Warnings:
-OOC Bella Swan
-OOC Merlin (not too much, he still fluffy boi at heart)

This is a mature story. Keep that in mind, please.

Chapter One: Curveball

"You're an intelligent girl, Isabella." He marveled, standing to walk away from their little log rendezvous. His cloud of cold that surrounded him moved as he did. Bella shivered; a frozen chill dancing down her spine causing her skin to break out in goosebumps and hairs to stand on end.

"Wait!" She called, shooting up.

He halted his footsteps, back still to her but his head turned in her direction to show he was listening. Bella knew he only stopped because he wanted to. She couldn't make him do a damn thing.

"I still have questions." A smirk formed on his face, noting how her voice got smaller than her call.

"Oh, I know you do." He teased. "Believe me, I have questions for you. Our conversation is far from over."

Make no mistake. He was smirking to himself. But he gave a glare.

A glare as cold as ice.

Months earlier…

Dear mom

Bella pushed her locker door shut, it clicking softly. She winced seeing the small dents in the side of it from where she had slammed it before. She had a few anger breaks now and again.

It was the only thing that kept her dad going. Seeing her infuriated.

I'm lost. Edward took everything with him. Including my life.

She sat alone at lunch – again. She never missed the looks from the other kids; how could she? It was the only attention anyone ever paid to her these days outside of her father. Her teachers never called on her. Maybe they had sympathy for her. Or maybe they didn't give a fuck like her.

No, she tells a lie.

The neighbors look at her window sometimes with pity. Lovely Bob Marks and his wife. They always brought Charlie a thanksgiving turkey.

He promised it would be like he never existed.

The emails always bounced back though. Her mother never got them, much less replied.

It was alright. Just another less person who cared.

But I need to know he did.

Charlie – god, he was a saint to her.

It's like a huge hole has been punched through my chest…

The number of times he came in at night, during the day, whenever and whatever. To wake her up from her nightmare where she would be screaming her lungs out. To pick her up from the floor when she was curled up, just like she was in those woods.

But the pain is my only reminder that he was real…that they all were.

She was a disaster and she knew it. It was fucking pitiful. But did she even care anymore?

Now that was a question to ask herself. But that would send her back in her shell.

I miss them. Especially Alice.

She hoped they were okay. Her dad would hate her if he knew, but Bella hoped with her entire soul that the Cullens were okay. Happy was farfetched for the moment in time, maybe, but 'okay' was believable. Achievable. For her, that was another story.

And she wasn't sure what the ending was. It hadn't played out yet.

If she was unlucky; maybe life would throw her another curveball.

Time passes. Every tick that goes by…aches…

And it did. Bella reached up, rubbing her chest, right over her heart. She missed the sad look Angela gave her across the room; the one girl she knew would stick by her side and have common sense about it. She wasn't a Labrador like Mike. Nor someone that would run when it got tough like Jess. Angela was a true soul. A lifeline.

Ben was lucky.

Like the pulse of blood behind a bruise.

Blood.

She fucking hated it. It ruined her life. Her blood ruined her life; she ruined her own life. And look at her now; fifteen kinds of fucked up. It boiled in her veins; her head spinning just that little bit. Snatching up the bottle of water on her tray, she took a sip and dumped out the rest of her food in the bin. What a waste.

"He's not coming back, Bells." Charlie's voice drifted through her head again. She slinked into herself bag strap pushing into the crook of her neck. "He's not coming back."

Her sneakers squeaked to a stop at the door; her brows furrowing. The squeals of a dry pen on the whiteboard filling the silence of the room. Bella jumped a little at the louder thud echoed; him slamming the end of his pen in a dot at the end of his writing which she couldn't read from where she was standing. He glanced at her, his eyebrow pulling up at the arch.

"Well?" He was British. His accent was strong so Bella assumed he was fairly new to America. But she didn't recognize him. "You going to stand there all day?"

Checking the room number one more time, double-checking it was her class, Bella slid into the room her depressive cloud following with her and without a word took her seat.

Mr. Ambrosius. She read in his chicken scrawl and flicked her eyes back to him, he had sat down behind the desk; looking at the papers before him.

Bella would admit; he was fucking gorgeous. Dare she say more so than Edward. He was pale, six foot one and though skinny she could see the definition of his muscles on him under his blue button-up shirt. He had cropped black-brown hair and the most striking blue eyes Bella had seen.

"Isabella Swan." She pulled back a little bit, stunned at how he knew her name. His eyes lifted from his paper; cold and unfeeling. Staring right into her soul. "That's your name, right?" Regaining consciousness, she nodded. He sighed, dropping the paper in his hands. "It's rude not to talk when you're being spoken to. We're going to try that again. Isabella Swan, correct?"

"Yes, sir." Even she was surprised she caved; found her voice for the first time in four months. Her voice was raspy, from the lack of use or the screaming she couldn't tell. But his face never changed. It was still solid; set in stone.

"Better."

They sat in silence until the rest of the class came. Bella's eyes intended for the window, but it landed on him. Every time. Seeing what he was doing; looking at papers, shuffling things around, even looking at his phone. It filled up quickly, the people around her buzzing at the new presence in her room. Typically, the girls couldn't take their eyes off him, the boys murmuring to themselves. Bella was just thankful there was no attention on her anymore.

"Afternoon." He greeted. Bella could have sworn she heard squeals from the girls and, even to her own surprise she rolled her eyes. His accent just mixed with the low tenor, he was going to be harassed in this town. "My name is Mr. Ambrosius. And I'm your new history teacher…"

"Homework assignment; find a member of history that intrigues you and write a paper on it." He didn't need to shout to be heard as the class gathered their thing the moment the bell let out its shrill ring. They filled out; crowd by crowd, then pairs, then singles until there were only a few left. Merlin narrowed his eyes; looking up and seeing Bella was one of those still gathering her stuff.

Isabella Swan.

It was a name befitting for someone like her. Five-foot four, almost translucent skin, thick and long dark brown luscious mahogany locks. She had a heart-shaped face, doe chocolate brown pools for eyes, a thin nose and prominent cheekbones with full lips and a slim jawline. Merlin wasn't afraid to say that she filled out in all the right places. Strong hips, skinny, broader shoulders but a slim waist and she absolutely filled out in the ass department; her chest smaller than average but still lustful. An elegant name for an elegant woman.

"Miss Swan." He called to her when the other last student had left the room. She looked up, her eyes widening at surprise at being called upon. Merlin chuckled to himself on the inside; she looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Hold on a moment." He wandered over, pushing the door shut, locking it and pulling down the blind. He smirked hearing her gulp but than vanished as he turned around, strayed towards her and leaned on the desk before hers with his crossed arms. "I appreciate good manners, Miss Swan. You understand that, don't you?" She swallowed and nodded feverishly. Merlin saw per pale skin restrict with the action and cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh." She whispered, catching her mistake. "Yes, sir. Sorry." He waved a hand in dismissal.

"I don't know what made you go all…" He gestured to her. It was glaringly obvious to him about little bits that would be impossible for him to miss during his little check out session. "and I don't particularly care for it. What I care about is behavior in my class. From what I've seen, you've got a squeaky-clean record." He stood, leaning forward just that little bit but it was enough. She stammered, plump cheeks flushing rosy pink and breathing picking up in speed. As his breath washed over her face; hers washed over his along with his natural scent. Strawberries and summer. So sweet. "We'd hate for that to get ruined now, wouldn't we?"

"…Yes sir." He could feel the breath of her talking; spluttering unevenly across his face.

"Glad we got that across." And he pushed away back to his desk, waving towards the door and not even blinking as she shuffled towards it with her head bowed low. The lock clicked open. "Until next time, Miss Swan." But she was already gone. He chuckled to himself, dark smirk and shadow hovering over his eyes, staring right at the whiteboard he was facing.

Lion and the Lamb indeed.

Bonjourno, I do hope you enjoyed. And since you made it to the end; imma cut a deal with you. Every person who leaves a review will get a preview of the next chapter. Thank you!