Chapter 2

"But seriously, you've been a terrible friend, how good a kisser is he really?"

Some days, Bella regretted not having a better friendship with Jessica. Sure, she was a little boy crazy and still oh so slightly obsessed with her fiancé … but Jessica was normal. Bella loved how Jessica faced normal problems and it was refreshing to hear her frustrations, her hopes. They wouldn't be Bella's, but she was happy for Jess.

Bella sighed and pretended to consider as she took a bite of her chocolate chip pancake. "He's alright," she finally decided, barely hiding her grin.

Jessica sputtered on her orange juice. "Alright?" She gargled. Swallowing, she shook her head. "You can't be serious."

"He's, it's …" Bella tried to describe it. "It just lights me up."

"Ohh," Jessica's eyes danced knowingly. "Alright then …"

Bella rolled her eyes. "Not like that … okay, well like that too," she admitted hastily with a blush. "But what about you and Mike?"

Jessica snorted and shrugged. "Mike's just … Mike. I don't even know if I feel like I like him like him at all anymore. He's just … I don't know." She drew off and bit into her toast.

Bella let her gaze drift to the flowers dangling above them. They were purple. She didn't know what kind.

"Holy Cow."

Bella heard Jessica whistle under her breath. "What?" Bella found that her reflexes had slowed since the immediate threat of her and all her loved one's demise was now over. She was so much more relaxed—even with Edward. Especially with Edward.

"That guy is seriously so hot," Jessica's voice was hushed, but nearly a whispered squeal.

Bella tried to turn nonchalantly and noticed a guy with dark hair, shaggy, but above the chin. He had sunglasses on, but she could tell his features would be classically handsome. His body was fully developed and tall. His lean muscles moved lithely. A little too lithely …

She frowned. She was seeing monsters everywhere now.

Choking back a laugh, she shook her head. Vampires were not as common as she was used to. It had just been an anomaly.

"Yeah, he's pretty hot, Jess."

Jessica nodded, still fixated past Bella's shoulder.

"Wait, I think he's coming over here!"

Well, Bella shrugged inwardly. This was bound to be awkward.

"Ladies." The voice was pleasant and boyish. She had a front row seat of Jessica's swoon.

She turned to be polite. He really was attractive, she was forced to admit, glancing up at him.

"I hope you don't mind if I cut in," he smiled behind the sunglasses hesitantly. "But I saw you and I just had the feeling that I would really be making a huge mistake if I walked by and didn't stop."

He was talking to Jessica and Bella settled in for the long haul. Jess certainly deserved a spot of good luck too. After Edward, Bella didn't begrudge anyone a chance at love, but she hoped of course they wouldn't have to go through everything she had to keep it, of course …

"…And this is Bella." Jessica was still talking chattily, Bella realized and she gave the man a half wave.

"Hey."

"Luke," he nodded with a tilting grin. "Well," he exhaled and looked back at Jessica. "I really have to be going now, but I thoroughly enjoyed these past few moments. Can I give you my number, in case you're ever looking to do something fun?"

Jessica hastily yanked out her phone and withheld her enthusiasm by a string as she punched the numbers in with shaky hands. Bella hid a smile.

"Thanks," she said, more than slightly dazed.

He waved and walked off.

Bella watched as Jessica seemed to break from her dazed stupor and began to speak. She had a feeling she wouldn't be getting a lot of words in for the rest of their outing.


Walking to their car, Jessica pulled on Bella's arm.

"Oh my gosh, is that him? That Luke guy?"

Bella squinted. It was cloudy and the sky was darkening every minute. It looked like rain. Surprise surprise.

"Maybe."

But as they walked closer to their car, they saw it was indeed Luke, working under the hood of a very pretty red car.

"Hey, Luke!" Jessica called out to him.

"Well," Bella noticed he still wore his sunglasses. "Isn't this a weird coincidence?"

It was a little strange he would be parked right in front of them, Bella thought, frowning slightly. Jessica elbowed her.

"Is there something wrong with your car?" Jessica asked with concern.

"Yeah, I think it's the transmission actually. Thing'll start, but won't go into drive. I think I'm going to have to call a cab." His left hand was holding a small black phone.

"Well," Jessica chewed her lip and Bella tried to send her the mental no without shaking her head. "We could give you a lift if you live in the area.

Oh, Edward would not like this. Moving past Edward's future reaction, Bella realized that she didn't like it either. Luke was perfectly nice, but he made her uneasy. He just … she tried to shake off the thought. Disregarding her craziness, he was definitely a strange guy. She didn't think it was a good idea. But it was Jessica's car and apparently Jessica was not open to reasoning as she coaxed him into shutting the hood of his car and walked him over to the passenger door.

"Well, if you're sure …" he drew off hesitantly.

"Totally sure," she held the door wider. "You live close to where we do anyway—just a little bit outside of Forks."

"Well, alright then," he looked in Bella's direction and she shrugged, trying to push away her niggling feelings and slid into the backseat. She was doing it for Jessica she figured as she caught Jessica's mouthed "thank you." She had put Jessica through hell that one night, she figured she owed her one. Plus, it would be fine.

They had been driving for about ten minutes and Bella stared as the tall overarching woods blurred in the window.

Jessica and Luke had been chatting away easily and she had been wrong. Everything was fine. The car suddenly lurched to the side of the road and she was thrown into the back of the driver's seat as it screeched to a stop. Gasping for air in shock, Bella saw Jessica was slumped over the seat and Luke's hand on his shoulder. His other hand was grasping the emergency break. Jessica must have passed out, Bella thought, staring at her prone form. They had to get her to a hospital. It wasn't until Luke let go of Jessica's shoulder and she slumped forward casually that Bella started to hazily piece together a different reality. He hadn't been touching Jessica to make sure she was okay or in surprise he …

He disregarded Jessica as he turned to Bella.

"Ok back there?" He was totally calm.

Swallowing, Bella nodded slowly.

"That's good," he smiled at the sight of Bella's panicked, racing eyes and took off his sunglasses casually revealing a pair of blood red eyes. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt yet."

A/N: So let me know what you thought. Comments are always welcome, encouraged, and appreciated! It makes my day to read them! As always, thank you for reading!