Majority of my afternoon was spent hunting, throwing up and hunting some more until my stomach settled and color returned to my cheeks again. I told Stefan that I'd be heading down to Seattle next Saturday, and he didn't mind despite trying to get me to go to the dance. I assured him I hated dances as a human and hated them equally as much as a vampire.
Stefan drove us toward school, picking Elena up along the way which means I was ushered into the back of the convertible. I had to jump over the back which would have been unimaginable as a human. The pair walked ahead of me holding hands and I couldn't help but admire their connection and Stefan's willpower. Even with his past, he is able to control himself and be with a human.
I admire that strength.
Feeling like a third wheel I left them be and wandered off toward my first lesson, rounding a corner I stopped short. Edward was leaning against the wall directly in my path of sight. He was already watching me like he'd been expecting my arrival. Plucking up the courage, I stood straight and went to walk past him.
"So your just going to pretend I don't exist?" He asked in an exasperated tone, walking beside me with ease.
I picked up my pace, but he equaled it without a problem. "Is your plan to just irritate me so that I can't pretend?" I fired back.
"My intention wasn't to irritate you. I'm sorry if I came across rude-"
"What do you want Edward?" I asked, annoyed, stopping to face him.
"I wanted to ask you something but you sidetracked me," He chuckled. He faced me with his hands shoved into the front pocket of his jeans.
If he was going to ask something about the crash, I will just walk away without another word to him. "Fine. Ask away," I said.
"I was wondering if next Saturday- the day of the spring dance-"
"This isn't funny," I cut him off, I knew he had to be teasing me there was no way he would ask me that kind of question.
"Can I finish?" He asked, with a hint of sarcasm. I said nothing letting him continue on with his joke. "I was wondering if you would like a ride down to Seattle."
Not what I was expecting at all. "Why?"
"Because I know you don't own a car of your own, and surely your brother will be using his to take Elena to the dance. So I would like to extend an offer, I have to visit Seattle myself, and would be more than happy to escort you there," He said, with complete sincerity.
I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing. "Do you think that because you do me this one favor I will spill my guts to you? Is that your plan?"
"No plan Bella, I'm done trying to figure you out. Your right, I was being a hypocrite yesterday, so, for now, I'll stop,"
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest. "For now?"
He did that one-sided, upturned smile that set my heart off. "Well, I can't make any promises. But for now, I'm tired of this... distance,"
His eyes were so intense as he said the last word, I had to grip onto my coat to ensure my balance stayed stable.
"Will you come to Seattle with me?" He asked, just as intensely.
I was so surprised by the turn of events, I wasn't prepared for this. I'd never even imagined that Edward would want to spend alone time with me, yet here he was offering. The only thing on my mind was Edward and me alone. No-one else, just us.
No words were forming in my head so I just nodded hoping that counted as a viable answer.
He smiled briefly, then covered it up. "I'll see you in class." He said, walking off in the opposite direction.
I somehow ended up walking in late to my first lesson despite arriving early to school. I was embarrassed and still trying to figure out if what just happened was real.
Throughout the entire morning, people talked to me but I found it hard to focus on a lot of things. I found out Mike had asked Jessica to the dance and Jessica was certainly overwhelmed with excitement. Eric asked Angela and Tyler was going to the dance with some girl names Lauren. Everyone was happy and excited for the incoming summer that was predicted. If all went to plan the beach trip would still be happening.
"It sucks that you won't be coming to the dance," Angela said as we walked toward the cafeteria.
"It's fine, I'm not much of a dance person, to be honest," I told her.
"Well, you could still come dress shopping with us on Monday," She offered.
I was about to decline when Elena pipped up. "Of course, Bella you have to come. I need your help, you know Stefan better than anyone."
I doubted that, but I had to agree for Stefan's sake. "I guess I can come," I shrugged.
"Yay," Angela cheered quietly and I laughed.
Angela was certainly a kind-hearted, genuine person that I could get along with. I should really start spending some more time with her. I feel like we could become good friends.
We walked inside and my eyes went to the Cullens table, my spirit dropped when I saw only four people sat at the table. Scolding myself for reacting in such a way, I wandered over toward the lunchline only grabbing an apple. My appetite was curbed more towards blood than any human food right now anyway.
"I wonder why Edward is sitting on his own today," Angela pondered.
I immediately followed her gaze and sure enough there he was on the opposite side of the room to his siblings, sat by himself. When our eyes meet he smiled crookedly and gestures with his hand toward the empty seats before him. I couldn't help but stare back in bewilderment, he winked.
"Does he mean you?" Angela asked, looking at me with a knowing look in her eyes.
"He must need help with Biology or something," I mumbled, walking with caution toward him, I stopped just behind a chair directly opposite him.
"Why don't you sit with me today?" He asked, still smiling.
I was unsure of wheater to trust this revamped version of Edward. First, he declares he's dropped all accusations, offered to drive me to Seattle and now he wants me to sit with him at lunch, alone.
I sat down slowly testing the waters for if this was some kind of trap.
"This is different." I pointed out, placing my apple infront of me.
"I told you this morning, I'm tired of staying away from you," He said, watching me intently.
By habit, I shrunk back into my chair. "I didn't know you meant it in a literal sense," I mumbled.
"Well..." He tilted his head to the side. "I decided if I'm going to be damned to hell, I may as well do it thoroughly."
I raised an eyebrow, damned to hell was quite a harsh sentence. "And spending time with me guarantees this outcome does it?" I pondered.
"Perhaps," He smiled. "Maybe it's just where I'm supposed to go."
"You'd have to do something pretty bad to be damned to hell, I find it hard to believe that you could ever do something so terrible," I said honestly.
Edward was such a well mannered and polite persons, even when he wasn't he would always apologize for his actions. He often spoke in an old-fashioned manner, it reminded me of Stefan sometimes.
"Your admires entourage doesn't seem very happy with me stealing you away," He said, changing the subject.
I looked behind me and sure enough, Mike, Eric, and Tyler were looking this way in open distatse and anger.
"They'll survive." Stefan looked over his shoulder and gave me a classic worried brother look. I didn't know if it was real or for the show.
"I might not give you back, though," He said with an evil glint in his eye, one I'd seen Damon wear many times.
I laughed. "I'd like to see you try," I said cheekily, rolling the apple between my hands.
"You wouldn't like to see that,"
"Why not?" I asked curiously.
He looked down. "I always say too much around you,"
"Really? Becuase I'm still lost," His long slender fingers tapped against the table. I only just noticed he doesn't have any food in front of him. "Not hungry?"
The cocky half smile was back. "No, I'm not hungry. You?" He gestured toward the unbitten apple in my hands.
You have no idea how hungry I am. "Not really." What I said was an understatement of the truth.
It fell silent then, all he did was watch me while I tried not to show how uncomfortable I felt under his scrutiny.
"So, does this mean we're friends?" I question.
"Freinds..." He mused, mulling it over.
"Or was this all just a ploy?"
"Your not very trusting are you?" He noticed, resting his arms, folded on the table.
He was right of course, I'd never been very trusting or open with people, perhaps it was to do with my past where people like Damon took my trust and abused it.
"Trust is earned, not given freely," I respond.
"That is true," He nodded. "Alright then, friends. But you should really stay away from me."
What he said brought back that curiosity which has been present since the first day I saw the Cullens.
"And whys that?" I quipped, leaning in closer, intrigued.
He smirked. "We all have our secrets. What if I'm not a superhero behind the mask, what if I'm the villain?"
Was he openly admitting to being dangerous? I looked him over and found it had to believe. I suppose he could be dangerous if he wanted to be. I didn't know him well enough to make that judgment. But the parts I did know were kind and gentle, nothing worth the villain title.
"I don't believe that. What kind of a villain attends high school with a bunch of humans?" I pointed out.
He pursed his lips in thought.
"Do you not place yourself in that category?"
I recoiled back into my seat. "Which one?"
"Human?" He asked, watching my reaction with interest.
How could I possibly answer that without digging myself into a deeper hole of suspicion with him? I suddenly wish I'd brought a drink to help with how dry my throat was getting. I said nothing in response, which was probably just a bad as answering.
He sighed, realizing I wasn't going to reply. Instead, he looked over my shoulder and chuckled lightly.
"Your friend seems to think I'm treating you unkindly, he's considering coming over and giving me a good talking to," Edward said, amused by the idea.
I looked back at Mike who was glaring at Edward, but when he saw me look he lowered his head.
"How do you know that?" I asked.
"I can read people pretty well," He answered, letting his gaze fall back to me.
"Really? So what am I thinking?"
"I wish I knew," He frowned.
We both seemed to be lost in our own thoughts at that moment. I felt anxious, and on edge on if I'd given too much away during our conversation. Above all else, I was fascinated, by everything about him. The high-end clothes, his mannerisms, outlooks on life, I wanted to learn more.
During our silence, I realized it really was silent, and one look around I could see why. We were the last ones left in the cafeteria.
Jumping to my feet, I collected my bag. "We're going to be late," I announced.
"I'm not going to class today," He said, tapping his fingers on the table in a rhythmic beat that didn't seem familiar.
"Why not?"
"It's healthy to ditch class now and then." He smiled as if amused, yet he seemed worried.
"Okay, well I'm going," I informed him. Despite how easy it would be to compel my authorized absence, I was never a ditch class kind of person.
He took my apple, throwing it up into the air and catching it with ease. "I'll see you later then."
His focus stayed on the apple as I left the cafeteria, looking back he still hadn't moved an inch playing with the apple.
The bell rung sending me half running toward the classroom, I managed to walk over the threshold the same time the second bell rang. Taking my seat, it felt empty not having Edward there next to me, calming me with his scent.
"Alright class settle down," Mr. Banner instructed walking into the room with a red tray full of equipment. "Pass these around, everyone should have a pack of there own. Inside you will find an indicator card," He held up said card, which was white with four little squares. "A four-pronged applicator-" He held up a tube with four little tubes steaming from the main. "And a sterile micro-lancet." He pulled out a pair of white medical gloves, snapping them on he broke the blue seal revealing a thin metal needle.
It glinted in an ominous way that immediately put me on edge.
Whatever Mr. Banner was saying went over my head the minute he pricked Mikes finger with the tip of the needle. It was all happening at an agonizingly slow pace. The blood pooled to the surface in a perfect round drop. The teacher squeezed his fingertip allowing more blood to drip out.
It all happened so quickly, I was in a trance unaware of the pulsing of my eyes, and the two sharp edges digging into my bottom lip. Burying my head into the safety of my arms, I hissed, smelling the fresh blood just a few seats away. I had to get out of here. Remembering the trick Stefan taught me all those years ago, I breath deeply using only my mouth, and focus on nothing but my own breathing.
My fangs retracted after a moment, and I bolted out of my seat headed for the door, I was in such a rush to be free the teacher didn't have time to stop me. I only saw his bewildered face as I stormed past. Running down the corridor, I sprinted needing fresh air away from all the temptation.
Breaking out of the school door, I slide around the side of the cafeteria building, slumping down against the wall. I lay flat looking up to the sky. It's raining but here against the wall, I have shelter thanks to the overhanging rooftop. Taking a deep breath, the coolness is calming and inviting for once.
My eyes flutter closed. Deep breath in... deep breath out. I kept up the rhythm, slowly bringing myself back to from the dark spiral I was falling down.
"Bella? What happened?" I was startled by the voice, I didn't dare open my eyes and I stopped breathing altogether.
"Shouldn't you be in class?"
"Mr. Banner asked me to check up on you," Mike answered his voice sounding closer to my head as if he was bent down.
"I'm fine," I grumbled, clenching my fists together.
He laughed. "You sure about that, I mean your laying on the floor, and your really pale, even more so than usual."
I could feel myself slipping away again. He was so close I could practically feel the heat of his body radiating onto me. His scent was so strong, so powerful and tempting. Not to mention his hammering heartbeat filled my ears like a rhythmic melody.
Thud, thud...thud, thud, thud...thud, thud...I'm gonna lose it.
"Mike please go back to class," I begged, throwing my arm over my eyes, I could feel the veins pulsing underneath as the predator took over.
"No, Mr. Banner told me to take you to the nurse if you felt sick," He argued, I felt his hands wrap around the wrist by my eyes. "Let's get you up."
Ripping my arm out of his grip, I jumped to my feet, glaring at him. "Don't touch me," I hissed.
His eyes bugged out wide, stumblingly backward unsteadily into the stone pillar behind him. "Your eyes." He said, in fear.
Every nerve was ready to pounce on him and rip into his jugular until his whole body is drained and lifeless. It was his fault, I tried to warn him, but he wouldn't back down. Stefan would be highly disappointed, but my hunger was more important than him right now. The animal blood wasn't working, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't deny what my body craved. Fresh human blood.
Damon was right, my hunger was getting the better of me, all my morals and compassion that kept me in line was crumbling away. All for blood.
I began to advance feeling my fangs sharp and ready.
"Bella?" His chime like voice snapped me out of it immediately.
My eyes went back to normal and my fangs retracted faster then they came out. I took a few steps back away from a petrified Mike and prayed that what he just saw he would put down as his imagination running wild.
"Are you okay?" He asked, coming into view now, he looked me over with worry before frowning and glancing at Mike. His frown deepened.
"I'm fine," I breathed, trying not to panic as I watched Mike. His face flashed with multiple emotions, no doubt he was having an internal argument with what is reality and what is imaginary. I hope he thinks it was the latter.
"What are you doing out of class?" Edward asked, coming closer to me.
"She..." Mike trailed off, staring at the ground. "She wasn't feeling well, I was going to take her to the nurse."
I wonder why he didn't say anything about my eyes.
"I'll take her, you head back to class," Edward instructed him.
Before I could throw out my string of complaints he had swept me off my feet. Literally, he bent down, knocking my legs with his right forearm, while his other hand kept me steady, placed on my upper back. I was fully aware that he was holding me in the bridal position, our bodies so close together I could feel just how freezing he was, even through clothing.
"But I was meant to take her," Mike complained, which Edward ignored continuing to walk onwards.
His scent was strong and as heavenly as usual. I took advantage of the situation and inhaled deeply into his chest. I'm pretty sure my mouth just started watering.
"You look terrible," Edward chuckled, the sound bouncing around his chest cavity and making me vibrate from its force.
"Wow, thanks," I mumbled, sarcastically.
"So you get sick at the sight of blood?" He asked, highly amused.
"Something like that," I answered. "I can walk you know, and I don't need to be taken to the nurse's office."
"Not even your own blood," He continued entertaining himself.
He somehow managed to open the door without dropping me, warmth suddenly attacked me. A starking contrast after being held against Edward.
"Oh dear, what happened?" Mr's Cope, came rushing to our side.
"They're doing blood typing in Biology today," Edward informed her.
She sighed, as she leads us into a different room. "There's always one." She said.
Edward laughed at that, he was enjoying himself a lot right now.
Gently he placed me down on the makeshift reclining bed, which reminded me of a dentist chair. Just being sat in this room made me uncomfortable.
"Are you feeling faint dear?" Mr's Cope asked, apparently receptionists were also nurses in this little town.
Edward pressed himself up against the far wall watching with a humorous smile.
"No, I feel fine now," I told her honestly, hoping to get out of this horrid situation.
"Your awfully pale," She commented, tapping my forehead with the back of her hand. "And you've got quite the temperature."
"She's had it for some time now," Edward pointed out.
How did he know that? I frowned, maybe he was more observant of me then he leads on.
"You can return back to class now, Edward." Mrs. Cope told him, placing a wet cloth on top of my forehead.
Sort of unnessacary, but I'll keep up the pretense.
"I was told to stay with her," Edward lied, very convincingly, flashing me a smile.
"Very well." She accepted. "Do you need anything dear? A glass of water? Painkiller?" She listed off, worry lines breaking out onto her forehead.
"No, no, I'm fine now, really," I said, removing the cloth.
The door to the nurse's office swung open and in comes a struggling Mike trying to help Mellisa, another student from my class. I stood up straight away pressing myself up against the wall beside Edward.
"Here comes another one, help her down onto the chair would you dear," Mr's Cope instructs Mike.
That's when I smell it, just like in the classroom when Mr. Banner pricked Mikes finger. Fresh blood swarmed through the air.
"Oh no," Edwards voice was so quiet I nearly missed it." Bella, go into the front office."
He didn't have to tell me twice. I rushed out of the room, back into the little reception area, where the scent was still lingering but very weakly. Not enough to set off my urges again.
"You listened to me," He said, surprised.
"I could smell the blood," I told him, rubbing my temple to try and distract myself.
"People can't smell blood," He contradicted.
I'd said too much, of course, people couldn't smell blood. There was no way around this was there? Each time I spend with Edward I seem to let another little detail slip, and it's only a matter of time before he finds out just how non-human I am exactly.
He stared at me in disbelief.
"What?" I questioned, wondering what he's thinking.
"It's nothing."
The nurse's door swung open again and Mike came out, looking between me and Edward before finally approaching me.
"You look better," He commented, straight away.
"Just keep your hand in your pocket," I warned.
"It's not even bleeding anymore," He said, and I knew from the smell that he was right. "I was really worried when your eyes went all weird..." He trailed off.
Edward looked around pretending not to be listening, but in a room this big, he would have no trouble listening in on us.
"Well, I'm fine now," I told him.
"Good. Are you heading back to class?"
Where they are still doing blood typing..."No, I'd walk in and run back out again. I think I'm just going to head home early today." I needed to hunt, urgently.
"Oh, but you're still coming tomorrow right?" He asked.
"I said I would."
"Great! Were meeting outside my parent's shop, from there were all gonna jump into the bigger cars. You can come with me in my dads minivan," He offered, looking over at Edward with a less than friendly expression, making it clear this wasn't an open invitation.
"Sounds good." I faked my enthusiasm.
"Cool, I'll see you tomorrow then Bella," He smiled a big goofy smile, leaving the office.
I sighed, not noticing Edward had moved closer until I felt his voice right beside my ear. "I'll drive you home."
"I'm fine Edward, I can drive myself home," I pointed out, turning to face him.
His smiled, not backing away from me despite our closeness. "With what car? I assume your brother wouldn't be very happy if you took his car and left him with no ride home."
He was right, although I wasn't planning to use a car to get home. I wasn't even planning on going home really.
"I can walk,"
"I'm not letting you walk Bella, not in your condition." He argued. Mrs. Cope walked out of the nurse's office and heading back behind her desk. "Go sit down and look ill."
I followed his instruction, slumping down into one of the creaky metal waiting chairs. My head rested against the wall behind me, angled toward the heavens.
"Mrs Cope, Bella isn't feeling very well and she has gym next, I don't think it would be wise for her to attend," Edward's voice reminded me of that phrase 'butter wouldn't melt', it was so convincingly good.
"Of course, shall I request your brother to drive you home or your uncle, Bella?" She called out to me.
"I think it would be best if I drove her home, her uncle is a very busy man, and I have a free period next, no need to disrupt Stefan's education," He answered easily for me.
"Very well then," Buttons were being pressed. "You feel better soon dear."
I flashed open my eyes in surprise at how easily he managed to convince her.
"Thank you," I said, rising to my feet.
"Can you walk or would you like me to carry you again?" He asked, amused and smiling widely.
"I'll walk."