Chapter 3

BELLA'S POV

"What did he do to you?" Edward asked as we sat down on the wrought iron bench.

"He didn't do anything." I shifted Charlie onto my other leg.

"Well then what's wrong?"

"He just…I got a bad vibe from him when he touched me."

Edward sighed, and touched my cheek.

"I don't think he'll be bothering you anymore."

"Why?" I looked curiously at him.

He shrugged.

"Let's just say I scared him."

I rolled my eyes.

"I told you nothing was wrong."

He scooted closer.

"Bella, you were scared. I saw it in your eyes."

"Well maybe I was scared, but what is Scott going to do?"

Edward put his arm around me, pulling me closer.

"I guess you're right."

I sighed heavily, and closed my eyes against his shoulder. Charlie sighed too; he had gotten into the habit of copying our behavior, and snuggled close to me.

We sat for a long time, our eyes closed. Sometimes it was hard, because of the different problems we faced. Somehow, Edward and I seemed to get through everything.

Finally, he rubbed my arm, and I sensed his eyes opening.

"Bella, let's go home."

I nodded, and sat up.

Edward put Charlie in his car seat, while I leaned against the car door.

"H-hey Bella." A scared voice greeted me.

"Hey Scott." I looked up to see him standing on the curb, nervously eyeing Edward, who was still putting Charlie into his car seat.

"Can I…uh…talk to you?"

I looked back to see Edward, standing by the car door. His eyes were ravenous, and I noticed that they were black. Scott seemed to be asking Edward for permission.

"Sure."

I glanced back at Edward.

Edward, take Charlie home and then go feed. Your eyes are black.

I'll feed…but I can't promise it will be an animal.

I shivered, and turned back to Scott.

Edward drove off, keeping his speed limit surprisingly slow. He watched us carefully, and then pulled out.

"He doesn't seem to like me very much." Scott seemed a little less tense now that Edward was gone.

"Edward can be like that sometimes." I shrugged.

"Look," he came to me in the parking lot, "I'm sorry if I freaked you out. I didn't mean to, I was just-"

"You didn't freak me out. It was something else and Edward just misunderstood."

He smiled.

"I'm glad. Hey, how about we go get some coffee or something, maybe we can talk?"

I bit my lip. I didn't want to go, but if I didn't, I would feel bad.

"Sure, but only a few minutes."

"Great." His face brightened.

I followed Scott to the coffee shop, and sat down at one of the tables. A waiter came to our table.

"My name is Frank, and I'll be your server. What can I get for you?" He was facing me, smiling warmly.

I remembered the night Edward had taken me to dinner when I was human, and the waitress had gawked at him. Now I was Edward, and Scott was me.

"I'm not going to have anything."

"Oh please, I insist." Scott looked at me, his eyes very puppy dog like.

"Fine, I'll have a cappuccino."

"I'll have the same."

Frank toddled off with our order, leaving me alone with Scott.

"So how long have you lived in Alaska?" Scott asked, folding his hands.

"I'm actually new too. I've been here a little more than a week."

"So we're both in the same boat."

I nodded, looking away. The sun was slowly disappearing, and the sky was turning a soft pink color.

"What do you think of the school?"

I looked back at him.

"It's okay, some of the teachers are snobs." I was referring to Mrs. Appleton of course.

"I never really liked school anyways."

"The coach kind of creeps me out too."

Scott looked interested.

"Really? Why?"

"I catch him looking at me a lot, and he sometimes touches me in weird ways."

"What a pervert."

"Well it doesn't matter…Edward always gets him back."

I told Scott about how Edward nailed him in the nuts with a baseball, and how he had once kicked a soccer ball at his head, and about the time he tripped him.

Scott wasn't that bad actually. He seemed nice enough. Maybe I had freaked out.

"Well I should get going." I stood up, handing the waiter my money.

"Do you need a ride?"

"No thanks."

Scott smiled, and got up. I hadn't even drank any of my cappucino.

"Well I'll see you tomorrow."

I nodded, and turned away.

EDWARD'S POV

"Geez Edward, chill out." Emmett remarked, leaning against the doorframe.

I just hit the punching bag harder.

"I don't like that guy. I should beat the crap out of him."

"What did he even do?"

"He just bugs me," I turned, "okay!"

Emmett raised his arms.

"Hey, sorry man."

When he was gone, I went back to beating up the punching bag.

I had heard Scott's thoughts all through his little chat with Bella.

She's so pretty.

I wish she were mine.

I should ask her out.

Bella wasn't pretty, she was beautiful. She was mine, my wife. If he asked her out, I would hunt him instead of bears.

I started up the stairs when I heard Charlie crying, and then sped up when I heard Bella humming.

I opened the door, wiping my face off with the sweaty T-shirt I had on.

Bella was sitting in the rocking chair, her eyes closed, holding Charlie against her chest.

"Working out?" Her eyebrows rose, but her eyes stayed closed.

"Yeah."

I ripped off my shirt, and replaced it with a new one.

"Edward," she opened her eyes, "are you okay?"

"No."

"What's wrong?"

I sat on the bed, and pulled off my pants.

"Scott. He's weird Bella."

She sighed.

"He actually seemed nice, except for the fact that he's got a huge crush on me." Bella put Charlie back in the cradle.

"All of the boys have huge crushes on you."

"All of the girls have huge crushes on you too."

She sat next to me as I pulled on a new pair of sweatpants.

"I know, and I know it's not your fault that you're so irresistible," I kissed her hair, "but why do the weird guys have to come after you?"

"Scott hasn't come after me."

I looked into her beautiful, brown eyes.

"I have a feeling he will."