DISCLAIMER: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc., are the intellectual property of the respective author. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

-Chapter Two-

"Fucking amateur." Edward chuckled with a slight shake of his head.

He was putting back on the plastic piece I popped off a minute ago. I sat beside him in the passenger seat, clutching my screwdriver.

He made me nervous—and it wasn't because, at any moment, he could kill me. The gun was still within his reach, and I did try to steal his car. No criminal in a ten-mile radius would fault him for that.

No, it was something far more trivial than death.

I was severely and stupidly crushing on him, like hard-core crushing. I couldn't stop staring at him. That jawline. That fucking hair. He was gorgeous.

"I saw it done that way in a movie once," I said offhandedly, my eyes focused on the muscles in his forearms and the intricate tattoos.

That made him laugh at me even more.

Obviously, it was stupid to say, but I couldn't stop talking. So I rambled when I was nervous.

"Why don't you have an alarm system on your car?" I asked.

"Because no one in this neighborhood is stupid enough to steal my car."

Except for me, I was stupid enough.

Why did Jake send me to steal a car, knowing it would surely mean my death? I only met the guy two nights ago; I could hardly call him an enemy. He was my friend's dealer, and he seemed nice enough as far as drug dealers go. He knew I was in desperate need of some cash, and I shot down prostitution. I hadn't reached rock bottom—yet.

He asked me if I'd ever stolen a car before. I said yes. He handed me a hanger, gave me an address, and sent me on my merrily-little way.

"Why do you even bother locking it then? You could have saved me a shit load of trouble," I said, frowning down at my scratched-up palm.

"Jesus, kid," Edward growled in frustration, "what are you even doing here? You should be at home, fucking scrap booking or, I don't know, what do kids your age do?"

I didn't like him thinking of me as a kid. I had breasts, for God's sake. They weren't huge or outlandish, but they were perky. He would have more than a handful.

"I'm not a kid," I said.

He glanced up at me for the first time since he got in the car. His eyes roamed over my body, and I might have pushed out my chest to showcase the goods.

He shook his head and averted his attention back to his car.

Deflated, I sunk into my seat, feeling like a mutant. The rejection hurt more than I cared to describe. I knew I wanted to crawl under a rock and die.

Maybe I still could.

Deciding to spare myself the further embarrassment, I opened the car door to get out, but as the cool night air wafted in, Edward sprung to life and grabbed my arm. His firm touch sent a thrill through me, and I gasped.

"What are you doing?" he snapped.

"I...I..." I stuttered, words failing me.

All I could think of was those fingers of his, long and lithe, and where else I would like them.

"I was leaving," I said, finding my voice.

His grip tightened. "Leaving? Why?"

"Because..." I paused and stared into his eyes. There was something off about him, something good. He wasn't going to hurt me. "I can."

"No, you can't."

"What? Of course I can." I glanced down briefly at his gun—wait, was he kidnapping me? "You can't keep me here against my will."

"You're right," he said, removing his hand. "I can't keep you here, but where are you going to go? You can't go back to Jake."

"Why not?"

It wasn't like I was going to, especially after the stunt he just pulled trying to get me killed and all, but I was curious.

"Because I'm not giving you my car and you can't go back to him empty handed. He'll fucking kill you."

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. "What is it to you? Why do you care whether or not I live or die?"

"Because you're just a kid. You shouldn't be out here, Bella. It's too dangerous. You oughta be at home with your family wrapped up in a fucking Snuggie."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right."

There was nowhere for me to go. I'd thought about going back to Washington to live with my dad, but it would be too awkward. I didn't know him. My mom left him when I was just a baby. He didn't call or write me ever.

The streets were my home now.

"I don't have a family," I said, much sadder than I intended.

Deep in thought, Edward was gnawing on his lip ring, and I wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

I bet he was a good kisser.

"Okay, I'll tell you what I'm going to do, Kid," he said, slamming his hand down on the plastic piece, causing it to snap back into place. "If you won't go home, then I have no choice but to take you home."

He put the key ignition, the car roaring to life, and a shrill panic shot through me. I grabbed the door handle and lifted it frantically. I just wanted to get out of here before he could make good on his word.

The doors locked around me. I was stuck.

"No, don't do that. Let me out, please. I can't go back there." I was screeching and thrashing, on the verge of tears. "I'll just runaway again."

"Jesus Christ," Edward said, reaching out and cupping my cheek, "will you please fucking relax?"

The warmth of his touch had a calming effect on me.

"Look," he continued, "we're going to get you something to eat, just like I promised, and then I'm taking you home—" My eyes widened, and I shook my head, instinctively reaching for the door again, "—I'm taking you to my home, alright?"

I nodded and wiped away my snot. "Okay."

God, I was a blubbering mess. It wasn't charming. There was no hope of Edward seeing me as more than just a kid. I'd officially ruined my chances with all the crying.

I decided to stay quiet after that.

As Edward cruised the streets with his window down and the music up, I noticed this aura about him. It was hard to put my finger on it, but there was something unusual about how he presented himself.

On the one hand, he seemed sweet and friendly, but then again, that gleam in his eye. Like at any minute, he would kill someone for looking at him the wrong way.

He reminded me of a lion, who seemed harmless; underneath that mane and pretense of a docile kitty was a predator waiting to strike.

Yes, Edward was dangerous and unpredictable.

I'm bracing myself for that day when he turned on me.