Dean didn't follow me back to the house after dropping me off at the truck. Instead, he headed off in the opposite direction. It happened to be the same direction the hospital, and morgue, were.

Back at the house, I pulled out the book on medieval folklore and got reading. Like a lot of texts on medieval and ancient beliefs, it was written from a scholarly angle. It dealt with a few accounts written down at the time. Inquisitors who had hunted down and destroyed a vampire or vampires terrorizing a whole countryside.

It was treated as nonsense, of course. Just a bit of superstition.

The bloodlust of the newly risen was beyond quenching. It was reported that whole villages would be wiped out in short spans of time, including the new vampire's own family. It is likely these villagers were victims of plague or starvation. Attributing the massive death on a foe that could be fought must have brought some measure of comfort to the writers of the time.

Yeah. Blame it on the plague.

It was late when the Impala rumbled back into the driveway. I made sure the light was off and I was under the covers by the time Dean climbed the stairs. The floorboards outside my door creaked, followed by a moment's silence before his footsteps moved away.

I laid in the dark for a while, unable to sleep. My mind whirled with all that I had learned.

I ended up getting only a few hours of rest before I had to be up and showered. Dean was still asleep on the couch when Sam and I left for school. As soon as we stepped outside, we were greeted by a thick gray mist that hid anything further than ten feet from us, including the truck in the driveway. The fog was so thick, it was as if the clouds had fallen to blanket the earth. I drove extra carefully that morning.

It was so hard to see that once we reached the school's parking lot, I only recognized the Volvo because it was parked in its usual spot. Seeing it brought back memories of the night before. The vampire himself was leaning against the bumper. Our eyes met as the truck grumbled past. He was still there as Sam and I made our way up the lane.

"Hello Sarah, Sam," he greeted, voice unfairly smooth and appealing.

Sam glanced my way before lifting a hand. "Hey."

Edward fell in at my side, matching pace with us as we navigated through the cold mist. If it hadn't been for Sam, I might've asked if the swirling gray air around us was his doing. It was so Dracula.

"Did you have a problem getting to school?" Edward asked, polite as could be.

"No."

As we reached the sidewalk, Sam shot us a final considering look before saying, "See you," and taking off for his first class.

Edward and I walked together quietly. Not that the silence lasted. "I thought of offering to drive you today, but I remembered you take your brother."

"Why would you need to drive me?"

He nodded. "The fog." He regarded me with a serious expression. "You have trouble seeing through it, don't you?"

Implicating he didn't. I tucked a wayward lock of hair behind my ear. "I'm a careful driver." Even without the fog, I had to be mindful of all traffic laws. There was a machete and two guns in the cab.

His mouth pressed into an unhappy line. Before I could do more than wonder why, it relaxed into a small smirk. "I hope you're prepared for an interrogation."

I followed his line of sight and saw nothing but the grey mist around us. It was another few feet before I was able to make out the overhang of the cafeteria's roof, and a small group of my friends standing beneath it. The closer we got, the more I could make out the surprised expressions on Jessica and Angela's faces, Lauren's pinched lips, Eric's open fascination, and Mike's furrowed brows.

"Hey guys," I greeted as we approached.

"Good morning," Edward said before smiling.

Jessica looked as if a feather might knock her over. "Hi," she said, voice hesitant.

Stares drawn to Edward, everyone seemed uncertain what to say. Feeling awkward, I hiked my backpack higher up my shoulder and summoned a grin. "Well, see you in English," I said to Mike.

"Sure," he said, sounding less than pleased.

I held my hand up in a wave and made my way back to the sidewalk. Edward gave an amused, "Goodbye," as he kept pace.

"Some interrogation."

"Oh, it won't happen while I'm around, but once they corner you alone." He tilted his head as if he was listening. I supposed he was. "Especially Jessica." His brows furrowed before he looked down at me. "What will you tell her?"

"What do you mean?"

"She's going to ask what I was doing with you last night and this morning," he clarified.

My brows pinched together. "She knows what I was doing with you last night. We had dinner. And you wanted to walk with me to class this morning."

"Yes. I'm sure that will satisfy her curiosity." The sarcasm flowed thick and plentiful.

I sighed. "What do you want me to tell her, Edward? It's not like I can be honest."

Edward and I paused outside the door to my English class. He looked down, his gaze considering as it roamed my face. "She wants to know if we're secretly dating. And she wants to know how you feel about me."

Of course she did. "Is that all?"

Edward's lips quirked upwards, but his eyes remained intense. "It might not be a bad idea."

"What?"

His expression remained impassive, but his eyes gleamed. "To tell people we're dating."

Despite the chill and the fog, I suddenly felt very warm. I stared up at him, wishing so many things were different. "Edward, I don't date."

"It's the easiest explanation," he argued smoothly.

"The easiest explanation for what?"

"For spending time together." His finger swept a stray lock of hair back behind my ear. It was almost as cold as the fog as it brushed over shell of my ear. My heart hammered as I shivered. "I told you. I can't stay away."

"Edward," I said, voice low and quiet as my nerve endings danced. "It's not safe. For either of us."

He nodded. "I know. I'm sorry." He really did look remorseful.

I blew out a breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "This is—this is crazy." I looked around, made certain no one was near enough to hear me whisper, "You're a vampire. I'm a hunter."

He only nodded again. Apparently, he had fully surrendered to the madness.

The bell was going to ring. "I have to get to class." Not that I'd be able to concentrate on anything, given the insanity that was my life at the moment.

"Alright, Sarah." He started to turn, then paused. "I'll be waiting to hear your answer," he said over his shoulder.

I watched him walk away until I really couldn't wait anymore. The last one to class, my heart was still racing, and my nerves were lit up as I walked to my seat. I wondered if the people around me could tell that… that had just happened. That a vampire had just asked out a hunter. Maybe the demons were all selling snow cones in hell, and pigs were floating around somewhere, because this was demented.

I kept my head down and tried to put my thoughts into some semblance of order. I may as well have tried shooting lasers out of my eyes. There was no sorting the jumble of feelings I had going on. I was too keyed up. I imagined this was probably the 'normal girl stuff' Bobby was always going on about. He'd regret saying that if he could see me now!

I knew the right, smart thing to say. No. Obviously it was no. He wanted to kill me the first time we met. My blood was catnip to him. He was hanging out around my house. He was a vampire. He may have killed the security guard, and I had no idea when Waylon Forge had died. Was it before he'd followed me to Port Angeles?

…But how would I know if I didn't investigate? And how would I investigate if I told Edward to leave me alone? That was assuming it was Edward. If it wasn't, but one of the other vampires in his family, I wouldn't get close enough to find out.

Maybe Edward was right. This was the easy explanation for spending time together. At the very least, if he was off the rails, placing myself in his path might protect everyone else.

Excitement made it difficult to sit still. I finally had a plan. Granted, it was an insane plan, but it was a plan.

I was buzzing with anticipation all the rest of the way through English and Government. The clock seemed determined to move frustratingly slow. By the time I got to trig and the bell went off, I was ready to get the class over with so I could talk to Edward at lunch.

But as Edward had promised, Jessica barely let me sit at my desk before pouncing. "Tell me everything!"

I leaned over to open my bag. "We talked a little while I ate. Then he took me home," I said, sticking to the truth. At least as much as I could say.

"It was barely an hour before I heard your truck," she pointed out.

I flipped open my notebook and plucked a pencil out of my bag. "We didn't stay long. And he drives faster than you."

Jessica was far from done with her inquisition. "Did he drive you to school this morning?"

"No. He met me in the parking lot." I tapped my eraser against my notebook.

My responses were obviously disappointing her, she was practically deflating in her seat. "Are you going out with him again?"

I thought of all I'd learned the last time I'd spent time alone with him. "Yeah."

"Wow. Edward Cullen," she breathed like a benediction as she leaned into her chair's back. "This is—wow."

That was one word for it. "It's insane," I agreed.

She grinned. "Did you kiss?"

The question caught me off guard. A heat rose up my neck, catching fire in my cheeks. Horrified, I tried willing my face to cool off. Hunters do not blush.

Jessica's eyes widened, "Oh my god!"

"No," I corrected in a rush. "Nothing like that."

But Jessica was grinning. "You really like him," she said, clearly enjoying my discomfort way too much.

That was the problem. How could I not admire a handsome guy with superpowers who'd risked so much to save my life? To whom I was becoming the central fixture of their world. I'd never been that important to anyone before. My family would do anything for me if I were in trouble, but Dad was consumed with finding the thing that had killed Mom. Dean had hunting when he wasn't messing around and Sam had school. I was the odd girl out.

I had to remind myself why I should be cautious. He had meant to kill me once, and even if that had changed, I could never allow myself to forget Edward was dangerous. And how much of his fascination with me was due to his thirst for my blood?

"It's complicated," I settled on saying, wishing Mr. Varner would be a little stricter about talking during class. Unfortunately, we weren't the only ones having a conversation.

"Because you're leaving?" Jessica guessed.

There was that, too. "Yeah."

Jessica turned to the front, and I thought that would be the end of my interrogation, when she asked, "Maybe Doctor Cullen will adopt you, too."

I huffed a soft laugh. Then froze in my seat. I hadn't even considered the possibility of becoming one of them. The book hadn't covered how a person became a vampire, but clearly it happened.

Wonderful. Another way things could go horribly wrong.

"I'm good with the family I've got," I settled on saying.

There was more I needed to learn. Which brought me right back to Edward and spending time with him.

Thankfully, Mr. Varner chose that moment to ask Jessica a question. Attention successfully diverted, I was able to put my head down and start sketching in my notebook, trying to look busy. It worked.

When the bell rang and it was time to walk to Spanish, the subject turned to Dean. My warning hadn't taken root like I'd hoped. Much as I disliked talking about my brother with someone who was developing an infatuation, at least the topic wasn't Edward.

When Spanish was over, Jessica shot me a canny look. "You're not sitting with us, are you?"

I shrugged as I slung my bag over my shoulder. "Not sure."

Our answer came in the form of Edward himself, leaning against the wall outside the classroom. He'd make a great fashion photospread in his pale tan sweater that hinted at the lean lines of muscle underneath, pressed khakis, artfully styled hair, and perfect face. Jessica and I exchanged a glance before she threatened, "See you later, Sarah."

I turned to Edward. "Hey."

"Hello." He sounded pleased.

We walked to the cafeteria together, and from the stares we were garnering, people were noticing. The fact the fog had finally cleared to the usual dim gray afternoon helped give everyone a clear view.

Edward led the way in line. I watched, puzzled, as he filled up the tray at the counter. When I thought back to the fact I'd never seen the Cullens actually eat anything, I felt stupid for not having put two and two together sooner.

When I moved to get my own tray, he stopped me by holding it to the pile. "I've got it," he said.

There was enough food for two on his tray. I let my hand fall from the trays as he carried his to the register and paid, again.

"I've got money," I pointed out as he led the way to the table we'd sat at last Friday. Granted, it was money gained via a credit card scam, but still.

Edward smiled at me as if I'd said something adorable. "Lunch will hardly break my bank account."

Going by his car and his clothes, probably not.

"I knew Doctors got paid well," I began as he sat the tray down at the end of a table with a few seniors at the opposite end—who were all staring, "but I wouldn't have guessed small town doctors got paid as well as a big city job."

Edward waited for me to sit before sitting on the bench himself. "We have means beyond Carlisle's income." He pushed the tray towards me. "Take whatever you'd like."

It was a veritable cornucopia of school lunch food. So, nothing too tempting, but I'd skipped breakfast. I picked up a slice of peperoni pizza. "What kind of means?" It was probably rude of me to ask, but I couldn't help but wonder where they got all the money.

"I told you of my… talent." He watched as I bit into the pizza, apparently fascinated with the sight of me eating. I fought off a bit of self-consciousness as I chewed. "My sister, Alice, has premonitions."

"No way," I muttered, amazed. I couldn't help but look towards the Cullen's table.

I found the pixie-like vampire already staring. A huge smile spread across her petite features as our eyes met.

"It's very useful for planning our stock portfolios."

I tore my eyes away from the smallest Cullen to blink at Edward. "I bet." Curiosity raged within me. "So—how does that work? She just sees things?"

"The visions are subjective," Edward said. "The future is always changing. Once someone decides on a course of action, the vision changes."

No wonder they weren't worried about hunters, I realized. Alice would see them coming. I turned back to see her still looking in my direction. She lifted her hand and rippled her fingers.

I lifted my own hand. "So—she saw me?"

Edward frowned. "Not until it was too late. Otherwise she would have warned me."

"Warned you?" I asked, cautious. Did he already know I was searching for the killers among them?

"About that first day in Biology," he clarified. Before I could ask another question, he leaned forward. "You don't have to worry about becoming one of us." His eyes burned with determination. "I would never let that happen to you."

I stilled, eyes widening in shock. "How did you—" I cut myself off with a grimace. "You heard my talk with Jessica?"

"I told you I'd be listening," he reminded me.

I shiver traveled down my neck to the base of my spine as I let the pizza drift back to the plate. "But you weren't in the classroom."

His lips quirked upwards. "I don't have to be." I stared, trying to recalibrate my assumptions about his powers. "The more familiar the person, the farther away I can be and still find them."

"Like, how far?" I asked, quiet and wary. I had a feeling I wasn't going to enjoy the answer.

He considered me. "Miles."

Holy crap. I stared down at the tray of food without seeing any of it, brows knitting together. The more I learned, the more fantastical Edward and his family became. No wonder Bobby and Dad were determined to keep me from hunting them. I had a hard time picturing any hunter managing to get past Alice's visions and Edward's mind reading.

Except—here I was.

I lifted my eyes back to the impossibly beautiful vampire across from me and forced myself to take up my pizza.

"I've upset you," he said softly.

"No," I said, letting loose a breath. "It's just—you're kind of unbelievable. You know? Even to me."

Edward's lips gave a sharp, bitter twist. "I could say the same of you."

Leaning back, I scoffed. "Me?" I pointed to him with what was left of the end of my pizza slice. "Compared to you and your family?" I sent him a side-eyed mock-glare.

"You are unlike any other person I've ever met," he said solemnly.

"And how many have you met?" I wondered aloud. "Just how old are you?"

"Seventeen." His lips gave another of those self-deprecating twists.

The book agreed with the legends on one thing apart from the blood drinking. Immortality. "For how long?"

For an instant, there was an old soul looking out of that perfect, forever frozen face. "A long time."

I held his stare, taking in Edward's symmetrical features, the smooth skin, the butterscotch eyes and full lips. Seventeen for the rest of time.

I studied what was left of the pizza and tore off a corner of the crust. I looked forward to getting to eighteen and finally being an adult. Being able to join my Dad and Dean, saving people. Hunting things.

"Do you always have to go to high school?"

He blinked. "No. But the younger we start, the longer we can stay."

Meaning they had to redo high school over and over. "How are you not bored out of your mind?"

"Usually I am." His lips did that little lopsided twist again. "Lately I've been anything but."

My lips drew upward involuntarily as my sights fell to the side. "I am awesome company," I said, trying for breezy. I nearly pulled it off.

I was rewarded with another heart-skipping smile, the kind that reached his eyes and made them sparkle. My heart started beating a little faster. "Do you have any plans this Saturday?"

The warmth was back in my chest. "No."

"Would you like to spend the day with me?" Edward's hands moved minutely across the table's surface. I wondered if he thought about reaching for mine. "The weather will be good, so I'll be spending it away from public view."

"Indoors?"

He shook his head. "No. But there's something you should see. If you'll risk being alone with me."

Alone. With the vampire who thirsted after my blood. "Sounds like fun."

Edward's face managed to be handsome even as he scowled. "Don't be so cavalier about risking your life."

"I've already been alone with you," I reminded him and took another bite.

"You don't have to go," he pointed out, frustration pulling his voice taut as a garrote.

I finished chewing. "I know." I wanted to see whatever it was he thought was worth the risk. And I wouldn't be defenseless next time.

"I shouldn't have mentioned it would be dangerous," he muttered.

"That will make it more interesting," I agreed. He glowered. I gave my cheekiest grin before starting on the crust.

"You should tell your brothers," he went on, ignoring my nonchalance.

I shook my head hard enough to dislodge my hair. "No." Tucking it back behind my ears, I said, "That would be a bad idea."

I'd begun to notice Edward clenched his teeth when he was especially frustrated. It made his jaw flare even more. "At least give me some incentive to bring you back."

"If I tell Dean, it'll put you on his radar. And if he figures out what you are, he won't care that you saved my life. Or that you only feed on animals." If that was true.

"I'll take my chances."

"Now who's being careless?" Edward and his family might be powerful, but they weren't invulnerable.

"Finish your lunch." Edward pushed the tray closer. "We don't have much time left before Biology."

"Bossy," I observed, but finished the rest of the crust in a few more bites. I grabbed a snack sized bag of chips and a soda from the tray and kept them for stashing in my bag.

I felt bad about all the wasted food as we threw it away. Leaving the building, Edward and I kept pace with each other all the way to my locker and then to class. Wondering all the way what it was he had to show me this weekend.

As we sat, he moved his seat closer to me, until we were nearly touching. I had to keep myself from staring at his arm as it settled next to mine. A racket near the door helped as Mr. Banner backed inside, pulling a cart that carried an old tv and VCR with him.

A movie day. Awesome.

The lights were turned off and the tv winked on. I realized I had a new problem. With Edward so close, my awareness of him grew until it became difficult to focus on anything else. My world seemed to shrink to our table and the inch of space between our arms.

I struggled to expand my senses, to be conscious of my surroundings like Dad had taught us. The soft light filtering in through the blinds shuttering the windows. The hint of chemical cleaners lingering in the air. Mike and James Dohan, his lab partner, whispering and laughing back at their table. The whine of the VCR as it spun the tape.

But like a black hole, Edward inevitably drew my attention back in. He sat so still I wondered if he was even breathing. He smelled of the woods that surrounded Forks, of its tall firs and loamy soil, and a softer scent that reminded me of ginger and sandalwood. A glance out the corner of my eye revealed his profile glowing in the light of the television. His pale skin subtly reflected the colors dancing on the screen.

I swallowed and forced my eyes forward, but my nerves were dancing with energy, making it difficult to sit still. I took a breath, focused on the feel of the air filling my lungs and stretching my ribs, and held it until it was just shy of uncomfortable. I let it out in a long, steady press of air. I went through the exercise several more times. My nerves didn't calm as much as I liked, but I was able to sit without fidgeting. Or worse, moving my hand over that narrow little inch and touching his hand.

Vampire, I sternly reminded myself. I slid my hand back towards me, hoping to remove the temptation.

I don't think I've ever stared so hard at a tv screen in my life. Despite that, I couldn't have said what the movie was about. I was too hyper-aware of Edward. So pathetically in tune I knew he only moved once just after the start of the movie, when he folded his arms across his chest.

The energy was still there when the lights came back on, but as the wider world encroached, it eased off my nerve endings. I felt like I could breathe normally again.

Edward smashed that all to hell with a murmured, "That was interesting."

He'd either noticed my desperate attempts not to move or had felt the same strange energy. My good sense insisted one was better, my primitive brain vehemently disagreed. I fought for nonchalance as I said, "I don't know. I thought Mitochondria and Me was better."

Edward turned his head towards me, eyes smoldering.

I gripped my bag's strap and stood so fast, I nearly knocked over my stool. Smooth, Winchester.

Edward followed, exhibiting that smoothness I suddenly seemed to lack. We walked out of Biology, and I greedily breathed in the chill afternoon air outside, feeling a bit more cleansed. A bit more normal.

Edward once again walked with me to gym, all the way to changing room door. We lingered outside, neither in a hurry to leave despite the fact we had minutes until the bell rang again.

"Well," I started, motioning to the door. "This is me."

Edward's eyes pierced mine as his brows suddenly pinched together, as if in pain. Before I could ask if he was alright, his hand rose, slowly, as if giving me time to back away. I held in my breath as his fingertips drifted towards my face, eyes widening as they lightly landed on my cheek. His fingers were as cold as the chilly air outside. Despite that, a warmth had blossomed in my cheeks. His fingers brushed across my overheated skin and were gone.

Before I could even think of something to say, Edward had turned on his heel and left.

The ghost of his touch haunted me log after I'd drifted into the changing room. Even the squeaking of sneakers on the gym floor as we lined up for instruction couldn't banish the strange state I'd suddenly ascended to.

This wasn't the first time a boy had touched me. I'd had my hand held and even been kissed. But this was so unlike anything I'd ever felt before. I felt alive and yet as if I were dreaming, and the feel of his fingertips lingered on my cheek as if I could summon his phantom with a mere thought. Of course, I couldn't, and the fact he was now gone raised a strange sort of emptiness at war with the euphoria the memory of his touch evoked in me.

Even when I took up the racket for our change in activities to tennis, my mind was still stuck in the past. My reaction time suffered, but along with my partner—a girl named Tiffany—we managed to win two of our four matches.

Mike was waiting by the gym doors after our last match. He walked up to me as I drew closer. "Hey Sarah."

"Mike," I said, pausing despite my anxiousness to be out of the changing room, to see if Edward would be waiting.

"So." He frowned. "You and Cullen?"

My brows tried to summit my forehead. "Wow. Jess really doesn't waste any time, does she."

Mike's frown deepened. "I don't like it."

"I don't remember asking you," I said, irritation making my words harsh.

"You said you'd be leaving."

The irritation was starting to hiss up the fuse to my anger. My eyes narrowed. "I will be." For the first time, I mourned the fact. Between that and my shortening temper, I decided to exit the conversation before I said something I'd regret. "See you tomorrow," I groused, pushing past the double door with a loud bang from the handle.

But my irritation didn't last long back at my locker. The anticipation came back, stronger than ever, as I redressed in my regular layers. I forced myself not to hurry back out into the dim gray daylight.

As I'd hoped, Edward was there, waiting for me beside the door. Unlike before, he looked less than happy. "Hello," he sounded frustrated, but his voice still managed to make that sound musical.

"What's wrong?"

Edward's lips pinched together, jaw flaring before he admitted, "Newton's getting on my nerves."

I realized he must have overheard our conversation. "You were listening in again?" My anticipation of earlier fizzled into dismay. My neck prickled as I was starting to feel spied on. Instead of answering, Edward started walking without answering. I hurried after. "You can't keep doing that."

"I worry when I can't see you," he replied, as if that might excuse it.

I fixed him with a fierce glare. "I can take care of myself."

He frowned. "Newton has an… improper fixation with you."

"And yours is pure as the freaking snow," I shot back.

Edward's frown deepened.

We were getting closer to the truck. I could see Sam already inside. I paused, lowering my voice. "The spying has got to stop, alright?"

Edward looked less than pleased. "I'm not used to being shut out."

"Well. The rest of us manage to get through the day without reading everyone else's minds." It actually sounded fairly horrific. How much crap did he have to filter through?

Edward's eyes moved to the side. Following his gaze, I saw a group of guys and a few girls surrounding a cherry red convertible parked next to the truck. Edward rolled his eyes as we passed. "Ostentatious."

"One of yours?" I presumed.

"Rosalie's."

Next to the BMW, the Ford was a particularly sore sight. The old truck had more rust spots than paint at this point. I couldn't help but think Rosalie had parked next to me on purpose.

I was starting to hope she was the one who'd attacked and killed those men.

Sam was already seated in the passenger seat as Edward walked me to the truck bed. Presumably to protect me from any stray vans. "See you tomorrow?"

"If the weather stays overcast," he agreed.

The weather. Right. I smiled. "Alright. Well." I shrugged my bag off and tossed it into the back besides Sam's. "See you then."

Edward nodded, eyes never leaving me.

That weird electric charge was back as I returned his stared, wondering if he was about to touch me again. Instead, Edward looked to the side. Following his gaze, I saw his family crossing the parking lot. With a hint of reluctance, he moved back towards the silver Volvo parked a few spaces up.

I squeezed past a few of the boys to get into the truck. Sam had an elbow on the door, watching me get in with a far too perceptive stare. I paused, staring out the windshield at the trees and blue house across the street. "What'll it take to keep you from telling Dean?"

Sam grinned. "All my chores for the rest of our stay."

"One week."

Sam's grin fell. "If we're here that long."

My mind shied away from the reminder. "One week, Sam. Take it or leave it."

"Fine," Sam agreed.

"And one more thing?" Sam tilted his head back towards me. I met his curious gaze. "How would you feel about a trip to the funeral home?"