Chapter Four

The next morning, I was welcomed with snow again, which reminded me once again I wasn't in Phoenix. I missed my home city, I missed having the days where I would be in my aunt's backyard on my cute pool floatie while sunbathing, fingers brushing against the surface of the chlorine pool water. I would be away, not thinking of anything for a while, but up here my thoughts raced all the time. I wished I could go back there but I knew there were many reasons I couldn't go back. One of them being the obvious pain and heartbreak Aunt Zayna would go through if I decided to go back to Phoenix, and the only way I could go back would be to stay with my mom and dad.

I left the house in a long sleeve graphic sweater, one of my olive green military colored and styled coats, along with some dark washed jeans and some hiking boots. I pulled my hair up in a high bun, with a pretty cheetah printed headscarf wrapped around it. My grandmother's locket wasn't fully showing, but one could see the silver chain since the locket was underneath the sweater. Simple silver hoops, small but still noticeable due to my hair being up in a bun shimmered some as I got into my car and airy sunlight came through the gray clouded skyline.

When I pulled into the parking lot, I got out and went around the back of my car, skidding some when my shoes hit some dry ice. I grabbed the back of my car, knowing that I had to be careful or else I would fall on my face or my ass, break my leg or any other limb of mine. I took a deep breath and went to straighten myself up, only to freeze when I heard the screeching of tires behind me— "no, no. You have got to be kidding me."

I turned around, my eyes widening at the sight of Tyler's van skidding across the parking lot, the breaks must have gotten locked on the ice. In any other situation I would have probably run away, but no matter how much I was telling myself to run away my legs were locked. I was about to die. I closed my eyes and silently hoped that Aunt Zayna would still have the motivation to live even after I would be accidently murdered by Tyler, well technically Tyler's van.

I only opened my eyes when crunching came, as though something had hit Tyler's van hard enough and heavy enough to make it have an incredible impact. Edward Cullen was leaning towards me, crouched forward, his eyes peering at me with the upmost of worry. I gasped at him, how captivating his eyes were, how captivating he was. I knew I was a pathetic sight to see, having fallen in a heap on the dry ice, not knowing that any person in their right mind would have run away when a van was speeding towards them.

"Edward…" I breathed, my voice soft, enough that Edward reached his hand up as though he was going to put his hand upon my cheek, "Elaine..."

Then as though we remembered what had just happened, I suddenly could remember what was going on, I knew students had called the police, so an ambulance was heading this way. Mr. Varner and Coach Clapp were pushing the van and my car away from us, since Edward and I were scrunched together in a small enclosure.

Voices began to reverberate around me, but I soon found myself just staring at Edward. His Volvo was off in the distance, on the other side of the parking lot, and his siblings were gathered around in front of the family cars. Alice was holding her hand against the hood of one of the cars, she seemed shaken. Rosalie was turned away from me, I could only see the long blonde curls that cascaded around her face, allowing me to know I couldn't tell her how she felt about the whole situation. Jasper was reaching his hand out as though he wanted to touch his girlfriend (and foster sister) but seemed as though he was going through his own struggles. Emmett was studying me and Edward carefully, as the six EMTs came onto the scene and began the process of checking me over before putting me in the ambulance.

I let my eyes wander towards the EMTs, noticing that they were bringing out a neck brace, which in return made me shake my head, "no! No! You are not going to—"

Edward was off to the side, handsome bastard he was, easily avoiding being in the same state as me. I narrowed my eyes at him as one of the EMTs managed to hook the neck brace on me, to make sure I wouldn't have a concussion. I knew this was the last thing that Aunt Zayna needed to hear about, knowing both of us would find it ironic that the person who owned the van happened to be one of the few black people in the town.

The ride to the clinic wasn't too long, so at least I didn't have to be awkwardly answering medical history questions longer than I wanted to. I sighed in relief as we arrived at the clinic and they pulled me out of the ambulance and wheeled me into the emergency room. They carefully led me to one of the cots and helped me off the gurney, before they sat me down onto the cot. I barely even noted Tyler being wheeled into the emergency room and they sat him on the cot next to me. He straightened up when he saw me and began to blubber, "Elaine! Oh my god, are you okay? I am so sorry!"

I dismissed him, knowing if I heard him even more, I would form a headache. I had more important things to worry about other than Tyler apologizing to me for almost crushing me to death with his van. Such as what Aunt Zayna would do when she would arrive at the clinic, along with Edward being across the school parking lot one moment and saving me the next. I frowned as I tried to think more about this, only for me to hear a clearing of a throat.

I looked up, my heart stopping for a second, as I saw a beautiful man standing in front of me with strong, but not too strong, features. His features were symmetrical just like his children's, and with the same stunning golden irises. His hair matched the same color as his hair, and his doctorate coat covered his scrubs, showing off his muscles. He smiled when he saw me, as though he was trying to assure me everything would be fine.

"Ah, you must be Elaine Watson. I'm Dr. Cullen, you can call me Carlisle. I've been informed that you've been in a near fatal car accident. I need to check over you and make sure you haven't gotten a concussion," Carlisle informed me before he began the process of checking to make sure I was fine, as he took care of me the emergency doors opened and Aunt Zayna appeared before she rushed towards me, it had taken a little over an hour to come back from Port Angeles, it was unusually busy on the main highway strip.

"You can thank Edward for saving me," I couldn't help but blurt out when I had the opportunity to say this, as Aunt Zayna reached us. Carlisle paused, conflict appearing in his eyes for a second before it disappeared, as though it never happened at all. Aunt Zayna reached out to touch me, looking over me herself as though she was more qualified to look after me instead of him.

"You don't look as though you have a concussion, still if you start getting a headache, please take some Tylenol. If you start experiencing blurry vision, nausea, memory loss, along with ringing of the ears please come back to the clinic and we will start treatment," Carlisle let me know, earning a nod from me. Aunt Zayna turned her head, looking over to see that Tyler Crowley was next to us—being checked over by one of the nurses.

I thanked Carlisle quietly before he went over to check on Tyler, which in return made me sigh in relief for a second time today. Aunt Zayna reached forward and hugged me, before I saw Edward Cullen coming through the emergency room and waiting for his father. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes before I got up from my spot on the cot and slowly tried to regain myself so that I could go and confront Edward. He seemed to have noticed the determination in my brown eyes because he sent me an amused look as though he was waiting for me to lash out at him.

Aunt Zayna called my name, but I dismissed her, reaching Edward. "Hallway, now."

I knew I hissed this, but I wasn't going to push this aside. Edward ached his eyebrow at me, as though he waiting to see what I would do next. I reached my hand out and grabbed his arm, fighting the urge to yank my hand away from the sheer coldness that emitted from him, and funnily enough he allowed me to pull him out of the emergency room and into the hallway.

"Explain yourself, right now," I demanded, as we stood a little ways off from the lobby of the clinic and the emergency room. He didn't say anything, so I continued, "I saw your siblings on the other side of the parking lot. You must have been with them, there is no way that you could have been anywhere near me. So how the hell did you get over to me? And what about the van? How had you stopped it? We would have been crushed to death!"

Edward frowned, "I was standing near you, Elaine. You must have hit your head against your car, I didn't stop it."

I growled at him, knowing the last thing he needed to do was tell me that I had hit my head. I hadn't hit my head and I sure as hell knew he had done something. I growled and opened my mouth, ready to pounce again only for Carlisle to appear in the doorway of the emergency room with Aunt Zayna.

"Elaine, I'm sorry but I need to talk to Edward right now," Carlisle commented, while Aunt Zayna studied the situation that was going on between me and Edward. I gave her an assuring look, allowing her to know that she shouldn't worry about me. I knew she would have told me I was imagining things, just like Edward was, and I really didn't want to hear her say this.

I nodded my head, knowing that though I wouldn't let this go, I wouldn't make an even bigger show than I already was—which in this town I was probably having a Broadway show. After all this town was quiet, and though they gossiped they usually kept it to themselves. Adolescents on the other hand, they liked to gossip like they always did no matter where they lived.

Aunt Zayna reached me and hugged me, "are you okay, honey? Oh, I was so scared, when I heard that there was a car collision at the high school, I was afraid, especially when they said that one of the cars belonged to you." Tears were flowing down her face and I couldn't help but arch upwards on the soles of my shoes and hug her, allowing her to know I was still here, alive and breathing.

"Can we just head home?" I probed, earning a nod from her, as she wrapped her arm around mine, I leant my head against her side as she led us to the lobby of the clinic. My face became red when I saw a good majority of my classmates were in the lobby of the clinic. I reached my hands up and covered my face, groaning, as I knew I wouldn't be able to live this down—leaning against my aunt like I was a little girl seeking comfort.

"Elaine!"

I peeled my hands away from my face, as Mike and Eric came up to me, both calling out my name at the same time. They shot each other challenging looks, as though they were ready to have a showdown with each other. Aunt Zayna made a sound next to me, of intrigue, allowing me to know that she was seeing that the two boys were infatuated with me. I had only been here for a week, and already I had gained the attention of two boys.

I shot her an irritated look, earning a smirk from her, as Eric and Mike reached me. I sighed and turned to them, noticing behind Eric's shoulder that Lauren Mallory was peering at me with hatred. She had come to show support for Jessica, and Jessica was staring at me with worry. Angela was off to the side, she sighed in relief when she saw that I was okay.

"I'm fine," I assured everyone, noticing Tyler coming through the doors that led into the hallway that went towards the emergency room. Lauren was rushing forward to Tyler, she was checking him over, and though his leg was severely bruised he hadn't broken or sprained anything. Lauren shot me a nasty look as she learnt this, as though it was my fault that he had gotten his leg bruised.

I rolled my eyes at the blonde before I turned, "thanks for checking me, but I'm going home. So, I'll see you." Everyone moved away from me and Aunt Zayna as we went through the lobby and out of the sliding automatic doors. I shivered from the cold air around me and got into her car, since mine was still at the school parking lot. She'd drive me to school so that I could bring my car back with me from school after it was over.

For the next couple of days everyone came over to me and asked me if everything was fine. I became slowly more irritated at them, knowing the last thing I needed was their pity. Pretty boy Edward didn't help things, he always had amusement in his eyes though they stopped when he saw I wasn't in the mood for any of this. Maybe because I looked as though I would chop off his penis if he thought he could get away with the amusement for any longer.

On the first day of March, as I parked in my usual parking spot, Jessica came bounding up to me. I shut my car door behind me and leant up against my car, as the stylish dressed girl reached me. "Hi, Elaine. I was wondering if you were thinking about asking Mike out for the Girls' Choice Spring Dance."

I almost snorted at her, as though asking her if I ever showed any interest in him before. I knew it would be rude to do so, and I noticed in the corner of my eye that Mike was over with his group of guy friends, and they were giving him advice. I really hoped he wouldn't come over to me and ask me to ask him to go to the dance. I didn't want to deal with the drama, especially when I would reject him—I didn't want our friendship to deteriorate due to this.

"Go ahead, I'm not interested in him," I assured her, earning a bright smile from her though she paused a moment later, "are you sure? You're not just saying that to make me feel better?" Without thinking I remarked, "have you ever seen me show interest in him?"

She thought for a moment before she nodded her head, "that's true. Thank you though for letting me ask without ridiculing me. Lauren told me not to ask you, but I knew it would be better if I did. After all we're friends."

Of course, Lauren wanted Jessica to go behind my back and ask Mike out to the dance without asking me first. She must have wanted to cause drama, and maybe if I ever shared the same feelings as Mike did for him then I would be upset. Maybe in an alternative universe I would like him but not in this universe. So, she had nothing to worry about.

Mr. Mason was sorting through essays that we had done for our latest novel (we had just finished Wuthering Heights not that long ago), and he beamed when he saw me. I gave him a small smile before I went to my seat and sat down. My classmates arrived in, and Lauren came into the classroom showing disappointment when she saw me. I had a feeling Jessica had met up with Lauren before classes started so she would tell her I wasn't interested in Mike, though I wearily peered at Lauren as she came up to me.

"Can I help you?" I probed, knowing I was trekking into dangerous territory, she narrowed her eyes at me, "you better not have just said that to Jessica only for you to ask Mike out later. I will end your reputation if you double cross her."

I snorted, earning another look from her, but before she could do anything else Mr. Mason cleared his throat, gaining her attention. She gave me one last look before she bounded towards her chair and sat down. I rolled my eyes at her again before I focused my attention on class.

I was leaving the building and going towards the next building, only for Eric to come up to me. He nervously messed with his hair and I waited patiently for him. He blurted out a second later, "will you ask me to the dance?" I blushed as I reached my hand up and pushed some of my bangs away from my face, "oh, that's really sweet, Eric. I'm sorry but I don't think I'm going to the dance. Thank you for asking me though."

Eric frowned, disappointed, before he nodded his head, "oh, well, thank you for being honest though." I felt sadness and regret appear in me even though there wasn't something I should feel. He allowed me to head towards my next class, and as I arrived in front of my next class building, I saw in the corner of my eye a familiar shade of bronze, allowing me to know Edward was near me. I turned my head, only for the bronze hair to not be there.

I frowned, wondering if I imagined seeing him but knew that I shouldn't worry too much about it. Mr. Jefferson was in an ill mood when I entered the classroom a moment later, then again Mr. Jefferson was in an ill mood all the time. I was not in the mood to deal with him and from the sharp look he gave me it must have been obvious in my features. I didn't back down from my glare, since that wasn't the type of person I was.

I didn't listen to Mr. Jefferson, my mind was away, and I was thinking too much about Edward, knowing that there was more to him than I could imagine. I frowned, irritation leaking from me. I still wanted to go up to him and confront him more, but I had to be careful about this. I still thought I was on thin ice enough as it was, the last thing I needed was people thinking I was harassing him—probably still about the whole race thing.

Jessica popped up next to me, making me jolt some, and she apologized to me profusely, "I'm sorry, Elaine. You look like you're expecting someone. Can I ask who?" I sighed and answered truthfully, "Edward Cullen, he's been avoiding me since he saved me from Tyler's van."

A quick flash of jealously appeared upon her features, allowing me to know that Jessica still harbored feelings towards Edward, but she seemed as though she was trying to move on. I wondered how long she had harbored romantic feelings for Edward, since he and his siblings had moved here two years ago maybe she had felt romance towards him since the beginning. I had to be honest though, it seemed as though none of the Cullens seemed as though they were anywhere close to being friends with any of their fellow classmates so she must have only liked him due to his appearance—and that would end up being shallow of her.

Trigonometry wasn't any better, Mr. Varner decided he would ask me a multitude of questions. I only answered a few of them correctly, and though I had a tinge of embarrassment, because most of my classmates experienced the same thing as I did. Jessica seemed as occupied as I did, maybe she was trying to gain the courage to ask Mike out.

By the time lunch arrived, I could tell everyone was waiting for something to happen, as though they were expecting something big to happen. I was about to enter the cafeteria when Mike reached me, he was breathing rapidly, as though he was rushing towards me. I inwardly groaned, knowing what was happening next. He quickly spoke, "so Elaine, I was wondering if you—"

"No thanks," I interrupted him, earning a grimace from him. I knew he must have been insulted in a way, at me quickly dismissing him but I quickly added, "partly because I don't feel that way towards you, but also because Jessica really wants to go with you. So please go with her."

Confliction was apparent in his features; he didn't seem as though he was too excited about going to the dance with the other brunette. I would lead him on. He sighed and nodded his head, "fine. Thanks for not leading me on."

I nodded my head, allowing him to know I was happy he wasn't too upset with what I had just told him. I entered the cafeteria with him trailing after me, and when I noticed Jessica having a nervous expression appearing on her features, as though she was contemplating on asking him after all. I could only hope she would know I wouldn't ask him, and when she glanced at me, I gave her an assuring smile, which in return made her body loosen some at the knowledge I had kept my promise. I had let her know I wasn't going to ask him out, and she could go out with him.

After buying my lunch I sat down at my table before a blonde-haired girl came stalking towards us. I arched my eyebrow up as Lauren slammed her tray of food onto the table, earning some of my friends flinching from the strength of her. She shot a glare towards Tyler. It was common knowledge she wanted to go out with Tyler, but it seemed as though he had rejected her when she had asked him to the dance. I was glad I wasn't there to see the rejection.

Jessica nervously glanced between me and Lauren, as though she was waiting for a showdown between us. Of course, Lauren Mallory wasn't worth any of it. Lauren stabbed her fork into her food, sending me another heated glare before she ate. I rolled my eyes and ate my own food, only pausing when I felt a pair of eyes on me.

I slowly turned around in my seat, noticing the Cullens gathered around their table. Rosalie was saying something to Edward, her golden irises lit up with irritation. She was dressed as always, to perfection, with a smug, tight white turtle neck sweater and form fitting designer jeans. High heels with heels that would make most women weary of wearing them were upon her feet and a silver necklace hung a little past her breasts, with what seemed like pure diamonds spread elegantly across the silver chain. She turned her attention towards me, her dark lipstick covered lips were in a tight line. I studied her a moment later before I let my eyes wander away from her to her ginger-haired brother.

Edward was wearing a white button up Oxford shirt with a deep brown leather jacket over the shirt, looser fitted jeans than his blonde sister. He arched his perfectly sculpted eyebrows up at me, as amusement lit upon him. I couldn't help but stick my tongue out at him, knowing he was finding it amusing that boys were asking me to ask them to the Girls' Choice Spring Dance.

"What the hell is his problem?"

I turned my head, noticing the annoyance upon Mike's face. He glared in the direction of where Edward was, wondering how Edward had the audacity to find it amusing how I was being pestered about the dance, when it was obvious, I was uncomfortable and tired of the whole ordeal.

"Don't know, don't care," I mumbled back, turning around to give one last look at Edward before I turned around and finished my lunch while my friends around me spoke about anything and everything they wanted to. I wasn't paying that much attention towards them, but I answered them when they asked me something, even though I wasn't that into talking to them.

When it was time for Biology, I entered the classroom and saw Edward waiting for me with that handsome smirk, like the hot bastard he was. I narrowed my eyes at him. Putting my things down I sat down next to the red-haired boy, where he had looked up from the notebook in front of him on the table. He gave me an arched eyebrow and without thinking, I reached my hand up and shot him the bird. Thankfully, Mr. Banner was looking down at his desk table Some of our classmates gasped at the vivid display I had given to the bronze haired boy. Edward chuckled mainly because of what I had just done before he shook his head and looked down at his notebook again.

"Yes? May I help you?" I couldn't help but question.

I knew my patience was running thin and needed to reign in the irritation. I turned away from him and took a deep breath before I opened my notebook and flipped to a new page. I let my eyes wander up to the board and changed to the page I was supposed to be on. Edward wasn't looking at me anymore, so I knew he realized the last thing he needed to do was to keep looking at me. I was not in the mood to play, nor was I in the mood to be nice to him.

It wasn't until school was over and I was heading to my car that I saw Tyler standing next to it with an eagerness that rivaled that of the other two suitors I had. I narrowed my eyes as I reached him, which in return made him flinch some and contemplate if this was worth it. Sadly, he thought it was because he straightened up and spoke, "I know I apologized already but I'm sorry I almost hit you with my van, it was a good thing that Edward was there to help you. Anyway, I was wondering if you would ask me to the—"

I hadn't even realized I was holding my car keys so harshly until a stinging pain washed throughout me. I glanced down at wetness came over the palm of my dark skin, allowing me to know as I opened my clinched palm that I had held my car keys so hard they ended up making cuts into the palm of my hand. I widened my brown irises down at the sight, not knowing how to deal with the fact that I had just harmed myself when I was angry.

"Shit," I grumbled before I sighed and slumped, "look, Tyler, I'm not going to the dance. I need to go into the nurse's clinic quick and get my palm patched up. I'll see you later." I spun on my heels and went in the direction of where the front office was, leaving the boy standing there by my car with rejection slapped across his face.

Entering the office, I went forward to where Mrs. Cope was. She was scrolling through the computer, whether she was on her social media accounts secretly or was looking through school themed things, she widened her eyes when she saw me with a few drops of blood falling from my palm onto the carpet below my feet. "Oh my god! Elaine, are you okay?"

I shrugged, "it's only a flesh wound, I'll survive. Is the nurse still here?" The nurse's office door opened, revealing the younger woman. She was of average features, and she smiled when she saw me before she noticed the blood too, "come along then, darling."

I walked into the nurse's office and sat down onto the cot that was provided for students to use. She pulled out some rubbing alcohol and cleaned up the cuts on my skin. I flinched some and she gave me another assuring smile before she grabbed the gauze and wrapped up my palm nice and tight, cutting the end of the gauze to make sure it would be tucked securely into my wrappings.

"So, some boy didn't get the memo that you aren't going to ask him? And you got angry enough accidently cut yourself with your car keys?" the nurse probed, earning a nod from me, which let her know I had confirmed what she had thought. She sighed and rolled her eyes, mumbling something about dim witted teenage boys before she let me go.

The gauze was striking against my brown skin, and as I headed back to my car, I noticed Tyler was gone. He hadn't been waiting for me to pop up again, so he could check and make sure I had gotten treated properly. He probably would have been punched in the face by me, for pushing the last of my buttons. I had punched a boy in the face before when he didn't get the clue that I wasn't interested back in Phoenix, I wasn't afraid to punch a boy here either.

I knew Aunt Zayna hadn't been happy when she had picked me up from the principle's office back in Phoenix, revealing a calm and collected aunt when she was in the presence of the school faculty before we had gotten into her car and she congratulated me for sticking up for myself but also grounded me because violence wasn't always the answer. I had mixed feelings about being awarded and then punished but then again, I was a freshman in high school, and I was dealing with a lot when it came to being in a whole new school.

Speaking of Aunt Zayna, she didn't notice my injured hand when she came home. It had been a rough day I could tell; half of her stylish hair was rumpled and not stylish anymore. Her makeup wasn't as fresh as it was when she had left this morning. She was yawning and came into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of wine before pouring a generous amount into a wine glass. She tipped the glass up and drank the whole thing in one go before she slammed the wine glass back down onto the kitchen island, hard enough that I almost flinched and almost hard enough to crack the glass.

"You will not believe the day I've had," Aunt Zayna moaned, before she let her eyes land on me. I couldn't help but sourly remark, "try me." I lifted my palm up so she could see it, her eyes widening when she saw the gauze wrapped around it.

"Please don't tell me you got into a fight," she pleaded, and I assured her that hadn't happened, "no, no. I just had numerous boys asking me to ask them to the Girls' Choice Spring Dance. They apparently hadn't picked up with me not wanting to go to the dance to begin with. The last boy corned me at my car in the parking lot. I got pissed off enough that I embedded my keys into my hand hard enough that I drew blood. Cue this."

Aunt Zanya was leant up against the kitchen island and listened to me rant to her. I couldn't help but bring up Edward next, though she had amusement light up in her eyes when she heard about me sending him the bird and him not looking deterred in the least. He had let me be, but he hadn't gotten pissed off at me for sending such a vulgar finger sign to him.

She sighed and leant forward and kissed me on the forehead before she ushered me into the kitchen, where I had sat down, and she started to tell me different things that had happened to her when she had been in middle and high school. She had beaten the shit out of a boy when she had learnt how he was trying to manipulate her best friend into having sex with him. She had to stay in jail overnight for punishment, and thankfully the parents of that boy had been horrified when they learnt him trying to press himself onto Aunt Zayna's best friend that they hadn't pressed charges.

Before I went to bed, I logged into my Facebook account and checked to see how my friends in Phoenix were doing. I messaged them, telling them all about how boring it was here in Forks but how I had a cute boy that sat next to me in Biology, even though he irritated the hell out of me. Of course, when I mentioned Edward, they begged me to take a sneaky pic of Edward so that I could send it to them so they could see how he looked like.

As I went to bed, hours later, I cleaned the wound on my palm and looked up at myself in the mirror of my bathroom. I frowned as I looked at different details of myself. Sure, I knew I was pretty, beautiful even, and I wasn't being not modest about it. I just had people tell me in the past this enough that I had grown enough of a self-assurance I wasn't ugly. Still though I couldn't help but wonder what it was that had made those boys ask me to ask them to the dance. The only one who let me feel normal happened to be Edward. I could only wonder what else was in store for me here in Forks, knowing at least there was one boy in the school who wasn't infatuated with me.

author's note: Twilight doesn't belong to me

-Emmy

due to events in the future: attempted sex trafficking in Port Angeles (when Bella goes up with the other girls for dresses and stuff), along with drugged rape (New Moon) I will be changing the rating of the story to MATURE. Please know I do not take these subjects lightly, just like I don't take racism lightly. I will make sure to put warnings of the subjects on the top of the chapters when these events take place if you want to skip those chapters. Thank you for those who will continue to read the fanfiction even when I decide to bring up these subjects. :)

The last thing I want is to trigger someone or have someone tell me I didn't warn them soon enough. Anyway, I have chosen the name for Elaine and Edward's daughter: Ambrosia Rose.