Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer is the genius creator and owner of everything Twilight.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to everyone who is reading.

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I had a shower before school the next day, I had to because I'd sweated quite a bit in the night and as much as I hated to admit it I was a little smelly. So I showered quickly, washing my hair with my favourite shampoo. Soon I was clean and smelling nice, but it was all artificial and I didn't really smell like me. Not to my specialised senses anyway.

I dressed and dried my hair, but it was taking too long so I brushed all the tangles out before gathering it into a scrunchy then plaiting it into a long thick braid down my back. My stomach rumbled and it reminded me that I didn't eat tidy last night. I made my way to the kitchen feeling light and bouncy again despite my hunger.

"You're in a better mood this morning." Renesmee observed as I hummed my way into the kitchen.

I shrugged and sat down at the table.

"I got a good night sleep." I said, dropping into my chair and picking up a slice of buttered toast. I ate it in three bites and was already on my second half before Renesmee turned toward me with a frying pan full of bacon that she unloaded onto a plate.

I pulled the plate toward me eagerly and began stuffing the salty bacon into mouth. God, it tasted so good, I needed more, and more, and more…

"Hungry?" Nessie asked.

I nodded my head, not wasting eating time by talking.

"I guess I'll have to cook up some more for your father." She said, retrieving more bacon from the fridge.

I swallowed my current mouthful quickly.

"Sorry." I managed to choke out.

"Don't be." Nessie commented, smiling over her shoulder. "I'm just glad you're eating again."

I nodded my head, already chewing my next mouthful.

"So what happened last night?" Renesmee asked.

I shrugged, I just lost my appetite. I thought toward her.

"Maybe you're coming down with something." She said, looking at me in concern.

I shrugged again as I finished the bacon on my plate.

"That was great Mom." I said with a wide smile.

"Well you clearly enjoyed it." She smiled back as I made my way to the bathroom to clean my teeth.

After I had finished in the bathroom I gathered my school things together and pulled on my riding boots, jacket and tucked my helmet under my arm.

"Essie?" Nessie called just as I was about to leave.

"Yeah Mom?" I prompted, sticking my head into the kitchen.

"You'll let me know if you feel any worse." She commanded.

"Sure, sure." I replied. "See you later."

"Have fun in school." She urged.

"Sure." I said almost sarcastically.

Then I got on my bike for school.

English went by without much incident, although I did get the odd impression that Miss Hannigan was annoyed at me but I couldn't figure out why. Probably because I hadn't been the font of all knowledge she was expecting me to be yesterday. Stupid newbie teacher not preparing an adequate lesson and trying to use me to prolong it.

English finished and I moved reluctantly toward the next class as Hannah walked beside me. She had sat beside me again in English and I was starting to think of her as a friend. She was quiet and didn't seem to want to poke her nose into my business, which made her appealing as a friend to a secret filled freak like me.

When I entered the lab and saw Tobias sitting there in his neat little outfit I couldn't help the pang of guilt that suddenly fluttered through me. I had been rude yesterday to take off like that without any explanation, although I did have a good reason. Today however those reasons didn't seem nearly enough as I looked at the back of his slightly curling neat hair.

I sat next to him sheepishly, unable to meet his eyes as I suddenly felt the crushing force of my guilt. He'd been nothing but polite to me yesterday, if a little teasing, and I'd been nothing but a brat. I guess that was score one for the vamps.

"Hello Lab Partner." He said pleasantly, but I could hear the hurt behind his words.

Man I felt lousy now. I was a bad person.

"Hey Fang Boy." I said as cheerfully as I could muster.

"How are you this day?" He asked.

"Peachy." I observed. "How about you?"

"I am a vampire. We're always fine." He said in a low voice with a shrug.

"Good." I replied, scribbling on the paper in front of me.

Dr Chaney started the lesson so we could no longer talk.

I arrived in Trig earlier than yesterday. The greasy boy was already there sitting at that table in the back. He perked up when I entered and smiled at me expectantly, tapping the chair next to him. I groaned in disgust and sat down at an empty table.

A few moments later the small girl with the frizzy red hair entered and sat next to me.

"Hi." She said meekly. "I'm Liz."

"I'm Essie." I replied with a smile.

"Yeah. Hannah said." She observed.

"Oh, so you're friends with Hannah then?" I asked.

Liz nodded.

"So you're friends with Olivia as well then."

"Everybody's friends with Olivia." She replied in a wary voice.

"Oh. I see." I said, making a mental note not to say anything to anybody of my thoughts on Olivia.

Marlin entered, her gold eyes flickering around the room until she found an empty table, I felt glad that she didn't have to sit by the grease ball. Although I felt sorry for whoever had to sit next to her, the human would know there was something up but wouldn't know what it was. It was only the odd human who felt comfortable sitting near vampires, like Bella.

The lesson started as the last few people took their seats, a boy with brown hair and a crew cut looking mortified that he had to sit next to grease ball. I flew through our work assignment, Liz frowned at me probably wondering how I managed to work through the answers so quickly, but I couldn't help it, it just came naturally to me.

The lesson ended and as I made my way to lunch I was suddenly ravenous again. I had to force myself to walk at a human pace in my eagerness to get to the food. Luckily we had come from Trig pretty earlier and there wasn't much of a cue. I chose Lasagne with a big pile of leafy salad and Jell-O for desert. I placed a bottle of water on my tray and went to the till to pay.

With my food in hand and my stomach demanding at me I crossed the food hall to the little table I had sat at yesterday. Hannah had hinted that I was more than welcome to sit at the big table with everyone else, but I wasn't sure how Olivia would take that. Besides I just wanted to pig out today and I didn't fancy doing that so close to other people.

To tell the truth I still wanted to be left alone and I was sure I'd offended Tobias enough yesterday that he wouldn't want to sit by me today.

Of course Tobias must be a glutton for punishment, that was the only explanation of why he chose to sit by me today. I heard the chair scrape the floor, I think it was forced habit to make him seem more human, and his tray appeared across from mine laden once more with food. I eyed it ruefully as I stuffed my face with lasagne, what a waste it would be when he was done pretending.

"Hello Miss Esther." He said in pleasant tones.

I frowned slightly, this form of formal address was worse than 'Lab Partner'. I swallowed my mouthful of food.

"Hey Fang Boy." I said with a wicked smile before stuffing another forkful of lasagne into my mouth.

He raised an eyebrow but didn't comment as he reached out to scoop up the apple off his tray. He remained silent as I finished off my lasagne and salad in big mouthfuls. I ate the Jell-O in two mouthfuls and washed everything down with water.

But I was still hungry god damn it!

I eyed his tray once more, only this time it was with want. I bit my lip while I considered the possibility, what would he think of me?

I made up my mind as I looked up at his passive face. He wasn't paying attention to anything; he appeared to be looking absentmindedly into the middle distance while he toyed with the apple in his hand.

I knew this was cheeky, but hell he'd be throwing it in the trash anyway. At least this way it would go to a good home. But I didn't have the nerve to ask him outright, man I'm such a wimp!

I took a steadying breath then said, "Is there anybody watching us?" quickly before I could change my mind.

"Hmmm?" He asked, his attention coming back to me.

"Is there anybody watching us?" I repeated.

He did a quick scan of the room, so quick a human wouldn't notice.

"Only Marlin and Layla." He answered, "Why?"

I didn't answer him. I couldn't because my mouth was already full of the turkey sub that had been on his tray. It was my tray now.

"Oh." Was his only comment when he noticed my little switcharoo.

"You don't mind do you?" I asked between mouthfuls.

"Not at all." He said with a smile. "Although it does beg the question why you should need two meals in one sitting?"

"I'm just really, really hungry today." I answered around my food.

"Ah yes, the legendary appetite." He observed sagely.

"Yeah, it's that all right." I sighed. "I'm just glad it's only…" I cut off abruptly, my teeth clicking and my lips clamped shut and I felt the pain on the side of my tongue.

I had been about to say, 'I'm glad it's only human food I'm ravenous for and not blood.' Gah! What is wrong with me? Why don't you just hand yourself to the Volturi on a plate Ess, it would save time in the long run.

The sting on my tongue crystallised in my mind as the copper taste filled my mouth and I couldn't help but feel an odd thrill at the taste. That was really creepy, to like the taste of your own blood. This occupied only a bit of my mind though; I was mainly focused on the pain.

"Thit." I lisped as I put my finger gingerly to the place I had bit. "I vit my thtounge." Way to state the obvious Ess!

As I pulled my finger away and saw the watery blood on my finger tip I suddenly remembered who was sitting opposite me. I clamped my mouth shut again, this time avoiding injury, and looked up at Tobias. His eyes had hardened and he had gone very still, I was sure he wasn't breathing.

God! What was I thinking?

I tried to apologise with my eyes alone, not wanting to open my mouth until the blood had stopped, and not able to use my talent to communicate either. Mind talking wasn't exactly a wolf talent now was it? Well not when we're on two legs anyway, or with other species.

His expression softened and he began breathing again.

"My apologies Miss Esther." He said sincerely, holding his hand over his heart and bowing his head slightly. "I overreacted there. In fact your blood does not hold the appeal that a human's blood would. How strange, I can smell too much of the wolf about you." He mused.

"You can?" I asked, unable to stop the worried frown from creasing my forehead.

"Is that a problem for you?" He asked with concern.

I shook my head and took another bite of my sandwich as an excuse not to speak.

"This must be harder for you than most." He conceded.

I swallowed the lump of food in my mouth so quickly I nearly choked. Coughing I drank some of my water back before I was able to speak.

"Are you alright?" Tobias asked as I spluttered some more.

I nodded my head as I fought to regain my voice.

"Why?" I managed to croak through my gravely throat.

"Why what?" Tobias asked, a frown creasing his marble forehead.

"Why would this be more difficult for me than most?" I whispered, worried that I had let something slip and he knew my secret.

"Because you are a girl." He said in an, 'isn't it obvious' voice. "I was under the impression that until fairly recently only the sons of the Quileute where able to make the transformation."

It took all my effort of will not to sigh in relief. My secret was still safe; no Volturi would be knocking on the door this time.

"So you think I got this tougher than Harry because I'm a girl?" I demanded.

"More or less." He replied with a shrug.

"That's sexist." I hissed, before finishing off my sandwich in the uncomfortable silence that followed.

He sat with his chin in his hand watching me in the silence, his expression was unfathomable.

"I'm sorry." He said eventually. "That was rather narrow minded of me. You must forgive my old fashioned ways."

I sighed and shook my hand dismissively. "Really, just ignore me when I get like this, sometimes I get into these funny little moods and god help anyone on the receiving end." I had finished all the food and I looked at my watch. "I guess we'd better get to History." I said, rising to my feet.

"May I walk you to class?" He asked.

"If you really want to." I said with a frown before turning from him and going to dump my tray.

Honestly, I couldn't see the attraction I held for him. I was just Essie, the crazy mixed up kid. To him I must seem like an obnoxious petulant brat, so why wouldn't he leave me alone? Especially after I'd been so horrible today, and I stood him up yesterday!

I should probably apologise for that.

I dumped my tray and turned to face him, he was practically right behind me. This was the closest I'd ever been to him standing and I noted that I was at least an inch taller than him. He had to tilt his head up slightly to look at me.

"I'm sorry." I said. "For yesterday. I should have told you, but I remembered about a prior engagement I had, I needed to get to it quick, but that's no excuse for bailing on you like that. So, I'm sorry."

He smiled and touched my arm lightly.

"Worry not." He said warmly. "I understand."

I felt confused at this statement, did he understand that I had a prior engagement, or did he understand that I was lying but he didn't give a damn? God it was annoying, but I decided to just accept it as the only answer I was going to get and not push the matter.

"Thanks." I said with a sheepish grin.

"The matter is completely dropped provided you'll honour me with your presence this evening." He said smiling in a way that I couldn't figure out was smug or not.

I was about to say yes automatically, to get him off my back, but I couldn't do that to him again, that would make me a bad person. It didn't mean he had to know the real reason I couldn't go study with him. No point in giving him a worse impression of me than he already had.

"Gee, I'd really love to, but I promised Harry I'd meet him strait after school." I said with what I hoped was enough regretful tones.

"Well that is a shame." He said sadly. "Shall we?" He prompted, indicating the way to our class.

We began walking in silence.

"Harry?" He said. "Is he not your boyfriend?" He asked.

Grr!

"Harry is not my boyfriend." I snapped.

"That does not seem to be the opinion of everyone else in the school."

"By everyone else I take it you mean Olivia?" I asked.

"The charming young lady with the blond hair?" He said in sarcastic tones.

I snorted. "Yep, that's the one."

"Yes, she seems to be of that opinion. She told me there was no point in my trying to 'get with you' because you had a boyfriend. A big 'Indian dude' called Harry who would in most likelihood 'totally kick my ass.' I'd like to see him try." He said smugly.

"Harry is my best friend." I said smoothly. "And he happens to be a Clearwater, if that means anything to you."

"I suppose it would make it a more interesting fight." He conceded.

"Harry wouldn't lower himself to fight you, unless of course you were looking to break the treaty. But then it wouldn't be Harry wailing on you, I would be the one totally kick your ass then." I said proudly.

He smirked, as he looked me up and down.

"I don't doubt that for a second." He remarked.

I rolled my eyes and stepped into the History class. I made my way toward an empty seat wondering if he would sit by me or not.

"Hey Essie." Somebody called.

I turned to the source of the voice to find Olivia waving at me frantically.

"I've kept you a seat." She said, motioning to said seat.

I frowned as I made my way to her and sat down next to her.

"What's this in aide of?" I asked in a whisper.

"I thought the new kid was gonna sit by you. I thought I'd save you the torment." She said with a saintly grin.

"I thought you didn't like me." I couldn't help say it; first she was sticking up for me, and now this.

"I don't." She answered bluntly. "You're an annoying brat who doesn't bow to my every whim like everyone else does. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna let some guy bug the crap out of you."

"Oh." I was thoughtful for a moment. "Did you really warn him off me?" I asked.

"He told you about that?" She demanded.

"Yeah."

She shot him an angry glare.

"So it's true?" I asked in awe. This girl had guts to threaten a vampire, even if she didn't know what he was, vampires tended to give off an air of menace.

"Yeah." She confessed reluctantly. "You're a Forks girl now, and nobody messes with us. No matter how drop dead gorgeous they may be."

"Thank you." I sighed, genuinely touched.

"Yeah. Just don't tell anyone about it." She snapped. "I've got a reputation to keep. You don't become school bitch through being nice to people."

"Ok, I won't let on that you're secretly nice." I joked.

"That's my girl." She said with a small smile just as Mr Wilcox called the class to order.

When history ended I packed up my things and made my way to PE.

"So Olivia is actually nice." Tobias said, appearing at my side.

"It would seem so." I conceded. "But don't tell anyone, cause it's a secret." I whispered the last bit.

"You're not very good at keeping them are you?" He observed in a joking manner.

"Course I'm not." I replied with a grin.

Gee, my whole life was about keeping secrets, if only he knew the half of it.

"What are you too conspiring about?" Marlin asked, appearing on my other side.

"It appears the school bitch isn't quite up to the task." Tobias said solemnly.

"From what I've heard I wouldn't cast doubt on Olivia's abilities just yet." Marlin stated. "See you inside." She added with a wave as we went into the girls' locker room while Tobias entered the boys'.

We changed into our kits quickly and made our way out into the Gym. Tobias was waiting for us in his gym kit. Even that looked neat on him. Everything about him was neat and tidy; he was the complete opposite of me.

"Hi team mates." He said with a grin.

"Tobias." Marlin said with a quick nod of her head.

"Hey Fang Boy." I said grinning wickedly.

Marlin looked at me in shock while I smiled back, daring her to challenge me. She looked angered as her eyes travelled to Tobias. For a moment some emotion I couldn't quite fathom fluttered across his face but he quickly controlled it. He held up his hand and scratched his nose, but not before I caught the signal to Marlin to drop whatever she was gonna say.

She frowned and looked back at me, her face unhappy.

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When she opened her eyes her friendly face was back.

I was more interested in Tobias though, he had definitely given her some form of order. Was he the coven leader or something?

I didn't have time to muse too much on this for the Coach called us all around and put us into sets so everyone would get to play. I had to hand it to Marlin and Tobias; they played average well, even throwing in the odd ball fumble here and there. We were out in the fourth round, same as all the other average teams and we spent the rest of the lesson talking on the bleachers.

I was surprised by how much we seemed to have in common. Marlin had read most of the same books as me, obviously I hadn't read as many as her, from what I could determine she had at least five hundred years on me, probably more. Although she was surprised at some of the books I said I'd read, courtesy of Carlisle's collection, because some of them hadn't been in print for a hundred years.

With Tobias I talked music, although some of the bands he professed to liking I didn't quite believe. They didn't really fit with his neat little image, which was still apparent about him even now after playing a couple of rounds of basketball. It brought strange images of him getting home, changing quickly into ripped jeans and a baggy creased T-shirt and messing up his hair before moshing around his house to Nirvana. Actually that wouldn't be so bad.

They also liked watching movies; they mentioned ones that they'd seen back when moving images was something new and wonderful. I was a little jealous wondering what it would be like to witness this marvel for the first time when you where old enough to appreciate it.

As they continued describing their various hobbies something occurred to me. Neither of them obviously had mates. They had way too much time on their hands and was filling it with whatever they could. Perhaps that is why they had decided to come to school. Suddenly nine hours was extracted from the day.

The lesson ended and we went to shower and change, I did this today without having to worry about escaping before Tobias caught me. I had told him I couldn't meet with him this evening, so I had no reason to feel guilty.

I bit my lip as I brushed my hair back up.

So why did I feel guilty?

I shook the thoughts from my head as I stuffed my things into my bag and made my way out to my bike. As I was zipping up my jacket I heard someone clear their throat behind me.

I turned around to find Layla standing there. Her fox coloured hair was pulled back into a ponytail, although she had a few chin length strands curtaining either side of her pointed face as she looked down at the floor. She was wearing a long sleeved black top which she had worn holes into, worrying it with her pale fingers. She seemed to be preparing herself for something.

"Hi." I prompted.

She swallowed nervously, which struck me as odd. All the vampires I knew where brimming with confidence, maybe too much in some cases.

"Hi." She managed to say, her eyes flashing up to mine briefly, before they fell to the floor once more. She still wasn't saying anything.

"You're Layla right." I said, as the silence wore on.

She nodded her head, still pulling at her sleeves.

"I'm Essie." I said, taking one of her hands and shaking it.

She gasped and her wondering eyes met mine.

"You're so hot!" She observed.

"Yep. I should totally be on the cover of a magazine." I said, striking a pose.

She giggled slightly.

"You're funny." She said. "Not like the other kids here."

"Yeah. Cause none of the others are werewolves." I said with a wink.

"Werewolf?" She gasped. "No, no, no." She muttered, shaking her head. "Not a werewolf. You're a shapeshifter." She closed her eyes and put her fingers to her temples. "The Quileute shapeshifters differ from the Children of the Moon with ten main points. One, they do not need the moon to change. Two, they are all descendents of Taha Aki. Three, they are not cursed…"

"Yeah, I know all this." I said cutting her off. "What are you a walking encyclopaedia?"

She blinked and then laughed nervously. "Something like that." She whispered, biting at her thumb nail, she tapped at her head, "I've got all the knowledge of the v…"

She broke off when Marlin placed a delicate hand on Layla's bony shoulder.

"Is everything ok?" She asked.

"Yes." I said. "Layla was introducing herself to me."

Marlin nodded her head wile looking at her sister with concern. We stood around in a very uncomfortable silence with none of us looking at each other. Time was getting on, I had places to be.

"Anyway, it was nice meeting you Layla." I said, shaking her hand again. "See you tomorrow Marlin." I said, shaking her hand as well.

"See you tomorrow." Marlin replied while Layla continued to look at the ground.

Marlin led Layla away while I placed my helmet on, but not before I heard Marlin say, "We told you not to approach her unless one of us were with you."

I didn't know what to make of that, and at the moment I didn't really care. I was heading back to the Res, to my home turf. I'd soon be with my wolf buddies and I could leave all this vampire crap behind.

Until tomorrow, sigh…

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Thank you for reading, please review, pretty please with cherries on top and ice cream in the middle.

Gemma x