EJ ran out from the trees, wearing nothing but a pair of cut off shorts.

"Why the hell aren't you wearing a coat?" I scolded as he came to a stop a few feet in front of me. This particular morning was bitter cold. Even with boots and thick socks, my toes were curling in on themselves to keep warm.

"Didn't have time to put one on," he huffed. A small droplet fell from the sky and landed on his cheek, but he didn't flinch when it met his skin. A storm was beginning. If he didn't get out of here before it started to pour then he would certainly catch a cold. "You haven't been answering my calls."

No, I hadn't. He'd been calling at least once a day, sometimes twice. I ignored every single one. I didn't want to talk to him unless it was an apology–and a lengthy explanation. "I've been busy," I said. In a very roundabout way, it was kind of true. My mind had been too busy going in one direction to make a sharp right turn.

EJ's eyes flickered towards the Black house. "I can see that. What are you doing here?"

I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling like I had been tricked into an investigation. "I came to talk to Jacob Black."

"Since when did you know Jacob?"

Oh, yes. Definitely an interrogation. Not a friend trying to catch up. "Since a few minutes ago. Why do you care?"

EJ bounced on the balls of his feet as he shoved his fists into his pockets. Again, he looked towards the house. "Why were you talking to Jacob?"

"I had some questions," I fumed. "His wife used to live in my house. I found some of her old pictures under my floorboards."

That snapped his attention right back to me. "What kind of pictures?"

"What's it to you?" I shook my head, completely done with this line of questioning. "You know, Embry, I think I just need to accept that I don't know you anymore."

"Of course you know me," he argued. Hands slipping from his pockets, he stepped forward and took hold of my shoulders. "Sloane, you're my best friend. I just want to protect you. Make sure you're safe. If anything were to happen to you–" He pulled me into his embrace as the rain began to pick up.

I wanted to believe that. I wanted to take that at face value and wrap my arms around his waist, basking in his warmth. But words couldn't erase past actions. Pushing on his chest, I leaned back and met his eyes. "All you ever do is hide things from me."

His jaw jumped as he gritted his teeth. "That's not true."

Oh, yeah? "Then why do you hate Edward so much? You've never met him before. You don't know anything about him."

Now it was EJ's turn to step back. "That's none of your business."

I nodded. "That's what I thought."

"Sloane, please."

I ignored him as I rounded my car and got inside. The rain was pouring now. EJ's hair stuck to his face, but he didn't move as I turned the car around. I kept glancing at him in the rearview mirror, wondering where the hell we both went wrong.

I stared at the notebook that sat on the bed in front of me, its blank page taunting and dancing for me to write my thoughts on its lines. My back was growing stiff from leaning against the wall for the past hour, not even the pillow I'd stuffed behind me helped. The frozen moment of Edward smiling at the camera sat next to the notebook. Taking the plunge, I picked up the pen and began my list.

Cold skin. Changing eyes. Doesn't eat. Ageless.

Crossing that last one out, I replaced it with "Immortal". Continuing on:

Seems to know things that he shouldn't. Doesn't interact with others. Gone on sunny days.

I tapped my pen against the notebook. Then added one more.

Inhumanly beautiful.

Alright. Now it was time to figure out what all of it meant. What was the sum of all these parts?

Angels? I guessed on the side of the paper. It didn't feel quite right, but close? Maybe?

Next I wrote down succubus. Then immediately crossed it out. Those particular creatures tended to be predatory, more a part of society so they could find their next victim. Elves were my next guess, but that felt too "young adult fantasy" to be accurate. Plus, they all had regular, rounded, human ears from what I had seen.

There was one more possibility that I was avoiding putting down. Perhaps because it was the most obvious, the picture that put all the pieces together. The explanation for being cold, being over a hundred years old and still so young.

Picking up the photograph, I examined the features that I knew by heart. Jacob Black had confirmed that this was Edward–Cullen back then, Masen now. Jacob had warned that it was best to stay away from them. For some reason, he knew the answer, he knew them. And so did EJ. That was the only explanation for why he reacted to Edward the way he did, why he was continuing to keep secrets from me, despite declaring how much he cared about me.

Knock, knock, knock. "Sloane?"

As quickly and quietly as I could, I flipped the notebook to a new page and shoved Edward's picture under the pillow. "Yeah?"

The door opened just enough for Dad to poke his head in. "Hey, kiddo. Your mom and I are turning in for the night."

"Okay," I nodded, trying to look as non-nervous as possible. I didn't really want either of my parents to know what I was currently contemplating. But they were going to bed. As long as I stayed quiet and didn't draw their attention, I could go on with curating theories without concerned eyes over my shoulder.

"Do you need anything before I leave?" Dad had a flight to catch tomorrow, leaving just me and mom for the rest of the week.

I shook my head. "Nope. I'm good."

"Alright," he smiled. "Good night. Don't stay up too late."

"I won't," I promised.

When the door was closed once again, I flipped back to the page with my pathetic guesses. Scanning over all the ink marks, I ripped the paper from its spiral holding and folded it into a small square. I couldn't bring myself to write the last guess. If I was truly honest with myself, it wasn't a guess–it was the ultimate explanation.

Vampires.

Edward was a vampire. A fantasy creature that had been regulated to myth and novels that depicted them as everything from frightening, shadowy monsters to protective lovers. I didn't believe that Edward belonged to the first category, but I also had a difficult time believing he was the latter. He left Bella and went on with his life. A fleeting relationship.

Some things you can't merely get over.

My mind made an immediate U-turn. Could she be the reason that Edward was so despondent? Was Bella the blip that haunted him so greatly?

The only way I could get the answer was to ask Edward himself. But how the hell was I supposed to do that without him running away? Without him even speaking with me? If he learned that I knew his secret, would he disappear like he did back then? Was that why he left Bella? Did she find out what he really was?

Placing the paper on my nightstand, I shuffled under my covers and turned out the lamplight. Edward's picture was still my hand as I slipped it under my pillow, out of sight. My mind didn't shut off for what seemed like hours, but eventually, I lulled myself to sleep with the curiosity of what tomorrow would bring.

To exactly no one's surprise, Edward wasn't waiting for me on Monday when I arrived at school. What was a bit of a shock was that I wasn't hoping for it. I needed space to figure out what my next step was going to be. Was I going to just go on like nothing had changed? Was I going to confront Edward? Was I going to try and gather evidence so I didn't feel so crazy?

I didn't make any sort of decision beyond trudging through the day and playing it by ear. As I closed my car door, I let out a long sigh and adjusted my bag on my shoulder. The temperature wasn't letting up, so the wisps of my breath floated up to join the clouds. I pulled my beanie down to cover my ears and shoved my gloveless hands into the pockets of my jacket before heading up the sidewalk to the language arts building.

A cold hand wrapped around my upper arm, bringing me to a stop with a soft tug. Edward rounded the pathway so he stood in front of me. "Sloane."

"Edward." My breath was lodged in my throat. I tried to remain calm. If the legends were true–if my insane guess to his immortality was correct–then he could hear the faintest uptick in my heartbeat. His eyes were darker now. Not quite black, with the smallest hint of an amber hue. What did that symbolize, I wondered. I couldn't help the thoughtful frown I felt my face fall into.

Edward exhaled with a hint of frustration. "What are you thinking about?"

I scoffed. "You ignored me all last week and that's the first thing you say to me?"

"No. The first thing I said to you was your name."

Okay, Mr. Technical. "Fine. It was the second thing, then. Still quite the choice."

It was Edward's turn to frown. "I… apologize about last week."

I waited for further explanation. None came. "And?"

Edward looked past me, onto the horizon with no subject of particular interest to him. The importance was here. While he thought out his own words to speak, I contemplated my own path.

Despite deciding to play things by ear, I hadn't anticipated this encounter, for Edward to be the initiator today. The expectation was for him to continue ignoring my existence. Maybe now I should just tell him to follow me to the parking lot or some other area away from other ears and flat out ask him if he really was what I thought he was. Rip it off like a band aid.

"This was a mistake," he said, his eyes snapping back down to me.

My mind halted on its own tracks with a rattling squeal, so all I could do was blink in response.

"I'm sorry." As abruptly as he appeared, he whirled on his feet and stalked away.

What the hell? Throwing my hands up, I stomped towards class, grumbling under my breath. Two different apologies had been given in those few short seconds, but, honestly, I didn't want either one. The second basically negated the first. What was even the point?

I was still fuming as I dropped into my first period desk, yanking on the sleeves of my jacket as it refused to come off.

"That's not a good sign for Monday morning," Abby commented as she sat down next to me. My responding glare just made her snicker.

Alice–who's elegant movements were usually borderlining on a skip–came in a minute or two before the bell rang, her steps heavy and deliberate. Her bottom lip was visibly pushed out in a pout. She glanced at me before sitting down, her sad expression deepening. So, her inability to speak with me was still on-going.

I didn't know what to do. Maybe this was for the best. If they were what I was inching towards, then distance was the better path to take. I didn't think they were evil–I couldn't even fathom that probability. No one had gone missing in the town since they arrived, though there was always the possibility that they went other places to… eat.

I watched Alice throughout the hour. Her signature stillness was eerily when you really took it in. Every once and a while she would fidget, but it always felt deliberate, mechanical. She would cross and uncross her legs, adjust her shoulders, or tilt her head. Normal human movements. But there was a smoothness to them that didn't feel like a natural tic. Was that what I was really seeing or was it my mind filling in what could add to my theory? I couldn't say either way.

For the rest of the day, I went back and forth, adding anything I witnessed of the Masens to my list of evidence. My academic note-taking suffered from my preoccupation. Class was secondary to the thoughts in my head. Physics was the worst offender. Being in the front row, I wouldn't simply stare at Edward and hope that no one noticed. I forced myself to keep forward, a little shocked by the fact that Edward didn't try to switch back with Shawn. He remained by my side, but only physically. He made no motions towards me or acknowledged that anyone else was even in the room besides him and Mr. Shetler.

By the time I walked out of school, I knew I couldn't do this another day. I had to make up my mind, one way or the other. I needed space to think, to weigh everything, good and bad. I didn't get the chance, however, when I arrived home. Mom was also there, with a list a mile long of small touch ups she wanted to accomplish while Dad was out of town. Between that and my homework, I didn't have much of a chance to think or contemplate before it was time to crawl into bed. I was exhausted and fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.

When I woke up the next morning, however, the answer hit me.

I hadn't pulled a stunt like this since the seventh grade. That could be a point in my favor, as Mom wouldn't be expecting it. Although, that could also mean my skills were rusty.

Pulling the covers up to my chin, I scrunched up under the blankets and stayed in bed well after my alarm went off.

"Sloane, honey, I think you've overslept."

I gave my most pathetic groans and moans in response. The door squeaked open as Mom entered.

"Sloane?"

I moaned again.

"Do you not feel good?" she asked as she hovered over me.

I kept my eyelids at half mast. "Uh-uh."

"Huh." She pushed my hair aside and placed her fingers up against my forehead. "You're not warm. What's wrong?"

"My stomach," I croaked out.

"Is it queasy?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay." Her voice was resolved. She was buying it. "I'll call the school and let them know you won't be in today."

"Thank you." Perhaps I was overdoing it by making my voice crack and miserable.

"Of course. Take it easy today. If you feel like you can hold something down, there's soup and soda crackers in the cabinet by the fridge."

"Okay."

"Get some rest, honey." She left me alone without further investigation. Relief helped me relax and I took advantage of my newfound day off to flip over and get a little more sleep.

Soon the sun was high enough to bathe my room in light, making it impossible to continue sleeping in. Feeling more rested than I had in a while, I got out of bed with a spring in my step, the very opposite of how I played it to Mom. Nearly hopping down the stairs, I made a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and milk. The only sounds were from the outside world: rustling branches, a bird chirping, the occasional car driving by. It was peaceful. I hadn't had a morning like this in a very long time. There was no need to rush, no need to worry.

Ready to get dressed, I put the empty bowl and glass into the dishwasher. Mom wouldn't notice the extra dishes and Dad wouldn't be back until Friday, the washing cycle ran and emptied long before then. Back up in my room, I dressed for a long hike. Tying up my favorite boots over temperature tight pants, I threw on a thick but moveable coat and pulled a beanie over my ears. I packed very little in my bag, only the hiking essentials like hand warmers, protein bars, my compass, map, and extra socks and gloves. Before I zipped it closed, however, I decided to add one more thing.

Reaching under my pillow, I grabbed the photos of Edward and tucked them into a pocket inside the main pocket of the bag. The plan was to go hiking, get away from everything so my mind could focus on only one thing. Hopefully, in my wanderings, I would come across a nice place to sit and contemplate. The forest was full of natural benches and canopies. Though it was cold, walking a few miles would keep my muscles warm and the blood circulating.

With the house locked up behind me, I checked both ways before crossing the street and disappeared into the trees.

The quiet I had experienced in the kitchen continued to follow me here, now abetted by the crunching of leaves beneath my boots. Most of the trees that weren't pines were bare, allowing more sunlight to come through to the floor. The branches created a spider web of shadows that thinned as the day grew high. Most of the animals kept away. Only a squirrel or rabbit crossed my path.

Up ahead, the ground turned steep. Rushing water joined in on the natural noises as I went higher. At the bottom of the other side of the elevation was a tributary that had grown in size and power due to the recent rainfall. I stayed at the top of the elevation, following the path of the river and watching the whitewash crash against the rocks. My mind was so focused on the water below that I blocked out what was happening around me.

The beating of hooves caught me by surprise. I only turned for a second before the deer jumped in front of me. Stumbling back, I lost my footing and slipped on the moist, decaying leaves. Tumbling down, the world whirled in circles. My bag slipped from my arm. Then I hit the water, the tide pulling me under.