her hand.

"Thanks Emse, and your right she needs to know. I haven't been very forthcoming about all this. But I would appreciate it if I could stay here just until things settle down." I felt guilty saying that, I knew things at home weren't going to settle down. I couldn't go back and live with my father ever again. I was hoping I would figure out a plan soon, but in the meantime this was the only place I felt I could be.

Carlisle spoke "Of course Edward, When you want to talk we will be here for you. We're not going to make you do anything you don't want to do. You're almost an adult now, free to make your own decisions." I felt relieved, like Carlisle knew what I was going through. I'm sure he had gone through this enough times with his sister. "One thing though, Emse and I think it would be a good idea that you attend high school while you are staying with us. I don't think it's fair that any of this should stop you from having a normal life."

"Thanks Carlisle, your right I haven't even thought of school. I can't really let my grades slip. I still want to go to medical school."

Carlisle smiled at me like a proud father would. I used to tell him when I was younger that I would grow up to be a doctor just like him. He would tell me how proud he was and that I could do anything if I put my mind to it.

"I'm so glad you are still pursuing that goal Edward. You've only missed a week so it shouldn't be too hard to catch up. Esme and I were just speaking to the principal at Forks High before we came home, they would be prepared to have you attend if that's what you want?" I nodded feeling overwhelmed by the thought of attending a new school, immediately my thoughts drifted to the girl and if I could see more of her. "I will have to call Saint Patricks tomorrow and your mother and arrange for your files and books to be sent here, but you should be able to start tomorrow if that's what you want."

I nodded "Yeah, I'd like that."