Did she have to ogle? My snide remark was swift, shocking Edward and myself. It was completely unprompted and even a bit hypocritical as I felt compelled to stare into those doe eyes from across the cafeteria. The way her mahogany hair fell down her back in soft, natural curls begged my hand to run through it. I sent a quick look to my brother, silently asking him to keep his mouth shut, something he struggled with. He gave a curt nod, a way of promising to obey my wishes.
My feet had started to carry me out of the cafeteria before the bell even rang to signal lunch's end. I had to get away from the Swan girl, her scent was too much for me. English was a sanctuary in the moment, a completely different building from Biology, which I had learned she shared with my brother. The poor girl. While I knew that Edward meant well, his execution of kindness almost always happened to feel more like an invasion of privacy. God help the next person who gets asked if they play any instruments.
While I was normally unperturbed in my self control around humans, Bella Swan caused me to falter. Her strawberry scent was undeniably unique, more natural than the other girls at Forks High School, whose vigorous amounts of perfume were enough to make my nose burn. And not in the good way. I found myself casually sniffing the air, if not just to see which building she was in, what class. It wasn't like I was going to follow her anywhere, her scent was simply intoxicating. That goes without mentioning the scent of her blood, which made my mouth pool with venom at the thought. She was simply a delicious smelling candle, burning to the wick for the smell, with no regard to her.
It was stupid for me to even consider talking to the Swan girl. Even thinking about her caused a fiery chain reaction of my predator senses. I would smell her out, her scent was much stronger than anyone else's, and then I could hear her heartbeat thumping! loudly over everyone's voices. Her voice was quiet, yet her heart was strong. That quickly reminded me that she was human, with a family, and a future. Yet, here I was, thinking about how warm her skin would feel, her blood. What made Bella Swan so different? I had never felt this sense of unease before. Had she done it, ruined my years of intolerance towards blood? In one day?
After my last class of the day, I was making my way into the office. Esme had given the ladies in the office her "small-town famous brownies" and wanted me to make sure they enjoyed them (and get her pan back). Upon entry, I heard that loud heartbeat again, and I smiled. She was trying to get out of her Biology class. Good for her, Edward's a bit strange.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Swan, all of the other classes are full," Debbie said sympathetically. Even as gently as I opened the door, it still creaked with a haunting sense of old. Esme would definitely want to redecorate the office, and she'd do it free of charge. I would have to propose the idea.
"Just have to endure it then." She hadn't meant for anyone to hear it, though, it's not like I had much of a choice. Bella brushed past me, hair and eyes tamely wild. Her breathing was uneasy, like she had been unsteady but trying to calm down. Yet her heart was louder than ever when her shoulder touched mine, a simple caress of skin even on her sweater clad arm. It was chilling, even as warm as she had been.
I was quick in my conversation with the office ladies, also making sure I had secured Esme's brownie pan. The rain never stopped in Forks, and that day was no different. Edward was waiting beside his Volvo, an angry look on his face.
"She has a life Rose! A family!" He was loud and clear, despite that no one could hear him without our sensitive ears.
"You think I don't know that?!"
"I think you need to stay away from her." He was curt, and it bothered me that he thought he could be Carlisle, making decisions for me. Was there something about me that men just thought they could control? I would not be easily manipulated, especially not by Mr. Spanish Influenza.
"You know I can't do that, Edward!" My finger was so harshly dug into his chest that a small crack could be heard. His look caused me to get a grip on my thoughts, I knew he had figured it out.
His anger dissipated, "She's not-"
"You don't know that," I interrupted him, then turned away, walking to my car.
Bella had left the parking lot, her truck could be heard from five miles away. I peeled out of the parking lot, a streak of red among silver and black. The drive home was quiet, and the trees watched as I made the decision that I could not be around Bella Swan when she came into school the next day.
Alice and Tanya helped me pack my bags for Denali, the closest family we had. Carlisle and Esme supported me in my venture, completely ignorant of the effect Bella Swan had on me. Edward praised my decision, my mental screaming effectively blocking him from seeing the truth behind it. Truth was, I knew I had to take my time with Bella. She would be too vulnerable, fragile. If it should happen, her codependence could kill us both. I craved her and needed her. It wasn't just her blood that beckoned me, I wanted normality, and Bella could provide that. She could be the walk in the park love I had always wanted. I felt a pull to the swan, and knew that Edward was wrong. Bella was mine, which made me indefinitely hers.
