Chapter 3: Secrets

BPOV

The rest of the period went by in a blur. Edward was a really nice guy to talk to. At the end of class when I was gathering my books Edward walked with me to my locker while asking me questions and chatting.

"So why did you move to Forks?" he questioned.

Oh Crap. "Well," I hesitated, "um...it's complicated."

"I'm sure I can keep up." he grinned.

What could I say? 'Oh, just afraid of a vampire attacking me and everyone I love...It also helps to get to know my dad before I die?!'

"There's several reasons. My mom just got remarried and he travels alot. I wanted to give them their time together without worrying about me."

"That was really nice of you. Most people put themselves infront of others." he commented as I blushed.

"Did you get contacts?" I blurted.

"Uh...no."

"Oh, sorry. It's just the last time I saw you your eyes were black and now they're topaz."

His face was in shock for a moment before he arranged it into a calm mask and lowered his eyes from me, "uh...it's the florescence from the lights...I have to go."

That was weird. He seems like he's hiding something. His eyes were black...he's gone for a couple days...then comes back and has gold eyes...almost like..no. Vampires have red eyes.

Only the one I saw did...maybe...not all of them do...

He obviously didn't kill me. Maybe he's different, but then again I'm assuming the worst because his eyes changed color.

The rest of the day I didn't see any of the Cullen's but I couldn't keep my mind off of them. I made a mental list in my head for the "Vampire Factors" they have...

1: Pale White Skin

2: Inhumanly Beautiful

3: Eyes change color

4: Not blood related yet all have the same rare eye color

* * * * * * * * * * *

The next day the roads were icy and yet, suprisingly, I didn't have trouble driving. When I pulled into the school parking lot I saw why. Charlie put snow chains on my tires. I walked to the back of my truck starting to feel a little sentimental. I'm not used to being taken care of, I always feel like the caregiver. A loud screeching sound interrupted my thoughts as I looked up to see Tyler Crowley's van coming straight at me. I looked to my left and saw Edward Cullen across the parking lot staring wide-eyed at me. Knowing I wouldn't get hurt I took a step foward and stuck my hand out in an effort to halt the car. It started losing force under my touch until I felt a gust of wind and cold arms wrap around my waist as the van came full speed again. I looked up and identified the arms to belong to Edward Cullen when he swung me down and held the van from ramming into us using one hand whereas I would have needed two. Super-strength.

My suspicions were confirmed. Edward was a vampire. Vampire! I know he's different than from the others because of his eyes, and he saved me from being killed.

"Are you alright?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah. Fine." Just realizing I was able to slow a VAN with the pressure of my flimsy hand!

"I think you should go to the hospital to get checked out."

"Wha-NO!" I can't go to the hospital they'll know I'm different.

"Yes." he said sternly.

"No." I replied glaring.

"Why won't you go to the hospital, Bella? It'll be fine." he spoke in a softer tone.

"I-I-I just can't."

"Bella, you could seriously be hurt. Just go to the hospital. Please."

"I'm not hurt."

"Why won't you go?" he glared.

"Why can you stop a van with one hand?" I retorted.

He was taken aback for a moment before he clenched his jaw as I continued, "You have your secrets, and I have mine. Let's leave it at that."

"Bella, I don't see how you can't go to the hospital."

"I can't and I won't. That's it. Point blank. Leave it there, I won't say anything about your super-abilities and you won't get me to go to the hospital. Deal?"

He sighed, "Deal."

I felt relieved until I noticed the dents on the van. I could hear the ambulance on their way while I tried to figure out what to do. Above Edward's visible hand print was a less noticable, smaller hand print-mine. While I was debating what to do Edward was staring at my hand print wide-eyed.

"Bella?" he asked disbelieving,

"Erm...No questioning, please? Just...fix them, please?"

"But-"

"AH! No. Fix them." I demanded as he was still staring intently at me, "I'll close my eyes if it makes you feel better."

"Clair de Lune?" he asked surprised as I started humming it while waiting for him to finish.

"Yep!" I chirped.

"You can open your eyes now," he whispered.

I nodded in approval as I saw the hand-prints were transformed into round dents. "What?" I asked when I noticed he was still staring at me.

"It's just...your not scared?"

"Uh, no."

"Bella, you should know you shouldn't hang around me. I could hurt you...fairly easily. I'm-"

"Dangerous?" I finished for him. "You would just be prolonging the inevitable."

"What do you mean 'prolonging the inevitable?'"

"Er...uhm...oh, look! We can get out now!"

When they moved the vana paramedic asked Edward if he needed to be taken to the hospital but he declinced stating his father would check him out when he got home. I snickered under my breath knowing he would hear, "sure he will." His face was priceless, which gave me the best idea I got in a while. Eventually, I would tell him I knew his secret, but in the mean time I would have a little fun with him...

* * * * * * * * * *

The rest of the day everyone asked if I was okay and blah blah blah. I was practically giddy on my way to Biology knowing what was to come.

When I sat at my stool next to Edward, Mike decided to 'grace' us with his prescence.

"Hey, Bella?" He asked,

"Yes," I groaned hearing Edward's chuckles next to me.

"If you lived in Arizona your whoe life then how come you aren't tan?"

"I'm part Albino." I said with a straight face.

After recovering from shock he persisted, "So, your mom's albino?"

I looked at Edward to see his shoulders shaking, holding in his laughter. "Nahh. My dad is."

"But-uh, your dad has brown hair."

"Sure. I think you need your eyes checked, Mike."

Once he took his seat I turned to Edward and bursted out laughing along with Edward's musical laughter. "How long do you think it'll take him to figure it out?" I asked once my laughter died down.

"He won't. He's just riducously confused and thinks he has a bad memory." How does he know this?

* * * * * * *

The next day was sunny and suprise, surprise! The Cullens weren't at school! I wonder if they really do burn in the sun...

"He's not here, yanno." Jessica interrupted my thoughts.

"Who?" I feighned innocence as I looked around the outdoors. We had five minutes before we had to go inside for Homeroom. I saw a flash of white in the forest across the parking lot. Was it him? Oh, I could have fun with this if he was listening!

"Don't play dumb. I know your looking for Edward." she accused.

I shrugged, "Are they always gone when it's sunny out?"

"Mostly, I guess. Dr. Cullen takes them camping and stuff."

"I'm sure he does," I smirked looking towards the forest and winked.

"Hey, we're all going to First Beach at the La Push Reservation, wanna come?"

"The beach? In the fall? In Washington?" I asked skeptical.

"Well, we're not as much swimming as we're hanging out. Some of the guys from the reservation might be joining us. They're hott!" She giggled as I rolled my eyes.

"I get the feeling anyone who isn't ugly is a God in your book, Jess."

"Hey! They are though. When you see them, you'll be singing a different tune! I think they're Embry, Quil, and Jacob."

"Jacob? What's his last name?"

"Umm...Black?" Aha!

"Oh! I used to play with him and his sisters when I was little. I remember him from some of my dad's fishing trips in the summer."

"Oh," she sighed dissapointed.

I chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm not after him. What happened to your crush on Mike?"

"I like him, too! It's just the guys at the Rez are hott! Like double-t hott! Yanno? Nice to look at."

I bursted out laughing, "'Double-t hott'? Sorry, Jess this is just too funny!"

"Hey, when you see them you'll know what I mean. I'd do any of them in a heartbeat."

"What?!"

"You heard me. They would just need some convincing."

"Are you serious?" I asked incredulous.

"Uh-duh. WHat? Don't act like you haven't before."

"I haven't." I stated boldly.

"Really? Oh, well you've done other stuff right?"

I just about choked on my own spit, "No! Jeez, I'm not like that, Jess."

"Hmm. OKay, well get a boyfriend, then. How about Eric?"

"What?!" Deep breathes. "Jess,I'm going to do any of those things until I'm older and with sombody I love, not someone who I'm just lusting after or if I'm feeling pressured."

"Why?" she sneered.

"Excuse me if I'm not willing to be a whore!" I shouted and stalked off to sit in my truck as I decided to vent to Ryan.

"Hello?" he answered groggily.

"Hey-uh. Sorry, did I wake you?"

"Yeah, but no worries. I had a long night."

Ryan was somewhat-okay, total-ladies man. He had 'dates' every weekend but never shut me out. We're like brother and sister, so we never had those feelings for each other.

"Oh...nevermind. I just remebered who I was talking to." I said harshly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I just called one of my new friends in Forks a whore-which she is-and she finds it retarded that I'll wait! Then I decide to call you and the second thing out of your mouth is your 'activities' last night. Gah! Does anyone have morals?!"

"Whoa-whoa! Calm down, Bells. Deep breathes."

"Sorry. I just blew up and then you said that."

"No, no. I'm sorry. I'll have to wait to see if your in Double B mode next time you call."

"Double B mode?"

"You don't remember?! It means Bitchy Bella! Sh comes around once a month and yells at the closest thing to her-which is mainly me."

"Haha," I remarked sarcastically.

"Well, don't you have class?"

"Oh, yeah! Talk to you later, Ry!"

"'K I'm going back to sleep!"

"Night!" I laughed.

When I got out of my truck I looked towards the forest once again. Why would he be watching me?

* * * * * * * * *

After a day full of Lauren's sneering, Jessica's ignoring, Mike's flirting and Angela's sympathy I went home. Since it was a sunny day I decided to lay on a blanket in the front lawn and watch a movie on my portable DVD player. As I opened the case for Rome & Juliet there was a different disk labeled 'MEMORIES.'

"Yes?" Ryan answered on the fourth ring when I called his cell.

"Where did you put Romeo?!" I cried while I heard his hysterical laughter on the other end.

"This is not funny Ryan! If your going to continue making all these disks then put them where they belong! Now, where did you put it?"

"Hmm...I don't know..."

"Yes. You. Do."

"I'll tell you after you watch the videos! Trust me!" He yelled as he hung up.

With a groan I put the DVD in and pressed play.

----Video---

The camera zoomed in on a full parking lot as you saw Ryan's friend, Dan skateboarding in between cars holding a purse.

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I sniggered remembering that day.

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(Video)

"DANIEL JONES! Give me back my purse this instant!" I yelled as I ran into view chasing him.

"Oh no! It's the Wicked Witch of the West! Everyone RUN!!!" He screamed as I stopped to give him an evil glare.

"Hmm...yanno you have three choices here. One- You give me my purse back, with ALL my money and leave uninjured. Two- I chase you down and take away your manhood. Three- I get Megan over here and she'll take care of you."

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I gasped, "Megan."

Megan was my best friend other than Ryan. We hung out all the time until she....Don't go there, I thought.

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(Video)

"Alright, alright. Here's your purse, Bella." He sighed as he handed it to me.

"Thanks! Although it's too bad..."

"Too bad what?"

"I lied," I stated as I kicked his groin.

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I started laughed remebering all the good times I had with my friends and I could have sworn I heard the wind carry over a faint musical laugh...

Was it? No. I'm so infatuated I'm making things up. But maybe...

I decided I didn't want to watch the rest of the disk today so I called up Ryan.

"Did ya like it?" He asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't watch it all. I don't think I'm ready to watch any videos with Megan in them yet..."

"Bells, I know its hard for you but you need to get past this. You wouldn't believe the hard time Dan's having. He's a mess without her."

"I know. I know. I hate that I left when I did."

"You needed to get to know your dad. I don''t understand why you had to leave so soon though."

"You know why, Ryan! We don't know how much time we have anymore!"

"I know! You don't think I care?! At least tell me your coming down soon. No one's the same anymore, and you know running won't solve anything!"

"I'm not running!" I snapped.

"Whatever, Bells. I just think we all need each other at a time like this."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah, I know. There's nothing we can do but wait which drives me crazy..."

"Yeah. OKay, I'm gonna go. Bye, Mr. MW!"

"Later, C."

Ryan and I have numerous nicknames we developed for eachother over the years of our friendship. Ryans main one is Mr. MW (Mr. Man Whore). He dates basically any girl that comes along and nobody goes on a second date. There were only three girls he never went after and that's because one was me, and the two others were a part of our group of friends. All our friends were Dylan, Kelsey, Dan, Danny, and Megan. When Megan died her boyfriend, Dan has been miserable. When I left he didn't even come to say goodbye he was so miserable in his room. They were always the couple showing PDA to the point of insanity.

Her boyfriend and my second best guy friend was the jokster along with Dylan, and Ryan. He is a jerk at times, but when Megan was around he was, dare I say it, "whipped." Underneath it all he's a really cool guy. Now, that Megan's no longer around he's a shell of nothing. Danny is his best friend, who I've known the longest.

Dylan is the one person I can't stand most in the world, even though he has his moments where I-gasp-don't despise him. He's like Ryan in the girl department but much worse. Ryan knows when no means no, but Dylan doesn't give up. He has tried his "charms" on Kelsey, and me but we're not fooled. After several passes at me he got some severe damage from Ryan and me. He is a complete jerk to women while Ryan is actually nice but doesn't fool girls, and tells them he isn't interested in any relationships.

Kelsey and I are friendly but would never hang out together. She is a bit of a drama queen, and the guys say she's in PMS mode 24/7. Her and Ryan are always shamelessly flirting but never got farther than that. I think if they got over their pride they would make a good couple.

As I thought more and more about it I only found it in me to truly miss my mother and Ryan. My other friends I had never really knew me. When I look back on it I see how immature most of them were. All of them act as is nothing if wrong when a vampire is waiting for the right moment to kill all of us...