So I'd like to personally mention the anonymous reviewer "I am Nothing" as well as "Bite Me Anyday" for your faithful reviewing of this story. I hope this chapter meets your expectations! Also, I know that Twilight progresses at a certain pace, but if you're reading this story, you've probably read Twilight and so I've decided to switch the storyline up a bit to move my plot along. Let me know what you think!
The rest of the week passed in, relative, peace and quiet as Elena learned to ignore her intrigue over the mysterious Edward Cullen, since he showed no signs of actually acting on his apparent disgust. It wasn't until Friday that he even spoke to her, and that was only to wish her a "Safe weekend," as if he knew exactly what she was running from. Elena then consoled herself with the knowledge that the strange guy couldn't possibly know who was haunting her, and simply had recognized a side of Bella that she had tried hard to project: a klutz prone to danger and accident.
In her excitement over the shopping plans made with Jessica and Angela, Elena quickly forgot Edward's odd comment about her weekend and spent her Friday evening with Charlie, frying the fish he had caught with Billy Black and reminiscing about their good times in Phoenix. Though originally wary about this strain of conversation, Charlie was careful to avoid any mention of Damon or anything Mystic Falls, and the two of them spent a nice evening.
Jessica, with Angela in the back, picked Elena up that next afternoon and drove to Port Angeles for their shopping expedition. The three girls chatted excitedly about their purchases as they walked through the town; Jessica in particular was happy since Mike had finally asked her to the Homecoming Dance Friday afternoon, and she was looking desperately for "the perfect dress" to wear for the upcoming party. Elena, who had refused multiple invitations to the Homecoming Dance with the excuse that she was going to Phoenix to visit her mom, Renee, that specific weekend, was excited for her friends, but found herself bored after a couple of hours of dress shopping. Telling Angela and Jessica that she would meet them for dinner in an hour at a prearranged place, Elena walked to Port Angeles Park and sat on a bench to people watch.
As she relaxed, Elena noticed Edward Cullen and his sister Alice, walking toward her, both with ominous looks on their faces. Assuming they weren't actually coming to talk to her, Elena ignored them and went back to people watching. Suddenly, she felt someone sit next to her and turned her head to look over at the person who had so unapologetically invaded her space.
He was older than her, maybe early twenties, probably around Damon's age, she thought with a pang. He was also attractive, though nowhere near as beautiful as Damon, Stefan or even Edward; he was, however, also creepy, and Elena's gut reaction when he first sat next to her was to immediately get up and walk away from him.
As if he could read her mind, the man turned toward her and said under his breath, "Don't even think about trying to escape, girl. I'm an expert tracker and I love a good challenge."
Elena, remembering all of the danger she encountered in Mystic Falls, looked at the stranger skeptically. "I'm not afraid of you at all, you know. The creepy guy act might work on some girls, but I am so not interested."
He sneered at her, and she suddenly reevaluated her previous lack of fear. "If I told you what I was, perhaps you'd show a little more healthy respect for your precarious humanity."
Suddenly out of nowhere, Edward appeared. Elena could see by his face and the obvious change in his eyes from gold to black that he was very angry and she instinctively flinched away from him, remembering all too clearly the look on his face the first time she saw him.
Edward gave her a pained look and said gruffly, though in an obvious attempt at gentleness, "Go to Alice in the car, Bella. She'll take you home."
"I'm not leaving you behind. Besides, you've never said more than two words to me, so why are you suddenly interested in protecting me from harmless creeps?" Elena replied.
At that he rolled his eyes, and as he attempted to get her to leave, the scary man took the opportunity to escape. Edward turned back to where the man had been standing just a few seconds earlier and said exasperatedly, "Where did he go?! We've been following them for days and now he's gone."
"Wait, them?" Elena asked warily.
"Yeah, he, his girlfriend, and a friend of theirs are passing through." Edward continued, speaking quietly to himself, though Elena heard him anyway, "Although now that he's seen me protect you, there's no way the other two are going to convince him to leave. I have to get you out of here."
"Let's go," he said, in a louder voice.
Elena looked at him incredulously. "If you think I'm going anywhere with you, you're sadly mistaken. I barely know you anymore than that weird guy, and I don't need your protection, especially since you so obviously hate me."
Edward looked confused until Elena said, "Look, I know I saw you at the gas station a couple weeks ago, and the look on your face in that moment was one of absolute disgust."
At that, Edward had the decency to look somewhat embarrassed, but said resolutely, "That was in the past, Bella, before James caught your scent and decided to track you. I know this might seem a little confusing at the moment, but I promise that I'm going to keep you safe."
"Confusing?!" she replied, her voice gradually increasing in volume until Edward looked uncomfortably around him at the other people in the park, "You're right this is confusing! I have absolutely no idea what's going on, I just encountered a pretty scary guy that now apparently wants to find me because I smell nice and here you are making empty promises to a girl that, up until two seconds ago, you probably hated! Why should I go anywhere with you?!"
"Calm down, would you?" he asked her. "People are going to think I'm trying to kidnap you. I just want to take you home."
"You know what, fine. I'll go with you; I don't know why, but something in my gut is telling me you're trustworthy." Elena didn't really know what to do in her current situation, but she had gotten admittedly bored as Bella and wanted a little adventure in her life again. Besides, it's not like she was going to fall in love with Edward or that he was anything dangerous, right? So she went with him, got into the silver Volvo that Alice pulled up to the curb next to the park, and waited for the car to reach her house.
Upon reaching Forks, however, Elena quickly realized that when Edward said home, he had meant his home, not hers. She made a futile effort to get out of the car, but Alice simply said, "Sorry about this, Bella," and locked the doors.
So how was it? Once again, review's are a writer's best friend and they further inspiration like nothing else. Also, please feel free to PM me with any ideas, suggestions, or comments you might have; it's a little more personal than simply reviewing, and I'd love to get to know you all! 3
