Part III.: Pushing the Limits

"Yes, Bella?" Mr. Molina answered while struggling to cram an introductory tape to identifying stages of cell cycles into the VCR.

"Nurse?" I couldn't manage to speak anymore. My body was engulfed in a nearly paralyzing flame of thirst.

"Um, sure. Take your things in case the bell rings before you get back," He voiced distractedly, now peering into the dilapidated machinery.

Edward gave me a saddened, confused expression. No time.

I grabbed my purse and shot out the door. I listened. Minds hummed, but no one was in the hallway or the parking lot. I flew to my car and heard Alice inside my head.

"Bella? What happened?"

"I don't know yet."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes."

I have to be.

I switched the Maybach in gear and burned rubber towards the forest.

Neatly wiping the warm, red blood from my lips, I let out a relieved sigh and my eyes returned to their amber color. The black bear I had just taken for its blood lay lifeless on the wet, green forest ground. All I could think about was how that could have been Edward. Who did this human think he was? He was just one man. A citizen of Forks no less. But he had brought me to my knees in seconds with his being. And his brain was impenetrable. How? I had never had the issue of mind reading with man nor beast before. I craved to learn more about him. His habits, likes, dislikes, hobbies, background, everything! There was no other way. I would be able to track down the scent from miles away with ease. I would come by in the night. It's not like I have a sleep schedule to stick to.

After feeding on three moose, five coyotes, and another black bear, and a wardrobe change, I was full and ready to spy. It was 2 A.M. when I reached Edward's house. It was wooden and white with a gray roof that ran two stories high. In front was a light blue cop car, no doubt belonging to his father Charlie, the sheriff. The other was a rusty red Chevy that looked like it was made in the 50's, probably belonging to Edward. I smelled it. Definitely Edward's. He needed an upgrade from this old rust bucket. I could hear Charlie's snores, but was Edward awake?

I followed the scent of his perfumed blood to a window on the east side. I ricocheted off the tree nearest the window and clung to the sill. I peeked my head up just enough to see a sleeping Edward sprawled across a wood-themed afghan on a king size bed. His hair was in disarray, his warm chest was bare and I could feel the vibrations of his uneven snoring. The room he stayed in was pretty standard. Sky blue walls with posters and a computer that should have been put in the dump ages ago. My eyes scanned his CD collection on the far wall. Snoop Dogg? Questionable. American Mouth. Not bad. Debussy? This can't be real.

I was interrupted from my thoughts by a voice. His voice!

"Bella?" I felt his heart quicken.

I dropped from the sill and sank against the side of the house.

No, no, please no. Everything would be ruined if he saw me. Just a vampire hanging out. In the middle of the night. Watching you breathe.

"My beautiful Bella." I heard his heart rate elevate slightly once more.

What? I dared to look back in the room. Edward was still fast asleep, but he was saying my name. Just mine. In that instant, against all laws of nature, I knew I would love him forever.

I had watched Edward sleep for three hours. Nothing took me away, except the sunlight for a brief while. The dewy air warned Forks that it would not last. By 6 A.M. the raindrops had come and for the first time in my existence, I wanted to go to school. And for the first time in forever, I wanted to impress a man. Edward.

I asked Alice if I could borrow her closet and she agreed wholeheartedly.

"Bella! What made you come over to the dark side?" she giggled. "I knew this day would come! I am so happy to make you a fashionista in training! It's for school pictures isn't it? They're today, you know. They always take them in the beginning of the year. Is it sad that I still buy them?" She picked up an indigo pencil dress with a prim, black bow an inch or so above the waist.

"Um, yeah, Alice. Pictures." No way I'm getting a word in edgewise when it comes to Alice and her clothes.

"I mean why not have another reason to show off fanstastically fabulous clothes?" She smiled and paired the dress with lacy black pumps on her bread spread.

She turned her head askew and asked, "Well, what do you think? Oh wait!" She hurried over to her silk jewelry box sitting perfectly on the edge of her wardrobe and removed two admirably sized sapphire earrings with diamond borders. "There! Now go try it all on!"

In seconds I was changed into the ensemble and could hardly recognize myself. Alice had visions. Literally. But making me look this good was talent. Hopefully Edward could make up for my atrocious attitude towards him yesterday when he saw me like this.

Alice rustled over with a shade of red lipstick similar to a candy apple. She applied it quickly and tastefully to my lips. "There! Just enough!"

"Ding dong!" The doorbell rang. The doorbell rang?

"Alice?"

Alice's brows furrowed and her mouth widened. "It's...a human?"

With caution I opened the door to see Edward Cullen looking at me.

He leaned up from against his junk Chevy and said nothing except, "I saw you last night."