Authors Note:

So sorry it's taken me such a long time. Please forgive me and accept this somewhat fluffy chapter as a token of my love for you guys.

-Cierra

Chapter 7: HeartAche & Harsh weather.

Bella's POV:

After I had managed to get through the first few periods without stabbing myself in the leg I was really looking forward to Ms. Denali's class surprisingly. As much as I dreaded the awkward moment we were bound to have I yearned to see her beautiful face again, that golden hair that I longed to play with, and those golden eyes I could stare into until I perished.

My feelings toward my teacher had slowly began to turn in another direction over the past couple of days, she had somehow stared, glared, and invaded her way past the protective walls my heart had constructed to keep out possible threats. Ms. Denali was turning into a very large threat on the safe keeping of my heart. I felt this undeniable attraction towards her; she made everything feel like it would be okay.

Upon entering the object of my thought's classroom I found it to be filled to the brim with anxious and excited students with a nervous young Substitute at the front of the room. The woman was wearing long pants, brown boots, and a simple T-shirt. This was not Ms. Denali, walking towards my seat I couldn't help but clench my fists.

She wasn't here. I should be thanking my lucky stars but I couldn't bring myself to even open my mouth. I missed her. I missed the way she walked, her musical yet sensual voice, her penetrating gaze on me through the whole lesson, and the way she stood so fucking close to me I could smell her.

Questions ran through my mind all through the lesson, I hadn't heard a word the imposter at the front of the room had muttered. All I could think about was the blonde who normally made me feel like I was worth something. Her golden eyes made me feel like I was the only thing she saw.

Where was she?

Was she okay?

Was she avoiding me?

When was she coming back?

Would she ever come back?

Putting my head in my hands, I closed my eyes tightly. I had screwed things up badly. I had spent so much time pushing somebody away that I didn't notice when I had begun to grow feelings for that same frustrating and stubborn woman.

For the rest of class I ignored the worried looks Angela was shooting my way every five minutes and concentrated on the wooden grooves of the trees that stood outside of the window, my thoughts kept flicking back to Ms. Denali and as hard as I tried to push them away I couldn't keep her from invading my mind.

I had never felt this way because I hadn't seen someone for a day. I missed her horribly and the feeling shocked me to my core; why were my feelings for this woman I had met a few weeks ago this intense? Was I crazy? Is this what stalkers did?

When the bell rung I let out a huge breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding, sliding out of my desk so hard that I turned the seat sideways, I rushed towards the door all but pushing Angela out of my way. I headed to the office to sign myself out sick; the thought of sitting in that room at the end of the day with that horrible substitute made me sick.

"May I help you?"

The woman at the front desks voice snapped me out of the war that was raging in my brain.

"Yeah, Uh, I'd like to sign myself out. I'm not feeling all that well..." She nodded and pulled out a form to me to sign and then asked for a parents number. I gave her Charlie's and she gave me a dismissal pass stating I was allowed to exit. As soon as the pass was in my grip I almost tripped over my feet trying to exit the building.

The air outside was fresh and felt amazing. Angela was my ride here, and it was raining. I would have to walk home in the rain. Better than sitting through that torture. Pulling my hood up over my head, I began walking.

My feet made little slaps as I walked, the sound was surprisingly mesmerizing. I was soaked and my wet clothing had gotten uncomfortable. My jeans were stuck to my legs and my shirt was clinging to me, you could see the outlines of my bra underneath. Zipping my hoodie I wrapped my arms around myself I shivered but continued on my way, I still had a few miles and I was starting to debate jogging the rest of the way.

As I threw caution to the wind and kept walking, a loud crack of thunder pierced the air and a bolt of lightning soon flashed through the sky. Fuck. Of course I'd get stuck in a storm, of course the lady at the school wouldn't warn me, and of course I was soaked. I probably looked miserable on the side of the road, cuddled into myself with my head down and my clothes soaked.

I wasn't all that surprised when a sleek black Mercedes slowly pulled up beside me, I was however surprised when the window rolled down and I was confronted with the golden eyes that had been on my mind all day.

"Bella. You're soaked. Get in and I'll drive you home." her eyes pleaded with me.

"I'm fine walking, but thank you Ms. Denali, I don't want to intrude on your day off." As much as I wanted to get into that warm looking car, with the woman who had been on my mind all day, I couldn't. She was off work and shouldn't have to deal with me, plus that would get awkward really fast. Small space, her amazing smell, and a slightly turned on me probably wouldn't do too well all mixed together.

"Bella, I wasn't asking. Please don't force me to get out and put you inside this car, dear." Her gaze suddenly turned serious really fast and I knew she would do it, I nodded and grabbed the handle. Hesitating slightly, I couldn't force my hand to open the door. She leaned over the passenger seat, giving me an amazing view of her perfect round milky breasts, as she opened the door for me, and then took hold of my wrist pulling me into the car.

We stared at each other for a long awkward moment before she tore her golden eyes from my murky hazel ones, "Bella, why are you not in school and why are you walking in this storm?"

I couldn't very well tell her that I missed her so much that I had ached for her so I decided to leave before I lunged at that imposter of a substitute. I would look really miserable when they locked my ass inside a mental health hospital..so I settled for a normal reason.

"I was sick. Stomach flu." I then proceeded to clutch at my stomach as if I was in horrible pain. Her eyes flashed with worry, concern, affection, and then something I couldn't place. She nodded and turned back towards the steering wheel, her grip was so tight on the wheel I thought she was going to tear it straight off the panel.

The whole drive I stole glances at her face, her jaw was clenched so hard it looked almost painful and she kept glancing at me every time her eyes weren't needed on the road.

"Bella, what's your address?" Her voice shocked me and I managed to mumble out a response before settling into the comfortable seat, she had turned the heat on so I had warmed up considerably. Leaning my head back on the head rest, I smiled a little and snuggled up further into the seat. I'll close my eyes for just a second...


I could hear water flowing. It wasn't a loud rushing of waves crashing into each other, but a soft calm trickle. Like a stream. Opening my eyes I saw that I had guessed correctly. I was in a forest, lush greenery surrounded me and I smelled the fresh forest air. My toes had dug into the damp dirt and I sighed. Then I heard a splashing. It was subtle and if I wasn't so in tune with my surroundings I might have missed it. Looking to my right I saw a woman.

She was faced away from me, she was dressed in a flowing white gown and she was standing on a large rock in the middle of the wide stream. The ends of her dress were soaked and her hair fell down her back in a mess of golden curls. She was beautiful. Then she turned around. Her golden eyes penetrated me to my core, her luscious painted lips turned upwards as she stepped off the stone that separated her from me. She crossed the river in swift movements, her eyes never leaving mine.

Then she was in front of me, her hand stroking my face softly. "Bella." She breathed. I moaned and pushed into her touch. She smiled once more and pushed my head to the side, I didn't notice when her long canines extended from her gums, but I did notice when she proceeded to rip into my throat. Spilling blood and staining her dress. She threw me to the ground and looked down at her blood soaked dress.

"Pity."


Jolting up I realized I was in cold and hard arms.

Ms. Denali's arms to be exact. Cracking my eyes open I could see the fine lines of her pale throat and I could feel her blonde hair falling into my face as she wrestled my house keys out of the front pocket of my jeans while still maintaining her vice grip on me. I snuggled further into her hold, letting my head rest on her shoulder as she let herself into the house.

She proceeded to look around for a moment before deciding she would take a chance that my room was upstairs, she didn't miss the door as it had my name spelled on it with cut out Zebra letters that I had glued to it when I was six. Damn. Keeping my eyes shut so as to not alert her that I was awake I kept my body limp as she set me softly on the bed, pulled my shoes and socks off, along with my soaked jeans and T-shirt.

She then pulled me into her arms once more, and seemed to inhale deeply while she dropped light kisses over my face. I felt her place me under the covers and take a seat on the bed beside me, she spent some time stroking my wet hair out of my face and running her nails along my scalp. I wanted to moan so badly but that would alert her to my state of consciousness and I would risk scaring her off. That was something I really didn't want to do.

She seemed so comfortable playing with my hair as if this were a natural everyday situation. Taking students home, helping them remove their soaking clothing, kissing their foreheads, and being oh so tender that it made them just want to scream. This really wasn't normal and I realized that even though I had only known this woman for a short period of time- I had dreams about her, dreams that scared the shit out of me, and I was horribly and undeniably attracted to her. Both in a physical and emotional way. I had missed her deeply when I had realized she wasn't there, and now here I was biting my lip to keep my moans at bay as she sat beside me stroking her cold pale fingers through my wavy tresses. The moment was ruined when I heard her sigh and stand.

I cracked my eyes open and saw her wearing the most adorable grin. "Beautiful, Bella. Take care" and before I could blink she had left the room

What just happened?