OKIDASAI! So this took waaaayyyy longer than i thought it would, but here u go! thanks so much for being patient with me. I've had a lot going on lately. and thanks to my new friend siibi for encouraging me to keep it going!

oh yeah! i realized something, and i'm totally surprised that no one else did...i completely 4got about the "blood type" chapter! how did i do that??? anyways...lets pretend that i didn't and move it along! :) love u guys!

Steph owns all........NOV. 21!!!!! is fast approaching! do u have ur tickets! I do!!!


"One more question!" I held up my finger as I leaned towards her, smiling as we sped along the quiet street. Her eyes flickered to mine quickly before she let out a deep sigh.

"Fine…but…just one!" I could tell she didn't want to, but her lips pulled into a small grin anyway. I settled back into my seat, happy that she went along with my request so easily.

"Well…I was just wondering…how you knew I had gone South instead of in the bookstore."

She looked away, deliberating.

"You should be in construction." I mumbled, turning towards the window.

"Really? Do I look "handy" to you?" I whipped my head towards her, surprised and a little embarrassed, that she had heard. Oh well.

"No…but you built that wall back up pretty quickly." I turned my eyes towards the front, watching the street lights blur into one another.

"Are you always this sarcastic?"

"Are you always this evasive?" I challenged.

"Ok, ok…I…followed your…scent." She kept her eyes on the road, which thankfully gave me time to compose my face. I didn't know how to respond to that so I filed it away and tried to re-focus. I knew I had to get in every question I could while I had the chance. Who knew when she would be this open to me again.

"And…you didn't really answer one of my first questions." I stalled.

She glared at me before speaking. "Which one?"

"How does that whole…mind-reading stuff work? How do you do it? Can you read everyone's mind? The rest of your family…can they…?" It felt a little silly, asking her to clarify things I didn't really believe. But it was all I could think of to keep her talking.

"You know, I'm beginning to think you're incapable of asking just "one" question." she pointed out. My response was a smirk while I crossed my arms and waited. She focused her attention on the blackened streets before speaking.

"No, it's just me and no, I can't hear everyone. I have to be fairly close, and familiar with a person's…voice however, the more familiar I am, the farther away I can hear them. But still, it can't be anymore than a few miles." She paused as her brow wrinkled slightly. "It's a bit like being in a large room filled with people, everyone talking at once. It's just a low, buzzing of voices in the background. Until I focus on one voice, and then what they're thinking becomes clear."

"I tune it out most of the time-it's a terrible distraction. And then it's easier to seem normal…" her voice seemed pained as she said the word. "Then I'm not accidentally answering someone's thoughts rather than their words."

"So…why do you think you can't hear me?" I wondered.

She looked at me, her face was blank.

"I don't know," she breathed. "The only guess I have is that maybe your mind doesn't work like the rest of theirs do. Like your thoughts are analog and I can only get digital programming." She grinned brightly, suddenly amused.

"Huh! There's a first; my mind doesn't work right. I'm a freak." I had always known this, but it hurt that she now knew it too.

"I hear voices in my head and you're worried that you're the freak," she smiled. "Don't worry, it's just my theory…which brings us back to you." The humor in her voice was quickly replaced by strain.

I breathed heavily and turned towards the window, trying to decide where to begin."

"You wouldn't be so bad at construction yourself." Her voice was only slightly above a whisper.

I turned slowly, letting my eyes travel over the wood-grained dashboard; stopping when they fell on the speedometer.

"Holy shit!" I shouted. Were we really going that fast?

"What? What's wrong?" she startled, but did not decelerate.

"You're doing 100!" I was still shouting, more out of excitement than fear. I had never been in anything this smooth and this fast. You could barely hear the engine as we raced along the highway.

"Relax, Edward. We're not going to crash." She rolled her eyes, still not slowing.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Was she trying to get me home quickly; the sooner to be away from me?

"I always drive like this." She turned to me, smiling dangerously. Her eyes never left mine as she shifted the gear and pushed the pedal further to the floor. I held her gaze, thrilled by her recklessness.

"Hmm…maybe you should keep your eyes on the road." I suggested, though silently hoping she wouldn't take my advice. Ever since I'd watched the Fast and Furious, I had always wanted to try this move; staring into a beautiful woman's eyes while I floored it down the highway. Never did I think that I would be the one in the passenger's seat.

"I've never been in an accident, Edward. I've never even gotten a ticket." She grinned smoothly and tapped her forehead. "Built-in radar detector."

"Funny…but…if you turn this beautiful work of art into a Romeo pretzel around a tree trunk, you can probably just walk away," I waved my hand dismissively. "I on the other hand, might not be so lucky.

"Probably," she agreed with a short, hard laugh; her eyes smoldering darkly. "But do you really think I would let that happen?" The intensity of her voice woke my heart from its slumber and sent my pulse racing. It was hard to keep my mind from wondering to inappropriate places and the perfect, half-smile on her soft lips only made things harder. Literally.

She giggled softly, dropping our gaze, and turned back towards the road.

"So…I'm still waiting for your latest theory."

I sighed heavily, waiting for my heart to calm down. Just when I thought I'd gotten past these reactions.

"Come on. I promise I won't laugh this time."

"Well, I'm more afraid that you'll be angry."

"Is it really that bad?"

"Err…yeah."

She waited for a moment, watching as I rubbed the back of my neck nervously.

"Go ahead." Her voice was soft, calm.

"I'm not really sure where to start." I admitted.

"Start from the beginning...you said you didn't come up with it on your own, right?"

"Right."

"So…what got you started-a book? A movie, perhaps?" she probed.

"No, it was…my Urban Legends class." I chanced a glance at her face. She seemed puzzled.

"This girl, well, Leah Clearwater, the one I introduced you to."

"And…?" she stilled seemed confused.

"She told us some stories…about her family. Her grandfather was one of the Quileute elders." I watched her face carefully. The confused expression had frozen in place.

"Well, she gave a lecture in class…about some of their old legends…about vampires." I realized that I was almost whispering. I couldn't look at her face now, but I noticed her knuckles tighten on the wheel.

"And you immediately thought of me?" her voice was still calm.

"No. She…mentioned your family."

I searched her face for any sign of change. It was blank now, expressionless as her eyes watched the road.

"She just thought they were superstitions, though." I said quickly, suddenly worried about protecting Leah, but it didn't seem like enough. I sighed and looked out into the night.

"What did you do then?" she asked after a moment.

"I did a little research on the internet."

"And were you convinced?" Her voice seemed bored, but her hands still had not loosened on the steering wheel.

"No. Nothing fit. Most of it was pretty stupid and then…" I paused.

"What?"

"I decided it didn't matter." I stated, frankly.

"It didn't matter?" The harshness of her tone made me look up. My words had finally broken through her carefully composed masked.

"No," I said strongly. "I don't care what you are."

"You don't care if I'm a monster? If I'm not human?" Her soft, bell-like voice trilled harshly and it was hard not to smile at the attractiveness of it.

"No." I answered.

She didn't speak; she stared straight ahead, her angelic face bleak and cold.

"You're angry." I sighed, "I knew I should've left it alone."

"No," she said, but her tone was now as hard as her face. "I'd rather know what you're thinking, even it is insane."

"So, you're saying I'm wrong, then?" I challenged.

"That's not what I was talking about. "It doesn't matter!" she mocked, gritting her teeth together.

"So I'm right!" I gasped at the absurdity of such a conclusion.

"Does it matter?"

I took a deep breath before answering.

"Not really," I paused. "But I am a little curious."

She was suddenly resigned, "What are you curious about?"

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen." She answered automatically.

"And how long have you been seventeen?"

Her lips twitched as she stared at the road. "A while." She finally admitted.

"Cool." I didn't know what else to say, although I was pleased that she was still being open with me. She stared at me with watchful eyes, as if waiting for me to jump out of the car. I smiled at her.

"Don't laugh, but how can you come out during the daytime?"

"Myth." she laughed anyway.

"Burned by the sun?"

"Myth."

"Thwarted by garlic?"

"Also a myth."

"Sleeping in coffins?"

"Myth." She hesitated for a moment, and a new tone entered her voice. "I can't sleep."

This surprised me. "At all?"

"Never," she said; her smooth voice nearly inaudible. She turned to me with a wistful expression. Her smoldering eyes held mine, and just like before, my heart jolted as I lost my train of thought. I stared at her unwillingly, until she looked away.

"You haven't asked me the most important question yet." Her voice was hard again, and when she looked at me, her piercing eyes were cold.

I blinked rapidly, still in a daze. "Which one is that?"

"You aren't concerned about my diet?" she asked sarcastically.

"Right…that." I mumbled.

"Yes, that." She mimicked. "Don't you want to know if I drink blood?"

I winced. "Well, Leah said something about that," I paused, wishing I had shut my mouth when I'd had the chance.

"Continue." She instructed flatly.

"She said you didn't…hunt people. She said that you and your family weren't supposed to be dangerous because you only hunted animals."

"Really? She said we weren't dangerous?" there was a mocking edge to her voice.

"Not entirely. Just that you weren't supposed to be, but her people still didn't want you on their land…just in case."

"Hmm." She breathed, finally loosening her grip.

"Was she right? About you not hunting people?" I tried to keep the strain out of my voice.

"Let's just say the Quileutes have a long memory." She whispered.

I took that as confirmation as I stared out into the black night; wondering what to make of all this.

"Don't let that make you complacent, though," she interrupted my thoughts. "They're right to keep their distance from us. We are still dangerous."

"I don't get it."

"We try," she began slowly. "We're usually very good at what we do. Sometimes we make mistakes, though. Me, for example, allowing myself to be alone with you."

"Huh? How could this be a mistake?" I wondered, my heart speeding up.

"Edward, I will admit that my self control is beyond great; I've had years of practice. But placing myself in a position where I could so easily…" she stopped short, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head quickly. "The point is, this is a very dangerous mistake." she breathed.

We were both quiet for a while. I gazed out into the sky, searching for the light of the stars through the dark clouds that covered them. I couldn't believe how fast things were happening. Had it really been so long ago that I'd seen her that first time; in my dreams and to my rescue? I was suddenly aware of the time that always seemed to fly when you were having fun. A feeling of sadness wafted over me as I realized I may never have a chance to be with her like this again-openly; the walls between us down for once. Her words had hinted at an end, and I recoiled from the idea. There was no time to waste.

"So…tell me…more." I hesitated, trying desperately to mask the sadness in my voice.

She turned to me quickly, confused by the new tone in my voice. "What would you like to know?"

"Tell me why you hunt animals instead of people?" The sadness in my voice was thick as I stared into the starless night.

"I…don't want to be a monster." She almost whispered.

"But animals aren't enough?"

"I can't be sure…but I'd compare it to living on tofu and soy milk; we call ourselves vegetarians, a little inside joke. It doesn't completely quench our…thirst, but it keeps us strong enough to resist…most of the time."

"Maybe you should try Sprite." I joked lamely.

She rolled her eyes before continuing. "Sometimes it's more difficult than others."

"Is it difficult for you now?"

"Yes." She sighed heavily.

"But you're not hungry now." I stated, confidently.

"Why do you think that?"

"Your eyes. It's one of my theories. I've noticed that women are a little more-excuse the term-bitchier, when they're hungry."

"Hmm…" she mused.

"I'm wrong?"

"No, just more observant than I'd thought." She laughed.

I shook my head in agreement and turned towards the window. I closed my eyes, committing the silky sound of her laughter to memory.

"Were you hunting this weekend?" I asked, continuing to stare blankly through the darkness.

"Yes." She paused for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to say something. "I didn't want to leave, but it was necessary. It's a bit easier to be around you when I'm not thirsty."

"Why didn't you want to leave?" I turned around, looking into her face.

She sighed heavily before turning to me. "It makes me…anxious…to be away from you?" The intensity of her eyes seemed to be making my bones turn soft.

"I was distracted all weekend, worrying about you. I've witnessed how hard it is for you to make it across flat surfaces without harming yourself. After what happened tonight, I'm quite surprised you were able to make it through the weekend unscathed."

A part of me should have been offended by her implying that I was a klutz. This however, was true in fact, so I could not bring myself to feel the proper level of offense. What I did feel more than anything, was shock. When had her feelings grown in such a way that she was worried for my safety? We were…friends, so I guess its natural for friends to worry about each other, but there was something more in the tone of her melodic voice.

"It was a very long three days. I really got on Rose's nerves." She interrupted.

"Huh? Three days? How come you weren't in class?"

"Well, you asked if the sun hurts me, and it doesn't, but I still can't come out in the sunlight; at least not where anyone can see."

"Why?"

"I'll show you sometime."

I nodded absently, immediately drawn back into my thoughts.

"Edward, what is it?" my heart skipped at the sound of my name on her lips.

"I…well…you could have called…when you came back." I stammered.

"But I knew you were ok." She was puzzled.

"But…I didn't know where you were. It…" I paused, feeling the blood rush to my face as I risked my feelings, "I don't like…not seeing you. It makes me anxious, too." I said quietly so my voice wouldn't falter.

She did not speak. I glanced at her, worried that I'd said too much, and saw the pained expression on her face.

"Edward," she breathed. "This is wrong."

I knew it. Here comes the big speech. I like you but…can't we just be friends? I breathed heavily, silently cursing myself.

"What's wrong?" my voice was flat; I already knew what was wrong.

"Don't you see, Edward? It's one thing for me to make myself miserable, but a wholly other thing for you to be so involved." I stared at her in disbelief. This had not been the speech I was expecting to hear.

"I don't want to hear that you feel that way." Her voice was low, but urgent. "It's wrong. It's not safe. I'm dangerous, Edward- please, understand that." The anguish in her eyes did not match the hardness of her voice. It was as if she was trying to convince herself as well.

"No…I don't…I can't." I looked away.

"I'm serious." She growled.

"So am I. I told you…it doesn't matter to me what you are. It's too late." I breathed, surprisingly calm. I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees as I rubbed the back of my neck. From the corner of my eye, I saw her reach toward me hesitantly with her right hand, but then she stopped and placed it slowly back on the steering wheel.

"I'm…sorry." The regret was heavy in her voice. I sat up, watching her face as I leaned back into the butter-soft leather seats. Her face was blank, but the sadness in her eyes was unmistakable. I closed my eyes and listened to the soft hum of the engine as we sped along the highway. This had turned out to me some night. I had narrowly escaped what could have been death, only to experience one of another kind; the death of any hope that I may have a chance with her. I could see now, that though she might have like me enough to worry, it wasn't enough for her to attempt anything more than friendship.

"Tell me something." Her satin covered voice pierced my thoughts effortlessly.

"Sure."

"What were you thinking tonight, just before I came around the corner? I couldn't understand your expression-you didn't look scared, you looked as if you were concentrating very hard on something."

"Oh. I was trying to remember some moves I learned in a Karate class I used to take. I figured I could at least try and take one of them out." I chuckled.

"You wanted to fight them? Why didn't you just run?" she was upset now.

"Well as you noted earlier, I'm no good with flat surfaces, so running would have only helped them."

"What about screaming for help?"

"No offence, but that's more of a chick thing."

She giggled lightly and shook her head, "You were right, I'm definitely fighting fate trying to keep you alive."

I sighed heavily as the car began to slow, passing into the boundaries of Forks. It had taken less than twenty minutes.

"Will I see you tomorrow?" I asked quietly.

"Yes," she smiled, "I'll save you a seat in the caf'."

It was weird, after everything that had happened tonight, how the promise of seeing her sent chills through my body. I turned towards the window and saw that we were in front of my place. Everything seemed to utterly normal, as if I were waking from a dream. She stopped the car, but I couldn't bring myself to leave.

"You sure you're going to be there tomorrow?"

"I promise."

I considered that for a moment and decided it would have to be enough. I sighed heavily as a placed my hand on the door handle, trying to prolong the moment.

"Edward?" she asked in a different tone, one that seemed to affect different parts of me.

"Umm…yeah?" I turned back to her slowly, shocked as her glorious, pale face was now inches from mine. Her eyes smoldered even in the darkness. My heart stopped.

"Sleep well." She said. Her cool breath blew in my face. It was the same delicious scent that clung to the jacket I had worn, but in a more concentrated form. I blinked, thoroughly dazed. She smirked and leaned away.

It took several minutes before my brain unscrambled itself and allowed me to move. I pushed the door open and stepped awkwardly from the car, supporting myself on the door frame. I thought I heard her giggle, but the sound was too quiet for me to be sure. She waited patiently until I made to the front door and then quietly ignited the engine. I turned and watched as the sleek car disappeared around the corner. A shiver raced down my spine as I realized it was cold.

Absently, I reached for the key, unlocked the door and stepped inside.

"Man, what took you so long?" I had known I would be bombarded with questions as soon as I returned home, but I thought they would at least let me take five steps into the house before it began.

"Chill out." My voice was weak as I made my way down the hall towards the bathroom.

"Aww come on, you gotta tell us what happened!" Mike whined from behind me.

"Look guys, I'll be more than happy to tell you every detail…tomorrow. Right now, I just wanna take a shower and go to bed." I said, closing the door on both of them.

"Dude! Come on! You can't just leave us hanging like that!" Anthony yelled, banging on the door.

I went through the motions of getting ready for bed without even thinking. It wasn't until I was in the shower-the water too hot, burning my skin-that I realized I was freezing. My teeth chattered noisily for several minutes before the soothing water relaxed my rigid muscles. Once I felt strong enough to move, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel.

"So what's she like? Is she boring? She seems like she could be?" the questions began as soon as I opened the bathroom door.

"Guys, come on, seriously. Tomorrow!" I scrambled to my room as quickly as I could and locked the door behind me.

"Ok. It's like that now? Fine! I didn't wanna know anyway!" Anthony yelled.

"I do! Come on man, give up the details." Mike continued.

"Goodni-ight!" I sang back. My mind swirled dizzily as I quickly dressed myself and hopped in the bed. Nothing seemed to be clear at first, but as I sank closer to the realm of unconsciousness, a few certainties became clear.

About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Bella was a vampire. Second, there was a part of her-and I didn't know how much- that thirsted for my blood. Third, and perhaps most troubling, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with her.


Ok, so i hoped u liked it. sorry if there are any grammatical errors, lol. didnt really have time to check it thoroughly. the next chap may be a little longer to put up as i am currenlty working on my own novel! hurrrrrrayyyy!!!! lol...hey, i need a name for an asian (korean) male in my book...anyone have any ideas??? please help me!!!