Edward's POV:
In a word, addicted. I was addicted to the smell of her blood. There was absolutely no escaping that fact. It just smelled so mouth-wateringly good… maybe if after school I get her alone I could— No! I'm not going to touch her. But how can pathetic and ordinary Bella Swan make me feel this way? It made no sense whatsoever. She just came here yesterday. How could she have that much of an effect on me?
Maybe I could leave Forks. Never seeing her again might help. But where could I go? I wouldn't be able to…
That's when a heard a knock on my door. 'I wonder if he's okay…' Her thoughts read.
"Come in." I mumbled, sitting at my desk with my math book in front of me.
"Hi, Edward." She said, smiling.
At least she was trying to be polite.
"Hello, Morgan." I said, not looking up from my homework.
She swallowed. "Is anything wrong? You seem kind of troubled." She said.
"Oh? I did? I see. Well, I apologize for making you think I'm upset. Which I'm not, of course. Just a stressful day." I said, looking up.
"I heard there's a new girl in your Biology class. Is that true?"
Great. Alice probably sent her to check up on me since she didn't want to because her pride was hurt from tactless comment earlier. I stiffened.
"Yes."
"And that her name is Bella Swan?" she inquired.
I started feeling slightly irritated that she was asking me all of these intimidating questions. Everyone assumes that I'm angry. But the truth is that I'm feeling the exact opposite. I'm nervous.
"Where are you going with this Morgan?" I asked, a little more harshly than I should.
She looked down, a terrified look on her face.
"I'm sorry if I'm prying, Edward. It's just that, everyone is so worried about you. You locked yourself up here… and I wanted to make sure you were okay."
'Why is he acting like this? Did something happen to him or what?' her thoughts said.
I sighed. "Okay. I'm sorry if I sound angry at you, Morgan. It's really been a tiring day, though. And…I have some homework I have to finish." I said.
She nodded. "Well, if you need to talk to me about anything, I'll be in my room. Bye." She said, walking out of my room.
"Goodbye." I mumbled, looking back at my homework.
It was going to be a long night.
Alice's POV:
I finished my Trig homework and shut the book rather loudly, indicating that I was done.
"Alice?"
I recognized the voice.
"Come in, Morgan." She walked in and sat on my designer table's chair. "What do you need? Any advice? Anything?" I asked, smiling at her.
"I talked to Edward." She said, swallowing hard.
"You did?" My head shot up from my desk table. "What did he say? Anything about Bella Swan?"
She shook her head. "No. He said that he was sorry if he seemed angry but he wasn't." she replied.
"Oh. Well that's no help… darn it Edward. Could you ever admit what you're feeling to anyone but yourself?" I said softly through my teeth.
"What?" Morgan asked, looking at me with a confused face.
"Oh, nothing!" I said sweetly. "Ooh, Morgan. I almost forgot to remind you, after school today, Esme, you, and me are all going to shop for clothes in—get this—Seattle!" she said excitedly.
"Really?" she asked unenthusiastically.
"Yeah. It's going to be so much fun!!" I said, grinning. I have all the stores picked out. And, if you have any favorites, when can go there, too."
"Is Rosalie coming?" She asked dubiously.
"No. She didn't feel up to it today." I explained.
"Oh." She said her voice crestfallen.
"That's okay, though. She said she'd go with us some other time." I said quickly.
"That's okay, then." She said smiling.
"Well, I'll be in my room." Morgan said walking through the door.
I sighed. What was happening to Edward? Did he hate Bella for some reason?
I groaned in frustration and decided just to try and see if I get a vision.
I closed my eyes, concentrating my full power on Edward. Then on Bella.
Then I saw Edward's face talking to Bella in what seemed to be the Biology lab. They were talking, laughing even, of all things. Edward looked at peace and he was actually having a nice time. I mean, Edward rarely laughed nowadays. I wonder why that is…
I opened my eyes and saw Edward looming over me.
"What were you doing, Alice?" he said coldly. There was malice in his voice.
"Oh," I said looking into Edward's flaming eyes. "Nothing." I said feebly.
He glared at me. "Edward, ever since you came home from school today, you've been in the foulest of moods." I said, returning his look.
"Alice don't pry into my personal life ever again, got it?" he said through his teeth.
I gulped. "W-well okay, I'm sorry!" I said, looking down at my feet.
"Alice, if I tell you can you please not tell anyone else?" he pleaded.
I blinked. "Yeah, sure." I sat up, all ears. He sighed.
"Well, you've obviously seen my abnormal behavior. Bella Swan, the new girl, sits next to me in Biology. When I come near her I…I want to—"
"Drink her blood?" I asked.
"Yes, but the smell of her blood is just so…good. I can't help but think if I got her alone I might… I could…" A pained look was on his face.
"Edward, don't be utterly absurd. You wouldn't hurt a human, and we all know it." I said bluntly.
Edward frowned. "I don't trust myself anymore, Alice." He whispered his eyes sad.
"Oh, Edward." I said, smiling faintly. "You couldn't hurt her." I said. He looked slightly relieved, but still his features were dark and grim. He sat down on the chair across from me.
"I guess I can't run from her forever…" he mumbled. "Just treat her like any other human, Edward." I suggested. He shrugged, his expression was unreadable. "I'll try." He murmured.
I smiled. "Well, I have an English Report to write, so…"
"Of course." He said, standing up.
"I'm sorry." I said, wishing we had more time to talk.
"No, Alice. Thank you."
I grinned. "Don't mention it."
He walked out. I groaned, pulling out my English book. A 5,000 word essay. Great. But, at least I'd have all night to do it. While I was writing, I wasn't paying much attention to the words I wrote. I was thinking about Bella Swan.
I wondered if maybe Edward wouldn't be able to keep his mental restraint on his senses. Because if he didn't… it would be unfortunate for all of us in the long run. Especially Edward.
Morgan's POV:
The morning passed; boring and uneventful. Alice and the others went to school, leaving Esme and I alone in the house. She was outside while I watching an Oprah rerun I wasn't even listening to. Finally, at three, Alice burst into the living room.
"HE'S GONE!"
"Huh?" I said, turning off the TV.
"Esme!" Alice cried.
"What is it, dear?" she asked calmly.
Alice took a deep breath. "Edward's gone!"
Esme looked shocked.
"He ditched school today and we haven't seen him since!"
Alice's POV:
*Earlier*
"Edward?" I asked, looking at him before he walked out the door to go to school. He seemed kind of anxious.
"Yes, Alice?" he asked.
"Good luck today." I said sincerely, remembering his little problem last night.
"Er…thanks Alice." He walked off without another word.
*Now*
That's why he was acting like that earlier. He was planning to leave! I sighed. I flopped into a chair, concentrating deeply.
"Be careful, Alice." Jasper cautioned me. I nodded.
I saw Edward, driving his Volvo up a driveway. I gasped when I saw the familiar house.
I opened my eyes. "Where is he, Alice?" Esme asked.
"Carlisle is coming." I heard Rose say.
"He's in Alaska." I said.
"Where in Alaska?" Carlisle asked, walking in. During all the chaos, Morgan just sat on the couch, her face frozen in sheer terror. I swallowed. "At Tanya's."
Carlisle sighed.
"Does anyone know why he went there?" Carlisle asked. I stood up. 'Sorry, Edward.' I thought.
I turned to Carlisle. "I know why." I answered.
Carlisle looked expectant.
"There was this new girl named Bella Swan—Chief Swan's daughter—who transferred into Edward's Biology class. He told me her blood smelled so appealing to him that if he was ever alone with her, he might hurt her. I guess Bella's blood just got too much for him so…he ran away." I explained.
Carlisle's face became clouded. "I guess, we'll just have to wait and have him return to us in his own time." He said sadly.
"But, Carlisle! Shouldn't we at least go and—" I began to say. He held up a hand, silencing me.
"Alice he has to figure out for himself where he truly belongs." His eyes were sad.
I sighed. "Fine… but can we at least call Tanya to make sure he was okay?" I asked.
Carlisle smiled. "I think that would be alright."
Edward's POV:
I looked at Tanya who had gone to answer the phone.
"Edward?" she called, holding up the phone. "It's for you." She explained.
I sighed and shook my head.
Tanya frowned at me. "I'm sorry, he doesn't really feel up to it right now." She said softly. "Yes. I understand. Thank you, Carlisle." She hung up.
She sat on the arm chair across from me in the living room.
"Edward. You should at least tell them you're alright. Carlisle sounded worried sick about you." Tanya said with sad eyes.
"I…just can't right now…" I muttered.
An amused smile formed in her lips. "Are you saying you're too weak to call them?" she asked, trying to provoke me enough to call them back.
I frowned. "Yes, I am Tanya. I don't know why Carlisle ever accepted me into his family." I said, scowling.
"Edward… now tell me exactly what happened." She demanded.
I told her all about my current predicament.
She sat wide eyed at my story. "Wow…" she murmured.
"You see? That's why I can't go back. Not now. Not ever." I said.
"Edward, you should go back." She advised.
"Just for 2 more days? Please?" I begged.
She smirked. "Well, since you are my favorite, I will let you." She said.
"Thanks so much, Tanya." I said, gratefully.
*2 days later*
"Edward." Tanya said.
"Yes?" I asked.
"You know what time it is now."
I put down my Wuthering Heights copy and looked at Tanya.
I sighed. "Yes. Of course…"
"I'll get packed up right away." I promised.
"Good. They'll be waiting for you, I'm sure." She replied.
Morgan's POV:
We were all gathered around Alice in the living room where she was sitting on a chair.
Alice opened her eyes in a flutter.
"He's coming home!" she squealed.
Esme sighed with relief.
"How soon?" I asked.
"About ten minutes, max." Alice said.
"That's great!" Carlisle said, obviously overjoyed.
Carlisle started to pace the room and we all held out breath—if we had any—waiting to hear the screech of tires in the driveway.
When we finally heard a noise, Carlisle stopped pacing and stared anxiously out the window.
He walked in, smiling apologetically.
"Edward!" Esme cried, pulling him into a hug. Which of course, Alice joined.
"Don't you ever do that again!" Alice said severely.
Edward chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I won't." he vowed.
"Good." Rosalie smiled.
The two girls let go of him, smiling.
"Welcome home." Carlisle said, smiling.
"Yeah." Jasper said.
"It's not fun teasing the girls when you're not around." Emmett mockingly complained.
Edward grinned.
I stayed silent. I never really knew Edward really well, so I was worried if I said something he might feel uncomfortable.
Edward smiled at me. "And I hope we can be friends, Morgan." He said.
I smiled back.
"Me, too, Edward."
So, all in all, a perfect, happy ending. But things may turn out differently in the future….