This is increadibly long. Sorry about that, as i said, i'm trying to follow the book but i have a feeling that that won't last much longer. Updates will probably be slower because CHRISTMAS, the best holiday ever. Once again, probably OOC and i appreciate constructive critasism instead of flames. R&R
The characters and plot and dialouge belong to Stephanie Meyer not me. Which is unfortunate because this is the best book possibly ever written.
I would suggest listening to Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie or Jack Johnson (mainly jack johnson) for this because they are so mellow it's awesome
Open Book
I drove all night, never stopping except at the Canadian boarder. I quickly showed my passport to the woman, itching to just drive though the barrier. I blocked out the crude thoughts of me coming from her mind. Sometimes I thought the charm I held over people, women in particular was a burden especially combined with my other abilities. I shook that thought out of my head. My existence was a burden on humanity. My kind was an unnatural species that could have only come from the deepest pits of hell. We lived on the life giving liquid that humans needed to survive. Unfortunately, we needed that scarlet juice every bit as much as they did. Carlisle had come up with an alternate way of living, if that's what you could call it, and for that I was grateful. I didn't want to be the hideous beast that I had become so many years ago. When the lady finally released me into Canada I drove away, fully knowing that I was about the break the speed limit. I didn't care. I just needed to get to the fresh mountains in Alaska. Then maybe I could think clearly.
I drove well into the day, finally reaching my destination at dusk and breaking several speed limits along the way. I parked the car in the driveway of Tanya's house and stared at the large wooden house. It looked more like an oversized log cabin than a place that housed five vampires.
I sigh, frustrated with myself and not knowing why. I took the key out of the ignition and opened the door. It was good thing that I would resist the cold because I forgot my jacket in my car. The bitter wind whipped my face but I barely felt it. I slammed the door, knowing that it would probably alert Tanya, and grudgingly walked up the house. My light footsteps made little indentations on the newly fallen snow. I took a deep breath of the cold mountain air and little by little, I felt my worries slip away.
"Edward!" Tanya yelled. She squealed and rushed down to meet me with a hug. I wasn't in the mood but I hugged her back quickly and then pulled away. She quickly brushed back her straight strawberry blonde hair and gave me a brilliant smile. "So, are you finally going to take me up on my offer?" She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"No," I said forcefully. Even though Tanya was several years older than me, she still acted like a hormone struck teenage girl. She had made it clear to me on my last visit that she wanted to make our relationship to be more than friends. I politely told her no but she seemed to think that there was still a chance. I had never met anyone who could stir those feelings for me. "I just need to stay here a while," I explained.
Emotions flitted across her face, anger, hurt, she finally settled on confusion. "Why is that?" She asked gently.
I sigh. I really didn't want to go into the whole story right now, especially with Tanya. I thought of ways to explain to her but they all involved more questions. "It's a long story," I said quietly. "If you don't mind, could I go get something to eat? It's been a very long journey." She nodded, unsure of what to say. I smiled in gratitude and ran off into the forest, glad that I could finally run as fast as I wanted.
I quickly picked up the scent of a grizzly bear and changed directions. I needed something as big and fierce as a grizzly right now. Something to take my anger out on. What I was angry about was beyond me. I could be that Isabella Swan had just chased me away from my family or even the pent up frustration that I couldn't hear her thoughts. It annoyed me greatly that I couldn't hear what she was thinking, to have to rely on facial expression alone was something that I hadn't done in over eighty years.
I slowed down as I reached the end of the trail and got closer to the grizzly bear. I could see it through the dense undergrowth of premature fir trees and barren deciduous trees. I crept up closer crouching down into an attacking stance. Just as the grizzly turned around, sensing something or someone was there; I leapt up from my hiding place. The grizzly reared, going up on his hind paws until it was over four feet taller than me. I snarled in response.
Suddenly, the grizzly swiped at me with its giant claw, I sidestepped in the blink of an eye and attacked, the bear didn't stand a chance. I felt my razor sharp teeth slide into its neck and the warmth of the fresh sustaining liquid coating my mouth and dripping down my throat. The bear made one last attempt to dislodge me from it's jugular but finally, it fell in defeat and gave one last groan of protest.
Once I finished, my thirst had still not been quenched. I gave one last look at the corpse of the bear and fled in the opposite direction. I wandered until I caught the scent of a heard of deer. Not my favorite and no fun but I was thirsty and in need of another drink. I bounded after them, not stopping to get into position like I had before. I leapt out of the bush and attacked the nearest buck. The rest of the deer ran away in fear, leaving in poor buck in my grasp.
I disposed of the deer like I had the bear and started to make my way back to the house, my thirst quenched…for now. Instead of running, I took it slow. Walked for a while and basked in the refreshing mountainous landscape. My thoughts once again went back to Bella Swan and the delicious scent that my body craved. My brow furrowed. 'How could one girl ruin my happiness? Run me away from those who I love, my brothers and sisters, Carlisle and Esme…' my dead heart lurched when I thought of Esme. How this must be killing her. She really thought of me as her own son. 'How weak am I?' was the question that kept repeating itself in my mind, over and over.
I started to run as fast and as hard as I could back to the house. Tanya was there to greet me, she must have heard me coming. I inwardly winced. 'Here come the questions.'
"So, why are you here Edward?" She asked casually. She was perched on a wicker chair on the porch, her eyes stared me down. I walked slowly out of the woods and into the moonlight. I could see she wasn't going to settle for a vague answer.
"I had to get away before I revealed my family," I admitted. Her eyes widened, wanting more information. "There was a girl with a very strong scent," I said casually, giving her as little information as possible. She seemed to accept that as she nodded in response.
"You can have the guest room for as long as you need it." She said.
"Thank you," I replied, truly grateful. "But I'm hoping to go back soon." I had made up my mind in the forest. I was going back and I was going to overcome this minor obstacle.
"Do you need me to show you where it is…?" She trailed off.
"No, thank you. I think I just need to be alone." She nodded and I made my way into the house.
I didn't stop to observe the house like I normally do. I just made my way to the mahogany stairs and walked to the guest room. There was no bed, of course but there was a nice burgundy couch facing a rather large window on the north side. The shelves were stacked with books but I ignored them and sat down on the couch. I closed my eyes and tried to think of a plan
I don't know how much time had passed but by the time I opened my eyes, the sun was just starting to peak over the trees. I had come up with a solution that might work but it was the only thing I could think of that would reunite me with my family.
I would stay here for the rest of the day, calm my nerves and at twilight I would start to drive back to Forks. It would be Sunday by the time I got back and it would give me more time to calm down. Her smell was probably just appealing because I was thirsty and I was probably overreacting. I took a deep breath in. After being so consumed by my thoughts for hours, I needed a break from my mind.
I got up off the couch and made my way down the stairs. Tanya was the only one in the house from what I could tell and she was sitting on the couch, deep in thought.
What is wrong with me? Why doesn't he like me? I hope he's okay. He's been up there for a long time. I should go check on him…
"Tanya, I'm fine. I just needed some time to think." I said, answering her thoughts. She sigh in relief and twisted herself on the couch to face me.
"And what are you going to do?" She asked.
"I was hopping to intrude on your hospitality for just the rest of the day. I need to get back to my family." I explained, hoping she wouldn't be hurt by my short stay.
"What about that girl?" She sniffed in disgust at the word girl. She was obviously jealous. It was my turn to sigh.
"I was probably just overreacting," I explained patiently. "I was very thirsty." She nodded in understanding. I looked around at the empty house and finally registered that everyone else was gone. I went over and sat on the chair opposite to Tanya. "Where is everyone?" I asked casually. I didn't really want to be in a house alone with someone who was lusting after me.
"They're hunting polar bears in Manitoba. We've been having a decline in grizzly bears this season. I decided I was okay with deer for a while, it's a good thing I did." She smiled. I inwardly winced at the thought of the grizzly I killed yesterday.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Tanya and I just sat and watched television. My thoughts were far away from the trivial meandering on a daytime soap opera. My thoughts were about Bella Swan. The way her delicate skin blushed when I looked at her for the first time….
The sun finally set behind the thick clouds that had formed around noon. As I got up, Tanya stood as well.
"Thank you for having me," I said somewhat lamely.
"Anytime," she flashed a grin, the white of her teeth seeming to give her skin a bit of colour. "I hope you stop by again, it was nice having you here." You can come by anytime that everyone isn't here, I can think of some fun things to do… I pushed the thoughts of her mentally undressing me out of my mind and put on a false smile.
I walked to the door and waved. "I'll see you later." I walked out the door and towards my car, as fast as I could go. By the time I put the key in the ignition, Tanya was at the door, waving me goodbye. I nodded my head in acknowledgment and turned the car around. Within seconds, the trees were flying by and I was on my way home.
There was nothing to distract me from the thoughts in my head. Carlisle didn't have music in his car and the radio mostly played the annoying beats of rap that I hated so much. I watched the speedometer go past 140 and I pushed the gas a little more. There were no police in the area and I had a craving to go fast. And it would get me home sooner.
I arrived at home late the next day. I slammed the car door once again to alert everyone of my presence. In seconds, Alice came flying out the door and took me in a sisterly embrace. I hugged her back with all my might.
"I missed you," she admitted. I let a laugh escape my lips.
"And I you," I replied. She smiled and dragged me inside. Esme also greeted me with a hug. "I'm sorry mom." I mumbled. "I didn't know what else to do." She pulled back and a smile danced around her mouth.
"You did the right thing." She smiled. I'm just glad to have you home.
"I'm glad to be home." She let me go and I walked into the living room to see Emmett and Rosalie cuddled up on the couch. Alice still clung to my side.
"Hey Edward." Emmett said without looking up from the video game he was playing. Rosalie ignored me. She seemed to be falsely focused on the screen.
I can't believe you ran away from a silly little girl.
I looked down, ashamed of myself. "I was thirsty and she had a somewhat appetizing scent." I said, trying to convince myself every bit as much as I was trying to convince her. "It won't happen again. I'll just need to feed more often." She nodded.
"I'm glad your home," she admitted stiffly. I smiled, content that she wasn't very angry with me.
"Where's Jasper and Carlisle?" I asked Alice.
"Carlisle is a work, but I told him you'd be home tonight. Jasper is out hunting. I told him he needs to feed more often to avoid what could happen in my visions." Alice worried. "He was angry at first, but I reminded him about what he was thinking at lunch and he gave in. He's still a little upset with me."
"He'll forgive you. You're just looking out for him." Alice looked up, hopeful. I smiled reassuringly.
The next day was school. Alice assured me that everything was going to be fine in biology. I trusted her with my life but I went hunting the night before just incase. I could never be too careful. We all got into the Volvo ten minutes before school was going to start. Emmett took his customary seat in the front and the rest of them piled in the back. Jasper was holding Alice's hand, a sure sign that they had made up and Rosalie was looking like a goddess as always. I put the car into drive and sped off to school.
Just as we were arriving, the rain started to turn into snow. Emmett's face split into a huge grin.
Me and you against Jasper…Common Edward, today at lunch?
I couldn't help but smile and I gave a small nod. Everyone always wanted to be on my team for snowball fights. I was the fastest. I looked at Jasper in the rearview mirror and felt a little bit sorry for him. The snow started falling faster and soon everything was dusted with a fine layer of the fluffy white snow.
I parked in our usual spot and got out at the same time as the others. Alice skipped off the class, dragging Jasper along with her; Emmett took Rosalie's hand and began to walk her to her locker. Suddenly, I was alone. I kicked a small pile of snow and walked to my locker then to my first period class.
Math was especially tedious today, my teacher was droning on and on about Calculus while I pretended to take notes.
"Mr. Cullen?" I looked up to find my teacher's face in mine. I leaned back from the smell of the blood pumping in his outstretched neck. "Nice of you to join us." Brilliant boy, if only he applied himself a little more, he could be a prodigy.
"Sorry Mr. Ross." I suppressed an eye roll. "It won't happen again." He gave a funny look when I said that. As he walked away, the bell rang and I quickly got up and packed up my things and left before he could call me back. I ignored the buzz of thoughts around me and walked to my next class.
Remember, Lunch. I heard Emmett mentally tell me. I looked up to see him passing. He gave me a little wink and I smiled, suddenly excited for lunch. Maybe this would help take my mind off things.
The next class was just as boring as the first but this time I managed to look like I was paying attention while I was really going through minds of people around me. It was dull but anything was better than school. When the bell finally rang, I jumped up and got out of class as fast as possible like I had in math.
I dropped my books off at my locker and ran outside to find about a two feet of snow on the ground and Emmett and Jasper holding snowballs. In the blink of an eye, both snowballs had hit their mark, one in my stomach and the other on my shoulder. The force of them both was enough to make me fall down. Jasper was grinning and Emmett was in a full fit of laughter. I quickly formed a snowball in my bare hand. Even the snow felt a little bit warm in the icy hand. I threw the snowball, aiming for Emmett's contorted face. Once the snow hit, the laughter stopped. I could see him trying to make another one in a hurry but I had hit him with another one before he could finish. It was my turn to laugh.
Before long, we had to go inside to 'eat lunch'. Emmett, Jasper and I made our way over to out usual table where Rosalie and Alice were waiting. Jasper sat next to Alice, taking her hand in his. Emmett tried to go give his wife a hug but Rosalie insisted that she didn't want to get her clothes all wet. He shrugged it off and sat down beside her. I took my place at the end of the table, between the two couples. Emmett gave me a sly look.
Watch outI leaned back just as he started to shake out his hair like a shaggy dog. Alice, Jasper, Emmett and I started to laugh but Rosalie pursed her lips, trying to suppress a smile. Emmett kissed her cheek and she grinned, although obviously annoyed that her shirt was wet. I looked around the cafeteria, making sure we weren't drawing too much attention to ourselves, when I saw her. She was looking at us with a peculiar look on her face. She quickly looked away and the delicate pink rose from her neck covering her cheeks. I was still perplexed over why I couldn't read her mind. I continued to look upon her, as if it would help.
"Edward Cullen is staring at you," I heard. That would be Jessica. I should have averted my eyes, but I wanted to figure this mystery out. Why is he staring at her, I look much better today then she does.
"He doesn't look angry, does he?" I once again tried to probe her mind for the reason behind her question only to come up empty handed.
"No. Should he be?" Jessica again. Why does she care, as if she has a chance. I tried to ignore her jealous, spiteful thoughts.
"I don't think he likes me." I felt guilty, it wasn't that I didn't like her, I'm sure she was a very nice person I just wanted her blood more than I wanted to get to know her.
"The Cullens don't like anybody…" is that what people thought of us? I listened more intently. "Well, they don't notice anybody enough to like them. But he's still staring at you." Stupid dumb boy. I finally averted my eyes and mulled over their conversation in my head.
"Edward?" I looked up. The cafeteria was nearly empty. Alice was standing in front of me. "It's almost time for class." Time passed by very fast when I was caught up in my own thoughts.
"Thanks Alice." I smiled. She did so in return and walked away to class. As I was walking to biology, I made a silent vow in my head that I was going to be nice to Bella Swan today. I didn't want her to think that I hated her.
I walked into class, a slight buzzing filled my mind as the thoughts of everyone in the class bombarded my head. Well, everyone but one. My eyes glanced over the room, finally stopping on my lab table and the girl sitting next to my spot. I walked over a pulled out the chair. Her scent hit me as hard as the first day but I wasn't thirsty at all and I sat down as far away from her as the table allowed.
"Hello." I said quietly. I put a small smile on my lips, not wanting to look too scary. "My name is Edward Cullen. I didn't have a chance to introduce myself last week. You must be Bella Swan." I saw confusion flash through her eyes. What I wouldn't give to know what she was thinking.
"How do you know my name?" she stuttered. I laughed at how scared she sounded and the irony of the question. How could I not know her name after every boy in the school was thinking about her on the first day.
"Oh I think everyone knows your name. The whole town's been waiting for you to arrive" She winced.
"No, I meant, why did you call me Bella?" She asked. Confusion spread through me. Hadn't she asked everyone on the first day to call her Bella instead of Isabella?
"Do you prefer Isabella?" I knew she didn't but I wanted to know what she was thinking.
"No, I like Bella," I was even more confused now. "But I think Charlie – I mean my dad – must call me Isabella behind me back – that's what everyone here seems to know me as." She explained.
"Oh" I was still confused. It was a new feeling for me, to be confounded for so long. Thankfully, Mr. Banner started to explain the lab we were to do today. Identify the stages of mitosis in an onion root. I allowed a small smile. At least it was easy.
"Get started," he ordered.
"Ladies first, partner?" I wanted to be nice so I smiled and pushed the microscope towards her. She gave me a blank stare. The smile diminished as I pulled the microscope back towards me. "Or I could start, if you wish."
She blushed. "No, I'll go ahead." The smell that she blew my way made my head spin. I was dazed for several seconds before I acknowledged she had identified the first specimen. "Prophase." She said confidently.
I highly doubted she could have identified it so quickly. "Do you mind if I look?" I caught her hands by accident as I was reaching for the microscope. The warmth that spread from my hands was invigorating. I pulled away as quickly as she did, still holding the microscope. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. I peered into the microscope quickly, confirming it was, in fact, prophase. I was bewildered that she could have recognized it so easily. She must really be intelligent; other groups were sneaking looks in the texts books and arguing over the difference between Interphase and Prophase. "Prophase" I agreed and wrote it on the sheet. I changed the slide and recognized it as Anaphase. I voiced my opinion and wrote it down.
"May I?" She asked. I grinned and pushed the microscope back towards her. She looked disappointed as she confirmed what I already knew. We finished the lab within minutes and waited for the teacher to announce time was up. I looked over in her direction, trying, in vain, to read her thoughts. She looked up at me.
"Did you get contacts?" She asked me. I was confused by the random question.
"No." I answered wishing again to know the reason behind the question.
"Oh," she murmured. "I thought there was something different about your eyes."
I shrugged nonchalantly and looked away. Inwardly I nearly had a heart attack. How could she have noticed the subtle change in my eyes! Sure they had been very close to black with hunger last time she saw them, but most humans were too unobservant to notice small changes like that. I took a shallow breath, trying to get as little as her scent in my nose as possible and put on a composed face just as the teacher was coming around. He looked over the flawless lab.
"So, Edward, didn't you think that Isabella should get a chance with the microscope?" He asked. Thinks he is so much better than everyone else.
"Bella," I corrected. I didn't want her to think I wasn't paying attention. "Actually, she identified three of the five." I didn't want to get all the glory if I didn't even do half the work. Mr. Banner looked at Bella quizzically.
"Have you done this lab before?" he asked.
She smiled, embarrassed. "Not with onion root." I gaped at her. It was unlike humans to be so honest.
"Whitefish blastula?"
"Yeah" she admitted, now blushing. Oh how that blood pooling in her cheeks called to me, combined with her scent, I nearly jumped up. I looked out the window to keep myself in check. Mr. Banner walked away and Bella resumed doodling on her notebook. I wanted to continue talking to her, to figure out the enigma that was Bella Swan. Looking outside, I saw that it was now raining, washing away all traces of the snow. 'It's a good place to start,' I thought to myself
"It's too bad about the snow isn't it?" I asked, the tone was a little forced.
"Not really," she answered. I looked over her honest features.
"You don't like the cold," I surmised.
"Or the wet."
That surprised me, considering that we were in one of the wettest places on Earth. "Forks must be a difficult place for you to live." I said, wanting to find out more.
"You have no idea." Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why did you come here then?" I was honestly interested; she looked surprised by the question.
"It's…complicated," she struggled. Another wave of her wonderful aroma passed over me. I stopped breathing and waited for it to pass.
"I think I can keep up," I said with the last of the air in my lungs. She paused, and then looked up into my eyes. I nearly gasped at the sight of her deep chocolate eyes.
"My mother got remarried," she said.
My brow furrowed, "that doesn't sound to complex." I stopped and rethought my answer. She could have hated the man or some other reason. I changed my tone, "when did it happen?"
"Last September." She sounded depressed, I wanted to comfort her but everything I could think of involved my hand contacting with her skin. I settled for answering her response.
"And you don't like him," I could tell by her tone.
"No, Phil is fine. Too young, maybe, but nice enough." I was confused again.
"Why didn't you stay with them?" I asked, wanting to get to the bottom of her sadness. She paused again.
"Phil travels a lot. He plays ball for a living." She answered, a small smile on her face.
I smiled as well, thinking back to my family's last 'ball' game. "Have I heard of him?"
She scoffed. "Probably not. He doesn't play well. Strictly minor league. He moves around a lot."
"And your mother sent you here so that she could travel with him," I assumed, hoping I wouldn't be wrong again. This was the first time in a while.
"No, she did not send me here. I sent myself here." She raised her chin, making that luscious neck more visible and the blood pounding just a fraction below the skin more enticing. I ignored it and chose to be more frustrated by the fact I was wrong again.
"I don't understand," I admitted. She sigh, sending yet another wave of her smell towards my unprepared nose.
"She stayed with me at first, but she missed him. It made her unhappy…so I decided it was time to spend some quality time with Charlie." She started bright, but ended up back in the depressed tone. It didn't seem right to me.
"And now you're unhappy" I said, hoping that I would not be wrong for a third time.
"And?" She challenged. I was taken aback.
"That doesn't seem fair." I shrugged; my eyes still pinned on her.
She laughed mirthlessly. "Hasn't anyone every told you? Life isn't fair."
You mean like an untimely death resulting in a need for blood to survive? "I believe I have heard that somewhere before."
"So, that's all," she insisted.
"You put on a good show. But I'd be willing to bet that your suffering more than you let anyone see." I said, slowly. She grimaced. "Am I wrong?" She ignored me. "I didn't think so," slightly smug that I had gotten something right.
"Why does it matter to you? She snapped.
I wondered that myself. "That is a very good question," I said quietly. Why did one small, albeit pretty, girl matter to me? I noticed that she was glaring at the chalkboard. I couldn't help but smile, she looked cute when she scowled. "Am I annoying you?"
"Not exactly. I'm more annoyed at myself. My face is so easy to read – my mother always calls me her open book." I gaped at her for a moment before I could compose myself. If only she knew how hard it was for me to read her emotions.
"On the contrary, I find you very difficult to read." It was the truth.
"You must be a good reader then."
I flashed a smile. She had no idea. "Usually."
Mr. Banner started up the lesson again and Bella turned her head to face him. I grabbed the underside of the table as I had previously, trying to escape from the smell that was coming from her. The moment the bell rang, I gathered my things and quickly walked out of the room.
After school, I waited in the fine mist for the rest of my siblings. As I leaned against the door as I saw Bella running to her car, trying to get out of the rain which she hated so much. I was fascinated by how she managed to trip over her own feet. She got into the truck and composed herself before throwing it into reverse, almost hitting another car in her hurry. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her face. She threw me a dirty look as she drove away.
Tell me how you like it!
If i'm doing ANYTHING wrong, please tell me so i can attempt to make my writing better.
Hayley