Author's Note: I am SO sorry for the long wait, guys! I just wanted to take a break from writing. I am NOT abandoning this story whatsoever. I still love to write this and continue on doing so. Thank you for your patience to wait for an update. Enjoy this chapter! :)

"Okay. Let's get started, shall we?" I started, and we began to do the homework.

Edward and I were working on our Biology project together in the dining room at the table. I made sure to sit across from him instead of sitting next to him. I figured it would be safer that way.

There were a lot of different questions that we could ask our lab partners to know them better. To learn about their DNA traits and genes. I knew Edward and his siblings got adopted by Carlisle and Esme, but all of them had one thing oddly in common.

All of the Cullen family members had topaz eyes. An unnatural and unusual eye color. Never saw anyone else having it but them. What a coincidence that all of them have the same eye color? Not only that, but they have pale, almost sickly white skin. They're abnormally beautiful, and it was enough to be drawn in, getting easily seduced by their bedazzling charm. I used to be that person getting hypnotized by their beauty.

Until Sam imprinted on me and the Cullens became history.

"What are you thinking about?" Edward asked in his velvet voice.

I snapped out of my thoughts, not realizing how absorbed I got lost in. I looked up to the vampire in front of me.

"Sorry that I just spaced out like that." I half heartedly chuckled.

"It's alright." Edward made his crooked smile.

His eyes were the center of my attention. I didn't feel like I'm getting romantically sucked into them, it's just that they're so strange to me.

Not human. But I already knew why.

"It's, um..." I wasn't sure how to figure out the wording. "Are you wearing any contacts to make your eye color look like that?"

Edward blinked twice as if not expecting that question. At first, he seemed to not know how to respond.

"No, we just have a condition." He lied smoothly.

"What kind?" I tested.

"We don't really talk about it. It's rare." He gave the excuse. But it was convincing and plausible, I guess.

"Must be nice to be with six other people under the same roof to have the same eye condition," I replied.

"Yeah." He nodded.

I knew I shouldn't keep pressing the issue, but a part of me wanted to know how long Edward could keep the act up. Thanks to Sam, I knew the truth now about the Cullens.

"What if you have any children? Will they have the same eye color, too, you think?"

"I'm not going to have any children." Edward refused with such certainty.

I didn't ask why because of how it was a choice to want children. Also, he's a vampire. I would imagine vampires couldn't reproduce. That sounded impossible.

"I think I'd like to have children someday." I randomly let that slip out. I talked to Sam before about wanting to have his children and how his face looked was like he wanted to have his way with me while we're on my bed.

"With that boyfriend, Sam, of yours?" Edward asked with a bit of an edge.

How he always acted about my imprint irritated me. It made sense since they're enemies, but that didn't mean I had to put up with his attitude.

"What do you have against Sam anyway, Edward?" I snapped, losing my temper. "You don't even know him!"

"I know enough..." He muttered.

"Oh, really?" I humored him. "Like how, pray tell."

Sam told me about the treaty that the vampires and his great-great-grandfather made with them that happened years ago. Maybe that's what Edward

"It's neither here nor there, Bella," Edward shook his head. "Let's just finish our work-"

"You can cut your horrible act now, Edward," I sternly interrupted and confess in a low, conspiratorial voice. "I know who you really are, and I know what Sam really is. I'm guessing you do, too?"

Edward knew his secret got exposed. He definitely didn't expect that I knew.

"Did Sam tell you everything?"

"As his imprint, he did," I answered.

"Imprint?" He raised a confused eyebrow.

"Basically it's mate for life," I summarized. "Do you vampires do the same thing?"

"It'll be unwise to come in between one's mate."

"That's what I am. I'm Sam Uley's mate. And it was so hard for me to come down here because I know neither of his or your kind gets along."

"His kind?" He stated rather than questioned.

"He's a werewolf. Can't you smell him that he is one?"

"Yes, I can. That's one of the things I hate the most about him. His...disgusting, wet dog smell makes my nose burn. All of this just confirms my...suspicions." Edward tried to find the right words.

What got me intrigued was when he said that's one of the things he hated about Sam. I got curious about what his other reasons were.

"What are the other things you hate about Sam?" I asked, sounding mean and on the defensive side. I couldn't help it when it came to my imprint. I didn't like anyone speaking ill of him.

Edward had such a serious look on his gorgeous face. His topaz eyes pierced to my own as if speaking to my soul to make his point.

"He's a werewolf, Bella," Edward emphasized. "Werewolves are unstable. Sometimes, the people near them get hurt. Sometimes, they get killed."

I remembered the promises and how much trust and faith that I have in Sam that he won't ever hurt or harm me in any way.

"Sam probably won't, but that doesn't mean there won't be any more new wolves who will try. If they lose control."

"Sam will never hurt me. Do you get that?" I snapped at him, standing up from my chair. "You don't know him!"

"You don't know who you're really dealing with!" He exclaimed vehemently.

"Why do you even care about me like that?!" I demanded in frustration. Not understanding why he was so concerned and worried about my safety.

We barely knew each other. Except for the fact that I know Edward Cullen and his family are vampires, and he knows I'm romantically involved with a werewolf, being on the opposing end.

Edward looked unsure and conflicted for a moment if he should tell me or not. But we knew the other secrets now so there shouldn't be any point to hide anymore.

"You fascinate me." Edward softly answered.

"How so?" I wondered, not feeling at all flattered. But Sam was also attracted to my scent. I'm curious if that's the same case with Edward or if there was something else more.

"Everything about you draws me in, Bella. Your personality, your scent is intoxicating, and there's...your mind."

"What about my mind?"

"As a vampire, we have gifts. Powers. One of mine that stands out the most to me when I'm in your presence is telepathy." Edward explained.

"Can you read my mind?" I wondered. Not sure to be in awe or scared that he can so easily invade my most personal thoughts.

"That's what stuns and perplexes me the most. I can read everyone else's. Even your wolf's. But, for some bizarre reason, I can't seem to read yours. I suppose you should be comforted that I can't intrude your mind. I know how invasive it is. People take their own peaceful and quiet minds for granted."

"Why can't you read my mind?" I asked curiously.

"Neither of us were exactly sure ourselves." He furrowed his bronze eyebrows.

Only Edward could read everyone else's minds except for my own. I should be comforted and relieved to be excluded and to have the privacy of my mind. There was no logical explanation I could think of that would give Edward the disability to not read my mind. The fact did give me safety that my mind was protected from him. I'd have to warn Sam about that when I get back to him about Edward's powers.

"It's one of the reasons why you attract me so much. Your closed mind and your scent." Edward's topaz looked through my own plain, brown ones and it was like I'm being hypnotized by them. Especially, by his crooked smile that dazzled me and what I thought I fell in love with before Sam imprinted on me.

Before I knew it (I didn't even know how this happened), I felt the cold and hard lips of Edward Cullen onto my own. His lips were like ice, it was like kissing snow. It wasn't the fire like I felt from kissing Sam. There was no heat or warmth behind those lips.

Fire and ice. I got frostbitten, but I preferred to have the flames kiss me with a scorching passion. Even though Edward's stony lips didn't feel like fire, it felt like my lips got burnt. Sam was the only one I will ever kiss. I felt like I had cheated on him.

In an instant, I stopped the kiss and slapped Edward across the face. I got up to quickly separate myself from him by a good distance. My arms held around my torso as if I could only protect myself. I have to call Sam about this and let him take me home.

I didn't want to be the object of Edward's desire. It didn't feel right. Not at all.

Sam told me his people's stories about how innocent and beautiful young women would get so drawn into by a vampire's beauty and she'll sleep with him. It was like a trap the vampire had. Sometimes the stories ended in death by the vampire sucking blood out of her neck or there would be bizarre pregnancies that it'd be impossible for the mother to survive.

That wouldn't be me.

"What did you do that for?!" I was absolutely enraged, while indignantly glaring at him.

Edward immediately looked ashamed of himself as if he didn't know what overcame him. "This was one of the reasons why I was afraid to be near to you like this at such close proximity. I didn't trust myself to be around you. I knew I'd lose control-"

My temper level rose, not caring to hear what he had to say. "Don't you understand?! I'm with Sam Uley! I chose him! I won't choose you!" I was breathing heavily because of the anger brewing inside me. I needed to get out of here. "This work session is over. Where's the phone? I need to call Sam."

"Why?" Edward asked, even though it shouldn't be any of his business.

"I want him to take me home."

"But my mother made you dinner-"

"I'm not feeling hungry right now, Edward," I spat his name. "Tell your mother that I said thank you for the dinner, but I won't be eating it. I'm sorry her food had to go to waste." I genuinely apologized, but only for the sake of his mother.

Edward did have the audacity to look like he regrets kissing me because that made me want to leave in a hurry.

"I'll go get you the phone." Edward got up and left at his fast, vampiric speed. He was so fast that when I blinked, he already reappeared to give me the phone.

"Thanks," I muttered under my breath and took it from him. I dialed Sam's number, and I grew impatient whenever I heard it ringing. After a few rings, Sam finally picked his cellphone up."Hello?" Sam's deep voice was enough to soothe me.

"Please, take me home," I begged, not bothering with a greeting. Just a plea for an urgent escape. I walked away from Edward to a different room and had my back turned from him. I didn't want him to watch me or overhear the conversation. But with his vampire powers, he probably could.

"Bella?" He said my name for a moment, but how his voice sounded afterward was like he registered what happened. He didn't need any more explanation because he promised he'll be here if I called for any problems. "Don't worry or panic. I'll be right there." Sam said in a tone that left no room for questions.

I gathered my things together and put them inside my bookbag to call it a day. I just couldn't believe what a day this had been. A vampire had kissed me!

I went to the entryway with Edward trailing from behind.

"Bella, I'm sorry I kissed you. I shouldn't have forced myself on you-"

"That's right. You shouldn't." I hissed at him.

"What's going on?" It was the musical voice of Alice along with Jasper. I wondered if she had anything to do with this.

"I'm going home," I answered stiffly.

"Why? Weren't you enjoying yourself here?"

"Not anymore..."

"You can't just leave!" Alice protested.

"Enough, Alice," Edward sternly reprimanded her. "This is Bella's choice. Not yours."

"But you know what I saw-"

"Which doesn't matter anymore."

It was like Edward and Alice spoke in a different language I didn't understand. But that's okay. I rather not know.

Minutes later, I was elated when Sam arrived and I heard the doorbell ring and his fist pounding onto the door. He wouldn't stop until someone answered it. Only Edward did.

Edward approached the front door and opened it. Sam was livid beyond words and got real close and upfront to Edward's face. If looks could kill, Edward would be dead.

"What did you and the rest of your leeches do to Bella?" Sam demanded, followed by a low and fierce growl.

"My family did nothing to her. It was only me. I kissed Bella." Edward confessed, infuriating Sam only more.

Before Sam could do anything, I put myself in between them. It was a stupid move on my part, but if Sam retaliated first, then that meant Edward could do the same thing. I didn't want Sam to get hurt or be in any pain.

"Stop!" I spread my arms to separate them.

"Bella, get out of the way. It's dangerous-" Edward warned me, but Sam cut him off.

"Don't tell her what to do, bloodsucker!"

"Sam, I said stop! If this ends up in a fight, one of you could get badly hurt. I don't want that to happen to you, Sam." I was talking to both of them, but my eyes were only focused on him.

It was like my presence, and words calmed him down. His heavy and angry breathing slowed down, and even his body looked less tense. Anyone could easily see the impact I have on Sam."Amazing," Edward said to himself. "You managed to tame the dog-"

"Watch it!" Sam threatened, being offended by the term. He buffed his chest out in intimidation, but I put my hand on him.

"Please, relax," I whispered softly. Then I loudly spoke to them. "Yes, Edward did kiss me, but I stopped him and called you. Now what I want is for you to take me home."

"I will, Bella," He promised and pulled me to his side. His strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me close to his side, not intending to let go of me. Sam gave a nasty glare to Edward, had a hostile posture, and spoke in a menacing bass. "If you continue to pursue my Bella, your body will get burned to ashes. Do you hear me?"

"Crystal," Edward answered, unafraid.

"I'll tell the teacher what happened, and he'll make us work solo or with another partner," I told him and walked away with Sam to his car.

The car ride was silent until he drove me home. Before we both got out, I couldn't move because all I thought of was Edward's cold lips on mine.

"Are you okay?" Sam asked me with worry and concern. He put his warm hand on the side of my face to have me look at him.

"Not really," I honestly answered. "I can still feel...his lips on me. They're like ice."

Sam's eyes beamed along with a playful smirk and a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows. "Want me to warm you up?"

"Yes, please," I answered desperately and grabbed his face to pull him closer to my lips so I could feel his warmth. Both of his hands cradled my face, too, holding me as if I'm fragile.

There was his hot and warm mouth that I needed.

After kissing for I didn't know how long, we stopped to catch our breaths. Our foreheads rested against each other. I was elated to be with Sam again, in his arms.

Edward got way too close and comfortable and kissed me. I would still kiss Sam forever to get the feeling of Edward's lips off of me. We'd do that some more later, but right now, I felt like it's time to let Charlie know about the truth of this world.

That vampires and werewolves were living among us. He should know who his daughter really is dating and about the certain family I go to school with.

But I have to check with Sam if he's alright with having my father know.

"Sam, I have something to tell you."

"So do I," Sam said, surprising me.

"Oh, well, you go first." I smiled softly at him. My arms snaked around his neck, and his big hands held my waist.

"I've only thought about this before, but now after what happened to you. What... what he did to you," Sam said 'he' with so much hatred against Edward. I didn't blame him. I didn't want to imagine what could've happened if Sam didn't imprint on me and Edward used his vampire powers to lure me closer to him. "This should happen much sooner. You're at school with him and his family every day, and I always worry about you being around them. It aggravates my wolf too to no end that we're not closer to you to protect you. That's my job as your mate, your imprint, your alpha."

"You're like my guardian alpha, basically?" A smile danced across my lips at the sound of that, liking it.

Sam chuckled. "If you want to call it that then yes. I am."

"What do you suggest to keep me safe away from the Cullens?" I asked curiously, wanting to know his plan. "Edward told me that he and his family have powers. He can read people's minds like yours. But not mine. I don't know what the rest of his family's powers are."

"Really?" He stated as if to jot that down as a mental note. "I'll definitely remember his, that's for sure. Anyway, I thought that you could live with me in La Push," Sam answered, making my eyes widen.

We just started our relationship. Didn't even go on our first date yet. Charlie didn't really know about him. Sam's idea seemed so sudden, so rushed. But I wouldn't lie that it did sound appealing. That I wanted to live with him right away.

"Live with you?" I was stunned, not out of fear, but out of shock.

"I know it may sound we're moving way too fast, but it's a better way I can protect you. You're with me all the time." Sam sounded earnest like he wanted it more than anything.

"I'm not sure how that's going to fly with Charlie. He doesn't know about us. Not you being a wolf," Then an idea of my own sparked in my head that I remembered from earlier. "We can tell him. He should know the truth about you and the Cullens first, Sam. I wanted to protect him from this, but after what happened with Edward, maybe now is a better time."

"I agree, but I have to ask the council for their permission first. I'll let them know about what you've gone through. Maybe they could give Charlie a pass and we'll let him know that the world isn't what he believes it is."

"Okay. But maybe we can wait for a little on the living together situation," I made a half smile at him. "I'd like to have our first date. We never had that before."

His cocoa colored eyes beamed in interest. "That does sound nice."

"This Saturday."

"I'd like to take you to a bonfire first to hear our stories. We haven't done that yet either. But our first date is a definite yes. Take you to Port Angeles, go out to eat, watch a movie-"

"And maybe take a walk on First Beach?" I eagerly suggested.

"Anything you want." Sam leaned his head closer to me and started to kiss my neck. I felt his mouth trail up to meet my lips.

Fire was better than ice.

Author's Note: I was going to have Charlie know in this chapter, but changed my mind because it got too long so I want to save it for the next one. Hope you enjoy this and please leave a review! :)