Chapter Two: Manners

The weekend was something Bella not necessarily dreaded; just something she never really looked forward to. It was boring. There was nothing to do, no one to talk to. She'd just sit in the rocking chair and look out of her window, but she couldn't really tell you why. Maybe it was the memories or the silly little hope that he would just appear at the windowsill; at least that's what Charlie presumed.

"I don't get why are there so many zombie movies." The brunette found herself commenting as her and Jess pushed the doors to the movie theatre out of their path.

That was something new. Bella was talking for once. 'It's rude not to talk when you're being spoken to.' There was that voice again. His accent, the deep rumble under every syllable. She just couldn't get it out of her head. 'I appreciate good manners, Miss Swan.'

"It's, like a metaphor? For crass consumerism or something." Bella only side glanced at her companion.

She couldn't quite yet pass a judgement on Mr. Ambrosius. He was intimidating, looming over her as he stood, she couldn't get that snapshot out of her mind; him leaning over. The waft of warm, mint breath glossing over her skin. He was cold and unforgiving, his eyes that cobalt blue like a stormy day. He was her teacher. Did she like him? Did she hate him?

Or was she simply terrified out of hers skin?

That was a humorous thought. She flocked to vampires. And her new teacher scared the crap out of her.

Either way, he got her to talk again.

"Not that you'd know anything about consuming." Jess scoffed. "You didn't buy anything today."

"I bought something."

"Socks don't count." It was tense between the two. You could cut the air with a knife. "'Course, I was surprised you even called.

"I've been kind of…out of it."

That was putting it mildly.

"Kind of?" Jess scoffed, looking at the brunette incredulous. "I mean, at first I was worried. Then I'm like, okay, she's still bumming? It's not like I wasn't going through things, too. Like Mike deciding he wanted to 'just be friends'? That was really hard and –"

"How 'bout a ride, girls?"

As Bella looked across the street, time could have stopped. Or at least it felt like it. There was four rough-looking guys, loitering out from of the dive bar opposite next to their motorcycles. They were hidden in the shadows; faces cloaked in darkness.

She blinked at the familiarity of the situation.

Only this time; Edward wouldn't show up in his silver Volvo to whisk her away.

One foot pushed before the other. She found herself deaf to Jess' arguments. Even shaking off her arm.

Maybe, her mind begged. Just maybe. He'll turn up.

And she gets closer to them, step by step. Stride by stride. He'll turn up. Maybe he'll turn up. If I just-

"Move along, fellas." Her body froze up. No, that wasn't the voice she wanted to hear. It wasn't musical like a piano melody. And yet her shoulders still sagged in relief; it was dark and dangerous but like someone had wrapped their arms around her from behind and put their head on top of hers. It almost felt like their entire back was pressed up against hers. Bella gasped; feeling a cold, defined and work calloused hand wrap around her slim wrist in a tight grip. Oh shit. He was there. "She want's nothing from you." The main biker shrugged, flicking his cigarette on the concreate.

"Suit yourself." The four straddled their bikes and revved off. Bella let out a breath she hadn't even realised she was holding and blinked.

He saved her from herself.

Why would he do that?

She stumbled at the quick, yet hard, tug on her arm from him.

"Miss Stanley." He greeted, coming up to the schoolgirl who stammered in response. Bella blinked, her breathing uneven as her eyes could only process her clothed legs and shoes. "I think I got it from here. Are you alright getting home alone?"

"A-alright."

"Thank you." Jess went right, and the other two went left. She still never lifted her eyes from the pavement. The crevice's of the pavement seeming more intriguing than the thunder she would be facing if she looked up. But apparently; she didn't get a choice. A gasp escaped the brunette, feeling cold brick slam right up to her back. "What the hell were you thinking?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?! Look at me!"

And, again, she had no choice.

A pale, cold hand was thrust in her line of sight. He pinched her chin between his thumb and index finger, shoving her head up to look right at him.

His features were striking in the low-level light from the one dingey street lamp, a glowing orange causing his skin to reflect the pale pasty white shade he normally supported. The dark shadows of his cheekbones defined looking almost hollow. The black abyss colour of his eyebrows and hair matched the shade. Those same eyebrows were pulled down, creasing his forehead with his pale lips pulled back in a snarl.

And his eyes.

Holy fuck those eyes.

They were a lightning storm hurricane and for the first time, Bella saw something other than stone-cold annoyance in his eyes. The swirling tendrils of infuriation.

"Answer me!" He demanded. His voice was almost demonic. Yet, a cry never escaped her.

"I don't know." She whispered, her voice quieter than a pin drop before everything suddenly hit calm. Her breathing evened out immediately and blinked up at her teacher. How did he know where she was? "Are you stalking me?"

But she didn't get her answer as the world became dark to her immediately.

He laid her limp and lifeless body on the plump leather couch of his one-person apartment with care, making sure her head was supported as he looked over every visible inch of her pale skin. No injuries. She was probably more shaken than anything. The corner of his lips turned up; flashing a twinkle from his pearly whites as he remembered her feverishly spat out question before she dropped. Stalking her; bold of her to presume so...yet, not entirely incorrect but oh so off the mark.

He was wandering through Port Angeles when he saw them; Jessica Stanley and Isabella Swan among the shopping streets. But he didn't just see them. Merlin's entire stature tightened and straightened up and tensed.

The ladies weren't alone.

And Bella was walking closer and closer to some less than friendly looking men; Jessica calling out behind her. But Bella was taking no notice, almost like she was in a trance. Merlin growled under his breath.

"Stupid." He hissed; pacing over to the brunette in long strides. The gleams of light faded away in his sight as he focused solely on her. The elegance in her movements, no matter how weighed and dragged down they seemed to be. Closer and closer and closer. Before he shot his hand out and latched it around her wrist.

He was surprised to feel raised indentation under her smooth skin; indented in little circular chunks and raised where her veins would normally be. His back pushed up against hers, breathing in her beautiful smell of strawberries and green apples from her hair. The curve of the small of her back flush against his front; like a jigsaw piece.

Even now, sitting in his extra leather seat, the enticing smell fogging up his brain. Closing his eyes, he shook his head; attempting to clear it as he sipped from the glass of water in his hand as he faced the now-empty couch she was laid across.

And still then; she was a sight to see. Her beautiful brown eyes shielded from view by her sleep. She looked peaceful but still, even in sleep, like she was carrying the weight of the world. Doe eyes circled in dark blue and black, cheeks sunken in, sweet lips cracked and chapped from presumably a lack of water. He cringed; it didn't suit her.

Not one bit.

Her father came to pick her up a little while ago; thankful for his help.

Merlin groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Isabella Swan.

She was beautiful, striking, an enigma. Broken yet oh so perfect.

And still his student.

Fucking student.

There we go! Chapter two up as fast as I can get it. I know my chapters are fairly short but they should get longer when we get into the nitty-gritty of things. Remember to follow, favourite and review if you want your next chapter preview!

Thank you!

-Crystal Queen of the Diamond Domain