A/N: First off Merry Christmas to everyone. This can be my gift to you. It is chapter 3 and chapter 4 will be up shortly. Hope this story is well worth your time. I have been putting a lot of effort into these chapters and have been working really hard on them to make them seem like they are coming from Bella's perspective. By the way, I love all the little guess that keep coming up in the reviews, but unfortunately, none of them are completely right. If you are POSITIVE you know what they are, please keep it yourselves and don't ruin it for everyone else. I plan to finally tell you what they are either in the next chapter or chapter 5.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight. The Twilight Saga respectively belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

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Learning to Breathe

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Chapter 3

Scars

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My eyes were still closed as I awoke from a vivid dream about the night before. I didn't sleep very well. Too preoccupied about what would happen at school today and what had happened last night. I could feel cold arms wrapped around my shoulder and laying across my stomach. Edward had stayed in bed with me the entire night. Probably too worried about what I thought I was. I opened my eyes to see that Edward was still wearing the same clothes from before I drifted asleep. That meant that he hadn't gone home yet.

"Morning. Did you sleep well?" he asked me.

I still felt a little groggy from just waking up. "Yeah." I lied, "What time is it?" It wasn't bright outside. Was it still raining from last night? I quickly glanced at the clock. Nope. It was 5 in the morning. I groaned. School didn't start for a couple of hours and I wanted to go back to bed, but, I don't think I could.

"Charlie's up already and he's making coffee." informing me of my dad's whereabouts in the house.

I didn't realize that my head was right next to his, until I turned my face and saw his eyes an inch from mine. I stared at them for a little while. It was always nice to wake up and see his welcoming gaze staring back at me.

He pulled his chin up and kissed me on the forehead, "Something came up because he normally doesn't get up this early." And he was right. Charlie normally left just before I had to leave for school.

"Has he come in yet?" Normally I would find out that Charlie had come in and checked on me when he woke up.

"No." If he did ever come in when Edward was here all Edward would have to do is quickly jump out the window and into the forest like he always did.

"I wonder what he would think if he ever caught you in the same bed as me?" I teased him.

"He would probably start home schooling you and tell you that you can't date or see your boyfriend ever again."

"Little does he know, that said boyfriend, sneaks into my room every night and stays in the same bed as me." I couldn't say sleep because, technically, Edward never slept.

He pulled the corner of his mouth up into that playful grin and all I could do was stare at him, "Well, let's hope he doesn't get suspicious."

I smiled at his teasing attitude this morning. He leaned his face down to press his lips to mine. My hand curled up and cupped the back of his neck; pulling him closer to me. His hand rested on my shoulder and he gently pushed me back and separated our kiss.

"Your dad just left, which means," he rolled over and placed his feet on the floor. Rising to his feet he turned around to face me, "I need to go home to change and get ready for school."

I knew that he needed to go change but, I didn't know if it like the fact that he was leaving me…unprotected. I nodded reluctantly and scooted over to the side of the bed. I glanced back at the clock again. 5:45 am. I mentally sighed. I wasnot a morning person.

Edward made his way over to the window and sat on the ceil, "I'll meet you at school." Then he was gone.

Walking over to the window I half expected him to still be in the yard. But e was already long gone. He must've wanted to talk to his family again. That was the only reason I could think of for why I was the one driving myself to school.

I leaned back and pulled the window to shut it. Then started getting ready for school.

* * *

I pulled my old red Chevy in the same spot I normally parked in when I drove myself on those rare occasions. Normally, there would be a shiny, silver, Volvo parked next to it. Guess he wasn't here yet.

It was too cold to get out and I didn't feel like going into the building this early. I yanked my bag into my lap and drew out my math book to begin studying today's lesson. I didn't quite understand it. Maybe -- if Edward would allow it -- Katie would tutor me. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing.

Katie, I thought. She didn't seem to frighten me anymore. Not that I was scared of her in the first place, but, Jessica was right. There was something about her.

I jumped when my door flung open. Edward was there holding it. I quickly shoved my book in my backpack and hopped out. I hadn't even realized that the parking lot was starting to fill up. My thoughts must've been keeping me from the outside world, because I didn't even hear the purring of Edward's car pull up right next to me.

I looked around the lot and found what I was looking for. A fairly large group of kids huddled around each other; laughing. However, Katie, Nic, and Raven, were not with them. Were they staying home today? Or did they have to calm Nic down after yesterday?

Edward leaned down to my ear, "Don't worry about them." he whispered, "Carlisle says they aren't a threat to us." I could tell that he really didn't want me to worry, but, he didn't say anything about himself.

"Oh!" Alice breathed. I hadn't even realized that she was standing next to us.

Me and Edward both turned to face her. She was staring past us like she was in a daze. She was looking into the future.

"What, Alice?" I asked. "What do you see?"

She snapped back to this world and stared at Edward, "Try it."

He nodded once and looked in the direction of the group, then smiled.

"What's going on?" I raised my voice, I hated when they had these silent conversations that kept me out.

"I can read their minds." He told me and I could tell through his tone of voice that he felt relieved. "And Alice can see their futures."

I looked to Alice, "Really?"

She smiled at me, "Yep. Crystal clear."

"Well, what are they thinking about?" I glanced back to Edward.

"Mostly about the movie they watched last night and how great Ella's breakfast was."

"Who's Ella?"

"The house maid. Hmmm…now Kacey is wondering where the others are. Saying that they just had to inform Chuck of their night."

Now back to Alice, "What do you see?"

"Well, I see that…Ugh." she shoved her hand to her forehead.

"Alice?" I asked, walking to her side.

Just then, a loud, powerful, roaring sound came up the parking lot. It was a midnight blue, Ford Mustang. It was Katie's car. The Mustang parked next to the Charger and Katie, Nic, and Raven got out. Katie was shutting her door and had her eyes on us. I could've swore that, for a second, her eyes flickered to a different color. A brighter gold, then faded back to normal.

"I can't see their future anymore." Alice said out loud. All I did was stare at her.

"And I cant read their minds." Edward said through gritted teeth.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked through stutters.

"I mean it just stopped." He looked troubled now. And worried.

The bell rang to head for our first hour class and we headed to the buildings.

I was in awe. Both Edward and Alice could use their abilities on them, then…they couldn't. I racked my brain for an explanation. But, none seemed to suit. Edward told us what they were thinking and then Alice was going to tell us what she saw, then the Mustang pulled up, and…wait!

The Mustang! I exclaimed in my head. Katie, Nic, and Raven weren't around when Edward and Alice were probing their minds and futures, then they show up and everything comes to a halt. Could it be possible that one of them was causing this? Was it even probable? I mean…I've seen weirder things. Two questions popped in my head and I needed to find the answers to them; Who was it? And how were they doing it? I'd have to tell Edward about my theory later. Right now it was class time. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate on schoolwork.

Me and Edward walked to Chemistry while Alice took her hall to Spanish. Once in the class we took our seats next to each other and opened our books.

"I didn't realize that he was in this class." Edward whispered towards me.

I looked up to him, "Who?"

He motioned towards the door, "Kacey."

I watched as the red head said 'hi' to the kids that waved to him. He sat at the front of the room, luckily, away from us. I didn't want Edward getting frustrated and starting a scene. Kacey didn't seem like he was anything like Nic or Katie. In fact it was hard to tell that him and Katie were siblings. They looked nothing alike. Actually, now that I thought of it -- none of them looked like they were related. I thought that Katie and Nic were. But they told Jess that they were around the same age -- Katie being only a couple of months older than Nic.

Above all, Kacey seemed, well…normal. A normal human being.

Chemistry was boring. We watched a movie. And everyone in the class was happy because no notes had to be taken. Basically it was a free day. The same would be for tomorrow as we hadn't finished the video. I hardly paid any attention to the movie, too preoccupied with everything that was going on around me. The girls being murdered up in Seattle and Port Angeles. The thing that was in the forest last night. And now this coincidence with Edward and Alice's abilities not working around either Nic, Katie, or Raven.

My next three classes went by slowly too. One always crawled by because Edward didn't have Gym with me. Although, I was happy with this outcome because I didn't want him watching me fall on my face every two seconds. I would end up having a tomato for a head after that class with him in it. Instead I settled with Mike's snide remarks and trying to avoid me when I had the ball. I disliked that I had Gym with him again this year.

I walked into the lunchroom and stood in line with Mike, Jessica, and Ben. This was the hour that I must have been on edge about. I assumed that Edward and Alice had already got their lunches with Mrs. Potter letting them out five minutes earlier than everyone else. She did this everyday. As I guessed, they were already sitting at our table with Eric, Tyler, and Angela, with their 'props' -- as Edward would call them -- laid out in front of them. They were looking at each other and to others it might look like they were having a staring contest but, I knew what they were really doing.

I got my lunch and paid for it and the register. Edward glanced up at me as I sat next to him and set my tray down next to his. As routine would have it; he put his arm around my waist. Although today it was a hair tighter.

I glanced around the lunch room and found the Thorndykes and the Scotts at the same table as yesterday but Katie and Nic weren't sitting with them today. I searched for them and saw them sitting at a table that was pretty much vacant besides the two of them. Both of them had their lunches in front of them and were slowly chewing on their food. They seemed to be in deep conversation, sitting across from each other. Occasionally they would glance up at each other and Katie would look like she was ashamed of something she had just mentioned. But the strange thing was…her lips weren't moving. Is it possible to have a conversation without moving your lips? I mean sometimes it looked like Alice and Edward were doing this but their lips would move a little bit every-now-and-then. But hers weren't moving at all. Neither were his.

Katie quickly turned her head slightly and stared in my direction. For once I was actually able to turn my head away. What was it about her stare that gave me the chills?

"Bella?" the arm around my waist shook me slightly.

I looked up to Edward, "Huh?"

"I said, are you okay?"

"Umm…yeah." I had to question myself if that was really the right answer.

"Listen, Alice says that there is supposed to be a thunder storm tonight. Do you want to come?" he smiled slightly and I knew what he meant by the question. There was a storm so that meant that there is going to be a game going on.

I nodded. I always loved watching the Cullens play baseball. Maybe I liked it because I didn't actually have to play but just make sure they didn't cheat. Even though at times it was hard to determine how to make a call. Good thing Esme would help me out.

The rest of the lunch hour continued in silence with the occasional talk of who will be on whose team. We tried to stay away from the topic of that creature that was behind my house. I asked if Alice had seen anything and she said that lately anything she tried look for in the future involving our situation was blurred and sometimes just a blank screen to her. I know what she means on hating how much her family relied on her 'talent' even though sometime it didn't turn out the right way. Now was one of those times that we couldn't rely on it.

Lunch came to an end and I started getting butterflies in my stomach for my next class. Just the same as yesterday; the three of us walked to our classes and separated when the hall came to an end and had to follow the right hallways to our proper classes.

We walked into the classroom and Edward tensed up. Katie was already sitting in her seat. Her head never popped up from her drawing and even though she didn't see us come in, I somehow knew she knew we were already in the class. Edward was walking behind me a few feet giving me some space. Probably so he could let me go even if he didn't want to. I took my seat but Edward was standing next to our table looking down at Katie's drawing. She didn't look up but I could tell she knew he was staring at her drawing.

"That's an…interesting drawing." he told her tapping the piece of paper. Was he giving her a compliment?

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It looked like she was trying to do anything to not talk or be close to him. But then she opened her golden eyes and looked up to him, "Thanks."

"Did you make this up?"

"Umm…yeah I get bored easily and draw whatever comes to mind." she told him and looked back down to the drawing.

"What color is it supposed to be?"

Okay what was going on? Why is he asking all of this stuff about her drawing?

"The legs and the tip of the tail are almost black while the body is midnight blue."

"Oh…" he trailed off and went to his seat.

I looked down to it and saw that it was an interesting drawing. No this was an interesting creature. It had what looked like horns on the top of its head and a tail that four spikes on the end. The front legs were fully black while the back legs were only partially and the tip of the tail was black besides the spikes. This creature had long claws that looked like they could do some damage. I couldn't give you an animal to describe it by because there really wasn't one.

Katie went back to working on her drawing but when she pulled up her right arm from underneath the table I saw something that made me throw my hands to my mouth. There on the inside of her arm was a long cut that ran up the middle from her wrist to the crease of her elbow. It was a pale pink that stood out from her slightly olive tan. I know that wasn't there yesterday because I would've seen it.

"What's wrong?" she asked me. It didn't seem like she noticed it.

"What happened to your arm?" I asked her pointing to the cut that was starting to look more and more like just a scar. But I know that was not there when she sat down next to me yesterday.

"Oh…" she looked down to her arm like she just realized it was there, "I had a little accident back home. We were packing our stuff for the house here and me and Nic were being reckless in the house and I fell on a glass table, broke the table, and cut my arm." The way she described it seemed like it wasn't a big deal. Like it would be gone tomorrow. Then she looked back at me like she said something wrong, "I'm sorry if it bothers you I'll put my coat on." she told me grabbing for her jacket.

"No it's okay. I'm just not used to seeing others come out of their own house with battle scars." I joked with her. And it was true. I was always the one to trip down a single stair and end up getting stitches. Though, some of my recent scars were not from my own clumsiness, but from the fact that I'm in love with a vampire. The exact vampire that was sitting right behind us, mostly likely listening in on our conversation. This was one of those times that I was happy that he couldn't read my mind.

I pulled up my long sleeve and showed her the little scar that was on the inside of my arm.

"What's the story there?" she asked examining the slight pigmentation of skin.

"Same as you…fell on a glass table, broke it and embedded some glass in my skin." it wasn't a complete lie but there was no way I was telling her the real story behind it.

"Ouch, I guess it's a lot different when you have glass embedded in rather than it just cutting the skin."

Mr. Post walked into the classroom and apologized for being late. We had an activity to do and that we were to pair up with our table partner. The class had to take pulse rates and calculate data from them. I almost laughed out loud when I heard we had to take our pulse. I was wondering how Edward was going to pull this one off…sit there with two fingers in his neck and pretend to count? I'd have to ask him what his answer was at the end of class.

While we were taking pulses me and Katie were talking about her house back home and what everyone is like in her family. She told me that Nic is a great guy that will look out for anyone and puts others before himself. Kacey is a hardhead and stubborn. Also he sometimes looses his temper and gave me a warning to watch out for that. But he sticks to his word and can defend you in the toughest of times. Tyler is one of the smartest kids she has ever met and he loves building things from scratch. Amy is a good friend but can be the type that gets on your nerves a little bit. Katie told me that she gets along with Raven more than Amy but she can get a little carried away with things and sometimes cant be trusted. She told me that she was adopted and even though Chris isn't her real brother, she would count him as one.

It sounded like everyone was pretty normal considering the fact that they act just like any normal human being. I just had to watch out for Kacey. Although in Chemistry he didn't seem like he was a hothead. But I guess she would know him better than I would.

Math class ended and the time seemed to fly by with how much information Katie was giving me.

"I'll see you next class I have to go find Nic." she told me stuffing her books into her bag and tossing it over her shoulder.

"Alright." I answered her as I was still packing my supplies.

"I don't trust her."

I looked up and Edward was staring out the door after Katie.

"Be nice." I encouraged him, "She doesn't seem all that bad…once you get to know her." I was pretty sure he had already heard our conversations and I was trying to get him to let up a little.

"That maybe so, but we still have to keep a close eye on them." he informed me looking back down to me.

I was ready and we headed off to English.

When school finished me and Edward walked to his car and he leaned against it. Alice wasn't with us. Her class got in trouble and had to stay five minutes late.

"So are you going to ask Charlie if you can come tonight?" Edward asked me like he was trying to persuade me to say yes.

I caved into his charm, "Yeah…I'll have to make something he loves for dinner. What time will it hit?"

"Around six. I'll pick you up at 5:30."

"That's good because I have a theory about why you and Alice ran into that obstacle this morning. I can't mention it here and I want to know what Carlisle thinks of it." I told him looking around the lot to see if the class was let out yet.

"Alright." he told me then his eyebrows shot up, "Didn't you have a theory that Katie and Nic might be dating?"

I had to think for a second, "Yeah. Why?"

He grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to face a certain direction, "Look."

I looked and found what he wanted me to find. Katie had her back to the Mustang and Nic had his hands on her hips. Pulling her close to him. Katie had her arms around his neck forcing his face to hers. They were kissing. They broke apart and Nic leaned his forehead to hers. Now I saw what everyone saw with me and Edward.

"Get a room you two!" someone shouted about eight feet away. It was Kacey. The rest of the Thorndykes and Scotts were following behind.

Nic took his hands off her hips and turned to face Kacey. Nic punched Kacey on the arm and it looked like it was a friendly gesture but it sure didn't sound like one. He just rubbed his arm up and down and they all started getting into their own cars. The Mustang pulled out first then the Charger.

I faced Edward again who was watching the two vehicles exit the lot, "Well, that's one theory proven right."

He looked down at me and smiled, "5:30?"

I smiled back at him and nodded, "5:30." I answered him, "Should I bring a coat?"

"Nope you wont need a coat it's going to be pretty warm actually." Alice said from behind us.

"Okay, I'll see you guys later." I waved 'bye' to them and headed for my truck. Edward and Alice pulled out before I did and I followed behind them down the lot.

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A/N: Of course I had to add the famous vampire baseball game in the story.

Okay, I added the picture that Katie drew and it can be found on my DeviantArt here: .com/art/Katie-s-Drawing-107495807

Thanks for reading guys and giving me all the support. Merry Christmas and have a safe and wonderful holiday.