First Sight

Edward's POV

High School. This was the time of day when I usually wished I were able to sleep. The tedium was not something I grew used to; every day seemed more impossibly monotonous than the last.

Today though, all thoughts were consumed with the arrival of a new addition to the small student body here, Bella. I'd seen her face repeated in thought after thought from every angle. She seems like just an ordinary human girl, but she is not. She is the human girl that has the power to destroy what little life my family has built here. She knows our secret. The excitement over her arrival the last few days was tiresome and predictable.

The difference today is that my own family was anticipating her arrival too. I was surprised when they all walked into the school in the morning when we arrived as we usually do. I suppose they didn't want for anything to seem out of place – but their thoughts told different, even Rosalie's.

I constantly scanned thoughts of the children that shared her classes all morning. I watched her from all the angles available to me. I tried – unsuccessfully – to hear her thoughts. She kept her head down, hiding in the curtain of her hair. I quickly grew frustrated with this; wanting to see her face clearly for myself. As soon as I remembered that Bella Swan knew that I could see her through other's minds, I let out a low chuckle; realizing she was hiding herself from me. It was harder than normal, to tune out the babble of voices that flowed like a gush of a river inside my head. Part of the problem was that I wanted to hear what the student population here made of Bella, and what she was like, which new acquaintances or friends she would choose, who she might confide in with the secret she knows.

Humans were constantly desperate to feel normal, to fit in. To blend in with everyone else around them, like a featureless flock of sheep. The need was particularly strong during the insecure adolescent years. This girl would be no exception to that rule, being the shiny new object in this sleeping town.

But she must also be exceptionally shy. Instead of enjoying the attention she mostly kept to herself, smiled politely when spoken to and declined any offer to be escorted to classes. She also seemed overly anxious, restless. My inability to hear her thoughts was frustrating me to no end. I watched with growing irritation when Jessica Stanley cornered her in the third period. Her thoughts were solely focused on using Bella to gain popularity. I watched as she practically dragged Bella to the lunchroom basking in the attention she gained from every one of the passing students. Jessica's table was unusually full today with more people who wanted to meet Bella – I almost felt sorry for her at that moment, almost.

I joined my waiting siblings outside the lunchroom.

"You certainly took your time"

"I wasn't aware there was a set time for walking into the lunchroom" I replied to further aggravate Rosalie's annoyance. She was the least of my siblings that was remotely interested in seeing or meeting Bella. Her focus at this very moment was to see for herself if Bella was even remotely beautiful. She had concluded that Bella could not be as beautiful as she, and that in her books, was enough reason for the school male population to return their attention to her. Rosalie's mind was a shallow pool with few surprises.

I walked in ahead of them - my eyes roamed the room without my permission to lock with a pair of deep brown eyes. She quickly looked down at the table an inviting warm red staining her cheeks. I walked to our usual table, frustrated that I still could not tell what she was thinking. I saw her walk purposefully to sit by Angela Webber across the table from Jessica; a position that had he sitting facing away from us. 'What is the meaning of that?' My siblings thought the same thing at the same time I did in varying interpretations.

"She's anxious. I don't think she thought past giving us the letters. It makes things awkward for her." Jasper started.

"I heard she's been tripping and falling all over herself today. I can't wait to see that."

Emmett's booming laughter gained a few stares from the tables closest to us. Bella's head tilted slightly and her eyes flickered to our table before she faced forward again.

'She's beautiful Edward' Alice sent her thoughts to me. 'Not an obvious beauty, but the silent timeless type'

I smiled at my sister's kind thoughts but was very aware what she was hoping to achieve with that. Alice was anything but patient or subtle. Just then a floodgate of thoughts reached me.

…I bet everyone has asked her that. But I'd like to talk to her. I'll think of a more original question… Ashley Dowling mused. …maybe she'll be in my Spanish… June Richardson hoped.

…wonder what music she likes…maybe I could mention that new CD… Mike Newton was thinking, two tables away—fixated on Bella. He had already claimed her as his in his mind.

…so disgusting. You'd think she was famous or something… Even Taylor's staring… Lauren Mallory was radiating jealousy. And Jessica! flaunting her new best friend. What a joke…Vitriol continued to spew from the girl's thoughts.

Look at him staring at her. Isn't it enough that he has me waiting for him to…Jessica Stanley's thoughts took a mean edge when she noticed Mike Newton staring at Bella. Everyone's looking at me today, too, Jessica thought smugly in an aside. Isn't it lucky Bella had two classes with me…I'll bet Mike will want to sit at my table soon or ask me what she's— I tried to block the inane chatter out of my head before the petty and the trivial could drive me mad. Wasn't there anyone in this whole school not thinking about her?

...tons left to do tonight! Trig, and the English test. I hope my mom… Angela Weber, a quiet girl, whose thoughts were unusually kind, was the only one who wasn't obsessed with thoughts about Bella. I made to leave the table when Emmett asked;

"So, what's the verdict, can you really not hear her thoughts?"

"No" I answered sourly

"Has she spoken to anyone about us?" Rosalie asked.

"No, no one even notices us here"

'I bet she's every bit aware of us. She's not even that pretty. I don't know what the fuss is about' She replied in her thoughts.

I growled low in my chest at her. She and every one of this small school population were starting to anger me with their unkind thoughts towards Bella. Half the male population was already fantasizing about being in love with her, half the female population was immersed in torturous thoughts towards her for taking their petty boyfriend's attention away, the rest were jealous.

My chair scraped the floor as I stood and stormed out of the lunchroom. I had Biology next. Bella said we shared this class and the only empty seat was right next to myne.

A small part of me was happy for the chance to be near her; the other part became seriously afraid and worried remembering her scent. I was surprised that it took this long for that thought to surface. I must have done something right with the dog activities to have been able to push that thought to the back of my mind 'till now.

I went to open the window slightly and sat by my desk. Students started walking into the room. I was on edge, waiting for Bella. I followed her through Angela's eyes as they made their way to class. Angela noted that Bella seemed to be dragging her feet…'she must not like Biology, looks like someone walking to the chair'…she thought, sympathizing with Bella.

'Uhm, Angela- is it?" Bella suddenly spoke. That voice. It sounded like a quiet melody. It captured my attention immediately.

"Yes, Bella?"

"I'm going to wait outside for the teacher a little bit – get myself together. You go on inside"

"You sure, I can wait with you if you like"

"No- no it's fine. I'm fine"

"Okay, see you in class"

I didn't know what to make of this exchange. Bella Swan was very strange – I liked it – somewhat. It was…unpredictable.

"Edward, I know you can hear me. I'm sorry if I'm making you feel uncomfortable at school or with your family. I'm sorry for what you'll be going through in class. Please don't breathe, It'll make it easier" Bella barely whispered these words from outside the class room. No one standing close had a prayer of hearing her. She was good – very good - to communicate like that knowing only I would hear her clearly. I was still lost in thought - mesmerized by this new development when she walked in behind the teacher; the flow of the heated air blew her scent toward me from the vent.

Faint traces of her scent hit me before I'd stopped breathing in completely. I gripped the edge of the table as though it could keep me there. Venom pooled in my mouth. The monster in my head was awakened.

In an instant, I was grasping at anything to hold close to the shreds of humanity I'd managed to cloak myself in over the years. The predator in me recognized its prey. The lingering traces of her scent tantalize my taste buds. I hadn't allowed myself to really smell her when she walked in, but my mind knew the scent and my eyes were locked on the source. I could imagine the taste…

She stood in front of the class and introduced herself without any prompting from the teacher. I realized that she must know where my thoughts were leading. She was afraid. I could see her small frame vibrating lightly, her speech was stuttered and she shifted her weight from foot to foot. That thought stopped me cold on my tracks. I saw an image of myself reflected back at me in her eyes. I was every bit the monster I fought so hard not to become.

I tried to listen to what she was saying, to focus on something other than the memory of her scent. I worked to unlock my muscles and adopt a relaxed posture. I swallowed large amounts of venom that had pooled in my mouth. She finished her Ill prepared speech facing down, looking at the floor. The class was chuckling at her embarrassment. She surprised me again when she whispered though the noise:

"Are you better now Edward? Can I come sit?"

I simply nodded when she raised her eyes in my direction. She proceeded to walk towards my table taking care to walk slowly, watching her every step. I realized how vulnerable and weak she looked at that moment. When she sat, she stole a glance at me and blood flooded her cheeks again, turning her skin the most delicious color I'd ever seen. Weak traces of her scent whirled in the air around us. I could taste it.

She proceeded to roll her hair gently to the other side of her shoulders, away from me; then she sat still. Too still for a human, almost as still as a vampire. I watched her then.

Alice was right. She was beautiful. Her skin was a beautiful creamy white - so translucent - it was hard to believe it offered her much defense from the outside world. I could see the rhythmic pulse of blood through her veins under the clear, pale membrane on small of her wrist. I realized she must have worn a long sleeved turtle neck jersey that covered her neck, purposefully. I could sense her awkward discomfort from the way she held her frail-looking shoulders, slightly hunched, as if she was expecting a rebuff at any moment. And yet I could only sense, could only see, could only imagine. There was nothing but silence from her mind. I could hear nothing. A powerful shield indeed.

There was a faint crease between her eyebrows that she seemed unaware of. It was unbelievable frustrating! I could clearly see that it was a strain for her to sit there, to remain unmoving. 'What was she thinking?'

Who was this creature? Why had she come here? Why me, why now? Why do I stand to lose or gain everything just because she happened to choose this unlikely town to appear in? If she understands what she knows, why did she still come? Was she insane? Was she here to taunt the monster, to send me to the depths of my personal hell?

My former irritation at being stymied by her soundless thoughts came to the forefront of my mind. I focused my energy on trying to get past her mind's shield; anything to distract me from the memory of her scent. It was an uncomfortable feeling, not breathing. My body did not need oxygen, but it went against my instincts. I relied on scent more than my other senses in times of stress - uncomfortable, but manageable. More bearable than smelling her and not sinking my teeth through that fine, thin, see-through skin to the hot, wet, pulsing—

"You should go first – when the bell rings – before I move. I'm really trying. Its going well I think. You seem more relaxed than I thought you'd be. It will get easier, I promise. Thank you Edward."

She whispered to me again.

'She was thanking me? The monster that could have murdered and drank her dry if I had no forewarning? This girl was anything but normal. This was one hour, one hour in a classroom full of witnesses. What would happen when there is no one to see – and no one to stop the monster?' I groaned and faced the front of the class.

I felt the strangest urge to shield Bella Swan from the darker side of the world. She looked innocent sitting there – thanking a vampire – angelic. I wanted to protect her from the mindless male population of this school, from Jessica Stanley and Lauren Maloroy's vicious thoughts, from Rosalie. What an odd thing to feel. Trying to ferret out the motivations behind the impulse, I deduced it was just some long buried protective instinct—the strong for the weak.

'Or, vampire to his mate.' My mind piped in.

I chuckled to myself. How can she be my mate? Her scent was a big problem, the hideously appealing scent of her blood. If there was only some way to resist…if only I could smell it and keep in control…

I chanced a small breath through my nose then. The concentrated scent hit me like a wrecking ball. My mouth filled with venom, my muscles coiled to spring, my throat was parched - on fire!

She chose that moment to sneak a peek at me. I could feel the predators eyes burning impatiently as I met her gaze—see the reflection of it in her suddenly frightened eyes. Her pulse increased, blood painted her cheeks before she could turn her head to look down again - and I was nearly undone.

But the bell rang. We were both saved. She was saved from death. I was saved for just a short time from being the nightmarish creature I feared and loathed.

I couldn't walk as slowly as I should when I darted from the room. If anyone had been looking at me, they might have suspected that there was something not right about the way I moved. No one was paying attention to me. All human thoughts still swirled around Bella. I ran to go hide in my car.

AN: This was very difficult to write. Apologies for not including enough thoughts from others – it just made the chapter more complicated and lost the plot. Thanks for reading.