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Chapter Four

Bella

Everyone seemed to notice Mike's absence.

"Hey do you know where Mike is today?"

"Is Mike sick or something?"

"Where's Mike Newton?"

"Is Michael skipping school?"

His name flew around the school, and Bella was honestly impressed. She had no idea that Mike was so popular amongst the students.

Well, Bella noted. Girls. Every time Mike had tried to ask Bella out on a date, she had always refused or made up an excuse. Most girls in her year crushed on him, and thought she was insane for turning him down.

"I wonder where Mike is," Angela mused. Ben and her were seated at their usual lunch table, and she spoke as Jessica and Bella joined them, having just come out of Spanish class. Bella sat while Jessica caught the attention of someone across the lunch hall.

"Where is he?" she mouthed. The reply she received made Jessica frown and sink into her seat.

"Probably skipping or something," Ben suggested. "You know, near the finals and all...we don't need school that much."

"We're near the finals, and that's why we need our lessons more than ever – practice and revision!" Angela stated, rolling her eyes.

"Hey Bella, have you decided where you want to go?" Jessica asked. She obviously meant college, and to be honest, Bella hadn't thought about it. At all.

"Yeah, you're cutting really close to the end of the year..." Angela trailed off.

"I've narrowed it down to two," Bella sighed. In truth, she wasn't really focussed on her future.

"Pacific Lu-Lutheran University," she stumbled over her words. "And, uh, Sierra Nevada College." As soon as the names were out, Angela was babbling about them – this girl seemed to know everything about colleges. Bella's mind wandered elsewhere, however. Her gaze wandered around the room, until she caught sight of something, or rather, someone.

Who she saw made her gasp, and her eyes widened. She could no longer hear the roar of students talking, and was focussed on who she saw. The few people around him seemed to notice him, too, and their reactions were similar. How long had it been since she'd seen him? A year? Longer? He continued walking through the room, silencing pupils by his very presence.

It was clear now that he was heading towards Bella, but she couldn't force words out of her dry mouth. Finally, she choked out,

"Edward."

April

April had decided not to tell the Cullens about her newly discovered 'gift' just yet. Her frequent quarrels with Alice were enough – she didn't want them thinking that she was insane.

Well, April thought. I don't think I'm insane. She had been focussed on her thoughts so intensely that she didn't notice someone materialize in front of her. When she did, however, April jumped backwards.

"Damn it, you've got to stop scaring me like that!" she complained, relaxing as she saw a familiar face. Lyreco shook his head in disappointment.

"What kind of vampire are you, if you do not notice my coming?" he said. "If in battle, you'd die immediately."

"Well I'm not exactly planning for combat anytime soon!" then April hastily added, "Am I?" She meant it.

"Alicia," Lyreco chastised. "I have told you – I cannot reveal anything further than the present."

"Well then why won't you tell me how I can speak to Emmett?" April demanded. Lyreco had been avoiding answering that.

"I cannot tell you." He replied flatly.

"But you just said -"

"When I say I cannot tell you, I do not simply mean that I refuse to. I am not an expert on communication with the dead, although I am amongst them. You will have to find your brother by yourself." Lyreco explained.

"Can't you help me at all?" April begged. Lyreco seemed to consider this for a moment before speaking.

"If I knew a way, I would." He murmured solemnly.

"Can't you like – talk to your fellow...dead?" April asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

Currently she was in the Cullens' house while they were out – something that they never minded. Carlisle was at work, and Esme was probably with him. April definitely knew that Alice and Jasper were at school. If anyone were to wander in at this moment, they'd think that she was crazy, talking to what they'd see as air.

"Not amusing," Lyreco narrowed his eyebrows. "No, I cannot."

April sighed in defeat and looked slightly upwards.

"Okay...here goes nothing." She muttered. April noticed a clock on the wall, and took note of its time. With her mind, she imagined Emmett. She visualized him in her mind, willing him to come.

What came in response was not at all what she expected. In truth, she didn't expect anything to happen, but something did.

April couldn't describe the feeling that overwhelmed her mind – it wasn't painful, but instead...dark. It seeped into her thoughts and froze her state of mind temporarily. Everything seemed to be silenced, and out of the darkness came a faceless, very familiar voice.

No, Alicia. Emmett's voice commanded through her mind. April didn't know where it came from – and couldn't think straight anyways.

Emmett! She directed the thought at Emmett, somehow knowing that he could hear.

Don't do this, Alicia. Don't attempt to speak to me. The whisper floated through April's blackened mind in Emmett's voice.

But why? She mentally cried. I want this!

I don't. Her brother's thought was harsh. She felt his presence fading, and panicked.

"Emmett!" this time April heard herself speak. Her eyes were shut, but she could feel coldness against them.

"Please, Emmett, don't leave!" she cried.

Goodbye, Alicia. His final words drifted to her mind, and April felt him disappear completely. As quick as it had appeared, the darkness was gone. Choking on a sob, she opened her eyes.

Lyreco had vanished, and she caught sight of a black mist that flooded the room for only a second before that vanished too. Subconsciously, she looked up at the clock, eyes widening. There was no way her eyes could have tricked her, and what she read off of the small blue clock amazed her. Since she had checked before, which seemed like hours ago, only a single second had passed. April blinked several times and looked again, just in time to see the second hand go forward.

She released a shaky breath and clung on to the counter for support.

"Lyreco?" April called weakly. And right on cue, Lyreco appeared before her. Looking at him, she took in more detail. His black hair hung around his face loosely, framing a deathly white face. His eyes were a shocking silver that seemed to move and change colour slightly every second.

Lyreco wore surprising attire that didn't fit his personality at all – a brown leather jacket over a black dress shirt. His lower half sported casual jeans and boots, all which fit the clothing category of someone...well, younger than him.

Truthfully, if April didn't know who he really was, he'd look like a normal guy to her. He looked as if he had been turned around the age of twenty, although April never thought of Lyreco as that. Finally, she noticed a thin black haze that seemed to surround him, sticking with him as me moved.

"Yes?" his tone was annoyed.

"What...what just happened?" April murmured.

"You called on a spirit. Your brother's." Lyreco stated simply.

"But...What was that mist? It..." she trailed off.

"What mist?" Lyreco frowned, but waved a hand in dismissal of the subject.

"Did you hear him, too?" April asked, meeting his eyes. After a few moments, he nodded slowly.

"I did."

"Why did he leave?" April cried out suddenly. "He said he didn't want to speak with me!"

"Perhaps he didn't." Lyreco mused.

"But I don't understand? Why?" April sobbed, sinking onto her knees. She couldn't believe that she had actually managed to make contact with Emmett - but didn't see why he refused to speak with her. A shiver went down April's spine, and she felt coldness spread across her skin. When she had finally stopped her tearless outburst, the April looked up. Lyreco was gone again.

...

After sitting there for so long, April finally realised what she felt.

Cold.

She had nearly forgotten the feeling - vampires couldn't get cold. But this chill seemed to be inside of her, and it felt like unseen forces were pushing at her skull. Gritting her teeth, April lifted her hands instinctively and clawed at her head, trying to make the pain go away. All the while she was moaning in pain.

April managed to grab the kitchen counter slightly above her, and pulled herself up, breathing heavily.

Fresh air, she thought. That's what I need. Of course, April knew that she didn't. As a vampire, she only needed one thing: blood. Whatever was happening to her wasn't normal for a vampire, and it set her into a panic.

When April exited the kitchen, she felt the pain in her head lift a little, but the coldness didn't leave. She kept walking until she reached the back door. It was still perfectly sunny outside, and most of it seeped through the thick trees behind the Cullens' house.

April pushed open the door and was greeted by a gentle breeze that carried a sickly sweet scent. She inhaled sharply, and realised how thirsty she was. Her throat felt as if it were on fire, and she tore off after the scent.

Bella

Everyone gawked as Edward Cullen, the mysterious boy who had ditched school out of misery, approached Bella's table. He smiled briefly, and set a hand on the top of the empty seat next to Bella, who couldn't stop staring at him with wide eyes.

"May I sit with you?" his voice filled the entire, speechless room. His voice, Bella noted, hadn't changed. His polite question was directed at her friends, and Angela quickly snapped her mouth closed and nodded slowly, looking at Bella. Edward sat down, and whispers finally erupted around them.

"Edward..." Ben seemed surprised. Who wasn't? "I thought you, uh, left school..." he trailed off. He seemed to be the only person brave enough to speak. When Edward's gaze flicked to Ben, Bella noticed that his eyes weren't the right colour. They were slightly brighter and more unnatural, and a little darker than his original amber. Looking closer, Bella saw a little crescent for at the edge of his eye, as if a contact lens was shifting slightly. Where the little shape appeared, she noticed a crimson red peep out from behind his amber eyes.

With a jolt, Bella finally noticed that he was wearing contacts to hide his red eyes. That meant...

That Edward was drinking human blood.

Bella's breaths started to come quicker, and she couldn't remove her eyes from the red in his eyes. Looking around frantically, she noticed that her friends obviously hadn't seen it – nor did they see her panic.

"I have to – go." Bella choked, standing. Her friends looked at her questioningly, but didn't speak as she tore off through the lunch hall, running for the exit. Once she got there she flung open the doors and stopped running.

There were no clouds in the sky, so the sun shone full force down on Bella. She now shifted into a fast walk, heading for the parking lot. She didn't know why – it wasn't like her plan was to break out of school. As she approached the first couple of cars, someone grabbed her arm from behind. The grip was gentle but cold, and it made Bella shriek. Suddenly a familiar face was in front of her, shushing her.

"Bella!" Alice waved her hand in front of her face, cutting her off mid-scream. Bella calmed her breaths and faced Alice.
"It was...he... Edward is back, Alice!" Bella cried.

"I know, Bella, I -"

"Oh God, Alice, his eyes...he's...Oh, Alice!" she stuttered. For that, Alice had no reply. Instead she froze, eyes widening in an expression that Bella hadn't seen in a long time. She was focussed on something else – something that wasn't there. She was having a vision.

Within a few seconds, Alice snapped out of it, but her face still held shock.

"Alice?" Bella panicked. "Alice?"

"Right here." She whispered weakly.

"What did you see?" Bella asked frantically, looking around. No one was in sight, luckily. Alice's eyes met hers, and they seemed to hold disappointment and sadness.

"Edward. He's been drinking human blood."

Not much of an ending line - it was mentioned higher up!

... My question now is, Is anyone reading this?

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