Disclaimer: Blah blah blah. We all know that Stephenie Meyer is the genius, not me. )

Author's Note: Thanks for the encouragement to continue. I hadn't planned on updating so soon, but I just kept typing. Sorry if this one is a bit slow. The next one will be action packed, promise.

Family Tree Chapter 8

BPOV

The blush was permanent, or so it seemed. Edward hadn't said much as I continued to get ready, throwing my books into my backpack and eating breakfast. He was watching me warily and I snuck looks at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking. I couldn't help but wonder if he liked what he saw, or if I had just completely ruined whatever he'd imagined.

I went with the latter.

"So…" I started. "Cat got your tongue?"

His lips formed a tight line.

"What kind of question is that?" He stared straight ahead, not bothering to hold my hand as he usually did when he was driving.

"I don't know. It's just…weird. This silence." I looked out the window and wished fervently that I could go back in time.

"Bella. It's not your fault. You didn't do anything wrong, at least not intentionally."

I could feel his eyes on the back of my head but kept my curtain of hair between us.

"I'm sorry Edward. Really." I twisted my hands together.

"Don't be. If I was a normal human boy my dreams would have come true."

I snorted in disbelief.

"Yeah right. I scare the crap out of you with my hideousness, what makes you think another boy wouldn't react the same way? I'm no prize you know." I stated as matter of fact.

"Have you lost your mind?" He said incredulously.

"I must have, to forget you were right there."

Abruptly he pulled the car over and killed the engine.

"Look at me Bella." He ordered.

I turned my neck as far as I could without breaking it, staring out at the endless green.

"Please look at me."

I didn't want to, but his tone cut through me and I couldn't deny him anything. I turned to look at him and unwillingly raised my eyes to his.

"Sweetheart." He began. "I'm sorry for the way I acted, truly. I just haven't really been privy to seeing something, so absolutely ethereal before."

"What does ethereal mean?" I questioned.

"Heavenly."

I shook my head in denial. "You might be able to charm the gold off a leprechaun, but I know better. I saw you Edward. It's as if you'd seen a ghost!"

"I was concentrating very hard Bella."

"On what?"

"On not taking you right then and there." He answered passionately.

I was stunned.

"Being…just in my underwear, made you want to kill me?" I choked on the word.

"No!" he vehemently denied. "I meant…something entirely different."

I let that settle around me and then I felt a warm glow radiate outward from my chest.

He desired me. Wanted me. Insignificant, imperfect, me.

"Really?" I whispered. I held my breath, daring myself to believe it.

"Yes. Don't you realize how lovely you are?"

"Apparently not." I said, blushing.

He leaned close and his breath was like magic, holding me transfixed. I struggled through the cloud to hear the words he rapidly whispered:

"As a perfume doth remain

In the folds where it hath lain,

So the thought of you, remaining

Deeply folded in my brain,

Will not leave me: all things leave me:

You remain.

Other thoughts may come and go,

Other moments I may know

That shall waft me, in their going,

As a breath blown to and fro,

Fragrant memories: fragrant memories

Come and go.

Only thoughts of you remain

In my heart where they have lain,

Perfumed thoughts of you, remaining,

A hid sweetness, in my brain.

Others leave me: all things leave me:

You remain."

My chest was rising and falling, but I felt like I had died. Such beautiful words…

"Did you write that?" I finally asked.

"No. But it seemed the perfect thing to say. Actually, a poet named Arthur Symons wrote it. I love his work. It's so simple, and yet complex at the same time. It echoes perfectly my sentiments regarding your…essence."

"What made you think of my…err, essence?"

"I was close to you, and it befuddled me for a moment." He admitted sheepishly.

"I know all about that." I remarked, staring out at the rain.

"Ah. Shall we get you to school?"

"Only if we have to."

"I think we should." He stated.

"Ok." I replied. Going to school seemed so unimportant, considering all the things that had been going on recently.

We pulled up as usual and Edward slid out of his seat quickly. When he opened my door he was holding an umbrella over my head.

"How did you manage that?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Magic." He grinned at me. I shook my head in silent laughter and we walked quickly towards the buildings to get out of the rain. He never ceased to amaze me. I somehow still managed to get myself wet. I shook the water from my hair and Edward stiffened at my side.

EPOV

Dear God. That aroma. I struggled with all my might to walk away. I was transfixed, held drunkenly close to her. The scent of her blood wafted around me like a spilled bottle of the finest cologne. It was as though I'd stumbled upon a large field of lilac in bloom in the middle of a tornado. I leaned closer and felt venom fill my mouth. I eyed her pale throat, a delicious drop of rain sliding down over the throbbing carotid artery…

No! A wave of terror gripped me and I struggled to clear my head of the demon's thoughts. I wouldn't. Couldn't. I loved this creature. I loved her.

I forced my feet to move away from her with great effort and called out "I'll see you in a little while."

"Ok." She said, a note of confusion hanging on her lips.

I walked around a corner and breathed in the scent of the surrounding forest that hung heavily on the water laden air. What was it about rain that made her smell so damn good?

She seriously was hazardous to my health.

No, I corrected, you are hazardous to hers.

I hated the truth, but knew I had to accept it. I had about three minutes before the bell rang. I decided a quick lap around the perimeter of the school couldn't hurt. Just to get my thoughts, and nostrils, clear.

"Edward?" Alice called out.

I sighed in irritation but turned to face her.

Some new vampires are heading this way. They're friendly, two of them. They were in Denali for the last few months.

"Dangerous?" I asked.

I said they were friendly.

"Are they dangerous Alice?" I looked at her pointedly.

Not that I can tell. I don't foresee anything bad happening. They're trying to become vegetarians.

I pondered that.

"How long?"

A few days.

"Will we run into them?"

I see us meeting them, yes. But we can always avoid them, if that's what you want.

"Stay with us?"

No. They're going to stay at the old Addison place.

"How long will they be here?"

It's hard to say. I can see them being here for awhile.

The shrill sound of the bell made Alice and I both jump.

"I'll talk to you at lunch." I said pointedly. She nodded and darted off to her class. I lingered for a moment and then walked slowly to class. There was a lot to think about.

When I got there, I was able to slip behind my desk before the teacher noticed. He was preoccupied with the lesson plan, he hadn't fully prepared.

I caught Bella's eye and she smiled shyly at me. I mentally calmed the muscles in my face and gave her a small smile. She turned to look at the teacher who was now droning on about the importance of character development in works of fiction.

The thoughts of the other students buzzed through my head like a swarm of bees, but I blocked them out. There were times when having a gift like mine was a complete nuisance. The inane prattle of these children's minds was a constant irritant, one that made me despise them.

All but one of them.

The only thing that irritated me more, was the fact that the mind I so desperately wished to touch was out of reach. If only I could know what she was thinking, how she was feeling. What a gift that would be.

APOV

I was very curious about these new-comers. There were so few like us, willing to live the way that we did. I pictured them in my mind, paying particular attention to the details I saw.

He was around Edward's height, with dark black hair that fell in straight pieces around his face. His eyes were a dark ochre color, with thick lashes. They were deep, inviting intellectual conversation. His nose was perfectly straight, and a bit narrow at the bridge. His lips were pale, as was his skin, but that was to be expected. He was attractive, in a dangerous sort of way. Muscular but not overtly so. He downplayed his body with modern clothing that was a bit too mature for someone that looked so young.

His partner was as short as I was, with dark brown tresses that hung halfway down her back. Her eyes were almond shaped, the color halfway between brown and gold. Her skin had a very slight peach tone to it, rather unusual. Her lips were full and her smile was bright. She looked a little like Bella, but had a model quality about her, like Rosalie.

"Why are you so curious my love?" Jasper interrupted my reverie.

"I suppose I'm just interested in these newcomers. They're both very attractive."

I secretly hoped that Jasper wouldn't be drawn to the girl.

"Then why are you worried?"

I sighed. His ability to read my emotions was astonishing at times.

"I'm hoping that you won't be too attracted to the female." I admitted.

"As if there's anyone more attractive than you!" He responded.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, really I do. But this girl is…unusual. Picture a girl as short as I am, with Bella's hair and complexion, and Rosalie's features."

"I'll try that." Jasper closed his eyes and a shit eating grin spread over his face.

"What?" I squealed.

"Mmmm yeah…" He practically moaned.

"Jasper!" I shoved him but he didn't move an inch.

"Yeah. That's it. Come a little closer." Jasper mouthed.

A murderous calm stole over me. Venom was thick in my mouth.

"Jasper." I said dangerously.

"Yes?" He cracked open one eye.

"You better stop it." I warned seriously.

"Stop what?" he feigned innocence.

"You'd better stop trying to picture her!" I demanded.

"I wasn't picturing her." He said simply.

I waited silently for an explanation.

"I was just picturing you…in that sexy little black thing you wore last night." He growled.

It took a lot to surprise me, but I was secretly pleased with the ruse.

"You jerk!" I went to slap him and he grabbed my hand and kissed it.

"You are the most amazingly beautiful woman in the world Alice. No one can compare." Jasper muttered as he continued to kiss the tips of my fingers. "Why else would I give up real food? For you I'd give up anything."

I felt my anger abate and waves of calm engulfed me. He always managed to win arguments this way.

"You're cheating." I accused.

"Is that a problem?" He asked sexily.

"No." I replied, giving up.

"Maybe we could take a little walk…out to the woods." He suggested with a wink.

"I'd love to, but it's almost lunchtime."

"And?" he prompted.

"I still need to talk to Edward."

"He'll be busy with Bella."

I sighed, knowing he was right.

"Very well. At the sound of the bell…" I agreed.

Jasper grinned and I realized just how much I loved him.

BPOV

I couldn't wait. Lunch time was here. A whole hour with Edward.

I made a quick pit stop in the ladies room and then hurried to the lunch room. Edward was waiting at our table with a tray of food. I looked at it with disdain.

Mystery meat.

"What is that?" I asked, indicating the brownish glob sitting on the plastic plate.

"Uh…not sure actually. It was a special today. Did I screw up?"

He was so absolutely clueless.

"No. I'll brave the mystery meat for you."

"Mystery meat?"

"Yeah, that's what we call something that comes from the cafeteria, is brown and covered with some kind of gravy. You haven't heard the term?" He'd been around awhile…it was hard to believe.

"Actually no. Before you…I rarely spent any time with a human, alone."

"But you're around them all the time. Don't you pick up on anything they're saying?"

"The way kids talk these days is appalling." He remarked.

"You think you sound so much better?" I asked with my eyebrows raised. I deliberately baited him, and waited to see what he would say to that.

"At least I have a rudimentary grasp of the English language. Honestly, people today make up half of the words they speak. I doubt 'mystery meat' would be found in a dictionary."

I pouted. He searched my face intently and looked mildly confused.

"Did I say something to upset you?"

"No." I answered breezily.

"What are you thinking?" He leaned toward me.

"I'm not at liberty to say." I spoke in a polite English accent.

His eyes opened wide and a smile threatened to break loose on his face.

"Madam, I hope you will excuse my diction. I was merely pointing out to you the finer points of linguistics today in comparison to language of old." He quipped in an accent that sounded authentic.

"I give up." I moaned. "Must you be better at absolutely everything? I mean, give a girl a break here!"

"I think you're breakable enough as it is." He remarked darkly.

I didn't know what to make of that, but figured I didn't really want to know.

"Where's Alice?" I asked conversationally.

"I was wondering that myself." He looked around and then squinted.

I watched him fascinated and then a look of utter repulsion crossed his face.

"What is it?" I asked breathlessly.

"You do not want to know Bella. I wish I didn't know. Suffice to say, she will not be joining us this afternoon."

I noted that Jasper was missing as well. The pieces began to fit.

"Also, Bella…I have to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"Alice had a vision. Another group of our kind is coming."

I felt all the blood drain from my face.

"No. Please don't take it like that. They have the same hunting habits we do…at least that's what Alice says."

"Does she see any kind of trouble?" I asked worriedly.

"No. I asked her a few times, to make sure, but she only sees them coming here."

"Will they stay with you?"

"She doesn't seem to think so. She says they'll be staying at the Addison house."

"That haunted place?" I let my imagination go. Visions of ghosts danced through my head.

"Silly girl. There's no such thing as a haunted house."

"So says the vampire." I pointed out.

He looked perplexed but then chuckled. "Guess you have a point there."

I gave him a dry look. "Nice pun." I said sarcastically.

He gave me a wry smile.

"So how many of them are there?"

"Two. A male and a female."

"Are they old?" I wondered aloud.

"Most likely." He retorted.

"That's not what I meant. I mean, do they look old?"

"No, both look fairly young, under twenty certainly."

I mulled that over.

"Will they come to our school?"

"I highly doubt it."

"So they are just passing through then?"

"I'm not sure. Alice said she saw them staying for awhile. I'm not sure what that means."

I didn't either. Alice could be very cryptic when she wanted to be.

The bell rang. I jumped up and realized I hadn't touched the food Edward had gotten for me.

"Saved by the bell." I muttered.

EPOV

She was absolutely fascinating. I loved being able to share easy laughs and jokes with her. Time seemed to pass so quickly when I was with her. It made the luxury of immortality all that more appealing.

She stood up and I picked up the tray, dumping its contents into the garbage. I'd have to make sure she ate something after school. No mystery meat. I had to remember that.

She walked ahead of me and I deliberately lingered a step or two behind her to admire her in that dress. I wasn't the only one who noticed. There were about a hundred guys in the immediate radius that I would have been glad to dispose of for thinking what they were about her. I was the only one who had the luxury of touching her though.

I stepped close to her side, and for the first time, I slung my arm across her shoulders and pulled her close as we walked. It was a very natural human thing to do, I'd often see other couples in the vicinity act in this manner, but it was quite a new experience to trust myself to try it now. Usually I would keep a little distance between us, but today, I just wanted to enjoy her. The scent coming off of her skin stunned me momentarily, but I forced myself to keep moving.

She looked up at me with a gentle smile and I felt my heart soar. Sometimes it was almost possible to believe we were a normal couple in high school. It was very tempting to pretend that I was human, but the smell of her halted those thoughts immediately. I would never be human again. I must never let the monster take over by being carefree. No, I would continue to hurt myself so that I wouldn't hurt her.

I was older, wiser, and I needed to be a realist. But that didn't mean that I couldn't enjoy her company.

We walked into our science class and took up our usual seats in the middle of the classroom. I spied Alice and Jasper out of the corner of my eye and I gave them a stern look. Guilty smiles covered their faces and I tried in vain to keep Alice's mind away from mine.

Edward! Hey. Sorry about lunch. Jazz and I were busy.

I gave her a look that let her know I was not amused.

Sorry, really. Anyway, did you tell Bella about the visitors?

I nodded.

How did she take the news?

I shrugged my shoulders.

I mean, it seemed like she was ok with it, curious even, but I had noticed her pale color and the way she shivered when I first mentioned it.

Ok. Well, we'll talk at home.

I nodded again.

"Mr. Cullen? Do you care to answer the question?"

I picked his brain in half a second.

"The process takes place in the thylakoid."

The teacher looked at me skeptically.

"What happens in the light reactions?"

I went on to explain every nuance of photosynthesis to the teacher. It was definitely more than he'd ever considered.

"Well, all right then." He blustered, and turned toward the white board.

Bella cocked her head to the side and mouthed "That's scary. How do you know all this stuff?"

I leaned close to her ear and whispered "I have two doctorate degrees. I'm over a hundred years old." Sometimes being a smart ass was fun.

She placed her hand on my knee in an intimate way. "I know that."

I wondered why she'd asked. Then I figured out that the question was rhetorical.

Sometimes, even I could be a little slow.

BPOV

I struggled through gym and limped out to meet Edward. He was leaning against the same tree that he always did with a serene look on his face. It was as if he was very far away.

"Hey there." I said, nudging him.

"Hey yourself." He pulled me close and kissed me. I leaned into him, sucking in his sweet breath.

He pulled away and held my hand. We walked toward his car and he gallantly opened the door.

Before I knew it, we were in front of my house.

"I'll be back later, I promise."

"Ok. Do you know what time?"

"Not sure. I'll call you though, and let you know."

He had been trying very hard to be considerate lately.

"Thanks."

"Ok."

"All right."

Neither of us wanted to say goodbye. I leaned over slowly and rested my head against his marble shoulder.

"Why is it that we always have to say goodbye?" I whispered painfully.

"This isn't goodbye. I'll be back later."

"I know. It's just that I hate having you leave."

"I hate leaving you alone."

I raised my eyes to his and tilted my chin up. He kissed me slowly and I felt myself melting.

"Uh oh." He said as he broke off the kiss.

"What?"

"Charlie's almost here. He's coming home early to spend some time with you."

"Crap." I panicked and rushed from the car. Edward pulled away quickly and his car swerved around the next corner just as Charlie's cruiser pulled up.

"Hey Bells! I got off early today. Thought we could spend some time together."

"Uh, sure." I said. I walked ahead and opened the door. Charlie pulled out four large bags of groceries.

"What's all that?" I questioned. It looked like enough food to feed an army.

"Oh, we're uh, having some guests tonight."

"Who?" I asked suspiciously.

"Billy and Jake."

I stared at him dumbfounded.

"Are you sure they are coming here?"

"Just spoke to them about an hour ago." He looked at me quizzically.

I felt my head spinning. I didn't understand it, not one bit.

"I got stuff to make pasta. You don't mind cooking, do you? I mean, we could order pizza or something."

"No, I'll cook. No problem." I wiped the sweat that had appeared on my brow.

"Ok. Well, I'm going to hit the shower first and I'll be back down in a minute."

"Ok." I began pulling items out of the bags mindlessly. I knew tonight was going to be interesting. I decided to call Alice, to see if she knew anything.

Just as my hand hit the receiver, it rang. I should have known.

"Alice?" I asked.

"Uh, no. It's me." Jacob's voice filled the receiver.

"Hey." I didn't know what to say.

"I guess we're coming up there for dinner." He said conversationally.

"Yeah, Charlie told me. I'm making pasta."

"Sounds good."

"Yeah." I twisted the phone cord around my finger.

"Bella?"

"Yeah?"

"Listen…about the other night…"

"Don't worry about it Jacob. Really."

"Ok."

"Ok." I echoed softly.

"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you then."

"Yeah, all right. See you soon."

"Bye Bells."

"Bye." I whispered. I set the phone in its cradle with a click.